from hence comes in the denial of God's love to the World and Christ's giving himself a Sacrafice for the sins of the World all is to confirm this monstrous Birth with several other things that I could name that flows from it as the effects thereof Obj. Some may say O Sir you are too rash you out run the Bounds of Moderation and your own Principle which is for Moderation and the Gospel-spirit of Love and Peace and besides the Asserters of this Principle intend no such things as you say are included therein but do often declare in other of their Articles to be against Sin and for Holiness Answ 1. I am of the same Mind and have more Charity towards the Persons concerned herein than to think they really intend all that is included in this Principle and therefore shall not say they are Hereticks though the Principles in themselves are as deeply heretical as any can possibly be Answ 2. Their many sayings to the contrary argues either 1. Their ignorance of their own Principles not understanding the true nature and tendency thereof it being truly and really the open door to Rantism At this very door it entred and they have anew set it open again They concluded that God having decreed all things then all acts must be alike good and pleasing to God that there could be no such thing in the World as Sin and indeed if it were true that all things whatsoever come to pass in the World were God's birth by virtue of his eternal Decree then all must be good and the Ranters in the right Religion which far be it from any sober Christian to imagine Or 2. It argues their contradiction for indeed if they held it without contradiction it must needs be the most damnable Principle in the World to assert God to be Author of all things whatsoever by an eternal and immutable Decree and yet pretend some of those things to be evil sinful and damnable and God not to be the Approver thereof yet his own decreed act is the highest contradiction and irreconcilable to it self nor will that vain device any whit help in this matter as before I shewed that the act is God's and so good but the sin is the Creatures till they can either religiously or rationally distinguish between the act and the sin the act being the sin were there no such acts there could be no such sins sin being the transgression of the Law it will stand as the greatest and most irreconcilable contradiction as can be imagined or the greatest Blasphemy that can be against God 3. It being the over-ruling Article stated next to the Being of God All the rest must be understood by this and stoop to it nothing may be understood in the rest that is contrary to this this being the foundation of all and indeed undoeth and contradicteth all the rest at once for all decreed acts are good and so there can be no Sin and so no Judgment and so saith the Principle it self from whence they learned it and as I could name that there is nothing Sin as it is the Decree of God that the things which he decreed are most perfectly good which in it self is a great truth but not that he decreed all things whatsoever come to pass then he decreed things that are perfectly evil which is contradictory neither is there any thing of it self absolutely evil then it must be absolutely good This is the bottom of this horrid and impious Principle of Faith which indeed tends to end all Religion And of this Faith they would insinuate the Reader all sound Christians to be but I know many more and I hope there are moe Congregations and Christians that do abhor it than believe it and they had done well and honestly to have distinguished seeing they could not but know there are more of a contrary Faith in this matter than themselves but that they would have People to believe that they are of the only true sound Faith whereas if there be any Mystery of Iniquity or Apostacy from the true Faith in the World it may be found here seeing none can be worse 4. And as for a supposition of rashness and out-running the Bounds of Moderation and a Gospel-spirit in this matter I say No and I doubt not but it will so appear to unbyassed Persons the depth of the matter being seriously pondered it being not Persons but things I am contending against even spiritual Wickedness in high places It is for the Name of God Christ and the Gospel it is against this God-dishonouring Gospel-destroying Sin-exalting and Soul-undoing Principle of Faith that I am contending I design no wrong to Men but their eternal Good their Repentance But as for this horrid Principle whose birth as is most manifest is from the Prince and Power of Darkness I cannot spare and that it is from Satan and not from above is most apparent For 1. It is not of God What shall we believe that God decreed things that are so absolutely contrary to his Name Nature and holy Word shall we believe that God decreed things which himself calls abominable things which he hates and filthy stinking things Jer. 44. 4. Psal 14. 1 2 3. detestible and abominable things Jer. 16 18. Ezek. 5. 11. and 7. 