in their raised and immortalised bodies they shall appear Matth. 13.40 41 42 49 50. 16.26 27. 25.41 46. 3.12 when he shall appear in flaming fire to render vengeance even armed with the power and wrath of God in unspeakable unconceivable terror with an innumerable company of mighty Angels attending on him ready to execute his commands against them and then shall he utterly destroy the Rebels sentence them to be everlastingly companions with the Devil and his Angels that seduced them Rev. 20.10 12 13 14. Isa 30.33 Mark 9.44 45 46 47 48. and whom they chose to adhere and cleave to rather than to folfollow the Lamb in his Light and Grace wherewith he prevented and followed them And then he shall execute the Doom also upon them Rev. 14.9 10 11 12. Isa 66.24 thrusting them down with the Devil and his Angels into an ever-burning Lake of Fire and Brimstone into the Rivers of the wrath of God to be perpetually kindled upon them by the power of that Spirit that came to them and convinced them and being obeyed would have saved them which Spirit being infinite and eternally wise and powerful Oh! how infinite eternal and unbearably great must needs be the wrath executed upon them by him when their bodies being immortal and insepaâ—able from their souls again they shall be capable of enduring it endlesly and being separated from God and all his Creature-comforts too they shall have pure wrath without mixture no dram of good or ease or comfort afforded with it The fire of his wrath shall torment them perpetually and the Conscience of their own willing sinnings against him and despising their Saviour and his salvation when freely offered them and made attainable to them shall perpetually grieve and confound them and as a Worm that dyes not for ever gnaw them All the good they had from God Luk. 16.23 24 25. and might have had for ever had they hearkned to him being evermore before them on the one side and the remembrance of it infinitely dolorous to them and on the other side the several wickednesses committed contrived thought and acted by them in word and deed Jonas 2.8 with the aggravations of them as for what foolish trivial sorry and vile things and against what checks warnings faithfull means of preventing them they have made the forfeiture and sustain the loss of that eternal glory that others have and they might have had in their obeying Christ in the light and truth offered them shall add unconceivably to their everlasting woe and horror and lamentation Rev. 14.8 10 11 12. and yet no ease after inconceivable times or duration nor no way or possibility of Redemption such the terror of the Lord in that day even such as his goodness abused by men in this day and the good the grace the glory trampled under foot by them the worth of the person and sufferings of Christ sin'd against and the greatness of the glory and majesty of God contemned and 〈◊〉 at nought 2 Pet. 2.1 2. Tit. 1.2 2.13 Matth. 11.29 30. 1 Joh. 5.3 2 Cor. 5.11 and that for vile things inâ—nitely below them deserves to be reveâ—ged with The faith exceeding true and precious The hope firm and infinitely glorious The obedience required exceeding reasonable and not grievous because he is ready at hand to effect it in us and therefore also the Terror and Torment upon the refusers exceedingly and incomprehensibly Dolorous SECT 4. A Digression about the Endlesness of the punishments mentioned in the Gospel-Terrors AGainst this Doctrine of the Terrors of the Gospel and endlesness of the torments or punishment to which Christ will at the Great Day adjudge his enemies Some may object that sure it cannot be consistent with his love mercy and goodness to adjudge his Creatures for any cause whatsoever to such endless misery Probably Mr. Hobbs Yea there is an Anonymous Author that hath put out a Discourse on purpose to prove the the Doctrine of Hell torments false and fabulous Therefore I shall add some Considerations here briefly for confirmation of the truth already said thereabout Yet not by way of particular Answer to that Book which I have also otherwise answered to some Friends for indeed it is so monstrous in its assertion and so self-contradictory that I hope none that give credit to God and are able in any measure to judge of things will be snared by it for it saith Sin is only punisht in this life no greater punishment of it than death quite contrary to the words of Christ that tell us John 5.29 That some shall be raised out of their Graves at the last day to condemnation and Dan. 12.2 That some shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt yea that after the Resurrection some shall be adjudged to a second death a lake that burns with fire and brimstone Rev. 20.13 14 15. True the said Author also confesses a second death but he makes it but the same with the first save only as it is judicially executed for he asserts that Adam and all men should have died had they not sinned but now the death that should have been otherwise natural is now judicially executed and so a man that is hanged for murther or the like he makes to dye there in the second death But how cross this is to the Scripture who is so blind as not to see Seeing the Scriptures plainly make the second death to be a death adjudged to some men after their Resurrection from the first as in Rev. 20. before quoted yea the same nameless Author would perswade men that God works in them their sins wills their sins and falls before they will them that Gods will is the womb in which all the actings of men at first conceived that he was never displeased or unsatisfied with the Being oâ—sin and divers the like monstrous assertions that I suppose none but Atheisâ— or Ranters can easily digest and which indeed could they be proved true would render it unreasonable to conceive that God can or will inflict any punishment upon men for sin at all either in this life or after it much less endless Though indeed it might as reasonably be thought that God will punish his creature with endless torments Psal 5.4 5. Habbak 1.12 though their sins deserve them not as that he can or will be the Author Willer and Worker of their sin seeing sin is more directly contrary to his purity and holiness then the inflicting of Pain or Torments upon his Creature is or can be But not to trouble our selves with the several reasonings of the said Author in the said Book which also broadly enough contradicts it self while sometime it represents God as a punisher of sin in this life only sometimes tell us the wicked shall be burnt up with the earth and that shall be their punishment and sometimes that God was never unsatisfied with the being of Sin and so
