17. 21. That all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that they also may be one in vs. And by reason of this vnion which the members haue with the head and euery member one with another it is that the whole bodie that is to say Christ himselfe the Head and all the Church which are his members are called n 1. Cor. 11. 12. Christ as we heard before And so taking Christ together with his Elect the Catholike Church is called The Mother of the Spouse himselfe Cant. 8. 2. and the Church that is all the Elect his Sister Cant. 4 9. and 8. 8. The third thing is Adoption or the making of vs the we become children by Adoption sonnes of God by grace being regenerate and borne againe in Christ who is the Sonne of God by nature as it is said o Iohn 1. 12. 13 To them that receyued him hee gaue this dignitie to bee the sonnes of God p Gal. 3. 17. for all of you are the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus q Gal. 4. 4. When the fulnesse of time came God sent forth his Sonne c. that wee might receiue the Adoption Fourthly Beeing one with Christ wee also haue his and haue his Spirit to be ours Spirit to bee ours for if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his Rom. 8. 9. Because yee are sons saith the Apostle Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father And hereupon the Spirit of Christ whom we receiue is called The Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8. 15. Now let vs in a few words recapitulate the summe of all we are to know concerning Regeneration for so we shall make a better passage to that which followeth First It is a meere r Psal 102. 18. Esay 65. 18. Bâ—t â—e glad c. yee whom I create Eph. 2. 10. Gal. 6. 15. Creation God findeth no more matter to worke vpon for the making of a man anew then when he made that lumpe whereof heauen earth were framed Secondly the manner of this Creation is by a new birth when a hollow person one as emptie and voyd of heart as the hollow of a tree is of substance is made to haue a heart and a wild Asse-Colt borne a man by spirituall Regeneration as Tsophar speaketh Iob 11. 12. A maruailous a strange birth wherin there is no more matter to beget him of then there is in the hollow of a tree to fetch out heart of Oke Thirdly Therefore this Birth is not naturall as parents beget their children but legall as Iechonias begat Salathiel whether hee adopted him or rather that as next of DAVIDS line without adoption he succeeded in the gouernement But howsoeuer it were in the case of Salathiel we speake of that which is adoptiue Fourthly There is a difference of this Adoption from all other for men adopt children when themselues are childlesse God hauing a Son of his own adopteth vs vnto him therfore all Adoption Å¿ Eph. 1. 15. is in through Christ Fiftly Because GOD was purposed to bring many children this way vnto glorie it pleased him to found a most noble Incorporation whereof all other bodies politique are but counterfait Of this Incorporation Christ God and man is the Head all beeing adopted by him and incorporated into him the members are euerie one Kings and Priests two of the most sacred and venerable things that euer were in the world euen among the Heathen the bone and ligament that tyeth all together is the holy Spirit the soule as it were of this Incorporation That where other Corporations are said to consist of a bodie without a soule this hath the Spirit of God himselfe to bee the soule of it So the Apostle teacheth 1. Cor. 12. 13. By one Spirit wee are all baptized into one Bodie and all made to drinke into one Spirit Againe t Eph. 4. 4. There is one Bodie and one Spirit that knitteth all the parts together Sixtly Therefore also we liue u Gal. 5. 25. all by one Spirit the same Spirit that quickned our Head quickning also vs that are his members in that whosoeuer is Christs hath his Spirit Rom. 8. 11. The verie words of the promise imply as much x Ezech. 36. 27 I will put my Spirit in the midst of them And thereupon is the Gospel called y 2. Cor. 3. 8. The ministerie of the Spirit And z Gal. 3. 2. PAVL saith Receyued ye the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith And as certainely and verily as the naturall man liueth by his reasonable soule so certainely and verily doth the Regenerate man liue by the Spirit dwelling in him beeing now no more a naturall man so farre as he is Regenerate but hauing all his life from and in that Bodie politique a Gal. 1. 20. I liue no more I but Christ liueth in me b Coloss 3. 4. When Christ which is our life shall be manifested c. Therefore is the whole Bodie comprehending both the Head and members called c 1. Cor. 12. 12. Christ and euerie particular d Iohn 3. 6. 1. Iohn 5. 8. Spirit because as he is begotten of the Spirit so he liueth in and by the Spirit This is the summe of all whereunto let me adde First Where the Spirit is it e Acts 15. 9. purifieth and clenseth the heart maketh all whole and cleane as a griffe set into a Stock doth alter and change the nature of it wherefore Sanctification of the whole man is an vnseparable companion of the Regenerate estate f Iohn 3. 6. That which is borne of the Spirit is Spirit heauenly and spirituall Secondly That liuing in the Spirit it is as naturall for vs so farre as wee doe liue in the Spirit that is to say are Regenerate and consequently sanctified to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit Loue Ioy Peace c. as they are reckoned Gola 5. 22. as it is for fire to burne for the wind to blow c. which is it the Apostle saith there g Gal. 5. 25. If wee liue in the Spirit let vs also walke by the Spirit And so are the graces of the Spirit distinguished from the Spirit dwelling in vs as the effects from the cause in the verie same manner as the worke of reasoning and disputing is from our reasonable soule it selfe But of these two things the worthie fruits and effects of Regeneration wee are to speake in that which followeth Of a Regenerate estate there be two degrees as it Sealed vp during the infancie of Regeneration were two ages Infancie and Mans estate of both which the Apostle speaketh Eph. 4. 14. Till we meet all together in the vnitie of Faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the age of the
of Gods goodnesse in the things they pray for Thirteenth Gods Children are constant in their prayers and continue in them Giue vs this day c. euery day renewing their supplications The wicked faint and quickly giue ouer or pray but by starts These circumstances to be obserued out of the manner of the Lords Prayer lead mee by the hand to some consideration of the matter it selfe and parts of that Prayer wherein also vnlesse I deceiue may selfe we shall nothing digresse from our purpose There be two parts of that as of all other Prayers for it standeth partly in petition partly in thankes-giuing The Petitions are sixe in number all in that course and order as the Doctrine before was handled whereof the first three compreheÌ„ded in the first part of Diuinity are of those things that belong vnto Gods glory without any respect of our owne good as the particle Thy in euery one doth shew And this one thing whâ—eein the soundest Diuines agree being well obserued bringeth a great light for the distinguishing of all the sixe Petitions according to their proper bounds and limits in such sort as hereafter followeth The first Peticion Hallowed bee thy name O thou the blessed and great IEHOVAH Father Sonne and holy Spirit three persons and one onely true and euer-liuing God whose i Esay 9. 3. name is wonderfull and who alone art glorious and excellent thy Mercie great vnto the Heauens thy Truth vnto the Cloudes thy Righteousnesse as the mightie Hills thy Iudgements like the bottomlesse Deepe exalt thy selfe O God aboue the heauens thy Glorie ouer all the earth And make it knowne vnto thy creatures that thou the Creator blessed for euer Amen art a Nature Spirituall and Diuine of thy selfe and in thy selfe and by thy selfe subsisting Eternall Immeasurable Incomprehensible Infinite in Power Wisdome Holinesse Truth Mercie Iustice and whatsoeuer good is yea Goodnesse and Perfection it selfe So that both whatsoeuer thou doest is absolutely good and holy and all good and perfect gifts are thine there being no iot of good in any creature but that onely which they haue from thee who art the Father of Lights And this respecteth the first branch of that part of Diuinitie concerning the Nature Persons and Properties of the Godhead The second Petition Thy Kingdome come Aduance the Throne and Scepter of thy Kingdome in the Gouernment of the World according to all thy counsels and purposes decreed from Eternitie Whether of sauing the Elect or destroying of the Reprobate or of the businesses and affaires pertayning to this life and the generall Prouidence ouer all things that thy hands haue fashioned and made together with the meanes which thou hast sanctified thereunto thy Gospell with the Ministerie and preaching thereof the Sacraments Censures and Discipline of the Church and all other good things thou hast ordayned may prooue to thy Children a sauour of life vnto life and to none of them a sauour of death vnto death And that thou wouldest so dispose of things by thy hidden and secret prouidence that all persons and creatures although they many of them sinfully and wretchedly mooued with other causes and ends then in obedience vnto thee yet in regard of thy worke most holily and iustly may concurre to doe whatsoeuer thy hand and thy counsell hath fore-determined to be done Neither let any power or policie of Satan or man or any other creature hinder the execution of thy most glorious and magnificent most wise and iust Decrees But let them all bee as the Mountaines of Brasse that cannot be remooued but stand fast for euer And this respecteth the second branch touching the Kingdome of God and the dispensation of his Counsels The third Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Haue thou alwayes in the World euen here among men as thou hast among thy holy Angels and Spirits of the Righteous that are deceased a Church and chosen Companie which may k Zach. 8. 8. refresh and delight thy Spirit by yeelding with free and readie hearts all cheerfull obedience to thy knowne and reuealed will whilest they bee seene to preferre the loue they beare to thee before the loue of themselues their owne pleasure profit or liues or whatsoeuer else that is most deare vnto them And this which is the third branch the honour due to God riseth by a necessarie consequence from the former two for he that is in himselfe and in his workes so glorious is worthie and alone worthy to be honoured and serued of vs. The three latter Petitions comprehended in the second part of Diuinitie are of those things that concerne our owne and our Neighbours good whereof the first being the fourth Petition in number is for the Fountaine of all good that excellent l Iohn 4. 4. gift of Christ himselfe and all the meanes and Graces Faith especially whereby he may be ours and we come to be his The fift and sixt are for the streames of Righteousnesse that flow from it and spring vnto euerlasting life So that in these last Petitions the whole substance of the Gospell is contayned for touching the other Righteousnesse which is our owne or by the Law the same being impossible through our owne corruption to be had our Sauiour teacheth vs not to pray for it But contrariwise in teaching Regeneration and Righteousnesse through him he doth vtterly exclude all Righteousnesse from our selues or by our owne Creation And in willing vs to pray to bee deliuered from euill he sheweth the right vse of the Law whereby euill is discouered to be the rule of our obedience The fourth Petition Giue vs this Day that Bread of ours that bread aboue substance or better then all wealth and riches which consume and perish whereas this indureth to euerlasting Life being the Bread of God that commeth downe from Heauen and giueth life vnto the World euen Christ himselfe the spirituall Manna promised in Paradise figured in the Wildernesse forespoken by the Prophets shaddowed in the Law manifested in the Gospell thy onely Sonne of thine owne eternall nature and Essence conceiued and borne of the Virgin by the wonderfull worke of thy holy Spirit sanctified from the Wombe to bee the mightie and powerfull Instrument in and by whose flesh or humane nature vnited to the God-head personally hee quickeneth all those that by Fâ—ith are ingraffed in him replenished with all Righteousnesse and fulnesse of the Spirit aboue measure And therefore in himselfe most blessed and happie but for vs and for our sakes accursed in that he bare the whole wrath due to our sinnes and became subiect to death the most ignominious death of the Crosse it selfe vnder which notwithstanding he did not lye for that it was impossible he should bee holden of it but loosing the pangs and sorrowes of death hee arose againe and ascended into Heauen where he sitteth at the right hand of thy most excellent Maiestie to make continuall Intercession for those that are his
as Mat. 10. 42. Whosoeuer shall giue to one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a Disciple shall not lose his reward Ephes 6. 8. What good soeuer euery man doth that he shall receiue of the Lord Heb. 6. 10. God is not vniust to forget your workes and the labour of loue which yee shewed towards his Name ministring to the Saints c. But the reward they haue is not for themselues or of their owne desert since there is nothing absolutely good and worthy of reward that commeth from vs and everlasting life with all the parts of it is the free gift of God in Iesus Christ Rom. 6. 23. but because they proceed from Faith that is by the promise of Grace not by the promise of the Law Good works therefore The Popish doctrine that we are iustified by the workes which Christ worketh in vs by his Spirit So ioyning workes together with Christ in the matter of Iustification and their doctrime of Merits reaching that the good works of such as are in the state of Grace doe ex condignâ— that is of a sufficient worthinesse and desert that is in them merit eternall life auaile no whit to the purchasing or meriting of our Saluation neither in the whole nor in part First Because the best of all our workes in this life is stayned with some pollution and therefore not able to stand before God whose exact Iustice cannot abide the least defect Secondly The Apostle saith expresly Rom. 3. 20. By the workes of the Law none can be iustified Where by the workes of the Law hee meaneth not workes done by our owne strength without Faith and the Grace of God as Papists absurdly teach for whatsoever is not of Faith is sinne Rom. 14. 23. And therefore a question too vnworthy for the Apostle to dispute whether or no works meerly sinfull without any manner of Goodnesse in them may iustifie in the sight of God neither can the Law bee done in any measure at all by our owne strength for the wisdome of the flesh or of the naturall and vnregenerate man destitute of Gods Spirit is enmitie vnto God and neither is nor can be subiect to the Law of God as the Apostle saith Rom. 8. 7. and thereof setteth himselfe in the former Chapter for an example that albeit in his minde or part regenerate hee serued the Law of God yet in his flesh or part not regenerate he serued the law of sinne Rom. 7. 22. Wherefore the very drift of the Apostle appeareth to be to exclude all workes from iustifying euen those that are done by regenerate men in some measure according to the rule and direction of the Law For which purpose hee doth in this Argument apply the doctrine to the best and most righteous Iewes that liued vnder the Law Rom. 3. 19. Whatsoeuer the Law saith it speaketh to those that are within the Law And Gal. 5. 4. 5. not onely to the Galatians that beleeued but to himselfe as one of that number who not by the works of the Law but by Faith waited for the hope or hoped-for reward of Righteousnesse Which he teacheth cleerly Phil. 3. 9. That I might be found in him Christ that is not hauing mine owne Righteousnesse that which is by the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousnesse which is of God through Faith This further appeareth by i Ier. 23. 6. Ieremie calling Christ IEHOVAH our Righteousnesse Therefore Saluation commeth not by our owne And when the k 1. Cor. 1. 30. Apostle saith that Christ is made vnto vs of God both Righteousnes Sanctification if the Popish doctrine of being iustified by the workes which Christ worketh in vs by his Spirit were true it should follow that Iustice and Sanctification which the Apostle distinguisheth should bee one But that to the l Rom. 1. 17. Romanes In the Gospell the Righteousnesse of God is reuealed from Faith to Faith as it is written The righteous by Faith shall liue is notable to this purpose First In that the Apostle calleth it The Righteousnesse of God which is by Faith for seeing Faith apprehendeth not the workes contayned in the Law but Christ alone it must needes follow that Christ whome Faith apprehendeth is our Iustice and not the workes of the Law wrought by the Spirit of Christ which is not the subiect of Faith And thereupon the Apostle teacheth Gal. 3. 12. The Law is not of Faith but the man that doth these things shall liue by them Secondly When hee saith that this Righteousnesse is reuealed from Faith to Faith he declareth that wee are iustified by Faith not onely at the time when wee first beleeue but that our whole and continuall Iustification is by Faith otherwise hee should not haue said From Faith to Faith but From Faith to Workes And if Christ were not our Righteousnesse himselfe but obtayned onely power for vs that wee might haue Righteousnesse in our selues then hee should not be our Sauiour but an instrument of our Saluation As for that which Iames saith that m Iam. 2. 21 25 ABRAHAM was iustified by workes and so of Rahab weighing the circumstances of the Text I suppose hee vnderstandeth by Workes a liuely and a working Faith for Iames opposeth not the Workes of the Law to a true Faith as Paul doth but Workes that is to say an effectuall liuely Faith that sheweth his life and vigor by the fruits to a dead and fruitlesse Faith which is no Faith but a shaddow and carcase of Faith So the semblance of difference betweene the two Apostles may bee conceiued to be not in the word Iustifying which with them both goeth for that â—â— is to be made righteous in the sight and iudgement of God but in the terme of Workes Paul taking them literally Iames by a Metonymie for Faith that bringeth them forth ascribing that to the effect which he intendeth proper to the cause from whence of necessitie and vnseparably it commeth And this to bee his meaning may be gathered by n Verse 17 20. many passages but especially Verse 23. where that which he had said o Verse 11. immediately before Was not ABRAHAM iustified by workes he explaineth to be as much as ABRAHAM beleeued God and it was imputed to him for Righteousnesse But albeit good workes doe not iustiâ—e is there therefore no need to doe good Workes O yes very great for many and those most waightie causes First God is hereby glorified as our Sauiour teacheth vs p Iohn 15. â— Herein is my Father glorified that yee bring forth much fruit q Mat. 5. 16. Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good Workes and glorifie your Father which is in Heauen Secondly Wee gather from hence assurance that wee are the Children of God and they serue as Testimonies and Pledges both to our selues and others that wee belong to him for which cause
