tempter of the man as was in originall sinne There is an impression from the mother to the children in her wombe of which impression this sinne buddeth as tinder taketh fire which is not fire it selfe this impression children draw as they do naturall diseases as stone gout not the actuall griefes but impressions which are the beginnings of them Though the soule be not in the seed yet is there in it a dispositive vertue of the body for the receiving of the soule which when it is put into the body it conformed in his manners thereunto hence it is that one angry man begetteth another one harty man another for though the feet which is the subject of the gout be not in the head nor the soule which is the subject of anger be not in the seed a formative vertue of the naturall members and a dispositive vertue unto the soule The soule is at one instant both created and united unto the body and deprived of the grace of the spirit which Adam had for all and lost for all as actuall sinne is done by the persons sinning so originall sinne is the sinne of nature done by the will of the beginning of humane nature for as one man hath many members so one mankind hath many persons and as one actuall sinne done by the hand and not the reason of the guilt from the will of the hand but from the whole heart from which as from a fountaine the motions of sinne are derived unto the members so from the will of Adam which was the beginning of mankind the whole inordination of nature hath the reason of guilt and as actuall sinne which is the sinne of the person is drawne unto all the members by some personall act so originall is drawne unto all men by naturall act which is generation and as humane nature is drawne by gnneration so the defect of humane nature is drawne also yet this rather of Gods ordination than of mans generation 1 Cor. 15.22 Originall sinne remaineth in the baptized and in the regenerate and in their posterity Rom. 7.22 and man begetteth children not by the spirit but by the flesh and therefore hee draweth not the spirit but the flesh Joh. 1.13 Ps. 51.7 yet hath not Originall sinne so great degree and efficacie in the regenerate as in the wicked The parts of this native sinne are foure first in respect of the mind want of understanding a ready inclination to doubt of God and his will Secondly in respect of the will a ready inclination to take hold on and to performe evill Thirdly in respect of the affections a prone inclination to too much or to too little as inordinate anger love and the like Fourthly in respect of the appetite a pronenesse to immoderatenesse as meat drinke venery c. Actuall sinne is that which floweth from the originall and that which is so properly called is the difference from Gods Lawes unrighteousnesse or disorder of the action from the Law and Will of God The unrighteousnesse of actions must be discerned from the actions and motions themselves as defects from effects as a man goeth halting his halting as it is a moving of the body or naturall is good as it is a lame imperfect or wrong moving it is evill against nature Actuall sinnes are all actions inward and outward contrary to Gods law in the will thoughts purposes demises desires and in the outward members all our actions aberring from Gods law Sinne leaving a spot or staine in the soule as the Leopards spoâ— in the skin Jer. 13.23 Sinne distinguished by the causes are either ignorance as Pauls persecuting the Church or of infirmity as Peter through feare and trouble of mind denyed Christ and 3. of malice as Judas betrayed Christ 4. of negligence when a man is not wary of Sathans subtilties Against ignorance is opposed the revelation of Gods will to man against infirmity the strengthning of the spirit to withstand the assaults of the flesh the world and the Devill against malice is the changing of the stony heart into flesh against negligence is true and holy feare in the hearts of the Saints Actions are twofold 1 Inward 2 Outward Inward of the mind and appetite Actuall sinne of the minde is an unrighteousnesse of mans thoughts as doubtings of God false opinions evill imaginations Jer. 10.24 Psal. 14.2 3. Actuall sinne of the appetite is the inordinatenesse of the motions of it called concupiscence Jam. 1.14 Concupiscence remaineth in the regenerate Rom. 7.1 The first motions of concupiscence or lust are sinne though there be not a full assent of the will Outward sinnes are the unlawfulnesse of and unorderlinesse in outward actions as in false worshipping of God swearing killing stealing lying whoring and the like Sinne is pardonable or unpardonable sinne unpardonable is the sinne against the Holy Ghost other sins are pardonable not of their owne nature properly but of Gods mercy against whom they are done The sin against the Holy Ghost is the denying of the faith and truth which was once acknowledged and this done of meere presumption and contemned unto the end without repentance Mat. 12.24 Heb. 6. 