The QVAKERS WILDE QUESTIONS Objected against the Ministers Of the GOSPEL And many Sacred Acts and Offices Of RELIGION With brief Answers thereunto TOGETHER WITH A Discourse of the Holy Spirit His impressions and workings On the SOVLS of Men. Very seasonable for these times By R. SHERLOCK B. D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 COR. 11.19 London Printed by E. Cotes for R. Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane 1654. To the Honorable Sir Robert Bindloss Baronet SIR THese following Questions being sent to your house and receiving their short and sudden answers under your roof and the Author his subsistence from your courtesie and beneficence It being also your desires they should be made publick if perhaps some satisfaction might be given to any of those too too many seduced and wavering souls amongst us Be pleased therefore that under your name and patronage they may appear as a covert to veil their imperfections and defects Defective they must needs be in many respects neither can the Answers to so many strange scrupulous and unheard of questions being conceiv'd on a sudden by way of answer to a Letter be expected to be satisfactory and full as to all particulars Longer time for further and more mature deliberation might in some good measure have supplyed many defects but that I was unwilling to add any thing to what was dispatcht away by way of answer to the Letter or rather Libell of the scrupulous Questioner that so both might appear to the eye of the world verbatim without addition or diminution Hereunto as a back or second I have annexed a Discourse both short and plain Of the Holy Spirit of God so much by those sâ—duced souls pretendâ—d unto and to the grief of all good Christian hearts too much profan'd by such pretences And 't is a Discourse which was desired by your virtuous Lady for her private satisfaction The subject whereof being fully cleer'd to the mindes of men by some more wise and abler judgements would both discover and strike at the root and dissolve the ground-work of many those infectious errours which at present so much overspread and prevaile amongst us And indeed how can we expect or hope for other since 1. unity and uniformity both in the publick worship of God whereby all men of the same Church and Religion do worship God in the same way even with one heart and one mouth and after one manner is not onely decryed but also dismist our Congregations And since 2. the Pale of Ecclesiasticall discipline is pull'd down by whose coercive laws all men were kept within the limits of the true Faith and of Obedience and Charity as to the externall profession thereof And since 3. under the name and priviledge of Liberty of conscience licentiousnesse of opinion hath got footing in the mindes of men who take liberty under that pretext to become vain in their imaginations to be of this or that or what opinion they please in Religion As also to perform the publick parts of divine worship according to the severall dictates of their owne mindes even in any way but what is decent reverend uniform and orderly Since such I say is the sad and confused condition of our Church it is no marvail though there daily arise new Sects and new Opinions such which are not onely strange wilde and fanatick but even destructive to the very being of true Christianity Nor must we hope for other till the God of all truth and peace be pleased together with his truth to restore unity and order in his worship whereof for our manifold sins he hath so long deprived us It is most true what the Apostle saith of the necessity of heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 They must come Ad hoc enim sunt Haereses ut fides habendo tentationem habeat etiam probationem Tert. de praesc adv Haeret. c. 1. that they which are approved may be made manifest But it is as true what our Saviour saith of Offences in general Matt. 18.7 Woe unto them by whom they come Their condition must needs be sad and deplorable who broach and introduce the infection as being herein the instruments of Satan or in the language of our Lord They are of their Father the Devill Joh. 8.44 and his works they doe for he was a lyar from the beginning and abode not in the truth Now although this Grand-father and promoter of lies aud untruths be by the God of all power and goodnesse enchained and limited otherwise he had long since overrun the world as in times of Paganisme of old Yet sometimes for the sins of a people whereof we are now too sensible his chain is lengthened 1 Pet. 5.8 and the roaring Lyon hath more scope then ordinary to roam about seeking whom he may devour And he devours or destroyes the souls of men two wayes 1. By blinding their unstandings whereby they become apt to be seduced in the entertainment of erroneous opinions and belief of lies 2. By poysoning their affections with the false paint of worldly vanities whereby they are inveigled into sinfulness and vice And now Sir that neither you nor any that belongs unto you may in either of these respects be deceived and perish neither with the blinde and giddy to fall into the ditch of error on the one hand or with the vicious and unclean to wallow in the mire of sinfulnesse on the other but to keep the way of the righteous and to walk in the path of the just which is no other undoubtedly but the way of your owne peace and tranquillity here and eternall felicity hereafter it shall be the endevour and is the daily prayer Sir of Your respective Devotor R. Sherlock The Quakers Questions The Letter of Questions Endorsed To the Priest at Borwick deliver The Quakers Questions directed by them as above To all you professed Ministers who have taken the title of the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ upon you who is the end of the Law and Prophets and shadowes who shadowed him forth a few Questions to you that have taken this office upon you Quest 1 WHether the Gospell be the same the Apostles preached and if it be why goe you to Oxford or Cambridge when the Apostle saith The Gospell he preached was not after man neither was he taught it by man Q. 2 Whether you can give another meaning to the Scriptures then they are or whether the Apostles did not give the meaning to them when they spoke them forth yea or no and if they did what need learned men to give a meaning to them Q. 3 Shew me by the Scripture who ever was made a Minister of Christ that was called of men Master Q. 4 Shew me by the Scriptures where ever the Ministers of Jesus Christ tooke Tithes of the people or Augmentations for preaching the Gospell Q. 5 Shew me by the Scriptures and what Scripture you have which speaks of the Word two Sacraments which you tell
