Chron. 21. 1. And this is also effected by occasion of external objects which the senses perceive Job 31. 1. Of Tentation Tentation hath two parts 1. Abstraction 2. Inescation Abstraction is the first thought of committing sin by it the minde is withdrawn from Gods service for which it should be always ready prest Luke 10. 27. * Inescation is an evil thought conceived and for a time retained in the minde and it being thus kept in the minde it doth by delighting the Will and Affections lay a bait for a Man to draw him to consent 2. The second degree of sin of Commission is Conception Conception of sin is when the heart consents and resolves to commit sin Psal. 7. 14. 3. The third degree of it is the birth of sin That is the very acting and committing of sin As when the faculties of the Soul and the powers of the body joyn together to act sin The fourth degree of the Commission of sin is the perfection of sin That is when sin by custom is made perfect and ripe And then it bringeth forth death and damnation and this is all that the sinner reapeth by his sin an example of this we have in Pharo The differences of sins of Commission are these 1. To consent with an offendour and not actually to commit sin Eph. 5. 11. This a man doth 1. When he doth in judgement allow the sin of another Num. 20. 10. 12. 2. When the heart approveth in affection and consent as do Ministers and Magistrates when they do conceal and winck at offences 1 Sam. 2. 23. 29. 3. When sin is done indeed by Counsel presence or inticement as Rom. 1. 13. Mark 6. 25. 26. Act. 22. 20. 2. The second difference of sin of Commission is Sinning ignorantly that is when a man doth not expresly and distinctly know whither that which he doth be a sin or not or if he do know it he doth not acknowledge and mark it 1 Tim. 1. 13. Numb. 35. 24. 1 Cor. 4. 4. Ps. 10. 13. 3. The third difference of sin of Commission Is when any Man sinneth upon knowledge but yet of infirmity as when a Man fearing some eminent danger or when a Man amazed at the horrour of death doth against his knowledge deny that truth which otherwise he would acknowledge and embrace Such was the fall of Peter arising from the rashness of his minde mingled with some fear Thus do men offend by the strength of the corruptions of their flesh provoking them to that which their heart doth detest Rom. 7. 19. The fourth difference of it is Presumptuous sinning upon knowledge as Psal. 19. 13. of this kinde is 1. Every sin committed with an high hand or in contempt of God Numb. 15. 30. Secondly presumption of Gods mercy though we do evil and run on in it Eccles. 8. 11. Rom. 2. 4. 5. The fifth difference of sin of Commission is Sinning upon knowledge and out of self malice against God Of this kinde is the sin against the holy Ghost The punishment of sin Man is punisht for sin first in this life either 1. In body As 1. by care for the provision for his body and by trouble for the things of this life Genes 3. 17. Secondly by proneness to diseases Matth. 9. 2. Joh. 5. 14. Deut. 28. 21. 22. Thirdly by shame of nakedness Genes 3. 7. Fourthly by pains as are in Women in Travail and Child-birth Genes 3. 16. 2. In Soul As 1. By a trembling of Conscience Secondly by care Thirdly by trouble Fourthly by hardness of heart Fifthly by madness Deut. 28. 28. 3. In both body and Soul As first by a fearfull subjection to the Regiment of Sathan Colos. 1. 13. Heb. 2. 14. Secondly by a seperation from the fellowship of God and a trembling at his presence Eph. 4. 18. Gen. 3. 10. 4. By divers calamities and damages in his goods Deut. 28. 29. 5. By the loss of dignity and Lordly Authority which he had over all the Creatures and by the vanity weakning corrupting and abating of the excellencie virtues and powers of the Creatures as Rom. 8. 20. 21. 6. Or in his name By infamy and ignominy before and after his death Jer. 24. 6. All these things come alike to all yet doubtless it is by reason of sin by Adams fall and since that by our improvement of our Original and Actual corruptions Secondly Man is punisht for sin at the last gasp First by death or 2. by a change like unto death Rom 6. 23. Thirdly Man is punisht for sin after this life by an eternal separation from the presence of God and from his exceeding excellent glory 2 Thes. 1. 9. Of Election and his foundation of it Predestination hath two parts 1. Election 2. Reprobation 1 Thes. 5. 9. Election is the decree of God concerning the salvation of some men to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1. 4. 5. 6. This decree of God is the book of life wherein the names of the Elect are written Rev. 20. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 19. The execution of this decree is Gods effectual working of all those things which he purposed for the salvation of the Elect by the same means with which he purposed to do it Rom. 18. 29. 