1 Joh. 5. This sinne is onely in the reprobates Againe sinne either raigneth or raigneth not raigning sinne is that which is against manifest conscience that the sinner doth please himselfe with it or at least doth not repent for it Ro. 6.12 He that committeth sinne is of the devill that is with will and delight falleth into it and continueth in it Not raigning sinne is for which the sinner is sorry and repenteth Actuall sinne imperfectly so called is sinne of omission not doing in respect of our duty to God men our selves Mat. 25. I was an hungry c. Sinne against negative Commandements as not to preserve life chastity good name when a man can or against an affirmative precept as when one curseth his parents are sinnes of omission The punishment of sinne comes now to be handled touching the Angels that sinned whom God spared not but cast them downe into hell and delivered into chaines of darknesse to be kept unto damnation 2 Pet. 2.4 Jud. 6. for overthrowing of mankind Gods wrath was heavy against Satan and his kingdome was threatned to be destroyed and his head crushed Gen. 3. Touching the serpent Satans instrument there was a curse above all other beasts creeping on his belly eating of dust and enmity betweene mankind and him Touching the punishment of Adam and his wife 1 there was a perceiving with shame of their nakednesse 2 Sorrow and paine in diseases and in labour 3 Griefe of mind and pricke of conscience Gen. 3. Adams punishment in speciall labour and sweat The womans punishment in speciall sorrow of child-bearing Their outward punishment casting out of Paradise The punishment layd on all mankind was in respect of the mind and of the body Punishments in respect of the mind are
God foreknew before all eternity for all things are of God and his ordering and hee being infinite his understanding admitteth no distinction of time he hath all objects alwayes present Gods knowledge is certaine and infallible so as it is not possible things should fall out otherwise than he knew for hee hath his knowledge from himselfe not from the creatures Gods fore-knowledge imposeth no necessity upon the events Gods vertues in respect of his will are bounty and justice Bounty is that by which out of love God procureth to every creature the good thereof and it is common and particular common bounty is towards all creatures even such as offend him directing them to their naturall good and sustaining them therein so long as justice suffereth Luk. 6.36 God cannot hate his creatures as his workes for so they carry a similitude of God the first cause and none can hate himselfe or his similitude for a similitude is something of himselfe Gods bounty to his creatures presupposeth not any debt or duty which implyeth imperfection and if God were bound to his creatures he should depend on them and be imperfect Gods bounty which is infinite giveth creatures good things of nature of soule and body and of outward things Such is Gods bounty as the creatures suffer no evill unlesse Gods justice require it or a greater good confirme it of this vertue God is called patient and long suffering Particular or speciall bounty is that whereby God loved some men in Christ fallen into sinne and furthereth them to eternall salvation Gods speciall bounty is the first beginning both of salvation and of the meanes thereto This bounty is no inherent quality in us but wee are the object of it it is a grace making us gratefull not finding us so Gods Justice is a vertue by which he executeth his love to reasonable creatures giving rewards to the obedient and punishment to the obstinate Gen 18.24 Gods Justice is essentiall and unchangeable as hee cannot of his bounty forgive the creatures punishment unlesse his justice be satisfied Gods vertue in respect of his understanding and will together is truth or veracity whereby he so manifesteth himselfe to the reasonable creature both by words signes and workes as indeed hee is Revel. 15.3 God hath in himself the patterne of all true things so that whatsoever in the creature is true is so because of the first truth in the mind of God Truth in God is essentiall and so unchangeable but truth in man is contingent and so changeable Seeing Gods truth is essentiall his testimony must needs be authenticke Hither of Gods vertue now follow their acts that is the exercise the applications of these vertues to the manifestation of his glory Gods actions are either the decreeing of things or the execution of the decree Gods decree purpose or counsell is his purpose of exercising operations about the creatures and of decreeing them unto their end God worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will Act. 4.28 Whatsoever God doth in time that hee did decree to doe from all eternity even as hee doth it The execution of the decree is an act whereby Gods counsell and purpose is shewed forth and applyed to the creatures by an effectuall operation Eph. 1.11 This is either first or arising of the first Gods first operation or execution of the decree is the creation of the world Gen. 1.1 Creation is the first perfect making of all things pure and good so the originall word importeth Gen. 1.1 Creation is of two sorts Immediate Mediate Immediate creation is the making things of meere nothing Heb. 11.3 Mediate creation is the making of things of some former matter but that matter so rude as that it is no better than nothing so God created man of the dust of the earth Gen. 2.7 Creation proceedeth from an infinite power and therefore excludeth all necessary matters for though God made man of the dust of the earth yet did he this not of necessity but could have made him also of nothing If God needed