from a general and calls that Scripture that comes by a clear consequence from it It is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God And Further our Saviour sticks not to say It is written And him onely thou shalt serve Though it be but implied in that place of Moses Spanhem Dub. Evang Par. 3. D. 65. p. 292 For indeed the very nature of the subject spoken of implies a peculiar reference unto God alone Because those things such as worship and fear which are due unto God as God are due onely unto God with whom no creature can claim a partnership in Divine Adoration without great Sacriledge and none can be admitted to it without gross Idolatry Argum. 2. If the necessary requisites of the proper object of Adoration be onely in God then Adorability is proper onely unto God For how can that be the object of Divine Worship which is not qualified with those properties and attributes that are necessary for its constitution in such a capacity but in God alone are those requisites found Which are these three Frist Omniscience that hee that is worshipped should know all our wants our sighs and groans and know the deepest secrets of the most retired thoughts of our hearts As true Worship may inwardly be performed many times by the secret thoughts of the mind so it is necessary that hee that is thus worshipped should have a peircing and omniscient eye to have a clear and full view of those very thoughts For otherwise hee may be worshipped and hee not know it And then what small comfort would it be for the most spiritual worshippers to serve him with their hearts who unless hee be omniscient would be ignorant whether they worshipped him or no. Secondly Omnipotency that hee should be able to help us in our wants and give in a supply suitable to our greatest grievances and necessities Why should I worship one that is not able to help mee or why should I not worship and adore any thing else besides God if that were as able to supply my wants and relieve mee in any kinde of misery as God is who is Omnipotent Thirdly Omnipresence that hee should every where hear our prayers and answer our requests This was one great peece of unreasonableness in the worship of the Heathens that they made choice of such Gods to worship which they themselves acknowledged were confined to particular places and so could not be present to help them under any sudden emergency and because they wanted power their worshippers would remain helpless still though they were present in their very Temples the places of their confinement Now God the God of Israel the Onely Being in the world that is both Omniscient Omnipotent and Omnipresent and therefore Adorability is proper onely to him § 3. This Proposition being thus proved it may easily be improved to convince the Papists of grievous Idolatry in worshipping those things with a Religious Worship which are not proper objects of Adoration as Images Saints and the like As also to condemn the Socinians those great Patrons of Reason of their gross absurdity and unreasonableness in devesting Christ of his Divinity and yet of attributing Divine Worship and Adoration to him notwithstanding hee is held but a Creature But I had rather prevent a mistake and miscarriage amongst ordinary Christians than stand to confute those that are visibly the Disciples of Antichrist as the former or those that have really forfeited the very name of Christians as the Latter The mistake is this when Christ our Mediator God and Man is propounded in Scripture as the Object of our Religious Worship and Adoration less wary minds may be apt to terminate their Worship upon his humane nature When as 't is evident the humane nature and flesh of Christ is not God though it be the flesh of God viz. of God the Son and personally united to him But the personal union of the Divine and Humane Nature in Christ the Mediator doth neither destroy nor confound the proprieties of either but leaves them entire as they are in themselves And Adorability is no less a propriety of the Divine Nature than Omniscience Omnipotence Omnipresence and Eternity are God therefore manifest in the flesh is to be worshipped with a Religious Worship but his flesh ought not thus to be worshipped As the King may be civilly worshipped who wears a Crown or Diadem upon his head and bears a Scepter the emblem of Majesty in his hand yet neither Crown nor Diadem nor Scepter can be said to be honoured with a civil worship And the godly are then said to have worshipped Christ when they knew clearly his Divinity that hee was God as well as Man As the blinde man made whole when Christ had told him hee was the Son of God that cured him Then hee said Joh. 9.37 38 Lord I beleeve and hee worshipped him Thus those that saw Christ walking upon the Sea and quieting of it Mat. 14.33 Then they that were in the Ship came and worshipped him saying of a truth thou art the Son of God See also the example of Peter Luke 5.8 And the Women that sought Christ in the Sepulchre Matth. 