a Trap to insnare weake consciences and to handle the word deceitfully But I answer an unfained desire of salvation in a sanctified use of the meanes is an infallible note of salvation Give mee leave to explaine my selfe thus The difference and degrees of Faith are two First A weake Faith Secondly A strong Faith Concerning the first The weake Faith sheweth it selfe by this grace of God namely an unfained desire not onely of salvation for that a wicked and gracelesse man may have but of reconciliation with God in Christ This is a sure signe of Faith in every touched and humbled heart and it is peculiar to the elect and they which have this have in them also the ground and substance of true saving Faith Reason to prove this First the promise of life everlasting is made to the desire of reconciliation (d) Est autem valde cemphatica metaphora famis sitis qua non levis expetitio sed vehemens serium ardens desiderium gâ—atiae donorum per gratiam describitur Gerhard Harm cap. 15. col mihâ— 535. Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled by hungring and thirsting here is meant an ardent and earnest desire after grace which our Saviour layes downe as an infallible note of salvation Psal 145.19 He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he will also heare their cry and will save them and (e) Desiderium efficax pietati congruens certissima est nota hominâ—s pii Usus Consolationis erga Christianos qui infirmitatibus tentationibus nonnunquam pressi vexari nihil in semetipsis salu i affine sentire possunt praeter desideria pia Ames lect in Psalm Doctor Ames upon Psal 42.1.2 As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soule after thee O. God my soule thirsteth for God layes down this point of doctrine Aneffectuall desire congruent to pietie is a most certaine note of a godly man from which he drawes an use of consolation to Christians who are sometimes so pressed and disquieted with infirmities and tentations that they have no evidence in themselves of their salvation but onely godly desires Secondly the hungring desire after grace is a sanctified affection where one affection is sanctified all are sanctified where all are sanctified the whole man is sanctified and he that is sanctified is justified and beleeves and shall infallibly be saved Thirdly God accepts the will and desire to beleeve for repenting and beleeving indeed wherefore this desire of reconciliation if it be soundly wrought in the heart is in acceptation with God as true faith indeed T is confessed that there bee many and sundry fleeting motions and desires to doe good things which grow to no issue or head but in time vanish as they come Now these are not true desires after salvation but rather flashing humours and sudden passions Such have no soundnesse in them and must be distinguished from the true desire of reconciliation with God that comes from a bruised heart and brings alwayes reformation of life And thus I have answered both his questions Whereas in his conference Pag. 3. he hath this comparison The poore man can tell you that to be rich and to desire to be rich are two things even so is Faith and a desire to beleeve as all that desire to bee rich are not rich so all that desire to beleeve doe not beleeve I answer non cadem est ratio his comparison holds not but is as poore as the poore man in it A man may seriously and in good earnest have a hungring desire after riches and yet bee a starke begger and have no riches at all but it is not so in the desire of grace I argue thus he that desireth grace must needs have the Spirit for this desire cannot come of (f) Voluntas est animi motus cogente nullo ad aliquid non admittendum vel adipiscendum Haec autem ut non admittat malum adipiscatur bonum praevenâ—tur praeparatur Dei graâ—ia ipsa bona volunâ—as pedisse qua est granae non praevia Magist lib 2. dist 20. nature Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe acccrding to his good pleasure So that to will or desire good is from grace wrought in the soule by the Spirit of God yea this is a singular grace Tee have begun saith the Apostle not only to do but also to be forward or willing 2 Cor. 8.10 11. making it a greater grace to be willing and desirous to do well then it is to do the thing that is good and thereupon inferreth Vers 12. If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Yea this is almost all that the faithfull have many times to comfort themselves withall that they find in themselves an unfained desire to please God This was all that Nehemiah could say of himselfe and the rest of his brethren Nehem. 1.11 That they did desire to feare Gods Name Isa 26.8 The desire of our soule is to thy Name This was Pauls comfort Rom. 7.18 To will is present with me From these places that godly reverend Divine Master (g) Hildersam John 4. pag. mihi 9. in the beginning Arthur Hildersam concludes They must needs be sure therefore of Grace that have an unfained desire of it for they have it already No man can desire Faith that hath not Faith the desire then of Grace is Grace and the desire of Faith is Faith and he that hath any one Grace in truth and soundnesse in him he may be certaine that his heart is upright and that he is truely regenerate thus Master Hildersam upon the fourth of John page in my edition 425. And the (h) Omnes virtutes sibi haerent ut qui una carnâ—rit omnibus careat qui ergo unam habet omnes haber Magist lib. 3 dist 36. Omnes in hoc conveniun quod qui habet unam virtutem Theologicam habet omnes Henric. de Vrimaria Add. in lib. Senten Schoole affirmes That all the graces of God are so conjoyned and together that he that wants one grace in truth wants all and he that hath any one grace in truth hath al other graces Thus then you see though his comparison holds good in things temporall that a desire to be rich is not to be rich yet it falls to the ground in things spirituall for the poore humbled soule that desires grace is rich in grace And Master (i) Perkins Cases of Conscience page mihi 24 col 1. Sect. Perkins concludes that a desire to repent and beleeve in a touched conscience and heart is Faith and repentance it selfe though not in nature yet in Gods acceptation O poore soules you that complaine of the want of Faith and Grace out of a hungering desire you have after them
comfort your drooping spirits against such desperate disconsolate doctrine as this meerely contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel and the true way of preaching Free Grace by Christ who will not breake a bruised Reed nor quench smoaking Flax if an an Angell from heaven preach any other doctrine beleeve him not I say againe cheere up your hearts The gates of Hell shall never prevaile against you you are rich in grace and all the pretious promises of the Gospel belong to you and all the riches of Gods mercie in Christ Jesus are yours what shall I say more I conclude God is yours Christ is yours and all is yours Now we are come to the third question laid downe in Page the 74. at the latter end Whether when Faith lies hid that wee cannot see that we beleeve by the inward Testimony of our conscience that it is possible our workes of pietie or charitie can assure us of salvation his answer is I say no and my reasons are these 1. That which makes me doubt of my Faith will make me doubt of the sinceritie of my worke 2. How is it possible I should judge my worke sincere when I cannot see I beleeve Whatsoever is not of Faith is sinne I answer there are diverse grounds which make a man doubt of his Faith different from those which make him doubt of the sinceritâ—e of his worke as through the want of apprehension whereby hee can say from his conscience that he is justified and at peace with God And in regard of spirituall desertions There is a twofold inward testimony of conscience The first is an immediate knowledge that a man doth beleeve which is by the prime and next efficient cause namely the Spirit of God called the (k) Id est eandem fidem ex ejusdem Spiritus afflatu dono Beza in loc Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 and this is more fully set downe downe 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things that are freely given to us of God The second inward testimony of conscience is the sinceritie of a mans worke whereby a Christian knowes he doth beleeve and concerning the sinceritie of the