20. accursed things Josh 7. 13 15. wicked things that provoke him to anger 2 King 17 11. horrible things Jer. 18. 13. and 23. 14. yea things that never came into the heart of God to have done Jer. 7. 31. I say shall we believe that God decreed all these things it 's a Faith to be abhorred of all serious Christians it turning the whole Book of God into a lye 2. As it is not of God so it is immoral and never came from the Light of Nature that hath more honourable thoughts of God than to father all the wicked acts of Men upon God himself we may truly say as Jer. 18. 13. Ask ye now among the Heathen who hath heard such things the Virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing Therefore it must needs be from the Prince and Power of Darkness thus to belye the Lord it being contrary to the holy Name Nature and Word of God and an abhorrency to the Law and Light of Nature And therefore I cannot spare this impious Principle of Absolute Reprobation of the World by an immutable Decree before it was made as if God had made the World for no other end but by an eternal Decree to sin and be damned I would shame yea set fire on this impious Principle even the fire of the Word and Spirit of Truth to the end if possible this prodigious monster with all its impious concomitants might be fired and frighted out of the World and returnd to its place and never be named among Men any more especially as an Article of Christian Faith I would if I might give it its deaths wound that there might be no need of another stroke
A CONFESSION OF FAITH Published on special occasion WHEREIN Is contained the Substance of the most material Principles of the Gospel and Christian Faith in contradistinction to the Errors and Heresies by some held and maintained in opposition thereunto Whereunto is annexed A POSTSCRIPT with brief Animadversions on some things contained in a Confession of Faith lately published in the name of the Elders and Brethren of many Congregations in London and the Countrey Written by THOMAS COLLIER 〈◊〉 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak 〈…〉 according to this Word it is because there is no light in them Tim. 3. 8 9. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth Men of corrupt minds reprobate or of no judgment concerning the faith But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1678. A Confession of Faith I. Concerning God 1. I Believe that there is one only true God the Great Almighty one who hath his Being in and of himself and hath given Being unto all things the great Creator and Preserver of all things Deut. 6. 4. Isa 4. 21. 2 Cor. 8. 6. Gen. 1. 1. Act. 17. 24 to 28. That he is an Infinite Spirit most Holy Wise Just Merciful and Faithful Joh. 4. 24. 1 Sam. 2. 2. Isa 6. 3. Psal 147. 5. Isa 40. 28. Deut. 32. 4. Zeph. 3. 5. Exod. 34. 6. Mic. 7. 8. Tit. 3. 4. Deut. 7 9. Tit. 1. 2. Eternal and Omnipresent in all Places Deut. 33. 27. Isa 57. 15. Psal 139. 7 to 12. 2. Yet I do believe according to his Word that his most glorious Habitation Dwelling-place and Throne is in Heaven Isa 57. 15. and 66. 1. 3. I do believe that God made Man upright in his own Image and that by Sin he fell from that Estate into an Estate of Sin and Death Eccl. 7. 29. Gen. 1. 27. and 3. 17 18 19. Rom. 5. 12. 4. I do believe as the great foundation-principle of Truth and of Faith that God loved the World in the gift of his Son Joh. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 4. 14. which was the only means and way designed of God for the recovery of Man out of his faln Estate Gen. 3. 15. and 22. 18. Act. 4. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. 5. As I do believe that God is so do I believe that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him this being one special Article of the Christian Faith Heb. 11 6. II. Concerning Christ Jesus our Lord. 1. That he is the Son of God and the Son of Man truly God and Man made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh Rom. 1. 3 4. conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary according to the Scriptures Isa 17. 14. Jer. 31. 22. Mat. 1. 22 23. 2. That he was begotten known and realized in his whole Person by the Father before Time both God and Man as he was made Flesh and dwelt among us in Time yet his Humanity not in Being till made Flesh of the Seed of David Heb. 1. 6. Col. 1. 15. and therefore he is said to come out from God and down from Heaven Joh. 3. 13. and 6. 51 62. and 16. 28 30. and 17. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 47. Eph. 4. 9 11. and that it was he by whom all things were made Joh. 1. 1 2 3 10. and that the Father Son and Spirit are in nature and essence one yet in office and relative properties and operations are three and yet an unity in nature and concent in Will and Work Joh. 5. 17 19. 3. That after he had finished the Work he had to do in the World by which he declared himself to be the Son and sent of God the Messiah promised Joh. 5. 36. and 10. 25. and 17. 