28.9 And the Apsstles that were gathered together in the Mount when Christ took his leave of them Vers 17. When they saw him they worshipped him whom they knew now to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead § 4. Before I pass to the next Proposition wee may here from this first learn a true account why Heathenish Worshippers would never admit the Worship of the True God of Israel under the Old Testament or of Jesus Christ revealed under the New Testament dispensation but would willingly entertain the Worship of all other Gods whatsoever One would have thought the True God who truly is the proper object of Adoration might as well have been entertained as any of the false and fained Deities The reason was this because it was very indifferent to Satan after what manner hee was worshipped so hee was but worshipped at all hee could easily admit a multiplicity of Gods But The God of Israel and Jesus Christ when they are worshipped they must be worshipped alone they and none other all else must be excluded it being the first and chiefest of all Gods Commands Thou shalt not have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any other Gods before my face But the Worship of false Gods did not at all hinder but that worship might be given to other Idols so that the kind and degree of it peculiar to each Idoll was but distinguished by their Disciples § 5. Propos 2. Actual Adoration or Worship is due to God from all intelligent creatures by the obligation of nature Actual Adoration and the formal exhibition of Worship is neither essential to God to have it or to the creatures to give it Not to God to have it because God was before there were any creatures to worship and adore him And it
their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall wee do § 10. Quer. 4. What makes the same Preacher successeful at one place and not at another Onely this that God accompanies his Word with his Spirit at one place and not at another Wee may suppose the same Word Preached to a different people to a very different event The one mock raile revile The other prove humble meek yea true converts The Word is the same all men by nature have the same vilenesse in their hearts and opposition to the Word and truths of the Gospel The difference then lyes in the presence of the Spirit of God And now that God is not alwaies present by his Spirit to set home the Word upon all This should not make us sleight and neglect hearing but make us more diligent in praying that the Spirit may alwaies bee present with the Word to render that which wee hear truly and really effectual to our souls § 11. Quer. 5. What makes the same truths heard by the same man at several times produce different and several effects Is it not wholly from the Spirit of God One hath often heard of Christs death and passion and sufferings for mankind of his tendernesse love and compassion for the good of lost and undone souls And this perhaps hee hath not onely once or twice but many times heard and yet no profit Hee can still boldly sleight Christ carelessely neglect his soul and highly contemn the Gospel that offers him Christ and salvation by Christ At another time perhaps this makes him quite another man Is Christ dead for mee and my sins and shall I love sin more than my dear Saviour Did Christ bleed to cure the wounds of my Soul and shall I wound Christ again by my cursed lusts Did Christ descend from Heaven to save mee out of Hell and shall I sleight his infinite condiscension of love follow sin and vain lusts upon the earth and sink into Hell and ruine at the last What makes this great change upon hearing the same truth is it not Gods Spirit The same truth hath no life at one time no effect upon the soul At another Oh! the most precious truth in the world the Soul would not part with such a truth such a promise for all the world when the spirit sets it home upon the heart Thus 't is in reading we sometimes reap much benefit from that portion of the Word when God sets it home which we often read before in the Bible and found no comfort from it took no notice of it at all § 12. Quer. 6. What makes the same passages delivered at the same time to men of the same profession temper and opinion produce differenteffects That the one is affected the other not the one trembles the other not the one is converted by it the other not The Word is the same and the parties supposed the same as to temper education profession and the like Yet the Spirit works on the one and not on the other and that makes the difference § 13. Quer. 7. What makes men of the same age living under the same powerful ministry to bee converted and brought home at divers years distance Is it not because the Spirit sets home the Word betimes on some and not on other mens souls Conversion when ever it is wrought is the irresistible work of the Spirit of Grace it is the gift of God when ever effected Yet the Holy Spirit that bloweth where hee listeth bloweth also when he listeth on some sooner on others later § 14. Quer. 8. What makes the same truths working conversion in diverse persons work not one and the same way But in one it causes many terrours and in another sweet Gospel meltings of Soul and both by it are brought home to Christ It is certainly to bee resolved into the Spirits arbitrary working upon the soul in order to conversion Conviction of sin is necessary to every mans conversion but terrours are not The spirit works the former more or lesse in all But the terrours of conscience and ratlings of the chains of Hell are not alike in all And the same spirit may use the same truths in a different manner to bring home diverse souls to God Great sinners have oftentimes the greatest terrors Yet the spirit of God may use the same Gospel truths to bring home some to God by strong terrours and others by a Gospel sweetnesse and pouring in much comfort at first conversion § 15. Qu. 9. What makes the Gospel Preached to bee a savour of life unto some and a savour of death to others in the same Congregation perhaps in the same seat 'T is because some are left to the hardnesse of their own hearts and the Spirit comes powerfully with the Word unto the hearts of others In a plain and powerful Sermon Christ stands at the door and knocks at the hearts of all that hear it in a Congregation Now the Spirit that hath the Key of mens hearts in his hands opens some and lets others alone lockt fast up in their impenitency and unbeleef Thus God opened the hearts of Lydia and the Jaylour And others again go to Hell unconverted perhaps unconvinced from under powerful Preaching Of whom I say as St. Paul did If our Gospel be hid 2 Cor. 4.3 it is hid to