worke none can judge but a mans owne conscience whose proper office it is and this the Apostle sets downe 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our (l) Certebonam conscientiam habemus quod candide ca an misinceritate quam Dominus in nobis requiriâ— un sumus Luc. Ostand in loc conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God wee have had our conversation in the world Conscience being that privitie which the soule hath to things knowne to none but God and it selfe is able to judge of the intention of every action So that as a tree is knowne by the fruits in like manner Faith is certainely knowne by its fruits as the cause is knowne by the effect And the Apostle (m) Insallibile est signam vere râ—natorum organm a postenori valer Arett com in loc 1 Joh. 3.14 makes love to the brethren an infallible signe of a regenerate man We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren So that although we cannot immediately see that wee doe beleeve yet if we find in our conscience that wee love the brethren we know by this that wee doe beleeve for as breath is a certaine signe and evidence of present life so love to the brethren of present Faith even as wee see that when the Sunne is eclipsed though the earth wants the light of it yet not the reall influence and though men see not the Sunne in the light of it they doe see it in its reall influence and vertue So although Faith may be hid in regard of the soules immediate seeing it yet it may evidently see it doth beleeve in regard of Faiths reall influences and effects love to the brethren being one and thus though Faith lies hid Charitie doth and can assure us of our salvation Pag. 75. What workes are done in Faith sayes he that the same acts may not be done in the spirit of bondage If you say indeed that the actions are the same but they differ in the end I grant it and in the efficient also but as I cannot discerne the efficient so neither can I discerne the end of my worke To this I answer I discerne the efficient by the end he that hath a discursive intellect and can make use of that reason which God bath given him can easily tell to what end hee undertakes such and such an action The end being the first thing in the (a) Finis qui ultimus est executione primus est intentione omnis intellectus operativus incipit a fine Keckerm System lib. 1. pag. 165. intention and that which first sets the minde on worke about this or that thus in temporalls so likewise in spiritualls The Christian being able to make use of his sanctified reason can easily tell the intent of his heart and the end hee aymes at especially having the word of God as a sure rule to goe by he can tell whether he loves the brethren out of any by end he hath or onely as brethren setting all other respects aside And finding this holy affection in himselfe must needs conclude it cannot bee in a man that doth not beleeve I have heard of a very godly Minister who as I take it being sicke to death was much troubled about his evidence and doubted whether he did belong to God or no at the last Well sayes he the devill shall never gull me I have one evidence will assure me without faile I am certaine I love Gods people and so gathered comfort Upon these grounds I am bold to determine the question affirmatively That although Faith lies hid for the present yet a man from workes of pietie and charitie which he findes in himselfe may have assurance that he doth beleeve and so is in the state of salvation In his conference pag. 12. he doth confesse Where unfained love to the brethren is found it may be a testimony of grace received but he objects How shall I know his answer is That unlesse we beleeve truely we cannot know we love unfainedly therefore though our love heare witnesse to our Faith before men yet our Faith beares witnesse to our love in the secrets of our heart neither can it ever appeare to bee true love that proceeds not from a heart first imbracing Christ by Faith To this I answer by my loving unfainedly I know I beleeve truely the truth of my worke being an infallible evidence of the truth of my Faith and I can trie my worke by the sure rule of the Word which will not faile and thus though I cannot see my Faith formally yet I can see it effectively I meane in
its effective energie and efficacie Againe our love doth not onely beare witnesse to our Faith before men but also to our selves that we doe beleeve our consciences telling us that it is such a love that must needs flow from Faith and be a fruit and effect of it Good (b) Opera bona tripliciter veniunt consideranda 1. Ratione materiae sive objecti circa quod versantur 2. Ratione originis ex qua procedunt 3. Ratione finis in quem fiunt Laurent com in Epist Jaceb pag. mihi 178. workes are to be considered 1. In regard of the matter or object about which they are conversant 2. In regard of the originall from which they doe proceed 3. In regard of the end for which they are done Now who can judge of the proper and formall object of a mans love to the brethren whether grace be it or no or who can tell whether it flowes from a sincere affection to grace or no or whether there be any by end or not another man cannot judge 1 Cor. 2.11 For what man knoweth the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him by the (c) Spiritus hominis significar substantialem hominis pattem animum seu intellectum conscientiam hominis quae cuique certissime dictat quid in intimis cordis recessibus lateat quisque in sinu gerat Pare com in loc spirit wee are to understand the substantiall part of man the mind or intellect and conscience which doth certainly dictate and tell to every one what lies hid in the secret passages of his heart and every thing that hee carrieth in his bosome for the mind of man doth not onely understand those things which are abroad or mans outward actions but his very inwards And by reflexion upon it selfe knowes and understands that it understands it selfe And thus its plaine that no other can judge of a mans true love to the brethren but his conscience and spirit and the spirit sanctified can by the Word judge certainly another but conjecturally And thus you see our love beares witnesse to our faith in the secrets of our heart and doth infallibly evidence to us that we doe beleeve And my conscience evidences to me that this love could not be in my heart unlesse I had Faith and our Saviour tels us Mat. 25.40 (d) Eleemosyna haec est quae Christum pascit esurientem in paupere Prosper De promis praedict Dei par 2. cap. 7. Inasmuch as we imbrace his Brethren by acts of love we imbrace him in our armes which none can doe without Faith In his conference Pag. 13. he layes downe this as a Note of love to the brethren If they be in poverty to sell the whole or halfe of our possessions and divide among them The sicke man propounds this question Can I not love them unlesse I sell my possessions and divide among them The Minister makes answer Verily no for true love binds us not onely to lay downe our goods but our lives also where need requireth The sicke man saith He hath not loved them thus The Minister tels him then he hath loved them in word not in deed in tongue not in truth And concludes that few can by this marke be assured of their salvation because they come so farre short of the precept and example of our Lord. To this I answer Cannot a man love the Brethren unlesse he actually sell the whole or halfe of his possessions and divide among them its enough if he carry a minde to sell them if need require which every good Christian doth and will in case of necessity part with his estate and life too Pag. 14. In his conference he saith I doe for the present beleeve untill I shall see ground to the contrary that Saint John doth principally speake of our assurance whereby we know (e) Nos scimus quid nos scimus quia transivimus de morte ad vitam undescimus quia diligimus fratres Nemo interroget hominem redeat unusquifque ad cor suum si ibi invenerit Charitatem sraternam securus sit quia transiit de motte ad vitam Jam in dextra est Aug. Expos in Epist Joan. tract 5. col mihi 613. in fine one another to be the children of God this shewes he understands not the meaning of this place it being chiefely to be understood of the evidence we have in our selves Pag. 15. I doe affirme saith he that he that hath no greater witnesse in himselfe than love to