12 The transg ession whereof doth offâ—nd him c. 13. provoke him c. 14 13 Working wonders cap. 15. 14 Gifts of Miracles cap. 16. 1â— Building the Church ca. 17. 16 Raising the Dead cap. 18. 1. Election cap. 2. 2. Redemption in keeping and and delivering us from 1. Sin cap. 3. 2 Satan cap. 4. 3. Wrath to come ca. 5. 3 Iustification in regard both of 1. Remission of sinnes or healing the â—oul cap. 6. 2. Imputation of the Righteousnesse of Christ cap. 7. 4. Faiâ—h cap 8. 5. Hope cap. 9. 6. True Knowledge cap. 10. 7. Our union and communion with God cap 11. 8. Adoption cap 12. 9. Sanctificatâ—on in the beginning and progresse thereof by Drawing us to him c. 14. Quicknin us cap. 15. Multiplying his graces in us cap. 16. 10 Giving us testimony we are his câ—p â—7 11. Sealing us cap. 18. 12. Giviâ—g unto us Christian Liberty cap. 19. 13. Glorification cap. 20 2. The Faithfull in particular Sect. 4. as namely in In both the old and in the new 1. Father cap. 13. 2. Highest cap. 14. 3. Lord God cap. 15. 4. L. G. Almighty c. 16 5. Great G d cap. 17. 6. Great King cap. 18. 7 The G. of Israel c. 19 2. Such Attributes as are proper to God lib. 2. cap. 1. as 3. Such works as are proper to God lib. 3. which are either 4 Such divine honour and religious worship as is proper to God alâ—ne lib. 4. as 1. Worship given by Men cap. 2. Angels cap. 3. 2. Obedience and Service cap. â— 3. Love cap. 5. 4. Hearing of him cap. 6. 5. Knowledge of him cap. 7. 6. Beleeving on him cap. 8. 7. Hoping and trusting on him cap. 9. 8. Baptizing in his Name cap. 10. 9. Swearing by him cap. 11. 10. Prayer cap. 12. 11. Praise by Men cap. 13. Angels cap 14. 12. Building to him the Temple of Jerusalem which was his house built for his honour and worship cap. 15. 13. Legall Sacrifices were offered to him cap 16. 14. Glorifying him in our lives and conversations cap 17. THE Consubstantialitie and Equalitie of FATHER SON and HOLY-GHOST Who are but one GOD yet three Persons Distinguished from each other both internally by their Personall Properties and externally by their order in co-working The first Booke The Names of GOD are equally ascribed to FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST in the Scriptures CHAP. I. THERE is nothing which a Christian can know with more comfort or erre in with greater danger then this great and holy mysterie of three Persons in one divine essence the conceit either of three substances or of but one subsistence is erroneous and damnable Neither have we I say not any better but any other Guide to direct us with safetie to search out this mysterious Truth but the holy Scriptures Reason must not beare sway herein not because it contradicteth that but because this transcendeth that where if Reason might be admitted our Pilot to steere our Faith in its right course it would not be prayse-worthy to beleeve But when Faith layeth hold on a bare Truth which is above Reason now we beleeve not because it is mani â—sted by sense or demonstrated by Reason but bâ—cause it is so taught in the holy Scriptures This is that which maketh us happie and our Faith commendable As our Saviour telleth Thomas when he was by his outward senses convinced of the Lord Christs divine power Thomas because thou hast seene me thou hast beleeved blessed are they that have not seene and yet have beleevâ—d Joh. 20.29 For it is a signe we take God at his word when we beleeve a Truth because the Scripture affirmeth it And without doubt the Majestie of Heaven is so farre pleased to reveale himselfe to us in his Word as we clothed with corruptible bodies are capable of by which we may know so much of God as is not onely usefull for our comfort but also needfull for our salvation The greatest measure of this knowledge which we can attaine in this life is but darke in comparison of that clearer Light which we shall enjoy in Heaven Although even that will not be a totall comprehending of the Lords infinite Majestie yet it will be a full apprehending in respâ—ct of our selves who are finite creatures and therefore cannot know so much of an infinite God as he himselfe knoweth of himselfe In that place of Paul Then shall I know as also I am knowne 1 Cor. 13.12 The word as is a note of qualitie not of equalitie it intimateth a likenesse it demonstrateth no proportion yet we shall have such a perfect and certaine knowledge of God as will conduce to our eternall felicitie In the meane while the Lord affordeth us some comfortable glimpses of his Divine Majestie He looketh forth upon us out of the windowes and sheweth himselfe through the Lattesse Cant. 2.9 We may see Christ shining gloriously on our soules through the grates and windowes of his Word and Sacraments The wall of our flesh hindreth the full fruition of him