them that are lost § 16. Qu. 10. What makes diverse truths set home upon diverse men produce one and the same effect Is it not from the Spirit of God that different truths should bee set home in order to Conversion If in the Word onely why not the same portion of it alwaies a means of conversion But wee see one place for one and another place for the conversion of another Fr. Junii viâ—â— p. 11. c. 2. Junius reports it of himself that hee was converted by reading the beginning of the first chapter of St. Johns Gospel Austin after his hot fits of Lust Hears an Eccho sounding in his ears Tolle lege tolle lege Take up the Book and read Hearing a voyce but seeing no Person he presently takes up the New-Testament Reads Rom. 13. Not in Rioting and Drunkennesse not in Chambering and Wantonnesse and by this Scripture brought home to God Luther was first wrought upon by Rom. 1.17 Therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith This now must needs bee the work of the Spirit which can produce one and the same effect on diverse Subjects by different Truths CHAP. XII Quest How does the Spirit teach Removendo Removing impediments unwilling to bee taught Fleshly lusts Pride Curiosity Five waies Satan promotes Curiosity Suggerendo Suggesting Gospel Truths to the Soul 1. John 2.27 John 16.13 Expl. Illuminando By enlightning the mind Ephes 5.8 Opened Inward light of the Saints stated Corroborando By strengthening the Soul Recolligendo By raising Truths Heb. 2.1 John 14.26 Explained § 1. HAving shewed by Scripture
have said to you Joh. 14.26 Here is one admirable advantage of Gods teaching by his Spirit that when the Word comes onely to the outward ear in hearing yet Gods Spirit can set it home afterwards and make it effectual for comfort or counsel or quickening as his Children want it The Apostles heard our Saviour himself preach yet our Saviours words without his Spirit would work no comfort or benefit to their souls Again the Spirit shall teach and be their remembrancer yet observe it our Saviour sticks close to the Word Whatsoever I have said unto you V. Chamier L. C. l. 1. c. 7. in fine that the Spirit shall teach you again If any will pretend that they are taught by the Spirit of Christ and yet will not stick closely to the words of Christ this very place will prove that 't is but a delusion CHAP. XIII Quest What are the qualifications of the Spirits teaching Answ Hee teaches fully pleasantly seasonably certainly 1 Cor. 2.4 expl Profitably in that hee teaches practically and particularly Gradually The Spirits gradual teaching brings in no New Lights objective The remarkable Vision of five Lights noted § 1. I Now proceed to the second Question propounded to clear the Spirits teaching Quest 2. What are the qualifications of the Spirits teaching The full answer to this I shall give in in these seven following particulars 1. The Spirit teaches fully Gods Spirit never teaches fouls that hee undertakes with half teaching Hee does not make men to be almost onely but altogether Christians Should the Spirit of God open one eye onely and leave the other blinde the Devil would have great advantage hee would alwaies strike men on the blinde side Now the Spirit of God teaches all fully as to necessary Truths for salvation There is no one Truth the Devil can tell a Childe of God hee is so wholly ignorant of that the ignorance of it will cause his eternal damnation This is the great work of the Spirit of God to make the soul acquainted with the deep things of God which are kept hid from the world and worldly men 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 12 None but the Spirit of God is fully acquainted with those Truths that concerns our salvation and therefore the Spirit alone can fully discover them to the soul § 2.2 The Spirit of God teaches pleasantly Matters of Divine sense and feeling carry much of a secret pleasure with them No such real and solid pleasure in all the world as that which a gracious soul findes in the experimental discoveries of Gospel-Truths 'T is sensual and swinish pleasure which men take in following sinful waies But the onely solid pleasure is in Divine Experiences It is a pleasure worthy a rational soul to be ravished with the love of Christ and to be enamoured with that commanding beauty that the waies of holiness do afford A tincture of pleasure carries the soul far in its operations Men would never run on headlong in waies of wickedness were not pleasures laid as the bait to allure them Now what is it makes many souls to quit their comforts in this life their friends their estates their liberties yea their lives themselves rather than part with those Truths the Spirit hath taught them Onely this they apprehend a greater pleasure in owning them and sticking close to them than in all other things in the World What makes Duties and Ordinances irksome and tedious to carnal hearts but delightful to gracious souls 'T is the pleasure the Spirit gives in to the one and not to the other that makes the difference A man may know much of the spirituality of his heart towards God and that hee is under the teachings of Gods Spirit by that pleasure and delight and content hee takes in the Ordinances of God Gracious souls cry oh let us go up into the house of God when will Sabbaths and Sermons and Ordinances come that our souls may be refreshed with them But worldly minded men cry out as they did when will the Sabbaths and New Moons be over when will Sermons and Prayers and Reading be done Alas they take no pleasure at all no delight and therefore care not whether they enjoy these mercies or no or if out of formality they wait upon the Ordinances they care not how soon they are done Custome carries sinners upon duties conscience puts the Saints upon them Formality and Hypocrisie makes the one true delight and