same men by way of Prophesie And it could not be spoken of the Father for never any Hereticke denyed the Divinity of the Father Paul calleth our Saviour God Tit. 1.3 According to the commandement of God our Saviour And surely he that readeth diligently the new Testament shall finde God or Lord and Christ to be used oft reciprocally for each other as 2 Cor. 5.20 Eph. 6.6 Rom. 14.10 11 12. Luke 3.6 Act. 28.28 Heb. 3.4 Jam. 1.1 2 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 9.21 Act. 16.31 with 34. Tit. 2.10 13. 2 Pet. 1.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is God Peter calleth him God Act. 5.3 4. whom he afore had called the Holy-Ghost for reproving Ananias for lying to the Holy-Ghost he aggravateth his sin by shewing him what the Holy-Ghost is Thou hast not lyed to men but to God Againe Act. 11.17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who beleeved on the Lord Jesus Christ what was I that I should withstand God That it was the Holy-Ghost whom he twice calleth God appeareth by comparing this verse with the 15. verse The Holy-Ghost gave them the like gift as he did unto us He fell on these Gentiles and gave them the gift of tongues as he did to the Apostles and other Jewes The Apostle Paul likewise manifesteth the Holy-Ghost to be God 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are Three times doth the Apostle call the Holy-Ghost God Yea that text doth afford three severall arguments to confirme unto us the Deity of the Holy-Ghost First the Apostle proveth the faithfull to be the Temples of God because the Holy-Ghost dwelleth in them which argument were invalide and of no force if that holy Spirit were not God 2. The Holy-Ghost dwelleth constantly in the Faithfull as in one Temple Three times is the word Temple used singularly He uniteth all the Elect in all the world in one and so dwelleth in them all as if they all were but one and yet so fully and comfortablely dwelleth in one as if that one were all It being proper to God alone to be so infinitely boundlesse in his substance as thus to fill all places 3. We being the Temples of the Holy-Ghost he is therefore God It was unlawfull to make Temples of wood or stone but to the true God He therefore must needs be God who hath so many and such stately Temples as the faithfull are The Angell Gabriel Luke 1.35 shewing that Christ should be conceived by the power of the Holy-Ghost addeth in the 37. verse For with God nothing shall be impossible Plainely manifesting that the Holy-Ghost who was to effect this great worke was God Yea our Lord Christ manifestly affirmeth him to be God Have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God saying c. Mat. 22.31 Was it not the Holy-Ghost who spake by Moses and by the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 And therefore the Scriptures which were inspired by the Holy-Ghost are said to be inspired of God 2 Tim. 3.16 It is said of Cornelius he was warned of God by an holy Angel to send for Peter Acts 10.22 which Angel is called an Angel of God Acts 10.3 Yet he who sent to warne him was the Holy-Ghost for so he himselfe telleth Peter that he sent them Acts 10.20 where you see that the Holy-Ghost hath twice the Name of God ascribed to him yea the Names of God and of the Holy-Ghost are often changed 1 Cor. 14.2 He that speaketh in an unknowne tongue speaketh not to men but to God howbeit to the Spirit he speaketh mysteries and not onely in the New Testament but in the Old as Ezek 2.2 4. Ezek. 11.1 5. Num. 24.2 4. and divers other places Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are absolutely and definitively called God without limitation addition or correction of speech as Creatures are not who though three Persons yet but one true ever-living God of one and the same substance I and my Father saith Christ are one John 10.30 One in every thing but in that wherein the opposition of relation distinguisheth them That our Saviour is one with the Father by identity of Essence appeareth 1. By his owne answer John 7.29 I know him for I am of him and he hath sent me 2. By the Jewes accusation for they did not challenge him for affirming himselfe to be some Vice-gerent or second Prince but for making himselfe equall to God John 5.18 and that being Man made himselfe God John 10.33 which thing in both places is justified and maintained by our Saviour They are therefore one in Essence will and action not in Person as the Holy-Ghost is likewise one with Christ and therefore you have Christ appearing in a Vision to John Rev. 1.13 and described by Iohn in the beginning of all his seven Epistles to the seven Churches as the Person that writeth to them Rev. 2.1 8 12 18. Rev. 3.1 7 14. Yet in the conclusion of all these seven Epistles it was the Holy Spirit of God that speaketh and writeth thus to the Churches and whom they are commanded to heare Let him that hath eares heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 2.7 11 17.29 Rev. 3.6 13 22. Thus Father and Sonne are one and the holy Spirit and the Sonne are one yea all three are one 1 John 5.7 CHAP. XII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord is a Name of God ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which the Septuagint Translation and the New Testament usually interprete the word Jehovah which we translate Lord Mat. 22.43 44. And thus there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 Eph. 4.6 and the same Lord is over all Rom. 10.12 1 Cor. 12.5 Where although the holy Pen-men of the new Testament when they speake personally of the Father in his relation to Christ they usually call the Father God and the Sonne Lord Yet when either they use these words God or Lord essentially you shall finde these Names oft changed or used for each other as Rom. 14.6 Rom. 14.11 12 or if these Names be used Personally as when the Father or Sonne are spoken of apart not onely the Sonne but also the Father and Holy-Ghost are so called For this Name Lord is common to all three Persons For First the Father is Lord. Thus Christ as man giving thanks to his Father said I thank thee Father Lord of heaven and earth Mat. 11.25 Luk. 11.21 And the Apostles in their prayer Act. 4.26 The Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. And the Saints in their Doxologie Rev. 11.15 The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Yea Christ and Peter in their Sermons citing that place of Psal 110.1 The Lord said to
Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are onely wise VVIsedome is properly attributed to God he is infinitely wise of himselfe neither is there any but he that is wise Ecclus. 1.7 for First God is wise and most wise yea in himselfe onely wise Rom. 16.27 1 Tim. 1.17 Secondly he it is that giveth wisedome to men Dan. 2.21 Exod. 36.22 Jam. 1.6 First the Father is infinitely wise he aboundeth towards us in all wisedome and goodnesse Ephes 2.8 and Secondly he giveth to us the Spirit of wisedome and revelation in the knowledge of himselfe Ephes 1.7 Secondly the Sonne is infinitely wise he is the onely wise God and Saviour Jude 15. Not as if the Apostle excludeth the Fathet and the Holy-Ghost for they are of one essence with him but onely all Creatures First the Lord Jesus is wise in himselfe he is called by the Name of Wisdome Pro. 8. and Counsellour Isa 9.6 and no maâ—ell for in him are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.3 They are hid in him with the Mantle of his humanitie Secondly it is he that maketh us wise 1 Cor. 1.30 and calleth us to that end Prov. 8.5 6 7 8. who as he was the Sonne of God was infinitely wise but as the sonne of man he grew as in stature so in wisedome Luk. 2.52 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is infinitely wise First in himselfe he is wise He is the Spirit of wisedome Isa 11.2 Exod. 28.3 Eph. 1.17 He needeth no Counsellor to teach or direct him Isa 40.13 Secondly He giveth wisedome to the Saints 1 Cor. 12.8 Job 32.8 He it is that taught all the Prophets and Apostles wisedome and knowledge 2 Pet. 1.11 Eph. 3.5 2 Pet. 1.21 And it is remarkable that Sâ—lomon Prov. 1.20 useth Chochmoth plurally and the Verbes singular It may shew unto us the wisdome of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who preach unto us in the Ministerie of the Word and are one infinite wise God who alone is wise in himselfe and doth onely give wisedome to the children of men CHAP. IX The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are most free or unrestrained FReedome or Libertie is essentially proper to God He is free from coaction free from servitude free from miserie he doth whatsover he pleaseth Psal 115.3 1 Cor. 12.18 and willeth most freely what is good Exod. 33.19 Rom. 9.15 18. Psal 135.6 He is not bound to any Stoicall necessitie as if he could not worke without secondarie causes For in his ordinarie workes of Creation he wrought without them and in the extraordinarie workes of Providence he oft useth them not He made grasse to grow without raine or dew Gen. 1.12 Gen. 2.5 6. and he made light in the world Gen. 1.3 three dayes before there were Sunne Moone or Starres Gen. 1.14 And surely the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are most free First the Father is free The rule of all his actions is his owne will Luk. 10.21 Luk. 12.32 Eph. 1.11 Mat. 11.26 Eph. 3.11 Secondly the Sonne is free Mat. 17.26 Where our Saviour intimateth If the sonnes of Kings are free much more the Sonne of the King of Kings He therefore hath freedome in himselfe and giveth freedome to others Ioh. 8.36 The rule of his workes is his owne will Mat. 8.3 Eph. 4.7 Joh. 1â— 24 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is free He is the free Spirit Psal 51.12 He hath none to direct or counsell him Isa 40.13 The rule of his working is his owne will 1 Cor. 12.11 The Father the Word and the Spirit are one most free God who are bound to none and have all one Power one Essence one Freedome CHAP. X. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are essentially holy HOlinesse is an essentiall propertie of God Psal 22.3 None being holy as the Lord is 1 Sam. 2.2 He hath holinesse in himselfe and of himselfe and worketh holinesse in us yea it is one of his Names Luk. 1.49 Isa 57.15 His Name is Holy and the Holy one of Israel Isa 10.21 Isa 41.20 He onely is holy Rev 15.4 The holynesse that we have is accidentall in us and we have it from him and we depend on him But the holynesse that is in the Lord is essentiall and independent First the Father is holy Christ in his prayer to him calleth him holy Father Joh. 17.11 Secondly the Sonne is holy he is Gods holy one acknowledged so by the Prophet Psa 16.11 averred so by the Apostles Act. 2.37 Act. 13.35 affirmed so to be by the Angel Luk. 1.35 yea so confessed by the Divels Luk. 4.34 Mar. 1.24 Holynesse is one of his Names Rev. 3.7 he is the most holy Dan. 9.23 Thirdly the Spirit is holy Luk. 1.35 usually therefore called the Holy-Ghost whose Name hath oft times a double article in Greek put before it whereas it is taken Personally for the blessed Spirit the third Person of the Trinity but it is never so put when as it is taken for his gifts as Luk. 3.21 Mat. 12.32 John 14.26 Act. 1.16 Act. 5.3 32. Act. 7.51 Act. 13.2 4. Act. 20.23 28. Act. 21.11 Act. 28.25 Eph. 4.30 Heb. 3.7 Heb. 9.8 Heb. 10.15 and in divers other places of the New Testament where it is in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Spirit that holy One. First to distinguish him from created Spirits Secondly to shew that holynesse is proper to him he being holy in himselfe and worketh holynesse in us in whom he dwelleth Yea Eph. 1.14 where there is also a double Article of the Neuter gender added to his Name yet to prevent that blasphemous opinion of the Arrians and others which make him onely to be a gift of God and a Power of God and no certaine Person the Apostle in the Relative changeth the gender from the Neuter to the Masculine and our Saviour doth the like Joh. 16.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so likewise Joh. 15.26 and Joh. 14.26 the Article is Neuter but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Masculine The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are one holy Lord God John describeth God three wayes Rev. 4.8 First by his Attribute of Holynesse Secondly by his Names Thirdly by his Eternitie First by his Holynesse three times stiling him holy as Isaiah doth the like â—a 6.3 with an Antiphony one Angel answering another they acknowledge one God whom they worship to be holy and yet it is by saiah and John thrice repeated to shew as some of the Ancient Fathers and others doe thinke the mysterie of the Trinitie Secondly there are three Names Lord God Almightie Thirdly his Eternitie is described in respect of us in relation to all sorts of times which is and which was and which is to come First which was without beginning Secondly is of himselfe without cause Thirdly is to come he will be for ever without end Where Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost one holy eternall Lord God are described Moreover Joshua speaking of God useth one word singular and another plurall and joyneth them with Elohim Josh
The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost which gave this Law are one Jehovah Deut. 6.4 Heare O Israel the Lord thy God is one God and yet the pluralitie of Persons which is shewed by our Saviour to be the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost is intimated in the word Elohim as R. Simeon Ben. Johaâ— in Zoar writing on thâ—s place affirmeth adding moreover that this Misterie shall not be revealed before the comming of the Messiah The Doctrine of the Trinitie being maintained by the Ancienter Rabbies but by these of Latter times in opposition to the Lord Jesus this truth as well as others is wilfully and maliciously opposed CHAP. XIII The breach of these Lawes was an offence against the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Lord was the Maker and giver of these Lawes so he it is that is offended by the breakers of these Lawes And thus David acknowledgeth although he had sinned against Bathsheba by inticing her to folly againgst Uriah by murdering him against the whole Army by indangering them at the death of Uriah against the Church of God by giving them an evill example and against the Children of Ammon causing them by this his act to blaspheme God and to defie Israel 2 Sam. 12. yet he saith against thee against thee onely have I sinned Psal 51.4 For the Lord is properly the partie offended whether the sinne be committed immediately against him as in the sins against the first Table or whether the sinne be committed mediately against him as in sinnes against the second Table And surely the wrong done to the crâ—ature is therefore a wrong because it is against the will the command of the Creator and were it not for that no wrong were done to the creature Now as the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost gave the Law so sinne which is the transgression of the Law is committed against the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost and doth provoke them to wrath First sinne is an offence committed against First the Father Thus the Children of Israel sinned against him in breaking Moses Law Joh. 7.19 and therefore Christ in his prayer said Luk. 23.34 Father forgive them they know not what they doe As God he himselfe forgave them but as man being the great high Priest he prayed for them and as the Advocate of the Church he excused them It was great love in the Sonne of man to forgive them greater love to pray for them but most great love to excuse them Secondly the Sonne So the Children of Israel sinned against him in the Wildernesse They tempted Christ and were destroyed of the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10.9 and the Apostle telleth us that they which wound the weake conscience of their Brethren sinne against Christ 1 Cor. 8.12 he likewise is reproached by them that reproach his saints Heb. 11.25 and persecuted by those that persecute his people Act. 9.4 yea ungodly Apostataes doe crucifie afresh the Sonne of God and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost For surely the Children of Israel sinned against him They rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit Isa 63.10 Act. 7.51 wicked men by sinne doe reproach him 1 Pet. 4.14 Anâ—nias and Sapphira did lye to him Act. 5.3 4. and did tempt him Act. 5.9 and were taken away by sudden death Act. 5.5 10. yea our Saviour telleth you of a blasphemy against the Holy-Ghost which shall never be forgiven Mat. 12.32 Surely the Holy Ghost is God equall with the Father the blasphemy against him being irremissible Thus it is one God who is distingushed into three Persons the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who is the onely Law-giver and against whom any sinne when it is committed is an offence being contrary to his Will Justice and Goodnesse CHAP. XIIII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are provoked to wrath by sinne SUrely there is no such changeable passion in the immutable God as wrath neither is there such an affection in him as anger But the Scriptures condescending to our capacity and speaking after the manner of men doe attribute anger to God and doe ascribe wrath to the most high there being only the like effect of it wrought by his Justice but no such affect as the Schooles speake in his Majestie there being such effects as anger produceth in man wrought by him though there is not any passion of anger in him And surely if any thing could possibly make God to be angry with man it would be sinne which is so contrary to his Will Nature Holynesse and all his Attributes and therefore according to the language of the Scriptures sinne provoketh God to wrath and grieveth the holy One of Israel First the Father is provoked to wrath by sinne Rev. 6.16 He that sitteth in the Throne where the Father is included though the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are not excluded Rev. 22.1 3. Rev. 5.6 his wrath is terrible to the great ones of the earth Secondly the Son is provoked to wrath by sin Ps 2.12 Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that puâ— their trust in him Perishing in the way importeth suddaine destruction whiles they are doing their actions yea the great Princes of the World shall be terrified with the wrath of the Lambe Rev. 6.16 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is provoked to wrath by sinne Isai 63.10 and grieved thereby and therefore the Apostle dehorting from sinne addeth Eph. 4.30 and grieve not the Holy Spirit sinne being that which alone angreth and grieveth this holy Spirit The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost being of one Nature Power and Authoritie are alike grieved and provoked to wrath by the sinnes of the wicked and the transgressions of the ungodly Oh that men would looke in anger upon their sinnes in time which if not repented of will make the Lord look in anger on them for ever CHAP. XV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe onely worke Miracles THe Lord alone for the good of his Church can and doth onely Worke Miracles Psal 136.4 He alone doth wondrous things Psal 72.18 it is not in the power of any Creature properly to doe any Miracle Joh. 10.21 Angels good and bad may and oft doe effect great and strange Workes but it is not without the helpe of God First they worke by the hâ—lpe of God they having their power and being of him Satan and his instruments can doe no more then the Lord giveth them power And it is Pareus observation that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is given is twenty times used in the Revelations even then when the Holy-Ghost speaketh of the power of evill Angels and wicked men Secondly they use the h lpe of Gods Creatures in all their workes But the Lord alone worketh of himselfe and wit out the helpe of any Creature First he alone doth wondrous things Secondly He alone giveth power to work Miracles First
