doctrine of the scripture be a 1. Tim. 3.16.17 Psa 19.7.8.9 perfect comprizing all points which necessarily concerne Gods pure worship our saluation then it foloweth that the Papists erre which thrust vpon vs their vnwritten verities traditions I say which neither Prophets nor Apostles haue euer writteÌ„ XIIII And for that the doctrine of the Scripture is vndoubtedly a 2. Pet. 1.19 true for that it came by the b Ibid. 21. 2. Tim. 3.16 inspiration of the holy Ghost that must of necessitie be erroneous which is contrary vnto it as some fewe traditions are which the Papistes thrust vpon the Church as the very word of God it selfe CHAP. III. Of God I. APHORISME GOd is a a Iohn 4 24. spirite most b Deut. 6.4 Exo. 3.14.15 pure c Psal 139.7 c. Es 66.1 Ier. 23.23 24 1. Kings 8.27 infinite d Rom. 1.20 and 23. 1. Tim. 1.17 Psal 102.25 c. Reu. 1.8 eternall e Psal 102 27.28 Mal. 3.6 Es 46.10 Rom. 11.29 immutable f Gen. 17.1 and c. 35.11 Exod. 15. Iob. 38.39 Psal 91.1.2 almighty most g Psal â— 1.104.24.147.5 1. Sam. 16 8. Heb. 4.13 Rom. 11.33.34 and 16.27 â—im 1.17 h i k l Exod. 34.6 and 7. wise h Psal 5.13 and 34.9.51.20 â—st v. 54 8.9 good i Ion. 4.2 louing k Ion. 4.2 mercifull l Gene. 18.23.25 Deut. 32.4 Iob. 34.10 â—2 36. chap. Psal 11. last v. 34.16.17 Prou 8.8 Es 45.11 Ierem. 12.1 â—m 1â—8 iust m Leu. 19.2 Iosh 24.19 1. Sam. 2.2 Psal 99 3. Es 6.3 holy n Psa â—â— Heb. 6.17.18 Tit. 1.2 true of most free o Rom. 9.15 c. Math. 20.15 absolute authoritie and is p Math. 28. â—9 Father Sonne holy spirite creator of heauen and q Gen. 1.1 earth of all things which are contained in them the r Luk. 1.68 c. redeemer and Å¿ Ephe. 2.10 sanctifier of all his elect II. These three the Father Sonne holy Ghost are three distinct a Heb. 1.3 persons and euery person very b Iohn 1.1 Act. 5.3 4. God yet not three Gods â—t they are that c Deut. 6.4 one very God which in 〈◊〉 Scripture is called Iehouah the Lord. III. These three persons differ are distinguished for that the Father is of none the Sonne is of the a Iohn 1.14 Father by an incomprehensible and inspeakable b Psal 2.7 Prou. 8.24 and 25. generation d Ibid. Rom. 8.9 〈◊〉 holy Ghost is of the c Iohn 15.26 Father of the sonne by an incomprehensible and inâ—kable e Iohn 15.26 1. Iohn 5.7 proceeding CHAP. IIII. Of the Angels I. APHORISME THe Angels are a Psal 104.4 spirituall b Heb. 1.7 last Eph. 6.12 Heb. 1.7 Coloss 1.16 creatures which c Heb. 1. v. last 1. K. 22.20 c minister vnto God the creator II. Of the Angels some are good some are euill III. The good Angels are they which haue stoode and continued in their perfection wherein they were created and haue receiued their a Math. 18.10 22.30 confirmatioÌ„ therfore are euer ready b Psal 103.20.21 to glorifie God in all obedience for which cause they did appeare in certaine winged pictures which are called c Exod. 25.18 c. 1. king 6.23 and 29. Cherubins and d Es 6.2 Seraphins formed like men to the people e Exo. 25.18 of Israell and to the Prophets f Es 6. Esay g Ezech. 1. Ezechiell to signifie their chearefulnesse and readinesse for the execution of Gods decrees IIII. The Lord vseth their ministerie seruice both to make relation of his will vnto a Num. 22.32.33 men specially the b Gen. 19.13 Iudg. 13.3.4.5 Dan. 8.16.9.21 Luke 1.13 26. c. 2.10 Math. 1.20 c. 2.13 19.20 c. 28.5 Act. 1.10 Reuel 1.1 godly and hence it is they haue their name to gouerne c Col. 1.16 Ephe. 1.22 the world in asmuch as they d Psal 34.8.91.11 Gene. 14.19 16. c. 32.1 1. King 19.5.2 King 6.17 c. 19.35 Dan 3.25 6.23 protect the faithfull against all daungerous euents the snares also and assaults of their enemies which are euill men and Angels punishing e Gen. 19 2. King 19.35 Act. 12.23 the wicked and f 2. Sam. 25.15.16 chastening â—e godly and for this cause are they calâ—d g Ephe. 1.21 Col. 1.16 thrones dominions principalities â—owers and might V. The good Angels are exceeding many but the number is not expressed in Scripture VI. When the good Angels were to deliâ—r any message from God vnto meÌ„ they â—peared in the likenesse of a Gen. 18.2 and 4. c. 19. 2. Heb. 13.2 Iudg. 13.6 c. Mar. 16.5 Luke 24.4 Act. 1.10 young men â—y beautifull in sight and sometimes â—ning with some excellent brightnesse â—omtimes they haue appeared in firie boâ—es either like men as in the vision of Esay in the Temple b Esay 6. Ezech. 1. or like horses and harrets as in the translation or transporâ—tion c 2. King 2.2 of Elias and in the protection of Elizeus d 2. King 6. against the Syrians They â—ue also appeared somtimes when men â—aue seene them with their eyes e Gen. 18. 19. Luk. 1.11 and 28. waking â—nd sometimes to men in their f Math. 1.20 sleepe and sometimes also when men watched â—ut yet ouertaken with some great g Reu. 1.10 astonishment of minde The first kind of these apparitions is called in Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h Luke 1.22 24.23 Act. 26.19 a vision the 2. and 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a i Act. 10.17 19. 11.5 c. 16 9. sight But yet other whiles the k Math. 17.9 Act. 10.3 one is taken for the other VII And albeit the good Angels be verie excellent both for maiestie and a Math. 28.3 Act. 1.10 Dan. 10.5 6. glory yet it is great wickednesse to b Reu. 19.10 c. 22.8 9 Col. 2.18 Iud. 13.16 worship them because they are creatures and our felow-seruants VIII The vse of this doctrine is that in dangers we aske of God the protection of the holy Angels and that we be assured that they shal be ready at haÌ„d for our good according to Gods a Psal 34 8. 91.11.12 promise IX So farre of the good Angels The euill Angels are they which by their contumacie and disobedience against God haue a Iohn 8.44 Iude. 6. 1. Pet. 2.4 fallen from that blessed state or perfectioÌ„ wherein they were created and so become euill euer since maliciously inclined to hurt both the glory of God and the saluation of men X. They be called in Scripture euill a 1. Sam. 16.15 c. spirites b Leuit. 17.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 horrible or terrible because when they