We can onely by the eye of Faith see the Lord as through a Glasse darkely 1 Cor. 13.12 We see him in the Ministerie of his Word which we shall doe well if we take heed thereunto as unto a Light that shineth in a darke place untill the day dawne and the Day-starre arise in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 The Scriptures are the Light which we must looke unto that we may steere our Faith aright in the troublesome Sea of this World that we may not make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.18 19. Oh that we would consider that in all the wayes wherein we walke if we have not this Light to direct us we either wander in darknesse or are mis-led by an ignis fatuus a mock-Light which if we follow we hazard our soules and lose our true comfort And amongst other Truths we shall clearely discerne if we looke not through the false-colouring Spectacles of Arrius even this Truth That the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father when as the Scriptures ascribe to them such Names Attributes Workes Worship as are proper to God and common to them with the Father CHAP. II. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Names as are proper to God FOr these who have the Names of the true God in the Scriptures properly definitively and absolutely predicated of them even as the Father hath are truly God as the Father is But the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have the Names of the true God properly definitively and absolutely predicated of them in the Scriptures even as the Father hath Therefore the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are truly God as the Father is The Major is evident the Minor I shall prove by induction shewing unto you out of the Scriptures That not onely one or two Names of God but all the usuall Names of God are equally attributed
his pleasure So true is that of Tertullian Testimonium Divinitatis est veritas divinationis The Lord onely to whom all things are present knoweth these things that are future in respect of us and doth reveale them to us when the knowledge of them is for our good and so First the Father doth reveale and keep secret future things according to his holy will and Divine pleasure And therefore our Saviour checking the curiositie of the Disciples demanding the time of his restoring the Kingdome to Israel saith Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power Secondly the Sonne revealeth future things Mar. 13.23 he fore-told his Disciples all things he fore-shewed the destruction of the Citie and Temple of Jerusalem and the manner of it fortie yeares before it was accomplished Mat. 24.25 Luk. 19. the Lord Jesus who is the Lambe in the midst of the Throne can alone open the Book with seven seales Rev. 5. which can manifest what shall be to the end of the World and can reveale it to his Church He knew all the answers and passages that men should give to his Disciples and they should meet withall when he sent them Mat. 21.2 3 Mar. 14.13 14. Luk. 22.10 11 12 13. he saw what should happen to himselfe Joh. 18.4 who should betray him Joh. 13. Joh. 6.64 the houre of his death Joh. 2. Joh. 19.28 30. yea for this end he telleth it to them as he saith Joh. 13.19 that ye may know that I am a Name peculiar to God Exod. 3.14 he testified what was fore-told in the Revelations Rev. 22.16 Prophesies which many of them were not accomplished a thousand years after as God he knew all things although as man he was ignorant of the day and houre of judgement Mar. 13.32 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost revealeth future things The things that David spake before of were spoken by the Holy-Ghost Act. 1.16 he fore-told the generall famine Act. 11.28 as also the binding of Paul and the place where it must be done although Paul was many hundred miles distant from that place and much disswaded from going thither Act. 21.11 Act. 20.23 he it was that revealed to Simeon that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord Christ Luke 2.27 he fore-sheweth the departure from the faith in the latter dayes 1 Tim. 4.1 he testified before the sufferings of Christ 1 Pet. 1.11 in the Old Testament he told the Jewes and divers other Nations what should happen to them Nehem. 