evil examples I hate the profane Rout and all their customes of Swearing Lying Stealing c. and tend towards a harmony of rational Judgment and will with sensual Apprehension and Desire 2. By universal liberty of spirit in Judgment and Will Chap. 3. Liberty The judgment of a Wise-man trieth all things yet is not tied to any thing is open and free yet captivates its understanding to the obedience of Faith The spiritual man judgeth all things 1 â—or 2.15 but he himself is judged of no man Many are deceived by approving and following customes because they are in credit and use without examination We may and must live in obedience to laws Chap. 4. Obedience and Customes speak and do as the Vulgar but not Judge as they do but rather judge them Powers and Laws and Customes may govern my hand and my tongue least I disturb the peace of the World but not my Spirit my outward but not my inward man Behold I shew you a more excellent way Chap. 5. Dogmatists not to be Dogmatical or Magisterial in Proud Determinations or Definitions Scimus nihil opinamur verisimilia fingunt docti magis quam nôrint We know little we guess at the most likely things learned Men fancy more then they know There is a vain Philosophy and oppositions of Sciences falsly so call'd by men that are vainly pufft up with their fleshly minds and such as dote about Questions not knowing whereof they spake nor whereof they do affirm Plato never intended to tye us to his Idaea's nor Pythagoras to his Numbers nor Epicurus to his Atoms they only abounded in their own sense to themselves and the solacing of their own spirits with their own Notions Dogmatists are most Pedantick Socrates was far from them and was therefore counted the Wisest man Cogitationes mortalium timidae incertae sunt inventiones nostrae The thoughts of Mortals are fearful and our Inventions uncertain God knows the thoughts of Man that they are but vain 1 Cor. 8.2 If any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing as he ought to know Who can obtrude Principles upon the World but God himself who only is to be believed Let the obtruders of Principles agree in them if they can and then I shall submit Purge out therefore the old Leaven that ye may become a new Lump Put off the old man and put on the new man Be as white Paper fit to receive fair Impression Be biassed no way but respect the Truth equally As new born Babes receive the sincere Milk of the Word which is able to save your Soules Be Academicks and Pyrrhonians for men of that Temper are never Hereticks Fanaticks Opiniators Troublers of the World as Dogmatists Pedantick Magisterial and Definitive Gnosticks O homines ad servitutem nati A generation of Men born to continual Thraldome and will not be released Like them Men in Plato's Cave that never had knowledge but of Shadows and if they be told of the Beauty of the Substances they will not believe it And if any offer to drag them out of the Dungeon to behold the fair Glory of the Sun and the Truth of all things discovered by the light thereof they will shut their eyes and strive to run back to their old darkness again In Love with bondage Violent not hearkning to any thing wiser then themselves Malè cuncta ministrat impetus Festina lente All haste makes waste It is good to try all things 1 Thes 5.21 and hold fast that which is good Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest Phil. 4.8 whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things 3. By true essential simple Honesty Chap. 6. Honesty and plainness of Spirit A true manly generous free cheerful equal pliable Genius A spirit freely good not for fear of Punishment or hope of Reward Not only natural Innocency and goodness not acquired virtue and honesty but High and stately Resolutions of Grace and Perfection more then Nature Art or Law require Covet after the best things and yet I shew you a more excellent way And this Temper of down right simplicity and well meaning is the Mercury that points justly to the High-way of Grace and Glory The Stoicks aimed at this Disposition and Spicures more witness Seneca though blasted by others of unequal Credit to be above Want Pain Grief Joy Shame c. And surely they were not all sullen and morose but very firme grave severe as Cato was and pleasant too 4. By Practicing true Piety Chap. 7. Piety and Superstition An opinion contrary to this prevailes in the Carnal World As That God is appeased with satisfactions of Penance moved with Gifts and offerings Delighted with the Torments and Ruins of his poor Creatures with the Sacrifices of innocent Beasts and sometimes men as presents to appease his Wrath affected with Austerities Sack-cloth and Hair-shirts Ashes and hard cold Stones Macerated bodies Wan-looks Whining or Yelling noises Cuttings Launcings Pilgrimages Incense Candles Holy-waters c. as are practiced in Hermitages and Cells A madness to flatter the Divinity with Inhumanity To think to satisfy Gods Justice with Cruelty Of what nature do they judge God to