body hangs on the Crosse the soule is yeelded the God-head is eviternally vnited to them both And if Christ be God and by his subsisting working come so neare vs what should dissolue the eternall bonds of our heauenly coniunction with him or the daily influences of grace from him Here are the apples and flagons of holy consolation and it is good for the Spouse to be walking into the Gardens and eating of these fruits Wee cannot hope to be so neare to our God as Christ was vnited personally yet need wee not feare that God should seeme more absent from vs then hee did from his owne sonne Hee was still one with both body and soule when they were devided from themselues when he was absent to sense he was present to faith when absent in vision yet in vnion one and the same so will hee bee to our soules when they are at worst He is ours and we are his if our hold seeme loosened his is not when temptations will not let vs see him he sees vs and possesseth vs onely beleeue him against sense aboue hope and though he kill vs yet let vs trust in him Shiloach refresheth Ierusalem Iordan Naaman better then Abanah and Pharphar Cherith dried vp while Eliah dranke of it Iacobs well was stopped vp but this well of liuing water no drought can diminish nor Philistimes stop vp Q. What followes yet in the fift place A. That the three persons are coessentiall as hauing the same essence together and that not devided or by parts but as if I may so speake with reverence three partners in a Ship haue not each a peece of it but wholly and together Father and sonne are often two distinct men haue a common humanitie devided by parts betweene them but here the persons distinguished by relation are vndevided in essence And the reason is because the father cannot beget one lesse then himselfe and therefore he being infinite his sonne must likewise be infinite And that which is infinite admits of no division or distribution Now the three persons being co essentiall are likewise co-equall and co-eternall Ioh. 5.18 Phil. 2.6 1. Ioh. 5.7 He that walketh in the Sunne for pleasure may bee tainted with the heate thereof before he retire so they that are drawne by delight into these cogitations may thereby take the touch of a more deepe impression Papists as I haue read hauing little knowledge of our Ladies countenance fauour haue assembled the fairest Curtezans to draw the most modest beautie of a Virgin out of the flagrancie of Harlots so many whose skill is very slender in this mystery out of their owne devotion haue broached many strange conceits of the Trinitie and left them as Oracles for their followers But wee study to expresse these things as neere as wee can with truth of matter and sobriety of speech for truth findeth more easie entrance when it commeth armed with his owne force and adorned with the furniture of words that may best beseeme it Q. What obserue you in the last place from the definition A. That they are one in another and with another mutually delighting and glorifying each other Pro. 8.22.30 Ioh. 1.1.2 and 5.20 and 10.38 and 13.31.32 and 14.10 and 17.5 The Sonne is a delight to the Father in the worke of our Redemption Math. 12.18 and the Spirit a ioy to them both in the worke of our sanctification Pro. 8.30.31 If the sonne had not beene the fathers dayly delight he had never reioyced in the habitable part of the earth nor had his delights with the sonnes of men Behold oh man that standest in the wayes inquiring for life here it is labour thou to delight in them that are delighted in thee and reioyce together to worke out thy saluation Alas how should it pitty our hearts to see many silly Soules runne vp and downe in the common labyrinth of error groaping for the strait and narrow gate of life like the blind Sodomites after Lots doore each man telling his dreame to his neighbour of an imagined happinesse And though they draw and drinke in iniquitie yet will they still dreame of drawing in the easie yoake of a Sauiour when God wotes they were never driuen vnto it Is this the pastime of the blessed Trinitie to sport themselues together in doing vs good and shall wee be intreated like madde men to be good vnto our selues O how many that never tasted of these delights yet thinke themselues in skie and highest sphere of happinesse Alas how many walking Ghosts in the shapes of liuing men applaud themselues like swine in earthly pleasures O the watery pleasures of Epicurean hoggs that satiate themselues with the huskes of vanity and cry out in their madnesse that they haue liued the onely ioviall and iocand life These like Moles in the earth are ever casting vp as restlesse in themselues Surely he goes lightly that wants these loads as loath to lagge in the foulest weather The Bustard by reason of his great body and bulke of bones when he is pursued can hardly get vpon his wings whereas the little Larke mounts presently aloft with ease Oh how should our right conceit of this delight of the Trinitie carry our soules vpon the wing and make them ascend Alas ambitious mindes of ayery honour are but ambitious of their owne destruction who climbing the slippery hill of high preferment measure more then their length in their dangerous downe-falls whereas he that stands on oven-ground is as soone vp as downe O then that the Christian soule would say to it selfe in a word or two how liuest thou know and consider from whom thou drawest thy breath and remember that one day led with the blessed Trinitie is better then an immortalitie of the worlds windie vanities CHAPTER IX Of their Relation Question VVHat meane you by the relatiue properties Answere Two things First that howbeit the Subsistences are the same essence yet not as essence but as it is with the relatiue properties A Scholler or a teacher is a man but not a Scholler or a teacher as a man for as he instructeth he is a teacher and as he learneth a Scholler Which are relatiue properties This mystery cloudeth the clearest of our thoughts yet from so many rayes wee must study to light some little torch to quicken our owne feeble sights It shall be well if we tame our vnbridled vnderstandings and learne with Nazianzene Orat. 40. in S. Baptism I know not how sayth he to thinke of one but that vpon the very instant I shall see my selfe environed with the brightnesse of three neither can I discerne these three except at the very moment I returne vnto one Q. But make you any distinction betweene them and the Essence A. Yes As betweene a man and a Scholler who though he be a man yet not as a Scholler for then should euery man be a Scholler because he is a man But indeed he is a Scholler because he learneth
doings Luk. 10.21 Christ Iesus reioyced in the good pleasure of his Father as the onely cause of revealing or hiding the mysteries of mans saluation Phil. 2.12.13 Worke out your owne saluation with feare and trembling now least wee should follow the Popish dreame of free-will that man could merit life and happinesse if God would but beare halfe the charges we are reduced to a more full cause It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe we bring not so much as a will disposed for our owne good that is most slauish till grace free it and it is freed by the most free cause which is the good-pleasure of our God Q. What doe you obserue concerning Elohim or the persons A. Two things their cooperation and distinct manner of working the one is necessary in regard of this that they haue the same essence and therefore cannot but co-worke in euery thing the other is likewise as necessary because each person hath his distinct manner of subsisting All operation flowes from their essence cooperation from their vnitie in it and distinct manner from the distinct manner of their subsisting One essence one operation and three being one must needs worke inseparably and one being three must needs worke in a distinct manner Gen. 1.1 In the beginning Elohim made Gen. 2.26 Let vs make Mat. 12.31 Blasphemie is aggrevated in regard of the three persons and against the last it is made vnpardonable because a sinne against the Father is remitted by the action of the Sonne who redeemes from wrath and so is a sinne against the Sonne by the worke of the Spirit who applies the merites of Christ to euery guiltie soule but if the sin be against the holy Ghost all hope is cut off for there is no fourth person to helpe and the worke cannot goe backward for the Spirit workes neither by the Father nor the Sonne and so no meanes of remission is left for this sinne Q. What is the divine co-operation A. Whereby the three persons worke the same thing inseparably Ioh. 5.17.19.21 My father worketh hitherto and I worke whatsoeuer things he doth the same doe I he raiseth and quickneth the dead even so doe I quicken whom I will c. Ioh. 1.3 Nothing was made without the sonne And here wee are to vnderstand the same of the blessed Spirit Q. What is hence to be learned A. That all the persons worke of themselues 1. Ioh. 5.7 Three beare record and yet they are all one in essence in respect whereof they worke from themselues To be and to act is all one in God therefore as each person is God of himselfe so doth he worke of himselfe Q. What will further follow from this A. That there is no preheminence or dignitie in this their co-working For as they are equall in essence so are they equall in their actions Ioh. 14.1 Yee beleeue in God beleeue also in mee Ioh. 16.15 All things that the father hath are mine Ioh. 5.18 It was no sinne for Christ to make himselfe equall with his father in euery worke The same is as true of the Spirit Q. What is the distinct manner of working A. Whereby each person worketh according to the manner of his subsisting Hence it comes to passe that the second person being mentioned with the first it is said Not of him but by him were things made for as the sonne workes from the father so the father workes by the sonne Ioh. 1.3 Col. 1.16.17 Heb. 1.2 The like is to be vnderstood of the Spirit who being from both hath both to worke by him Ioh. 16.13 and doth nothing of himselfe I meane as a person Q. What is the Fathers manner of working A. To worke all things by the Sonne and the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 8.6 One God which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him So that the first person workes from himselfe not onely as God but as a person and continues his worke by his sonne Math. 10.20 Ioh. 15.26 1. Cor. 3.10 By the Spirit the Father revealeth teacheth and testifieth and the reason is because they are both from him who worketh of himselfe Q. What from hence A. That the originall and beginning of all things is from the Father For he that is first in subsisting must needs be first in working Hence some manifest notable ignorance in this point who place the worke of the Sonne and the holy Ghost before the action of the Father and that in the greatest and weightiest mystery of our salvation I meane our eternall predestination who placing redemption and application before election set the worke of the second third person before the first for according to their wandering Doctrine they teach that man is redeemed and by faith applied to Christ before he bee elected of God the Father This is cleane contrary to S. Paul Eph. 1.3 to 15. Where election being an originall worke is giuen to the Father who dispenseth the same by his sonne and applies it by his spirit So that the Father doth elect vs before the Sonne redeeme vs or the Spirit sanctifie vs. Read the Bible and you shall finde creation and election more frequently attributed to the first person then either the second or the third And our Creed teacheth vs to call the Father Creator c. Q. What is the Sonnes manner of working A. He worketh from the Father by the holy Ghost Ioh. 5.19 The sonne can doe nothing of himselfe saue that which hee seeth the Father doe c. Ioh. 16.15 The Spirit shall take of mine and shew it vnto you And the reason is the Sonne is from the Father but the holy Ghost is from them both Q. What learne wee hence A. That the dispensaetion of all things is giuen to the Sonne as there is an entrance into euery worke so must there bee a proceeding in it and the Father in all things proceeds by his Sonne as in the revelation declaration of his will Ioh. 1.18 and the execution of all things in himselfe which may prepare for the worke of the spirit in vs. Ioh. 16.17 For till the Father haue done the Sonne can doe nothing neither is it for the Spirit to worke vntill he take it from them both Q. What is the holy Ghosts manner of working A. To worke both from the Father and the Sonne Ioh. 16.13 The Spirit shall not speake or doe any thing of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall heare from the Father and the Sonne as the two next verses make it plaine And the reason is that he subsisting from them both must needs worke accordingly Q. What followes from hence A. That the consummation of all things is giuen to the holy Ghost who ends the worke of the Father and the Sonne Gen. 1.3 Let there be is rather a word of consummation then commandement The whole worke is carried by word and deed God said the
Father had none to speake vnto but his Sonne let there be is that the word spoken might be done by the Spirit who finisheth what is spoken by both And here we see by what kind of motion the world was made by the least stirring for what is lesse then to effect all by a word And yet what greater then to effect by such a word and spirit Iob 26.13 The Spirit is said to garnish the worke of creation Ioh. 14.26 and 15.26 All that the word hath said or Father promised shall bee taught testified and remembred vnto vs by Gods spirit Rom. 8.10.11 13.14.15.16.26 c. A Spirit of life quickens those mortall bodies that are redeemed by Christ by whom they liue againe and are led in prayer as children of adoption c. 1. Cor. 12.11 All gifts and graces wee haue from the Spirit Rom. 8.9 1. Cor. 3.16 the Spirit is said to dwell for as the Father makes choice of his house and the sonne purchaseth it so the holy Ghost takes possession in casting out Satan and sinne and in keeping and holding the same in spite of all Satans assaults Act. 5.3 A lie against the truth is a speciall sinne against the holy Ghost whose proper worke is to testifie of the veritie he hath receiued from the Father and the Sonne And hence it comes to passe that sinning after the knowledge of the truth is most dangerous because it is opposite to the last act of God further then which he will not goe in the addition of any new supply of grace and goodnesse Q. What may wee learne for conclusion of all this A. That to him the worke is especially giuen in whom the manner of working doth most appeare as Creation to the Father Redemption to the Sonne and Sanctification to the holy Ghost This may a little be manifested vnto vs out of man who is said to doe all things by his wit will and power The first mouer of man to action is will then by wit and wisedome he proceeds and by his power concludes The will workes by wit and power wit workes from the will by power and the power workes from them both Will begins wit dispenseth and power doth finish the action Onely here is the difference that they are not alwayes able to worke inseparably for sometimes a man hath more wit then will Agrippa Act. 26.28 had more wit to be perswaded to be a Christian then will to imbrace so dangerous a profession Sometimes he hath more will then wit as Peter Mat. 16.22 Master spare thy selfe loue made him blind in seeing what was fit for Christ to doe Sometimes againe more will and wit then power as the Devill Mat. 4. in the temptation of our Sauiour he shewed all his wit and will to trap our Sauiour but he had not power thereunto somtimes also there appeares more power then eyther wit or will as in the Legion of vncleane Spirits Math. 8. who carried the whole Herd of Swine head long into the Sea By this wee may see the inseparable co-operation of the three persons as through a crevis or lettice a little glimmering light of their distinct manner of working The Father wills the thing to be done hence in Scripture will is oftner giuen to the Father then any other person Mat. 11.26 Ephes 1.11 Secondly the Sonne being the wisedome of the Father dispenseth what the Father hath willed And here wee vsually call the Sonne the wisedome of the Father and so indeed we finde him to be in our redemption 1. Cor. 1.30 Thirdly the holy Ghost as the power of both doth finish and consummate