Communion of the Persons or rather the Union of the Persons is that by which one of them is in the rest and with the rest by reason of the Unity of the God-head and therefore every each one doth possess Love and glorifie another and work the same thing Joh. 14. 10. and 1. 1. and 5. 19. Prov. 8. 22. 30. The Persons of the God-head are three Matth. 3. 16. 17. The Father is a Person without beginning from all Eternity begetting the Son Joh. 1. 3. 10. In the generation of the Son we must note these properties 1. That he that begetteth and he that is begotten are together and not one before another in time 2. He that begetteth doth communicate with him that is begotten not some one part of his essence but his whole essence so that this Communion is not a Communion but a Union 3. The Father begot the Son not out of himself but in himself The incommunicable property of the father is to be unbegotten to be a Father and to beget The Father is the beginning of Actions and beginneth every Action of himself And effecteth every Action by the Son and by the Holy spirit 1 Cor. 8. 6. Rom. 11. 36. The Son is the second Person begotten of the Father from all Eternity Joh. 1. 3. 10. 1 Joh. 1. 1. 2. The Son in regard of his essence is of and by himself * very God But in regard of his filiation and Sonship as he is a Person and the Son of the Father he is not of himself but from another for he is the Eternal Son of his Father And thus is he truely said to be very God of very God For this cause he is said to be sent from the Father Joh. 8. 42. And this sending taketh not away the equality of Essence and power but declareth the order of the Persons Joh. 5. 18. Phil. 2. 6. The property of the Son is to be begotten His proper manner of working is to execute actions from the Father by the Holy Ghost Joh. 5. 19. 1 Cor. 8. 6. The Holy Ghost is the third Person proceeding from the Father and the Son Joh. 15. 26. Rom. 8. 9. Job 16. 13 14. The incommunicable property of the Holy Ghost is to proceed The Holy Ghosts proper manner of working is to finish an action Effecting it as from the Father and the Son The second part of THEOLOGIE Of Gods works and his Decree THe works of God are all the World and all the things contained therein The end for which all things are created is the manifestation of the glorie of God Rom. 11. 36. The Decree of God is that by which God hath freely from all eternity determined all things Eph. 1. 11. 4. Matth. 10. 29. Rom. 9. 21. The execution of Gods Decree is that by which all things in their time are accomplisht according as he foreknew them and Decreed them The Decree of God is the first and principal working cause of all things and it is also in order and time before all other causes This first and principal cause doth not take away freedom of will in Election Nor the Nature and property of second causes but it bringeth them into a certain order and it directeth them to their determinate ends and hereupon the effects or events of things are either contingent or Necessary Even as the Nature of the second cause is And thus Christ according to his Fathers Decree died necessarily as Act. 17. 3. But yet willingly Joh. 10. 18. And if we respect the temperature of Christs body he might have prolonged his life and therefore in this regard he may be said to have died contingently Gods foreknowledge is conjoyned with his Decree and in regard of us it is before his Decree but not in regard of God The branches of the execution of Gods Decree are his Operation and his operative permission His operation is his effectual producing of all good things which either have being or moving or which are done Gods operative permission is that whereby he onely permitteth one and the same work to be done of others as it is evil but as it is good he doth effectually work it Gen. 56. 20. 45. 7. Isai 10. 5. 6. 7. God permitteth evil by a certain voluntary permission in that he forsaketh the second cause in working evil And he doth also forsake his creature either by detracting the grace it had Or by not bestowing that which it wanteth Rom. 1. 26. 2 Tim. 2. 25. 26. And in this we must not think God unjust for he is indebted to none Rom. 9. 15. It is in Gods pleasure to bestow how much grace and upon whom he will Matth. 10. 15. That evil which God permitteth in respect of God is good whither it be as a punishment or as a chastisement because he can and doth produce good out of it Gods Decree as it concerneth man is called predestination Predestination is a Decree of God by which all men are ordained to an everlasting estate either of Salvation or Condemnation 1 Thess. 5. 