his Order left the Monastery and put himself in the Head of such as rose to maintain and support the Truth And being demanded why he left his Cell his Answer was The great danger Threatning the Church constrained him I conceive the same Answer as Satisfactory to Justifie this Undertaking seeing there is an Equal Necessity and seeing New Heads are sprung out of the Old Hydra of Heresie and that some Devils Incarnate are Strangely Zealous to drive the Belief of Jesus Christ to be the Son of God out of the World Woe were unto us Ministers if we Preach not the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God The Devil was a Murderer from the beginning he laboured to Stifle Christianity at its first Birth by Inclining Herod's Mind to a Massacre wherein he made no doubt but the Son of God should have been Comprehended but finding himself disappointed in this first Project he be comes the carefuller in the next and used such Methods for stirring up Envy Malice and Wrath that he soon dispatcht his Life who brought Light and Life into the World However though he had Most Industriously watched all Opportunities of Stealing away the Heavenly Seed and had at last compassed the Death of the Sower yet beholding to his great grief that some of the Seed did spring up and that a New Order of Persons was Instituted to proceed in Sowing the same Good Seed to Frustrate their Endeavours he raises such a Tempest as could not be laid but by a Sacrifice of their Blood but even in this this Great Deceiver saw himself Deceiv'd for Sanguis Martyrum fuit semen Ecclesiae The Blood and Sufferings of these Seeds-men became as Seed Effectual to the Spreading of the Faith Hereupon the Adversary Selects Men of Curious Parts and Subtil Brains and these he employs in Sowing Tares Heterodox Opinions among the Good Seeds of Piety and Truth among such were Simon Magus the Gnosticks and other Antichrists These were Persons of Proud Lawless and Dishonest Principles and he Chose them because Proud being satisfied that such as were Conceited of their own Parts and Learning would more willingly Rely on their Own Fancies and Philosophical Notions than on any Divine Revelation wanting the Grace of Humility he foresaw they should never obtain that of Faith For tho' God giveth this and all other Graces to the Humble yet he in all Resisteth the Proud He also Chose them because Head-strong and Lawless for knowing how Irksome it was to Men of this Temper to be Confin'd within the Limits Prescribed by the Doctrine of Christ he was well assured such Libertines such Wild Asses would quickly kick against the Gospel because they would not bear the Yoak of it he had also observed that they wanted that Honesty Sobriety and Gravity that Integrity and Simplicity as was necessary in true Christians and therefore concluded they would soon ridicule a Gospel of sober plain and honest Principles nor were his expectations deceived he also raised another Legion out of the Arrians Samosatenians and Photinians and with these he waged War against the Son of God labouring to impugn the Truth of his Deity The true Catholick Faith ever taught two Natures in Christ Deity as being the Second Person of the Trinity and Humanity Which though differing as to Essence and Substance yet did constitute but one Hypostasis or subsistent Person as the Soul and Body make one Man Some of the Nestorians did so far agree with the Catholick Faith that they held two Natures in Christ but they had this Reservation that they did believe each Nature made a several and distinct Person by it self nay so subtil they were and so resembling Angels of Light that they â—sed the same words one Person as other Catholicks did yet who so peruses the Ecclesiastical Records will find that they no ways meant that the two Natures of Christ were united by a personal Subsistence but merely by an Unity of Affection Consent Liking or Co-habitation that is to speak in their Sence the Person of the Son of God did affect the Son of the Virgin Mary to that degree that it did only inhabit or dwell therein as in an House or Temple According to this Doctrine of the Nestorians God did not become the Son of Man nor was the Son of the Virgin Mary God but only the Temple or House of God whereas the truth is the second Person of the Trinity was Hypostatically united unto the Man-hood the Son of God assumed humane Nature and of both Natures one Person was Constituted called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man not that the God-head inhabited humane Nature nor that the God-head was converted into Flesh but by taing of the Man-hood into God so there is no confusion of Substance but unity of Person God and Man became one Christ No Heresie which ever infected the Church of Christ hath been defended with such Sophistical Subtilties such fineness of Wit as this of opposing the Deity of Christ and even at this Day some Persons having more Wit than Grace and indulging that more than became them are endeavouring to revive this abominable Heresie but that these Scoffers and Mockers as St. Jude †v. 18. terms them might not proceed insultingly I have undertaken to make appear That Jesus Christ Born of the Virgin Mary was God Blessed for Evermore My Undertaking shall be directed by this following Method 1. I will enquire into his particular Names and Titles from whence the Truth of his Deity will explain it self Viz Jesus Christ Emanuel The Word The Son of God 2. I shall consider the Properties of the Deity are attributed to Him which are especially conspicuous in the great Works of Creation and Redemption And that I may the better put to silence the most impudent Gain-sayers as also farther confirm your Faith in this great Article I shall appeal to 1. God the Father 2. God the Holy Ghost 3. The Holy Scriptures First I shall argue and prove the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary from the Names and Titles given him Here I must Observe That the World hath generally agreed in the use of Names viz. That Nomina sunt Notamina Names serve as well for the discovery of the nature of Things and Persons as for Distinction Next least any should cavil with me and plead that the Virgin Mary's Son was onely called Jesus Emanuel and the like and was not really so I shall judge this sufficient in answer hereunto that to be called in these Scriptures I shall Name signifies not only to be so Named or to be so Reputed but also to be that in Deed and in Truth which one is said to be or named to be for proof hereof I referr to * Matth. 1.16 where it is said Of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ i. e. he was the Christ in Deed and should be declared to the World to be so One place more to justifie that this
