the World by these Pretences Answ. Yes For when the Lord cometh he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the Counsels of the Hearts 1 Cor. 4. 5. He shall be of quick Understanding in the Fear of the Lord and shall not judge after the sight of his Eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his Ears i. e. barely from outward Appearances but with Righteousness shall he judge the Poor and reprove with Equity even the Meek upon Earth where they are Trespassers Isa. 11. 3 4. And therefore it nearly concerns us to be sincere in all the Goodness we make shew of and to be the same to God as we appear to be to Men For if we dissemble in any thing he will pluck off the Disguise and shew us openly to be Hypocritical Pretenders and disguised Sinners to all the World. Quest. I see we shall be judged then for all our sinful Actions But shall we judged too for all our sinful Omissions Answ. Yes for we are as much bound to do what God injoyns as to forbear doing what he forbids and at that Day he will call us to an account for both Go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire for in my poor Members I felt Hunger and ye gave me no Meat I was Thirsty and ye gave me no Drink a Stranger and ye took me not in Naked and ye Cloathed me not Sick and in Prison and ye visited me not All which are omissions of Duty and for them they are Sentenced Mat. 25. 41 42 43. Quest. I perceive we shall be sentenced for neglecting to fulfill Laws But will Judgment also pass upon us for neglecting to employ or improve our Talents Answ. Yes for the Lord orders the unprofitable Servant who had hoarded up his Talent and made no gain with it to be cast into utter Darkness Mat. 25 25 30. And therefore it concerns all men to whom God has given Leisure or Power or Wealth or Credit or Wit and Parts to look upon all these as Trusts and not to squander them away on Vice or Vanities Sports and Pastimes but as Wise and Faithful Stewards to employ them all for God's service remembring that all these were â—ommitted to them for their Master's â—se and that at the last Day they shall be called to give an account how they have spent them Quest. What say you to our words shall we be judged at the last Day for them too Answ. Yes for by thy words thou shalt be Justified and by thy words thou shalt be Condemned Mat. 12. 37. And this should make all men careful to Govern their Tongues since they must give so strict an account for the abuse of them Quest. Christ there says Men shall give account in the Day of Judgment for every idle word v. 26. what then will become of most men in this world For is not any man that Discourses with freedom liable to utter something that is Idle that is works no good or makes none the better for it Answ. By Idle word there is to be understood every False and Slanderous word such as the Jews had then cast out against him when they said he wrought Miracles through Beelzebub v. 24. Quest. But in this strict Judgment for all our sinful Actions and sinful Words will there be any account still further required for our inward Thoughts and Desires of ill which were never come to act Answ. Yes for at that Day God will Judge the Secrets of men Rom. 2. 16. And when the Lord comes to Judgment he will make manifest the Counsels of the Heart 1 Cor. 4. 5. Quest. But is not every man troubled more or less with ill Thoughts and unlawful Desires and like to be so whilst we bear these Bodies about us Answ. Yes for in the Regenerate themselves the Flesh Lusteth against the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. Quest. How then can any man stand in the Judgment if for these they shall be Condemned Answ. If the bare sudden Thoughts and Desires were Damnable they could not But that for which God will then Condemn men is not all stirring of them but only all yielding to fulfill them Make no Provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. And this the Righteous do not commit or when they do before their Death they Repent of it and amend it Quest. What will be judged yielding to fulfill them Answ. 1. All inward Consent to the fulfilling of them in our hearts tho it may be we cannot do it for want of opportunity For when Lust has thus Conceived it bringeth forth Sin Jam. 1. 15. And our Saviour says Adultery may be committed in the Heart Mat. 5. 28. 2. All Contrivance for the acting and Fulfilling of them after we have consented to them He that Deviseth to do evil shall be called and dealt with as a mischievous Person Prov. 24. 8. And evil Thoughts that is Murderous Machinations and Contrivances are ranked in Guilt and Punishment with Murders themselves Mat. 15. 19. 3. All Actual accomplishment of them in Deed and Practice which is fulfilling the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5. 16. And this is more provoking still if it be in a settled Custom and constant Tenor of action which is walking or living after the Flesh Rom. 8. 1. 4. 13. Quest. I perceive then when Christ comes to Judgment we shall all be called to Account for all the sinful Deeds we have done and all the sinful Words we have spoken and all the evil Thoughts or Desires we have consented or endeavoured to fulfill and Condemned for them unless we have sincerely repented of them Answ. Yes Quest. But how will Christ proceed in Judging us for these Things Will he pass Sentence impartially without respect of Persons Answ. Yes All that are equal in Guilt shall be sure to have equal Punishment For the Judge is not capable of being Byassed by Fear or Favour by any Fondness or Indulgence towards any Criminals by any of their Flatterâ—◠〈◊〉 Complements Gifts or Services their Crafty insinuations or tiresom importunities by their Kindred or Families Sects and Opinions But absolutely setting aside all by-Respects he will regard only the Merit of Causes and what doth really influence the Case and Sentence every Man according to the Evidence that lyes against him At that Revelation of his Righteous Judgment there is no Respect of Persons with God. They that have sinned without Law shall Perish without Law and as many as have sinned under the Law shall be Judged by the Law. God will render to every man according to his Deeds Eternal Life to those that have continued in well-doing but Wrath and Anguish on every Soul that doth evil whether Jew or Gentile Rom. 2. 5. to 13. God without respect of Persons judges as every Mans work shall be 1 Pet. 1. 17. Quest. But in judging upon all these Points will Christ do it in Rigor pressing all the Punctilio's and taking all the Advantages of Law
of Messiah and then only fully accomplished when Jesus came This cleared from exceptions 2. His having the Spirit of Miracles resting on him 3. His Death with the particular manner and circumstances of it And his returning to Life again 4. His putting an end to the Jewish Sacrifices and Mosaick Covenant and bringing in a New one and a better to supply its defects 5. His erecting an Universal Empire and appearing as a mighty King. This not a Secular but Spiritual Kingdom 6. His converting the Heathen World from their Idol-worship Jesus silenced the Oracles and cast the impure Spirits out of their Temples This an Argument for him not only as accomplishing a Prediction but also as 't is plainly a Divine thing The Prophecies of an Universal Probity and Peace under Messiah cleared up by an account both of their meaning and accomplishment The fore-cited Prophecies understood of Messiah by the Ancient Jews though denied by some later in hatred to our Jesus p. 45. CHAP. III. Proving Jesus to be the Christ from other Divine Testimonies Jesus proved to be the Christ 2. From the testimony of John the Baptist. John knew this by Revelation and had it confirmed by a sign He was an acknowledged Prophet and of most clear and currant fame And gave this testimony before he was personally acquainted with Jesus 3. From the testimony of Jesus himself Several considerations shewing the validity of this testimony though it were in his own case This not impugned by Christ's words John 5. 31. nor gives any colour or advantage to Fanatical Enthusiasts 4. From his Miracles These no lying wonders as may appear because shewn in several instances not imitable by Demons As 1. Foretelling future Contingencies An account of Demon-Predictions among the Gentiles 2. Discerning Hearts and Thoughts 3. Raising the Dead 4. Casting out Devils of most stubborn ranks and in greatest numbers and combinations It may also appear from their intent and design and from their numbers and the manner of working them No opposing the Miracles of Moses against Christ's Miracles because they were wrought to set aside the Law of Moses That Law was given with a design to be altered An account how for all that several of its Precepts are justly called Statutes for ever 5. From the testimony of the Father who declared Jesus to be the Christ by audible voices And by raising him from the dead and shewing him in full possession of his pretences p. 96 The Knowledge of God or an Explication of the Divine Attributes and Providence CHAP. I. Of the Being and Attributes of God. The World declares there is a God. He is an eternal Spirit on whom all things depend Of God's Holiness Several things explained which seem to infringe it as when God is said to harden Mens hearts To inflict Spiritual blindness and a reprobate sense To send a false Spirit to deceive Ahab and strong delusion God oft gives Men up to the delusion of evil Spirits Cautions to prevent this To give Men a Spirit of slumber An account how notwithstanding God's irreconcileable hatred of sin it is still suffered in the World. Of God's Goodness Several false Notions of it In what things it chiefly consists Of God's Justice or Righteousness This shown in giving Righteous Laws And passing Righteous Judgments according to them without respect of Persons His Punitive Justice cleared from misplacing punishments in punishing one for another's sins And from misproportioning them in allotting eternal punishments to momentany fins Some false aspersions on this just God wiped off Of God's Presence in all places The effect of this Of his Faithfulness This shown by inviolable performance of his Promises And interpreting them without evasion or secret reserve according to their plain meanings And by constant adherence to his Friends and Faithful Servants which is no encouragement for any to return to their former sins Of God's Wisdom This shown in setting a just rate and estimate on all things so that he is neither gained nor lost by worthless services In discerning the just power and force of all Means and success of all Methods which should beget the greatest Reverence for all his Ordinances In seeing the best times and seasons for every purpose so that we must never think any Deliverance too long delayed or Affliction too fast hastened No reason to pretend to the Love of God without loving and imitating these Divine Excellencies p. 143 CHAP. II. Of God's Providence God preserves all things he hath made And governs them He observes all our actions And all our temptations He disposes of all good events For he gives the fruits of the Earth And Children And success in business How this should influence us in any enterprize shown in sundry particulars He gives promotion And the favour of Men. And life and health to enjoy all other Blessings And all Spiritual Mercies He disposes also of ill events As death of Friends Unfortunate accidents that afflict