Church by the Apostolical Power Preaching Writings and Miracles and in the Sanctifying and helping all true Believers Q. 7. By this it seems there are many wayes of denying the Holy Ghost A. Yes 1. They deny him who deny his Godhead as the Third Person in the Blessed Trinity 2. They deny him who deny that the Miracles oâ— Christ and his Apostles were God's Testimony to Christ being convinced of the Trueth of the Facts 3. They deny him who deny the extraordinary qualifications of the Apostles and suppose them to have had but the prudence of ordinary honest Men. 4. They deny the Holy Ghost who deny the sacred Scriptures to be indited by him and to be true 5. They deny him who deny him to be the Sanctifier of God's Elect and feign Holiness to be bâ—â— conceit deceit or common Virtue Q. 8. But are all these the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost A. The unpardonable sin is called The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12. And it is when Men are convinced that those Miracles were done and those gifts given which are God's attestation to Christ and his Gospel but they fixedly believe and say That they were all done by the power of the Devil by Conjuration and not by God and therfore notwithstanding them Christ was but a Deceiver And this sin is unpardonable because it rejecteth the only remedy The Spirits witness to the truth of Christ He that will not believe this Witness shall have no other Q. 9. But how may we know that we are Sanctifyed by the Spirit A. By that Holiness which he causeth 1. When our Understandings so know and believe the Truth and Goodness of the Gospel and its Grace as that we Practically esteem and prefer the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son and the Communion of the Holy Ghost and the heavenly Glory before all the Pleasures Profits and Honours of this World that stand against them and before Life it self 2. When Our Wills do with habitual Inclination and Resolution Love and Choose the same before all the said things that stand in competition 3. When in the course of our Lives we seek them first and hold them fastest in a time of Tryal forsaking the Flesh the World and the Devil so far as they are against them and living in sincere though not perfect Obedience to God Q. 10. Is the Spirit or the Scripture higher and the Rule of Faith and Life A. The Spirit as the Author of the Scripture is greater than the Scripture and the Scripture as the Word of the Spirit is the Rule of our Faith and Lives and greater than our Spiritual gifts The Spirit in the Apostles was given them to write when they had preached that Doctrine which is our Rule But the Spirit is not given to us to make a new Law or Rule but to believe Love and Obey that already made As under the Law of Moses God that made the Law was greateâ— than the Law But when God had made that Law their Rule he did not after that teach good Men to make another Law but to understand and obey that Q. 11. There are many that boast of the Spirit and Revelations how shall we try such whether their Spirits â—â— of God A. 1. If they pretend to do that which is fully done by the Spirit already that is to preach or write another Gospel or make a new Law for the Universal Church seeing this was the Prophetical extraordinary Office of Christ and the Spirit in the Apostleâ— such imply an accusation of insufficiency on Christs aâ—â— the Spirits Law or Rule and arrogate a power never given them and so are false Prophets 2. If they contradict the written Word of God which is certainly Sealed by God's Spirit already â—â— must needs be by an evil Spirit For God's Spirit doth not contradict it self Q. 12. But had not the Priests under the Law tâ—â— Spirit of God as well as Moses that gave them tâ—â— Law A. Moses only and Aaron under him had God Revelation to make the Law And the Priests only to keep it teach it and rule by it And so it is as tâ— the Apostles of Christ and the succeeding Ministry Q. 13. But might not Kings then make Religioâ— Laws A. Yes to determine such circumstances as Goâ— had only given them a General Law for and left to be determined by them but not to make new Laws of the same kind with Gods nor to add to or alter them Q. 14. But were there not Prophets after Moses that had the Spirit A. Yes But they were not Legislators but sent with particular Mandates Reproofs or Consolations save only David and Solomon who had directions from God himself not to make a new Law of God but to order things about the Temple and its Worship So if any Man now pretend to a Prophetical Revelation it must not be Legislative to the Catholick Church nor against Scripture but about particular Persons Acts and Events and it must be proved by Miracle or by Success before another is bound to believe him Q. 15. Must I take every motion in me to be by the Holy Ghost which is agreeable to the Word of God or for doing what is there commanded A. Yes if it be according to that Word for the Matter End Manner Time and other circumstances But Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light and mind us of some Text or Truth to misapply it and put us on Meditation Prayer or other duty at an unseasonable Time when it would do more hurt than good or