4. and 20 30 31. according to the great love of the Father and the end for which he sent him into the World he gave himself a Sin and Peace-offering to God the Father for the sins of the World Joh. 1. 29. and 6. 51. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Heb. 1. 1. 1 Joh. 2. 2. and as an effect thereof hath sent forth the Gospel of his Grace by commission to be preached to the World that whoever do believe and obey him therein may have the saving Benefits thereof Mar. 16. 15 16. and that the Father and the Son in this wonderful transaction had real love to the World therein and hated none That when God is said to hate any it is because of Sin and not as his Creatures that in this sense he is good to all Psal 145. 9. and seeks to save them from their sins Joh. 3. 16 17 18 19. and that Jesus Christ crucified is the only Foundation of Christian Faith and not in the divine Nature only 1 Cor. 3. 11. and 2. 2. The Reasons why I believe this general love of God and Christ to the World in this wonderful Gospel-undertaking are 1. Because the Scripture saith it and if I should not so believe I should as many others do make God and Christ Lyars which is the great and damning sin 1 Joh. 5. 10. with Mark 16. 15 16. But he that believeth the testimony that God hath given of his Son hath set to his Seal that God is true Joh. 3. 33. 2. Because the denial hereof rooteth up the foundation of Gospel-preaching there being three things that God hath set in unity in this matter that Man may not put asunder without nulling the whole design of God in the Gospel viz. of Gospel-preaching of Life to the World on the terms thereof First The general love of God to the World in the gift of his Son Joh. 3. 16 17. Secondly And sutable to this general Love of God to the World is Christ giving himself a Sacrifice for the sins of the World Joh. 6. 51. The Sacrifice must be as large as the Fathers love else it answers not his Will and End in giving his Son Heb. 10. 7. Thirdly Sutable to this general Love and general Sacrifice is the general Commission for publishing thereof to the World that so they might understand and believe this Love and be saved Mar. 16. 15 16. These three are as large one as the other and stand in unity take away the general Love of the Father and the general Sacrifice of the Son and the general Commission ceaseth it being grounded on the two former so that deny the two first and it ends Gospel-preaching 3. As an Effect because the denial hereof rooteth up the Foundation of Gospel-Faith for if the Foundation of Gospel-preaching be removed then Gospel-Faith must cease it being no part of the Doctrine of the Gospel that Christ was a Sacrifice only for a few it can be no part of Gospel-Faith so to believe if it were the Doctrine of the Gospel must give a very
Secondly What ever the Divine Decree might be in this matter is not material for proof of the thing asserted if we should suppose that God decreed them to do it without respect had to any condition in them as the cause thereof which can never be proved Yet it being so great a Mystery of Grace and that on which the Life of the World depended I shall choose rather to lose my self in this Mysterious Decree leaving it to God alone than from this Example and bottomless Mystery to draw up so impious a Conclusion that God hath from his own Will from all Eternity determined by an immutable Decree all the wickedness both of Devils and Men that ever hath been is or shall be in the World And as for the Scriptures referr'd to for proving God's ordering all things by his Providence for the accomplishing of his Decrees relative to the sins of both Angels and Men Providence powerfully over-ruleth all things for the accomplishment thereof 2 King 19. 28. Ps 76. 10. the prudent may easily discern how far wide it is from proving this matter And as for Rom. 9. 15 18 22 23. so frequently referr'd to I have I suppose before said enough to discover their fallacy in so applying thereof viz. to understand these several sayings of the Apostle contrary to the whole volumn of the Book of God and contrary to the very Name Nature and Truth of God must needs be very impious and very probably these may be some of the hard things to be understood written by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle mentioned 2 Pet. 3. 15 16. which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest to their own destruction So that this Principle not only abuseth God in his Decrees to decree all sinful actions but likewise in his Providence and Government in powerfully over-ruling and ordering all things and to so bad an end and abusing the holy Scripture for proof thereof 2. As it 's unscriptural and so belieth God so its impious laying all the sins and wickedness in the World both of Devils and Men at God's door for if he hath decreed all and that not by a bare permission but wisely and powerfully ordereth it to his own ends there is then no avoiding it but the Decree must be accomplished So that by this Doctrine all the sins in the World are committed by the unchangeable Decree of God and powerful over-ruling Providence in order thereunto And so as an effect hereof all the Judgments and Plagues threatned and inflicted in this Life and that which is to come as a punishment of sin flows from the eternal and immutable Decree of God and so impossible by any means to be prevented which is most impious to imagin and contrary to the Scripture Jer. 18. 