us in our Bodies or Goods Crosses and obstructions in our designs and business Sufferings from ill Men. How God stints and governs these No excuse of their unjust violence to say they are God's Instruments and follow Providence He sends also miscarriages of State and Government and presides in the most tumultuary and distressed times In these still have Faith in Providence But God must not be called the Author or sender of thâ—se evils which we bring down upon our selves by our own faults or follies p. 189 CHAP. III. Of God's Almightiness God's Almightiness implies 1. God's Might and Strength to effect all things viz. all that are the object of any Power And that are not repugnant to his own Nature The exerting this Power creates God no labour He can do whatsoever any things of the World can do This an encouragement to all generous Enterprizes And to build on Providence especially where we have a Promise The value and acceptance of this trust in a seemingly most improbable case And whatsoever any things of the World are inclined or wont to do he can hinder them from doing This also a ground of trust in God. And to keep us in any distress from flying to unlawful aids How God will use this Power 2. His Sovereignty and Power to command and order all things This includes 1. Empire as a Sovereign Ruler What things God may command The unalterableness of some commands 2. Dominion as a Sovereign Proprietor In what cases God allots good and ill out of his Power of Prerogative not according to Mens pre-dispositions Where he dispenses Arbitrarily he doth it always most Wisely and Reasonably Saving Grace he allots not in way of Arbitrary Prerogative but according to Covenant Rules And Heaven and Hell in way of Legal Trials A brief account of the Rectitude of God's Nature which limits his Sovereign Will from the Scriptures This Sovereign Lord and Proprietor an All-sufficient so no selfish Being Several good uses of God's Sovereign Dominion God's Majesty and Almightiness
tell particular Men they are truly Penitent having reserved that to be declared at the last judgment Besides every Man must have true Faith before he can be pardoned Faith and Repentance being the conditions of Pardon But no Man must believe his sins are pardoned before they are pardoned since that were plainly to believe a falshood Quest. But since all doubting of the Pardon of our Sins and the Favour of God implies distrust how will it stand with Faith in God Ans. The belief that our Sins are pardoned implies our trust and confidence of two things One is of God's Power and Fidelity in fulfilling his Promises The other is of sufficiency of our own care in performing his Terms Now Faith implies trust and confidence only in the former of these Quest. Is Faith only a confidence and trust in God not in our selves and implies a good opinion only of his Power and Faithfulness but not of our own fitness Ans. Yes and so of Abraham it is said when he believed That he gave glory to God Rom. 4. 20. His Faith consisted as the Apostle notes in what regarded him he being counted righteous for believing that what God had promised he was fully able to perform verse 21. When once Men have the greatest assurance of those Divine Properties they are said to have the greatest Faith though at the same time they think meanly and are most distrustful of themselves So the good Centurion was having such confidence in Christ's Power that he thought a word of his mouth would recover his Son without giving him the trouble to come in person and at the same time thinking so meanly of himself that he judged his house unworthy to receive him And of this Christ declares I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Matth. 8. 8 10. Quest. I perceive 't is no part of any Man's Faith to believe his sins are pardoned nor of Infidelity to doubt of it But though such doubts are not the sin of Infidelity against God yet are they not always sinful and blame-worthy upon some other account Ans. No but oft-times expressions of virtue and serve to recommend us the more to God as being acts of humility and self-abasement of modesty and poverty of Spirit which set no Man further off but bring him nearer and interest him the more in his favour The fearful humble Publican who durst not presume on any favour but with dejected eyes stood afar off went home justified of God rather than the proud Pharisee who justified himself Upon which our Saviour adds that every one who exalts himself shall be abased and every one that humbleth himself shall be exalted Luke 18. 10. to 15. God is nigh saith the Psalmist to the broken of heart and contrite of spirit Psal. 34. 18. He dwells with the contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the heart of the contrite ones Isaiah 57. 15. He looks to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at his word Isaiah 66. 2. to lift up those that humble themselves in his sight James 4. 10. and to bless the poor in spirit Matth. 5. 3. Indeed dejection sadness and tormenting fears are a backner of good endeavours and accuse God as if he were an hard uncomfortable Master very difficult to please and Religion as if it were a sowre melancholy service so that faithful hearts must not affect or harbour fear to these degrees But when they maintain a comfortable hope 't is generally more commendable to lean to the side of humble fear than of arrogant self-flattery to be too lowly and modest rather than too presumptuous and boasting Quest. And is it not more safe too Ans. Yes fear begets care whereas security slackens watchfulness and abates endeavour And therefore the Apostle advises those who would expect to stand not to think highly but fear Rom. 11 20. and to work out their salvation with fear Phil. 2. 12 13. And he was a wise Man that said Happy is he that feareth always but he that hardneth his heart against fear shall fall into mischief Prov. 28. 14. The wisest and the best way generally is to be fully assured of what concerns God but fearful and jealous of what depends upon our selves Quest. But have not some good Men great confidence of God's favour And since that is the priviledge of the most consummate Saints and gives the greatest peace and joy in God and comfort in believing which the Scripture speaks of must it not be a most justifiable as it is really a most blessed and desirable thing Ans. Yes if their confidence is not beyond their grounds and under this comfortable assurance of their present claim to Happiness they preserve an humble sense of their own defects and unworthiness and a fear of their falling from it by afterfailures And this comfortable assurance is vouchsafed to some extraordinary good Souls as their special priviledge as fears and doubts are continued to others for their exercise And different Persons are either indulged more happy injoyment from God or so exercised as to make them more acceptable and dear to him both these ways Quest. You have said enough to explain the nature and to set off the excellency and usefulness of Faith. But lest after we have taken the pains to walk by it it should fail all our expectations in the end pray show me something of the certainty of it Ans. That depends on the Authority of Jesus Christ who is the Author of our Faith. And all must needs be true that he Says and sure that he Promises because he is the true Messiah or the Christ of God who was to come as his Great Prophet to make known his mind unto the World. CHAP. II. That Jesus is the Christ from Ancient Prophecies The Contents Among those Prophecies which prove Jesus to be the Christ First Some prescribe the time of his coming This they mark out by the nearness of such notable Occurrences and Revolutions as would fall under all Mens observation And by fixing the very Year he should appear in Accordingly there was a general expectation of him at that time His coming not put off beyond the time appointed for the sins of the People An account why the Jews who read these clear Notes of the time in their own Prophets are not convinced by them Secondly Others assign man peculiar and visible Notes whereby he may be demonstratively pointed out from all other Men. As 1. His being born of a Virgin. This in some sense spoken of a Virgin of that time but principally of Messiah and then only fully accomplished when Jesus came This cleared from exceptions 2. His having the Spirit of Miracles resting on him 3. His Death with the particular manner and circumstances of it And his returning to Life again 4. His putting an end to the Jewish Sacrifices and Mosaick Covenant and bringing in a New one and a better to
to death for undertaking what he is not able to make good And the same is alledged by †Minutius Felix in his Book against the Heathens Quest. This extirpation of Pagan Idolatry being an effect so illustriously great and that would be so vehemently opposed and wherein so many People and Nations were concerned it must needs be the observation and astonishment of all the World and all Men must evidently see when it is brought about Ans. Yes and so it happened After our Saviour's Death it was the great business that took up Mens thoughts and discourse that exercised the Pens of the best Wits and the Skill of Politicians that unsheathed the Magistrates Sword against the Godliest of his Subjects and exposed the blessed Martyrs on Theatres to wild Beasts and all sorts of Torments and Deaths in all the Roman Empire and other places for several Ages This Triumph of Messiah over Satan that grand Enemy and Usurper made a greater and more universal and lasting noise and astonishment than ever was made at the downfal of the vastest and most potent Empire Quest. But besides this evidence as it accomplished a Prediction was not such wonderful prevalence of Christ's Religion over all the Legal Establishments and Idolatrous Religions of the World a clear testimony of God to him as it was a most miraculous and plainly Divine thing Ans. Yes indisputably it was When Religions prevail that have been in possession for several Ages that shows the power of Custom and Education When such as are inforced by Laws and Arms and which the Secular Power doth espouse and propagate that shows the might of Authority and forcible Violence When such as are agreeable to Mens Lusts and gratifie their natural inclinations that manifests how easily Men are persuaded to what they like and the mighty influence of natural Propensions When such as come fortified with a general Vogue and numerous Assertors that shows the over-awing influence of Crouds and Multitudes But when a Religion is made up of self-denials and runs in many things cross to Mens common sentiments and in more to their inclinations and foretels sufferings to its followers and inrages evil Men and evil Spirits When it decries the assumed Divine Honours of Emperours and stints and controuls all their unjust and impious commands When it lessens the credit of all Gentile Priests who at that time had the guidance of Mens Consciences reproving their most extol'd Opinions as false or frivolous and their most beloved Practices as wicked or superstitious When it enters against all authority of Laws and craft of Politicians and subtilty of Philosophers and power of Magistrates and violence of Tumults and Prejudices and Lusts of all and seeks to pull up all the firmest establishments of former Ages altering not only the publick Constitution but what usually men are more fond of the approved Religion