the faith of the sonne of God Gal. 2.20 we which haâ—e the first fruits of the spirit doe groane within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies rom 8.23 What is the efficient cause whereby these graces are wrought in us A. The holy Ghost applying the power of the death and resurrection of Christ worketh holinesse in us he will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light loe all these things worketh God oftentimes for man to bring back his soule from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living Job 33.28 29.33 that the offering up of the gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost rom 15.16 How is this grace preserved in us A. It is preserved by the vertue of christs resurrection that I may know him and the vertue of his resrurection phil 3.10 first christ did in his own flesh overcome death and sin and live to God and was exalted above every name then he infuseth this power into us we receive it by faith wherby we dye unto sin daily and live to God in newnesse of life In what part of us is this grace of sanctification wrought A In every part of body and soule the very God or peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God yoâ—r whole spirit soule and body may be perfect and blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus christ 1 Thes 5.23 How do you know when the mind is sanctified A. When spirituall understandding is given unto it to acknowledge the known truth of Gods word and when spirituall wisdome is given to apply that truth knowne to the well ordering both of things and actions as person place and time requires then we come to discerne both good and evill heb 5.14 and to discerne of things that are excellent phil 1.10 and to try the spirits whether they be of God 1 Joh. 4.1 and to try doctrines Joh. 7.17 1 Thes 5.21 Acts 17.11 and so we come to medâ—tate on the word and workes of God and to delight in his law and to exercise our selves in it night and day Psal 1.119.15 and we discerne our owne want of knowledge by which meanes we shall entreat the Lord to teach us Psal 119.18.33 When is the memory sanctified A. When it is made a treasury of good things a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things Mat. 35. Mary kept all those sayings in her heart Luke 2.51 and David sayd thy word I have hid in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Psal 119.11 Secondly when we remember our sinnes to loath them then shall ye remember your owne evill wayes and your doing that were not good and shall â—â—â—th your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Ezek. 36.31.16.63 When is the conscience sanctified A. When it doth excuse us for all sin when we are certaine that they are forgiven us in Christ having faith and a good conscience which some have put away 1 Tim. 1.19 I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not hereby justified 1 Cor. 4.4 I have in all good conscience served God untill this day Acts 23.1 herein I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men Acts 24.16 try me O Lord and prove me examine my raines and my heart for thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth Psal 26.1 2.3 hence ariseth in us that peace of conscience that passeth all understanding which shall keepe our hearts and minds through Christ Iesus Phil. 4.7 this makes the righteous as bold as a lyon Pro. 28.1 if our hearts condemne us not then have we conscience towards God 1. Ioh. 3.21 When is the will sanctified A. When our wils is regulated by Gods revealed will when the spirit is willing though the flesh be weake Mat. 26.41 When to wil is present but how to performe that which is good we finde not rom 7.19 for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to doe of his own good 〈◊〉 Phil. 2 1â— When are the affections sanctified A. Our hope is sanctified when we wait for the accomplishment of our redemption rom 8.23 24 25. and when we shew the same diligence in full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6.11 Our feare is sanctified when we feare to offend the Lord because of his goodnesse Hosea 3.5 they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity that I will procure unto it Jer. 33.9 If ye call him father passe the time of your sojourning here in feare 1 Pet. 1.17 our love of God in Christ is sanctified when it is as a fire that cannot be quenched many waters cannot quench love nor the floods drowne it cant 8.7 when this love burnes up all other love and when we esteeme of all outward things but as losse and dung for the excellent knowledge of Christ and to win christ phil 3.7 8. our zeale is sanctified when we regard not what becomes of us so God may be glorified Exod. 32.32 rom 9.3 our sorrow and anguish of mind is sanctified when our eyes can gush out with teares because men keep not Gods law Psal 119.136 as Lots righteous soule was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked he dwelling amongst them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their ungodly deeds 2 Pet. 2.7 8. our joy is sanctified when Gods countenance more rejoyceth our hearts then the increase of come and wine Psal 4.7 and when we rejoyce that the Gospell is preached phil 1.18 and when we rejoyce in the fruitfulnesse of is in the conversion of soules Luke 15.7 How doe you know when the body is sanctified A. Whâ—n it is a fit instrument for the soule to accomplish that which is good as ye have given your members servants to uncleanoesse and to iniquity to commit iniquity so now give your members servants unto righteousnesse in holinesse rom 6.19 Cannot we be saved without holinesse A. No for heaven is promised to them that are sanctified Acts 26.18 and no uncleane thing shall enter into it rev 21.27 without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 the pure in heart they shall see God mat 5.8 Are there degrees in holinesse or sanctification A. Yes that ye may grow up into him in all things which is the head even christ Eph. 4.15 being knâ—t together we may increase with the increase of God col 2.19 I beseech you brethren and exhort you by the lord Iesus christ that as you have received of us how you ought to walke and to please God so ye would abound more and more for this is the will of God even your sanctification that every one may know how to possesse his vessell in sanctification and honour 1 Thes 4.1.3 4. May a man attain to perfection in