be Surely they think him such a one as themselves And who hath required these things at their hands Is God delighted or ever was or ever will be with burnt Sacrifices with Calves of a yeer old with Rivers of Oil or the Cattel upon a thousand Hills or with the fruit of the Body for the sin of the Soul God is a Spirit and they that worship him truely must worship him in Spirit and in Truth The most noble service of God is without too much External and Carnal service It draws the Soul into its self and raises it by pure contemplation to a Heavenly worship Si Deus est Animus nobis ut carmina dicunt Hic tibi praecipuè sit purâ mente colendus It was the humour of the Jewes Chap. 8. Judaisme and Heathenisme that knew no better to dote upon a Material Temple and cry out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord to be ravished with numerous laborious and costly Ceremonies and the Purer sort to superadd of their own Inventions innumerable Traditions imposed equally to be observed with those that God had commanded yea more Thus their Religion exuberated into these excrescencies and formalities which destroyed the Power of Godliness God gave them a Carnal Commandment because it fitted their low Estate and he kept them busied with many chargeable services to please them as children with outward performances semblable to the Heathen worship and to keep them busy from doing the same Devotions to the Idol Gods to which he knew they had a great wambling But with these services God was never fully
THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH JUSTIFICATION AND ASSURANCE Humbly Endeavoured to be farther cleared towards the satisfaction and comfort of all free Vnbiassed Spirits With an APPENDIX for PEACE BY ROBERT DIXON Prebendary of ROCHESTER 1 Cor. 12.31 Covet after the best gifts and yet I shew you a more excellent way LONDON Printed by William Godbid M.DC.LXVIII To the Honourable Sr EDWARD HALES Baronet SIR GOD is the great Maker and bestower of all Rights The persons capable to receive them and to whom he doth convey them are Angels and Men. To mankind he gives the best of Rights and invests them with the best Inheritance by the best Mediator Jesus Christ the Principal Heir of all Things through the means of Faith which justifies the Sons of Men by Nature to be the best Title and the strongest Assurance that can be had to Eternal Life I have therefore purposely fixed upon these noble Principles of Faith Justification and Assurance That I might be a true Mercury to point out the stately way that leads to Coelestial Glory Directing wise Souls to come off from the wandring Pursuits of earthly Pomps empty Speculations and uncertain Riches which discompose and tyre the best Wits in the Labyrinth of this World That they may find true content in the Choice of that one Thing which is truly necessary That better part which shall never be taken from them That solid comfort which will stand by them and bring them Peace to the end and in the end and unto all Eternity This pain Treatise of these most high and most Christian Truths I held my self obliged to dedicate unto you as being the first Fruits of my Labours in this kind and therefore most due to you of all men who was my first Benefactor and most liberal Patron of my Studies together with your most excellent Lady now with God Her transcendent Estate I cannot reach but Yours and both your Sons I may and do Address my self unto And for the joynt-favours which I have received from you and your Lady during your conjugal Union and for your continued and for her sake increased kindness since the sad separation I humbly offer this token of my Gratitude to remain by you from me to look into upon occasions for your Satisfaction and comfort in the midst of the Dis-satisfactions and Discomforts of this Miserable World The same also I desire you would commend to your Sons the Stems of that Noble Lady whose memory I shall ever honour and you and them for her sake In this I aime meerly to strike the sprightly veine of Pure Love to You and to your hopeful Family and a deer Remembrance and kindness to you all as to the best of my Friends Upon which generous Terms if you please to accept of this small Present it may promote the acceptation thereof to others and encourage him farther who ever desires to shew himself SIR Your most faithful and most affectionate Servant ROBERT DIXON Rochester March 26. 