and declares himself to be and so calling upon him in all their wants and needs acknowledging confessing and glorifying him in all things by Jesus Christ even in all his goodness 1 Thess 5.16 17 18. Philip. 4.6 7. Ephes 5.18 19 20. Rom. 6.11 12 13 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 6.20 and gracious Dispensations to and dealings with them or others as manifest to them yielding up themselves and all their powers and members to walk with obey and serve him as his grace afforded instructs and strengthens them 5. Matth. 28.19 20. 26.26 27 28. 1 Cor. 11.25 26 27 28. Acts 2.41 42. Rom. 15.9 10. Col. 3.16 Heb. 3.12 13. 10.25 Ephes 6.17 18. Phillip 3.3 John 4.23 24. Jude 20. Matth. 16.24 Rom. 6.2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 2.19 20 21. 3.25 26 27 28 29. That they attend unto and upon God and Christ in such ways ordinances and appointments of his as He hath made known to them in his Doctrine to be injoyed and appointed of God for them in the present Administration of his Grace and Truth according to his mind therein is manifested to them and perceived by them As in times past they had the Observations of the New Moons Sabbaths Sollemn meetings appointed of God by Moses where they had them Revealed to them So now we have the use of Baptism the Supper and Assemblies of Believers in the Name of Christ as may be warrantably injoyed And such an hearty spiritual and close obedience to God and Christ in the Spirit denying our Selves and going out of all knowledge of our Selves after and confidence in and glorying of the Flesh and being Baptized or Planted into Christ to seek all our Life Peace and Righteousness Wisdom Strength Salvation in him is required of us and is to be held forth by us as required of all Men according to their capacities of obeying in and by the Gospel-Doctrine And this also is good and true in it self and to be held forth with the Gospel to All men not to be first required of men to prepare them for the Gospel nor to be their Righteousness toward God But upon Phil. 3.7 8 9 10. Rom. 10.3 and with the Preaching of the Gospel this they are to be instructed to and admonished That they refuse not the Gospel taught to and to be Believed by them nor refuse to obey it in what it requireth and calls for from them as the way in which sowing to the Spirit they shall be more filled with the Spirit and so be more led into Christ Gal. 6.7 Col. 2.9 10. 3.9 10. in whom God hath given us a full perfect and abiding Righteousness and all things pertaining to Life and Godliness To further which also the Gospel further presents SECT 3. Gospel Terrours GOspel Terrours Arguments of Fear 2 Cor. 5.11 to awaken and quicken men to receive and obey the Truth brought to them in what it says to and requires of them As to give some brief hints as resulting from and presented in the Gospel-Faith or Doctrine 1. 1 Tim. 1.13 14 15. Tit. 2.3 4. It presents sin very loathsom and displeasing to God especially willing and careless sinnings against the light truth and grace brought to men by him The presentation of what Christ hath done to take away sin Heb. 2.2 3 4. 10.26 29. 7.19 9.19 9.22 10.1 6 7. presents sin never a whit the less but the more loathsom to God in as much as it was not nor may be pardoned but through the sufferings death and sacrifice of Christ for men And if sin against God as a Creator was so loathsom how much more is sinning against him willingly Heb. 10.29 12.21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29. Heb. 1. 2.1 2 3 4. now he hath done so much more for us and put so much greater ingagements upon us to be his and to obey and serve him The more he hath done for us the more reason we have to listen to him and the more heinous our rebellions and sins against him and the more he loves his Son who suffered for us the more is he provoked by our disobedience to and rebellions against his Son in his calls and counsels to us for our salvation 2. Matth. 28.18 19. Rom. 14.9 10 11 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 Phil. 2.10 11. Jam. 4.5 12 13. It presents God and Christ armed with infinite power and authority to punish the transgressors and rebels against him all power in Heaven and upon Earth being his and all creatures at his beck to be imployed or made use of by him at his pleasure so as no ability in us by strength or wisdom to shift from him or from any the least part of the punishment or judgment that he will inflict upon us if we rebel against him 1 Cor. 10.22 Ezek. 22.14 3. Eccles 9.10 2 Cor. 6.1 2. Heb. 3.15 Rev. 1.18 19. 3.7 It presents the time of this life the only time for hearing his voice and obeying him and seeking favour and acquaintance with him yea it 's his pleasure whither to wait upon us so long the Keys of Heaven and Hell are in his hands Luke 13.7 8 9 25 26 27. Matth. 10.38 Luke 10.5 6. and as he can open as he pleases and keep open â—he door of life so long as he pleases so he can shut it when he will too yea our â—ives also are in his hand and not in our own He can take away our breath and spirit when he pleases and cast the Transgressors into Hell and there is no withstanding of him therein None hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit neither is there any power in the day of death Eccles 8.8 4. That he can and may 1 Cor. 10.5 6 7 8 9 10. with 9.26 27. 11.30 Rev. 2.4 5 21 22. Deut. 28.2 Thess 2.9 10. 11 12. Act. 13.40 41. and by mens refusing his grace and truth and therein his Son and Spirit and Self is provoked to inflict heavy judgements upon them here in their souls or bodies or both either denying them or depriving them of the comfortable injoyments of such outward mercies and liberties as otherwise he is ready to give them or else imbitter his gifts to them filling them with a curse so as to fill them with vexation and anguish of Spirit or else to blast them in all and curse their spirits as to give them up to delusions lusts and ways of their own to run themselves to destruction 5. Act. 10.42 17.30 31. Rom. 2.16 14.11 12.2 Cor. 5.10 11. Rev. 20.12 13 14.2 Thess 1.6 7 8 9. Jude 14 15. That however he hath absolutely decreed and appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Christ Jesus and then will raise all up out of their graves no darkness or shadow of death shall be able to hide or keep them from his presence but before him
Luk. 20.35 36. the Saints shall judge and reign therein receiving double for all their sufferings here yea everlasting rost joy and glory The Children of the Resurrection who shall arise at Christs appearing even the just and they that surviving shall then be changed shall be counted worthy of it and shall be equal to the Angels of God Psal 49.14 15. Isa 66.22 23 24. Rev. 20.6 7. being manifested both in souls and bodies to be his Children and they shall have dominion over the wicked beholding their torments who here had tormented them and shall judge the world even the Nations of the saved or preserved being Kings and Priests unto God beholding his face for evermore and dwelling in his presence impassible immortal Rev. 21.3 4 5 6 7. 22.1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. satisfied with joy and glory for ever where also they shall have their Paradise their Tree of Life their River of pure Water clear as Chrystal in a Spiritual and Heavenly manner without any Serpent to tempt them or curse to afflict and exercise them being fully and perfectly freed from all sin sorrow pain crying and Death their rais'd and changed bodies being made spiritual powerful nimble agile glorious yea they shall shine as Stars in the Kingdom of God ruling with Christ the Nations in righteousness which Nations probably shall consist firstly of the preserved Jews and then of some remnant of the Gentiles miraculously preserved in that great day of perdition of ungodly men Isa 65.17 18 19 20 24 25. Psal 67 4 5 6 7. 96.10 11 12 13. 