7 8. Isa 55. 6 7. Thirdly It renders God to take pleasure in the Sin and Judgment of his Creatures for in the accomplishing of his own free immutable Will must be his supream and absolute pleasure that which he hath immutably determined being done must needs be well pleasing to him So that it renders God to take pleasure in the Sin and Judgment of Men contrary to his own word 1. For Sin he hateth it and therefore decreed it not Pro. 6. 16 to 19. Jer. 44 4. â— 2. And for Judgment he pitieth poor sinners who wilfully expose themselves thereunto Hos 11. 8 9. Luk. 19. 41 42 43 44. Lam. 3. 33. He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Therefore he decreed it not any otherwise than as a punishment for Sin which might by repentance have been avoided Jer. 18. 8. So that it not only renders God by his Eternal Decree to be the first cause of all the Sin of all the Hatred Wrath Murders Adulteries Drunkenness Treasons Idolatries Witchcrafts and Rebellions in the World and so of all the Judgments which are the effect thereof but that it s well pleasing and delightful to him it being the effect of his eternal and unchangeable Decree which is contrary to his word most and impious to imagine Fourthly It 's that which renders God to be contradictory and inconsistent to himself and uncertain in any part of his Word and Will to Men it renders it full of contradiction to command one thing and hath decreed the contrary to command Men to believe repent and be holy and hath decreed the contrary hath decreed all the Wickedness and Abominations in the World and yet commands the contrary and will damn people for breach of his Commands which himself decreed from all eternity that they should not keep which is most impious to imagine Fifthly And so it renders his Word which is his absolute revealed Will to Men to be incredible and so destroyeth the ground of Faith which is the truth and faithfulness of God in his Word for if it were true that he commands one thing and hath decreed another directly contrary to it by the same rule and reason may he promise one thing when he hath decreed the contrary especially all his Promises being on condition of doing his Precepts and if his Decrees be contrary to his Precepts so may they be contrary to his Promises and so there be no truth neither in his Precepts nor his Promises and it lays a foundation for to teach people so to believe and therefore its most impious to be imagined Sixthly It 's that which renders the most wicked and vile to be the truest and best Servants of God for 1st If this were true they do his Will most freely and naturally and such are reputed to be his best Servants whereas as is by them confest Believing Repenting and Obeying the Lord in his revealed Will is hard and difficult and is attended at best with many weaknesses and sometimes in some things unwillingness whereas the others serve him in his absolute decreed Will most freely and voluntarily 2. They serve him most perfectly answering his decreed Will in all things whereas the Saints are attended with many failings and coming short in service the others not and therefore must needs be the best Sarvants of God if this Doctrine were true which is most impious to imagine Seventhly It 's that which renders God in his eternal Will to take more pleasure in sin and wickedness than in holiness in that he hath decreed so much sin and wickedness to be in the World and so little holiness which is most impious to imagine Eightly It 's that which renders God to love Judgment more than Mercy having from his own Will freely decreed so much Sin Judgment and Damnation to the World and so little Mercy and Salvation to Men which is contrary to his Word and Oath Exod. 34. 6 7. Ezek. 33. 11. Joh. 3. 16. and is therefore most impious to imagine Ninthly It 's that which tends to end all Christian Religion in the World for if God Command one thing and hath Decreed another it leaves us at a loss in all things no Man