pleasure makes the other go thorow with them Moses when hee came out of the Mount from God his face did shine Thus when gracious souls come from Gospel-duties their hearts shine they are filled with unspeakable joy and pleasure § 3.3 The Spirit teaches clearly Christ spake while hee was upon the earth in parables and proverbs but after his Ascension and the Spirit was poured out Job 16.25 hee then teaches plainly and clearly Spiritual teaching is the plainest and clearest teaching in the world According to the diversity of Lights there is a great difference of sight in point of clearnesse One man sees an object by the Moon-light another by a Candle-light but hee sees most clearly that takes a view of his object by the light of the Sun when it is riding in its noon-day glory A true Christian sees divine things not onely by the dimme light of nature nor meerly by the light of the Word but by the bright and clear light of the Spirit which manifests things to the soul A clear light discovers all even the smallest objects which otherwise would not be seen So doth the Spirit of God discover those Truths and Divine Mysteries to a beleevers soul without whose light they would be wholly undiscerned The words of our Saviour in the fore-cited place are very remarkable The time cometh when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs but I shall shew you plainly of the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plainly Schmidius N Animad in N. T. as one observes it is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a discovery of all things q. d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All things by the Spirit are manifested even the most hidden things of God Three things go to a clear discerning the Object the Visive faculty that is stated in the eye and the Medium or mean thorow which wee see all must be clear and then there is a clear discovery made Thus the Holy Spirit plainly reveals the counsels of God in the Word there 's the Object then opens the Judgement to discern it then clears all the Mediums the Means for conveyance of those objects to us And because a due distance is required in spiritual as well as bodily seeing the Spirit brings Divine Objects home to the soul in particular and so they are the plainer and clearer to the understanding Thus the Spirit of God is a clear instructor no man need be taught more clearly § 4.4 The Spirit teaches seasonably The wisdome
knowledge into practice John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are yee if yee do them If the Spirit should teach us knowledge without practice he would leave us lame if practice without knowledge hee would leave us blind but teaching profitably he teaches both that leads us unto happiness There are many obstructions 'twixt the head and the heart which hinder our knowledg from having a kindly influence upon practice which the Spirit by his teaching doth remove So that what enters into the head in the notion comes down to the heart for operation True Christians are of another make than to resemble the Toad which hath a Pearl in the head but the whole body full of poyson They have not the Pearl of knowledge onely but the Jewel of practice also and this makes them truly precious in Gods eyes Alas what will all the notions in the world do good for the mortifying our sins and cleansing the soul from sinful affections without practice If wee have a receipt onely for a disease that troubles us and not take the physick prescribed wee may languish away by the violence of the disease bee the receipt never so rare and admirable Application works cures both as to spiritual and bodily diseases 'T was practice of the Law of God that made St. Paul differ from himself a proud and knowing Pharisee by becoming an humble practical Christian Hee knew much but practised little that left him in Hypocrisie If I have all knowledge and want Charity I am sayes Paul but as sounding Brasse and a tinkling Cymball 'T is not much knowledge but practice according to what they know speaks men thriving Christians indeed Davids Prayer is made for both as knowing that knowledge without practice is but vain Psal 119.66 Teach mee good judgement and knowledge For I have beleeved thy command For good judgement 't is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bonitatem sensus goodnesse of sense and feeling Hee prayes for an inward sense a Spiritual feeling a practical taste of the commands of God His eyes were enlightned before now he desires to have his heart exercised in the Law of God as to the practice of it § 7 Secondly The Spirit teaches profitably in that hee teaches particularly Gods Spirit teaches a true Christian to apply all that he hears and reads unto himself Hee thinks the Commands belongs to him the Threatnings to him and all that is written or preached that speaks matter of obedience or reformation that he is concerned in it hee sees all concerns his souls welfare as if it had been written on very purpose for him Observe here the carriage of ungodly hearts When they hear particular sins reproved they put it off to others such an one say they had his lesson to day hee was met withal in such a Sermon and by such expressions Well but a true Christian in any such close expressions that meet with the conscience is taught by the Spirit to say Numquid ego talis Am not I the man Is not this my sin Is it not my very case He hears hypocrisie condemned in attending upon the service of God Well am not I che Hypocrite that is lashed by those cutting reproofs Hee hears a Christian may obtain assurance young men may overcome the world Have I had these things or no Am not I far short from what a true Christian may bee and ought to bee Thus ungodly men rest onely in the generals but the true Christian brings the generals down to his particular case well knowing that Dolus latet in universalibus That grossest soul-deceit lyes in resting only in universals § 8. 