in an ill manner or to ill Ends He can move Men to be fervent Reprovers or Preachers or Rulers that were never called to it but are urged by him and the Passion and Pride of their own Hearts And good Men in some mistakes know not what manner of spirit they are of CHAP. XVIII The Holy Catholick Church Qu. 1. HOw is this Article joyned to the former A. This Article hath not been alwayes in the Creed in the same order and words as now But the belief of a Holy Church was long before it was called Catholick And it is joyned as part of our Belief of the Work of the Holy Ghost and the Redemption wrought by Christ Christ by his death purchaseth and the Holy Ghost gathereth the Holy Catholick Church It were defective to believe Christs Purchase and the Holy Ghost's Sanctification and not know for whom and on whom it is done To Sanctifie is to Sanctifie some Persons and so to make them the Holy Society or Christian Church Q. 2. What is a Church A. The Name is applied to many sorts of Assemblies which we need not name to you But here it signifieth The Christian Society Q. 3. Why is it called Catholick A. Catholick is a Greek word and signifieth Universal It is called Catholick because 1. It is not as the Iews Church confined to one Nation but comprehendeth all
and they driven hastily out they yearly continued the Eating of the Passover with unleavened Bread as in a hasting posture 3. Since the Law given in the Wilderness they constantly used the Sacrifices the Oblations the Tabernacle the Priesthood and Ceremonies as that Law prescribed them And the National constant use of these was an ascertaining Tradition of the matters of Fact which were their cause 4. Yea so tenacious were they of this Law that as they taught the very Syllables of it to their Children and kept in the Ark the very Tables of Stone that had the Ten Commandments so they were Enemies to Christianity because the Christians were against the Gentiles Observation of their Law and for its abrogation 4. Consider again that the Matter of Fact and the Divine Institution is since made certain to us by Christs Testimony Q. 11. But seeing this Law doth not bind us now nor the particular Messages of the Prophets were sent to us is it any of our Concern now to know or believe them It belonged to those that they were made for and sent to But what are they to us A. There is not the same necessity to know them and so to be such that they were all of God as there is to know and believe the Gospel But it is greatly our Duty and Concern to believe them 1. Because they were preparatory to the Gospel and bore an antecedent Testimony to it 2. Because the Gospel it self beareth witness of their Truth which therefore if we believe it we must believe 3. Because by the Holy Ghost's direction all now make up our Books of Sacred Records which is the certain Word of God though not all of the same Necessity and Evidence And here I must tell you a great and needful Truth which ignorant Christians fearing to confess by overdoing tempt Men to Infidelity The Scripture is like a Mans Body where some parts are but for the preservation of the rest and may be maimed without death The Sence is the Soul of the Scripture and the Letters but the Body or Vehicle The Doctrine of the Creed Lords Prayer and Decalogue and Baptism and Lords Supper is the Vital part and Christianity it self The Old Testament Letter written as we have it about Ezras's time is that Vehicle which is as imperfect as the Revelation of those times was But as after Christ's Incarnation and Ascension the Spirit was more abundantly given and the Revelation more perfect and Sealed so the Doctrine is more full and the Vehicle or Body that is the Words are less imperfect and more sure to us so that he that doubteth of the Truth of some Words in the Old Testament or of some small Circumstantials in the New hath no reason therefore to doubt of the Christian Religion of which these Writings are but the Vehicle or Body sufficient to ascertain us of the Truth of the History and Doctrine Be sure first that Christ is the very Son of God and it inferreth the certainty of all his Words and enforceth our whole Religion Q. 12. I perceive then that our main Question is both as to Necessity and Evidence How we are sure that the Gospel is true and the Records of it the very Word of God A. It is so And as it is this that must Rule and Judge the Church so we have to us fuller proof of this than of the Old Testament Because that the narrowness of the Iews Countrey in comparison of the Christian World and the many Thousand Years distance and a Language whose Phrase and Proverbial speeches and the very sence of the common words of it must needs make it more unknown to us than the Language that the Gospel is Recorded in And it is not the least proof of the Truth of the Old Testament that it is attested and confirmed by the New Q. 13. Will you first tell me How the Apostles and that first Age were sure that the Gospel of Christ was the very Word of God A. Here I must first tell you that the great Mystery of the Blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost being One God is made necessary to us to be believed not only as to the Eternal unsearchable Inexistence but specially