vnion The personall vnion of the two natures in Christ is such a coupling of them as they might be one person 1. Tim. 3.16 Coloss 2.9 Gal. 4.4 Heb. 2.16 In this personall vnion both the distinction of the two natures is to be considered and also the effectes of the vnion In the personall vnion the natures remaine distinct and not confused whether we respect their essence or the properties or operations Rom. 1.3.4 and 9.5 1. Tim. 9.16 Heb. 9.14 1. Pet. 3.18 and 4.1 As therefore in that one person of Christ there be two natures so there is a double minde or vnderstanding a double will working wisedome strength power vertue and so forth The one heauenly and not created the other humane and created Luke 2.52 Mar. 11.13 and 13.32 1. Iohn 2.1.17 Iohn 2.25 and 6.64 and 5.20 Heb. 1.9 Iohn 1.33 and 4.6 Heb. 1.3 Iohn 2.19 and 10.18 And each of the natures retaineth and keepeth his owne essentiall properties neither doth it communicate them to the other nature and that for two causes the first is least the natures should be mingled and confounded the other that there might foreuer remaine a difference betweene the natures Luke 24.39 For he that confoundeth the properties D. Luther confoundeth the natures and he that taketh away the properties taketh away the natures Thus farre concerning the distinction of the natures in the personall vnion now concerning the effects of the vnion Of the maiestie of the humane nature of Christ The effectes of the vnion are two fold the one the exaltation of the nature assumed to the highest and vnspeakeable dignitie and the communicating of the Idioms or proprieties The exaltation of the assumed nature to the highest and vnspeakeable dignitie is that honour which the person of the sonne of God hath communicated to the nature assumed so that he hath exalted it aboue all Angels men whom he surpasseth and excelleth by most farre and vnspeakeable degrees Heb. 14. Mat. 28.18 Iohn 17.2 Phil. 2.9 Ephes 1.20.22 That exaltation consisteth chiefly in these three points 1. In the personall vnion with the word because the humane nature is assumed into the vnitie of the person of Gods sonne so that it is the proper flesh of the eternall son of God Heb. 2.16 2. In the giftes because it hath the fulnesse of all the giftes of the holy spirite which can be in a creature that is to say it hath not onely some giftes as the rest of the Saints who haue them according to measure but all giftes not onely in number but euen in the most excellent degree Iohn 3.34 Those giftes giuen to the humanitie of Christ are created qualities because his humanitie is creaâ—ed That truely is adorned with most excellent and incomprehensible giftes but such as doe not ouerthrow and destroy the same 3. In the fellowship of the office both of the mediatour betweene God and the beleeuers and also of the head of the Church and of the Iudge of the whole world Mat. 28.18 Phil. 2.9 Ephesians 1.20.22 Psal 110.1.1 Timot. 2.5 1. Iohn 2.12 Heb. 7.25.26.27 and 8.1 and 9.24 Hitherto concerning the exaltation of the nature assumed now concerning the communicating of the Idioms or properties Of the communicating of the Idioms or properties The communicating of the Idioms or properties is a Sinecdoche whereby that is spoken of Christs person which is proper to one of the natures in the person Iohn 3.13 Actes 20.28 1. Cor. 2.8 1. Iohn 1.1 and 3.16 For because of the personall vnion of the two natures their properties are common to the person And the communicating of the Idioms or properties haue a place in the concreet or primitiue but not in the Abstract or deriuatiue The concreet is the name of the person The Concreet or primitiue is a name vnderstood of the person of Christ as these God Man Christ Iesus the sonne of God the sonne of man and so forth The Abstract is the name of the nature The Abstract or deriuatiue is a name vnderstood of one of the natures onely in the person of Christ as these the Godhead the manhood flesh Iohn 1.14 The seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 And if in steed of the Abstract the CoÌ„creet be sometime vsed for the most part there is added a note or particle of difference restraining it to one or other of the natures sometime also it is vttered absolutely without any note of difference expressed yet vnderstood The notes of difference are these by nigh to as long as or vntill in through as much as and those that are like these Rom. 1.3.4 1. Tim. 3.16 Heb. 9.14 1. Pet. 3.18 and 4 1. Rom. 9.5 Actes 2.30 And by these notes of difference is signified the property of the one nature which caÌ„ not be spoken of the other nature As therefore it is most rightly sayd of Christ God is borne of the virgine suffered vnder Pontius Pilate crucified dead and buried and so forth So also it is most rightly sayd of the same Christ he is a man eternall present euery where omnipotent knowing all things Contrariwise as this is a most wicked and blasphemous speech to say the Godhead is borne of the virgine suffered vnder Pontius Pilate crucified dead and buried so this is a most wicked and blasphemous speech to say that the humanitie of Christ is eternall present euery where omnipotent knowing all things Thus much concerning the personall vnion Of the natiuitie of Christ The natiuitie of Christ is that whereby he was borne of the virgine Mary at BethleheÌ„ that he might be our Sauiour Luke 2.4 Mat. 2.1.5 Thus farre concerning the incarnation of Christ now concerning his obedience Of the obedience of Christ The obedience of Christ is the other part of his humiliatioÌ„ whilest he was in all things obedient to his father It is also called the righteousnesse of Christ Esay 53. Heb. 5.8 Although he were the sonne of God yet he learned obedience by those things which he suffered Of the obedience of Christ there are two parts the fulfilling of the law and the paying of the punishment for our sinnes The fulfilling of the law is the first part of Christes obedience whereby in his whole life he performed for vs perfect obedience to the law of God Otherwise it is called the actiue righteousnesse of Christ and also the obedience of the holy life of Christ The paying of the punishment for our sinnes is the other part of Christes obedience whilest he for vs sustained the punishment which we had deserued that he might satisfie for vs the most seuere iustice of God so that we are no more bound to suffer that punishment seeing Christ hath payed it for vs. Otherwise it is called the passiue righteousnesse of Christ or the obedience of his Passion and death The partes of paying the punishment for our sinnes are both his Passion and death also his burying and descending to hell Of the Passion