Heavenly Anthem What shall we say The very Oracles that is Images wherein the Devils acted and impos'd upon Men did attest at this Nativity that Nature had brought forth a King and having thus Declar'd they submitted to his Sceptre for whereas formerly they received Worship and Adoration they now prostrate themselves even to a breaking in pieces We read likewise that Augustus Caesar having first presented his Sacrifice enquired of the Oracle who should succeed him in the Empire as if this had been too difficult or rather because the Resolution must produce his own shame the Devil refused all answer till after a second Sacrifice and then did Declare Me puer Haebreus Divos Deus ipse gubernans Cedere sede jubet Tristemque redire sub orcum Aris ergo dehinc Tacitis abscedito nostris The New-born Hebrew Infant who is God far transcending all other Gods hath Commanded me to withdraw and to retire to my desolate Mansions of Darkness Seeing therefore I must obey give your self no farther trouble to frequent my Altars for you will always henceforwards find here a profound silence Hereupon Augustus Erected an Altar bearing this Inscription Ara Primogeniti Dei The Altar of the First Begotten Son of God Farther St. Paul speaking of Jesus Christ †Rom. 1.4 averrs That he was declared to be the Son of God with Power the Powerful or Mighty Works which he did throughout the Course of his Life were Demonstrations that he was the Son of God because no other could do such things The Case may thus be stated No Ordinary or Natural Means could possibly induce that Faith among Men That Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was the Son of God but seeing this Faith was necessary in order to the obtaining Eternal Life therefore was he pleased to doe many things beyond the reach of Natural Power His own Discourse imports as much * Joh. 11.4 where he Interprets the occasion of Working a Miracle to be an happy opportunity of Manifesting Himself to be the Son of God for saith he This Sickness is not unto Death but for the Glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified thereby All his Miracles did publish the same Truth I shall Instance at present but in Two The Winds raging and the Sea roaring and both being deaf to Humane Commands or Entreaties did readily submit to His Authority * Matth. 14.33 upon his Speaking of a Word they were husht into a Calm What could the Spectators hereupon conclude other than of a Truth thou art the Son of God Humane Flesh cannot possibly so conceal thy Deity but that these Admirable Effects of thy Power will more discover it Nay the Devils themselves paid such Ready Obedience as did declare the sufficiency of his Authority they disputed not the Case nor would they try their Power and Strength but fore-seeing they were to be dispossessed ‖ Mark 5.7 I Adjure thee saith one in behalf of the rest that thou Torment me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to send him to his Prison to his place of Punishment and Restraint where he was to be kept Close and Tormented What could be a plainer Proof of his Deity than the Acknowledgment of those Infernal Spirits how that they were wholly at his Disposal It is evident that having formerly felt the Effects of his Irresistable Power when they were turned out of Heaven they dreaded by the least Act of Disobedience to Provoke him least he drave them to their Torment before the Time With Instances of like nature the Holy Writ is so plentifully stor'd that the Reader will not take it discourteously to be referr'd thither especially when he will there find the Jews Acknowledging the Gentiles Admiring the Apostles Proclaiming the Evangelists Recording and Multitudes offering to Seal with their Blood the Truth of the Doctrine and Miracles which were Ample Demonstrations of the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary Lastly For farther Proof of the same Assertion we Appeal unto another Trinity of Witnesses viz. God the Father God the Holy Ghost and the Sacred Scriptures I. We Appeal to God the Father If Two or Three Creditable Persons Affirm a Thing the Wisdom of Men has Subscribed to such an Affirmation as a Rational and Warrantable Ground for Belief Hence the Apostle Argues †1 John 5.9 If we Receive the Witness of Men the Witness of God is greater i. e. ought to be received with greater Deference and Veneration * Ver. 11. We have the Testimony this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son The direct way to Acquire this Life is Rightly to Believe in him as the Son of God ‖ Ver. 10. The Reason is given why we ought not to Fear Doubt or Waver in this Fundamental Article because we cannot doubt in this Case but with manifest Injury offered to the Truth of God for we must make him a Liar because God hath given this Testimony of his Son And the same Apostle says * 1 John 2.22 They are Liars that deny Jesus to be the Christ and not onely Liars but Antichrists for they deny both the Father and the Son they deny the Son directly and the Father by consequence because he hath Testified of the Son So that a Man cannot depart from or deny this Article of Faith That Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary is the Son of God without becoming a Liar and an Antichrist At the Baptizing the Son of the Virgin Mary in the River Jordan God the Father did openly declare this Truth ‖ Matth. 3.17 Loe a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Time at which the Place from which this Voice came and the Substance of the Voice are all manifest Declarations that he that was then Baptized was no other than the Son of God Again when our Saviour condescended to give to his Disciples a more Convincing Testimony of his Deity he blessed their Eyes with a Glimpse of his Glory †Mat. 17.2 and for their farther Confirmation that they were under no Delusion nor were encouraged to greater hopes than what should in time be accomplished beside the extraordinary Majesty of his Face the Heavenly Fulgure and Lustre of his Raiment the Tendance and Ministry of Moses and Elias they have from God's Mouth * Vers 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Apostle Illustrates this whole matter †2 Pet. 1.17 For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a Voice from the Excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased If we consult the Verses preceding we shall find the Reason why the Apostle urged this so strongly viz. least after his departure which he looked for every day the Deity of Christ and the Redemption wrought by
him might be forgotten or disbelieved as the Gnosticks were busie it should he therefore by way of Prevention delivers this Testimony of God the Father in the behalf of Jesus Christ his Son our Lord and assures them that he was an Eye-witness of the Majesty of Christ at his Transfiguration ‖ Vers 16. and also an Ear-witness of the Voice from Heaven * Vers 18. We heard it when we were with him in the Holy Mount Moreover that the Tragedy of his approaching Death might not startle their Faith in this Article a little before his Passion while our Lord was Discoursing of it †John 12.28 There came a Voice from Heaven Attesting He was heard in what he desired for the Voice said I have both glorified my Name and will glorifie it again this was the Subject of our Saviour's Prayer I have glorified the Name of my Truth and Mercy to Mankind in sending my Son into the World according to my Purpose and Promise and I will also now Glorifie the Name of my Wisdom Mercy and Justice in exacting and taking of that my Son the Punishment due unto the Sins of Believers Our Saviour's Words justifie this exposition * v. 30. for he told the Disciples and the rest of the Spectators This Voice came not because of me but for your sakes I needed neither satisfying nor reminding me who I am or what I am to do my Father 's gracious intent in this Voice was your good it was merely for your sakes in compassion to your hard heartedness that you might believe you were not