and followers were either guilty of the sin or liable to the curse Quest 11 Whether aâ—y naturall man can preach the Gospell yea or no. Answ He cannot preach the Gospell who understands it not and he that in some good measure understands the Gospell is not to be called a naturall man because 1. The contents of the Gospell are the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.13 which the naturall man receives not neither knows them and 2. Because knowledge Isa 11.2 wisdome and understanding especially of spirituall things are the gifts of the Spirit with which gifts spirituall the Ministers of the Gospell are through the use of means endowed some more plentifully some more sparingly 1 Cor. 12.11 according as God by his holy Spirit blessing our studies has imparted unto us who distributes to every one severally as he will Quest 12 Whether that any Ministers of God was made Ministers by the will of man or no shew it me by the Scriptures Answ There is no Minister of God is or can be made so by the will of man only but by man in subordination to the minde and will of God for 1. God by his holy Spirit puts it into our hearts to use the means to be qualifyed for so great a calling 2. He blesseth and prospereth our studies and endevours for the attainment of those gifts which qualifie us for it 3. He gives us hearts to imply those qualifications in his service which gifts and qualifications being examined and approved by the more able learned and reverend Fathers of the Church 1 Tim. 5.21 22. Tit. 1.5 we are so by them through fasting prayer and imposition of hands set apart to this office Paul and Barnabas though they were called of God immediately and by miracle to the office of the Apostleship Act. 13.2 3. which no man must hope for since yet even they were commanded by the Elders to be sent forth through fasting prayer and imposition of hands Quest 13 Shew me it by the Scriptures whether a man shall grow up to that condition that he need no man teach him but the Lord or no. Answ We must not look for any immediate extraordinary miraculous teaching by revelation from the Lord And yet all men are taught of God too some more some lesse according as 1. They have soules more or lesse capable of teaching 2. As they more or lesse apply themselves to the means which God hath ordained for our learning and instruction and according to our endevors in the use of means so God gives his blessing thereupon That promise Jer. 31.34 they shall teach no more every man his neighbour saying Know the Lord for all men shall know me from the least to the greatest is expressed indeed to be fulfilled under the Gospell Heb. 8.4 10. because the means of knowing God under the Gospell are more plentifull and effectuall then under the Law to wit through the revelation of Jesus Christ and the miraculous inspiration of his Apostles immediately from heaven And whereas t is promised thy children shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 this promise is fulfilled in that we have the teaching the doctrine of the Lord Jesus even his holy Gospell who came down from heaven on purpose to teach us Tit. 2.11 12. Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which brings down salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying c. thus we are taught by the Lord Jesus outwardly in the doctrine of his Gospell and inwardly by the motions and dictates of his holy Spirit And yet for all this the best and most knowing of men aime not to such a perfection of knowledge in his gifts as not to need teaching because whilest we are in this life we know but in part 1 Cor. 13.9 10.11 12. and prophesie but in part but when that which is perfect c. Quest 14 Whether they be not Antichrists and disobey Christ that have the chiefest places in Assemblies stand praying in the Synagogues which Christ did forbid his Disciples to act such things and cryed woe against those that did act them Answ They that vain-gloriously affect the chiefest places in the Assemblies to offer up their private prayers standing in publick places that they may be seen and they that love to be called of men Master are hypocrites and sinners and lyable to the woe denounced by Christ against such But it is one thing to occupy the chief place in any meeting for some one must have it and another thing out of pride and vain-glory to affect it and so of being called Master T is one thing to stand praying in the publick Assemblies that the people may both see and hear and joyne with us and another thing to stand praying privately in publick meetings only to be seen and thought religious And whereas you seem to apply these mistaken and misunderstood sayings of Christ to all Ministers and most uncharitably demand whether such be not Antichrists to this I shall only say the Lord forgive you the hardnesse of your heart and unjust censures of your Christian brethren Is it a mark of Antichrist to preach and pray with the people of God in publick and at such times to stand in an higher and more convenient place that the people may hear and joyne with us examples of which practise I have already given you out of Scripture If we do these things in the pride of our hearts the Lord only knowes it and will avenge it T is not for you to censure and condemn us herein for in so doing you discover more pride of heart and look more like Antichrist then those you uncharitably taxe and tearm so Quest 15 Whether they be not Antichrists and of the Devill and no Ministers of Christ which doth not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Answ They that swerve from the Doctrine of Christ are of the spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4.6 And they that oppose the dictates and commands of the Spirit of truth speaking in the words are led by the spirit of errour Isa 8.44 which is the Devill who was a lyer from the beginning Mat. 4.4 6. and afterward coloured his lies with errours with the words of truth perverted quoting and misapplying the Scriptures the better to insinuate his falshoods which things I could wish were not too applyable to you and your sect I am sure that your malice and hatred to Ministers because they oppose your errours your bitter envyings raylings and revilings both of them and other your Christian brethren whom you call carnall the wicked and the people of the world your false and uncharitable applications of the woes and curses of the Scriptures to all such who are wiser then to be brought under your delusions and in a word your justifying your selves and condemning others are all of them undenyable signes that you are not led by the spirit of truth which is the