9. The means of accomplishing Gods predestination was the Creation and the fall The Creation is the World and the inhabitants in the World The parts of the World are the Heaven and the Earth The Heavens are three fold 1. The Air 2. Sky 3. The invisible Heaven Heaven in a large acceptation is all that is above the Earth All which is distinguisht into three Heavens The first Heaven is the space betwixt the Earth and Starry Firmament The second Heaven containeth the Sun Moon Stars The third Heaven is the invisible Heaven this is the place in which the blessed do behold the Majesty and glorie of the Almighty The inhabitants of the World are Angels Men and all other Creatures In Angels there are these things to be considered 1. Their Nature they are spiritual and incorporeal essences Heb. 2. 16. and 1. 7. 2. Their qualities * First they are wise Secondly they are of great might 2 Thes. 1. 7. 2 Sam. 24. 17. 2 Kings 19. 35. Another quality of them is Thirdly that they are swift and of great agility Isa. 6. 6. Dan. 9. 21. 3. Their Number they are innumerable Dan. 7. 10. Hebr 12. 22 4. The place in which these good Angels are and that is in the highest Heaven for there they do ever attend upon God and have society with him Matth. 18. 10. Mark 12. 25. Psal. 68. 17. 5. Their orders or degrees which what they be no man can certainly say but there are Arch-Angels spoken of in Scripture 1 Thes. 4. 16. And Angels Matth. 18. 10. And Cherubims Seraphims Esai 6. 6. But it concerneth us not to search this neither may we curiously enquire after it 6. There office which is to magnify God and perform his Commandments Psal. 103. 20. 21. The Angels were created within the six days as appeareth Gen. 2. 1. The knowledge that the Angels have is either 1. Natural 2
things as appertain to him 8. To love and hate that which he loveth and hateth 9. To seek to please him in all things 10. To draw others unto the love of him 11. To esteem highly of such gifts and graces as he bestoweth 12. To stay our selves upon his Connsels revealed in his word 13. To call upon his Name with affiance The Negative part of this Commandment is this We must not account that God which is not God In this Negative part of this Commandment we are forbidden these things 1. Ignorance of the true God and of his will 2. Atheism which is a denying of God or of his Attributes as off his justice wisdom providence presence Ps. 14. 1. 3. Errours concerning God or concerning the Persons of the Diety or concerning Gods Attributes Here Helenism or the adoring of a multiplicity of Gods is forbidden 4. The setting of our hearts and affections upon any thing else but one God The heart is drawn from God by these means 1. By distrusting of God Heb. 10. 38. From this distrust ariseth First impatiency in suffering afflictions Jer. 20. 14. 13. 18. Secondly a tempting of God and this is when the man that distrusteth and contemneth God seeks an experiment of Gods truth and power Matth. 4. 7. 1 Cor. 10. 9. 10. 3. A desperation Genes 4. 13. 4. A doubting concerning the truth of God or concerning his benefits either present or to come Ps. 116. 11. 2. By confidence of Creatures as 1. when a man putteth trust in the strength of the Creatures as Jer. 17. 5. or 2. In riches Matth. 6. 24. Eph. 5. 5. or 3. In defenced places Jer. 40. 16. or 4. In pleasures or dainties and who so trusteth in these doth make his belly his God Phil. 3. 19. or 5. In Physicians 2 Chron. 16. 12. or 6. In the Devil and his works Thus Magicians trust in the Devil and Witches and all such as seek help at their hands Levit. 20. 6. 3. The heart is drawn away from God by loving the Creature too much and more than God Matth. 10. 37. Joh. 12 43. And by self Love 2 Tim. 3. 2. 4. By hatred and contempt of God as when a man declining from God doth fly from God and is angry with God when he punisheth sin Rom. 8. 7. and 1. 30. 5. By want of the fear of God Ps. 36. 1. 6. By fearing the Creature more than the Creatour 7. By hardness of heart and carnal security as when a man will neither acknowledge Gods judgements nor his own sins Rom. 2. 5. Luke 21. 34. 8. By pride and presumption as when a man ascribeth that to his own industry and merit which is onely due to God 1 Cor. 4. 6. 7. Genes 3. 5. The highest stair of prides ladler is that fearfull presumption of men of climbing rashly into Gods seat of Majesty as if they were Gods Act. 12. 22. 23. 2 Thes. 2. 4. The second Commandment 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 to 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 fourth generation of them that hate me And shewing mercie unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments The Affirmative part of this Commandment is this Thou shalt worship God in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. 24. Here we are first commanded to use the ordinary means of worshipping God As 1. The calling upon the name of the Lord First by humble supplication 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. By harty thanksgiving 3. By reading hearing talking and continually meditating on the word of God 4. By the use of the Sacraments as Act. 2. 