inward or outward The outward calling is a calling which is done by the Ministers of Gods word And that is two fold effectuall or vneffectuall Mat. 22.2 The effectuall calling belongeth to the elect in whose harts the word preached doth abide The vneffectuall calling belongeth to the reprobate in whose harts the word of God either findeth no abode or else vanisheth away so that it is become to them the sauour of death and a matter of more grieuous condemnation Thus much concerning the outward calling now concerning the inward The calling that is inward is a calling which is wrought by the holy spirit by whoÌ„ the father draweth vs and giueth vs to his sonne Iohn 6.37.44 and 17.11 Hitherto concerning our calling to Christ now concerning our calling to some office The calling to some office is the separating of a fit person to some office Rom. 1.1 Thus farre concerning our calling now concerning Gods couenant Gods couenant is a bargaine which God hath made with meâ— in which God promiseth to men some good requireth of them again that they performe those things which he commandeth And that couenant is either eternall or temporall The eternall couenant is a couenant in which God promiseth men eternall life And that is two fold the couenant of workes or the couenant of grace The couenant of workes is a bargaine of God made with men coÌ„cerning eternall life to which is both a condition of perfect obedience adioyned to be performed by man also a threatning of eternall death if he shal not performe perfect obedience Gene. 2.17 The couenant with Moses is the couenant of workes The repetition of the couenant of workes is made by God Exod. 19.5 Deut. 5.2 1. King 8.21 Heb. 8.9 and that chiefly for foure causes 1. That God by all meanes might stirre vp men to performe obedience 2. That euery mouth might be stopped and all the world might be made subiect to the condemnation of God for not performing perfect obedience Rom. 3.19 3. That he might manifest mans sinne and naughtinesse Rom. 3.19.20 and 7.7.8.9.10.11 4. That he might thrust vs forward to seeke to be restored in the couenant of grace Gal. 3.22 and 5.23 Thus much concerning the couenant of workes now concerning the couenant of grace Of the couenaÌ„t of grace The couenant of grace is the reconciling of the elect with God by the death of the only mediatour Rom. 8.30 2. Cor. 5.17.18.19.20.21 Heb. 9.15 The mediatour That onely mediatour is our Lord Iesus Christ who onely doth reconcile vs to his father by his satisfaction and merit Gene. 3.15 and 11.35 Gal. 3.12.13.14 Gene. 15.18 17.2.10.11 Exod. 6.4 the Epistle to the Heb. Chap. 7.8.9 10. The couenant made with Abraham is the couenant of grace Actes 3.25 The couenant of grace is also called the Testament because this reconciliation was made and ratified by the death of the testatour Christ comming betweene Heb. 9.16.17 Christ purchased reconciliation between his heauenly father and vs by his death and there withall left it vnto vs no otherwise theÌ„ parents dying doe leaue their goods to their children And that perpetually is one and the selfe same if we consider the substance thereof as there is but one Church in all ages one true faith ReligioÌ„ of Saints one God one mediatour Christ but one sacrifice for sins but one righteousnesse redeÌ„ptioÌ„ of the world one manner for all the ages of the world to obtaine saluation namely by faith in Christ Heb. 13.8 Reuel 13.8 1. Tim. 2.5 Rom. 12. and 4.3 Ephes 1.10 Rom. 9.5 Col. 1.18 Ephe. 2.21 Actes 4.2 Mat. 11.27 Iohn 14.6 Luke 10.24 Iohn 8 56. Gene. 3.15 and 22.18 But by the circumstances it is called the old or new Testament It is called the old Testament or couenant because it was hid from the faithfull by diuers shadowes and figures before Christ was manifested in the flesh Gene. 12.7 Heb. 9.4.18 Exod. 24.8 It is called the new TestameÌ„t or couenaÌ„t because it is clearely manifested to the faithfull by Christ himselfe shewed in the flesh Heb. 8 6. Therefore the faithfull in the old Testament had Christ as yet couered in a type or rather they looked for a true manifestation of him but we haue him manifested indeede They had figures we haue the thing it selfe they did reioyce in outward and ceremoniall things we triumph in spirituall and the things signified without types Ierem. 31.31 Matth. 26.28 1. Cor. 11.25 Heb. 8.9.10 and Chap. 9. and 10. Of the couenant of grace there be two parts the promise of grace the answering againe of a good conscience The former respecteth God the later respecteth the faithfull Heb. 8.10.11.12 Of the promise of grace The promise of grace is the first part of the couenant of grace by which God promiseth freely his benefites purchased by Christ vnto all those who beleeue in Christ The benefites purchased by Christ for vs and promised in the Gospell are these the giuing of the holy spirit the communion with Christ and our preseruation in this communion and the giuing of eternall life Of the giuing of the holy spirit The giuing of the holy spirite is a benefite of God by which he giueth vs his holy spirite who maketh vs partakers of Christ and of all his benefites Of the knowledge of the holy spirit there be two parts the first concâ—rning the person of the holy spirite the second concerning his office If we consider his person he is true God equall with the father and the sonne Actes 5.3.4 Gene. 1.2 Math. 28.19 Mar 16 15. But the office of the holy spirite is this that by him the father and the sonne doe shew foorth their power and execute the decrees of their will in creating sustaining and mouing all things but chiefly in mouing the harts of those that heare Gods word and in sanctifying and quickning the elect with eternall saluation Thus farre concerning the giuing of the holy spirite now concerning our communion with Christ Of our communion with Christ Our communion with Christ is the benefit of God whilest he giueth to the beleeuers Christ himselfe and his merits that he might powerfully worke in them eternall life Iohn 3.16 Rom. 8.32 That is also called our ioyning vnion knitting together with Christ our ingrafting into Christ the eating of Christes flesh the drinking of Christes bloud the bringing of vs vnder one head ioyning into one body vnder one head to wit Christ Ephes 1.10 our washing in the bloud of Christ the quickning of vs the raysing of vs from the dead the placing of vs in heauen together with Christ Ephes 2.5.6 Now the communion of all Saintes with Christ is one and the selfe same that is to say onely spirituall There is not a bodily entrance and remayning of Christ within the bodies of the Saints neither doth Christ dwell spiritually in some and bodily in other some but in all beleeuers spiritually onely And that is