The Lord alone doth wondrous things First God the Father doth great wonders Mat. 3.17 he caused his voyce to be heard from Heaven to Earth though it passe through many Mediums and be many Millions of Miles distant Secondly God the Sonne doth great wonders He made a light to be seene above the brightnesse of the Sunne Act. 26.13 and a voyce to be heard from Heaven to Earth Act. 9.3.4 Act. 26.13 14. God did this and al other wonders by the Lord Jesus as he was man Act. 2.22 But he did them by his own power as he was God Luk. 6.19 Mar. 5.30 He clenseth the Leaper by his absolute power he toucheth him and saith I will be thou cleane Mat. 8.2 I will is the stile of God only who doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven in Earth and in the Sea Psal 135.6 The commanding word I will the Imperative Mood be thou cleane if wee reade not with the false-colouring Spectacles of Arrius doe evidently shew that Christ is God and wrought this by his owne will and power for he healed this Leaper in a most exact and compendious manner both by the operation of his humanity in touching him and of his Divinity in saying I will be thou cleane He raised likewise Magisterially the young man from death Luk. 7.4 Young-man I say unto thee arise with him it being al one to say and to doe He effecting that with his Divine Power which he commanded with his humane voyce yea in his own person he grapled with death in the grave and conquered him in his own territories 1. Cor. 15.55 57. Tryumphantly raysing himselfe from the dead Joh. 2.19 Joâ— 10.18 2 Cor. 13.4 He ascended into Heaven Joh. 3.13 Joh. 6.62 Act. 1.9 And led captivity captive Eph. 4.8 And he will at his second comming make those which have beene dead for many hundred yeares to heare his voyce Joh. 5.28 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost doth great wonders he can make his voyce to be heard from Heaven to earth Rev. 14.13 He made the Apostles in a moment to speake with strange toungs and severall languages they spake as he gave them utterance Act. 2.4 That which multitude of Schoole-masters could not effect in many years in one man the Holy Spirit doth effect it exactly in a moment and that in many and no wonder for man shall soone learne that which the Lord himselfe undertaketh to teach It was the Holy-Ghost who led the people of Jsrael safely through the red Sea and the wildernesse Esa 63.14 Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have one and the same power whereby they worke miracles and therefore none of them is greater or lesser then another but are coequall and consubstantiall CHAP. XVI Gifts of Miracles is from the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THough the Apostles and others wrought Miracles yea greater Miracles then Christ Joh. 14.12 as Peters shadow cured many Act. 5.15 and Pauls Handkerchifs healed diseases Act. 19.11 yet they did them not in the same manner as the Father Sonne or Holy-Ghost did There was these notable differences First the Apostles had not this power at all times Mat. 17.16 Phil. 2.27 1 Tim. 5.23 2 Ti. 4.20 Secondly they did not effect them by their own power or in their own name Act. 3 1â—.16 but by the power of God who wrought these wonders by them Act. 15.12 It was God that gave gifts of healing 1 Cor. 12.28 for it is God alone that can worke Miracles Psal 72.18 and therefore he alone can give this power of working Miracles to others The gift of Miracles is an Essentiall worke of God and is common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost First the Father giveth this power and therefore the Apostles pray to him for this power of Miracles Act. 4.31 where the Father alone is not personally prayed to but Essentially with the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Secondly the Sonne giveth this power to the Apostles Luk. 10.19 Mar. 6.7 Mat. 10.1 8. Mar. 16.17.18 Joh. 14 12. and Miracles were done in his Name Peter telleth Eneaâ— that Jesus Christ maketh him whole Act. 9.38 and sheweth the chiefe Priests that it was not their own power and holynesse Act. 3.12 but by faith in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazaneth they had made th clame man strong Act. 3.16 Act. 4.10 and Paul was restored to his sight by his power Act. 9.17 who though in Heaven in regard of his bodily presence yet is also on earth healing men by his Divine power Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth this power to men to worke Miracles 1 Cor. 12.9 10. He so illuminated the eyes of Stephen that being on earth he did not onely by the eye of Faith but with the eye of his bodily sense see Christ from earth to Heaven Act. 7.55 If the Holy-Ghost had been a Creature how could he have given such power to Steven it being proper onely to God to effect Wonders And Paul full of the Holy-Ghost struck Elymas with blindnesse Act. 13.9 10 11. Yea God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy-Ghost wrought Miracles by the hands of Paul Rom. 15.17 18 19. I have saith he therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things that pertaine to God namely in God the Fathers working Miracles by him For I will not dare to speake of any of these things which Christ hath not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient in word and deed Thus the Lord Jesus wrought effectually in him in his Apostleship and gifts of healing through mightie signes and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God There is the Holy-Ghost working Miracles by Paul Thus the Father the Word and the Spirit one God in Power Majestie and Essence doth great wonders and gave power to Paul and others to worke Miracles and effect wondrous things CHAP. XVII The building of the Church is a worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe Church is Gods house 1 Tim. 3.15 He is the builder of it Heb. 3.3 4. the faithfull are his building 1 Cor. 3.9 Where First not only the Father buildeth it but also secondly the Sonne buildeth the Church Mat. 16.18 upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it The gates of the City were the places where usually they sate in Councell 1 Kin. 22.10 and where their chiefest strength lay The Lord Jesus intimateth in this his promise to his Church that neither the policy nor power of Sathan and his Angels should ever prevaile against his Church a worke proper to God to promise and to effect This is the house which wâ—sedome built Prov. 9.1 Yea the Apostle proveth Christ to be God First because he built all things Secondly because he built the Church which it his house Heb. 3.3 4 5 6. the Chuch is bis Act. 20.28 the faithfull are his people Mat. 1.21 Zac. 2.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost buildeth us up for an habitation
as they are not divided in nature but are one God in nature and in working as will appeare in the particular effects and fruits of sanctification some whereof I have already treated of It now remaineth that I further manifest how the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost do co-operate both in the beginning progresse and full perfecting this worke in us shewing how that they do draw us and quicken us and increase grace already wrought in us CHAP. XIIII The Father the Word and the Spirit doe draw us THe Scripture setteth forth our unwillingnesse in the first act of our conversion two wayes by two severall sorts of Metaphors First by comparing us to an unwilling creature that will not follow but it must be drawne Secondly by comparing us to a dead creature that cannot follow unlesse it be made alive Fiâ—st God draweth leadeth us to himself he drew the Israelites with the cords of love with the bands of a man Hos 11.4 God of us men that are unwilling by nature doth make us willing through grace powerfully inclining our wills and affections to follow himselfe we having without him no sufficiency of our selves 2 Cor. 3.5 1 Cor. 4.7 This worke is equally wrought both by First God the Father who draweth us to Christ for so the Lord Jesus witnesseth John 65 44. No man can come to me except the Father that sent me draw him And surely when the Father hath drawn us into Christs hands it is not all the powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall draw us back Mat. 16.18 Joh. 10.29 It is a gift given to us of the Father that we have any power to do good Joh. 6.65 Jam. 1.17 Secondly God the Sonne who draweth us to himselfe so he promiseth John 12.30 When he is lifted up from the earth he will draw all men to him and thus the Church desireth of Christ Cant. 1.3 Draw me and we will run after thee And no wonder for without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.4 5. it is from him wee have power to do good Phil. 413. he it is that strengthneth us with his grace that all the principalities and powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall never pluck us away or draw us back from him Joh. 10.28 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost who draweth us Jer. 31.3 who in the same chapter as I have shewed out of the 31. verse with Heb. 10.15 16. maketh a Covenant with us He it is that the children of God are led by Rom. 8.14 even as blinde and impotent persons by a guide We cannot confesse Jesus to be the Lord without him 1 Cor. 12.3 Through Christ we have an accesse by one spirit unto the Father Eph. 2.18 Loe all the three Persons described by the Apostle in working this worke The Father to whom we have accesse the Sonne as the way Joh. 14.6 through whom we have accesse and the Holy-Ghost in whom we have accesse as our guide and Conductor There is there distinct and Personall order of working in which they worke as they are three distinct Persons whose Power and Essence is one as their work is one In respect therefore of the Essence there may be said to be one common operation but in respect of the distinction of Persons there is a distinct manner of working CHAP. XV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe quicken us THe Lord quickneth us with his grace who were dead in tresâ—asses and sinnes Eph. 5.1 5. 1 Tim. 5.6 Mat. 8.22 It is a Work of one God in three Persons to give not onely corporall life 2 Kin. 5.7 but also spirituall life Hos 6.1 2. First the Father quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Secondly the Sonne quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost quickneth Joh. 6.63 Rom. 8.11 and it is whom he will he quickneth For he diâ—â—â—eth his Gra es severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.8 11. This mighty Work of quickning those that were dead in trespasses and sinnes is wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who doe co-operate and yet are one and the same efficient cause as they are one God of that spirituall life which the children of God live by CHAP. XVI The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Grace to us and multiply Grace on us THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us but he also increaseth his gifts and multiplyeth his graces on us He is the God of peace that sanctifieth us throughout 1 Thes 5.23 he doth begin good in us he doâ—h perfect it he doth finish it Phil. 1.6 Phil. 2.13 This is an essentiall worke of God and is common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost First the Father giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Eph. 1.2 Col. 1.2 Phil. 1.2 Rom. 1.7 Rev. 1.4 and he multiplieth his Graces he gives us Jude ver 2. Secondly the Sonne giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Col. 1.2 Eph. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 Rev. 1.4 5. and he multiplyeth those Graces he giveth us 2 Pet. 1 2. Jude ver 2. Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us Grace and peace The Apostle for this cause prayeth to him for it Rev. 1.4 who though one Eph. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 12.4 yet is he called the seven Spirits First in regard of his manifold Gifts and operations to all Churches Secondly in regard of particular relation that he had to these seven Churches to whom John wrote Thirdly he describeth him as he saw him in the Vision who is after described of John as seen of him in the forme of seven lights Rev. 4.5 Secondly he multiplyeth the graces he giveth us strengthening us with might in the Inner man Eph. 3.16 It is the undivided Work of one God in three Persons to give grace and to multiply on the Church those graces he hath given it causing it to increase with the increase of God as Paul speaketh Col. 2.19 CHAP. XVII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Testimony to us assuring us we are the Lords THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us and increase the Graces he hath wrought in us 1 Thes 5.24 Phil. 1.6 but also witnesseth to our soules the sincerity of these graces he worketh in us and testifieth in our hearts his salvation he hath wrought in Christ for us for surely he that alone made the heart he that alone searcheth the heart he that alone worketh grace in the heart can alone testifie unto the heart with comfort Act. 15.8 the truth of those soule-satisfying graces that he hath wrought in us whenas by faith he purifyeth the heart Act. 15.9 The comfortable attestation of these graces therefore in our hearts is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who as I have already shewed made the heart know the heart and worke grace in the heart and doe worke in witnesse-bearing to our hearts of the truth of those
soule-comforting graces that are therein First the Father witnesseth it to us he sendeth forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Secondly the Sonne witnesseth it to us he is the true and faithfull witnesse Rev. 3.16 Rev. 1.5 he witnesseth in us our salvation 1 Cor. 1.6 and testifyeth to us the comfort that are in his word Thirdly the Holy-Ghost witnesseth it to us he beareth witnesse with our spirits that we aâ—e the Children of God Rom. 8.16 There is three that beare record in heaven which doe not onely testifie Christ to be the Messiah or Saviour of the world but also to be our Messiah and Saviour the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 one God one witnesse Yea our Saviour Christ speaketh of this testimony plurally Joh. 3.11 we speake that we doe know and testifie that we have seene and ye receive not our witnesse a place not to be paralelld in the Evangelists where our Saviour speaketh plurally not in the name of John Baptist or the Prophets for their authority could no way adde to his neither did he receive testimony from man Joh. 5.34 where he spake it most peculiarly in regard of John Joh. 5.33 but he spake in his Fathers name and also in the Holy Spirits name whose testimony and authority he oft urged Joh. 5.32 Joh. 8.18 Luk. 4.18 19. and surely if Angel or Archangel or any Creature in heaven or in earth should onely witnesse our salvation to â—s in Christ we might then doubt but why should we doubt when the Lord himselfe witnesseth it First by word calling us in Scriptures his Children Secondly by deeds working in us grace which are the fruits of his spirit Gal. 5.22 and Thirdly by seale as I shall now shew ratifying it to our soules Eph. 1.13 CHAP. XVIII Sealing of us is a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost FIrst sealing is a note of appropriation we worke that which is our own and that which we have confirmed and sealed we doe account it our own now these whom the Lord chooseth to himselfe he sealeth The Lord knoweth who are his having this seale 2 Tim 2.9 Secondly sealing is a signe of distinction Lawyers cause seales to be put to Evidences Merchants set markes on their wares and Shepheards have brands for their sheep to know and distinguish them Thus Christ in a peculiar manner is sealed of God the Father Joh 6.27 and all the Elect are sealâ—d in him Eph. 1.4 Thirdly sealing is a worke of conforming There is a likenesse of the seale imprinted on the thing sealed and surely when the childe of God is sealed of God there is then an Image of God wrought on his soule God therefore sealeth us First to appropriate us as his own Secondly to distinguish us from others Thirdly to conforme us to his own Image which worke of sealing us is wrought by one God in three Persons First God the Father sealeth us so the Apostle sheweth Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 1.22 Secondly the Sonne sealeth us Ezek. 9.3 4. He is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 that hath the seale of the living God Rev. 7.2 who though an Angel by name yet is he not an Angel but a Sonne by nature Heb 2.16 Heb. 1.3 to 13. where the Apostle distinguisheth the creating Sonne from the created Angels plainly proving the Sonne to be the Creatour but Angels to be but creatures Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sealeth us Grieve not the Holy spirit of God by which we are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 where the Apostle meeteth with two contrary errours First the Righteous after their calling may fall into sinne and so grieve the spirit God yet Secondly they cannot fall totally and finally for they are sealed by the spirit of God to the day of redemption Sealing of us therefore is the Worke of one God who is one in Power Will and Operation who sealeth his Children in their hearts confirming them thereby to his own Image and also sealing them in their foreheads imboldening them to professe him By the former he maketh us to love him by the latter he causeth us to acknowledge him CHAP. XIX Christian Libertie is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost BEing Redeemed Justified Adopted and Sanctified and sealed by God we have the glorious Liberty of the children of God We that were Bondmen by nature Tit. 3.3 Eph. 2.2 3. become the Lords freemen through gtace 1 Cor. 7.22 Lawyers tell us that if any Lord of a Mannor doe contract with his Villain 〈◊〉 is by that Act of his Lords dâ—livâ—â—â—â—â— from his most slavish tenure of Villenage and made free thereby surely the Lord our God condescending so low as to covenant with us in Christ he doth thereby free us from that slavish tenure we held by since Adams fall and maketh us therewith free Denizens of Heaven fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 we are freed from sinne Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.33 we are set at libertie from Satan Heb. 2.14 15. Luk. 11.21 22. from the Law Rom. 7.3 6. Gal. 5.18 Rom. 6.18 from it's curses and maledictions Gal. 3.13 from it's condemnation Rom. 8.1 and from its rigour Gal. 3.10 there was Personall Universall Actuall and Constant obedience required in every title which left no place of repentance Repentance being an Evangelicall grace the proper priviledge of the covenant of grace Christ came from heaven to publish it Luk. 5.31 32. Mat. 4.17 he shed his bloud to purchase it Act. 5.31 he bids his Disciples to preach it Luk. 24.47 and surely therefore it cannot be legall the apostatizing Angels had not the benefit of it nor man till Christ had purchased it Christ hath freed us from this rigour of the Law and from the wrath of God Rom. 5.9 1 Thes 1.10 This Worke is a Worke of God none could effect it But First the Father procureth us Liberty He delivereth us from captivity Paul giveth thanks to God for it Rom. 7.24 25. where God is taken Essentially and not Personally for the Sonne and Holy-Ghost free us from our slavish captivity together with the Father Secondly the Sonne procureth us Liberty Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free There are two things which the Lord hath entrusted in his Churches hand First christian faith for which we must earnestly contend Jude ver 3. Secondly christian Liberty in which we must stand fast The Apostle calleth it the Libertie we have in Christ Gal. 2.4 which is Christian liberty not onely because we must use it to the glory of Christ and according to his rules but because he is the Author of it If the Sonne make you free then are you free indeed Joh. 8.36 he delivereth us who through feare of death were all our lifetime subject to bondage Heb. 2.15 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us liberty 2