their works and so the Scripture stiles him the power of the Highest Luk. 1.35 For as the Father did will that his Sonne should take vpon him our flesh and as it was proper to the second person to assume so the finishing of this worke in the last act of it was due to the Spirit for as there is a naturall spirit to vnite the body and soule together so is there a divine spirit equall to the worke to vnite the divinitie and the humanitie of Christ together God wills that his sonne assume and his sonne will not assume but by the worke of the Spirit To conclude nothing is done no not in their most distinct manner of working but they will all haue an hand in it what more proper to the sonne of God then to take our flesh and become our wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption And yet he can doe none of this but from the will of his Father and by the power of his Spirit CHAPTER XII Of the Creation of things immediately made perfect Question HItherto of Gods efficiencie in generall what are the kinds Answere A. Two Creation and providence In the one we see the orderly production of the creatures in the other Gods carefull administration and preservation of them See for this Psalme 104. Of creation to the tenth verse of government to the 27. verse of preservation to the end Nehe. 9.6 Thou hast made the heauen with all their host c. Thou presoruest them all and they worship thee in regard of their Government Q. What is Creation A. It is the first part of Gods externall efficiencie whereby he made the world of nothing originally good Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God made Heb. 11.3 of things which did not appeare Gen. 1.3 and they were very good Psal 33.6.7.8.9 and 146.6 Ier. 10.11.12 Act. 17.24 All which places testifie of a Creator and his power wisedome and discretion in framing them so excellently and that minimo motu by his word and breath Q. What is here generally to be obserued A. That because things here originally had their beginning therefore the Fathers manner of working doth here pruicipally appeare to whom the originall of all things is giuen 1. Cor. 8.6 All are said to be of the Father so are they of the Sonne as God but as a person he is not the originall for in the same place it is said by the sonne And so in the Creed we giue all personally to the Father vntill wee come to the worke of redemption and here we are to learne that the Apostasie of Adam was especially against the Father and therefore could not he by way of satisfaction be our Redeemer for the person properly offended cannot satisfie himselfe by himselfe but by some other that must come betwixt the Father and vs and thus agrees it with the iustice of God that we should be reconciled by a second person Q. Did God make the world all at one instant A. No but in the space of sixe times 24. houres that wee might more distinctly consider all his workes And Aquinas giues a good rule Successiverum non simul est esse perfectio God could haue created all at once but in his wisedome he tooke daies for it Some glimps of reason hereof we may aime at thus as some creatures were to begin with the first instant
there is but a reversion of the divine nature so this is an exaltation of the humane to possesse that glory and excellency which before it had not Psal 2.6 and 110.1 Dan. 7.13.14 Act. 5.30.31 Heb. 2.9 and 8.1.2 and 9.24 Thus might Steuen see Christ in a most glorious manner aboue all other in heaven Act. 7.55.56 Q. What benefit redoundeth thereby to vs A. Vnspeakeable for while our head is so highly magnified and made Lord of all wee know that he will rule all for the best and that no good thing shall be wanting to them that are his yea that our sinnes which wee cannot but commit whiles the old man dwelleth in vs shall not preiudice our happinesse seeing he sitteth at the right hand of our Father to be our intercessour and governour Q. What is the fourth and last degree A. His glorious returne from heaven to iudgement both of the quicke and dead which is his second comming into the world with great glory and maiestie to the confusion of them that would not haue him rule over them and the vnspeakeable good of his owne for it is he that iudgeth and who shall condemne them and hereupon is the full worke of Redemption giuen to the Sonne Math. 24.30 Ioh. 14.3 Act. 1.11 1 Thess 4.16 and 2. Epist chap. 1. ver 7.8 Iud. ver 14.15 Phil. 3.20 CHAPTER XXV Of the Spirits application to the Church Question HItherto of Redemption what is the application thereof Answere The making of that ours which the Lord of life hath done for vs. The purchase of our peace was paid at once yet must it be severally reckoned to euery soule whom it shall benefit If we haue not an hand to take what Christs hand doth either hold or offer what is sufficient in him cannot bee effectuall to vs. Wee haue no peace without reconciliation no reconciliation without remission no remission without satisfaction no satisfaction without infinite merite no infinite merit without Christ no Christ without faith By this wee are interessed in all that either God the Father hath promised or Christ his sonne hath performed Conscience must play the honest servant and take his masters part not daring to be so kinde to the sinner as to be vnfaithfull to his maker It must not looke straight vpon him till he by the eye of faith be able to looke straight vpon God Hence it will suffer no man to bee friends with himselfe till hee be a friend with God now by faith in Christ Iesus of enemies wee become friends yea sonnes and as sonnes may expect and challenge not onely in this life carefull provision and safe protection but in the life to come salvation and fruition of an everlasting patrimony Mark 16.16 Luk. 24.45.46 Ioh. 3.3.14.15.16.18.19 Ephes 3.17 Q. To which of the three persons is this worke most properly ascribed A. To the holy Ghost the Father most properly carries the worke to Redemption and then the Sonne goes on with it so begun to Application and then the Spirit finisheth the worke so dispenced by the second person Ioh. 14.17.18.26 and 15.26.27 and 16.7.8.9.10.11 Christ left not his Church comfortlesse but even increased her ioyes by the presence of his Spirit When he let fall the showers of spirituall operation after his departure vpon the Iewes Act. 2.41 there were at one Sermon three thousand soules added to the Church a great increase none such in Christs time Why Was Peter the better Preacher Nay never man spake as he spake for God gaue him the Spirit not by measure Ioh. 3.34 and 7.46 But now the spirit was giuen plentifully to the hearers which before was either restrained or sparingly imparted Eph. 1.13 The word faith and the Spirit worke all together for the applying of Christ vnto salvation Q. To whom is Christ applied A. To the Church which is the proper subiect of Redemption They that make Christ an vniversall Mediator and the Spirit a generall agent in applying to all and yet the Father but a speciall elector of some shew themselues ignorant of the manner of the co-operation of the sacred Trinitie For as the Father beginnes by election so the Sonne goes on by Redemption and the Spirit finisheth the worke by application so that application is as speciall as election Ioh. 17.9.10.11 As the Father redeemes his owne by Christ so he keepes them by the Spirit Eph. 5.25 He gaue himselfe onely for his Church vers 26.27 and the same he doth present holy to his Father by the worke of his Spirit Q. What is the Church ⧠A briefe Map of Gods Election Election From the Father The inchoation and beginning whereof is Who for the first manner of working hath by the counsell of his will decreed by his omnipoteâ—â—ie and efficieâ—â—ie originally to effect all In the saluation of all the Elect. The dispensation or progresse In the Sonne Who for the second manner of working haâ—â— by the price of redemption obtained and still by â—is intercession doth obtaine to repaire all The consummation or ending By the holy Ghost Who for the third manner of working hath doth apply by testimony seale and gouernment the â—â—â—athers electioÌ„ â—â—s redemptioÌ„ to finish all And for conclusion all 3 apply the same to faith Which receiues all as most freely graced of God And by which we are both ingrafted into Christ and made to grow vp with him vntill we haue our perfect fruition Q. What are the kinds as they concerne man A. Election which is Gods gracious decree in Christ Ephes 1.4 to set free some men from the misery of the generall lapse and to bring them infallibly to salvation for the setting forth of his abundant mercy Rom. 9.11.16.23 And Reprobation which is his preterition or passing by some men and leauing them in the generall corruption of the fall without effectuall meanes of recovery and salvation for the manifestation of his vncontroulable justice Rom. 9.18.21.22 Question VVHat meane you by this delineation and description of Election Answere That wee should not fixe our eyes vpon the odious and offensiue name of Reprobation but delight our selues the more with the sweet and comfortable inspection of our Election wherein were shall finde the sacred Trinitie to haue beene more deepely then in the other and not to be so much pleased in plaguing men for finne as to saue them out of it Reprobation being an internall effect and ever sleeping in the bosome of him that never sleepeth I meane an imminent no transient effect must needs be from God and in God yet the execution of it is no wayes so large in God as that decree of life and salvation Shewing plainely that God is farre more affected with the life and happinesse of his creatures then their death and misery Election is from the Father in the Sonne by the Spirit to faith which workes not any life in vs or for vs but onely receiues it at the bountifull hands of Almightie God Oh let vs not so
Diuinitie would haue our workes to vsher in our Iustification nay as parents to beget it Whereas they are in very deed the companions and pages or honorable attendants of faith and the righteousnesse it holdeth Faith is both the mindes testimony in regard of the word and the wills Amen in regard of the spirit Creed comes of credo which signifies to see a thing certainely and yeeld to it affiance It is compounded of cernere and dare Pro certo videre pro certo dare Hence Faiths motto Caco nulli By faith wee know whom wee haue beleeued 2. Tim. 1.12 And our Creed puts vs in mind of knowledge and affiance in faith so the word it selfe teacheth no lesse for Faith comes of Fides and fides of fiat dictum where we haue God to say the word and we say Amen vnto it The auncient Romanes at the very gate of their Pantheon pictured faith with two hands closed together intimating that there was no comming to God but by the hand of faith And Grace which scorneth not to learne of Nature any good though not Athens but Ierusalem must teach this lesson can take this advice as Moses heard the good counsell of a Midianite that he that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of all them that seeke him diligently Heb. 11.6 That faith is the first part is cleare Ier. 31.33.34 and 32.40 First God writes in vs this principle of life and then we obey him Ezek. 11.19.20 and 36.26 First he puts in his spirit and then causeth vs to walke in his statutes Such is the servile or rather bruitish nature of man that he can neither be stirred or stayed in any good course except there go a new forming of his heart before there be any reforming of his life As dead bodies are rubbed without heat so doe wee in vaine force vpon our selues an heartlesse Religion without faith all our life here is but a vitall death without it till wee liue that life wee doe but carry our carcasses vp and downe carelesly and doe nothing pleasing vnto God Heb. 11.6 secondly that faith is from knowledge appeares Ioh. 6.69 and 16.30 and 17.3 Heb. 11.1 and that with affiance in God Psal 40.4 Mark 11.22 hence faith is a confidence in God vpon a particular assurance from God that he is my God Mark 9.24 Rom. 4.20.21.2 Tim. 1.12 Faith layes not hold of God as we take hold of a tree or some such like sencelesse thing but as we vse to doe in our salutations when there is a mutuall imbracing and kissing of each other aspasamenoi Heb. 12.13 Q. Seeing faith solely rests vpon God what is God A. God in regard of himselfe onely knows himslefe as dwelling in the light vnaprochable whom neuer man saw neither can see 1. Tim. 6.16 Ioh. 1.18 1. Ioh. 4.12 The Sunne and the fire say of themselues come not too neere how much more the light which none can atraine vnto Here the well is not onely deepe but wee want a bucket to draw withall God to Moses Exod. 33.20 giues both the rule and the reason thou canst not see my face and liue for there shall none see me and liue I must contract my meditations least the Art grow too big with amplifications It would be an excellent worke to write a booke by it selfe of the knowledge of Iehovah Elohim It shall now be sufficient to lay downe the precepts with short expositions and as pregnant proofes as we can Q. What followes from hence A. That God is both incomprehensible by reason and vnnameable by words and consequently aboue all Arts for Grammar and Logicke are the most generall and goe before all other sciences nothing being to be conceiued without them Iob 11.7.8.9 God is not to be found out by reason therefore he cannot be measured by quantitie Iob 36.26 too great for the finite vnderstanding God being the first is most intelligible for prioritie of nature ever goes with perspicuitie of apprehension But this is in God himselfe who best knowes his owne being yea better then any thing beside it although man better knowes other things then himselfe Gen. 32.29 Iudg. 13.18 Gods name as his nature is secret and not be sought and this doth wonderfully strengthen faith for if God were not greater then our apprehension he could not helpe vs infinitely The holding of God by faith is better then our beholding him by reason Ephe. 3.20 God is able to doe exceeding abundantly aboue all we can aske by words or thinke by reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Q. May wee then inquire nothing A. Duet 29.29 Secret things belong to the Lord our God but things revealed belong to vs and our children for euer Exod 19.12 The people may not goe vp into the Mount yet may they stand at the foote to heare God speake vnto them Exod. 33.20.23 We may see Gods back-parts but not his face Rom. 1.19 that which may be knowne of God some-thing is not to be knowne as being too subtile for the eye of any creature The beames of the Sunne are made visible by reflection and letters being refracted and broken in a paire of spectacles are made liable to a dimme eye so Almightie God by his word and workes shining in his creatures as in a glasse is seene of vs. Psal 19.1.7 104.24 and 119.105 Rom. 1.20 Iam. 1.23.25 but most of all by the eye of faith looking in both Heb. 11.3.27 Wee cannot looke vpon the body of the Sunne neither can we see at all without the light of it so as wee cannot looke vpon the face and essence of God so neither can we see any thing at all without him hee therefore must name himselfe and so describe himselfe as wee may apprehend him by his owne Logicke and Grammar It was well and modestly spoken by that Emperour to Ambrose Wee speake of these things not as wee ought but as wee can I haue euer thought with my selfe that here a foolish wisedome is better then a wise ignorance and that it is sufficient to be one of Gods Court though I may be none of his counsell I will labour to know all that I need and all that I may without prying into Gods Arke assuring my selfe that he that is thus content to dwell with his poore servants in these smoky cottages of their mortality where we through our vnquiet corruptions will not suffer our selues to haue the full fruition of him shall haue wonderfull happinesse in our dwellings with him in those eternall Tabernacles that are aboue Alas whiles the shadow of our sinfull masse hides his beautie from our eyes it is well if we can see any thing This earthly Moone of the Church hath her fulls and wainings and must haue so long as she wadeth in this planetary world It is enough when shee is fixed aboue to be in the full of her glory Here wee haue but the dim shadowes of our future blessednesse Onely at the