zeale fortitude the glorie of God pag. 181. 182. and those that follow 52 Of the inward outward worship of God the things that disagree therefrom where of liuely faith pag. 188. 189. c. 53 Of inuocation where of prayer of the Lords prayer of an oath pag. 197 54 Of thankesgiuing and the confession of truth pag. 211. 212. 55 Of the rites or ceremonies of the Church where of a godly fast vow sacrifices of the old Testament feast pag. 215. 216. and so forward 56 Of vertue where concerning the desire of wisdome of fortitude temperance chastitie liberalitie iustice and the whole company of vertues pag. 196. and so forward 57 Of priuate iustice where of wedlocke and of diuorse pag. 243. 244 58 Of the publike iustice where of Magistrate and lawes of peace and warre pag. 273. and so forward THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE PARTITIONS AND DEFINITIONS OF DIuinitie framed according to the rules of a naturall methode by Amandus Polanus of Polansdorf Of Faith THe word of God is a doctrine written by the Prophets and Apostles the holy spirite being the inditour thereof perfectly deliuering the way how to obtaine eternall life 2. Pet. 1.21 Ephes 2.20 Iohn 5.24.39 and 20.29.31 1. Cor. 1.21 2. Tim. 1.10 and 2.5 Tit. 1.1 2. Rom. 1.16 Psal 32.1 and 1.1 and 119.1 and so forward Mat. 5.3 so forward Iam. 1.21.22 Of the word of God there be two partes the first concerning faith Act. 24.14.15.16 Rom. 1.16 Hab. 2.4 the other cōcerning good workes Iam. 2.20 Phil. 1.27 Tit. 3.8 Mar. 1.15 1. Tim. 1.18.19 Of faith The first part namely concerning faith doth teach vs what we must beleeue to saluation And that cōcerneth either God or the Church God is an eternall infinite omnipotent Of God and most holy spirit Iohn 4.24 Psal 9.2 92.8 102.13 Esa 63.16 Dan. 6.26 Heb. 1.12 Reu. 4.8 11.17 16.5 1. Kin. 8.27 2. Chro. 6.18 Iob. 11.7.8 Iere. 23.23 Psal 139.7.10 Esa 6.3 Gen. 17.1 35.11 Exod. 6.3 Deut. 7.8 10.17 Num. 11.23 Esa 40.12 Matt. 19.26 Luk. 1.37 Reu. 1.8 Mat. 19.17 2. Chr. 30.18 Of the knowledge of God or of faith concerning God are two parts the first concerning the essence of God the second concerning his workes The essence of God is the nature of God whereby God is indeede and doth subsist And that essence is but one and therefore God is but onely one also There are two partes of the knowledge of the essence of God the first concerning the attributes of God the second concerning the distinction of the persons The attributes of God are those titles which are attributed to God to declare his essence better vnto vs. Of the attributes of God The attributes of God are either simple or compared The simple attributes of God are the esential properties of God which doe agree to him without comparison Of these some haue such a similitude of him as is in the creatures by creation some haue not Of the former kind are blessednes immortalitie vnderstanding praescience memorie will goodnesse holinesse iustice clemencie long sufferance patience constacie fortitude truth faithfulnesse and the rest The goodnesse of God is that by which he hath bene euerlastingly contented with him selfe not hauing neede of any other thing 1. Tim. 1.11 6.15 The vnderstāding of God is that by which he hath a perfect vnderstāding of al things this is somtimes called the wisdome of God The immortalitie of God is that by which he neuer dieth 1. Tim. 1.17 6.16 The praescience of God is a most perfect foreknowledge of all things to come The memorie of God is that by which he doth most exactly remember all things Psal 25.6.7 Esa 49.16 Of the will of God The will of God is that by which he willeth all things Rom 9.15.22 Eph. 1.5.9.11 And that will is onely one most simple if we respect God him self but so farre as we respect mē to whō it is either reuealed or hid it is two fold manifest or secret The schoolemen do call the former of these the wil of the signe the other the will of the good pleasure of God The secret wil also in due time appointed by God is made open and manifest The will of God is most free whereupon also it is called the free will of God The free wil of God is that self same essence of God vnderstanding by it selfe all things immediatly and most perfectly that most freely but yet vnchangeably and necessarily willing that which is good onely and abhorring that onely which is euill neither depending of another former beginning but of it selfe onely And this alone may properly be called of his owne power The goodnes of God is that by which he is the author of all good things And he doth exercise this either generally towards all creatures or else particularly towards his elect The former is called beneficence the later is called mercie The beneficence of God is that by which he giueth his gifts to all his creatures Mat. 5.44.45 Act. 14.17 The mercie of God is that by which God doth good to his elect although they deserue nothing of him but euill Esa 49.10.13 Eph. 2.3.4 Psal 145.9 The holinesse of God is that by which he doth altogether abhorre all impuritie vncleanesse Esa 6.3 Reu. 4.8 Ierem. 3.12 The iustice of God is that by which he dealeth iustly in all things Psal 116.11 Rom. 3.4 The clemencie of God is that by which he doth represse his anger which is most iust that he might spare vs. Exod. 34.5 The long sufferance of God is that wherby he doth a long time defer his anger and punishment against sinners that he might prouoke them to repentance Exod 34.5 The patiēce of God is that by which he suffereth a long time patiently the sins of men that he might lead thē to repentance Esa 48.9 The constancie of God is that by which he performeth most certainely that which hee hath spoken Exod. 34.5 The fortitude of God is that by which he is able to performe all thinges that hee doth wil. 1 Sam. 2.2 2 Sam. 23.13 Esay 28.2 49.26 Ier. 50.34 Reuel 18.8 The truth of God is that by which hee speaketh and doeth all things as they are indeed he himselfe being most free from all lying Rom. 3.4 Deut. 7.9 The fayhfulnes of God is that by which he most faythfully performeth to his children that which hee hath promised Esay 49.7 Exod. 34.6 Deut. 7.10 Hitherto we haue handled the simple attributes of God which are of the first sort they of the latter sort follow The simple attributs of God of the later sort are those which haue not in thē such a similitude of him as is in some creatures by creatiō Of which sort are these Eternitie Infinitnes vbiquity omnipotency omniscience Eternitie is an essential propertie of God by which hee is sayde to bee without any beginning or ending Esa 43.13 Ps 90.2
