Parents must yield to the love of God but in things ceremonial the duties of the first table must yield to the moral duties of the second as sacrificing to works of mercy towards man A. 45. The first Commandment is Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Expl. 45. These words are the first command and not those I am the Lord thy God as some would have them in which there is nothing commanded but only a declaration who and what that God is who does command A. 46. The first Commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God and to worship and glorifie him accordingly Homil. II. p. 3. Let us take heed and be wise O ye beloved of the Lord and let us have no strange Gods but one only God who made us when we were nothing the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who redeemed us when we were lost and with his Holy Spirit doth sanctifie us Homil. V. p. 3. Have an assured Faith in God and give your selves wholly unto him love him in prosperity and adversity and dread to offend him ever-more To. II. Hom. xvij What availeth it the wisemen of the world to have knowledg of the Power and Divinity of God where they did not honour and glorifie him in their knowledges as God Hom. VI. whom we are to love with all our heart i. e. that our heart mind and study be set to believe his Word to trust in him and to love him above all other things that we love best in Heaven or on Earth Expl. 46. In the first Commandment there are these 4 things required 1. Knowledg of God as namely that he is the Creator and Governor of the world being the supream Lord and Law giver as also that he is infinitely perfect in his Nature Attributes Word and Works 2. Faith which doth consist in our owning and acknowledging him to be such a God as he is held forth in his Word and in a relyance upon him as such 3. Obedience which in reference to this command doth principally consist in the conformity of Man's will to the Will of God 4. Love to God implyed in these words before me A. 47. The first Commandment forbiddeth the denying or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God and our God and the giving that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone To. 1. Hom. VIII Whoever in time of reading Gods Word studieth for the glory and honour of this World is turned from God and hath not a special mind to that which is commanded and taught of God is turned from God although he doth things of his own devotion and mind which to him seem better and more to Gods honour To. 2. Hom. xvi p. 2. It may be boldly and with a safe conscience pronounc'd of the Bishops of Rome namely that they have forsaken and daily do forsake the Commandments of God to erect and set up their own Constitutions Expl. 47. More particular this Commandment doth forbid these and the like sins as 1. Ignorance of God when men either do not know or will not consider who God is and what he would have them do 2. Atheism both in judgment when men are wavering and doubting about the Being of God and therefore disputing against it and in practise when men live as if there were no God 3. Idolatry which consists either in the worship of a false God or in worshipping the true God in a false manner by mingling the corrupt traditions or fancies of men in the worship of God or in worshipping more Gods than that one God who made the world and is Father Son and Holy Ghost God blessed for ever 4. Mens being ashamed of or being negligent in the profession of the true Religion 5. The wilful omission of any known duties of Religion as prayer meditation praising God c. 6. Wilful infidelity when men do not believe God or take him upon his word or do reject and contemn his commands promises or threatnings 7. All blasphemous and misbecoming thoughts of God whatsoever as also all errors and misapprehensions concerning God or any of those revelations he has given of himself 8. All disobedience to his revealed Will. 9. All unsuitable affections to himself or any thing that bears his stamp as his Ordinances Day Providences and People 10. All unmindfulness and forgetfulness of God 11. All carnal presumption pride tempting of God relyance upon and seeking to unlawful means for help in any distress this being accompany'd with the forsaking of and apostacy from the true God 12. All impatience and discontent under any evil as also mens ascribing that which is good to any thing besides himself who is the fountain of all good A. 48. These words before me in the first Commandment teach us that God who seeth all things taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God To. 2. Hom. I. The eternal and incomprehensible Maiesly of God the Lord of Heaven and Earth whose seat is in Heaven and the Earth is his footstool calleth upon his people to mark and take heed and that upon the peril of their souls to the charge which he giveth them Thou shalt worship the Lord God and him only shalt thou serve Adjoining penalty to the transgressors and reward to the obedient to move to obedience and observing this the Lords great Law which might ingender fear in our hearts of disobedience herein being in the Lords sight so great an offence and abomination Expl. 48. Here is further clearly intimated 1. That God would have the first room in our estimation 2. In our affections i. e. that we prize and love him above all A. 49. The second Commandment is Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy self unto them nor serve them For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments To. 2. Hom. I. The Scriptures use the two words Idols and Images indifferently for one thing alway They be words of divers things Gr. Lat. but one in sense and signification in the Scriptures and matters of of Religion Wherefore our Images if publickly suffer'd in Temples and Churches be indeed none other but Idols as unto which Idolatry hath been is and ever will be committed Hath it not been preach'd unto you since the beginning c. How by the Creation of the World and the greatness of the work they might understand the Majesty of God the Creator and Maker of all to be greater than that
understanding will and subsistence by it self and distinguished from any thing else by some peculiar property that belongs to it and to nothing else besides it self as there is something peculiar in every one man to distinguish him from another this for a person in general But now for a Divine person or a person in the Godhead 'T is a substance that is undivided and absolutely perfect in Being Understanding Will and manner of Subsistence yet actually really and eternally distinguished from any other person by some relative property that belongs to it and not to that person 2. For the number of the persons in the Godhead they are three not only in the reckoning of man or according to humane apprehension but also in reality and in Gods account whether men should reckon them so or no and are therefore called a Trinity of Persons Yet 3. though they be so distinguished one from another as that the Father is not the Son and the Son not the Father and the Holy Ghost neither Father nor Son yet they are not cannot be divided or separated one from another because the whole and single Godhead is wholly coequally and coessentially in all three by virtue whereof 't is said these three are one i. e. one God A. 7. The Decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass Artic. xvij Everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us c. Expl. 7. In this A. we have 1. the nature and properties of Gods Decrees they are like Himself from everlasting whatever God did purpose and determine to do or permit to be done he did thus purpose from eternity 2. Here is the Rule of Gods Decree the counsel of his own Will and yet nothing that he decrees can be any other than reasonable and good because by reason of the infinite perfection of his Nature his Will is essentially just and holy and cannot be otherwise 3. The matter of his Decrees is whatsoever comes to pass though there be never so much of that which we call hap-hazard in them 4. The end of his Decrees for his glory for God neither does nor designs any thing but for the highest end and that is his own glory A. 8. God executeth his Decrees in the Work of Creation and Providence Homil. xvij Praise of Almighty God in the consideration of the marvelous Creation of this world or Conservation and Government thereof wherein his great Power and Wisdom might excellently appear to move us to dread and honour him Expl. 8. Here is shew'd how God doth bring to pass what he hath purposed 1. In the work of Creation by which we are to understand not only Gods making the world and all things therein in six days but also Gods producing or bringing into Being every thing else that came into Being since that time to the worlds end whether it became a Being in an ordinary way and by means as in the natural generation of things or in an extraordinary way by the immediate or miraculous power of God 2. In the work of Providence which is not only to be restrain'd to what is naturally good as every creature of God is but also reaches to what is naturally evil as affliction and to what is morally evil as sin A. 9. The work of Creation is Gods making all things of nothing by the word of his power in the space of six days and all very good To. 2. Hom. viij God through his Almighty power wisdom