so Esay 45. 24 you shall find this very word to that purpose in the u Matth. 22. 11 plurall And Iohn here placeth wholly in the robe that the Saints put on the x 2. Cor. 5. 21. marriage garment Christ Iesus not in themselues but the y Rom. 1. 17. 3. 21. 22. brightnes wherof is not meant of shining before men but in the eyes of God wherefore in many and elsewhere places it is called The Righteousnes of God as that which may boldly offer it selfe in Gods sight and abide the strict examination of his Iustice being the Righteousnesse of him that is God himselfe But what vse will you say is there of the imputation of righteousnesse if our sinnes that seuer vs from God be forgiuen and taken from vs Yes vndoubtedly verie great and singular as may appeare by those parts of happinesse whereunto otherwise then by this we are able to lay no claime And therefore the Apostle Rom. 5. handleth professedly this Doctrine of imputation of Righteousnesse as without which the other of forgiuenesse of sinnes had not beene perfect And where in z Rom. 4. 6 7. another place he defineth Happinesse by the forgiuenesse of sinnes Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinnes are pardoned it is no full and exact definition numbring all the parts but by a Synechdoche naming one best fitting his present purpose hee giueth to vnderstand the rest as in diuers other places Blessednesse is diuersly defined by those things which yet in truth are but branches of the true and perfect Blessednesse Blessed a Psal 1. 1. is the man that hath not walked in the way of sinners Blessed b Luke 11. 2◠are they that heare the Word of God and keepe the same The reason whereof is because all the parts of happinesse are so linked and ioyned together that he which hath one must needs haue all The parts if I may so call them of this righteousnesse the holinesse of his nature imputed to vs are first the perfect Sanctification of Christs humane nature whereby our originall and naturall corruption not imputed to vs our nature it selfe is accounted holy in the sight of God whereof the Apostle speaketh Rom. 8. 2 3. The Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed me from the law of sinne and of death for which was impossible to the Law for that it was weake by reason of our flesh God sending his own Sonne in the likenesse of sinfull flesh for sinne hath condemned sinne in the flesh that that which the Law requireth might bee fulfilled in vs where the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus he calleth that perfect and all-sufficient Sanctification of our nature in him whereby he comming in the likenesse of sinfull flesh for sinne that is to abolish sinne it selfe in our nature taken vpon him condemned or which is all one abolished sinne in the flesh meaning in his own person through whose perfect Sanctification of nature made ours the reliques of sinne that our corrupt nature is tainted with are not imputed to vs and therefore wee bee free from death and condemnation being wholly restored euen in our nature to a greater integritie then we lost in Adam All which the Apostle sheweth was in respect of the weaknesse of the Law being of no strength by reason of the flesh or part vnregenerate which hindreth the worke of the Law otherwise most perfect and is opposite thereto that it neither can or will be subiect to it So as to the end we might fulfill that which the Law requireth which is to be righteous not in our Actions onely but in our verie nature it was necessarie so to haue it sanctified in the person of Christ not supplying that which ours wanteth but wholly and altogether sanctifying vs in himselfe And by this meanes it commeth to passe that wee are after the most precise and exact rule of the Law righteous before God hauing the perfect integritie of our nature absolutely in Christ for which purpose hee saith not might be fulfilled of vs but in vs speaking of Christs owne Sanctitie imputed to vs. Secondly The thorow and perfect obedience which and Righteousnesse to be ours he performed in the whole course of his life both in the duties to God his Father and in respect of men with whom he was conuersant here on Earth whereby all our vile and filthy actions not comming into account our whole life is reckoned most absolutely good and holy not onely void of sinne but full of perfect Righteousnesse as the same Apostle teacheth b Rom. 5. 12. to the end of the Chapter Rom. 5. setting it forth by an excellent comparison of our Sauiour Christ with Adam both in the things wherein they agree in this point and in those wherein they differ They agree in this that each conueyeth his owne to those that are his whom the Apostle therefore calleth many opposing them to that one whom hee considereth as their Head Adam hee conuayeth both guilt and sinne vnto condemnation Christ Righteousnesse and Obedience vnto Iustification they differ in this First Adam deriueth it downe by nature vpon all his posteritie Christ bestoweth it by grace and fauour and free imputation Secondly Adams one sinne condemed all CHRIST iustifieth from many sinnes not that one onely but all other Thirdly Christs Righteousnesse is more auaileable and of greater power to saue then Adams sinne was to condemne for that indeed threw vs downe from the state of Innocencie but Christ hath raysed vs to a more excellent state vnto the heauenly glorie And hereof commeth our Iustification properly so called that is to say Gods censure and Iudgement of vs approouing vs for holy and righteous before him as hauing that Righteousnesse that is able to abide his presence So as euen by the sentence of God himselfe and in his most exact Iustice we are freed and absolued and declared righteous and worthie of euerlasting life which is that the Scripture opposeth to the sentence of condemnation Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay accusation to the Elect of God It is God that iustifieth who can condemne Thus the Apostle speaketh Rom. 5. 18. As by one offence guilt came vpon all men vnto condemnation so by one c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the matter of our Iustification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iustification it selfe fulfilling of Righteousnesse that is by Christs perfect fulfilling of the Law the benefit came vpon all vnto Iustification of life or to the declaring and approouing of vs iust before God whereby wee obtayne euerlasting life This so noble a benefit commeth to bee wrought by the Resurrection of Christ as the Remission of our sinnes came by his death and sufferings So writeth the d Rom. 4. 25. Apostle to the Romanes He dyed for our sinnes and rose for our Iustification Not that his death had no hand in
18. Perfect loue casteth out feare Å¿ Iam. 1. 4. That yee may bee perfect and wholly sound wanting in nothing By perfect it meaneth not the exact performance of legall Righteousnesse but the whole and totall change of all the man which yet in this life is euermore imperfect And so doth Iames in that place last before mentioned expound it So that there is a Legall and an Euangelicall perfection which rather and more properly is termed integritie I call it totall first in respect that the whole man and all our parts and powers both of the soule and bodie are renewed as the Apostle to the t 1. Thess 5. 23. Thessalonians prayeth that their Spirit soule and bodie may be kept vnblameable in the comming of Iesus Christ First our mind and euen the Spirit of our mind whereof it is said u Rom. 12. 2. Bee transformed in the renewing of your minde x Ephe. 4. 23. Be renewed in the Spirit of your mind I y Ezech. 36. 26. wil put a new Spirit in the midst of you Againe both our Knowledge and Iudgement are reformed that now z 1. Cor. 2. 15. the spirituall man discerneth all things And our Memorie and Consciences purged for the Memorie that serueth where the Apostle doth commend the a 1. Thess 3. 6. Thessalonians for hauing a good memory of him alwayes And to the b 1. Cor. 11. 2. Corinths That they remembred all his matters or remembred him in all things Of the Conscience it is said c Heb. 9. 4. That the bloud of Christ purgeth our Consciences from dead works to serue the liuing God And d Heb. 10. 22. Hebrewes the tenth Hauing your hearts sprinkled from an euill Conscience This Renewing reacheth to the heart also that is to the Soule the seate of the Desire Will Affection which e Ezech. 36. 26 Ezechiel addeth to that of the Spirit I will giue you a new heart And f Deut. 10. 16. Moses saith Circumcise the fore-skin of your heart Of the Desire we reade The g Gal. 5. 17. Spirit or part regenerate lusteth against the flesh Of the Will that h Phil. 2. 3. God worketh this grace in vs to will according to his owne good pleasure And of the Affections They that i Gal. 5. 24. are Christs haue crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts of it Lastly The Bodie it selfe and all the members are made anew not in substance but in qualitie by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh as the Apostle speaketh k Col. 2. 11. Colossians the second Whereupon he doth exhort vs l Rom. 6. 12. Let not sinne raigne in your mortall bodies m Col. 3. 5. Mortifie your earthly members fornication and vncleannesse c. For as there is a n Rom. 7. 25. law of the members that rebelleth against the Law of the minde so there are o 1. Cor. 12. 27. members that are by Regeneration the members of CHRIST which fight against that Law of the old man Secondly It is totall in respect that it maketh a change not in our p Ier. 7. 3. wayes and actions only but in our very nature the perfect and all-sufficient Sanctification Esay 1. 16 17. of our nature in the person of Christ himselfe freeing vs from that naturall corruption which as the Law of the members is inherent in vs. This the Apostle speaketh Romanes q Rom. 8. 2. the eighth The Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath freed mee from the Law of sin and of death that is from that inherent corruption which as the Law of the members sticketh to our nature the perfect Sanctification of his humane nature beginning a Sanctification here in vs euen in our very nature ouer and besides the Righteousnesse of our wayes Thirdly It is totall in regard of both the parts of Righteousnesse which wee are renewed into Holinesse and true Iustice for both these the Scripture noteth Ephes 4. 24. Put on the new man which according to God is created in Holinesse and true Iustice Marke 6. 20. Herod reuerenced IOHN BAPTIST knowing he was a iust and a holy man Luke 1. 74. That wee being deliuered from the hands of our enemies may serue him in true Iustice and Holinesse Titus 2. 11 12. The grace of God hath appeared c. instructing vs to liue wisely and iustly and godly in this present World Yet we must obserue that there are degrees in the imperfection which we speake of for First Some are weake ones and euen Babes in Christ weake in Faith weake in Knowledge weake in all kind of practice of spirituall Graces whom the Apostle calleth carnall that is to say rude Of the weake in Faith the Apostle speaketh Romanes 14. 1. And our Sauiour many times vpbraydeth his Disciples O yee of little faith Of weake in knowledge and capacitie of heauenly things it is said Rom. 6. 19. I spake vnto you after the manner of men that is by Similitudes taken from the common course of mans life For the infirmitie of your flesh And Heb. 5. 12. For when through the time yee ought to haue beene Teachers yea haue need to bee taught anew what are the elements of the beginning of the words of Christ and are become those that haue need of Milke and not of strong meate So our Sauiour Christ telleth his Disciples r Iohn 16. 12. I haue many things to say vnto you but you are not able to beare them now Of weake in practice we reade 1. Cor. 3. 1. I Brethren could not speake vnto you as spirituall but as carnall as Infants in CHRIST I gaue you Milke to drinke and not strong meate for you were not able to beare it Secondly There is a further step which Christians of the better sort commonly attayne vnto standing in a sufficient furniture of all graces needfull for the performance of euery good dutie in soule good manner and a blamelesse and vndefiled life whereof the Scripture giueth testimonie to many particular Christians And the Apostles in their Epistles partly Å¿ 1. Cor. 1. 1. 1. Thes 5 c. witnesse of diuers Churches and partly t Phil. 2. 15. 2. Pet. 3. 14 c. pray for them to be such Thirdly Vpon some few in respect of his ordinarie dealing it pleaseth GOD to powre a more aboundant measure of grace and higher degree of perfection filling and inriching their hearts with an exceeding increase of Faith of Knowledge of Loue of Hope of Patience and of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost These the Apostle calleth u Heb. 5. 14. perfect men who through a habit haue their sences exercised to the discerning of good and euill Phil. 3. 15. As many of vs as are perfect let vs bee thus minded and if ye thinke any thing otherwise that also will God reueale Thus x Rom. 4. 20 21 it is said of Abraham that hee was
sort Mans corrupt Nature yet so as it may be lost againe But whoso once of Malice falleth from it can neuer be repayred CHAP. VI. Of the Church vnder the Law THe Church is One and cannot be diuided but hauing regard to the diuersitie of Gods Dispensation it may be distinguished into the Church vnder the Old Testament and the Church in the New That vnder the Old Testament had diuers Rites Ceremonies and Sacrifices Figures of Christ and of the good things we haue in him especially among the Iewes his then peculiar People Whereby the Dispensation of those Times was more obscure and lesse accompanied with Knowledge and other Graces But of all these things as also of their Sacraments which in regard of the outward Signes were a part of the Legall Paedagogie and likewise of the Ministeries that were among them both that of Prophets inspired by whom were written the Bookes of the Old Testament and of other I haue written at large in a Treatise entituled The Old Testament or the Promise CHAP. VII Of the Church in the time of the Gospell TO the Church of the New Testament the Dispensation is in all cleerenesse and perfection Touching the Sacraments and Ministeries of the New Testament there be two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper Baptisme is a washing with Water to assure our entrance into the Couenant the forme whereof is thus or to this effect I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost The Lords Supper is a feeding with Bread and Wine to assure our continuance in the Couenant the forme whereof is thus or to this effect For the Bread Take ye eate ye This is my Body which is giuen for you Doe this in remembrance of me For the Cup Drinke ye all of this for this is my Bloud of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Doe this as oft as ye shall drinke it in remembrance of me The Ministers of the New Testament were Apostles inspired by whose Ministerie were written the Bookes of the New Testament Prophets Euangelists Pastors Teachers c. CHAP. VIII Of the Church of Gods Elect. THus farre of the outward Church The other is the Church of Gods Elect drawne to beleeue in Christ ordinarily by Preaching Wherefore with these God maketh indeed his Couenant By vertue whereof our Faith albeit apprehending Christ absent it apprehend Him weakely yet confirmed by the Word and Sacraments Prayer and other holy meanes it neuer letteth goe the Hold but continually groweth till we come to see Christ in his glory So as Faith hath alwayes Hope that is an assured waiting for of that blessed Sight going with it CHAP. IX Of Regeneration HItherto of Christs Propheticall Office The Kingdome by excellencie so termed is that whereby destroying the Old Man by the Power of his Death and Sufferings all that are of the Church of Gods Elect He doth regenerate by the Power of his Resurrection The Day of his Rising which was the first Day of the Creation is for an euerlasting Remembrance of that Benefit come in place of the Sabbath and called the Lords Day beginning when he arose and began to renew the World Regeneration is our spirituall incorporating into Christ euery Member in his due proportion whereby being one with him through him with God and his Spirit ours we become Gods children by adoption Of a regenerate estate there be two Degrees as it were two Ages Infancie and Mans estate Infancie which is during this Life by Faith and therefore by meanes of the Word and imperfectly sealed vp in our owne inward assurance of the Spirit not in the Worlds discerning of it and growing according as our Faith doth grow And this is called the State or Kingdome of Grace Mans estate which is after this Life by Sight and therefore immediately by Christs Spirit and in all Perfection And that is called the State or Kingdome of Glorie CHAP. X. Of Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption THe Spirit of Christ being ours consequently doth saue vs from our sinfull and cursed estate to inioy all the Good that is in him It standeth in Illumination and Iustification and from thence comming Sanctification and Redemption Illumination Whereby expelling Darkenesse he doth inlighten our Minds with the Knowledge of the Will of God in Christ which the Apostle calleth Wisdome Iustification Whereby forgiuing our sinnes by his taking them vpon him he doth account the Holinesse of his Nature and Righteousnesse to be ours From whence as I said come Sanctification and Redemption Sanctification Whereby slaying Sinne he putteth a new Life of Holinesse into vs to bring forth fruits of Righteousnesse Wherein there is no more now required but that Sinne beare not the rule in vs and our Workes of Righteousnesse though all mingled with sinne are not onely pleasing vnto God through his forgiuenesse of the sinne but haue beside of Gods free Goodnesse looking vpon them in the perfection of his Sonne speciall Promises of Reward made vnto them both in this Life and in the Life to come Redemption Whereby freeing vs from the Curse himselfe becomming a Curse for vs he maketh vs blessed by the participation of his Blessednesse Our Blessednesse in this estate standeth First in the Loue of God anew Whereby all things not the Calamities and Troubles of this Life and also Death it selfe but euen our very sinnes turne vnto our good and in the assurance whereof wee haue Peace of Conscience and Ioy in the Holy Ghost Secondly in that wee are made neere vnto him and haue continuall accesse with boldnesse into his Presence Thirdly in our former Soueraigntie and Power ouer the Creatures whereof commeth free liberty of vsing them all and deliuerance from the Bondage of Satan This also as a noble accesse added thereunto that the holy Angels themselues are made ministers for our good Fourthly in a Spirituall Glorie and Wisedome and other Graces After this Life commeth the fulnesse of Blessednesse more or lesse according to the diuers measure of our Faith here To the Soule in Heauen presently after Death till the Latter Day At what time our Bodies being raysed vp glorious the whole Man shall meete CHRIST comming to Iudgement in the Ayre and there receiue Sentence of all fulnesse of Blessednesse for euer Which we shall inioy taken vp into Heauen by the vertue of his Ascension Certaine Men vpon our Sauiour CHRISTS Resurrection rose againe and are alreadie with him in Heauen So are Enoch and Elias both aliue assumed thither Those that are liuing at the Latter Day shall suddenly be changed after the dead are once risen The Creatures also for our sake shall then be renewed into a Glorious estate not subiect to Corruption A TABLE OF ALL THE principall Points handled in this BOOKE The first Booke CHAP. I. THe scope and drift of the Doctrine of Diuinitie Fol. 1. The Parts 6. Of God his Being Life Vnderstanding and
worshipped But this honour Christ also hath For both Stephen giueth it vnto him when he saith Lord y Acts 7. 59. Iesus receiue my spirit And it is the Epithete of all the Church that they z Acts 9. 14. 1. Cor. 1 2. call vpon the Name of Christ IOHN likewise in the a Reuel 21. 22. Reuelation maketh the Lord God Almighty and the Lambe alike the Temple of that holy City the heauenly Ierusalem meaning that hee is equally to bee worshipped and with the same honour Faith doth onely rest vpon God but wee are commanded to beleeue in Christ Yea b Iohn 16. 1. beleeue in God beleeue also in me Further it is the pleasure c Ier. 9. 24. of GOD that whosoeuer glorieth should glory onely in this That he knoweth him to be IEHOVAH But Paul doubteth not to professe that he d Gal. 6. 14. gloried onely in the Crosse of Christ and neyther preached nor chose to know any other thing saue e 1. Cor. â—2 onely him alone Christ f Iohn 17. 3. also himselfe coupleth these two together This is euerlasting life to know thee the onely true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ But what stay I hereupon when testimonies are so cleere vpon the marke and notes when the things themselues are so euident and expresse his God-head being euerywhere to bee found in most plaine and manifest termes Which that it may the better appeare I will sort all the testimonies of this kind into three Orders or Rankes The first is of such as attribute the spirit vnto him Not as the spirit or soule of a man but so as it appeareth plainly by the Epithetes adioyned to be the Diuine Spirit or GOD himselfe 1. Cor. 15. 45. The first man ADAM was made a liuing Soule the latter ADAM a quickering Spirit As bee noteth out in Adam the whole man by the more excellent part the Soule so doth he in Christ the whole Person by that most excellent Nature of the God head bodily dwelling in him calling him another Adam for that as Adam imparted fleshly life vnto all that come from him so doth Christ the Spirituall Life to all that are his And that this may bee the better conceiued to be meant of his Eternall Deity in the seuen and fortieth Verse hee doth more cleerely frame the comparison The first man out of the earth earthly the second man the Lord himselfe from Heauen Therefore is his Spirit or Diuine nature sometime called The g Heb. 9. 14. euerlasting Spirit a thing proper to the God-head sometime The h Rom. 1. 4. Spirit of Sanctification whereby hee sanctifieth all Gods Elect and sanctified his humane Nature otherwise infirme and weake and not able to rayse vp it selfe As in i Iohn 6. 63. Iohn he saith It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing And k 1. Pet. 3. 18. Peter that he was put to death as touching the flesh but quickened as touching the Spirit Finally the Apostle l 2. Cor. 13. 4. Paul expounding as it were this place For though saith he he were crucified of infirmity yet he liueth by the power of God In the name of infirmity or weaknesse manifestly alluding to the Hebrew Enâ—ch which signifieth a fraile or weake and mortall man and in the name Power vnto El the mighty God of the second sort are those where he is said to haue the m Col 29. For in him dwelleth all the fulnes of the God-head bodily that is personally and substantially fulnesse of the God-head in him to bee n Phil. 2. 6 7. Who being in the forme of God emptied himself taking the forme of a Seruant becomming in the likenesse of men and in habit found a very man Where the forme of a Seruant noting a verie seruant and abiect person indeed sheweth that to bee in the forme of God signifieth as much as to be really and essentially God himselfe in the forme of God to be o Iohn 8. 15. For this cause the Iewes sought to kill him because hee called God his owne Father making himselfe equall with God Phil. 2. 6. He thought it no robbery to be equall with God equall with God And to conclude to bee p Dan. 10. 13 21. Michael of equall Power with the Almighty God And this to be an honour belonging vnto Christ alone and not to any created Angell the Apostle Iude q Iude verse 9. teacheth expresly when he so termeth Iehouah himselfe that in Zachary stroue with Satan about the Body of Moses or the truth and perfection of the Law of Moses namely the whole Doctrine of the Gospell Remission of sinnes Imputation of Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption as in that Chapter the Angell reasoneth of them all But most manifestly this appeareth Reuelat. 12. 7. where MICHAEL and his Angels fought with the Dragon and his angels Against the Dragon that is the Deuill head of the malignant Church opposing Michael that is Christ Head of Saints and Angels and therefore calling them his Angels which agreeth to God alone Finally the holy Ghost so expoundeth it Verse 10. Now is the Saluation and Might and Kingdome of our God and the Power of his Christ In the third and last ranke come those that call him expresly r Iohn 1. 1. The Word was God 2. Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World Luke 1. 16. 17. Many shall he that is Iohn Baptist turne vnto the Lord their God and himselfe shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias Where before him being referred to Christ as it must sheweth him to bee the true and vndoubted Lord God And hither tendeth the confession of Thomas sirnamed Didymus my Lord my God Iohn 20. 28. Of this sort also is that 2. Peter 1. 1. Through the righteousnesse of our God and Sauiour Iesus Christ The coupling and context of the sentence without any Article before Sauiour which otherwise by the vse of that tongue ought to haue beene shewing plainly that the word God can haue no reference but to Christ our Sauiour M 〈…〉 plaine is that Coâ— â— 2 Vnto the knowledge of God both the Father and Christ Where God as a common antecedent is attributed to them both God The Å¿ 1. Iohn 5. 20. We are 〈…〉 true one in his Sonne Iesus Christ Thâ—â— is that true God and life euerlasting true God The t Titus â— 13. Wayting for the blessed hope and glorious bright appearance of the great God and Sauiour of vs Iesus Christ Where not onely the knitting of the sentence as in the place of Peter before but the phrase of bright appearance neuer spoken but of the Sonne enforceth that whole sentence to be meant of him great God The mighty u Esay 9. 6. To vs a Child is borne whâ—le name is called Wonderfull The mightâ— God Most strong c. God The onely x Iude