98.7 8 9. and those as so◠conceive shall under the Governmen 〈◊〉 the raised and changed Saints Till th◠Earth build Houses plant Vineyards beget Children though the Children 〈◊〉 the Resurrection shall neither marry no◠be given in marriage nor dye any more and the earth shall yeild its increase i◠abundance as it would have done before the curse came upon it Discourse on the New Heavens and New Earth But because many things therein are hard to be understood and I have otherwhere more fully delivered my thoughts thereabout 〈◊〉 shall say no more here about them SECT 7. Of two kinds of Lives and Deaths THe Gospel-Doctrine also mentions two Lives 1 Tim. 4.8 and two Deaths the one in this world and the other in the world to come The Life that now is that which we derive from the first Adam Gen. 3.6 4.1 or which God gives us as propagated from him who was made a living soul and begat in his own likeness and because it was not propagated till after the fall Jam. 4.13 14. Job 14.1 Psal 75.3 68.19 20. therefore it is a corrupt and sinful life a vapour a bubble uncertain short and full of misery yet as this old world is upheld by Christ and his mediation that there might be space and opportunity to be born live seek after God and glorifie him in it so is this life given and preserved through him too in a great mixture of mercies and manifold good things to the same purposes But the life that is to come is an Heavenly Spiritual and Eternal Life and it 's said to be to come because as to the whole man it 's not yet come Joh. 5.24 1.13 There is a seed of it here infused and put into the heart and spirit of the Believer by which he is begotten to God and made a spiritual man in some first fruits 2 Cor. 5.16 17. Eph. 2.10 a Son and Heir of God a new creature created in Christ Jesus to good works c. Rom. 8.10 But in as much as this is but the beginning of this life and that only in part in the Spirit the body yet must dye and the soul be loosed from it till the resurrection of the just in which the soul and body shall be reunited and the body be made a living spiritual body and both live in the favour of and in fellowship with God Rev. 21.4 5. and that is yet wholy to come therefore it is called the life to come an everlasting life in which shall be no affliction sorrow decay or death but everlasting uninterrupted health welfare prosperity and happiness 1 Joh. 5.11 12. This is the life which Christ hath purchased for us and which in him is given us to be enjoyed through the faith of him Col. 3.3 4. Act. 17.26 27 28. 1 Joh. 5.12 and in personal injoyment of and fellowship with him The first life is common to all men as born into the world the second though given in Christ to all yet is had and injoyed only by them that have Christ the rest that rejecting him have him not have not it neither but incur the sentence of death the Death opposed to this Eternal Life the sedond Death For There is also a twofold Death answerable to this twofold Life Rev. 20.13 14. Rom. 5.12 14 18. Heb. 9.27 2 Tim. 1.10 2 Cor. 5.14 Gal. 3.13 Psal 23.4 90.12 2 Cor. 5.8 9. 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Eccles 7.1 Prov. 27.1 Jam. 4.13 14 15. 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. Isa 57.1 Job 3.12 13 14 15 16. Mat. 25 41 46. Rev. 2.11 〈◊〉 .6.14 with 〈◊〉 Cor. 5.10 11. The first is that which came in by the first Adam and is common to all in their several times but is broken and evacuated by Christ as is before noted the punishment of our sins in Adam being sustained by Christ as to its weight and curse though some shadow and carcase of it is ordered to us to be passed through by us that we might by the consideration of it be stirred up to apply our hearts to wisdom and seek and lay hold of that Eternal Life given us in Christ and be kept humble and low in our selves and always watchful the time and way of it being secret and kept from our foreknowledge so as that we cannot boast our selves of the morrow not knowing what a day may bring forth as also that we might experiment the power and grace of Christ in supporting in it and raising us up out of it and be taken from sorrow and oppression by it and that the wicked might be cut of from doing wickedly and from vexing and oppressing the poor and righteous The second Death is that fearful punishment prepared for the Devil and his Angels forementioned not prepared properly and in Gods first intention for men yet shall be the punishment too of these men that persist in their sins 2 Thes 1.7 8. Heb. 9.27 28. Luke 14.14 1 Cor. 15.23 24. 1 Thes 4.16 17. Rev. 20.6 7 11 12. for their personal rejections of God and Christ and persisting therein to prefer their sins before him But it is not common to all men as the first Death is It is appointed for all men once to dye and out of that all shall be raised and brought to judgement though not all
know his Presence with them even while to appearance and in his body absent from them c. His comforting Operations may be many or fewer according as he pleases and as he sees good to give and the conditions of his people require and they are meet for but they are all in and through his goodness and grace in Christ discovered as all his other gracious Operations be while he by his Spirit minds men of and opens to them his Love Power Wisdom Faithfulness his undertakings for them promises to them examples of his goodness and faithfulness to others in like cases and therein also sets before them the inconsiderableness of their Enemies Dangers Sufferings the lightness and momentaniss of them in comparison of the good afforded and promised them he raises up and incourages their hearts and fills them with assured hope and consolation 2 Thess 2.16 17. 2 Cor. 4.15 16 17 c. 6. His strengthning and confirming Operations are many of them of the same import and from the same spring with his comforting and healing Operations they are spoken of 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 1.6 7 8. 16.7 8. Eph. 3.15 16. 1 Pet. 5.10 And they differ little the one from the other and therefore I put them both together as under one Head onely his confirming Operations be such efficacies of his grace and workings of his Spirit as in and by which he opening his Truth more clearly to the heart and therein discovering the weakness of all opposite Principles or otherwise also evidencing his Presence with his Truth People and Ways doth make the heart more firm in belief of his Truth and so in resolution to cleave and adhere to it and to him in it and to his people and ways according to it begetting in the heart more assurance of their Rightness and of good success therein His strengthening Operations besides what hath been hinted of them in the foregoing Operations more respect oppositions resistances and assaults against men in Gods way either by Sin in men or by Satan and men from without them as also Afflictions Pressures and the like from the hand of God to stand under which and against all assaults the grace of God in Christ as it is sufficient to strengthen men so it doth it also by presenting such Motives from Rom. 5.