both haue one and the selfe same substance but they differ in that the ministration is diuerse XI In the substance of the couenant three things are to be considered The first is what the scope is of the calling of Gods elect The second what is the antecedent * The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 antecedent or principall cause mouing cause of the couenaÌ„t The third what the stirring mouing and * The Greekes call this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the euident cause meritorious cause is XII The scope of the calling of the fathers and of establishing Gods couenant with them was the blessed immortalitie The mouing cause Gods free fauour grace in their vocation The meritorious cause was the death of the mediator XIII That God proposed and promised to the fathers not an earthly but heauenly beatitude may appeare by these arguments Frist because they were called by the a Rom 1.2 Rom. 3.21 promise of the Gospell wherein it is euident that men are called vnto an heauenly b Ephe. 1.13 2. Thess 2.14 felicitie Secondly for that they had the same c 1. Cor. 10.3 and 4. SacrameÌ„t with vs the same I say in signification that is seales of the same grace Thirdly for that God vouchsafed to make these holy fathers partakers of his word whereby soules are d 1. Pet. 1.23 quickened and men are lift vp vnto the hope of life euerlasting Fourthly for that God promised those fathers that he wold be their e Leui. 26.12 Math. 22.32 God that is that he would be not onely the God of their bodies but also principally the God and Sauiour of their soules for euer and therefore he promised to knit their soules vnto himselfe in righteousnesse that he might make them partakers of life f Psal 144.15 Psal 33.12 Haba 1.12 Deut. 33. â—9 euerlasting Fiftly for that God in his couenant testified not onely that he was now their God but also promised that he would be their God for g Gen. 17.7 euer in which promise assuredly the heauenly felicitie life euerlasting is plainly signified vnto vs. Sixtly for that God promised also that he would be the God of their h Ibid. seede after them that is of the posteritie of them after their death for their sake and for their comfort Seuenthly for that God i Exod. 3.6 Math. 12.32 professed of Abraham Isaac Iacob after their death that he is their God Eightly because those holy fathers were exercised with many and great k Gene. 4.8 Gen. 6.7.8.9 Gene. 12.13 c. Gene. 26.27 Gene. 28.29 c. miseries in this life whereby it is manifest that they waited and looked to receiue at Gods hand not an earthly but an heauenly rest and happinesse otherwise they should be frustrate of their hope and so deceiued by the oracles and diuine promises of God Ninthly for that Paule to the Hebrues testifieth that Abraham Isaac and Iacob did by faith l Heb. 11 9.1â—0 abide in the land of promise as in a straunge countrey looking for desiring and minding their heritage and Citie and countrey in heauen Tenthly for that if these fathers had not expected the complement of Gods promises in heauen they had bin more blunt and m 1. Cor. 15.19 voyde of vnderstanding then very blockes for that they so egerly sought after these promises for the which there could be no hope that euer they should be performed on earth Eleuenthly for that those fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob n Gen. 47.9 Psal 39.13 confessed that they were strangers in the land of Chanaan and therefore we must necessarily vnderstand that the o Gen. 15.18 promise made of God vnto them coÌ„cerning that land may not principally and properly be vnderstood of that land or of any earthly happinesse to be enioyed in that place but of life euerlasting as signified by type and figure Twelfthly for that those holy fathers would be p Gene. 47.29.30 Gene. 50.24 buried in the land of Chanaan to retaine the seale or Sacrament of eternall life which God had giueÌ„ theÌ„ Thirtenthly for it is very apparant that those holy fathers in all their q Psal 119.166 174. desires purposes set euer before theÌ„selues the blessed state of eternall life Fourteenthly for that Iacob being euen ready to die professed that he expected the saluation of the Lord that is the Lord had promised and should giue him and then could he not r Gen. 49.18 looke for in this life because that anon after he died departed from the same Fifteenthly for that the Prophets testifie that the couenant made with the fathers was Å¿ Esa 51.6 Iob. 19.25 c Iohn 13.15 Esa 66.22 c. Da. 12.1 c. spirituall and therefore that life euerlasting was promised vnto theÌ„ therin Sixteenthly because Christ promising eternall life to his Disciples saith they should t Math. 8.11 rest with AbrahaÌ„ Isaac and Iacob Seuenteenthly for that Peter u Act. 3.25 promising that EuaÌ„gelicall benediction that is remission of sinnes and life euerlasting to the faithfull Iewes of his time he made them herein equall to their fathers Eightenthly For that Christ in his x Mat. 27.52 resurrection raised vp many of the Saints with him vnto life euerlasting and therfore because there is one the like reason of all the elect the rest also shal be aduanced in due time vnto the kingdome of haeuen Nineteenthly for that those holy fathers had the selfe same spirit of y 2. Cor. 4.13 Gene. 15.6 Hebr. 11. faith we haue therefore they were as well as we regenerate vnto the hope of eternall life XIIII Againe it may appeare by the premises that the couenant whereby the fathers were reconciled vnto God rested not vpon any of their merites but onely on the free a Ios last 2.3 mercy of God which called them to his grace and fauour againe it is manifest that they receiued and knew b Heb. 11.4 Iohn 8.56 Dan. 9.17 Christ a mediatour by faith for by him they were receiued to coÌ„mun with God and made partakers of his holy promises XV. Thus far we haue shewed the likenesse and agreement of both Testaments now it foloweth that we declare also how they differ and disagree XVI The difference of both Testamentes consisting in the maner of administration hath foure parts XVII The first difference is this that the couenant of grace in the old TestameÌ„t that is before the comming of Christ that glorious appearaÌ„ce of the holy Ghost was administred to a Gen. 15.18 chap. 17.7 Abraham onely with his posteritie and of these principally to the people of the Iewes b Math. 10.5 6 c. 15.24 Rom. 15.8 the Israelites But in the new Testament that is after the incarnation of Christ and his Ascension into heauen the same is administred to other c Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 Act. 9.15 nations which