very ill manners in you and not becoming either the humility or thankfulness of a Christian or a reasonable man to vilifie and undervalue Learning and learned men as to the understanding of the Scriptures since neither you nor any other man that only understands English had ever come to know any thing in the Scripture if learned men had not translated them to your hands 2. Since there hath been many Translations of the Scriptures out of Hebrew into Greek out of Greek into Latine out of Hebrew and Greek into Latine out of Latine into English out of Greek into English out of Hebrew and Greek into English which Translations being made at several times and in several Ages do therefore very much differ and vary in several places It is very unlikely sure that ignorant men who understand only their own Native Language should yet as well understand the Scriptures as the learned who have the gift of these several Languages and can examine and compare these several Translations with the Original and Fountain Truth And would it not much conduce think you to the understanding of the Scripture to read the Interpretations and pious Discourses of those holy religious Fathers of the Church which lived either in or about the Apostles time or immediately afterward and so are most likely to know the meaning of the Apostles in their writings then we who live so many hundred years since This I believe no man that hath not lost his sense and reason will deny Now to read and understand those ancient writings and the Scripture by those helps Greek and Latine is necessary for they wrote in those Languages Object But to all this I believe you will say that they who are endued with the Spirit of God understand the things of God without all this labour and leaâ—ning Answ We acknowledge and affirm as well as you that wisdom knowledge and understanding are the gifts of the Spirit Esa 11.2 and that we must wait upon God for them by Prayer Jam. 1.5.17 for from him cometh every good and perfect gift but yet God communicates not these gifts to the sons of men by miracle Dan. 1. compare v. 4. 6. with v. 17. but through the use of the means And to neglect and contemn the use of those ordinary means God has given us to attain spiritual wisdom by and to depend upon extraordinary and miraculous revelation from Heaven is to tempt the good Spirit of God Mat. 4.7 2 Thes 2.10 11. and to provoke him to give us up to strong delusions and to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils which too often appear and insinuate themselves into the mindes of men 2 Tim 4.1 2 Pet. 3.15 16. under the visard shew and semblance of Revelations and Infusions and Qualifications of the Spirit of truth and this by sad experience we daily see to be too true and hath appeared in your several questions Now God Almighty deliver you and all Christian people from under the power of such delusions 'T is the daily Prayer of your Christian brother R. S. A DISCOURSE OF THE Holy Spirit His Workings and Impressions ON THE SOVLS of MEN. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12.5 Rectum est Index sui obliqui London Printed by E. Cotes for R. Roysion at the Angel in Ivie lane 1654. TO THE TRULY VERTUOUS THE Lady Rebecca Bingdloss MADAM THis following Discourse of the Holy Ghost his impressions and workings on the soul of man was first intended only for private satisfaction to your Ladyships pious desires That being well grounded in the Orthodox Doctrine and having a right understanding of the true Spirit of God it might be as an impregnable Bulwark against so many suggestions and temptations of the false and deceitful spirit For the minde of man being either devoid of the Spirit of Grace and Holiness or else of a right understanding of the things of Gods Spirit who is the Fountain both of Grace and Truth is too apt and prone to close with the suggestions of the evill spirit who is the author and promoter of sinfulness and error Never Age produc't so many spiritual Monsters as this wherein we live And I think few parts of England be so much infected with them as these Northern parts be They were very impudent and daring when they adventured to tempt your vertuous minde and by inticing words to allure your good opinion of them as full well knowing if they could but have effected thus much to have made you not an enemy to their proceedings though you did not close with them it would have given much lustre and credit to their erroneous Sect But God be praised that you are better grounded then to be Proselyted by such Ignoramo's better resolved then to be taken with such shallow delusions which a good Christian with half an eye unprejudic'd may easily see through It is your goodness for Bonum quo melius eo communius to desire the publique communication of this short Discourse of the Spirit as a Doctrine both seasonable in respect of the many spreading infectious Errors so much prevailing amongst us and also necessary as an Antidote against that contagion which issuing out of the mouth of Hell presumes most impudently and impiously to hide its venome under the name and title of the Holy Spirit I could wish the Doctrine were for this end manfully and satisfactorily cleared to the mindes of men by the Pen of some more Judicious Writer This mean Tract the Author in all humility acknowledges to be guilty of many defects and impertinencies and himself one of the meanest of the faithful and obedient sons of the Church The small acceptance it shall finde in the world will be derived from your white Name and Vertue in which Sanctuary it may escape the black-mouth'd Detractions of the Censorious and rest secure of the good acceptance if not benefit of others May you be every day more happy in the increase of all Christian vertues growing up in the knowledge of God and persevering in the constant Profession of his holy Truth and consciencious practise of the same till you arrive at the Haven of true Happiness This Madam shall be the constant endevour and is the dayly prayer Of your most faithful and affectionate Servant in Christ R. SHERLOCK The Introduction NO Age hath ever brought forth more pretenders to the Spirit of God then this wherein we live And amongst this Generation there be many so ignorant that they know not what they mean by that Spirit whereunto they so much pretend but blindfolded suffer themselves to be led by they know not whom and with the hood-winkt Samaritans Joh. 4.32 they worship they know not what Whose ignorance accompanyed with excessive pride of heart which makes their ignorance the greater that through pride they will not know or acknowledge it upon this ground The Devill hath sown his crop and reapt his Harvest even