and goodness created in the beginning Heaven and Earth the Sun the Moon the Stars the Fowls of the Air the Beasts of the Earth the Fishes in the Sea and all other Creatures for the benefit and use of man Hom. xij Among all the Creatures that God made in the beginning of the World most excellent and wonderful in their kind there was none as the Scripture beareth witness to be compared in any point almost unto Man who in Body and Soul exceeded Expl. 9. By the work of Creation we are to understand Gods making of the world in time or in the beginning according as he had purposed from eternity or before all beginning of time and here it is observable 1. That this work is ascribed only to God the true God in opposition to Idols yet is not so to be ascribed to any one person in the Godhead as to exclude the other for all the three persons sc. Father Son and Holy Ghost being one in Essence or Godhead they must necessarily be one in working or as it were joyn hand in hand in all external works whether of Creation or Providence And therefore when the Creation is ascribed in the Apostles Creed to the Father Almighty it doth not exclude the Son or Holy Ghost from being Almighty or from joining with the Father in the work of Creation but only because the Father is the first in order of the three persons when we conceive of them and because there might be in the Church an outward distinction made but no real separation among the three persons in those works which are more eminently and peculiarly affirmed of each person as that the Father creates the Son redeems and the Spirit sanctifies 2. That he did not as an Artificer begin his work upon or out of materials which is beyond the skill of art and power of nature 3. Without any instrument or help for 1. There was nothing then in Being when he began his work therefore no instrument 2. He needed none being infinite in power 3. To have used any would not have been so consistent with the glory of his Wisdom and Power 4. Obs. That he did his work in six days that we might see it was a work of Wisdom and Counsel and not of Chance and to set us an example to work six days and rest the seventh 5 ly That he made all very good in their nature in their order and in their end A. 10. God created man male and female after his own image in knowledg righteousness and holiness with dominion over the creatures Homil. xij He was made after the similitude and image of God endued with all kind of heavenly gifts he had no spot of uncleanness in him was sound and perfect in all parts both inwardly and outwardly his reason was uncorrupt his understanding was pure and good his will was obedient and godly he was made altogether like unto God in righteousness and holiness in wisdom and truth to be short in all kind of perfection God made him Lord and Ruler over all the works of his hands Homil. viij Whom also he had created to his own image and likeness and given him the use and government over them all to the end he should use them in such
his indignation P. 2. And though such perjur'd mens falshood he now kept secret yet it shall be open'd at the last day when the secrets of all mens hearts shall be open'd to all the world Almighty God will be a swift witness against them and the curse shall enter into the house of the false and perjur'd man Expl. 56. In the reason of the command 't is intimated 1. That God in a special manner is the avenger of those that abuse his name 2. The certainly of this vengeance 3. That men are apt to be remiss in punishing this Sin A. 57. The fourth Commandment is Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattel nor the stranger that is within thy gate For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it Expl. 57. This command being the fourth in order is the last of the first Table or of those commands which do concern piety towards God and in the amplification of it doth require charity and mercy towards man especially towards inferiours as Son Daughter Servant c. and therefore in requiring both duties of piety and mercy it doth as it were glew both the Tables of the Law together As to the matter of the Command 1. Here is a Preface to be noted Remember as if God should have said though you should forget all the other Nine Commands which I would not have you to do neither yet be sure you forget not this In which Remember there is imply'd 1. The importance of the Command that it doth import no less than the whole Religion and duty of man towards God and therefore to be remembred 2. The aptness of men to forget this Command both because the doctrine of it is not to be learnt from the light of nature at least not so clearly as the other Commands and because the duties of it do much cross the grain with corrupt nature 2 dly The thing to be remembred is the Sabbath-day or that day of Rest which God has appointed from all manner of employment and business except works of duty to God charity to man and of absolute necessity relief or mercy towards the inferiour creatures How it is to be remembred we have in the next A. A. 58. The fourth Commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set-times as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath unto himself To. 2. Hom. VIII It appeareth to be Gods good-will and pleasure that we should at special times and in special places gather our selves together to the intent his name might be renowned and his glory set forth in the Congregation and Assembly of his Saints And therefore by this Commandment we ought to have time as one day in the week wherein we ought to rest yea from our lawful and needful works Expl. 58. 'T is in this A. expressed in the general how the Sabbath is to be kept holy as also any other day as suppose of Fasting or Thanksgiving which man doth appoint according to Gods will Now to sanctifie a day and particularly the Sabbath is to employ it wholly and solely to that use for which it is sanctified or set apart by God whether it be in reference to the publick or private exercises of Religion And it must be the whole Sabbath-day yet with a merciful respect to nature and the constitution of mens bodies for God will have mercy and not sacrifice beginning at the dawning of the day because Christ the Sun of Righteousness then rose and it is to continue till midnight for so long was Paul engaged in Sabbath-exercises Act. 20. 7 10. This is the time required by this Law but if men have not strength of body to continue so long so there be in them a willing mind God will accept of what strength they have and not what they have not A. 59. From the beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the World which is the Christian Sabbath To. 2. Hom. VIII Remember saith God that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day upon which day as it is plain in Act. 13. the people accustomably resorted together and heard diligently the Law and the Prophets read among them And albeit this Commandment doth not bind Christian people as touching the precise keeping the seventh day after the manner of the Iews for we keep now the first day which is our Sunday Dominical or Lords-day and make that our Sabbath i. e. our day of rest in honour of our Saviour Christ who as upon that day rose from death conquering it triumphantly yet notwithstanding whatsoever is found in the Commandment appertaining to the Law of Nature as a thing most godly most just and needful for the setting forth of Gods glory it ought to be retained and kept of all good Christian people If we will be children of our heavenly Father we must be careful to keep the Christian Sabbath which is the Sunday i. e. Dominical or Lords-day not only for that it is Gods express Commandment but also to declare our selves to be loving children in following the example of our gracious Lord and Father This Example and Commandment of God the godly Christian people began to follow immediately after the ascension of our Lord Christ chusing a standing day not the Seventh which the Iews kept but the Lords-day the day of the Lords Resurrection the day after the Seventh day which is the First day of the week Expl. 59. The old Sabbath as we see by this A. was the seventh day of the week in order that is the Iews did observe our Saturday for their seventh-day-Sabbath and the reason of it is expressed in the command sc. God rested from Creation-work that day But the morality or indispensable and perpetual obligation of this command doth not necessarily require the seventh in order for that is Ceremonious and abrogated together with the Iewish Sabbath but it doth necessarily require the keeping holy of a seventh day for number or a seventh part of the week to be spent in Sabbath-duties which seventh part is now by the Resurrection of Christ upon the first day and by his own immediate authority or by that which he gave to his Apostles fixt upon that first day now commonly called our Sunday or Dominical i. e. Lords-day and no other even to the end of the world Though there be no express mention made of this change from the last to the first