verse 4 Denying the onely God and Master our Lord Iesu Christ God God y Rom. 9. 5. Of whom is Iesus Christ touching the flesh who is God ouer all blessed for euer Amen ouer all blessed for euer Amen To proue the Holy Ghost to be God First he also is Iehouah for he that led the people in the Wildernes whom they tempted so oft was Iehouah as wee haue obserued But Esay z Esay 63. 14. saith this was the Spirit of God As a beast that goeth downe into a Valley the Spirit of IEHOVAH quietly led them and a Esay 63. 10. a little before They rebelled and grieued his holy Spirit The b Heb. 3. 8 9. Author also to the Hebrewes noteth it to bee the speech of the Holy Ghost Harden not your hearts as in the prouocation as in the day of temptation in the Wildernesse where your fathers tempted me prooued me and saw my workes Againe that which the same c Esay 6. 9. Prophet speaketh of IEHOVAH that he had-him goe and say vnto this people Hearing ye shall heare c. PAVL d Acts 28. 25. applyeth to the Holy Ghost Well said the Holy Ghost by ESAIAS the Prophet to our fathers saying Goe vnto this people and say Hearing ye shall heare c. Secondly the essentiall properties of the God-head are here likewise to be found He is termed Truth it selfe to note the singlenesse of his Nature 1. Iohn 5. 6. The Spirit is Truth hath an Immensity and Infinitenesse of place dwelling at once in the heart of all the Elect. 1. Cor. 3. 16. Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Rom. 8. 9 11. The Spirit of Christ that dwelleth in you Hee lay ouer that whole masse and lumpe whereof the Heauens and Earth was afterwards made Gen. 1. 2. The Spirit of God lay vpon the Waters ouer-spreading it as a Hen doth her Chicken Hee filleth all things with his presence Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I goe from thy Spirit Hath a free and absolute power of working after his owne pleasure 1. Cor. 12. 11. He distributeth his gifts as he will for hee is the very power of God So called Luke 1. 35. The Holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouer-shaddow thee And for that which e Mat. 12. 14. Matthew saith I will cast out Deuils by the Spirit of God f Luke 11. 20. LVKE hath it If I cast out Deuils by the finger of God Yea he is the giuer of all Power and Vertue Micah 3. 8. But I am filled with Vertue from the Spirit of IEHOVAH with Iudgement and with Power Is of infinite Wisedome and Knowledge euen to fore-tell things to come The g Iohn 16. 14. things that are to come shall hee declare to you saith Christ yea to sound the very bottome of the most secret things of God 1. Cor. 2. 20. The Spirit searcheth the depths of God And all this hee hath from himselfe and of himselfe as most elegantly the h Esay 40. 13 14. Prophet teacheth Who hath instructed the Spirit of IEHOVAH as a man of his counsell taught him with whom hath hee communicated counsell that he might instruct him and teach him the way of Iudgement euen teach him Knowledge and the way of Wisedomes most absolute and perfect Wisedome make knowne vnto him For of Goodnesse what shall I need to speake whose Name it selfe proclaymeth his Holinesse and whose i Gal. 5. 22. 23. fruites are Lenity Kindnesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance and whatsoeuer good is Eternity is also his in that as shall bee shewed anon he is the Creator of all things and therefore must needes be before any thing began Thirdly not onely his proceeding from God but the very Name of Spirit sheweth the Essence and Nature which hee is of For as the spirit of a man must needes be truely of mans nature and is the most formall and essentiall part of man so and much more it must bee thought of the Spirit of God vpon whom no composition falleth This in effect is the Apostles owne Argument 1. Cor. 2. 11. For who of men knoweth the things of man but the spirit of man that is in him So also none knoweth the things of God but the Spirit of God who is in him and of his owne Essence and Nature as the opposition sheweth plainely Fourthly touching the Workes which onely belong to God of the eternall Decrees registred in the Booke of IEHOVAH the Prophet saith His k Esay 38. 16. mouth hath commanded and his Spirit hath collected them Secondly In the Creation of all things he wrought together with the Father and the Sonne Gen. 1. 2. The Spirit of God lay vpon the Waters meaning that as a Bird lying vpon her Egges and couering them vnder her wings doth by a naturall warmth and heate which commeth from her hatch and bring forth her young ones So did the Spirit of God by his liuely power and working frame and fashion the World out of that lumpe of Waters Iob 26. 13. By his Spirit he beautified or beautifully framed the Heauens Esay 40. 1â— Who helpe the Spirit of IEHOVAH meaning in the Creation which he spake of next before Hence it is that Elihu l Iob 33. 4. in the Booke of Iob professeth himselfe to be his Creature and the workmanship of his hands The Spirit of the Mighty God hath made mee and the breath of the Almighty hath put life into mee Thirdly hee gouerneth and administreth the things created Zach. 4. 10. The seuen Eyes or Spirits of IEHOVAH roule vp and downe vpon all the Earth Fourthly He hardeneth the wicked and deliuereth them into a reprobate minde For so the Apostle m Acts 28. 26. noteth it to be the voyce of the Holy Ghost which is said in n Esay 6. 10. ESAY Goe make fat the heart of this people make their eares heauy and cloze vp their eyes Fiftly hee is infinite in variety of gifts 1. Cor. 12. 11. All these things worketh that one and the same Spirit distributing them to euery one a part as he will Iohn 16. 23. When the Spirit of Truth commeth he shall lead you into all Truth Hereupon Iohn in the o Reuel 1. 4. Reuelation termeth him The seuen Spirits of God in regard of the manifold graces which God by him giueth vnto his Church Grace be to you and Peace from him that is and that was and that is to come and from the seuen Spirits which are before his Throne and from Iesuâ— Christ where by the seuen Spirits I make no question the Holy Ghost is meant and not the holy Angels First because these seuen Spirits stand before the Throne are inserted meane betweene the Father and the Sonne the Apostle wisheth Grace and Peace from them they are the Hornes and Eyes of the Lambe yea of his owne very
Apostle bearing witnesse that by faith onely wee vnderstand it for howsoeuer many of the Heathen who knew not God especially the wiser sort haue in a kinde acknowledged a Creation Neyther in truth can any bee so blockish as not to see it if he looke but vp to Heauen and the frame of this World which haue the name of their Workeman and Creatour written in their fore-head yet neuer was there any not so much as the wisest of them that could attaine to this How the World should bee made of nothing Heere therefore all reason of man must stoope and bee content to learne of him in whose Schoole it is better to bee Schollers then Teachers and Professors any where besides who not onely maketh men wiser then the beasts of the field as it is in the p Iob 35. 11. Booke of Iob but teacheth his wisedome aboue the wisedome of the wise and guideth them by pathes that no foote of vaine Philosophie is able for to walke Thirdly I note the order and manner how all this was effected First The Angels and their World the highest Heauens were without more adoe immediately made of nothing But for men and the World which here we see it was somewhat in another sort For touching the World it selfe First God minding to erect such a large and goodly Theater wherein hee would make full demonstration of his incomparable both Power Wisedome and Goodnesse q Gen. 1. 1 2. framed first an empty an vnshapen lumpe without fashion without forme called Waters for the vast hugenesse of it Darknesse for the confusion and lacke of forme and the Deepe for the emptinesse without bottome to rest vpon which lest it should vanish and come to nothing hauing no steaddinesse to vphold it the Spirit of God lay vpon it and ouer-spred it to keepe it from decay Secondly Out of this lumpe and vnformed confusion did God afterwards distinctly forme this World and all the parts of it First those foure Elements called the simple bodies by fetching one contrary out of another as Light out of Darknesse the Firmament out of emptinesse dry Earth out of Waters then the compound bodies out of the same Elements and for the most part of all foure vnequally mingled together euery one principally out of the same Element which they garnish or inhabit As Grasse and Trees out of the Earth The Sunne the Moone the Stars wholly or specially out of the r For it is plaine by Moses that the Heauens theÌ„selues and those celestiall bodies were made not of any fift essence as Aristotle and some other dreame but of elementary matter namely of the fire Whereupon the very substance and the whole frame and compasse of them all which wee call the Skye is termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aether from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to burne for that al things there are fiery as Anaâ—agâ—r an old Philosopher did well deriue it Albeit Aristotle in his first Booke de Câ—lo reiect this Etymologie and preferres another rather from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is in perpetuall motion But that seemeth neither so naturall for the Word nor so apt for the matter fire as may not vnprobably be gathered Fishes out of the Waters Birds out of the Ayre Beasts out of the Earth But men and women as a piece of singular worke hee framed in a more artificiall sort The body of man by Å¿ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 2. 7. whereunto Paul alludeth 1. Tim. 2 1◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forming and figuring it as a Potter doth his Vessels out of the Clay of the Earth And therefore heauy and lumpish dead of it selfe and without any sence or feeling Whereinto he breathed a soule not as a part of the Diuine Nature or of Gods owne essence which to thinke were impious and absurd but because it was made neyther of the Ayre nor of any other elementary matter but onely by his Word and the power of his Spirit and this hee knit vnto one person with the body to quicken and giue life vnto it and to make it a perfect man The woman hee framed and formed out of the Rib of man And all this Moses plainly expresseth Gen. 2. 4 5 6 7 * Finished in six dayes The fourth thing I obserue in the Creation is the time which it pleased GOD to take for the finishing of this worke in that he created not all at once and in a moment as he could haue done but tooke the space of sixe t Gen. 1. 31. 2. 1. 2. 3. dayes for it within which compasse Heauen the place of the blessed Angels together with the Angels themselues were made as Moses plainly teacheth Gen. 2. 1 2. Therefore the first day God made First Heauen and Hell For Hell it is probable to bee supposed hee did then make when Heauen the other part of the vnseene World was made And that Heauen was the first worke of all is easie to be gathered by the very order wich Moses u Gen. 1. 1. 2. 1. vseth Secondly The Angels those Creatures of x 2. Cor. 11. 4. Light the Tenants and Inhabitants of the highest Heauens who in Iob y Job 38. 7. are said to shoute and sing forth the prayses of God when those heauenly Bodies the Sunne the Moone the Starres were made as astonished at the excellency of their beautie And therefore themselues were before that time created Thirdly That vnfashioned lumpe Fourthly Fire The second Day he made the Ayre The third Day First Water Secondly Earth Thirdly Grasse and Trees The fourth Day the Sunne the Moone the Starres The fifth First Fishes Secondly Birds The last Day hee made First Beasts Secondly Man and Woman A fift and last thing to be obserued in the Creation is And was of euery Creature in excellency of perfection that all the Creatures were made exceeding good whether you consider them singly and apart or all of them together As from God that is goodnesse it selfe nothing can come but absolutely good For the further sealing vp of which Doctrine wee haue the testimony of God himselfe both in euery speciall God z Gen. 1. 4. saw the Light that it was good and so in the rest and in the generall conclusion of all God a Gen. 1. 31. looked vpon all that hee had made and behold it was exceeding good This goodnesse in the Creatures generally is the excellencie of perfection according to that their nature is capable of for goodnesse in that place is not to bee taken as opposite vnto vice and to that foule deformitie which is a breach of the righteous Law of God but it noteth that perfection and excellency of estate that euery Creature was framed in according as his nature was fit and able to receiue No weaknesse or infirmitie was then any where to be seene No corruption or decay nothing out of frame or ioynt so as now wee see the whole
Iohn 2. 16. lusts of the flesh The y Ephes 2. 3. will of the flesh The z Gal. 5. 24. affections of the flesh All these parts before reckoned the Apostle comprehendeth Ephes 2. 3. First generally naming the flesh or the whole man vnregenerate which he afterwards deuideth into two kind The flesh so calling by the generall name that part of the soule wherein the lust and will and vnbridled affections are and our discoursing parts or the very strength of the Mind of Knowledge Iudgemēt Memorie Conscience Among whom euen wee all did once conuerse in the lusts of our flesh doing the will of the flesh and of the discoursing parts All which hee calleth not halfe dead but thorowly and wholy a Vers 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dead leauing nothing vnto man which sinne hath not defiled Shewing further that wee haue this by b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nature not by custome or example as elsewhere c Rom. 5. 13 14. hee prooueth by the death of little Infants which neuer transgressed actually as Adam did dying as soone as they were borne and yet sinners by nature for otherwise they could not dye vntill the Law for sinne was in the World for Death raigned from ADAM vnto MOSES euen vpon them which had not sinned according to the likenesse of the transgression of ADAM for as our Sauiour d Iohn 3. 6. saith That which is borne of the flesh such wee are all by nature is flesh and Who saith IOB e Iob 13. 4. can giue a cleane thing out of that which is vncleane Not one This naturall corruption the Scripture calleth sinne f Rom. 7. 17. because it is the sinke and puddle of all other sinnes and the Law g Rom. 7. 23. of sinne which as vtterly peruerting the whole strength of nature and contrary thereunto hath an elegant addition giuen vnto it Heb. 12. 1. h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sinne that is so well fitted to gird vs in as a curbe and a bridle holding vs backe that wee are not able to runne the course that is set before vs. Thereof it is that all our actions are corrupted and naught Rom. 3. 12. There is none that doth good no not one Rom. 7. 5. When wee were in the flesh sinfull affections wrought in our members to bring forth fruit to Death which fruits hee setteth downe Titus 3. 3. For euen wee also were foolish disobedient seruing lusts and diuers kinde of pleasures leading our life in malicousnesse and enuie hated and hating one another And how can it otherwise bee chosen but that all our fruits must needes bee vnsauourie and bad when as the whole Tree and all the twigs and branches of it are rotten and naught Thirdly and lastly it is called totall in respect of both the parts of Righteousnesse Pietie and Iustice which with all the powers of our soule and bodie both by nature and in all our actions wee doe nothing else but continually transgresse Therefore PAVL Rom 1. 18. pronounceth of all men that the wrath of God is reuealed from Heauen vpon all impietie and iniustice of men as those that with-hold the truth or those small sparkes of light that God hath left them in vnrighteousnesse meaning that by reason thereof they rush forth vnto all vnrighteousnesse And Ephes 4. 24. hee willeth our renewing to be in both these parts of Holinesse and Iustice as being corrupt in both by nature All men by nature are thus alike sinfull neither doth face more answere vnto face then one mans corruption answereth to another but the fruits of sinne are in some more aboundant for as he that is sicke of the Dropsie the more he drinkes the more he may so men by long custome of sinning come at the length to such an habit that they are not afraid to lash forth openly audaciously and impudently into all euill casting off all feare of God and reuerence of man as he shameth not to professe of himselfe in the i Luke 18. 4. Gospell and so come to bee Monsters and prodigious in all kinde of wickednesse Of these the Apostle speaketh Ephesians 4. 19. Who casting off all griefe haue giuen themselues to wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse euen with greedinesse So much for their sinfulnesse Touching their miserable and cursed estate albeit For the rest the wrath of God be fully and wholy powred forth vpon 1. The wrath of God vpon them all that sinne yet is it not so presently for being in his wisdome and goodnesse pleased to make a difference betweene Angels and Men offending both for that their state and case doth differ and for the Elects sake whom he meant to take out of the Race of Adam hee purposed with himselfe not to ouer-whelme them at once with the waight of his Iustice as hee would the Angels that did transgresse but in his mercie to spare them for a time that so a way might be made for his to come vnto Repentance This time is the whole course of their life wherein they beare not the full burden of their sinne that presseth downe to Hell but feele onely some light beginning of that heauy Iudgement which hereafter is to seize vpon them if by turning vnto God they doe not repent and turne the same away Therefore the Apostle k Act. 27. 26 27 saith that God hath made of one bloud all Mankinde to dwell vpon the face of the Earth determining the oportunities of times which hee hath fore-set and the set bounds of their habitation that they may seeke the Lord if so be by groping after him they may finde him This is the reason why the whole course of our life is tearmed that Day l Iohn 9. 4. wherein we must doe good before the night come when none shall be able to worke that time of m Gal. 6. 8 10. sowing either to the flesh or Spirit the Haruest whereof shall be death or eternall Life for such as the houre of death findeth vs such shall our doome be and with n Heb. 9. 27. Death the irreuocable sentence commeth None shall rise againe to better the things he hath done in the dayes of his flesh whether they be good or euill No Sacrifice any more for sinne no intercession for the dead no Purgatory to make them cleane But whosoeuer by Christs purgation are not in this life washed from their sinnes shall after this life lye and rotte in their sins foreuer The summe is that albeit God in his mercie for the cause before remembred doe thus forbeare all yet euen during o Iohn 3. 18. this life such as haue no part in Christ that is to say all men in themselues considered are indeed and truly though not fully accursed for so the Scripture speaketh Hee that beleeueth not is alreadie condemned And p Gen. 4. 11. GOD telleth CAIN Cursed art thou euen whilest thou now art aliue In this estate I