9.30 2 Pet. 1.21 and in the New did shew all things to the Apostles what should come Joh. 16.13 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First doe know the thoughts and hearts of men Secondly doe know all the wayes and works of men and of all creatures Thirdly doe know all things that are to come and are one Omniscient Lord God equall in essence and Omnisciencie Therefore as the eye of the Lord is on us so likewise let the eye of our soules be ever fixed on him for our comfort and for our direction And let us pray that he would guide us with his eye Psalm 32.8 his eye directeth men when no eye beholdeth them his eye oft terrifieth them when no eye seeth them his eye comforteth them when no eye looketh on them and his eye counselleth them when no other eye is nigh them CHAP. VII The knowledge of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost is incomprehensible and unsearchable GOD is incomprehensible comprehending all things not being comprehended himselfe Well might Zophar demand Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almightie to perfection it is as high as heaven what canst thou doe it is deeper then hell what canst thou know the measure thereof is longer then the earth and broader then the Sea Job 11.7 8 9. he sheweth the infinitenesse of Gods knowledge to be every way past finding out Yea the Apostle that could sound as deepe as any man yet findeth this bottomelesse depth to be infinitely beyond his reach and therefore breaketh out into an admiration Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and of the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33 Job is driven to acknowledge his ignorance and to confesse his errour that he uttered things that he understood not things too wonderfull for him Job 42.3 and David doth tell us that the Lords greatnesse is unsearchable Psal 145.3 and his knowledge too wonderfull for him Psal 139.6 his Majestie is infinitely transcending our knowledge for we are rather knowne of God then doe truly know God Gal. 4.9 First the knowledge of the Father is unsearchable Agur putteth this as an unanswerable question to all unbeleevers Prov. 30.4 What is his Name if thou canst tell there being nothing but the nature and essence of God but may be comprehended and explained by some Name No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and them to whom the Sonne will reveale him which excludeth not the Holy Spirit of God for he searcheth out the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 but creatures onely Mat. 11.27 Luk. 10.23 Joh. 1.18 yet the Disciples of the Lord and all true Beleevers see him and know him Joh. 14.7 Joh. 6.46 Joh. 14.9 Secondly the knowledge of the Sonne is unsearchable Agur likewise putteth this as an unanswerable question to all unbeleevers Prov. 30.4 What is his Sonnes Name if thou canst tell he hath a Name which no man knoweth but himself Rev. 19.12 and those which have this knowledge revealed of the Father Mat. 16.17 None knoweth the Sonne but the Father Luke 10.23 Mat. 11.27 whose love is described to his Church to be passing all knowledge Ephes 3.18 19. who is yet according to that measure of grace given them of God both seen and known of them Joh. 14.9 Joh. 10.14 and who are to grow in the knowledge of him as they grow in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 Thirdly the knowledge of the Holy-Ghost is unsearchable he is unknown to the men of this world who are out of Christ Joh. 14.17 but he revealeth himselfe to his Church 1 Cor. 2.12 who both see him and know him John 14.17 and God by him 1 Cor. 2.12 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost is one incomprehensible Lord God whose incomprehensible Majestie can be no otherwaies knowne of us but as in his Divine pleasure he hath manifested himself in his Word Oh that men would therefore submit their reason to the Scripture and beleeve these Divine truths of the incomprehensible God which are discovered to them by the Word although the things which are there laid down are not onely beyond their apprehensions but seemingly contrary to their corrupted reasons then would not men wilfully oppose truth which they are willingly ignorant of but would amongst other truths see Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be equall in the Incomprehensibilitie of their Majestie and glorie CHAP. VIII The
to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost I shall instance in these following First the Names of God in the Old Testament are 1. Jehovah 2. Lord of Hosts 3. Jah 4. Ehejeh or I am 5. El 6. Elohim 7. Adonai 8. Shaddai Secondly in the New Testament in the Greek 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and Lord. Thirdly in both the Old Testament and the New 11. Father 12. Highest 13. Lord God 14. Lord God Almightie 15. Great God 16. Great King 17. The God of Israel CHAP. III. The Name Jehovah is ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost JEhovah is a Name of God that describeth unto us his essence It is derived of Havah esse to be First Because the Lord alone hath essence and being of himselfe Isa 44.6 Secondly He it is that alone giveth life and being to all creatures Act. 17.25 Thirdly He giveth being to his Word and Promises effecting what he speaketh and performing what he promiseth Isa 45.2 3. Ezek. 5.17 First This Name is proper to God alone Psal 83.19 Thou whose Name alone is Jehovah and Nehem. 