the cursed tares of many and strong delusions for that subtil Serpent full well knows how both easily and powerfully to insinuate his Lyes and Errors into mindes unsetled and not grounded in the knowledge of the Truth So that most truly is that complaint of the Lord by his Prophet Hosea verified of this people Hos Hos 4.6 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge even for lack of what they so much boast of That grand Enemy the Prince of Lyes hath taken them in the very Net themselves have made even in the snare of self-conceited knowledge and holiness Rom. 1.22 whilest supposing themselves wise they became fools And pretending to the Spirit of God whom they rightly know not they are intrapt by the Spirit of Error and miserably seduced to the ruine of their souls Hence it is chiefly though not only hence through ignorance intermixt with pride that the Devill hath made so great a harvest of tares overgrowing and choaking the pure wheat of Truth Matth. 13.25 No Age of the Church having ever been so fruitful in Heresies and Errors whilest the ever blessed Name of the Spirit of God is abused by persons most impudently pretending to him that yet remain ignorant of him for had they known this Lord of life it had not been possible the spirit of Delusion could have prevailed so far with them as to infix so many Lyes Impostures and Blasphemies upon his score as therefore Saint Paul directed the Athenians to the knowledge of the true God whom they ignorantly worshipped Act. 17.23 and so their pious intentions through ignorance degenerated into gross Idolatries so it cannot but be an office both seasonable and charitable as also of great benefit and present necessity plainly to set down and deliver the true Orthodoxall Doctrine of the Holy Ghost his Impressions and Workings on the soul of man that so men may have a right understanding of this ever Blessed Person of the Godhead so much mistaken and his Sacred Name to the high offence of his Majesty so much profaned by impudent and false pretences A DISCOURSE OF THE Holy Spirit § 1 THE Doctrine of the Holy Ghost in respect both of his Person and Office is by the Nicene Creed thus clearly and fully set down I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth both from the Father and the Son who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets To give you my Comment upon this Text were but to hold a candle to the Sun the Doctrine delivered is so clear and perspicuous All that can be said upon this Article of our Christian Faith is reducible to four heads 1. Of the Person of the Holy Ghost in himself 2. Of his Office or Workings on the mindes of men 3. Of the trial of the true from false spirits 4. Of the means to be made partakers of the Spirit of Truth The two first are doctrinal and speculative points for the rectifying and fitting the understanding rightly to conceive and believe aright this Article of Christian Faith The two last are practical and applicatory for the guidance of our actions and Christian performances according to this belief § 2 The more clearly to understand the Doctrine of the Spirit of God it will be necessary to use the light of some distinctions for so the naked and plain truth of any thing is most clearly and distinctly seen when namely 't is divided and distinguisht from its conjunction with other things of the same or like name and nature which is the ground of that old Maxime Qui bene distinguit bene docet The way to teach well or clearly to deliver any truth is rightly to distinguish that truth from other truths that are of near affinity thereunto either in name or nature or in the words of the Apostle which is the language of the Spirit of Truth Rightly to divide the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.5 which was one of those many qualifications of the Apostles of Christ wherewithall they were immediately inspired by this Spirit of Truth for the propagation of the Gospel intimated in that he descended from Heaven upon them in cloven or divided Tongues § 3 And first that we mistake not the creature for the Creator Distinct 1 God over all blessed for ever we must remember that a spirit is either Create or Increate or more plainly sometimes the word Spirit is in holy Scripture applyed to the creature sometimes to the Creator § 4 There are several kindes of created spirits as 1. Those glorious Inhabitants of the highest Heavens the holy and blessed Angels Heb. 1.14.2 Are they not all ministring spirits c. Heb. 1.14 2. Those cursed inhabitants of the neather Hell the chained Devils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 6.11.3 the Apostles styles them Ephes 6.12 spiritual wickednesses or wicked spirits 3. The souls of men which quicken and enliven these our frail and mortal bodies every man being composed of two natures a body and a soul or flesh and spirit Gen. Get. 2.7 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth meaning his body and breathed into his Nosthrils the breath of life meaning his soul and so man became a living soul or living by his soul or spirit created or infused by God into his earthly body 4. The life and animation of each sensitive creature therefore we read Psal Psal 150.6 150.6 Let every thing that hath breath or spirit prayse the Lord All these are several kindes of created spirits some more some less pure fine and spiritual § 5 But there is an increated Spirit also who being neither made or created in himself is the great Maker and Creator of all spirits and of all things who being the prime Fountain and Original of all beeings is so eminent and transcendent a Beeing that as he is in himself he only knows himself nor is it possible for us or any creatures who derive their beeing from him to attain the perfect knowledge of him and therefore is he pleased in his holy Word wherein he reveals himself unto us to describe himself by the names and properties of his excellent and most eminent kinde of creatures which are spirits so that God is tearmed a Spirit Analogically because Angels or Spirits are the purest finest quickest most active and intelligent beeings But that we may not rank God with Angels or Spirits for he hath no match or equal we must learn this one general rule in Divinity Whatsoever is spoken of God in the Scriptures and withall is applyable to any creature must be understood of God eminenter by way of eminency and transcendency as the Prototype and grand Exemplar of that perfection which is applyed to the creature As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are spirits but God is not a Spirit at they are spirits for he
divine and celestial graces wherewithall the Apostles were endued and whereby the souls of men are ayr'd cleans'd and purified and so sanctified to the sacred service of God and by the fire was represented the gifts they were enriched withall for the enlightning of the mindes and enflaming the affections of others § 17 The first kinde of the holy Spirits impressions are his graces represented by the winde Joh. 3.8 The winde bloweth where it listeth and thou knowest not whence it comes nor whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the spirit As the winde being a pure fine thin subtil nature is invisible we perceive it not neither can we conceive whence it comes or whither it goes all the perception we have of the winde is by its effects and operations when it moves theayr tosses the clowds shakes the trees raises the dust of the earth c. nay so active and subtil a thing is the winde that if it act not we say it is not when nothing is moved or stirred by the winde we say there is no winde so is every one that is born of the Spirit that is every one whose soul is animated and actuated by the graces of Gods Spirit For 1. the workings of the Spirit of grace within us are quick and insensible 't is unconceiveable how and in what manner he works upon our hearts Only 2. we know him by his effects and workings as when he moves and enclines the soul to what is holy just and good or when he shakes the heart into contrition compunction and godly sorrow for sin or when he raiseth the minde out of the dust and rubbish of earthly vanities and mounts it upon the wings of heavenly desires and meditations c. And 3. as when we see no stirring no moving of the ayr but all is calm and still we say there is no winde so when there is no good motions or desires within us no inclinations to piety or charity no godly contrition for sin no rising of the minde towards heaven nor breathing after things divine and heavenly we may well say that soul is becalmed the Spirit of God is not there neither hath the heavenly winde of the Almighty breathed therein § 18 These graces of Gods Spirit represented by the winde are the very essentials the very life and beeing the very spirit and soul of true Christianity and are as necessary to the being of a good Christian in the life of graces as is the natural winde or breath of his Nosthrils to his beeing and living the life of nature therefore we are tearmed the Body of Christ Rom. 12.5 the soul that animates us being the grace of his Spirit and every man therefore that hath the name of Christ called upon him is but nominis Christiani extrinsecus superficies an empty outlide superficial christian that is not in some measure endued with his graces To all persons it necessarily belongs to be partakers of them whether Pastor or people Lay or Clergy gifted or ungifted men whether we have the gifts of the Spirit or no we must not be destitute of his graces but upon all hearts this heavenly winde must blow to purifie and cleanse to air and dry up the superfluous naughtiness of our natures that so our souls and bodies may be the temples of the holy Ghost 2 Cor. 6.16 even by the grace of Gods Spirit devoted and consecrated to the sacred service of his heavenly Majesty § 19 A Catalogue of the spiritual graces we have recorded Gal. 5.22 for they are the same which are there tearmed the fruits of the Spirit The fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no Law These are called the fruit of the Spirit for two reasons 1. Because as material fruits grow not but upon trees neither do these graces grow in the soul but upon the tree of life Joh. 14.4 5. As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 2. As material fruits are to the body and corporal tast so are the fruits of the Spirit to the soul they are both pleasant and delightsome and also satisfie and feed the soul unto life eternal therefore it is said against such there is no Law there 's no law can condemn such as bring forth these fruits in their lives and conversations as Rom. 8.1 Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit § 20 The second kinde of the holy Spirits impressions on humane souls are his gifts represented by the fire Matth. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire that is he shall endow and sprinkle the souls of men with such gifts of the holy Ghost as are by fire represented viz. gifts which like unto fire shall be effectual and powerful to enlighten the understandings melt the hearts and enflame the affections and desires of men And as the fire burns not for it self but for the light and warmth of others so the gifts of the Spirit are imparted to the sons of men Matth. 5.15 not to be hidden like a lighted candle under a bushel not to wrapt up in a retired obscurity Luk. 19.20 with the talent of the unprofitable servant in a napkin but to be imployed to appear to shine forth and manifest themselves for the profit benefit and edification of others therefore called the manifestations of the Spirit as shewing what the end and intent of the donation from the Spirit is viz. to profit withall 1 Cor. 11.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall As the end and use of the several parts of the body is neither to be idle nor yet to be imployed for it self only as the ey is to see and yet not for it self only but for the direction of the hands feet c. the feet are to walk and yet not for themselves only but also for the eys hands c. Even so the end and use of the several gifts of Gods Spirit to several members of Christs body severally is both that they should be imploy'd and imployed too not only for private use but for the mutual benefit and edification each of other 1 Cor. 12. as Saint Paul at large in the same chapter the main subject whereof is the gifts of the Spirit a catalogue whereof you have ver 9 10 11. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit to another faith by the same spirit c. Note where by the way observe In that Faith is in this place reckoned amongst the gifts
but accumulative an obedience to this truth even an obedience to the Gospell of Christ 1 Cor. 1.24 Hence it is tearmed the power of God and the wisdom of God And his Gospel the law of the Spirit of life Rom. 8.2 2 Cor. Rom. 8.2 2 Cor. 3.6 3.6 So that the preaching reading hearing or in a word the clearing of this Gospel unto the mindes of men is the conveyance of the Spirit thereinto An example whereof see Act. 10.44 Act. 10.44 Whilest Peter yet spake these words the words of the Gospel the holy Ghost fell on them all that heard the Word § 52 The Holy Sacraments both Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are effectual means also for the conveyance of the holy Spirit 'T is promised upon our Baptisme with repentance Act. 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you Act. 2.38 in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost And this is also verified from the example of Christ our head upon whose baptisme in Jordan the heavens were opened and the holy Ghost descended in shape of a dove and lighted on him Matt. 3.16 Matt. 3.16 denoting unto us that by the virtue and power of Baptisme not onely the heavens are opened Remig. but also the gift of the holy Ghost is received therefore are we said to be born again of water and of the holy Ghost and without that the heavens are shut against us There is no admission into the celestiall Kingdome Joh. 3.5 Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born again of water and the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of heaven The Apostle St. Paul couples both Sacraments together 1 Cor. 12.13 as the conveyances of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body and are all made to drink of one Spirit where we have the Spirit joyned with Baptisme and with the Lords Supper also for what else can be meant by drinking of one Spirit but an allusion to the eating and drinking of the holy body and bloud of our Lord whereof himself testifies Joh. Joh. 6.55 56. 6.55 56. My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him that is is made partaker of my Spirit or of my gifts and graces For in such a spiritual sense we must needs understand the words except we admit them in the grosse carnall and corporall sense of the Romanists Hence Christ is tearmed by the Apostle a spiritual mâ—at and a spiritual drink 1 Cor. 10.3 1 Cor. 10.3 4. 4. And they did all eat that same spiritual meat and did all drink of the same spiritual drink for they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ A spiritual meat and a spiritual drink Christ was to the Israelites of old in those sacramentall Symbols of his presence with them the Rock and the Manna and the like he is to us in those consecrated Elements of his holy Supper which being rightly administred and rightly received are spiritual food indeed for we eat and drink the very Spirit of Christ therewithall that is are made partakers of his gifts and graces § 53 But how comes it to passe then that these blessed means of grace these conveyances of the Spirit are so often ineffectuall Many men do daily pray often hear and read the Word of God have been engraffed into the body of Christ by Baptisme and many times receive the blessed Eucharist and yet little or no news doe they hear of the Spirit very little stirrings of the heart few good motions do they feel within they are never the better nor a whit the more enricht either with spiritual gifts or graces for the use of these means The cause whereof is the hardnesse of mans heart which receives not the impressions of the Spirit the corruption of mans nature which quenches the sacred fires of Piety and Charity before they be well inkindled in the soul the exorbitant and unruly lusts of the flesh and of the world which resist the good motions lustings and strivings of the Spirit of God Intus existens prohibet alienum when the fruits of the flesh have overgrown the soul there 's no room for the fruits of the Spirit to take rooting there These two kindes of fruits cannot grow both in one heart but the one will choak overgrow and destroy the other To this outward means of grace then and of the Spirit the inward qualifications the infitting of the soul to receive the impressions of the Spirit must be added Actus activorum in patiente disposito as the Patient is disposed and fitted to be wrought upon accordingly so is the power and efficacy of the Agent so that according as the hearts of men are more or lesse perspicable and plyable to the impressions of the Spirit accordingly so are his workings and inspirations upon the heart The holy Spirit is compared in Scripture to water Joh. 7.38 39. and as the water is of a diffusive nature and knows no bounds but as 't is limited by the channel or vessel that holds it so the Spirit is in himself of a spreading quality and is onely straitened by the narrownesse of the hearts whereinto he flows as 2 Cor. 6.12 2 Cor. 6.12 Ye are not straitened in us that is in our Ministery we preach abundance of grace unto you but you are straitened in your own bowels through the hardnesse of our hearts being not capable of the graces of the Spirit And the heart is made soft and pliable for the impressions of the Spirit by repentance and mortification the good seed of Gods Spirit will not take root amongst the thornes of impiety therefore saith the Lord Jer. 4.4 Jer. 4.4 Break up the fallow ground of your hearts and sow not amongst thornes be circumcised to the Lord and take away the foreskin of your hearts that is hardnesse of your hearts Deut. 10.16 Deut. 10.16 cald also the circumcision of the Spirit Act. 2.29 because it makes way for the Spirit Col. 2.11 and Col. 2.11 A circumcision made without hands even the putting off the sinfull body of the flesh meaning the sinfull crop of fleshly lusts which infest and infect the soul of these the soul must be disarayed and devested by repentance and mortification Rom. 8.13 14 Romans 8.13 14. If ye live after the flesh c. The coherence of which verses imply before we can be led by the Spirit of God we must mortifie the deeds of the flesh before she can be cloathed with the splendid garments of the Spirit of grace In vain is it to pray unto God for any spirituall grace or mercy while we continue in our sins for God heareth not sinners Joh. 9.31 In vain to hear or read the Gospell of grace Eph.