for the Knowledge of Gods three great sorts of Works on Man That is As our Creator and the God of Nature as our Redeemer and the God of Governing and and reconciling Grace and as our Sanctifier and the Applyer and Perfecter of all to fit us for Glory And so the Son as Redeemer is the way to the Father to know him and his Love and be reconciled to him And the Holy Ghost is the Witness of the Son The proof therefore of the Gospel of Christ in one word is the Holy Ghost that is the certain Testimony of God's Spirit And this Testimony consisteth of these several parts I. The foregoing Testimony of the Spirit by all the Prophesies of the Old Testament and the Typical Prefigurations which became a fuller proof than before when they were seen all to be fulfilled in Christ Yet many were fulfilled before When Abraham had no Child he was promised the Multiplication of his Seed and that all Nations should be blessed therein Gen. 12. 2. 13. 16. 15. 5. 17. 2. 18. 11 12. The 400 Years of their abode in Egypt and Canaan before were foretold and punctually fulfilled Gen. 15. 13 14. Ex. 12. 31 32. So was Iacob's Prophesie of Iudah's Scepter Gen. 42. 8 9 10. And Ioseph's dreams And verily Balaams last Prophesie was marvellous who when he had blessed Israel and foretold their Victories foretold also the Scepter of David and Christ and the success of the Assyrians and after that of Chittim against the Hebrews themselves Numb 24. And who seeth not the fulfilling of the terrible Prophesie of Moses against the Iews Deut. 31 Iosiah by Name and his Deeds were foretold 300 Years before he was Born 1 Kings 13. 2. 2 Kings 23. 15. Oft was the Captivity of the Iews foretold and the destruction of Babylon and the Iews return by Cyrus named long before he was Born and the very time foretold From the beginning Christ was promised and the circumstances of his coming foretold Gen. 3. 15. 26. 4. 49. 10. Deut. 18. 15. Psal. 2. 27. 89. 110. Isa. 53. 11. 1. Ier. 33. 15. Mic. 5. 2. That he should be Born of a Virgin Isa. 7. 14. in Bethlem Mic. 5. 2. and then the Infants killed Ier. 31. 15 that he should come into the Temple as the Angel of the Covenant whom they desired but they should not endure therein when he came because he came as a Refiner Mal. 3. 1. 3. That he should go into Egypt and return thence Isa. 19. 1. Hos. 11. 1. That One should go before him to prepare the way Mal. 3. 1. That he should do wonders for the People Isa. 35. 5. That a familiar should betray him and that for Thirty pieces of
from Heaven All these could give you no more certainty than such Miracles may do 4. And you must note that the proof of Miracles lyeth not on this that Angels or other Spirits or Second Causes can do no such things but that they cannot do it without God and that God will not do it to confirm a Lie or any thing which he would not have Man believe For then either Man must believe nothing sent from God though it were by an Host of Angels or else he must say I am unavoidably deceived by God himself for I have no possible means left to know the Fallacy 5. Therefore you must note that whenever God permitteth a Magician or false Prophet to do any wonder or unusual thing he never leaveth Man without a remedy against the Deceit but doth controlâ— and confute the Words of the Deceiver And usually he doth it but first to trie the Faith and steadfastness of Men and then to bring Truth into the clearer light And he controlleth false Miracles these wayes 1. He sealeth up the Truth which the Deceiver denyeth with a stream of most unquestionable Miracles and so sheweth us that it cannot be a Truth and of God which is said against such Sealed Verity while all his Miracles confute theirs 2. Or if it be a Truth known to Man by the Common Light of Nature that Light confuteth the Pretenders Miracle 3. If he do it to confirm a false Prediction it 's confuted by the thing not coming to pass 4. In the case of Egyptian Magicians wonders God permitted them that his power might triumph over them and confute them As he may permit a Sophister to talk against the Truth that he may be silenced and shamed In none of all this doth God become the Worlds deceiver But the Miracles of Christ and his Apoâ—â—les and Disciples were never controlled by the Light of Nature by more prevalent Miracles or any such means but were the fullest Signification of Gods attestation that Man can have to save him from Deceit Q. 19. I confess if I had seen all these things my self I should have made no doubt but God and Reason bound me to believe But how can we at this distance be sure that all these words of Christ were spoken and these works done A. Let us first consider how they were sure of it that lived in that Age with the Apostles and then how we may be also sure And â— That Age 1. Had the common Evidences of the best credibility of Men. 2. They had most infaâ—lible perception of it by their Senses and 3. They had an immediate Testimony from God themselves Of these let us consider in order Q. 20. 