Cor. 3.15 where the Spirit of the Lord is theâ—e is liberty David calleth the Holy-Ghost the free Spirit Psal 51.12 First because he worketh freely in us 1 Cor. 12.11 Secondly because he worketh freedome in us and for us and therefore the Apostle telleth us The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made us free from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 It is manifest Christian liberty is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who worke this worke in us and for us God loosing us from all bondage that we may serve him Luk. 1.74 and delivereth us from the slavery of our enemies to tye us more firmly to his service CHAP. XX. Salvation or Glorification is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost SAlvation or Glorification is the worke of God alone I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Isai 41.11 Isa 43.23 he saveth us 1 Tim. 1.9 he giveth us eternall life Rom. 6. last Eph. 2.8 First the Father saveth us so he promiseth Hos 1.7 I will save them by the Lord their God Here are two Persons stiled Jehovah First the Father promiseth to save Israel Secondly the Sonne by whom this deliverance is wrought and Israel is saved And the Lord Jesus telleth us John 10.29 None can pluck his sheep out of his Fathers hands Intimating thereby that he will preserve them to that Kingdome which he hath prepared for them Matth. 25.34 and according to his good pleasure giveth them it Luke 12.32 And to this end out of his love to us was it that he gave his onely begotten Sonne for us John 3.16 yea even for his little ones those who are little in their own eyes through humility little in the eyes of others through contempt yet it is not his will that any one of these little ones should perish Matth. 18.14 Secondly the Sonne saveth us John 6.33 He giveth life to the world So the Father promiseth Hos 1.7 and he himselfe affirmeth that he will give them that are faithfull to death a Crown of life Rev. 2.10 He giveth his sheep eternall life John 10.28 It is his mercy we must look for unto eternall life Jude ver 21. It is his Name by which we are saved Act. 4.12 There is no other Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved According to the merit of our salvation Christ Jesus is alone But according to the efficacy and application of it it is common to him with the Father and the Holy-Ghost Thirdly the Holy-Ghost saveth us He is the Spirit of life Rom. 8. that giveth life to us we being saved by the renewing of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 who promiseth to give to them that overcome to eate of the tree of life Rev. 2.7 and that they shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2.12 Thus these Actions and Works of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are their joynt and undividâ—d Works because there is not in God a divided or multiplyed Essence but one and the same divine Essence it being the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.6 The unity of whose working dependeth on the unity of their power That therefore which the Scripture ascribeth to one Person of the Godhead it ascribeth sometimes to another As in the seven Epistles to the Churches in Asia the Sonne in the beginning is described as the Author of them yet in the conclusion we must here what is spoken as spoken by the Spirit of the seven Churches Rev. 2. Rev. 3. Again the gifs that are given to the seven Churches some times the Spirit doth promise them as to Ephesus Rev 2.7 to Smyrna Rev. 2.11 to Pergamus Rev. 2.17 and sometimes Jesus Christ promiseth them as to Thyatyra Rev. 2.28 to Sardis Rev. 3.5 to Phyladelphia Rev. 3.12 to Laodicea Rev. 3.21 Though therfore the Scripture in setting down the graces doth usually ascribe them to the Father in the Sonne and by the Spirit Ephes 1.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.10 Tit. 3.4 5. This order of dispensation holdeth forth unto us a distinction of persons onely and no division of Essence It sheweth an order in which they worke no inequality in regard of their Nature Essence and Substance which is one their Majesty Power and Glory is one though in respect of the distinction of Persons they are Relatives and therefore so are not one but are thus co-equall and co-eternall Oh that we would look into the Glasse of Gods Word then might we see cleerely how the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe worke in all their Works in us and for us Oh what unspeakable comfort would this work in our soules to praisâ— God for his mercies And Oh what soule-comforting matter would this yeild to stirre up our Brethren to praise the Lord for his mercies there might we say one to another Come and heare all ye that feare God and I will tell you what he hath done for my soule Psal 66.16 then might we sing praise one with another saying Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Praise ye the Lord Psal 106.48 The fourth Booke Divine Honour is given to FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Honour and religious worship as is due to God onely THEY who have the same Honour or religious Worship given truly to them which is given to the Father are God equall with the Father But the Sonne and Holy-Ghost have the same honour given truly unto them as is given to the Father Therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father I shall first cleare the major though undeniably true and then shew the truth of the minor in divers particulars The Lord is a jealous God Exod. 20.4 As a King of his Church he will not endure a partner in his throne or as a Husband of her he will not away with a Rivall in his bed He will not give his Glory to another nor his praise to Graven Images Isai 42.8 We are to worship the Lord and to doe service to him onely Mat. 4.8 we are not to doe service to any that is not a God by Nature Gal. 4.8 The Apostle blamed the Heathen for this sinne much more it is blame-worthy in Christians He may winke at grosse Idolatries in them Act. 17.30 which he will not pardon in his owne people Amos 3.2 The Lord knew Israel by his mercies and he will make Israel know by his judgements what it is to sinne against him If therefore the Heathenish Galathians may not doe service to them that are not Gods by Nature much more may not Christians give this honour unto him who is not a God by Nature Where the distinction inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not serve the true for he reproveth them
SCRIPTURE MANIFESTATION of the Equalitty of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Wherein is above an Hundred Particulars by parralell places of Scripture this truth is clearely confirmed NAMELY THAT THE Scriptures Manifest the Sonne and Holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them such Names Attributes Works and Worship as are proper to God alone By BENIAMIN AUSTIN Pastor of the Church of God at Castle-Ashbey in Northamptonshire There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Goe and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 Awake O Sword against my Shepheard and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hoasts Zac. 13.7 Christ Jesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.5 6. LONDON Printed for P. W. and JOHN WRIGHT at the Kings Head in the Old-Baily 1650. To all those that love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Brethren THE Beloved Disciple of the Lord telleth us 1 Joh. 2.18 That in his time there were many Antichrists Many that did seeme to professe Christ yet in truth did oppose him which in words would confesse him but in works would denye him Tit. 1.16 If the first Age of the Church could not escape the fuery of Satan and if those more pure times did not avoide the unbridled rage of his Antichristian Darlings we that live in the latter dayes which are the perillous times must not look to be free from Satans opposition nor hope to be exempted from the malice of his Antichristian Factours For the mystery of iniquity which was but hatching in the Apostles dayes is now grown to it 's full maturity it then began onely to worke 2 Thes 2.7 it is now acting with the efficacy of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 And however there are many Antichrists in the world yet according to Johns threefold discription of them we may worke them into three heads For they are such as deliver poysonous Doctrine not truly grounded on Gods Word and doe oppose first the Divine Nature of Christ secondly the Humane Nature of Christ thirdly the Offices of Christ First there are Antichrists who doe oppose the Divine Nature of Christ as Cerinthians Arrians Samo-Satenians Jews Turkes and in a word the Sarcinians whose Doctrine is as it were a filthy sinke into which al the Heresies of former and latter Ages have emptyed themselves These the Apostle John directly describeth 1 Joh. 2.22 23. He is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne For although never any Antichristian Heretick did in words deny the first Person and however they may pretend with the blinded Jews and misled Turkes they doe honour the Creatour of the World yet by taking away that personall relation which he hath to the Sonne they deny him by consequence to be a Father and dishonour both the Father and the Sonne However therefore they would undeseemedly fasten on us the Name of Antichrist because we affirme the Lord Jesus in Nature and Essence to be equall with the Father whenas even the Father stileth him his fellow Zac. 13.7 and the Sonne who is in the forme of God thinketh it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.7 who was the onely begotten Sonne of God Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 and said that God was his proper Father Joh. 5. â—8 and he is said to be his proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 for the word translated own is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall yea he is the Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of himself Rom. 8.3 And therefore the name and nature of Antichrist agreeth to them and not to us For they oppose the Father and the Sonne and by denying Christ to be the eternall Sonne of God they deny also God the Father to be a true and eternall Father Thus doe they robbe them both of their excellent glory making the one to be no proper Father of Châ—â—st and the other to be no proper Sonne of God whom they blasphemously affirme to be a 〈…〉 Secondly they are Antichrists who deny the Humane Nature of Christ as Marcionites Valentinians Manichees and others They take away the benefit of his death and passion The Apostle doth more especially point at these 1 Joh. 4.3 and 2 John 7. where he sheweth him to be of an Antichristian Spirit that denyeth Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh Thirdly they are Antichrists who doe not oppose directly the person of Christ but by delivering Doctrine contrary to the Word doe oppose Christ in his three-fold Office First they depive Christ of his Kingly Office and make the Pope the Supreame and uncontroulable Head of the Church exalting him above all that is called God 2 Thes 2. namely above Angels Magistrates Divels which in Scripture are called Gods yea above God and Christ whenas they give power to him to prescribe Lawes which are more authentique to them then the Laws of God None being of power to dispence with his as he can and doth with Cods Lawes And they attribute such soveraignty to him as not onely to forgive sinnes on earth but to place or displace soules in Heaven or in Hell at his pleasure Secondly they take away the Propheticall Office of Christ For they in stead of teaching the Doctrine of Christ teach the Doctrine of the Devils 1 Tim. 4. Setting up Legens Councels Decreees Decretals Traditions and their corrupt glosses of the Text above the Scripture And with their Anagogicall Allegoricall and Tropicall interpretations of the Scriptures have quite taken away the true sense thereof Thirdly they divest Christ of his Priestly Office by Indulgencies Pardons Penances Pilgrimages Masses Dirges Purgatory workes of Supererogation and a thousand the like inventions have taken away the one al-sufficient Oblation and satisfaction of Christ All whose wearing service shall one day have no better reward then who required this at your hands yea that which in a word overthroweth all the Doctrine of Christ and was enough If Rome had stood guilty of no other errour to have made us to separate from her even her soule-destroying Doctrine of Justification by Workes For as the Apostle speaking of the Jewes told the true Church of Rome Rom. 10.3 They being Ignorant of Gods Righteousnesse and going about to establish their own Righteousnesse have not submitted themselves to the Righteousnesse of God These the Apostle John principally deciphereth in the Revelations Rev. 13. c. However these Antichrists are divided and doe crash one against another yet all doe fight against Christ and doe oppose his Church They being like Sampsons Foxes joyned together by the tailes with the fire of dissention betwixt them whereby they doe set on fire Gods dearely beloved Vinâ—yard And although Antichrist had alwayes a mouthfull of blasphemies yet never were
there more loathsome blasphemies belched forth from the rotten hearts of his corrupt followers then in these latter dayes For now many in a preteÌ„ded zeale against the whore of Babel have joyned with the false prophet Mahomet and out of a seeming opposition to the Romanish Antichrist have imbraced the Turkish Antichrist whereby the hearts of sound professours have been sadded those who have been weake in the faith have had their faith shaken and others who before were wavering have been tossed to and fro with the stormy winds of erroneous Doctrine and have split themselves on the soule-destroying Rocks of Hereticall opinions miserably blaspheming God and deploredly making shipwrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.19 20. And surely it maketh my heart to melt and my soule to mourne in secret to see how greedily men such in this Antichristian poyson in stead of the pure milke of the Word poysoning thereby there owne soules and with their poysonous breath endangering if not infecting the soules of others making them to vilifie the Sonne of God and to doe despite to the spirit of Grace Now that which first revived this cursed Monster of opinion in our Fathers dayes was carnall policy For some Polonians Transylvanians and other Turkish borderers out of sinister respects and base ends went about to reconcile God and Belial Christ and Mahomet Christianity and Turcisme together But that which hath since heightned their pride and made them bold to fight against the Lord Jesus and his holy Spirit and yet to promise themselves Victory beforehand in this their unequall combate is first their naturall blindnesse which maketh them to have the grosse conceits of God and of his simple Nature They conceiving him to be like some corporall Substance and therefore require alike instance in Nature in this mystery whereas the Lord is of a pure spirituall transcendent Nature Secondly Pride who although they cannot fully understand what their own soules are yet dare to think they can comprehend and bound the incomprehensible God in the narrow limits of corrupted reason and therefore as Peter prophesieth of them 2 Pet. 2.12 They speake evill of the things they understand not who therefore shall utterly perish in their own corruptions And as he sheweth 2 Pet. 2 1. By denying the Lord that bought them bring upon themselâ—es swift destruction Thirdly Giant-like ambition who thinke themselves able to resist truth though manned with a whole army of Martyrs confessours Fathers living in all Ages of the Church Fourthly Grosse Ignorance and false glosses of the Scripture which they wrest to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. Fifthly the not considering of Gods wrath against them which have formerly undertaken this and the like cause as against Arrius Cerinthus Olympius Valens the Arrian Emperour Pope Anastatius 2. Julian and divers other as ye may see recorded in the Centurialists Ruffin Tripart Histor Platin. Cyril For that which Moses speaketh of Korah and his Companions was true in these Numb 16.29 They dyed not as every man dyeth neither were they visited after the visitation of all Arrius and Anastasius which went to ease Nature voided their own bowels into a Jakes Oerinthus killed with the fall of a House Olympius was slain with thunder and lightning Valens burnt in a Cottage Julian if not slain with a darte from Heaven yet with a Dart directed by a divine hand which being ready to give up the Ghost he took it out of his body and threw it towards Heaven and cryed out Thou hast overcome me O Galilean But haply some will object against me first why I should adventure to traffique in publike when others who have more and greater Talents yet desire to keep theirs private In briefe all that I shall say for my self is this An earnest desire of doing good hath put me on this labour and hath made me to seeme carelesly prodigall of my little Oh that it were as fervent in richer hearts and that they would traffique in the like kind How would the Church of God which is beautifull as Tirzech comely as Jerusalem be also then terrible to the enemies thereof as an Army with Banners Whereas yet me thinks I heare opposed truth cry aloud for helpe and doe see the languishing Church robbed of her Children with cheeks bedewed with teares bewailing her self and spreading her hands imploring aid of all her friends and crying out in the bitternesse of her soule to all that passe by Look away from me for I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the Daughter of my people Oh that all in their severall places would endeavour to quench these horrid flames of Doctrinall Errours and that to this end they would with the Children of Israel 1 Sam. 7.6 draw water out of their hearts and poure it out of their eyes before the Lord and beseech him to put to his hand because they have almost destroyed his truth by wickedly trampling under foot his Christ and by miserably blaspheming his holy Spirit Secondly others that are more learned will perhaps blame my plainenesse of Language and dislike my labour for want of elegant expressions and haply because I have not cited the Fathers that have copiously written of this subject But these I beseech that they would not dislike truth because she commeth plainly attyred nor disregard soâ—d Doctrine although she weareth a homely dresse The strength of the matter was the thing that I aimed at and not elegancy of words and the validity of the argument was more intended by me then any neatenesse of stile Besides I held it most fit to speake of the Lord in his own words and not in the wisedome of speech and I desired Gods holy Spirit rather then mans enticing words As touching the Fathers I have indeed seldome cited them not out of any dislike of them but because I know they are disliked slighted and contemned of the enemies of this truth And because the thing I proposed was the confirmation of this point by Scripture Where if I should have used Hamane Eloquence this Subjâ—ct of all other is most unfitting There being nothing in which want of words doth more wrong us or can more grieve us then in the discussing of this misterious truth Where many things may be adored which we cannot search into many things may be searched in which we cannot conceive and many things be conceiued which we cannot utter The path of this truth is narrow slippery steep and therefore it will not admit of a stragler to rove up and down in a wandring discourse Thirdly Some there be that may carp at the word Essence Trinity and Persons which I have used To these I answer first in every Art this liberty is granted to use termes of Art which haply are no wayes used but in that Art and why should Divinity which is more excellent then all Arts and Sciences be debarred that common priviledge which every inferiour Art and Science