anger of God are those punishments by which he punisheth sinnes Rom. 1.18 And that is also called the reuengement of God Esa 47.3 Psal 2.5 The furie of God is the fierce and mighty wrath of God declared by most grieuous punishments Psal 2.5.12 The hatred which is in God is an abhorring lothing and reiecting of euill Mala. 1.2.3 Rom. 9.13 Of the repenting of God The repenting of God is not a changing of his diuine counsell and decree which is immutable 1. Sam. 15.29 but a chaunging of the workes of God Genes 6.6 1. Sam. 15.11 Ierem. 18.8 The causes thereof are either the sinnes or repentance of men Notwithstāding this kind of change is decreed by God from euerlasting For God hath decreed both of these namely to performe some worke and to change it againe for the sinnes repentance of men That changing of the worke is called the repenting of God And these are the affections which are attributed to God the adioynts follow The adioynts of man which are attributed to God are these to sit in a throne to see Psal 2. to arise to ascēd to descēd apparell Psal 104.2 he is called also a husbandman Iohn 15.1 And these attributes are taken from mā others follow which are both common also taken from other creatures Of this sort are these place time ascending descending Wings are also attributed to God by which is meant protection and defence Deut. 32.10 Psal 17.8 Psal 91.4 Likewise a shadow is attributed to God Psal 91.1 by which is meant protection For euen as a shadow doth protect vs from the beames and heat of the sunne so God doth protect vs from daungers So God by a metaphore is called by diuers names He is called a tower Psal 91.2 For euen as in high and defenced towers we are safe from the enemy so God doth set vs in safetie He is called a shield a buckler Psal 3.4 He is called a consuming fire Deut. 4.24 9.3 Heb. 12.19 He is called a rocke Psal 71. He is called a strōg dwelling place Psal 71.3 He is called a defence Psal 71.3 Hitherto we haue spoken concerning the attributes of God now we will speake concerning the persons of the Deitie A person of the Deitie is a subsistence in the Deitie Of the persons of the Deitie hauing such properties as cannot be communicated from one to another There are three persons in the Deitie the Father the Son the holy ghost Mat. 3.16 28.19 1. Iohn 5.7 Ephes 2.18 Gene. 1.26 and 18.2 Exod. 3.6 and 15.16 Psal 33.6 Esa 6.3 These are coeternall and equall of one the selfe same simple essence distinct one frō another by an incommunicable proprietie And those are distinguished one from another not essentially because the essence of them is but one yet notwithstanding really they differ from the essence of God not in deed but by respect or by relation onely The Father is the first in the Godhead which hath begot the Sonne frō euerlasting Psal 2.2 Cor. 13. The Sonne is the second in the Godhead which is begotten of the Father by an eternall communicating of the whole essence Iohn 1.14.18.34 and 3.16 Mat. 3.17 2. Cor. 1.19 Hose 11.3 Luke 1.31 Rom. 1.4 Of the diuine generation The diuine essence neither doth beget neither is begotten because that which doth beget is in very deed distinguished from that which is begottē now the diuine essence being but one and most simple it cannot be distinguished from it selfe The Sonne is beggotten of the essence of the Father and hath the whole essence of the Father not by flowing from neither by cutting out of the Father neither by propagation for the essence of the Sonne doth not flow from the essence of the Father neither is it propagated or cut out of it but by cōmunicating And the Sonne is not in deede the Sonne of himselfe because he is the Sonne of the Father yet notwithstanding he is God of himselfe that is to say that essence which is in the Sonne is not of another but of it selfe seeing the essence of the Father and the Sonne is one and selfe same The essence of the Father is of it selfe without all beginning but the essence of the Son is the essence of the Father For the Godhead by which the Son is God is that same by which the Father is God therefore the essence of the Sonne is of it selfe and without beginning Therefore Christ is God of himselfe For except he be God of himselfe he certainly can not be God at all For that he be God God hath it of himselfe naturally He cannot be God whose essence is not of it selfe But it is one thing for the essence to be begotten and another thing to be begotten of the essence The essence is not begotten of the essence the essence is without generation Therefore the Sonne also as he is God is not begotten But the Son is begotten of the essence of the Father Wherefore Christ as he is God is of himselfe as he is the Sonne he is of the Father The holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead which proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 15.25.26 and 20.22 Rom. 8.9 Esa 6.8.9 Actes 28.25.26 5.3.4 1. Cor. 3.6 and 19.20 2. Cor. 6.16 Therefore God is one in essence Exod. 3.14 Deut. 4.35 and 6.4 and 7.9 and 10.17 and 32.39 1. Cor. 12.6 Gal. 3.20 Ephes 4.6 1. Tim. 2.5 But three in persons whereupon we worship the reuerend Trinitie or Trinitie in vnitie Genes 1.26 and 18.2 1. Iohn 5.7 Ephes 2.18 Rom. 9 5. 1. Timot. 3.16 Actes 5.3.4 Hitherto concerning the essence of God now concerning his workes Of the workes of God The works of God are those things which God doth for his own glory Psal 8.1 19. 104.1 Prouerb 16.4 Esay 48.9 Rom. 1.20.21 And by the cōsideratiō of Gods works diuers names are giuē to God in the Scripture Furthermore those are the vndeuided workes of the Trinitie yet we must keepe the personall proprietie the naturall distinction order of the persons in working For as the Son is of the Father and the holy Spirite of the Father and the Sonne so the Father worketh immediatly by the Sonne and the Father and the Sonne by the holy Spirite in performing the same worke For the Father is powerfull but by the Sonne and the holy Spirite Iohn 5.19 The Father worketh by the Son not as by an instrument or helper of the working The workes of God are either benefits or iudgements The benefits of God are the works which God doth performe for our good The benefites of God are either spirituall or bodily Spirituall benefites are those which pertaine to the soule or spirituall life Bodily benefites are those which pettaine to a bodily life Hitherto generally concerning the benefites of God now concerning his iudgements The iudgements of God are those works by which he iustly layeth afflictiōs vpō men Againe the
