the union of all these parts is to be discovered that we may see the entire frame of the whole course which is conformable unto the will of God in all things as well inwardly as outwardly in all Duties at once which will make up the substance of the parts of a Godly life And to bring us unto this Perfection God hath given a peculiar Rule whereunto he doth oblige all men to be so fully conformable that whosoever transgresseth in any one Point thereof is guilty of all Jam. 2. 10. because the true and perfect observation of any one Duty doth import a full confirmity of our Wills to the Will of him who doth command all the rest and the transgression of Gods will in any one particular doth bewray an inconformity of our wills from the will of him who doth command all the rest and this is to be a transgressor of the whole Law because the whole Law is nothing else but the will of God and the substance of the whole Obedience is nothing else but a total subjection of our wills unto his will as it is revealed in the Law Rom. 2 20. for God hath given the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law to this end that we should not displease him but to sâ—udy to please him in all things for the whole substance of our Religious fear and love is conâ—racted unto this aim that we should do nothing that is displeasing but every thing as it is acceptable unto him Our performance 〈◊〉 of all Duties in order to the fulfilling of Gods will and observance of the Law is the substance of the whole life of godliness For the Ten Commandments given in Mount Sinai which God wrote 〈◊〉 in Tables of Stâ—ne are the Universal Rule of Righteousness as they contain the nature of all Duties which are generally obliging unto every one and as they comprehend in one expression both the Spiritual and Bodily perfection of every Humane Action The Doctrine then of the Ten Commandments should be delivered to this effect in Four distinct Heads The First should contain the Rules of interpreting the Commandments The Second should let us see the Abstract of all the Duties commanded and sins forbidden therein The Third should let us know the Definition or Description of all these Duties and Sins with the Means and Helps subordinate unto the duties and the causes which beget and the signes which manifest the sins and although perhaps some of the things formerly mentioned in some of the parts of the life of godliness may come to be named here again yet this is not to be counted any Tautologie or superfluity because the same thing may be more then once handled under different notions and respects in severall places Here then all duties whatsoever and every thing opposite thereunto are only to be handled as they are commanded and forbidden in the Law which is the universall rule of Righteousness to shew the perfection of the Law and the nature of every action as it agreeth or disagreeth with the rule and the quality of every vertue and vice as it is ranked by God in the whole frame of that life which the Law doth require or condemn all which are material points of knowledge and can no where be properly handled but in this consideration of the Law The fourth and last head should describe the watch which all men should have aswell over themselves as over others for the observation of the Law for as all particular vertues make up but one perfection of obedience by their conformity unto the Rule of the Law so all mens observation of the Law in their several wayes doth make up but one submission to the will of God in them all their joynt care of each others conformity unto the Law for all Professors as they are members of each other in Christ make up but one body and spiritual man in him and this is the substance of the whole life of godliness when by the grace and truth which is in Jesus Christ the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit for the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ being through Faith effectuall in us to free us from the Law of sin and death which is in our nature doth make us conformable unto all that is well-pleasing unto God so that in every thing we are enabled to prove what is that holy perfect and acceptable will of God Which things being laid open I suppose all that justly may be desired concerning the substantials of the life of godliness in the whole and parts will be sufficiently discovered and so the second part of this body of Practical Divinity will be made up Of the Circumstantials of the Life of Godlinesse ALthough the former rules of Piety which are common to all Believers and Professors may well suffice to direct every one upon all occasions what to do not only because they contain the grounds of all duties and the properties of all vertues but because God in the Covenant hath expresly promised that he himself will teach all his children and Christ hath engaged himself to send unto his Disciples a spirit which shall lead them in all truth yet seeing the Scripture doth lay open not only the substantiall rules of the whole Profession in the general nature of vertue and vice by the precepts of the Law but doth mention in particular tearms the circumstantial duties also which are considerable in order to the Profession therefore these ought distinctly to be opened and made the third part of this body Where again I shall desire that it may be observed that the things here to be handled should be distinguished from the same things handled before in this respect that in the foregoing part all actions are to be considered in order to that which is their perpetuall nature and substantial property never to be altered but in this part all actions are to considered