have waited for him who also did swallow up death in victorie Isa 25.8 which was the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 15. in whom that Prophesie was fulfilled John Baptist is to prepare the way of Jehovah Isa 40.3 which was the way of the Lord Christ Mark 1.2 3 4. Luk. 1.76 It was the Lord Jesus who was valued at thirtie pieces of silver Mat. 27.9 whom Zacharie calleth Jehovah Zach. 11.13 I will save them by the Lord their God Hos 1.7 A Prophesie fulfilled in Christ who is the Lord our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 Six times Zach. 12. is he called Jehovah which that it was Christ of whom the Prophet speaketh is cleare Zach. 12.10 They shall loâ—ke upon me whom they have pierced which John a faithfull eye-witnesse sheweth it was fulfilled in Christ Joh. 19.34 35. and as a true interpreter affirmeth that this Prophesie was spoken of him Joh. 19.37 He it was that appeared to the Patriarchs and Saints in the Old Testament Act. 7.30 32. who was then oft called Jehovah Exod. 3. Gen. 18. Judg. 6. Exod. 13.22 who is likewise stiled an Angel of the Lord Exod. 14.19 who oft tooke the name of an Angel but never the nature of an Angel Heb. 2.16 he being no created Angel Heb. 1.13 but the uncreated Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 The Mediator betweene God and us Zach. 2.10 11. Jehovah promiseth to dwell among us which was the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 who is our God and we are his people Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is Jehovah Ezekiel calleth him Jehovah Ezek. 2.4 Ezek. 11.5 which he before called the Spirit Ezek. 2.2 Ezek. 11.1 5. It was the Holy-Ghost who gave orders for the Tabernacle so the Apostle sheweth Heb. 9.8 whom Moses calleth Jehovah Lev. 19.2 Exod. 25.1 The Holy-Ghost spake by the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Pet. 1.11 whom usually they stile Jehovah Jer. 47.2 Jer. 51.1 Jer. 33.12 Yea Isaiah calleth him Jehovah Isa 6.3 5. whom Paul expressely calleth the Holy-Ghost Act. 28.25 Yea the Prophets in the New Testament say Thus saith the Holy-Ghost Act. 21.11 And the Holy-Ghost said Act. 13.1 2. And the Holy-Ghost testifieth Act. 20.21 Whereas the Prophets in the Old which spake by the same Spirit say Thus saith the Lord. Thus doth the Scriptures affirme the Father to be the true God Jehovah the Sonne to be the true God Jehovah the Holy-Ghost to be the true God Jehovah because whatsoever Name Attribute Worke or Honour is by the Scriptures ascribed to the Father is in the like manner given to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost as is exemplified in the Name Jehovah Not as if there were three Jehovahs differing in nature essence or substance for the Lord thy God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 and I am the Lord saith he and there is none else Isa 45.5 but because there is but one essence of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which yet are distinct from each other by their mutuall relations or personall properties CHAP. IV. Lord of Hosts is a Name common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost JEhovah Sebaoth Lord of Hosts or Elohe Sebaoth God of Hosts is a Name proper to God Isa 51.15 Jer. 51.19 Jer. 10.16 Jer. 32.18 He hath Armies in Heaven in Earth and in all places by which he fighteth against his and the Churches enemies and he it is that ordereth and guideth all the Hosts in the world The whole battaile in a just and well-managed Warre is the Lords 1 Sam. 17.47 He is the great Commander of all creatures he hath souldiers under him of all sorts he can make Wormes to be his great Armie Joel 2.25 and by them can he render vengeance to his enemies and reward them that hate him Acts 12.23 Herods pampered Carkas is made a Stable for Wormes to live in his body is food for them to feed on as the word in the Syriack importeth yea Frogs Flies and Lice are under his command Exod. 8. He that giveth them their being sets them their stint they cannot hurt an Israelite or spare an Egyptian Yea from the lowest of all earthly to the highest of all heavenly creatures they are all under his command and fulfill his word Psal 148.2 3 10. Psal 103.20 21 22. And yet such is his Power that he need not muster his Forces nor gather his Armies together it is sufficient if he doe but arise his enemies shall be scattered if his Power doe but appeare they that haâ—â— him shall flee Psal 68.1 This Name is never given to any creature in the Scripture but to God the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First the Father He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 2.9 Zach. 2.11 Ye shall know the Lord of Hosts hath sent me The Prophet speaketh of Christ who was sent by the Lord of Hosts his Father Secondly the Sonne He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 2.8 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts after the glory hath he sent me to the Nations that spoyled you Loe the Sonne who is sent by the Father is stiled likewise the Lord of Hosts for the Prophet mentioneth one Lord of Hosts sending another Lord of Hosts sent Isaiah likewise calleth Christ the Lord of Hosts Isa 8.13 14. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe let him be your feare and let him be your dread and he shall be for a sanctuarie but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock â—f offence to both the Houses of Israel That Christ was the Lord of Hosts who is also stiled a stumbling-block is confirmed by two un-erring Interpreters namely by Peter 1 Pet. 2.6 and Paul Rom. 9.32 33. He it was whom Hosea first calleth an Angel Hos 12.4 and in the next Verse stileth him The Lord God of Hosts Hos 12.5 The Chariots of God are twentie thousand even thousands of Angels Psal 68.17 18. That this was Christ who was the Lord of this great Host the Apostle maketh cleare Eph. 4.8 in citing the very next words and applying them to Christ Thirdly the Holy-Ghost He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 1.3 Say thou to them Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turne ye to me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turne to you saith the Lord of Hosts Where you must admit the Holy-Ghost who spake by the Prophets Act. 1.16 2 Pet. 1.21 Neh. 9.30 Mar. 12.36 to be He that is stiled the Lord of Hosts in the first place unlesse you will admit a Tautologie by ascribing to one and the same Person three times commanding of or speaking to Israel when as he speaketh onely twice to them Yea the Prophet Isaiah compareth the Spirit of the Lord to a Warlike King who setteth up his Standard against the enemies of his Church Isa 59.19 When the enemie shall come in like a floud the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him Yet that Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one Lord of Hosts the Prophet Isaiah maketh plaine Isa 6.1 3 5. when he was sent by him
Isa 6.9 First that this was the Father if any denie Isaias manifesteth it Isa 48.16 Secondly that it was the Sonne whose glory he saw when he sent him John averreth John 12.40 41. Thirdly that it was the Holy-Ghost who sent him Isaiah affirmeth Isa 48.16 and Paul putteth it out of doubt Act. 28.25 Thus one God distinguished into three Persons Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost hath one and the same glory and is one and the same Lord of Hosts in nature substance and essence though they are distinct from each other by their mutuall relations to each other the Father begetting the Sonne the Sonne being begotten of the Father and the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne CHAP. V. Jah is a Name of God ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost JAh is a Name of God of the same signification and derivation with Jehovah it is not oft used in the Scriptures unlesse it be in Psalmes or Songs of Thanksgiving Sometime this Name is redoubled as Isa 38.11 I shall not see the Lord the Lord in the land of the living Sometime it is joyned to Jehovah as Isa 12.2 Isa 25.4 and sometimes with Elohim as Psal 68.19 Oft times it is joyned to Hallelu and so it is used in the beginning and ending of the five last Psalmes It should be the first and last our highest and chiefest end to glorifie Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Jah is not a proper Name of Christ incarnate as some imagine who say That Christ in his incarnation was Deus contractus when all the fullnesse of the God-head dwelt bodily in him Col. 2.9 as they say Jah is contracted of Jehovah for this Name is given First to the Father together with the Sonne and Holy-Ghost Exod. 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song Israel did acknowledge Jah to be their deliverer who delivered Israel out of Egypt and destroyed his and their enemies which I shall shew to be the workes of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Psal 35.3 4. Jah is praysed who made a Covenant with his people which was not onely the Father but also the Sonne and Holy-Ghost as I purpose to manifest Secondly the Sonne hath this Name ascribed to him Psal 68.4 which Psalme the Apostle by citing the eighteenth Verse sheweth belongeth to Christ And Psal 118.14 18 19. The Lord or Jah is my strength and the Lord hath chastened me sore and prayse the Lord which was Christ as out of the twentie and second Verse of that Psalme by being compared with 1 Pet. 2.4 Act. 4.11 Math. 21.42 Mar. 12.10 doth easily appeare Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost Psal 68.18 Thou receivest gifts from men for the rebellious also that the Lord or Jah God might dwell amongst them Or if you reade it according to the Apostles interpretation Ephes 4.8 gave gifts unto men It is both wayes a Prophesie of Christ who received the promise of the Holy-Ghost from his Father Act. 2.33 and did give him to his Church who also dwelleth in the faithfull Rom. 8.9 2 Tim. 1.14 Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 3.16 Jam. 4.5 1 Cor. 6.19 1 Pet. 4.14 Oh that as prayse is in precept Psal 146.1 last Psal 147.1 last Psal 148. Psal 149. Psal 150. Psal 135. joyned to this word that it might be so likewise in our practise at the leastwise let it be our endevours to performe it Give prayse to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Prayse the Lord in his Name Jah CHAP. VI. Ehejeh or I am or I will be is a Name of God ascribed to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost EHejeh is a Name of God of the same signification and derivation with Jehovah it noteth unto us the eternitie and immutabilitie of God both in himselfe and in his Promises a Name which God is pleased to stile himselfe by Exod. 3.14 I am To this Name Christ alluding stileth himselfe I am Joh. 8.58 Joh. 8.28 Joh. 8.24 Joh. 13.19 Joh. 4.26 I shall shew not onely the Father but also the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be Ehejeh when as I treat of the worke of God in bringing Israel out of Egypt as he promised Exod. 3. who are one God of one essence and substance The Word being the Fathers owne Rom. 8.3 proper Rom. 3.32 begotten Heb. 5.5 Heb. 1.5 his onely begotten Son◠Joh. 3.16 18. Joh. 1.18 1 Joh. 4.9 And therefore of the same essence with him that begat him Neither is the Spirit differing in nature from the Father and the Sonne from whom he proceedeth and in whom they are no more then the spirit of man differeth in nature and essence from a man in whom he is 1 Cor. 2.11 CHAP. VII El is a Name of God ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost EL is a Name of God in regard of his Power which he hath in himselfe and which he giveth to all creatures This Name is ascribed First to the Father Thus Christ in the dayes of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications Heb. 5.7 to his Father stileth him El Mat. 27.46 Mar. 15.34 Eli Eli c. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Secondly to the Sonne He is El Gibbor Isa 9.6 The mightie God a Name not communicable to a creature His name is Emmanuel Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 A Virgin shall conceive and beare a Sonne and shall call his Name Emmanuel And therefore he was borne of a woman after the manner of men that it might be manifested he was truly man And yet not borne of mans seed that he might be knowne to be not onely man but God also as his Name importeth Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost He hath said which hath heard the words of God which saw the vision of she Almightie falling into a traunce but having his eyes open Num. 24.4 He whose words Balaam heard was the Spirit of God Num. 24.2 He spake by him and in him and yet in the fourth and sixteenth Verses it was the words of El which he heard Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost having one and the same Name properly and definitively given to them in Scripture are one in Nature also CHAP. VIII Elohim or Eloah is a Name ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost ELohim is a Name of God attributed to him in regard of his Power and Almightinesse It is commonly used plurally and is oft joyned with Jehovah which is alwayes used singularly the one noting the unitie of the essence the other the pluralitie of Persons of this one God This Name the Lord challengeth and demandeth 〈◊〉 there any God beside me Isa 44.8 David acknowledgeth no God besides the Lord 1 Chron. 17.10 2 Sam. 7.22 Yet this excludeth neither of the three Persons of the blessed Trinitie from being God First the Father hath this Name Eloah given to him Psal 40.8 I delight to doe thy will O my God The Lord Jesus as man delighted to doe God his Fathers will both by active obedience in fulfilling the Law and by passive obedience in suffering and dying for our sinnes which
Lord whom ye seeke shall come into his Temple Mal. 3.1 That this was Christ you have it so interpreted in three Evangelists Luk. 1.76 Mark 1.2 Mat. 11.10 He is thy Lord and worship thou him Psal 45.11 That this was the Messiah not onely the Apostle Heb. 1.7 8. but also the Jewish Rabbies so affirme and Daniel intreated the Lord to heare him for the Lords sake Dan. 9.17 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Ezek. 2.4 he is there stiled the Lord which in the second Verse is called the Spirit and so likewise Ezek. 11.1 6. Yea Isaiah manifesteth this truth more clearely where God called Adonai saith Whom shall I send or who shall goe for us Isa 6.8 Whom shall I send There is the Unitie and who shall goe for us There is the Trinitie That this was the Sonne and Holy-Ghost together with the Father is cleare if ye compare Joh. 12.39 40 41. Act. 28.25 26. and Isa 48.16 with this Isa 6.8 9 10. as I have shewed Yea Malachy useth this word in the forme Plurall and joyneth with it a word Singular Mal. 1.6 If I be Mâ—sters Ani is Singular and Adonim is Plurall If I There is the Unitie of the Essence be Masters there is the pluralitie of Persons I know some may object Isa 19.4 That Adonim Casheh is so used when ascribed to men and Adonai Gen. 24.33 Gen. 42.30 But first Casheh may be a Substantive and it may be translated Lords of Crueltie but if Casheh be an Adjective Singular and Adonim a word Plurall joyned to it it then may note the multitude of Masters which the captived Egyptians should serve and yet their unanimitie in crueltie towards these Egyptians which though many yet should joyne as one man in Lording over that slavish people So that this place maketh not against the Argument for the proofe of the Trinitie from the use of the word plurally Secondly that place Gen. 24.35 Abrahams servant useth this word plurally The Lord hath blâ—ssed my Masters greatly but he speaketh of Isaac whom he calleth his Master likewise Gen. 24.65 as well as of Abraham For where the word is restrained to Abraham he useth it singularly as in 36 37 39 42. Verses c. Thirdly that place Gen. 42.30 though Adonei be used there plurally yet it maketh nothing for the Adversaries of this Truth It may then be read according to the Originall The man of the Lords of the Countrâ—y spake roughly to us that is the chiefe of the Lords or the chiefe Lord spake roughly to us Now Joseph was chiefe Lord under Pharaoh Gen. 41.40 Psal 105.21 Act. 7.10 And it is an Hebraisme frequently used in the Old and New Testament to adde the name of Man thereby to expresse any excellencie as a man of Words is an eloquent man Exod. 4.10 a man of Arme is a mightie man Job 22.8 a man of Warre Exod. 15.3 a noble or chiefe Warrior a man of Countenance 2 Sam. 23.21 and a man of Measure 1 Chron. 