1. What credible humane Testimony do you mean they had A. It is supposed that some Persons are to be believed much above others else all humane trust and conversation would cease He that will believe no Body cannot expect to be himself believed And 1. The Witnesses of Christs words and works were not strangers to him that took it by report but those that had accompanyed him and heard and seen them 2. They spake to Men of the same Generation Time and Countrey and mentioned things done before Multitudes of Spectators so that had it been a false report it had been most easie to confute it and turn it all as a Lie unto their scorn 3. They sharply reproved the Rulers and Teachers for rejecting Christ and provoked all their rage against them So that no doubt they would do their best to have searcht out all deceit in the Reprovers 4. They were Men of no Carnal Interest to tempt them into a deceiving Plot but were foretold that they must be hated persecuted and killed for their Testimony 5. They were purposely Chosen from among the meaner Unlearned sort that there might be no Suspicion that it was a Work of carnal Crafâ— or Power 6. Though they heard and saw so far were they from plotting it that they understood it not themselves nor believed that Christ must Die for Sin Rise the Third Day and Ascend into Heaven and gather a Catholick Church and Reign Spiritually till the time that Christ was Risen and the Holy Ghost came down upon them And yet Châ—ist over and over foretold it them They taught not one another nor came to it by Study and Degrees but in the main by suâ—dain common inspiration and such as Christ had before promised them 8. Paul was called by a Glory and a Voice of Christ from Heaven in the sight of other persecuting company 9. Their Testimony all agreed and they all spake the same Truth 10. Their Enemies never wrote a Confutation of them nor decryed most of the matters of Fact but imputed it to Beelzâ—bub 11. None of them ever repented of his Testimony Whereas had they confederated to deceive the World some ones Conscience living or dying would sure have forced him to confess it 12. Yea they sealed it with their great Labour Sufferings and Blood 13. When false Teachers turned some of their Followers to Heresies and to forsake them they still appealed for the matters of Fact even to those Dissenters or opposers 14. Their Doctrine by its fore-described Light and Goodness testified of it self that it was of God And that those Men that at so dear a rate divulged it in design to Sanctifie and Save Mankind were no such wicked Knaves as to Plot the Worlds Delusion These were evidences of more than humane credibility II. And the Disciples in Iudea heard and saw Christ and his Miracles and so had as much certainty of the matter of Fact as sense could give them III. And they had Gods Immediate Testimony in themselves even his Spirits internal Revelation Illumination and Sanctifying Work And the wonderful Gifts of Healing Tongues Miracles by which they convinced others Q. 21. Proceed to shew me how their Followers were certain A. 1. They were Persons present and therefore their Senses assured them what was said and done They were the Men that heard the use of Languages given by Inspiration that heard the Triumphant Praises of God that saw them that were miraculously healed and some raised from the Dead could those doubt of the Miracles that saw the Lame Man that begg'd at the Temple cured by Peter and John and that saw Multitudes Cured by the very Shadow and Cloaths of the Apostles when they that saw the Lame Man healed Act. 14. would have Sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas as gods 2. They kept constant Church-meetings and the use of Languages and other extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit were the ordinary Exercises of those Assemblies so that they could not be unknown 3. It was not a few Apostles only that had this extraordinary Spirit but in one sort or other the generality of the Persons converted by them Sometime as the Apostles were Preaching the Spirit came upon the Hearers as it did on Cornelius and his Assembly Act. 10. Usually
the Sun is as much as to say If this be not true then I have no Faith Truth Honesty there is no Temple Altar Fire Sun or let me be taken for one that denyeth that I have any Faith that there is any Sun Fire c. or it is as true as that this is Fire Sun c. so to Swear by God is to say It is as true as that there is a God or as God liveth c. or If I Lye take me for one that denyeth God to be God and consequently it is an Appeal to him as the Avenger so By the Life of Pharaoh was As true as Pharaoh liveth or else take me for one that denyeth the life of Pharaoh So that there is somewhat of an Imprecation or Self-reproach as the penalty of a Lye in every Oath but more dreadfully of Divine Revenge when we Swear by God and of Idolatry when men Swear by an Idol as if it were a God Q. 6. Which be the chief wayes of taking Gods Name in vain A. 1. Fathering on him false Doctrine Revelations or Laws saying as false Prophets God sent me and Thus saith the Lord when it is false saying This Doctrine or this Prophecy Gods Spirit revealed to me when it is not so therefore all Christians must be very fearful of false Revelations and Prophecies and see that they believe not every Spirit nor pretend to Revelations and to take heed of taking the Suggestions of Satan or their crazed melancholy Fancies for the Revelations