41. 42. and 20. 7. Secondly we are here commanded to use these means holily that is as God in his word hath commanded to use them Matth. 28. 20. 1 Cor. 14. 40. Eccles. 5. 1. Ps. 26. 6. Furtherance of Gods Worship Are leagues of amity with those that truely fear God and serve him according to his word 2 Chr. 19. 2. Malaeh 2. 11. And such Covenants as the Magistrates and people make together with God for the preservation of Christian Religion 2 Chron. 15. 12. 14. The Negative part of this Commandment is this Thou shalt neither worship false Gods nor the true God with false worship Here we are forbidden these things First to represent God by any image similitude likeness or figure whatsoever Deut. 4. 15. 20. For all idols are lies Habak. 2. 18. Zach. 10. 2. Jer. 10. 8. Secondly we are here forbidden the least approbation of idolatry Hosea 13. 2. Gen. 48. 10. And therefore all processions plays feasts that are consecrated to the memorial and honour of idols Exod. 32. 6. 1 Cor. 10. 7. Thirdly all relicks badges and monuments of idols Exod. 23. 13. Isai 30. 22. Fourthly we are here forbidden all society with infidels As 1. Marriage with them Genes 6. 2. Deut. 7. 3. 4. Malach. 2. 11. Ezra 9. 14. 2 Kings 8. 18. 2. All leagues and confederacy with them in war either to assist them or to receive assistance from them and that for these causes 1. Because it doth obscure Gods glory and maketh him in appearance either unwilling or unable to aid his Church 2. Because in so doing we shall without doubt infect our selves with their impieties and idolatries 3. Because we are thus endangered to be made partakers of their punishments 2 Chron. 19. 2. With idolaters we are also forbidden all traffick in such wares as we know may further the service of their idols We are also forbidden with idolaters all Trials in Law before Judges that are infidels when Christian Courts are open and may be frequented 1 Cor. 6. 6. But if Christian Courts be not open we may according to St. Pauls rule appeal from one Court of infidels to another so from Festus he himself appealed to Caesar Act. 25. 11. Such necessities as these do make traffick and other things to be frequently used which otherwise are unlawfull We are here also forbidden all worshipping of the Beast and receiving of his mark Revel. 14. 9. Fifthly we are here forbidden all Will worship or worship of God after our own fancies in wayes which are not waranted by the word of God though we do pretend good intention for the doing of it Collos. 2. 23. 1 Sam. 13. 9. 10. 13. whither it be by Superstitions Sacrifices Meats Apparel observing Ceremonies Gestures or by our Gate Conversations Pilgrimage or by building of Altars Pictures or Idols and the like or by Temples or by strange consorts of Musick or by Monastical vows of single life or of poverty 1 Cor. 14 15. 1 Cor. 7. 9. 1. Such vows as these are altogether repugnant to the Law of God
may be tamed by verses short prayers or other charms Or to think that the repetition of the Creed or Lords prayer can infuse into Herbs or other things a faculty of healing diseases Palmestry is a Superstitious thing of this kinde Such abominations as these are all detested of God and ought also to be detestable in the eyes of Gods people as appeareth Deut. 18. 10. 11. 11. Here is also forbidden Astrology whither in the calculating of Nativities or used in Prognostications For in these regards Astrology is nothing else but the abuse of the Heavens and off the Stars For the Imaginary twelve Houses are made oâ— the fained signs of a supposed Zodiak in the highest sphear which is commonly called the first moveable and truly because it is thus high therefore can no man certainly know their influence and vertues This Art can not arise from experience because the same position of all Stars never happen twice and if they did yet there could be no observation made of them because the influencies of the Stars are all confusedly mixt both in the Air and in the Earth even as if all herbs were mingled together in one Vessel By this Art Mens mindes are drawen from the contemplation of Gods Providence when as they shall hear that all things fall out by the motion and position of the Stars Stars were not ordained to foretell things to come but to distinguish dayes moneths and years Genes 1. 14. Isai 47. 13. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsellours Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers and Prognosticatours stand up and save thee from the things which shall come upon thee Dan. 2. 2. Books of this kinde they were that for zeal of Gods glory and love to the truth were burned by the faithfull in the days of the Apostles such as these were the curious Arts those books treated off Act. 19. 