6.15 except our feet be shod with the preparation of repentance whereby we forsake our sins Therefore before the Gospell it self was published this was first proclaimed both by Christ and his forerunner Repent Mat. 3.2 4.17 1 Cor. 11.28 for the kingdome of God is at hand In vain to participate of those mysteries of our salvation the body and bloud of our Lord till first by self-examination we have cast out the venome of our sinfull doings by repentance and stedfast purposes of amendment In a word it is our sins unrepented that make void and ineffectuall all the blessed means of Grace and of the Spirit 1 Thess 5.19 Ephes 4.30 by those it is we quench the Spirit we grieve the Spirit we resist the Spirit we provoke the Spirit and poyson the blessed nature of life so that all the conveyances of the Spirit are barren and unfruitfull whilest they reflect upon hardened and impenitent hearts See therefore repentance enjoyned as to the receiving of the holy Ghost Act. 2.38 8.19 And I would to God that all who pretend to the holy Spirit of God or to any the fruits and graces of the Spirit would first learn before they make their boast of the Spirit truly to repent them of their sins and to root out of the ground of their hearts all the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20 21. which are adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revellings c. When these all of these sinfull fruits are extirpated out of the ground of the heart there may be then some hopes that our prayers and other divine acts and offices performed in the sincerity of our souls may prevail with God for the direction and comfort of his Spirit of grace and truth God which hast taught the hearts of thy faithfull people by the sending to them the light of thy holy Spirit grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen THE END From Borwick in Lancashire Decemb. 1. 1653. A CATALOGUE of some Books Printed for Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane London A Paraphrase and Annotations upon all the Books of the New Testament by Henry Hammond D. D. in fol. The Practical Catechisme with all other English Treatises of Henry Hammond D.D. in two volumes in 4o. Dissertationes quatuor quibus Episcopatus Jura ex S. Scripturis Primaeva Antiquitate adstruuntur contra sententiam D. Blondelli aliorum Authore Henrico Hammond in 4o. A Letter of Resolution of six Quaere's in 12o. Of Schisme A Defence of the Church of England against the Exceptions of the Romanists in 12o. The names of several Treatises and Sermons written by Jer. Taylor D.D. viz. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Course of Sermons for all the Sundaies of the Year Together with a Discourse of the Divine Institution Necessity Sacrednesse and Separation of the Office Ministerial in fol. 2. Episcopacy asserted in 4o. 3. The History of the Life and Death of the Ever-blessed Jesus Christ 2d Edit in fol. 4. The Liberty of Prophesying in 4o. 5. An Apology for authorized and Set-forms of Liturgie in 4o. 6. A Discourse of Baptisme its institution and efficacy upon all Beleivers in 4o. 7. The Rule and Exercises of holy living in 12o. 8. The Rule and exercises of holy dying in 12o. 9. A short Catechisme for institution of young persons in the Christian Religion in 12o. 10. The Reall Presence and Spirituall of CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament proved against the Doctrine of Transubstantiation in 8o. Certamen Religiosum or a Conference between the late King of England and the late Lord Marquis of Worcester concerning Religion at Ragland Castle Together with a Vindication of the Protestant Cause by Chr. Cartwright in 4o. The Psalter of David with Titles and Collects according to the matter of each Psalm by the Right honourable Chr. Hatton in 12o. Boanerges and Barnabas or Judgement and Mercy for wounded and afflicted souls in several Soliloquies by Francis Quarles in 12o. The life of Faith in Dead Times by Chr. Hudson in 12o. Motives for Prayer upon the seven dayes of the Week by Sir Richard Baker Knight in 12o. The Guide unto True Blessedness or a Body of the Doctrine of the Scriptures directing man to the saving knowledge of God by Sam. Crook in 12o. Six excellent Sermons upon several occasions preached by Edward Willan Vicar of Hoxne in 4o. The Dipper dipt or the Anabaptists duck'd and plung'd over head and ears by Daniel Featly D. D. in 4o. Hermes Theologus or a Divine Mercury new descants upon old Records by Thcoph Wodnote in 12o. Philosophical Elements concerning Government and Civil society by Thomas Hobbs of Malmesbury in 12o. An Essay upon Statius or the five first books of Publ. Papinius Statius his Thebais by Tho. Stephens School-master in S. Edmonds-bury in 8o. Nomenclatura Brevis Anglo-Latino Graeca in usum Scholae Westmonasteriensis per F. Gregory in 8o. Grammatices Graecae Enchiridion in usum Scholae Collegialis Wignorniae in 8o. A Discourse of Holy Love by Sir Geo. Strode Knight in 12o. The Saints Honey-Comb full of Divine Trums by Rich. Gove Preacher of Henton S. Gorge in Somersetshire in 8o. Devotion digested into several Discourses and Meditations upon the Lords most holy Prayer Together with additional Exercitations upon Baptism The Lords Supper Heresies Blasphemy The Creatures Sin The souls pantings after God The Mercies of God The souls complaint of its absence from God by Peter Samwaies Fellow lately resident in Trinity College Cambridge in 12o. Of the Division between the English and Romish Church upon Reformation by Hen. Fern D. D. in 12o. Directions for the profitable reading of the Scriptures by John White M. A. in 8o. The Exemplary Lives and Memorable Acts of 9. the most worthy women of the world 3 Jews 3 Gentiles 3 Christians by Tho. Heywood in 4o. The Saints Legacies or a Collection of promises out of the Word of God in 12o. Judicium Universitatis Oxoniensis de Solemni Lega Foedere Juramento Negativo c. in 8o. Certain Sermons and Letters of Defence and Resolution to some of the late Controversaries of our times by Jasper Mayne D. D. in 4o. Janua Linguarum Reserata sive omnium Scientiarum Linguarum seminarium Auctore Cl. Viro J. A. Comenio in 8o. A Treatise concerning Divine providence very seasonable for all Ages by Tho. Morton Bishop of Duresme in 8o. Animadversions upon Mr. Hobbs his Leviathan with some Observations upon Sir Walter Rawleighs History of the World by Alex. Rosse in 12o. Fifty Sermons preached by that learned and reverend Divine John Donne in fol. Wits-Common-wealth in 12o. The Banquet of Jests new and old in 12o. Balzac's Letters the fourth part in 8o. Quarles Virgin Widow a Play in 4o. Solomons Recantation in 4o. by Francis Quarles Amesti antisynodalia in 12o. Christ's Commination against Scandalizers by John Tombes in 12o. Dr. Stuart's Answer to Fountain's Letter in 4o. A Tract of Fortifications with 22 brasse cuts in 4o. Dr. Griffubs Sermon preached at S. Pauls in 4o. Blessed birth-day printed at Oxford in 8o. A Discourse of the state Ecclesiastical in 4o. An Account of the Church Catholick where it was before the Reformation by Edward Boughen D.D. in 4o. An Advertisement to the Jury-men of England touching Witches written by the Author of the Observations up Mr. Hobbs Leviathan in 4o. Episcopacy and Presbytery considered by Hen. Fern D.D. in 4o. A Sermon preached at the Isle of Wight before His Majesty by Hen. Fern D. D. in 4o. The Commoners Liberty or the English-mans Birth-right in 4o. An Expedient for composing Differences in Religion in 4o. A Treatise of Self-denial in 4o. The holy Life and Death of the late Vi-countesse Falkland in 12o. Certain Considerations of present Concernment Touching this Reformed Church of England by Hen. Fern in 12o. Englands Faithful Reprover and Monitour in 12o. Newly published The grand Conspiracy of the Members against the Minde of Jews against their King As it hath been delivered in four Sermons by John Allington B. D. in 12o. Now in the Presse Of Fundamentals in a notion referring to Practise by H. Hammond D. D. in 12o. ERRATA IN the Epistle subscribed Devotor r. Devotour p. 1. Q. 1. li. 1. add after Gospel you preach p. 5. Q. 19. for are r. act p. 5. Q. 21. for retain r. receive p. 7. l. 7. for dimensions r. divinations p. 10. l. 22. for visible r. visibly p. 11. l. 11. for that r. the. p. 24. 5. for imply r. imploy p. 25. l. ult for aim r. arrive p. 28. for with r. and. p. 39. l. 26. for understood r. understand l. 27. for which r. they p. 47. l. 18. for manfully r. more fully p. 12. l. 28. for souls r. selfes p. 81. l. 29. for since r. some p. 85. l. 19. for silent r. silenc't p. 94. l. 2. for stand r. pretend p. 109. l. 27. for beautifull r. banefull p. 111. for private men have r. men have their private p. 126. l. 17. for following r. flowing p. 141. l. 1. for the r. their p. 145. l. 28. for perfect r. proper p. 148. l. 11. for which r. what p. 153. l. 12. for perspicable r. prospicable for and r. or for our r. your p. 255. l. 19. for nature r. waters