came of Abrahams progenie that is to the Greekes d Rom. 3.29 Gentiles e Rom. 1.16 as Paule speaketh XVIII The second difference is that the couenant of grace before the comming of Christ was couertly and darkely administred by certaine a Gen. 18.22 c. 49.10 Deut. 18.15 2. Sam. 7.12 Psal 2. 72. 45. Esa 7.14 and chap. 9.6 chap. 53. Mich. 5.2 promises of the Messias which then was to come and ratifie the couenant and by b Gen. 15.18 Heb. 10.1 1. Cor. 2.17 Iohn 19.36 types and ceremonies shadowing prefiguring Christ to come But when Christ was come the dispensation of this couenant was more cleare and more manifested in the c Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 and 16. preaching of the Gospell and the seales thereof Baptisme and the Lords Supper all which are liuely d Act. 1.18 Math. 26.28 Mar. 14 14. Luke 22.20 1. Cor. 11.25 testimonies that Christ is already come and hath fully confirmed this holy couenant XIX The third difference is that before Christes incarnation the couenaÌ„t of grace was administred with a Gal. 3.24 c. 4.1.2.3 lesse efficacie but after with b Act. 2.17 Iohn 7.38.39 greater working grace power of the holy Ghost For albeit the holy spirite wrought in the elect vnder the old TestameÌ„t by those diuine promises ceremonies but specially by the c Psal 51.9 sacrifices such a measure of the knowledge of God as was sufficient vnto their euerlasting saluation yet he giueth his elect vnder the Gospell a d Iere. 3.34 Esa 11.9 and chap. 54.13 Iohn 6.45 1. Cor. 2.10 1. Iohn 2.10 and 27. greater light of knowledge so a greater measure of the true loue of God That one example of Abrahams faith the father of e Rom. 4.18 c. Heb. 11.17 c. all the faithfull can not disproue this assertion concerning the regular and ordinarie administration vnder the Gospell XX. The fourth difference is for that the administration of the old Testament was more a Act. 15.15 burdensome greeuous because of the multitude of rites and ceremonies which exceeded in number charge labour the ceremonies of our time XXI And whereas God hath now after Christes Ascension abrogate those sacrifices ceremonies of the old Testament we must not therefore thinke any change in him For he is rightly said to be inconstant and mutable which chaungeth his purpose or doth any thing contrary therunto But the Lord in abrogating those sacrifices in prescribing another forme of worship hath neither altered his purpose nor done any thing contrary thereunto For his scope in the seruice and worship prescribed in both Testaments is to bring his elect to the knowledge of their saluation in Christ Neither hath he done any thing contrary vnto this but in his great wisedome he hath called and doth conduct coÌ„tinually his elect diuerse waies to that end he appointed as he thought best both for those elder ages for these times vnder the Gospel Not vnlike a skilfull PhisitioÌ„ which cureth not a maÌ„ in his old age with the same medicines which he vsed for his youth for so doing we may not think him incoÌ„stant for changing his prescriptions For that he wisely considereth the diuersitie of temperature which is in old and young and so respecting this difference he applieth fit remedies which therefore necessarily must be diuerse and not the same CHAP. X. Of the person and office of Christ I. APHORISME THe knowledge of Christ consisteth principally in two things first to know what his person is secondly what his offices are II. Christ as touching his person in one the selfe same he is both a Rom. 9.5 1. Iohn 5.20 God man For he is the b Iohn 1.14 only begotten son of God which hath created of the seede c Heb. 2.16 Kuke 1.35 42 of the d Luk. 1.31.34.35 virgin Mary e Heb. 10.5 Ioh. 1.3.1.10.4.2 Luk. 1.35 for him selfe and so f Heb. 2.16 assumed or taken and personally and vnchangeably knit vnto himselfe the very body of man g Heb. 10.5 chap. 2.14 endued with a reasonable h Mat. 26 38 c. 27 50. soule and so without any change in his diuine nature he was made very man in i Heb. 2. â—7 al things like vnto vs sinne onely k Heb. 4.15 excepted III. This personall vnion of two natures in Christ is well demoÌ„strated by that phrase or manner of speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which old writers haue called a communitie of proprieties And this communitie is nothing else but a Synecdoche whereby we attribute that which is proper to one nature of Christ to the very person hauing his denomination of the other nature As where Paule saith a 1. Cor. 2.8 They crucified the Lord of glory b Act. 20.28 and again God hath purchased a Church with his own bloud so when Christ speaketh c Iohn 3.13 no man hath asceÌ„ded vp to heauen but he which came downe from heauen the sonne of man which is in heauen IIII. And somtimes we haue an expresse distinction of both natures as where Christ is sayd a Rom. 1.3 and 4. to be made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh and declared mightely to be the sonne of God touching the spirite of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead and where he is sayd to b Rom. 9.5 come of the fathers as concerning the flesh So also wheÌ„ he is said to be c 1. Pet. 3.18 put to death concerning the flesh but to be quickned in the spirite And sometimes this distinction is left to be vnderstood by conference of such places V. Againe Christ must be such a person as is fit to take vpon him the office of a a 1. Tim. 2.5 Heb. 8.6 mediator And such was none but the sonne of God incarnate for that he is allied to both the parts which were to be reconciled and therefore louing both and beloued of both Againe he must so performe the office of a mediator betweene God vs that by his b Heb. 9.15 death he reconcile vs vnto God and this death being God only he could not haue suffred and being man only he could not haue ouercome Againe he must be very God that the propitiatorie sacrifice which was his bloud shed for the elect might be a ransome c Act. 20.28 1. Iohn 1.7 sufficient price for our sinnes againe he must be very man to d Rom. 5.12 c. satisfie the iustice of God againe a person sanctified of God that he might be a holy e Heb. 7.26 Priest and a holy f 1. Pet. 1.19 sacrificer Againe he must be very God that after he had by the merite of his Priesthood reconciled them vnto God and obtained the holy Ghost for them he might also him selfe giue them the same holy spirite to worke faith