19. All Astrological predictions are conversant or busied about such things as do either simplely depend on the will or dispensation of God or about such things as do depend upon Mans free-will and so are altogether contingent and therefore can neither be foreseen nor foretold and not upon the Heavens It is impossible by the bare knowledge of such a cause as is both common to many and far distant from such things as it worketh in precisely and infalliblely to set down particular effects The Stars have indeed a great force but such as doth manifest it self onely in the operation which it hath in the four principal qualities of natural things as in heat cold moisture driness The Stars can not at all force the will or give the least inclination to it It is beyond the reach of man to define how great the force of the Stars is The effects of the Sun and of the Moon are apparent in the constitution of the four parts of the year But the effects of the Planets and of the fixt Stars though they be of great force and innumerable are not so manifest unto us And now because a man can know but some Stars onely and their operations and not all the Stars and all their operations and forces he can not certainly foretell future things or things to come yea though they did depend on the Stars For though the position of certain Stars do demonstrate such an effect to ensue yet the Aspects of such Stars as we know not may hinder those effects and produce the contrary for ought we know That part of Astrology which concerneth the alteration of the Air is for the most part of it false and frivolous and therefore all manner of predictions grounded upon the Doctrine of it are nothing else but toys and delusions And that part of Astrology which concerneth Nativities Revolutions Progressions Directions of Nativities Elections of times and the finding again of things lost is very wicked yea it is very probable that this Art is of the same brood with implicite Magick and that for these reasons 1. Because the word of God reckoneth Astrologers amongst Magicians and adjudgeth them both to the same punishment 2. Because the precepts of that part of this Art which concerneth predictions are rediculous And therefore such things can not be told by them but by a secret suggestion from the Devil or instinct of the Devil Augustine lib. 5. cap. 7. de Civitate Dei saith the same For saith he if we weigh well all those things we will not without cause believe that Astrologers when they do wonderfully declare many truths work by some secret instinct of evil Spirits which desire to fill mens brains with dangerous and erroneous opinions concerning starry destinies And not by any Art derived from any inspection and consideration of the Horoscope which indeed is none 12. Here is also forbidden Popish Consecration of Water and Salt to restore the minde to health and to chase away Devils 13. Here is also forbidden making jests of the Scripture Isa. 66. 2. 14. Also all setting-light of Gods Judgements which are seen in the World Matth. 26. 34. 35. Luke 13. 1. 2. 3. 15. Here is also forbidden all dissolute conversation Matth. 5. 16. 2 Sam. 12. 14. The fourth Commandment 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 thy stranger that is within thy gates 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 seventh day and hallowed it The Affirmative part of this Commandment is this We do keep it holy if we do cease from sin and from the works of ordinary callings and if this being done we do also perform spiritual duties which God doth require of us As a preparation to the sanctification of the Sabbath day we must rise in the morning and pray privately Thus did Christ the day before the Sabbath Mark 1. 31. 39. Thus they were want to do under the Law Exod. 32. 5. 6. Aaron proclaimed saying to morrow shall be the holy day of the Lord and the people rose up early the next morning The Sabbath must again be sanctified by frequenting the assemblies where we may hear the pure word of God Act. 13. 14. 15. And by Meditation upon Gods word and his Creatures Psal. 92. Act. 17. 11. By exercising of works of charity by visiting the sick by giving Alms to the needy by admonishing those that fall by reconciling those that are at difference Nehem. 11. 12. The Sabbath is either Ceremonial or Moral It is Ceremonial 1. In respect of its strict observation 2. As it is a Type of the inward rest of the people of God that is of their continual