which is the way to his eternall Kingdome hereafter our Saviour expresly teacheth saying Joh. 5.3 Except a man be borne again of water and of the holy Ghost he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God 2. That Children are of the Kingdom of God and to be admitted unto Christ himself expresly affirmes and strictly charges all men not to oppose it saying Suffer little Chrildren to come unto me Luk. 18.15 and forbid them not for of such also is the Kingdome of God If they must come unto Christ we must not stop up the way against them by denying them the seal of admission And if the Kingdome of God belong unto them surely the privileges of the Kingdome also whereof Baptisme is one 3. That Infants are in some measure capable of the Spirit of God is manifest from the example of the Prophet Jeremiah and of John Baptist Jer. 1.5 6. Luk. 1.66 80. And if they be capable of the inward Baptisme which is the holy Ghost much more of the outward which is water for can any man forbid water saith Peter in the like case that these should not be Baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Act. 10.47 4. That Children are capable of being received and admitted into the Kingdome of Christ himself doth intimate saying Except ye receive the Kingdome of God as a little Child ye shall not enter therein so that receive it they may though they know it not For as the sin of the first Adam is imputed to children and they are defiled therewith though they understand it not so the righteousnesse of Christ the second Adam may be and we beleeve is by Gods secret and unknown way communicated to Infants though they know it not As to men born deaf and fools and such as are not capable of understanding for to such God forbid we should deny the mercies of God through Christ Quest. 7 Shew me what Scripture you have to stand praying in the Synagogues before Sermon and after and whether the Apostles did so Answ That we are both to pray and preach the Gospell there are so many Scriptures to prove that I need not name any and we pray both before and after Sermon because 1. 1 Thess 5.17 We are commanded to pray continually 2. Because prayer is the more chief and principall part of Gods service for it is written Mat. 21.13 My house shall be called the house of prayer to all Nations 3. That by prayer and devotion we might obtain the assistance and blessing of God both First upon our Labours in opening the Scriptures and Secondly upon the peoples duty in learning and attending thereunto the prayer before Sermon refers to the one and after Sermon to the other And in this question I must also further tell you you confound publick and private prayer and thereby pervert and misapply the words of our Saviour When thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites Mat. 6.5 for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues c. that they may be seen of men in which place our Saviour forbids only private prayer to be offered in publick places out of vain-glory and oftentation to be seen of men and you falsly apply them against publick prayer which is both commanded and practised by publick persons and in publick places and to the end that they may be both seen and heard of men see for this the example of the Levites both for preaching Neh. 8. 9.3 4. Neh. 8. and for publick praying with a loud voice standing up upon the stayres that they might be heard Rom. 15.4 Neh. 9.3 4. Now what is written aforetime is written for our learning And that the Apostles did both pray inpublick for and with the people Act. 20.36.21.5 and also preach in publick and in the Synagogues of the Jewes is more then once or twice exprest in the Scriptures Quest 8 Shew me by the Scriptures when the Apostles went into the world and gave the people of the world Davids Psalmes to be sung in meeter The things that you practise answer them by the Scriptures or the Apostles practise without consequence or imagination Answ Touching the use of Psalms in meeter let me tell you because I see you understand not the nature of Psalms that they are not properly called Psalmes if not sung in verse and meeter and for Davids Psalms as you too scornfully call them know that they are the very dictates and breathings of Gods holy Spirit therefore are we commanded to be filled with the Spirit speaking to our selves in Psalms and Hymnes Eph. 5.18 19. c. And whereas all things in all Psalms are not at all times applyable to all persons yet there is something in every Psalme applyable to every person either by way of instruction or devotion and what in this or that Psalme is not applyable to our present condition may be hereafter and therefore it 's fit they should be used both for present devotion and benefit and also for the future that we may be thoroughly furnished with instructions and devotions against the time of need And for the Apostles practise herein t is sufficient we have their command for surely what they commanded others they practised themselves you may see they did so Act. 16.25 At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sung Psalmes unto God But herein you demand an answer without consequence or imagination you might as well have said without reason or judgment which is all one as if you should bid me read your paper of Questions without my eyes Quest. 9 Whether a man shall over come the body of sin whiles he is upon the earth or no. Answ T is not possible wholly and altogether to subdue * It is overcome but not wholly a conquered enemy may trouble there is still a war Rom. 5.23 and the warfare endures untill death Rev. 2.10 the body of sin whilest we are in this world for t is therefore called the body of sin because there will be some reliques of sin some rebellions of the flesh against the spirit whilest we carry this body of flesh about us and are composed of flesh and spirit As a tree whilest there is life in it will bring forth fruit so the flesh whilest it is quickned with spirit of life 1 King 8.46 Job 14.4 Prov. 20.9 1 Joh. 18.10 Eccle. 7.22 will bring forth some kinde of fleshly fruits or other which is clear from manifold texts of Scripture Quest 10 Whether the curse be not upon him that preacheth another Gospell then Christ and the Apostles preached yea or no. Answ T is most true there is a curse and a heavy curse too will fall upon them that either preach another Gospell Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. or else pervert and poyson the truth of this Gospell which we have received from Christ and the Apostles And I would to God neither you nor any of your sect
and in relation to us which was the Error of the Patripassians and others struck at by that clause of the Athonasian Creed so there is one Father not three Fathers one Son not three Sons one Hoby Ghost not three Holy Ghosts § 12 Thirdly that we may not confound the Person Distinct 3 and the Office of this ever blessed Spirit of God but rightly understand what is meant by receiving the Holy Ghost Act. 9.2 Psal 2.4 being filled with the Holy Ghost and made partakers of the Holy Ghost and all Scriptures which speak of having the Spirit being endued with the Spirit Heb. 6.4 and the like we must in the third place rightly distinguish betwixt the Personal Essence of the Spirit and the impressions or workings of this Spirit upon the minds of men For to be filled with the Holy Ghost or made partakers of the Spirit of God is not to be understood of the Spirit in respect of his Personal Essence for thus he filleth the world Wisd 1. Psal 139. and contains all things being really existent and present in and with all things and creatures giving unto all their life and breath and all things Act. 17. In whom we live and move and have our beeing viz. by his inexisting presence and this in respect of his Personal Essence If we should say then that the Spirit of God is in his Saints and servants here upon Earth in a greater measure then in other men Personally and in respect of his Essence we should so divide and consequently define and limit the Essence of God which is undivided infinite and unlimited see Jer. 23.23 Am I a God at hand and not a God a far off Can any hide himself in secret places that I should not see him for do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Thus then those Scripture phrases of receiving the Holy Ghost c. are not to be understood of the Spirit in respect of his Personal Essence which is undivided unlimited and filleth all things and so not one man more then another But 2. In respect of his impressions and workings on the souls of men in respect of his gifts and graces which are various and divers and carry their name from the cause or Author of them There are diversity of gifts but the same spirit 1 Cor. 12.4 where the Spirit is plainly distinguished from his gifts as the cause from the effect the workman from the work of his hands or as the body of the Sun is distinguished from the light and heat which is darted and displayed from it And whereas it is said the Spirit is but one but his gifts are diverse we may hence observe that if we should confound the Spirit of God with the gifts and qualifications dispensed from him we should be so far from acknowledging and worshipping the true God which is but one that we should fall into that gross Idolatry of the Heathens of old making as many Spirits of God as they made gods who deified the moral vertues and worshipped their several vertuous qualifications as gods § 13 The unwary neglect of this distinction betwixt the person and qualifications of Gods Spirit is that very rock whereupon many a misguided and unstable soul hath suffered the shipwrack of the true Christian Faith for being by the cunning suggestion of the spirit of Lyes once perswaded in their hearts that they have the Spirit of God and that personally abiding in them they are hereupon puft up with such an excessive spiritual pride and self-conceited eminence as not only to exalt themselves above and despise their Christian brethren who are better qualified then themselves but even to extol themselves above the heavens and most blasphemously to profess and boast of an equality with God a blasphemy however 't is salved and minc't that cannot be paraleld but with that Original pride of the Devil Gen. 3. He said in his heart I will be like the most High and to this he tempted our first Parents perswading them to rebel against their Maker and become as gods themselves knowing good and evil this was the very sin that hurled Lucifer like Lightning from Heaven his pride and presumption to be like the most High and therefore with all his Apostate crew he is now reserved in everlasting chains under darkness â—ude 6. to the judgement of the Great day And for our new Sect of Enthusiasts had they the Spirit of God as they pretend abiding in them and speaking in them Personally and Essentially thiâ— blasphemy must necessarily follow that they are equal with God in respect of the Spirit in them as themselves affirm it though not as George Robert c. To avoid which blasphemy and many other absurd and wicked opinions of the like nature which would follow thereupon and wherewith too many unstable souls are now infected we must remember that to have the Spirit in the language of