unto God for salvation by Jesus Christ which glorifying of God in way of thankfulness is a more effectual Motive unto obedience vvith a believer notvvithstanding the remainders of sin then the obtaining of life and that according to order of justice was unto Adam though vvithout sin as appears by the Apostacy of the one and perseverance of the other through Grace The means whereby faith is wrought are twofold External Of the means of faith or Internal External scil the Word by divine Institution the Instrument of Conversion hence called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 Which moveth by propounding Arguments and by perswading 2 Cor. 5.11 By Woing John 3.29 By Commanding 1 John 3.23 it is by Divines commonly called a Moral Suasion or Moral Cause acting only by way of propounding the Object no cause properly but improperly and Metaphorically it produceth not the effect without the concurrence of the Spirit vvhich is the Efficient Cause The internal means is the supernatural saving and effectual Motion of the Spirit concurring vvith the Word of Faith or which is all one with the Word of Grace and in an accepted time vvorking in the soul that faith which the Word calleth for Hence called the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 Whence the Moral Suasion of the Word becometh effectual by the real persvvasion of the Spirit The Word calleth upon us to believe the Spirit causeth us to believe The Word calls upon us to will and to do the Spirit of Christ worketh in us to will and to do the Word commands us to be according to our duty the Spirit vvorketh in us to be according to the Word God in the Creation spake the Word that such a creature should be and therewithal sent forth a power causing that creature to be according to his Word So whilest the Angel reveals unto Mary the Conception of Christ the Power of the Highest overshadowed her Whence it vvas with her according to his Word Luke 1.35 38. So also whilest Jesus cried vvith a loud voice Lazarus come forth there proceeded from him a Power whereby Lazaras doth come forth John 11.43 44. The Ministery of the Word whether Law or Gospel is but a dead letter and profiteth nothing without the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.7 Neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase After all instructions Timothy must vvait if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth 2 Tim. 2.25 No Oratory how excellent soever can prevail with the blind to see with the deaf to hear or with the dead to live God is not only an Orator Deus Autor non tantum Orator gratiae Twiss de Elect. l. 1. p. 2. dig 6. Sect. 16. but a Creator of grace Which notwithstanding yet are we vvith diligence to attend upon God in the use of means for though the means cannot work vvithout the Spirit the Spirit ordinarily will not work upon subjects of discretion without the means Man is a reasonable creature therefore God proceedeth with him by vvay of Arguments but because man is a dead creature therefore he must work in him that which he persvvades thereunto The Proposition of the Word of Faith is the External Ames Coron de Convert 4 cap. 1. the Operation of the Spirit of Faith is the Internal Call that as was said before is a moral Suasion this is a real Perswasion that a moral Cause this a physical Cause that commands us who are unwilling to be willing Interna gratiae Efficatia quae praedestinationis decretum exsequitur sine dicenda sit actio physica ut loquuntur Dominica vel potius divina supernaturalis vel occulta cui fortasse aptius nomen non occurrit sicut cautiùs in Augustino nostri fere statuunt uon multum interest Prideaux this through its powerful Efficacy by a real and as it were a physical change of the Will of unwilling makes us willing By the first God stands at the door and knocks Revel 3.20 By the second he opens the door i. e. the hearts of his Elect Luke 24.45.16.14 As the Word is called the Word of Faith Rom. 10.8 And the Spirit the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 So the conjunction of both is called the Door of Faith Acts 14.27 The Manner of the working of faith is irresistable The Manner of working of Faith Non alium enim irresistibilitateÌ„ propugnant nostri quam realem efficacem donationem cujus vi effectum certò vel infallibilitur Existit Coron art 4. cap. 3. that is it is such Whence notwithstanding the resistance made by corrupt nature yet at last prevaileth over all opposition whatsoever and causeth the effect certainly and infallibly to follow Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me and they shall be my people And Chap. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned ver 33. I will write my Law in their hearts and they shall be my people Ezek. 36.27 28. I will put my Spirit within you Concursus volunâ—atis cum gratia in opere conversiones non est co-ordinatus sed subordinatus Prideaux Motives to believe and cause you to walk in my Statutes c. And ye shall be my people John 6.37 All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me The Concurrence of the Will with Grace in the Work of Conversion is subordinate not co-ordinate the drawing of the soul is efficacious but not violent God by an Omnipotent Facility on his part and after an experimental impossibility in some measure at least on our part doth not force us unwillingly but of unwilling makes us willing Amongst many other precious means for both the obtaining and confirming of faith Consider 1. The Love of God to man though a sinner Tit. 3.4 'T is not our sin which fell out after the beginning of time that can alter the affection of God which was before time Those of whom the Apostle saith ver 3. That they were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hatefull and hating one another When such though not as such God loved God hateth sin loveth not any as sinners but loveth his Elect though sinners Rom. 5.8 2. What Christ hath done for sinners He hath obeyed the Law and suffered the punishment Rom. 5.8 And actually procured the application of grace and reconciliation Col. 2.15 Rom. 5.10 Though there be many strengthless Representatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dei Christi eâ—â—icacissimum medium ad ingenerandaÌ„ fidem Spanh ex de grat resp ad Erot. 14. ungodly sinners enemies whom neither God loveth nor Christ died for yet all whom God hath set his heart upon or that Christ died for either are or have been such If thou neither wert nor art nor becomest such Christ never died for thee 1 Tim. 1.15 The high account which that great Preacher of Free-grace and Doctor of the Gentiles had
The Prison is the place of hope mercy visits the prisoners of unbelief Rom. 11.32 Christ finds them that are lost Luke 15. After the House of Israel say Our bones are dried and our hope is lost we are out off for our parts then God opens their graves this Order of Gods Dispensation we are there called upon to take notice of Behold they say Our bones are dried Behold O my people I will open your graves and cause you to come out of your graves and bring you into the Land of Israel Ezek. 37.11 12. 9. The certain condemnation without faith Let a mans sin be never so great if he believeth he shall be saved the very sin against the Holy Ghost is not unpardonable for want of grace in a Saviour but for want of faith and repentance in the sinner God justly in his righteous judgement punishing that sinner universally with final impenitence Meritum damnationis jux a Evangelium non est peccatum sea perseverantia finalis in peccato infidelitatis impaenitentiae Twiss vinâ—â— dic grat de erratis lib. 3. Sect. 3. Nec quicquam obstat quo minus dicamus eum qui non credit ideo jam condemnatum esse quia non credit in nomen unigeniti Filii Dei quatenus nulla ex condemnatione emergendi ratio datur nisi per fidem in Dei Filium Spanh Exeer de grat univ resp ad Erot. 39. N. 3. and be his sin never so little if he believeth not he shall be damned Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.16 The cause of condemnation according to the Law is all sin but the cause of condemnation under the Gospel is unbelief not that all other sin is not as much yea more doubtless under the Gospel then under the Law it self but because there is no way to escape condemnation for sin but by faith and because no sin should condemn those that live under the Gospel if there were not added unto their other sin final perseverance in unbelief CHAP. X. Saving Faith is the Effect of true special Grace that is of Grace flowing from God according to Election and from Christ according to Redemption viz. as the Redeemer and Designed Head of his Elect. FOr the better proceeding in the Discussion of this Question Let us see 1. Consider what Saving Faith is 2. Free the Term of Grace from ambiguity by a just distribution thereof 3. Discribe Free-grace 4. Declare the Nature thereof 5. Shew the use of that exact distinctness in this point which is intended and expressed in the term Special 6. Prove the Proposition Justifying Faith is a Saving Grace of the