of Kingdoms under which God had made their Ancestors most flourishing and victorious as was plain in the case of the Romans When it attempts all this by a few and those too unlearned and unfriended mean and despicable Persons And when they seek to atchieve it not by fraud or indirect arts or quaint speeches or sly allurements but by meekly telling a plain story concerning Jesus and hoping to prevail and conquer all not by Fighting but Suffering for him When a Religion I say that teaches such hard and unwelcome Lessons and is managed by such Instruments and meets with such oppositions and has nothing humane great or promising about it but all things great and to reason insuperable against it doth yet after all overspread the World at the same time all visible Powers seem thus combined to drive it out of it 't is plain it is helped on by an invisible Hand and that God interposes to make it victorious And I need not show how this was the case of Christianity in all these particulars Quest. Those Prophecies which prefixt the exact time of Messiah's coming did plainly prove Jesus to be the Man because none started up at the time appointed to make any competition But if there had these other signs which you have given from them are so great so peculiar and so obvious I will not say to be observed but so hard and almost impossible when brought to pass to be overlooked as must needs to the satisfaction of all reasonable inquirers demonstrate him to be the Person against all pretenders Ans. Most certainly they would to all that knew his Story what he was and did and would take the pains to compare it with these distinguishing marks which the Holy Prophets several hundred Years before had given of him For had any false Christ appeared exactly in the fulness of time as through the care of God's watchful Providence no one then made any pretence besides him yet had it been easie to show such deceiver was not the Christ whom the Prophets foretold because he was not born of a pure Maid whereto no Man but our Saviour ever pretended Or because if he did at some times shew some feats of Magick as the Enchanters whom Josephus mentions yet he was not withal eminent for Piety or had not the Spirit resting upon him to do Cures on all occasions and of all sorts or to cast out Devils of whatever kind and numbers which no Man but Jesus ever enjoyed Or because though he might die for his Imposture as he justly deserved yet his Death was not in that way they had described nor with those many notable circumstances they had prefixed for it Nor would any such false Christs rise again from the Dead as God plainly promised Messiah should and our Jesus did Nor were they any of them the Authors of a new Covenant which supplied what the Covenant from Mount Sinai wanted Neither did they erect a Kingdom taking in the Gentiles as well as the Jewish Nation nor had Kings and Queens to come and worship and pay homage to them Nor did they convert the Gentile World from the worship of Idols and drive the Devils out of all their Temples as he did most gloriously by his appearance Quest. But after all these instances of a punctual and exact accomplishment of the ancient Prophecies in Jesus doth not Isaiah foretel that in Messiah's days the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard with the Kid that the sucking Child shall play safely on the hole of the Asp and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all Gods hoâ—y mountain Isaiah 11. 6 7 8 9. That then Men shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning-hooks nation shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more Isaiah 2. 4. By these and such like Prophecies Messiah was to bring in a marvellous Probity and universal Peace into the World. And amidst all the injuries the bitter Contentions and bloody Wars among Christians how is this accomplished Ans. These Prophecies speak not this of all
of the Prophets themselves who if they gave any hints and interpretations of what they delivered in their own days were most likely to gather up and understand such traditionary Explications The reason of this difference is pretty obvious For those ancient Jews living before Christ looked only to the Prophecies themselves and the general sense and expectation raised about them by the Prophets But among the Jews since Christ several look also at personal prejudices and had rather deny any thing than own Jesus to be Messiah which they cannot well avoid doing if those places are spoken of him CHAP. III. Proving Jesus to be the Christ from other Divine Testimonies The Contents Jesus proved to be the Christ 2. From the testimony of John the Baptist. John knew this by Revelation and had it confirmed by a sign He was an acknowledged Prophet and of most clear and currant fame And gave this testimony before he was personally acquainted with Jesus 3. From the testimony of Jesus himself several considerations shewing the validity of this testimony though it were in his own case This not impugned by Christ's words John 5. 31. nor gives any colour or advantage to Fanatical Enthusiasts 4. From his Miracles These no lying wonders as may appear because shewn in several instances not imitable by Demons As 1. Foretelling future Contingencies An account of Demon-Predictions among the Gentiles 2. Discerâ—ing Hearts and Thoughts 3. Raising the Dead 4. Casting out Devils of most stubborn ranks and in greatest numbers and combinations It may also appear from their iâ—â—ent and design and from their numbers and the manner of working them No opposing the Miracles of Moses against Christ's Miracles because they were wrought to set aside the Law of Moses That Law was given with a design to be altered An account how for all that several of its Precepts are justly called Statutes for ever 5. From the testimony of the Father who declared Jesus to be the Christ by audible voices And by raising him from the dead and shewing him in full possession of his pretences Question BUT besides this proof of Jesus being the Christ from ancient Prophecies you said the same would be evidently made out by several Divine Testimonies other ways Pray what are those Testimonies Ans. The Testimony of John the Baptist who was sent into the World to give Witness to it the Testimony of Jesus himself which very well deserves to be trusted the Testimony of his miraculous works which are an evidence drawn up by the Finger of God and to name no more the Testimony of God the Father who himself became a Voucher of it So that he must give the lye both to Heaven and Earth to God and Men who shall disbelieve or gainsay it Ans. Did John the Baptist testifie Jesus to be the Christ Ans. Yes and that upon a most publick occasion when the great Council of the Nation the Sanhedrim sent Priests and Levites to him on purpose to know whether he himself were the Christ John 1. 19. For then his answer was That he was not the Christ verse 20. but that the Christ was come and was then among them verse 26 27. Yea the next day seeing Jesus coming to him he points at him and declares to them all that he is the Person Behold saith he the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world This is he of whom I said after â—e comes a man which is preferred before me verse 29 30. which Testimony he repeats again the next day upon another occasion verse 35 36. And this Testimony Jesus alledged for himself when he reasoned with the Jews in vindication of his own Authority Ye sent unto John viz. in the message from Jerusalem and he bare witness unto the truth John 5. 33. Quest. But how came John to know it and why in this case must we take his word Ans. Because he was a Prophet all the Jews as the Scriptures testifie held John for a Prophet Matth. 21. 26. Nay as Christ says he was one of the greatest of Prophets for of all that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist Matth. 11. 9 11. And he declares that the Spirit revealed this to him nay that for his greater confirmation it gave him a visible and most illustrious sign saying unto him Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descend and remain on him that same is he And this Spirit John declares he did see descend in a bodily shape upon Jesus at his Baptism and at the same time as S. Matthew adds heard a voice from God calling him his beloved Son for his fuller conviction John 1. 32 33. Yea since as the Nazarene Gospel relates it upon this descent presently there shone a great light about the place and a fire was lighted in Jordan wherein John Baptized him as Justin the Martyr testifies what would still be a more assuring proof to John in this case this bodily descent of the Holy Ghost was in a body of Light and dazling Splendor the usual Glory wherein God himself was wont to appear which hovering over our Saviour as a Dove doth when it lights and darting forth its bright Beams round about him did plainly represent what the Jews call the Schechinah and proclaim him to be a Divine Person Thus did John know Jesus to be the Messiah by an evidence infallible and every way convincing And this he testifies of him not as a thing by the bye but says it was the very Errand whereon he was sent and for declaration whereof he was called out by God to be a Prophet That he should be made manifest to Israel says he therefore am I come John 1. 31. Quest. Indeed if John had such Revelations of this matter as he declares 't is plain he was not deceiv'd about it himself but spoke out of sober knowledge and certain grounds So that if there is no cause to question his honesty there is no getting off from his Testimony But what can you say to show him a true and honest Man who would not feign things to deceive others Ans. His Sanctity and Integrity were the honour and admiration of his own times He led a most mortified rigid Life neither caring how hard his Fare was nor how coarse his Habit. He neither eat Bread nor drank Wine whence in Scripture he is said to come neither eating nor drinking i. e. not living upon the usual Diet of other Men Matth. 11. 18. compared with Luke 7. 33. His meat was locusts and wild hony and all his rayment of camels hair girt about him with a leathern girdle Matth. 3. 4. And thus voluntarily abandoning I will not say the pleasures but even the ease and common conveniences of the Flesh he was not capable to be tempted by them He was eminently above all affectation of Power or Praise insomuch that when all were ready to receive him for Messiah he told them he
