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spirit_n	father_n	person_n	son_n	33,804	5	6.4746	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B02273	An additional word to The body of divinity, or Confession of faith; being the substance of Christianity. Added on special occasion, tending further to confirm some truths therein. With a further discourse about the doctrine of election, universal, and special grace, &c. All which were touched in the said Confession of faith, but in this more plainy and fully (though briefly) discoursed and designed for the good of all. Whereunto is annexed a seasonable word of advice, being an essay for peace and union among all the sons and daughters of peace. / Written by Thomas Collier.	Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691.; Collier, Thomas, fl. 1691. Body of divinity.	1676 (1676)	Wing C5267AB; ESTC R174082	85,720	108

AN ADDITIONAL WORD TO THE Body of Divinity OR CONFESSION of FAITH Being the substance of CHRISTIANITY ADDED On special occasion tending further to confirm some Truths therein With a further discourse about the doctrine of Election Universal and special Grace c. All which were touched in the said Confession of Faith but in this more plainly and fully though briefly discoursed and designed for the good of all Whereunto is annexed a seasonable Word of Advice being an Essay for Peace and Union among all the Sons and Daughters of Peace Written by Thomas Collier 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrin for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works Jam. 1. 25. But who so looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his Deed. LONDON Printed for the Author 1676. The PREFACE or EPISTLE to the READER Reader THese Lines are to give thee a brief account of the occasion of this ensuing discourse There being some things in my Book titled The Body of Divinity or a Confession of Faith relative to the Person of the Son of God with some other things at which some take Offence and lest others might do the same I thought it necessary to say something in way of further clearing and confirming the matters stumbled at though in my understanding it was fully clear before it being a matter of that weight if I mistake not that greatly concerns Christians to be instructed and established in though in it self an unsearchable mystery yet that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of man in one Person that the same who is ths Son of God is the Son of man and the same Jesus who is the Son of Man is the Son of God and was so as to the Father from Eternity the same yesterday and to day and for ever the Alpha and Omega the first and the last for which there is so great a cloud of Witnesses as you may find in the ensuing discourse not one or two but it hath the Volum of the book of God for its Testimony So that I fear some persons read more to find occasions of Offence to make Contentions than for Edification or else they would not stumble where is no stumbling stone I would willingly hope that there are but few who profess to own Christ to be the Son of God but do believe him to be so as he was born of a Woman Gal. 4. 4. the same which the Scripture declares him to be and as for my self I must profess I know nor believe in any other but here I shall say no more of this matter leaving the Reader to the ensuing discourse desiring him to Read and impartially ponder what is further said And as for the other things that are briefly yet plainly discoursed most of them were hinted at in my Book but not so plain as in this partly because I thought not to speak my apprehensions in these matters so plain being unwilling to offend any but having the occasion of writing as but now exprest meeting with Convictions for not Answering my Light and Conscience in these matters it being in my understanding of weighty concernment to the Name of God the Gospel of his Grace and the good of all men hence I thought it better to discharge my Conscience towards God than remain under the guilt of hiding Truth within me I can say that in these matters I thought to have been dumb and silent but it burned within me and at last it burst out and I hope not in vain but if seriously and soberly pondered instead of being an occasion of stumbling or offence to any it will prove a blessed means of removing some stumblings and offences out of the way and Vnite Christians in the truth of the Gospel though I am not forgetful that I must expect by some to be judged and censured as affecting singularity but that I value not let Truth take place though I pass under Reproach for Truths sake it matters not to me though I trust my design is not fleshly singularity or esteem with men no this is not the way for that But to be singular for God and Truth is not only my duty but the duty and concernment of all Christians Mat. 5. 46 47. Phil. 1. 9 10. And O that we were all more singular in this matter It s true I must say that I have not followed Authors nor pinned my Faith on the judgment of any nor have I followed cunning devised fables but singly searched the Scriptures following the Lords teachings therein which are able to make us wise to Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2. 15. and to build us up and give us an Inheritance among the Sanctified ones Act 20. 