the brethren shall never attaine to assurance of Salvation Mark how within the compasse of three leaves he doth say and unsay for Pag. 12. He doth confesse unfained love to the brethren is a testimony of grace received Now whosoever hath a testimony that he hath received Grace hath assurance by this of his Salvation it makes no matter whether the Testimony he hath be greater or lesse so it be sound and true and a Christian in this case may argue a minore ad majus from the lesser to the greater for he that in Truth hath this witnesse is infallibly certaine of the greater and may by this know that he hath that I meane Faith if by it he understands the greater They are cursed speeches of the sicke man to say Hell gapes for him he shall be damned And cursed be the time that ever I laid a foundation upon the sands As though to affirme that unfained love to the brethren is an infallible note of true beleevers were to lay a foundation upon the sands whereas the Apostle affirmes as much Master Perkins speaking of the right way of ministring comfort to a party distressed layes this downe for one ground Namely to love any man because he is a Christian and a childe of God is a sensible and certaine note of a man that is partaker of the true love of God in Christ and he proves it by this place we are upon 1 Joh. 3.14 Having laid downe this ground saith he The way whereby the party in distresse may be brought within the compasse of the promise of Salvation stands in two things in making tryall and applying of the promise First when a man is in the fit of Tentation he will say resolutely he is sure to be damned Aske him in this fit of his love to God he will answer he hath none at all but aske him further whether he love a man because he is a Christian and a Childe of God then he will say he doth indeed In the second place the applying of the promise of life everlasting to the party distressed And that is done by a kinde of reasoning The first part whereof is taken from the Word of God The second from the testimony of the distressed conscience And the conclusion is the applying of the promise on this manner Major Minor He that loves a man because he is a Christian and a childe of God is certainely himselfe a true childe of God But thou lovest a man because he is a Christian and a childe of God Therefore thou art a childe of God Conclus and art translated from death to life as the Apostle speakes Another ground of comfort for a party distressed Master Perkins layes downe from the unfaigned desire after grace which he in his Conference Page 3. and in his Booke Page 74. doth utterly reject First saith Master Perkins let the comforter aske the party in distresse whether he beleeve and repent The distressed party answers no he cannot repent nor beleeve Then we must further aske whether he doth desire to beleeve and repent To this he will answer he doth desire it with all his heart Now for applying the promise to the distressed the Argument will run thus He that hath an unfained desire to repent and beleeve hath remission of sins and life everlasting Major Minor Conelus But thou hast an earnest desire to repent and beleeve in Christ Therefore remission of sinnes and life everlasting is thine Thus Master Perkins But that I may comfort the poore weake Christian against such Doctrine as this That such as doe desire to beleeve doe not beleeve I will conclude with an Example I have read in the workes of that famous Divine Master Greenham who tels of one Master Chambers of Leycester who in his sickenesse grievously despaired and cryed out that he was damned and after dyed yet it is not for any to note him sayes he with the blacke marke of a reprobate One thing which he spake in his extremity O that I had but one drop of Faith must move all men to conceive well of him for by this it seemeth he had an heart which desired to repent and beleeve And therefore a repentant and beleeving heart indeed Blame me not for having a second bout at such Doctrine as this so destructive to poore distressed Consciences so contrary to the Word of God and against the experience of every true broken hearted Christian What Doctrine soever tends to the vilifying of a sanctified life is a Doctrine of devils though it appeare as an Angell of light And such as labour to make the Law of God of no use not so much as a rule of life to a beleever doe deny the Kingly Office of Christ and they are Antichrist Now the Lord give us broken hearts that we may be low in our owne eyes and not be led by our owne humours but that we may be guided by the Spirit of truth according to the word of Truth I will present you with the golden chaine of Salvation and I have done 1. God hath ordained 2. Christ hath merited 3. The Word doth promise 4. The Sacraments doe seale 5. Faith doth receive 6. The mouth doth confesse 7. Workes doe testifie Now to God onely wise Father Sonne and Holy Ghost be all praise as is most due for evermore FINIS
men as though Christ in the Covenant of grace may not be set forth upon some condition and yet freely given Can a Covenant bemade without any condition is it not against the nature of a Covenant The word Covenant in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strictly taken is a league (s) Pactum est quod intâ—r aliquos convenit nam ut fiat pactum requiritur ut duae voluntates in idem conveniant reciproco consensu Bierlir Magn. Theatr. lib. 14. fol. 1. or agreement made betweene parties that are at variance containing in it a mutuall obligation And the Hebrew word hath the signification of friendly parting and of explaining the conditions of Agreement that a Covenant may be made it is required that two wills doe by a reciprocall consent agree in one and the same thing The Covenant of workes is a league touching the saving of some on condition of their perfect obedience Gal. 3.12 And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them see Levit. 18.5 It is plaine that perfect obedience is the condition of the Covenant of workes The Covenant of Grace is an agreement concerning men to be freely saved through faith in Christ Gal. 3.11 The just shall live by Faith May not Faith be said to be the condition required in this Covenant And is not Christ here set forth upon this condition and yet Christ and the condition too freely given to us of God as is fully made plaine (t) Fides hic consideratur non ut opus quoddam nostrum a Deo in nobis exci atum sed ut instrumentum quo recipimus amplectimur salutem ac gratiam est autem necesse ut accipias salutem ac gratiam si servari velis Itaque fides quatenus est instrumentum recipiens salutem nihil impedit quin salus tota sit gratuita Zanc. in loc qu. 2. Ephes 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God The Lord resolving to give us Christ doth require at our hands that we should receive him and to this end giveth us faith that we might be enabled thereunto and therefore faith as it is an instrument receiving Christ with all his benefits doth not at all hinder but that Christ is freely given because that in our justification and salvation Faith doth not merit or doe any thing but onely receive Christ Whereas he saith He doth here professe his ignorance and that he cannot conceive how faith should put on Christ apply Christ or make Christ ours in the sight of God I beleeve him but because he hath not as yet had experience of such a worke of grace upon his owne soule must it therefore necessarily follow that no soule else hath had it because the foole hath said in his heart there is no God and he sayes true for in his heart there is no God must it therefore follow that there is no God in any mans heart I professe my selfe saith he to leane unto them that say that Christs righteousnesse is made ours before God by Gods imputation before the act of our faith and therefore necessarily without it By the Act of faith which doth consist in beleeving and receiving Christs righteousnesse imputed we doe not understand the work of faith but the (u) Inhaeremus firmiter oppositioni Apostolicae inter fidem opera Rom. 3.28 inter credere operari Rom. 4.5 inter gratiam opera Rom. 11.6 Joh. 6.29 Fides non vocatur opus nostrum sed opus Dei Gerhard locor tom 3. col miâ—i 650. worke of God for so faith is called not our work but the worke of God Joh. 6.29 This is the worke of God that yee beleeve on him whom he hath sent therefore