9.6 Thou art Jehovah alone It is the incommunicable Name Wisd 19.21 because it is never simply given to any but to God onely It was called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Name that was not to be expressed either in regard of the Grecians which out of want of Letters could not write it or in respect of the Jewes which out of superstition would not speake it This Name because it could not be written in Greek hath the force of it opened by the Holy-Ghost Rev. 1.4 8. Rev. 4.8 Rev. 11.17 Rev. 16.15 styling the Lord He that is that was and that will be or is to come And that you may know he expresseth an Hebrew Name he varieth not the Cases according to the manner of the Greekes but speaking in the Genitive Case he putteth this Name in the Nominative Rev. 1.4 according to the Hebrew forme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Je the first syllable of the Name Jehovah is a note of the time to come Jeheveh He will be Ho a signe of the time present Hoveh He that is and Vah a Characteristicall marke of the time past Havah He was or hath beene This Name pointeth out the Eternitie of his Essence that he is God from everlasting to everlasting Psal 90.2 which is of himselfe and from himselfe a most absolute and perfect substance Secondly Although this Name Jehovah is a Name of Gods Essence and is alwayes used Singularly and never Plurally as Elohim and Adonai are which are Names of God in regard of his Personalitie or Subsistence and the Lord styleth himselfe one Jehovah Deut. 6.4 but never one Elohim yet the ancient Jewes before Christ did note the mysterie of the Trinitie in their expositions of this Name by twelve and by fortie and two Letters which they called Sem Hamphoras Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost was their exposition of this Name by twelve Letters in Hebrew And the Father is God the Sonne is God and the Holy-Ghost is God three in one and one in three is their exposition of that Name by fortie and two Letters it being written likewise with so many as R. Judas Nagid R. Hacadosh R. Moses Ben Mammon and others observe Adding moreover that this mysterie was to be kept secret untill the comming of the Messias who should more clearely reveale it R. Hacadosh in Galarazeia Yea they were so Catechized in the mysterie of the Trinitie that as P. Fagius observeth on Exod. 28. they collected this mysterie out of this Name which although it was called Tetragrammaton or the Name of foure Letters yet say they there were but three sorts of Letters in it י Jod signified the Father who was the beginning of all things ן Vau is a conjunction copulative and denoted the third Person ה He signified the Sonne of God And they affirme this Letter is doubled to demonstrate both Natures of the Messiah These and the like observations you may see in the learned Workes of the much admired and ever to be honoured Mornaeus de verit Christ Relig. P. Calat and others who have sufficiently proved that the ancienter Doctors of the Jewes beleeved this mysterie albeit their latter Rabbins in opposition to the Lord Jesus doe oppose it And surely the Jewes in Christs time were acquainted with this Truth in that they accuse Christ of Blasphemie when as he said he was the Sonne of God Joh. 10.33 First because he being but a man as they thought yet made himselfe God Joh. 10.33 Secondly because he made himselfe as they rightly concluded equall with God when as they said God was his Father Joh. 5.18 They not denying that there was a Sonne of God which was equall with the Father but denying him to be that Word and Sonne of God blaspheming him whom they accused of Blasphemie Mark 14.64 65. Joh. 19.7 And that the Holy-Ghost was knowne to them is evident Mat. 1.20 where the Angel telleth Joseph that Mary was with Child by the Holy-Ghost And John Baptist speaking of Christ saith He shall baptize you with the Holy-Ghost and with fire Mat. 3.10 In vaine had he spoken to them of the Holy-Ghost of whom they had not heard of before That place Act. 19.2 where the Disciples had not heard whether there were an Holy-Ghost it cannot be so understood as if they were ignorant of his Person but of the gifts of Tongues and Prophesying by him for first being Disciples they were baptized in the Name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost secondly when the Holy-Ghost is used Personally he is pointed out with one if not with two Articles in the Originall whereas when the word is used metonymically for his Gifts and Graces you have usually no Article in the Greek prefixed as in this and divers