excellent Glory of God the Father we heard when we were with him in the Holy mount and were eye-witnesses of his Majesty 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18. And the same he repeated again a third time before a Multitude when Andrew and Philip brought the Greeks to him For before them all Jesus Prayed Father Glorifie thy Name And thereupon came a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie it again John 12. 28. And this is a most sensible and satisfactory way of God's declaring himself not meerly by shows and resemblances of things which are impressed by Visions and Dreams upon Mens imaginations but by plain proper and significant words such as he used in conversing with Adam in paradise Genesis 3. 8 9. and with Moses at the bush Exodus 3. 4. when assuming a Glorious Light the usual way of shewing himself particularly present he spoke to Men out of it in an audible Voice as sensibly and intelligibly as a Man can talk and discourse with his Friend Quest. Did the Father also testifie Jesus to be the Christ by raising him from the Dead and shewing him openly in full possession of his pretences Ans. Yes on the third day he rose again as we profess in the Creed And Almighty God as S. Peter saith raised him up And hereby he did plainly testifie and vouch for him For after the Jews had done their worst condemning and cruelly executing him in raising him up again God visibly reversed their Sentence and undid what they had done and justified him as one that deserved not to continue under the Power of Death but to live again He was put to Death in the Flesh but justified in the Spirit viz. by that Divine Spirit which raised him from the Dead 1 Tim. 3. 16. He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. Nay after his Resurrection he set him in Heaven at his own right Hand surrounded with a Divine Glory the usual Symbol of God's Presence and Majesty In which august form he shewed him to Stephen to prepare him for his Martyrdom and to Saul at his Conversion Jesus appearing to them from God's right Hand in a Glory that surpassed the Brightness of the Sun. And having enthroned him there he intrusted him with the Holy Ghost to dispose of it as he pleased a plain Evidence of his having all Power in Heaven as well as on Earth as he pretended Which Power he visibly manifested to all Men not only by sending down the Holy Spirit in all variety of most stupendious Gifts upon his own Apostles but enabling them by imposition of Hands in his Name to confer the same upon innumerable Multitudes of his followers as appears from the Acts of the Holy Apostles and from other Scriptures Quest. I will not ask you for any more Evidence in this great point of Jesus being the Christ such demonstrations as you have insisted on being abundantly sufficient to gain belief from every honest mind that is careful to inquire and willing to be informed And as for others who are wantonly captious or wilfully blind and incredulous they are not to be convinced by Reason and Arguments But building on this now as most unquestionably sure That Jesus is the Christ doth not that undeniably prove the Divine Authority of the New Testament which is his Word Ans. Most certainly it doth For that contains only what he either spoke or acted himself in his Life or ordered his Apostles to do and teach in his Name after his Death The same Proofs and Testimonies which justifie him do authorize it since it only sets out to us all that Word in declaration whereof all the Evidences urged hitherto are to gain him credit Quest. I am fully satisfied of the certainty and have heard enough to convince me of the usefulness and efficacy of Faith in Christ. I would desire now to hear something more of the particular points of that Faith whereof we are to be thus firmly persuaded and whereby such admirable things are to be performed Ans. Those as I hinted at first are summed up in that short Creed into the profession whereof we are all Baptized And that I shall next endeavour to discourse on and explain to you THE Knowledge of GOD OR AN EXPLICATION OF THE Divine Attributes AND PROVIDENCE The Knowledge of God or an Explication of the Divine Attributes and Providence CHAP. I. Of the Being and Attributes of God. The Contents The World declares there is a God. He is an eternal Spirit on whom all things depend Of God's Holiness Several things explained which seem to infringe it as when God is said to harden Mens hearts To inflict Spiritual blindness and a reprobate sense To send a false Spirit to deceive Ahab and strong delusion God oft gives Men up to the delusion of evil Spirits Cautions to prevent this To give Men a Spirit of slumber An account how notwithstanding God's irreconcileable hatred of sin it is still suffered in the World. Of God's Goodness Several false Notions of it In what things it chiefly consists Of God's Justice or Righteousness This shown in giving Righteous Laws And passing Righteous Judgments according to them without respect of Persons His Punitive Justice cleared from misplacing punishments in punishing one for another's sins And from misproportioning them in allotting eternal punishments to momentany sins Some false aspersions on this just God wiped off Of God's Presence in all places The effect of this Of his Faithfulness This shown by inviolable performance of his Promises And interpreting them without evasion or secret reserve according to their plain meanings And by constant adherence to his Friends and Faithful Servants which is no encouragement for any to return to their former sins Of God's Wisdom This shown in setting a just rate and estimate on all things so that he is neither gained nor lost by worthless services In discerning the just power and force of all Means and success of all Methods which should beget the greatest Reverence for all his Ordinances In seeing the best times and seasons for every purpose so that we must never think any Deliverance too long delayed or Affliction too fast hastened No reason to pretend to the Love of God without loving and imitating these Divine Excellencies Question WHat are the Articles of Christian Faith or particular points which we Christians are to believe Answer They are all contained in this Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the
appropriated to it without that separate Honour and visible Reverence which is due to them is to unhallow and prophane him which he says in Ezekiel the Priests did when they put no difference between the holy and prophane Ezek. 22. 26. Our great and matchless Creator must have a distinguishing respect and honour visibly paid him in our outward behaviour And when in Gifts and Presents some would shew visible neglect and dishonour of him he complained they did not treat him as a Great and Dreadful King adding that herein their undutifulness might evidently appear because they durst not go so to pay respect to any Temporal Governour or Superiour Mal. 1. 8 13 14. But though this hatred of External irreverence be one thing implied in it yet is it but the outside of God's Holiness And therefore no Man must ever think to content him by Ceremonious Formalities as being extreme nice and scrupulously careful about the Place the Garb the Posture or other decent Dress or circumstance of his Worship and Service except at the same time he shun all sin and wickedness which affront him most of all and bear the directest opposition to his Holiness As this without the other is Spiritual ill Breeding and Clownish Rusticity so is the other without it mere Form and Complement and an empty unprofitable Ceremony Quest. If this Holy God is so irreconcileably set against sin sure he can never be the Author of it Ans. No let no Man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither doth he tempt or incite any man to it James 1. 13. The Devil tempts us who is called the Tempter in the Scriptures Matth. 4. 3. And wicked men who are his Instruments And our own Lusts most of all when they draw us away and intice us to evil as S. James says James 1. 14. But as for the most Holy God the concern he has about our sins is in no wise to decree or help them on but only to forbid and punish them He has no pleasure in wickedness or as the Septuagint translate it he doth not will it Psal. 5. 4. Quest. But doth not God himself say That he had hardned Pharaoh's heart and the heart of his servants Exod. 10. 1. and Chap. 14. 4 17. and is it not also said that he moved David to number Israel and Judah 2 Sam. 24. 1. Ans. Yes but God did these not by way of positive influence and efficiency as a concurrent cause but only by withdrawing his Grace and leaving Men to be hardned by their own Lusts and by evil Spirits And thus of Pharaoh 't is said that he hardned his own heart Exod. 8. 15 32. and of David that Satan moved him to number the people 1 Chron. 21. 1. Quest. But doth not his withdrawing of his Grace show a willingness to have sin take place and that although he is loth to do it himself yet he is free Men should be hardned by others Ans. No 't is only when he is put to it as a Wise and upright Judge in way of Justice For he never withdraws his Grace and thereby leaves Men to their own Lusts and malignant Spirits till they have first made a forfeiture of it by reiterated repulses and affronts or some high provocations Thus in the Story of Pharaoh in Exodus except what is said Chap. 7 13. he bardned Pharaoh's heart which as the Learned note may as well be rendred Pharaoh's heart was hardned as the same word is rendred verse 22. God is not said thus to harden Pharaoh's heart and send all his plagues upon his heart chap. 9. 12 14. till Pharaoh had several times wickedly disobeyed and wilfully hardned his own heart chap. 8. 15 32. And when 't is said that God moved David to number the people 't is added that their sins had provoked him to Anger which made him give him up to it 2 Sam. 24. 1. God's Grace and Holy Spirit is always repulsed and driven away before he recals it from Men and thereby gives them up to an evil Lust or an infernal Spirit to harden and work in them Quest. What say you when God threatens Men with Spiritual Blindness that they shall look on without seeing and hear without understanding Isaiah 6. 9. Which Judgment S. Paul testifies was befallen the unbelieving Jews Rom. 11. 7 25. As our Lord himself also noted Matth. 13. 14 15. Ans. Not that he instils into them any errors or pushes and precipitates them on to any wicked act without opening their Eyes But only that he leaves them to their own violent and blind prejudices which will neither let them hear nor see any thing that makes against them and withdraws clear means of knowledge after they have long slighted and abused them as our Saviour did from the blinded Jews therefore as he says speaking to them in Paxables because seeing they saw not and hearing they heard not that is they would not be made to see and hear by plain Speeches Matth. 13. 13. This infliction of Spiritual blindness S. Paul in the case of the Romans calls giving up to a reprobate sense Rom. 1. 28. Whereto God then gave them up when they of themselves having already gone far in wickedness contracting it he justly left them to it Whilst they knew God they gave him no due glory and acknowledgment and thereupon he gaue them over to a reprobate mind verse 21 28. Their reprobate sense verse 28. was the woful consequent of their own foul lusts and precontracted foolishness noted verse 21 23 25 26. God did not leave them till they had first by false worship and filthy practices not only deserted but driven him and his enlightening Spirit away from them Quest. But what say you to Ahab's case did not God himself deceive him Ans. No but only left him to be deceived by a wicked Spirit and that not till Ahab had sold himself to work wickedness and thereby most justly deserved to be deserted by him The wicked Spirits though they have will enough to hurt us yet are held in Chains and Fetters and are not let loose or in power to work their wills till they have God's Licence And therefore when the good Angels from their several earthly charges return back to God to make their reports some wicked ones as 't is represented in the Story of Job still croud in among them to gain Commissions either for trial or punishment and see who will be delivered into their hands Thus Satan did when he obtained power against Job for a trial of his patience Job 1. 6. And thus on another set day when God publickly decreed the fall of Ahab an evil Spirit presents himself and voluntarily offers to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets to encourage him to his fall at Ramoth Gilead in deserved punishment of his wickedness And God not only foretels that Ahab would hear him but bids him