from being our guide to leade vs vnto Heauen the same being the proper office of Christ Who b Ioh. 14. 6. is the Way the Truth and the Life as contrariwise they conuince vs euery mothers childe both of impietie to God and iniustice to men in that wee shew not forth the power thereof in our liues but restrayne and keepe it backe vniustly to doe quite the contrarie Insomuch as men naturally knowing c Rom. 1. 19 20 God both his eternall Power and Godhead yet they glorifie him not as God but wax vaine in their reasonings and disputes and rush forth into all vnrighteousnesse against men as the Apostle there at large declareth And the like may bee said of the conscience also that it tendeth onely vnto this to take away all excuse from vs Rom. 2. 15. So as our Desire Will Affections retayne now no part of our former conscience but are wholy brutish sensuall and slaues vnto sinne as wee heard before Not that hereby wee take away all freedome of will from man but we teach that the same hath place onely in the naturall inclinations common to all liuing Creatures which naturally seeke their own good life nourishment maintenance preseruation propagation c. or in the outward actions of this life for matter of manners gouernment of Houses Families Common-wealth Cities c. but not to doe the things that are good and pleasing vnto God The reliques of our former dignitie that yet remaine In the bodie a kind of maiestie in the bodie are c Gen. 9 6. Maiestie and comelinesse of person which bring men many times into a loue and admiration of vs. In the whole d Gen. 9. 2. man there is a certaine soueraigntie that keepeth in awe the brute Creatures insomuch as In the whole man a certain soueraigntie that keepeth in awe the brute creatures The creature here through the fall of maÌ„ receiueth an impaire of his first perfection many sauage beasts that farre excell man in strength doe willingly yeeld themselues to be tamed of him Lastly the punishment of mans transgression resteth not in man alone it is of a more large extent reacheth for mans sake to the other creatures for as they were for his seruice and command made in all excellencie of perfection So by the fall of Adam he hath not onely vndone himselfe and his posteritie but euen the brute beasts and all the dumbe creatures are impayted by it grone vnder that impayre for so God pronounceth Gen. 3. 17. Cursed bee the earth for thy sake And againe Verse 18. Brambles and Bryers shall it bring forth vnto thee And the Apostle Rom. 8. 22. The whole Creation that is all the things created grone and trauaile together vnto this present time And that hee calleth there vanitie or a vanishing and a flitting estate subiect to corruption and decay they hauing a part in the punishment of man to agrieue his curse and to make it more appeare how fearfull his transgression was whereof all the Creatures and the whole frame of the Creation doth feele the smart as e Rom 8. 20. Paul saith They are subiect vnto vanitie for him that subdued them that is to obey the Creatours pleasure who by casting them into this vanitie would leaue it testified how much he is offended with man for whose good he had created them in a farre more excellent condition So much of that which is in part The fulnesse of the curse after death is damnation with the Deuill and his angels This which you haue heard is that miserable and wretched estate which sinne hath drawne vpon all the sonnes of Adam so long as they liue in this World That which we call full cursednesse is a sorer and a more grieuous punishment the full cup of Gods heauie indignation insupportable of all his Creatures No Angell no man not all the Angels or men of the World able to before it or to indure the least brunt of it but forceth miserable man vpon whom it lighteth downe into Hell that horrible place of darknesse where they indure euerlasting torments with the Deuill and his angels such as no tongue can expresse or vtter And therefore it is called The f 2. Thes 1. 9. destruction of the creature The second g Reuel 2. 6. 21. 8. death h 1. Cor. 11. 32. damnation and there is said to bee i Mat. 22. 13. 25. 30. weeping and wayling and gnashing of teeth for first they are separate and quite cut off from the gracious presence of God Present indeed they find and feele him by experience but that presence separated from his fauour is an increase of their feare and horrour not onely so but the wrath of God sensibly pursuing them giueth no rest vnto their soules but as a Worme biteth and gnaweth on them continually the fearefulnesse of which torment what heart is able to conceiue But to giue some glimpse of it the Scriptures vse diuers names The k Mar. 9. 43 44 45 46 47. Worme that neuer dyeth Hell fire Vnquenchable fire The l Reuel 19. 20. 20. 10 14. burning Lake Therefore wretched and fearefull is their condition yea thrice miserable are they and happie had it beene for them if neuer they had beene borne as also our m Mat. 26. 24. Sauiour Christ doth say Two circumstances there are whereby these torments insupportable in themselues are made yet more grieuous First By the place Hell where they are kept fast bound in chaines and fetters of darknesse In regard whereof it is called Outer n Mat. 22 13. 25. 30. Darknesse Secondly By the eternitie of the punishment o Mat. 18. 8. 2. Thess 1. 9. Dan. 19. 2. being euerlasting without all hope of ransome no strong nor mightie man to be looked for that may breake this Prison and let the Prisoners loose no end of punishment nor hope of any end alwayes dying and neuer seeing an end of death Their p Esay 66. Mat. 9. 44 45 46 48. Worme neuer dyeth their Fire neuer goeth out they finde not so much as one q Luke 16. â—4 drop of cold water at any time to quench their thirst A paine otherwise not so grieuous if it haue no intermission nor hope of any ease is worse then a thousand deaths O how much more then doth this exceede which with the first waight thereof breaking the very bones and all the veines and sinnewes of their heart must needes in the euerlasting continuance of it infinitely be increased The sinfulnesse annexed to this estate is hatred of God finall desperation and the full height and top of all iniquitie as in the damned spirits we saw before Further to this estate three things are proper In soule presently till the latter Day First it lighteth vpon men one by one presently after death So hath the wisdome of God ordayned that when the course of this life is runne out
the things vpon the Earth And Colos 2. 10. It pleased God to reconcile through him all things vnto himselfe both the things vpon Earth and the things in Heauen 〈◊〉 not to bee vnderstood of the Angels but of the Saâ—â—â—â— and blessed Spirits now deceased Mediation as the Apostle doth define it Gal. 3. 20. is to set at one parties that are at variance Wherefore the very point and propertie of Christs Office of Mediator or that wherein it standeth and whereunto all the parts doe tend is the reconciling of the World to bring them againe into fauour with God his Father and to the recouerie of his former loue as it is said 2. Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the World vnto himselfe And Rom. 5. 10. When we were enemies wee were reconciled vnto God by the death of his Sonne This was the foote of the Angels Song Glorie to God in the highest Heauens on Earth Peace Good will towards men Luke 2. 14. It was the t Acts 10. 36. summe of our Sauiour Christs Embassage Comming he preached Peace vnto vs Ephes 2. 17. And thereupon the Gospell is called u 2. Cor. 15. 18 19. The Word or Ministerie of reconciliation x Ephes 6. 15. The Gospell of Peace c. The meanes whereby hee worketh our Peace is by of a couenant making of a Couenant betweene God and vs wherevpon he is called The Mediator of the New Testament Hebrewes 12. 24. and The Angell of the Couenant Malachie 3. 1. In this Couenant I obserue the end and fruit the substance or foundation the meanes or the condition and the extent of the Couenant The end or fruit is the sauing of our soules So the to saue Apostle doth expresse it Heb. 9. 5. Therefore is Christ the Mediator of a new Couenant that through death comming betweene for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Couenant they that are called may receiue the promise of an euerlasting Inheritance Christ himselfe is the foundation and ground-worke through faith in him of this Couenant Esay 49. 8. and the substance of all the Gospell as the Apostle defineth Rom. 1. 1 2 3 4. and in 〈…〉 other places The meanes to make the Couenant effectuall vnto vs that is by apprehending of the Couenant is Faith the condition of the Couenant Beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt bee saued Acts 16. 31. Touching the extent of the Couenant all Mankinde certaine few men whom God his Father hath chosen are not partakers of this benefit but some certaine men onely which certaine men though wee cannot certainly define the number are but a handfull in respect of the great multitude of those that perish being elect before the World was and giuen vnto Christ that in time through faith incorporated into him and becomming one with him they might as members make that Bodie whereof hee is the Head and so bee quickened by his Spirit vnto euerlasting life And this election of some necessarily implyeth the reiecting of other some Wherefore here the whole doctrine of Gods holy Predestination is summarily comprehended A matter aboue all other most religiously and soberly to be dealt in not so much for any hardnesse that is in it which if wee keepe within the bounds and limits of the Word is easie enough to bee conceiued as in regard partly of the curiousnesse of men prying without all reuerence into the secret Counsels of God and climbing vp by other steps then himselfe hath hallowed and partly of their owne corrupt affections who either swelling with Pride or cast downe with feare can hardly keepe along the coast of this Doctrine without wrecking themselues either at the Rockes of Presumption or the Flats of desperation Wherefore to auoyd both these extremes wee are to hold such a middle course as may not be after the randome of our owne wit but at the direction of God in the wisedome of his Word for as for them that thinke this Doctrine is not at all to bee taught vnto the people it is manifest that they erre very grossely this being as the rest one part of the reueiled will of GOD whereof y Deut. 30. 29. Moses speaketh to the people T 〈…〉 things belong to IEHOVAH our God but the reueiled things to vs and our children for euer And as the z Rom. 15. 4. Apostle saith Whatsoeuer things are written are written for our profit that by patience and comfort of the Scriptures which cannot be without knowing of them we might haue hope This being written by the singer of GOD in the Table of his Word must needs haue a place in that number amongst the rest And the speech a Iohn 5. 30. of our Sauiour Christ is generall willing vs to search the Scriptures for whatsoeuer things they beare record of What That the Apostle Paul writing to the b Chap. 9. 10 11 Romanes doubteth not to debate this Argument at large discoursing of all the secrets and mysteries thereof the causes effects c. And in the Epistle to the c Ephes 5. Ephesians he layeth it as the foundation and ground-worke whereupon to build the Doctrine of Faith and Holinesse of life Nay Moses himselfe who for the grosse conceit and rudenesse of the Iewes kept backe the creation of the Angels and their fall and many other Mysteries yet how d Deut. 4. 37. 7 8 9 10. 14. 73. 5. oft doth hee deale with this The Disciples of Christ were not c Iohn 16. 12. able to beare many things which hee was to vtter vnto them yet hee passeth not by this Doctrine when f Luke 10. 20. hee biddeth them to reioyce that their names were written in Heauen yea and both the points of Election and Reprobation hee plainly setteth forth Mat. 25. 34. and 41. This will bee yet more euident if we call to minde the manifold vse of this Doctrine being the Roote of all Pietie and the Base of all our comfort then the which none more highly exalteth the glorie of God in his Mercie and Iustice nor throweth downe the pride of man more lowe as in the processe Christ assisting more fully shall appeare Wherein for a better light of that which followeth it is necessarie I should first define Predestination Predestination is one principall branch of Gods purpose or eternall Decree concerning the finall estate of the most excellent creatures Angels and men The parts whereof are Election and Reprobation Election which is of some certaine ones vnto Saluation of men but few in respect of those that are to perish Reprobation which is of some certaine ones vnto damnation The waight and degree of both aswell of glorie as of shame to some in a lesse to some in a greater measure To explaine this a little better God who onely is eternall the Father Sonne and holy Spirit purposing before all times the glorifying of himselfe as is most meet
giuen to all Christians alike for that all of vs communicate with the Priesthood of Christ and are Priests to God to Å¿ 1. Pet 2. 5. Reuel 1. 6. offer spirituall Sacrifices First our selues as Paul saith Ro. 12. 1 in the deniall of our owne lusts then the Sacrifice of Prayer and Thankesgiuing Almes and other Christian The parts are Oblation and Intercession Oblation is the offering vp of himselfe for them It standeth first in the sanctification of his humane Nature and Righteousnes then in his suffrings with the glories that did follow The sanctification of his humane Nature is the consecrating of it in all holinesse from the very first moment of his conception duties whereof the Apostle speaketh Heb. 13. 15 c. In the parts of his Priesthood we put first the offering of himselfe to God his Father for vs I say for vs because Christ is to bee considered not as one priuate man but as a publike person representing all men that are to come to life eternall as Adam did all his Posteritie for so the Apostle doth compare them Rom. 5. 14. From the vertue of this Oblation coÌ„meth the full matter of our peace with God In it we are to consider foure principall heads whereunto all may be referred first is the sanctification of his humane nature to be a fit instrument to worke our reconciliation vnto God wherein two things are comprehended First That the Man-hood or humane Nature by the wonderfull worke of the Holy Ghost was sanctified in the Virgins wombe from all kind of sinfulnesse and indued with an habit of most perfect Sanctimonie and Holinesse in the verie first minute and moment of his conception In which regard the t Luke 1. 35. Angell vnto Marie calleth him That holy thing that shall be borne of thee c. wherein he differeth from all the sonnes of Adam as well as he doth in the manner of his conception Secondly It was made a fit instrument for the whole for the worke of the Mediation worke of the Mediation that is to say not onely for his owne performance of the Priestly Offices but both for our incorporating into himselfe and for the quickening and giuing of Life and Righteousnesse and all good things to those that are incorporate and that by the power of his God-head sanctifying the Man-hood as hee saith Iohn 17. 19. For their sake doe I sanctifie my selfe It is not therefore the God-head onely that quickeneth vs but the humanitie also as an instrument or Conduit whereby he doth it And this is that our Sauiour saith Iohn 5. 26. As the Father hath life in himselfe As if he should haue said With God indeed is the fountaine of Life and Grace and all good things but that which is locked vp and buried in his vnaccessible Light hee hath powred vpon the Sonne manifested in the flesh that from him as from the Head it might flow to euerie member of the Church yea hither driueth the whole tenour of his disputation Iohn 6. 53 57 63. concerning the true cause of our eternall Happinesse After hee had said Vnlesse yee eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud you haue no life in you hee addeth As I liue by the Father so he that eateth mee hee also shall liue by mee And anon It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing When hee saith himselfe meaning his Man-hood which was it onely which the Iewes beheld in Christ liueth by the Father that is the God-head dwelling in him which for the Iewes sake hee vttereth vnder the name of his Father rather then of himselfe he sheweth the fountaine of his Life that is of his quickening power to be that essentiall vnion of the God-head to his humane Nature in regard whereof the Father was 〈…〉 lled before The Liuing Father Againe where hee 〈◊〉 The flesh profiteth nothing and yet had said before 〈◊〉 ye eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you he distinguisheth two things most manifestly First that his humane Nature whether you consider the essence of his Soule or Bodie or any created vertue or qualitie inherent hath not of it selfe any quickening vertue in it which is onely proper to his God-head then that the same is neuerthelesse not vnprofitable but a most necessarie instrument which being first it selfe quickened by the God-head whereunto it is personally knit doth from the God-head powre life into as many as by faith are vnited to him without whose flesh the Spirit neuer quickeneth no more then the soule maketh a man to vnderstand but by the braine Therefore is the Man-hood aptly compared to a Fountaine which sendeth forth most sweet and comfortable streames of water of life vnto all his members and the Deitie to the Well-head or to a Spring that ministreth continually vnto this Fountaine The second head is the performing of thorow Righteousnesse The Righteousnesse of Christ is his performing of the most excellent measure of obedience to the Law of God that can possibly fall into any Creature and being the Righteousnes of him who is both God and Man consequently it meriteth a like supreme measure of Blessednesse for vs being in all his Actions supernaturally vpholden from all possibilitie of sinning and performing the most exact and perfect obedience of the Law Iohn 8. 29. I doe alwayes the things that are pleasing to my Father Supernaturall I say because being a true Man and hauing all the infirmities of the sonnes of men sinne onely excepted he was as all other in his owne Nature subiect to temptation and of a mutable disposition to imbrace euill as Adam did if it had beene possible for the God-head to the which hee was personally vnited to haue left him In this part I consider the measure First of his Righteousnesse and then of the Blessednesse which hee merited both of them in the highest most supreme excellencie that can bee more then I say not men but all the Angels of heauen are capable of being the righteousnâ—â— of him which is both God and Man therefore 〈◊〉 The u 1. Cor. 4. 21. Righteousnesse of God which notwithstanding as a qualitie inherent to the humane Nature of Christ is to be distinguished from that essentiall Righteousnesse of his that he hath as God which is the verie God-head To the third head are to be referred the sufferings of Suffering one principall part of that obedience is Christ a principall part of his obedience as hee tooke vpon him the Office of Mediator but in nature and consideration of the Doctrine to be distinguished from the former And herein especially standeth that offering of himselfe vp to God his Father for vs. As the Apostle The abomination of the Popish Masse wherein the Priest offereth vp Christ euery day vnto his Father testifieth Hebrewes 9. 14. How much more shall the bloud of CHRIST who by his