iustification is by grace so as a sinner freed from damnation obtaineth righteousnesse and that freely by the pardon of his sinnes as appeareth in the three first sorts of men but also our proceeding therein so as our iustification is euer free and by grace which thing well appeareth in the fourth kinde of men which are both regenerate by Gods spirite and iustified by a liuely faith in Christ And thus God imputed vnto Abraham the father of the faithfull his faith for righteousnesse when as he had a Gene. 15.6 liued for many yeares in great holynesse of life This saith Habacuk also b Habac. 2.4 The iust shall liue by faith and Dauid c Psal 32.1 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen speaking of the godly which liue a holy vnspotted and blamelesse life before men Againe Paule saith that the d 2. Cor. 5.20 embassage concerning our free reconciliation with God must be continued among the faithfull And Christ is a e 1. Iohn 2.1 continuall mediator reconciling vs with his father and the efficacie or vertue of his death to f Ibid. 2. expiate the sinnes of the faithfull neuer dieth nor waxeth old XXVI And whereas the Schoolemen also say that good workes haue no such vertue in them to be sufficient vnto iustification but that their merite vertue to iustifie is by grace we must learne that there is no grace to worke our iustification but that only which moueth God in Christ to embrace vs and to iustifie vs by the merites of his obedience and satisfaction for vs. XXVII For God accepteth not our workes but so farre as we please him hauing put on by faith the righteousnesse of Christ that is which Christ purchased by his death for vs as is a Aphor. 23. before shewed Neither can works iustifie in part before God for God admitteth no righteousnesse of workes but that b Deut. 27.26 Leuit. 18.5 full and perfect obedience to his law XXVIII When they glory of workes of supererogation whereby they say full satisfaction is made for trespasses and sins committed how can they answer that saying of Christ a Luk. 16.10 VVhen ye haue done all these things which are commanded you say we are vnprofitable seruants we haue done that which was our dutie to do XXIX To be short concerning workes take heed of two things first put no trust in them next ascribe no glory to them XXX The Scriptures driue vs from all confidence in them teaching vs that all our righteousnesse a Esa 64.6 smels in the sight of God as filthie clouts and onely prouoke Gods wrath against vs. Now take away this confidence of workes all glorying must fall to the ground for who will ascribe any commendation of iustice vnto workes if confidence in them cause him to tremble in the sight of God XXXI Moreouer if we consider all the causes of our saluation we shall finde the grace of God to shine bright in euery one of them excluding the righteousnesse of our workes For the authour of our saluation is God the Father Sonne holy Ghost The Father first in that a Tit. 3.5 of his meere b Iohn 3.16 1. Iohn 4.9 and 10. grace free loue he sent his sonne vnto vs to redeeme vs from the dominioÌ„ of the deuill Next the Sonne in that of his free loue c Rom. 5.7.8 1. Iohn 3.26 towards vs he became d Rom. 5.19 Phil 2.8 obedient to his father vnto the death of the crosse and so hath satisfied e Rom. 3.25 1. Iohn 2.2 the iustice of God for vs. Lastly the holy Ghost in that he giueth vs f Ephe. 2.8 chap. 1. â—3 faith whereby we apprehend the iustice which Christ hath purchased for vs by his death The end also the Apostle saith is the g Rom. 3.25 manifestation of Gods iustice and the prayse of his h Ephe. 1.12 goodnesse XXXII And whereas the Saintes commend otherwhiles their innocencie and integrity before God this they doe not to the end to trust in the iustice of their workes in Gods iudgement and to rest their consciences as vpon a good foundation but either to testifie the goodnesse of their a Psal 7 9. Psal 18.21 cause against their aduersaries or to coÌ„fort themselues concerning their adoption b 2. King 20.3 1. Tim. 4.7.8 by the fruites of their faith and calling for that they rest on the onely fauour of God in Iesus Christ XXXIII Againe whereas the Scripture saith that the good workes and obedience of the faithfull doe cause the Lord to raine down many blessings vpon them we must vnderstand that good workes are so farre causes of Gods blessings vpon vs as the Lord by his former graces taketh occasion to giue vs more graces where note that they be not meritorious causes but motiues onely for speciall graces of Gods spirite going before for whom the Lord will glorifie them first he a Ephe. 5.26.27 sanctifieth that their corruption and wickednesse may not hinder their glorification In a word as Augustine hath well spoken God crowneth the workes of his owne hand in vs. XXXIIII Againe that our workes do not merite the grace of God may yet further appeare by these reasons folowing First for that they are full of a Esa 64.6 corruption next for that they are duties we b Luk. 17.10 owe vnto God thirdly for that they are not ours that is such as come from the streÌ„gth of our free will but the effects c Rom. 8.10 Ephe. 2.10 and fruites of Gods grace in vs. XXXV And whereas good workes please God and haue a a 2. Tim 4.8 reward it is not for any merite but for that Gods b Esa 55.1 goodnesse doth accept of them and reward them of his meere grace and mercy in Iesus Christ XXXVI Surely no Christian doubteth but that we must hold fast the groundes of Christian Religion and this is a fundamentall point or ground of ChristiaÌ„ doctrine that Christ is giuen a 1. Cer. 1.30 and c. 3.11 vs for our righteousnesse or iustification if this doctrine staÌ„d the iustice of our merites and workes being a flat contrary can not stand XXXVII There are two opinioÌ„s of Popery which are most opposite to that great ground of ChristiaÌ„ veritie The first is that there are some moral vertues or works which make men acceptable before God before they be grafted into Christ the second that Christ hath merited for vs the first grace that is an occasioÌ„ of meriting with God that then it is our parts to take the occasion when it is offered XXXVIII To conclude we must very circumspectly see to this that we build wisely vpon on that foundation for that doctrine is sound concerning good workes which is deriued from the doctrine a This is the method which Paule vseth in a maner in all his Epistles as to Rom. Gal. Ephes Phil. Col. c.