11.23 is a goodly man Besides in these two last Objections the force is in the Points and not in Letters If the Points in the Hebrew be not coevall with the Letters then these Objections are of no force from the Text but onely from the Massorites additions CHAP. X. Shaddai or Almightie is a Name of God ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost SHaddai is a Name that God is pleased oft times to call himselfe by It setteth out Gods all-sufficiencie and selfe-sufficiencie both in regard of himselfe as also in regard of his children to blesse protect and to make them eternally happie as also in regard of his enemies to destroy and ruine them To which the Scripture hath reference when it saith Shad Destruction commeth from Shaddai the Almightie Joel 1.15 Isa 13.6 This Name is never ascribed to any creature neither indeed can it for no creature hath sufficiencie of it selfe but it hath dependance on the Creator Act. 17.28 In him we live and move and have our being This Name is ascribed First to the Father Job 33.4 The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almightie hath given me life where the Father and the Sonne from whom the Spirit of God proceedeth Joh. 15.26 Joh. 16.7 and whose Spirit he is Mat. 10.20 Rom. 8.11 with Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 are called Almightie and God Secondly to the Sonne Gen. 35.11 Christ calleth himselfe El-shaddai That this was Christ Hosea cleareth Hos 12.4 where he calleth him an Angel yet it was no created Angel Hos 12.5 It was the Lord God of Hosts the Lord is his memoriall But the Father and the Holy-Ghost have not the Name of an Angel ascribed to them onely the Sonne of God is oft so stiled who is likewise by the Psalmist called Shaddai Psal 68.14 When the Almightie scattered Kings c. This the Apostle sheweth to be Christ if you compare the eighteenth Verse of the same Psalme with Eph. 4.8 And surely though Christ was rich yet for our sakes he became poore 2 Cor. 8.9 Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost He is Shaddai the Almightie Balaam saw the Visions of the Almightie Num. 24.4 Num. 24.16 which were the Visions of the Holy-Ghost for so Moses intimateth Num. 24.2 The Spirit of God came on him Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one in Name one in Nature and are one selfe-sufficient Lord God Oh that we had Faith to depend upon this our all-sufficient God for safetie and also Knowledge not to mistake our Tenure by usurping that as our owne which the Lord onely lendeth to us the one would give unto us soule-solacing content in the enjoyment of God and of his Graces the other would free us from soule-vexing sorrowes flowing either from the absence or losse of outward things seeing that we are keepers not absolute commanders stewards Luk. 16.12 not possessors of them as our owne the Lord onely being possessour of heaven and earth Gen. 14.19 Psal 24.1 Deut. 10.14 1 Cor. 10.26 28. And from his al-sufficiency commeth all ours Oh how would this abate our pride in outward things and our vainglorying in inward graces 1 Cor. 4.7 Rom. 11.20 21. CHAP. XI 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or God is a Name of God used in the New Testament and ascribed to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or God is a Name oft used in the new Testament There is but one God 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 8.4 Eph. 4.6 And there is none other but he Mar. 12.32 One in Nature Substance and Essence though three Persons subsistences or relations For there are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are oâ—e 1 John 5.7 There is alius alius non aliud aliud another Personally though not another Essentially And though we cannot say there are three Gods yet every Person is God The Scripture the rule of our faith denyeth the one but assenteth to the other by
moved on the Waters first Cherishing them to make them fruitfull secondly Ordering them to their places Gen. 1.2 His Power is not shortened nor straitned Mic. 2.6 It was his Power by which the Apostles preached and wrought their Miracles Rom. 15.19 Through mightie signes and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God If the Holy-Ghost were not a Person distinct from the Father but onely the Power by which he worketh what a vaine Tautologie would it be of the Apostle to say by the power of the Spirit which according to their interpretation should be by the Power of the Power of God Although the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are Almightie yet they are not three Almighties or Omnipotents but one Almightie or Omnipotent one in outward and essentiall Operations one likewise in Essence though three distinct Persons distinguished from each other by their Personall Properties and by their order and manner of working in regard of their externall and common workes Oh that we had in us the Divine Principles of Faith that we might flye unto him for succour in all our wants who is infinitely powerfull and might rest on him for helpe in all our distresses who is boundlessely gracious both in himselfe and towards us above all that we are able to aske or thinke Eph. 3. Then should we run with delight in the wayes of Gods Commandements and neither start aside through secret feare or fall back through open Apostasie CHAP. VI. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are Omniscient OMnisciencie is an essentiall propertie of God There is not any creature that is not manifest in his sight Heb. 4.13 He seeth all our workes Psal 139.2 3. He heareth all our words Psal 139.2 and understandeth all our thoughts afarre off Psal 139.4 Yea the Psalmist doth not onely affirme but also prove this truth Psal 94.9 10 11. He that planted the eare shall not he heare God therefore taketh notice of our words He that formed the eye shall not he see the Lord therefore knoweth our works and as for our thoughts the Prophet addeth the Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are but vaine all Gods knowledge is wonderfull More particularly the Lords Omnisciencie appeareth in three particulars First in regard of the heart of man which he searcheth Secondly in regard of the works of men which he seeth Thirdly in regard of future events which he beholdeth and fore-sheweth First in regard of the heart of man The Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart 1 Sam. 16.8 he knoweth the secrets thereof Psal 44.21 it is his prerogative to be the searcher of it Jer. 17.9 10. he onely knoweth the hearts of the children of men 1 Kin. 8.29 where First God the Father knoweth the heart and therefore Paul shewing that he truly gloried in his infirmities and afflictions appealeth to God the searcher of all hearts The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knoweth that I lie not 2 Cor. 11.3 Secondly God the Sonne knoweth the heart Joh. 5.42 he professeth it and Luk. 11.39 he intimateth this truth to the Jewes Paul calleth him as a searcher of the heart to witnesse Rom. 9.1 he knoweth what is in man Joh. 2.25 he knew the Imaginations of the Jewes Joh. 5.42 Luk. 6.8 Joh. 6.15 Luk. 7.39 40. Mat. 22.18 Mat. 9.4 Mat. 12.25 Luk. 11.17 Mar. 2.4 Joh. 5.45 he knew the thoughts of his Disciples Mat. 16.8 Mat. 17.24 25. Luk. 9.47 Joh 6.61 64. Joh. 16.19 Joh. 1.47 he searcheth the heart and tryeth the reines Rev. 2.23 he knoweth the thoughts motions and inclinations thereof Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost searcheth the heart Wisd 1.5 6. Paul calleth him as a searcher of the heart to witnesse Rom. 9.1 he searcheth out the deepe things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 and therefore surely searcheth out the deepe things of man he knew the heart of Ananias why saith Peter hath Satan filled thy heart and why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart Act. 5.3 4. How did Peter know the secret fraud of Ananias and of Satans lurking in his heart but by the Holy-Ghost who revealed it to him And therefore Peter demandeth how is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord Act. 5.9 Yea the Holy-Spirit of the Lord revealed to Elisha the thoughts of Gehazi 2 Kin. 5.26 and the secret Counsels of the King of Syria 2 Kin. 6.12 even the words that he spake in his Bed-chamber Secondly in regard of man and all Creatures the Lord knoweth all things all actions are manifest to him Heb. 4.13 he knoweth all the Fowles of the Mountaines and all the Beasts that feed thereon Psalm 50. 10 11. his eyes are in every place Prov. 15.3 nothing can be hidden from him Job 42.2 First the Father knoweth all things he knoweth the wants of all Creatures Mat. 6.30 Where though the word Father is taken essentially and not Personally yet the Father with the Sonne and Holy-Ghost is necessarily understood The Father knoweth who are his electing them according to his fore-knowledge 1 Pet. 1.2 Secondly the Sonne knoweth all things Peter acknowledged it expressely Joh. 21.17 Lord thou knowest all shings yea all the Disciples confidently averre it Joh. 16.30 now we are sure thou knowest all things The Woman of Samaria calleth forth her Neighbours to Christ to see him that told her all that ever she did Joh. 4.29 he walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks seeing their wayes and knowing their works approving them that were good and reproving them that were evill Rev. 2.1 2 9 13 19. Rev. 3.1 8 15. he knew the fruitlesse toyling of Peter and he could direct him where he should cast his Net which shall inclose a multitude of Fish so that their Net brake And he knew how to detaine the Fishes together till their partners came and helped them filling both their Vessels that they began to sinke Luk. 5.5 6 7. he knew from the beginning who believed not and who should betray him Joh. 6.64 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost knoweth all things Wis 1.6 7. he searcheth all things even the secret things of God 1 Cor. 2 10. If to know of himself the secrets of man is proper to God Jer. 17.9 10. much more to know the secrets of God is proper to God onely Thirdly in regard of the prediction or fore-shewing of future events It is proper to God alone certainely to know future events God challengeth the Heathenish vanities Isa 41.23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know ye are Gods and againe the things that are comming and shall come let them shew unto them Isai 44.7 Things in their causes may be fore-showne not onely by Satan but also by men Onely the Lord can shew what things necessarily shall be whose second causes are not Yea he can and onely doth produce the causes and alter them and their effects at
used to note any instrument but an efficient cause Secondly the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in is placed likewise before the working of First the Father as Act. 17.28 Eph. 3.9 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Rom. 11.36 1 Pet. 1.5 Secondly the Sonne Joh. 1.4 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Eph 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Col. 1.14 Col. 2.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Jude 20. Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.18 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 6.11 By these and the like places you may see the weake and sandy foundation on which they build their faith who make the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost not onely to be unequall but unlike in Nature because the Apostle saith one God of whom 1 Cor. 8.6 one Lord by whom 1 Cor. 8.6 and one Spirit in whom 1 Cor. 12.3 4 13. For this different manner of speech doth not argue a different Nature in them of whom he speaketh as they blindly collect and fondly imagine For the same reason would prove the Father to be infeirour to the Sonne and it would make him his instrument as in some places above specified The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are not instruments to but co-workers with the Father they worke together First in these common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds Secondly in these speciall works which reach especially to the Church of God First the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost work together in these Common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds both of good and bad as namely First Creation Secondly Preservation or providence First Universally in regard of all creatures in all places of the World Secondly particularly in regard of the Sea Thirdly illumination or working of common gifts and graces in all men Fourthly judging the earth The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing these works to them equally with the Father CHAP. II. First Creation is a work of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost CReation is a work of God alone He stretcheth out the heavens alone and spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe Isa 44.24 He alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the Sea Job 9.8 He is the builder and maker of heaven Heb. 11.10 and He laid the foundations of the earth Job 38.4 yea Isaiah representeth the Lord speaking in his owne person I am the Lord and there is none elfe I forme the light and I create darknesse I make peace I create evill I the Lord doe all these things Isa 45..6 7 8. This our Creator is one in Essence Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us saith Malachi Mal. 2.10 and yet there are three Persons that did create us First the Father createth thus we acknowledge in the Creed the Father to be Creator of heaven and earth and the Apostle affirmeth Of him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and by him are all things Heb. 2.10 Secondly the Sonne createth and thus the Apostle saith by him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1.3 the heavens were made by him Psal 33.6 they are the work of his hands and he laid the foundations of the earth Heb. 1.10 by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth wither they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 the World was made by him Joh. 1.10 Thirdly the Holy Ghost createth He made man Joh. 33.4 he made the body of Christ out of the seed of the Woman Mat. 1.18 Luk. 1.35 he garnisheth the heavens Job 26.13 he moued upon the waters Gen. 1.2 cherishing them and making them fruitfull and fit for the creatures to live in By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the Hoast of them by the Spirit of his mouth so it is according to the Originall Psal 33.6 Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did create and build the World and therefore God for so the Apostle affirmeth he that built all things is God Heb. 3.4 Yea it is observeable that Moses treating of the creation useth the word Elohim and no other word above thirtie times together Gen. 1. to shew that all the three Persons did work this great work besides in creating man how plainely is the pluralitie of Persons in the unitie of the essence set forth Gen. 1.26 and God said there the Noune is plurall ard the Verb is singular although after the Verb is plurall Let us make man after our Image and after our likenesse is and our surely note a pluralitie of Persons Besides how absurd a thing would it be to imagine God if but one Person to speake to himselfe and yet in the 27. vers it is he made man in his owne image to point forth to us the unitie of his Essence I know the Jewes object divers wayes against this Object 1. That in the Scripture one man speaketh plurally of himselfe as First Bildad Job 18.2.3 Sol. But he speaketh not onely of himselfe but his other two friends Secondly Absalom 2 Sam. 16.20 but he speaketh not onely of himselfe but of his people and Armie Thirdly Daniel Dan. 2.36 but Daniel doth speake of the three Children that were his companions together with himselfe Fourthly Cant. 1.3 But the Church although one yet the members are many 1 Cor. 12.12 and as she is one body she speaketh singularly but as she is many members she speaketh plurally Object 2. That God spake after the manner of Kings Sol. First That kinde of speech was not then in use as Abon-Ezra noteth on Gen. 29.27 Moreover in the examples of Kings speeches in the Scripture there is not the like as Gen. 14.21 Gen. 20.9 Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 4. Dan. 5. Dan. 6. 2 Chr. 36.23 Ezr. 1.2 Ezr. 7. or in any King of Israel or of Juda after ages brought in this custome among Kings Secondly if the Lord would at any time have spoken plurally it would have been especially when he gave his Law where although then he manifesteth the pluralitie of Persons Exod. 20.2 5 7 10 12. and useth the word Elohim plurally yet he speaketh in the singular number Exod. 20.2 3 5 6 7. Thirdly Kings doe speake plurally because they are publique Persons and represent the whole Kingdome and act by the advice of their Councels Fourthly Kings doe not use the singular and plurall promiscuously as the Scripture doth of God Object 3. That God did speake to the Angels Sol. 1. God spake to them in whose Image man was to be made but man is not said to be made in the Image of Angels but in the Image of God Secondly the Angels did not make man but God Thirdly the Angels were not called in for advice the Lord neither had nor did need any Counsell