the cursed tares of many and strong delusions for that subtil Serpent full well knows how both easily and powerfully to insinuate his Lyes and Errors into mindes unsetled and not grounded in the knowledge of the Truth So that most truly is that complaint of the Lord by his Prophet Hosea verified of this people Hos Hos 4.6 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge even for lack of what they so much boast of That grand Enemy the Prince of Lyes hath taken them in the very Net themselves have made even in the snare of self-conceited knowledge and holiness Rom. 1.22 whilest supposing themselves wise they became fools And pretending to the Spirit of God whom they rightly know not they are intrapt by the Spirit of Error and miserably seduced to the ruine of their souls Hence it is chiefly though not only hence through ignorance intermixt with pride that the Devill hath made so great a harvest of tares overgrowing and choaking the pure wheat of Truth Matth. 13.25 No Age of the Church having ever been so fruitful in Heresies and Errors whilest the ever blessed Name of the Spirit of God is abused by persons most impudently pretending to him that yet remain ignorant of him for had they known this Lord of life it had not been possible the spirit of Delusion could have prevailed so far with them as to infix so many Lyes Impostures and Blasphemies upon his score as therefore Saint Paul directed the Athenians to the knowledge of the true God whom they ignorantly worshipped Act. 17.23 and so their pious intentions through ignorance degenerated into gross Idolatries so it cannot but be an office both seasonable and charitable as also of great benefit and present necessity plainly to set down and deliver the true Orthodoxall Doctrine of the Holy Ghost his Impressions and Workings on the soul of man that so men may have a right understanding of this ever Blessed Person of the Godhead so much mistaken and his Sacred Name to the high offence of his Majesty so much profaned by impudent and false pretences A DISCOURSE OF THE Holy Spirit § 1 THE Doctrine of the Holy Ghost in respect both of his Person and Office is by the Nicene Creed thus clearly and fully set down I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth both from the Father and the Son who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets To give you my Comment upon this Text were but to hold a candle to the Sun the Doctrine delivered is so clear and perspicuous All that can be said upon this Article of our Christian Faith is reducible to four heads 1. Of the Person of the Holy Ghost in himself 2. Of his Office or Workings on the mindes of men 3. Of the trial of the true from false spirits 4. Of the means to be made partakers of the Spirit of Truth The two first are doctrinal and speculative points for the rectifying and fitting the understanding rightly to conceive and believe aright this Article of Christian Faith The two last are practical and applicatory for the guidance of our actions and Christian performances according to this belief § 2 The more clearly to understand the Doctrine of the Spirit of God it will be necessary to use the light of some distinctions for so the naked and plain truth of any thing is most clearly and distinctly seen when namely 't is divided and distinguisht from its conjunction with other things of the same or like name and nature which is the ground of that old Maxime Qui bene distinguit bene docet The way to teach well or clearly to deliver any truth is rightly to distinguish that truth from other truths that are of near affinity thereunto either in name or nature or in the words of the Apostle which is the language of the Spirit of Truth Rightly to divide the Word of Truth 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.5 which was one of those many qualifications of the Apostles of Christ wherewithall they were immediately inspired by this Spirit of Truth for the propagation of the Gospel intimated in that he descended from Heaven upon them in cloven or divided Tongues § 3 And first that we mistake not the creature for the Creator Distinct 1 God over all blessed for ever we must remember that a spirit is either Create or Increate or more plainly sometimes the word Spirit is in holy Scripture applyed to the creature sometimes to the Creator § 4 There are several kindes of created spirits as 1. Those glorious Inhabitants of the highest Heavens the holy and blessed Angels Heb. 1.14.2 Are they not all ministring spirits c. Heb. 1.14 2. Those cursed inhabitants of the neather Hell the chained Devils 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 6.11.3 the Apostles styles them Ephes 6.12 spiritual wickednesses or wicked spirits 3. The souls of men which quicken and enliven these our frail and mortal bodies every man being composed of two natures a body and a soul or flesh and spirit Gen. Get. 2.7 2.7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth meaning his body and breathed into his Nosthrils the breath of life meaning his soul and so man became a living soul or living by his soul or spirit created or infused by God into his earthly body 4. The life and animation of each sensitive creature therefore we read Psal Psal 150.6 150.6 Let every thing that hath breath or spirit prayse the Lord All these are several kindes of created spirits some more some less pure fine and spiritual § 5 But there is an increated Spirit also who being neither made or created in himself is the great Maker and Creator of all spirits and of all things who being the prime Fountain and Original of all beeings is so eminent and transcendent a Beeing that as he is in himself he only knows himself nor is it possible for us or any creatures who derive their beeing from him to attain the perfect knowledge of him and therefore is he pleased in his holy Word wherein he reveals himself unto us to describe himself by the names and properties of his excellent and most eminent kinde of creatures which are spirits so that God is tearmed a Spirit Analogically because Angels or Spirits are the purest finest quickest most active and intelligent beeings But that we may not rank God with Angels or Spirits for he hath no match or equal we must learn this one general rule in Divinity Whatsoever is spoken of God in the Scriptures and withall is applyable to any creature must be understood of God eminenter by way of eminency and transcendency as the Prototype and grand Exemplar of that perfection which is applyed to the creature As here Angels are Spirits and the souls of men are spirits but God is not a Spirit at they are spirits for he