in order to that which is alterable in them according to the circumstances therefore in the former part although the heads of all things which are to be mentioned here may be brought in and named in their own places yet the handling of them ought not to go any further then to define the universal nature and properties thereof as it is common to all times places cases and circumstances but in this part the particular cases and circumstances which are ordinarily incident to persons of several conditions are to be taken into consideration to shew them the rule of their walking therein to observe that which is righteous and answerable to the Law Here then we presuppose the knowledge of the definition and true notion of all vertues and vices which is the proper work of the substantial Doctrine for under that respect all things are handled there and we reflect upon the various subjects objects relations and occasions of putting forth these actions which
Covenant and for this use the Imposition of the hands of the Presbyterie is appointed viz. to give lawful authority to those that are Publick persons in the Profession of the Covenant Concerning the Second We believe First That the Faithfull are bound to make use of these Signes for the Ends for which God hath given them by taking them up and applying them to those to whom he hath ordained them as Evidences of their dependance upon him and of their owning of his Covenant and of their Profession thereof before the World Secondly We believe that the Sign of Baptism is to be applyed unto all whom God hath received into his Covenant and belong unto his houshold that the Sign of the Lords Supper is to be applyed unto all that have embraced and do entertain professedly the Covenant And that the Sign of the Imposition of hands is to be applyed unto all that are called and to be set apart for any Publick Office in the Church Hitherto We have reckoned up the Heads of the Principles of the life of Godliness as they rise from and relate to the Covenant which is the ground of all Spiritual Relations between God and Us. Now followeth that which is to be known concerning the substance of that life which God doth work in Us by the Covenant Concerning the Substantials of the Life of Godliness THe Substantials of the life of Godliness are nothing else but the power practice of that state and life whereby we are made one with God and walking with Christ in the Covenant we enjoy God in him both outwardly and inwardly The enjoyment of God in the Inward man is by the New creature and his life of communion with God Concerning the New creature these things should be known 1. What that change is whereby a man becometh from an Old a New creature and is born again 2. How that change is wrought in the Soul by the knowledge of Christ in the Covenant and how the conscience is quickned therein by him and raised to a new life 3. How that change is discerned to be real and sincere and the deceitfulness of a pretended or imaginary change discovered Concerning the Life of inward communion with God these things should be acknowledged 1. What it is to know and worship God in Spirit and truth 2. How the Spiritual man doth walk with God by faith by hope by love according to the Covenant 3. What that vertue is whereby he is enabled to have God alwayes before his eyes and to do all things in the name of Jesus Christ giving glory to God the Father through him 4. What Tentations are opposite unto this Life both from the corruption of our nature and from Satan and how they are resisted The enjoyment of God in the Outward man is by the open profession and practice of Obedience unto the will and wayes of God in all things which hath two chief parts The first is To deny the practice and profession of ungodliness and of all worldly Lusts Tit. 2. 11 12. The second is To offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God by our reasonable serving of him in the Covenant Rom. 12. 1. Concerning the denying of ungodliness and worldly Lusts these things should be known 1. What the Practice and Profession of Impiety is as it proceedeth First from Natural Atheism Secondly from vain Philosophy the Traditions of men and the Rudiments of the World Thirdly from the strong Delusions and the deceitfullness of unrighteousness which Satan is permitted to make use of in the end of the World 2. How the Consciences of Natural men are to be dealt withal and convicted concerning the wickedness of their Practices in this kind 3. What the nature and the original is of Actual sins and how they proceed from the power of inbred Lust 4. How the motions of Actual sins are to be resisted not only by the inward purification of the heart but also by the outward exercises of a Mortified life wherein the body is kept under and brought into subjection 1 Cor. 9. 27. Concerning the offering our boâ—ies a living Sacrifice unto God by the Covenant Three things must be known for the ordering of our conversation aright in respect of our selves in respect of our Neighbour and in respect of God for hereunto the Apostle Tit. 2. 12. doth referre all mens vertuous actions in this World by Sobriety Justice and Religiousness Sobriety doth comprehend all the way of our conversation with our selves Justice all our conversation with our Neighbour and Religiousnes all our conversation towards God And these Heads of our outward conversation ought to be handled and taken up in this order because the duties of the First kind are such a ground-work for the Second and Third that without Sobriety in respect of our selves nothing can be done rightly towards God or Man And the Duties of the Second kind are in Gods own esteem preferred to the Duties of the Third because he doth require Mercy of us and not Sacrifice that is the Works of Justice and Mat. 5. 