Spirit Saving Faith What flowing from Election whereby the soul receiveth Jesus Christ as its Lord and Saviour according as he is revealed and propounded in the Gospel Tit. 1.2 John 1.12 Col. 2.6 Grace is Increated Created Natural in Nature Pure The Distribution of Grace Fallen Supernatural Common Saving Effectually i.e. in respect of its efficacy Formally Increated Grace is God himself willing spiritual gifts freely unto men In Order to those spiritual gifts which are peculiar to the Elect it may be called increated special grace and is nothing else but Election In Order to such spiritual gifts as are common both to the Elect and such as are not elected it may be called increated common-grace Natural Grace or the Grace of Nature is that Image of God according to which man was created it is called grace because it is a free spiritual gift Natural because concreated with and infused into the Soul so soon as it had its being in pure nature The Grace of Nature in Nature fallen is the Remainder of the Image of God in the Soul after the fall Rom. 2.14 15. The Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law Supernatural common Grace are spiritual gifts flowing from God in Christ whereof those who are not elected are made partakers They are called Supernatural because they are not attainable by the power of free-will strengthened with the Grace of Nature and common in that they are communicated to the Elect and not elected Such are gifts of Edification in the Ministration of the Oracles of God in Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Gifts and Grace of Office in the Church Rom. 12.3.6 Ephes 3.7 Gifts of Miracles of which 1 Cor. 12. Gifts that qualifie for some eminent Service as in Jehu 2 King 9.6 Saving Grace taken for that which is saving effectually i.e. in respect of its efficacy is an Impulse or Motion of the Spirit of Grace working from Christ as a designed or actual Head upon the Soul so as it enables the Soul to yeild obedience in measure unto that Command to the obedience whereof it moveth In it 4 things are diligently to be attended and distinguished 1. The Authour of this Motion viz. the increated Spirit of Grace 2. The Motion it self viz. a created transient act which notwithstanding the effect thereof remaineth yet it self ceaseth and passeth away as the touch of Peters wives mother ceased though the cure remained Matth. 8.15 The Angels motion upon the waters ceased though the healing quality continued John 5. The touch of the Loadstone ceaseth the vertue yet abiding in the needle 3. The Kind of this Motion is from Election from Christ as a Redeemer and Head either designed or actually so unto the person so moved It is not only from Christ who is a Redeemer but from Christ as a Redeemer 'T is peculiar to the Elect and its effect such as accompanyeth salvation in which respect it is called created speciall grace and is such whereof none but the Elect nor they until vocation are made partakers of that by the means of the word Saving Faith and all other formal saving-grace are the next effects thereof As Election is increated special grace so this may be fitly called created special grace Saving Grace which is formally so and according to which sence the words are ordinarily used is a permanent effect accompanying salvation flowing upon such an effectual motion of special grace whether upon the Soul and imputative as in justification and adoption Or in the Soul and inherent as in any other effect of Election viz. Vocation wherein is Faith Sanctification Perseverance Glorification c. Saving Grace is not only above the Power of the grace of nature but also above the Power of supernatural common grace and consequently not attainable by free-will Spiritus Sanctus non operatur vel unicum etiam graduÌ„ fidei salutaris justificantis in non electis Sph. ex de gra univ resp ad Erot. 28. Habitus gratiae gloriae in ipso in nobis unius sunt speciei Twiss de Elect l. 1. p 2. strengthened with both the grace of nature and supernatural common grace Of this kind are all the
clearly seen in respect of its divers created objects which as they have their being from Gods good pleasure so had he so pleased they had never been but continued for ever in their nothing himself notwithstanding eternal all blessed and all glorious Omnipotency is God able to do whatsoever his wisdom doth conceive Gen. 18.14 Matth. 19.26 Isai 46.10 All Contradictions Impossibilities and Repugnancies unto the revealed Will of God are excluded in this Proposition God is Omnipotent or God can do all things That things which imply a contradiction as namely for the same thing to be and not to be and impossibilities as namely for a man not to be a reasonable creature and the like fall not under the compass of Omnipotency is not from any defect it is indeed from the perfection of power in God but from the impossibility of the things so that concerning matters of this nature it is more convenient to say Vnde convenientius dr Ea non possunt fieri quam quod Deus ea non possit facere Tho. Part. qu. 25. art 3. that they cannot be which sheweth their non-possibility to be then that God cannot do them which seemeth to touch upon Omnipotency So likewise that God cannot sin lye or deny himself is not from defect but from the Eminency of his Power and Absolute Perfection whence he is uncapable of being touched with any imperfection Obj. God cannot destroy Sodom until Lot be gone out of it Gen. 19.22 Like speeches whereunto are used elsewhere it seems therefore God is not Omnipotent Ans The Power of God is either absolute and unlimited by it he is able to do all things that are possible though he never do them or ordinate and limited by his Decree and revealed Will according to which God having freely bounded himself changeth not being immutable These words and the like spoken elsewhere are to be understood of his limited not of his unlimited power Though God be Omnipotent yet he is not Omnivolent that is though God can do whatsoever he pleaseth yet God is not pleased to do whatsoever he can Perfection is God all-sufficient and all-excellent not having need of any thing giving sufficience unto and having in him the perfection of all things Gen. 17.1 2. Exod. 6.3 This Attribute renders God as that infinite Sea of all happiness Perfection is increated Glory that is all the Attributes in one word as Happiness is the Sum of Mans good so Glory is the Sum of all Gods Attributes The Perfection of God is Essential Independent Unlimited without increase or decrease As the Power of subordinate causes is contained in the first cause virtually and as the Authority of Under-Officers is in the Prince after a more excellent manner so the virtue of all second causes is contained in the first cause eminently The word Eminently taken in its strict and proper sence seemeth to intend the effect to be in the cause not only in a more excellent manner then in it self but also in a super-created manner Things are in God agreeable to the Nature of God in themselves according to their proper natures Eminential Continency and Virtual Continency that is for one thing to be contained in another eminently as the Excellency of the creature is in the Creator Or Virtually as all things saleable are in money Eccles 10.9 are not the same the first is proper to the Creator the second is found in the creature The Essential Perfection of God is Increated Glory Eternal alwayes the same from which nothing can be taken to which nothing can be added The acknowledgement of the manifested Perfections of God is Glorification viz. The Act of the creature done in time admitting more or less according as God is known or acknowledged CHAP. II. Of the Trinity FOr our better proceeding in searching into this Mystery of Mysteries Consider 1. The Clearness of the Truth from Scriptures 2. What a Person is 3. What it is that constitutes a Person 4. What a Personal Act is the attending whereunto helps much to clear both the Nature of a Person and the Trinity of Persons 5. The Names or Appellations ascribed to the several Persons in the Scripture 6. The Distinction between a Person the Essence 7. The Distinction between a Person and a Person 8. What terms we are to avoid in speaking of the Trinity 9. Satisfaction to some few Objections 10. The Usefulness of this Doctrine Amongst the Multitude of Scriptures The Clearness of this Truth from the Scriptures holding forth the Doctrine of the Trinity of Persons in the Divine Essence Let it at present suffice to transcribe these And God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness Gen. 1.26 And the Lord God said Behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evil Gen. 3.22 Go to Let us go down and there confound their language that they may not understand one anothers speech Gen. 11.7 But none saith Where is God my Makers so is the Hebrew who giveth Songs in the night Job 35.10 And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole Earth is full of his Glory Isai 6.3 And the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him and lo a voyce from Heaven saying This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Matth. 