7. The Spirit of God teaches souls Gradually God deals with particular souls as hee hath done with the Church in general clears up truth by degrees The Church at first and when lowest had truth enough discovered to constitute it a true Church but by degrees little and little truths in particular were made more clear Is Casaubonus Ex. con Baron Ex. 1. ss 2. mihi p. 14. Thus every soul when hee becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God hath necessary truths for salvation made known So that suppose him to dye presently after conversion hee hath knowledge enough to carry him to Heaven But the longer hee lives the more he grows an increase is made in his Grace in knowledge as well as in the rest of his Graces Wee have no foundation for such gradual teaching as to expect the Spirit should teach more truths afterwards than are written in the Word of God No but that which I speak of is that the Spirit clears up the same truths with greater evidence of light then the Soul had before if they were truths absolutely necessary And as for other truths which contribute to the well being and not absolutely to the being of a true Christian the Spirit teaches these by degrees some after others none of which perhaps were known to the soul at first conversion But still in revealing New Truths to the soul the Spirit doth not add New Truths to the Word but sets home the Old Truths with New Lights New Light in the faculty wee acknowledge Now lights as to the Object wee reject as that which if once admitted proves the uncontroulable Guide to the grossest delusions For when once the mind is pre-possessed with an expectation of such New Lights then every suggestion of the Devil is presently embraced in it self and propounded unto others as Divine Raptures and Heavenly Visions and Revelations See c. 14. ◠11 And then how miserably forlorn are such deluded creatures when they by such courses tempt God to work miracles for their recovery or they are for ever undone For the pretence of the Spirit in its dictates of Truths besides and above the Word will fetch Arguments from the same Spirit to maintain them though the grossest delusions and so the Word and all ordinary means of reducing such souls to their right wits again become wholly useless and unprofitable Wee have had too many years experience of the dismal sad effects of this grand principle of Enthusiasme and Delusions Affrica was never more fruitful and productive of Monsters of nature than England hath been of Monsters in Morality and Divinity since such New Lights and Revelations have been owned and greedily entertained Instances of this nature are as obvious as for their nature horrid and blasphemous But that the Reader may see these are not meer declamations but great realities let him consider that remarkable one of the five Lights of Walton in Surrey See this as large in the History of Independency 2. part p. 152. Six Souldiers came to the Parish-Church there one of them told the people that hee had a Vision and received a command from God to deliver his Will to them which hee was to deliver and they to receive upon pain of damnation It consisted of five Lights 1. That the Sabbath was abolished as
knowing men have of all their knowledge and learning if when they come to dye they want Grace That will bee the most comfortable knowledge that a man can reflect upon and find comfort in when he comes to leave the world and is just going to give up his account to God And I leave any to judge whether the profound Schollar the deep Polititian the knowing Artist the skilful Lawyer the expert Physitian the exact Mathematician or the plain practical Christian is like to have more comfort in reflecting upon their knowledge at that day The name of the Holy Spirit our teacher is also Comforter John 14.26 Because what the Spirit teaches advances the Christians comfort as well as informs his conscience § 8. To back the present exhortation further to the two motives mentioned I shall subjoyn some directions which shew us how wee must own the Spirit as our teacher 1. Let us hear him frequently The best teaching cannot come too often The Word of God and Ordinances of the Gospel are those means the Spirit teaches Souls in Frequency in these is our duty and the Spirit will teach us therein Frequent reading the Word Meditate day and night in the Law of the Lord. Psal 1.2 Bee often hearing the Word Preached Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwells Men will bee there often whither their love carries them Gods House will bee frequented by those that have any love to the Ordinances those that do not own them shew they have no love to them at all Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto mee come let us go up into the house of the Lord. The great joy of a Christian lyes in this that hee can Frequent Gods Ordinances Oh at what a rate would the persecuted Christians in the primitive times have purchased those liberties of hearing which now may bee had yet most abominably contemned When they were forced to meet in Caves in the night to hear the Word and would lose their lives rather than bee deprived of the benefit of Ordinances § 9. 