the Act of beleeving is the worke of God which none of the godly will deny t is plaine by the Apostles words Rom. 12.3 According as God hath dealt every man the measure of faith Musculus upon this place sayes that the act of beleeving is also our worke for it is not sayd here this is the worke of God that he should beleeve but that yee beleeve in him but yet this Act of beleeving this worke of ours as he calls it stands in absolute opposition to justification by workes in the sight of God as is plaine by our Saviours intent in this place wherein he doth labour to confute those who held justification by the workes of the Law He doth not say this is the worke of God that yee should be circumcised purified keepe the Sabbath and observe legall Rites and Ceremomies Neither doth he say these are the workes of God That yee repent that yee feare and love God above all and your neighbour as your selfe not but that these workes are necessary and commanded in Scripture and are the (w) Quae omnia non nisi piorum sunt et in Scripturis magno serio praecipiuntur nisique operante deo in nobis fieti nequeunt Tacitis his omnibus unum tantum fidei opus adducit dicens Hoc est opus dei c. Non quod reliqua pietatis opera non sint opera dei sed quod soli fidâ—iâ— cibus vitae aeternae deputatur Muscul Com. in loc workes of God but to shew that faith alone is required for the justification of a sinner in the sight of God that so hee might plainely overthrow Justification by Workes which they altogether insisted upon and therefore tells them that all their workes though never so holy and good availe nothing in the matter of justification but that they must be justified by faith alone This is the worke of God that yee beleeve on him whom hee hath sent Musculus upon this place to illustrate how this work of faith is Gods worke and our worke hath this comparison As the writing of the child whose hand the Schoole-master doth guide while he is a writing this is called the Boyes worke and his Masters Now consider the Master takes his Pen and placeth it in his hand hee frameth and fashioneth every Letter the boy must not stirre his hand in the writing one jot or tittle but as his master doth stirre and move it T is true the boy hath a hand in the writing but his hand is meerely (x) Passivum opus est ut ita loquar Calvin in loc passive the master doth all To apply this consider faith as a work in regard of justification Calvin upon this place takes that libertie to call it a passive worke and that it is so is plaine John 1.12 But to as many as receiv'd him to them gave hee power to bocome the Sonnes of God even to them that beleeve on his name You see then to beleeve is to receive Christ and though Tò Credere that is to beleeve be a Verbe active in regard of Nomination yet it is passive in regard of signification for that we call the
Congregation by the sprinkling of the water of cleansing were ceremonially made clean so that it was lawfull for them to come to the Sanctuary of the Lord Not for that this purifying did onely extend it selfe to the flesh and was meerely carnall for then the people of the Jewes should no whit differ from the heathens who had their sacrifices meerely carnall by which they might blot out the infamy of their hainous crimes And to expound this place as he doth is in Calvins phrase an exposition too much prophane If their dayly sacrifices did not prefigure the Messias and were not done out of spirituall respects what was their Temple but a Butchers shambles In this that the Law sanctifyeth to the purifying of the flesh there was a spirituall signification for as the outward uncleannesse did admonish the people of their inward impurity before God so the sprinkling by the water of separation and the receiving of those that were sprinkled into the congregation did signifie to beleevers their spirituall sprinkling and cleansing by the blood of Christ by which alone there is a way laid wide open for sinners to come into the sight of God and with boldnesse to have accesse to the Throne of Grace To limit therefore and bound the legall rites onely to the purifying of the flesh as he doth by his false exposition and to restraine the effect of them onely to civill and politique Government is injurious to the promises of God made to his people who lived in the time of the Law Sacraments and signes have a spirituall signification so that this purifying of the flesh by the water of separation so called because such as were separated for any uncleannesse were sprinkled with it did signify unto the people of the Jews the purifying of the conscience by the blood of Christ now then joyne the (e) Nihil extra usum habere rationem Sacramenti ad usum oportere acâ—edere fide unde tum in veteri tum in novo Testamento extra illum usum Sacramenta nobis inania esse dicuntur Tossan ad Hebraeos praelect cap. 10. signe and the thing signified together and the Law sanctifyeth to the purifying of the conscience Whereas he saith Secondly the Law perfects nothing as pertaining to the Conscience Heb. 10.1 but Johns doctrin is a perfecting doctrine insomuch that beleevers herein have no more conscience of sins To this let us see the meaning of the Apostle Heb. 10.1 in this place hee speakes (f) Non hic agi proprie de Sacramentis sed de toto tabernaculo sacerdotio Levitico Demde vocari umbras ritus externos non simpliciter sed quatenus opponuntur Christo in quo est veritas ad quem in tecto usu respicientes Patres eundem cibum spiritualem comederunt nobiscum vere justificati sunt Tossan ibid. not properly concerning the Sacraments but of the whole Tabernacle and Leviticall Priesthood Againe these externall rites are called shadowes not simply but as they are opposed to Christ in whom is the Truth and to whom the Fathers looking in the right use of them did eate the same spirituall meate with us and were truely justified in the sight of God The Law you will say perfects nothing The meaning is the unbeleeving Jewes cleaving to the Ceremonies and externall rites and looking ex opere operato that is from the worke done to be justified by them without Christ and thus considered they are as Gal. 4.9 Weake and beggerly (g) Egena autem elementa Apostolus ad Gal. appellat ceremonias respectu Judaeorum qui excluso Christo per illas justificari volebant Tossan ibid. elements The Apostle here doth in few words most excellently set forth unto us the difference and agreement of the Old and New Testament of the Law and Gospell of the Doctrine and Sacraments of both The agreement consists in this the Old as well as the New had Christ with his owne oblation of himselfe and eternall redemption Againe of both Testaments in regard of the (h) Utriusque enim Testamenti quoad substantiam ut unus est Deus ita unus Mediator una Ecclesia una fides una salus Pareils in loc substance as there is one God so there is one Mediatour one Church one Faith one Salvation The Doctrine of the Old did lead to Christ The Sacraments and ceremonies did shew and point at Christ whom the Doctrine of the Gospell and our Sacraments doe declare to us The difference is in this They did represent Christ to the Fathers more obscurely and darkly these doe more clearly set him forth to us to conclude this The Law then considered not in opposition but in reference to Christ did perfect something pertaining to the Conscience In that the Apostle saith the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sinnes By (i) Nam etiam per hoc semel purga is non tollitur omnis peccatorum conscientia quandoquidem etiam sanguine Christi justificati nondum in hac vita efficimur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed perpetuo manemus multorum peccato rum nobis conscii Pareus com in loc conscience is meant the guilt of sinne from which our consciences once purged by the bloud of Christ and our hearts purified by faith There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus although all conscience of sinne is not taken away which men justified and purged by the bloud of Christ out of humane frailty dayly doe commit And we doe remaine sinners but by the bloud of Christ the guilt of all our sinnes is blotted out though in regard of the filth and the many falls we have our consciences are many times afflicted and we doe continually remaine conscious to our selves of many sinnes And believers in the time of the Law by their Sacrifices which they were commanded of God to offer were put in minde of the bloud of Christ which by faith they did apply to their Consciences and were thereby freed from the guilt of sinne and so had no more conscience of sinnes their Consciences being by faith sprinkled with the bloud of Christ as well as our Consciences who live now in the time of the Gospell To conclude we must distinguish betweene Ceremonies meerly legall and rites to which the promise of grace was annexed And those rites are to be considered either before the comming of Christ or after Before his comming they were commanded of God and profitable Afterward the body being present they are unprofitable and of no use Againe they are considered as they were in thmeselves and as they were in regard of their typicall signification considered in their owne nature and ex opere operato from the worke done without faith in those that used them they had no spirituall effect Notwithstanding to beleevers they were the exercise and sealing of faith in the Messiah to come whom in regard of their typicall signification they did prefigure when the