32. But to conclude I am not willing to have any offended at any thing in the following discourse and to that end do desire the Reader to read and ponder well and to search the Scriptures and see whether those things be so laying aside all prejudice against the things or the Author exercising the understanding with an unballanced and unprejudiced mind looking to the Lord for direction And if after all any thing seem dark or unsound lay it aside and be sure it will not harm thee unless it be in the loss of Truth if so it be I desire the Lord to direct in all things and to follow all sincere and right endeavours for his Name and Honour the Gospel and good of souls with his blessing and do pray him to follow this with his blessing for good Amen T. C. An Additional Word to the body of Divinity or Confession of Faith added on special occasion tending further to confirm some Truths therein with a further discourse about the Doctrine of Election Universal and special Grace the power of man to believe and obey the Gospel and about the Eternal Judgment CHAP. I. Concerning God In which I demonstrated that God is and that he subsisteth in Three the Father Son and Holy Spirit Against which I find are several exceptions relating to the Person of the Son of God the Exceptions against what I said in this matter are as followeth 1. That he is not the Son of God in the Divine Nature only pag. 30. 36. 2. That he is the Son of God only as considered in both Natures pa. 30. 3. That he was the Word as he was God-Man Man-God p. 30. 33. 4. That as God and Man he was a Creature pag. 31. 5. That this Creature God and Man Created all things pag. 31. 6. That this word God-Man was made flesh pag. 33. 7. That he is the Son of Man in both Natures pag. 37. 8 That there are not three persons in the Trinity but various titles

head nor make the Nations blessed but whole Christ the Son of God is in Gods account and so in Scripture called the Seed of Abraham c. 8. That there are not three Persons in the Trinity but various titles and discoveries to this I think I said enough to take off all occasions of offence That I own Father Son and Holy Spirit though not three Persons because the Scripture gives not the title of Persons to the three but a plurality of titles and variety of discoveries properties and operations distinct titles properties and operations implyeth some real distinction there is the Father and that is his title the Son and that is his title the Holy Spirit and that is his title the Father is not the Son the Son is not the Spirit the Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son so are there several properties and operations proper to each other really distinct in the Trinity this I suppose I fully cleared pag. 22 43 44. where I gave my understanding about this matter to which I refer the Reader As for other offences as 1. About the matter of Justification I know not what to add further than I have there said in clearing that matter its open and plain and I doubt not but will plead for it self against all gain-sayers if any persons dare to maintain that any are justified before God without Faith and Holiness as the terms thereof though not the deserving cause I must leave them to their own understanding without all Scripture ground for my own part I fully on good grounds believe the contrary 2. As to the Omnipresence of God the Father I say what the Scripture saith which directeth us to the Father as in Heaven and that by his Spirit he is present in all places 3. And as for the Increated Heavens 1. Though in the term of Increated it be not exprest yet there is enough in Scripture to prove the truth thereof as I there exprest For the Eternal God must have some Eternal Habitation and it s called Isa 57. 15. the high and holy place He dwelleth in the high and holy place and if God hath prepared a Building a House for his people not made with hands Eternal in the Heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. Me-thinks it should be no crime to say that he hath an Eternal Habitation for himself suitable to his Name and Nature and if Eternal then Increated 4. As for the Creation of Nature and Angels I gave my apprehension on probable grounds from Scripture and why might I not without offence when others will be positive about the same matter without any Scripture ground and if I miss in what I do state but on probable grounds in this matter wherein lyeth the danger thereof 5. The Corruption of the Heavens by the Sin of Man Another dangerous Error That the Heavens are corrupt the Scripture witnesseth Job 15. 15. The Heavens are not clean in his sight they were clean in their primitive created estate for God made all good and all clean and they could not be corrupt but by and for sin I query then for whose sin it is they are become corrupt and unclean their own sin or the sin of man I think we may safely say it is by and for the sin of man and man it is that suffers thereby and is like to suffer until the restitution But to conclude this matter I cannot yet be convinced of any thing written in that Book of which I yet see cause to Repent and I think if persons did read designedly to profit and not to find occasion it would be more to their advantage both here and here-after CHAP. II. Of the Extent of the design of God in the Death of his Son as it is stated in the Scripture THere having been various and differing apprehensions among men about this great Truth of the Gospel by reason of darkness that hath in part befaln us all under the sence of which we have cause to be humbled I shall according to what I have attained from Scripture-light briefly give forth as followeth 1. That Christ died for the World that is the Universe the Heavens and Earth and all things therein the whole six days Creation that sell with man for the sin of man as a Curse to man for his sin Gen. 3. 