please God and go to Heaven But do you suppose that some may still be Prophets and have Revelations about other things Answ. Perhaps they may about Particular accidents to particular Persons or Families or about great Revolutions to States or Empires As to these Matters it is not for me to stint the kindness and care of God or to determine what intimations he may sometimes vouchsafe from the other World. And if any wise sober and good men by the forcibleness of the impression on their minds after the Prophetick way which convinces and satisfies themselves and by the correspondence of events which may satisfie others find they have any such thing I shall not withstand them and so long as they do not offer these to innovate in Religion the Revelations of the Scripture are no bar against them Quest. You have fully explained this first miraculous Gift of the Holy Ghost the Gift of inspirations Were there any other miraculous Gifts subservient to it which you would explain to me under this Head Answ. Yes First the Gift of discerning Spirits i. e. among all the Pretenders to inspiration who spoke true inspirations and who meer pretences of it or Satanical delusions We have received the Spirit of God saith St. Paul which reveals to us the Things of God. And he that is Spiritual judgeth all Things that are pretended by others yet he himself is judged of no man i. e. they who want his Spirit cannot judge of him For who i. e. of those who want this Spirit hath known the mind of the Lord to discern when another meerly pretends to it 1 Cor. 10. 12 15 16. And this Gift of Discerning Spirits was very necessary in that Age to warn the Church against False Prophets For when there was such a commonness of true Revelations it gave the greatest opportunity to Diabolical Enthusiasts or wicked Impostors to obtrude their inventions or delusions upon the Church hoping they should pass for inspirations among the crowd of others Now are there many False Phrophets gone out into the World saith St. John which makes it necessary not to believe every Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. Quest. This Gift indeed was necessary to discover them before the Scriptures were written but when once they had them could not any Christians thereby detect Impostors without the Gift of discerning Spirits Answ. Yes and so St. John and the other Apostles in their Epistles gave ordinary Rules for this purpose One of these Rules was confessing Christ to be come in the Flesh. Try the Spirits says he whether they be of God and hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God and every one that denys it is not of God 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. and 2 Joh. 7. Another Rule was their submission to the Apostles and Governours of the Church since God would inspire no man to break Unity and make needless Schisms We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour 1 Joh. 4. 6. But the most comprehensive Rule of all was their agreement or dissonancy with the Holy Scriptures as I noted before and the Revelations of the undoubted Apostles If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the Things which I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14. 37. But if any Man or Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that you have received already let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. Quest. What other miraculous Gifts besides this of Discerning Spirits were subservlent to this Gift of inspirations Answ. Secondly the Gift of utterance i. e. of assurance fluency and volubility of speech whereby they were enabled to declare and make known their Revelations to advantage This St. Paul desired the Colossians to beg of God for him Praying for us that God would open to us a Door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak Col. 4. 3 4. Under which is comprehended that miraculous boldness which these poor men shew'd to admiration in asserting undauntedly a most exploded Cause in the face of their numerous and potent Adversaries That utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 19 20. Quest. Was this miraculous Boldness a Gift bestowed upon the Old Prophets Answ. Yes it was a part of that Spirit of Fortitude the Jewish Writers speak of wherewith God armed a Prophet before he sent him with a difficult and perillous Message in which he might foresee the greatest terrour and dread of men to stop his Mouth Thus God told Ezekiel when he sent him to the impudent and hard-hearted Israelites Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads As an Adamant harder than Flint have I made thy Fore-head Fear them not neither be dismayed at their Looks though they be a Rebellious House Ezek. 3. 8 9. Thus also he bid Jeremiah speak and not be dismayed at their Faces for he had that Day made him a defenced City an Iron Pillar and Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah the Princes the Priests and the People thereof Jer. 1. 8 17 18 19. Quest. And did the Holy Ghost give this miraculous Boldness to the Apostles Answ. Yes in a wonderful measure They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with Boldness Act. 4. 31. And when the Jewish Rulers saw the Boldness of Peter and John asserting freely the Power and Authority of Jesus and taxing them openly as his wicked Murderers to their very Faces they marvelled ver 10 11 12 13. Quest. Had they this boldness of Spirit at all times Answ. No. For at Corinth St. Paul says of himself that he was with them in Weakness and Fear and much Trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. In some great Dangers and pressing Necessities their Natural Fears would return upon them to trouble them for some time Thus it sometimes happen'd to St. Paul where he expected the most perillous opposition for after the hardships and hazards he had run through at Philippi and at Thessalonica expecting the like at Corinth too he was with them as he says in much trembling and so discouraged that he needed a Revelation to embolden him Act. 18. 1 9 10. And thus it did especially if at such time he were alone and had not his Companions with him When he came into Macedonia whilst he was by himself his Flesh had no Rest but he was troubled on every side without were fightings and within were fears But as soon as his Coadjutor Titus came to him he took heart and God who
comforteth those who are cast down comforted him by the coming of Titus 2 Cor. 7. 5 6. And when he came to Troas where a Door was opened to him he had no Rest in his Spirit because he found not Titus his Brother as he expected to stand by him 2 Cor. 2. 12 13. And at Corinth whilst he was alone he was the more afraid but when Silas and Timotheus were come he was pressed in Spirit i. e. vigorously put forward and emboldened by their Presence Act. 18. 5. Quest. By this I see the Apostles were Men and had some Returns of Humane Fears and Infirmities and this miraculous boldness did not actuate and invigorate them at all times Answ. 'T is true indeed But ordinarily they injoy'd it and particularly at those very instants when they had the greatest need of it As St. Paul did before Nero where the Lord stood with him and strengthned him i. e. with a mind undaunted 2 Tim. 4. 16 17. And as Peter and John did before the Sanhedrim where they were so bold that the Rulers marvelled Act. 4. 6 7 8 10 13. And as Christ promised they should all do when they were brought before Governours and Kings for his sake For then says he take no thought beforehand how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same Hour what you shall speak i. e. both matter and Presence of Mind to utter it For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Mat. 10. 18 19 20. Quest. What is the second of those Extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles for the Planting and establishing of Christ's Church and Religion Answ. The Gift of Miracles which enabled them to prove those things undeniably unto others which God had revealed to themselves Quest. Is working a Miracle for any Doctrine a Proof it comes from God Answ. Yes if the Doctrine tends to Holiness and be worthy of God. For a Miracle is not the work of Man but of God's and shews that God stands on his side that works it So that Miracles are God's Witness and way of proving Things The Works that I do in my Father's Name bear witness of me Joh. 10. 24 25. If I do not the works of my Father believe me not But If I do though you believe not me believe the Works ver 37 38. And God bore the Apostles witness with signs and wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb 2. 4. and confirmed the Word with signs following Mar. 16. 20. The Power of Miracles is the Spirits Proof or Demonstration My Speech was in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2. 4. Quest. But doth not Satan himself sometimes work a Miracle or such a lying Wonder as will pass for a Miracle Answ. Yes for Doctrines that serve his own ends but never for a Doctrine that plainly opposes and overthrows them For so Satan as Christ argues undeniably would be divided against Satan and then how could his Kingdom stand Mat. 12. 25 26. If a Doctrine therefore tends to Holiness as I said and is worthy of God as Christianity doth most eminently a Miracle is a sure proof of it and 't is certain the evil Spirits have no hand in working it Not to mention those other most demonstrative marks of the Miracles wrought for Christianity whereof I have already discoursed in another Place Quest. In any Miracles then which are proposed to us we are to look not only at the works but also at their end and usefulness Answ. Yes For if they are for impious and impure Ends 't is plain they come from impious and unclean Spirits if only for Ostentation and Praise from vain-glorious and proud ones if meerly to gratifie idle Curiosity of Spectators like Feats of Juglers from Ludicrous and Vain Spirits who delight to amuse with Toys and Trifles All Miracles being the effect of intelligent Agents by their Design shew the Temper and Genius of the Actors And therefore when any are pretended to come from God that must be shewn in their gravity grandure pious heavenly fruits or important usefulness But we must not put his Hand to any that serve only to vicious ends or ridiculous impertinence Quest. And as God works them only for important and needful ends Doth he not also only on needful occasions Answ. Very right either of succouring his Servants or Crediting his Messengers especially when he sends them out at first to promulge a Law or sometimes though in this more seldom when he sends them to revive it after some great and general Defection from it and accordingly the most Miracles that were wrought all the time of the Jewish State were either by Moses who first published the Law or by Elias and Elisha to restore it after Jeroboam's Calves had made ten Tribes of twelve most grosly to swerve from it And therefore it is a vain thing for any of those to listen after new Miracles who pretend to Rule their Faith by the Holy Scriptures which stand attested by all the old ones as if there were some Defects in the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles which need to be supplied by their Followers But 't is more especially vain to pretend as the Church of Rome doth to work such Miracles only among themselves who believe without them but never before us who have more need to be convinced by them Moses and our Saviour Christ and his blessed Apostles shewed their Miracles among those they design'd to make Converts or such young and unsetled Followers as needed to be confirmed and established in the Faith. And in Testimony to the Man of God Jeroboam's hand is miraculously withered and as miraculously restored before the Altar at Bethel the very Seat of the Schismaticks 1 King. 13. 