vs in his good time appointed VIII The narration containeth six petitions the first three do in speciall manner concerne Gods glory the other three respect our owne benefite and good IX In the first petitiō Hallowed be thy name we are commaunded and taught to aske that which in the third Commandement we are commanded to do that is that we neither thinke nor speake of God but with great reuerence and so in like manner of his word and of his workes X. In the second petition Let thy kingdome come we beg first that God by the grace of his holy spirit would represse the corrupt affections of our nature and forme all our senses to the obedience of his will next that he would curbe and bridle the wicked which fight against his kingdome and that he would gather vnto himselfe his elect and preserue his Churches that he would cast downe the enemies of his Church and cut them short in all their attempts and desires and lastly that in his good time he would make vs partakers of his glory and heauenly blisse XI The third petition is Thy will be done in earth as it is heauen This petition is added to the former for declaration sake to helpe our ignorance for then and there God raigneth in the world where men submit themselues to be ruled by his holy will reuealed in his word We aske here therefore that the holy spirite would rule our harts and teach vs that we may learne to loue that which God loueth to hate that which he hateth that so we may yeeld vnto him a chearefull and willing obedience as his blessed Angels do in heauen XII The fourth petition is Geue vs this day our dayly bread In this petition we commende our bodies to Gods prouidence desiring that he would feed chearish and preserue them And this petitiō the Lord hath set before the other two following which concerne not earthly and corporall blessings but spirituall and heauenly to helpe our dulnesse and weaknesse that so by degrees he might lift vp our mindes to seeke after those greater blessings And here we be willed to aske of God our bread that is such as it shall please our heauenly father to giue vs for the sustentation of our life where we see this petition is as necessarie for the rich as for the poore Lastly these wordes this day or euerie day and this Epithet dayly serue to moderate our affections and desires in these transitorie blessings XIII The fift petition Forgiue vs our debtes as we also forgiue our debters by the word debtes he meaneth our sinnes for that we owe the punishment of them vnto God and this Christ himselfe hath borne for vs in his death vpon the crosse and so hath obtained the pardon of sinnes for vs. We begge that the heauenly father would impute vnto vs that satisfaction obedience of Christ worke in vs a sense a feeling of this imputation that so we may sweetly rest in his fatherly fauour in Christ and in his loue purchased for vs in and by the sufferings of Christ To this petition is annexed an argument drawen from the like example that is the example of our remission in pardoning our neighbour his trespasses The reason of which exāple doth not consist in the merite of our worke but in the promise of Christ saying For a Math. 6.14.15 if ye forgiue men their offences your heauenly father will also forgiue you But if ye doe not forgiue men their trespasses no more will your father forgiue you your trespasses By which wordes it doth manifestly appeare that they onely can be assured of the pardon of sinnes that are assured and know in their consciences that they haue pardoned their neighbours The reason whereof is this it can not be that any man pardon from his hart his brother Gods loue is cause of our loue our loue but a signe and effect of his loue vnlesse he first loue him now he can not loue his brother which first doth not loue God and no man can loue God which is not perswaded in his hart that God of his meere grace hath pardoned him all his sinnes by and through Iesus Christ And againe he that is assured of this he can not but loue God and his neighbour in for the Lord from which loue it can not be but the pardoning of all offences must proceede Lastly this argument is also noted with these wordes as and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forgiue vs as we also forgiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Math. 6.12 and Luke 12. For euen we c. Wherefore this word also is not well omitted for we say commonly as we forgiue them that trespasse c. for as we also forgiue c. XIIII The sixt and last petition is And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill Where we pray for the assistance of the holy spirite to ouercome the temptations of the deuill which is here called that euill or wicked spirite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that by his temptations for which cause he is called the tempter Math. 4.3 he troubleth and vexeth vs. XV. And thus far of the six petitions contained in the narration the confirmation followeth in these wordes For thine is the kingdome and the power and the glorie for ages or for euer in which wordes we shew wherefore we haue both such boldnesse to aske and trust to obtaine to wit for that God wil be glorified by hauing his kingdome and raigning in vs and for that also he can effect what he will in heauen and earth XVI The conclusion is contained in one word namely the word Amen which is here a word of wishing signifying as much as truth So be it or Let this be a truth Wherefore we desire that whatsoeuer we haue prayed for at Gods hands in the six petitions the same may be true effected by him And yet there is no inconueniencie to say that Amen here is a word of asseueration for that by faith we be assured that God hath graunted our requestes XVII As for the place of prayer God in times past had appointed first his a Exod. 26. and 40. Tabernacle then after that Salomons b 1. King 8. 2. Chron. 7. Act. 8.27 Luke 18.10 Dan. 6.10 Temple but Christ hath c Iohn 4.21 abolished this ceremonie of that holy place and Paule d 1. Tim. 2.8 biddeth vs pray in euery place And so Christ e Math. 6.6 cōmaundeth vs to pray in our secret chambers and himselfe went vp to the f Mat. 14.23 mountaine alone to pray And Christ also doth approue a publique place of cōmon prayer when he saith VVhere two or g Mat. 18.20 three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them XVIII There is no certain time in the new Temēt appointed for prayer yet is it profitable that euery man appoint himself some a Dan 6.10