30. The foundation of this decree is Christ Jesus Heb. 5. 5. Isai 42. 1. Eph. 1. 4. The means of accomplishing this decree is Gods Covenant and the seal thereof Gods Covenant is either the Covenant of works or of grace Gods Covenant of works is the moral Law or ten Commandments Gods Covenant of grace is his free promise of Christ and all his benefits to man if man will repent him of his sins and by faith receive Christ The Seals of the Covenant are the Sacraments Gods Covenant of works which is called the moral Law Decalogue or ten Commandments is devided into two Tables The first Table containeth four Commandments The second Table containeth six Commandments Every Commandment is both affirmative and negative That is it doth both command and forbid As it is Affirmative it bindeth at all times but not to all times As it is Negative it bindeth at all times and to all times Under one Vice expresly forbidden are comprehended all of that kinde yea the least cause occasion or inticement thereto are forbidden Joh. 3. 15. Matth. 5. 21. The first Commandment Thou shalt have no other Gods before me In this first Commandment are these affirmatives First that we must acknowledge God Secondly that we must acknowledge no other God but him The marks of the true love of God are these 1. To hear his word willingly 2. To speak often off him 3. To think often off him 4. To do his will without irksomness 5. To give body and all for his cause 6. To desire his presence above all and to bewail his absence 7. To embrace all such
God or from her own carnal presumption thus 1. By a full perswasion which they shall finde in themselves for the holy Ghost will not onely say it but perswade them that they are Gods children And the flesh can in no wise do this 2 By the manner of this perswasion the holy Ghost doth not perswade men that they are elect by reasons drawn from their own works or worthiness but by reasons drawn from the free grace love and favour of God And this perswasion doth exceedingly differ from that which Satan useth 3. By the effects of this Testimony or perswasion For If this perswasion cometh from the holy Ghost it is lively and stirring But if it doth arise from carnal presumption it is a dead and liveless perswasion For all such as are truely perswaded that they are elected and adopted Children of God will love God and trust in God and call upon God with their whole heart 4. If the Testimony of Gods Spirit be not so powerfull in the elect then they may judge of their election by their sanctification which is an effect of the holy Ghost even as we may judge by heat that there is a fire though we see no flame 5. We may know whether we be predestinate or elect or no by these notable effects of sanctification 1. By feeling our wants and by bewailing in the bitterness of our hearts our offending of God by our sins 2. By our continual striving against the flesh by our resisting and hating the godly motions thereof and if with grief we do think them burthenous and troublesom 3. By an earnest and fervent desire of the grace of God and of the merit of Christ that thereby we may obtain eternal life 4. By a true esteem of it when we have obtained it even as a most precious Jewel Phil. 3. 8. 5. By our love to Christians to Ministers to Brethren and by our readiness to lay down our lives for them and with them if need so require Matth. 10. 42 1 Joh. 3 16. 6. By our earnest and fervent calling upon God and that with hearty tears in the sensible perceiving of those sins which we commit to his dishonour and therefore may have just cause to think he may be displeased with them 7. By a desire and love to the coming of Christ and to the day of judgement that there may be an end of the days of sin 1 Joh. 4. 17. 8. By our flying all occasions of sin and endeavour seriously to come to newness of life 9. By our perseverance in such good actions and endeavours and in such good thoughts as these even to the last gasp of our lives Luther saith he that will serve God must believe that which cannot be seen and hope for that which is deferred and love God even then when he sheweth himself an enemy and thus he must remain to the end 6. If so be that the godly finde all these notable effects of the spirit feeble in them and their Faith weak and faint yet they must not doubt of their election but they must know that God doth thus try them and therefore they must not be dismayed for a weak Faith is sufficient to engraf them into Christ 7. He that as yet feeleth none of these effects in his heart must not upon this conclude himself to be reprobate but he must endeavour by the reading of the word of God and by the use of the Sacraments and chiefly by fervent and earnest prayer to come to an inward sense of the power of Christ drawing him to himself by his Spirit and thus to come to an assurance of his redemption by Christs death and passion 8. No man can certainly say of himself or of any other that he is reprobate for God doth oftentimes prefer those to be in his Kingdom which in the sight of men seem to be most estranged from his favour and above them also which in outward appearance and in the judgement of men are the Children of the Kingdom Thus were the Publicanes and Harlots preferred before the Pharisees by Christ Matth. 