3.16 17. Go therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father He shall testifie of me John 15.26 The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen 2 Cor. 13.13 For there are three that bare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one 1 John 5.7 A Person viz. an Increated Person is the Divine Essence subsisting in a Relative Property What a Person is The Essence with its Subsistence not the Essence alone not the Subsistence alone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Subsistentia but both the Essence and the Subsistence constitute a Person this the Greek word holds forth Heb. 1.3 which is translated a Person Subsistence adds unto substances the independing manner of their existing In reasonable Nature it giveth Created in the Divine Nature it is Increated Personality Subsistence considered in its abstract notion as distinct from Essence the manner of the Essence the manner of the Existence for Essence or Being and Existing in God are all one A Relative Property an incommunicable property are Synonima's i. e. they are divers terms and expressions signifying the same thing they give personality and distinguish one person from another The Subsistences in the Divine Nature are relative and individuating that is they are relative properties They are Relative Hae
of the mind within it self and to it self especially in the reflex acts of the understanding Outward viz. the expression which is the perceiveable Image of our cogitation so the Son is said to be the inward Word of the Father i. e. the Knowledg of himself and the outward Word of the Father because he makes known the Counsel of God unto the World The Image of the Invisible God Col. 1.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he is the perfect and Essential Image of the Father for God here is taken personally not essentially 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 splendorē emitto The Brightness of his Glory Heb. 1.3 The Person of the Father is set forth by a Metaphor taken from the glorious Light the Person of the Son by the splendor refulgence and brightness of that Light The Character of his Person in the same verse for so indeed is the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not the same Word with that which is turned Image Col. 1 that is a person that exactly expresseth the Person of the Father as the impression that is upon the wax exactly expresseth the print ingraven upon the seal The third Person is called the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit 1 Ioh. 5.7 and is from the Father and the Son as from God wholly willing and acquiescing in himself hence he is called the Spirit that is breathed taken passively and Emphatically and is as it were God beloved of himself he is also sayd to Proceed Ioh. 15.26 A Person is distinguished from the Essence not as a thing from a thing The distinction between a person and the Essence Vid Keck log l. 1. sec 2. cap. 5. but as the manner of a Being or a relation is distinguished from the being or thing it self for the better understanding whereof consider that things may be distinguished really rationally or modally Really so one thing in actual being is distinguished from another thing in actual being in respect of their Essences so one apple differeth from another and whiteness in the wall from whiteness in the snow Rationally such is the distinction between the right hand and the left hand of the Pillar this hath no foundation in the things themselves but depends only upon our Conception Modally when the distinction is not between the things and things but between things and the manner or respect of the Being of those things this distinction is more then meerly Rational having its being in the things themselves not in our thoughts yet less then that which is properly real not putting an Essential difference such as is between things and things only distinguishing the manner of the thing from the thing it self see it exemplified in some instances as in a Person and his relations A quality and its degrees viz. Faith stronger and weaker Heat greater or lesser Quantity and its degrees Peter a man and a child A subject and its adjuncts as the hand open and shut A thing and the order of that thing A relation is not the person nor our meer imagination but an actual modification of the person Isaac is a son in respect of Abraham a father in respect of Iacob these relations in him are not his person it self nor our meer conceptions but the actual manner or respects of the being of his Person Degrees are distinguished from the qualities more then in our meer conceit having an actual existence in the thing whether we think of them or not yet not Essentially as divers things for the degree is not a quality but it is a manner of the quality and so of the rest of the instances respectively It remains then a manifest truth that there is an actual distinction the use whereof is great for the help of our understanding between the Essence and the Persons Doctissimiquique Theelogi recentiores personas sacro sancte Trinitatis vccant cum Justino Martyr et Damascene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keck Theol. l. 1. cap. 4. Vid. lccum as also between a person and a person in the Trinity and therefore the more diligently to be attended to which is more then Rational yet not Real as the manner of the thing is distinguished from the thing the thing it self remaining the same which distinction is called modal such is the distinction of a person from the Essence according to the general Doctrine of Divines When we sometimes read in Authors that a person is distinguished really from the essence we are to understand Really not strictly and properly but in a large sence namely as opposed to a distinction of Reason and it is as much as if they should say the distinction between a person and the Essence is founded in the Divine nature and not in our reason or conception having its true existence whether we think of it or not A Person is distinguished from a Person The distinction between a person and a person as a relation and manner of a being or thing is distinguished from a relation or manner of a being or thing or otherwise they are distinguished by the order of their original their personal properties and the manner of their working upon the Creature It being but now sufficiently shewn what the manner of a Being or thing is and how it is distinguished from the thing it is not hard to conceive especially in the matter before us where the manner of a thing is a relation how the manner of a thing is distinguished from the manner of a thing From the processions and relations arising out of that infinit Sea of being viz. the divine nature Ioh. 8.42 15.26 appeareth the order of the Original of the persons The order of Original in the divine nature Ordo naturae locum non habet in personis quia earum una et indivisa est naturae est lib. 1. dist 9. S. 4. Inter personas divin non est proprie ordo natura sed originis tantum Smising de Deo trino et uno disp 3. q. 1. Num. 33. is that whereby one person is of another The Father is the first The Son is the second The Holy Ghost the third person but we may not say the Holy Ghost is the first and the Father is the third person The Father is he who is not without another and from whom is another viz. the Son The Son is he who is of another viz. the Father and from whom with the Father is another viz. the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost is he who is from others viz. the Father and the Son and from whom is not another In the divine nature there is an order of original or priority of order without priority of duration dignity causality or nature properly A personal or incommunicable property is that which is proper to one person the personal property of the Father is to Beget Psal 2.7 the personal property of the Son is to be Begotten Ioh. 1.14.18 the personal property of the Holy Ghost