succeeded them have been admitted by an ordinary vocation because the succession is but of ordinary necessity now for any man to pretend to an extraordinary calling and immediate from God without the Ministry of man is to pretend also to a new Gospel and new Revelations distinct from what Christ and his Apostles have delivered and such can be no other then the dictates of seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils and indeed such a pretence of immediate and extraordinary power and commission from above can in a fixed and setled Ministry by ordinary means have no other end and issue but to belye the Spirit of Truth cousen the too credulous souls of the people when ever they have a minde to it now is it a meer pretence of folly to expect or rely upon an extraordinary calling or abilities by immediate infusion from heaven without the use of means as to the Ministerial Function since by ordinary and common means they may be supplyed for it is all one as if we should expect men to be created and by the hands of God immediately as Adam was at the first or being so formed to be fed and nourished with food from heaven without any care or industry for provision here upon earth § 27 This call to the Ministerial Office under the Gospel both extraordinary in the Apostles and ordinary in their successors as it is in it self a grand inestimable gift of the holy Ghost and the prime of them conferd by our Lord in his triumph over our ghostly fots and victorious ascension into Heaven Ephes 4.11 for then he gave some to be Apostles some Prophets c. So it hath also other gifts of the Spirit attending as necessary contributaries to the accomplishment thereof that this gift may be compleated and fitted for the edification of the body of Christ â—ers 12 through the work of the Ministry which proportionable to the two-fold calling are either extraordinary or ordinary also extraordinary they were even plentiful and miraculous in the persons of the Apostles viz. in such a measure and after such a manner as no mortal men could ever hope for since and very good reason there is that it should be so For the Apostles charge was much greater and their task more difficult then any mans either was or can be since They had all mankinde to instruct and principle in the doctrine of Christ the stiffe obdurate and incredulous Jews to convert the fulness of the Gentiles to bring in both the rude Barbarians and learned Graecians to master and subdue The whole world was their Diocese the world sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death devoted to the service of sin and Satan the Prince of darkness Now to master and subdue the whole world Act. 26.18 and to turn all men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the living God required sure gifts and endowments more then ordinarily powerful and effectual even such as were extraordinary and miraculous and whereof none of their successors none that ever followed them since in the Ministerial Office could possibly hope to be partakers for all Ministers since have but an handful of men in comparison to deal withall and these broken to their hands being born and brought up in the holy Christian Religion As therefore there is no need of any such extraordinary qualifications so neither do we the best of us do not dare not stand either to such sublime and eminent gifts of the Spirit or to any such immediate and extraordinary infusion of spiritual gifts § 28 The spiritual gifts of the Apostles differ from those of their successors in two respects 1. In respect of the measure or extent of them 2. In respect of the manner of acquisition First for the measure the Apostles were filled with the holy Ghost Act. 2.4 Act. 2.4 filled as full as they could hold they were endued with as many eminent gifts for the execution of the Apostolical Function as they were capable of but we even the best and ablest of the sons of men are not so full but they could hold much more their 's was a Baptism with the holy Ghost Act. 1.5 ours is at the best but a Rantism they were washed washed as it were all over with the Spirit we but sprinkled with his gifts they had the anoynting of the holy One more plentifully we in a smaller scantling they were anoynted above far above all their fellows and successors who received ordinarily but an Hin to their Epha Their Unction was like the Oyntment poured upon â—â—al 133.2 the head that ran down to the beard and all others since but like the thin droppings upon the skirts of the garment § 29 Secondly for the manner the Apostles were endued with their fulness of spiritual gifts miraculously their Inspiration did publickly and visibly appear to be by miracle and immediate from Heaven Act. 2. But we as we can pretend unto no such extraordinary gifts so neither do we pretend unto or depend upon any such extraordinary and immediate infusion of spiritual gifts but ordinarily and in the use of means even by much study labor and industry in the ways of wisdom learning and knowledge we do acquire our qualifications according to the command of the Apostle to Timothy we study for them 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.15 Study to shew thy self approved a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth and yet Timothy sure had less need to study for his gifts then any of us as having more of immediate Inspiration then the best of men can hope for since § 30 And yet though we study to be qualified for the work of the Ministry our qualifications are stil the gifts of the Spirit all our wisdom and knowledg is from above even as of Daniel and the three children it is recorded that God gave them knowledge and understanding in all learning and wisdom Dan. 1.17 Dan. 1.17 And yet it is said before vers the 4. that they were brought up and instructed in knowledge and that 〈◊〉 and among the Heathen too and weâ—â— taught the learning and tongue of the Gâ—ldâ—â—nt So our humane learning tongues and languages so much declared against by the ignorant are the Handmaids to spiritual and Divine wisdom and knowledge and both the one and the other though acquired by instruction and study in the Schools of the Prophets are yet of Gods merciful donation they are still the gifts of the Spirit And that first because from the Spirit of God it is that we have mindes capable and mindes inclinable to use the means for the attainment of such gifts for even our natural endowments and moral qualifications are gifts of the Spirit perspicacity quickness of wit ripeness of judgement together with a studious diligent and industrious minde in the search and dexterity in the discovery of the several ways of learning and knowledge