both of them before the holy Ghost Order requires that the begetter subsist before the begotten and the Spirants before the Spirit Ioh. 15.26 I will send from the father the Comferter even the spirit of truth As there is an order in subsisting so in working And here the well of life lies open before the godly though their eyes often like Agars are not open to see it whiles miserable worldlings haue neither water nor eyes And because to Christians there can be no comfort in their secret felicities seeing to be happy and not to know it is little aboue miferable let me here fell them some of that spirituall eye-salue which the Spirit commends to the Laodiceans that they may clearely see how well they are in the true apprehension of this order I know it to be vsuall with all men liuing that they doe not much more want that which they haue not then that which they doe not know they haue Assuredly there is nothing but a few scales of ignorance and infidelitie betwixt vs and our happinesse It lies in a narrow compasse but soundly trussed together for it is from the Father in the Sonne by the Spirit to Faith 2. Cor. 13.14 Loue from the Father as the beginner of our happinesse Grace from the Sonne as the dispenser of it And a blessed happy communion from the holy Ghost as the accomplisher or finisher of it Loue Grace and Communion are enough to passe the beleeuer from death to life The father cannot manifest his loue without the grace of his sonne neither can the spirit therein communicate with vs but as he is sent from both after both to manifest the loue of the one in beginning and the grace of the other in dispensing all things needfull for our saluation Thinke not much that this glasse of the word espies that in vs and for vs what our selues see not too much neerenesse oft-times hindereth sight and if for the spots of our owne faces wee trust others eyes and glasses why not this truth for our perfections wee are in heauen and know it not What greater happines then this to be made partakers of the purest Loue richest Grace and choicest Communion Eph. 1.13.15 Our election is begunne by the will counsell and decree of the Father dispensed by the complete and full redemption of the Sonne finished by the powerfull and effectuall application of the Spirit It is not without due consideration why in the beginning of the Apostolicall Epistles Grace and peace are wished from the Father and the Sonne without mention of the Spirit I may and will reine the question shorter then they doe that confound the persons in their workes The Spirit is sent from the Father and the Sonne to witnesse that grace and peace that wee haue from and with them both He that is from them both by inspiration is to them both with vs as lidger in execution When good things are wished from some persons it is requisite that there be some to carry newes of their will and pleasure therein The Church of God hath the glorious Gospell of life and saluation and therein is contained all grace and peace with God but how shall euery soule be certified that he is interessed in those good things except the Father and the Sonne send the Spirit as a witnesse and seale thereof vnto him in particular Therefore Paul in all his Epistles wishing grace and peace from Father and Sonne not mentioning the Spirit obserues the true order of personall subsisting and personall working And therefore peace purchased by grace whereby the Father is reconciled in his Sonne is wished to the Churches the fruition whereof followeth by the worke of the blessed Spirit in all that are ordained to be partakers thereof Q. What kind of properties are these A. Individuall and incommunicable and being giuen to the Father Sonne and holy Ghost make three distinct persons and therefore the Church of God hath done well so to name them though the word be not in all the Scripture for it is a Latine word and therefore cannot be found in the Originalls which are Greeke and Hebrew Thus far haue we freely dipped in this streame and not bin drowned pulled many fragrant roses and not pricked our fingers there is one thing more that may sting vs if godly discretion serue not to sever the good from the ill yet the former lessons well remembred are sufficient to them that are capable of observation and not carelesse of reposition to keepe them from danger but seeing remarkable consideration put into vs by others are as some loofe pearles which for want of filing vpon a string shake out of our pockets it shall be necessary both for the getting and keeping of the treasure of our vnderstanding to expresse it Q. Are then these properties qualities in the divine essence A. They are relatiue affections no inherent qualities for they doe no wayes change or alter the essence but leaue it still simply one I know naturall reason would here send forth distemper into our whole judgement The streame must needs runne like the fountaine and speeds well if at last by many changes of soile it can leaue an ill qualitie behind it so our judgement shall be well purged if by all these passages we can so farre master reason that the fardle of foolish fancies may here be vnloden and God may purely be apprehended as he is in himselfe But what can be expected from this age fitter to looke after Butter-flies or Birds nests or perhaps some gay coat of a Courtier then this sound and solide knowledge of Iehovah-Elohim Or if any trauell this way it is indeed like our yong travellers whose wealth is found to be in their tongues wherein they exceed and excell their parents parrats at home both for that they can speake more and know that they speake so our Aethiopian Christians white onely in the teeth euery where else cole blacke can speake well of God and godlinesse and that is all But God is not so learned for as among the three parts of the body there is one called Impetuous or impulsiue as the spirits which sets all on worke or as Physitians call the Arteries in the body Venas audaces or micantes from their continuall beating and working which running along with the other veines beate knock at euery gate and entrance for the members to take in provision saying as it were to euery part and portion here is meate and nourishment for you so true religion hauing put into vs the royall and celestiall Spirit of Faith calls vpon all powers and parts not to know and speake good things but to liue and practise them Papists teach that a man may and must both make and eate his God to his break-fast this hard meate wee leaue for their stronger mawes yet even here may wee begin with the spoone and offer nothing to our weaker stomackes but discourse of easie digestion Know God and liue by
faith and wee shall haue him for our ever-lasting food CHAPTER X. Of their Distinction Question HOw are these Subsistences or persons to be distinguished Answere They are Father Sonne and holy Ghost or because Relatiues are but two into the relation of Father and Sonne to the spirit which is breathing or sending or of the Father to the Sonne which is begetting Spirantes spiritus Gignens genitus how easie were it to loose our selues in this Discourse How hard not to be over-whelmed with matter of wonder and to finde either beginning or end Loe with these words of relation we are happily waded out of those deepes whereof our conceits can finde no bottomes and now may wee more safely with Peter gird our coat about vs and cast our selues a little into this sea onely we must remember that as those which had wont to swim onely with bladders sinke when they come first to trust to their owne armes so wee may soone plunge our selues if we suffer our owne thoughts to carry vs along in this mystery If any wonder whether this discourse can tend let him consider that of Tertullian Ratio divina in medulla est non in superficie Divinitie is more in the marrow and roote then the rind and surface of things It cannot be doubted but as God is the best being so he is the best life and that the best life is reasonable God therefore is the best vnderstanding Suffer your selues with Abrahams Ramme to be perplexed a while in these bryers that you may be prepared to present your selues for liuing sacrifices holy and acceptable to this dreadfull Trinitie Singula verba plena sunt sensibus as Hierome sayd of the Booke of Iob. As being by nature so vnderstanding by counsell is able to conceiue and beget the image of it selfe and from the one to the other to send a mutuall loue liking onely in the creatures both these are imperfect for nature doth generate to preserue it selfe and vnderstanding conceiues to perfect it selfe No vnderstanding by nature conceiues it selfe and no being by counsell begets it selfe It is therefore the perfection of vnderstanding naturally to conceiue it selfe God doth both speake and worke in Parables as a Father sayth well but here needs nothing be fayned to fasten this truth vpon vs. It shall bee evinced by plaine demonstration The best being and best vnderstanding must needs conceiue the best image of it selfe now in conceiuing it begets it and being begotten by nature is no lesse then the begetter Man by nature begets no lesse then himselfe by counsell hee can conceiue that which is lesse or greater then himselfe so the father by nature can beget no lesse then himselfe though by counsell he conceiued and brought forth a whole world nothing comparable to himselfe in greatnesse or goodnesse Well then in one simple essence there is necessarily a begetter and a begotten and so we haue the subsistences of Father and Sonne He is out of the danger of folly whom a speedie advertisement leaveth wise It is but an holy prevention to be devout vnbidden and to serue God vpon our owne conceits Let vs then see how the second mystery will follow The father in begetting his owne image cannot but loue it naturally and the sonne in being begotten cannot but as naturally loue the begetter And hence proceeds mutuall loue and because it is naturall is no lesse in being then the begetter and begotten from whom it proceeds for the begetter and begotten loue themselues naturally and therefore the Spirit is God and a third subsistence in the divine nature If the persons were eyther greater or lesse one then another then would this absurditie insue vpon it that neither the father could directly conceiue himselfe or father sonne equally loue themselues consequently never inioy their owne happinesse which consists in the full fruition of themselues Heb. 1.3 Christ is said to be the expresse image of the fathers subsistence Some translate it substance or essence which will all come to one passe if substance be taken subiectiuely not causely for the divine essence hath eminently all the excellencies of creatures and therefore vnderstanding which is able to conceiue and in conceiuing to beget which begetting is a relatiue propertie and hence the Subsistence of the Father whereof the Sonne is the expresse image It were as we haue formerly said improper locution to call him the image of the essence for that begets not yet in that is the begetter c. Rom. 15.30 Gal. 5.22 Where loue is giuen to the Spirit not onely as hee worketh it in vs but as he is the mutuall loue both of Father and Sonne and so is sent from both of them to testifie of their loue to vs Rom. 5.5 O that these things in their true worth could affect vs but alas as in a Taverne where many Tables are seene replenished with guests halfe soaked and sowsed in wine all the house resoundeth with laughters cries whoopings and strange noise wherein the sweetest musicke in the world is both neglected and mocked so our age inchanted with rude and ridiculous pastimes gibeth at this holy and heauenly contemplation of the sacred and blessed Trinitie How many doth God suffer to liue and breath which make the Taverne their Temple Indian-smoake their incense Sacke their sacrifice and blasphemous oathes their daily prayers for the loue of this dreadfull Trinitie and the deare loue of your owne soules remember S. Pauls advise Rom. 6.22 Being made free from sinne haue your fruit in holinesse and the end thereof shall be ever-lasting life But I must make my course more speedie and hasten in the long way I haue to goe Hitherto we haue had many Reaches to fetch in our way and beene constrained to winde in by bourds but wee are gotten off the Maine onely the shore is still buttrest with rockes on euery hand the Currents swift the Shallowes many that wee cannot make so fresh a way as wee would Haue but the patience a while and we shall bring thee within the view of the end of our toylesome voyage The ship that hath beene long at Sea discouered many strange Continents and ryvers strugled through many hiddeous tempests escaped many rockes and quick-sands and at length made a rich returne cannot but forget her irkesome Travell and thinke shee is well apaid when shee commeth within the kenne of her owne Countrey and sees the Land lye faire before her So hee that coasts along these severall bankes and bounds of godlinesse and in the Ship of the Church is brought into the mouth of the haven of heaven cannot but with ioy remember all the troubles and afflictions he hath indured in this world In a word vnderstand this but as a letter of advertisement from the Coast whereby thou mayest with the greater ease reape the profit of them that haue travelled before thee Q. What is the relatiue propertie of the Father and the Sonne A. To breath or send forth
hope of better in reversion and shall we sticke at any worldly pelfe for the gaining of heaven Fie on such children as with Esau would sell this birth-right for a messe of this worlds pottage Lord make mee one of thy heires and I will be content to waite thy leisure for my pleasure in inioying Q. Hitherto of our being in Christ what is our coalition or growing vp with him A. It is our daily putting off of the old man with his corruptions and the putting on of the new man with his daily renewing in righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4.22.23.24 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 2.20 and 5.24 They that are in Christ cannot but be new creatures and such as are daily crucifiers of sinne Q. What are the parts or rather degrees of this our coalition A. Regeneration and glorification Being adopted of the Father it is fit wee should come forth as his children therefore it pleaseth the Father of his owne will to beget vs with the word of truth Iam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.23 First there is a divine conception of the adopted Sonnes of God and secondly a bringing forth of that worke Christ was conceiued in the wombe of the Virgin by the worke of the Spirit so must his brethren be conceiued in the wombe of the Church by the same Spirit Psal 110.3 Christ told Nicodemus that he was to be re-borne or else hee should never see glory Ioh. 3.3 Regeneration is as the conception Glorification as the nativitie or happy birth day The passion dayes of the Martyrs were called of old Natalitiasalutis the birth dayes of their salvation and that as well for festivitie as the nativitie it selfe Thus from an obscure conception we come to a glorious birth 1 Ioh. 3.2 Q. What is Regeneration A. It is as it were a new conception of vs in the wombe of the Church by the spirit of God and that of the incorruptible seed of the Word whereby our corrupt nature is begotten againe or restored to the image of God 1 Pet. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.4 Tit. 3.5 Gal. 4.6 2 Cor. 3.17 Colos 5.9.10 Eph. 4.23 Which is of the whole man and in this life is perfect in the parts though imperfect in the degrees as a child is a perfect man before he come to his full age And this may be called our sanctification whereby of vnholy wee are renewed by the holy Spirit to the image of our heauenly Father And here we are to consider two degrees of our sanctification the first is the inchoation or beginning of it the second is the processe or passing forward to greater perfection hence Rom. 8.30 our glorification followes our iustification sanctification being no other thing then a degree thereof still proceeding profiting and perfiting in true holinesse which is the greatest reward of godlinesse for as to doe ill and continue therein is the greatest misery so to doe well and persevere therein is the greatest felicitie Glory is the reward of vertue and God cannot crowne his servants better then with an increase of grace Now this progresse is orderly and begins in the Soule even in the very marrow and spirit thereof and so proceeds to the outward man and the actions thereof Ier. 4.14 Eph. 4.23.25.26.27.28 First conversion then conversation And here alas how many set the Cart before the Horse and beginne to change their liues before their lusts their hands before their hearts to purge the channell when the fountaine is corrupt and apply remedies to the head when the paine is caused from the impuritie of the stomacke What is this but to loppe off the boughes and never lay the Axe to the roote of the tree to prune the Vine that it may sprout the more Miserable experience shewes how such disordered beginnings come to miserable endings Many seeme to abstaine from sinnes which they never abhorre and leaue some evils which they loath not and so like swine wallow in them againe or like dogs follow their former vomit she wing plainly they did never inwardly distast those sinnes which for a time outwardly they neglected Againe as wee are to obserue order so wee are to labour for a thorow change 1 Thess 5.23 Holinesse as a dram of Muske perfumes the whole boxe of oyntment or is placed in the Soule as the heart in the body for the conveying of life to all the parts Some turne from one sinne to another others like Aethiopians are white onely in the teeth that is in verball profession else-where cole blacke in conversation they speake well and that 's all Others thinke it is well if they turne their mindes from error though they never change their wills from evill as a reformed Papist but an vnreformed Protestant as wanton in truth as ever he was wilde in error others againe thinke they haue done God good service if they giue halfe the turne as prostrating their bodies to Idoles when God shall haue their hearts or on the contrary when God hath their bodies they suffer the Devill to haue their Soules When mens bodies are in Sacello their hearts as Augustine complaineth are at home in saccellis suis Many by their looke and language out-face the congregation whiles their hearts are running and roving after covetousnesse If wee will beleeue eyther Phylosophy or experience wee shall finde our hearts where they loue not where they liue Lastly others resolue to giue all to God yet haue a leering eye and a squint respect vnto some of their sinnes with Lots wife casting a longing looke after their old Sodome Know the rule of the Schoole to be most certaine that as vertues so vices are coupled together and though in conversion to temporall good they looke diverse wayes yet in regard of aversion from eternall good they beare all one face Yet this must be added for the comfort of the weake that vnperfect sanctification if it be vnpartiall is accepted of God Onely let vs as the aire from darke to light in the dawning of the day proceed by degrees to our noone in grace or as the water from cold to luke-warme and then to heat so let vs haue our soules benummed with sinne warmed with grace and then further heated with true zeale and ferveneie Q. What are the affections or properties of Regeneration A. They are either from the death of Christ our mortification of sinne or his resurrection our vivification in righteousnesse and from hence our spirituall warre betweene corruption dying in vs and righteousnesse rising and growing in vs. Mortification is a daily dying to sinne by applying Christs death to our selues 2 King 13.21 The dead body no sooner touched the bones of Elisha but it was revived againe so wee no sooner touch Christ but he crucifies sinne in vs and reviues vs in the spirit Rom. 6.2.11 and. 7.4 Colos 3.3 Rom. 6.6 Vivification is a dally rising to newnesse of life by the vertue of Christs resurrection Ioh. 5.11 Eph. 2.4.5 The spirituall battell is waged betweene the part corrupted and
setle our soules in the cogitation of these last things Remember that the best suite of apparell is laid vp in the wardrobe or heauen here we must be either in blacke mourning or in red persecuted It matters not what ragges or colours we weare with men so wee may hereafter walke with our Sauiour in white and raigne with him in glory In the meane time let vs often exercise to acquaint our nature draw it into some familiariue with the ioyes of heauen And as one that maketh a fire of greene wood not be tyred with blowing vntill our devotion be set on flame for the habite of vertues doth grow and increase with the exercise of their acts Doe wee not see that our glorification is nothing else but our multiplied sanctification And those that endevour God will helpe and by our persistance and his assistance wee shall haue continuance and pleasure in happy courses for as one that is either weary or weake recovereth strength by taking his food although he eateth many times without either appetite or taste so holy exercises which giue both fewell and flame vnto devotion doe increase in vs some spirituall strength even when to vs they yeeld little spirituall solace Let vs grow in sanctification and wee shall be graced with glory and glorified with grace and comforted in both * ⎠* ¶ The second Booke CHAPTER I. Of the Law Question HItherto of faith in God What is our obedience towards God Answere The dutie to be performed to God by vs the power of the holy spirit working in vs by our faith Luk. 1.74 Rom. 6.8 12.1 1 Cor. 6.20 Tit. 2.11.12.14 1 Pet. 1.17.18.19 Psal 56.13 Eph. 2.10 1 Thess 1.8 Faith and the inward dispositions of the soule are as the kernell outward acts are as the shell he therefore is but a deafe nut that hath outward seruice without inward faith And yet this divine Phylosophy teacheth vs not onely to referre our speculations but our affections and all the dispositions of our soules to action Tit. 3.8 So that as our seruice must be grounded vpon our faith so must our faith be reduced to seruice There is no faith but it workes It is neither idle nor vnable to set the whole man a doing well In Rethoricke wee say there may be Elocution without pronunciation but in Diuinitie wee cannot haue the first part of the Art without the second This Solifidian like Aesops Henne too fat to lay may sit at Rome as iustified but is pittied by Dauid Psal 119. Rome saith there may betrue faith without workes as if a man should haue faith and not liue by it or liue and not performe the act of life Papists erre grossely in both parts of divinitie for they teach faith in the Church and creatures and so make not God the end of it If the Church or Saints may terminate faith it will rest there and goe no further for the goale Againe as in faith they shoot not at God no more doe they in workes for they looke to gaine and merite heauen by them Also hypocrites and civill men know neither the ingenuitie of faith nor liberalitie of workes for they walke before men and not before God but they are here soundly lessoned that would so dissemble with God as if seruice consisted onely in wearing of liueries in taking of wages in making of curtesies and kissing of hands I meane they put on the cognizance of Christianity in Baptisme know how to liue vpon the trencher of Gods providence in their maintenance and to giue him the complements of a fashionable profession c. I know there is nothing more easie or more common then this such servants are as vsefull for God as drunken seruing men for honest masters which are not to be found when there is most vse for them Ransacke then thy heart O sinner and finde sound affection to God firme resolution to goodnesse true hatred of sinne ransacke thy life and finde the truth of workes the life of obedience or els Scribes and Pharisees shall goe before thee into heauen Doe not thinke that because thou hast gotten Gods liuery on thy backe and his name in thy mouth that thou shalt be able to out-face all reproofes God will smite thee God will smite O thou whited wall But if the civilly righteous shall not be saued where shall the notorious sinner appeare A Christian and yet a forme below a Iew For shame what are wee and where is our emulation Heauen is our goale wee all say wee runne loe the very Seribes and Pharisees are gotten before many of vs and what safetie can it be for vs to come short of those that by the verdict of our Sauiour come short of heauen Math. 3.20 Be zealous and never be at rest till thou get a step further then the most honest civill man and that is both in faith and workes to gaine sinceritie which is the girdle of truth Eph. 6.14 Thinke thy selfe but a loose man as long as thou wantest it thy graces never so excellent will be shaken off with a storme as loose garments with the wind And here the Proverbe is most true vngirt vnblest c. Obedience if wee respect Gods iustice ought to be perfect yet it is so farre perfect in vs as it is wrought in vs by the spirit and faith wherein properly there is no imperfection for it is the opposition of corruption that makes faith little A small fire warmes but a little and the reason is not in the heat but the coldnesse of the weather therefore as farre as wee beleeue wee obey God perfectly and our faith is sayd to be in part because the greater part is corrupt onely this is the comfort that the new man shall gaine ground of the old for though the old man by his long experience often deceiue the yong man yet the flourishing age of the one shall grow riper in yeeres and experience when the old man in the end shall fall to plaine dotage The spirit faith and man are all agents in well doing and man deserues the least prayse for he is beholding to the Spirit and faith if he receiue any reward of his workes I wonder at Papists that they should make those workes most meritorious which are most remote from the fountaine of well-doing The hand in Almes or feete in Pilgrimages or both in Christian warre deserue least if the reward be according to the doer for then the spirit and faith will carry all away and teach the whole man to be thankfull for mercies and not to stand pleading for merites Q. Wherein stands our obedience A. Either in observation of the law invocation of God or celebration of Sacraments Faith makes vs euery way dutifull to our Maker It moues vs to seeke him in all his ordinances and most willingly submit vnto his lawes devoutly to sue vnto him in our prayers and holily to receiue the pledge of his loue Math. 28.19.20 They that for want
propertie of the Sonne A. To be begotten Heb. 1.5 Q. What is his manner of subsisting A. To be the second person in order not in nature for the begotten in relation is naturally as soone as the begetter Q. What is his worke A. Redemption Ephes 1.7 Q. What is Redemption A. It is a satisfaction made to the Iustice of God the Father for Man by a Redeemer Q. Who is the Redeemer A. Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. Q. Why call you him Iesus A. Because he is a Sauiour of his people from their sinnes Math. 1.21 Q. Why Christ A. In regard of his offices as he is anointed our King Priest and Prophet Psal 45.7 Luk. 4.18 Act. 4.27 and 10.38 Q. VVhy his onely Sonne A. Because the Father can haue no more sonnes by nature but one Q. Why our Lord A. By the right of Redemption Rom. 14.9 Q. How is our Redemption wrought A. By the humiliation and exaltation of the Sonne of God Luke 24.26 Q. VVhat be the seuerall degrees of his humiliation A. Seuen There be some others left out of the Creed but these expressed are the principall Q. What are they A. 1. His conception 2. his natiuitie 3. his passion vnder Pilate 4. his crucifying 5. his dying 6. his buriall 7. his descent into hell Q. VVhat are meant by all these A. That Christ must not onely satisfie in generall but that he must passe through the degrees of our sorrowes and beare our afflictions Isa 53.4.5 Q. VVhat be the seuerall degrees of his exaltation A. Foure which are his Resurrection Ascension Sitting at Gods right hand and returne to Iudgement As in his humiliation he tooke our receits and tasted the bitter potion for vs so all Physicke being ended of that kinde he giues vs his receits of Redemption Ephes 1.7 Iustification Rom. 3.24 Reconciliation Colos 1.20 Sanctification 1 Pet. 1.2 Entrance into glory Heb. 10.19 These are Cordials for vs and for him after all his penall receits Q. What is the third person A. The holy Spirit who by nature proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne and by counsell applyeth Christ to the Church and euery member thereof the Father being the first person elects the Sonne redeemes and the Spirit sanctifies Ioh. 14.26 and 15.26 Rom. 8.16 1 Cor. 2.12 Ioh. 3.5 2 Cor. 1.21 Rom. 8.23 Q. VVhat is his Relatiue propertie A. To proceede Vnderstanding begets an Image of it selfe and loues it and so from the best vnderstanding to the best obiect of it proceedes a mutuall loue The begetter loues the begotten and the begotten loues the begetter and their loue is equall to themselues and proceedes from them both and to vs. The will of the Father by the wisedome of his Sonne and power of his good Spirit is sayd to doe all Q What is his manner of subsisting A. To be the third person in order for proceeding from two he must needs be the third and yet in nature as soone as either of them for the louers and the loued are Relalatiues and therefore together in nature Q. VVhat is his worke A. Application or Sanctification Ephes 5.26.27 The Sonne hauing prepared the remedie leaues it to be applyed by the Spirit Ioh. 16.7 CHAPTER II. Of the Faith of the Church Hitherto of Faith in God Question WHat is the Faith of the Church Answere Whereby beleeuing in God we also beleeue that wee are of the Church and made partakers of all good things promised vnto it Q. VVhat is the Church A. That number of all those that are applyed to Christ by the spirit Now as this vnion is made by faith it is called the militant Church as by vision the triumphant Q. Why is it called holy A. Because it is an holy Societie of Saints in regard of the Spirits worke 1 Pet. 2.9 Reu. 11.2 and 21.19 Q. Why Catholicke A. Because it is vniuersall in respect of all times persons and places a familie both in heauen and earth Math. 26.13 Ephes 3.15 1 Ioh. 2.1 Reu. 7.9 Q. What are the benefits God bestoweth vpon it A. Two in this life as the communion of Saints and remission of sinnes and two in the life to come as the resurrection of the body and life enerlasting Lamen 3.23 Psal 68.19 Col. 1.5 and 3.3.4 1 Ioh. 3.2 Q. VVhat is the communion of Saints A. It is our communicating with God and the godly both in grace and glory or that fellowship that wee haue with Christ our head and all his members Psal 16.5 73.26 Isa 55.1 Act. 4.32 Gal. 6.10 Ephes 4.3.4.5.6 Heb. 10.24 Phil. 2.1.2 1 Cor. 10.16 Reue. 3.18 and 6.20 Q. What is the remission of Sinne A. It is a worke of mercy whereby the Father being offended and reconciled by his Sonne doth witnesse to our consciences by his holy Spirit that all our sinnes are discharged and that we are graciously receiued againe into his fauour Iob 33.27.28 1 King 8.47 Hos 14.2 Isa 33.24 and 62.11 God in forgiuing our sinnes doth both couer and cure them 1 Ioh. 1.9 Q. What is the resurrection of the body A. It is a standing vp from the dead by the power of Christs resurrection whereby our corruptible bodies are made incorruptible and filled with all glory and excellencie Iob 19.25.26 Ioh. 5.28 Act. 3.19 1 Cor. 15.42.43 2 Cor. 5.1 Heb. 11.35 Q. What meane you by life Euerlasting A. That most blessed and happie estate in which all the Elect of God shall raigne with Christ their head in the third heauen after this life and after the day of iudgement and that both in body and soule for euer and euer Psal 16.11 Isa 64.4 Ioh. 17.20.21 1 Cor. 2.9 and 13.12 and 15.28 2 Cor. 12.4 Phil. 3.21 Reue. 21.22 and 22.2 CHAPTER III. Of good Workes Hitherto of Faith Question WHat are the workes of Faith Answere That ready act of faith to doe as we are bidden Rom. 6.16 1 Sam. 12.25 Iam. 2.14.17 Ioh. 14.15 1 Thes 1.3 Tit. 3.1.8 Q. How are these workes deuided A. They are either our walking with God or conferring with him or receiuing from him 2 Cor. 7.1 Phil. 1.6 2 Thes 1.11 Heb. 6.17.18 Faith bids the cleansed goe away and sinne no more but walke after the Spirit it prouokes to prayer and giues vs full confirmation of Gods loue Q. What is our walking with God A. It is our due obseruation of his lawes in all our wayes Psal 119.6 Q. What is the law of God A. The rule that God hath prescribed vs for the holy performance of all our actions Isa 8.20 Rom. 2.15 7.7 Q. How is the Law distributed A. It is either concerning the worship of God or loue of our neighbour Mark 12.29.30.31 Q. What is the first Commandement concerning the worship of God A. Thou shalt haue no other Gods before myface Gen. 39.9 Iob 31.23.24 Psal 112.1 Pro. 3.5 Isa 8.13 and 51.12 Hab. 1.16 Luke 12.45 Phil. 3.19 Colos 3.5 Q. What is the summe of this precept A. The hauing of