this kingdom may come amongst wicked men is to pray that the interest power and dominion of Sin Satan and Antichrist in the world may be destroy'd for in this Petition we do acknowledg our selves to be by nature subjects of the Prince of darkness and therefore we are to pray that this iron-yoke may be taken off and that we may take upon us the easie yoke of Christ. But in reference to the elect Gods kingdom is either 1 st A kingdom of Grace in this world and then we pray the Scepter of this kingdom may rule in the hearts and lives of Gods elect Now this Scepter being the Gospel we are to pray 1 That this may be dispersed all the world over in order to the gathering of the dispersed Iews which do belong to the election of Grace and to the fulness of the Gentiles 2 That where the means of grace and knowledg are enjoyed together with all Gospel-Ordinances and Gospel-order they may prove effectual for the begetting and growth of grace and saving-knowledg and for the spiritual comfort and support of weak Christians 3 That to this end and purpose God would bestow his Holy Spirit upon his people as the Spirit of Truth to lead them into all necessary truth as a Spirit of Holiness to sanctifie them and as he is the comforter 4 That the power of the Civil Magistrate may be laid out for the good of the Church and that God would still furnish his Church with such Officers both Spiritual and Civil as may most promote the interest of Christs spiritual kingdom and all this we are to beg of God alone 1 because he alone can check and restrain whatever does oppose his kingdom 2 Because he alone can effectually grant what we beg herein 2 dly And for the kingdom of Glory we are to beg the hastening of it for the elects sake by Christs second coming because hereby 1 God will be most glorified 2 The kingdom of Grace will be perfected when Christs loyal Subjects shall reign with him in glory Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly A. 103. In the third Petition which is Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven We pray that God by his grace would make us able and willing to know obey and submit to his will in all things as the Angels do in Heaven To. 2. Hom. XXIII As God the Creator and Lord of all things appointed his Angels and heavenly Creatures in all obedience to serve and honour his Majesty so was it his will that man his chief Creature upon the earth should live under the obedience of his Creator and Lord. Expl. 103. In this Petition we have two things observable 1 The matter of our obedience it must be what God requires 2 The manner it must be according to the pattern in the Mount sc. as it is done in heaven For the matter 't is only Gods Will which must be the Rule of mans duty not the wills or fancies or traditions or corrupt customs of men we owe obedience no further to men in what they require from us than it is agreeable to the Will of God and especially in the duties of Religion because God alone who is the searcher of the heart is Lord of the conscience when-ever therefore what is required of us as matter of duty comes accompany'd with a thus saith the Lord either in the plain words or in the plain sense of Scripture we must not dispute but obey Yet to prevent mistake we are to know 1 There is the secret will of God called the will of his counsel and purpose but though this be the Rule he himself walks by yet 't is not the Rule of our obedience and we are no further to pray that this will may be done than as it seems good to his infinite wisdom and that we may with patience submit to it and in all events though they may cross our wills never so much acknowledg the holiness and rectitude of it and nothing may displease us that pleaseth him But 2 dly there is his revealed will as 1 in his promises and here we are to pray that they may be fulfilled 2 In his threatnings towards the implacable enemies of his Church that these may be executed and this in subserviency to the former Petition that his Kingdom may come 3 In his prophesies that they may be accomplished 4 And principally in his Commands that these may be obey'd and performed above and before any thing else or that these be done whatever else be left undone and that 2 dly For the manner as it is done in heaven by Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect i. e. perfectly not that we can be perfect in holiness here on earth but that we should be aiming at it and be perfecting holiness in the fear of God in which are these two things 1 The renouncing our own wills as they do oppose the will of God 2 Actual real constant cheerful universal compliance with the holy will of God A. 104. In the fourth Petition which is Give us this day our daily Bread We pray that of Gods free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy his blessings with them To. 2. Hom. VI. Our daily bread i. e. all things necessary for this our needy life Hom. VII p. 3. When we have sufficiently pray'd for things belonging to the soul then may we lawfully and with safe conscience pray also for our bodily necessities as meat drink clothing health of body deliverance out of prison good luck i. e. success in our daily affairs c. according as we shall have need Expl. 104. The former Petitions did respect God and this is the first of those which doth concern our selves In which Petition 1 Somewhat is imply'd as 1 That we depend upon God for the necessities of life 2 That these are only to be desired so far as they may help us in the doing of his will 3 That the frailty of our natures is such that they stand in need of daily supplies of these necessaries 4 That our care in reference to these things is neither to be immoderate for we are to ask but for bread i. e. necessity nor to look far as is imply'd in that word day 5 That having food and rayment we be therewith content 6 That however men in their honest Callings do take pains for necessaries yet they are the free gift of God 2 In the Petition we are to ask 1 necessaries of life called in Scripture food and rayment and here bread 2 All means and helps to obtain these 3 A blessing upon them for these three things are included in this one word bread A. 105. In the fifth Petition which is And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors We pray that God for Christs sake would freely pardon all our sins which we are the rather
is one Lord. q Jer. 10.10 But the Lord he is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King How many persons are there in the Godhead r Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost s 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one What are the Decrees of God t Eph. 1.11 Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory How doth God execute his Decrees u Rev. 4.11 Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created w Dan. 4.35 He doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth What is the work of Creation x Gen 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth y Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which were seen were not made of things that do appear z Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the sixth day How did God create man a Gen. 1.27 So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them b Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledg after the image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness c Gen. 1.28 And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth What are Gods works of Providence d Psal. 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works e Isa. 28.29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working f Heb. 1.3 Upholding all things by the word of his power g Psal. 103.19 His kingdom ruleth over all Mat. 10.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father What special act of Providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created h Gal. 3.12 And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them i Gen. 2.17 But of the tree of knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Did our first Parents continue in the estate wherein they were created k Eccl. 7.29 God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions What is sin l 1 Joh. 3.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law What was the sin whereby our first Parents sell from the estate wherein they were created m Gen. 3.6 And when the woman saw that the Tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her husband and he did eat 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked 8. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden Did all mankind fall in Adams first transgression n Gen. 1.28 And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth Gen. 2.16 And the Lord God commanded the man saying Of every Tree in the Garden thou maist freely eat 17. But of the Tree of the knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die o Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one judgment came upon all to condemnation Into what estate did the fall bring mankind p Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell q Rom. 5.19 By one mans disobedience many were made sinners r Rom. 3.10 There is none righteous no not one s Eph. 2.1 You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Psal. 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me t Mat. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false-witness blaspemies 20. These are the things which defile a man What is the misery of that estate whereunto man fell u Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the Trees of the Garden 24. So he drove out the man w Eph. 2.3 And were by nature children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every man that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them x Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death Mat. 25.41 Then shall he say unto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery y Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world z Rom. 3.21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets 22 Even the righteousness of God which is of Faith by Iesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe Who is the Redeemer of Gods Elect a 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Iesus b Joh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us c Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever d Heb. 7.24 But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood How did Christ being the Son of God become man e Heb. 2.14 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part in the same f Mat. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death g Luk. 1.31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his Name Iesus 35. The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall over-shadow thee h Heb. 7.25 Such a High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled
Week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit upon the Lords day How is the Sabbath to be sanctified x Lev. 23.3 Six days shall work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein y Psal. 92.1 A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath-day It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy Name O most High 2. To shew forth thy loving-kindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night z Mat. 12.11 What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath-day will not he lay hold on it and list it out 12. How much then is a man better than a sheep wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath-day What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment a Mal. 1.13 Ye said also behold what a weariness is it and ye have snuffed at it saith the Lord of Hosts and ye brought that which was torn and the lame and the sick thus you brought an offering should I accept this at your hands saith the Lord b Ezek 23.38 They have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have profaned my Sabbaths c Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shall honour him not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words What are the Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment d Exod. 31.15 Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest 16. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath e Lev. 23.3 Ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings f Exod. 31.17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed g Gen. 2.3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it Which is the fifth Commandment What is required in the fifth Commandment h Eph. 5.21 Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God 22. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. Eph. 6.1 Children obey your Parents in the Lord. 5. Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers Eph 6.9 And ye Masters do the same things unto them knowing that your Master also is in heaven k Rom. 12.10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another What is forbidden in the fifth Commandment l Rom. 13.7 Render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour 8. Owe no man any thing but to love one another What is the Reason annexed to the fifth Commandment m Eph. 6.2 Honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandment with promise 3. That it might be well with thee and that thou mayest live long on the earth Which is the sixth Commandment What is required in the sixth Commandment n Eph. 5.28 So ought men to love their Wives even as their own bodies 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it o Psal. 82.3 Defend the poor and fatherless 4. Deliver the poor and needy Job 9.13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me What is forbidden in the sixth Commandment p Act 16.28 Paul cried with a loud voice saying Do thy self no harm q Gen. 9.6 Whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed r Prov. 24.11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain 12. If thou sayest Behold we know it not doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it Which is the seventh Commandment What is required in the seventh Commandment s 1 Thes. 4.4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour t Eph. 5.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but reprove them rather 12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret u 1 Tim. 2.22 Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith charity w Col. 4.6 Let your speech be alway with grace seasoned with salt x 1 Pet. 3.2 While they behold your chast conversation with fear What is forbidden in the seventh Commandment y Mat. 5.28 Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart z Eph. 5.4 Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient a Eph. 5.3 Fornication and all uncleanness let it not be once named amongst you Which is the eighth Commandment What is required in the eighth Commandment b Rom. 12.17 Provide things honest in the sight of all men Prov. 15.23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds c Lev. 25.35 If thy brother be waxen poor and faln in decay with thee then thou shalt relieve him Phil. 2.4 Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others What is forbidden in the eighth Commandment d 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denyed the faith and is worse than an Infidel Prov. 28.19 He that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough e Prov. 21.6 The getting of Treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death Job 20.19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor because he hath violently taken away a house which he builded not 29. Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly Which is the ninth Commandment What is required in the ninth Commandment f Zech. 8.16 Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour g 1 Pet. 3.16 Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evil-doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ. Act. 25.10 Then Paul said I stand at Cesars judgment seat to the Iews have I done no wrong h 3 Joh. 12. Demetrius hath a good report of all men and of the truth it self yea and we also bear record i Prov. 14.5 A faithful witness will not lye 25. A true witness delivereth souls What is forbidden in the ninth Commandment k Rom. 3.13 With their tongues they have used deceit l Job 27.5 God forbid that I should justifie you till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me m Psal. 15.3 He that backbiteth not with
that so many of us as were baptized unto Iesus Christ were baptized into his death f Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so also we should walk in newness of life To whom is Baptism to be administred g Act. 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized h Gen. 17.7 And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee 10. This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee Every man-child among you shall be circumcised Act. 2.38 And Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 39. For the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that an afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call What is the Lords Supper i Luk. 22.19 And he took Bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying this is my body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me 20. Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you k 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ What is required in the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper l 1 Cor. 11.28 But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body m 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith n 1 Cor. 11.31 If we would judg our selves we should not be judged o 1 Cor. 11.18 When you come together in the Church I hear there be divisions among you 20. When ye come together therefore in one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper p 1 Cor. 5.8 Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leuen neither with the leven of malice and wickedness but with the unlevened bread of sincerity and truth q 1 Cor. 11.27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. What is Prayer r Psal. 62.8 Trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him God is a refuge for us s Rom. 8.27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God t Joh. 16.23 Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you u Dan. 9.4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession w Phil. 4.6 Be careful in nothing but for every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God What Rule hath God given us for our Direction in Prayer x 1 Joh. 5.14 And this is the considence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us y Mat. 9.6 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name c. What doth the Preface of the Lords Prayer teach us z Isa. 64.9 Be not wrath very sore O Lord neither remember iniquity for ever behold see we beseech thee we are all thy people a Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father b Luk. 