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. and considerations of Gods love and goodness Christ's faithfulness to them and care and watchfulness over them and power and promises to save them the good and gracious ends of God in them and assurance of a good Issue out of them with other Arguments as the Gospel or Truth Revealed affords therethrough putting courage and resolution virtue and man-hood as it were into them so as to stand it out with patience and magnanimity to the end 7. His conforming Operations are of the like nature with his Renewing and healing and by the same means or mediums even the beholding the glory of Christ and of God in Christ as opened to men and by his Spirit effectually and by a certain creative force or power working therein as also by the same Spirit he will conform the body to his own glorious body at his coming onely there is this difference that in conforming the Soul Mind and Spirit to himself he works upon men in a way suitable to men living voluntary agents and in their exercise of themselves in the ways in which he leads them as in beholding his Glory presented by him before them and therefore men are capable of hindring themselves of their own good in that by turning away their minds from him unto vanity As Naaman might have hindred the healing of his Leprosie by coming out of the Waters of Jordan too soon viz. before he had washed the Seventh time though in continuing so to wash he could not hinder it God effecting it in him by a creative power But in the Resurrection and conforming of the Body to Christs glorious Body Christ will work purely Physically or Hyperphysically rather and irresistably as he wrought in creating things that had no voluntary agency in themselves at least none before he had made them or as he works upon natural agents or things as to make the Earth to Bud or the Corn to grow or more irresistibly then so to even as in making Heaven and â—arth But this pertains to the manner 〈◊〉 God's operation in these his gratious Workings before we speak to which we shall as we propounded consider the other kind of operations attributed to God and see what the Scriptures signifie to us concerning them CHAP. IX Of Operations in Wrath and Judgment attributed to God as Hardning Blinding Deceiving Men c. SECT 1. That the Scriptures Attribute these kind of Operations to God and that yet we are so to conceive of him in them as not to make him the Author of mens Sinnings GOd is said in the Scriptures to harden blind and deceive men and therefore that such Operations or Workings as tend to these things are Attributed to him is evident both in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles for God is said by Moses to have hardned Pharaoh's heart and he said to Moâ— when he sent him to him that he wouâ— harden his heart so as he would nâ— let the people go Exod. 4.21 and 7.3 aâ— 9.12 And so he is said to have hardnâ— Sihons Spirit and to have made his heâ— obstinate that he might deliver him inâ— Israels hand Deut. 2.30 And Isaiâ— says by way of Expostulation Lorâ— why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayâ— and hardned our hearts from thy feâ— And Paul saith of God whom he will 〈…〉 hardneth And the Prophet Isaiah 〈…〉 quoted by the Evangelist said God haâ— blinded their eyes and hardned their heartâ— Joh. 12.40 It being God who bade thâ— Prophet go and make the heart of thâ— people fat and their ears heavy and shâ— their eyes lest they see with their eyes anâ— hear with their ears and understand witâ— their hearts and be converted and healed 〈…〉 Isa Zeph. 3.5 Jam. 1.13 17. 6.10 And God said to Ezekiel 〈…〉 If the Prophet be deceived I the Lord have 〈…〉 deceived that Prophet Ezek. 14.9 But 〈…〉 how may these things be looked upon aâ— the works and doings of God seeing the 〈…〉 just Lord will not nor can do iniquity 〈…〉 Let no man say when he is tempted 〈…〉 am tempted of God for God cannot beâ— tempted with evil neither tempteth hâ— any man every good gift and everâ— perfect giving is from above and cometâ— down from the Father of Lights with 〈…〉 whom is no variableness nor shadow oâ— turning Surely those things to deceiveâ— â—nd harden and make men obstinate and â—o blind men are the works of Satan â—nd how then can they be ascribed to God â—e most holy God who is of purer eyes â—en to behold iniquity much less then â—ay he make or impel or stir men up â—o do evil Surely therefore
a Trinity in respect of the manner of his subsisting and working the Father the Son or Word and the Holy Ghost or in other tearms coming up to the same Truth â—th 3.17 â— 19. That God even the Father hath a Son and an holy Spirit the spirit of the Son and of the Father one in Essence and Godhead with himself 4. That this One God is an eternal 1 Tun. 1.17 1 King 8.27 Psal 135.5 8. 139.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 147.5 1 Sam. 2.2 Psal 100.5 36.5 6 7. Isa 44.6 59.6 1 Cor. 8.6 2 Cor. 5.18 Mic. 2.7 1 John 3.8 infinite and infinitely wise powerful holy and good Spirit who hath his Being of himself and is the Author of all Beings Sin excepted which hath its Being of and from the Sinner and Satan whatsoever 5. That this glorious God is onely perfectly and fully knowable by and known to himself and cannot be known either perfectly or in part by us or any other Creature but in his own Light and Manifestation of himself to us Job 11.7 8 9. Psal 139.6 and 36.9 John 1.18 Matth. 11.27 6. That this glorious God Rev. 4.10.11 Isa 40.28 Col. 1.16 17. Heb. 1.2 3. Job 34.13 did for manifestation of himself and his own Glory Make Create give Beginning and Being to the World and all things therein visible and invisible by his Infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness and is also the Upholder and Governour thereof and of all things therein according to his own wisdom and good-pleasure 7. That amongst Gen. 1.25 26 27. 2.7 21 22. 5.2 and after all other things Man also had his Being and Beginning of or from God and was made by him as his choice visible Creature in one man made of the Dust of the Earth and inspired and inlivened with a living rational Soul and in one Woman made of that Man to be a Meet-help for him Male and Female made he them 8. That man Gen. 1.26.27 Eccles 7.29 Psâ—l 49.12 20. Prov. 8.31 Act. 17.27 28. Gen. 3.22 with 2.17 was in that one Man and one Woman made very honourable happy and glorious in Gods own image and likeness upright and without sin capable of knowing and having converse with God and of serving and living to him in whom he also lives moves and hath his being and so of living for ever The Ruler over the rest of Gods Works and the subordinate end of their Creation they being made for Man's use and service so as nothing was wanting to man that might make for his comfort and happiness so good and bountiful was God to him onely man was mutable and so might if he would be so foolish to Sin and forfeit all And sure the Gospel supposes this both as to the goodness of man's condition otherwise Sin had not been mans or chargeable upon him much less at so high a rate as to deserve such a Penalty to be inflicted upon as the Gospel also implies if man had not been made Righteous and without Sin and both in a capacity and unspeakably obliged to have continued so as also to the mutability of his Condition otherwise he could not have sinned and lost it all 9. That God made also other intelligent Creatures besides Man Col. 1.16 invisible Spirits called Angels made good and excellent glorious Creatures 1 Pet. 3.21 of whom some fell from their Principality and glorious station and are become Devils 2 Pet. 2.4 unclean and wicked Spirits Enemies to God and Men Jude 6. Matth. 8.28 31. 12.24 27 43 45. 