4 5 6. And if Tongues are used for a sign 't is not to those saith St. Paul who believe but to those who believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22. To shew signs where they are not needed and withhold them where they are more needful is not the way and method of hâ—s Almighty Power who is neither wanting in necessaries nor Liberal in superfluities Quest. Was this Gift of Miracles bestowed upon the Apostles Answ. Yes God bore them witness with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles Heb. 2. 4. and confirmed the word with Signs following Mar. 16. 20. Quest. What Miracles had they the Gift of Answ. They had the Gift of Healing without the help of Medicine To one is given by the Spirit the Gift of healing 1 Cor. 12. 9. And thus by the Holy Ghost Petâ—â— and John healed the Lame Man Act. 3. 2 6. In working these Cures when our Saviour sent them out at First they used the Ceremony of anointing with Oyl They anointed with Oyl many that were sick and healed them Mar. 6. 13. And this Ceremony of anointting was held on afterwards whilst this miraculous Gift of Healing
must be in following our Callings with Prudent Care and Diligence And in like sort when we seek to him for any Virtues it must be in the use of such Probable and Discreet ways as are like to make us Masters of them Quest. Would you add any thing further about the use of these means Answ. Yes Fourthly that it be with a Faith in God's Power and Spirit and a confidence of success through that Assistance God has promised his Grace and Spirit to make us Good as well as his Mercy to Pardon us when we are so And we must eye this Promise of his Powerful assistance when we set about any Vertue and Goodness A Faith in his Power is as necessary to make us Good as Faith in his Mercy towards all good Men is to make us desirous of being Good. And to this Faith the Scripture Directs us in working out our Obedience Work out your own Salvation for it is God that worketh in you and so strengthen your Hands in that expectation Phil. 2. 12 13. And we are kept by the Power of God through Faith viz. in that Power unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Quest. Is there any other Rule to be observed in seeking these Graces of the Holy Spirit Answ. Yes Fifthly that in all the Time we are endeavouring after them we do nothing to Grieve or annoy him 'T is with him as 't is with every ingenious Person he grows weary of staying where he finds he is not welcome and where men are still taking occasion to displease and pass Affronts upon him And therefore when we are warn'd against several sins to conclude all we are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God which is to restrain us from them Eph. 4. 30. Quest. What things will grieve him Answ. The Apostle there particularly mentions obscene Talk and corrupt Communication ver 29. But he is grieved by our consenting to all sorts of Sin for he is a declared Enemy to all of them Especially if we commit any against many of his suggestions and checks of Conscience As David did in the Murder of Uriah after which he was sore afraid lest God should take his Holy Spirit from him Ps. 51. 11. or if we have sinned our selves up to a Custom or take delight in sinning Quest. Doth it offend him knowingly to Neglect and Slight his good suggestions Answ. Yes for he is concerned to have them take Place since he suggests nothing to us but what is most agreable to his own most Holy Inclinations the Honour of God and our Eternal Happiness Let us have that is use Grace that we may serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. And therefore let this pass for a Sixth Rule of obtaining his saving Graces to cherish the Good Suggestions he inspires and always improve the Grace he has already given to bring down more from him For to him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25. 29. In things of Trust this is the way of all Discreet Persons and so 't is his Quest. If we idely neglect and fail to cultivate our Present Grace then he will withhold such further Measures as he Designed us Answ. Yes and after long Patience at last withdraw the former too For from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Mat. 25. 29. Thus Felix when he trembled at St. Paul's Sermon not fomenting that Fear nor proceeding to improve and penitently resolve upon it fell back and as we have cause to think heard no more of it Act. 24. 25. Quest. These seem Good and plain Rules for the attainment of these Graces of the Spirit And when we are careful to use them may we be confident of his Gift and promise our selves that he will bestow them Answ. Yes for therein he fulfâ—ls the Design of Christ that sent him and gratifies his own inclination And this God has promised and ordered us to expect from him Bidding us seek and we shall find Mat. 7. 7. and declaring how to him that hath shall be given and God will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him Quest. You have shewed me how we are to attain the Graces of the Spirit But if they are thus to be our own Attainment how are they God's Gift And if as you said before God gives them what need we take all this care and Pains to acquire them Answ. If they were an absolute Gift indeed we should not need to do it For when a Gift is absolute no Conditions are required on our part And then no defects in us can hinder nor any dispositions of ours further and make way for it It depends not on any thing in us but is purely God's Act So that nothing is left for us to do towards it But these Graces are not an absolute but conditional Grant before the Spirit gives them he requires something towards them and works them not in all Men but only in those who are prepared for them Some things hinder them and they are to be carefully avoided Others further them and they are to be diligently pursued So that we are not to expect them from God's Grace and Spirit alone unless we our selves also in such sort as I have described concur and joyn with him Quest. By what you have said I perceive how careful the Holy Ghost is to fill our Souls with gracious dispositions Doth he not also refresh them with such Spiritual Joy and Comforts as are apt to result from them Answ. Yes For St. Paul reckons joy and Peace as well as Meekness and Temperaâ—ce for Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22 23. and Prays that the God of Hope would fill them with all Joy and Peace in Believing and that they may abound in Hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. And St Luke says the Churches walked in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost Act. 9. 31. And St. Peter of the Dispersed Strangers that in believing they rejoyced with Joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. And therefore good Christians must not affect Scruples or think it any sign of Spirituality to be of a Down-looked and Melancholy Religion Since Joy and Peace a Filial Hope and ingenious chearfulness are Fruits that he loves to produce in them Quest. But doth the Holy Ghost inspire these comforts into all minds wherein he displays his saving Graces which are the Ground of them Answ. He is inclined to do it in all And doth it in one degree or other not always producing Raptures and Transports of Mind indeed but ease and quietness an inward complacency and comfortable Hope if they themselves do not put a Bar against him But some minds he sanctifies are of a Melancholly Temper that is prone to sadness and suspicions especially of themselves Or are frighted by undue-thoughts of God as if he were Stern and Rigorous soon offended but very difficult to be reconciled Or mistake the Gospel Terms as if they were over-rigid
owning the Authority of our own Bishops who are their Successors and rule the Church in their stead Christ told the Apostles he would be Present with them to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. Being present with their Successors he calls being Present with them And in like sort keeping Fellowship with our Lawful Bishops who are their Successors is keeping Fellowship with them He that one sends saith the Jews is as himself And accordingly when Christ had sent out his Apostles he tells them he that receiveth you receiveth me Mat. 10. 40. and he that receives whomsoever I send receiveth me Joh. 13. 20. And the Apostle commends the Galatians that that they received him not only as an Angel of God but as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 14. And St. Ignatius that Blessed Martyr and contemporary of the Apostles applauds the Trallians that they were subject to their Bishop as to Jesus Christ and to the Presbytery as to the Apostles In Scripture Account and Legal estimate that is done to any Persons which is done to their Substitutes and Representatives And thus keeping Fellowship and Subjection to the Bishops of the Church in all Ages who were at first sent and commissioned by the Apostles and empowered to send and ordain others at all times is holding Fellowship and paying subjection to the Apostles themselves and by them to Christ Jesus Quest. This then is one Part of the Communion of Saints to live subject to our own Bishops not suffering our selves to be drawn away by such as would seduce us but adhering to them against all Schismatical Opposers Answ. Yes Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves Heb. 13. 17. And mark those that cause Divisions and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Be their Pretences and Appearance what they will if they lead us into Schism and an unnecessary Rejecting of our Lawful Governours God hath not sent nor doth his Spirit go along with them That cannot lead to Schism it is the Author of Peace not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. It will not put us upon a needless rejecting of our Spiritual Governours since Adherance to them in the Apostles Days as I noted before was made a Test of discerning True Spirits from False ones We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4. 6. Quest. But if a Man is careful to Believe and Practise Christ's own Laws and Doctrines is not that enough to make him a good Christian except he likewise submit to Church-Rulers and peaceably conform to their innocent Constitutions and Rules of Discipline Answ. No. For this is one of his Laws to obey those that have the Rule over us and watch for our Souls and to submit our selves Heb. 13. 17. He orders them to take care that all things in his Worship be done decently and to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26 40. And he requires us to obey and submit to their ordering A good Christian is not only one that believes and professes the Christian Religion but is also a Member of the Christian Church And they cannot be good Church-members who will not submit so far as conscionably they may to Church-Governours nor Communicate in Church-Offices Quest. I see the Communion of Saints implies their Communion in Christian Doctrine Worship and Government But doth it not also imply Communicating not only in Affections but in all Good Offices in Alms and outward Things Answ. Yes to do Good and to Communicate forget not Heb. 13. 