a naturall offence subiection to punishment because of the fall of our first parents Rom. 5.12 So death went ouer all men Originall naughtinesse is a naturall deprauing and corruption of mans whole nature This naughtinesse is not the very nature of mā it selfe but onely sticketh to mans nature from which it is alwayes to be discerned euen after the deprauing And that is both in the soule in the body Naughtinesse in the soule is two fold the darknesse of the minde and the losse of free will or of free choise to good and the disorder of the affections of the hart naughty disposition to vices Naughtinesse of the body is also two fold the disorder of the moueable members and diseases which come by nature Thus much concerning originall sinne now concerning Actuall sinne Of actuall sin Actuall sinne is that sinne which we our selues commit And first that is either inward or outward Inward sinne is euery euill thought and doubting concerning God and his will incredulitie and the rest Outward sinne is euery word deed or gesture contrary to the law and will of God Outward sinne is either hid or manifest An hid sinne is that which no man is priuie of besides he which did commit it A manifest sinne is that sinne which other men also are priuie vnto and are offended made worse thereby Therefore it is specially called an offence Of an offence An offence is a speech or deed whereby an other is made worse An offence is either giuen or taken An offence giuen is an vngodly doctrine or euill example of maners which doth hurt others either because they doe imitate the same or because by it men are discouraged from the Gospell An offence taken is when either by some right doctrine or necessary deed hypocrites are offended and conceiue hatred of the Gospell and godly men And that is also called a Pharisaicall offence Againe sinne is either raigning or not raigning which some men call deadly or veniall A sinne raigning is that sinne which the sinner doth not resist by the grace of the holy spirit regenerating him to eternall life and therefore it maketh him subiect to eternall death except he repent and obtaine pardon by Christ A sinne not raigning is that sinne which the sinner resisteth by the grace of the holy spirit regenerating him to eternall life and therefore he is not subiect to eternall death because he repenteth him and doth obtaine pardon by Christ Euery sinne in it owne nature is deadly that is to say it deserueth eternall death but it is made veniall that is to say it doth deserue pardon and forgiuenesse so that it doth not bring to the regenerate death eternall by grace through Christ Moreouer euery sin is either against conscience or not against conscience Sinne against conscience is a sinne when a man knowing the will of God doth contrary to it of set purpose Sin which is not against conscience is that sin which is cōmitted of him that knoweth not the will of God or else the sin is acknowledged and lamented of the sinner to be a sin yet it cānot perfectly in this life be auoyded as for example originall sin and many other sinnes of ignorance and infirmity Furthermore sinne is either pardonable or vnpardonable Pardonable sin is that sinne which is forgiuen to him that repenteth and to him that asketh remission through Christ Such are all sinnes except the sin against the holy Ghost Vnpardonable sinne is that sinne which is not forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12.31 Mar. 3.28 Luk. 12.10 Heb. 6.4.5.6 1. Iohn 5.16 Of this sort is the sinne against the holy Ghost The sinne against the holy Ghost is that sin where Gods truth is resisted or denyed of set purpose after that the minde is confirmed and taught in the truth by the testimony of the holy spirite whosoeuer commit this sinne are punished by God with blindnesse so that they can neuer repent and therefore cannot obtaine forgiuenesse Moreouer sinne is either affected or vnaduised An affected sinne is that sin which is committed of meere malice or stubburnnesse An aduised sinne is that sinne which is cōmitted of rashnesse or infirmity Lastly euery sin is by it selfe or by accidēt Sinnes by them selues are all sins which are forbidden by the law of God Sinnes by accident are the actions of the vnregenerate which indeed are commanded by God but yet they displease God because of the defectes and vices concurring in the wicked or else indifferent actions which are done with offence Thus farre concerning the euill of the offence now concerning the euill of the punishment Of the euill of the punishmēt The euill of the punishment is euery destructiō or afflictiō or forsaking of the reasonable creature whereby God punisheth sins Thus much concerning the subiect of Gods prouidence now concerning the parts thereof The partes of the prouidence of God Of the prouidence of God there are two parts Action and permission Augustine in his booke called Enchirideon to Laurentius There is not any thing done but that which the almighty would haue to be done either suffering it to be done or he him selfe doing it and now nothing could be done if he did not suffer it neither doth he suffer any thing to be done against his will but willingly Nothing therfore is done but that which either God him selfe doth or suffereth to be done Of the action of God The action respecteth good things which God himselfe doth amongst which are numbred the euill of the punishments as men call them because they tend to that which is good morally The action of God is either by meanes or without meanes The action by meanes is when God for the performing of certaine workes vseth the ministery of secōdary causes as instruments Of Gods instruments And the instruments which God vseth are either good or euill God doth alwayes vse well both of them that is to say both the good and the euill instruments also God vseth the euill either to exercise and try the faith patience and constancy of the elect as it is manifest by the example of Iob or else to chasten the elect so doubtlesse Absalom was vsed by God to chasten Dauid or to punish euill men that the euill might be punished by the euill Esay 21.2 Now although he vse euill instruments yet he is not the author or partaker of any sin at all which appeareth euen by this that at the length he doth most seuerely punish those wicked instruments whose helpe he vsed Esa 14.5.6.29 Although also euill men do nothing neither can doe any thing but that which is decreed of God yet they cannot be excused neither can they haue any excuse then are worthily punished because they doe not regard the decree and glory of God neither that end which God hath purposed with himselfe but their owne euill purpose that they might bring that to effect that is