THE ANTINOMIANS CHRIST CONFOVNDED AND THE LORDS CHRIST EXALTED In which is contained a briefe confutation of Dr. CRISPE and Mr LANCASTER Also a Combat with the Antinomians Christ in his Den his arraignment and the fainting Soule built upon the true rocke against which the gates of hell shall not prevaile Mat. 6.18 Imprimatur James Cranford If any man will doe his will he shall know the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe John 7.17 Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that they all may be damned who beleeve not the Truth but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. Many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many then if any shall say unto you loe here is Christ or there beleeve it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect wherefore if they say unto you behold he is in the desert goe not forth behold he is in the secret chambers beleeve it not Mat. 24.5.23 24 26. London printed for Thomas Bankes and are to be sold at his shop in Black-fryers on the top of Bridewell-staires 1644. To the READER Christian Reader IN my first Book against the Antinomians I gave thee a short view of their Errours in five generall heads with a briefe and plaine answer to them and having laid open to the world their uglinesse in their owne native colours they began to be ashamed to owne them and like common Whores who seek to escape away and to leave their bastards upon the parish so these men when shame followed their errours they sought to escape away from them by denying of them but witnesses came in so fast both from their Sermons and from their books and from conference with them that they could not so rid their bands of them yet being unable to maintaine them all away they fled to Gods decrees for a protection and for maintainance of the first of those which is this That a man is justified actually in the sight of God before and without faith and calling this being immediately begottten by them their care was more for it then for the rest which they did but rake out of Eatons dunghill and their labour there was but to raise up children to their eldest brother but as for this which was of their owne begetting was very deare unto them and they say that they will be torne in pieces with wild horses before that they will leave it hereupon they ride post to Gods decrees to fetch from thence some maintainance for it but a faithfull messenger was sent after them to try their power in that last place of refuge and in his pursuit of them he found their Christ exalted above all by Crispe and Lancaster but he being a burden too heavy for them downe fell he and fled to his den but the faithfull messenger being sent and having commission from the Lords Christ followed him to his den and there he was set upon by seaven of his chiefest souldiers and a true relation of the combat and of his victory over them and how he sore wounded them with uncurable wounds and brought away their Christ to his tryall and after a true discovery of him comparing him to the Lords Christ he was sound not worthy to be trusted in for salvation but rather to be condemned for high treason and blasphemy and the Lords Christ alone exalted alove all for ever therefore try all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 and be no more carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace Heb. 13.9 as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walke ye in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving and beware least any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit Col. 2.6 7 8. and that thou mayest be built upon the true rocke Jesus Christ and stand like Mount Zion unmovable Psal 125.1 Mat. 16.18.7.24 1 Cor. 3.12 I have laid here before thee the grounds of true Christian Religion by way of Question and answer read it with an honest and sincere endeavour to be setled in the truth and I doubt not but thou shalt see that the spirit of God will lead thee into all truth John 16.13 and the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whomthe Father will send in the name of Christ he will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance John 14.26 therefore I pray thee read it and if thoureceive any benefit give God the praise and me remember in thy prayers and so I commend thee to God whom I know is able to keep that which I have committed unto him 2 Tim. 1.12 and so I rest unlesse I be againe provoked by these troublers of Israel but the meane time I remaine Thine in all Christian duties THOMAS BAKEWELL THE ANTINOMIANS CHRIST Confounded and the LORDS CHRIST EXALTED I Borrowed those fourteen Sermons of Doctor Crisps in which the Antinomians say Christ alone is exalted but I found so many errouâ—s in it that it would have been endlesse to have answered them all distinctly one after another and having the Booke but two dayes in my hand therfore I thought fit to gather the substance of them to these câ—râ—aine heads first those errours about redemption secondly those about possession thirdly those about justification fourthly those about the new Covenont fiâ—â—ly those about a holy conversation with a briefe and plain answer to them to shew how Christ alone by them is exalted First their errours about redemption the Doctor saith we may collect the universality of redemption of all and every particular man in the world pag. 296. this he illustrates by this comparison saying That the Lord pardons sinners as when a King by proclamation sends forth a generall pardon for all Theeves without exception so that if a man be but a Theefe it is enough the pardon is sent him as a deed of gift universally exhibited pag. 162 163. but saith the Lord to Jerusalem how shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods they commit adultery and assemble themselvesn â—â—roops to the harlots houses Jer. 5.7 obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your transgressions for my name is in him Exod. 23.21 some sinners shall never be purged from their filthinesse Ezâ—k 24.13 he that blasphemes against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven Mat. 12.31 then is his pardon for all sinners he cals none but those that are heavy laden with their sins Mat. 11.28 and excludes those that cry Lord Lord and