for the World but for those whom thou hast giuen me Fiftly For what things this Intercession is made Not for some one or few benefits but that we may be partakers of all the good things that he hath wrought Faith or Vocation Vnion with himselfe that is to say Regeration Righteousnesse and Sanctification through him Constancie and Perseuerance in the estate of Grace and finally Eternall Happinesse for all these parts are particularly set downe Iohn 17. as namely Verse 20. 21. I pray for all that are to beleeue in me by their Ministerie that all may be one as thâ—â— Father in me and Iâ—n thee So that they also may be one with vs that the World may beleeue that thou hast sent mee Verse 17. Sanctifie them by thy Truth Verse 11 Holy 〈…〉 er keepe them in thy Name Verse 15. I pray not that thou 〈…〉 them out of the World but that thou keepe them from th 〈…〉 one Verse 13. That they may haue my ioy fulfilled to them Verse 24. Righteous Father whom thou hast giuen vnto me I desire that where I am there they also may be that they may behold my Glorie which thou hast giuen me And Verse 26. That the loue wherewith thou hast loued me may be vpon them So hee doth expresse the Intercession hee made for Peter to bee That his faith should not faile Luke 22. 32. Intercession therefore of our Sauiour Christ is as it were a continuall plaister for the curing of the manifold slips frailties and sins whereunto the faithfull through infirmitie doe continually fall that so by a speciall and continuall application of his Merit our persons may remayne iust and our workes acceptable to God 1. Iohn 2. 1. If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate c. Sixtly That as in his humanitie hee desireth all these things for our Saluation and the applying of his Merits and death vnto vs so by the power of his Deâ—â—e he doth indeed apply them whereunto his being in t Heb. â— â—4 Heauen and in the sight of God his u Rom. â— 34. sitting at the right hand of his Father and his x Heb. 7. 25. euerliuing doe much 〈…〉 le making that Intercession of his as in it selfe more glorious so for vs more gracious and acceptable and able perfectly to saue them that come to God by him Seuenthly That y Rom. 8. 26. making Intercession for vs hee teacheth vs also by his Spirit to make Intercession to God with Prayers sighes and grones that cannot bee expressed CHAP. III. Of Christs Gouernment of the World in generall AFter the Priesthood of Christ next followeth Such is the Priest-hood of Christ his Kingdome followeth his Kingdome which is euerywhere spoken of in the Scriptures and most honourable and glorious promises made vnto it Esay 9. 7. A Child shall bee borne vnto vs and a Sonne giuen to vs vpon whose shoulder the Dominion shall lye Esay 32. 1. Behold a King shall raigne in Righteousnesse And Ierem. 23. 5. A King shall raigne and prosper Generally in his Kingdome I obserue three things Kingdome First A calling of Christ by God his Father to it for as hee intruded not himselfe into the Office of a Priest but expected the calling of his Father so he tooke not vpon him to raigne before hee had a Kingdome giuen him Therefore Psalme 2. 6. God is brought in saying I haue appointed my King ouer Sion my holy Hill And Dan. 2. 44. it is said In those dayes shall the God of Heauen rayse vp a Kingdome So Luke 1. 32. the Angell telleth MARIE The Lord shall giue vnto him the Throne of his Father DAVID And PETER z Acts 2. 36. Him hath God made both Lord and Christ Secondly The inuesting of him into the Princely Honour and Administration of his Kingdome whereof he had full seizin and was put into the actuall and reall possession of it when he ascended into Heauen which a man may call his going vp vnto his Coronation Daniel a Dan. 7. 13 14 in his seuenth Chapter hath a notable description of it seeing in a Vision Christ God and Man comming out of Heauen into the lower parts of the Earth to worke the mysterie of our Redemption and that done ascending into Heauen to the Ancient of dayes God his Father to present himselfe before him And to him saith hee was giuen Dominion Glorie and a Kingdome Thirdly The fruit and end of all this the same wherevnto is in the things which he doth from God for those Elect the whole worke of his Mediation tendeth which is our b Ephes â— 16. Peace and Reconciliation with God in and through him Therefore hee is called The c Esay 9. 6. Prince of Peace d Heb. 7. 2. The King of Righteousnesse and The King of Peace figured by MELCHISEDECH King of Shalem And heereupon the e Rom. 14. 17. Apostle saith that the Kingdome of God is Righteousnesse Peace and loy in the Holy Ghost More specially to treat of this his Kingdome It parteth The kingdome of Christ hath two parts it selfe into three mayne Armes or Branches rising by so many steps or stayres one is his Gouernment of the World in generall taking things in such sort as the Fall did leaue them without vouchsafing any further fauour And this may bee called the footstoole of his Kingdome Another standeth in the bestowing of his Word and the fruits thereof matters of speciall grace though such as fall vpon the Reprobate and this may be called the Scepter of his Kingdome The third Is the giuing of his Spirit whereby of carnall he maketh vs spirituall and heauenly Creatures and this may be called the Seate and Throne or rather the Life and Power of his Kingdome as these three parts are so distinguished and in the same order Psal 93. The first words of which Psalme in a holy triumph and reioycing-wise expresse the generall argument that Iehouah which is Christ our Lord raigneth and not raigneth onely but hath his Raigne accompanied with two Noble Adiuncts Glorie and Power Then hee commeth to distinguish the parts First his Gouernment of the World considered in two degrees One the stay and sustentation of all things the same which the f Heb. 1. 3 Apostle so highly magnifieth to the Hebrewes for whereas Adams sinne had turned vpside downe the whole frame of Nature and according to the curse What day thou eatest of the forbidden fruit thou shalt certainly dye had brought man and all the Creatures for mans sake to vtter ruine and desolation Christ the Mediator steppeth forth and there beginneth his Kingdome in holding vp the World which otherwise had instantly come to nothing This you haue in the latter end of the first Verse The inhabited World is settled it shall not be remoued And that so wonderfull a thing as this a worke of such admiration might haue a reason sutable to make it not seeme strange the Prophet
of their torments and looseth them out of those chaines and fetters of darkenesse wherewith they are held fast Hence it is that Luke 8. 32. they besought this Iesus not to charge them to depart into the Deepe And this benefit the Deuils themselues haue from Christ for the good of his Church and the working of his glorie Thirdly He restrayneth and bridleth them that notwithstanding all their rage and malice they cannot exceed the bounds that hee hath set and when they haue done all they can they bring to passe but his good will and pleasure So Mat. 8. 31. The Deuils could not so much as take their pleasure of the poore Herd of Swine before they had begged leaue of Christ Fourthly The subduing and conquering of them for t 1. Co. 15. 24 25 hee shall abolish all Principalitie and all Dignitie and Might being to raigne till hee haue put all enemies vnder his feet As u Psal 110. 1. Dauid had said long before and as the x Gen. 3. 15. promise was in Paradise The seed of the woman shall breake the Head of the Serpent and of his seed Fiftly The iudging of them in the latter Day which the vncleane spirits themselues acknowledge and confesse when they expostulate the matter with him Art thou come to torment vs before the time Mat. 8. 29. Touching his Gouernment ouer Man-kind this is and men corrupted common that he bestoweth vpon them all the light of Reason and those seedes and ornaments of GODS Image which they carrie yet about Iohn 1. 9. This is hee that lighteneth euery man that commeth into the World Specially towards the Reprobate is the same in all points that is to Satan their head that is to say First A perpetuall obduration and hardening of their hearts vnto finall vnrepentance for so the y Iohn 12. 39 40 41. Euangelist Iohn when hee had shewed that the Iewes could not beleeue because Esay had said He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart lest they should see with their eyes and vnderstand with their heart and I should heale them Immediately hee addeth These things said ESAIAS when he saw his glorie and spake of him Secondly The restrayning and bridling of them that notwithstanding all their rage and furie they cannot go beyond his appointed Lists as wee see in z Acts 9. 1. c. Saul who breathing out threatning and slaughter after the death of Stephen went with full swindge to Damascus to cast into Prison all that called vpon the Name of Iesus but hee in the verie way meeting with him restrayneth his malice and changeth his heart to professe the Truth which before hee persecuted And this is it the a Psal 76. 11. Psalmist saith The rage of men shall turne vnto his glorie Thirdly His conquering and suduing of them Psal 2. 9. Thou shalt crush them with a Scepter of Iron and breake them in pieces like a Potters Vessell Luke 19. 31. Those mine enemies that would not I should raigne ouer them bring hither and slay them before me Fourthly That he is to iudge them in the latter Day for this b Acts 10. 43. is he that is appointed of God the Iudge both of the liuing and the dead And as Paul saith Acts 17. 31. God hath set a Day wherein he will iudge the World by the man whom he hath appointed To the rest of the Creatures this belongeth In the rest of the World peruerted First That now hee keepeth them from running and falling vnto nothing Secondly That hereafter he will renew them into an excellent and glorious condition Both c Psal 96. 10 11 12. which are the worke of Christ and that for his Elects sake CHAP. IIII. Of the Propheticall Office of Christ and of the outward Church WE haue done with CHRISTS Office of a The other which is vnto his Church a companie of men culled out of the World who beleeue or professe to beleeue in him This latter part contayneth his Propheticall Office and that which the Scripture by excellencie termeth The Kingdome Iudge in the generall gouernment of the World The second Arme or Branch of his Kingdome is the Propheticall Office A part I make it of his Kingdome not of his Priest-hood First For that all his Priestly Functions are betweene God and Him as the Apostle defineth them to be in matters to Godwards Heb. 5. 1. But these of his Propheticall Office as the rest of his Kingdome are vnto his Church Secondly Because those wherein the Propheticall Office Propheticall Office is thought to consist Teaching Preaching Ministring of the Sacraments Discipline and such like whervnto Miracles come also to bee annexed are matters of Authoritie and of Power deriued from his Kingly Office and his Word is called The e Mat. 13. 19. Word of the Kingdome yea the preaching of the Gospell and the outward Church collected and gathered by the same hath the name of f Mat. 13. 24 47 52. the Kingdome of Heauen Thirdly Since the Ministerie of Christ hath alwayes going with it an effectuall and liuely working of his Spirit as one speciall part of this Propheticall Office his Ministerie must needes bee a Noble and a Royall Dignity that is accompayned with so great a force and power Fourthly It is by vertue of his Kingly Office that he sendeth forth Prophets and Apostles and all other Ministers prooued Ephes 4. 8 11 12. where Paul describing the Royaltie of his Kingdome that hee led captiuitie captiue and gaue gifts vnto men immediatly addeth He therefore gaue some to be Apostles some to bee Euangelists some Prophets some Pasters and Teachers for the knitting together of the Saints for the worke of the Ministerie for the building vp of the Body of Christ But this all must grant that he doth as the Head of the Prophets Therefore the Propheticall Office is one part of his Kingly bountie And albeit Teaching may seeme a part of the Priestly Function by that which is written Deut. 33. 10. They teach IACOB thy Iudgements and Israel thy Law yet the essentiall point of the Priests Office which stood in Sacrifices and Oblations must bee distinguished from that common to the whole Tribe of Leui as in that very place the words following doe distinguish them They put Incense before thy face and Sacrifice wholy to bee consumed vpon thine Altar for as Priests they went no further then to doe and to be types of those things which before were assigned vnto the Priest-hood of Christ Their Office of teaching and instructing the people they had another calling for common with the Tribe of Leui which the Prophets else who were not of the same Tribe yet tooke vpon them being raysed vp extraordinarily for that purpose from whom this part of Christs Office tooke the name and not from the Priestly Function though they were also called of GOD vnto it The Propheticall Office of Christ respecteth a Church Which is
to the Church of Professors it standeth in an outward calling and gifts An outward calling when by his Word that is to say his publishing of the Couenant of Grace and people in bestowing vpon them his Word and the fruit it bringeth forth by the working of his Spirit for these three Prophet Word and Church haue a perpetuall relation one vnto another Wherefore in handling the Propheticall Office the Word of Christ is first to be spoken of and then his Church The Word of Christ is all the holy Doctrine that hee hath taught from the beginning concerning our saluation through him Wherein obserue First Christ is the matter and onely subiect and substance of the Word In that regard himselfe is called The g Iohn 1. 1. Word or h Reuel 19. 13. The Word of God Because of him and of him alone it is that there are in the Word so many glorious and excellent speeches and the Doctrine of the Gospell hath the name of the Word of Christ Col. 3. 16. So as it is not any naturall knowledge that this Doctrine teacheth but heauenly and supernaturall which was not in Adam before his fall though he were perfectly holy and endued with all manner of naturall vnderstanding Secondly He himselfe as he is the matter so he is the Authour of the Word In which respect the Scripture giueth these names vnto him First He is called Hamedabber or the Speaker and Interpreter of his Fathers Will Dan. 8. 13. To which place it may be the Apostle i Heb. 12. 25. hath some eye when hee saith Take heed yee reiect not him that speaketh or the Speaker meaning Christ Secondly A Doctor k Mat. 3. 10. or a Teacher Thirdly A l Deut. 18. 15. Acts 3. 22. Prophet the head and Lord of the Prophets Fourthly an m Heb. 3. 1. Apostle Fiftly The n Mal. 3. 1. Angell of the Couenant And that wee may know with what Graces our Sauiour Christ is furnished for o Col. 2. 3. so great a worke all the treasures of Knowledge and Vnderstanding are hidden in him yea he is Wisdome p 1. Cor. 1. 24. it selfe or q Luke 11. 49. the Wisdome of God and called as by a proper name r Dan. 8. 13. Palmonie that is one that hath all hidden things numbred before him or ready told and as we say at his fingers ends which as occasion doth serue he vttereth to his Church Wherefore here is the Touch-stone of all Truth and there is no truth concerning God and our Saluation in Christ but in the Word our Sauiour himselfe bearing record Iohn 17. 17. Thy word is Truth Touching the outward instruments which it hath pleased him to vse in the deliuerie of this Word sometimes he spake by his owne voyce from Heauen sometimes by the Ministerie of his holy Angels But specially this outward Ministerie is either his owne which hee executed personally himselfe when hee was vpon the Earth described Esay 42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. in regard whereof he is called a Minister ſ Rom. 15. 8. The Minister of Circumcision and a t Esay 42. 1. Seruant or it is of his Seruants from the beginning of the World of whom hee saith He u Luke 10 16. that heareth you heareth mee and hee that reiecteth you reiecteth me Of whose Ministeries and Functions we shall haue cause to speake hereafter Therefore Christs Office of a Teacher did not first begin when hee tooke our flesh vpon him for his Spirit it was that spake in the Prophets long before hee came into the World as the Apostle beareth record 1. Pet. 1. 11. The forewitnessing Spirit of Christ that was in the Prophets declared the sufferings that should befall Christ and the glorie that was to follow And that which is in the Psalmes x Psal 95. 7. To day if ye will heare his voyce the Apostle y Heb. 3. 7. to the Hebrewes referreth to the voyce of Christ Thirdly I note the perfection of this Doctrine that Christ hath opened the whole will of his Father fully and perfectly in euery Age and neuer left his Church without a full and perfect direction of all things necessarie for their saluation for Moses saith z Deut. 30. 15. Behold I set before you this day life and death which hee could not haue said vnlesse there had beene a certaine direction to lead them vnto life And when hee chargeth a Deut. 4. 2. Not to adde to the words that he gaue them in Commandement nor to take from them doth it not prooue that the same was perfect Fourthly The subiect of the Word being Christ it is more particularly the Couenant made in him which by the Word is promulged and offered vnto all and his Spirit maketh effectuall to as many as receiuing the same by faith make themselues worthy of it The which Couenant being distinguished by the Old which being of the Old Testament was called The promise of the New The Gospell Testament and the New as before hath beene declared the publication of the Old Testament in and through Christ to come was called b Acts 13. 32. Gal. 3. 17. The Promise when hee was exhibited and come indeed that worthy and welcome Message was termed c Acts 13. 32. Marke 1. 1. The Gospell or good newes and glad tydings But it is the glory of Christs administration whether in his owne person when hee was among vs or by his and by the power of his Spirit Seruants that the outward dispensing of the Word is accompanied with an inward working of the Spirit of both which parts his Propheticall Office standeth herein differing from all other Ministers who onely preach the Word set d Mat. 3. 11. on the outward Element e 1. Cor. 3. 6. plant and water but the whole blessing doth come from him for he teaching openeth mens mindes e Luke 24. 45. that they may vnderstand the Scriptures and bestoweth other graces which the Word bringeth forth euen in the wicked by a generall working of his Spirit as we are taught by the f Mat. 13. 24. Parable of the Sower and haue g Marke 6. 20. Herod and the h Iohn 5. 35. Iewes for an example It followeth to speake of the Church That which we he draweth men to that Profession call Church signifieth in i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeke a select companie gathered called culled picked out from other men In English it hath the name deriued from that which in Greeke signifieth k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord because they belong to Christ the Lord and are separate to his Seruice be it by an inward whereof commeth the word Church or as the Northerne pronounce Kirk or an outward separation But the outward Church is it which wee are to beginne withall which is in generall the whole number of men professing Christ Concerning which take these few
Chro. 15. 3. Israel by which is meant not the ten Tribes onely but Iudah and Beniamin as the sequel of the Chapter sheweth is said to haue beene a long time without the true God without Priest to teach without the Law And Paul 2. Thess 2. 3. telleth of a generall defection and falling from the Truth that no face of a visible Church should be discerned Antichrist should so vniuersally set vp his throne which in the height and fulnesse of Poperie we see to haue bin accomplished Although that God hath and alwaies had some that are his as appeareth by that which the Lord d Rom. 11. 2 3. answered to Elias But I call it a visible Church because it may be seene and knowne who are such Professors though the Church of the Elect cannot be seene This outward Church vniuersall is further Seuerall companies that assemble for the exercises of the Word are so many Churches members of the whole to be considered in the beautie it receiueth by companies and assemblies drawne by the power of Christs Spirit to associate and ioyne themselues together in the profession of his Name which is a singular ornament and a marueilous gracing of the whole thus to be distinguished into particular meetings as it were the field of the Lord into seuerall closures or a garden into seuerall beds or alleyes Whereby Gods glory is much the more conspicuous Such a Church or Congregation for so in ordinary sense the Scripture vseth the word Church neither standeth of one or two nor a few in a corner but of many enough to performe all seruices of the Church and those publiquely assembling So the Apostle speaketh of the e 1. Cor. 11. 18. Corinths Comming together to the Church and to the Hebrewes f Heb. 10. 25. Leaue not your assembling together as the manner is of sâ—me But not euery assembly of Professors doth forth with make a Church but their assembling in the name of Christ for Prayer Administration of the Sacraments or other spirituall matters whereby the Church is distinguished from the Common-wealth and ciuill meetings And this badge or marke our Sauiour setteth vpon it Matth. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my name And Paul 1. Cor. 1. 5. 4. 5. I haue decreed when you and my Spirit are gathered together in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ with the power of our Lord Iesus Christ to deliuer such a one to Satan So wee read in the Acts that the first day of the Weeke the Disciples gathered together to breake bread Act. 20. 7. And not in vaine doe the Churches so assemble God And in euery of these hath alwaies some that are his indeed hath made vnto them this large and ample promise that he will be alwayes effectuall to renue some of them by the power of his Spirit vnto euerlasting life for the ministery of the Word with the vse of the Sacraments and the exercise of true discipline sounding in euery Church g Math. 13. 3 â— 5 6 7. neuer returneth emptie but howsoeuer much of it fall by the way or vpon stonie places or among the thornes yet some alwayes lighteth vpon good ground and bringeth forth fruit in that measure that God hath appointed A promise anciently made to the Church as appeareth Esay 9. 251. This shall be my Couenant with them saith IEHOVAH My Spirit that is in thee and the words I haue put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seedes seede saith IEHOVAH from this time forth for euermore Which promise our Sauiour hath also renued Matth. 28. 19 20. Goe therefore and gather Disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to keepe all things whatsoeuer I haue commanded you And behold I am with you alwayes vnto the end of the world Hereof it is that so many things are generally attributed to the Churches professing Christ because the same is alwaies true in some that are among them As where they are called h Eph. 1. 1. Faithfull ones i Eph. 1. 1. Holy k 1. Cor. 1. 2. Sanctified and the Iewes in generall l Exod. 19. 5 6. A holie Nation A peculiar people c. So Deut. 32. 15. They are called leshurum that is The righteous people for that all being called to that honour many of them were such indeed although of a number it were also true that they m Vers 5. were none of his sonnes Another noble Prerogatiue belongeth to the outward Their children also are of the Church Church that they purchase not onely this dignity for themselues by the profession of their faith but their children also are borne free Burgesses of this Citie as the promise is made to n Gen. 17. 7. ABRAHAM I will be the God of thee and of thy seed for as the Apostle saith The gifts which Christ bestoweth vpon the outward Church are for the Churches coÌ„mon good or for a mans owne priuate for the common good are first things committed to the Churches keeping then Ministeries and Graces The things committed are his Word whereof we haue spoken to be preached Sacraments to be administred and other holy things Rom. 11. 16. If the Root be holy so are the branches also Else-where doth the same Apostle Gal. 2. 15. oppose Iewes by nature to sinners of the Gentiles but to shew that from the very birth the children of beleeuing parents are within the outward Couenant of the forgiuenesse of sinnes And this is not to be restrayned to such children onely as are borne of both parents beleeuers but if any one of them be of the Church so is the child likewise for the vnbeleeuing man is sanctified by the beleeuing wife and the vnbeleeuing woman is sanctified by the beleeuing husband so farre as to make our children that otherwise were vncleane to be holy 1. Cor. 7. 14. Christ not onely gathereth a Church vnto himselfe a precious possession out of the world and the delight and ioy of the earth but he garnisheth it also and setteth it forth with many goodly ornaments and rich endowments which the Apostle calleth Gifts Ephe. 4. 7 8. Some for the publique some for a mans owne priuate Of these the first are certaine rich Iewels of inestimable price and valew his Word Sacraments and other holy things which Christ hath layed vp in the Arke of his Church and committed to their care as a treasure which he will trust none but his Church withall As vnder the Law in the Holy of holies wherein was the Arke were kept the o Heb. 9. 3. Tables of the Testament the Word the golden pot that had Manna a Sacrament and Aarons Rod that had budded for p 〈◊〉 â—7 10 1. Cor. 4. 21. a signe against the rebellious His word