even all of them are the gifts of God for every good and perfect gift whether natural moral or divine cometh down from above Jam. 1.17 Jam. 1.17 for a man can receive nothing except it be given from above Joh. 3.27 Joh. 3.27 Secondly our qualifications though acquired by study are yet the gifts of the Spirit because it is by Gods blessing and the influence of his good Spirit upon our studies and endevours that we do acquire these qualifications and it is generally and for the most part that God distributes his gifts and blessings according to mens inclinations aptness and endevours for the reception of his gifts Thirdly because the qualifications acquired by study are by the Spirit of God himself directed to the ends of the Spirit which are to profit withall and then is Gods blessing the greater and the influence of his Spirit upon our studies the more effectual and powerful when we have in them no other aym or intention but to be thereby enfitted and enabled to become useful instruments of Gods service and his peoples edification And both in that we do direct our studies to this end and also imploy our gifts acquired by study to this end also it is from the Spirit of God who works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. 2.15 Phil. 2.15 And lastly all this is acknowledged that our gifts in all these respects are from the Spirit of God though studyed for In that together with those means that are outward and moral we use the Divine means also viz. prayer and devotion Jam. 1.5 commanded Jam. 1.15 If any man lacks wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him That the Ministers of the Gospel notwithstanding their gifts are from the Spirit are yet bound to use all means both Moral and Divine for the acquiring thereof is manifest even from Gods own example in the use of their Ministry In that God himself who is not tyed to means neither hath need of any is yet pleased to use the means and Ministry of some men for the instruction and conversion of others There is no question but he who at the first created man after his own Image could without the Ministry of man have again repaired the decays of his blessed Image in man But yet in all ages it hath seemed good to his infinite wisdom to use the mediation and Ministry of men herein And this he doth out of his tender respect to mens infirmities considering the vast distance betwixt God and man which moved the Israelites to petition for a Minister betwixt God and them Exod. 20.19 Exod. 20.19 Deut. 5.27 18.16 Talk thou with us and we will hear but let not God talk with us lest we dye As therefore no Minister of God may think that God useth his Ministery because he needs it Heb. 12.19 so neither may the people think there is no need of Ministers because God useth them and he uses them as his subordinate fellow-laborers in the whole course of mans salvation Gal. 4.19 2 Cor. 3.2 Matth. 16.19 1 Tim. 4.16 the Ministers are said to beget men unto Christ to nourish them in Christ to binde and loose their souls to open and shut heaven and in a word to save because all these things Christ doth by them they are causa conjuncta cooperating with and under Christ so Paul compares his Corinthians to a written Epistle 2 Cor. 3.2 3. the Authors whereof were himself and the Spirit the external writing was his the internal seal upon their hearts was the Spirits These two then may not be severed Neither 1. may we look for Inspirations from heaven without the Ministry of man upon earth Nor yet 2. may we imagine that the Ministry of man upon earth can be effectual without inspiration from Heaven § 31 And because it is not enough for us to know the truth but also by that right and straight line to observe and discover what is repugnant and contrary thereunto Let us remember what by sad and lamentable experience we daily see and hear that as there is a holy and a good Spirit of God by his gifts and graces working on the mindes of men so there is also an evil and a bad spirit even the spirit of error and uncleanness the Devil who hath his secret workings and continual countermines opposing hereunto which evil spirit working also by the frail and deceiveable spirit of man doth by many subtile ways obscure corrupt poyson and belye the sacred qualifications of the Spirit of Truth nor doth the Devil that grand enemy of mans salvation in any kinde of way so much cousen and cheat the souls of men into ruine as by putting false glosses and counterfeit vizars on vices errors and distempers that so they may be mistaken for holy vertues and divine qualifications To instance in some particulars First It is a truth by the Spirit of God both foretold promised and performed That the actings and impressions of Gods Spirit upon the mindes of men are both more strong and frequent as also more general and common under the Gospel then they were under the Law That the gift of the Ministry it self is dilated being not limited to the single Tribe of Levi but all men of what quality soever have a title thereunto meaning Genera singulorum not singula generum that is men of all sorts and kindes not all of all kindes but hereupon to make void pull down and level with the undistinguisht multitude the high and solemn order and offices of the Priest-hood instituted by God himself both under the Law and under the Gospel For a people to snatch the Divine Oracles from the lips of the Priest and presume to teach their Teachers to invade the chair of Moses and offer incense with unhallowed censors for private persons to assume the publique administration of Ministerial Offices without a lawful Call and due Ordination thereunto though they may be otherwise qualified with knowledge and piety These are false glosses imposed upon the former truths by the spirit of lyes Tares sowed by the Enemie of mankinde amidst the purer wheat And that 1. To the high dishonour of God and profanation of all that is religious and sacred 2. To involve the Church of Christ and bury it in the rubbish of confusion and disorder 3. To take away those bounds and limits distinguishing Priest from people which all Nations Jews and Gentiles all Ages of the Church both Ancient and Modern have kept firm and inviolable 4. 2 Sam. 6.6 7. 2 Chron. 26.16 c. To pull down heavy judgements upon the heads of all such sacrilegious Usurpers and Invaders of Divine Rites 2. § 32 It is an impression of Gods Spirit upon the soul of man to wait and depend upon God for spiritual wisdom knowledge Prov. 3.5 c. and not to leane