any matter to worke upon his power were not infinite but should depend on another thing and not be absolute The creation of the world was distinguished by the space of sixe dayes in respect of the effects and whole world created and for our better capacity And for as much as God is above all time and of infinite power it is to be thought hee created every thing particular in a moment saying Let there be light and there was light Gen. 1.3 In the first day were created the heavens and the earth and matter mixt together and light Gen. 1.1 2. Angels Job 38.7 minerals and pretious stones In the second day was the out-spread firmament or heaven the division of waters above from the waters beneath Gen. 1.6 7 8. The heavens are threefold 1 The Aire wherein are the clouds and the fowles fly called thereupon the clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 and The fowles of Heaven Psal. 88. 2 The higher place wherein are set the Sunne Moone and Starres Gen. 1.17 3 The highest heavens where Gods glory is most manifest and the Angels attend upon his Majesty Mat. 6.9 hereupon Paul mentioneth the third heaven 2 Cor. 11.2 This seemeth to be made the first day and the Angels the inhabitants therein Gen. 1.1 Job 38.6 7. The division of the waters was such that some remained below with the earth some as the watery vapors were lift up above the heavens that is above the lower region of the aire wherein they congeale and after dissolve into raine snow and dew In the third day was a twofold worke first gathering of the nether waters into one place or sea that the dry land might appeare Secondly the bringing forth of herbes and trees Gen. 1.9 10 11 12 13. In the fourth day was made the Sunne Moone and Starres to give light on the earth and to be for signes and seasons Gen. 1.14 In the fifth day was a twofold worke first fishes secondly fowles Gen. 1.22 23. In the sixt day was a twofold worke first beasts of all sorts secondly men Gen. 1.24 25 26. Man as touching his body was made of the dust of the earth to admonish him to humiliation his soule was imbreathed of God The woman as touching her body was made of Adams ribbe to admonish man and wife of their conjunction her soule being also imbreathed Man besides naturall gifts had also superiority and carrieth Gods Image whereof more hereafter This whole creation God hath so compact together as that it is one world environed about with the heavens neither have wee ground in Gods Word nor in reason to thinke there are more Worlds than this one The world is knit together by the severall parts the heavens to the fire the fire to the aire aire to the Water water to the earth so
that it is not possible to find any empty place The figure of the world is round The perfection of the world consisteth in the parts and degrees perfection of parts is such as God sufficiently furnisheth the world with variety of creatures for his glory perfection of degrees is such as that all creatures have such force and vertue as may serve to Gods glory conservation of the world and use of man The beauty of the world is the wonderfull propertie shape and colour which appeareth in all things the perpetuall succession of things by generation that plants and living things dying are yet continued The causes of creating the world were first his love towards us Secondly the shewing forth of his glory Thirdly the fulfilling of his decree The end that God may be knowne and honoured of his creatures The use for men generally all specially the elect The seaventh day God made a Sabbath of rest and of it are to be noted three things 1 Gods resting from creating 2 His blessing it above other dayes 3 His sanctifying it for the use of the Church Chiefest creatures which God created were Angels and men in whom hee imprinted his owne divine Image Angels were created of God Psal. 148.1 5. Col. 1.16 Although it be uncertaine what day they were created yet it may be probably supposed on the first day Angels are spirits finite and compleat they are finite as all other creatures are and so differ from God the infinite and uncreated spirit and they are compleat and full and so subsisting of themselves and therein differ from the soules of men which are incompleat and Essentiall parts of man Angels are in nattre more excellent than men and therefore the most excellent creatures they are called the sonnes of God therefore were created in holinesse and truth the Image of God The bodies wherein Angels sometimes appeared were not essentially united with them as mens bodies be but were assumed for a time though it be uncertaine whereof they were made The end why they were created was first to praise and celebrate Gods glory Psal. 148.2 3. Job 38.6 7. Secondly to execute his Commandements Psal. 103.20 Thirdly to observe and conserve the creatures Psal. 91.11 Therefore Angels are mighty Psal. 103.20 they are swift and nimble and so fly in their administration they execute Gods will with all readinesse and cheerfulnesse They are wise of great understanding 2 Sam. 14.20 they are by nature mutable can change from good to evill as they that sinned are an example Jud. 6. Man the excellentest of all earthly creatures was made both male and female in the image of God Gen. 5.1 2 3. Gods Image in man was the understanding and mind of man so as he had the