other places Thirdly you have the same expression used by the Evangelist John Joh. 7.39 The Holy-Ghost was not He was in Person before he was as touching sanctifying Graces before but he was not yet poured forth on the Disciples as Joel prophesied Joel 2.28 in gifts of Tongues and miraculous operations Thirdly This incommunicable and essentiall Name of God is sometimes used Personally and is then ascribed either to tho Father or to the Sonne or to the Holy-Ghost for First the Father is Jehovah Gen. 19.24 The Lord rained fire and brimstone from the Lord where you have the Sonne executing Judgement from Jehovah his Father and Zach. 3.2 The Lord said to Satan The Lord rebuke thee where one that is Jehovah speaketh of another Jehovah namely Christ speaketh of his Father and Psal 2.2 The Kings of the earth stand up against the Lord and against his Anointed Secondly the Sonne is Jehovah as in the two afore-cited places Gen. 19.24 Zach. 3.2 where the Sonne is stiled Jehovah even as the Father is Isa 25.9 This is the Lord we
24.19 Hucedoshim Elohim which word for word is ipse Dii sancti we cannot significantly render it in English but we translate it he is a holy God where in the unitie of the essence there is a pluralitie of Holy Persons First the Father is holy Secondly the Sonne is holy Thirdly the Spirit is holy who are not three Gods but one holy God CHAP. XI The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are good GOodnesse is an essentiall propertie of God whereby he is every way good both in himselfe and towards all his creatures Psa 33.5 Psa 145.9 Psa 119.68 he is good and doth good The Lord is essentially absolutely immutably and perfectly good without any dependance on any other and without any limitation of his goodnesse The creature is good so farre as in the being thereof it agreeth with the will of the Creatour by participating of that goodnesse which God hath given it 1 Cor. 3.8 Jam. 1.17 There is not the least drop of goodnesse in man or Angel which it hath not from the Creatour God onely is essentially good and of himselfe and thus there is noâ—e good but one that is God Mat. 19 17. Mar. 10.18 Luk. 18.19 and as his essence is one so his goodness is one yet this one God being distinguished into three Persons every Person in the sacred Trinity is Good First the Father is good who sheweth the exceeding riches of his grace in his goodnesse towards us through Christ Eph. 2.7 Secondly the Sonne is good he is the good Shepheard that giveth his life for his sheepe Joh. 10.1 and knoweth his Sheepe and is known of them Joh. 10.14 Goodnesse is essentially in Christ as he is the Sonne of God for so he is equall with him Phil. 2.6 in Nature as also in goodnesse and all his Attributes But as he is the Sonne of Man he received his goodnesse Joh. 7.16 my Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is good he is the good Spirit Nehem. 9.20 Psal 143.10 Wis 12.1 yea that which Matthew calleth Mat. 7.11 good Luke rendreth it the Holy Spirit Luke 11.13 and the vulgar Translation joyning both together readeth it the good Spirit Yet Father Sonne and Holy Spirit though three Persons are but one good Lord God Mat. 19.17 CHAP. XII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are gracious THe Lord is infinitely gracious he is alone truly gracious Exod. 34.6 and that in and of himselfe he hath nothing to move him thereto but his owne will Exod. 33 19 Rom. 9.13 Jam. 1.18 John 1.13 Our salvation dâ—pendeth on his grace in regard of the beginning progresse and finishing of it we can no way enter into heaven or set forward one step in that way but as he helpeth us up by the scaling-Ladder of his owne graces to us in Christ and thus the Kingdome of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 First the Father is infinitely gracious he is exceeding rich in grace Ephes 2.7 and according to the good pleasure of his will he enricheth us therewith to the praise of the glory of his grace Ephes 1.5 6. and we are to pray to him for grace so doth Paul Ephes 1.2 Tit. 1.4 and John Rev. 1.4 Secondly the Sonne is infinitely gracious 1 Tim. 1.16 He sheweth forth all long-suffering in Paul for a patterne for them which should hereafter beleeve From his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16 He is a full Vessell his overflowings filleth all his members The Apostle telleth us of the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 5.8 2 Cor. 8.9 And Christ telleth Paul his grace is sufficient for him 2 Cor. 12.9 who giveth grace as he will Eph. 4.7 To whom we are to pray for grace So Paul 1 Cor. 16.23 Eph. 1.2 and John Rev. 1.5 2 Joh. 3. and Peter 2 Pet. 1.2 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is infinitely gracious He is the Spirit of grace Zach. 