under that pretence treats of holy and spirituall things and shall not first by the rule of truth examine and try such things and persons shall be sure to have lies errors obtruded upon him under the dresse and attire of Truth because there ever was and ever shal be by Gods permission and the Devils suggestion false Prophets or false Teachers in the world and yet as fair and great pretenders to the truth as the very true patrons and promoters thereof such there were ever in the Church of God both under the Law of old and under the Gospelanew 2 Pet. 2.1 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you which privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and shall bring upon themselves swift destruction And 't were well if the poyson spread no further so that others were not infected therewith also but so nauseous is Truth to the mindes of men for its age and antiquity and so acceptable are Lies and Errors for their novelty that these false Teachers never fail of many disciples and followers so it follows vers 2. 2 Pet. 2.2 And many shall follow their destructions by whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of First then beleeve them not follow them not be not cousen'd by their fair pretences so as to be infected with their false doctrines 'T is our Saviours own command Matt. 24.23 Matt. 24.23 If any man shall say unto you Loe here is Christ or Loe there beleeve it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect But that being forewarn'd ye may be arm'd against their delusions Behold I have told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert goe not forth Behold he is in the secret places beleeve it not The same care and caution was commanded by God to his people under the Law If there arise among you a Prophet Deut. 13.1 or a Dreamer of dreams and give thee a signe or a wonder and the signe and the wonder which he hath told thee come to passe saying Let us goe after other Gods Vers 2. which thou hast not known and let us serve them Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of the Prophet or unto that Dreamer of dreams For the Lord your God proveth you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul From whence is also further observable The reason why God suffers false Prophets to arise viz. for the probation and tryall of our proficiency and integrity in the love and service of God for so saith the Father upon those words Aug. for the Lord your God proveth you to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul Tentat nos Dominus non ut sciat ipse quem nihil latet sed ut scire nos faciat quantum in ejus dilectione profecerimus God suffers us to be tempted tryed and proved by the lying wonders of false Prophets arising amongst us not that he himself may know what is in us to whom the hearts of all men are naked and bare but that we may thereby know our selves and our own proficiency and constancy to the principles of truth and integrity The very same reason is given by the Apostle for the necessity of heresies 1 Cor. 1 Cor. 11.19 11.19 For there must be heresies among you that they which are approved among you may be known Aug. de civ Dei lib. 18. Quolibet errore caecentur c. With what errour soever our enemies are blinded or with what wickednesse soever they are deprav'd 't is for the proof tryall and exercise of the graces of Gods Spirit within us Have they received power to afflict persecute imprison c. 'T is for the tryall of our patience in suffering and charity in loving our enemies and praying for our persecutors as becomes the disciples of Christ Matt. 5.44 Matt. 5.44 Doe they onely by fair words and cunning speeches distill their false and poysonous doctrines 'T is for the tryall of our wisdome in resisting Gal. 6.1 and beneficence in perswading and endevouring to restore them with the spirit of meeknesse proving whether God will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may escape the snare of the Devill 2 Tim. 2.25 26. of whom they are taken captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.25 26. § 41 Secondly Try the spirits whether they be of God or no Try them how but by the revelations of the Spirit which is of God who being the Spirit of truth must necessarily therefore in all his qualifications and impressions be consentaneous and agreeable to himself Aug. Veritas veritati congrua one truth ever holds proportion with another nay all truths are as it were the images and resemblances one of another they are all links of the same golden chain which affixt to the throne of heaven displayes its radiant lustre unto the mindes of men upon earth They are all but streams flowing from one and the same fountain the God of truth There is nothing then that we are to receive for truth but what is consonant and agrees with the Spirit of truth which ever blessed Spirit speaking in the Word hath thereby prescribed and given us a sure and infallible rule of truth The first rule of trial then is the holy Word of God in general that 's the grand general rule that 's the great square or level according to which we are to try and examine the rectitude truth and integrity both of the doctrines and opinions of others without and also the impressions and workings of the Spirit within Gal. 1.8 Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven should preach unto you another Gospel besides that you have received let him be accursed Though we preferring the authority of the Gospel they had preached before their own authority the Preachers thereof nay before the authority of celestial spirits Though an Angel from Heaven c. Aug. He saw saith the Father that it might so come to pass that Satan transforming himself into an angel of light and working by his mediators and instruments 2 Cor. 11.13 14. those deceitful workers who transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ might so cousen and deceive them if they did not keep close to the Gospel received which is the true rule of faith therefore hee saith another Gospel besides c. praeter any thing that is besides that holds not square and is not level to that rule Qui praetergreditur fidei regulam non procedit in via sed recedit a via he that goes besides and not according to the rule of faith goes not forward