25.41 Mark 4.2.12 Gen. 3.1 with Rev. 20.1 2 3 8. with 16.13 14. and to all goodness of whom one is chief and Principal and the rest his Angels who being for their voluntary sin and defection thrust down from God inticed and still endeavour to entice men to revolt from God and Rebel against him that they might by incurring his Wrath become as miserable as themselves that is endlesly and irrecoverably miserable for such they are being forsaken of God and bound over in Chains of Darkness to the Judgment of the great Day to be then for ever Tormented 2 Pet. 2.4 Matt. 25.41 The rest of the Angels keeping their places are happy and glorious Spirits 1 Tim. 5.21 Mark 8.38 Psal 103.20 beholding God's Face rejoycing in his Presence Glory and Works always ready prest to do his Commands employ'd by him as Ministring Spirits for the guard and helpfulness of Mankind especially such as are Heirs of his Protection and Salvation Matth. 18.10 Heb. 1.7 14. 10. That God as it was but meet Gen. 2.16 17. 3.23 and as seemed good to his own infinite Wisdom having made Man so good and happy and having put so great Ingagements upon him to Love and Serve him did also give him a Law very reasonable and easie being but to abstain from one tree or fruit when he had all variety for necessity and delight besides freely given him and a tree of life which had vertue in it to have preserved him from Dying By which Law Man had occasion and advantage given him of testifying his love and obedience to him and to acknowledge his Soveraignty over them adding withal a Penalty That in case he brake it he should surely die 11. That Man having this Law given him Gen. 3.1 2 6. with Rev. 20.1 2. Jam. 1.2 3 4. Eccles 7.29 and being wisely permitted of God to be Tempted by the old Serpent the Devil and Satan that God might try his love and obedience to him and prove his thankful gratitude for so great goodness did foolishly and needlesly by his own meer will incline to the Tempter and break the Commandment given him although such as might so easily have been obstructed by him 12. That Man so Sinning Defiled himself with the Poyson of Satans Temptation Rom. 5.12 18 19. 3.23 Gen. 3.22 23. with Psal 30.5 Rom. 3.9 10 11 12 19.23 Gen. 3.10 11 16 17 18. and incurred the Penalty annexed to the Law even Death upon Himself and his whole Posterity Naturally to descend from him in as much as they were all in him and he the publick Head and Representative of them what God did to him and gave to him he did and gave to us all in him therefore also what he did concerned us all by and from him and so He and all his fell under the displeasure of our Great Creator and thereby into woful misery to be cast out of God's favour and from his presence and fellowship the spring and source of all happiness and blessing and so to be devested of his Image and Glory inward Righteousness and Integrity and outward Lustre or Sanctity or soundness Psal 14.1 2 3 4. Eph. 2.1 2. 1 Joh. 3.8 Heb. 2.14 and to be filled with sin and sinfulness as a loathsome Disease apting us to all vanity and wickedness and to be filled with pain Morality and
with his grace as not onely his approving the heart and conscience but also blessing the Soul pouring out his Spirit into it and thereby making known his words giving it more light and truth and leading it into more good inabling it to go on yet further and follow after God still in his good ways and giving in comfortable encouragements thereunto in which the Soul still closing with and following after the Spirit receives more of its presence concomitancy strength and helpfulness and is followed still with more grace peace blessing goodness c. the holy Spirit entring into it and taking up his abode therein in his light life vertues operations grace as an indwelling Principle as a spring of living water bubling or springing up to everlasting Life Joh. 4.14 filling it with Lustings after God and against the Flesh and its evil and carnal operations For all the operations and workings in the believer Gal. 5.17 19. Rom. 7.20 21 22 23 24. are not the operations of God and his Spirit there is also in him while here the flesh and corrupt Nature and bent lusting and working in him against the Spirit being so far from being of it that it is altogether contrary thereunto But all the fruits of the Spirit as love joy peace patience c are the Spirits and so God's workings in the Soul yea they are the consequents of the Souls entertainment of and obedience to Gods gracious preventing operations and of its walking in his accompanying Influences Now these consequent operations are every where mentioned where God promises more Grace to men upon their listening to and obeying of him Prov. 1.23 35. Chap. 2.1 2 4 5 6. as Turn at my reproofs Behold I will pour out my spirit to you I will make known my words And again Whosh hearkneth to me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil And My son if thou receive my sayings so that thy heart keep my commandments so that thou incline thine ear to wisdome and apply thine heart to understanding c. then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God then thou shalt understand righteousness judgment equity and every good path Of the same nature are those sayings in John 14 15 16 17 21 23. And Psal 25.8 9 12 14. Good and upright is the Lord therefore by way of preventing operation he will teach sinners the way and then upon their being meekned by those first Teachings to which they tend it follows as a consequent work or operation The meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach that is further teach in his way All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth to them that keep his Covenant and his Testimonies What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse his soul shall dwell at ease The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he shall shew them his Covenant c. But why should I multiply Expressions here about seeing all the Promises of more Grace and Blessings almost are significations of the said operations onely this I may add That Gods operations of this nature are though not universal as to all men because all close not with his grace in his preventing operations yet universal and uniform in a sort to All that believe and obey the grace of God in every Nation and People and under every Dispensation of the means of Grace and Knowledge of God afforded to men for in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him there being no respect of persons with him though as to the measure of what he worketh consequently to mens faith and obedience there is and may be great difference yea and as to the things the gifts or graces thereby effected but in the main substance there is an unity and uniformity in his said workings All that follow on to know the Lord shall know him All that with meekness receive his Teachings shall be further taught and guided in judgment All that turn at his Reproof he will pouâ— out his Spirit to and make known his words to more or less his Promises to that purpose being general or universal to all such and He true and righteous in the performance of his Promises A great encouragement to All to close with and obey his Truth and Grace Thus to that distinction of his gracious operations into preventing accompanying and following operations SECT 7. The said gracious