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him c Eph. 6.18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints What do we pray for in the first Petition d Psal. 67.1 God be merciful unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us 2. That thy way may be known upon the earth and thy saving health among all Nations 3. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee e Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to him be glory for ever Amen What do we pray for in the second Petition f Psal. 68.1 Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered let them also that hate him flee before him g Psal. 51.18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion build thou the walls of Ierusalem h 2 Thes. 3.1 Finally Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you Rom. 10.1 Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved i Rev. 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus What do we pray for in the third Petition m Psal. 119.34 Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law yea I will observe it with my whole heart 35. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight 36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies l Act. 21.14 And when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying The will of the Lord be done m Psal. 103.20 Bless the Lord ye his Angels which excel in strength that do his Commandments hearkening unto the voice of his Word 22. Bless the Lord all his works in all places of his Dominion Bless the Lord O my soul. What do we pray for in the fourth Petition n Prov. 30.8 Remove far from me vanity and lies give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me o Psal. 90.17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us yea the work of our hands establish thou it What do we pray for in the fifth Petition p Psal. 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving-kindness according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions q Mat. 6.14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you What do we pray for in the sixth Petition r Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Psal. 19.13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me s Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me 12. Restore unto me joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit What doth the Conclusion of the Lords Prayer teach us t Dan. 9.18 We do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness but for thy great mercies 19. O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord hearken and do defer not for thine own sake O my God u 1 Chron. 29.11 Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is thine 13. Now therefore our God we thank thee and praise thy glorious Name w Rev. 22.20 Amen Even so come Lord Iesus
for the sakes of some in a remote Corner whose souls welfare I greatly desire where they want those helps some others enjoy many are poor others unacquainted with or loth to buy good books and where this particularly for the sake of the Author who drew his first breath there may likely be received with greater kindness and read with better care I am not ignorant that others have done well before both formerly and lately in oâ—e and another way for the explication of these common but greatest matters collected out of Holy Scripture and laid together in a small room by men of skill in the truest method that the weak may soon understand and remember them which I heartily rejoice in Yet had I been more timely considerate enough this might have appeared abroad e're some of those larger and much commended were published However now it cannot be unseasonable in this debauching age to contribute a further aid for the sound principling of hopeful youth Here likely will be some advantage either for matter or manner suggested which others have not took notice of for the opening or evidencing of Truth and recommending particulars as at one sight to our prospect Besides some may receive satisfaction and take pleasure to see here the Harmony and fair agreement of these Principles with those our Forefathers zealously profess'd to hold at the beginning of our Reformation from Popery in King Edward the Sixths and Queen Elizabeths days 'T is plain from a view of what is here annexed and presented to us as attesting these several Aphorisms or Propositions that the Articles and Homilies of the English Church under the particulars speak the same things These then are such Institutions of a Christian man as are consonant to Holy Writ the sober and wholesome Doctrines of those Protestants who liv'd in these Kingdoms before us and I hope will find entertainment with our posterity when we go to rest with our Fathers For I suppose it is easie to discern through all disingenuous aspersions that whoever drew them up in our age and by what warrant they are so far from being Novelties to Reformed English men that they materially had in the former age the Authority of a Convocation and an Act of Parliament Be sure the most learned and godly Primate Usher soon after their first publication did highly value them thus digested by several learned Divines in the order they be here explain'd And another very reverend and holy person yet alive in the Confession of his Faith printed twenty years ago cap. 2. S. 3. did declare He heartily approv'd of this Form of sound words and of all therein contain'd affirming that He took it for the best Catechism that ever he saw and the A. s contained for a most excellent sum of the Christian Faith and Doctrine and a fit Test to try the Orthodoxness even of Teachers themselves Such Testimonies might perhaps occasion this labour in the Explanation of them Which I do here present to you as the Author lest it penn'd for his own private use in his Catechetical teaching of those committed to him I liked not to make any addition or alteration though had he liv'd and ever thought of publishing it as it is not unlikely he might have done for the same charitable use it is now design'd no question but it would have been all better proportion'd enlarg'd and alter'd yea and if needful put into a more comely dress This I conceive was the only draught of it which I the rather intimate that if any defects or mistakes be found in this Explanatory Comment there may be no unkind reflection made upon him who went to Heaven some time since And whiles upon Earth shew'd himself both in the University and elsewhere to be one of good learning and true holiness a fervent preacher and real practiser of the Duties herein explain'd and particularly of so sweet and peaceful temper that his moderation was known unto all those who did familiarly converse with him There be other Notes of his with these left to my disposal and some of those practical Sermons upon some Texts of Scripture on which I find not any in the late printed Catalogues or but few to have treated which as they are desired earnestly by some so if they are by more thought useful may in time come abroad This such as it is will I hope be no disparagement to him that is gone but give us to understand he had clear Notions of the main points of Religion which he made his own business and which if they peculiarly young ones into whose hands it shall come be inclin'd cordially to embrace by the heedful reading and perusing hereof it will help to perpetuate the memory of the just deceased and be matter of rejoicing to his surviving Brother who is really desirous to serve you in love R. A. Aug. 2. 1675. In the Principles of Religion are considerable the I. End Gods glory and mans happiness A. 1. C. I. II. Means or Rule Scripture A. 2. requiring A. 3. I. Faith concerning God in his Essence A. 4 5. Subsistence A. 6. Operations which are his Decrees or purposes A. 7. the execution of them by Creation respecting All A. 9 11. Providence respecting Man A. 10 12. Man Created by God A. 13. Faln by sin describ'd in general A. 14. special from its act A 15. subject A. 16. effects sinfulness A. 17 18. misery A. 19. Restored by Grace where of the Covenant of Grace A. 20. Redeemer who is described A. 21. who became man A. 22. who executeth offices A. 23. of Priest A. 24. of Prophet A. 25. of King A. 26. both in his state of Humiliation A. 27. both in his state of Exaltation A. 28. Participation of the benefits of Redemption by the Spirit A. 29. in effectual Calling A. 30. where of the Nature of it A. 31. Benefits A. 32. in this life primarily Justification A. 33. Adoption A. 34. Sanctification A. 35. secondarily Assurance c. A. 36. at death A. 37. resurrection A. 38. II. Obedience to Gods revealed Will A. 39. C II. In the Law summ'd up in the Ten Commandments A. 40 41 42. wherein of The Preface A. 43 44. The Precepts I. A. 45 46 47. II. A. 48 49 50 51 52. III. A. 53 54 55 56. IV. A. 57 58 59 60 61 62. V. A. 63 64 65 66. VI. A. 67 68 69. VII A. 70 71 72. VIII A. 73 74 75. IX A. 76 77 78. X. A. 79 80 81. Mans impotency to perform this Duty A. 82 83 84. Gospel requiring and enjoining C. III. Graces A. 85. Faith A. 86. Repentance A. 87. Ordinances A. 88. Word How effectual A. 89. read heard A. 90. Sacraments How effectual A. 91. Describ'd A. 92. Divided A. 93. Baptism What A. 94. To whom A. 95. Lords Supper What A. 96. How received A. 97. Prayer described A. 98. C. IV. ruled by the Lords Prayer where in the Preface A. 100.