willing to believe me telling you that the Father and I were one but now you cannot refuse believing seeing he speaketh the same thing from Heaven God the Father did also testifie this Truth at the Ascension of his Son * Heb. 1.6 And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the World he saith let all the Angels of God worship him If you look to the end of the †v. 3. you may know the particular date of this Command When he had by himself purged our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High and then the Father said Let all the Angels of God worship him The same is also declared by St. Paul * Phil. 2.9 10. How that God the Father had highly exalted his Son Jesus Christ and had given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in the Earth and things under the Earth II. We pass on to the Testimony of the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God which is called the Spirit of Truth because it is impossible he should bear false Witness testified the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary at his Conception †Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore also that holy thing that shall be Born of thee shall be called the Son of God The stress of which Words lies upon the Illative therefore and the Sence may be thus taken That the Son of God was designed to be Born of a Woman because the Holy Ghost shall over-shadow her the Blessed Spirit was concerned to prepare that Nature after an extraordinary manner which the God-head was determined to assume and seeing the Holy God was pleased to dwell in Flesh the Holy Ghost must prepare and form that Flesh Again At his Baptism the Holy Ghost testified the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary for he Descended upon him * Mat. 3.16 as a Dove not in the shape or form of a Dove saith the learned Dr. Hammond on the place but he lighted upon him as Doves use to light who hover over and over-shadow the place first which they intend to light upon At this Baptism of our Saviour there was Concilium Augustissimum a most Majestical meeting of the Trinity God the Father spake from Heaven challenging and owning him whom John Baptized for his Son God the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily appearance God the Son was there clad in humane Nature and being in the form of a Servant he submitted himself to the fulfilling of all Righteousness Again the Holy Ghost particularly declared this Truth to Simeon †Luke 2.26 27. It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ and that this Son of the Virgin Mary was he Simeon was informed by the same Holy Spirit as may be collected from his Action and Profession * v. 28 29 30. For he then in the Temple took this Son of the Virgin Mary up in his Arms and Blessed God saying Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy word i. e. promise by the Holy Ghost for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation the Person in whom Salvation is appointed This very Descent of the Holy Ghost upon our Saviour at his Baptism is called by St. Paul * 1 Cor. 2.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Demonstration of the Spirit a Testimony given by God from Heaven intimating and confirming the Verity of Christ's God-head a Demonstration for the Holy Ghost then Demonstrated to John and others that he who was then Baptized was the Son of God I might have argued the Testimony of the Holy Ghost from the Prophecies of the Old Testament for as saith the Apostle †2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophecies came not by the Will of Man Men undertook not this office of their own Heads nor did they deliver their own fancies and perswasions for Prophecies But Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost as they were inspired and instructed by the Holy Spirit of God therefore they that deny the Deity of Jesus Christ would do well to take heed unto the sure word of Prophecy given by the Spirit of God and there they will find most ample Declarations that he who should be Born of the Virgin Mary was God as well as Man The gift of the Holy Ghost was the effect of Christ's promise the Time and Place of his coming was expresly assign'd by Christ * Luke 24.49 Tarry ye at Jerusalem till ye be endued with power from on High John Baptized his Disciples with Water but †Acts 1.4 5. Christ promised to Baptize his Disciples with the Holy Ghost and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but there to wait for the completion of the promise and accordingly in the place and at the time we find the Holy Ghost was plentifully poured forth upon them †* Acts 2.1 2 3. When the day of Pentecost was fully come the Apostles were all with one accord in one place viz. in an upper Room of the Temple where they constantly performed their Devotions and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Farther the Holy Ghost did Testifie
the Deity of Jesus Christ because of the ends and purposes of his coming which our Saviour expresses to be two 1. He was to glorifie Christ †Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you whether he instructs whether he comforts you in all he shall accord with me and thereby it will be manifest that I came from God 2. He was to reprove the World * Joh. 16.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the learned Dr. Hammond observes is to act the part of an Advocate to convince the Accuser and maintain a Cause against all Gain-sayers inexcusabiles penitus demonstrabit arguet evidentibus Argumentis probationibus docebit ita ut tergiversari non possit The Holy Ghost was to plead and justifie the cause of Christ in three particular Acts. I. He was to convince the World of their Sin of Vnbelief †v. 9. His descent was an Argument of Christ's Deity what could they farther object against his being God when now their Eyes beheld the Effusion of the Holy Ghost The various Operations of this Spirit of Grace were so many proofs of the Deity of Christ II. He was to plead the cause of Christ and to convince the World as to the point of his Righteousness * v. 10. He shall reprove the World of Righteousness because I go to my Father The Spirit of Grace descending from above shall testifie my Ascension whereby by it will be manifest that I am God and that there was no Unrighteousness in me as they Blasphemously reported III. He was to plead the Cause of Christ and to reprove the World of Judgment * v. 11. Because the Prince of this World is judged not only that the Spirit of Grace sent by me shall manifest that he that Reigned in the hearts of the Children of Disobedience and excited them to Betray Condemn and Crucifie me was the Spirit of Errour and the Enemy of their Salvation but also this Spirit assisting my Disciples to work Wonders and Signs in my Name as curing Diseases and casting out Devils shall thereby judge over-power and conquer the Prince of this World III. The Scriptures also Testifie that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was God We are commanded to search the Scriptures to look into them carefully with an earnest desire and endeavour to find out the meaning thereof Whereupon St. Chrysostom's Exhortation was Audite saeculares comparate vobis Biblia but Bibles now are of little more estimation than old Almanacks if a matter of doubt arises we do sometimes but very rarely consult them our