operations otherwise distinguished BUt the said gracious Operations may be also otherwise distinguished and are in the Scriptures distinctly mentioned under other Names as convincing converting regenerating or renewing healing comforting strengthning conforming and the like Of which briefly 1. God in and by his words and works and by his Spirit is convincing the hearts and consciences of men of his Being Goodness Truths of their own sinfulness and misery the vanity and worthlesness of their own works and righteousness the emptiness and fadingness of all Creature-injoyments the uncertainty of their lives the vanity and brutishness of their own thoughts and imaginations the evil and sinfulness of their ways c. according to the means afforded them and manifestations of his Truth in and by those means to and in them This kind of operation is often spoken of in the Scriptures as Prov. 1.23 Turnye at my reproofs my arguings or convinements of you Implying That Wisdom is arguing reproving and convincing men Again ver 25.30 John 16.7 8 9 10 11. Ye set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproofs So our Saviour tells his Disciples That the Spirit which he would send them should reprove argue or convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on him c. And this is that which is called the Spirit striving with or judging in men Gen. 6.3 Gods standing in the Congregation of the Mighty Rev. 3.20 and judging among the Gods How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked Psal 82.1 2. Christs standing at the door and knocking And in this operation is 1. A manifesting and evidencing his Truth more or less to men shining it into their Consciences and shewing it them As Rom. 1.19 2 Cor. 4.2 Yea and 2. An opening the Eye of the Mind or Conscience to see and discern it so as â—hey in some measure know or perceive 〈◊〉 both which are implyed in that we â—ake to above Of his preventing operaâ—ons Rom. 1.19 20 21. Act. 26.18 John 1.9 Joh. 5.25 and 6.63 Opening the eyes of the blind inlightning men â—at come into the World which may be also represented under another Metaphor of speaking to the Dead and causing them to hear or perceive what is spoken his words being Spirit and Life 3. As also a discovery of other Objects in and by that light as
entring his Kingdom here in its Spiritual State is We cannot enter his Kingdom but by being born of God nor further enter into it to be under the Regiment Power and Priviledges of it then as we are born of God namely of God as objectively discovered to us and looked to or known by us they that know thy Name will trust in thee and as efficiently and efficaciously working by his Power and Spirit in us And so Regeneration contains in it Healing Confirming and Conforming too or they may in the place above quoted be referred to the words after it and denote the time when they should receive their Honour and Reward viz. In the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory that is In the time of the Resurrection and so it signifies That the Regeneration is not compleated till the Resurrection when the Body also shall be changed and be found in the Spirit and Glory of Christ But here I do as usually men do in speaking of Regeneration speak of its First Acts Of making a man in Christ The overcoming of the Heart to close with and believe in God and Christ and depend on him and so the infusing the Spirit and Principles of new and heavenly Life into him And so I distinguish it from healing conforming Operations and it 's sometime included in Conversion as the end or ultimate acts in it as Conversion is usually meant of the Souls first turning to God for otherwise Souls after Regeneration falling into actual Sins or sinful frames must be Converted from them but as I said before it properly follows upon the heart turned to behold or look upon God and Christ as presented in his Gospel and it stands in the framing strengthning and overcoming the heart to close with rest in and rely on God in Christ in and through which his Spirit and Power Framing and Creating it in Christ doth enter into it possess and act it for and towards Christ Ephes 2.10 Numb 21.9 2 King 5.14 And this is by a certain creative Power whence that Phrase We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works Somewhat like the healing of the Israelites in their looking to the Serpent of Brass or the healing of Naaman washing in the waters of Jordan and it hath in it 1. A Spiritual quickening or inlivening of the Soul Psal 36.8 in its listening and looking to Christ to living affection to and likement of him and so desire after him through the presentation of the excellency of him as made known to and apprehended by the Soul as Phil. 3.7 2. A Spiritual quickning and strengthening of the Soul through the same Seed of the knowledge or word of Christ cast into the heart to a fleeing or betaking it self for refuge and rest to him and so to close with and hope in him and in God through him Heb. 6 18 19. Psal 9.10 3. A certain Spiritual inlivening of the Soul in him and upon him his mercy Gal. 2.20 goodness power faithfulness love c. and so to an acting in that life infused and put into it both towards God and towards man which the grace seen and believed by it operates works and begets yea and preserves and carries on in it and it unto and in It is set forth in Ezekiel 36.25 26. By the making the Heart and Spirit new by his Spirit and then putting in his Spirit into the Spirit made new the begetting a new judgment bent and disposition in the Soul and a new heart desire love affection toward God and Christ a new will purpose and resolution for him and then a putting his Word Power and Spirit into that Heart and Spirit renewed to live in it feed act and animate it in and for God according to his mind 4. His healing operations are a kin to those Regenerating operations and may be co-incident with his comforting operations too in part they are spoken of as fruits and consequents to Conversion Matth. 13.15 Least they should be converted and I should heal them but by comparing that with Mark 4.12 It includes or stands in the Remission of Sins at least as the necessary mean to it or womb put of which it proceeds for there for healing it is and their sins should be forgiven them Which by way of Metonomy may signifie and take in the consequents of forgiveness also such as 1. The speaking peace to them c. so the quieting pacifying and comforting of the Heart and Conscience in the sight and view of his goodness and knowledge of his love and favour towards it and of the forgiveness of Sins and hope of Happiness in which the heart-broken and disquieted with convincements reproofs and fears is healed 2. A renewing and rectifying the whole man in mind judgment will and affections and conversation sanctifying of him throughout filling him with right wholsome apprehensions and thoughts of God and Christ and himself and all things with right affections to God healing those distempers before in his heart and affections in their out-running after yanities and doting upon Idols taking offence at God and his Truth hateing what should be loved and loving what should either absolutely or comparatively be hated and so healing the passions fears cares anxieties and griefs of mind c. 3. A removing and taking off Wrath and Judgments