knows when he doth his Will and when not He commands all Men every where to repent yet by this Doctrine hath decreed the Sin and Damnation of almost all the World he commands to pray for all Men yet hath decreed the Sin and Damnation of almost all Men. It rationally ends all repentance for Sin all reproofs for Sin all blamings of Men for Sin none can be reproveable for any of their actions either Saints or Sinners their works being all decreed of old it 's all the holy Will of God If his decreed Will be holy then the keeping thereof must be holy and so no such thing as Sin in the World and so it necessarily turns all those sayings in Scripture that manifest God's displeasure against Sin into a lie as that he is angry with the wicked every day Psal 7. 11. Yea and angry and sometimes very angry with his own People because of Sin Deut. 1. 31. and 9. 20. Psal 74. 1. which if Sin be the effecting of his absolute decreed Will it 's impossible to be true that he should be angry with any for doing his freely decreed Will So that this Principle leaves no room for any Religion and therefore is most impious Tenthly If God immutably determined all sinful acts it lays a foundation for Rantism Atheism and all manner of filthiness and prophaneness in the World And indeed had I met with such a Principle from the Ranters I should not have marvelled it being the foundation of their practice viz. that all is the decreed Will of God and therefore all is alike good and so no such thing as Sin in the World this being the foundation of so horrid a building it is most impious to assert or imagine Eleventhly It 's that which renders God to be worse to Men than the Devil and that both in respect to Sin and Punishment 1. Of Sin the Devil can but tempt unto it and may be resisted Jam. 4. 7. but the eternal Decree of God is irresistible that must be done 2. The Devil can by temptation but endeavour by sin to fit Men for Judgment but by this Doctrine the eternal immutable Decree hath destinated the world both to Sin and Judgment without all hope or possible help which if the Devil believed which with-out doubt he dos not but knows the contrary it would make him a very sluggard his work being already effected by eternal Decree he need not go about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour if all were devoured by the eternal and irrefistible Decree which were it true O Wo to the World that they have such a God! which is most impious to imagine And as for what they say that God does not force any to sin but leaves them to the liberty of their wills helps not for the Decree must be effected Twelfthly And finally as an effect of all It strikes a deadly blow to the whole Name Nature and Being of God as opened to us both in his Word and by his Works As 1. In his Holiness that he is most holy that Holy and Reverent is his name that he loveth Righteousness and hateth Sin and Wickedness and hateth nothing else but Sin and for Sins sake but this asserts all the unholiness sins and wickedness in the World both of Devils and Men to be his birth from all eternity by an eternal and immutable Decree 2. In his Goodness and Mercy to Men the Scripture testifieth that he is good to all that he loved the World in the gift of his Son but this kills this Doctrine of Goodness and Mercy to the World asserting the Sin and Judgment of the World established by an immutable Decree before the World was which renders the great design of God in the Creation to be the Sin and Judgment of the World without all hope or help and in sending his Son to effect the same which is most impious to imagine 3. In his Justice The Scripture saith that all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. But this fastens on him the greatest injustice imaginable to determine Men by a forcible and irresistible Decree before they were to sin against his Law that so he might take Justice on them Which likewise asmuch derogates from his Wisdom in finding no more righteous a way to magnify his Justice than by enforcing Men to sin by an irresistible Decree and over-ruling Providence in order thereunto that so Justice might take place upon them What such a thing would be accounted among Men I need not speak But here it will be objected That God is under no Law his own Will is his Law and whatever he willeth is good and righteous and therefore what have we to do to question his Will and Work or to say unto him what doest thou Rom. 9. 14 to 22. hath enough in it to confirm this and to stop all Mouths in this matter Answ 1. It 's true the Will of God is his Law and whatever he wills is just and right Yet 2. It behoves us to understand that such is the holiness of his Nature and Name that he can will nothing which is contrary thereunto And 3. That such is his Truth and Faithfulness that he never did nor can will any thing that is contrary to his Word Rom. 3. 3 4. Tit. 1. 2. That though he be under no Law of Mans making yet he is under the Law of his own Name and Nature of his own revealed Word and Will and those who say otherwise end all ground of Faith and Religion And as for Rom. 9. I have said enough to that already it not relating to his eternal Decrees but his present actings towards Men in way of Judgment for former Iniquity and otherwise to understand it is contrary to the Name Nature and Truth of God in his Word and therefore is impious so to imagine 4. And it strikes as deeply at the Truth and Faithfulness of God in his Word which presents us with his being good to all and with his love to all in which he sweareth that he hath no pleasure in the death of the Wicked but this gives him the lye in all asserting an eternal Decree both of Sin and Death before the World was But let God be true and every Man a Lyar in this matter Thus have I endeavoured though very briefly to open this great Mystery of Iniquity and had it not been stated as a Foundation-Principle of Faith though tending to end all Faith and clothed in so fine a dress as making so much for the exaltation of God in his Name and for the consolation of Christians had at present said nothing to it and all arising from and as the effects of that untimely born Monster Absolute Reprobation of the World by an immutable Decree before ever it had a Being And from hence as the Reprobation was decreed so must the Sin to make the Reprobation certain and sure and