16. And the Receiving their charitable Contributions St. Paul calls taking upon him the Gift and Fellowship or Communion of Ministring to the Saints 2 Cor. 8. 4. In the extream distress of the Jerusalem Christians at first this communication of Alms was wonderful For all that were Rich sold their Pessessions and put them into a Common Stock to be distributed by the Apostles as every one had need Act. 2. 44 45. and c. 4. 33 34. And in other places where they did not take this course yet was Communicating as in all good Offices so particularly in outward Things with their poorer Brethren the Profession of all Christians Their Rule was as they had opportunity to do Good unto all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. And to do good to these more particularly when they travelled about as Strangers and fled from place to place for the Faith of Christ which is the Charity and Hospitality of the Scriptures so much magnified Quest. When any Saints then of Foreign Countries are forced to fly and come among us for Christ's sake to entertain them in our Houses and communicate to them of our Substance which is here professed is of Great Account with God Answ. Yes of high Account For it is one of those Good Deeds which Christ will expresly mention in our behalf at the last Judgment Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom for I was a Stranger and ye took me in Mat. 25. 34 35. And therefore St. Paul when he tells us of distributing to the necessities of Saints reminds us particularly of being given to Hospitality Rom. 12. 13. CHAP. X. Of the Forgiveness of Sins The Contents What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of sins Quest. WHat is the Tenth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe the Forgiveness of Sins Quest. What is Sin Answ. The Breach of a Commandment or a Transgression of some Law of God committing what his Law forbids or omitting what it injoins us Sin is the Transgession of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And all the Laws of God which we transgress in sinning against him are contain'd in Holy Scripture Quest. Then we never offend God nor shall suffer for any thing but what the Scripture has forbid and against which we can produce some Law out of it Answ. No for Sin is not imputed where there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. And it must always be a Law that worketh Wrath i. e. makes us liable to suffer it For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. The strength of sin is the Law saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Law enter'd e're sin did abound Rom. 5. 20. Quest.
the Tenor of Christ's own Laws For then they only speak the Language of Christ's own Rules and as Tertullian says are a true anticipation or Fore-hand Draught of the great Judgment And when his Officers only pronounce and say after him there is no doubt but he will confirm what they have pronounced in his Name Quest. But from what you have formerly discoursed I perceive that some things in Religon being against the Prime and Fundamental Doctrines are so Damnable in themselves as not to be capable of any Favour or Allowances And that others being only against inferior Truths are Damnable only as accompanied with an Evil Mind but capable withal of being incurred under Pardonable circumstances Now in these last Points many Persons that mean well and serve Christ sincerely in the main and essentials of a Christian may yet be unhappily mislead into wrong Opinions or Practices And if for their fixedness and obstinacy in these they happen to be cast out of any Church do you think they are always cut off from Christ too and that he will Finally Anathematise and condemn them in his Sentence Answ. No. For the Church as all humane Judges being unable to see into Mens Hearts give sentence in these cases according to outward Actions But Christ in his judgment of them looks also at the mind and heart of the Actors Rateing exactly not only the Punishableness of the Offences but also the Degrees of voluntary and involuntary which makes a Pardonableness or Punishableness of the Offenders And making these Allowances on such scores as fall not under their Notice 't is reasonable to believe he will still own and receive several compassionably mislead who are cast out on these accounts by the Churches Censures Quest. This validity and effect of Church-Censures you say is when they proceed according to Christ's own Rules and upon just cause But if they bind where the Gospel says they should loose and Excommunicate against Reason I suppose those Censures are meer Scare-crows that may serve to make a show but bring no hurt with them Answ. Very true Blessed are ye says our Saviour when Men shall separate you from their Company and expunge or cast out your Name as evil for the Son of Mans sake for so persecuted their Fathers the Prophets Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for your Reward is great in Heaven Luk. 6. 22 23. If good Christians are Excommunicated in any Church for not going against the Scriptures and complying with it in ill things as poor Protestants are by the Romish Church they lose nothing thereby with God who will not ratifie a wrong sentence but will increase their Reward for having bravely suffer'd in his Cause Quest. By what you have said I see how God forgives Sins But when they are committed against us we are bid to forgive them too and that as we our selves hope to be forgiven I pray you what doth that imply Answ. Not our remitting Future punishments which lye at God's mercy not in ours Nor always that we sit still without offering to defend our selves when we are assaulted or to seek redress when we are injured But only that we bear no malice to them in our hearts and if the case require Redress that we seek it not in Spiteful ways and that beside the Reparation of our own Wrong we aim not at our Adversary's Prejudice nor seek his hurt afterwards nor Pray to God or to the Magistrate for vengeance as the Jews might to ease an angry mind when we are able to do no more against him our selves Quest. What use must we make of this Belief of the Forgiveness of Sins Answ. Admire the mercy of God who can forgive such Profligate and Provoking Offenders And the wonderful love of Jesus Christ who could dye to procure this Forgiveness for his utter Enemies And not despair of mercy but stedfastly hope there is place of Pardon after any of our sins And above all to shew true Repentance and forgive others and perform all those things which are the condition and Terms of Forgiveness thereby to secure it to our selves Quest. And when we are once forgiven may we embolden our selves from God's readiness to forgive to Repeat our sins Answ. No by no means Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound in pardoning God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2. Now thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee said our Saviour Joh. 5. 14. Such ingratitude and abuse of Grace is not only most provoking to the Spirit and tempts him to withdraw from us and calls down from God heavier and surer Punishments But also it brings in force against us all the old scores which were all struck off as I said only on presumption of our Perseverance in repenting of them CHAP. XI Of the Resurrection of the Body and the Life everlasting The Contents The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin but of our Bodies from the Grave This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies viz. Immortality Spirituality and Glory The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal And exquisitely sensible Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies Good Souls carried straight-way into a Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherin there is Full and unmixed Happiness Of the satisfaction of their Senses Their clear and distinct Knowledge Perfect Holiness And without Reluctance Blissful Companions Perfection of Love and Kindness Honour and Eminence of Place All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens without satiety or weariness For evermore Of the miseries of the Damned in Tormenting Passions The worm of Conscience Fire and Flames Disgrace Under all which no favour of God. No company but of Tormenting Devils and damned Spirits None to condole when they cannot relieve No rest and sleep for Recruit of Spirits No end of their miseries The Use of this Quest. WHat is the Eleventh Article of the Creed Answ. I believe the Resurrection of the Body Quest. May not the Resurrection be interpreted only of a Spiritual Resurrection from sin Answ. So some taught of old as St. Paul testifies saying the Resurrection is passed already i. e. when Men rose from a State of sin to the fear of God and these says he get credit and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. But the Resurrection we expect is a Resurrection of the Body Our Bodies after we have laid them down by Death shall at the Day of Judgment be quickned and raised up again Then all that are in the Graves shall hear Christ's voice and come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. This mortal Body must put on immortality and this corruptible must put on Incorruption that so all that being revived which Death destroyed Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. Quest. The
them those intolerable miseries and utter and horrid despair of ever removing or abating them Quest. Is this Sting of Conscience so extreamly tormenting to mens Souls that it should be compared to a Worm preying upon their vitals Answ. Yes for they who feel it and such only can tell the smart of it think it more exquisite and insupportable than the pangs of death it self And therefore they run greedily after Death and seek by any means to make away themselves in hopes thereby to get quit of it The Spirit of a man will sustain all other his infirmities but a wounded Spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. And if 't is so intolerable here where they have only some beginnings and small fore-tastes of it what must it be when horror is at the heighth and despair and anguish is consummate and the rage of all infernal Spirits is let loose to represent at full the most formidable Phantasms and imprint Anguish and all sorts of Agonies and painful Horrors with the utmost activity of Furious and powerful Spirits as it will be in the next World. Quest. But whilst their forlorn Souls are racked with all these horrible pangs what shall become of their Bodies Answ. They shall Frye in Flames as I said and endure all the Torment which men can feel in the hottest Fire They shall be cast into a Furnace of Fire Mat. 13. 42. and have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Quest. This must needs cause excessive pain But shall they not have something to mitigate and make it easier Answ. No not so much as a drop of water to cool their Tongue when 't is parched and tormented in the Flame Luke 16. 24. Nor that poor relief of those who are extream weary and sore to shift sides or change their posture Bind him hand and foot that he cannot stir says our Lord when he Condemns the Sinner to this Lake of Fire Mat. 22. 