remission no Article of the Jewish Creed explained and confuted p. 64. The people of the Jewes had actuall and eternall remission before Christs comming in the flesh p. 73. Angels now in heaven and Adam before the fall under the Law p. 77. Assize p. 84. B Bondage of conscience beleeving Jewes freed from 75 C Comfort for a distressed conscience 91 92 93. Chaine of salvation 93 Conversion of soules is not working of miracles 3.5 Crueltie as great as the souldiers used to Christ to apply the Law for satisfaction to a troubled conscience 14 Covenant of grace the same in all ages of the world 18. Moses and the Prophets preached it 10. Made knowne to beleevers in all ages 9 Conscience what it is 88. Testimony of it twofold 88 Christ ever the same to all beleevers 72. present in his Incarnation to the Fathers 84 not a hidden mystery to them 22 Christ the foundation upon which the Fathers built 27 D Desire of salvation a note of salvation 85. Desire after grace is grace 86. desire of Faith is Faith 87 Doctrine of Moses and the Apostle one and the same 19 20. The Gospel not a new Doctrine 23 24 E Eucharist A threefold eating 83 F Fathers did eate Christ present 83. They did eate the same spirituall meate that we eate in our Sacraments 82. Vnder the Law had the same hope of eternall life with us 54 Faith not without an inward change of the heart 32. How it justifieth 34. In saving Faith three things 65. Lying hid workes of piety and charitie assure us 88 G Gods people in severall ages make but one Church of God 80 H Heires under age how the Jewes were 70 Hell fourefold the Papists affirme 72,73 I John Baptist wrought no miracle at any time 1,2 Infants how said to beleeve not saved without Faith 47 Justification handled at large 35. to the 40. No man is justified before he beleeves 41 42. see more 43 44 45 K Knowledge what it is 65 Kingdome of God alwayes at hand to true penitents 81 L Law not a curse but a blessing to the Jewes 76.78 How it sanctifieth to the purifying of the conscience 51 52 53. Called the letter and why 7 A lewd slander against the Protestants 31. Contrary to Article 39. 32 33 Love to the brethren a sure marke of a child of God 88 M Moses called the Minister of death abusively 8. He spake truth as it was and is in Christ Jesus 20 21 25 Merit not in our prayers 12 Multitude 13 Ministers must cry out against sinne 48 Men reclaimed from sinne nearer the kingdome of heaven and not thereby made 7. times more the children of Hell 49 50 Manichaeus his errour from 2 Cor. 3.7 6 P Promise obtained by the Fathers as well as by us 78 Prophets did not preach the old covenant in opposition to the new 62 Papists and we differ about the foundation 28. They hold first justification to bee of free mercy 29 30 31 Preaching terrours makes not a man a legall Preacher 11. Preaching often makes not a man a painefull Preacher 15. Lucas Pollo his way of preaching 16 17 Paedagogicall discipline threefold 21 R Remission of sin what it is 65 Reall presence 83 Repentance the Prophets taught cannot justly be reprehended 55. How Johns repentance and the Prophets differ 55 56. Repentance the Prophets preacht not confined within the bounds of conversation 57. Repentance doth wash away sin and how 57 58. seven benefits by it 59.6 S Satisfaction for sin not made by lamenting and amending 61 Sacraments of the Fathers for substance the same with ours 82 Sermons like Davids Song 16 T Tradesmen ought not to take upon them the office of a Minister 15 Transubstantiation repugnant to the humane nature of Christ 28. W Word must be rightly divided 16 Z Zeale for the Sabbath a marke of a true Christian 85 Places of Scripture expounded  Psalme   Vers Pag. 68 11 9  Proverb  Chap. Vers Pag. 3 6 15  Isay  52 7 10  Amos  2 8 15  Zachar.  12 10 61  Matth.  5 6 85 11 15 50 11 2 3 4 2 25 40 91  Marke  12 34 49 10 19 50  Luke  18 14 59.60  John  1 12 37 1 17 19,20 1 18 65 66 67.69 5 46 25 Chap. Vers Pag. 6 29 36,37 8 56 68 10 41 1 14 6 21 14 12 3,4,5  Acts  3 24 9 10 43 66 15 11 10  Rom.  1 1,2,3 9 2 6,7 12 3 24 30 3 22 34 4 3 38 4 5 42 5 1 45 7 7 8 16 25 23  1 Corinth  2 11 90 10 3,4 82  2 Corinth  3 6 7 4 6 69  Galat.  2 16 33 Chap. Vers Pag. 3 10 76 3 24 20 3 17 62 4 1 70 4 9 52 4 25 74  Ephes  2 20 27 2 8 36 4 5 47  2 Tim.  2 15 15  Hebr.  2 25 75 3 5 18 7 19 54 10 1 52.54 11 39 78 11 1 84  James  4 8 58  1 Pet.  1 12 80 1 10 23 2 8 8  1 John  3 14 92 To the Assembly of Divines now sitting concerning matters of Religion by Order from the High Court of PARLIAMENT THOMAS-ATVVOOD ROTHERHAM wisheth increase of Gods graces in JESUS CHRIST Reverend Sirs I Have here presented to your view the Confutation of a Pamphlet intituled The Doctrine and conversation of John Baptist wherein you have Christ and Free Grace pretended and yet the power of grace in the Soules of Christians contemned and the Kingly Office of Christ rejected and under colour of Faith and beleeving the Law of God made void which the Apostle Rom. 3.31 cries downe with an Absit and God forbid such doctrins should be suffered standing so much in opposition to Scripture Those of this Sect pretend great knowledge great zeale great holinesse so did the Pharisees in Jerusalem the Donatists in Afrique the Electi amongst the Manichees but their knowledge is ignorance their zeale madnesse their holinesse hypocrisie Their writings speeches behaviour are cleare demonstrations of this It is high time to looke unto and to meet with such mischievous Doctrines as these Claudenda Cavea antequam aves Evolaverint the cage had need be shut before such uncleane birds as these be flowne God make you famous instruments for his glory the good of your King and Country To the beating downe of Superstition Heresies and Schisme and send you favour with God and man and thus I humbly take leave desiring your favourable acceptance of my poore endevours Et Postquam nos alma Ceres meliore beavit Fruge dabo vobis quam dedit illa Ceres A DEN OF THEEVES DISCOVERED IN the eleventh page of his Book He laies downe this conclusion That John did no Miracle is but an opinion of the people I say this is his false opinion for it is really true that John did