to keepe the minde in an equall poyse but as Balances ill matched in their vnsteddy motions come to an equalitie but stay not at it so the scoales of an vnregenerate minde if at any time they seme to be even are easily swayed by contrary passions sometimes vp to the beame through lightnesse and overweening opinion of prosperitie and suddenly downe againe to the lowest pitch being depressed with any load of sorrow There is no heart makes so rough weather as never to admit of a calme When the winde stirreth not the waters and waues of the Sea seeme to be silent so the man that is most disordered may haue some respits of quietnesse It is not enough to avoyde the imputation of madnesse to be sober many Moones for hee that rageth in one is no better than franticke so how quiet so euer these masters haue made themselues yet their rules haue never countervailed all their troubles The wisest and most resolute Moralist that ever was lookt pale when he was to taste his poysonfull Hemlock Courage and constancie against all crosses and curses and then to bee least shaken when mostassayled comes from the rules of an higher art then naturall wisedome was ever able to teach Hastie hounds amd swift on foote often spend their mouths and courses in vaine for want of sent so how easie is it for nature to over runne Religion that so seldome is lead by right reason Wandering Empiricks may say much in tables and pictures to perswade credulous Patients but their ostentation is farre from approbation of skill when they come to effect their cures How many ships haue suffered miserable ship-wracke for all the glorious titles of the Triumph the safe-gard the geod-speed c. So how many soules haue beene swallowed vp with the faire hopes of their fained religions This taske of faving soules is left whole for grace to busie her selfe about it Alas nothing is left in vs but the ruines and relicks of our sinnes and the iudgements of our God Nay the soule diepred with her owne bloud shrinkes not at the face of death following it That goes best downe with the sinner that is freest from grace And as hunger maketh riffe raffe odious viands toothsome or as the vicious stomacke can feed hungerly on coales and ashes so the greedie sinner can with delight devour the murthering morsels of his owne misery In darknesse Starres of the greatest magnitude are not to be seene nor the millions of moats that lie in blindnes so who knowes the magnitude or multitude of his sins O Lord if thou shine not vpon vs wee sleepe in darknes If thou saue vs not in thy sonne we perish in our selues O that we could be netled with the newes of our miserie Can we see our Sauiour mourne for it whiles we haue no grace to mourne for it our selues Should not this strike vs in the very striking and fetch teares from our eyes If he that was without sinne would not be without stripes for vs shall we thinke to be cockered like Adoniah of our heauenly Father Lord strike our hearts with the rod of thy word as Moses smote the hard rocke that our stonie hearts may gush forth plentifull rivers of teares because we haue not kept thy Law Let vs no longer like fooles laugh when we are lashed of our sinnes Transplant vs into thy Sonne for as we are both the stocke and the griffe are euill It was onely for our Sauiour as a sweet Impe to grow out of a Crabstocke But if thy mercy feoffe vs not in the blessings and vertues of thy Sonne as our sinnes doe feoffe vs in the curses of our parents we perish They are grosse faltterers of nature that tell her shee is cleane yea aliue O the vnspeakeable mercy of our God that whiles wee provided him the sinne he provides vs the remedie Behold an expiation as early as our sinnes the pure and innocent Lambe of God slaine from the beginning of the world Thus thus whiles the clamour and feare of our fall to our affrighted consciences runnes on like fire in a traine to the very vtmost rankes of our bodies and soules euery part and power fearing their fellowes no lesse then themselues are affraid even then to the true beleeuer behold the bloud of him who purgeth our consciences from dead workes Heb. 9.14 Nay so admirable a lenatiue that it leaues no more conscience of sinne Heb. 10.12 But from the name and notation let vs come to the definition and fist that which is generall a doctrine Our once lost law of life is left to the teaching of the word and Spirit Sinfull man being dull and deafe of hearing had need to haue his heart prepared made ready by all meanes to receiue the truth The Scriptures are not penned like an Art in order and methode and the reason is because the truth could not be offered to man directly who lookes asquint but on all sides that he may be hit with them on some side The first thunder-bolt that did strike through the soule of man was Adam thou hast sinned and art the childe of death By creation in wonderfull silence was the law written in the fleshy Tables of our hearts and as things which are written in barkes of trees did daily grow out by corruption therefore he thought it high time to write in in tables of stone as more faithfull monuments then our hearts And when he comes to driue it into the iron hearts of men hee takes state vpon him as one that will be trembled at in his word and judgements There was nothing in the deliuery of the Law that might not worke astonishment The eyes dazled and dimmed with lightnings the eares torne with thunders roaring in them The voyce of the Almightie wrapped in smoake and fire and out-speaking both the clamor of the trumpet and clappes of thunder and that in such a manner as he did rather seeme to threaten then teach forbid then command deterre then define what he would haue done More negatiues in opposition to what men would doe then affirmatiues in direction to what men should doe By which wee are to vnderstand that he that was so terrible a Law-giuer would one day appeare as severe a judge If he were so dreadfull in the proclamation he would be as fearefull in the execution Oh! how will this fiery Law flash terrour in the face of euery hard and impenitent sinner when at the day of iudgment his conscience like another Sinai shall tremble and quake before the Iudge then shall he see the Law that was giuen in fire in fire to bee required By this promulgation I plainely see how difficult a thing it is to teach a sinner If God should not change our hearts Ezech. 11.19.20 his Messengers might as well with our venerable Country-man Mr Beda preach to heapes of stones as to the stony hearts of carnall men There is none but God that is able to giue the first charge
As likewise most absurde to hold one and the selfe same nature begotten vnbegotten for so there should be a first second and third nature as there is a first second and third person and so three Gods as well as three persons But this will better appeare by the sequele Oh the necessitie of this high knowledge which who attaines not may babble when he prayeth and bee superstitious when he worshippeth Onely here is our greater helpe that we haue the manhood of Christ as a Iacobs ladder to climbe vp to the God-head Ioh. 1.18 No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten sonne of the Father as out of his bosome hath revealed him vnto vs. So that in this intricate way to the throne of grace it will not availe vs as we now stand except we take with vs the second person as a Mediator whose presence and merits must giue passage acceptance and vigour to our prayers Christians must therefore learne to ascend from earth to heauen and from one heaven to another CHAPTER IIII. Of Gods Essence Question VVHat is Gods Essence Answere It is that whereby be is the first and most absolute being Being is that whereby a thing is truely and really in essence or existence And it is either the first being or that which is from the first Now God is the first Isa 41.4 and 48.12 and therefore essentially one Isa 46.9 Deut. 6.4 Eth. 4.6 Furthermore God is absolute as being independent from any other There was a first man and a first in euery kinde of creature but no absolute first saue God Exed 3.14 Ioh. 8.58 If any aske me why wee define the essence of God seeing wee formerly sayd it was not knowne of vs our answere is wee define it relatiuely not simply to wit as it is a first and that absolute first being is knowne best in it selfe and so is God for there is nothing more intelligible then he yet of vs nothing is lesse knowne we come to him by seconds and the begins of other things Which proue necessarily a first and that absolutely for two will proue one to goe before and dependent beings will proue an independent The Sunne beames are more visible to our eyes when they are cast obliquely vpon their obiects then when they fall directly so wee must shew you God rather in the blessings we receiue from him then those excellencies which are in him It is the best and the longest lesson even thus to learne him and of surest vse which alone if wee take not out it were better not to haue liued Oh that we would often exercise to acquaint our nature and draw it into some familiaricie with God the very soule and being of it And though at first wee make but our fire of greene wood yet not to bee tyred with blowing vntill our devotions be set on flame If we endeuour God will helpe by enlightning our vnderstandings till we be wholly enflamed with a loue of him And as Moses by often talking with God had a glorious glistering set vpon his countenance so wee by our often frequenting conference with God in prayers and meditations shall finde in our selues though not suddenly yet in time a most heavenly change Q. What followes from hence A. The observation of the essentiall name of God as Lehovah Iah Eheie The first word delivers vnto vs such an essence as ever was is and shall be Rev. 3.14 Ie is a note of the Future tense Ho of the Present and Vah of the Preterperfect tense and so is well expounded Rev. 1.8 But ill expounded by those which by them would vnderstand the Trinitie giuing the present to the Father past to the sonne and to come to the Spirit Yet it is true the Father workes of himselfe and as the present begins time so he the action it is also true that the Sonne works from him and therefore passeth on the action as that which is past doth time Neyther can this be denyed but that the Spirit worketh from them both and so finisheth te action as the future doth the poynts and periods of time But this word is essentiall and not personall and therefore is giuen of God to expresse the essence not the persons Iah is contracted of Iehovah not to signifie a diminute God as if it were the diminutiue thereof but still for essence and present being Neither is it applyed to Christ humbled in the flesh as if that were the diminution of it but it is the denomination of one and thee selfe same glorious essence in all the persons Eheie is as much as I will be which no creature can peremptorily affirme Time changeth all things and there is none that hath the command of it but he alone that gaue it beginning and continuance and to whom the account of our very houres are due and best knowne But I must not lead you from Elins into the wildernesse and leauing the wells of water trouble you with the barrennesse of mans braine Take these Texts of Scripture for confirmation and further illustration Exod. 3.14 and 15.2.3 Psal 68.4 Isa 42.8 Happy are we that wee rest vpon such a being and may enioy all things in him and him in all things nothing in it selfe so shall our ioyes neyther change nor perish for how ever the things themselues may alter and fade yet he in whom they are ours is ever like himselfe constant and everlasting Q. What followes in the second place A. That God is free and voyd of all power either to be or be otherwise then he is And therefore faith rests vpon a most substantiall and immutable being Hee hath neither causes to over power him or accidents to change him and so he is aboue all substantiall and accidentall power Causes prevaile in euery creature but the Creator is voyde of them And hereupon God is from himselfe of himselfe through himselfe and or himselfe He that is Anâ—â—tios without causes is Autoon God of himselfe yea in vertue and power more then all causes to himselfe Goe then yee wise Idolatrous Parasites and erect Shrines and offer sacrifices to your God the world and seeke to please him with your base servile devotions it shall be long enough ere such religion shall make you happie you shall at last for sake those Altars emptie and sorrowfull for both you your God are beholding to a better being then your selues How ridiculous is it to plead for an Idollgod that hath all the causes put vpon him What fooles will be perswaded to resigne vp their owne eye-sight and to looke thorow such spectacles as very sottishnesse doth temper for them I will her presume to presse in with an easie determination although it seeme to me to be no other then a plaine quarrell betweene stomacke and discretion a small deale of wisedome might decide it especially considering that all things are from God and God alone from himselfe Blush ye Gentiles that vse a Smith and Carpenter so
the spirit Ioh. 15.26 I will send from the father the Comforter even the spirit of truth The same is said to proceed Gal. 4.6 God hath sent forth the spirit of his sonne into your hearts Ioh. 16.8 As the sonne comes from the father to take our nature vpon him so the spirit comes from them both to apply Christ effectually vnto vs and vs vnto Christ But this comming sending proceeding is a worke of counsell not of nature for the Spirit by an imminent act as he comes from father son so he hath his residence in them both and no creature is capable of him but as by a transient act hee passeth the worke of Redemption to vs by application hee is sayd to come to vs and we receiue him in graces and operations By nature he comes from the same persons and rests in them by counsell not by command he comes to vs and is said to dwell with vs and that in spite of Satan all his temptations As fierce Mastiues tyed in a chaine which although they both barke and haue perhaps a good will to bite yet they can make no neerer approach then the chaine doth permit so that Cerberus of hell is chained vp of God and though his malice be great to labour to enter where he is expulsed yet the spirit keepes him out by his presence and safegards our hearts in peace against all his molestations Q. What is the Father A. The first person who by nature begets his sonne who must needs be an onely sonne because the Father cannot haue many images of himselfe Christ is the first begotten Heb. 1.6 and the onely begotten Ioh. 3.16.18 1 Ioh. 4.9 Ioh. 1.14.18 And therefore the relation betwixt the Father and Christ is a speciall and peculiar respect Heb. 1.5 I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a sonne Man was made in the image and likenesse of God and of the three persons by a divine consultation but Christ is the image of his Father or first person by an eternall and everlasting generation Luk. 3.38 Adam is called the sonne of God which is a most free and voluntary act of the Creator in producing man in his owne image This I insist vpon the more that wee may be wary in our conceits in apprehending Gods act vpon vs and the fathers act vpon his sonne It is happinesse enough for vs to come so neare God that his onely sonne may stand betwixt vs him and that wee may be called his brethren by the Fathers choice of vs in him Q. What is the Fathers relatiue propertie A. To beget and not to be begotten and therefore he is the first person in order Psal 2.7 Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thee Heb. 1.5 The same words are repeated to proue Christ aboue the Angels who Iob. 2.1 are called the sonnes of God and therefore in another sense that is in regard of Creation and grace both which they obtained by the will and counsell of their Creator who made them and ordained them to stand in that favour from which the reprobate Angels fell but Christ is a naturall and an eternall sonne Prov. 8.25 And therefore to day is as some Fathers expound it put for eternitie seeing all times are present to God to whom a thousand yeares are as one present day Or rather this day being the day of Christs resurrection and exaltation in which he was mightily