assumption is false for b Psal 51.7 Dauid confesseth that he was conceiued in sinne and for that the infants of the faithfull are members c 1. Cor. 7.14 of the Church i◠followeth that they also are purged by the bloud of Christ and therefore we must graunt them the seale thereof which is Baptisme XI Lastly where they say that none in the Apostles time was baptized but he that made profession of his faith before that is true onely of such as were a Act. 2.41 Act. 8.12 Ibid. v. 37.38 of yeares but that the infants of such as professed the faith and were baptized were also baptized in like manner we haue before plainly proued in the 7. Aphorisme CHAP. XXVI Of the Lordes Supper I. APHORISME THe Supper of the Lord is the second Sacrament of the a Mat. 26.28 Mar. 14.24 Luke 22.20 1. Cor. 11.25 new Testament or couenant of grace wherein by the b Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14 22. Luke 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 breaking of bread and powring of the wine into to the cup the passion shedding of the bloud of Christ is figured represented as it were set before our eyes and next by giuing taking eating and drinking of these elementes the c Mat. 26.28 promise of the d Iohn 6.51.53.54.58 remission of sinnes and life euerlasting purchased by the passion of Christ and by his bloud shed in a word by that his precious death the promise of their cōmunion e 1. Cor. 10.16.17 and c. 12. vers 13. as members with their head Christ Iesus is sealed to all the beleeuing worthy receiuers wherby it cōmeth to passe that the faithful sweetly rest in the fauor of God obtained for them by his sons death and so feed with f 1. Cor. 3.7.8 him spiritually and dayly grow vp in a holy communiō with Christ II. And that the holy Supper is a Sacramēt of the new couenant it may appeare by the very words of the institution which the Lord pronounced of the cup saying This cup is the new Testament or couenant in my bloud that is a Sacrament of the new couenant III. We call the Lordes Supper the second Sacrament of the new Testament in respect of Baptisme which is the first For like as in the old Testament there were two principall Sacramēts Circumcisiō the Passeouer so there are two in the new Baptisme and the Lordes Supper which directly answer them succeede in their places And as none was admitted to the Passeouer but the a Exo. 12.48 Circumcised so none must be receiued to the Supper but the Baptized IIII. The commandement of Christ contained in the institution is in these wordes Take ye and eate ye Take ye and drinke ye and do this in remembrance of me V. Againe it is manifest by the wordes of the institution that Christ vsed bread and wine in this Sacrament VI. In the breaking of bread in the Lordes Supper we follow both the Lordes a Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luke 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 cōmaundement and his b Ibid. example for the Lord did not onely breake the bread and so by breaking it did consecrate the same a Sacrament of his body but also commāded this bread so blessed so broken to be receiued and eaten as the liuely symbole and Sacrament of his precious body broken that is crucified for vs. And the c 1. Cor. 11.23 Apostle saith that he receiued of the Lord which he deliuered to the Corinthians concerning the administration of this Sacrament and this d 1. Cor. 10.16 breaking of bread he both commaunded commended vnto them To be short then the breaking of bread is an essentiall ceremonie in the Lordes Supper for that this is the principall end thereof to represent seale and set before vs the passion and breaking of e 1. Cor. 11.24 the body of Christ The same reason is of the powring forth of the wine if we cōpare it with the shedding of the bloud of Christ VII The passion of Christ is set before vs in this Sacrament in a liuely manner as by a Gal. 3.1 preaching of the Gospell VIII We receiue Iesus Christ and his holy spirite most comfortably by the word for it is Gods holy ordinance and instrument to cōuay his graces into our minds harts and consciences and that mighty power to confer and giue vs the spirite of grace the spirite of faith the spirite of adoption the spirit of sanctificatiō of wisedome c. IX But there is difference betweene the participation of Christ by the one and by the other for the Lord first by his word confers grace but grace and faith once giuen are strengthned and increase dayly by the Sacraments X. Againe the Lord by the word workes onely by one sense in vs namely the sense of hearing whereby comes knowledge so faith Rom. 10.14.15 And this sense in deede is now since the corruption of our nature the sense of learning and vnderstanding and so the principall to breed beget faith in vs but before the fall of Adam the sight I take it was the principall sense to receiue and learne wisedome and vnderstanding in the vewe and consideratiō of the workes of God See Bradfords Sermō of the Supper The Lord therfore in the Sacrament hath respect to the sight and all other senses for in and by the Sacrament the soule doth not onely heare Christ as in the word but also see Christ touch Christ smell tast and so feed vpō Christ and all his benefites XI The principall parts of this Sacrament are to seale and ratifie that promise of Christ wherin he assureth vs that his flesh is a Iohn 6.55 meate indeed and his bloud is drinke indeede to feed vs vnto life euerlasting and in that he saith he is the b Ibid. v. 51. bread of life whereof who so eateth shall liue for euer it is ordained I say to seale that promise and to this effect to send vs vnto the crosse of Christ where that promise was performed and fulfilled in euery respect For the flesh of Christ was made vnto vs the bread of life or that meate which quickeneth vs in that it was c Ibid. crucified for vs. XII This meate we can not eate but by a Iohn 6.35 faith and this drinke we can not b Ibidem drinke but by faith XIII Againe to eate the flesh of Christ by faith and to drinke his bloud by faith is to receiue by faith the promise of God which testifieth that the flesh of Christ was crucified for vs that his bloud was shed for vs that is for the remission of our sinnes XIIII The fruite which followeth this spirituall meate and drinke is a spirituall a Iohn 6.57 1. Cor. 5.8 ioy in God and the increase of our b 1. Cor. 10.17 communion with Christ for this dependeth vpon the confirmation of our faith XV. Againe