is to proceed from the Father and the Son Ioh. 14.26 15.26 The manner of the workings of the three Persons upon the creature is answerable to the manner of their subsistence in the divine Nature The Father worketh of himself the Son worketh from the Father Ioh. 5.19.30 and 8.28 The Holy Ghost worketh from the Father and the Son Ioh. 16 13. Hence though all the Works of God concerning the Creature are wrought joyntly by all the three Persons yet is the work principally ascribed unto that person whose manner of subsistence doth most eminently appear therein Beginning works as Creation are ascribed principally unto the first Person the carrying works on to perfection as Redemption unto the second Person The perfecting of them as the application of Redemption unto the third Person That speech of Hierome What Terms we are to avoyd in speaking of the Trinity Heresies spring from inordinate expressions is especially to be attended to in this subject in speaking whereof if we see not cause to hearken to their advice who commend a prescribed form yet that we may keep far from the Heresies of Arrius who taught a Trinity of Essences answerable to the Trinity of Persons and of Sabellius who acknowledged but one person according to the unity of Essence and from all other errors concerning this great point of Religion we must not use promiscuously any words of Identity i. e. sameness or diversity but in our speech thereof we must carefully abstain from Terms of 1. Diversity and Difference Which take away the Unity of the Essence 2. Seperation and Division Which take away the Simplicity of the Essence 3. Disparity Which take away the Equality of the persons 4. Discrepance Which take away the Similitude of the divine nature or the persons 5. Singularity Which take away the Commonness of the divine nature to the persons 6. Unity if we may so speak Which take away the Number of the persons 7. Confusion Which take away the Order of the persons 8. Solitariness Which take away the Communion of the Persons Obj. 1. There are four relations in the divine Nature viz. Satisfaction to some Objections to beget proper to the Father To be begotten proper to Son to breath forth common to Father and Son and to proceed proper to the Holy Ghost therefore there are four persons Ans 'T is not a relation but a relative property that constitutes a person A person is an Intellectual Individual and singular substance therefore necessarily infers property and incommunicableness But breathing forth though it be a relation in respect of the person breathed forth yet it is not proper to any person but common both to Father and Son Obj. 2. There are more properties then three in the divine nature because the number of the properties is according to the number of the personal notions therefore there are more then three persons Ans A relative property constituteth a person not so a relation without a property nor a property without a relation The Personal Notions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are in number generally accounted five 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jun. sum loc com l. 2. c. 20. though some mention divers more 1. Paternity or Fatherhood 2. Filiation or Sonship 3. Proceeding or being breathed 4. Innascibility or not begotten 5. Spiration or breathing common to Father Son and Holy Ghost They are called notions because they notifie or make known the distinction of the Persons and the Order of their Original one from another The three first were used against the followers of Sahellius who denyed the distinction of the Persons The other two were used by Augustine against some who acknowledged the distinction of the Persons but denyed the Order of their Original one from another The last hath been of much use against the Greeks who acknowledged the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father but denyed him to proceed from the Son Negative Notions as Innascibility c. cannot constitute a person because a person is that which is positive Negative properties suppose a person constituted but they do not constitute a person they are incommunicable properties but secondary not of themselves being founded in a positive property that is in personality They are founded in this that there cannot be more processions of the same nature i. e. there can be but one Paternity one Filiation one Proceeding in the Divine Nature Spiration or Breathing is not a property being common both to the Father and the Son Paternity Filiation and Proceeding are considered as relative properties so they constitute the persons or as meer properties that is not constituting the persons only notifying their distinction and Order of Original and so looked at they are also called Notions Obj. 3. The Holy Ghost is said to proceed from the Father John 15.26 but no where is he said to proceed from the Son therefore it may seem he proceeds not from the Son and consequently not from the Father and the Son Ans Proceeding signifieth the being of one person of another John 15.26 14.26 Now though the Holy Ghost's being from the Son is not expressed by the word Procession yet it is by the word Mission or Sending which concludes the same in effect That is Scripture which is contained therein by express terms or by sound consequence Hence he is called the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.9 And the Spirit of his Son Galat. 4.6 The Mission or sending of one person from another is the determination of one person by another unto their operations concerning the creature according to the order of their subsistence As the Son in regard of the Order of Being is of the Father so doth he depend upon the Father in regard of the Order of his operation The Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do John 5.19 And as the Holy Ghost in respect of the Order of his Being is of the Father and the Son so doth he depend upon the Father and the Son in respect of the Order of his Operation Hence as the Son is of the Father so in this sence he is said to be sent from the Father John 5.24.30 And as the Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son so he is said to be sent from the Father and the Son John 14.26 and 15.26 The Essence of the three Persons is the same 1 John 5.7 To Vsefulness of the Doctrine of the Trinity John 10.30 The manner of the Existence or Essence though as a personal property it be incommunicable is communicated in respect of its Original from one person to another The Father is not without the Son the Son is of the Father the Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son The Essence absolutely considered is common to all the three Persons but not communicated for the Son is God of himself Filius est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 F. Hom. disp
knoweth all things that can be known by the concreated abilities of Angels or men of it Isai 11.2 It s Principle is a habit infused of God its Medium the light of grace 3. Experimental whereby he knew all things that could be known by practise and rational observation of Events of it Luke 2.52 It s Principle the faculty of Reason it s Medium personal experience Heb. 5.6 And observation of reiterated Events by the light of reason Christ's beatificial knowledge neither admits increase in respect of the habit or act His infused knowledge admitted not increase in respect of Habit though it might in respect of the Act. His experimental knowledge seemeth to have admitted increase both in respect of the Habit and Act. Christ's growth in wisdom is compared to his growth in stature Luke 2.40.52 5. The Right of Divine Adoration Heb. 1.6 Revel 5.8 Yet we are to know that we worship not with divine Worship the Manhood as considered in it self but as being personally united to the Godhead that is We worship the Lord Jesus as God-man 6. Communication of Properties which is a manner of speech whence that that is proper to either nature is not only verbally but really predicated of the Person consisting of or subsisting in both natures The Composition which is of the divine and humane Nature is rather a Composition of Number then of Parts because notwithstanding the real change in the humane nature thereby it is without any change of the divine Nature adding only a relation thereunto Like as it is in the Relative Attributes of God which infer a change in the creature Quod est partis quâ pars id etiam est totius secundam illam partem Keck Log. l. 1. ss 1. c. 25. Tho. p. 3. q. 35 a. 5. Beza in Heb. 2.11 Keck Theol. lib. 3. cap. 2. Keck Log. lib. 2. ss 2. Porro ista praedicatio Homo est Deus Est praedicatio per unionem The. part 3. qu. 16. art 2. Estius lib. 3. dist ◠ss 1. but none in him the divine Nature remaining what it was assumed that which it was not The divine and humane Nature are as it were Parts of the whole Person for the divine Nature is not a part properly that would argue imperfection Now that which is true of a part absolutely is true of the whole in a limited sence i. e. in respect of thar part Thus that which is true of the soul or body must needs be granted to be true of the whole man So we say such a man studieth when it is his soul not his body that studieth such a man eateth when it is his body not his soul that eateth The Communication of Idiomes or Properties taketh place when Christ is spoken of in the Concrete not in the Abstract that is when not one Nature only is intended but the Person with both or either Nature For example sake The Lord of Glory is crucified 1 Cor. 2.8 though it was only the humane not the divine Nature that was crucified God purchased the Church with his own blood Acts 20.28 Here God is taken in a concrete sence signifying the Person together with the divine and humane Nature The Man Christ Jesus is Mediatour 1 Tim. 2.5 The Son of man hath power to forgive sin Matth. 