the way of Gods proceeding thus First Elect then holy and then beloved Coloss 3.12 Then I conclude that we are neither beloved nor justified before faith see Pet. 3.17 Thus the faithfull messenger of the Lord Christ defended himselfe with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God against this seven-headed Hidra in be Dan. Now I 〈◊〉 shew you those five incurable wounds that this faithfull messenger gave him that cut so deepe that a man might see the very bone perished In this wound was written that we are justified by faith therefore not before faith this was harsh to him that had none But the servant of the Antinomians Christ thought to salve it up saying that he spake of the act of beleeving as though that faith in the true Christ could be in the soule and no act of beleeving But this shewes what a faith theirs is The Apostle of the true Christ saith Faith without workes is dead James 2.17 Now if their faith be no better I grant that they may be justified aswel without it as with it But it seemes he hath gotten some old heretick of his side which said that it was a wresting of the Scripture to say that we are justified by faith but he is ashamed to name him and therefore I suppose his conscience is convinced and hath checked him for speaking of it but he said a man may be both justified with faith and without it in a different sense First to be reputed and accounted just I answer but this is Gods worke alone But then secondly It may be taken to declare or manifest us to be just as workes Justifie I answer as faith is a worke it declares yet not to others but to our selves Hast thou faith have it to thy selfe before God Rom. 4.22 But faith it selfe is many times as hard to be known as our justification I meane that act of it that justifies us which is to take and apply Christ and his benefits unto us Thus it justifies is very hard to be known but as it workes by love and acts all other graces so it sanctifies and may easily be known and by this meanes we come to know that we are justified I hose fruits of faith justifie the trueth of our faith that it is living and not a dead faith when it bringeth forth fruits But faith is the hand of the soule taking hold of Christ the Iustifier and so it is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 So then God justifies by forgiving and pronouncing a sinner to be just and our works justifie by declaring to others that God hath justified us but faith justifies by receiving and applying Christ and his merits and so makes us just If you did but know what true faith was you might soone know where to place it in point of Justification so should you not exalt it into Gods place nor abase it into the place of workes The second deadly wound that was given to Hidra in his Den was this He that beleeueth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 And this cut so deepe that he almost despaired of help For saith he if it be finall it is a note of damnation Now this is all that we require for we do not say that every man shall be damned that is in the state of unbeleife for then all should be damned but we say that finall unbeliefe damnes the soule and this you grant and yet you said that Infants are justified before they have faith Now if they should dye being justified are they damned because they do not beleeve or are they saved and yet dye in unbeliefe How will you get out of this circle This den may be called the land of darknesse without order Iob 10.22 Being full of Theeves and without government dashing and splitting themselves one against another A third deadly wound the faithfull messenger gave him in his den was this Without faith it is impossible to please God Therefore wee cannot bee justified without it Now a man pleaseth God when he doth those things that God requires and in that manner that he requires and to that end as he requires Now these he approves to be well done because they are grounded upon his Word acted by a justified person and tend to his glory Now this you grant saying we cannot come to God without faith and therefore cannot please him but you being sensible that your faith is nought if you have any and therefore you seeke another way to cure it saying although wee cannot come to God before wee beleeve yet God can come to us and Justification is Gods act upon a sinner and not a sinners act upon God I answer For to pronounce a sinner just is Gods act but to take and apply that righten snesse of Christ that makes us just is our act of faith And to say that God will pronounce any just before that they have by faith put on Christ Rom 13. This were to make God an unrighteous Judge to pronounce them just which are not just For what justice hath a sinner till the justice of Christ is made over to him and accounted for his Therefore faith in Christ must needs goe before God pronounce them just Again they do not only blasphe are God as an unrighteous Judge pronouncing them just which are yet unjust When at hee will by no meanes cleare the guilty Exod. 34.7 But also by this we may see what a Christ our Antinomians boast so much of which comes sneaking a day after the fair and brings them faith when they are just before brings his righteousnesse when they need it not comes to help them when they have tryed their cause before the Judge and quitted before he comes Such a Christ is not worth seeking after But what is your meaning of Gods comming to you when you have no faith to come to him Is God come to you and yet you remaine at a distance from him or doth God moove personally to you and you sit still as a man may come to you while you are sitting I had thought God had filled all places and did not move from place to place as man doth These are but poore fig-leaves to hide your nakednesse then the trueth is Gods comming to us and our comming to him is the same thing only the cause of the motion is in God and the motion it selfe in us So then when God moves us to come to him this is his comming to us and then we cannot be asunder Now he moves us by his spirit infusing faith into us and so our faith taking hold on him we are drawn by his spirit into unity and communion with him The fourth deadly wound given to Hedra in his den is this Whatsoever is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 This is terrible to him that hath no faith Therefore he being sensible that there is something in it that would bite cruelly if he should suffer it to fasten upon him therefore hee