in famin God doth quicken and revive those that fear him Psal. 33. 18 19. 2. That godliness is great gain 1 Tim. 6. 6. 3. That we are not to make our abode upon the earth but travelling through the world to Heaven and waiting here for the resurrection and inheritance of eternal life 4. That we are here servants of God and that he therefore will provide us conveniencies 5. That ambition and pride blindeth a mans minde and thus maketh his downfall greater An ambitious man feareth to be humbled least he should not be exalted 6. That pride and ambition brought ruin upon mankinde even in Paradise 7. That he robs God of his honour that taketh that glory to himself which is onely due to God Remedies against the desires of the flesh are these 1. If we consider that none can be Christs Disciples but those that live in a continual self denial Luke 9. 23. 2. That those that are of the spirit ought always to savour the things of the spirit Rom. 8. 15. 3. That those which walk after the flesh shall die Rom. 8. 13. 4. That even here for holiness and righteousness we ought to walk as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven Phil. 3. 20. 5. That our bodies are the Temples of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6. That our Members are Members of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 15. 7. That we must not grieve the spirit of God which dwelleth in us 1 Cor. 6. 16. Rom. 8. 9. Eph. 4. 30. In these temptations by the flesh the fall is any offence through infirmity which a man by these temptations of Sathan is overtaken withall Gal 6. 1. In these falls Sathan will much aggravate and make greater the offence committed than it is And he will also terrifie the offendour with the judgements of God Matt. 27. 3 4 7. Here the remedy is To renew our repentance The beginning of this repentance is godly sorrow or sorrow towards Godward 2 Cor. 7. 9 11. The fruits of this repentance are seven 1. A purpose and endeavour to live according to the rule of Gods word 2. Confession of sins before God and an earnest entreaty of pardon for the offence at his hands Ps. 32. 5. 2 Sam. 12. 3. 3. An holy indignation against a mans a self for his offence 4 A fear not so much because of the punishment as least God should be highly displeased with the sin Ps. 130. 3. 5. A desire to be delivered from sin and to be fully renewed in life 6. A fervent zeal to love God and to embrace keep his Cammandments 7. A holy revenge which a man must take of himself for the taming subduing of his flesh least afterwards he should again fall into the same offence The second part of self-denial is The patient bearing of the Cross The Cross is nothing else but that measure of afflictions which every faithfull man by the will of God passeth under in his travelling through the World to Heaven Matth. 16. 24. Colos. 1. 24. No man is to seek affliction or to multiply his own troubles but when God layeth affliction upon a man he is to bear it willingly and patiently Colos. 1. 11. Luke 21. 19. Patience is thus strengthened 1. By the holy Ghost Phil. 4. 13. and 1. 29. 2. By holy Meditations As 1. That afflictions come not to a Faithfull man by chance but through the counsel and providence of God Gen. 4 5 4 5. 2 Sam. 16. 10. Psal. 119 71. The afflictions of the godly are inevitable Act. 14. 22. Matt. 7. 14. Joh 16. 33. 2 Tim. 3. 12. Secondly That though they be grievous yet they are good and profitable in that by them we are humbled for our sins before God and obtain peace and holiness of life 2 Cor. 1. 9. Isai 26. 16. Hos 5. 15. Psal. 78. 34. Jer. 31. 18. Heb. 2. 10. and 12. 11. Ps. 30. 5. Joh. 15. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 6. 2 Cor. 1. 4. Rom. 5 3. Afflictions in the godly are signs of their adoption Heb. 12. 6 7. It is a praise for the godly to do well and for it to suffer evil patiently at the hands of the wicked 1 Pet. 2. 20. They are a godly mans high-way to Heaven Jam. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 17. Thirdly That God hath promised favour and mitigation of punishment his presence in them and deliverance from them 1 Cor. 10. 13. Phil. 1. 29. 2 Sam. 7. 14. Ps. 50. 15. and 121. 4. Isai 43. 2. Fourthly That in all our troubles and afflictions we do but take part in that which Christ our Lord hath suffered before us 1 Pet. 4. 13. 2 Cor. 4. 10. Colos. 1. 24. Fifthly That in all our afflictions we have Angels ministring for our defence and comfort Ps. 34. 7. 2 Kings 6. 16. The Prophet Elisha saw the Mountain full of Angels for his defence So much for the denial of our selves The second part of new obedience is the profession of Christ This profession doth concern either Christ himself or us his Members The profession of Christ which doth directly concern Christ from us is 1. Either continual or 2. In time of danger 1. Our continual profession which doth directly concern Christ is the calling upon the name of God this is a duty that is always required of us in the name of him our Mediatour 1 Cor. 1. 2. Act. 9. 14. Colos. 3. 