12.10 Heb. 10.29 Luk. 2.40 He is rich in grace giving his grace as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 The will of men and Angels are limited by their power they may will more then they can effect but the Power of the holy Spirit in giving grace and in all his workes is limited onely by his will Isa 40.13 1 Cor. 12.11 who giveth grace as he will To whom we are to pray for grace So doth Salomon Cant. 4.16 and John likewise Rev. 1.4 The Father the Word and the Spirit are one onely gracious Lord God CHAP. XIII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are the true God TRuth is one of Gods Attributes Exod 34.6 who in opposition to Idols is alwayes stiled the true God 2 Thess 1.9 the Stock being a doctrine of vanitie Jer. 10.8 and the Image a teacher of lyes Hab. 2.18 God is true in himselfe Joh. 17.3 and true in his promises to his Church and people Tit. 1.3 He cannot lye Heb. 6.18 It is impossible for him to be mutable He is the God that changeth not Mal. 3.6 For he is not as man that he should lye nor as the sonne of man that he should repent Num. 23.19 Let God therefore be true and every man a lyar Rom. 3.4 The best of Creatures even Angels have in regard of themselves a mutabilitie of nature some continued not in the truth Joh. 8.44 they kept not their first estate Jude 6. These he charged with folly Job 3.18 These that did continue did not stand through their owne strength but by vertue of Gods election of them who are therefore called the elect Angels of God 1 Tim. 5.21 But the Creature is subject to vanitie Rom. 8.21 No Creature is essentially absolutely independently true for so Truth is essentially proper to God who is first immutably true in himselfe secondly he is immutably true in respect of his gifts and graces which he bestoweth on his Church and people And thus first every Person of the Deitie is true in himselfe First the Father is true in himselfe Christ telleth the Jewes He that sent him is true Joh. 7.28 He is the onely true God Joh. 17.3 The word onely in that place restraineth not the Subject but the Predicate You have the word onely twice so used in one Verse Jer. 32.30 Againe he that beleeveth on the first Person onely excluding the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost beleeveth not rightly on the true God but is an Antichristian 1 Joh. 2.22 23. Secondly the Sonne is true in himselfe He with the Father and the Holy-Ghost is the true God 1 Joh. 5.20 where Christ is called the true God He is Truth 1 Joh. 14.6 It is one of his Names Rev. 3.7 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is true He is Truth 1 Joh. 5.6 1 Joh. 2.27 and therefore of the same essence with the Father and the Sonne who is the true God and is Truth Secondly all the three Persons are immutably true in their gifts and graces all the gifts of God being without repentance Rom. 11.29 First the Father
in man as the Apostle intimâ—teth 1 Cor. 2.11 and the Father and the Sonne are in the spirit Zack 7.12 The Lord of Hoasts in his spirit hath sent by the hand of his Prophets so it is word for word in the Originall which was the Father and the Sonne who are called by the same Prophet particularly the Lord of Hoasts The Father is so called Zach. 2.9 and the Son likewise Zac. 2.8 yea the Holy-Ghost is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.11 the Spirit of God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.12 That spirit which is of God and therefore of the same nature co-essentiall with him CHAP. VIII We must beleeve in the Father and in the Sonne and in the Holy-Ghost THe greatest honour we can doe to God is beleeve him Whereas contrarywise it is the greatest affront we can offer unto him not to beleeve him He that beleeveeh not God hath made him a lyar 1 Joh. 5.10 And what greater disgrace can be put upon any then to give him the lye How much more disgracefull is it not to believe the God of truth He enjoyneth us to beleeve in him Not for any Good he receiveth thereby Job 22.2 3. Job 35.6 7 Psal 16.2 but for our good which we shall enjoy by doing that which he requireth even by beleeving that which he promiseth Without it iâ— impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 or to have our soules saved Mar. 16.16 we must therefore beleeve in God this Father This faith thou professest in the Creed when thou sayest I beleeve in God the Father Our Saviour sheweth they that beleeve in him have everlasting life Joh. 5.24 Secondly the Sonne This faith we prosesse in the Creed when in the second Article we say and is Jesus Christ This faith in Christ God the Father commandeth Joh. 6.29 This is the worke of God that ye beleeve on him whom he hath sent God the Sonne requireth it of his Disciples John 14.1 Ye beleeve