ever taught in the Sinagogues and in the Temple whether the lows alwayes resort and in secret have I said nothing John 18.20 And faith Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.16 He went into the Sinagogue and spake boldly Acts 19.8 But the Antinomians Christ creeps into houses and leads captive silly women laden with sins and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the trueth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. He is in the secret chambers or in the desars Math. 24.26 He is in their private meetings the nurseries of al heresies while there is liberty to worship the Lord openly Our Christ comes into the soule with power pulling down the strong holds of Satan binds the strong man and spoyles his goods Math. 12.28 And casts him out by the spirit of God vers 29. But the Antinomians Christ comes into their soule and lives there as an underling in that soule where the Divell raignes as Lord and King and leads them captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 The Prince of the power of the ayre ruleth in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 See Crisp page 320. When the spirit of our Christ comes into the soule he takes out the stone out of the heart and renews a right spirit in us Psal 51. In righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4.23.24 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2.13 But the spirit of the Antinomians Christ is an idle spirit living many years in the soule as an underling to the Divell doing nothing When our Christ puts his spirit into us this spirit causeth us to walke in his statures and to keep his judgments and do them Ezek 36.27 The holy Ghost wil teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance John 14.26 And brings in every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 And leads into all truth John 16 1â— But the Antinomians Christ puts neither life nor motion into those where he comes but still they remaine dead stones and empty trunckes See the tree of knowledge and counsell to Laodicea Againe when our Christ comes into the soule he comes as a King and commands obedience to the morall law being the statute law of heaven Psal 119.89.103.20 Saying you have heard that it hath been said thus but I say unto you thus Math. 5. He taught as one having authority and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 He cleared the law from these false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees and delivered it in his own name And when one asked what he should do to have eternall life then he sends him to the Law But the Antinomians Christ frees them from all obedience to the morall law and makes them as idle as himselfe Our Christ commands us to take heed of drunkennesse and surfeiting and cares of this life that we may be accounted worthy to escape the dangers of the dreadfull day and to stand before the son of man Luke 21.34 35. But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that a Drunkard or Whore-monger or any vile person without any change or alteration in the world if his heart do but say I would have Christ al that sinfulnesse though continued in is no bar in the world to hinder this man from claiming his portion in Christ see Dr. Crisp page 314.320 The Apostle of our Christ saith Ye lust and have not and ye aske to spend it on your lusts Ye adul erers and adulteresses know ye not that the friend-ship of this world is enmity with God James 4. But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that David did not offend the Lord in the sin of adultery nor Paul in his persecution of the Saints of God for all occasion of quarrell and controversie is absolutely taken away see Dr. Crispe page 303. Nay further they affirme that if a man refraine adultery in obedience to the law he sins more then he that commits that that fearfull sin in despight of the law which makes them forsake all their acquaintance that live in obedience to the law and chuse to themselves such prophane company that they may be sure aro of their own opinions The Apostle of our Christ saith every member is necessary being led by one spirit into all truth Ioh. 16.13 And baptized into one spirit and rejoyce in each others happinesse and grieve at any injury done to their fellow-members there is no schisme in his body 1 Cor. 12.12.13.25.26 But the Antinomians Christ leads some of his members but the Divell leads many more of them then he being whores and drunkards without any change or alteration see Crisp p. 314.320 Who defie the law of God For one of them said I am not bound to live with a dead man I will take to me a spirituall husband And shee like a strumpet forsooke her husband and took another and yet a member of their Christ witnesse Mr. Rushbrook and his wife If any shall say he is a member of our Christ bear no fruit he takes him away and casts him into the fire being a withered branch good for nothing Joh. 15.2.6 He is not an unrighteous Iudge to cal evill good he will not justifie the wicked Isa 5. He wil by no meanes clear the guilty Exo. 34.7 He went into his garden to see the fruits of the valley whether the Vine flourish and the Pomgranat budded Cant 6.11 He saith Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit marke so shall ye be my Disciples Joh. 15.8 But the Antinomians Christ pronounceth an unrighteous sentence calling evill good justifying the guilty before they have any faith to receive the righteousnesse of Christ whereby alone they may be just Our Christ saith being justified by faith we have grace with God Rom. 5.1 Therefore wee conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law Rom. 3.28 Hee that beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly now mark his faith is courted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 But the Antinomians Christ saith they are justified before and without faith while they remain ungodly see Crisp page 136.155 Our Christ saith he that beleeveth not shal be damned Mark 16.16 Neither shal he see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Joh. 3.36 But the Antinomians Christ saith a man may be saved without faith see the counsell of Christ to Laodicea Our Christ when he comes into the soule he comes by water and blood to sanctifie aswel as to justifie 1 John 5.6 But the Antinomians Christ comes to justifie them and yet not to sanctifie at the same time Nay further he saith sanctification of life is not a joâ— the way of a justified person unto heaven see Crisp p. 69. The spirit of our Christ is always working in us where it is and by this working we know our selves to be justified But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that their justification cannot