23. Mat. 12. 7 8. Isa 1. 11. to 19. Charity towards our Neighbour more then the Works of outward Worship towards himself Of the Ordering our way toward our selves by Sobriety TO be able to order our selves and all our wayes in Sobriety we must know 1. What the nature of Sobriety is as it is a Rule of restraint to moderate our selves in all our Undertakings as they are ours 2. What the nature of our Intemperance and inclination to Excess is and whence it cometh viz. from Self-love where we must know what Self-love and self pleasing is and how all manner of Excess proceedeth from thence 3. How Sobriety doth proceed from the Grace of Self-denial accompanied with Contentation Meekness and Lowliness which Christ upon the Ground of the Covenant and Promise of Rest doth invite us to learn of himself Mat. 11. 29. 4. What the proper work of Sobriety is in reference to the natural acts of Affections where is to be noted that our natural affections may be two wayes vitious either as they discompose and wrong us within our-selves or as they tend to discompose and wrong our Neighbour In the first Respect they are to be regulated by Sobriety in the second by Justice so that the proper work of Sobriety will be to keep the acts of our natural Affections within the bounds of that lawful and necessary use whereunto God hath appointed them And to discover these bounds the natural Desires and Actions of Christ in the flesh as he did subordinate them unto the life of God in the Spirit according to the Covenant are to be taken notice of as a Rule 5. What the Rules of Sobriety are in particular in respect of the lusts of the flesh as meat and drink ease and softness the conjugal bed and all other delightful actions inherent to the body 6. What the Rules of Sobriety are in respect of the lusts
years been preparing abundant matter for it What is now to be done but for some Solomon to call his Workmen together and build up a Temple far more magnificent then the Ceremoniall one was The Expedient for a Correspondencie with Forrain Protestants THe complaint which the Prophet David made in his low condition may now be taken up in our dayes by all that favour the dust of Sion and take pleasure in her stones namely that her bones are scattered at the graves mouth as one cleaveth wood upon the ground Psal 141. 7. for if we look upon the Churches which make Profession of the same saving truth in opposition to Popery as now they are divided and broken we shall see them almost if not altogether as uselesse one to another as dry bones scattered up and down ready to be cast into the grave or as chippes of wood lying on the ground onely fit to be gathered and burnt therefore our resolution should be the same which the Prophet took in the words following upon his complaint But our eyes are to thee O God the Lord in thee is our trust leave not our souls destitute There is none other that can help but he in such a case Let then our eyes be turned onely towards him because our expectation will not be in vain if we flie to him for refuge for we have a word of promise giving us assurance that he will help for Moses hath said That the Lord shall judge his people and repent him for his servants when he seeth that their power is gone and there is none Deut. 32. 36. shut up or left and the Prophet Isaiah hath declared for our comfort that when the enemie shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him It is evident then that we have a Isai 59. 19. ground to hope that the Lord in his own time will make our dry bones to stir and live and joyn together and being clothed with flesh and skin to stand upon their feet and become a great and mighty army for there is no condition of the Saints so weak and low but God can and when it is fit will also raise them out of it because he hath in a readiness means which he hath appointed to that effect and when his spirit will breath upon them to set them a work the business will be accomplished Now the means by which the Lord doth execute his wonderful counsel and by which he will bring to passe his excellent work is two fold the one is the manifestation of the Truth by the armour of light and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to discover the hidden things of darkness and sweeping away the refuge of lies and Hypocrisie to stay the wicked one and consume the man of sin which part of his work is already well advanced in the midst of all these distractions and divisions of parties and the other is by the unitie of the Spirit in the Communion of Saints to bring the whole Body so to depend upon the head Jesus Christ that it shall appear at last sitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joint supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part to make the encrease of the Body to the edifying of it self in love and this part of the work although it is very little advanced in appearance yet there are Preparatives towards it which are not inconsiderable if rightly weighed and taken notice of and whereof in due time a more full account may be given but for the present we shall onely shew some motives for which we should attend unto this part of Gods Counsell and suggest a way by which we may help forward the effect thereof and become instrumental towards others in furthering his work The Motives which should induce us to mind the design which God hath of uniting his Saints together are so many in the Holy Scriptures and so clearly set forth that a Volum might be written thereof if we would be large but