full right cleare and orderly knowledge of all things created of God and of God himselfe so farre as concerned mans happinesse this is manifest by Adams naming of all creatures and by the restoring of Gods Image in us by Christ which is in all wisedome and spirituall understanding Col. 1.9 Gods Image was in the will the perfection whereof was such as it had a right inclination and appetite to that which was good and a free execution of the appetite or a free will without impediment inward or outward Eph. 4.24 God Image was in the affections as the sensitive desires of nature eating drinking generation in love hatred that these are mere conformable to truth reason and holinesse Eph. 4.24 Gods Image was in the body of man in that it was perfectly framed and disposed in the parts not subject to death or disease his stature upright his proportion most exact his colour amiable have nothing whereof to be ashamed these admirable parts and members also shadowing Gods vertues as the eye Gods all-seeing the tongue Gods Word the hand his Almighty power The soule carrieth an image of the unity of the Godhead and trinity of persons in that there is one soule with three faculties of understanding will and memory the whole man carrieth Gods Image in that he had the rule and soveraignty over all the earth Gen. 1.28 Psal. 8. The end of the Image of God in man was the glory of the Creator and the unseparable joy and delight of man in his owne similitude and union with God Psal. 17.51 Gen. 2.25 19.20 The place where man was set with this image of God upon him was the Garden of Eden or of pleasure commonly called Paradise Gen. 2.8 This Garden seemeth by the description thereof and the rivers therein to have beene about Mesopotamia or Babylon Gen. 2. In this Garden watered with a goodly river God caused to grow every tree pleasant to the eye and good for meat Gen. 2.9 The tree of knowledge of good and evill was forbidden man to eate upon the paine of assured death by eating whereof man should know the difference betweene evill and Good and how heavie a thing it was to disobey the Commandements of God The tree of life was a Sacramentall tree confirming and assuring man of Gods grace favour and conservation in life for ever Gen. 2.9 Rev. 2.7 In all likelihood this Garden of Paradise which is now no where to be found was defaced by Noahs flood untill which time it was kept and warded by Cherubins that men may seeke the paradise which is in the highest heavens Gen. 3.24 2 Cor. 12.4 Luk. 23.43 In the Paradise man was imployed first to serve God his Creator procure his owne eternall blisse whereunto hee was fitted with freedome of will for perfect obedience according to the tenor of the covenant of workes Secondly to dresse and till the garden This covenant of workes graven in mans heart as may be gathered by Gen. 3.8 4.6 Rev. 2.14.16 was sealed with two Sacramentall trees the first the tree of life assuring life and glory if hee obeyed the second of knowledge assuring death if hee transgressed hitherto of the creation of the world now followeth the conservation and government of the same Unto the conservation of the world pertaineth first the knowledge of God which is such as he exactly and fully discerneth all things what they are of what sort what they can doe and what shall become of them in the end for from the beginning of the world he knoweth all his workes Gods knowledge is not onely in generall but of every particular and of their severall actions words and thoughts Psal. 139.2 3 4. It reacheth to smallest and vilest creatures Mat. 10.30 As God knoweth so he willeth and appointeth all things concerning the creatures Jer. 25.5 6 7. Gods Will and appointment extendeth also to beasts and the vilest creatures Mat. 10.29 God manifesteth not all his will concerning his creatures and his dealing with them Mat. 24.36 so then Gods revealed will and his secret will are not opposite but onely members and degrees of will Gods will is 1 Absolute 2
Absolution from sinne is not sufficient to salvation unlesse there be also a restoring or putting on of good called Sanctificatâ—on Heb. 12.14 As Election is the peculiar worke of the Father Eph. 1.3 4. Redemption of the Sonne 1 Joh. 2.1 2. so Sanctification is the proper worke of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 Christ by his obedience and death hath merited for us the gift of sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1.30 This he hath merited with God who for his Sonnes sake giveth us the Spirit Gal. 4.6 Our Sanctification hath two parts 1 the putting off the old which is corrupt through the deceiveable lust 2 the putting on the new man which is after God created in righteousnesse and true holinesse The putting off the old man is the subduing breaking and abolishing of the sinfull disposition and inclination that is in our nature 1 Pet. 4.5 and of it there be two parts 1 Death 2 Buriall of the old man Death or mortification is an actuall effect of the application of Christs death by the holy Ghost to our nature whereby our corruption or body of sin receiveth a deadly wound is feebled and dyeth daily Buriall is the going forward of death and is an effect of the application of Christs buriall by the Spirit whereby the old man our body of sinne is more and more corrupted and as