13. Quest. And shall desperate shame and disgrace be added to all this Answ. Yes For they are all as vile and hateful to God and all good men yea and to themselves too as they can be made and it is purely their own wilful and wretched Folly and desperate wickedness which has brought them to it Quest. But will not God the hope and comfort of all that are in utter distress look upon them and shew them countenance in this wretched state Answ. No they shall never see his face nor receive the least glimpse of favour from his Countenance He will say to them depart from me ye Cursed Mat. 25. 41. And they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord 2 Thes. 1. 9. He will not look upon them but in wrath and fury and never think of them in mercy any more Quest. But when God deserts them shall they be quite forsaken or will they not be allowed some Company in this distress Answ. Yes but that shall be the Company of Devils and tormenting Spirits who thirst more after Blood than ever the most starved Appetite did after food and who have no other way to ease their own pains but by the satisfaction of augmenting theirs Go into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Quest. But amidst all this horrid Crew that take such pleasure to despite them shall there be none to help them when they are unable to help themselves at least to pity and condole with them Answ No there are none but Partners in destruction who are all too full of their own miseries to attend theirs And all these in Nature are perfect Furies that have no love and tenderness for others For Hell is no place for pity and kindness since he that dwells in Love dwells in God as St. John says 1 Joh. 4. 16. So that there they shall have no Friend either to help or hearten or sympathize with them But all about them shall spitefully vex and reproach them and add more to their burden which is already heavier by far than they can bear Quest. But there is one thing still that in the extreamest Torments gives some ease and recruit of Spirits tho' it cannot give a full deliverance and that is Rest and Sleep And shall not miserable wretches have some rest from these Torments Answ. No for the smoke of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever and they have no rest day nor night Rev. 14. 11. Quest. But if this Torment be thus without all intermission and thus violent sure it will not last long but they will câ—â—â—e in good time to an end of it Answ. No it shall never end Their Bodies as I noted shall be made indissoluble and immortal only that their pains may be immortal Their worm dieth not and their Fire never shall be quenched Mark 9. 43 44. Quest. Good God! how intolerable and irremediable is this State will not every man that believes he shall unavoidably suffer all this for persisting wicked take any pains and endure any hardships in Religion and the amendment of his Life to prevent it Answ. Yes most certainly and this is the wise use we are to make of it Knowing the Terrors of the Lord in executing the Wicked after the last Judgment we perswade men to live well here without which there is no avoiding them 2 Cor. 5. 11. Quest. And since the happiness of the Righteous is so infinitely lasting and large must not the belief of that make us contemn all the short pleasures of Sin which would bereave us of it and think all the sufferings of Virtue nothing in comparison of the reward that doth attend it Answ. Yes for since the sufferings of this present Time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us neither Death nor Life nor Things present nor Things to come nor any other Creature â—â—all be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 18 38 39. FINIS Books lately Printed for Robert Kettlewell 1. THe Measures of Christian Obedidience By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire The second Edition In Quarto Price bound 8s 2. An Help and Exhortation to worthy Communicating By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire In Twelves Price bound 2s 6d 3. A Discourse Explaining the Nature of Edification By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire In Quarto Price 6d 4. A Funeral Sermon for the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Digby By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire In Quarto Price 6d 5. The Religious Loyalist Or A good Christian taught how to be a Faithful Servant both to God and the King. By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire 6. A Funeral Sermon for the Right Honourable Simon Lord Digby By John Kettlewell Minister of Coles-Hill in Warwickshire 7. A Journey into Greece by Sir George Wheeler in
Advertisement THere is lately Re-printed An Help and Exhortation to Worthy Communicating Or a Treatise describing the Meaning Worthy Reception Duty and Benefits of the Holy Sacrament And Answering the Doubts of Conscience and other Reasons which most generally detain Men from it Together with Suitable Devotions added By John Kettlewell Vicar of Coles-hill in Warwickshire The Second Edition Printed for Robert Kettlewell and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster Price Bound 2 s. 6 d. THE Practical Believer OR THE ARTICLES OF THE Apostles Creed Drawn out To form a True Christian's Heart and Practice In Two Parts LONDON Printed for Robert Kettlewell and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster 1688. THE Practical Believer The First Part. OF THE NATURE and CERTAINTY OF Christian Faith AND The Knowledge of God OR AN Explication of the Divine Attributes and Providence Febr. 28. 1687. Imprimatur Liber cui Titulus The Practical Believer c. Guil. Needham RR. in Christo P. ac D. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. Ã Sacr. Domest London Printed for Robert Kettlewell and are to be Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster 1688. THE PREFACE Reader I Here present thee with a Discourse upon the Holy Christian Faith which as we all profess seriously to believe so should we carefully endeavour to answer and adorn with an Holy and Christian Practice In this I have endeavoured to give such accounts of Almighty God as may encourage all good Men to love and serve him and deter all evil Men from presuming on his Favour or provoking his Displeasure I have drawn out the consideration of his Providence into the usual cases and occurrences and shown how we may live upon it and give our selves the true comfort and advantage thereof in all events and transactions And all the other Articles of the Creed I have endeavoured to set off in such particulars as we are most concerned to know and which may give them the greatest life and power with us In the whole I have aim'd to lay before thee the summ of Christian Doctrine that in an Age which abounds with unchristian falshoods we may keep stedfast in Christian Truths and that among all the Truths of Christianity we may lay out our Care and Zeal on those which are most important and worthy of all acceptance My great design in this Treatise is to lend what help I am able to those that sincerely desire and seriously set themselves to live as they believe and to make Faith a Governing Grace showing how we may serve our selves of it and give up our Souls to be ordered and directed by it in all our manifold and most important cases and concerns And looking all along at this mark in passing through all the Articles of the Creed I have not sought to fill up a Book by inserting all that may be truly or pertinently said But have applied my self to instruct thee in such as I thought the leading and governing Notions to inculcate those which seem to me the most concerning and powerful Truths to set off such particulars about them as seem fittest to affect us or lie nearest unto Practice and to note wherein we are to follow and attend to them in the course and various exigencies of our lives And hoping this may prove beneficial to the instruction and use of plain Christians who have neither leisure to peruse nor capacity to retain larger Volumes I have endeavoured to treat of these things with convenient brevity But withal to comprize so much not only of necessary but profitable Doctrine as may be sufficient to any Man's guidance and encouragement who will set himself diligently to learn and walk in the light of it I am not without hopes that this Discourse may in some degree or other serve the end for which it is sincerely sent abroad viz. of doing some honour and service to the ever Blessed Trinity and making an admirable and most efficacious Faith more lively and powerful in some that profess it And if thou good Reader shalt reap any benefit by it as thou wilt not fail to give God the praise for suiting and supplying thy necessity by the weakness of any he employs so one thing I heartily request of thee which is all the return that in this World I either expect or desire that thou wilt thus far remember the poor instrument of thy Mercy as in the fervency of thy Devotion to put up one Prayer to our common Father for his Salvation who with a very ready and willing mind has taken all this pains to promote thine THE CONTENTS PART I. Of the Nature and Certainty of Christian Faith c. CHAP. I. Of Christian Faith. WHat is meant by Faith in Christ. When this suitably affects us it justifies or avails to Righteousness An account of several particulars of Christian Belief with the respective Affections and Practices that are suitable to them All these are reasonably to be expected from them though they do not follow where Men will act inconsistently to their Principles and against Reason Faeith with its suitable effects the same as Faith and Repentance On this account such effects ascribed to it when alone as are due only to it and Repentance in conjunction This Faith with its suitable effects was that which justified the Old Testament Worthies And is to justifie all good Christians When S. Paul opposes justifying-Faith to the Deeds of the Law he speaks of the Deeds of the Jewish Law. That which fits Faith for these effects and distinguishes the Faith of Saints and Sinners is First The sincerity of it Secondly Its strength and firmness This consists in its being assured And honest or seated in one that makes conscience to keep his word And resolute In what sense Faith may be called an act of Recumbency or leaning and rolling on Christ for Salvation And the hand to receive and apply him 'T is no part of Faith to believe our sins are pardon'd nor of infidelity to doubt of it Of the innocence many times of such doubts And of some good Mens confidence of their own forgiveness p. 1 CHAP. II. That Jesus is the Christ from Ancient Prophecies Among those Prophecies which prove Jesus to be the Christ First Some prescribe the time of his coming This they mark out by the nearness of such notable Occurrences and Revolutions as would fall under all Mens observation And by fixing the very Year he should appear in Accordingly there was a general expectation of him at that time His coming not put off beyond the time appointed for the sins of the People An account why the Jews who read these clear Notes of the time in their own Prophets are not convinced by them Secondly Others assign many peculiar and visible Notes whereby he may be demonstratively pointed out from all other Men. As 1. His being born of a Virgin. This in some sense spoken of a Virgin of that time but principally