the Scripture is not to be understood of his personal Essence but of his qualifications § 14 And because this distinction is very material as to the many present delusions under pretence of the Spirit 't will be necessary therefore to clear it by some Scripture expressions in this kinde 't is an ordinary piece of Rhetorick and an usual figure in the dialect of the Scripture to call the gifts and qualifications of Gods holy Spirit by the name of the Spirit as Exod. 31.2 3. Exod. 31 2 3. Behold I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri c. whom I have filled with the Spirit of God that is with the gifts of the Spirit for it follows in all wisdom and understanding and knowledge and in all workmanship Numb 11.17 so Numb 11.17 I will come down and talk with thee and take of the spirit which is upon thee and put upon them and they shall bear the burthen with thee where what else can possibly be meant by the spirit which was upon Moses to be put upon the Elders but that they should partake of the same spiritual gifts with Moses enfitting them to bear the burthen with him as to the administration of justice amongst the people even the gifts of wisdom understanding and knowledge impartially and without respect of persons to execute justice and judgement so The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him Isai 11.2 vers the gifts of the Spirit for so it follows The spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and strength the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. He then that is a wise man may be said in the language of the Spirit which is the Scripture to have the Spirit of the Lord upon him or to have the Spirit of God because the wisdom he hath is from Gods Spirit it comes down from above and the means to fetch it thence is holy prayer If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God who giveth c. Jam. 1.5 so the
wisest of men obtained wisdom 1 King 3.9 His prayer which brought her down from Heaven is recorded Wisd 9. And the same may be said of counsel godliness c. therefore these graces are tearmed from the cause and Auhor of them The spirit of wisdom the spirit of godliness c. So Zach. 12.10 I will pour upon the house of David and Inhabitants of Hierusalem the spirit of grace and supplication that is by my Spirit I will enrich their souls with the grace of piety and devotion to be frequent and fervent in prayers and supplications according to the Apostles admonition Ephes 6.18 praying with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit that is not only in the fervency and godly zeal of our own souls or spirits but also praying thus in or from the powerful influence of Gods Spirit who inflames our own cold frosty devotions and assists our frailties in prayer we pray in the spirit when both our prayers are the voice of our spirits and our spirits also are taught and sanctified by Gods Spirit as Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage unto fear but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Clamamus not saith Augustine we cry August .. Ep. not the Spirit but Gal. 4.6 't is said the spirit within us And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father Non hic ait c. saith the Father he saith not here as in the former place by whom we cry but the Spirit himself cryeth quo efficitur ut clamemus nos for what else is clamans spiritus in nobis but clamantes nos faciens The spirit crying in our hearts is no other but that he makes us by the vertue of his grace to cry unto God the Father and pour forth our souls before him in prayer which is also the meaning of that misapplyed text against forms of prayer Rom. 8.26 The Spirit likewise helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed We know not what we ought to pray he could not be ignorant Id. saith the Father of the Lords Prayer neither could they be ignorant of it to whom he said thus but such and so pressing are our infirmities that first many times we know not what to ask for in relation to our bodies and outward estates sometimes even praying for what is harmful or at least not at all profitable for us and this infirmity of ours the holy Ghost helps by the precepts and promises and forms of Prayer recorded in the Word of God which are the dictates of the Spirit And many times 2. we know not How to ask for what is needful by reason of the dulness and deadness and frosty coldness of our hearts and this infirmity the Spirit helps by quickning our devotion as it follows The Spirit maketh request for us Aug. Qnid est enim interpellat nisi interpellare nos facit what else can be the meaning of this The Spirit makes intercession for us but that he makes us to intercede for our selves by his grace secretly and unspeakably enlivening our devotions so that even with penitent and fervent sighs and holy breathings after God we pour forth our prayers before him so Matth. 10.20 It is not you that speaks but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Where the assistance of Gods holy Spirit with us is so exprest saith Augustine Vt ipse facere dicitur quod ut faciamus facit He is said to do that himself in us which by his grace he stirs us up to do As therefore no man can be wise without the spirit of wisdom nor knowing without the spirit of knowledge nor godly without the spirit of godliness nor charitable without the spirit of love so no man can pray as he ought without the spirit of prayer and supplication not that there are so many kindes of spirits as these but all these worketh one and the same spirit dividing to every man severally as his will 1 Cor. 12.11 From the meaning of all which places and many more which might be alleadged 't is manifest that by the spirit in us ie not meant the spirit of God in himself but in his graces for how can the Spirit of God who is saith the Father one perfect and eternal beatitude with the Father and the Son Aug. be said in himself or according to himself personally to speak to sigh to cry to pray in us no otherwise surely but as by his gifts and graces we are enabled to speak the truth to sigh and breath after God to cry unto him in the fervency of our souls and devoutly to pour forth our prayers before him § 15 The impressions or workings of the Spirit of God upon the souls of men General 2 are various and divers Every thought motion and desire every aptitude proneness and inclination every faculty power and ability conducing either to the good of our souls or others is from the Spirit of God who distributes his several qualifications to several perfons and that severally even in several ways and kindes to some in one kinde to others in another to some more to some less Vnto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Ephes 4.7 or according to the measure of the Spirit who is the gift of Christ and distributes to every one his measure of gifts to some more plentifully to others with a smaller scantling and this according as he findes the hearts of men more or less soft and plyable capable and enfitted to receive his impressions Amb. In quo quis animum intendit in eo accipit donum according to the intention and pliableness of the minde to this or that study or imployment whether divine or moral accordingly so doth the holy Ghost communicate his gifts and blessings thereupon § 16 All these several workings of the Spirit though they be so numerous as that they cannot be easily reckoned up there being more points of this heavenly winde then there is in the Compass which is set and ordered by the winde which bloweth in the air yet unto two general heads they are all reducible 1. Graces 2. Gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. By the graces of Gods Spirit we are sanctified and enabled to serve God 2. By the gifts of the Spirit we are qualified and enabled to benefit and edifie one another by the first we are made Christians by the second we are made Ministers And these two kinds of the holy Spirits qualifications are represented unto us by these two types or figures of the Spirits descension upon the Apostles of Christ the one of the winde Act. 2.2 and the other of the fire ver 3. By the winde were represented those
of the Spirit and in the former place Gal. 5.22 amongst the fruits or graces of the Spirit that we may not confound the graces of God for sanctification with his gifts for edification we must remember that there is a twofold Faith the one doctrinal speculative and notionary viz. a right understanding and firm belief of the several Articles of the Christian Faith and so it 's a gift of Gods Spirit and in this place rankt amongst them The other kinde of faith is practical and obediential viz. the squaring regulating and ordering of our lives and actions according to the principles precepts and commands of the Doctrinal Faith of Christ and so it is a grace of Gods Spirit and rankt amongst them in the former place § 21 The gifts of the Spirit being principally and chiefly intended for the benefit and profit of others though every man therefore whether Lay or Clergy Minister or People may and ought to use all means to be in good measure made partakers of them for his own private direction in the ways of wisdom and true godliness yet for the publique instruction of others after an especial and peculiar manner they concern the Ministry of the Gospel viz. such persons whom God first extraordinarily and miraculously since ordinarily and in the use of means hath ordained for the guidance and direction of his people in the ways of his service and their own salvation and this I suppose is clear from S. Paul Ephes 4.8 Ephes 4.8 Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men not unto all men but unto some only these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 restrain these gifts to some few whom he selected from the rest of mankinde Exod 4.8 9 10 11 12. as conveyances of the Gospels light unto others for so it follows immediately only a Parenthesis betwixt which breaks not the sense He therefore gave some to be Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ implying a manifest and clear distinction betwixt some whom he hath ordained for the work of the Ministry and endued with gifts after a special manner for that end and since others who are not of that society yea though they be Saints and of the Body of Christ a like difference is clearly implyed 1 Cor. 12.28 1 Cor. 12.28 where having through the whole chapter discourst of the gifts of the Spirit to be impl yed for the mutual good and benefit of each others as members of the same body lest we should think that these gifts are equally common to all persons as for publick use and edification he adds and God hath ordained some in the Church 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Teachers c. Some for the Office of Publick instruction he hath ordained not all that lift as in the days of Jeroboam 1 King 13.33 when every man that would became a Priest unto the Lord which the Apostle cuts off by this pathetical Interrogation immediately following vers 29. Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers q. d. not so surely this is as if all the body were but one member not all then but some only even that some whom God hath ordained and manifested this his ordination by the spiritual gifts of wisdom knowledge faith tongues and the rest before in the chapter remembred Should all men who own the name of Christians be endued with spiritual gifts for the publick instruction of others two grand inconveniences would necessarily follow 1. The gifts of the Spirit would be thereby made contemptible for who would care for that which every man hath 2. The end of the Spirit in distributing his gifts would be frustrate for how shall one member profit another which is the end of these gifts when all men have the same gifts The most wise God therefore in ordaining some to the Ministry and not others and distributing his gifts accordingly provides 1. That his gift be magis augustum more reverend 2. That the body of his Church be magis ordinatum better proportioned For the same reasons also the spiritual gifts are various and divers and not given to all no not of the Ministry alike but discretely Ephes 4.7 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the measure of Christ Christ keeps a measure in his gifts himself indeed the Head received the Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 Ephes 1.11 but none of his members ever received it but in measure and this measure is according to the counsell of his own will who respects in the distribution of his gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what is good and profitable most tending to edification as it is in the natural body in every part and member of the body God hath jioned beauty and convenience together so that every limb hath such a proportion as is both comely and useful So it is in the mystical Body of Christ the Church it is una but varia a Body consisting of many members Ephes 4.4 and all quickned by one Spirit There is but one Body and one Spirit but many members and in each member the gifts of the Spirit do vary There are diversity of gifts but the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. There are diversity of gifts because diversity of offices but one Spirit and therefore as they all flow from one Fountain so they are all of one nature and tend all to one common end The beauty and benefit of the Church so S. Ambrose In donis officiorum est diversitas non naturae all the members are therefore quickened with the same Spirit aeque but not aequaliter 1 Cor. 12.11 12 13. all drink of the same Spirit but not the same draught for fulness of measure which makes each one useful in his way but not in the same degree all contributing to the beauty and benefit of the whole vers 21. As therefore the eye cannot say unto the hand I have no need of thee nor c. so neither is any member of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufficient of himself but is necessarily engaged to desire the benefit of the Communion of Saints § 23 It is confessed that the same spiritual gifts and graces which dispose select and separate persons for the work of the Ministry may also rest upon the hearts and mindes of lay and secular persons But abilities to perform an office is only a fair disposition which puts such persons in a capacity of receiving it orderly not an actual investiture therein as every wise man is not a Counsellour of State nor every good Lawyer a Judg so neither is every man who is endued with the wisdom of the Spirit publickly to dispense the Counsels of the most High nor every man skild in the Divine Law may be a publick Steward and administrator
and followers were either guilty of the sin or liable to the curse Quest 11 Whether aâ—y naturall man can preach the Gospell yea or no. Answ He cannot preach the Gospell who understands it not and he that in some good measure understands the Gospell is not to be called a naturall man because 1. The contents of the Gospell are the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.13 which the naturall man receives not neither knows them and 2. Because knowledge Isa 11.2 wisdome and understanding especially of spirituall things are the gifts of the Spirit with which gifts spirituall the Ministers of the Gospell are through the use of means endowed some more plentifully some more sparingly 1 Cor. 12.11 according as God by his holy Spirit blessing our studies has imparted unto us who distributes to every one severally as he will Quest 12 Whether that any Ministers of God was made Ministers by the will of man or no shew it me by the Scriptures Answ There is no Minister of God is or can be made so by the will of man only but by man in subordination to the minde and will of God for 1. God by his holy Spirit puts it into our hearts to use the means to be qualifyed for so great a calling 2. He blesseth and prospereth our studies and endevours for the attainment of those gifts which qualifie us for it 3. He gives us hearts to imply those qualifications in his service which gifts and qualifications being examined and approved by the more able learned and reverend Fathers of the Church 1 Tim. 5.21 22. Tit. 1.5 we are so by them through fasting prayer and imposition of hands set apart to this office Paul and Barnabas though they were called of God immediately and by miracle to the office of the Apostleship Act. 13.2 3. which no man must hope for since yet even they were commanded by the Elders to be sent forth through fasting prayer and imposition of hands Quest 13 Shew me it by the Scriptures whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man teach him but the Lord or no. Answ We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord And yet all men are taught of God too some more some lesse according as 1. They have soules more or lesse capable of teaching 2. As they more or lesse apply themselves to the means which God hath ordained for our learning and instruction and according to our endevors in the use of means so God gives his blessing thereupon That promise Jer. 31.34 they shall teach no more every man his neighbour saying Know the Lord for all men shall know me from the least to the greatest is expressed indeed to be fulfilled under the Gospell Heb. 8.4 10. because the means of knowing God under the Gospell are more plentifull and effectuall then under the Law to wit through the revelation of Jesus Christ and the miraculous inspiration of his Apostles immediately from heaven And whereas t is promised thy children shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 this promise is fulfilled in that we have the teaching the doctrine of the Lord Jesus even his holy Gospell who came down from heaven on purpose to teach us Tit. 2.11 12. Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which brings down salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying c. thus we are taught by the Lord Jesus outwardly in the doctrine of his Gospell and inwardly by the motions and dictates of his holy Spirit And yet for all this the best and most knowing of men aime not to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching because whilest we are in this life we know but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 10.11 12. and prophesie but in part but when that which is perfect c. Quest 14 Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chiefest places in Assemblies stand praying in the Synagogues which Christ did forbid his Disciples to act such things and cryed woe against those that did act them Answ They that vain-gloriously affect the chiefest places in the Assemblies to offer up their private prayers standing in publick places that they may be seen and they that love to be called of men Master are hypocrites and sinners and lyable to the woe denounced by Christ against such But it is one thing to occupy the chief place in any meeting for some one must have it and another thing out of pride and vain-glory to affect it and so of being called Master T is one thing to stand praying in the publick Assemblies that the people may both see and hear and joyne with us and another thing to stand praying privately in publick meetings only to be seen and thought religious And whereas you seem to apply these mistaken and misunderstood sayings of Christ to all Ministers and most uncharitably demand whether such be not Antichrists to this I shall only say the Lord forgive you the hardnesse of your heart and unjust censures of your Christian brethren Is it a mark of Antichrist to preach and pray with the people of God in publick and at such times to stand in an higher and more convenient place that the people may hear and joyne with us examples of which practise I have already given you out of Scripture If we do these things in the pride of our hearts the Lord only knowes it and will avenge it T is not for you to censure and condemn us herein for in so doing you discover more pride of heart and look more like Antichrist then those you uncharitably taxe and tearm so Quest 15 Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devill and no Ministers of Christ which doth not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Answ They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4.6 And they that oppose the dictates and commands of the Spirit of truth speaking in the words are led by the spirit of errour Isa 8.44 which is the Devill who was a lyer from the beginning Mat. 4.4 6. and afterward coloured his lies with errours with the words of truth perverted quoting and misapplying the Scriptures the better to insinuate his falshoods which things I could wish were not too applyable to you and your sect I am sure that your malice and hatred to Ministers because they oppose your errours your bitter envyings raylings and revilings both of them and other your Christian brethren whom you call carnall the wicked and the people of the world your false and uncharitable applications of the woes and curses of the Scriptures to all such who are wiser then to be brought under your delusions and in a word your justifying your selves and condemning others are all of them undenyable signes that you are not led by the spirit of truth which is the