done by the holy spirit who notwithstanding doth truly ioyne and knit together by faith all the godly and faithfull with the flesh of Christ although it be lifted vp and remaine in heauen 1. Cor. 12.13 By one spirit are all we baptized into one body and all we drinke one drinke into one spirit For one and the selfe same spirit worketh that in all Baptismes in all the holy Suppers that we might be one with Christ and ioyned spiritually to him Ephes 3.12 He dwelleth in our harts by faith Ephes 4. One body one spirit 1. Iohn 4. By this we know that he dwelleth in vs and we in him because he giueth vs of his spirit Rom. 8. If the spirit of him which raised Iesus frō the dead dwell in you he that raysed vp Iesus from the dead shal also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirite that dwelleth in you Irenaeus booke 3. Chap. 19. As one lumpe and one loafe cannot be made of dry wheat without moysture so neither can we being many be made one in Christ without the water which is from heauen And it belongeth to all the elect and beleeuers onely euen from the beginning to the end of the world 1. Iohn 3.24 and 1. Iohn 4.13 Iohn 14.23 and 15.1.2.3.4.5.6 The parts of our communion with Christ are these Iustification and Regeneration Adoption and the freedome of the sonnes of God Of iustificatiō Iustification is a benefit of God by which we being receiued by him into fauour are accounted iust Rom. 5.19 Ephes 2.8.9 Rom. 3. and 4. and 5. The partes thereof are two forgiuenesse of sinnes and imputation of Christes righteousnesse Of remission of sinnes The forgiuenesse of sinnes is a benefit of God whereby he pardoneth vs both the offence and eternall punishments due vnto it for sinne 2. Cor. 5.19.21 Iere. 31.34 Psal 103.3.10.12 Rom. 7.24 and 8.1.2.3 Of the forgiuenesse of sinnes there be two parts the forgiuenesse of the offence and the forgiuenesse of eternall punishment Therfore by one forgiuenes both are remitted to wit the offence the eternall punishment For the iustice of God requireth that because Christ hath satisfied for both to wit for the offence the punishment Therfore God should be vniust if he should onely forgiue vs the offēce not the punishmēt also Therefore the Papistes erre who say that the offence only is remitted and not the punishment for which they will haue men to satisfie when as they can by no meanes do it but Christ hath fully satisfied for it Of the imputing of Christs righteousnesse The imputing of Christs righteousnesse is a benefit of God wherby God vouchsafeth to account Christs obediēce by which he sustained for vs the punishments of sin to be ours euen as though we our selues had sustained those punishmēts for sins Esa 53.3 4.5 Rom. 4.3.5 Rom. 5.11.18 Col. 1.22 2. Cor. 5.19.21 Thus farre concerning iustification now concerning Regeneration Of regeneration Regeneration is a benefite of God by which our corrupted nature is renewed to the image of God by the holy spirite 2. Pet. 1.4 Tit. 3.5 Gal. 4.6 2. Cor. 3.7 That same is also called sanctification and the gift of grace Rom. 5. Also of schoolemen it is called an infused grace Regeneration is either begun or perfected the former belongeth to this life the later to the life to come In regeneration are to be considered both the partes and also the perpetuall adioynts Regeneration is both of the soule and also of the body 1. Thess 5.23 Regeneratiō of the soule is that wherby the powers of the soule are renued Tit. 3.5 Gal. 4.6 Of the regeneration of the soule there are two parts enlightening and repentance As there are two parts of the soule vnderstanding and will so also regeneration is wrought in those same two partes The enlightening belongeth to the vnderstanding and repentance belongeth to the will So Paule sayth that in regeneration the image of God is renewed to the acknowledgement of the creatour Coloss 3. and to true righteousnesse and holinesse Ephe. 4.23 Of the enlightning or annoynting of the holy spirit Enlightening is the first part of the regeneration of the soule whereby the naturall darknesse being driuē forth our mind is enlightned with true knowledge how to obtaine eternall life Psal 16.11 Col. 3. Rom. 12 2. That is also called the annoynting of the holy spirit Of enlightening there are two partes spirituall wisedome and prudence Spirituall wisdome is the wholesome knowledge of faith the misteries of saluatiō ioyned with confidence in Christ Eph. 1.17.18 Spirituall prudence is a wholesome knowledge of things commanded or forbidden by the law of God with a desire of the former and shunning of the latter ioyned to it Thus much concerning enlightening now concerning repentance Of repentance Repētāce is the other part of the regeneratiō of the soule whereby our will is renewed that it no longer willeth euill but that which is good only Rom. 6.4.5.6 Ephe. 4.22.23.24 2. Cor. 5.7 Phil. 2.13 It is also called repentance and turning to God by putting the part for the whole it hath the former name truly of the first part and the other of the latter part And that doth not proceede from our owne free will which being lost by sin there is no more will to goodnesse after the fall especially to eternall saluation Gen. 6.5 But it is the gift of God There are two partes thereof the mortification of the old man and the quickning of the new man Of the mortification of the old man The mortification of the old man is the first part of repentance whereby sinne so far as it may be in this life is abolished in vs. Rom. 6.4.5.6 Coloss 3.5.6.7.8.9.10 Rom. 8.13 It is called also the denying of our selues Also the putting off of the old man Coloss 3.9.10 The partes thereof are both the acknowledgement and confession of sinne and also the detestation and hatred of sinne next a profitable sadnesse for sinne The ackhowledgement of sinne is when we acknowledge that we haue sinned Ierem. 3.2.13 Of the confession of sinne The confession of sinne is that whereby we openly testifie that we haue sinned offended God 1. King 8.47 2. Sam. 24.10 And that is either publicke or priuate The priuate confession is that which is done priuatly of euery one euen within his own priuate house And that is either to God onely or to man To man either to the Minister of the word or to some faithfull friend Publicke confession is that which is done publickely with the whole Church Publicke confession is either of the whole Church or of one or many in the face of the Church The detestation of sinne is when we accuse condemne both the sinnes committed by vs and our selues also for our sinnes sake 1. Cor. 11.31 If we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged by the Lord. The hatred of sinne is a perpetuall shunning of sinne