the simple But by their fruits you shall know them which is confirmed by an apt similitude v. 16. Matt. 7.16 Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles q. d. No man can be so foolish as to expect this but every tree whether it be good or whether it be bad bringeth forth fruit suitable to its good or bad nature So 17. every good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree bringeth forth evill fruit nor is it possible it should be otherwise 18. A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit even so false Prophets cannot bring forth the fruit of good true wholsome sound doctrines and religious manners So Menander 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 No man being good in himself produceth evill actions on the other side saith Antoninus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He that will not have a wicked man to commit wickednesse is like unto him that will not have a fig-tree to bring forth figs 'T is then an infallible tryal of the spirits whether they be of God or no by the fruits they bring forth § 44 The fruit of the Spirit viz. which is of God is love joy peace long-suffering Gal. 5.22 23. gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance The first of these fruits and the fairest too even of largest extent and most lasting which this tree of life brings forth is Love even the love of God above all and of our neighbour as our selves This therefore must needs be an infallible touch-stone to try the spirit of truth from the spirit of error for the spirit of truth is the very spirit of love and that first in respect of himself being that essentiall love and love-knot of the Father and the Son And secondly in respect of us being that sacred vinculum that invisible chain which unites us unto God by faith which worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and which unites one to another by charity peace amity the inseparable fruits of a true faith So that the Spirit of God is vinculum unitatis both in respect of his person and office and that 3 wayes First he is the bond of unity betwixt God and God Secondly betwixt God and man and Thirdly betwixt man and man therefore call'd the unity of the Spirit Eph. 4.3 Ephes 4.3 The devill on the other side is of a quite contrary nature as being the authour fautor and fomentor of all division He divides and separates man from God by sinfulnesse and errour and man from man by envy malice hatred strife and variance therefore is he so well known amongst the vulgar by his cloven foot the embleme of division § 45 Now our love to God above all is manifested and expressed by our love to our neighbour 1 Joh. 4.20 If any man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a lyar 1 Joh. 4.20 for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen For Joh. 14.23 24 if any man love me saith the Lord he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him And he that loveth me not keepeth not my Words and the Word which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me And what is the Word he means and so often particularly commands but to love one another This is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you Joh. 15.12 And this is the fruit he giveth us in charge to bring forth vers 16 17. even to love one another So that then where there is malice hatred strife variance bitter envyings railings revilings c. for such kinde of persons to lay claim to the Spirit of unity is a piece of impudent vanity and a false suggestion either from their owne corrupt erring spirit or from the spirit of errour himselfe the Devil who is a hater a reviler and the accuser of his brethren Rev. 12.10 And on the other side where there is peace love unity amity c. they are unquestionable marks and tokens of the Spirit of truth and unity Therefore St. John in the forecited place having told us that hereby know we the Spirit of truth from the spirit of errour adds immediately Beloved let us love one another 1 Joh. 4.6 7 8. for love cometh of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love § 46 It would be needlesse to instance in the rest of the fruits of the Spirit because Love is not onely the first and chiefest of them even the Mistresse or rather the Queen of graces and by the Apostle extoll'd above them all 1 Cor. 13. but also because 't is the summe brief abridgement and epitome of all grace All the fruits of the Spirit are contained in and derived from this one as streames from the fountain head Vnde caetera tanquam ex capite exorta religata contexuit saith the Father of the fruits of the Spirit Aug. as they are reckoned up by the Apostle They all arise from and are summ'd up in this one therefore is love the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 'T is the fulfilling of the Law in three respects 1. Reductive in that the whole Law is reducible to this one command of Love and like Homer's Iliads in a nut-shell the whole volume of the Law is contained in this short precept Mat. 22 37 39 40. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy minde and thy neighbour as thy self 2. Formaliter the very essentiall form of our obedience to the Laws of God being our love to God That 's the very form life soul spirit of a truely holy and acceptable obedience both in piety towards God and charity towards man when it proceeds from the love we owe to God himself and to our neighbour for Gods sake and therefore is Love also styl'd the end of the Commandement 1 Tim. 1.5 1 Tim. 1.5 For finis in moralibus habet rationem formae the end why we do this or that moral action is the very essential form of the action done 3. Effective obedience is the effect the issue the product of our love to God flowing from it as an effect from the cause therefore 't is said as before Joh. 14.23 If ye love me keâ—p my Commandements Love then is and needs must be an exact true and infallible touch-stone or tryal of the truth of Spirits since 't is the chief the fountain the abridgement of all the fruits thereof § 47 A third rule for the tryal of the Spirits is by the properties of the Spirit of truth which are observable in the manner of his descension upon the Apostles of Christ recorded Act. 2.2 Act. 2.2 And suddenly there came