21. 31. And many a man is called even at the eleventh hour Matth. 20. 6. A notable example of this we have in the Thief upon the Cross Luke 23. 40 43. The uses of this Doctrine for instruction be these 1. There is no justification by works nor any works of ours that are Meritorious For election is by the grace of God and therefore justification also In the work of Salvation grace challengeth all to it self Rom. 11. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Phil. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 24. Tit. 3. 5. Ezek. 36. 27. Rom. 6. 23. 2. Hence we learn that judicial Astrology or the foretelling of what men will be by the casting of their Nativities is false For this doth determine such and such men shall be like in life and conversation whom God in his predestination hath made unlike As for example Jacob and Esau were born of the same parents and almost in the same moment of time and yet they were most unlike in disposition and had divers events The like we may see in all Twins born at the same time 3. Hence we learn that God is most wise omnipotent just and mercifull Rom. 11. 33. Eph. 1. 5. Here we are advised 1. to fight against all doubtings distrust of our Salvation because it doth not depend upon our works but upon Gods grace Luke 10. 20. Rom. 8. 33. 2. To humble our Souls under the mighty hand of God because we are in his hand even as clay in the hand of the Potter Rom. 9. 20. 21. 3. To give all the glorie to God as to whom alone it is due 2 Thes. 2. 13. 4. To bear crosses or afflictions patiently Rom. 8. 29. And that because by this means we are conformed to Christ and made like unto him Phil. 3. 10 5. To do good works and that because God hath created us in Christ Jesus unto this purpose Eph. 2. 10. To whom with the Son and holy Spirit be all glory honour praise now and ever Amen The end of the sum of Divinity FINIS Joh. 17. 3. Simplenes of the nature of God See Aug. l. 6. c. 4. de Trinitate Gods nature Its immutability Its infinitness Gods wisdom Gods will Quid vult fieri de nobis or in nobis Quid vult fieri a nobis M. P. pag. 295. * i. e. Vâ—lendo velle Nolendo nolle or penitus nolle Decretun Dei non tell it libertatem voluntatis sed ordinat So M. P. Gods omnipotencie Gods glorie Gods blessedness * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The creation 2 Cor. 12. 2. * 2 Sam. 14. 17. Their knowledge Ministery Of Man The place of his first habitation His integrity The fall of Angels Their corruption Degrees Punishment Mans fall The manner of it The greatness of it Fruits and effects of it Of sin by participation Original sin The remnant of
AN ABRIDGEMENT Of the whole Body of Divinity Extracted from the Learned works of that ever-famous and reverend Divine Mr. William Perkins By Tho. Nicols ⧠London Printed by W B. for Will. Hope at the blue Anchor on the North-side of the Royal Enchange 1654. Friendly READER FOr thy benefit I have here taken the pains to abreviate the body of Mr. PERKINS Divinity what before thou couldst not have but in a large volume and at a great rate Here thou hast substantially in short for the bettering of thy knowledge for the directing of thy life and for thine obedience in what ever is thy duty Take it as thou dost thereby reape profit so lift up thine eys to Heaven and return God thanks to whom alone its due I shall still endeavour thy best good wishing to thee thine everlasting reward and labouring to live and die a sure friend to thy Soul's happiness July 27. 1654. Tho. N. Contents of the first part of this TREATISE 1. OF God pag. 1. Of the life of God pag. 4. His Names Nature pag. 2. Glorie and blessedness pag. 10. Of the persons of the Godhead pag. 11. Contents of the second part of this Treatise Of Gods works and his Degree pag. 14. 15. 16. 18. 19. 20. 21. Of Man and his state pag. 22. 23. Of the fall of Angels pag. 24. The fall of man pag. 26. 27. 28. Of sin by participation pag. 28. Original sin pag. 28. Actual sin pag. 33. 35. Punishment of sin in this life pag. 35. Of tentation pag. 36 37. 38. 39. Of Election and its foundation pag. 42. 43. The Degrees of its execution p. 136. 144. 147. Elect their estate at the last judgement pag. 181. Gods Covenant of works and grace p. 42. 43. 127. Of the Moral Law pag. 43. The use of the Law pag. 125. Of the first Commandment pag 43. Of the second Commandment pag. 48 48. Idolatry and superstition pag. 52 68. Effects of Hypocrisie pag. 53. Of Magick pag. 54. 