17. Gods name is called upon 1. by prayer or 2. thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. Prayer hath two parts 1. Petition 2. Assent Petition is an asking things necessary at the hands of God in the name of Christ according to the rule of Gods word 1 Joh. 5. 14. In every petition we must express a sense of our wants and a desire of the grace of God to supply those wants 1 Sam. 1. 10 15 17. Dan. 9. 4 20. Ps. 130. 1. and 143. 6. By assent we do believe and profess before God our belief that he in his due time will grant us our requests which we have made unto his Majesty 1 John 5. 14 15. Matth. 6. 1. Though the faithfull may discover many infirmities in their prayers yet they have a notable sense of Gods favour Psal. 6. 1 2 3 4. and 8. 9 and 16. 7. and 20. 5. and 3 5. 9 8 20. And especially when they do pray zealously Jam. 5. 16 And when they do pray often to the Lord Examples of infirmities discovered in prayer Zacharias feared when he prayed Luke 1. 13. Jonah was displeased and angry Jonah 4. 12. Thanksgiving is a calling upon Gods name by which we do with joy and gladness of heart praise God for his benefits Either received Ephes. 5. 20. or promised Psal. 36. 8 9. Collos. 3. 16 17. This for the continual profession of Christ 2. Our profession of Christ in time of danger is either 1. In word or 2. In deed Profession of Christ in word is called Christian Apology or the confession of Christ as Rom.
10. 10. Psal. 22. 22. Christian Apology or profession of Christ in word is when with fear and meekness we are always ready to confess the truth of Christian Religion as often as need requireth and that in the presence of unbelievers that the name of God may be glorified 1 Pet. 3. 15 16. Act. 7. 1. to the end We are not bound to make this confession of our faith before unbelievers that are past all hope of repentance For holy things must not be given unto Dogs Matt. 7. 6. Profession of Christ in time of danger indeed is called Martyrdom Martyrdom is an undergoing of the punishment of death for the profession of Christ in the Doctrine of Faith and for Justice and for the salvation of the brethren For Justice John Baptist was beheaded of Herod Mark 6. 18. 27. 28. Christ laid down his life for us so ought we if need require for the brethren 1 John 3. 16. For maintaining the Doctrine of Faith Stephen was stoned Act. 7. 59. And yet this doth nothing let Christians the using of all holy security for the safety of their own lives For as Christ hath shewed in the Gospel It is lawfull for Christians in times of persecution if they finde themselves not sufficiently resolved and strengthened by the holy Spirit to stand to fly from place to place for the security of their lives Matt. 10. 23. Joh. 10. 39. This Christ did and advised his Disciples to do the like Upon such occasions as these Paul fled to Tarsus Act. 9. 30. And upon like occasions Eliah fled for his life from Jezabel 1 Kings 19. 3 4. Thus much for the profession of Christ which concerneth Christ himself The profession of Christ which concerneth his Members is either 1. Edification or 2. Alms. Edification is every particular duty of us towards our brethren which may further them in their growing up in Christ and Unite them more surely to him Rom. 14. 19. To edification belong these things 1. To give good example Matt. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 12. 2. To exhort Heb. 3. 13. Rom. 1. 12. 3. To comfort 1 Thes. 5. 14. and 4. 18. Jam. 5. 16 20. 4. To admonish Rom. 15. 14. 1 Thes. 5. 14. They do observe a holy manner of admonishing who do ever admonish in the spirit of meekness and so as if they themselves were guilty of the like infirmities and of such faults as they do certainly know by them whom they admonish out of Gods word Gal 6. 1. Matt. 7. 5. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Matt. 18. 15. Rom. 15. 14. Levit. 19. 17. Alms or relief is that whereby the rich out of their abundance ought freely largely and with open hands to supply the wants of the poor and that to the utmost of their ability and sometimes beyond it 2 Cor 8. 3. Acts 2. 44 45. In the days of the Apostles all those that were converted to the Faith by the powerfull operation of the holy Spirit esteemed no worldly thing they had their own but held all their worldly store Treasures and inheritances in common yea they sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every one had need So much for Edification Alms. The fourth degree of the Declaration of Gods love is Glorification Rom. 8. 30. Glorification is the perfect transforming of the Saints into the image of the Son of God Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 14 49. Psal. 17. 15. Glorification is begun in this life and exceedingly enlarged at the day of death and will be fully and throughly perfected at the general resurrection in the last day death of the faithfull is a sleep in Christ In this sleep the Soul is for a time severed from the body 1 Cor. 15 17. Act. 7. 