Hands delight not in handling the Word of Life whereas they are too busie with Romances and Play-books with Folly and Ribaldry and I fear this is not altogether the effect of Sloath Vanity or Laziness in the Laity but occasioned by an odd Fashion crept up of late among such whose lips should preserve Knowledge the only care and study now being that publick Discourses be well larded if not to Nauseousness with flowers of Rhetorick Terms of Philosophy Tropes and Figures to Tickle itching Ears are plenty but Quotations of Scripture so thin and sparing that sometimes in an hour's Discourse not one place of Scripture is to be found besides the Text this makes some conclude it a trouble to carry their Bibles with them seeing the spirit of the Prophets will not come to this Touch-stone and by degrees they arrive to the Opinion that they are as useless at Home as at Church I shall here presume to declare a true observation that when Scripture was used as a Principal part of the Sermon the Instruction sank deeper into Mens hearts and Piety and Holiness was much more visible in Mens Conversations I might add many Pernicious and Blasphemous Principles had yet lain in Darkness or at least had not been vented in Publick had not care been first taken to leave off the Light We are charged to search the Scriptures * Joh. 1.49 because they testifie of Christ We cannot turn over the Bible but the Majesty of Christ will appear he is as well the matter as the Author and if you will hearken to their Testimony you shall hear them declare that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary is God Take heed therefore unto your selves †Acts 20.28 and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his Blood to any considering person two things here offer themselves 1. He that purchased the Church was God the Church of God which He hath purchased i. e. God 2. That this God was Jesus Christ because it is said he purchased the Church with his Blood neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost having any Blood but Jesus Christ as he assumed Humane Nature so that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was the God that purchased the Church with his Blood read likewise 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Rom. 9.5 Christ is called God blessed for ever Amen Great is the mystery of Godliness * 1 Tim. 3.16 God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached nto the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory Now it is manifest this Scripture sets forth him to be God of whom all these things were verified and it is also manifestly set down in the Scriptures that all these were true of Jesus Christ he was found in the form of a Servant he took our Nature upon him he was justified by the Spirit of God to be the Messias he was preached unto the Gentiles as the true and only Saviour by Faith in whose Name they might receive Salvation he was believed on in the World while he was in the World his Disciples and some others believed him to be the Son of God he was received up into Glory he openly in the sight of many Witnesses ascended up into Heaven wherefore he that was thus manifest in the Flesh justified by the Spirit preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the World and received up into Glory was God and this is the great Mystery of Godliness or of the Christian Religion The Scriptures Testifie that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was God in that both the Prophecies Recorded in the Old and the performances in the New exactly accord and centre in Christ Adam that had the first Promise was told it should be in the Humane Nature that the Son of God should appear to redeem the World * Gen. 3.15 The seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head Abraham was inform'd that he should be of his Posterity †Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all the Families of the Earth be Blessed Jacob had a Revelation of his Tribe * Gen. 49.8 Judah thou art he whom thy Brethren shall praise David was told that he should be particularly of his Family
Point will admit of Having thus Vindicated the Deity of Jesus Christ and from the Names given him from the Properties of the Deity Attributed to him that is to say from his Infinite Power Wisdom c. visible in the Great Works of Creation and Redemption as also from the Testimony of God the Father God the Holy Ghost and from the holy Scriptures proved that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was and is True and Perfect God Now permit me to speak unto you in the words of St. Peter ‖ 2 Pet. 1.16 I have not followed cunningly devised Fables nor have I offered you any other Arguments or Proofs than what are Proper and tend naturally to evince this Article of our Faith I have in the whole management of them followed the plainest method hoping that in so doing I have spoke to your Understanding if I have shewn any zeal or warmth it is upon the account that I take it for granted could the Wit of Men or Malice of Devils overthrow this Foundation it could not be long before the Gates of Hell would prevail against the Church of Christ And now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who by making known to us that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was also the Eternal Son of God hath Taught us First That we Christians of the Gentiles as it is Written ‖ Ephes 2.19.20 Are no more Strangers or Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner-stone so that he that ever was still is the Head of the Church viz. Jesus Christ God blessed for evermore I find our Saviour declaring ‖ Matth. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church Thou art Peter I so Surnamed thee †Mark 3.16 and as thy Name imports so thou art viz. a Living Stone in my Spiritual Temple upon this Rock this Confession of me to be the Son of the Living God * Matt. 16.16 I will build my Church The word Rock I take here to be mentioned Allegorically onely alluding to that Memorable Rock in the Wilderness and thus taken it signifies that as that Rock then Refreshed the Israelites in the Parched and Barren Wilderness so now the Knowledge and Confession of my Deity shall be as Refreshing Comfortable and Satisfactory to all Believers to allay the heat and burning of their Guilt to quench the fire of Divine Wrath and Vengeance as were the Streams that issued out of that Rock to cool your Forefathers Thirst and to satisfie their Appetites It were certainly a great mistake with the Church of Rome to take such notice of the Affinity of words as to Interpret Peter and the Rock to be the same thing as if Christ had here Promised to Build his Church upon Peter or were weary of his Spouse and did now intend to give her a Bill of Divorce and leave her to another this must be the consequence of that Interpretation which our Adversaries so highly favour and before we can consent to it we must Contend with Two such Difficulties as I judge Unconquerable I. If we say that Christ Promised to build his Church upon Peter How shall we answer that of the Apostle †1 Cor. 3.11 Other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ yet not him but Peter say the Romanists but let these wise Master-Builders know that the Stone they refuse is Realy and Rightfully the Head-stone in the Corner and so dangerous is it here to stumble