to our own understanding or trust too much to our own wit judgment reading learning or the like as knowing full well That the Lord gives wisdome Prov. 2.6 and from him cometh knowledge and understanding But hereupon either to despise or neglect those ways and means and helps which God in his merciful providence hath afforded us for to attain wisdom c. as the study of Tongues and Languages Arts and Sciences the reading and distinctly weighing the Discourses of the learned and to depend upon immediate Revelation and Infusion of such gifts from Heaven as if they should drop upon our barren hearts as did the Manna in the Wilderness upon the Tents of Israel out of the clowds and by miracle this is a false gloss which the spirit of delusion puts upon the former truth thereby to inveigle us 1. To tempt the good Spirit of God 2. To be exposed and laid open to seducing spirits 3. To enshrine Lady Ignorance again as the Mother of Devotion which all men know but who are blinded with ignorance to be the Dame of superstitious errors and confusions 3. § 33 Rightly to believe in the Son of God as the mean of our justification here and ground of our hope of salvation hereafter this is an impression of Gods Spirit on the soul of man and in respect hereof we are said to have the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed therefore have I spoken faith as it is doctrinal being a spiritual gift and reckoned amongst them 1 Cdr. 12.9 1 Cor. 12.9 And as it is practical being a grace or fruit of the Spirit and reckoned amongst them also Gal. 5.22 Gal. 5.22 But now to mingle and divide and as it were to cut asunder this true Evangelical Faith as it stands full and intire in all its integral parts both of doctrine and practice so as to be vainly puft up with a conceit of being engraffed into Christ and thereby to be justified here and sure of heaven hereafter whether we live according to the rule of Faith and in obedience unto the Gospel of Christ or no to define and measure our Faith not by the sacred acts thereof commanded which is called the righteousness of Faith Rom. 10.6 but by our own too too credulous fancies and apprehensions as if it were no more to be in Christ but presumptuously to pretend unto it and impudently without just ground to believe it This surely cannot be that true Evangelical Faith whereunto so many promises are annext but a false gloss which the spirit of Error hath put thereupon thereby 1. to puff up the hearts of too too credulous men with spiritual pride and presumption and make them swell with the empty conceit and airy fancy of their own happy and eminent state and condition when there is no such matter And 2. to inveigle men to neglect the use and practise of Christian graces those fruits of the Spirit which are as it is already said the very life and soul of Christianity and consequently the way to heaven if ever we mean to arrive there 4. § 34 It is an impression of Gods Spirit on the soul of man 1 King 19.14 To be zealous for the Lord of Hosts that is to be exceedingly fervent and forward earnest and desirous by all possible ways and means to advance the religious worship and service of God But to be so factious and forward so firie and furious as by any illegal extravagant and disorderly means to advance the truth it self much less to set up any private opinions in relation to Gods Service which have not been Vincent semper ubique ab omnibus The three rules of Catholick Doctrine and Worship to be generally and for the most part of the Primitive times at least of all persons at all times and in all places received and not now and then here and there by hereticks and schismaticks only introduc'd I say to be zealous for such pieces of Religion Doctrine and Worship and that per fas nefasque through just or unjust means by right or by wrong to endevour the advancement thereof this is not true zeal but a false gloss which the Devil puts thereupon even through the violence of this distempered heat 1. To divide separate and break men into sects factions and parties that they might so clash together to the ruine of each other And 2. to inveigle men into conspiracies seditions and rebellions against their Governours § 35 The like may be observed of zeal for the conversion of a sinner and bringing souls into the obedience of Christ the more zealous and active diligent and industrious any man is herein with the more fire of Gods Spirit no question he is endued But withall observe that to be active and zealous to seduce and deceive to inveigle and draw men aside into false and erroneous opinions in Religion is not a heat cast forth from the fire of Gods Spirit but it ariseth rather from the fire of hell it comes from our adversary the Devil 1 Pet. 5.8 who also continually goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour And his Disciples they be and consequently in the same woful state and condition with him who take pains to proselyte persons unto the ways of error and perdition Matth. 23.15 Woe unto you Scribes Pharisees and hypocrites for ye compass sea and land to make one Proselytes and when he is made you make him twofold more the childe of hell then your selves § 36 'T is an impression of Gods Spirit on the minde of man to be apt and ready Matth. 18.15 active and forward to counsel advise admonish and in some cases and at some times to reprove one another Prov. 12.1 and tell men of their faults and He that hateth reproof is a fool but to rail and revile censure and judge and condemn our brethren and say it 's only a telling them of their faults and telling them what they are or to meddle with other mens matters that concern us not or to reprove other mens faults whilst our selves are guilty of greater These are no true parts of Christian fraternal admonition but false glosses that the Devil puts hereupon 1. To allure men to overlook and neglect themselves and the amendment of their own faults and amisses And 2. to dissolve the sacred bonds of amity peace and unity with others which are those ligaments and sinews of the body of the Church whereby good Christians are coupled and united and join together in the sacred service of God which is the way of their own salvation § 37 And as into erroneous opinions on the one hand so into sinful actions on the other are we allured and inveigled by the same subtil wile of Satan obtruding his false counterfeit coin of wickedness under the shew and semblance of the impressions of
the simple But by their fruits you shall know them which is confirmed by an apt similitude v. 16. Matt. 7.16 Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles q. d. No man can be so foolish as to expect this but every tree whether it be good or whether it be bad bringeth forth fruit suitable to its good or bad nature So 17. every good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree bringeth forth evill fruit nor is it possible it should be otherwise 18. A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit even so false Prophets cannot bring forth the fruit of good true wholsome sound doctrines and religious manners So Menander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man being good in himself produceth evill actions on the other side saith Antoninus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He that will not have a wicked man to commit wickednesse is like unto him that will not have a fig-tree to bring forth figs 'T is then an infallible tryal of the spirits whether they be of God or no by the fruits they bring forth § 44 The fruit of the Spirit viz. which is of God is love joy peace long-suffering Gal. 5.22 23. gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance The first of these fruits and the fairest too even of largest extent and most lasting which this tree of life brings forth is Love even the love of God above all and of our neighbour as our selves This therefore must needs be an infallible touch-stone to try the spirit of truth from the spirit of error for the spirit of truth is the very spirit of love and that first in respect of himself being that essentiall love and love-knot of the Father and the Son And secondly in respect of us being that sacred vinculum that invisible chain which unites us unto God by faith which worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and which unites one to another by charity peace amity the inseparable fruits of a true faith So that the Spirit of God is vinculum unitatis both in respect of his person and office and that 3 wayes First he is the bond of unity betwixt God and God Secondly betwixt God and man and Thirdly betwixt man and man therefore call'd the unity of the Spirit Eph. 4.3 Ephes 4.3 The devill on the other side is of a quite contrary nature as being the authour fautor and fomentor of all division He divides and separates man from God by sinfulnesse and errour and man from man by envy malice hatred strife and variance therefore is he so well known amongst the vulgar by his cloven foot the embleme of division § 45 Now our love to God above all is manifested and expressed