9.6 This Man is God c. The word Man is taken in a concrete sence signifying the person with the humane nature These spreches then proceeding in the Concrete the Communication of Properties is to be attended both which considerations are of great use to help us to understand these and the like Propositions 7. Capableness of the Office of a Mediatour The State wherein the Lord Jesus executed his Office of Mediatourship is either of Humiliation or Exaltation Of the two States wherein Christ performed and still performeth the Office of a Mediatour The State of Humiliation continued from the time of his Incarnation until the time of his Resurrection The State of Exaltation began at his Resurrection and continueth for ever The Degrees of his Exaltation were His Resurrection opposite to his Death His Ascension into Heaven opposite to his Descent into the Grave His sitting at the right hand of the Majesty of God that is in a State of Glory next to the Glory of God himself opposite to his continuing in the grave The Lord Jesus Christ as God-man now sitting at the right hand of God is still fulfilling his Mediatourly Office not in a condition of humiliation as sometimes upon earth but in a manner sutable unto his present State of Glory He exerciseth the Prophetical Part of his Office by sending forth the Ministry of his Word by giving gifts and making the improvement thereof effectual for the calling home and building up of his Elect Matth. 28.18 19 20. Ephes 4.11 12 13. He exerciseth the Priestly Part. 1. By appearing in the Presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 2. By continual presenting unto the Father the Satisfaction and Merit of his perfect obedience performed by him in his state of humiliation for us Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 3. By manifesting his constant will and desire that this his satisfactory and meritorious obedience should be accepted of the Father for us 1 John 2.1 4. By declaring it to be his constant will and desire that the benefit thereof should be effectually applyed unto us Heb. 7.25 Heb. 10.10 He exerciseth the Kingly Part by applying unto his Elect by his Spirit what he revealeth as a Prophet and purchased as a Priest by ruling in his Elect with his Word and Spirit together with defending of them from his and their enemies At the end of the World all enemies being subdued and the Elect perfectly blessed the present temporary manner of the Administration of the Mediatorly Office of Christ by external means whether sacred or civil divine or humane Ordinances and Powers shall cease 1 Cor. 15.24.28 Which notwithstanding Christ shall continue King and Head of the triumphant Church for ever The Lamb is the Light thereof Revel 21.23 Thou art a Priest for ever Psal 110.34 Of his Kingdom shall be no end Luke 1.33 Though the present Form of Christ's Government shall end with the world yet his Government shall not end but together with and subordinately unto the Father he shall govern them by the immediate efficacy of his Spirit without all use of external means Then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 CHAP. IV. Of the Decree FOr our better proceeding in the Consideration of this Subject it may be helpful to our understanding that we observe this Method 1. To consider what the Decree is 2. What is the Object of the Decree 3. The Liberty of the Decree i. e. of God decreeing 4. The chief Objections made against it to remove them 5. The Order of propounding it 6. The usefulness of this Doctrine The Decree is
I have cleansed my heart in vain c. ver 13 14. Hereupon Job himself was overmuch disquieted Job 23.3 4 5. his friends concluded him an hypocrite The Disciples began to doubt whether Christ were the very Christ Luke 24.21 5. The Prosperity of the wicked Exigit Cato ut ipsi Deus rationem reddat cur Pompeium Caesar vicerit nam victrix causa â— iis placuit sed victa Catoni Mernae de verit relig cap. 12. which consideration hath from time to time troubled the godly Job 12.17.14 Psal 37.1 Psal 73.2.3 Jer. 12.1 Cato is unsatisfied until God give him a reason why Caesar prevails against Pompey 6. Things not falling out alike in this life in matter of suffering with them who are alike in transgression To these six Heads may be referred the chief Objections striking at the Justice of divine Government the Answers whereunto take in order thus 1. The Permission of sin for a much better good then sin is an evil of which in the Doctrine of the Decree Chap. 4. is no way repugnant unto the Justice of God held forth in the Law whereby God hath not bound himself from the permission of sin The punishment of transgression contained in the curse in case of the commission of sin is so far from opposing as it rather supposeth the permission thereof 2. As God hath not bound himself by the Law from the permission of sin so neither hath he bound himself to the punishing of it immediately upon the commission thereof The set season for the full punishment of the sins of the Reprobate is not before the time of death and the Day of judgement till then God hath left himself arbitrary and is various in his Dispensations no man taxeth the Judge because the offender remaineth unpunished until the Assizes 3. It is a truth that all things come alike to all and that there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked yet we are to consider 1. Though it be so oftentimes yet it is not so always 2. Though their outward condition at times is alike yet their inward condition at such times is not alike 3. The principal difference which God makes between the good and the bad the clean and the unclean between him that sacrificeth and him that sacrificeth not in this life is in things which are spiritual and for ever and not in respect of things that are outward and but for a time 4. Notwithstanding Gods Dispensations unto the Sons of men are various and mysterious many times past our finding out yet in the end the righteousness of his Government shall be manifest None shall be found losers by godliness none gainers by ungodliness Sin shall appear to be the only evil piety the only good Every one shall receive according to their deeds 4. Concerning the Adversity of the godly Here would be no place for so much sin as to question Gods Justice did we not forget that his Saints in this life are sinners the best of them that suffer most suffer less then they deserve Thou our God hast punished us less then our iniquities deserve Ezra 9.13 5. Though the sins of the Saints deserve why God may deny unto them temporal mercies and why he may inflict upon them temporal crosses yet the sins of the ungodly do not deserve that God must deny unto them temporal mercies or that he must inflict upon them such temporal crosses The Justice of God in the Law punishing the sins of the Reprobate in their measure and season for ever restraineth not God from shewing common mercies unto them according as he pleaseth for a time Adde hereunto that their blessings are cursed 6. That the various dispensation in ordering events not falling out alike in point of affliction with them who are alike in transgression is no way prejudicial to the Justice of God may appear 1. By considering the condition of men in general 2. By comparing the several conditions of men one with another If you look upon the condions of men in general then as notwithstanding such are the sins of the Saints as that they deserve which also God may do in a way of trial of his servants or for testimony to his truth or upon the point of his meer Soveraignty why God might visit them with continuing temporal chastisement yet such is the grace of God in Christ whence he may not only spare them but also confer special favour upon them so notwithstanding the sins of the wicked are such why God might yet doth not Justice require that God must always afflict them with temporal sorrows or that he may not at times shine upon them with temporal blessings The same is further to be seen by laying the several conditions of men one unto another 1. If we compare wicked men with wicked men their punishments are corporal or spiritual these temporal or eternal If God punisheth not in the one he neither doth or will punish in the other first or last more or less here or hereafter so as in conclusion each impenitent one shall suffer according to their deserts none more none less 2. If we compare the Saints with the Saints their chastisements are various both inward and outward that which they suffer not one way who can say they suffer not another The conclusion also with them all will prove all sin to end in loss and grief and all obedience to end in endless gain and joy Their repentance shall hold proportion with their offence and glory shall be answerable unto grace 3. If we compare the wicked with the godly always remembring that the sins of the wicked are fully punished in Hell the sins of the Elect already punished in their Surety and in due time chastised in their own persons we are further to consider that the great difference between the godly and ungodly is not in things visible or pertaining to this life but in their state respectively after this life The chastisements of the Saints do not exceed but are far short of their deserts the punishment of the wicked shall be according to their deserts 'T is not against justice that the Saints suffer chastisement before the wicked suffer punishment It is of mercy that they so suffer chastisement as that they may not suffer punishment with the World 1 Cor. 11.32 Gods judicial acts of Providence are oftentimes such in this life whence he convinceth the beholders that he governeth amongst the most ungoverned of the sons of men so that a man shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58.11 Not mans reason but Gods Word is the Interpreter of Gods Works Whence in the Psalmists temptation we might attain the Psalmists satisfaction did we seek it with the like spirit When I sought to know this it was too painful for me till I entered into the sanctuary of the L rd Psal 73.16 17. If yet we cannot see that