in Gâ—d beleeve also in me He requireth it also of the blind man Dost thou beleeve in the Sonne of Gâ—â— Joh. 9.35 yea he requireth it of all John 3.15 16. John 12.36 promising to him that beleeveth in him out of 〈◊〉 â—elly shall flow Rivers of living water John 7.38 He Lastly commendeth the Church of Pergamus for not denying his faith Rev. 2.13 God the Holy-Ghost reproveth the want of it in the World John 16.9 John Baptist the fore-runner of Christ doth make it an infallible marke of those that have eternall life even as sure as if they did already injoy it Joh. 3.36 And the Lord Jesus telleth the Jews that if ye beleeve not that I am ye shall dye in your sinnes Joh. 8.24 And no marvell for the beleeving in Christ is the beleeviâ—g in God Ioh. 12.44 Act. 16.31 with 34. and the not beleeving in Christ is to make God a lyar 1 Ioh. 5.10 whereas by faith in him we are sanctified Act. 26.18 and justified Rom. 3.26 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost This faith we professe in the Creed in the eighth Article when as we say I beleeve in the Holy-Ghost The Apostle shewed that the Israelites entred not into Canaan because of unbeleefe Heb. 3.18 whom did they not believe was it not He whom they tempted proved and grieved Heb. 3.9 10. That this was the Holy Ghost the Apostle expresly affirmeth Heb. 3.7 Besides how can they call on him in whom they have not beleeved Rom. 10.14 Or how can we be Bâ—ptized in the Name of him in whom we doe not believe Mat. 28.19 There being but one faith one baptisme one God Eph. 4.5 6. One faith and one baptisme in regard of the object that is to be beleeved on and to be baptized in though there be divers in regard of the subject who beleeveth and is baptized The Holy-Ghost therefore in whose Name we are baptized is to be beleeved in There is but one faith in God the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who are therefore one God For if the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost were not one with the Father but did differ in Essence and Nature they would be divers Gods and the faith in them likewise would be divers And surely in the Creed we professe our faith in one God and yet three Persons are named the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Where the unity of the God-head and the Trinity of Persons is intimated and imployed CHAP. IX We are to hope and trust in the Father in the Sonne and in the Holy-Ghost AS God alone is the object of our faith so is he likewise of our hope We are commanded to hope and trust in him 1 Tim. 6.17 we are commanded and blessed for it Prov. 16,20 Psal 84. last Psal 146.5 Jer. 17.7 whereas they are discommended and cursed who trust in man and depart from God Ier. 17.5 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous flye unto it and are safe Prov. 18.10 They are set aloft so the Originall will beare it out of the reach of danger It is the singular Phraise of Abraham that against hope he beleeved in hope Rom. 4.18 It was without the hope of nature yet in the hope of grace above the hâ— in man yet under the hope in God We must hope and trust in God First the Father Thus we are to place our hope in God that cannot lye Tit. 1.2 who promised salvation to us in Christ before the world began 2 Tim. 1.9 Secondly the Sonne Thus did Paul Eph. 1.12 Phil. 2.19 And good reason for he is our hope 1 Tim. 1.1 Col. 1.27 The hope of Israel Act. 28.20 and he in whom the Gentiles trust Rom. 15.12 yea they are blessed that trust him Psal 2.12 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost A woe is denounced against the people of Israel tor trusting in Egypt and not on him who as the Prophet speaketh cover with a covering but not of Gods Spiâ—it Isai 30.1.2 sheltering themselves in time of danger under humane aide and neglecting the Divine protection of Geds Spirit The Apostle sheweth there is but one hope of our calling as well as one Lord one faith one baptisme one God Eph. 4 4 5 6. If therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost was not one and the same God and Lord with the Father it would not be one and the same hope in the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost And without doubt we believe in him we hope in him to whom we give up our Names in Baptisme and with whom we doe then make a Covenant which is one God in three Persons we being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of Holy-Ghost CHAP. X. We are Baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost BAptisme properly and strictly taken is a Sacrament of initiation wherein those to whom the Covenant belongeth being washed with water are consecrated to the service of the great Lord of heaveÌ„ earth ingrafted into the Church made partakers of all the