determined to be done Act. 4.27 28. Secondly the Sonne gave himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 He gave himselfe for us to redeeme us from all iniquitie Gal. 1.4 He gave himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it and clense it Mat. 20.28 1 Tim. 2.6 He gave his life a raâ—some for many Heb 9.14 He offered up himselfe Col. 2.20 He loved me saith Paul and gave himselfe for me Joh. 10.17.18 He laid down his life of himselfe Thirdly through the Holy-Ghost this Worke was done Heb. 19.14 Christ through the Eternall Spirit offered himselfe He sent him to doe this Worke Luk. 4.18 19. This Worke though it was consummated perfected and terminated by the Sonne of God when his soule did make an offering for Sinne Isai 53.10 So the Translators render it in the Margent it being terminatively wrought by Christ yet inchoactively it was the Worke of the whole Trinitie and so Isa 53.10 The Lord shall make his soule an offering for sinne And thus the Translators render it in the Text the Originall will beare either neither of them is contrary to the Analogie of faith for Christ suffered and dyed for the sinnes of the World by the common decree of the Father the Sonne the Holy-Ghost which was their essensiall and common Worke Act. 2.23 He was delivered by the determinate Counsell and fore-knowledge of God whom the Jewes tooke and by wicked hands crucified and did slay It being a worke of love to Man in God but a Worke of malice to Christ in the Jewes CHAP. VII The raising of Christs Body from death was a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Resurrection of Christ or raising up of his Body was a Worke of God Act. 3.15 Rom. 10.9 Act. 10.40 Act. 2.32 Rom. 4.24 Act. 4.10 It required a Divine power to effect this Where the Lord Jesus may be considered either First essentially as he is one Essence with the Father and the Holy-Ghost so he raiseth and is not raised Secondly Personally and that First as he is the Sonne of Man and so he is raised Mat. 17.22 23. Luk. 9.22 and raiseth not Secondly as he is the second Person in the Trinitie which was made flesh Joh. 1.14 and thus he is raised Luk. 9.21 and did rise againe Luk. 18.33 yea did raise up himselfe Joh. 2.19 The resurrection of Christ from the dead is attributed to the whole Christ and yet is was actively wrought according to his Divinitie and passively according to his Humanitie This Doctrine was mightily explauded by Philosophy who thought Paul to be a Babler and setter forth of strange Gods because he preached Christs Resurrection Acts 17. but Christians doe know by the Word First the Father raiseth him Gal. 1.1 1 Thes 1. last Rom. 6.4 Rom. 8.11 Act. 13.33 Secondly the Sonne raiseth himselfe Joh. 2.19 1 Pet. 3.16 2 Cor. 13.4 1 Cor. 15.12 Joh 10 17 18. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up where he seemeth to compare his life to a garment that he can take up and lay down at his pleasure It was not possible that Death should hold him by force Thirdly the Holy-Ghost raiseth him Rom. 1.4 The Father therefore raiseth the Sonne by the Sonne and the Sonne raiseth himselfe by the Spirit of Sanctification whereby he is declared to be the Sonne of God where therefore the Scripture ascribeth the raising of Christ from the dead to the Father it excludeth not the power of the Sonne and Holy-Ghost but sheweth the Identitie or samenesse of Will Power Operation in them Where if Christ had not dyed we could not have lived and if he had not risen againe we had slept for ever but loe the Dragon is vanquished and the Lamb is victorious the Lord of life grapling with Death foiled him in his owne Territories He brake all the Prisons of death and unfettered all his fellowes If when Christ was borne old Simeon was willing to dye Luk. 2.27 how willingly ought we to dye that know Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruites of them that sleepe 1 Cor. 15.20 Seeing that the first fruites differ onely in maturity from the time of the Harvest Let an Infidell sorrow immoderately for his friend that is dead as for a man without hope and let an unbeleever bewaile the misery of his dying soule but we have not so learned Christ Eph. 4.20 Christ who is the Key of our resurrection hath raised himselfe and opened a way for us to follow Heb. 10.20 CHAP. VIII The lifting up of Christs body into Heaven or his ascention was the Worke of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost THe Ascention of Christ or the lifting up his body into Heaven is a worke of God None but the Lord did receive him into glory 1 Tim. 4 16. and did set him at his owne right hand in heavenly places First it was a Worke of the Father not onely to raise him from the dead but by lifting up his body to to set him at his owne right hand Eph. 1.20 Secondly it was a worke of the Sonne to ascend into Heaven so the Psalmist foresheweth Psal 68.18 and the Apostle affirme Eph. 4.8 1 Pet. 3.22 and Christ himselfe witnesseth Joh. 20.17 Joh. 3.13 Joh. 16.15 As man he was taken up into heaven Mar. 16.19 Act. 1.9.11 and was set at Gods right hand which posture of his imployeth First resting from his labours Secondly raigning as a King Thirdly judging as a Judge but as he was also God so he lifted up his owne body Psal 68.18 He assended by his owne power He that did at the first make Joh. 1.3 and doth still support all things by his power Heb. 1.13 did likewise exalt himselfe and ascend above all things by the power of himselfe who used a cloud rather to magnifie his Divinitie Psal 104.3 in his riding theteon Psal 68 4. and commanding it then for any assistance he received from it He supporteth the cloud the cloud of itselfe could not support him Thirdly it was a Worke of the Holy-Ghost He led Christ into the Wildernesse Mar. 1.12 Mat. 4.1 Luk. 4.1 He translated the bodies of the faithfull from place to place 1 King 18.12 Act. 8.39 He who formed Christs body in the Virgins Wombe Mat. 1.18 20. Luk. 1.33 who raised up his body out of the grave Rom. 1.4 did also exalâ— his body into heaven who was exalted by the right hâ—nd of God Act. 2.33 Now the Spirit of God is called the Finger of God Luk. 11.20 with Mat. 12.28 The Hand of God Act. 11.21 Ezek. 8.1 Ezek. 1.3 Ezek. 3.14 yea Peter Act. 2.33 doth distinguish this right hand of God from the Father and therefore it cannot be taken personally for him where if it be used Essentially the Holy-Ghost is necessarily included but if Personally the Holy-Ghost is then there described to be him by whom Christ was exalted Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doe co-operate as they are three
be bound at Jerusalem by the Jewes Act. 21.11 Yea it was one action of the Father the Word and the Spirit who is one God in essence to send Esaiah Esa 6.1 The Father sent him Esa 48.16 The Lord God and his Spirit sent me when the Father and the Son are called by the Lord God Secondly The Sonne sent him John 12.40.41 Where he repeateth that particular message and sheweth that Esaias saw the glory of the Lord Jesus and spake of him Thirdly The Holy-Ghost sent him whose glory Esaias saw Esa 6. when he citeth this same errand which Esay was sent on Act. 21.25 26. Esay 6 10 11. and Esaias witnesseth Esay 48.16 I know some Divines interprete â—his Prophesie Esa 48.16 of the Father and the Holy-Ghost sending Christ where First That interpretation doth also prove the equality of the Holy-Ghost with the Father Secondly It doth no way crosse this for many things spoken of by the Prophets were fulfilled in the Prophet as in a type of Christ and in Christ as in the Anti-type of the Prophets as he that readeth the Psalmes of David and other Prophesies of the Old Testament may easily perceive Thirdly The other places namely Ioh. 12.40.41 and Act. 28.25 doe sufficiently shew that the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did send Isaiah which that the Father sent also I thinke none doubteth CHAP. VI. The sending of the Apostles was a worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost GOD as he sent Prophets under the Law so did send Ministers under the Gospel both extraordinarie Messengers as Apostles as also ordinarie Ministers as Pastours and Teachers Apostles were sent of God And therefore Matthias being to be chosen an Apostle they pray unto God to shew unto them whether he had chosen Matthias or Joseph Act. 1.24 And Paul telleth us expressely 1 Cor. 12.28 That God setteth Apostles in the Church Where the Name of God is taken not personally but essentially for the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost the sending of Apostles being a worke common to them First the Father sent Apostles So he sent Paul who was an Apostle of God the Father Gal. 1.1 Gal. 1.16 by his wâ—ll 2 Cor. 1.1 and commandement Secondly the Sonne sent Apostles Joh. 4.38 Joh. 20.21 So he sent the Twelve Mat. 10.16 Mat. 28.19 as also Paul Act. 26.16 Act. 22.21 who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 Gal. 1.1 Act. 9.15 and sent by his commandement 1 Tim. 1.1 and therefore he giveth thankes to him 1 Tim. 1.12 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sent Apostles He it was that gave commandement to the Apostles Act. 1.2 He sent Philip to the Eunuch Act. 8.29 He sent Peter to Cornelius Act. 10.19 20. Act. 11.12 He sent forth Barnabas and Paul Act. 13.4 who were separated at his commandement Act. 13.2 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost three Persons but one God sent Paul the Apostle to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ CHAP. VII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did limit the bounds of the Apostles Commissions appointing them where they should preach the Gospel AS the Apostles had their Commissions from God to preach so they had their prohibitions from him where they must not preach To set Bounds and Limits to the Apostles who had generally the care of all Churches 2 Cor. 11.28 was a worke peculiar to God It was He alone that gave them their Commissions and could alone limit those Commissions he had given them This was an essentiall worke of God common to all three Persons First the Father from whom Christ as man received his Commission sendeth this great Doctor of the Church in his owne Person to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel onely Mat. 15.24 Rom. 15.8 To him the Apostle Paul prayed to have his way directed to Thessalonica 1 Thess 3.11 Secondly the Sonne prohibiteth the Apostles in his first Commission that he gave them from going to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans Mat. 10.5 And to him the Apostle prayed to direct his way to Thessalonica 1 Thess 3.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost forbids Paul and Timothie to preach in Asia Act. 16.6 or in Bithynia Act. 16.7 And Paul is bound in the Spirit to preach in Jeruselem which witnesseth in every Citie that bonds and afflictions wait for him Act. 20.22 23. And Philip is caught away from the Eunuch by the Spirit that the Eunuch seeth him no more Act. 8.39 There ir therefore one and the same Divine Will and Power of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost with the Father which gave Commissions to the Apostles to preach and limited their Commissions that though they must preach in some places 1 Cor. 9.16 yet they might not preach in others CHAP. VIII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost spake in and by the Prophets and Apostles THe Prophets and the Apostles were but the voyce God was the speaker he did speake by the mouthes not of some onely but also all the Prophets since the World began Luk. 1.7 all Scripture both of Prophets and Apostles is of divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 yea the Lord himselfe testifieth Hos 12.10 I have spoken by the Prophets and I have multiplyed Visions and used similitudes by the Ministery of the Prophets and because the Lord is the speaker in the Scriptures the Scriptures therefore are called the Word of God This is an Essentiall and common Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost to speake by the Apostles and Prophets First the Father spake by the Apostles and Prophets Heb. 1.1 Secondly the Sonne spake by the Apostles and Prophets It was the Word of Christ that Paul spake Col. 3.16 Phil. 1.27 and it was the Lord Christ that spake in Paul 2 Cor 13.3 he did speake by John in his Prophesies Rev. 1.11 12 13 14. he speaketh in the Word Heb. 12.25 and he did speake by the Prophets Zac. 2.8 9 10 11. c. Hos 12.4 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost spake in the Apostles and Prophets he spake in John who was both an Apostle and a Prophet when he wrote to the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. he was in Joseph Gen. 41.38 and spake in and by the Prophets Num. 24.2 Mich. 2.8 Nehem. 9.30 Num. 11.29 Heb. 3.7 with Heb. 4.7 2 Pet. 1.21 Act. 28.25 Act. 1.16 and he spake in and by the Apostles Mat. 10.20 Mar. 13.11 he taught them what to say Luk. 12.12 and so inspired Stephen that his enemies were not able to resist his wisedome Act. 6.10 he revealed the Mysteries of Christ to the Apostles and Prophets Eph. 3.5 who was not onely in them but also on them Luk. 2.29 Luk. 4.18 Yea you have the Word and Spirit speaking in David from the Father 2 Sam. 23.2 3. It being the Essentiall Worke of one God in three Persons to speake by David and by all the Prophets and Apostles CHAP. IX The Father the Word and the Spirit did strengthen the Apostles and Prophets in their callings AS
God alone did send the Prophets and Apostles to his Church so for the good of the Church he did strengthen the Apostles and Prophets in their callings he made Ezekiels face strong against his enemies faces and his forehead strong against their foreheads Ezek. 3.8 yea he telleth Jeremiah that he had made him a defenced Citie an Iron pillar and brazen walls against the Land All the calumnies and oppositions which they shot at him could not pierce him to hurt him they might and did fight against him but they should not they could not prevaile against him For I am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee Jerem. 1.18.19 This worke is Essentiall and it is common to all three Persons First the Father strengthened them he strengthened Paul and Timothy 2 Cor. 1.21 and therefore they give thanks to him for his mercie and comfort 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Secondly the Sonne strengthened them So he promiseth to give his Disciples a mouth and wisedome which all their Adversaries should not gainsay nor resist Luk. 21.15 he enabled Paul to the Ministerie 1 Tim. 1.12 yea so great was his strength in Paul that the Apostle telleth you he is able to doe all things through Christ that strengthened him Phil. 4.13 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost strengtheneth them Micha telleth you he is full of power by the Spirit of the Lord Mich. 3.8 he it was that taught the Apostles how to answer their opposers Mat. 10.19 20. as also what to say when they were questioned Luk. 12.12 and indeed all Stevens Enemies were not able to resist the wisedome and the Spirit by which he spake Act. 6.10 The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have the same operation and the same naturall power and are therefore of the same Essence for the equalitie of power is from the equality of Nature in them CHAP. X. The sending of Pastors and Teachers unto the Church is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost PAstors and Teachers are appointed of God 1 Cor. 12.28 And therefore they are stiled men of God 2 Tim. 3.17 No man may preach the Word but he that is sent Rom. 10.15 This sending of Pastors and Teachers into the Church is a Worke of God Jer. 3.15 Jer. 23.4 and it is Essentiall and common to all three Persons First the Father appointeth Pastors and Teachers in the Ghurch 1 Cor. 12.28 Whether you take God there either Essentially for the Trinity or Personally for the Father it will follow that God the Father setteth Teachers in the Church Secondly the Sonne giveth Pastors and Teachers in the Ghurch Eph. 4.11 He namely Christ gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers Moreover they that are faithfull in this Office are his Ministers Col. 1.7 1 Tim. 4.6 his Embassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 his Stewards 1 Cor. 4.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost appointeth Ministers and Elders and therefore Paul chargeth the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.17 to take heed to the flock of God over which the Holy-Ghost hath made them Overseerâ— Act. 20.28 The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are one and the same God there being one and the same action and Authoritie of them in sending Pastors and Teachers into the Church CHAP. XI The giving Lawes to the Church is a Work of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost AS the Lord alone doth appoint Officers to Teach and to Rule in his Church so he onely appointeth Lawes by which his Church must be ordered and guided There is but one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 whose Lawes alone bind the Conscience yet he is distinguished into three Persons First the Father giveth Commandements to his Church Thus John telleth the Elect Lady 2 Joh. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in the truth as I received Commandement from the Father Secondly the Sonne giveth Commandements to his Church Thus the Lord Jesus telleth his Apostles A new Commandement give I unto you Joh. 13.14 not new in matter but new in forme we were by Moses commanded to love our Neighbour as our selves but by the Lord Christ we are commanded to love one another as he hath loved us yea he telleth his Disciples Ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you Joh. 15.14 and Paul willeth the Galathians to love one another and so fulfill the Law of Christ Gal. 6.2 the Law of God being the Law of Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth Lawes to his Church and therefore the Apostles in their decrees which they send to the Churches of the Gentiles say Act. 15.28 It seemed good to the Holy-Ghost and to us to lay on you no greater burthen then these necessary things Had this holy Assembly forgotten to mention God as the Author of these Lawes and rest wholly on a Creatures inspiration as some blasphemously imagine the Holy-Ghost to be Surely if the Holy-Ghost were not God he had no Authoritie to prescribe Lawes as necessary to the Church of God Gal. 1.8 yea Paul saith If any man thinke himselfe to be a Prophet or Spirituall let him acknowledge the things that I write are the Commandements of the Lord 1 Cor. 12.37 as if he had said if there be a Prophet amonâ—st you inspired by the Holy-Ghost he will acknowledge the things that I write I write by the inspiration of the Holy-Ghost Thus you may see the giving of Lawes to the Church is an Essentiall Worke of God common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost who although they be three Persons or Subsistences yet there is in them but one Substance Nature or Essence CHAP. XII The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was the Worke of the Father the Word and the Spirit AS the giving of other Lawes to the Church was a Worke of God so more particularly the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was his Worke It was wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost It was Jehovah Elohim Exod. 20.2 Deut. 5.6 one Gâ—d in three Persons that spake to Moses First the Father gave the Law to Moses and therefore Christ telleth the Jewes that Moses accused them to his Father Joh. 5.45 The Law which Moses had from the Father did accuse them as breakers of that Law to the Father Secondly the Sonne gave this Law to Moses He it was that spake in Mount Sinai Act. 7.38 38. called there an Angel but he was the Angel of the Covenant which is Jehovah Exod. 19.9 20 21 22 23 24. the Israelites desire not to heare the voyce of God Deut. 5.25 which the Apostle expoundeth Heb. 12.19 that the word may not be set before them and he it was that spake from heaven Heb. 12.25 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost gave these Lawes to Moses This the Apostle intimateth Heb. 9.8 for he giving the interpretation of some Lawes he prefixeth this the Holy-Ghost this signifying c. as if he had said this is the interpretation of those Lawes the Holy-Ghost gave