55. 59. Of Covenants with the Devil pag. 57. Divining pag 58. Necromancy pag. 58. Pythonisme pag. 59. Enchantments pag 60. Charms pag. 60. Third Commandment pag. 61. Its Affirmative part pag. 61. Its Negative part pag. 66. Of Oaths pag. 62. 64. Asseveration what it is pag. 63 Palmestry pag. 69. Astrology pag. 69. 70. 71. 73. 74. Effects of the Sun and Moon pag. 72. Of the fourth Commandment pag. 75. Affirmative part of it pag. 75. Negative part of it pag. 79. Sabbath how it was ceremonial pag 77. How it is moral pag. 77. Of the fifth Commandment pag. 80. Affirmative part of it pag. 80. Negative part of it pag. 83. Of the sixth Commandment pag. 84. Affirma Nega part of it pag. 85. 90. Truces the lawfulness of them pag. 86. Duels unlawfull and why pag. 93. Of the seventh Commandment pag. 95. Affirmative part of it pag. 95. Negative part of it pag. 99. Fornication what it is pag. 100. Adultery what it is pag. 101. Lust the occasions of it pag. 103. Eight Commandment pag. 104. Affirmative part of it pag 104. Negative part of it pag 109. Contentation what it is pag. 105. Thriftness what it is pag. 105. Pledges are not to be exacted pag. 107. Just Covenants must be performed p. 108. Vnjust dealing in heart and deed what it is pag. 109. 110. Oppression in bargaining its kindes p. 111. Oppression by Vsury pag. 112. Punishment of Theft pag. 115. Ninth Commandment pag. 115. Affirmative part of it pag. 115. Negative part of it pag 119. To labour for a good name by godliness is lawfull pag. 117. How one man may lawfully judge another pag. 119. Tenth Commandment pag. 122. Affirmative part of it pag. 123. The Negative part of it pag. 124. Motions of the heart their kindes pag. 123. Motions of the heart upon the work of faith what they be pag. 140. Sacraments pag. 129. 131. 133. How they differ from sacrifices pag. 132. Declaration of Gods love its degrees p. 136. 144. 147. 177. Members of Christ whom they are p. 138. Effectual calling the means of its execution pag 139. Hammers to break a stony heart pag. 139. 140. Rules to know true faith by pag. 143. Priviledges by Adoption pag. 146. Inherent holiness its parts pag. 148. 149. 150. 151. Illumination what it is pag. 148. Repentance and its fruits pag. 152. Self-denial pag 169. New obedience pag. 153. 154. 171. 173. 175. A Christian Combat what it is pag. 154. 155. Assaults in it pag. 157. 158 161. Vnjust anger and wrath remedies against them pag 164 165. Covetousness its remedies pag 165. Desires of the flesh their remedies p. 166. Patience how to strengthen it pag. 169. Of Alms. pag. 167. Death remedies against the fear of it pag. 178. Eternal life what it is pag. 182. Its fruits pag. 183. 184. Perfect glorie what it is pag. 183. Reprobation its Decree pag. 186. Execution of it pag. 187. 188. 191. 192. Reprobates their state after death pag. 194. Their condemnation pag. 195. The manner of it pag. 195. Predestination the Application of it p. 197. Luthers saying pag. 201. The Corolary pag. 185. 196. OF THEOLOGIE THeology is the science of living blessedly for ever Blessed life ariseth from the knowledge of God and of our selves The parts of the Theologie are 1. Of God 2. Of Gods works That there is a God is evident 1. By the course of Nature 2. By the nature of the Soul of man 3. By the distinction of things honest and dishonest 4. By the terrour of Conscience 5. By the regiment of civil societies 6. By the order of all causes which have ever recourse to some former beginning 7. By the determination of all things to their several ends 8. By the consent of all men The Names of God The Names of God are Jehova Elohim Exod. 6. 2. 3. Jehova declareth Gods Nature Elohim his Persons The Nature of God The Nature of God is his most lively and most perfect essence The perfection of the Nature of God is that where by he is wholely compleat in him self Exod. 3. 13. Act. 17. 24. The perfection of Gods Nature is the simpleness and infinitnes thereof The simpleness of Gods Nature is that whereby he is void of all Logical relation in Arguments That is God hath not in himself either Subject or Adjunct Joh. 5. 26. and 14. 6. In God to be and to be just and mighty are all one But in the minde of man it is not all one to be and to be mighty or just For the minde may be destitute of these virtues and yet a minde The Nature of God is immutable and Spiritual Gods immutability of Nature is that by which he is void of all composition division and change Jam. 1. 17. Malach. 3. 6. Gods Nature is Spiritual in that it is incorporal and therefore invisible Joh. 4. 24. Colos. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 1. 17. So much for the simpleness of Gods Nature The