60. The body lieth in the earth and seeth corruption and at length is raised to greater glory than at first it had 1 Cor. 15. 36. The Soul is severed from it that being fully sanctified it may immediatly upon its departure from the body be transported to Heaven Luke 13. 42. â—3 Rev. 14. 13. Remedies against death or the fear of it are these 1. If we consider that it is nothing else but a freeing of the faithfull from the Tyranny of the world flesh and Devil and a placing of them safe under the shadow of the wings of Christ 2. If we consider that death and the grave are sanctified to us through the death of Christ 3. If we do consider that Christ is gain unto us as well in death as in life Phil. 1. 21. 4. If we consider that the pains of death are nothing to the comforts after death 5. That we shall see God in the brightness of his glory and Majesty and be received into the company of glorified Spirits in Heaven 6. That our Souls shall be clad with glorie instead of our bodies 2 Cor. 11. 5. 7. That we are by it free from all the power of the Serpent and of the sting of death 1 Cor. 15. 55. Heb. 2. 15. 8. If we do not so much think of our death as exactly and diligently consider our life For he that liveth well cannot die ill and he that liveth ill doth seldom die well 9. That the Angels of God are ready to carry our Souls into Heaven so soon as they do depart from our bodies And our Souls being by them brought into Heaven shall there magnify the name of God And shall there wait for and pray for the consummation of the Kingdom of glorie and for the full and perfect felicity of body Soul Rev. 5. 8 9. and 14. 2 3. and 6. 10. The estate of the Elect at the last judgement The manner of the last day is this 1. Immediatly before the coming of Christ the powers of heaven shall be shaken the Sun and Moon shall be darkened the Stars shall fall from Heaven Matth. 24. 29 30. Then the elect and faithfull seing this shall lift up their heads and rejoyce But at this sight the Reprobate shall fear and tremble Luke 21. 26 28. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2. The Heavens being on fire shall suddenly pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth and the works therein shall be burned up 2 Pet. 3. 12 13. At the same time when all these things shall come to pass the sound of the last Trumpet shall be heard sounded by the Arch-Angel Matt. 44 31. 1 Thes. 4. 16. Then shall Christ the Lord come suddenly in the Clouds with power and glory and great train of Angels Matt. 24. 30. 1 Thes. 4. 17. 3. At the sound of this Trumpet all the dead shall rise And those that are found alive shall be changed in the twinckling of an eye which change shall be in stead of death 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53. Then shall all the bodies of the elect and faithfull be glorified and made glorious like the body of Christ Then their bodies shall
be spiritual immortal glorious and free from all infirmity 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. 4. They being all thus gathered together before the Tribunal seat of Christ he will forthwith place the elect at his right hand and the reprobate at his left hand Then will he say come ye blessed to the elect and they shall be taken into Heaven and he will say go ye cursed to the reprobate and they shall be cast into Hell Matth. 25. 33. 1 Thes. 4. 17. Rev. 20. 15. The state of the Elect after the last judgement The last judgement being finish'd the elect shall immediatly enjoy an everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of Heaven Blessedness is that whereby God himself is all in all his elect 1 Cor. 15. 28. This is the reward of the good works of the faithfull their works being accepted of God for the merit of Christs righteousness imputed to them Rom. 6. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 22. 12. Blessedness doth consist in eternal life and perfect glory Eternal life is that fellowship with God by which himself is life unto the elect through the Lamb Christ Jesus John 14. 23. 1 John 4. 15. Rev. 2â— 3 23. and 22. 2 5. For in the Kingdom of Heaven they shall neither need meat drink sleep air heat cold physick apparel or the light of the Sun Moon or Stars But in the stead of all these they shall have in them Gods holy spirit by which they shall immediatly most gloriously be quickned for ever Revel. 21. 3 23. and 22. 2 5. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 8. 11. Perfect glory Is that wonderfull excellency of the elect by which they shall be in a far better state than any tongue can utter or any heart can here wish or think This glory consisteth in these things 1. We shall see God face to face we shall ever behold his face which is his glory and his Majesty Rev. 22. 