that God dwelleth in him and he through Christ in him And there is no wonder that the Lord bestoweth this and all other mercies on his soule when as it pleaseth him to adopt him to himselfe to be his sonne which also is a worke of God CHAP. XII Adoption is a worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost ADoption is a work proper to God He alone adopteth children to himselfe who both can and will and also doth make them Heires of God even joynt Heires with Christ in Glory Rom. 8.17 Which grace of adoption is the undivided worke of one God in three Persons who as he is our Father so we are his children by adoption who of his owne will begat us Jam. 1.18 we being begotten by counsell and not by nature â—or so the Lord Jesus is the onely begotten Son of the Father â—oh 3.16 18. Joh. 1.14 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 the Father being his proper Father Joh. 5.18 and he his proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 First the Father adopteth us He hath predestinated us to the adoption of children by Christ Eph. 1.5 It is our everlasting happinesse that we are so neerly admitted into the presence of God that his onely Sonne standeth betwixt us and him and that the Lord Jesus calleth us his brethren Heb. 2.11 by the Fathers choice of us in him Secondly the Sonne adopteth us As many as received him he gave power to become the Sonnes of God even to them as believe in his name John 1.12 Thirdly The Holy-Ghost adopteth us and therefore he is called the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 He it is that maketh us children of God Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit nf God they are the Sonnes of God The Spirit leading us as a Father leadeth his childe Adoption therefore is a worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost being stiled our Father as in the Lords Prayer where the name Father is not taken personally but essentially namely for one God distinguished into three persons And surely the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have this Name Father ascribed to them in Scripture as I have shewed and they are with the first Person a Father to us not onely in regard of Adoption but also in regard of Regeneration or Sanctification as I shall shew CHAP. XIII Sanctification is a worke of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost SAnctification which in Scripture is sometimes called Regeneration Renovation Conversion Repentance New Life New obedience c. is the Worke of God Joh. 1.13 If to create man be in the power of God alone then surely to re-create him is in his power onely For the former is called the worke of Gods fingers Psal 8. but the latter is ascribed to the strength of hiâ— armes Luke 1. And surely none is able to repaire the depravations of nature but the God of nature He it is that taketh from us our hearts of stone and giveth unto us an heart of flesh Ezek. 11.19 Ezek. 36 26. The Lord challengeth it as his worke I am the Lord that sanctifie you Levit. 20.8 Paul prayeth to God to effect this grace throughly in the Thessalonians 1 Thâ—ss 5.23 He giveth men repentance 2 Tim. 2.25 He quickneth those thae are dead in trespasses and in sinnes Eph. 2.1 5. He bringeth to the birth and he bringeth forth Esa 66.9 He saith to them which lye weltring in the blood of their naturall unclâ—annesse Live Ez k. 16. Secondly they that are sanctified are the children of God Joh. 1.12 13. borne of the Spirit John 3.5 and borne of God 1 Joh. 3.9 Although the Scripture usually ascribeth sanctification to the Holy-Ghost who doth peculiarly terminate this worke yet it is not to excludâ— the Father and the Sonne from it First the Father sanctifieth us Joh. 17.17 The Lord Jesus prayeth to his Father to sanctifie his Disciples noâ— onely to the office of an Apostleship but to a fuller me sure of grace as 1 Thess 5.23 The Father begetteâ—h us agâ—ine to a lively hope 1 Pet 1.3 He maketh us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 which is done by sanctification For without holiâ—esse no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 The Lord will have none to dwell with him in happinesse which will not h ve him to dwell with them in holinesse Yea Jude â—leerly manifesteth Jude 1. that we are sanctsfied by God the Father Secondly The Sonne sanctifieth us If he wash not us we have no part in him Joh. 13.8 we are sanctified in him 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.2 He sanctifieth and cleanseth his Church Eph. 5.26 Mal. 3.2 He is to them as a refiners fire to try them and not as a consuming fire to dâ—stroy them He purifieth to himself a peculiar people zealous of good workes Tit. 2.14 they being a peculiar people to him must yeeld peculiar obedience to him He presenteth us holy and blamelesse Col. 1.22 He that sanctifieth saith the Apostle Heb. 2.11 and they that are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren The Lord Jesus sanctifieth us two wayes First as God equall with the Father so he sanctifieth by the power of his Deity even by faith in him Acts 26.18 Secondly as he is God and man our Redeemer so he sanctifieth us by the merits of his humanity Heb. 9.9 10 14. Heb. 10.10 washing us with his blood 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sanctifieth us 1 Peter 1.2 2 Thess 2.13 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 15.16 For which cause all the graces in us are called the fruits of the Spirit Eph. 5.9 Gal. 5.22 we are borne againe of the Spirit John 3.6 8. For as Christ the head was conceived by the Holy Ghost Matth 1.18 so the mysticall Body of Christ is regenerated and borne againe of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 and renewed of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 We are changed into the Image of the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 who is the Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1.4 who is holy in himselfe and also worketh holinesse in us gradually cleansing us from all impurity Things are purified two wayes from naturall corruptions first by fire secondly by water And thus in the Leviticall Law things legally uncleane were lâ—gally purified Num. 21.33 And surely the Holy-Ghost in regard of his cleansing us from spirituall corruptions is usually compared to these two Elements first to fire as Mark. 9.49 Matth. 3.11 Secondly to water as Eze. 36.25 with 27. 1 Cor. 6.11 Esa 44.3 Joel 2.28 Sanctification is thetefore an essentiall worke of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost which is signified to us in our Baptisme being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 We are washed therefore and cleansed from sinne by the joynt yet undivided worke of the three persons of one Essence who are not divided in working
that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gave service to them which by nature are no Gods If the Lord Jesus be no God by Nature nor the Holy-Ghost how is that Divine Honour hath been given to the Sonne and Holy-Ghost equally with the Father Doth not the Scripture enjoyne such worship to be given to them as is due to God alone For first Religious worship is due to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First from Men Secondly from Angels Thirdly we are to obey and serve Fourthly Love Fifthly Heare Sixthly Know Seventhly Believe Eightly Hope or trust in them Ninthly to be baptized in their name Tenthly Paul sweareth by them Eleventhly we are to pray to them Twelfthly praise is given to them by men Thirteently Angels Fourteenthly the Temple was built Fifthteenthly and Sacrifice offered to them Sixthteenthly we are to glorifie in our lives the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who though distinguished into three Persons yet are Essentially one and the same eternall and everliving Lord God CHAP. II. Divine worship is due from man to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost DIvine and Religious Worship is due to God both from men and Angels First Religious worship is due to God from men So our Saviour answered Satan tempting him to worship him Mat. 4.4 Thou shalt worship the Lord â—â—y God and him onely shalt thou serve This one God whom we are to worship is the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost First God the Father is to be worâ—hiped The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirt and in truth and the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Secondly the Sonne is to be worshiped So Isaiah sheweth that every knee shall bow to him Isa 45.23 That this was the Lord Jesus Paul manifesteth Rom. 14.10 11. So likewise the Church is commanded Psa 45.11 He is thy Lord it is spoken of Christ and worship thou him Yea all the faithfull are thus enjoyned Psal 2.12 Kisse the Sun lest he be angry There was a kisse of homage due to Christ from all the world even such a kisse of homage Samuel gave to Saul when he anointed him King 1 Sam. 10.1 Idolaters did superstitiously give this to their Idols as the Arabians when they saw the new Moon because they could not reach to kisse her they kissed their hands in homage to her from this Idolatry Job purgeth himselfe If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moone walking in brightnesse And my heart hath been secretly inticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand This were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denyed the God that is above Job 31.26 27 28. Thus the Israelites gave this kisse of homage to their Calves Hos 13.2 and to Baal 1 King 19.18 giving that worship due to Christ to their Idols yea when Christ required faith of the blind man he received faith and worship of him Joh. 9.35.38 he was also worshipped of the holy women Mat. 28.9 and of his Disciples Luke 24.52 Mat. 28.17 and of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.25 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is to be worshiped Psal 95.6 The Prophets inviteth all to worship him whom he after introduceth speaking in the foure next verses where the Apostle sheweth to be the Holy-Ghost Heb. 3.7 8 9 10 11. The Church ministred unto the Lord and fasted Act. 13.2 that the Lord whom they ministred in the Holy Ghost is evident for he that was supplicated to and worshiped giveth an answer to them As they ministred to the Lord and fasted separate me Paul and Barnabas for the worke whereunto I have called them and they obey his voyce and send them forth at his command Act. 13.4 and surely he that hath Temples consecrated to his service hath or ough to have worship given to him in those Temples How therefore are we the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 6.19 why are we consecrated in baptisme to his worship and service Mat. 28.19 if we may not worship him if we may not serve him moreover we are to believe in him so we professe in the Creed Him therefore whom we beleeve in we may worship The Apostle joyneth faith and invocatâ—on together Rom 10.14 we are therefore to serve God the Spirit So Ambrose Lib. 2. de Spirit Sanct would have Phil. 3.3 to be read according to the Originall The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost in whom as I shall shew we are to beleeve in with the Father and to whom in baptisme we give up our names to serve them who are one God with the Father ought to have one and the same worship given to them with the Father who will not give his glory to another neither would he joyne himselfe in covenanting with his Church to have the same worship given by her to them if that they were not in the forme of God and had not one and the same Essence with him being equall with him in Majestie and glory CHAP. III. The Angels do worship serve and minister at the command of the Father of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost DIvine worship is due to God from Angels Neh. 9.6 The Hoast of heaven worshipeth him and he commandeth and giveth charge to them Psal 91.11 and they are ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 sent forth at the command of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost First Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Fathers command Heb. 1.7 They behold his face Mat. 18.10 they stand in the presence of thiâ— great King and are ready to doe his will who doe give worship to him Rev. 5.11 12 13. as John there sheweth They worship him who sent Isaiah Isai 6.2 9. which was the Father Isai 48.16 Secondly Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Sonnes command Rev. 22.16 and did minister to him Mat 4.11 they are his Angels Mar. 13.27 Mat. 13.41 2 Thes 7.8 and serve him but attend us Psa 91.11 12. Satan cited this place falsly Mat. 4.6 two wayes First he corrupted the Text he left out part of it Secondly he mis-applyed the Text to the Lord Christ it being onely true of his Members for whom he hath procured this ministery for the Lord Jesus is the head of the Angels Col. 2.18 and â—ardeth them they keep not Christ himselfe they were made by him and for him Col. 1.16 they worship him Rev. 5.11 12. Heb. 1.6 so Isaiah sheweth Isa 6.2.3 they worship him who sent the Prophet Isaiah That it is the Lord Christ whose glory Isaiah saw when he was sent by him John a faithfull interpreter affirmeth Joh. 12 40 41. yea not onely the good Angels worship him but evill Angels also First acknowledge Christ and obey him Mar. 1.27 Secondly they professe Christ and acknowledge him to be the Sonne of God Mar. 1.21 Luke 4.34 Thirdly they worship him Mar. 5.6 Fourthly they pray to him and beseech him Mar. 5.10 Luke 8.28 Fifthly they feare Mar. 5.7 Luke 8.31 Sixthly they believe Jam. 2.19 That
their Works both common and Essentiall as I have shewed to whom by so many wayes are we tyed to service and obedience but more especially are we bound to love him for he hath loved us first 1 Joh. 4.19 CHAP. V. We must love the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost GOD is the onely proper Object of our love whom we must love for himselfe but our Brother in and for God He is to be loved with all our heart with all our soule and with all our might this is the first and treatest Commandement Mar. 12.30 He is one Lord Mar. 12.29 but three Persons the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who is thus to be loved First the Father is thus to be loved This the Apostle supposeth If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 2 John 2.15 Secondly the Sonne is thus to be loved This our Saviour enjoyneth us to love him above our Neighbour of what neere relation soever he be to us yea above our self and therefore with the love required in the first and great Commandement It being that love which is due to God alone Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his owne life also he cannot be my Disciple The Father loveth them that love the Sonne John 14.24 And no marvell for the loving of the Sonne is the loving the Father and the hating of the Sonne is the hating of the Father also John 15.23 24. Three times did the Lord demand of Peter who had three times denyed his Lord. Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me John 21.15 16 17. yea the Apostle Paul commandeth 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha accursed till the Lord commeth And surely the love of Christ to us was boundlesse Ephe. 3.19 our love to him must be so likewise if possibly we can he is the First and the Last Rev. 1.17 Rev. 2.8 The first good cause and the last good end he is the chiefe good to the soule and therefore to be loved above all by the soule Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is thus to be loved This the Apostle John supposeth Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 5.1 We are begotten and regenerated of the Spirit John 3.5 6 8. whom we are to love above our Brother that is begotten of him for we are to love our Brother in him and for him Paul beseecheth the Romans by the love of the spirit Rom. 15.30 Not that love wherewith he loved us but wherewith we love him I beseech you saith he for the Lord Jesus sake and for the love of the spirit that ye strive together is your prayers to God for me But why saith he for the Lords sake and for the Spirits sake or for the love of the Spirit Surely it was to set forth unto them his vehement obtestation or greater desire There being a greater tye of love that we are bound withall to the Lord Jesus and to the Holy-Ghost then there is to any particular Brother or to the whole Church of God for these are equally to be loved with the Father Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost is that one Jehovah our God whom we must love with all our hearts with all our soules and with all our mights Deu. 6.4 5. where there is two causes imployed why we ought to love this one Lord First for his own Nature and being He is Jehovah who as he hath being of himself and giveth being to us so he is to be loved of himself and for himself but our Brother is to be loved in him and for him Secondly for his Covenant of grace which he made with his Church and people which brought Israel out of Egypt which gave his Law to Israel which was the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost as I have shewed If therefore our love be free let us set it on him who is worthy to be loved but if our love be vendible who is fitter for it then God who hath paid so deare a price for it and so dearely bought it Let us give him our Mites who hath given us so many Talents Let us love him with all our hearts who hath loved us with such an infinite love Let our whole affection of love be wholly placed on him who is truly lovely who placed his love on us when there was nothing in us worthy of his love for he did not finde but did make us lovely Ezek. 16.6 CHAP. VI. We must heare the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS we must give Divine Worship to God serve him and love him So must we like wise believe 〈◊〉 him who is the onely object of our Faith It is the honour of the true God to be believed on his Word but man who is subject to errour 1 Cor. 13.7 may not challenge this to himself The Lord can neither deceive nor be deceived but the best of Men may deceive and be deceived Gal. 2.13 1 King 13.18 we Therefore First Heare God Secondly Know God Thirdly Beleeve in God Fourthly Hope and trust in him First we must heare God He that is of God heareth God and his word John 8.41 It is the marke that Christ giveth to his Sheep that they will not heare the voyce of strangers John 10. yea hearing is the ordinary meanes of salvation Rom. 10.13 14. That which David called a boring of the eare Psal 40. the Apostle citing that place called it a fitting of the body of Christ Heb. 10.5 A body hast thou fitted me why because the eare was a principall member whereby he gave obedience to God his Father This duty we owe to God alone to whose Word we must yeild the obedience of faith Rom. 16.26 and therefore beleeve because he speaketh It is the Psalmist argument He that made the eare shall he not heare Psal 94. And surely we may likewise conclude He that made the eare shall not he be heard In regard therefore of creation we owe this duty to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First the Father is to be heard This Christ supposeth when that he saith Luke 10. He that heareth me heareth him that sent me Christ indeed as God and Man as he was the Minister of Circumcision Rom. 15.8 the great Doctor of the Church taught them from his Father John 12.49 He came in his Fathers Name John 5.43 and his Doctrine was his Fathers John 7.16 He did not speake of himself John 7.17 But as he is the Sonne of God equall with the Father so we are to heare him as we heare the Father thus he beareth witnesse of himself John 8.18 Secondly the Sonne is to be heard Ephes 4.21 So the Father commandeth Mat. 17.5 This is my well-beloved Sonne heare him The Sonne himselfe requireth it and promiseth eternall life to them that heare him John