1668. To the honest READER FAITH is all in all to a Christian For all that have Faith are thereby Justified and have full Right to all the Promises of God To be his Sons by Adoption and Grace to have their Sins pardoned to be Sanctified by the Holy Spirit and thereby to have all necessary Assistance and comfortable Assurance of a Resurrection to the Inheritance of Eternal Life I therefore purposely wave all perplexed Disputes and subtil Notions and Distinctions which serve for nothing but to puzzle all men especiall them that are weak in the Faith It shall suffice all Christians if they are willing to embrace Gods Promises and perform his Precepts with an honest heart Let them not trouble themselves at all with the variety of Sects and Factions For all such true hearted and humble Souls do belong to Christ his Church what ever Differences there be in Opinions caused by vain men who do not understand one another being sore blinded with Pride and idle Speculations which engender nothing but Strife and Divisions Keep thou therefore Good Reader Faith and a good Conscience and pass not for the rash Censures of any Be thou confident of Gods unchangeable favour if thou be no Hypocrite In Order therefore to the satisfaction and comfort of tender Spirits I have written this short Treatise and do encourage them to do their true endeavour to please God and to perserverance and trust in him for the certainty of their future estate of Happiness and Salvation which he hath undoubtedly provided for them Accept therefore kind Reader what I have here offered and then if God permit I will add more to the same purpose Avoiding all Nicety and Superfluity of Words and condescending in the great Points of Grace Faith Justification and Assurance to the meanest capacity aiming at no Side or Party but equally respecting the plain Truth with an unbiassed mind for Peace This even Temper of Spirit is the only means among all good Christians especially Divines for the stinting of Controversies in all foolish and unlearned Questions and the Propagation of Piety Peace and Love in Church and State This Rare Character of a True Child of God to be pure and peaceable by obedience to good Laws and fulfilling all Righteousness is the safe way to Heaven Thus we work out our Salvation with fear and trembling and make our Calling and Election sure Which shall be the daily prayer of him who is Thine in the Lord Jesus Robert Dixon The Doctrine of FAITH JUSTIFICATION and ASSURANCE HEBR 11.1 Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for the Evidence of things not seen COHERENCE THE Author having in the end of the former Chapter spoken of Faith makes a digression upon that occasion to explain the Nature of Faith more largly and produceth many examples of faithful men to provoke the Hebrews to imitate their Fathers and others in the Holy Faith and thereby to endure afflictions and to overcome them by Faith as they had done EXPLICATION These words are no Definition of Faith Chap. 1. Of Faith no more than those Chap. 12.29 where God is called A consuming Fire are the Definition of God FAITH is a Thing Indefinite and is not defineable because it is so general a Thing that no Genius will comprehend it yet it may be designed a high Esteem of Gods Existence Power and Goodness Besides definitions are dangerous if in the Civil much more in the Divine Law Two Notions are here laid down as Principles and Elements to conclude that Faith was in those persons hereafter mentioned 1. The Substance of Things hoped for is Faith 1. Where Things hoped for do subsist there is Faith or where Things to come are present there is Faith 2. The Evidence of Things not seen is Faith or where there is a sight of Things not seen there is Faith These Principles are taken from the Object of Faith Good Things to come and therefore absent and unseen But when the Soul apprehends them
pleased He intended farre higher Duties unto which he led them by the hand if they had had the wit to observe it according as the Prophets did often hint unto them But they rested in the Letter and in the worke-daies and would not understand what God farther intended no not when they were sorely slasht in the Babilonish Captivity nor in the time of the Maccabees nor under the sore Yoke of Antiochus nor yet of the Romans when the Gospel began to dawn nor yet in the dayes of Christ himself and his Apostles when the cleer day-spring from an high did visit them and that God did fully reveal what worship he meant should continue for ever and that all their rude and beggarly elements should be laid aside as being added only because of Transgressions till the Promised Seed should come It was therefore necessary that the Patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these Heb. 9.23 but the heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices then these But still they stumbled at the Old stumbling-stone of a Temporal Covenant established upon Temporal Promises and commanding Temporal Services And from hence many Christians first taken from the Nation of the Jews and afterwards from all the Heathen Countries have erred exceedingly Partly by mixing Judaisme and partly by mixing Paganisme with Christianity which both of them are not out of us unto this very day although the Apostles made it their business as they had then too much occasion to overthrow these two maine errors from whence all other Heresies have been derived and that Christ himself did so much speak against the continuance of the Jewish way and the Introduction of Heathenish customs by