Law (k) Heb. 10. Lex dicitur umbram habuisse non ipsam rerum imaginem nec potuisse accedentes perfectos facere non portuisse auferre peccata mundare conscientiam Deum hostias oblationes noluisse nec ei placuisse quod intelligi debet inordine ad justificationeÌ„ ex opere operato naÌ„ alioquin negari non potest quin ei placut rint ex obedientia devotione offerentis nam vocanntr odor suavissimus Gerhard locor tom 4. col mihi 302. Heb. 10.1.8 is said not to make the commers thereunto perfect and not to take away the conscience of sinnes or to purge the conscience and that Sacrifices and offerings he would not neither had pleasure therein God in the Law did command them Levit. 1.2 3 4. and they were oftentimes a sweete savour unto him but this place is to be understood in order to justification from the workes done God approving of them as they were done in faith as Types untill the comming of the Messiah but he could not away with them when they were done without faith and when men looked for Justification by the bare externall performance of them Whereas Pag. 43. he sayes Johns Doctrine is the bringing in of a better hope (l) Adhuc enim in eo verfatur auctor hujus Epistolae ut doceat Loviticum Sacetdorium posteriore abrogatum neque de prioris usu vel ullum adhuc verbum fecit Beza in loc Heb. 7.19 the meaning of this place may be understood by what hath beene said before Marke the opposition The Apostle speakes to those who looked for perfection by the Law in opposition to Christ and did hold to the shadowes of the Law after the comming of Christ he compares Christs Priesthood and the Levitical together shewing the perfection of the one above the other speaking here of the Leviticall Priest-hood abrogated and not of the former use of it and out of question for substance the Fathers had the same hope with us neither better nor worse of eternall life (m) Bellar. Tom. 3. de Sacrament Contr. 1. Bellarmin would have the Law to have had onely unprofitable Ceremonies from which he labours to prove that the Fathers could not be justifyed and received into Heaven before Christs comming in the flesh The (n) Caeremomae 〈◊〉 perfe crant mutiles sed superinducta in eis spes Missue non suiâ—ses man is por fidemenim in Chustiun veâ—mrum justificabantur ut nos per fidem in Christum exhibitum Tossan in loc Ceremonies by themselves were unprofitable but the hope of the Messiah shadowed in them was not a vaine thing for the fathers were justified by faith in Christ to come as we are by faith in Christ exhibited Pag. 43. We will consider saith he the difference of that repentance which was taught by the Prophets from that repentance which was taught by John First for the repentance preached by the Prephets there is a Definition of repentance which is reprehended by some and justly as comming short of that repentance which is preached under the Gospell it is this to bewaile sinnes that we have committed or emitted to for sake those that we have bewailed This definition seemeth to me to expresse to the full that repentance which was taught by the Prophets these are his words at the beginning of pag. 44. let us looke a little into them this definition is given by the (o) Paenitere est ante acta peccata de flere flenda non committere Magist lib 4. dist 14. Master of the Sentences but marke his words he saith this definition is justly to be reprehended and yet it seemes to him as he saith to expresse to the full that repentance which was taught by the Prophets Now judge whether the Prophets taught such a repentance as may upon any tearmes be justly reprehended Did not these holy men of God speake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 What will follow then but that he doth in plaine termes affirme that the Holy Ghost may justly be reprehended Oh blasphemy but let us see how the repentance the Prophets taught and Johns repentance differ how Johns repentance was more then the Prophets how Johns goes one step higher He sets downe Johns repentance to be this Luke 3.3 The baptisme of repentance for remission for his appeale whether it be not better rendred unto remission of sinnes then for remission of sinnes I let it passe as not worth the while did not the Prophets preach the washing of repentance for remission of sinnes neither did they place repentance in the externall washing but in the inward purifying of the heart by Faith (p) Continuo praedicat paenitentiam conversionem ad Dominum Pellican in loc Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou mayst be saved The question will be whether the repentance John preached was a (q) Quid novi ergo a novo hoc allatum doctorevel protangelo Sane doctrinam si spectes ipsam resipiscentiae quae apud propheras nominatur recessus a malo reditus ad meliora 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 five reditus est quidam ad Deam quem a nobis peccata nostra se junxetant eadem est Joannis quae et Mosis er aliorum propherarun seria ad conversionem exhortatio Pelarg. quae Evang in ca. 3. Mart. quae 2. new repentance and different from that repentance which was preached by Moses and the Prophers it was Moses his whole studie how hee might bring the Israelites to true repentance and this is evident in the ninth and tenth Chapters of Deuteronomie And how often nay continually did the Prophets call upon the people to repent witnesse these Scriptures Isa 45.22 Jer. 14.22 Ezek. 18.30 Hose 14.1 Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord Turne yee even to me with all your heart what repentance could John preach more then this Certainely Johns and theirs was one and the same Doctrine of repentance there was a difference in the manner of preaching but the doctrine was the same Repentance is a conversion or turning Now every conversion is conversant between two termes The one is called the terme from which the other to which And so in repentance that from which is our sinnes and evill life from the consideration whereof ariseth griefe and forrow and contrition That to which is God towards whom the contrite and drooping heart doth lift and raise up it selfe in confidence of mercy promised and by beleeving the remission of sinnes for Christ his sake the Mediatour from which it is manifest that contrition and faith are two proper essentiall parts of repentance Act. 14.15 And preach unto you that yee should turne from these vanities unto the living God How can we turne to God but by Faith Act. 20.21 Testifying both to the Jewes and also to the Gentiles repentance towards God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ was not (r) Cum
doe not teach (k) Idololatrica est paeniteÌ„tia papistarum quam ponunt 1. in contritione 2. in confessione 3 satisfactione quaque peccata expiari putant Wolleb Compend Theol. lib. 2 cap. 3. p. 291. repentance consists first in contrition secondly confession thirdly satisfaction whereby our sins are expiated Pag. 50. At the beginning he goes on thus God people it is dying not crying will give satisfaction for sins I answer did Christs dying exclude his crying who as the Apostle saith Heb. 5.7 In the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares Was this crying and these teares excluded in point of satisfaction for sins Againe we doe not say that teares of repentance make or give satisfaction but this satisfaction of Christ is given to no man but to him in whom are teares of repentance and crying teares in true repentance is dying to sinne else what becomes of Christian mortification and therefore this crying is dying We make not teares the cause but an effect flowing from the satisfaction of Christ by Faith applyed to the soule Zach. 12.10 And they shall (l) Quis enim vere fidelium non plangit peccatis suiscausam se dedisse occisioni crucifixioni Christi hlii Dei hominis ideoque amarissime semper pii Judaei gentes Domini passionem plangunt Pellican in loc looke upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourne for him They that by Faith looke at Christ crucified for their sins cannot but shed teares of repentance Page 50. At the latter end he propounds this question Did not the Prophets also Preach remission of sins upon true repentance If we should hold him close to his owne phrase of speech strictly taken as he doth others we may conclude out of his owne mouth To preach remission of sins upon true repentance that he speakes blasphemy against the blood of Christ without which there is no remission for as satisfaction so remission of sinnes is onely by the blood of Christ but of this by the way Hee goes on in these words I answer the Prophets must be considered preaching either the New Covenant or the Old for they preached the New also They did never Preach the Old and New Covenant in opposition to one another The Law sayes he did not could not disanull the Covenant that was made to Abraham 430. years before this place overthrowes and confutes him to his face and he alledgeth it against himselfe In the new Covenant sayes he the Prophets preached eternall remission in the Old they preached actuall remission by legall services but not eternall which remission is called by the Apostle a fleshly purifying This place concerning the Covenant made to Abraham (m) Conjungi misccri nulla ratione queunt quod non ita est a cipiendum quasi doctrina legis doctrina Evangelâ—i mutuo repugnent ita enim Dous sibi in suo verbo repugnater quod absit sed quod justihcationis modus in lege Evangelio monstratus contratie se haber aut ut nec