that might formerly be inflicted on them for their rebellions or stubbornness against him yea and by degrees and in due time taking off altogether the Disease and Judgment that came upon us in Adam and through his Fall the power of natural Corruption â—nd dominion of Sin and the bodily infirmities and Death too in the Resurrection 5. Comforting Operations are in and through his Word or Truth as it is in Christ and by his hand power and spirit working therein and therewith in shewing help and remedy in Christ and in God and causing the Soul to apprehend and see it even suitable helps to all its needs and Exercises and by begetting lively hope in God and Christ for the receipt of that help both under its afflictions and in due time out of them all and by shewing the gracious and good end of God in his afflicting denying crossing suffering or ordering evils to it the lifting up reviving and chearing of the heart and spirit and maintaining the chearfulness and comfort of it in God as in John 14. He comforted the hearts of his Disciples by and through presenting to them God and his goodness towards them as an object therefore worthy to be believed in by them and himself as a constant lover of them that as well went away from them for their good as came and staid with them even for their helpfulness and salvation that he would send them another Comforter who also and more fully should comfort them by leading them into the Truth causing them to understand the Truths he now spake to them and giving them to
soul that seeks mercy of him and submits to him Thus â—ot only Pharaoh and Sihon mighty Kings notwithstanding their greatness were hardned and destroyed by him but also the Jews the seed of Abraham Isaac and Israel despising his Law and rebelling against his counsels and commands and refusing to walk in his ways c. were not only punisht with many sore and heavy Judgements but also notwithstanding all their priviledges Gods choise of them love to them and honour conferred upon them yea and notwithstanding all their Temple-building Sacrifices and Services done to him and works of righteousness of their own wrought by them were at length for their refusals of Christ and his Doctrine and despite done to him and his Servants broken off except a remnant by grace or meer mercy reserved and unpeopled by him being hardned blindned and given up to their own imaginations and delusions to stumble and fall in them And on the other side not only Rahah Ruth and some other poor Sinners amongst the Gentiles obtained mercy but even the Gentiles more generally after and notwithstanding their long going astray and walking in their own ways Ephes 2.11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20. and their many and great abominations Idolatries Adulteries and all manner of open and heinous wickednesses had the Gospel and Kingdom of God sent unto them and therein pardon of their sins and peace from God was tendred and preached to them through and in the name of Christ and whosoever accepted the tenders and terms thereof were admitted into the kingdom and Church of God and Christ and received into nighness to them Matth. 11.25 26. So also the mysteries of the Kingdom of God were hid from the richer learned and prudent persons of the Jews that were there through lifted up against God their riches prudence yea or self-righteousness notwithstanding and revealed to the poor and simple Disciples though despicable in the eyes of the other and but as Babes and Sucklings in respect of their parts and capacities and this because it so pleased God It seemed good and meet to him to deal so with them Yea the Angels that sinned though high and glorious Spirits yet God did not because of their height power or greatness spare them but plunged them down into destruction when as poor fallen contemptible man of a far meaner constitution and condition being made of the dust was pitied by him and found mercy with him And therefore in the belief and apprehension of this Soveraignty of God over his Creatures and liberty to dispose of them in shewing them mercy or withdrawing it from them and hardning and blinding them as he pleases as also of his infinite purity and perfect hatred of sin where ever he finds it the Apostle Paul beat down his body 1 Cor. 9.27 with Act. 9.15 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6 c. â—d brought it into subjection least having preached to others he should himself yet notwithstanding a chosen Vessel and an Apostle be a cast away as Judas â—ough a chosen Apostle was before him and as he tells and would not have us ignorant of it many of the Fathers that were highly honoured and priviledged God was that notwithstanding so far displeased with for their sins against him that he destroyed them As the Apostle Jude also minds us that the Lord having â—ed his people out of Egypt yet afterward destroyed those that believed not that is did not abide believing as Psal 106.12 13. though they were his people and sometime believed yet that exempt 〈◊〉 them not from destruction yea Moses himself though a Prophet and greater than the rest of the Prophets yet not believing to sanctifie the Lord before the people at one time was cut off from entring into the good Land of Promiseâ— his being such a Prophet yea and in all other things faithful would not priviledge him from such a judgement upon him having but that one time so failed before him And Jeremy Jer. 1.5 with 15.19 20 21. though a Prophet and sanctified in the womb thereunto yet turning out some way it seems stood 〈◊〉 upon his returning again otherwise 〈◊〉 had been rejected his first ordination 〈◊〉 notwithstanding Psal 51.1 2. Thence David also â—ing sinned in the matter of Vriah could not nor durst plead any engagements upon God to continue his favour to hiâ— or restore him to it as if God was by any thing fore-done to him or by him ingâ—ged to save him but only pleads and 〈◊〉 for mercy according to the multitude of his mercies as intimately acknowledging therein that he had so broken Covenanâ— that nothing of his former priviledges of services could plead an exemption from Gods judgement but that God might justly cast him out of his sight and depsive him of his presence and spirit He lay at Gods mercy and good pleasure therein whether to cast him away or reâ— him and could challenge nothing of favour as due debt upon any account to him And this Prerogative God hath and exerciseth over his Creature that so no flesh might presume to sin against him and abuse his grace or turn it into wantonness thinking to plead an exemption from those forest judgements as the Jews were very often apt through mistake to do because they are his people and he had chose and called and saved them of because they have formerly believed obeyed and served him built him Temples offered Sacrifices preached or prayed in his Name c. But that all might learn to tremble before him and standâ— awe of him and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling with all lowliness of mind depending on hiâ— mercy and grace for their salvation not â—ing high minded or pust up with pride or there priviledges or services or any excellencies found in them or received 〈◊〉 God by them And that the poor â—nd humble sinners yea the vilest and most wretched might be perswaded and â—couraged to flee to him for mercy and â—eg it of him who notwithstanding their unworthiness can extend it to them and â—oth and will to all that in due time â—ble themselves under him and seek mercy and grace of him in Christ Jesus To these purposes he both admonished Israel when first taken into favour and â—ghly honoured of him to be his choise people after being redeemed miraculously â—om Egypt they had heard his voice from Heaven out of the midst of the 〈◊〉 as no people under Heaven had 〈◊〉 though he had so loved and chosen them and would keep mercy and covenant with them if they loved and obeyed him yet if they after all this should forget him and serve other Gods they should perish even as the other Nations driven out from before them Rom. 2.8 9 10 11. He would â—ut no difference between them therein except it might be in destroying them with a more grievous destruction as they had been more honoured of him whence â—sâ— those serious cautions