17 18 19. and the Whole shall be restored again out of that Estate Act. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 20. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 21. 5. And this Renovation and New-life to the world must be effected by Jesus Christ Crucified and raised again from the dead it s founded here He died and revived that the world might live Joh. 6. 33. The Bread of God is He which cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the World and v. 51. The Bread that I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the World Joh. 14. 4. This is for the Salvation and Life of the World out of the faln state by the Death Resurrection and Life of Christ it shall all be accomplished in his time that as the first death and loss of the world came in by the disobedience of the First man so the Restauration must be effected by the Second Man who is the Lord from Heaven Rom. 5. 18 19. 1 Cor. 15. 21 22 47. Act. 3. 20 21. 2. And more especially in order to the accomplishment of this great and universal design of God he died for all Man-kind which is included in the first and in this sence he died for the sins of the whole world and that because Sin it was that brought in Death and a Curse on all man-kind Rom. 5. 12. and in a true sence upon the whole world for mans sake that sinned Gen. 3. 17 18. Job 15. 15. And that he died for all man-kind appears in these and the like Scriptures Joh. 1. 29. 1 Tim. 2. 6 Heb. 2. 9. 1 Joh. 2. 2. 2 Cor. 5. 19. Obj The two last Scriptures mentioned speak of Christ as a Propitiation and Reconciliation not imputing Sin this being proper only to Believers and therefore cannot intend the World in the largest sence because none are reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus through the not imputing of Sin but Believers Answ This I suppose hath been almost a universal mistake Because Believers are reconciled therefore none else whereas the Scripture clearly states a general Reconciliation and a special and both are true 1. A general Reconciliation by the death of Christ Col. 1. 20. And having made Peace by the Blood of his Cross to reconcile all things to himself whether things in Earth or things in Heaven c. It s true this intends the whole in the first sence then it must be true in the second relative to man-kind who is especially intended in the all things and to be a Propitiation is the same an Attonement a Peace-making Sacrifice not imputing Sin and this is for all things for all men this

Faith continue in such things they may have it to themselves and not impose it on their Brethren on terms of Separation I hope the sober-spirited will come to see the little Grounds they have to make Breaches with their Brethren about these matters I heartily desire it may prove a Healing-Word to All through the Blessing of Him that hath dwelt in the burning Bush so as that it is not yet consumed I shall here give no further account of the Matter or Method of the following Discourse It 's very brief and hath waited an opportunity of coming into Publick for some Years but for some Reasons hath layn in silence till this time hoping that the preceding Discourse may tend to add something to this Essay for Peace I commit it All to the God of Peace praying His Blessing of Peace may attend it to all the Sons and Daughters of Peace Amen T. C. A Healing Word Or A Humble Hearty and Earnest Endeavour for Peace and Vnity c. CHAP. I. Of the Grounds and Bounds of Church-Communion MY Method in that which follows shall be 1. To state the Grounds and so the Bounds of Church-Communion according to the Gospel which is the alone Rule both of Faith and Practice The Grounds of Church-Fellow-ship or those Principles on which the Church or Churches of Christ should Ground and bound their Communion are most clearly stated in Eph. 4. 4 5 6. The reason why I especially fix on this Scripture is because it seems to be stated not only as an Argument to engage to the Unity exhorted to vers 3. but is likewise a Description wherein this Unity doth consist 1. Of the Unity of the Church it self There is one Body i. e. one Church which is the Body of Christ and of whom He is the true and lawful Head Lord and Law-giver 1 Cor. 12. 13. Which Church containes all true Believers in all Nations This is the Visible Church of Christ in the Visible Profession of the Faith of Christ according to the best of their Understanding and Knowledg of the Will of Christ their Head and Lord in His Word Though in this Church as thus considered some may miscarry and by their own Default come short of the Glory promised This Universal Church is thus described in the Text last mentioned and in vers 27 and in Eph. 1. 22 23. Col. 1. 