that he that falleth on this Stone that maketh this a Rock of Offence that doubteth and will not admit Christ to be the Head of the Church shall be broken shall be wounded in his Soul but on whomsoever it shall fall viz. such as through Pride or Contumacy shall strive to shake or pull this Stone out of its place it shall grind them to Powder divine Vengeance shall dash them into a thousand pieces How will they who expound these Words Vpon this Rock of Peter and not of Christ or that Confession made of him by Peter get over the clause of that Verse where it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it viz. the Church built on this Rock i. e. neither the Power nor Policy of Hell should prevail against it yet it is visible that against Peter the Gates of Hell greatly prevailed Then how must the Church totter and shake when according to them this famous Rock on which it was built did so tremble and reel But to put an end to this Controversie we have a sure Rule to which all Christians do well to have regard †Eph. 1.22 God the Father of Glory hath given his Son Jesus Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Which words do abundantly condemn the Impudence of such as presume upon a Power to order things in the Church contrary to the Revealed Will of the Head thereof On the other hand seeing the Son of God is Head of the Church how Blame-worthy nay how Audacious and Inexcusable are they who spurn against and deny any of his Ordinances I mean such whose Froward Zeal hath Exploded the Lord's Prayer as a Form Obsolete and have laid aside the Sacraments as useless which the Head of the Church Instituted as Generally Necessary for Salvation Seeing Jesus Christ is Head of the Church it is a Riddle to me whence Men derive their Power of Altering Adding to or Diminishing from what he hath Ordained Having now so Sure and Sufficient a Foundation our Main Care must be what we Build upon it We are told †1 Cor. 3.12 if we Build Wood Hay or Stubble that is Wooden and Heterodox Opinions the Trash of Philosophical Notions or the Dry Stubble of Humane Inventions and Fansies these will not abide the Trial but if we Build thereon Gold Silver or Precious Stones Solid Clear and Ornamental Truths such as may Direct Justifie and Adorn our Conversations these will Abide therefore I shall accordingly Rear this Truth upon this Foundation II. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God And is this Son Head of the Church then as saith the Apostle ‖ Phil. 2.11 Let every Tongue Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Let all the Nations and Kindreds of the Earth Acknowledge his Doctrine to be the Onely Word of Life and that he that Brought it was Rightly Jesus a Saviour Let every Soul Bend the Knee and Submit to his Commands as being the Commands of the Lord of Lords Let this Acknowledgment and Confession be made this Obedience and Homage tendred to the Glory of God the Father for by his Order and Decree this Eternal Son of God became in Fullness of time the Son of Man Now therefore tho there be some who
Person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Emanuel God-man but of this we shall understand farther in speaking to the next Name There is a secret Harmony between these names Jesus and Emanuel and both declare the Deity of the Virgin Mary 's Son for he that can be a Jesus to save from sin must necessarily be God and so have Life and Salvation in his power to bestow nor can God with respect to his own Decree be a Saviour from sin except he become one of us seeing the same nature that sinned was sentenced to suffer Fourthly The Son of the Virgin Mary was called The Word which name doth also vindicate his Deity It is said †Ioh. 1.1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God in which words the very Heathen have ingenuously confessed there was more of the Divine Nature comprehended than could be found in all the voluminous Writings of their Philosophers The better to gather the full sence of this Verse we must first enquire who is here meant by The Word for it is evident that is the subject of which three things are here predicated namely that it was Eternal a distinct Person from God the Father yet of the same Nature and Essence I shall first make it appear that the Messiah the Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary he whom we acknowledge for our Lord and Saviour was called the Word He was known to the Jews and others by this Appellation the Lord * Psal 110.1 which Title Lord and that of the Word were interchangeably used by them for whereas according to our Translation we read †Gen. 1.23 So the Lord created Man the Targum renders it The Word of the Lord created Adam Again * Gen. 3.22 our Bibles have it The Lord said the Targum The Word of the Lord said Moreover we find the Rabbis and Jewish Doctors frequently expounded Jehovah by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word of the Lord particularly Jonathan the Son of Vzziel who was before Christ and Author in part of the Chaldee Paraphrase Our Bibles Read †Isai 45.17 Israel shall be saved in the Lord but the Chaldee Paraphrase Israel shall be saved in the Word of the Lord so that this Apellation was no new thing of St. John's invention but the Messiah the Son of God was known thereby to the Jews of old and which may give our Testimony herein the greater Credit the same name The Word was known to the Philosophers for Trismegistus Zeno Plato and others have spoken of The Word nay even in Mahomet's Alchoran Christ is called The Word so the Person signified by The Word we understand to be the Messiah The Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary I shall therefore proceed to the things promulged of him in this Verse which if found true our Faith stands fixed as on a Rock and we must believe that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary had a Divine Essence prae-existing before the World and that he is a distinct Person from the Father but yet that he is very God 1. The Word was from everlasting In the beginning was the Word In principio Verbum Erat the Verb being here of the Preter imperfect Tense doth imply that The Word was so in the beginning of Time as that he also was before it had the Apostle put in Est in the Room òf Erat it might have given occasion to think that The Word then received its being or began to be There had been the like danger had he used Fuit for then some would have conjectured that upon the Creation of the World The Word was but that before or after it was not in being but the Word used is Erat of the Preter imperfect Tense which standing between the Present and the Preter is not absolutely either but participates of both times to demonstrate that The Word was so in the beginning that he was both before and after the beginning he had a subsistence before all times for being at that time when all things were beginning to be made plainly implys he was before the beginning of all things and so must be of the same Eternity or Everlastingness as the Father and this is yet more clear as we shall see immediately in that Phrase The Word was with God he was of the same Eternity and Coexistency with the Father Accordingly the Word is called by Nonnus the Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod nullo tempore sit comprehensum others give him the same Title Quasi carens