declared to be the sonne of God Rom. 1.4 is the manifestation of that eternall generation by which hee is preferred before all creatures His conception and natiuitie as he was man belong to his humiliation which as S. Augustine speakes of his passion was the sleepe of his divinitie as his death was the sleepe of his humanitie Yet as the fathers of Chalcedon say truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indivisibly inseparably is the God-head of the second person with the whole humane nature and euery part of it still and for ever one and the same person The soule in the agony and vpon the Crosse feeles not the presence of the God-head the body in the graue feeles not the presence of the soule yet vpon the third day both bodie and soule did feele the power of his divine nature death being too weake to dissolue the eternall bonds of this heauenly coniunction And therefore vpon the day of Christs resurrection was there a manifest declaration of the eternall generation of the second person Q. What is the Sonne A. The second person begotten of his father Ioh. 1.14 We beheld his glory the glory of the onely begotten of the Father Vers 18. No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten sonne which is in the bosome of the father he hath declared him Q. What is the relatiue propertie A. To be begotten and not to beget and because he is from the father alone therefore the second person in order 1. Ioh. 4.9 God sent his onely begotten sonne into the world Heb. 1.5 I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a sonne therefore by the force of relation he must be begotten no begetter otherwise contrary things should bee the same Q. What is the holy Ghost A. The third person proceeding from the Father and the Sonne Ioh. 14.26 The comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name Ioh. 15.26 When the comforter is come whom I will send vnto you from the father c. Ioh. 20.22 Christ breathed on them and saith vnto them receiue yee the holy Ghost he that hath power to breath on his members the gifts of the holy Ghost according to his owne will and counsell hath by nature together with his father an ineffable manner of breathing the spirit for as the three persons worke by counsell so they subsist in the divine essence by nature Q. What is the spirits relatiue propertie A. To proceed and because he is both from the Father and the Sonne therefore the third person in order of subsistence Ioh. 15.26 even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the father c. Ioh. 16.7 It is expedient for you that I goe away for if I goe not away the comforter will not come vnto you but if I depart I will send him vnto you till the second person haue fully dispensed the worke of Redemption the third person cannot so fully apply it no marvaile then if the times before the death of Christ had more weake meanes of application then now we haue the spirit being more fully giuen Ioh. 12.32 And I if I be lifted vp from the earth will draw all men vnto mee Peter Act. 2.41 conuerted more at one Sermon then Christ did all his life not because he was the better or more powerfull Preacher but because the spirit was then more fully sent both from the father and the sonne to accomplish that which they had begun for the redemption both of Iew and Gentile Q. What is
preexistent matter or forgoing principles They are not immediately composed but first they haue a matter and then a forme and then their owne being or existing And as time dis-ioynes these things so they are subiect to change with time Gen. 1.2 Out of the voyde and vnformed earth came all inconstant and mutable creatures 2. Pet. 3.5 The earth that now is is sayd to stand out of that Chaos which Gen. 1.2 is called earth water c. This by conversion is as well the ground of confusion as of composition Out of a confusion are they compounded and may by conversion be confounded againe into it Q. What followeth hereupon A. That they are by nature returnable into their former principles and so of a corruptible nature 2 Pet. 3.6 The world that then was perished being over-flowed with the waters that is all that breathed Gen. 7.22 Euery thing vnder the Sunne passeth away Eccl. 1.4 And at the last day the elements with all their inhabitants shall be destroyed 2. Pet. 3.10 As it were a resolution being made into the first Chaos againe as may seeme what a hell were it for a man to be an inhabitant of that first earth The holy Ghost testifieth 2. Pet. 3.7 that the heavens and the earth which are now are kept in store and reserved for fire and perdition of vngodly men at the last day Good reason they should be punished where they sinned and with those creatures they haue abused A fearefull hell to haue all turned into the first Chaos with an addition of the fire of Gods vengeance As if that first matter were then to be formed and filled with nothing but the extremities of Gods curses At the first it was formed and adorned as a Palace and Paradise for man then shall it be left as a dungeon and noysome prison for the torture and torment of all wretched and wicked persons Onely the third heauen with the inhabitants thereof shall then be in blisse and blessed felicitie Q. How manifold is this creation A. It is eyther of the elements or the elementaries Gen. 2.1 Heauen and earth were finished with the host of them All that are placed aboue in the fire and the ayre or below in the waters and the earth are elementaries being composed out of those foure elements and are as the host of this inferiour world Q. What is the creation of the elements A. Whereby he made them of a precedent matter with their formes immediately of nothing That is the matter or earth without forme receiued into euery part and portion of it a simple formation without all mixture yet so that it was formed into foure bodies essentially distinguished which are most simple as hauing nothing in them but one common matter with foure distinct formes immediately created of nothing hence they are in themselues the greatest opposits as fire to water and ayre to earth The maine opposites are fire and water which stickle and striue together and are moderated and compounded by the two other When water would quench the fire earth steps in and helpes to abate his moysture And when fire would dry vp his moysture ayre secondeth the water and prepares a radicall moysture to feed the fire a little longer When the coldnesse of water takes off the edge of heat then ayre with his mild heat helpeth his fellow And when fire over-masters the coldnesse of water then earth checks him and abates his fury whence ariseth all elementaries receiuing the common matter and formes of the elements much abated and moderated after their striuing and strugling together and therefore are not so vehemently opposite and contrary in themselues Gen. 1.3 Let there bee light which was the first simple forme that was put into the common matter ver 6. Let there be an expanse or spreading which was next added to light as his fittest neighbour ver 9. Let there be gatherings or waters which contained the third simple forme came as next fellow to the ayre for so God had appointed that by placing it betweene two great adversaries it might be a friend to both ver 9. Let the dry appeare which comes lowest in ranke and gaue the matter the fourth simple forme Thus heat and cold moysture and drinesse did runne through the first common matter which intertaines them all and giues them leaue to diffuse themselues one into another for further mixture and composition Q. But may these things be handled in Divinitie A. Yes because wee so farre speake of them as they concerne creation which is proper to this Art And our rule is this that where Creation endeth nature beginneth and generation succeeds it as in imitation of Gods first composition God by his omnipotent hand giues to euery thing his being and then sets it a worke by his owne nature and vertue Aristotle knew a first matter but he confesseth he had it from Plato and he from the Aegyptians and they from Moses Yet he erred in many things for want of Divinitie beginning onely with nature where creation had ended his worke First he was ignorant that the first matter was of nothing Secondly that it stood certaine houres without a forme Thirdly that all the formes it receiued were immediately of nothing Fourthly that all this was done in time and that there was nothing in the world eternall but the maker of it Gen. 1.1.2 The earth was a subiect of contrary formes and therefore preexistent Q. What is that first matter of all inconstant things A. It was a thing which God made of nothing in the beginning of the first day without forme and voyd and so by his spirit miraculously sustained it for a certaine space Gen. 1.1.2 Q. What followes from hence A. That of it selfe it is permanent for being immediately of nothing it hath no power to worke vpon it but the same that made it therefore God alone can turne it into nothing from whence he brought it and this is the reason why the first matter and foure first formes are not resolved though all things may be resolved into them For in generation and corruption as they begin here to take new formes so here they leaue them againe And death though a privation of life yet it hath no power to annihilate his contrary and therefore as nature begins where creation ends so creation at the last day will begin againe where nature hath ended I meane in our resurrection euery man receiuing againe those very peeces of the elements whereof he was made Iob. 19.27 2. Cor. 15.35.36.37.38 c. the very seed that is sowne dieth and riseth againe out of those very elements into which nature resolueth it springeth it againe Q. When was it made A. In the first beginning of time or the evening of the first day hence it is co-etaneall and of the same time and age with the third heaven and the Angels Gen. 1.1 And the reason was to hinder a vacuitie in the large space and compasse of that highest heaven
their instruments There are the liuing glasses placed in the midst of his visage which bring obiects a farre off to the minde and because they are too tender opticke peeces slie of the most soft and lawny touches they are mightily defended and fenced with hollow bones and with prominent browes and lips And least they should be too much bent on what they ought not they haue peculiar nerues to pull them vpward to God as also to the seat of their rest What a tongue hath God giuen him the instrument not of taste onely but of speech also How sweet and excellent voyces are formed by that loose filme of flesh What an incredible strength is giuen to the weake bones of the iawes What a wonder of so few letters to make infinite words and giue them severall sounds with a distinct articulation and ready signification to the hearers The causes whereof in nature are these The lungs or lights breath to coole the heart and like a paire of bellows thrust out that ayre which they haue receiued and it goes and comes by the wind-pipe which is made rough as it were with ringes to stay the breath it goe not out altogether at the top thereof is a peece of flesh to cover the mouth of it Now in the pipe this noyse comes vp and lies in the almands and makes a resound and is turned vpon the tongue which strikes it against the pallet and teeth and makes an articulate sound cutting in peeces the whole sound either into a letter or clapping diverse together makes syllables and so words and then sentences This articulation is naturall but the appellation of things by names is artificiall and belonging to the Art of Grammar In Babels bablers to stop their proud attempt God meddles neither with hands nor feete but their tongues not pulling them out or loosing their strings or making them speechlesse but by teaching them to say too much A sound of letters befooles the workmen and spoiles the worke I beleeue this confusion was made in turning of letters when they intended to put such letters together God taught them to dispose them contrary as ab ba c. And now poore creatures how long doe wee stay vpon the shell of tongues before wee come to chew the sweet kernell of knowledge Division of tongues hinders any worke and is often a cause why our Sion riseth no faster and though it over-threw old Babel yet doth it build the new Onely I except the clouen and fiery tongues of the Apostles Act. 2.3 The Spirit teaching the Art of Grammar without meanes c. Againe that goodly proportion God set in the face how is it altered with passion as with ioy and sorrow Laughter ariseth from the extension of the heart which sends spirits apace from it selfe and because they are hot fly vpwards and so come to the face that is very full of muscles cold by nature and so contracted yet by the heat comming thither are extended which is the laughter in the face Onely this must further be added that the heat of the head and braine doth sympathize with other parts of the body And therefore the apprehension of a ridiculous obiect sends downe to the heart from the head then back againe to the face Teares arise cleane contrary for the head being stricken with the apprehension of some sorrowfull obiect the heart is smitten too and contracts it selfe and so sends vp those chrystaline humors that are to coole it and are squesed out by contraction of parts and so runne out at the eyes The head stands vpon a comely and tower-like necke most sinewie because smallest I might carry you downe to his feete but my purpose is not to play the Anatomist any further then to giue a little taste of a wonderfull worke All the inward vessels for all offices of life nourishment egestion generation c. no veine sinew artery c. are idle Yet this body compared to the soule what is it but as a clay-wall that encompasseth a treasure as the wooden box of a Ieweller or as a course case to a rich instrument or as a maske to a beautifull face let vs therefore come to his Soule Q. How was the soule created A. Immediately of nothing hence it dies not Man was made last because he was worthiest And the soule was last inspired because more noble then all the rest And the inspiration of it is by creating to infuse and by infusing to create Gen. 2.7 Zech. 12.1 The breath of life was formed within and not without man And though it be little yet is it of great value A little peece of gold containes many peeces of silver one Diamond is of more worth then many Quarries of Stone and one Load-stone hath more vertue then mountaines of earth Q. How then was the soule indued A. With most excellent faculties which either worke vpon the body by Spirits or themselues by reason As the soule works vpon the body by elementary spirits it is possible for man to die but as these by the blessing of God are cherished by wholesome food man againe might not die These spirits are either naturall as hauing ayre predominant in them and they serue for generation and augmentation and nutrition or animall hauing fire predominant in them and they serue for sense or motion now the motiue faculties are either for locall motion whereby the bodie is carried vp and downe or epithumeticall and internall motion whereby the soule is moued with desires or affections especially loue and hatred which are the primatiues of all others whether they be in the concupiscible or irascible facultie as ioy and sorrow in respect of present obiects hope and feare in regard of absent c. Beside these separable faculties and not practised without the bodie the soule hath more eminent and excellent powers and abilities which it is able to vse being separated from the body and they are reasonable whereby he might be the free beginner of his owne action that is a cause by counsell Gen. 2.10 and these faculties are vnderstanding and will And thus you see how God hath giuen vs a Soule to informe our bodies senses to informe our soule faculties to furnish that soule vnderstanding the great surveyer of the secrets of nature and grace by this man seeth what God hath done by this he can admire his works and adore him in what he seeth Here is fancie and invention the master of great workes Memory the great keeper or master of the Rolles of the Soule a power that can make amends for the speed of time and make him leaue his Monuments and Chronicles behind him There is will the Lord-paramount keeping state in the Soule commander of all actions and the elector of all our resolutions Iudgement sits by as the great counsellour of the will affections follow as good servants of both And for the good thereof hath God giuen a body fit to execute his charge so wonderfully disposed as