be known by their sanctification but by a revelation only Our Christ saith whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Joh. 3.34 But the Antinomians Christ tells them if they act any sin that he is the author of it For alas they cannot sin they are dead stones and empty trunks Alas they doe nothing but what the spirit of their Christ leads them into See the tree of knowledg of good and evill Our Christ saith we that are in him are new creatures Old things are passed away al things are new 2 Cor. 5.17 We are passed from death to life made living stones to offer a living sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 But the Antinomians Christ loves his members aswel when they were slaves and servants to sin and Sathan as when they are set free and become his children by adoption he loves them aswel when they are prophane as when they are holy Nay he gives a charge to all his members that if one sin the rest must not tell him of it But comfort him for to mourn for sin is a dishonour to their Christ Our Christ saith when God sends forth the spirit of his son into our hearts we will cry abba Father Gal. 4.5 6. It is the spirit of grace and supplication Zech 12.10 And he greatly delighteth in their prayers Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 But the Antinomians Christ tells them they need not pray For saith one of them nothing grieves me so much as the time I have spent in prayer and other duties that hath held me so long from my comfort Our Christ saith When you have done all that you can you are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 You have done but your duty But the Antinomians Christ tells them that all Christian duties are but dirty dungy duties of sanctification Our Christ saith If ye beleeve not that I am he ye shal dye in your sins John 8.24 But the Antinomians Christ saith that faith is not absolutely necessary to salvation for it is but a worke of ours Our Christ saw nothing to love in us which moved him to redeem us Till he adorned us and made us lovely there was no difference For all have sinned and come shore of the glory of God Rom. 3.22.23 Saith Peter he put no difference between us and them purifying our hearts by faith Acts 15.9 But our Antinomians Christ saw some cause of love before he came even from all eternity which moved him to redeeme them Our Christ makes us righteous by his righteousnesse when wee are in him by grace as the first Adam made us sinners when we have a being in him by nature but not before But the Antinomians are made righteous by their Christ before they be in him by grace And Adam never made them sinners for they were justified from all eternity and alwayes as righteous as Christ Our Christ tells us that God pronounceth us just and faith applyes the righteousnesse of Christ to make us just and workes declare it But our Antinomians Christ cannot direct them where to place their faith in point of justification that it may not be exalted in the place of God nor abased in the place of workes But if their Christ were able to give them true faith hee could direct them where to place it Our Christ will not have his Temple defiled For the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 1 Cor 3.16 17. He desires truth in the inward parts Psal 51.6 But the Antinomians Christ regards not where he dwells It is all one to him if he live to a habitation of devills and the hold of every foule spirit and Cage of every unclean lust Revel 18.2 Our Christ himselfe bare the guilt and punishment of our sins and carried our sorrowes he alone trod the wine-pres of Gods wrath and there was none with him Isa 53.4.63.3 He saith I am he Therefore if ye seeke me let these goe John 18.8 But the Antinomians Christ comes sneaking a day after the faire brings them faith when they are just before and righteousnesse when they need it not and comes to helpe them when they have tryed their cause before the Judge and quitted before he comes Our Christ as God fills all places and his humane nature is in the third heaven till the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 So then as he is God he doth not move and as he is man he will not come till the day of judgement Therefore when it is spoken of his comming to us oâ— our comming to him it is the same thing onely the cause of this motion is us God and the motion it selfe in us for when he works faith in us by his spirit our faith takes hold againe and so we are drawn into unity and communion with him But our Antinomians Christ can come to them before that they have faith while that they are at a distance from him But how this can be themselves know not see Den's 7. arguments Our Christ saith If thou beleevest thou shalt be saved Acts 16.31 Yea hee saith only beleeve Mar. 5.36 But the Antinomians Christ tâ—lls them that hee will save them without any such conditions which saith he is the doctrine of legall teachers See counsell to Laodicea see Dr Crisp page 128. Our Christ tells us the only way to pacifie conscience is to exercise faith for it is the hand of the soule whereby wee receive all our mercies and comforts from Christ And it brings us into unity with christ and into obedience to the spirit of christ But our Antinomians Christ tells them that those which say we cannot be saved without faith do perplex the conscience and denies our mercies and resisteth the spirit of God and doth not consist with the right end for which faith was wrought in them see counsel to Laodicea Our Christ came preaching the Gospell of the Kingdome of God and saying repent and beleeve the Gospell Mar. 1.14 15. And he saith Doe unto all men as ye would they should do unto you even so do to them And gives a reason saying this is the law and the Prophets Math. 7.12 But the Antinomians christ will neither have them to beleeve nor repent as a duty nor do to others as we would have them do to us For say they this is legall teaching see counsel to Laodicea Our Christ saith humble your selves under the mighty hand of God Iames 4.10 And blessed are they that weep now for they shall laugh Luke 6.21 And blessed are they that mourne for they shal be comforted Math. 5.4 And our Christ said unto us The time will come that the Bridegroom shall be taken from you and then ye shall fast Luke 5.35 But our Antinomians christ teacheth them that they must neither humble themselves weepe not mourn last nor pray for sin or affliction see Crisp page 109.110.230 Our Christ gave the Sacrament the night before he suffered saying Take eate drinke do this in remembrance of