simul stare anc misceri in unum possunt magis quam aqua ignis simul consistere in unum elemontum possunt Pareus com in loc Gal. 3.17 is not so to be understood as if the Doctrine of the Law and of the Gospell were mutually repugnant contrary to each other for so God should be repungant contrary to himselfe in his owne Word which God forbid in the least thought but in regard of the manner of justification set forth in the Law and in the Gospell So they are contrary and cannot be mixed together be made one or stand together no more than fire and water can consist together or be made one and the same element We must here againe marke the opposition betweene the Law and the promise The false Apostles did attribute the effect of (n) Proinde alrius quiddam in caeremoniis considerat nempe effectum justincationis quem illis tribuchant pseudoapostolâ— conscientiarum obligationem Calvin in loc Justification to legall ceremonies and so did lay a yoke upon mens consciences the yoke of ceremonies but what 's the meaning of the Apostle when he saith The Law cannot disanull and make the promise of none effect why the Impostors did deny salvation promised to be freely given to men and obtained by Faith and did urge the Ceremonies of the Law as necessary cessary for the obtaining thereof And so did set the Law in opposition to the Promise to disanull it which the Apostle affirmes cannot be well then the Law did not nor could not disanull the promise made to AbrahaÌ„ but the false Apostles in Pauls time would have had it so And the Prophets should have beene no lesse than false prophets if they had Preached the Old Covenant in opposition to the New And whereas he saith They did in the Old Covenant Preach Actuall remission by legall scrvices but not eternall now he sets downe what he meanes by actuall remission namely a fleshly purifying for so he saith the Apostle calls it First I answer that where there is actuall remission of sins in the sight of God there must needs be eternall Otherwise a man may be a Childe of God to day and to morrow a cast-away which is Arminianisme in the highest degree if not Popery and contrary to what himselfe hath delivered to wit that God hath pardoned all the sinnes of beleevers past present and to come I would see how he can prove this actuall remission by legall services The Scripture makes mention of no such remission And the Prophets did Preach against remission by legall services consisting onely in a fleshly purifying nay they did abhorre and cry downe the legall services of the people when they did performe them to the purifying of the flesh not having respect to the inward purifying of the heart by Faith Isa 1.11 12. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt offerings of Rams and the fat of fed beasts I delight not in the blood of Bullockes or of Lambes or of Hee Goates ver 13. Bring no more vaine oblations incense is an abomination unto me by this place you may see the Prophet Preacht against legall services as restrained to the purification of the flesh onely and did by them presse the people to looke farther to wit to the spirituall purification as ver 16. Wash ye make you cleane c. They did not preach in the old Covenant actuall remission by legall services but in reference to Christ else they should stand guilty of that which the Apostle speakes Rom. 9.31 32. But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse hath not attained to the Law of righteousnesse wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the workes of the Law Certainely the Prophets never preached any righteousnesse or remission by legall services
unlesse they were done in faith and that by them the people did looke at the righteousnesse of faith aiming altogether at Jesus Christ in whom and by whom there was and ever is eternall remission who was (a) Quia ut primum caepit humani generis reparatio per justificationem hominum in Christo caepit Agni illius sanguis operari Estius in diffic Script loc Revel 13.8 The Lamb of God slaine from the foundation of the World But let us see what actuall remission which he calls a fleshly purifying is Why t is this when any of the people had outwardly defiled their bodies by touching any uncleane thing as for one the touching of a dead body they were to be excluded the congregation now by some legall service this uncleannesse was remitted namely by the act of sprinkling the water of separation and by this they had actuall remission of their uncleannesse which gave them admission into the Congregation againe The Prophets never had any Commission to preach the old Covenant separated and apart from the New neither is this actuall remission by legall services set downe but in reference to eternall remission by Christ neither did the Prophets ever preach it otherwayes for if they had they had Preached Justification by workes and the righteousnesse of the Law and so they and their hearers must needs come short of the righteousnesse of God which is by Faith and so perish everlastingly Oh damned Doctrine Page 51. About the middle To make these things more plaine saith he Take this proposition which I know will tingle in the eares of many happily it may tingle in his owne eares for t is pity but he should heare of it his proposition is this The knowledge of both actuall and eternall remission was no Article of the Jewish Creed but a part of that mystery which was kept secret from the giving of the Law untill the time of John Baptist his meaning is that all that time the Jewes had not knowledge of actuall and eternall remission as he layes it downe pag. 52. line 17. his reason is They differed nothing from servants so line the 20. he concludes they were in bondage and being so had not knowledge of actuall and eternall remission Marke and see if he doth not contradict his owne proposition pag. 51. line 6. he saith in the New Covenant the Prophet Preacht eternall remission why then he had knowledge of it and by Preaching made it knowne to others So then they had knowledge of that before the time of John Baptist as himselfe confesseth Againe he confesseth They Preached actuall remission by legall services Againe looke Pag. 53. line 3. he confesseth They had knowledge of actuall remission to come by the promised seed And herein he contradicts himselfe in saying It was a part of that mystery kept secret from the giving of the Law untill the time of John Baptist For then they could not have knowne it to come (b) Scientia est habitus demoÌ„strativus Aristot 6. Ethic. Knowledge is a Demonstrative habite and doth determin the Intellect to one side with certainty No question but the Jewes had so much knowledge whereby they did certainely and assuredly beleeve and were perswaded and did understand that their sins were really actually and eternally remitted in Christ By his actuall remission to come doth he understand Christs actuall comming in the flesh we must know that all true beleevers who lived before Christs comming in the flesh had actuall and eternall remission without which they could not be saved nor enter into Heaven He was up with (c) Patres sub lege non fuisse consortes aetornae vitae Osiand Epit. hist eccle Cent. 16. lib 2. cap. 21. Servetus in his Sermon but makes no mention of him in Print This Heretique held that the Fathers under the Law were not partakers of eternall life and according to his proposition this heretique speakes the truth To prove this proposition he brings in this place of Scripture Joh. 1.18 No man hath seene God at any time the onely begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Will he prove by this place that none of the Fathers and people of the Jewes did see God in regard of Actuall and eternall remission before Christs comming in the flesh Remission of sinnes is an Article of our Faith And did not they beleeve the same remission of sinnes which we doe To make things plaine I will here set downe what remission of sins is Remission of sins is forgivenesse of sin when both the guilt and punishment are freely pardoned for Christ alone to such as beleeve in him Now if the Fathers did beleeve eternall remission they must needs know it For in true saving Faith there are three things (d) Forma fidei docendi causa tribus partibus describi folet Notiria Assensu fiducia 1. Notiria est corum cognitio quae ad saâ—utem necessaria sunt 2. Assensus est quo