18. Though this Church is gathered into many Churches and is in many Nations and it may be through Ignorance Pride Frowardness and misguided-Zeal separated into more Churches than need or ought to be and it may be some part thereof in Babylon still Rev. 18. 4. and others build Tabernacles before they are half way out yet the Church is but one Body in Christ the Head There is but one true Universal Gospel-Church in the World which is the Body of Christ and of this Church it is I do profess my self a Member And this Church is or should be gathered into particular Churches or Congregations walking according to the Rules and Laws of Christ their Head and Lord Holding Communion with Christ their Head one with another and with all Churches in the same Faith and Obedience of the Gospel And as for the great matters of Faith wherein the Churche's Unity consisteth it here followeth 1. In one Spirit There is one Holy Spirit that is one holy Spirit of the Father and of the Son by which this one Body the Church is Regenerated by the Word of the Gospel and united unto Christ the Head thereof Joh. 3. 3 1 Cor. 12. 13. and 6. 17. 2dly All are called in one hope of their Calling That is All hope for one thing to wit an Interest in the Grace and Glory of the New-Covenant Rom. 5. 2. Tit. 1. 2. Ch. 3. 7. And in 2 Thes 2. 16. it 's called Good Hope through Grace In which Hope it behoves them to be constant and stedfast to the End 1 Pet 1. 13. 3dly One Lord that is One Lord Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour of this Body the Church 1 Cor. 8. 6. and 12. 13. who purchased it with His own Blood Act. 20. 28. and to whom the Church is to be subject in all things as to Her lawful Head and Lord. Eph. 5. 24. 4thly One Faith that is That one Faith of and in the Gospel of which it 's necessary for all the Members of the Body to be principled in and includes all things necessary to be believed in order to Eternal Life with a suitable VValking thereunto 5thly One Baptism that is either 1. One of a kind One of VVater one of the Spirit and one of Afflictions Or 2. one of VVater unto Regeneration Act. 22. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 21. 1 Joh. 5. 6. which I take to be the one Baptism most probably here intended 1. Because-that Baptism in Water was commanded to be done after Believing and was alwayes so done according to that Rule Mar. 16. 15 16. Act. 2. 38. and 8. 12. 37. and so it 's stated in this place one Faith one Baptism 2dly Because the other Baptism i. e. of the Spirit and of Afflictions are so called Metaphorically and not properly Properly Water-Baptism is so the others are so called by way of allusion or likeness 3dly Because the Baptism of Afflictions may or may not be it 's no Duty or Ordinance for any man to throw himself into it but a Duty when lawfully called to it and esteemed as a Mercy to be delivered from it But as there is but one Baptism of Water so a Union herein is necessary to a right Church-Communion without which there cannot be in the Body of the Church one sort of Members ●nd so the Body cannot be one in the Head 6thly One God and Father of All who is above All and through All and in you All. Now where there is a Unity in these principal Things viz. One Spirit uniting this one Body one Hope one Lord Jesus one Baptism one God and Father of All c. there is a Ground for Church-Communion in all the things of Jesus Christ if other matters of Scandal in Conversation do not justly prevent Eph. 5. 5 to 12. Our Lord sums up the Fundamentals necessary to Salvation in a narrow Compass Joh. 17. 3. And this is Life Eternal that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent which doubtless includes the Whole of Faith and Practice necessary unto Life Eternal And Mar. 16. 16. He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be Saved that is He that Believeth and Obeyeth the Lord in the Gospel shall be Saved of which Obedience Baptism is the first and an Usher to all other Parts of Obedience and that which by the Gospel-Law puts Persons under the Promise of Salvation and gives them a right to orderly Church-Communion So that I infer from the Premises That according to the Rule of Scripture and Law of Christ nothing should prevent those that are united in the Faith and

averseness of their Wills they will not and therefore they cannot find in their hearts to accept Christ and Life on the Gospel-terms Joh. 5. 40. Jer. 6. 16. This wilful Cannot ariseth 1. From the habit and custom in sin persons being habitually accustomed to sin will not cannot part with it will not Repent and turn to the Lord Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may ye do good that are accustomed to do evil Custom in sin makes resolute and wilful therein to the perdition and destruction of multitudes this is the Cannot which keeps souls at a distance from God under all his Ministeries 3. as an effect hereof Persons cannot leave their sins and turn to the Lord because they love them and will keep them And whiles its thus they cannot imbrace Christ on the Gospel-terms they cannot find in their hearts to leave all for Christ it s with such in this matter as it was with those Jer. 2. 25. After all the Lord's calls and invitations to return they said There is no hope no for I have loved strangers and after them will I goe While the Will follows the affections lusts there Can be no returning to the Lord while it s thus they are like those Job 21. 