4. Psal. 17. 15. 2. We shall be most like to Christ that is we shall be just holy incorruptible glorious honourable beautifull strong mighty nimble 1 Joh. 3. 2. Phil. 3. 21. 3. We shall ever inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for the new Heavens and the new Earth shall be our inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. Matth. 25. 34. Revel. 5. 10. and 2â— 7. The fruits of this blessedness are 1. Eternall joy 2. The perfect service of God Ps. 16. 11 36 8 9. The parts of this service are 1. Praise 2. Thanksgiving Rev. 5. 12 and 19. 5 and 11. 17. The manner of performing this service is this We shall immediately worship God by God himself For in Heaven there is neither Temple Ceremony nor Sacrament For God and the Lamb is the Temple thereof and God himself together with the Lamb shall supply all Rev. 21. 22. And this service shall be dayly for ever and without intermission Rev. 7. 15. A Corolary or the advantage over-plus or last conclusion GOd in thus saving the elect doth clearly set forth his Justice and his mercy His Justice appeareth in that he punisheth the sins of the elect in his Sons own person His mercie appeareth in that he pardoneth their sins for the merits of his Son Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. and 3. 18. 19. These things the Lord hath thus decreed and in his good time he will accomplish them to the glorious praise of his name Pro. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil Of the Decree of Reprobation The decree of Reprobation is that part of predestination by which God according to the most free and just purpose of his will hath determined to reject some to eternal destruction and misery and that for the praise of his Justice Rom. 9. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 8. Jude 4. 1 Thes. 5. 9. In the Scriptures Cain and Abel Ishmael and Isaac Esau and Jacob are propounded to us as Types of mankinde partly elected partly rejected The decree of damnation is not here absolutely set down as that we should think that any man is condemned by the meer and alone will of God without any causes inherent in themselves The decree of God is secret it doth arise onely from the good pleasure of God It is unsearchable and adored by the Angels It is not known but by that which followeth it namely by the effects therof Of the execution of the Decree of Reprobation The beginning and the foundation of the execution of this decree of reprobation is the fall of Adam He by his fall made himself and his posterity subject both to sin and damnation Rom. 5. 12 13. Rom. 6. 23. and 11. 32. God so hath decreed to condemn some as that notwithstanding all the fault and desert of condemnation remaineth in themselves for they fall into sin and God hateth them for their sins This hatred which God hath to man cometh by Adams fall And it is neither an antecedent nor a cause of Gods decree but it follows the decree as a consequent Reprobates are some of them called by an uneffectual calling and some of them are not called at all In those that are called by an uneffectual calling Gods decree of reprobation hath three degrees in its execution 1. An acknowledgement of Gods calling 2. A falling away again 3. Condemnation 1. The acknowledgment of Gods calling is when Reprobates do for a time subject themselves to the calling of God which calling is workt by the preaching of the word Matth. 22. 14. There are of the acknowledgement of Gods calling five degrees 1. An enlightning of their mindes whereby they are instructed of the holy Ghost that they may understand and know the word Heb 6. 4. 2 Pet 2. 20. 2. The second degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is a certain kinde of penitency by this penitency the reprobate do acknowledge their sins as did the Children of Israel Deut. 1. 41. And are pricked with a feeling of Gods wrath for sin as was Cain Gen. 4. 13. And they are grieved for the punishment of sin as was Ahab 1 Kings 21. 27. And do confess their sin as did Judas Matth. 27. 3. And do acknowledge God to be just in punishing of sin Num. 23 10 And do desire to be saved as Baalam Numb. 23. 10. And do in their misery and afflictions promise repentance saying we will sin no more Psal. 78. 32 33 34 35. 3. Degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is 1. A Temporary Faith for a reprobate is content with a general Faith he doth confusedly believe the promises made in Christ but he doth never apply the promises of God to himself Nay he hath no purpose to desire or endeavour to apply the same he hath no wrestling or striving against security carelesness or distrust he believeth that some shall be saved but not particularly that he himself shall be saved Jam. 2. 29. Matt. 13. 20 21. Joh. 2. 23 24. 4. The fourth Degree of