2. Let us hear the Spirits teaching diligently It is one thing to bee bodily present another to have an ear to hear the Spirit teaching This therefore comes in often in the Gospel Hee that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith Most men are like Idols when they come where the Spirit teacheth they have eyes but see not ears but hear not But if wee would have the Spirit to bee our teacher wee must labour to have that frame that Eli put Samuel into Saying go lye down 1 Sam. 3.9 and it shall bee if hee shall call thee that thou shalt say speak Lord for thy Servant heareth Here is a Rule for us to learn to profit by where-ever God hath a word to speak we should have an ear to hear Speak Lord for thy servant heareth The more earnest heed wee give the more are wee like to keep up the Spirits teaching Heb. 2.1 Therefore wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard least at any time wee should let them slip Diligence and attention are the best materials to stop our leaking souls from running our 3. Let us hear ardently with devotion 'T is the unhappinesse of all men to be dark by nature and of some in the midst of spiritual light The way for us to have preaching profitable is to begg the Spirits teaching in the teaching of the Word Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may understand the wonderful things of thy Law Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reveal mine eyes i. e. take off the veyle of darkenesse and ignorance from mine eyes Had not David Gad and Nathan and other excellent teachers Yet hee prayes to have his eyes opened by the Spirit Where wee may observe hee does begg to have his eyes opened so as not to throw by the Word and to account that Spiritual perfection to live either above or without the Word But his devotion lyes here to have enlightned eyes to look further into Gods Law which hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonderful things in it or as the word denotes Things that are above and separated from us from our reason and understanding and so want a better teacher the Spirit of God to inform us Gospel Truths like Gods Children are separated things Carnal eyes can see but the outside of true Christians and carnal hearts can perceive but the external part onely of Gospel Truths till the Spirit comes to teach them § 10. Judges 3.20 4. Let us hear him reverently with submission As Eglon to Ehud when he came and told him hee had a message from God Eglon in reverence to that rises off his seat When God speaks in anger hee can make the Heavens and Earth to tremble with fear And if hee speak by his Spirit to our souls in mercy and love wee should tremble too with reverential affection and a Filial fear Great Doctors do command reverence from their inferiour Schollars How would Solomon with his wisdome bee reverenced by us but behold a greater than Solomon is here Here is the Spirit that is wisdome it self to teach souls the way to Heaven Solomons teaching is but the teaching of a man but this is the teaching of God himself which calls for our reverence and submission 5. Let us hear him obediently with resolution to practise To hear the Spirit teach and not to Practice is the next way to lose the benefit of so good a Master If the Spirit kindle a spark within us wee should endeavour to get it up to a perfect flame Quenching of the Spirit either in our selves or others is no work for a Christian to put in practise Quench-coals as to the Spirits teaching are the Devils Granadoes he throws into the world to do mischief withall These are the devils plots to blow up men without fire to undo men by extinguishing the fire of the Spirit within Bee not hearers onely but doers also of the Word Otherwise yee deceive your selves It is the grossest self-deceit Jam. 1.22 because soul-deceit to rest barely in hearing and knowing without doing Hee that knows his Masters will and does it not shall be be aten with many stripes Either obey what ye know is commanded and practise what ye hear or else better never to know or hear at all § 11. III. From Gods Presence and teaching of his Spirit there arises matter of reproof to three sorts of persons 1. To such as depend onely upon the teachings of the Spirit without the Word of God If there be any delusions in the world wee must own this as the Belzebub amongst them This is the master plot the Devil hath used in the late times to lay Gospel Ordinances under the brand of ignominy and grossest contempt Oh it 's an easy way to be spiritual to say the Spirit
the place where Cain was but also the state and condition that hee was in is hinted to us by that expression the Land of Nod which comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vagari Thus the learned Bochartus renders it Bochart Geog. Sa p. 57 Junius Anal in Gen. T. 1. Terra Nod est terra exilii quia ibi exulavit Cain The Land of Nod is the Land of Banishment because Cain was banished there And likewise Junius Terra Nod est terra vagationis erroris The Land of Nod is the Land of wandring and error yet hee there geographically describes the Country So that the meaning of it seems to be this That Cain was in a wandring unsettled condition when once hee left Gods presence Not but that hee was fixed in a place for the next verse tells us hee built a City But as Luther well observed hee was without Gods promise and Gods protection hee was upon the Devils ground when hee had left Gods Worship Sine certa Regula tum vivendi tum moriendi Hee had no fixed rule either for holy living or happy dying § 5. Having thus cleared the difficulties of this place I shall in one word or two shew the usefulness and subserviency of it to my present design which may easily be seen in a double corallory which naturally flows from it That the place of Gods Worship Cor. is the place of Gods singular presence And if any think this to be a truth appropriate onely to the Sanctuary and Temple-service and to the Ceremonial Worship of God under the Law Let such seriously consider that though the phrase be borrowed from Gods manifesting of himself in the Sanctuary yet Moses was directed by the Spirit of God to apply it to Gods Worship in that time which was a long while before any Ceremonies were instituted or commanded by God as Ceremonies Though some things were then in use which afterwards were incorporated into the body of the Jewish Ceremonies But the Gospel closing with and owning this Truth as proper to its dispensation after the coming of the Messiah wee have no reason but to own it as a sober Truth pertinent to the Worship and Service of God in all ages and to the divers dispensations that the Church lived under Though wee easily grant it to be more visibly exemplified under that dispensation which was chiefly Ceremonial Of which more afterwards c. 4. §. 