vniust judge or malicious accusers But I will neither be a foole nor a rebell either ignorant whence my crosses come or impatient knowing them to be from my God He hath stinted all my miseries and weighed out euery dram of my sorrowes and the very powers of hell shall not be able to cast in one scruple more then he hath allotted for me Q. How is Providence confidered in regard of the Agent A. It is ordinary or extraordinary God provides for his creatures either by meanes or by miracles Wee plow we sow reape thresh grind bake c. God can skip over all these meanes and multiply a few loaues to feed many thousands Math. 14.17 and make Corne grow without tillage Isa 37.30 God hath leaue to leape the meanes and whereas one bushell of Corne by sowing may multiply ten ten twentie twentie an hundred and an hundred a thousand God can send all this at once and multiply one loafe to as great a quantitie of bread as may be made of a thousand bushels Sheepe Wool Wool-men Spinners Weavers c. for the making of cloth and cloth for garments God can doe all this at a leape and giue cloth and shooes make them last fortie yeares without all change Deut. 29.5 And giue them bread that did never come from the earth ver 6. He can make Sunne and Moone stand still cleare the eyes with clay saue and helpe with many few or none Iosh 10.12.13 Ioh. 9.6 1. Sam. 14.6 2. Chron. 14.11 Hence wee learne that our extremities are Gods best opportunities Q. What is Gods ordinary Providence A. Whereby he provideth by ordinary meanes Psal 147.8.9 He covereth the heaven with clouds and prepareth raine for the earth and maketh the grasse to grow vpon the mountaines which giueth to beasts their food and to the young Ravens that cry Psal 104. vers 10. to the end Math. 6.26 Gen. 45.7 Act. 14.17 Lev. 26.26 Math. 4.4 And here comes to be detected the Devils sophistrie cast thy selfe headlong vpon God and vse no meanes And the Divinitie of the vulgar sort is to be learned in the beginning and end of their salvation negligent of the middle Gods decree and their finall estate must hang together without meanes men would be saued by sitting still and thinke it is enough that they are either elected or reiected What is this but to eate the Corne out of the eare nay to famish because we will not abide the labour to grind or to knead it Sure I am God is come to vs in a most wonderfull manner his Sonne is become as low as our selues and though now returned whence he came yet his word and spirit are ever present and there is nothing wanting but a will to learne Yet this shall be my conclusion that if meanes were wanting I might looke for miracles And faith can rest vpon God as all sufficient in both Q. What is Gods extraordinary Providence A. Whereby he provideth extraordinarily and by miracles and that either against nature or beside nature or aboue nature As to cause the light descend without Starres Gen. 1.4 To devide the red Sea Exod. 14.21 To saue the three men in the hot fiery furnace Dan. 3. To devide Iordan Iosh 3.15 To inspire the Apostles Act. 2.11 Yea the very making of lice was Gods extraordinary finger Exod. 8.19 What else should haue guided that vntamed and vntaught teame 1. Sam. 6.12 in as right a path toward Israel as their teachers could haue gone saue an hand aboue nature What else should over-rule brute creatures to preferre a forced carriage vnto a naturall burden at home saue a divine conduct Little can wee by the beginning of any action guesse a Gods intention in the conclusion yet by this may wee be premonished to depend vpon him in all our affayres and that with hope of good successes Set faith a worke in any difficultie to make the motion and wee shall be sure to speed eyther the one way or the other Q. What is a Miracle A. It is a worke aboue nature and all ordinary meanes as the raising of Lazarus Ioh. 11.43.44 It is for the most part a visible signe to manifest the power of God Mat. 11.4.5 and 15.31 Ioh. 20.30 And this is proper to God Ioh. 9.16 If this man were not of God he could not doe such Miracles Q. Wherein is the Providence of God seene A. In the conservation and gubernation of all things God made nothing presently to destroy it but reserues euery thing for further vse of his glory and service Mat. 10.25 Two sparrows scarce worth a farthing are preserved and governed according to Gods will yea the very hayres of our heads are ordered by his providence This mind or forminding of the creatures is that their beings be preserved and their actions governed We stand not vpon our owne feete for when God permits vs to goe alone like children wee get many knocks and fall fowlly because we trust too much to the broken reede of our owne free-will Q. What is the conservation of the Creatures A. Whereby he keepeth and continueth the creatures in their being and kinds Iob 12.14 Psal 36.8.9 and 44.3 Psal 104. and 105. and 106. and 147.10.11 If God destroy none can deliver and if he preserue none can kill It differs from government thus that is to guide to the end this to keepe it for that end Rom. 9.17 with Exod. 9.16 God kept Pharaoh for his end Q. Wherein stands it A. In the preservation of their essence and forces or faculties and that both vniversall and singular Psal 65.2 Psal 104.27.28.29 and 136.25 and 147.9 Math. 6.26.30 It is God that keepes that causes and qualities in good temper or changeth them from a bad condition to a good and from a good to a better or preserues them by succession one generation succeeding another or keepes them in state as all the Starres which this day stand firme as vpon the day of their Creation Psal 65.6 Isa 49.5 Ier. 1.5 Eccl. 1.4.5.6.7 Preservation is as the perpetuation of Gods creation and as the continuation of it by succession or a permanent station Iob 10.8.9.10.11 and 31.15 The change and alteration of the creatures condition is from God whether it be good or evill Psal 76. vers 5.6.7.9.12 and 104.29.30 and 107.34.35 and 113.7.8.9 Also their permanent standing in their auncient estate as Starres Mountaines Waters and Earth Psal 65.6.7 Eccl. 1.4 And all this extends it selfe even to the least of Gods creatures sparrowes hayres teares and euery sicknesse Math. 6.30 and 10.29.30 Psal 56.8 and 68.20 and 113.6 and 146.8 Exod. 23.25 Isa 19.22 Now God preserues vniversalls by generation and propagation singulars by food and nourishment c. As also by keeping them from violence What is government A. Whereby he governeth all things to their end Psal 104.19 Pro. 16.4 Rom. 11.36 God made all things for an end he preserues them to it and by government guides them in the way All
his his righteousnesse and sufferings are ours for vnion is ever the ground of communion 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.21 Q. What are the degrees of our Iustification A. Two Imputation and Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world vnto himselfe not imputing their trespasses vnto them Q. What is this imputation A. It is the charging of Christ with all our debts and the discharging of vs by his righteousnesse As God imputes our debt to his Sonne so doth he impute his Sonnes justice to euery child he calleth Isa 53.4.5 He is broken and bruised by our sinnes and wee are healed and helped by his stripes Q. What is the imputation of our debt A. The laying of our blame and default together with the punishment vpon our Suretie First God imputes all our sinnes to his Sonne as that first sinne of Adam then the consequents of it to wit both originall and actuall sinne and hereupon followes a reall obligation of the Sonne of God to payment and punishment Rom. 3.24 Gal. 2.16 Rom. 8.3 Gal. 3.13 Math. 27.46 Q. What is the imputation of Christs Iustice vnto vs A. First in regard of Adams transgression his conflict with the Devill and in spite of all his malice his perseverance in obedience as likewise the ascribing to vs of his iustice both originall and actuall and the merit of his death both first and second And hereupon a reall remission both of punishment and sinne and the fruition of salvation and happinesse The debt and the discharge answere in a parallell and equall distance of proportion Adams transgression in his conflict with Satan is fully satisfied by Christs combate and conquest his and our Apostasie and continuance in it by Christs obedience and perseverance therein His and our originall and actuall sinne is crossed and cancelled by the perfect lines of Christs originall and actuall iustice drawne over those crooked lines His vnder-going of our punishment in the first and second death takes away our curse in both and by so reall an obligation of himselfe and full discharge of it for vs he brings vs an acquittance sealed in his owne bloud that all our sinnes are pardoned and giues vs a new stocke of grace for the fruition of a better life so that now the poore sinner may say with comfort to Satans accusations thou art now put out of office thou hast nothing to doe with mee here is my discharge from God thou maist goe on and slander but thou hast no power to arrest me or carry me to thy prison He that is in good termes with his Prince feares not the approch of Heraulds or Pursevants he that is out of debt feares not Baylifes or Sergeants but imagines they come vpon some good message so the childe of God needs not feare death but that it comes from God as a messenger of his blisse and happinesse He therefore that would die cheerfully must thus know death to be his friend what is it but the faithful officer of our maker who ever smiles or frownes with his master It cannot nourish or shew enmitie where God favours when he comes fiercely and pulls a man by the throat and summons him to hell who can but tremble then the messenger is terrible but the message worse Oh you that prosper and flourish in your sinnes thinke of this death deales with you as Creditors doe with their debters sayes nothing whiles you trade lustily for hell but when once you begin to goe downe the winde in sicknesses crosses and povertie then arest vpon arest action vpon action then come the fowles of the aire I meane the Devils and seaze vpon the sicke soule as the Ravens vpon a sicke sheepe then doth conscience begin to write bitter things against the sinner and makes him possesse the forgotten sinnes of his youth Hence arise miserable despaires furious ravings of raging consciences that finde no peace within lesse without Oh blessed Soule that makes a timely exchange with Christ getting his righteousnesse for the sinnes thereof Rom. 3.24 and 8.33 Gal. 2.21 Tit. 3.5.7 1 Ioh. 1.8.9.10 Q. What is our reconciliation with God A. It is that whereby the controversie betwixt God and man is fully taken vp and they are at one againe All being fully discharged there is nothing betwixt God and man but peace and loue Rom. 1.7 Grace and peace The grace of imputation brings vs to this peace of Reconciliation Rom. 5.10.11 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Col. 1.20.21 Q. What followes from hence A. Both peace with God and all the creatures Psal 85.8 Rom. 5.1 Iob 5.23 Rom. 8.31 Here is the peace of conscience with God of charitie among our selues of amitie or an holy kind of league with all creatures and of outward prosperitie and good successe in all our wayes c. Q. What will follow in the second place A. Our adoption the branches being vnited once to the stocke may fitly be called the Sonnes thereof And being by nature of the wild Oliue but now translated into the true Oliue and springing forth of it may aptly be called the sonnes thereof By nature wee spring from the first Adam and are taken from thence and put into the second and so vnited with him are made the sons of God by adoption Isa 9.6 Christ is called the everlasting Father and so wee are his children but because he begets vs to his Father and is to deliuer vs vnto him Heb. 2.13 Our adoption is in regard of the first person Christ onely the meanes thereof and therefore the Scripture to avoid confusion of names vseth to call vs brethren in respect of Christ and sonnes in respect of the Father Rom. 8.15.23 Gal. 4.5 Eph. 1.5 Rom. 8.29 Q. What are the benefits of our adoption A. Hence wee receiue the spirit of adoption whereby wee are made the sonnes of the Father and hereupon such is the care of our heauenly father that he makes all things worke together for our good Rom. 8.28 both in prosperitie and adversitie 1 Cor. 11.32 2 Cor. 12.7 Psal 32.4 Heb. 12.10 A gaine by this Christ is our brother and wee are co-heires with him of eternall life and haue restored againe vnto vs the sanctified vse of all the creatures yea and the very Angels are become our attendants to keepe vs in all our wayes Psal 91.11 Furthermore Christ hath made vs to his heavenly Father both Prophets Priests and Kinges Rev. 1.6 Q. How be wee heires of that which is purchased A. The purchase was made by the Father who gaue his onely begotten sonne a price for our redemption So that wee haue title by our father who giues vs our right Secondly by sonne-ship for euery sonne of God is an heire and we haue giuen vs in this world the earnest of our inheritance Eph. 1.14 Oh then may not all the sonnes of God indure an hard wardship here on earth seeing they know alreadie what they are borne to Shall men part with good things in possession for
a savour of rest from vs wee a savour of peace and life from him That which was said of Maries Spicknard wherewith she anointed Christ that the whole House was filled with the savour of the oyntment Ioh. 12.3 The same may be said of these pleasant perfumes of our religious prayers that they are fragrant to God and men and the reason is because Christ by a liuely faith lyes as a bundle of Myrrh betweene the breasts of euery Christian and that he himselfe in regard of the graces of Gods spirit is as an Orchard Can. 4.13 of Pomegranates with pleasant fruits as Cypres Spicknard Saffron c. and all the chiefe Spices of the Marchant And in this sense the voyce of the Church is most sweet in prayer Can. 2.14 On the contrary if our hearts be like Ezechiels bloudy pots Ezek. 24.6 that boile with the scum and rust of lust revenge ambition wanton pampering of the flesh in painted faces prodigall garishnesse monstrous disguisednesse c. bringing in all excesse in our respects to our selues and content with all defects in our respects to God wee may well say death is in such a pot and that the sacrifice thereof is more noysome to God then any caryon Never did the fiue Cities of the plaines send vp such poysonous vapours to God as the prayers of a corrupt and polluted person and God being not able to abide these ill sents sends downe vpon such a counter-poyson of fire and brimstone Oh then let not this pot of the heart that should boile these sweet sacrifices of prayer either be dry for want of the liquor of grace or grow rusty for want of daily vse but let them be full of liquor and meat so the flesh-pots of these sacrifices erunt sicut aromata shall be as perfumes in the bowles of incense Zech. 14.20 I know some are very short in prayer for want of matter and affection but this will make vs short and pithy for the abundance of matter and affection Prayer consists not more in fragore quam fervore more in contention of voyce then in intention of heart Q. How is vocall prayer distinguished A. It is either in prose or meeter sung or said And hereupon it followes that the Liturgie of the Church may be not onely in set forme of prayers but also in dimension of words for meeter is the measure of words and syllables Let therefore the doting dizie headed Brownists either confesse Psalmes hymnes and spirituall songs to be no parts of divine worship or else that prayer may be in a set forme but they can on the sudden both sing and say yet in their dotage they haue taken paines to bring Davids Psalmes into an English meeter and vse them when they meet notwithstanding they reiect their owne practise and will not pray in any set forme of words as if singing as well as saying were not praying Colos 3.16 Ephes 5.19 But our case is never the worse for that the Lords prayer beares part with vs in this baffling of theirs Q. How must all these be done A. Seriously in the spirit Rom. 8.26 Colos 3.16 It must be done with grace in our hearts to the Lord. Q. How is vocall prayer deliuered either in prose or meeter distinguished A. It is either publicke or private In the Church