doth punish some for the glory of his justice but not through any hatred of their sin This last reason affirmed by Mr. Banes is now revoaked Thus we see by what spirit these men are led being ashamed of his error And now I have set before you the Christ of the Legalists as they scornfully call us and the Christ of the Antinomians Now if it seem evil to you to serve the Lords Christ chuse you this day whom you will serve whether the Antinomians fained Christ or the true Christ of God But as for me and my house we wil serve the Lord Josh 24.15 Halt no longer between two opinions But if Baal be God follow him but if the Lord be God follow him And like Iehn destroy the name of Baal out of Israel 2 Kings 10.28 Hos 2.17 Let us not put the Lord to decide the controversie by fire from heaven having his word the true Judge of all controversies Therefore whosoever shall despise the Word shal be destroyed and he that feareth the Commandement shall be rewarded prov 13.13 Then be not led away with a fained Christ but cleave to the Lords Christ who is able to keep that which thou committest to his trust and to present thee faultlesse and unreprovable in his sight Coloss 1.22 Now the Lord open thine eyes to see clearly into all these things that differ and give thee grace to hold fast that which is good that thou maist be setled upon the true foundation and there stand like mount Zion unmoveable for ever Psalm 125.1 The grounds of true Christian Religion very necessary to build us on the true Rocke Iesus Christ WHat is the true Christian Religion Answ It is the way to worship God through Jesus Christ according to his own appoyntment First it is called the way of holinesse Isa 35.8 The new and living way Heb. 10 20. The narrow way Mat. 7. the way everlasting Ps 139.14 And it must be in Christ For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe 2 Cor 5.19 And according to his own appointment For all those Ceremonies Types of Christ were done as the Lord commanded Moses Exo. 40. Therefore Christ as a son over his owne house Heb. 3.6 Spake as having authority not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 He saith all power in heaven earth is givento him ver 28.18 Therefore he in his own name saith Thus you have heard but I say thus unto you Math. 5.28 What are the parts of Religion to be known Answ They are two First is concerning truths to be known that you may prove what is that good acceptable perfect will of God Thou art a Iew knowst his wil Rom. 12.2 3.18 The 2 concerning truths to be practised Thy people shal be willing in the day of thy power Ps 110.3 If ye be willing obedient ye shal eat the good of the land Isa 3.19 Not he that saith Lord Lord but he that doth the will of my Father shal be saved Math. 7.21 The doer of the work shal be blessed in the deed Iam 1.25 Let us hold fast our profession Heb. 4.14.10.23 He that holdeth out to the end shall be saved Mark 13.13 What are the grounds of Religion Answ They are two First it is a right knowledge of God as hee hath revealed himselfe unto us in his word concerning his unity of essence in the Trinity of persons his names and attributes and works of Creation and providence The second maine ground of Religion is a right knowledg of our selves as we were first created righteous holy after Gods own Image Gen. 1.26 Since the fal none is righteous Rom. 3.10 Thirdly as we are in the state of â—race righteous in part Phil. 3 12.15.16 Fourthly in the state of glory perfect in degrees as creatures Heb. 12 23. How do you know there is a God Answ I know there is a God by the testimony of conscience accusing for sin committed and is â—â— were Gods deputy to arraign and condemn us for it which could not be but from a displeased God 1 Kings 17.8 John 8.9 Secondly from the comfortable refreshing wee finde in our soules when we are faithful and conscionable in our obedience to the Lord 2 Cor. 1.12 Rom. 9.1 Acts 22.1 Thirdly I know there is a God by the frame of the world By these vâ—â—ble things are clearly sâ—en his eternal power aâ—d God-head Rom. 1.20 The heavens could not make themselves because they cannot keep themselves from perishing Psal 102.25.26 Heb. 1.10.11 Neither could the earth make it self nor the silly creatures that are in it could not make it nor themselves they being all mortall and vanity which plainly shews that their first beginning was by a divine power Fourthly all nations do acknowledg that there is a God and that he ought to be worshipped although they cannot find out the true God nor truely how to worship him Fifthly I know there is a God that provideth food for all creatures and not onely so but in making their food nourishing being of it selfe without life yet without which they could not live although our cloaths being void of heate yet keepeth our bodies warm which could not be without a God also that all the creatures being at variance feed one upon another yet every kind preserved which could not be without a God How many Gods be there Ans There be many idol-gods which are nothing in the world and many that are called gods Lords But to us there is but one God There is none other Gods but one Cor. 8.4 5 6 In this God there are 3. real distinct Persons having subsistance in the same Essence The Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one â— John 5.7 How do you know the true God from all false gods Answ First the true God is known from all false gods by the simple purity of his divine nature being void of all composition the creatures are made up of the 4 Elements but God is not so and his essence is free from all division or parts We may not say this is one part of God and that is another as we say of the creature Again what is in God cannot be multiplyed or encreased as to have more wisedome or more strength Neither can there be any decrease of any thing that is in God Againe no accidents can cleave to him or adde any thing to his perfection but what ever he is he is the same essentially But are not the three Persons so many parts of his God-head Answ No the Father is God the Son is God the holy Ghost is God and yet not three Gods but one God This Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is a holy mistery and is rather to be religiously adored by faith then curiously searched by reason further then God hath revealed in his word The mean time let us neither confound the Persons nor divide the substance of his perfect Essence