sort as he had given them in charge and commandment and also that he should declare himself thankful c. Expl. 10. God created man male and female i. e. in both Sexes man out of the dust of the earth and the woman of the Rib that he took out of the mans Side which creation is to be understood concerning the bodies of both not of the soul of either of them for the soul was not made of any materials at all but the reasonable soul was immediately infused into their bodies when God breathed into them the breath of life so that the soul is q.d. the breath of God There is a twofold image of God 1. That which is in God and so Christ the Second person in the Trinity is said to be the express image of the person of God the Father because in him the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily 2. There is the image of God which is out of God or external to him and such an image of God was man in his first Creation 1 st In respect of his soul and that more generally in the nature of it God is a Spirit and so is mans soul God's immortal so that But more particularly 1. In knowledg of what was necessary to be known by him in order to Gods glory or his own happiness 2. In righteousness or uprightness i. e. his will did freely and fully comply with the will of God the Law of God being written in his heart 3. In holiness or with a power to do Gods will perfectly 2 dly In respect of his body wherein he did resemble the majesty not the spirituality of God for there was so much of majesty especially in mans countenance that the inferior creatures did stand in awe of him 3. In respect of the whole man because in his dominion over the creatures he did resemble his Creator in his dominion over the world A. 11. Gods works of Providence are his most holy wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions Homil. xvij Conservation and governance of the world of liberal goodness which he daily bestoweth on us his reasonable creatures for whose sake he made the whole universal world with all the commodities and goods therein Take him for God omnipotent invisible having rule in Heaven and Earth having all things in subjection and will have none in counsel with him nor any to ask the reason of his doing for he may do what liketh him and none can resist him Dan. 11. For he worketh all things in his secret judgment to his own pleasure yea even the wicked to damnation saith Solomon Prov. 16. God hath not so created the world that he is careless of it but he still preserveth it by his goodness he still stayeth it in his creation To make our humble suits in prayers to his fatherly Providence Expl. 11. By Gods actual Providence we are to understand his ordering of all things in time according to his eternal purpose or the counsel of his own will or in plain English 't is his doing what he will in the world whether it be in Heaven or Earth For further explanation of this matter we are to know 1 st That according to our apprehension there are these distinctions and kinds of Providence 1. We have his eternal Providence or his decreeing purposing designing Providence which is nothing else but that frame method or order of government which was in the mind of God from everlasting before there was a world or any creature in it to be govern'd and of this was spoken before 2. His actual Providence which he hath exercised ever since he made the world as 1. In the conservation of things in their beings so that of all the species or kinds of creatures which he made he has lost none Individuals indeed do dye and perish and return to their dust but the species or kinds of creatures do not men dye this and that and t'other individual person in reference to their bodies but man does not or rather mankind does not 2. In the actual government of all things by his wisdom which he doth preserve by his infinite power for God does not do by the World as the Ship-Carpenter by the Ship build and leave it and never look after it more but he doth look after the preservation of it as the Owner and the government of it as the Pilot. Other distinctions there are of Providence as 2. That it is either mediate and ordinary as where God makes use of means and second causes and therein does observe the order which he has set in nature as Hos. 2.22 and this order in nature is called the Law of nature Or else immediate and extraordinary when in the works of Providence as well as of Creation he works without means as in the preserving of Daniel in the Lyons Den. 2 dly For the matter and extent of Providence it reaches to all creatures even to the Sparrows and to the hair of the head 3 dly For the manner and this 1. Holy or most perfect or in a way suitable to the perfection of his nature 2. Wise for he does not only do all in the best way but for the highest end 3. Powerful for he brings to pass what he will have done with an almighty easiness and without any difficulty to himself A. 12. When God had created man he entred into a Covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil upon pain of death To. 2. Homil. xxi God as soon as he had created man gave unto him a certain Precept and Law which he being yet in the state of innocency and remaining in Paradise should observe as a pledg and token of his due and bounden obedience with denunciation of death if he did transgress and break the said Law and Commandment In the which obedience if man had continued still there had been no poverty no diseases no sickness no death c. Expl. 12. The wise and gracious Creator having made man a reasonable creature and having also stampt his own image upon him and thereby rendered him fit for and capable of happiness in the enjoyment of himself and there being no other way to this enjoyment but by union and communion with himself he was most graciously pleased in order thereunto to make a Covenant with man giving a Law to him as soon as he had made him and in him with all his posterity wherein he promised life to him and in him to all mankind upon condition of perfect and personal obedience And that God might try him how he would carry it being now brought within the bounds of this Covenant he was pleased to lay this particular positive Precept upon him That he should not eat of the tree of knowledg of good and evil c. upon pain of death which Precept he
he might be in a capacity to bestow his Spirit upon them and to conquer all their enemies for them 2. He must be Man as well as God that he might perform obedience suffer satisfie and intercede for us in our nature that he might be a merciful High-Priest and have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities 3. Both God and Man in one person that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and man to make up the difference betwixt them which sin had made For as sin is the only make-bate so Christ having taken our nature into union with the Godhead is the only person that is in a capacity to make peace betwixt an offended God and offending man and that he might perform in the great work of Redemption whatever was requirable of both natures jointly in one person or whatever he was to do as head of the Church A. 22. Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her yet without sin Artic. xv Christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only except from which he was clear void both in his flesh and in his spirit Artic II. The Son which is the Word of the Father begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary of her substance So that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and Manhood were joined together in one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a Sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men Homil. xij As truly as God liveth so truly was Jesus Christ the true Messias and Saviour of the world even the same Jesus which was born of the Virgin Mary without all help of man only by the power and operation of the Holy Ghost Expl. 22. When it is here said that Christ the Son of God became man we are not to imagine that Christ did then lay down his Godhead or that he did cease to be God when he honoured mans nature so far as to take that upon him for though he then began to be what he was not before man yet he did not cease to be at his Incarnation what he was before namely God it being impossible altogether that the Godhead should admit of any change because of its infinite perfection for every change is either for the better or for the worse but the Godhead was infinitely as well as independently perfect and consequently without all variableness or shadow of changing so that all the change which was in Christ at his Incarnation it was in his humane nature only and that change was indeed for the better for it was for the highest advancement honour and perfection that our nature was capable of But Christ though the Son of God and therefore truly God became man 1. Not by being like unto man only in outward appearance and to the outward senses as a Phantasm an Apparition or a Ghost that doth appear in mans shape as those Hereticks of old call'd the Marcionites did fancy No he became man 2. By taking the real body of man or by taking flesh blood bones nerves sinews hands feet and all other integral parts of the very same kind with those of mans body His body was such that it did grow in stature from that of a child to that of a man and was subject to the touch or feeling 3. By taking a reasonable soul or a soul furnished with the very same powers and faculties that ours have for the kind as understanding will affections memory c. and was capable of the improvement of these as of growing in wisdom and knowledg according to his humane nature 4. By being conceived of the Holy Ghost i. e. in a manner supernatural or above nature and not in an ordinary way of natural generation but by the immediate and omnipotent operation of the Spirit the third person in the Trinity who did in a way altogether unexpressible by man and without the help of man frame the body of the holy Child Jesus in the Virgin Maries womb wherein this blessed Babe continued the space of Nine Months as other children do in their mothers womb and then was born into the world in fulness of time as they are but yet without sin as they are not A. 23. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the offices of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King both in his estate of Humiliation and Exaltation Expl. 23. By this word Redeemer we are to understand the same with Mediator and by both the second Person in the Trinity as he was upon Covenant and Contract made with the Father to mediate peace betwixt God and man and to manage the whole work of Redemption in order to the justification sanctification and salvation of the Elect and that not only whilst he was here upon earth to be our King Priest and Prophet but now that he is in heaven he ever lives to make intercession for us and doth still guide and teach and govern his Church by his Word and Spirit A. 24. Christ executeth the office of a Prophet in revealing to us by his Word and Spirit the Will of God for our Salvation Hom. xvij By this our heavenly Mediator do we know the favour and mercy of God the Father by him know we his will and pleasure towards us for he is the brightness of his Fathers glory and a very clear image and pattern of his substance It is he whom the Father in heaven delighteth to have for his beloved Son authorized to be our Teacher whom he charged us to hear saying Hear him Expl. 24. When Christ is here called a Prophet we are not to restrain this part of his Office only to his foretelling all such things as should befall his Church or the enemies thereof though this he has done in Prophetical Scriptures so far as he thought necessary for the good of his Church But he is principally called a Prophet and that Prophet because of that power commission and ability which he has and doth exercise in revealing and declaring both outwardly by his Word and inwardly by his Spirit the whole mind and will of God which was necessary to be known by man in order to salvation And for this reason he is called in Scripture the Word and the Word was made flesh and his name is the Word of God because that as a man does make known what his mind and will is by his words either written or spoken so God the Father doth make known unto man by Christ what
he would have men to believe and do in order to salvation and that either mediately by committing the word of Christ unto writings as in the Scripture or immediately by the Spirit of Truth as he did communicate and speak his mind to Moses the Prophets and Apostles A. 25. Christ executeth the office of a Priest in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and to reconcile us to God and in making continual intercession for us Homil. xx p. 1. We having nothing of our selves to present us to God have need of a Mediator for to bring and reconcile us unto him who for our sins is angry with us The same is Jesus Christ to pacifie his wrath For he alone did with the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood make satisfaction unto the Justice of God for our sins To. 1. Hom. III. p. 2. We must trust only in Gods mercy and that Sacrifice which our High-Priest and Saviour Christ Jesus the Son of God once offered for us upon the Cross to obtain thereby Gods grace and remission as well of our original sin as of all a â—â—â—al sin if we truly repent and turn unfeignedly unto him To. 11. Hom. xi Reconciled to Gods favour we are taught to know what Christ by his intercession and mediation obtaineth for us of his Father when we be obedient to his will yea attributeth that unto us and to our doings that he by his Spirit worketh in us and through his grace procureth for us Expl. 25. In this A. we have both the parts of Christs Priestly Office as 1 st Satisfaction and this twofold 1. To the whole Law in fulfilling all righteousness in the perfect performance of what the Law required from him 2. To the Iustice of God in undergoing the Curse of the Law for the Elect and this he did by his sufferings but especially when his Soul was made an offering for sin or when he was sacrificed for sinners In which Offering he was 1. The Priest for he offered up himself or he laid down his life of himself and he was the Priest as God-man 2. He was the Altar principally according to his Divine nature because the Altar was to sanctifie the gift offered and therefore was to be more excellent than the Sacrifice it self 3. He was also the Sacrifice for he offered the Sacrifice of himself i. e. according to the humane nature properly and this therefore is called the Sacrifice of his Body and of his Blood and all this that there might be some kind of compensation made or satisfaction given to God for that wrong which we had done to him 2 dly We have the intercession of Christ which is the other part of Christs Priestly Office whereby Christ doth present himself continually before the Father pleading his blood and merit for the satisfaction that he has made to Divine Justice and for the reconciliation of God to the sinner And his intercession is rather by way of plea at the Bar of Justice than by way of prayer and supplication at a Throne of Grace and therefore it is that he is called our Advocate A. 26. Christ executeth the office of a King in subduing us to himself in ruling and defending us and in restraining and conquering all his and our Enemies To. 2. Homil. xiv He sitteth on the right hand of his heavenly Father having the rule of heaven and earth reigning as the Prophet saith Psal. 17. from Sea to Sea he hath overcome the Devil Death and Hell and hath victoriously gotten the better hand of them all to make us free and safe from them Homil. xvij p. 3. To this our Saviour and Mediator hath God the Father given the power of heaven and earth and the whole jurisdiction and authority to distribute his gifts committed to him and thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sin and the Devil to captivity to be no more hurtful to his members he ascended up into heaven again and from thence sent liberal gifts to his well-beloved Servants and hath still the power to the worlds end to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof Expl. 26. Yet more fully Christ doth execute his Kingly Office 1 st By his authority in setting up a government in his Church which in the outward form or administration thereof is to be managed by such Officers and according to such Laws Ordinances and Censures as he hath appointed in his word 2 dly By his Power as 1. That of his Almightiness whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself and to make his very enemies his foot-stool 2. Of his Grace whereby he doth subdue the hearts of his chosen people to himself and makes them a willing people in the day of his power 3. Of his Spirit whereby he doth sanctifie his people and fit them for heaven as also support guide and comfort them under all the afflictions they meet with on earth 4. By his Iustice in punishing his and his Churches adversaries A. 27. Christs Humiliation consisted in his being born and that in a low condition made under the Law undergoing the miseries of this life the wrath of God and the cursed death of the the Cross in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time Hom. III. p. 3. Hath given his own natural Son ' being God eternal immortal and equal unto himself in power and glory to be incarnated and take our mortal nature upon him with the infirmities of the same and in the same nature to suffer most painful and shameful death for our offences to the intent to justifie us and restore us to life everlasting Hom. xij He did hunger and thirst eat and drink sleep and wake preach his Gospel weep and sorrow for Ierusalem pay tribute for himself and Peter suffer death Expl. 27. In the general Christs Humiliation doth consist in all that which did befall him from the first moment of his conception in the Virgins womb to the very time of his resurrection from the grave 1. He was humbled in his conception that he who was God equal with the Father should according to his humane nature have a body framed for him in the womb of a Virgin and should continue â—â—ose Prisoner there for the space of about nine months whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain 2. Humbled in his birth in that he was born of a woman and that not an Empress or Princess but a woman of a mean rank and low estate though a Virgin that he who was the Son of God and the Father of eternity or himself the everlasting Father should in fulness of time be born in the form of a servant made under the Law not only in a state of subjection to the commands of it but also liable to the curse of it which was due only