14. They say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy ways and while it s thus it s no marvel they cannot come to Christ because their wills are averse they will not come Joh. 3. 19 20. 4. The Devil taketh his advantage to hinder the work of Conversion and a Soul turning to the Lord In blinding the mind and hardening the heart thereby aggravating the difficulties that corrupt Nature it self is ready to suggest viz. forsaking Sin the beloved Lusts loving and cleaving to Holiness strictness of Life reproach for Christ c. All which maintains a Will-not and so a Cannot 2 Cor. 4. 4. But there is no cannot arising alone from mans debility i. e. want of reason and understanding to refuse the Evil and to choose the Good and power to will and affect the Good but as it is captivated by the brutish sensual part the understanding and reason yielding thereunto rather than to the Gospel-light wilfully refuses the proffers of Grace and Life on the Gospel-terms thereof Joh. 5. 40. Quest May we suppose that persons may believe or that any do believe unto Life only by the Objective evidence or external Ministry without the Spirits work in and with the Gospel Answ If we may suppose the Ministry to go without the Spirit working therein then we may suppose a possibility in respect of power else men could not be condemned for not believing if they had no power to believe in as much as the second death comes in for not believing and if men have no power to believe and obey unto Life it leaves the disobedient excusable as objects of Pitty rather than of Wrath. Therefore 2. There being a debility in Man by the Fall and the prevalency of corrupt Nature and averseness of the will God adds a further help to his Ministries that is his Spirit working in and with his Ministries We have ground from Scripture to believe that as all mercy hath been in some true sence Gospel-mercy since the Fall so God hath wrought by his Spirit in all his Ministries since the Fall 1. In the Ministry of the Creation Gen. 6. 3. Prov. 1. 20. 23. 2. Under the Law Nehem. 9. 20 Act. 7. 50. although the Gospel is the highest and most spiritual Ministry being the most open and full in order to glory It 's called the Ministration of the Spirit because it s administred immediately by and from Jesus Christ the Lord thereof and is therefore more attended with the power of the Spirit for the honour and glory of the Lord thereof and for the Espousing of souls to Himself so that the Gospel administers a sufficiency of supply to help over all difficulties 3. God requires not perfection in the Faith and Obedience of the Gospel as before I said but Sincerity He knowing the weakness of man and the many impediments in the way did in all require the sincerity of faith and obedience in which they should be accepted yea even under the Law though the Law required perfect Obedience He that failed in one point was guilty of all yet there was so much annexed to it as clearly implied that its perfection consisted in Universality and Sincerity rather than in Perfection without any Imperfection or Failing else What means the shewing mercy to thousands of them that love him and keep his Commandements Exod. 20. 6. that is in sincerity not in perfection for then they had needed no mercy for mercy was extended to them in the pardon of sin Exod. 34. 6 7. which was a confirmation of the promise before-mentioned And that his people did so understand that it was sincerity of obedience which God required is evident Psal 25. 21. and 26. 1. and 51. 6. Isa 38. 3. or else there could have been no acceptance on Repentance which was promised Ezek. 18. 21 22. And so it is likewise in the Gospel as appears 1 Joh. 2. 1. with Phil. 1. 10. Eph. 6. 24. Quest How far and in what manner may we understand that God works by his Spirit to the Conversion of Sinners and building up of Saints Answ 1. If God did not work at all by his Spirit but only give the Gospel which hath in it self a natural tendency to draw Sinners to Christ if according to their capacities they believe and obey it they should undoubtedly be saved and if not it will leave them without excuse because they believed not in the name of the Son of God Joh. 3. 18. Yet so it is that by reason of the Corruption of Nature custom in sin and the averseness of the will it comes to pass that rarely if at all any do savingly believe and obey the Gospel without the effectual working of the holy Spirit therein Matth. 13. 19. When any one heareth the Word and understandeth or considereth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in the heart c. 2. The Spirit worketh in the Gospel To convince of sin and the need and worth of a Saviour Joh. 16. 8. to 11. And this may be effected in many that may come short of an effectual closing in with Jesus Christ in the Gospel who by reason of the love of Sin Self and the World fear of Tribulation for the sake of Christ loose their Convictions and turn away from the Truth to their own destruction Matth. 13. 20 21 22. 2 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. 3. The Spirit by the word of the Gospel works a willing mind to leave all for Christ to turn to and to accept him as Lord and Saviour and to cleave to him in the Faith Love and Obedience of the Gospel and this he effects in all