for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Isa 52.5 christ hath once suffered the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 who did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himselfe to him that judgeth righteously who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes ye are healed 1 Pet. 2.22 23 24. thus christ hath passively suffered all the penalty of the law to free us from the curse and penalty of it and to sanctifie both afflictions and death unto us O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory the sting of death is sinne but thankes be to God which hath given us victory through our Lord Iesus christ 1 cor 15.55 56. To what use serveth the active obedience of christ to the law of God A. It serveth to sanctifie all our disobedience and failings in the performance of holy duties so that now a willing mind is accepted according to that a man hath 2 cor 8.12 row Christ takes notice when the spirit is willing although the flesh be weak Mat. 26.41 for our Saviour hath performed perfect obedience to the law of Gad for us it was his meat and drinke to doe his Fathers will Iohn 4.32.34 he sayth I doe alwayes those things that please him Iohn 8.29 I seeke not mine owne will but the will of him that sent me Iohn 4.30.7.16 as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many were made righteous Romans 5.19 But did Christ obey or suffer for himselfe as some would have it A. No for although his humane nature was a creaturne yet being united to the second person and so making one Christ there was no obedience due from himselfe to the law neither came he by the ordinary way of mankind into the world therefore free from that law that Adam was bound unto with all his posterity But did we actually doe all that which christ did in our nature as well as he as some would have it A. No the gift by grace is by one man Iesus Christ and by him hath abounded to many and righteousnesse shall reigne in life by one Iesus christ even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all to justification of life by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous rom 5.15 16 17 18 19. hence I conclude that we did not act in Christs person as well as himselfe saying it was a common lumpe of all mankind that christ obeyed and suffered in we for him as well as he for us and he for himselfe as well as for us This is Antinomian blasphemy But if we did not act as well as christ how comes his righteousnesse to be ours A. By imputation for as he is a blessed man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne rom 4.8 so he is a blessed man unto whom God will impute righteousnesse without workes rom 4 6. now as Adams sinne is imputed to all in Adams nature so the second Adams righteousnesse is imputed to all that are in him by greace to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly by faith instrumentally it is countrd for righteousnesse rom 4.5 Then did christ alone in his owne person doe all the workes of our redemption A. Yes he looked and saw there was none to helpe therefore his owne arme brought salvation and his righteousnesse it sustained him Isaiah 59 16.6â—.5 neither is there salvation in any other there is none other other name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved Acts 4.12 he trod the Wine-presse alone and there was none with him Isaiah 63.3 he by himselfe purged our sinnes Hebr. 1.3 and he washed away our sinnes in his owne blood revel 1.7 he is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the word Iohn 1.29 Did Christ dye for all men without exception A. No for Christ would not so much as pray for the world much lesse would he spill his blood for them but the first is true therefore not the second Joh. 17.9 againe if Christ had dyed for them and they not saved either the Father brake Covenant and did not give him all that he bought of him or else the world and the divell and sinne were too strong both for the father that have them and the sonne that bought them which were no other then blasphemy to think How doe you know that Christ dyed for you A. The good Sbeâ—heard gave his life for the sheep Joh. 10.11 and I know my selfe to be one of his sheep for I know his voyce Joh. 10.4 both the secret voyce of his spirit and the publike voyce of his word when I am charged to let the word of Christ dwell in me richly Col. 3.16 when I turne aside to the right hand or to the left I still heare his voyce saying unto me this is the way walk in it Isa 30.21 and I know it is the voyce of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my sister cant 5.2 because he leadeth me into al truth makes me see an excellency in him above all other Cant. 5.9.10 11 12 13 14 15 16. Psal 45.2 then sayth Christ I know my sheep and I am knowne of mine Joh. 10.14 and they will esteeme of all things else but as dung aad drosse and losse for the excellent knowledge of Christ Phil. 3.78 By what other mark doe you know that you are one of the sheep of Christ for which he dyed A. The sheep of Christ doe not onely know his voyce and delight in hearing of it but in obeying it and follownig him Joh. 10.4.27 they will walke as Christ walked 1 Joh. 2.6 and they will learne of him that is meek and lowly in heart and they shall find rest for their soules Mat. 11.29 and as he sayd it as my meat and drink to doe the will of him that sent me and to sinish his worke and he did alwaies those things that pleased him Joh. 4.34.8.29 and concerning his surferings he sayd I lay downe my life no man taketh it from me Joh. 10.17 18 the cup that my father hath given me shall I not drinke it Iohn 18.4.11 Christ suffered leaveng us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2.21 to you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not onely to beleeve on him but to suffer for his sake Phil. 1.29 they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth these were redeemed from among men Rev. 14.4 What other reasons have you to prove that Christ dyed for you A. Christ loved the church and gave himselfe for it that he might sanctisie