it shall suffice at present only to point at the places where the Holy Ghost doth urge the duty upon us if we look upon 1 Cor. 12. The scope of the Apostle is there to demonstrate that all spiritual gifts are bestowed upon the Church Militant on earth to the end that they may be made use of to profit withall by the several members of the mystical Body in the unitie thereof and in chap. 13. the grace of Charitie is said to be so necessary for this effect that without it none other grace is profitable either to our selves or towards others in the fourth of the Epistle to the Ephes ver 1. till 17. the Apostle sheweth that no man doth walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith he is called to the Profession of the Gospel who doth not intend and endeavour by humility meekness long suffering and forbearance of others in love to keep the Unitie of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and whatsoever throughout the Scripture is commanded concerning love which is the great and new Commandment and particularly in the 1 Epistle of John it tendes all to oblige our conscience to this main duty of seeking the Unitie of the Spirit amongst Saints and of keeping it in the bond of Peace and if the Apostles words Phil. 2. 1 2. be laid to heart they will convince any man that hath any feeling of his duty in this matter If saith he there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind c. intimating that without the care of this duty all the joy and happiness which Saints ought to further in one another is quite lost and utterly made void which in these our dayes we find experimentally to be too true by reason of our divisions and strivings for which the name of God is blasphemed amongst the adversaries and the Profession of the truth amongst our selves is dishonoured Now to remedy this great evil and to remove the scandals arising from thence for which a woe is denounced and in some measure executed against us the easie way which is suggested is to set a foot a Religious Correspondencie with Forrain Protestants to carry on a Gospel interest amongst Christians not by strength or might but in a Gospel way by a friendly Correspondencie and concurrence in Counsels to hold forth unanimously the matters of Faith and Doctrine wherein we all fully agree and do own the same saving truths and to set a foot the Practice of the same Rules of duties by walking therein to oppose ignorance and profanness to banish confusion and disorderliness in worship and be no more strangers to one anothers condition but to entertain a mutual Care for each others good and the progress of the Gospel in the world to which effect a setled correspondencie upon Religious grounds and Principles between us and our neighbour Protestants will be both an easie and in Gods way a powerfull means which Correspondencie may be thus contrived and brought about We forthwith intend a systeme or body of Divinity wherein all the English writings of Practical Divinity and Cases of Conscience shall be digested in English and Latine and we intend the intertainment of strangers in a Colledge here from whence our Learning may be carried forth in most Languages by such Students and all good works advanced by the same hands to which we already find great forwardness in this Nation not only to labour in the work but also to contribute in matter of charge And of this Work in instituting a Colledge propagandis bonis operibus we shall give Advertisment to our friends as occasion presents not doubting but since the Lord hath given us in England such a measure of light and Peace but there will appear a ready heart amongst our Nations for the rowling away the reproach upon us of having much of faith and little of Works and from this Colledge and Trustees about this Work we shall be ready to maintain such Correspondence with our Brethren beyond the Seas that they and we may have cause to rejoyce and our enemies to mourn and this charge of Correspondency fixed upon the Trustees for the Work above said The incouragement of this Correspondency intended riseth much from the unspeakable blessing hath accompanied the Letter and Epistle of the Saints witnesse those in the New Testament what Luther Calvin and others have done that way and what dayly success therein of Epistoling there are clouds of witnesses For the present we judge it meet that what any Forrain Divine hath now to Communicate might come either to the Vice-Chancelour of the University or the Ministers sitting at White-hall weekly for approbation of Ministers And these things we desire may be remembred at home and abroad in the prayers of Gods people that we may not make forfeiture of our mercies by our sloth and negligence and sit down by the starving sluggard with non putarem FINIS Errata IN the names subscribed to the Latin Letter read Hopsius item P. T. pastor Schresheimi item Belsteinensis Beilsteinensi In the subscription to the English Letter read Hopsius Schresheim Orzen IN the quotations of Scripture places pag. 1. read in Margin 1 Peter pag. 2. in Margin read John 13. ibid. Jam. 1. 22. pag. 4. lin 39. read 17. 3. pag. 17. lin 36. read Luke 24. 47. p. 21. l. 35. r. 1 Cor. 6. 20. p. 37. l. 11. r. Isai 59. p. 41. l. 37. r. Dan. 12. 7. In the words of the discourse pag. 3. lin 17. read manifest my self pag. 5. lin 35. read Precognitions pag. 6. lin 31. read main heads ibid. lin ult read those pag. 34. lin 21. read Disputations pag. 36. lin 26. read pertaining pag. 37. lin 15. read from my judgement pag. 42. lin 4 read to one end ibid. lin 15. read rectifie pag. 44. lin 35. read Panrani pag. 45. lin 8. read the forrain p. 46. l. 26. read upon residing