Principio and †Rev. 1.11 Christ is called Alpha and Omega the first and the last without any Restriction or Limitation he was ever truly and essentially God and there is not the least ground for Arrius's Blasphemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 time was when he was not 2. The Word was with God this demonstrates him a distinct Person from God Apud Deum not as a Property or Quality not as an Attribute or Faculty but as a Person distinctly existing and that by a different manner of Generation from the Father Apud Deum we cannot properly speaking say any Person is with himself he may be said to be with another but not with himself so that from hence we must necessarily inferr a Distinction of Persons he that is with being one and he with whom he is being another which makes flatly against the Sabellians who deny'd a Distinction of Persons Thirdly And the Word was God This Demonstrates the Identity of Nature and that the Word was of the same Nature and Essence he certainly was Alius a distinct Person from the Father but not Aliud of another but the same Nature This very Name Word is most apt to represent the Two Natures of Christ the Divine and Humane because that in a Word we must consider there is Sonus a Sound the Elision of the Air passing from the Mouth of the Speaker and possessing the Ear of the Hearer there is also Verbum the Word carried by that Sound and Informing the Understanding so that the Sound and Word though two are neither to be separated nor are they confounded Fourthly The Son of the Virgin Mary was called The Son of God and this Name also vindicates his Deity This Title is given in Scripture upon Various Considerations as sometimes times Mankind in General are called The Sons of God and †Acts 17.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are his off-spring this is spoken in reference to the Creation and upon the same account the Angels * Job 38.7 are called The Sons of God Again Sons of God are taken in a larger sence for such as from the Dignity †Psal 82.6 of their Offices were so called The word is also used in a Spiritual sence they are called ‖ 1 Joh. 5.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Born of God or Sons of God who by the Spirit of God are Changed or Renewed being Regenerate
and Born a-new changed from evil to good But this Son of whom I am speaking was neither by Creation Adoption nor Regeneration but by Eternal Generation out of himself in which respect God hath no Son but this and therefore he is called The Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Discriminatively †Joh. 1.18 The onely begotten Son of God of which Generation I presume not to make any Declaration for I see not how we can understand farther of this Mystery than that it is the Communication of the Divine Essence or Personality or both by the Father by which he hath Begotten the Son but the Manner how we shall never understand while we are in these Houses of Clay Christ is called ‖ Luk. 1.35 The Son of God by which words is meant that he took not his beginning when he was Born of the Virgin Mary but that he was the Eternal Son of God that he was True God as the Father is and bath the same Nature Essence Will and Power with him and because this Truth was so opposed by the Arrians a Council of 318 Bishops Assembled at Nice and Expounded this Article of our Faith in Larger Terms as you may Read in your Common-Prayer-Books I Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Nicene the onely Begotten Son of God Begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Very God of very God Begotten not Made c. When St. Peter had made his Confession of Faith †Matt. 16.16 Acknowledging Christ to be the Son of the Living God it is worthy our Serious Observation that not onely was this Confession made the Standard of Faith by those words * Vers 18. Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church but our Saviour did also declare that the Knowledge of this Great Truth came to Peter from above †Vers 17. Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven From whence it is obvious to a very ordinary capacity that if the Virgin Mary's Son had been the Son of God no other way but by Eminency in respect of the Excellent Gifts that were in him there had been no occasion for this Revelation from Heaven seeing that those Gifts and Graces were sufficient to testifie this this Revelation therefore amply declares his Filiation or Sonship to be of a more Transcendent Nature He was a Son by Real and Eternal Generation he was a Son Consubstantial with the Father the thing Begotten being of the same Essence and Substance with that which Begets it and for this cause our Saviour Averr'd * John 10.30 I and the Father are one Vnum not Vnus not one in Will but in Nature he is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Like Being but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Substance Thus hath it appear'd that the Names Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ Emanuel The Word the Son of God do all Assert and Prove his Deity Our next undertaking was to show that the Properties of the Deity are attributed to him from whence his Deity will necessarily be Inferr'd There are not properly speaking any Attributes Properties or Qualifications in God because whatsoever is in God is God but in compliance to the capacity of our shallow Understandings they are admitted and here the Caution takes place that we should not account these Properties parts of the Divine Essence because that every Property is really his very whole Essence as for Instance the Wisdom of God is no other but the Wise God the Mercy of God includes the Merciful God c. The use of these Properties or Attributes is to declare and set forth unto us the Essence of God I have already manifested the Eternity of Jesus Christ and shall distinctly speak next of his Immense Power Wisdom Mercy and Goodness discernible in those Great Works of Creation and Redemption I shall not so confine my self to those but that in handling I shall give you such light into his other Attributes that you may thereby gather a clear Manifestation of his Deity I. The Work of Creation is ascribed to Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary To Create is to make something out of nothing to doe which requires an Infinite and Uncontroulable Power such as can no where be found but in God St. John brings this as a farther Proof of the Deity of Christ whom he had called the Word * Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him as if he had said The Word or Jesus Christ whom he meant by the Word was certainly God for he made all things and without him was not any thing made which was made This was so manifest and withal so full a Proof of his Assertion that he reinforces it ‖ Vers 10. The World was made by him and the World knew him not It is sad that the Generality of Men did not formerly nor will not latterly take notice of him in the Capacity of a Creator That this Jesus Christ when he lay in the Bosom of his Father was a Principal Coagent or Efficient with the Father and the Holy Ghost in the Work of Creation Solomon declares it for †Prov. 8.22 23 c. Christ is there called the Wisdom of the Father by whom the World and all things were made For all Interpreters not excusing Arrius himself agree that these Words of the Wise Man were