of this truth to wit That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them appeareth in that he doth not only express a special rejoycing in Spirit because the preaching of this Doctrine was made part of his Commission but also in that from hence he dignifieth the Dispensation of the Gospel with two titles a Et hic insignis locus si quis alius in toto Paulo Calv. in loc 1. The Ministery of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. ver 18. 2. The Word of Reconciliation ver 19. It is called the Word of Reconciliation 1. Because it makes known Reconciliation absolutely and actually procured 2. Because the Ministery thereof is the external means whereby the Spirit worketh reconciliation in us applyeth reconciliation to us and causeth us to receive the reconciliation applyed b Spanh Ex de grat univ annot in Sect. 17. N. 8. Rom. 5.11 c Si credis Christus pro te mortuus est Est Propositio vera ratione nexus antecâ— dentis consequentis non ratione ullius causalitatis quasi per sidem nostram fiat ut Christus proâ—â—bis mortuus fuerit Spanâ— annot ad defens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. N. 4. To say Christ dyed for us if we do believe is a true Proposition if understood in respect of the inseparable connexion of the Antecedent and the Consequent but false if understood in way of Causality The vigorous grace of the Gospel runneth better being held out thus Christ dyed for his when sinners and enemies that they might infallibly believe 3. The Proposition of the Gospel that is of Christ with a Command to believe and a Promise that every one that believes shall be saved d Redemptio impetrata noÌ„ si credant sed ut credant Idem annot in Sect. 21. 4. The acceptableness of this Obedience unto God as unbelief is in its manner all disobedience so to believe containeth in its manner all obedience To receive Christ is the greatest pleasure to reject Christ is the greatest grief unto the Spirit of grace This one act of faith is more acceptable unto God then the performing all legal obedience of the first Covenant The obedience of justifying faith is more acceptable then the disobedience of Adams sin Original sin and actual sin is unacceptable 5. Interpret God in the best sence according to his revealed Will. The Elect stumble not finally at sinful unreasonable and malicious Cavils touching the secret purpose of God concerning them in particular but acknowledge it their duty to magnifie the free tender of grace and to interpret God according to his revealed Will and accordingly to apply themselves to their acknowledged duty The woman of Canaan ceaseth not her suit but gathers upon Christ even from appearing discouragements Matth. 15.22 28. It is unlikely that Jonah denouncing only destruction to the Ninevites and being exceedingly displeased that they were spared incouraged them to believe yet God purposing outward mercy to them See how the King is stirred up to incourage both himself and them to fasting and turning from their evil way upon this ground of hope Who can tell if God will turn and repent notwithstanding destruction threatned Jonah 3.4 9. Did ever any poor shipwracked creature yet floating and striving amongst others in the waves for life Vide Examplum Medici Nautarum Alumni upon the unexpected approach of some tender-hearted Mariner casting out his lines and calling upon them all indefinitely to take hold thereupon and save their lives Did ever I say such a poor creature reject the opportunity because the Marriner had not as yet expressed his affection touching him in particular Spanhem Ex. de grat univ Annot. ad def 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. N. 2. 6. Full Satisfaction to all Objections No Objection can be answered without Christ all Objections are answered by Christ Christ is compared to a garment Rom. 13.14 As the garment is fitted for a person so is Christ fit for the lost soul As all other Objections so those in particular raised and aggravated from the Circumstances of the Nature Number Continuance Conviction of sin c. Vanish before the grace of the Gospel rightly understood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 RoÌ„ 5.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 20. Christs obedience being in all respects infinite exceeds infinitely all mans disobedience Where sin abounded grace did â—uch more abound Rom. 5.20 That very Rule of Obedience which you have broken is fully obeyed and the debt for such disobedience as you are guilty of is fully satisfied Object I am unworthy c. Answ As if you should say I have no merit therefore God will have no mercy There is no salvation for me by the Law therefore there is no salvation for me by the Gospel 'T is most true we have no merit 't is as true Christ hath enough If you look at God with a legal eye so the least sinner is uncapable but if you look at him with an Evangelical eye so the greatest sinner is capable of mercy This Objection is so far from being a real Objection as that the sence of our unworthiness renders us so much the more capable the contrary apprehension keeps us whilest such uncapable of mercy Briefly it is a legal and unworthy objection and argueth sad shameful and lamentable ignorance of the Gospel 7. The Power held forth in the Gospel for the inabling of us to believe John 6.29 Rom. 11.23 Ephes 1.19 Abraham becometh a Father and Sarah a Mother by overcoming such temptations as arose from his dead body and the deadness of her womb through the consideration of Gods Promise Fidelity and Ability Rom. 4.19 21. Heb. 11.11 The strength of the Captives in Babylon was the Promise of their deliverance by the meditation whereof their duty was to stir up themselves to lay hold upon God Isai 64.7 The precious thoughts of God revealed in the Gospel are our strength and a savour of life unto life they are not as our thoughts which are a savour of death unto death The grace held forth in the Gospel is of the same nature and of the same power in it self both before and after faith though none can personally apply it but the believer The general tender of the free absolute and irresistable grace of the Gospel though without a personal promise becometh through the concurring operations of the Spirit such an attractive as incourageth the Elect unto and affects them with a restlesness in the use of means until they are made partakers thereof That great Speech of a Believer I will not let thee go Whether express or implicit Gen. 32.26 Exod. 32.10 Cant. 3.4 is the effect of our believing that God hath said He will not let us go and presupposeth an absolute and answerable promise both special and personal Such as the Gospel holds forth to all believers 8. The encouragement that ariseth from the sense of our infability to believe
Pemble of grace and faith p. 59. in Divine graces goes before the habit is saith Pemble an assertion in Divinity not tollerable which tels us the tree must be good before the fruit can be good and that question which Christ put to the Pharisees Mat. 12.34 How can yee that are evil speake good things is more than any Arminian can tell how to answer Either the Life-operation or Life-act presupposeth life or the Life-act is life it selfe or there may be a Life-act without life But there cannot be a Life-act before life nor is that Life-act life it selfe otherwise there being an intermission or cessation of that act there would be a cessation of life Whence would follow interitus gratiae a falling a way from grace the immortal seed 1 Joh. 3.9 should become mortal the beleever so oft as the act of faith ceaseth by reason of sleep or sinne or what else becometh an unbeleever and dying asleep must either not be saved or be saved without faith therefore the Life-operation necessarily presupposeth life If the Life-act of faith whereby the Soule cometh unto Christ have no habit preceding it in order then it will follow either that there is no infused habit of faith or that this infused habit followeth the act of faith but true it is First that there is an infused habit Secondly that this infused habit followeth not the act of faith as we have already seen Obj. How doth it appeare that there is any habit it being no Scripture terme Ans Though the word Habit were not in the Scripture yet the thing