of God 2. So also Gathering false Doctrines out of Scripture by false Expositions and fathering these on God And therefore all men should in dark and doubtful cases rather suspend their judgments till they have overcome their doubts by solid Evidence than rashly to conclude and confidently and fiercely dispute for Errour It 's a great prophanation to father Lies on God who is the Hater of them when Lying is the Devils work and character 3. The same I may say of a rash and false Interpretation of Gods Providences 4. And also of fathering false Laws on God and saying that he either commandeth or forbiddeth what he doth not To make Sins and Duties which God never made and say he made them is to father falshood on him and corrupt his Government 5. Another way is by false Worship 1. If men say that God commanded such Worship which he commanded not it is the sin last mentioned 2. If they worship him with their own Inventions without his Command Particular or General they prophane his Name by offering him that which is unholy common and unclean 6. Another way is by false pretending that God gave them that Authority which he never gave them Like counterfeiting a Commission from the King â—…f Princes should pretend that God gave them Authority to oppose his Truth to persecute Godliness â—…njustly to silence faithful Ministers of Christ to â—…aise unnecessary Warres to oppress the Innocent This were a heinous taking of God's Name in vain â—…f Priests shall pretend that God gave them Authority to make themselves Pastors of the Flocks that are unwilling of them without a just Call or to make Laws for any that are not rightfully their Subjects and to impose their Dictates Words and Forms and unnecessary Inventions as Conditions of Ministration or Communion without true right and to make themselves the Rule of other mens words and actions by usurpation this is all taking Gods Name in vain And so it is if they Preach false Doctrine in his Name and if they pronounce false Excommunications and Absolutions and justifie the wicked and condemn reproach and slander the Just and brand unjustly the Servants of Christ as Hypocrites Schismaticks or Hereticks and this as by Ministerial Power from Christ especially if they silence Christs Ministers impose Wolves or incompetent men scatter the Flocks and suppress serious Godliness and all this in the Name of Christ. Much more if any pretend as the Pope or his pretended general Councils to be Christs Vicar General or Head or Supream unifying Governour over all the Church on Earth and to make Lawes for the whole Church Or if they corrupt Gods Worship with imposed Superstitions Falshoods or Prophanations and say God hath Authorized them to do this It is hainous Prophaning God's Name by a Lie such doing brought up the Proverb In nomine Domini incipit omne malum When all their Abuses began with In the Name of God Amen And they that make new Church-forms which God made not either Papal Universal Aristocracy Patriarchal and such like and either pretend that God made them or gave them or such other power to make them must prove what they say lest they prophane Gods Name by falshood But the highest Prophanation is when they preâ—end that God hath made them Absolute Governours and set them so far above his own Laws and Judgment and himself as that whatever they say is the Word of God or the Sence of the Scripture though never so falsly must be taken for such by all and whatever they command or forbid they must be obeyed though Gods Word command or forbid the contrary And that God hath given power to Popes or Councils to forbid men the Worship which God commandeth yea to Interdict whole Kingdoms and excommunicate and depose Kings and that from these as a Supream Power no man must appeal to the Scripture or to God and his final Judgment This is by prophane Lying to use God's Name to the destroying of Souls the Church and the Laws and Government of God himself 7. Another way of taking God's Name in vain is by Heresies that is embodying in separated Parties or Churches against the Church and Truth of God for the propagating of some dangerous false Doctrine which they father on God and so militate in his Name against his Church If men as aforesaid do but promote false Doctrine in the Church without Separation it is bad But to gather an Army against the Truth and Church and feign Christ to be the Leader of it is worse 8. Another way is by Perjury appealing to God or abusing his name as the Witness and owner of a Lye 9. Another way is by false Vows made to God himself When men either Vow to God to do that which he abhorreth or hath forbidden Or when they Vow that which is good with a false deceitful Heart and as Ananias and Sapphira with false reserves or when they Vow and pay not but wilfully break the Vows which they have made The breach of Covenants between Princes or between them and Subjects or between Husband and Wife confirmed by appeal to God is a dreadful sin But the violation of the great Baptismal Vow in which we are all solemnly devoted and obliged to God is one of the hainousest sins in the World When it is not about a lesser duty but even our Oath of Allegiance to God by solemn Vow taking him for our God our Saviour and