spoken concerning Christ but being intended to oppose the Deity of Christ that Arch Heretick though he had not the Impudence to deny the words to be spoken of Christ yet such was his Perverseness that he Corrupted the Text and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Possessed me Verse 22d he Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Created me and so Blasphemously from his own Corrupted Text Argued That Christ was no more than a Creature We have great need to look well to our Bibles to Read Mark Learn and Inwardly Digest the Sound Doctrine thereof because there are too many in the World besides those of Rome who could they get all our Bibles into their hands would soon Teach them to speak a strange Language The Apostle St. Paul does as plainly Ascribe the Creation to Jesus Christ * Col. 1.16 For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him All things both those that are the Subject of our Sight as the Corporeal and those whose Nature and Spiritual Being as Angels and the Souls of Men submits not to Mortal Intuition That which most chiefly makes for our Present Purpose is to declare That this Creator was Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary and this is Justified †by calling him v. 15. That Created the Image of God and the First-born of every Creature and ‖ he is stiled v. 18. The
would Pervert and Change the Gospel of Christ yet if an Angel from Heaven should Preach any other Gospel unto you than that Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God is the Head of the Church Let such Person be Accursed Look upon him as one Excommunicate and with whom consequently none ought to have any Commerce in Sacred Matters The Heathens had a Saying Mutus sit oportet qui non laudârit Herculem He deserves not to Speak who cannot find something to say in the Praise of Hercules Shall not Christians be thought worthy to lose their Tongues if they cleave to the Roof of their Mouths and refuse to sound forth the Noble Praise of the Blessed Son of God our Great Saviour and Redeemer How should our Tongues be Talking of his Praise all the day long It would extreamly well become Christians to be telling one the other What wonderful things this Blessed Jesus hath done for them I do not mean in the General Works of Creation and Redemption onely but his particular Favours also the Peace the Joy the Resolution the Strength the Grace they daily receive from Communion with him It can be no other than a Splendid Entertainment to the Piously Affected for they have Meat to eat that the World knows not of to recount how sweetly they were at first Translated from the Power of Satan into the Kingdom of the Son of God to tell how often and long this Blessed Son of God stood and Knocked by his Word Ministers and Spirit at the door of their hearts before he obtain'd Audience to declare how he put his finger into the hole and lifted up the latch i. e. took care to put back all Obstructions and Impediments with which the Devil the World and the Flesh had bolted up our hearts how pleasant would be the Repetition of those Passionate Perswasions and Loving Promises which the Son of God used notwithstanding the Unkindness he found how he shed abroad in their Hearts his Gracious Influences till at last by the Assiduity of his Courtship the Unweariedness of his Patience and the Fervour of his Love he overcame their Folly and Perverseness If the Shepherd not onely looks with pleasure on the Lamb he wrenched from the Jaws of the hungry Wolf but also believes the Relation of that Exploit acceptable to every Mild and Gentle Disposition Why should not Christians believe it as grateful to Communicate among themselves how often and by what ways this Great Shepherd the Son of God hath delivered them his Sheep from the Paws of that Cruel Lion who daily surrounded the Fold in expectation of his Prey What can be more Joyful than for one Christian affectionately to relate to another in what Combats with the Flesh what Bickerings with the World and in what Buffetings of Satan they have been Supported Relieved and Comforted by this Son of God How delightsome must it be for the formerly Afflicted to comfort one that at present is in the like condition by relating how when he was overwhelm'd with dismal Storms of Grief and Anxiety when he sailed in a Tempestuous Sea of Fears and Agonies and no Comfortable Light could on either hand be espy'd that then this Son of Righteousness brake out upon him his Grace Love and Mercy set them upon a Rock higher than themselves he brought them out and set them in a large place free and far enough from all their Troubles What Grace must such Discourses Minister to the Hearers And moreover this way of entertaining one another would prevent a world of filthiness scurrility foolish and inconvenient talking There is naturally so great Correspondence between the Heart and the Tongue that they are but few who delight not to speak of that Subject which most possesses and pleases their Mind Thus the Husbandman's whole Discourse is of his Land Manurement Team Plough and Crop The Souldier's Tongue runs of his Arms Colours Officers Camps Marches and Engagements and the very Huntsman will deasen your eares with the Names and Qualities of his Dogs the Obstreperous terms of his Art and the Diversity of his Game Must it not therefore argue a great poverty of Grace and that our Souls delight not themselves in the Lord when good and Edifying Discourse is so rare among us Christians especially if it be considered that we have the greatest reason not onely barely to confess but to make our boast of this Son of God all the day long But I must urge this Point farther It is not an Oral Confession onely or an Exultation in Christ the Son of God that I aim at For we Read among the Primitive Christians there were some * Tit. 1.16 viz. the Gnosticks who did profess to know God but in works they did deny him being Abominable and Disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate too many such Titular Christians are to be found who were it not for the Oaths that fall from their Tongues it were hard to say that they had ever heard of Jesus Christ or did in the least believe him to be the Son of God they are of such Unchristian Tempers such Unsanctified Lives that they can be accounted no other than Enemies of the Cross of Christ I do heartily wish that all loose and dissolute Christians would seriously digest this Consideration How ill does Cursing Swearing Drunkenness Whoredom Prophaneness Envy Malice or whatever else is of Evil Report become them who Profess themselves Servants to the Holy Son of God such Persons notwithstanding their specious Pretences are not his Servants for it is as well the Result of Reason as the Declaration of Scripture †Rom. 6.16 That Men are properly and rightfully their Servants to whom they obey The dishonour must necessarily be very great that Ungodly Professors do to the Son of God for they cause his Name to be Evil Spoken of his Deity Doubted and his Gospel to be Despised for the Grand Reason why neither the Jews among us nor other Infidels abroad make more hast to the Mountain of the Lord is the palpable difference between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lives of them that Confess him for they cannot escape all Wild and Extravagant Opinions of Christ when they perceive how little Influence his Precepts allow'd for Holy Just and Good have upon their Manners who pretend to be Govern'd by them Moreover to Confess This Jesus Christ the Son of God aright doth imply the suppressing all Contradicting or Blaspheming of his Deity were I worthy I should humbly tender this Note where the power of a Redress is lodg'd Impiety is come to an high pass when openly in our Streets the Blessed and Glorious Trinity is Libell'd and the Deity of Jesus Christ impugn'd this is one but the worst way of saying Farewel to Christianity In this case being God's Cause and Quarrel I must take the liberty of saying No Christian Answers the end of his Profession by a Cold Indifferency he that contents himself with his