Preaching a more Spiritual Law and declaring Eternal Promises All though God hath winked at the Nonage of the Jews and the Ignorance of the Gentiles Chap. 9. Châ—iâ—â—â—anisme yet now God will have all men every where to aspire to perfection and learn better things commanded in a better Covenant that is established upon better Promises especially in the dayes of Adversity when we are pinched with long and sore Warrs with plagues of Fire and Water and sundry kinds of Death It is high time now for the World to grow wiser to come off from the Vanities and Pomps of this Life and walk highly with God in the Spiritual Exercise of Faith and Repentance Away then with this Loose and Carnal way of Living This will not do The Gospel calls for higher things 1. This Loose and Carnal Life will never satisfy the Conscience nor please God 2. This formal and outward Worship will not serve the Turne You must come up to the pure Gospel-way to the life of Faith and to the worship of the spirit or you can never please God Be honest and just in your words and Actions Be dutiful and obedient to the Laws Be decent and orderly in Gods Worship But still I shew you a more excellent way This is to be done and you are not to leave the other undone For thus it becometh us after Christs own Example To fulfil all Rigteousness To offend none but to give unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things which are Gods APPLICATION I have set before you two wayes Faith and Sight Spirit and Flesh choose therefore the better part that shall never be taken away from you 1. Cherish the life of Nature by Temperance Sobriety and Chastity 2. Regulate the life of sense by Reason Prudence and Moderation 3. Order the Moral life by Virtue Justice Obedience and Honesty 4. Maintain the Civil Life by dutiful submission to Rulers and their Laws for the publike Good 5. Keep the Spiritual Life above all by Faith 1. Which may Sanctify Nature Sense Morality and Laws 2. Which may transcend all carnal Profits Pleasures Honours Arts Powers Glories Liberties Beauties Friends Health Peace Orders c. 3. Which may overcome all Carnal Pains Wants Shames Ignorances Weaknesses Disgraces Deformities Enemies Diseases Warrs Bondage Confusions c. 4. Which may regulate all Passions of Love Hatred Hope Despair Joy Grief c. 5. Which may sublimate all Faculties Understanding Will Memory Conscience 6. Which may arrive at the height of true Wisdome Peace and Tranquility of Minde 1. By exemption from vulgar Errors Vices and Passions 2. By aiming at Universal Liberty in Judgment and Will still submitting to Faith 3. By learning true essential simple honesty and plainness of Spirit 4. By Practicing true Piety 1. Free from Jewish worship 2. Free from Heathenish Idolatry This is the high and noble way of the New Testament of Jesus Christ which is of the spirit that giveth life not of the Letter that killeth Thus we overcome sin from ruling in our mortal Bodies that we should be obedient unto the lusts thereof Thus we overcome the Temptations and miseries of the World Thus we overcome the Devil and bruise Satan under every one of our Feet and through Jesus Christ are more then Conquerors And thanks be to God which giveth us this victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Look therefore on things Spiritual and not on things Carnal Chap. â—0 Faith on things Eternal and not on things Temporal For the things that are seen are temporal and carnal but the things which are not seen but believed are Spiritual and Eternal Believe your sins are blotted out of Gods Book for so they are when forsaken Though you cannot see your Pardon sealed by Gods spirit by your sense yet by your Faith you may see it Believe the Peace of God of your own Consciences though the sense discern it not yet your faith may Believe the Judgments of God are escaped and shall not hurt you though you feel present pain in the Flesh as is needful for you Believe the Devil is overcome though he sift you as the wheat is sifted yet Christ hath prayed for you that your Faith shall not fail you and his Grace shall be sufficient for you Believe you shall live though you die and see corruption for you shall die in Faith This is Faith to believe above sense above hope and contrary to hope the judgment of flesh and bloud This is Faith To be present with God in the Spirit though you be absent from him in the Flesh This is Faith to rejoice in Misery to glory in Tribulations to be ravished with Spiritual comforts during the enjoyment of Temporal To find Rest in God in the midst of Trouble to rest upon Gods Promises of Pardon and Blessedness in the midst of Sins and Miseries I will believe though I see not nor feel not any comfor This shall be my joy comfort in believing I will believe though I can give no Definition nor Reason for my Faith I will live in the Spirit though I live in the Flesh for I do not live after the Flesh I will worship God in the Spirit though I use a Forme and outward Ceremony I will Eat