signified by that word being in the Scripture it is sufficient according to that received Proposition Whatsoever is contained in the Scripture either in termes or by manifest consequence is Scripture So Divines defend the use of the terms Effence Person Trinity and Merit c. though the words in so many letters are not there found That the thing which those words habit of faith intend is contained in Scripture is manifest from the nature of a Habit thus An infused inherent permanent quality disposing the subject through assisting grace to supernatural acts is the thing signified or intended by the words Habit of faith the grace of saving faith is such an infused inherent permanent quality therefore the grace of faith is a Habit this inherent quality or habit is in the Scripture called the Spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4.13 a power Eph. 3.20 the will Phil. 2.13 the lust of the Spirit Gal. 5.17 the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 the seed remaining 1 Joh. 3.9 for though the most appellations mentioned seeme not to be given to the grace of faith only but to the whole frame of habitual grace yet in that they are given to the whole frame of habitual grace yet in that they are given to the whole whereof faith is a part they are also given to faith as a part of that whole The word habit is a Scripture terme used Heb. 5.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendered habit by the Latine Translators generally who by reason of the habit have their senses exercised to discerne good and evil the inherent faculty of doing good and eschewing evil is called an habit The infused and inherent grace of faith whether it be called a power principle or habit no way prejudiceth the truth asserted by which of these termes soever it be called the thing is the same therefore the cause is the same and as firme So cleare is the doctrine of infused habits whereof faith is one that many of the School-men both ancient and late Dispositio aut habit us ille supernaturalis c. requiritur simpliciter ad actum istum supernaturalem Rescript Ames ad Grev. c. 10. attest thereunto Those habits Ad quaestionem tamen dico quod oportet ponere fidem infusam propter auctoritatom Scripturae Sanctorum Scot. lib. 3. dist 33. qu. 1. idem lib. 1. dist 17.9 3. 11.30 whereby man is disposed to such an end as exceeds Nature are of necessity in men by Divine infusion We ought faith Scotus himselfe to beleeve the habit of faith infused for the authority of the Scripture and of the Saints Scotus is commended for deducing out of the Master of the Sentences such inferences as might be apprehended not to have denied all supernatural habits Valentia Valentia Tom. 2. disp 4.9.3 p 4. Vbi fusè tractat quaestionem Utrum aliqui habit us infundant ur nobis supernaturaliter à Deo unwilling that the Council of Trent should bee thought to have denied infused habits notwithstanding he denieth not the testimony of Sotus who was there present to be true namely that the Council no wonder if that were difficult to be pronounced by the Adversaries of the Doctrine of Grace industriously abstained from the word habit yet endeavoureth to prove the thing signified by the word being taught by them not the dislike of the word but rather some other reason mentioned by him to have been the cause why they abstained from the use thereof In the same place hee asserreth the being of Habits from Argument Scripture and Authority and mentions other of the principal School-men like-minded with himselfe The Arminians though they could not be ignorant how much it concerned their cause to oppose the habit of faith yet none of them openly denied it before Grevinchovius Faith faith Fstius both in Infants Fides est habitus à Deo infusus tam in baptismo parvulorum quam in justificatione adultorum Estius l. 3. d. 23. s 1. 11. collat is cum dist 24. s 1. and in persons of discretion is a habit infused of God alone In receiving the habit of Grace In receiving the habit of Grace the Soul is passive whether we are to understand thereby the solitary habit of saving faith or the habitual frame of the New Creature of which before chap. 11. the Soule is passive The proof of this Proposition appeares by Scriptures Arguments Authorities By Scriptures thus Phil. 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you Velle non de substantia voluntatis sed de nova qualitate accipitur Bucanâ—oc 18 qu. 10. both to will and to doe of his owne pleasure The Apostle here distinguisheth between doing and a power to doe which hee calleth the will both these are wrought of God to will or power to doe he worketh without us to doe he worketh by us in the first we are passive and not active manifest it is the Soul cannot actually doe whilst it is but yet receiving power to doe in the second we are not only passive but also active yet so as wee are passive before we are active A second Scripture for the confirming of this truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we have Phil. 3.12 But I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ The Apostle here expresly as those that understand the Original know makes mention of himselfe in
Church For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his name and the Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth shal he be called Isa 54.5 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed desolate but thou shalt bee called Hephzi-bah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be married Isa 62.4 The fourth is the state of glory And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me Joh. 17.22 23. Touching the bands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Commissurae vocantur ea omnia quae nos Christo devinciunt ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tango per has commissuras Christus tangit nos nos Christum tangimus see Exod 12.22 Heb. or tyes which hold the Head and Body together so as Christ and the Beleever doe thereby in this union touch one another for so the word turned Bands Col. 2.19 implieth we are to know that according as the third beings or tertiums differ whereinto Christ and a Beleever are united so the bands differ whereby they are united thus If Sameness of spirit be the third being then God in Christ giving his Spirit in a word of grace on the one part and the Soul receiving passively that Spirit of grace as an empty vessel receiveth oyl on the other part are the bands of union When the body mysticall is looked at as that third being then Christ in the gift of the grace of faith giving himselfe as our God actually is the band on his part and either the Souls receiving of Christ actually in its passive receipt of faith or actively by the act of faith is respectively the band on our part When we look at this union Christus suum consensum nobis efficacitèr patefacit suum Spiritum in corda nostra infundendo per hunc enim efficit ut sentiamus eum revera velle idque ex patris etiam voluntate nostrum esse sponsum eòque caput 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nostrum Zanch. in Eph. cap. 5. Th. 3. in the third being of a Spiritual Marriage-estate the consent of Christ manifested by his infusion of his Spirit is the band on his part and the act of faith drawn forth by the power of assisting grace whereby we receive and take Christ as our Husband is the band on our part Lastly If we consider this union in the third being of a state of glory Christ giving glory is the band on his part our receiving whether passively or actively may respectively bee looked at as the band on our part The just observation of these several kinds of Union may haply be of use to reconcile that tenet which affirmeth Union to be by the habit of faith with that tenet ordinarily held forth in the writing of the Orthodox affirming Union to be by the Spirit and Faith understanding by faith the act of faith The first kinde of union is by the Habit not by the Act the second may be looked at as being by both either Habit or Act the third is by the Act not by the Habit. That proposition of frequent use among Divines sc Union is by the Spirit and faith that is by the Spirit on Christs part and Faith on our part Zauch in Eph. 5. de unione quaest 4. is to be understood of the third kind of union Touching the manner of this Union wherein Christ and the Beleever are united we may not unprofitably consider it First negatively Secondly positively Negatively it is not essential such as is the union of the three Persons in one essence in God Nor personal such as is the union of the Divine and Human nature in one and that an increated person in Christ Not natural whether essential as is the union of the form with the matter or by Local contact i. e. natural touching one of another as water is united to the vessel or by mixture as water is united to Hony or by the coupling together of a common and special nature as the Genus is united to the Species or by Cohesion as when one part of the body cohereth with another or by Adhesion as when Pitch cleaveth to our hands or by Inhesion as an