we may find that the same acts or actions are in Scripture ascribed to God and to Man as to purging cleansing making the heart new c. tho yet differently and upon diverse accounts One Scripture saies Circumâ—â—se your selves to the Lord and take away the foreskin of the heart Jer. 4.4 Another saies The Lord will Circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God c. Deut. 30.6 One saying Cast away all your transgressions and â—ake you a new Heart and a new Spirit for why will ye die c. Ezek. 38.31 Another saies A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put into you c. Ezek. 36.26 27. Some Scriptures say God and Christ purify and purge Men Acts 15.9 Tit. 2.14 Ephes 5.25 26. And others exhort men to purify and cleanse themselves and say that believers have purified their own hearts by the Spirit in obeying the truth as 2 Cor. 7.1 1 Pet. 1.22 The reason of which may be seen in what hath been said for therein it appears how both work and that there is an evident distinction between the manner of their workings to the same effect and so distint grounds for the attributions of the same works to both as 1. God is said to do those things and most properly in asmuch as he both prevents men with his grace in and by which he capacitates and inables and then also incites and stirs men up to do those things to cleanse purge and waâ— themselves c. and men yielding up themselves to him in the grace given them in his calls and counsels then his grace and God in and by it works also in with them yea acts in them the things required of them and produces the effects renews their hearts purifies their Spirit c. and yet 2. Men are said to do the same things inasmuch as through his grace theâ— yield up themselves to God and his grace to do those things in them in listening to him looking to and waiting upon him in the strength and motion of hiâ— grace preventing and accompanying them and in the meanes he vouchsafes them And so in acting forth by their powers and members the things which grace yielded to worketâ— in them to will and to do of good pleasure as that in Deut. 30 may clear it in that it renders the circumcising work of God to love and obey him as a consequent work to their being brought in the strength of his preventing grace in and with his afflicting them and again returning to them to call and subdue them afforded to them to listen to his voice and turn to him And so also doth that in 1 Pet. 1.22 and that in Rom. 6.12 13. and 8.13 Which speaks of yielding up our Members Weapons and Instruments of Righteousness to Holiness of mortifying the deeds of the body by the Spirit and purifying our souls by the Spirit in obeying the Truth clearly implying that both the Man and the Spirit are Agents differently working together in the same Works Much what like as a Scholar and his Master when the Master guides the Scholars hand and by it frames a Letter the Master doth it by the Scholars hand as an Instrument or Subordinate Agent and the Scholar by the Master as the Principal Agent Director Framer c. The Scholar yields his hand and the Master uses it even so the Spirit doth those things in us by our Faculties and in our Obedience and we in obeying the Spirit do them by the strength power and guidance of the Spirit So as that neither doth the Spirit those things in us without our compliance and obedience nor do we noâ— can we do them in and of our selves but by the Spirit yielded to by us and leading strengthning and governing of us Thence the Scripture also represents the believing Man or Man called of God as a third person between two others calling for his subjection and obedience the new Man and the Old the flesh and the Spirit the flesh moves him to give up his mind and members unto it and its motions and the Spirit on the contrary challengeth them for his and moves excites and provokes to his service If the man yield up to the Flesh it becomes his Master and He its servant framed more into its mind and if the man through the grace of God yield up himself to the Spirit then the Spirit in and by him as his Master works the works of God creates him in Christ Jesus to good works and renews him more and more by his Divine Power and influence as is to be seen Rom. 6.11.12 13 14. c. and 8.2.4.12 13. Gal. 5.16.17 18. Ephes 4.17 18.20 21. But yet let this be also minded that that which God requires of man is not properly and formally Gods working or operation no more then the Childs yielding his hand to his Master and moving it in his Motion is properly and formally his Masters holding and guiding his hand and framing the Letter with it And so neither doth God fault men for not doing that of and by themselves which is properly the work of his power to do nor for not doing that that is properly his operation but for not doing that which is theirs to do by his grace afforded them That is their not yielding themselves to him and moving in his Motion for their two operations are so distinct Ezek. 24.13 Isa 48.17 18. Jer. 13.10 11. Rom. 2.4 5. as that they may be also seperated and the withdrawing of the one prevent or hinder the other whence God is said to have purged Men and yet they not purged to teach Men and yet they not taught by him to make Men cleave to him and yet they not cleave to him but refuse to hear him to lead Men to repentance and yet they not led of him inasmuch as God prevented and followed them with his grace to have moved and provoked them to those things which yet they refusing to yield themselves to him in were not done the effects of Gods grace and profit of his teachings missed by them Which stubbornness of Men in refusing him and his operations provokes him to leave them and then the things he offers to work and in some sence is working in them as the fire burneth under the Pot that purges the Scum from the Water Ezek. 24.3.4 5.13 that it might be cast off by the Servant are never effected nor can be but they perish in their Sins For as God worketh not such effects in Men without their Members and Powers yielded to him and working instrumentally and subordinatly under him So neither can Men work or effect those things in themselves without God and his Spirit or he withdrawing from them which should provoke us to diligence in listening and yielding our selves as obedient Children to him not quenching his Operations in us nor provoking him to wrath against us least in his wrath he