operations or faculties to worke great and wonderfull things but the same God there is that worketh all these things in all And so I distinguish those wordes in the question of the High Priests vnto the Apostles c Acts 4. 7. By what power or by what name haue you done this As if they should haue said By what Gifts or Calling noteth the Gift and Grace the other the Function or Calling it selfe Of gifts that are for a mans owne priuate is one knowledge Gifts for a mans owne priuate are knowledge of the Word of Christ and vnderstanding of the Word of Christ An excellent and a goodly grace for howsoeuer knowledge of it selfe without further The Popish assertion that Ignorance is the Mother of Deuotion which the Apostle maketh the Mother of Pride and of Rebellion against God Rom. 10. 3. grace bee not of power to reforme the hart yet it is so necessary that the holy Ghost pronounceth e Pro. 29. 2. Without knowledge the heart cannot bee good And this also is the proper worke of Christ for f Iohn 1. 18. No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten Sonne who is in the bosome of his Father he hath declared him But knowledge as I said a man may haue and yet be and a taste of the sweetnesse of it which being the highest step that it is possible for any Reprobate to ascend neuer a whit the neerer to his Saluation nor haue made one pace vnto the heauenly Kingdome as touching any reformation of the heart That which followeth bringeth a change and alteration with it which the g Heb. 6. 4. Apostle calleth A tasting of the good Word of God c. meaning the sweet promises of the Gospell and is the furthest step that it is possible for any Reprobate to goe Wherein I obserue foure things First That it is a peculiar worke of Christ and commeth not but from him and h Heb. 10. 29. the Spirit of his Grace Secondly That it is not a counterfeit shew of holinesse or in hypocrisie onely but a matter of truth and an excellent grace of GOD wrought indeed in them touching and affecting their hearts as the Apostle Peter plainly sheweth 2. Pet. 1. 8. They beguile those that i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indeed had escaped from them that were conuersant in errour Thirdly I obserue the neerenesse and affinitie that it hath with the sauing faith and the fruits of this with the fruits of that in which respect it pleaseth the Holy Ghost to call them both by one and the same name for they are said to bee k Heb. 6. 4. enlightened to l Heb. 10. 29. receiue the Spirit of Grace to m Luke 8. 13. They beleeued for a time Iohn 2. 24. Many beleeued yet he would not commit himselfe vnto them because he knew them all and what was in them Acts 8. 13 Then Simon also himselfe beleeued haue Faith to beleeue that the n Mat. 12. 43. vncleane spirit is gone out of them to flye o 2. Pet. 1. 20. the pollutions of the World to be p 2. Pet. 2. 22. washed to be q Heb. 10. 29. sanctified by the Spirit to be made r Heb. 6. 5. partaker of the Holy Ghost And the mayne sinne committed here-against is termed in the Scripture ſ Mat. 12. 13 32 Sinne against the Holy Ghost So that these men come to the skirt of the Holy Land and as Moses did from Mount Nebo behold it from afar or rather are at the very gate of the Kingdome of Heauen though for lacke of Faith they cannot enter in In nature it commeth so neere that they taste the changeth after a sort mans corrupt nature sweetnesse and excellency that is in Christ as we shewed before out of Heb. 6. 4. In the fruits and effects that a great and wonderfull change is wrought in them in all their parts and powers their Vnderstanding Will affections Wayes For touching their Vnderstanding they are t Heb. 10. 26. inlightened to the Knowledge and acknowledgement of Christ Touching their Will they desire to bee like Gods Children and to bee saued as Balaam did Numbers 23. 10. O that my soule might dye the death of the Righteous and that my last end might be like theirs For their Affections to omit those that comming from the Law and Couenant of workes may be in such as neuer heard of Christ as terrour and pricking of conscience for their sinnes which u Acts 24. 25. Felix had when Paul disputed of Righteousnesse Temperance and of the Iudgement to come to bee sorrie for them as x Heb. 12. 17. Esay that with teares sought the blessing and y Mat. 27. 35. Iudas that repented him and in the anguish of his soule hanged himselfe Those that properly belong to this place are First An imbracing of the Truth whereupon they are said to z Heb. 10. 25. receiue the Word and to receiue the acknowledgement of the Truth as it were taking it in their armes and imbracing it Secondly Ioy and Gladnesse in the sweet promises of the Gospell They a Heb. 6. 4 5. taste the good Word of God and the powers of the life to come they b Mat. 13. 20. receiue the Word by and by with ioy So did the c Iohn 5. 35. Iewes who willingly reioyced for a while in IOHNS light And d Marke 6. 20. Herod that heard him gladly Thirdly Zeale which was in the Galatians e Gal. 4. 15. that receiued Paul as an Angell and would haue plucked out their eyes to haue done him good and yet afterwards fell away So was f 2. Kin. 10. 16. Iehu zealous for Gods cause in the defacing of Idolatrie and yet a g 2. Kin. 10. 31 wicked man Fourthly Reuerence of the Ministers as HEROD h Marke 6. 20. reuerenced IOHN knowing him to bee a iust and a holy man and obserued him Changes in their actions and wayes Beside a confession of their faults with i Exod. 9. 27. PHARAOH I haue sinned this time IEHOVAH is most iust but I and my people are most wicked And k 1. Sam. 15. 24 26. 21. SAVL I haue sinned now c. And a conforming of themselues in the outward duties of holinesse as to heare the Word preached which l Marke 6. 20. Herod did to Prayer c. They haue these First Vexation in themselues and disquietnesse of minde before they commit sinne and feare to commit it So m Marke 6. 26. Herod was sore grieued to grant Herodias request when shee asked Iohn Baptists head and n Mat. 27. 24. Pilate much troubled in minde before he condemned Christ and sought all meanes to put it off Secondly Repentance and a kinde of humiliation for sinnes committed as o 1. Kings 21. 27 29. Ahab that rent his clothes and put sackcloth vpon him and fasted
childrens bodies are not able to beare the other And here a three-fold Ceremonie is to bee obserued First The sprinkling secondly The lying as it were vnder the water thirdly The rising out of it all which the Apostle noteth Rom. 6. 3 4. The grace signified is our incorporating into Christ And therefore it is called i Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercie he hath saued vs by the Lauer of Regeneration The Lauer or Sacrament of Regeneration and thereupon wee are said in Baptisme k Gal. 3. 27. As many of you as are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ to put on Christ Whereof followeth First That it is the first Sacrament of the Church as birth is the first beginning of our life Secondly Children of beleeuing Catabaptists that denie the baptisme of Children parents in that they are members of the Church and partakers of the Couenant cannot bee shut from Baptisme which is the Sacrament thereof no more than they might from Circumcision Wherefore our Sauiour l Mark 10. 14. saith Suffer little children to come vnto me for vnto such belongeth the Kingdome of God Thirdly that is to bee done The Donatists and Nouatians that hold Rebaptization The Papists teach that Baptisme hath onely force to purge sinnes past The Nouatians denie forgiuenesse of sinnes to them that fell after Baptisme but once only as men are borne but once yet it assureth vs of our vnion with Christ not once but all the dayes of our life and testifieth the forgiuenesse of all sinnes past present or to come And therefore is said to saue vs 1. Pet. 3. 2. Fourthly Hereupon wee are said to be baptized into the name of the m Math. 28. 29 Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost because by Baptisme we being consecrate to God are ioyned to him to beare his name as the wife beareth the name of her husband Fiftly It is a Sacrament also of our vniting into the Church Therefore n Gal. 3. 27. Paul after he had said As many of you as are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ immediately addeth For all you are one in Christ Iesus Sixtly Being a seale of Regeneration consequently it sealeth vp the fruits thereof Iustification and Sanctification Hee hath saued vs saith o Tit. 3. 5 6 7. PAVL by the Lauer of Regeneration and of the renewing of the holy Spirit which hee hath shed forth vpon vs richly through Iesus Christ our Sauiour That beeing iustified by his grace wee might be made heires in hope of euerlasting life A seale it is of Iustification in this sort first Of the hiding and couering of sinnes by the couering of the childes face with water Secondly of Christs accomplishment of the Law making vs righteous by the water washing and making cleane the Bodie It is a seale of Sanctification thus First The water lying vpon the childes face declareth that the old Adam in the baptized person is buried with Christ our Sauiour Secondly As after the water shed from the Bodie the Bodie appeareth white and cleane so doe wee rise and appeare in newnesse of life and hereof it is called a p Mark 1. 3. Sacrament of Repentance Iohn baptized in the Wildernes and preached the baptisme of Repentance vnto the forgiuenesse of sinnes Matth. 3. 11. I baptize you with water vnto Repentance The forme whereof is thus or to this effect I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost All these vses both for Iustification and Sanctification and the distinct parts of euery one the Apostle notably setteth forth Rom. 6. 3 4 5 6. Know yee not that all wee which haue beene baptized into Iesus Christ haue beene baptized into his Death Wee are buried then with him by Baptisme into his Death that like as Christ was raysed from the dead vnto the glorie of the Father so also wee should walke in newnesse of life For if wee bee grafted with him to the similitude of his death euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection Knowing this that our olde man is crucified with him that the bodie of Sinne might be destroyed that henceforth wee should not serue Sin The forme of Baptisme which the Minister is here to vse is this q Matth. 28. 19 I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost The Lords Supper is a receyuing of Bread and Wine to assure our growing vp in Christ where the outward signe is double as before in Baptisme The Lords Supper is a feeding with Bread and Wine First The matter both r Matth. 26. 26 27. bread Papists by their Doctrine of Transubstantiation take away the signes in the Supper and wine of which Elements God made choyce because they are the chiefest meanes of nourishment And of them both to shew how plentifull and assured a Redemption we haue in Christ The kind of Bread must bee The Popish Wafer-cakes ordinarie Bread according as our Sauiour Christ tooke such as was vsed at the common table at that time Secondly The action which is the Ministers breaking of bread and powring forth The Superstition of the Papists which will haue it thrust into their mouthes of wine with his deliuering of them both and the peoples receyuing of them Matth. 26. 26 27. As they did eate Iesus tooke Bread and when he had blessed he brake it and gaue it to his Disciples and said Take eate c. Also he tooke the Cup and when he had giuen thankes he gaue it to them saying Drinke c. And of this Wine all are to The sacriledge of Poperie robbing the people of the vse of the Cup. Their priuate and Corner-Masses drinke aswell the people as the Minister so expresly prouided Matth. 26. 27. Drinke yee all of this which is more than he said of the Bread The graces signified are our growing vp in Christ to assure our continuance in the Couenant wherein is noted our continuance in him with increase and consequently iustification and holinesse of life for in the elements themselues the Bread and Wine set before vs the Bodie and Bloud of Christ Matth. 26. 26 27 28. He brake the Bread and said Take eate this is my Bodie Also he tooke the Cup and said Drinke yee all of it for this is my bloud of the New Testament that is shed for many Their nourishing of our Bodies signifie his spirituall feeding of our Soules 1. Cor. 12. 13. By one Spirit we are all made to drink into one Spirit which quickneth and putteth life into vs. In the Actions the Bread broken before our eyes doth represent Passion and sufferings 1. Cor. 11. 24. ſ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As Matth. 23. 38. Behold your house is left 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto you desolate That is most certainely shall be left and that shortly He tooke
the Bread and brake it and said Take eate This is my bodie which is broken for you By broken meaning the tearing brusing and tormenting both of his soule and bodie as it is also taken Esay 53. 5. which here he vttereth in the present time for the certainety of that which should anon follow The Wine powred out represented his Bloud trickling and streaming downe of all parts of him to the ground Matth. 26. 28. This is my bloud of the New Testament which is that is to say shall certainely and that anon be shed for many The Ministers deliuering of Bread Wine signifieth Gods giuing of Christ to all beleeuers our taking of Bread and Wine the apprehending of Christ by faith and applying him to our selues Matth. 26. 26 27 28. He gaue the Bread to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my Bodie Our eating and drinking of the Bread and Wine the continuance and increase in that holy vnion and fellowship which wee haue with him 1. Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which wee blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ The Bread which we breake is it not the Communion of the bodie of Christ Eating all of one Bread and drinking of one Cup signifieth the vnitie of Christs mysticall Bodie whereof wee are all members 1. Cor. 10. 17. Because it is one Bread wee that are many are one Bodie for wee all partake of one Bread And therefore it is also a Sacrament of loue for testification whereof the first times of the Church had their solemne Banquets which they called t Iude ver 12. Loue-feasts annexed to it till the same growing into abuse the Apostle by his authoritie did abolish them 1. Cor. 11. 20 21 22. But here ariseth a great and difficult question whether the Bread and Wine remaine after the consecration I say it doth for First it were else no Sacrament if there be no signe left of a thing signified Secondly It ouerthroweth the truth of CHRISTS humane nature to make it in many places at once to bee inuisible without colour or accidents All which must bee admitted if CHRISTS very flesh be there Thirdly It is contrarie to the expresse authoritie of the SCRIPTVRE which saith u Acts 3. 21. Heauen must contayne him till the time of the restoring of all things Fourthly If the bread be Christ then in the first Institution there were two Christs one that gaue the bread for that Christ himselfe did another that was giuen And as he which is Truth it selfe saith This is my body So he x Luke 22. 10. saith that the Cup is the New Testament which must needs be vnderstood figuratiuely for the Wine to bee a seale of the New Testament as Baptisme is called The new y Titus 3. 5. birth and washing z Acts 22. 16. of sinnes And the like is commonly to bee seene in the Old Testament as wee heard before of Circumcision and the Paschall Lambe which gaue occasion to our Sauiour Christ speaking by the same Spirit to vse the same course of figuratiue and borrowed speeches being oftentimes more lightsome then the other and better fitting the nature of a Sacrament and that neere coniunction which is betweene the signe the thing signified Christ himselfe being indeed and truely giuen in the Sacrament but spiritually by Faith not in a carnall or fleshly manner The forme which the Minister is here to vse is in deliuery of the Bread a 1. Cor. 11. 24. Take yee eat yee This is my Bodie which is giuen for you Doe this in remembrance of mee In deliuerie of the Cup b Mat. 26. 27 28 1. Cor. 11. 25. Drinke yee all of this for this is my bloud of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Doe this as oft as yee shall drinke it in remembrance of me These are the The Papists dreame of fiue other Sacraments Matrimonie Orders Penance Confirmation and Extreme Vnction whereof Confirmation and Extreme Vnction are vtterly their owne inuentions without any warrant of the Word The other three haue foundation in the Word but not for any Sacraments for touching Matrimonie and Penance neither of them are Ceremonies but Matrimonie a morall dutie Penance as they call it the grace it selfe promised in the Gospell In Orders or Imposition of hands there is indeed a Ceremonie but neither common to the whole Church nor instituted for the assurance of our Reconciliation with God in Christ which is the end and the nature of all Sacraments The reason of the Papists to make Matrimonie a Sacrament for that the Apostle Ephes 5. 32. saith This is a great Mysterie which the old Interpreter translateth This is a great Sacrament is ridiculous for First Paul saith Mysterie onely And if as oft not onely as the word Mysterie is vsed but as the old Interpreter translateth the same Sacrament wee should forthwith haue a new Sacrament there would be no end of Sacraments Then the calling of the Gentiles must bee a Sacrament then the Will of God must be a Sacrament and many moe for so the old Interpreter translateth this word Ephes 1. 9. and 3. 9. and Colos 1. 27. Secondly Paul in that place to the Ephesians doth plainly expound himselfe vnder the name of Mysterie to comprehend not the coniunction of man and wife but the spirituall Coniunction which is betweene Christ and his Church To speake nothing how fond is it to make that a Sacrament which is the Ordinance of God not for his Church onely but for those which are without and which they themselues by their doctrine barre their holy Shauelings from two Sacraments and all the Sacraments that are of perpetuall vse in the Church of GOD for the strengthening of our Faith For first these are onely commanded Mat. 28. 19. Go baptize all Nations Mat. 26. 27 28. Take eate c. Drinke ye all of this Secondly By them all the graces of Regeneration are perfectly assured and sealed vp vnto vs. In Baptisme our first entrance and ingraffing into Christ In the Supper our continuāce growing vp in him And that is it that the Apostle meaneth when hee saith that by those two wee partake of whole Christ his Bodie and Spirit 1. Cor. 12. 13 14. By one Spirit we haue all beene baptized into one Bodie there is our incorporating and beene all made to drinke into one Spirit that quickeneth and keepeth life within vs there is the increase and growing vp in Christ Thirdly The same Sacraments haue beene in substance to all Gods people from the beginning of the World and neuer any more 1. Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. Now I would not haue you ignorant Brethren that all our Fathers were vnder the Cloud and all passed thorow the Sea and all were baptized comming vnto MOSES with the Cloud and with the Sea And all did eat the same Spirituall meat and did all drinke the same Spirituall drinke