in man as the Apostle intimâ—teth 1 Cor. 2.11 and the Father and the Sonne are in the spirit Zack 7.12 The Lord of Hoasts in his spirit hath sent by the hand of his Prophets so it is word for word in the Originall which was the Father and the Sonne who are called by the same Prophet particularly the Lord of Hoasts The Father is so called Zach. 2.9 and the Son likewise Zac. 2.8 yea the Holy-Ghost is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.11 the Spirit of God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.12 That spirit which is of God and therefore of the same nature co-essentiall with him CHAP. VIII We must beleeve in the Father and in the Sonne and in the Holy-Ghost THe greatest honour we can doe to God is beleeve him Whereas contrarywise it is the greatest affront we can offer unto him not to beleeve him He that beleeveeh not God hath made him a lyar 1 Joh. 5.10 And what greater disgrace can be put upon any then to give him the lye How much more disgracefull is it not to believe the God of truth He enjoyneth us to beleeve in him Not for any Good he receiveth thereby Job 22.2 3. Job 35.6 7 Psal 16.2 but for our good which we shall enjoy by doing that which he requireth even by beleeving that which he promiseth Without it iâ— impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 or to have our soules saved Mar. 16.16 we must therefore beleeve in God this Father This faith thou professest in the Creed when thou sayest I beleeve in God the Father Our Saviour sheweth they that beleeve in him have everlasting life Joh. 5.24 Secondly the Sonne This faith we prosesse in the Creed when in the second Article we say and is Jesus Christ This faith in Christ God the Father commandeth Joh. 6.29 This is the worke of God that ye beleeve on him whom he hath sent God the Sonne requireth it of his Disciples John 14.1 Ye beleeve in Gâ—d beleeve also in me He requireth it also of the blind man Dost thou beleeve in the Sonne of Gâ—â— Joh. 9.35 yea he requireth it of all John 3.15 16. John 12.36 promising to him that beleeveth in him out of 〈◊〉 â—elly shall flow Rivers of living water John 7.38 He Lastly commendeth the Church of Pergamus for not denying his faith Rev. 2.13 God the Holy-Ghost reproveth the want of it in the World John 16.9 John Baptist the fore-runner of Christ doth make it an infallible marke of those that have eternall life even as sure as if they did already injoy it Joh. 3.36 And the Lord Jesus telleth the Jews that if ye beleeve not that I am ye shall dye in your sinnes Joh. 8.24 And no marvell for the beleeving in Christ is the beleeviâ—g in God Ioh. 12.44 Act. 16.31 with 34. and the not beleeving in Christ is to make God a lyar 1 Ioh. 5.10 whereas by faith in him we are sanctified Act. 26.18 and justified Rom. 3.26 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost This faith we professe in the Creed in the eighth Article when as we say I beleeve in the Holy-Ghost The Apostle shewed that the Israelites entred not into Canaan because of unbeleefe Heb. 3.18 whom did they not believe was it not He whom they tempted proved and grieved Heb. 3.9 10. That this was the Holy Ghost the Apostle expresly affirmeth Heb. 3.7 Besides how can they call on him in whom they have not beleeved Rom. 10.14 Or how can we be Bâ—ptized in the Name of him in whom we doe not believe Mat. 28.19 There being but one faith one baptisme one God Eph. 4.5 6. One faith and one baptisme in regard of the object that is to be beleeved on and to be baptized in though there be divers in regard of the subject who beleeveth and is baptized The Holy-Ghost therefore in whose Name we are baptized is to be beleeved in There is but one faith in God the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who are therefore one God For if the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost were not one with the Father but did differ in Essence and Nature they would be divers Gods and the faith in them likewise would be divers And surely in the Creed we professe our faith in one God and yet three Persons are named the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Where the unity of the God-head and the Trinity of Persons is intimated and imployed CHAP. IX We are to hope and trust in the Father in the Sonne and in the Holy-Ghost AS God alone is the object of our faith so is he likewise of our hope We are commanded to hope and trust in him 1 Tim. 6.17 we are commanded and blessed for it Prov. 16,20 Psal 84. last Psal 146.5 Jer. 17.7 whereas they are discommended and cursed who trust in man and depart from God Ier. 17.5 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous flye unto it and are safe Prov. 18.10 They are set aloft so the Originall will beare it out of the reach of danger It is the singular Phraise of Abraham that against hope he beleeved in hope Rom. 4.18 It was without the hope of nature yet in the hope of grace above the hâ— in man yet under the hope in God We must hope and trust in God First the Father Thus we are to place our hope in God that cannot lye Tit. 1.2 who promised salvation to us in Christ before the world began 2 Tim. 1.9 Secondly the Sonne Thus did Paul Eph. 1.12 Phil. 2.19 And good reason for he is our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Col. 1.27 The hope of Israel Act. 28.20 and he in whom the Gentiles trust Rom. 15.12 yea they are blessed that trust him Psal 2.12 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost A woe is denounced against the people of Israel tor trusting in Egypt and not on him who as the Prophet speaketh cover with a covering but not of Gods Spiâ—it Isai 30.1.2 sheltering themselves in time of danger under humane aide and neglecting the Divine protection of Geds Spirit The Apostle sheweth there is but one hope of our calling as well as one Lord one faith one baptisme one God Eph. 4 4 5 6. If therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost was not one and the same God and Lord with the Father it would not be one and the same hope in the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost And without doubt we believe in him we hope in him to whom we give up our Names in Baptisme and with whom we doe then make a Covenant which is one God in three Persons we being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of Holy-Ghost CHAP. X. We are Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost BAptisme properly and strictly taken is a Sacrament of initiation wherein those to whom the Covenant belongeth being washed with water are consecrated to the service of the great Lord of heaveÌ„ earth ingrafted into the Church made partakers of all the
priviledges of the Saints and are bound by baptisme to beleeve on him to love him to obey him to worship him and to glorifie him Where First that we are to be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost is manifest both out of the command of Christ Mat. 28.19 Teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost As also from the continued practise of the Church of God in all ages and places of the Christian World Secondly Baptisme is a seale of the Covenant as Paul calleth circumcision Rom. 4.11 which the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doth make with the Church wherein God on his part promiseth to be our God which is our happinesse and we on our part doe promise and oblige our selves to serve him which is our duty Thirdly Baptisme is one Eph. 4.5 Not onely because it is once administred neither is it so onely because it is one seale of one and the same faith in all Nor is it so onely because it maketh all those that are baptized to be one body But principally in regard of the Object it is one and the same Covenant in all which we make with one and the same God The Apostle therefore Eph. 4.5.6 joyneth one Lord one faith one Baptisme and one God together putting Lord and God before and after faith and baptisme It being one Lord and God in whom we believe and one Lord and God in whole Name we are baptized Fourthly we being received into Covenant with God in Baptisme doe professe that God alone can wash away the filth of our sinnes and clense all the pollutions of our soules To which the Apostle seemeth to allude 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God For as Water washeth our bodies so are our soules washed of God the Father by the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ 1 Pet. 1.2 and by the renewing of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 The Apostle Paul in the former place nameth all three Persons Our God there is the Father in the Name of the Lord Jesus there is the Sonne and by the Spirit there is the Holy-Ghost By the grace benefit and operation of these three we are Washed Justified Sanctified Fifthly in that the Sonne and Holy Ghost are joyned with as in one Covenant with the Father wherein we equally promise Faith Obedience and Worship to them with the Father they therefore are not creatures For first if creatures should have the same Covenant made with them as is with God and that at Gods command This would be in God a giving of his glory to another which God disclaimeth Isai 48.11 secondly we should then confide and trust in a Creature which would be a withdrawing of our hearts from the living God and we should by this meanes bring a curse on us and not a blessing Jer. 17.5 7. thirdly we should then be tyed by Covenant to give Religious worship service and obedience to a Creature which is expresly forbidden Mat. 4.8 and we ought not to give the least Religious worship to them which by nature are no Gods Gal. 4.8 Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 Fourthly we should then be baptized into the Name of Creatures It was a thing that Paul abhorred that any should think he did baptize in his owne Name 1 Cor. 1.13.15 Sixthly we being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost have one and the same Communion with the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost For we have First Communion with the Father 1 Joh. 1.3 Secondly Commmnion with the Sonne 1 Joh. 1.3 Thirdly Communion with the Holy-Ghost 2 Cor. 13. last Phil. 2.1 Seventhly the Name of God in Scripture is used first sometimes for Gods Attributes Psal 9.11 They that know thy Name shall trust in thee and Isai 52.6 My people shall know my Names and againe Psal 91.14 I will set him on high because he hath known my Name We know Gods Attributes but not his Essence we see his back-purts but not his face Exod. 33.23 with Exod. 34.6 7. secondly it is taken sometime for God himself Psal 20.1 The Name of the God of Jaacob defend thee and Pro. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower a Metonymie of the adjunct for the subject as Cartwright observeth and so likewise it is taken Exod. 23.21 My Name saith God the Father is in him God the Father was in him 2 Cor. 5.19 and he in the Father Joh. 10.38 thirdly it is taken 〈◊〉 Power and Authority The high Priests examining of Peter and John and demanding of them by what Power and Name have ye done this receive this answer from them If ye examine by what meanes this man is made whole Be it known unto you all it is by the name of Jesus Christ â—f Nazareth Act. 4.9.10 fourthly it is taken sometime for the glory of God I have manifested thy Name to the men of the World Job 17.6 and againe Father glorifie thy Name Joh. 12.28 fifthly it is taken sometimes for our faith and confidence in God I come to thee in the Name of the Lord 1 Sam. 17.45 Our Lord Christ who is God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 Joh. 1.14 commandeth us to be baptized in the Name not in the Names Mat. 28.19 He intimateth thereby therefore that there is one Power one God-head one glory one Faith and Confidence one Obligation in Baptisme to this one Jehovah in whose Name we are baptized who is absolutely one in respect of his Essence and Name though Relatively in respect of the Persons he is three The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Three are named and yet but one Name of them three teaching us thereby that those three the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are named which are truly distinct as Relatives one from the other yet they are not three Lords or three Gods but one Lord God whom by Covenant in Baptisme we are to obey and serve and in whose Name we are to sweare CHAP. XII Paul calleth to witnesse the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost swearing by them IT was a Command that God ioyned Israel and annexed to his Law as part of that Honour which Israel owed to him and he required of them Deut. 6.13 Deut. 10.20 Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serve him and sweare by his Name Which was not onely required of the Church of the Jewes onely but also of the Church of the Gentiles Isai 45.23 The swearing by them that are no Gods is set down by the Prophet I had almost said as an unpardonable sin Jer. 5.7 How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworne by them that are no Gods Yea the Lord ranketh them with Idolaters in reproofe and joyneth them together in punishment Zeph. 1.4 5. that sweare
and Sacrifice of the Law Heb. 9. Heb. 10. which in themselves were shadowes of things to come but the body of Christ Col. 2.17 without this one oblation offered by Christ all other were imperfect unsatisfactory Heb. 10.1 for the sins of mankind had so kindled the fiery wrath of God that the Bloud of Buls or of Goats or of Sheep could no longer quench it but it would have broken out into an open flame if so be that the Sonne of God had not come and extinguished it with his own bloud It being not possible that the bloud of Buls or of Goats should take away sinnes Heb. 10.4 But Christ by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.12 14. Heb. 9.28 And thus he was a sacrifice for sinne yet secondly as he was the second Person of the Trinity God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 He was equall with the Father Zac. 13.7 Phil. 2.6 and he was together with the Father sacrificed to Jaacob was commanded to goe to Bethel and build an Altar there unto God that appeared unto him Gen. 35.1 7. And Jaacob powred on the Altar he built a drink-offering and oyle Gen. 35.9 14. That this was Christ Hoseah sheweth Hos 12.4 5. when he called him an Angel yet his Name was the Lord of Hoasts The Sonne in Scripture being usually so stiled who was an Angel in Name but not in Nature Heb. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Heb. 2.16 He was that Angel which spake to Moses on the Mount Act. 7.38 and and commanded the Sacrifices offered to himself Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost The Attonement was made to him together with the Father and the Son who did appeare in the Cloud upon the Mercy-seat Lev. 19.2 with Heb. 9.7 8. where the Apostle doth expresly say interpreting these Leviticall Rites that it was the Holy-Ghost that signified this thereby Seeing therefore the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost had one and the same honour done to them by Sacrifice in the Temple you may see that their service is one their worship one their honour one their glory one who are one and the same God in Essence Substance and Nature though they be three Persons subsistences or Relations in which they differ from one another CHAP. XVII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are to be glorified in our lives and conversations IT is the duty of the faithfull to make Gods glory the highest and ultimate end of all their Actions and that they live so that they may glorifie God here and that God may glorifie them hereafter God electeth us for this end Eph. 1.4 5 6. He createth us for this end Isa 43 7. Pro. 16.4 He redeemeth us for this end 1 Cor. 6.20 H justifieth us for this end Rom. 3.23 He sanctifieth us for this end Mat. 5.16 He afflicteth us for this end 1 Pet. 4.16 And giveth us for this end temporall deliverance here Ps 50.15 and eternall salvation hereafter For God is glorified in his Saints 2 Thes 1.10 that has Saints may be glorified in him 2 Thes 1.12 Man being a Creature for him to propose either his own self for his end or any other end but that which God hath proposed to him namely Gods glory would be a robbing of God of his right and an usurping of his glory First the Father is to be glorified Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven The light of grace that is in thee must so shine forth from thee that other men may have the light of grace communicated to them to see how to glorifie God thereby And Paul would have us with one mind and with one mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15.6 Secondly the Sonne is to be glorified Christ was glorified in his Apostles Joh. 17.10 They were to his praise and instruments of his glory It was Pauls end in living To me to live is Christ saith he Phil. 1.22 23. and Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or death Phi. 1.20 yea Peter exhorteth 1 Pet. 3.15 to sanctifie or glorifie the Lord God in your hearts and thereupoÌ„ addeth that they may be ashamd that accuse your good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 3.16 by having a good conversation we glorifie Christ which is truly God 1 John 5.20 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is to be glorified this the Apostle Peter supposeth the faithfull will doe And therefore he concludeth them happy that suffer for the Name of Christ 1 Pet. 4.14 For the spirit of glory and of God resteth on you on their part he is evill spoken of but on your part he is glorified and surely the custome of the Primitive Church before the Counsell of Nice was to worship and glorifie the holy spirit So Justin in 2. Apolog pro Christian ad M. Antonium Pium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we worship and adore the Propheticall spirit honouring him in word and deed Thus we are to endeavour both by word and deed to glorifie the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost And surely the glorifying of one Person is the glorifying of all The Leper who fell Christs feet and gave thanks to him is said to glorifie God Luk. 17.15 16. glorifying thereby not onely the Sonne but also the Father and the Holy-Ghost yea Peter sheweth you that the suffering patiently for the Name of Christ is the glorifying of the Father 1 Pet. 4.11 16. and of the Sonne 1 Pet. 3.15 16. 1 Pet. 16. and of the Holy-Ghost 1 Pet. 4.14 16. The honouring one is the honouring of the other 1 Joh. 2.23 Joh. 5.23 whereas contrarywise he that by Apostacy or Antichristianisme dishonoureth one dishonoureth the other likewise 1 Joh. 2.23 Joh. 5.23 Take heed therefore of Satans spetious delusions who would have thee honour the Father by denying the Sonne He that denyeth the Sonne the same hath not the Father 1 Joh. 2.23 but is an Antichrist 1 Joh. 2.22 he is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne Jews Turks Arrians and other Hereticks may affirme they worship him that was the true God who was the Creator of the World but he is the Father of Christ and him they deny wherefore they deny also the Father he being not a Father if he have not a Sonne and he hath no other Sonne properly but Christ Let us indeavour in the whole course of our lives to give the Lord the honour due to his Name Let us therefore in heart and voyce give glory to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost and let us conclude with the Psalmist in stirring up oâ—â—â—â— to this duty saying Let every thing that hath breathâ— praise the Lord praise ye the Lord Psal 150. last FINIS Imprimator Edm. Calamy