firmiter credirut vera esse quae verbo Dei traduntur 3. hiducia est qua quisque fidelium fibi promissiones Evangelicas applicat Wolleb Theol. compend lib. 1. cap. 29. pag. 231. required Knowledge Assent and Application By Knowledge I mean the right conceiving of the necessary Doctrines of true Religion especially those which concerne Christ our Redeemer Assent is when a man knowing this Doctrine doth further approve of the same as whole some doctrine and the Truth of God directing us aright unto salvation Application is when we conceive in our hearts a true perswasion of Gods mercy towards us particularly in the free pardon of all our sins and for the salvation of our Soules The Jewes living in the time of the Law having true saving Faith must needs then have knowledge of Actuall and eternall remission having these three things which must needs be in all that did ever truely beleeve but it is proved by Scripture Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his Name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sins Three things observable in the Text. First That it is the proper Office of Christ by blotting out their sins to reconcile men to God Secondly That by Faith we obtaine remission of sinnes Thirdly That this (e) Quod haec doctrina non nova aut nuper fabricata sit sed jam olim ab ultimis seculis testes habuerit omnes Dei Prophetas Calvin in loc Doctrine of remission is no new Doctrine lately framed But of old from the beginnings of the world had all the Prophets of God witnesses to it and therefore they must of necessity know it But we will open the meaning of this place Joh. 1.18 No man hath seene God at any time c. God is said to be seene in Scripture diverse wayes First he is (f) Plures modi sunt videndi Deum 1. primus quo non in se sed in operibus suis videtur
Chamier de Sacram. V. T. lib. 3. cap. 2. Eucharist which we call the Lords Supper as well as we The Argument runnes thus The Eucharist is the Communion of the body and blood of Christ but Manna and water out of the Rocke were to the Israelites the Eucharist Therefore Manna and water out of the Rocke were to the Israelites the Communion of the body and blood of Christ It cannot therefore be denied but the Sacraments were to the Fathers in regard of the thing signified the same and equal to the Sacraments in the New Testament Saint (q) Aliud illi aliud nos sed specie visibili quod tamen hoe idem significaret virtute Spiritali Augustin in Evang. Joan. Tract 26. Col. mihi 228. Augustin saith The Sacraments of the Fathers in regard of the outward signes differ from ours but in regard of the substance and the thing signifyed they are the same This place then doth absolutely prove that they were not under the curse but had actuall remission and the knowledge of it present Page 56. At the latter end his Answer is They did cate the same meate but not after the same manner for they did eate Christ to come not present This is a new manner of eating Christ in the Sacrament which cannot be proved by Scripture There is in the Sacrament of the Eucharist a threefold (r) Ad ipsum Sacramentum Eucharistiae quod attinet est ibi mandacatio bibitio triplex 1 Oralis five corporalis 2 Spiritualis 3 Sacramentalis Lawrent Dialog Encharist pag. 460. eating First Orall or corporall Secondly Spirituall Thirdly Sacramentall Now all true beleevers doe spiritually eat the body and blood of Christ which really and indeed is taken and received not with the mouth of the body corporally but with the mouth of Faith spiritually The manner of their eating was by Faith ours is the same To say a man eats a thing to come is a grosse piece of non-sense How can that be can one eate that which he hath not can he eate bread to come Christ was as really present to the Fathers in their Sacrament of the Eucharist as he is to us in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper But that I may not be mistaken I will set downe what I meane by Christs reall presence in the Sacrament though we hold a reall presence of Christs body and blood in the Sacrament yet doe we not take it to be locall bodily or substantiall but spirituall and mysticall First to the signes by Sacramentall relation Secondly to the Communicants by Faith alone The first stands in this That when the elements of Bread and Wine are present to the hand and to the mouth of the receiver at the very same time the body and blood of Christ are presented to the minde thus and no otherwise is Christ present with the signes The second presence in respect of the Communicants is that Christ is really present to their beleeving hearts They by Faith applying when God gives Christ with his benefits and man for his part by Faith receives the same as they are given There ariseth that union which is betweene every good receiver and Christ himselfe which union is not forged but a reall true and neare conjunction nearer then which none is or can be because it is made by a solemne giving and receiving that passeth betweene God and Man as also by the bond of one and the same Spirit To come then to the point considering there is a reall union and consequently a reall communion betweene us and Christ there must needs be such a kinde of presence wherein Christ is truely and really present to the heart of him that receives the Sacrament in Faith And such a reall Communion was there betweene the Fathers and Christ and such a presence wherein Christ was really present to them in the Old Testament who received the Sacraments in Faith We conclude then they did cate Christ present If it be objected Christ was not in their time come in the flesh The Apostle makes answer (a) Est etiam fides praeteritarum rerum praesentium suturarum Aug. Enchâ—rid on cap. 8. Exhibitus patribus in promissione ita ut eorum fidei non minus praesens suerit sanguis Christi fundendus quam fidci nostrae praesens est jam olâ—m effusus Tessan praelect in loc Heb. 11.1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seene This place concernes the Worthies in the Old Testament as appeares in the following part of the chapter and stands in opposition to those who thinke things not to be truely present which are present by Faith So that Christ was present in his incarnation to the Fathers not in opinion or imaginarily but truely and really not potentially but actually God freely giving and they by Faith receiving whole Christ God and Man together with all his benefits were in eodem instanti in that very present point of time justified and their sinnes pardoned and actually remitted and did beleeve actuall and eternall remission of sinnes present to their soules for their everlasting salvation The blood of Christ being by Faith instantaneally and efficaciously present to them before his comming as it is to us now since his comming in the flesh But as he would have it the Fathers ate him to come we eate him gone and past and what will follow That neither they nor we but onely they who lived in the dayes of his flesh eate him present what 's become of Faith all this while Pag. 67. Doe you not saith he remember what was (c) Parcius ista memento whispered at the Assize some yeares past That the great malefactours condemned the little ones This it may be was true To this I answer there was a whispering at the Assize some yeares past That there was a great Malefactor as it seemed probable to cloake his owne guilt would have condemned and did accuse the innocent Pag. 73. Who would have thought saith he but that zeale for the Sabbath and God had beene an undoubted marke of Salvation but he concludes you see the contrary To this I answer had it beene true zeale it had beene an undoubted marke of a true Christian bat his words were when he preacht That people might make a strict conscience of the observation of the Sabbath and yet stone Christ out of the Church which to me seemes to be a lewd speech strictnesse implying sinceritie besides they that questioned our Saviour did it not so much out of conscience as humour Pag. 74. He propounds this question First whether a desire to be saved be an infallible note of salvation he saith the safest way is to say no. Secondly whether a desire to beleeve be Faith it selfe To this I answer if he speakes of every defire of salvation the question is needlesse and to propound a question of so great consequence without further expressing himselfe is but to set