14 2 Cor. That they which voluntarily leave Gods Instituted Worship and his commanded Ordinances put themselves into a wandring condition The first of these Conclusions I intend chiefly to prosecute and build upon it as the main basis and ground-work of my present discourse CHAP. IV. Adorability proper unto God Mat. 4.10 Expl. Socinians Papists and others mistaken Why the Heathen never admitted the Worship of the true God All intelligent creatures obliged to Actual Adoration The Angelical Worship how performed Man being of a mixt nature bound to time and place in his Worship The Original of the Sabbath The necessity of Publick places and conveniency of Churches Set places for Worship some commanded some approved The Tabernacle The Temple The use difference and original of Proseucha's and Synagogues Gods Symbolical presence in the Old Testament The Schecinah Ceremonial Holiness of places removed Difference 'twixt the Temple and our Churches § 1. BEfore I come to the full prosecution and clear demonstration of the fore-mentioned Conclusion I shall endeavour to prepare my way and to make it clear by premising and making good these seven Propositions Propos 1. That God ought to be worshipped is essential to the Divine Nature By Worship in the general I mean the performance of respect unto any thing or person according to the estimation and dignity thereof In regard of its object it may be either Civil or Divine Worship Divine Worship usually is called Adoration which is that whereby the mind yeelds due reverence and respect unto God owning of him as the Supreme Soveraign of the world and depending upon him as the bestower of all good and preserver from evil Now this Adoration or Religious Worship is essential unto the Divine Nature God having that in his most perfect Nature which necessarily calls for it at the creatures hands To avoid all mistakes take the Proposition thus Adorability is proper onely unto God This Adorability or Inward Worship in God in its formal notion seems not to be placed in that Transcendent Excellency in that singular and independent Majesty of the Eternal Deity whereby God is infinitely above every creature But it doth most specially denote his Spiritual Dominion over intellectual creatures and thus God ought to be worshipped by them in Spirit as hee is the Father of Spirits For John 4 24 Heb. 12.9 although Adorability be conceived to be in God from all Eternity yet it cannot so much as be imagined or conceived by us but as a relative and respective Attribute of God which wee conceive of in God in order to the creatures some Action of theirs interposing so that in Gods Knowledge of Vision Deus adorabilis adorans creabilis adorationis actio possibilis wee must necessarily suppose these three things to be together God Adorable One adoring Creable and the Action of Adoration possible Neither is God said to be adorable with a respect had to every creature indifferently For there are but two created natures onely viz. that of Men and of Angels in reference to which God is said to be adorable and ought to be worshipped by them § 2. Having thus briefly opened the terms of Worship Adoration and Adorability I shall now prove the Proposition by these Arguments 1. Either Spiritual Worship and Adoration is necessary and naturally due unto God and proper unto him alone or else our Saviours weapon was but weak that he used to repel one of Satans principal temptations To undervalue the skill of Christ our Captain in the managing of spiritual weapons against the Devil is both blasphemy against God and undermining of the Gospel and the greatest injury to our own Faith But the very strength and force of our Saviours answer to the Devil is couched in this That Spiritual Adoration is proper onely unto God It is written Mar. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve It is written Our Saviour to instruct us uses nothing but Scripture Arguments And where is this written Deut. 6.13 In Deut eronomy wee finde it But the words are thus Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him Our Saviours Argument is never the worse nor the weaker in that hee takes the sense and meaning of the place though hee doth not exactly tye himself to the words To fear God is a more general term and includes Worship under it and when our Saviour is to deal with Satan that would have Worship given to him hee deems it a solid way of reasoning to infer a particular
to turn them to vain inquiries and curious speculations that so if they will be knowing hee may keep them busied about unprofitable curiosities contrary to the saving knowledge taught by the Holy Spirit of God § 6. Five waies Satan promotes Curiosity to prevent saving knowledge First By putting us upon inquiring after those things which God hath not revealed It might prevent many miscarriages in inquisitive curious minds if they had often such handsome jerks as St. Aust in gave him that would needs know what God was doing of before hee created the World hee told him hee was making Hell for such curious inquirers into Gods secrets Secret things belong to God yet the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Labour to fear God and all those secrets that are for our advantage shall be known It 's the greatest folly in the world to endeavour to be wise beyond Gods revealed will Secondly By making us industrious to inquire after those