with hands euerlasting in the Heauens k 1. Ioh. 3. 4. We know that wee are translated from death vnto life because we loue the brethren l Matth. 9. 2. Sonne be of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee m 1. Tim. 1. 15. Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe As if he should say One and a speciall one Giuing to vnderstand that he himselfe was one of those whom Christ came into the world to saue Lastly This is proued by both the Sacraments the seales of the Couenant of grace which are giuen and offered to euery particular man Therefore the n Eph. 3 17. Apostle assigneth it as a fruit of faith that thereby Christ dwelleth in our hearts which without a particular application cannot be From this part Faith is termed a speciall confidence o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affiance or trust for the nature of Faith is chiefly seene in it when the will and heart is not so much in expectation and hope as it doth in present apprehend some good and dependeth thereupon and reioyceth as if it had it which affiance is of the nature of Faith both deriued from one p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 38. Phil. 1. 6. 2. Cor. 5. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word that signifieth to perswade Another kind of confidence there is which is but a consequence and a fruit of faith whereof we shal speake hereafter Touching the subiect or persons to whom it is appropriate Faith is the proper and peculiar gift of Gods Elect which onely differenceth them from the rest of the World for all other graces be they neuer so bright or shining are common with the Reprobate but faith with the fruits thereof is proper to the godly Wherevpon Tit. 1. 1. it is called The faith of Gods Elect for onely they and of them all and euerie one are in their time by vertue of Gods Couenant brought to beleeue Ioh. 6. 37. Euerie one that the Father giueth mee commeth vnto mee Else in what better case are wee now then when the couenant of Workes did hold vs seeing it is as impossible of our selues and by our own strength to repent and belieue the Gospel which is the condition of the Couenant of Grace as it was to fulfill the Law Wherefore we must vnderstand that God to speake properly doth not require the same as a mutuall resâ—ipulation of our part as it was in the former Couenant where nothing is imposed which mans nature could not weild But here it is rather a declaration of his pleasure what he would haue vs doe and whereunto he will enable vs not a condition to endanger the Couenant but an assurance that he will giue vs strength to keepe it So as the whole Couenant properly and in truth riseth of his part and lyeth vpon him Like his other Couenant q Ier. 31. 35 36. brought to confirme this with the Sun and Moone and Starres whom otherwise vnable of themselues he maketh to runne their course But howsoeuer r Ier. 32. 39. Ezech. 36. 26 27. all come from his onely grace and vertue yet to vs that are not stockes and stones but endued with a reasonable 2. Cor. 5. 17 18. soule vnderstanding will and other faculties this Couenant is wont to bee expressed sometimes by words Å¿ Rom. 10. 9. Rom. 8 13. conditionall sometimes in t Ezech. 18. 31. commanding wise that the greatnesse of the perill and the difficultie of the precept might make vs to bestirre our selues to vse with care and conscience the meanes that he appointeth for the attayning of that precious gift and to worke together with God when we are once wrought vpon by his Spirit And herein lieth one other maine difference between the Law and the Gospel or the couenant of Works and this couenant of Grace The Law onely commandeth obedience but giueth no power to obey and therefore is called u 2. Cor. 3. 3 6 8 9. The dead Letter written with Inke and in Tables of Stone readie indeed to be read and seene but hauing no life in it to change the heart which remayneth as stonie as before The Gospel not onely commandeth but giueth faith and newnesse of life and is therefore said to be written in our hearts and called The ministration of the Spirit because it giueth the Spirit of Christ and righteousnesse through him The Law therefore pronouncing nothing but Iudgement and condemnation against vs as that which commandeth things impossible by reason of our weakenesse terrifieth and amazeth the conscience In which respect it is called x 2. Cor. 3. 7 9. The ministerie of death and condemnation Contrariwise the Gospel bringing glad tidings of peace and reconciliation quieteth appeaseth the conscience Rom. 5. 1. Being iustified by faith wee haue peace with God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Both parts of this difference are found Rom. 10. 5 6 7 8. For MOSES thus describeth the righteousnesse which is of the Law that the man which doth these things shall liue thereby But the righteousnesse which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heauen That is to bring Christ from aboue Or Who shall descend into the deepe That is to bring Christ againe from the dead But what saith it The Word is neere thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart This is the Word of Faith which wee preach But if God bestow faith vpon all and euery of his Elect what shall wee then say of Infants that dye in the Mothers Wombe or assoone as they are borne who cannot as it seemeth properly bee said to haue faith and yet neuerthelesse we cannot deny but the x Mat. 19. 14. Kingdome of God doth appertayne vnto them If it bee cleere that Infants haue no faith then wee must needes say the Spirit of God in some other vnspeakeable manner vniteth them vnto Christ But yeelding all due respect to other mens opinions I should thinke that were rather a quaere then a ruled case for First As they haue knowledge and other faculties of the minde without which no reasonable soule consisteth so I doe not see but they may haue supernaturall Grace some seedes of the habit of faith for the apprehending of Christ that are of the nature of faith and faith it selfe in a kind which how small soeuer sufficeth to saluation doth the weaknesse of the Organ of the bodie make it impossible for God to worke supernaturally in their soule and to giue to little children whome his purpose is to saue at the least so much illumination of the minde more then is ordinarie for that age as may bee fit to receiue the Grace of Christ Those whom in a moment and at an instant as soone as they are taken vp into Heauen hee filleth with a whole Sea of Knowledge and Vnderstanding of Christ more then all the Prophets and Apostles had
our Sauiour Christ n Iohn 10. 27 28 29 30. My sheepe heare my voyce and I know them and they follow me and I giue euerlasting Life vnto them and they shall neuer perish neither shall any pull them out of my hand My Father which hath giuen them me is greater then all and none can pull them out of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one And againe o Iohn 6. 37 39 40. Euery one that the Father giueth mee commeth vnto mee and him that commeth vnto me I will not cast out but I will rayse him vp in the latter Day To conclude that which is said Mat. 16. 18. that the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against the Church must needs bee true of euery one which by Faith is made a member of the Church So that our faith how weake soeuer it be in it selfe yet it is firme and strong in and through him that hath promised to hold it vp so as all aduersarie powers shall not be able to root it out which is the fulnesse of excellencie purchased for vs by Christ that being quickened from death and a spirituall life put into vs we are no more at our owne hand left to keepe our selues and so in danger to lose all againe as Adam did but haue the promise of a continuall support and stay by the mightie working of Christs Spirit till we come to his heauenly Kingdome where is nothing but Eternitie And therefore he that once beleeueth is said p Iohn 3. 36. alreadie to haue eternall Life to q Ephes 2. 6. bee raised vp and seated in heauenly places r Rom. 8. 30. glorified c. for the certaintie and vndoubted assurance of it And Å¿ Rom. 5. 1. being iustified by Faith saith the Apostle We haue peace with God which could not possibly be if we were not sure to continue in the state of Grace As for those exhortations so common in the Scripture t 1. Cor. 10. 12. He that thinketh he standeth let him take held lest hee fall u 2. Iohn ver 8. Looke to your selues that wee lose not the good things which we haue wrought but that wee may receiue a full reward x Reuel 3. 11. Hold fast that thou hast that no man take away thy Crowne y Heb. 12. 15. Take heed that no man fall from the Grace of God z 1. Thes 5. 19. Quench not the Spirit and such like whereby it seemeth that the Spirit of Adoption and Sanctification proper to Gods Children may be lost The answere to them and all other of that kinde is short and readie They serue to stirre vs vp to watchfulnesse and diligence and as the Apostle speaketh to worke our saluation in feare and trembling not to teach what is possible for true Beleeuers to doe for as God doth assure the faithfull that they shall perseuer hold on vnto the end so he hath appointed Exhortation and the Preaching of the Word as a meanes whereby hee will nourish this holy fire in vs. But doe not the sinnes and grieuous falls of GODS Elect impeach the truth of this Doctrine Not a whit for the a 1. Iohn 3. 9. seed of God abiding in them maketh that they cannot sinne totally and finally without recouery but are at the length raysed vp againe and in the meane time their Faith and Grace is not extinct and gone how sore soeuer it may bee shaken as is euident to bee seene in Peter whose sinne being of that nature that the sinne against the Holy Ghost except a greater can scarcely be imagined yet his b Luke 22. 32. Faith supported by the Prayer of our Sauiour Christ who hath c Iohn 17. prayed in like sort for all that are his in all that conflict did not faile And Dauid after his fact with Vriahs Wife and the murdering of her Husband prayeth d Psal 51. 13. Take not thy holy Spirit from mee Therefore he had not lost it The other point which is the third qualitie of faith but continually groweth is that continually it groweth Therefore the e Rom. 1. 17. Apostle saith that by the preaching of the Gospell the Righteousnesse of God is reueiled from Faith to Faith That is a Faith that groweth and increaseth continually being nourished and holpen by meditation of the Word of God serious and faithfull Prayer and other meanes which God hath sanctified to keepe this holy f 2. Tim. 1. 6. fire still within vs that it neuer should goe out but flame forth more and more Faith euen when it ceaseth to bee Faith for as wee till we come to see Christ in his Glorie reade 1. Cor. 13. 13. Now and no longer abideth Faith yet euen then we cannot giue her lost since she groweth into a greater and a farre surpassing light to see Christ in his heauenly Kingdome for Faith is in this life and sight in the World to come as the Apostle doth distinguish them 2. Cor. 5. 7. Wee walke by Faith and not by Sight And g 1. Pet. 1. 8. PETER Whom though yee see him not yet ye beleeue in him Sight therefore hath place in the next World and apprehendeth Christ as hee is in himselfe then present without this Glasse of the Word and Sacraments 1. Iohn 3. 2. When he shall be manifested we shall see him as he is 1. Cor. 13. 12. Then after this life we shall see him face to face And both these are in nature and essence one for euen Faith is a kinde of seeing Christ Iohn 6. 69. and 1. Iohn 4 16. Euery one that seeth the Sonne and beleeueth in him shall haue euerlasting Life onely they differ in measure and quantitie In Faith this seeing of Christ the knowledge and apprehension of him is feeble and weake 1. Cor. 13. 12. Now we see in a Glasse In sight it is full and perfect as it is said there But after that which is perfect is come c. With Faith Hope is alwayes ioyned By Hope I So as Faith hath alwayes Hope that is an assured wayting for of that blessed Sight going with it meane the blessed expectation and waiting for of eternall Life But because Hope is commonly taken as of things doubtfull and vncertaine that to hope for saluation seemeth no more then to stand in suspence and questionable whether one shall be saued or no it is good wee vnderstand the verie nature of this Grace Hope therefore to speake in generall is an expectation and wayting for of some good thing not present but promised and to come h Rom. 8. 24 25 for hope which is seene is no hope for how can a man hope for that which hee seeth but if wee hope for that wee see not wee doe wait for it with patience saith the Apostle to the Romanes Therefore according to the nature of the promise so doth Hope take hold doubtingly where either there is no speciall and
renewing doth specially shew it selfe as our naturall corruption doth specially in the flesh thereof it is that it hath the name also of the minde and inner man All which together with the worke of Regeneration comprehend also the qualities wherein or whereunto wee are regenerate for these things though they bee distinguished yet cannot be sundred or deuided From this our incorporating into Christ foure things doe follow First In that wee are so incorporate as is aforesaid Christ himselfe must needs be the Head of this Incorporation and we the bodie members of Christ our Head and members one of another as the Apostle speaketh in many places He z Ephes 1. 22. hath made him Head ouer all vnto the Church which is his Bodie the fulnesse of him that filleth all things in all for a 1. Cor. 12. 12 â—7 as the bodie is one and hath many members and all the members of the bodie which is one they being many are one bodie so is Christ Now yee are the bodie of Christ and members particularly Wee b Eph. 5. 30 32 are members of his Bodie of his flesh and of his bones I speake of Christ and of his Church c Col. 1. 24. I fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ for his Bodie which is the Church We d Rom. 12. 5. being many are one Bodie in Christ and euery one one anothers members The e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Papists which teach that the true Catholike Church of Christ consisteth of wicked and good together Church and euery member of it is quickened by his Spirit and liueth by his life as f Gal. 20. 20. Paul saith It is no more I that liue but Christ liueth in mee Whereupon because CHRIST raigneth there so gloriously by the power of his Spirit this true Church is many times called The g Iohn 3. 5. Kingdome of God And as there is but one Christ no more can there bee but one Church There is one Bodie and one Spirit saith h Eph. 4 4 5 6 Paul to the Ephesions 〈…〉 n as yee were called in one hope of your vocation One Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of all c. And to the Corinths Because the bread that Loafe and holy Sacrament whereof we all eate the Badge of our coniunction with Christ is one therefore we that are many are one i 1. Cor. 10. â—7 Bodie Thus also doth Salomon sing in his Diuine Song My k Cant. 6. 6. Doue is one And as there is but one Church no more there is but one Head l Hosh 1. 11. that is Christ one Sheep-fold and one Shepheard as he himselfe speaketh Iohn 10. 16. And this Title of Head of the Church the Apostle giueth him as it were by excellencie aboue all other creatures Colos 1. 18. Hee is m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that The Papists will haue the Pope to be the head of the Church and so make of it a Monster with two heads And where they pretend the Pope to be onely a Ministeriall head it is ridiculous for First If they denie him that propertie and those offices which belong vnto a head then they make him no Head at all Secondly Christ himselfe being alwayes effectually present in the Church by his Spirit as hee saith Mat. 28. 20. I am with you alwayes vnto the end of the World hath no need of a Deputie or Vicar nor can haue any for by the rule of all Law and reason Commissions and Deputations haue no place in the presence oâ— the partie The Pope therefore bearing himselfe as head of the Church and taking vpon him most sacrilegiously all that belongeth to the Head is that Antichrist the man of sinne of whom wee reade 2. Thess 2. 3. c. for Paul there speaketh nor of one particular person as the Papists fondly surmise but of the whole bodie and succession of that Antichristian Sect which kinde of phrase is common in the Scripture as Esay 2â— 15. Tyrus shall be forgotten seuentie yeeres according to the dayes of one King that is during all the time that the Babylonian Kings shall flourish from Nebuchadnezzar vnto Cyrus which lasted seuentie yeeres in the succession of diuers Kings So Dan. 7. 3. it is said Foure great beasts shall rise out of the Sea which in the seuenteenth Verse hee interpreteth to bee foure Kings that is foure Monarchies or Kingdomes And so doth the Apostle vse the phrase in this verie place 2. Thess 2. 7. He that 〈…〉 h or which now ruleth meaning the Romane Emperour shall let till he bee taken away But one Emperour did not nor could liue so long as from Pauls time to the translating of the Empire of Rome Hee meaneth therefore the succession of Emperours and heere the sucession of the Papacie And that the See of Rome is the seat of this iniquitie appeareth beside other arguments in that it must be the Ladie Ciâ—ie of the World Reu. 17. 18. situate vpon seuen Hils Reu. 17. 19. which agreeth to Rome alone Head of the Bodie of the Church Therefore it is blasphemie and impietie to make any other Head of the Church but him Yet in this our spirituall Euerie member in his due proportion incorporating into Christ a proportion is to bee obserued For euen as amoÌ„g the members of a man all are not of like dignitie and preeminence for if all were one member where were the Bodie if the whole body were the eye what should become of the hearing if all hearing where were the smelling but the difference of the members maketh a more excellent agreement in the Bodie So is it not onely in the outward Church but in the true Catholike Church of Christ Christ himselfe the Head the rest some Armes some Legges some Feet c. as best may make for the beautie and dignitie of the whole So we are taught Ephes 4. 15 16. Let vs grow vp in him in all things who is the Head euen Christ by whom all the Bodie coupled and knit together by euery ioynt furnished according to the effectuall working in the measure of euery particular part maketh an increase of the bodie c. 1. Cor. 12. 14 15 27. The Bodie is not one Member but many if the foot shall say Because I am not of the head I am not of the bodie is it not therefore of the Bodie c Now yee are the Bodie of Christ and members particularly And these God hath set in the Church first Apostles c. Secondly As the Vine and branches are of one whereby being one with him and through him with God nature the man and wife one flesh the head the members one Bodie so wee are one with Christ and consequently one one with another as a Syens ingraffed on the arme of a Tree is both one with the Arme and with the Tree it selfe This our Sauiour teacheth most sweetly Iohn
the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye shall haue no life in you for without an Vnion with Christ there can bee no true partaking of his gifts vnto Saluation no more then a woman can be partaker of the riches and honour of some great man except shee be ioyned with him in Marriage so that they become one bodie and one flesh or then the members can draw life from the head if they bee not knit vnto it The worke of this sauing Grace that is brought vnto vs by the comming of our LORD and Sauiour Iesus Christ hath beene pointed at in generall First To destroy the old ADAM or the old man that is the sinfull and wretched condition which by nature euery Mothers Child bringeth into the World and is as old as since Adam fell to bee vnder the power of Satan slaues of sinne and children of destruction Then the bestowing of a new a blessed and a happie estate opposite to the former The r Heb. 2. 15. Apostle to the Hebrewes comprehendeth both that through death hee might abolish him that hath the power of death that is the Deuill and might set free his Children So in the Epistle to the ſ Col. 1. 13. Colossians Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and translated into the Kingdome of his Sonne And our Sauiour Acts 26. 17 18. To whom now I send thee to open their eyes that they may turne from darknesse vnto Light and from the power of Satan vnto God that through Faith in me they may haue remission of sinnes and an inheritance among hath two parts Illumination and Iustification the sanctified ones Paul 1. Cor. 1. 30. brancheth all the benefits wee haue by Christ into foure Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption or Holinesse and Blessednesse Such a traine of Noble Graces doth attend Regeneration for as man by Creation was made holy and happy so by this new Creation we obtayne a repayre of our first estate not as some Relique or Remayne of that Image of God according whereunto we were created in the beginning but as a new worke of Gods Spirit forming the same in vs after a heauenly and diuine manner out of nothing by the power of the Resurrection of Iesus Christ And in euery of these good things is implyed the remoouing of the contrarie Wisdome standeth not with Ignorance and Blindnesse Righteousnesse putteth away the guilt of sin Sanctification the power and dominion of sinne for where one of these is the other cannot bee Redemption speaketh more cleerly of freeing vs from wrath and the curse of the Law Wisdome and Righteousnesse from the which the other two doe flow were for their surpassing excellencie figured in the High Priests Vrim and Thummim as you haue it taught in the explication of the Ceremonies of the Law But to handle these foure apart The first benefit which wee haue by Christ is the taking Illumination whereby dispelling darknesse away of the vaile of ignorance the blindnesse that naturally possesseth our soules as in that place of the Acts it is first named And Esay 25. 7. He will swallow vp the vaile of the face the vaile that is vpon all people and the couering that is vpon all Nations So 2. Cor. 3. 16. When their heart shall bee turned to the Lord the vaile shall be taken away for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is doth enlighten our mindes with the knowledge of the will of God in Christ which the Apostle calleth Wisdome Freedome But this is not all In stead of the Light of Nature turned through sinne into palpable and grosse darknesse we haue now another manner of light an heauenly and Spirituall Wisdome A grace distinct not onely from Knowledge that went before which was common to the Reprobate whereas this is the peculiar of GODS Heritage but euen from Faith though the same include Knowledge in it for Faith is the Instrument of Regeneration Iohn 1. 12. and therefore before it in nature but this Wisdome commeth in nature after Regeneration for so the Apostle saith Yee are of God in Christ who is made vnto vs Wisdome and Coloss 3. 20. Renewed t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto Knowledge which is this Wisdome Therefore in nature it commeth after I take it to bee that Light of the Minde of which the Scripture speaketh so oft comprehending vnder it by a Synechdoche the whole worke of our Renewing Ephes 5. 8. Ye were once darknesse but now are light in the Lord 2. Cor. 4. 6. God which commanded that light should shine out of darknesse is hee who hath shined in your hearts to giue the light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Iesus Christ In this regard we are said to bee illuminated or enlightened Heb. 10. 32. to bee translated out of darknesse into his wonderfull light 1. Pet. 2. 9. Wisdome and Sanctification or Holinesse both inherent in vs seeme to differ thus Holinesse is the Renewing of vs into the state of Innocencie which we had by Creation But this Wisdome is of a farre more excellent mould then the light of Knowledge that Adam had for Adams minde was indeed enlightened to vnderstand all morall duties but ours to the knowledge of things that u 1. Cor. 2. Eye hath not seene Eare hath not heard nor haue entred into the heart of man x 1. Pet. 1. Which the Angels themselues desire to stoope downe and looke into namely one Mysteries of the Gospell reuealed from aboue wherefore that was according vnto nature this is Diuine and supernaturall wherein after the vaile of Ignorance taken away that our eyes are once made able to behold the Light Christ the Image of God doth shine vnto vs 2. Cor. 3. 17. Such a Light as man by nature when it was at the best could neuer comprehend And hereby wee come to haue all the secrets and the whole will of God in Christ Iesus made knowne vnto vs by his Spirit A maruailous benefit sensibly to be seene euen in this life that dull and ignorant men become able on a sudden to conceiue the hidden Mysteries of Christianitie It is that the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 2. 15. The spirituall man discerneth all things in that we haue the minde of the Lord manifested vnto vs through Christ Howbeit the illumination of our mindes in this life hath withall much darknesse for growing wholy by the meanes of the Word as the Apostle saith Coloss 3. 16. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you in all Wisdome and to TIMOTHIE y 2. Tim. 3. 15. Thou hast knowne the Scriptures that are able to make thee wise wee can know but weakly and imperfectly because the way and meanes whereby wee come to knowledge by the Ministerie of man is weake and imperfect for in part wee know saith the same Apostle 1. Cor. 13. 9. and in part wee prophecie that is we learne but imperfectly because our