For to hate sinne is to turne away from it and to shunne it Nehem. 9.35 Ierem. 36.3 Ezech. 14.6 A profitable sadnesse is true feare and grief of conscience for sinnes committed by which we offend God ioyned with the true hatred of sinne Esay 66.2 2. Cor. 7.11 Ioel. 2.12.13 Deut. 4.29 Ionas 3.8 2. King 22.19 Hitherto concerning the mortification of the old man now concerning the quickening of the new man The quickning of the new mā is the other part of repentance Of the quickening of the new man whereby a new spirituall life is raysed vp in vs. Gal. 2.19 Rom. 6.10.11 And that same is called our resurrection with Christ Of this there be two parts the comfort of the conscience and spirituall gouernement The comfort of the conscience is the true ioy of a contrite cōscience in God hauing receiued forgiuenesse of sins by faith through Christ Psal 51.10.14 Rom. 5.1 Esay 57.15.16.17.18 and 61.1 Esay 49 13. The spirituall gouernement is the other part of quickning by which God leadeth by his spirit the regenerate in the right way of his commandements so that they liue no longer to sin but to God and do lead a new life Rom. 6 throughout Also 7. and 8. where he speaketh largely of sanctification or regeneration Dauid very often prayeth to God for this spirituall gouernement chiefly Psal 119.33.34.35 and euery where throughout the whole Psalme So Psal 25.8.9.10 Thus far concerning the regeneratiō of the soule now concerning the regeneration of the body Of the regeneration of the body The regeneration of the body is that by which the body is made obediēt to the spirit being regenerated Rom. 12.1 Therfore there is both a mortification and quickning of the body also Rom. 6.12 c. The parts of the regeneration of the body are two the bridling of the affections and the ruling of the moueable members The bridling of the affections is the first part of the regeneratiō of the body by which the affectiōs of the body are tamed that they might obey reason regenerated The ruling of the moueable mēbers is the other part of the regeneration of the body by which all the members of the body are ruled lest being thrust forward by the rēnāts of corrupted lusts they shuld do any thing cōtrary to the cōsent of the mind will regenerated The testimony of regeneration is a holy and iust life O how many are there who by their wicked life do openly shew that they are not regenerated An vpright man a corrupted mā a regenerated man an vnregenerated man differ by a rationall respect and not in subiect and truth of being Hitherto concerning the parts of regeneration the perpetuall adioynts thereof remaine Of the spirituall warfare The spirituall warfare or battell and victory of the Saints are things continually accompanying regeneration The spiritual battel or warfare is the battel of a regenerated mā by which he fighteth against the deceipts of the deuill the bad exāples of the world the sollicitings of his owne flesh as the causes of sinne resisteth them stoutly Rom. 7.8 and so forward Gal. 5.16.17 The victory of the saints is a victory wherby the Saints doe through Christ ouercome the snares of the deuill of the world and their owne flesh Hitherto concerning regeneration now concerning adoption and the freedome of the sonnes of God Of adoption Adoption is a benefit of God by which he receiueth vs for Christes sake to be his sonnes and maketh vs heires of heauen and eternall life with him Rom. 8.15.16.17 Gal. 3.26 Ephes 1.5 Iohn 1.12 Adoption is two fold imperfect is that which we haue in this life of this it is spoken to the Romanes For ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage againe to feare but the spirite of the adoption of sonnes by which we crye Abba father And they already haue obtained this adoption who haue receiued Christ by faith Iohn 1.12 The other adoption is perfect which in the resurrection shal be giuen of that it is spoken in the same Chapter to the Romanes Euery creature sigheth and waiteth for the reuealing of the sonnes of God Moreouer euen we also hauing the first fruites of the spirite doe sigh within our selues wayting for the adoption and redemption of our bodies Thus farre concerning adoption now concerning the freedome of the sonnes of God The freedome of the sonnes of God is the deliuering of vs by Christ from a spirituall bondage Gal. 5.1 The freedome of the sonnes of God is either inward or outward The inward freedome is that which belongeth to the inward life Iohn 8.31.36 And that is two fold freedome from eternall bondage and freedome from the bondage of sinne Freedome from eternall bondage is that by which we are freed from the power and tiranny of the deuill and from condemnation and eternall death Iohn 8.36 By this we are comforted in the conflict of conscience with the iudgement of God Freedome from the bondage of sin is that by which we are deliuered from the dominiō of sinne that sin may no longer raigne ouer vs but that we being iustified and endued with the holy spirit might liue to righteousnesse and vnto God Iohn 8.34 2. Cor. 3. where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty Rom. 6.6 and so forward euen to the end 2. Pet. 2.19 Galat. 5.13 Thus much concerning inward freedome now concerning outward freedome Of Christian libertie The outward freedome is that which pertaineth to the outward life And it is called Christian liberty because it belongeth to Christians onely And that is two fold freedome from the lawes of Moses and freedome in indifferent things Of freedome from the lawes of Moses Freedome from the lawes of Moses is that by which Christians are loosed from the ceremoniall Iudiciall lawes of Moses namely so farre forth as they onely pertaine to the ciuill gouernement vnder Moses 1. Cor. 9.1.19 2. Cor. 3.17 Heb. 9.10 For such lawes which belong to the law of nature and by which all nations are bound are not abrogated Freedome in indifferent things is that by which Christians are free in the vse of indifferent and meane things 1. Cor. 9.1 Of freedome in indifferent things Things indifferent or meane things are those which are neither commanded nor forbidden by God but are deliuered and instituted by men Of indifferent Such are the ceremonies instituted by humane authority for good orders sake These may be kept or omitted by the power of Christian liberty They may indeed be obserued in this respect namely for the preseruing of concord and auoyding of the offence of the weake Rom 14.15.16 1. Cor. 8.1.9 11.29 2. Cor. 11.12 but so that alwayes there be no false opinion namely 1. of merit as though the obseruing of them might merit forgiuenesse of sinnes 2. Of worship as though God would be worshipped with thē cōtrary to his expresse word Mat. 15. In vayne they worship me according