in the pursuit of Earthly things or for such who acknowledge the Son of God to be their only Lord to be led Captives by the Devil at his will let us therefore as becometh Christians cast off every work of Darkness and serve the Lord that bought us in Holiness and Righteousness let us put on Christ in our Affections and Actions let us be renewed in our Minds that our Affections may become Holy and Spiritual let us sanctifie God in our hearts that so our Actions may be pious just and unblameable that all may see the life that we henceforward live in the Flesh we live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us There is a Seemliness or Comeliness proper to every Calling as is very observable but Christianity is a peculiar Calling distinct from and vastly surpassing all other some things may be tolerable in others which are no ways allowable in this and therefore we are called upon * Ephs 4.1 to walk worthy of our Vocation we have more ample Revelations of the will of God than others we have better Principles greater Helps fairer Promises and a most perfect Example and therefore for us after all these to walk after the customs of the present evil World were altogether inexcusable Luther was wont to say that Christians in their strongest Assaults might make much better Defence than they usually do if they reply'd when tempted Christiani sumus we are Christians We are Christians such as are bound by our Baptismal Vow to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil we above all Men are not to play the Cowards and make a faint Resistance seeing that we have an Armoury and are provided for all points we have an Helmet and Brest-plate a Girdle and Shield and likewise we have the Sword of the Spirit wherewith to Wound and Baffle our Enemies this is an approved Weapon with this our Saviour conquer'd the Devil We are Christians we profess to have our Conversation in Heaven notwithstanding our commoration be on Earth and therefore an Eagle may as soon stoop at a Fly as a Christian to worldly Allurements We are Christians such as declare themselves dead to these things and therefore to give them any room in our hearts were to give the lye to our Profession We are Christians such who have a sure word of promise for things necessary and therefore how unbeseeming us is it to use any indirect means to compass that which is already secured to us in the bountiful Providence of our Heavenly Father We are Christians the Servants and followers of the Son of God and we believe his Eye to be upon us during all our Conflicts with Temptations We cannot likewise but believe our noble resolute and courageous behaviour will be acceptable to him and that to the intent we may prevail and persevere he will in pure Compassion knowing our Frailty proportion the Grate he sends us by the Temptations he permits upon us and so if we are called forth to wrestle against Principalities and Powers all the Ranks of Devils yet Jesus Christ the Son of God and Captain of our Salvation will afford us such supply as we shall be able to stand We are Christians we must therefore Watch and Pray that we fall not under Temptation we must strengthen our selves in the Lord in his Example in his Precepts and in his Promises we must gird our selves unto the Battle because we shall reap if we faint not if we finish our warfare gallantly and as becometh Christians there is certainly a Crown of immarcessible Glory prepared for us this is worth sighting for which brings me to the last and highest Story I shall or can raise upon this Foundation Is Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary God Is he the head of the Church Do all true Christians put him on walking after his Example and to his Will then as true as he is God all such as thus do shall be most plentifully rewarded The Christian Religion was calculated it is true for the Humble and Poor in Spirit but yet not for such mean Spirits as act no farther than they are instigated by a prospect of advantage when we have done all our acknowledgment must be that we are but unprofitable Servants our Lord hath been no gainer by us we have not answered what of right was due from us upon the Score of our Creation therefore not being solvent and in capacity to discharge that first Debt it is no other than Arrogance and Presumption to make Conditions with God and to limit our performances by the Hopes or Emanations of his Bounty yet such is his infinite Condescension that though a Reward may not be the sole Reason yet we permitted to look upon it as the encouragement of our services Moses expressed great Faith and Patience refusing the pleasures of Egypt which were doubtless every way corresponding to the desires of Humane Nature the purchase of these requir'd no farther toil and labour of him than a gratefull acceptance yet these so great so easily acquir'd he forsook and chose rather to endure Afflicton That which chiefly encouraged this exchange was †Heb. 11.26 He had respect unto the Recompence of the Reward Our Blessed Saviour sweetned the burden of his Yoak and the Tortures of his Cross by the proposal as well of present as future Rewards he did assure them that if they would diligently mind the one thing needful all other things should be added to them they might do their Duty and cast the care of themselves upon God and they should find from him Providential Goodness that he did certainly care for them this can inferr no less than that we abound in the Work of the Lord in as much as we are ascertain'd our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord our Hopes shall not be frustrated He that had the love to promise a Remuneration hath the power to bestow it for now we know he is God and doth as well in Heaven as on Earth whatsoever pleaseth him Hearken we therefore for our encouragement to his gracious Promises * Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him also will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven He that on Earth shall confess my Deity and by Words and Deeds make an open Confession of me and if thereunto called shall in despite of Danger and Death stick to the same profession of Faith every such Person may rest satisfied his so doing shall not be forgotten but a faithful Reward shall be made thereof in Heaven no wonder therefore to hear St. Paul crying out Wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to see him and others of the same Principles rejoicing in that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the confessing of Christ for they had the promise of being glorified with him for whom they suffered What therefore though Troubles