it having filled the World with iniquity and contention for many generations if it might now have its end God will have the Glory and Men the advantage Thus according to the advice therein having as prudently as I could and according to the best light and understanding that God hath given me herein considered and pondered this matter and have herein given a very brief account thereof to the intent that it may be a word of warning to all to beware of being corrupted thereby and that the asserters thereof may speedily repent and blot it out of their Creed and I pray the Lord to grant them Grace so to do Amen If any should be inquisitive to know my thoughts about the eternal Decrees and Providence of God I Answer 1. My desire is not to have any thoughts of God or of his Decrees but such as are holy and honourable to his Name which that it may so be 2. I dare not think of any Decree in God that is contrary to his holy Name and Nature nor in it self distinct from sin as the cause contrary to the good of Men nor contrary to his holy Word his revealed Will and Law of Grace to Men if I should I must therein make null and void all his Word or at best render it uncertain and so no ground or rule of Faith 3. That his revealed Will both in his Precepts Promises and Threats is his decreed Will opened revealed and made known to Men in his Word Act. 20. 20 27. 4. That all his own Works of Creation Preservation Redemption by Jesus Christ and effecting the Restitution and World to come with all the means tending thereunto was decreed by him Act. 15. 18. Ephes 1. 11. but not all nor any of the Sins of Men. 5. That there is nor never was any secret Decree or Will in God contrary to his revealed Word and Will made known to Men in which our safety is assured Mal. 3. 6. 6. That it 's my concern to desire and endeavour to know his revealed Will and it to believe and live to him therein assuring my self there is no secret Will in God that is contrary thereunto Deut. 29. 29. But I believe it to be an Abomination to be abhorred to believe that all the actions of Angels and Men are the conception and birth of the eternal Decree of God All that is good being of and from God and all the evil acts of Sin being of and from the Devil and Men themselves and the evil of punishment from God as the just and righteous reward of punishment or wages of Sin 2. And as concerning Providence 1. That God by his Providence ordereth and governeth all things well and that Afflictions come not to pass by chance or fortune as Men usually understand it but by the over-ruling hand of Providence Job 5. 6. and that by the same over-ruling Providence all the afflictions of his People shall work for their good Rom. 8. 28. And that though God decreed not the sinful acts of any no not the Jews crucifying Christ nor Judas betraying him nor Joseph's Brethren selling him to Aegypt yet he foreseeing they would do it left them to the libertiy of their own wills in the matter and by over-ruling Providence brings about his own designes thereby to his own praise but that Providence hath an over-ruling hand in the Sins of Men for accomplishing thereof according to his eternal Decree any otherwise than by bare permission and over-ruling thereof as before I said I protest against as most unholy to imagine To conclude Let the Reader prove all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5. 21. Rom. 12. 9. Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good Phil. 4. 8. Finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things FINIS These Books following have been lately printed for the Author Thomas Collier 1. THE Body of Divinity or a Confession of Faith being the Substance of Christianity containing the most material things relating both to matters of Faith and Practice 2. An Additional Word to the Body of Divinity being the Substance of Christianity added on special occasion about the Doctrine of Election Universal and special Grace Being an Essay for Peace and Union amongst all the Sons and Daughters of Peace 3. A sober and moderate Answer to Nehemiah Cox's Invective pretended Refutation as he saith of the gross Errors and Heresies asserted by Thomas Collier in his Additional VVord VVherein his Refutation is examined and found too light