to us and not to him but only as he was our Surety and all this that we might receive the adoption of Sons who deserved not to be called Servants That he who was Heir of all things and made this great house the World should be so unfurnisht with houshold goods as to have no better Cradle than a Manger 3. In his life he humbled himself to the infirmities of our nature as hunger cold nakedness poverty c. to undergo with admirable patience the unkindnesses and forsakings of his friends the reproaches indignities and persecutions of his enemies yea and to be tempted by that great enemy of mankind the Devil 4. In his death that he should dye at all who is the Author of natural spiritual and eternal life and besides could he not if he would have translated himself from earth to heaven as Enoch was translated without dying at all but then that the King of Glory should dye the â—ost shameful death that of the Cross and in the basest company betwixt two Theeves 5 After death in having his body laid in the earth who had before made the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth And last of all that he should continue under the power of death the grave for three days who could if he would within less than three moments yea in less time than a moment have raised his body from the grave O incomprehensible humiliation and that which should fill us all with grateful and astonishing admiration at it that all this was for sinful man A. 28. Christs Exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day in ascending up into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father and in coming to judg the world at the last day Artic. IV. Christ did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into heaven and there sitteth until he return to judg all men at the last day To. 2. Hom. xiv After this world Judg as well of the living as of the dead to give reward to the good and judgment to the evil Hom. xvij p. 3. By him hath Almighty God decreed to dissolve the world to call all before him to judg both the quick and the dead and finally by him shall he condemn the wicked to eternal fire in hell and give the good eternal life and set them assuredly in presence with him in heaven for ever more Expl. 28. Christ is here exalted 1 st In his resurrection and here 1. The glory of his power was exalted for he raised himself by his own Almighty power and thereby declared himself to be the Son of God 2. The glory of his truth for he raised himself as he had foretold within three days 3. The glory of his authority for he rose as a publick person and thereby declared himself Head of the Church 4. The glory of his mercy for he rose again for our justification for if he had not received a discharge from his Father and had he not been released from the prison of the grave it would have been an evidence against us that our debt was not paid 2 dly He was exalted by his ascension 1. If we consider the manner of it it was with glorious triumph over hell and death 2. His ascension was into heaven namely into the heaven of heavens that which is called Paradise and the third Heaven whether Enoch and Elias went 3. In his bounty and grace he ascended that he might give gifts to men 3 dly Exalted in his sitting c. for his Session at the right hand of the Father doth declare him to be supreme Head of the Church 4 thly In judging the world he will be exalted 1. In his authority 2. In his righteousness A. 29. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us by his holy Spirit Artic. xvij They which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God viz. Election be called according to Gods purpose working in due season they through grace obey the calling be freely justified c. Expl. 29. In this A. is plainly laid before us the manner how and means whereby all that Christ has done and suffered for sinners as Mediator and all that he is now doing in heaven for them doth become effectual to the compleat redemption and eternal salvation of all true Christians sc. by the real and actual application of all this unto them For though Christ the great Physitian of value has made the healing Plaister of his Blood sufficiently broad enough both to cover and to cure all the wounds that sin hath made in all the men in the world yet the far greater part of the world do dye and perish of their wounds because they will not suffer this soveraign Plaister to be apply'd to them in the sound preaching of the Gospel neither will they abide to have their wounds searched in order to cure Now for the manner how and the means whereby this Plaister is apply'd I answer 1. It is outwardly by the Ministers of the Gospel unto all those that do believe as when they preach this Doctrine that whosoever believeth shall be saved 2. Inwardly by the Holy Spirit who does not only lay on the Plaister in a work of conviction but doth make it become effectually healing in a work of conversion and sanctification For the means see the next A. A. 30. The Spirit applieth to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us and thereby uniting us to Christ in our Effectual Calling Homil. II. Of the Passion As it profiteth a man nothing to have Sâ—lve unless it be well-applied to the part infected so the death of Christ shall stand us in no force unless we apply it to our selves as God hath appointed Almighty God commonly worketh by means and in this thing he hath also ordained a certain mean whereby we may take fruit and profit to our Souls health Homil. xvi p. 2. The Holy Ghost is a Spiritual and Divine Substance the Third person in the Trinity distinct from the Father and the Son and yet proceeding from them both doth regenerate which the more it is hid from our understanding the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the secret and mighty working of Gods holy Spirit which is within us For it is the Holy Ghost and no other thing that doth quicken the minds of men stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God such as otherwise of their crooked and perverse nature they should never have Who is the only worker of our sanctification and maketh us new in Christ. Expl. 30. Here we have the particular means or instrument which the Holy Spirit makes use of for the
pray against afflictions though these are also tentations and lead us not c. but we do absolutely pray to be delivered from the evil of sin and this by God alone who can bring good out of evil A. 107. The Conclusion of the Lords-Prayer which is For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only and in our prayers to praise him ascribing Kingdom power and glory to him and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard we say Amen To. 2. Hom. IX Amen which word is as much as to say as truth that the blessing or thanksgiving may be confirm'd Expl. 107. In this Conclusion we are taught 1 Self-denial and the renouncing of all worth and merit in our selves for we are not to say Lord do thus and thus for I am worthy for whom thou shouldst do so and so but for thine is the Kingdom c. i. e. Thou who hast commanded us to pray for what we need hast Power to give us what we beg though in our selves never so unworthy From that word therefore Lord we may note 1 That answering of prayers is a special part of Gods providence in governing the world which he will have every supplicant to own and acknowledg The belief of a providence is very necessary to the offering up unto God the sacrifice of prayer 2 From those words and the Power we may note sc. That what God may do as Governour of the world in answering prayers by virtue of his supreme Authority that he hath strength and ability to execute and perform 3 From those words and the Glory observe 1 That God looks upon it as one of his Titles of Honour to be a God hearing prayers 2 That therefore in our prayers as well as in any other part of Divine worship we should principally aim at the honour of God and 't is one of the greatest arguments we can have of hope to speed when our design is rather to gloririfie God than to gratifie our selves 3 That the Kingdom and Power of God and that honour which does redound to him from both these are everlasting 4 That Praise should accompany Prayer 5 That whatever we ask of God in the name of Christ according to his will believing we shall receive for that 's the meaning of that word which doth seal up this Prayer Amen because so it is or so be it or in the words of Christ be it unto thee even as thou wilt a greater encouragement than which unto prayer no rational supplicant can desire for 't is no more than ask and have that your joy may be full FINIS a Psal. 87.5 6. b Ier. 9 3. c Gen. 14.14 d Hos. 4.6 e Eph. 4.18 f Isa. 27.11 g Act. 3.6 h 1 Cor. 3.2 Heb. 5.12 i Mat. 4.4 Amos 8.11 k Luk 8.26 37. 9 5. 10 11 12. l Mat. 10.14 40 c. m Zach. 5. n Ier. 36 23. o 2 Cor. 4.3 p Rom. 10.1 q Gal. 6.6 r Deut. 11.18 19 c. 6.6 7 8. 4.9 Eph. 6.4 Isa. 28.10 Ex. 13.8 Psal. 78.5 Prov. 22.6 29 3. 10.1 1.10 4.1 2. Col. 3.11 12. Gen. 18.18 19. 2 Tim. 1.5 with 3.15 c. s 1 Tim. 4.3 4 5. Ioh. 8.29 t 1 Tim. 3.5 u 1 Pet. 2.2 Isa. 55.1 2. * Sir Edwyn Sands observed Eighty years ago that this was a notable means for the growth of the Reformed Religion x Deut. 17.18 19. y Prov. 29.15 17. with 4. 1 Sam. 2.23 c. 3.13 Luk. 12.47 48. Prov. 1.24 25 c. * Decembâ—r 1670. 1 Tim. 6.3 Eccl. 12.13 Joh. 13.17 Phil. 4.13 1 Cor. 9.23 27. Mat. 10.13 14 -40. Luk. 10.16 1 Thes. 4.8 Joh 12.25 48. Prov. 19.2 Heb. 12.13 1552. 1562. Artic. XXXV 13 Eliz. c. 5. 1655. Dec. 11. 1670. What is the chief End of Man a 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God b Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee 26. My flesh and my heart saileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever What Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him c Eph. 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone d 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness e 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ. What do the Scriptures principally teach f 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Iesus What is God g Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth h Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection i Psal. 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God k Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning l Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you m Psal. 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite n Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come o Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty g Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth h Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection i Psal. 90.2 From everlasting to everlasting thou art God k Jam. 1.17 The Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning l Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you m Psal. 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite n Rev. 4.8 Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come o Exod. 34.6 The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty Are there more Gods than one p Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God