Thou mayest come as a welcome guest for all that for Christ came to preach the Gospell to such a poore heart as thine and to heal such a broken heart to deliver such a captive from corruptions and to give sight to thee ihat feelest want of it and to set at liberty thy bruised soule Luke 4.18 How shall I come to the sacrament I want faith A. If thou be sensible of thy want of faith thou mayest come for it is grace that discovers thy want and not nature therefore pray the Lord to encrease thy faith Luke 17.5 and say with teares I beleeve Lord help my unbeliefe Marke 9.24 then come and Christ will ease thee Mat. 11.28 Psal 55.22 What other meanes hath God appointed us to use for our groth in grace A. Prayer which is a familiar speech with God in the name of Christ in which either we crave things needfull or give thanks for things received 1 Tim. 2.1 May we not pray to Saints or Angels A. No for they doe not know our wants Abraham 〈◊〉 of us Isa 63.17 neither can they help us they pray to Gods that 〈◊〉 save Isa 45.20 and the command of Christ is come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest mat 11.28 But may we not make Saints our medâ—â—tours or intercessâ—rs A. No there is but one mediatour between God and man the man Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2.5 he is our onely high Priest who is entred into heaven now to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 Christ alone is our intercessor in heaven for us rom 8.34 heb 7.25 For whom must we pray A. for all men living none exempted but they that sinne against the holy Ghost there is a sinne unto death I doe not say that yee shall pray for it 1 Ioh. 5.16 But may we not pray for the dead A. No when Davids child was dead he ceased praying for it saying now he is dead wherefore should I fast â— Sam. 12.22 23. there is no repentance in the grave when they are dead he that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is holy let him be holy still rev 22.11 it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanfeth us from yâ—l sinne 1 Ioh. 1.7 and if thou be not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthinesse any more Ezek. 24.13 For what must we pray A. Christ hath taught us to pray for six things especially First that God may be glorified secondly that God may reigne in our hearts as in his Kingdome thirdly that we may doe Gods will faithfully constantly and cheerfully as it is done in heaven These three câ—ncerning God what things be they that we must pray for our sâ—â—ves A First that we may rely wholly on Gods providence for all the meanes of this temporall life secondly that our sinnes may be forgiven that we may be at peace with God thirdly that by his power we may be kept from all temptations that they prevaile not against us to sinne against 〈◊〉 Why are those petitions concerning Gods glory kingdome and will set downe before these three petitions for our selves A. Because we should preferre Gods glory kingdome and will before and above all other things What is Gods kingdome here on earth A. It is his church and people in which Christ rules as King What is that visible Church in which Christ rules as King A. First negatively it is not amongst any Libertines whatsoever as the Antinomians who cry out of the bondage of his law which is the statute law of heaven neither the Anabaptists who despise the lawes of men being regulated by the law of God nor the Prelacy which exalt themselves into the throne of God and man usurping all power to themselves nor the Brownists which seperate from all ecclesiasticall government all 〈◊〉 â—ount it a bondage that Christ should rule as King Now I answer affirmatively that church that hath the truths of doctrine and the right way of discipline according to Gods Word and freely yeelds obedience unto both I meane in the generall although some single persons faile in any of these yet this is the true Corne-field of Chist although some tares be in it May any sepaâ—ate from that Church which hath true doctrine when there for the present may be some want in dâ—scipline in the matter or in the execution A. No for discipline is not essentiall to the being of a Church but onely to the well being of it it may be the Church of Christ and yet want his discipline againe we may not seperate from the Church till Christ seperate from it But how shall we know when christ leaves a church A. First the church doth leave Christ but while we hold the truths of doctrine we have not left Christ but suppose we like a Strumpet have deserved to be put away and a bill of divorce to be given to us yet blessed be God whose going â— are still seene in his Sanctuary Psal 68.24 But how doe you know that a bill of divorce is not given to us A. If Christ had left his church here he would have taken away the hedge of protection and leave us to be destroyed by the wilde Beasts Psal 80.12 that is the Magistrates sword should not have been drawn in the defence of it neither would he receive our offerings Iudges 13.23 Secondly if God had left us he would have called away his Ministers from us for they are not to stay where they find none to receive them John 4.35 but to shake off the dust of their feet as a witnesse against them Mat. 10.11 Thirdly when christ leaves a church it is because he hath no more to call in that church for when Paul was departing from Macedonia the Lord bad him to stay for he had much people in that city Acts 18.10 so blessed be God we see the worke of the Ministery exceeding fruitfull in converting multitudes to the Lord which plainly shewes that christ hath not left us But were not your Ministers some few yeers agon called from you and the hâ—dge of protection broken downe and Idolatry comming in apace A. Our affections were then to the truths of God and the ministry fruitfull by those that stayed with us and therefore I see no lawfull call they had to depart from their flocks when the Wolves were comming except those whose particular persons were aimed at neither was it the Magistrates by the sword of justice according to law that was turned against the church but it was the Prelates usurped power that did persecute Gods people against both the lawes of God and the lawes of the Kingdome What is the effect of sepration A. Seperation is the cause of distractions and civill warres and so ends in confusion therefore no toleration is to be granted to such a Vyper as seperation that eats out her mothers bowels What is the state of