to the commandements of men Also Ezech 20. Walke in my commandements and not in the precepts of your fathers 3. Of perfection as though the obseruing of them could make vs perfect 4. Of necessity as though it were necessary that they should be obserued for conscience sake as though the conscience were hurt vnlesse they were obserued when as yet notwithstanding no lawes binde the consciences of men except the lawes of God onely They also may be omitted without sinne where no danger of offence is without the shew of denying the truth and without the omitting of a necessary confession But they do sinne whosoeuer neglecting these things do breake such ceremonies in reformed Churches Therefore indifferent things according to the circumstances are either lawfull or vnlawfull Rom. 14.20.21 1. Cor. 8.13 But here now where there is contention contrariety of circumstances those which are lesse must giue place to those which are of greater importance the lesse number must giue place to the more Rom. 14.21 Notwithstanding we must take heed lest those things be iudged indifferent which are not indifferent Such are those which are both superstitious and wicked things Superstitious things are those the obserning whereof is ioyned with a false opinion of merit worship perfection and necessity Wicked things are those which are flatly contrary to Gods commandements of which sort are many traditions of the Pope as the abuse of the Lordes Supper prayer to the dead the worshipping of images the law of single life holy dayes dedicated to Saintes images made for Religions sake that is to say that they may serue to the vse of Religion or that they might be worshipped or that holy things might be represented by them For God will not haue images serue to this end but he will haue all men to be taught by his word And the monuments by which heauenly things are represented are the Sacraments onely not painted or grauen but administred For Christ doth not say paint this but do this that is to say breake the bread so forth in remembrance of me The vse of the doctrine cōcerning Christiā liberty is two fold 1. That we might learne in what things our righteousnesse doth properly consist 2. That we might know what to iudge of ceremonies namely that righteousnesse is not to be sought for in them but that we freely by Christ obtaine righteousnesse and forgiuenesse of sinnes not for the obseruation of any ceremonies or traditions of men Hitherto concerning our communion with Christ now concerning our preseruation in this communion The preseruation of the elect in their communion with Christ is a benefite of God whereby he doth preserue the elect euen to the end that they should not perish but that they should remaine in the fellowship of Christ 1. Pet. 1.5 The parts thereof are consolation the hearing of the electes prayers defence against their enemies deliuerance out of dangers and the gift of perseuerance Consolation is a benefit of God whereby he doth strengthen vs to the suffering of aduersities with an vnspeakeable ioye of hart ioyned thereunto Psal 94.19 and 119.76.77 2. Cor. 1.3 1. Cor. 10.13 And that is either common in euery affliction or particular in death The common consolation in euery affliction is manifold 1. Because affliction proceedeth from the diuine prouidence of our most mercifull and heauenly father 2. Sam. 16.10 Ier. 14.22 2. Because affliction serueth to the good saluation of the elect Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.71 Reuel 3.10 3. Because affliction bringeth foorth patience Iam. 12.3 Rom. 5.3 4. Because they who suffer affliction for godlinesse and the truths sake are blessed Matth. 5.10.11 Luke 6.22 Iam 1.12 1. Pet. 3.14 and 4.14 5. Because affliction bideth but for a while 2. Cor. 4.17 6. Because God himselfe putteth an end to affliction 1. Cor. 10.13 7. Because affliction cannot separate vs frō Gods loue Rom. 8.39 8. Because affliction is not a testimony of Gods wrath 9. Because affliction is a testimony of Gods loue Prou. 3.11.13 Heb. 12.6 1. Pet. 2.19.20 10. Because he that is proued by affliction shall receiue the crown of life which God hath promised to those that loue him Iam. 1.122 Tim. 2.11 Mat 5.12 Reuel 2.10 11. Because it cannot ouerthrow the elect 2. Cor. 4.8 12. Because the end of affliction wil be ioyfull Luke 6.21 Mat. 5. vers 4. 13. Because other Saints also haue bene subiect alwayes to afflictio Iam. 5.11 Mat. 5.12 14. Because the spirite of God resteth on those that beare affliction 1. Pet. 4.14 15. Because by affliction we must enter into the kingdome of God Rom. 14.22 16. Because by affliction we must be conformable to the image of the sonne of God Rom. 8.28 1. Pet. 4.13 17. Because they that beare afflictiō shall not be cōdemned with the world 1. Cor. 11.32 18. Because Christ himselfe hath sustained affliction Heb. 12.2 19. Because the eternall ioye which we shall reape in the kingdome of God shall excell by many degrees the griefe of afflictiō in this life 20. Because affliction shall not endure for euer 21. Because by affliction our heauēly father hath appointed to make triall of his elect 22. Because by daily affliction we being admonished of our weaknesse and fraylty might be hūbled so being humbled we do learne to call for Gods assistance 23. Because in affliction we haue experience of the louing presence of God 24. Because affliction is a token of obtayning eternall inheritance 25. Because our hope is strēgthened by affliction 26. Because by affliction we learne due obedience to God 27. Because affliction doth get in vs contēpt and lothing of this present life 28. Because affliction admonisheth vs of the vanity of this present life 29. Because affliction doth inuite vs to the meditation of the life to come 30. Because at the lēgth God freeth vs from all euill Hitherto concerning the common comfort in euery affliction now concerning the particular comfort in death Out of the disputations of Doct. Iohn Iames Grineus Comfort against death is likewise manifold 1. Because we doe not liue or dye to our selues but to God Rom. 14.8 2. Because Christ is to vs both in life and in death an aduantage 1. Phil. 12. 3. Because Christ is our resurrection and life they who beleeue in him although they were dead yet shall they liue Ioh. 11.25 4. Because God mitigateth and shortneth to his seruants the sorrowes of death 5. Because our death turned into sleepe is a fulfilling of the mortification of our flesh he who is dead is free frō sin Rom. 6.7 6. Because we know that if the tabernacle of this our earthly house we dissolued we shall haue a building of God namely a dwelling place not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5.1 7. Because we dying godlily go to Christ which is best of all for vs. Phil. 1.23 8. Because this way of all flesh is sanctified by the death