things that nothing concerns us As when any are busying themselves about the Apostasie of the Angels and searching after reasons of the irrecoverableness of their fall and in the mean while neglect salvation offered by Christ for their own lost and undone souls Thirdly By putting us upon the studying after the knowledge of things less necessary As when one should devote and immerse himself wholly in the searching into the circumstances of Worship and the ceremonies of the Church and in the mean while neglect the studying the very Articles of the Covenant of Grace Fourthly By putting us upon studying the more difficult places of Scripture neglecting those that are most for edification When one reads the Revelations of St. John more than his plain Epistles The Devil knows hee is no loser and the curious soul but a little gainer if hee can but perswade him to be alwaies poring upon Daniels Prophesies with a neglect of Davids Psalms If hee can but put him upon reconciling difficult Scriptures and neglect mortifying unruly lusts and the quickening his affections by the plainest Truths Fifthly By making souls not to rest barely in Gods revealed Will without a reason of it and for it How far this Curiosity-hath driven those of the Socinian perswasion may easily be seen by those many gross opinions that are extant in their writings which make many for-bear to own them as Christians It is a very gross failing in the studying of things of God to bring all things down to the measure of humane reason There is reason for us to beleeve it if God sayes it and to practise any thing if wee are assured that God commands it And yet Christianity is so far from stripping men of their reason that no Profession doth put any upon so true an use of it and doth so ennoble the rational faculties of man as the Christian Religion doth The Spirit of God in teaching souls effectually the things of God for their salvation removes this gross impediment of a curious mind and makes plain necessary and most edifying Truths to be most acceptable § 7. II. Suggerendo The Spirit teacheth the Soul by suggesting Gospel Truths unto the soul When the Spirit of God teaches any in order to make them new men it brings new Truths into the minds of men All Old things are done away and all things become new These are called new Truths in regard of the subject receiving of them not in regard of the Spirits suggesting of them for the same Truths are alwaies taught by the Spirit now as were formerly nor in opposition to the Word for so they are not new Truths but such as of old were revealed and declared in the Word The very office of the Spirit in suggesting Truths is restrained by Christ himself to those Truths which our Saviour had formerly taught us I shall shew further from John 14.26 § 11. There may be new suggestions of the Spirit in setting home Divine Truths upon the mind and these are really new to the soul that receives them but they are old Truths of the Word and not new Revelations that the Spirit teaches to beleeving souls and in this sense we are to understand those Scriptures which speak of the teaching of the Spirit of God Yee need not that any man teach you 1 John 2.27 but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth Not that we need not a Ministry but he speaks comparatively you shall not be so helped by any instructions without the Spirit as with the Spirit The Spirit shall declare the Truth as it is in Jesus The Spirit this Holy unction shall teach the Saints all things not all things knowable that is impossible for finite creatures to attain to But The Spirit teaches 1. All things needful for salvation of the Soul 2. All things needful to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1.3 3. All things needful to our places callings and ages 4. All things needful to preserve us in the way of Gospel Truth against errour and seducers which is the main thing St. John hints at in that expression So also in the Gospel of St. John When the Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all truth John 16.13 This promise primarily belongs to the Apostles Secondarily to all Beleevers Three things promised to the Apostles First immediate illumination by the Spirit of God Secondly A full knowledge of all those Truths belonging to their Apostle-ship necessary Truths for them at that juncture of time and as to their Office Thirdly Absolute infallibility as to matter of Doctrine Three things also promised to all Beleevers First Mediate illumination teaching Truths by the Spirit of Truth in the use of the means of Grace Secondly Knowledge of all Truths necessary to salvation Thirdly Infallibility too so far forth as they adhere to the spirit teaching in the Word otherwise Gods dearest Children may be overtaken with errours § 8. III. Illuminando By enlightening the mind There must not onely be an object presented and the light of truth without but a light also within for the mind to see objects that are presented All the light in the world is never able to make us see Divine Truths savingly till wee are enlightened of the Lord. Yee were sometimes darkenesse but now are yee light in the Lord. Ephes 5.8 The Ephesians while unregenerate were meer darkenesse but after conversion they are truly enlightned their eyes are cleared their minds are rightly informed so that now they may be rightly called light in the Lord. This is a light within that wee must own and commend to all viz. Light in the Lord. Light that comes in after darknesse that speaks unregeneracy is expelled wee must walk as Children of this light Light in the Lord None truly enlightned but those that are in Christ Out of Christ the highest light is meer darknesse There is no true light that leads to salvation but what comes from Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse And this