Familie or Chamber Act. 10.2.9 and 14.23 Zech. 12.11.12.13.14 Q. What is publicke Prayer A. That which is performed to God in the publicke place of his worship and in the publicke meeting of the Congregation where the Pastour is to goe before in a liuely voyce and the people to follow after in minde and heart and in the conclusion to say Amen to testifie their consent and desire to be heard Deut. 27.14 to the end Q. What is private Prayer A. It is euery where and in all places and at all times where either more are gathered together and then one is to goe before and the rest follow in consent as before or else one by himselfe alone which may pray only in mind or also with his voyce and this againe may be more solemne and accustomed or a short ejaculation c. 1 Tim. 2.8 Math. 18.19 Ion. 2.1 Exod. 14.15 Zach. 12.13 Q. To whom are wee to pray A. To the Father Sonne and holy Spirit and to them alone Psal 50.15 Rom. 10.14 Wee are onely to call vpon them in whom wee are to beleeue and that is onely in God I beleeue in God not in any creature for that is blaspheme Neither is there in all the prayers of the Bible any other mentioned to whom wee are to sue but God alone If any shall demand whether he may direct his prayer to one person of three the answere is he may doe it safely and with comfort What need we feare while we haue our Sauiour for our patterne Oh my Father if it be possible let this cup passe And Paul euery where both in thankes and requests bowes the knees to the Father c. yet must this be done with due care of worshipping all in one Exclude the other while we fixe our heares vpon one our prayers will be sinne retaine all and mention one wee offend not None of them doth ought for vs without all It is a true rule of Divines all their externall workes are common to sollicite one therefore and not all were iniurious Q. Hitherto of Prayers generall affections What are the kinds A. Prayer is either simple or compound Sometimes we are all suites vnto God another time all thankes and somtimes againe wee ioyne all together 1 Tim. 2.1 Q. Whas is simple Prayer A. Where Prayer is of one nature onely Eph. 1.3 Blessed be God ver 2. Grace be to you c. Q. How manifold A. It is either Petition or thankesgiuing Either wee request some thing at Gods hands or blesse him for the receipt of it Q. What is Petition A. When by prayer we craue any thing of God according to his will Math. 26.39 Iam. 1.6 1 Ioh. 2.1 Q. What may fall out heresometimes A. Making of vowes which is a solemne promise made to God with mature deliberation of things lawfull and possible c. Psal 76.11 Q. How many sorts of Petitions are there A. Two either a crauing of some things to be done for vs or an entreating that some thing may be avoyded by vs or remoued from vs. Eph. 6.18 Heb. 5.7 Q. What is the crauing of something to be done for vs A. Our petitions to God to bestow good blessings vpon vs where we are to labour to haue a true sense of the want of these blessings Psal 119.17.18 Q. Wherein consists it A. Either in good things that concerne God or our selues the first wee must desire infinitely as the end of our thoughts the other with moderation as meanes to helpe vs to that good No man desires meate or medicine infinitely but for health wee never thinke wee haue enough of it so God and his goodnesse must be sought
This is eternall life to know the father reconciled in his sonne Retire thy selfe daily into some secret place of meditation and prayer such as Cornelius his leaddes Dauids closet c. and thou shalt finde with Iacob the sweete vision of Angels climbing vp and downe this sacred ladder which stands betwixt heauen and earth at the top of it is the father the whole length of it is in the sonne and the spirit doth firmely fasten vs thereunto that so we may be transported vnto blisse Q. What is here to be obserued A. The names in Scripture that expresse this mystery as Elohim and Adonai Gen. 1.1 Mal. 1.6 Both which words being plurall are ioyned with words of the singular number to shew the vnitie of the persons both in essence and action It is not for euery proflygate professor that liues as he list to be dealing with this divinitie These pearles are not for swine who will laugh at such congruitie as makes one of three and three of one but hee that findes and feeles the conioyned working of the Trinitie will adore it in vnitie ascribing to father sonne and holy Ghost equall authoritie and power in all their workes This as well as the whole rule of well-liuing belongs to the sealed fountaine the spouse of Christ A doctrine not fit to be preached in Gath Askelon to vncircumcised and prophane hearts that will turne euery good thing to their owne destruction The Lord that hath the teaching of all hearts make vs ready for this transcendent learning Q. What secondly is to be obserued A. That the subsistences or persons being the same essence are God and one God Ioh. 1.1 1. Ioh. 5.7 Cut but the hayre from the eye brow saith Augustine and how disfigured will the face looke there is but a small thing taken from the body but a greater matter from the beautie so in these honourable wayes of wisedome wee may not derogate the least iot of Deitie or dignitie from any person Q. What in the third place A. That whatsoeuer Attribute is giuen to the essence may so farre forth be giuen to the subsistences as euery person is infinite eternall incomprehensible c. Exod. 23.20 with 1. Cor. 10.9 Christ hath the same name and authoritie with his Father Ioh. 1.1.2 and 14.1 and 21.17 Phil. 2.6 Heb. 1.3.1 Ioh. 5.20 Rev. 1.11 In all these places the essentiall Attributes of the divine nature are giuen to Christ So likewise to the Spirit Psal 139. Act. 5.3.4 1. Cor. 3.16 Iob 33.4 2 Cor. 13.13 Mat. 18.19 O that we had but in vs the internall principles of faith to rest vpon these three worthies infinitely great and gracious This I am sure as a spring or oyle to the wheeles of our Soules would make them goe smoothly and currantly Make all other yokes light and easie Vndoubtedly the Pipe of Faith would here draw in so much sweete ayre from the precious promises of life that thereby wee should be able to renue our strength and with chearefull spirits lift vp the wing as the Eagle runne and not be weary walke and not faint What shall idle Guls with a Pipe of Tobacco or Cup of Sacke silly smoakie helpes giue life againe to their dull and deadly Spirits And shall not the Saints and servants of three so infinite exhilerate and cheare their hearts with the feeling of their new life so mercifully begun by the father powerfully dispenced by the sonne and perfectly finished by the spirit Where were all this grace if it were not stronger then any Ellebore to evacuate the minde of all feares and griefes It is for nature to be subiect to extremities that is eyther too dull in want or wanton in fruition but grace like a good temper is not sensible of alteration O then that euery easie occasion of pleasure profit or preferment should interrupt vs in these religious intentions and draw vs to gaze like children which if a bird doe but flie in their way cast their eye from their Booke Nay what a shame is it to thinke how hardly we are drawne to learne or listen to this lesson As a beare to the stake as a slaue to the mill or a dullard to the Schoole are wee brought to these studies Q. What in the fourth place A. That all the three persons are God of themselues for an absolute first cannot no not in order be the second or third of any other but a first in all The Sonne because he hath his person from the Father is a second person but not a second God Deut. 6.4 1. Tim. 2.5 1 Ioh. 5.7 All those places that proue God to be one exclude all derivation of essence for one cannot bee multiplied without number Heb. 1.3 The sonne is the image of the person not the essence it were an absurditie to say Christ is the image of himselfe but apt and proper the expresse image of his Father For tho he be no other thing from his Father yet another person Hence wee learne how to expound that speech very God of very God that is the subsistence of the sonne is verily and truly from the subsistence of the father The person begetts not the essence for to beget and be begotten are relatiues yet the essence is absolute But Ioh 5.26 It is giuen to Christ to haue life in himselfe If life then essence c. I answere Christ speakes of life in the text by way of dispensation as he was the Messias and so it is explained ver 27. He hath giuen him authoritie to execute Iudgement because he is the sonne of man The very text makes this common to both persons to haue life in themselues which is the property of the God-head and yet Christ hauing life in himselfe as God hath the same giuen him as Mediator and sonne of man but you will say so he had power to giue himselfe life and therefore the fathers giuing respects his person as well as his office I answere it is true for as the sonne of man receiues subsistence from the sonne of God so the sonne of God receiues subsistence from his father Now working is according to subsisting therefore the life of grace spoken of verse 25. is wrought by the humane nature of Christ as it is sustained by his person and his person being from the father worketh the same life from him so then it is giuen to the sonne in regard of his manner of subsisting to bee the dispenser and disposer of the life of grace whereof the father is the beginner c. But as God he quickeneth whom he will v. 21. and that as he hath life in himselfe Life will and vnderstanding are Attributes of the essence and so simply one in them all Here may the sicke finde a Physitian the broken a balme of Gilead the fearefull a shelter the flyer a refuge and the breath-lesse spirit a blessed rest The sonne of God hath wedded to himselfe our humanitie without all possibilitie of devorce the
much wrangle and wrastle concerning Reprobation but with delectation recreate our selues with this divine worke of our Election This casts it selfe into a large compasse whereas in the other God contracts his hand and giues man leaue to mischiefe himselfe And although our Reprobation be from God yet our condemnation is from our selues The strait and straight line to heauen lies in this compasse that it is from the Father by the inchoation of decree in the Sonne by the dispensation of meanes by the holy Ghost for consummation of those meanes and to faith for the instrument of application Q. How is the Church devided A. It is either militant vpon earth or triumphant in heauen This distribution is of the Church eyther in respect of the members or of their condition Members as some are on earth others in heauen Condition as our fighting overcomming In this world our application is but inchoatiue in the world to come it shall be plenary Here with strife against sinne and Satan hereafter shall bee our glory and triumph We can see no more palmes then crosses if there were no resistence our Christian vertue would not appeare There is but one passage and that a strait one and if with much pressure wee can get through and leaue our superfluous ragges as torne from vs in the crowd wee are happy God would haue heauen narrow and hard in the entrance that after our paine our glory might be the sweeter One peece of iron cannot be souldred and fastned to another vnlesse both bee made red hot and beaten together so Christ and his Church the whole body and the members cannot so soundly be affected each to other vnlesse both haue experience of the like misery Rom. 8.17 this frayes many from being the Lords who though they would be glad of the crowne yet stand trembling at the Crosse It is Satans policie to driue vs from our military profession by the difficultie of our Christian ware fare like as some in hospitall Savages make fearefull delusions by Sorcery vpon the shore to fright Strangers from landing c. But wee are not to bee dismayed seeing God hath made the militant estate of the Church a degree vnto the triumphant It is a graduall no specificall distinction to say the church is militant or triumphant Eph. 6.11.12.13 Heb. 12.22.23 Q. What is the militant Church A. It is the number of all those that are applied vnto Christ by faith Here were must liue by faith after wee shall come to the fruition of Christ by sight Ephes 6.16 Heb. 11.1 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.17.18 1 Cor. 13.12.13 This Church consists onely of men not as yet freed from the burden of the flesh and that is the reason why the worke of the Lord goes so slowly forward and makes many sit still with their hands foulded in their bosomes and wish they knew how to be rid of time and so become miserable loosers of good houres and good parts and the very hope of future reward because they will not striue with themselues Happy are those persecutions that driue vs to this hold and like an old beaten Hare weary of long chasing returne vs to this home to die in this borrough Q. Is the number of these alwayes alike A. No but sometimes greater and sometimes lesser and its invisible in regard of faith yet euery faithfull man may know himselfe and so may a man that hath the spirit of discerning judge of another to his comfort for faith in both is to be knowne by his fruits c. 1. Tim. 1.12 Heb. 6.9 Q. How shall a man doe in this case A. By his care to walke according to the rule of godlinesse he shall procure a comfortable testimony to his owns Soule and confirme others in the way of Religion Act. 24.16 2 Cor. 1.12 Heb. 13.18 Tit. 3.8 Q. Is the Church militant by it selfe in the world A. No it is mingled with tares and chaffe and as God left the accursed Cananites to be as prickes and thornes to his auncient people so still will he haue his deare ones to bee exercised with the wicked of this world that their graces may more fully be knowne and themselues wained from the wearisome world Hence it must needs be great folly to leaue visible Congregations because they are pestered with the prophane of the world there is no man that will cast away the gold or corne because it is mingled with his offall but will bestow some labour on the fanne fire or furnace God hath left meanes to purge his Church of prophane persons though he will haue some tares to try his Children and keepe them in awe of his maiestie nay make them labour the more to proue their election If all were good who would feare to goe to hell But seeing we may be Christians and not elect it will make vs more diligent to studie for true holinesse And knowing that many shall be damned with the water of Baptisme in their faces and Church in their mouthes It will teach Gods Saints in spite of all hypocrisie to worke out their salvation with feare and trembling Phil. 2.12 Our blessed Saviour out of the very feares of damnation hath fetched the safest securitie of salvation oh that we could out of this securitie as easily fetch the feare of his maiestie Math. 13.24.25.47 1 Cor. 5.10.11.12.13 Q. What are these tares and chaffe A. Such in the Church as haue but the name of Christians and yet are together with the Church in this world and so are called improperly by the name of the Church Visibilitie Profession congregation c. doe as well belong to the tares as the wheate the Reprobate as the elect and therefore are but accidents of the Church yea such adherents as are separable from the Church and therefore Papists and Separatists doe ill in teaching them to belong so essentially to it Math. 13.49.50 Rom. 9.6.7 1 Ioh. 2.19 Ioh. 6.70.71 Q. How is the Church militant with the tares distributed A. Into Congregations as great Armies into lesser bands It is impossible for all to heare one Pastor and therefore must the governed be ranked vnder diverse teachers that all may heare and learne 1 Thes 2.14 Eph. 4.11.12.13 Q. What is here to be considered A. The government of the Congregations which is an order of ruling and obeying in the outward communion of the Saints Our sanctification is not wrought all at once but by degrees and the Churches must beget children vnto God and therefore there must be an holy ordering of the people to bring this worke to passe Againe a law is necessary to keepe corruption vnder and if there were no power to restraine evils this field of God would runne all into thistles This worke must be continuall or else grace speedeth not Like as the body from a setled and habituall distemper must be recovered by long dyets and so much the rather for that none can intermit this care without relapses so in regard of