Gods image in the minde after the fall Increase of sin what it is The remnant of Gods image in the Conscience The effects of the impureness of the CoÌ„science by Adams fall The remnant of Gods image in the will Actual sin Examples of Actual sin of the minde Actual sin of the Will and affections Outward Actual sin Degrees of sins of Commission Tentation Abstraction * Inescation i. e. To take by a bait Conception The birth of sin Perfection of sin Differences of sin of Commission Consent Sin of ignorance Sin of knowledge Presumptuous sin Sin of knowledge with malice Punishment of sin in this life Punishment of sin at the last gasp Election The execution of the decree of Election Gods Covenant The Seals of the Covenant Covenant of works First Commandment Affirmative part of it Negative part Second Commandment Affirmative part of it Negative part of it Idolatry and Superstition Effects of Hypocrisie Magick a wicked Art The foundation of Magick is a contract with the Devil The Covenant with the Devil is either secret or express Divining Necromancy Pythonism Working Magick Enchantments Charms Third Commandment Affirmative part An Oath Its parts Its form An Asseveration what it is Oath of Maids Negative part Superstitions Palmestry Astrology M. P. pâ— Ibidem Astrology draws mens mindes from the contemplation of Gods providence Effects of the Sun Moon M. P. p. 44 Astrology concerning Nativities is wicked Astrologers how they are reckoned of in Scripture Fourth Commandment Affirmative part Ceremonial Sabbath * How the Sabbath is moral Negative part Fifth Commandment Affirmative parts Negative part Sixth Commandment The Affirmative part The lawfulness of truces and Covenants M. P. p. 56 M P. p. 58 Negative part Duels are unlawfull The seventh Commandment The Affirmative part Rules to be observed in the use of diet Rules for chastity Cautions â—or preâ—â—rving â—urity The Negative part Fornication what it is Adultery what it is Occasions of lust what they are Eight Commandment Affirmative part Contentation Thriftiness Pledges are not to be exacted Just Covenants must be performed The Negative part Of unjust dealing in heart Of unjust dealing in deed The oppressions in bargaining their kindes Oppression by usury Cautions in use if it be at all lawfull Punishment of Theft Ninth Commandment Affirmative part It is lawfull to labour for a good name by Godliness Negative part How we may judge others Objection Tenth Commandment Affirmative part The kindes of the motions or thoughts of the heart The Negative part Vses of the Law The Covenant of Grace Of the Sacraments M. P. p. 73 The ends of the Sacraments M. P. p. 72 * i. e. Though a man hath never used the Sacraments Sacraments Sacrifices how they differ The Sacraments are two Baptism The parts of Baptism The Lords supper The degrees of the execution of Election 1. The first degree of the Declaration of God's love is effectual calling The Members Christ Effectual calling the means of its execution The hammers by which a stony heart is bruised The five motions in the heart upon the work of Faith Rules to know true Faith The second degree of the Declaration of Gods love Priviledges by Adoption The third degree of the Declaration of Gods love The parts of Inherent holiness Illumination 2. Part of inherent holiness is sanctification of memory 3 Part. Sanctification of coÌ„science 4. Part. Sanctificaton of will 5. Part. Sanctification of affections The chief affections 6. Part. Sanctification of body Repentance Its fruits New obedience Parts of self-denial 1. Part of Christian warfar The compleat armour of God A Christians Combat The Combatants Confirmation of the Souldier consisting in three things Assaults in the Combat The second Assault The third Assault Remedies against unjust anger Against wrath Against covetousness Against the desires of the flesh Second part of self denial To strengthen patience Afflictions are the godly mens high way to Heaven The profession of Christ Continual profession Infirmities in prayer Profession in time of danger Profession of Christ as it concerneth his Members Alms. Fourth dâ—gree of the Declaration of Gods love Glorification Remedies against death The state osf the Elect at the last judgment The state of the Elect after the last judgement Eternal life what it is Perfect glory what it is The fruits of eternal life and perfect glory A Cororaly The Decree of Reprobation The execution of this Decree There are three Degrees of the execution of Gods Decree of reprobation 1. Degree of the execution of the Decree of reprobation is the acknowledgement of Gods calling 2. Degree of the execution of the decree of reprobation is a falling away after calling 3. Degree or the execution of the decree of reprobation is damnation The execâ—â—â—â—n of this decree in those that are not called the state of reprobates whilest they live Their estate when they are dead Their condemnation The manner of it A Corolary Rule Rule Rule Rule Rule Luthers saying Rule Rule Rule The uses of this Doctrine The 〈◊〉 of the docâ—â—