by our love to our neighbour 1 Joh. 4.20 If any man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a lyar 1 Joh. 4.20 for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen For Joh. 14.23 24 if any man love me saith the Lord he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him And he that loveth me not keepeth not my Words and the Word which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me And what is the Word he means and so often particularly commands but to love one another This is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you Joh. 15.12 And this is the fruit he giveth us in charge to bring forth vers 16 17. even to love one another So that then where there is malice hatred strife variance bitter envyings railings revilings c. for such kinde of persons to lay claim to the Spirit of unity is a piece of impudent vanity and a false suggestion either from their owne corrupt erring spirit or from the spirit of errour himselfe the Devil who is a hater a reviler and the accuser of his brethren Rev. 12.10 And on the other side where there is peace love unity amity c. they are unquestionable marks and tokens of the Spirit of truth and unity Therefore St. John in the forecited place having told us that hereby know we the Spirit of truth from the spirit of errour adds immediately Beloved let us love one another 1 Joh. 4.6 7 8. for love cometh of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love § 46 It would be needlesse to instance in the rest of the fruits of the Spirit because Love is not onely the first and chiefest of them even the Mistresse or rather the Queen of graces and by the Apostle extoll'd above them all 1 Cor. 13. but also because 't is the summe brief abridgement and epitome of all grace All the fruits of the Spirit are contained in and derived from this one as streames from the fountain head Vnde caetera tanquam ex capite exorta religata contexuit saith the Father of the fruits of the Spirit Aug. as they are reckoned up by the Apostle They all arise from and are summ'd up in this one therefore is love the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 'T is the fulfilling of the Law in three respects 1. Reductive in that the whole Law is reducible to this one command of Love and like Homer's Iliads in a nut-shell the whole volume of the Law is contained in this short precept Mat. 22 37 39 40. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy minde and thy neighbour as thy self 2. Formaliter the very essentiall form of our obedience to the Laws of God being our love to God That 's the very form life soul spirit of a truely holy and acceptable obedience both in piety towards God and charity towards man when it proceeds from the love we owe to God himself and to our neighbour for Gods sake and therefore is Love also styl'd the end of the Commandement 1 Tim. 1.5 1 Tim. 1.5 For finis in moralibus habet rationem formae the end why we do this or that moral action is the very essential form of the action done 3. Effective obedience is the effect the issue the product of our love to God flowing from it as an effect from the cause therefore 't is said as before Joh. 14.23 If ye love me keâ—p my Commandements Love then is and needs must be an exact true and infallible touch-stone or tryal of the truth of Spirits since 't is the chief the fountain the abridgement of all the fruits thereof § 47 A third rule for the tryal of the Spirits is by the properties of the Spirit of truth which are observable in the manner of his descension upon the Apostles of Christ recorded Act. 2.2 Act. 2.2 And suddenly there came
Holy Sacraments The most holy God commanding us nothing but what are the means and wayes of our own happinesse viz. the means of grace and sanctification here as the way to our glorification hereafter For there is nothing that we poor frail mortall dust and ashes can perform that may any way add really add to the glory or happinesse of the most high most glorious and ever blessed God And in that he lays his commands upon us and enjoyns us severall ways of acknowledging our obedience to him 't is of his tender care and respect to us-ward even for our guidance and direction in the ways of our own felicity The laws of God are no other then the rules of mans perfection even the sacred paths we must tread to attain the pitch of perfection whereunto we are created being instampt after the blessed image of our Maker So that the parts of Gods service commanded are to us the means of grace and salvation sincerely obeyed 1. § 50 Holy prayer in all the parts and species thereof is a means to fetch down the holy Spirit of God in his gifts and graces So saith our Lord positively and clearly Luk. 11.13 Luk. 11.13 If ye being evill know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that ask him And that we might know what is here meant by the Spirit St. Matthew records the words of our Lord thus Matt. 7.11 How much more shall your heavenly Father give good things unto them that ask him All good things being comprised under the name of the Spirit as the fountain from whence they flow And Joh. 14.14 Joh. 14.14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name I will doe it and presently after he promiseth as the sum of all that they could ask for I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of truth c. God is in himself the fountain of all perfection every good and every perfect gift every divine celestial soul-sanctifying grace is in God as the original prototype and grand examplar as the root from whence the sap of every grace as the Sun from whence the beam of every gift for illumination is derived unto us from the holy heavens they must come Jam. 1.17 for there is their perfect seat and habitation as the Wise man confesseth Wisd 9. when he petitioned the God of heaven for the wisdome of the Spirit And the same means must we use to fetch down both wisdome and the rest of the graces of the Spirit even by prayer commanded Jam. 1.5 Prayer is the blessed mean that unites God and man brings heaven and earth together 'T is that golden chain saith Basil that ties the gracious ears of God to the hearts and tongues of men 'T is the hand which reaches from earth to heaven and takes forth every good thing out of the Lords treasury Therefore 't is said Matt. 7.7 Matt. 7.7 Ask and ye shall receive seek and ye shall finde knock and it shall be opened unto you so that 't is also the ring or hammer wherewithall we knock at the gates of heaven and beg a blessing from the great Lord that dwelleth there Nay it is the key of heaven saith Aug. which opens unto us those everlasting dores of glory 'T is the blessed engine wherewithall we storm the heavenly Jerusalem and as it were by force and violence make our entrance into the holy City which is full of wealth and never fading treasures The Kingdome of heaven saith our Lord suffers violence Mat. 11.12 and the violent take it by force fervent importunate prayers being the scaling ladders represented by Jacob's ladder which being set upon the earth Gen. 28. the top thereof reacheth to the heavens our severall prayers upon all occasions wants and importunities are as it were the severall rounds of this celestial ladder whereupon the desires and affections of our soules ascend from earth to heaven and leaving these fraile earthly tabernacles of clay make their way unto the most high God which sits in the heavens Or it may be represented by that fiery chariot of Elijah 2 King 2.11 wherein he was wrapt from earth to heaven for so by fervent prayers and devotions are the souls of holy and religious men they are thereby enwrapt and mount from the earth to have their conversation in heaven with God on high whence they again descend enricht with celestial blessings or with the Spirit of God This is also further proved by the example of the Apostles who after they had prayed the holy Ghost descended on them Act. 4.31 And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they assembled together and they were all filled with the holy Ghost and they spake the Word of God with boldnesse § 51 The holy Word of God in generall but the Gospel of Christ in special in the preaching or reading hearing and understanding thereof is an effectuall means for the obtaining of the Spirit for all scripture is given by inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 they are the very dictates the breathings of the Spirit upon the souls of men and are therefore profitable for doctrine or to teach the truth for reproof to convince which is false and erroneous for correction of the negligent and delinquent and for instruction in righteousnesse to the proficient Gloss Lyra. That the man of God he who is ordained to divine offices as Timothy was may be to that end perfected and thoroughly furnished to every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 And of the Scriptures in the verse before 't is said they are sufficient to make us wise to salvation viz. being spiritually understood saith the Interp. Gloss That they are the means both of our illumination and sanctification which are the ends of the Spirit is clear from the prayer of our Lord Joh. 17.17 Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth The Word of God is the Word of truth for our illumination and the Word of grace for our sanctification and this prayer of our Lord was granted saith Lyra in behalf of his Apostles when the holy Spirit descended on them at the feast of Pentecost Regeneration which is the same with sanctification and to be born of God and to be born of the Spirit is ascribed to the Word of God as the conveyance of the Spirit in this respect or as the means of our new birth Jam. 1.18 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 1.17 Of his own will begat he us by the Word of truth And Joh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Now what else are the gifts of the Spirit or at least whereunto do they tend but to the clear understanding of the truth of God revealed by Jesus Christ which revelations are the sum of his Gospel what else are the graces of Gods Spirit