Prou. 8. v. 15. Wisedome that is the sonne of God speaketh By me kings raigne and princes decree iustice Dan. 2. v. 21. God taketh away kingdomes setteth vp kings Rom. 13. v. 1. Paule saith He that resisteth power resisteth the ordinance of God V. The office of the Magistrat is to be the a Deut. 17.18.19 keeper of both the Tables of Gods law therefore his principall care must be to set vp and to defend the b Deut. 15.5 2. King 23. 2. Chron. 29. pure worship and seruice of God Next to do iudgement c Ierem. 22.3 Psal 82.3 4. Rom. 13 3.4 Gene. 9.6 and iustice that is to punish the euill to defend and reward the good VI. Againe if neede so require the Magistrat is bounde to defend the subiect with a Deut. 20. Luke 3.14 Mat. 8.10 Act. 10.4 armes and those dominions which are committed to his charge VII Notwithstanding when Magistrates punish either their subiects or their enemies they ought to haue a speciall care that they giue no place to their owne affections but respect onely the discharge of their dutie VIII The Magistrate may by good right require and demaund of his subiectes a Ro. 13.6.7 tributes and customes and he may vse the same not onely for the discharge of his publike seruices but also for the b 1. Sam. 8.11 c. Gen. 44.22.23 Dan. 2.41 honour of his house and for the preseruation of his owne state and dignitie IX And thus farre of the Magistrate now for the lawes we must first obserue that God hath three kindes of lawes the law morall ceremoniall and iudiciall X. The summe of the Morall law is comprized in the a Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Decalogue consisting in the loue of God and the neighbour and for that it is an euerlasting rule of iustice it must continue euer in force XI The Ceremoniall law was the a Gal. 3.14 pedagogie of the Iewes vntill the coming of Christ and therefore Christ being come it is b Col. 2.16 Ephes 2.15 abrogated XII The Iudiciall law in as much as it was properly applyed to the Iewes bindeth not the Christian Magistrate yet in appointing the a Leu. 24.16 Deut. 13.5 punishments of grieuous sinnes it bindeth no lesse the Christian Magistrate at this day then it bound the Magistrates of the Iewes XIII And thus farre of the lawes The third part is of the subiectes The dutie of subiectes towards their Magistrates first is to esteeme of them and a Rom. 13.7 reuerence them as the ministers and messengers or b Rom. 13.4 vicegerents of God next with readinesse of minde and in all obseruance to c Ibid. v. 1. and 5. 1. Pet. 2.13.14 obey them Lastly not to intermeddle with publique affaires nor to d 1. Pet. 4.15 enterprise anie thing without their commission XIIII They are bound also to obey them that vniustly a 1. Pet. 1.18 Ier. 27.12 and tyrannically rule ouer them so long as they commaund nothing that God hath forbidden and forbid nothing that God hath commaunded for in this case we must keepe that rule of S. Peter VVe must obey b Act. 4.19 and 5.29 God more then men and that rule of Christ c Mat. 22.21 Giue vnto Caesar those things which are Caesars and vnto God those things which are Gods A SVPPLEMENT OR ADDITION FOR THE CLEERING AND opening of the doctrine of the Lords Supper WHEREAS our Lord Iesus Christ the 6. of Iohn saith in expresse words that his flesh is a Ioh. 6.55 meate indeed his bloud is drinke indeed And againe b Ibid. v. 53. Vnlesse ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you For the right vnderstanding of these wordes and doctrine which at the first sight seemeth so strange and to the Capernaites whom Christ then taught most repugnant to all reason and that the same may minister cōfort vnto our soules which is the right end and vse of this celestiall veritie two questions principally must be cōsidered The first is VVhat kind of meate the flesh of Christ is The second How or in what maner this meate is to be eaten The same question may be made also cōcerning the cup as VVhat kind of drinke the bloud of Christ is and in what maner must we drinke the same Now then as concerning the first question If the flesh of Christ bee meate indeede as is before shewed it must be either a corporall or spirituall foode Corporall foode is that which nourisheth him bodily that feedeth thereupon and this to speake after the vsuall maner and properly is called meate Spirituall food is that whereby the soule or spirit of him which eateth is fed and nourished and this is called meate improperly tropically metaphorically because it hath the likenesse of meat properly so called For like as by natural food so properly called the bodie is nourished and sustained so by that spirituall meate the spirit and soule of man is cherished as nourished The same reason and description may be giuen of the corporall and spirituall drinke And now it is certaine that neither the flesh of Christ is a corporall food nor his bloud corporall drinke for that no bodily substance is fed preserued either by the flesh or by the bloud of Christ For to effect this the flesh of Christ must bee eaten with the mouth chewed with the teeth swallowed vp digested and so turned into that nourishing * Chilus iuyce in the stomach whereof bloud is ingendred and so deriued or sent into all partes of the bodie to be vnited thereunto or altred and chaunged into the substance thereof that the body may receiue his growth and preseruation therby And so in like maner the bloud of Christ if the bodie were to be nourished thereby must be drunke vp with the mouth swallowed c. But these things are against all reason and horrible to be spoken And this was the verie cause why the Capernaites did so tremble at the speech of Christ touching the eating of his flesh tooke it so in euil part saying c Ioh. 6.52 How can this man giue vs his flesh to eate and againe d Ibid. v. 60. This is an hard saying who can heare it For they vnderstood Christ to speake those words of a bodilie food which were to be taken with the mouth for the nourishment of the body Wherefore seeing that it is manifest by these absurde consequents that the flesh of Christ is no meate for the body it followeth that it must be a spirituall foode and his bloud spirituall drinke whereby the spirite and soule of man is fed and preserued vnto life euerlasting like as mans body is nourished and kept in this temporall fraile life by corporall meat and drinke And this Christ himselfe seemeth to haue said in these wordes It is e Ibid. v. 63. the spirite that
quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the wordes that I speake vnto you are spirite and life And whereas the most of the best interpreters of these times expounde these wordes of Christes Deitie as if the same were vnderstood by the word spirite so that Christes meaning as they say is that the power of quickning doth proceede from the Deitie of Christ so that his flesh hath power to quicken vs as it is the flesh of the sonne of God crucified for vs. This exposition no doubt is sound and good yet I thinke this be the most simple and naturall sense if by the word spirit we vnderstaÌ„d the holy Ghost that the meaning should be thus my flesh which I said must be eaten to attaine eternall life profiteth nothing to effect this if ye eate the same corporally as you Capernaites vnderstand me but it is the spirit which quickneth that is the holy Ghost quickneth the harts of the faithfull and nourisheth them vnto life euerlasting by working in them effectually to beleeue in me and so to eate my flesh and to drinke my bloud spiritually that is by faith whereby they are well assured that my flesh was crucified for them and my bloud shed for them for the remission of their sinnes The wordes therefore saith he which I speake vnto you of the necessitie of eating my flesh to attaine eternall life these wordes I say are spirite and life that is must be vnderstood of the effectuall working of the holy Ghost in the harts of the elect to worke eternall life in them euen by faith Moreouer for the better vnderstanding of this point in what sense the flesh of Christ is and may truly be said to be our spirituall foode we must expresse also in what manner it is made meate for vs. And this Christ taught vs in very plaine wordes in that Sermon where he saith I am that f v. 51. liuing bread that is the quickning bread or that bread that giueth life which came downe from heauen If any man shall eate of this bread he shall liue for euer and the bread that I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world In these last wordes which I will giue for the life of the world Christ sheweth in what maner his flesh should be foode for vs and that is in that he will giue it vnto the death for our life that is to merite for vs life euerlasting offring it as Priest himselfe a holy sacrifice to God his father And that this is the naturall sense of this relatiue * Quam ego dabo which in this place as if the Lord had said quatenus cam dabo in that or for that I shall giue it it is verie manifest by the matter it selfe which is handled in that place For if we shall not so vnderstand those wordes as tending to declare the former maner of that thing which is here intreated then that word must note some diuision of a generall into specials as if Christ had two kindes of flesh of which the one he would giue for the life of the world the other he would not giue But this interpretation is manifestly false and contrary to the articles of our faith wheron we ground the truth of Christes incarnation Therefore that exposition of the relatiue which in this place is verie true and natural and vsed to declare the forme and manner of that thing which is there proposed or disputed vpon And the very same interpretation is there of the words of the Lord in the institution of his holy Supper where of that bread broken he speaketh on this wise This is my bodie which is giuen or broken for you that is in * Quatenus asmuch as or for that it is broken or giuen for you For that holie bread or as Paule calleth it that bread of the Lord is not simplie the Sacrament of the Lordes bodie that is doth not simplie signifie and testifie that the Lord hath a true bodie but signifieth and testifieth that the Lords body is broken or giuen for vs that is was offred on the Crosse with the feeling of Gods wrath to make satisfaction for our sinnes And in like manner must we speake and thinke of the other wordes which the Lord pronounced of the holy cup or wine saying This is that my bloud of the new Testament or couenant which is shed for you and for manie for the remission of sinnes that is in asmuch as or for that it is shed c. By the premisses it is now manifest that the flesh of Christ hath in it the nature of meate not simplie but in a certaine respect that is in asmuch as it was crucified for vs. Like as the body is said to be visible in respect of the colours thereof Now concerning the second question in what maner we eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his bloud I answer Such as the meate and drinke is such must be the maner of the eating and drinking thereof but the flesh of Christ is spirituall meate and his bloud is spirituall drinke as is aforeshewed Therefore the flesh of Christ is eaten spiritually or in a spirituall manner and his bloud is drunke also in the same manner Now to eate the flesh of Christ and to drinke his bloud spiritually is to eate with the mouth of the spirite that is of the soule to wit by faith Again to eate the flesh of Christ by faith and to drinke his bloud is nothing else but to beleeue in Christ or to beleeue that the flesh of Christ is crucified for thee and that his bloud is shed for thee for the remission of thy sinnes This Christ himselfe sheweth in the same Sermon where he propoundeth two propositions or sentences signifying one thing which are these he that beleeueth g v. 47. in me hath eternall life and h v. 54. he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life The matter also and argument there handled requires this interpretation of the words of Christ for if he meant by that phrase of eating his flesh one thing and by that of faith another thing then this consequent would follow we must haue not one but two wayes to life euerlasting one by eating the flesh of Christ the other by faith But the way to eternall life is but one which is Christ alone receiued by faith or faith in Christ our Sauiour both come to one effect And yet the better to vnderstand this point consider a little what the nature of faith is And this is knowen by his next and proper obiect which is the Gospell or that testimonie which God hath giuen vs of his loue and grace for and through Iesus Christ for faith resteth vpon the Gospell as the blessed and infallible testimonie of God And the Gospell testifieth of Christ that is of his person and office and of all his benefites towardes vs that is to say that Christ is the only begotten sonne of God which for our sake and for our saluation came downe from heauen and was made man of the virgine Marie that he liued an holy life according to the law of God and hath brought vnto vs from the bosome of his father the counsell of God concerning our saluation who being righteous suffered for vs that are vnrighteous vnder Pontius Pylate was crucified dead c. And like as the Gospell testifieth these things vnto vs so the Sacramentes also testifie the same for they are seales of the Gospell and as it were a Gospell seene and a Gospell felt He therefore that beleeueth these holy testimonies of God in so doing he spiritually feedeth vpon the bodie of Christ spiritually drinketh the bloud of Christ And thus doth Augustine De doctrina Christ Lib. 2. cap. 16. expounde this place of Christ Vnlesse saith he ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you He seemeth to commande a horrible fact and a thing most detestable It is a figure commanding vs to communicate with or to become partakers of the Lordes passion and to lay vp sweetely and comfortably in memorie that his flesh was crucified and wounded for vs thus saith Augustine After the same maner doth Mr Iohn Caluin that famous diuine of our age lay open those wordes of Christ in his booke of Institutions the 4. booke Chap. 17. sect 5. FINIS R D DEVS â—â—â—â—T ASTRIS