accident inhereth in the subject or any other whatsoever 't is not civil as is the union of many persons into one body Politique Secondly Positively 't is a Spiritual and a Mystical union therefore the whole into which these Members are united is called a Mystical body This Spiritual union in respect of the verity thereof is real in respect of the things united 't is substantial in respect of its way or manner 't is supernatural and secret in respect of the neernesse of it 't is close and intimate 'T is a true not an imaginary union 't is sayed to be real or substantial in respect of the things that are united viz. the substance of Christ and the substance of the Beleever In this union we doe not receive the species or likenesse of Christ as the understanding receiveth the species of the Object but not the Object it selfe not are we thereby made partakers of the Spirit of Christ alone and not of himselfe but we are made partakers of both the very person of Christ and the person of the Beleever are as we saw before united together as the person of the Husband and the person of the Wife notwithstanding Local distance are united together From the neernesse of the union between Christ and his Members the body Mystical is called by the name of Christ Christ is considered either Personally in himselfe or Collectively together with the Church which is his Body so both Head and Members are required to make one Christ that is Christ not Personal but Mystical in which latter sense the Scripture calleth the Head and Body taken together by the name of Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so is Christ Gal. 3.16 And to thy seed which is Christ that is all his Mystical body Hence the sufferings of Paul and of other Beleevers which we must yet remember were edificatory not satisfactory in way of edification not in way of satisfaction are called the sufferings of Christ Col. 1.24 The end of union is an everlasting and satisfactory communion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nempe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the order of Union 1 Cor. 1.9 to the glory of God in Christ the good of the whole Mystical body and our own happinesse Union in order of nature though not in order of time followeth Vocation which appeareth by the considering of a being or essence Oneness and Union distinctly A being or essence is the thing
2.5.9 But behold a greater building than Solomons is here a house as was said before not made with hands eternal in the Heavens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad excellentiam artificium operis refertur Zanch. whose Builder and Maker is God Heb. 11.10 A most excellent prospect hereof we have in Johns Graphical description of that great City Rev. 21. as a type not onely though haply chiefly of the triumphing Church it self vers 2.9 but also of the place of its everlasting habitation verse 27. where the Holy Ghost gathereth together in a manner the universal excellency of the visible creature to hold forth a legible and heavenly picture of this invisible and supercelestial Mansion Be pleased to take a more orderly view of it as you have it set forth according to its foundations and structure The foundations are twelve garnished with all manner of precious stones and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb engraven The first foundation was Jasper the chief of Gems of which before The second a Saphir blew or skie-coloured the fifth in Aarons Breast-plate The third a Calcedomy of purple colour The fourth an Emrald a stone so green that other green things lose their colour while it is present most pleasant to the sight the fourth in Aarons Breast-plate The fifth a Sardonyx white without and red underneath like the nayl of a man The sixth a Sardius of the colour of blood the first in Aarons Breast-plate The seventh a Chrysolite of such a golden colour that gold looketh like silver to it when they are laid together The eighth a Beryl of a Sea-green the tenth in Aarons Breast-plate The ninth a Topaz of a pleasing green colour the second in Aarons Breast-plate The tenth Crysophrasus a green inclining unto gold The eleventh a Jacinct of a violet colour The twelfth an Amathist the chief of violet coloured Gems the ninth in Aarons Breast-plate It s structure is either outward where we have the matter form wall and gates the matter pure gold like unto cleer glasse ver 18. viz. transparent gold the form sour-square ver 16. Twelve thousand furlongs that is fiveteen hundred English miles square The wall of Jasper ver 18. a hundred forty four cubits in height ver 17. situated to the four coasts of Heaven vers 13. strongly founded vers 14. The gates are in number twelve made of twelve pearls every several gate was of one pearl vers 21. situated East West North and South three looking every way vers 13. having ingraven upon them the names of the twelve Tribes of Israel and twelve Angels for the keepers of them Or inward where we have the streets of pure gold as it were transparent glasse vers 21. It s Temple God and the Lamb Its light the glory of God and the Lamb Its inhabitants vers 24. It s peace vers 25 Glory ver 26. Holinesse vers 27. Its waters a pure river of life Chap. 22.1 Its fruits are the fruits of the tree of life vers 2. This heavenly society is made up of God 2 Of their Society and Christ and the blessed The good of this society in respect of the Blessed themselves chiefly consists in their knowledge one of another communion one with another and content flowing from that communion Known and approved is Luthers answer Num in illa aeterna vita simus alter alterum cognituri Melch. Adam in vita Luth. returned affirmatively upon the desire of the hearers that he would be pleased to speak to his own Query to this question propounded by himself a little before his death viz. Whether we should know one another in eternal life which he proved from Adams knowledge of Eve in innocency whom he had never seen before Gen. 2.23 The knowledge of the Beat fical Vision exceeds the knowledge of Adam David implyeth that he shall know his childe when he comforts himself that he shall go unto it 2 Sam. 12.23 Peter seeing Christ transfigured and Moses and Elias appearing with him in glory whom he had never seen no saith Tertullian not so much as in their pictures Tertul. contra Mar. the use of Statues and Images being prohibited by Law among the Jews takes notice of them Maâ—th 17.4 Luke 9.33 The rich man knew Abraham and Lazarus Luk. 16. Surely then Abraham and Lazarus shall know one another The poor shall know their rich Benefacters when they receive them into everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 Poul shall know the Thessalonians whilst he looketh upon them as his crown of rejoycing at the comming of the Lord Jesus 1 Thess 2.9 The Angels know one another Tho. part I. q. â—6 art 7. and know the Elect in glory The very state of blessednesse denyeth the contrary Austin comforts the Lady Italica after her Husbands death Quosdam nostras migrantes non amisimus sed praemifimus August Epist 6. telling her that she shal know him amongst the blessed Society yea both know and love him better than ever she did in this life Their communion and conference one with another may be gathered from the like in the Angels who doubtlesse speak one unto another though not vocally as we now doe yet in their manner viz. Angelically and Spiritually which is nothing else but a spiritual insinuation instillation or communication of their minds notions and meanings one unto another For Spiritual substances to speak together Tho. part 1. q. 10. art 1. is for one spirit to signifie unto another their notions and minds in a spiritual and therefore in a better manner than we doe As the speech of the Angels Zanchi de operibus Dei part i. lib. 3 c. 19. so the speech of the blessed Souls is a power whereby as they please they make known one unto another what they know themselves our thoughts passe unto him whom we communicate them unto by two doors viz. of volition or will and expression whether by word writing or sign The Angels have but one door through which their thoughts pass namely their wil. To think that the Angels and Spirits of the just made perfect doe not speak mentally that is in their heavenly and spiritual manner communicate their minds one unto another as they see cause is against reason and inconsisting with the state of blessedness To think they speak in this manner is not repugnant to Scripture or Reason though the ful resolution of that quere viz. with what tongues the Angels and Souls departed speak seems to be reserved til we come into Heaven After the Resurrection nothing hinders but we may beleeve Synops. pur Theolog. disp 2. n 42. that the Saints shal speak not only mentally after the manner of the Angels but also when they please vocally after the manner that men now speak and as some conceive probably in the Hebrew Tongue Great must needs be the content of their Communion if we consider either the neer relation of the persons being Members of the