I write it Answerable hereunto is that of z Ezech. 36. 26 27. 1. Iohn 2. 8. EZECHIEL I will giue you a new heart and a new Spirit I will set in the middest of you and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh and I will giue vnto you a heart of flesh and my Spirit will I put in the middest of you and make that yee shall walke in mine Ordinances and obserue and doe my iudgements whereby this Holinesse is distinguished from imputed Righteousnes which is without vs and in another that is to say in Christ And from both these ariseth the third and last consideration of the Law of God as it is qualified and corrected and hath another nature set vpon it by Christ our Sauiour turned now into a 1. Iohn 2. 8. a new Commandement as the Apostle speaketh or a Law Euangelized and of another temper seruing no more for death and condemnation to those that are his but for helpe and direction for b Psal 119. 106 a Lanterne vnto our feet and a light vnto our steps to teach vs how to walke when we are in Christ Therefore c Luke 1. 6. Zacharie and Elizabeth are both commended as righteous before God because they went in all the Commandements of the Lord. d Iam. 1. 25. IAMES also calleth vs hither He that stoopeth downe into the perfect Law of Libertie and abideth in that hee not being a forgetfull hearer but a doer of workes shall be blessed by his doing And our Sauiour Matth. 5. 17. biddeth vs not to thinke that hee came to dissolue the Law and the Prophets I came not to dissolue them but to fulfill them for which cause also the right vnderstanding of the Law is needfull for vnlesse wee know our Masters will how shall we frame our selues to doe it Fourthly The new life put into vs which wee call Viuification or Quickning commeth from the power of Christs Spirit which rayseth vs vp from the sleepe and death of sinne to awake to liue righteously that e Rom. 4. 5. as Christ was raysed from the dead by the glorie of his Father so we might walke in newnesse of life for if wee bee ingraffed into the likenesse of his death verily so shall we also bee vnto the likenesse of his Resurrection Wherefore the f Coloss 3. 1 2. Apostle saith If yee bee risen together with Christ seeke the things which are aboue not the things which are vpon the earth Teaching that it is by the power of his rising that wee are renewed vnto righteousnesse as by his death we obtaine power to mortifie sinne Fiftly Touching the manner of the The Papists say that in Freewill there is a libertie or strength to receiue or reiect the grace that should quicken it which they call Preuenting Grace and so part the slakes betweene Grace and mans Freewill working there is a difference betweene the grace it selfe of Sanctification and the fruits that come from it In the grace it selfe as in the worke of our new birth man standeth meere passiue before God hauing no power or vertue in him to worke with Gods Spirit or to helpe the worke of Grace yet hee is not in this first renewing of his soule as a trunke or a dead stock for that he hath both reason and faculties or powers fit to receiue the Grace of God when his Spirit doth worke vpon them But in the fruits of Sanctification The Papists make not the Holie Ghost but their owne Free-will the principal agent in this second grace which Free-will they say goeth before and disposeth and prepareth vs to a Iustifying Grace in belieuing in hoping in repenting c. the principal Agent is indeed the verie Spirit of Christ who after the first grace and new Creation abideth and dwelleth in vs not idlely but euer working some good in vs and by vs as it is said Rom. 8. 26. The holy Ghost maketh intercession for vs with sighs which cannot be expressed But a second Agent working with Gods holy Spirit is the verie soule of man or rather the new man or new creature in the soule and all the faculties thereof So that in this second Grace which is the action or worke of faith wee stand not as meere passiue but beeing moued by the holie Ghost wee worke our selues by his Spirit working in vs. Whereupon we are called g 1. Cor. 3. 9. The fellow-workers with God 1. Cor. 3. Touching the distinct degrees of Sanctification In wherein there is no more now required but that sinne beare not the rule in vs and our workes of Righteousnesse though all mingled with sinne the estate we now are in there is a difference betweene it and legall Righteousnesse in that perfection is there required without fayling in any iote eyther in matter or manner Whereas our Sanctification in this life is euermore imperfect fayling much and hath alwaies sin mixed with it not as Chaffe or Darnell is mixed with Whear but as water is mingled with wine that there is no drop of wine but it is water also and that is by reason our new birth is imperfect So that Donatists and Nouatians and those heretikes that were wont to bee called Catharises or Puritanes dreame of puritie and perfection in this life albeit by the grace of Regeneration we desire in all things to liue righteously and well yet still we labour vnder the infirmitie of the flesh h Gal. 5. 17. that we cannot doe the things wee would Whereof the Apostle Paul one more then after an ordinarie sort regenerate giueth in his owne person a noble example Rom. 7. 15 c. I approue not that I worke for I doe not that I would but what I hate that doe I for I am delighted with the Law of God as touching the inner man but I see another Law in my members c. and in the end concludeth Therfore I my selfe in the Spirit indeed serue the Law of God but in my flesh the Law of sinne Wherefore in this estate it is enough if sinne i Rom. 6. 12. raigne not in our mortall bodies it is not required which is impossible that it should not at all dwell in vs. And where the Scripture in many places doth call vs perfect as when it saith k Matth. 5. 48. Yee shall therefore be perfect as your Father which is in Heauen is perfect l 1. Cor. 2. 6. We speake wisdome among those that are perfect m 1. Cor. 14. 20. In vnderstanding bee yee perfect n Eph. 4. 13. till wee come to a perfect man o Phil. 3. 12. As many therefore as be perfect let vs bee thus minded p 1. Iohn 2. 5. Whosoeuer keepeth his Word of a truth in him the loue of God is perfected q 1. Ioh. 4. 12. If we loue one another God abideth in vs and his loue is perfited in vs. r 1. Ioh. 4.
bee moe with vs then are with them Then praying to Iehouah the Seruants eyes were opened and he saw the Mountaynes were full with Horses and Chariots of fire round about ELISHA And our Sauiour Christ by the same argument sheweth how able he had beene to free himselfe from the hands of his enemies p Mat. 26. 53. Could not I pray vnto my Father and he would giue mee more then twelue Legions of Angels Eighthly and lastly by their willingnesse vnto this Seruice declared for the most part by three circumstances First They stand continually in Gods presence wayting as it were for a Commission from him to doe vs good Mat. 18. 10. Their Angels see alwayes the face of my Father which is in Heauen Secondly They are glad and reioyce at the good of his Saints So Luke 2. 13 14. they declare themselues not a little affected with the ioy of the glad tydings which they brought vnto the Shepheards They praysed God and said Glorie vnto God on high in Earth peace and good will towards men And our Sauiour telleth vs There q Luk. 15. 7 10 is ioy in Heauen with the Angels of God for sinners that repent Thirdly They are prest and readie at Gods Commandement with all speed to put the same in practice This the r Psal 103. 20. Psalmist commendeth in them Blesse IEHOVAH ye his Angels which doe his Word which harken to his voice Our Sauiour likewise teacheth vs to pray Thy will bee done in Earth as it in Heauen The speed and cheerfulnesse they vse in executing Gods Commissions was figured vnder the Law by the Cherubins in the Tabernacle painted with wings wherefore Psalme 18. 10. God is said to come riding vpon them as vpon Chariots and flying as it were with wings In the Vision of Å¿ Esay 6. 2. Esaia they haue each of them six wings whereof with two they flye yea so swiftly and so earnestly doe they flye that as it were they wearie themselues with flying as of the Angell t Dan. 9. 21. Gabriel it is expressely spoken These qualities before named are all of them figured in the Vision of u Ezech. 1. 10. 10. 14. Ezechiel where the foure liuing creatures which are the holy Angels are said to haue each of them foure faces the face of a man the face of a Lyon the face of an Oxe and the face of an Eagle By the Similitude of a man their wisedome and vnderstanding is incled which among all earthly Creatures is onely to be found in man in a Lyon their strength and power their labour and industrie in an Oxe or Heifar without whom the Crib is emptie but much increase commeth by his trauell saith the Wiseman in his Prouerbs And lastly their swiftnesse in an Eagle which the better to recommend in that Fowle x Reuel 4. 7. Iohn giueth him the Epithete of a flying Eagle The glorie of these Angels hee describeth saying that y Ezech. 1. 4. out of the middest of that fire the visible signe of Gods presence sparkled as it were a most liuely hiew which he explayneth z Verse 13. afterwards to be like vnto coles of fire burning as Lampes not onely themselues set on fire but affecting all the creatures with the glittering of their glorie as the Lampes disperse their flame The last of those generall heads wherein we place our Fourthly in a spirituall glory and wisdome and other graces happinesse in this life is a spirituall glorie and wisdome and other graces whereof the Preacher a Eccles 8. 1. speaketh The wisdome of a man maketh his face to shine And Paul b 2. Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glasse the glorie of the Lord are transformed into the same Image from glorie to glorie that is by the participation of his glorie our selues become glorious as it were by the reflexion of his beames Our perfect Blessednesse or Redemption which commeth After this life commeth the fulnesse of Blessednesse in the last place to bee handled wee consider in foure steps or degrees of glorie which all the members of Christ shall bee made partakers of answerable to their Head To them all two things pertayne in common the more or lesse according to the diuers measure of our Faith here To the soule in Heauen presently after death till the latter Day place where wee shall enioy it Heauen and the differing measure of glorie But these two will come in better when the rest are once handled Wherefore the first degree is that which is to the soule onely and that presently after death till the latter Day our bodies resting in the graue vnto the time of the restoring of all things as the bodies of the wicked also doe betweene whom and vs there is in this respect no difference But for our soules assoone as the period Popish Purgatorie and Limbus Patrum of this life is runne out they are forthwith carryed into Heauen by the Ministerie of the holy Angels So the Preacher saith c Eccles 12. 9. Dust that is the bodie of man returneth to the Earth as it was before and the Spirit returneth vnto God that gaue it And the Apostle PAVL Wee d 2. Cor. 5. 1. know when this our earthly Tabernacle is dissolued we haue a building from God not made with hands euerlasting in Heauen And the same dwelling in the Heauens hee e Verse 6 7 8. by and by interpreteth to bee as much as to goe and dwell with the Lord We know that while wee dwell in the bodie wee are absent from the Lord for we walke by Faith not by sight Therefore we desire rather to remooue out of the bodie and to dwell with the Lord. So to the f Phil. 1. 23. Philippians I do desire to loose from hence that is to haue my soule depart from my bodie A Metaphor taken from Ships that loose or set from the shore to be with Christ And this to be his meaning the next words make it very plaine but to continue in the flesh is more necessarie for you This is it which our Sauiour g Luke 23. 43. Christ saith to the Thiefe This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise In the h Reuel 6. 10. Reuelation the soules of the Martyrs are said to be at rest vnder the Altar And the Apostle to the i Heb. 12. 23. Hebrewes reckoneth the Spirit of the righteous that are perfiâ—ed For this cause our Sauiour k Luke 23. 46. Christ vpon the Crosse commendeth his Spirit into the hands of his Father that it might be an assurance vnto vs that our spirits also shall goe to him when they depart out of this bodie And this estate both of the Elect and Reprobate our Sauiour Christ expresly sheweth in the Parable of the Rich man The very scope whereof driueth vnto this that although the wicked in this life for the
fulnesse of Christ that we may be no more children c. And 1. Cor. 13. 10. When that which is perfect shall come then that which is in part shall be done away When I was a child I spake as a child I reasoned as a child But when I became a man I put away the conceits of a child The Infancie of Regeneration I call that weake inception which is in vs during this present life wherein we are yet as little children scarce come out of the shell h 1. Pet. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 New-borne babes as PETER calleth vs i Rom. 8. 23. which receiue but the first fruits of the Spirit or onely k 2. Cor. 1. 22. a pawne or pledge the earnest penny of the Spirit for as in the naturall birth of a man his bodie commeth not into the world so great and strong as afterwards it proueth but small weake and impotent so in the spirituall birth of Regeneration the soule of man is not at the first moment indued with perfection but must grow and go on forwards to it which is all our life long I meane not that this Infancie is the first act of our Regeneration for there be some that are borne in respect of others strong in Christ and Giants the first day as was the Apostle Paul But I meane the whole progresse also and continuance all our life euen in the best And so doth the Apostle 1. Cor. 13. 11. bring the similitude of childe-hood and mans estate not to note the beginning and proceeding in Christianitie but to set forth the excellencie in heauen aboue that which we attaine vnto being here To this estate these foure things are proper First In euerie man Regenerate there be as it were two men deuided the old and the new man The old man called also the outward man the flesh the members for we carrie about vs a whole bodie of sinne is so much of vs whatsoeuer it be within or without that is naturall and left yet vnregenerate The new man called also the inner man the Spirit the minde is our part Regenerate and borne againe wherein being freed from sinne we begin to bring forth fruits to God And that both these are in one and the same man we are taught Math. 26. 41. The Spirit is readie but the flesh is weake 1. Cor. 5. 5. Deliuer such a one to Satan to the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may bee saued in the Day of the Lord Iesus Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh that yee cannot doe the things you would Rom. 7. 25. Therefore I my selfe in the minde serue the Law of God but in the flesh the law of sinne and in a number of other places Thirdly That it is not a worke to bee seene and in our owne inward assurance of the Spirit not in the Worlds discerning of it knowne of men as that other shall be manifest vnto all But euery mans conscience must assure him for himselfe and of other in whom there bee signes and likelihoods we are to hope the best wherefore the Apostle Col. 3. 3. saith That our life is hid with God in Christ not to be manifested till Christ our Life doe manifest himselfe For l 1. Iohn 3. 2. this cause saith another the World knoweth vs not because it knoweth not him Beloued now are we the Children of God but it is not yet made manifest what we shall be Fourthly In this infancie there is yet a continuall and growing growth till we come to the full measure of a perfect man in Christ And that is it which the Apostle saith 2. Cor. 4. 16. that the inner man is renewed daily as hee doth more largely declare it Ephes 4. 15 16. Being sincere in loue let vs grow vp in him in all things who is the Head euen Christ of whom all the whole bodie knit together and compact by all the ioynts furnished through the power within working of Christ our Head quickening all the parts as the Soule doth the Bodie according to the measure of euery member receiueth an increase fit for the bodie to the building vp of it selfe through loue Colos 2. 19. By whom or from whom that is to say from Christ the Head all the Bodie furnished and knit together by ioynts and bands increaseth with the increase of God And hither those two Parables before Mat. 1◠seeme to tend Fiftly That the measure and proportion of our according as our Faith doth grow growth is the measure proportion of our Faith as the Apostle sheweth there m Ephes 4. 13. that the vnity of Faith bringeth the perfection of the Bodie of Christ So as the greater wee be in Faith the stronger wee are in Christ if of small Faith then weake Babes in Christ The full perfection and accomplishment of Regeneration After commeth that perfect Regeneration which the Scripture calleth mans estate shall then bee When wee haue attayned the marke and are made perfect as the Apostle speaketh Phil. 3. 12. Therefore this degree is termed Mans estate and sometimes by a note of excellencie aboue the other hath the name of Regeneration appropriate vnto it as appeareth by conference of Mat. 19. 28. with Marke 10. 30. where that which Matthew nameth Regeneration is called The World to come for then indeed doth our Spirituall Marriage beginne all our life here being as it were n Cant. 4. 7 8. the bidding or as the betrothing of a Wife The Church in the Canticles setteth it forth by o Cant. 7. 6. bringing of Christ into the House of her Mother CHAP. IX Of Wisdome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption THE holy Angell telling Ioseph of a Sonne Saluation wrought by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs. to bee brought into the World whose name should be called IESVS rendreth this reason of the Name q Mat. 1. 22. For he shall saue his people from their sinnes That Saluation the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs and being ours by Regeneration effectually doth worke for it washeth vs from our sinnes it iustifieth our persons and sanctifieth our hearts slaying sinne in our mortall bodies and quickening our soules to a liuing hope through the Resurrection of Iesus Christ and shall hereafter quicken both our bodies and our soules vnto euerlasting Glorie Thus the Apostle writeth to the Corinths n 1. Cor. 6. 11. But yee are washed from the sinnes wherein they formerly wallowed but yee are iustified but yee are sanctified in the Name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God And to the o Rom 8. 11. Romanes If the Spirit of him that raysed Iesus from the dead dwell in you hee that raysed Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit dwelling in you As on the other side p Iohn 6. 53. Christ saith Vnlesse ye eat the flesh of