it were rotted in the grave Rom. 6.4 Putting on the new man is when wee take againe Godf habits and disposition to vertue and it is called the rising or the quickning of the new man which is an effect of the application by the Spirit of Christs resurrection whereby inherent holinesse is begunne and by degrees continually increased Rom. 6.4 Thus Christs death buriall and resurrection is to us 1 A gift of justification Rom. 5.15.18 2 A power to mortifie and quicken us Eph. 1.19 20. and 2.1 5 6. And an example or type to follow in â—â—r course of life 1 Pet. 2.21 The 〈…〉 The justified â— understanding 〈◊〉 will 3 The 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 is 〈…〉 By teaching and 〈…〉 necessary knowledge 〈…〉 Gods favour to the 〈…〉 4.17 Rom 5.5 3 By confirming us in the 〈◊〉 of perseveraâ—ce and eternall life 2 Cor. 1.22 The will is 〈…〉 by making 〈◊〉 and ready Right when the will is inclined and carried in a straight course to that which is good rightly knowne 〈◊〉 when there 〈…〉 and faculty to follow and to the good â—â—rehended and hee 〈…〉 〈…〉 when our desires of meats drinks and other things that wee lust after are moderated according to Gods Law and reason Rom. 13 1â— And when our affections of joy sorrow love hatred 〈…〉 to Gods Law 〈…〉 and too 〈◊〉 and keepe the holy meaâ—â—e Psal. â—â—0 Psal. 119. This sanctification is 1 begun 2 perfected 〈…〉 in this life Alwaies in this life there is a mixture of the old 〈◊〉 with the new an 〈…〉 to good by 〈…〉 are contrary 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 Eph. 6.13 14. The conflict is the resisting of sinfull temptations arising in us or suggested any way to us and the victory is when wee so resist as sinne ruleth not in us Rom. 6.14 The infirmities and defects of our sanctification are forgiven us in Christ Sanctification hath many degrees sometime more sometime lesse Rev. 2 3. The children of God have some speciall sinne or sinnes whereunto they are most prone which they must have most speciall care to mortifie Any one sinne reigning in a man argueth him to be wicked and unsanctified Ezek. 18.10 11. The effect of regeneration or sanctification is good workes namely acts and operations proceeding from a regenerate will understanding and affections In good workes are to be considered 1 The rule 2 The partition of them The rule of good workes is Gods Law comprehended in the ten Commandements which God gave by voyce and by writing on 2. Tables of stone at mount Sinay The 1 Table containeth foure Commandements informing us of our duties and good workes towards God The first commandement chargeth us not to be Atheists without God Psal. 14.1 Secondly not to have false gods with the true Exod. 20.23 1 Cor. 10.20 Thirdly not to have false gods without the true 2 King 17.25 Fourthly not to have the true God neare in thy mouth and farre from thy heart Esay 29.13 〈◊〉 1.16 but requireth us to have Jehovah the true God and him onely and sincerely to be our God Deut. 4.35 The second Commandement forbideth us to make in Gods worship any shape image representation or ordinance whereby to worship God or to bow downe or to submit to any such made by any other Act. 17.29 Mat. 15.9 Col. 2.23 and commandeth us to worship the true God truly according to his owne prescription The third Commandement forbiddeth all profanation and abuse of Gods Name Word Ordinances and requireth a reverent and holy use and estimation of those meanes and instruments whereby God hath made knowne himselfe unto us and requireth to be worshipped of us Deut. 19.12 23.21 and 18.20 Lev. 19.12 24.11 The fourth Commandement requireth the observation of the due time of Gods publique worship and of all holy means whereby we may grow in grace knowledge and sanctification Act. 15.21 16.13 17.2 3. The second Table containeth sixe Commandements all teaching love and duty to our neighbour The first requireth speciall duties to our parents governours and all superiours that we honour them The second concerneth our neighbours life and good Thou shalt not kill The third concerneth his chastity as our owne Thou shalt not commit adultery The fourth concerneth our neighbours goods that wee steale not The fifth concerneth his good name that we beare not false witnesse but speake the truth The sixth forbiddeth all lust or desire to anything that is our neighbours and requireth us to be contented with our owne Thou shalt not covet The summe of these Commandements is to call men from all naturall corruption or vice unto the true God having him in an unfained love above all and our neighbour as ourselves Touching the Law of God these rules are to be considered As the Law was given by God who is most perfect so in the keeping of it is required absolute perfection Psal. 19. Jam. 2.10 Gen. 6.4 5. This perfection is inward and outward Inward in the Image of God expressed in the understanding will and appetite of man Outward in the intire effect of this image shewed in operation Rom. 7.14 Esay 2.10 Unregenerate men are utterly unable to keepe the Law the regenerate are able to keepe it in part but but not fully in this life Gen. 8.22 Psal. 14. Eph. 2.1 Rom. 7.22 23. 1 Joh. 1.8 10. Seeing the Law cannot be by us perfectly fulfilled wee may not seeke for justification by the workes of the same Gal. 2.16 3.10 13. Psal. 3 9. The common