used to note any instrument but an efficient cause Secondly the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in is placed likewise before the working of First the Father as Act. 17.28 Eph. 3.9 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Rom. 11.36 1 Pet. 1.5 Secondly the Sonne Joh. 1.4 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Eph 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Col. 1.14 Col. 2.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Jude 20. Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.18 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 6.11 By these and the like places you may see the weake and sandy foundation on which they build their faith who make the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost not onely to be unequall but unlike in Nature because the Apostle saith one God of whom 1 Cor. 8.6 one Lord by whom 1 Cor. 8.6 and one Spirit in whom 1 Cor. 12.3 4 13. For this different manner of speech doth not argue a different Nature in them of whom he speaketh as they blindly collect and fondly imagine For the same reason would prove the Father to be infeirour to the Sonne and it would make him his instrument as in some places above specified The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are not instruments to but co-workers with the Father they worke together First in these common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds Secondly in these speciall works which reach especially to the Church of God First the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost work together in these Common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds both of good and bad as namely First Creation Secondly Preservation or providence First Universally in regard of all creatures in all places of the World Secondly particularly in regard of the Sea Thirdly illumination or working of common gifts and graces in all men Fourthly judging the earth The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing these works to them equally with the Father CHAP. II. First Creation is a work of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost CReation is a work of God alone He stretcheth out the heavens alone and spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe Isa 44.24 He alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the Sea Job 9.8 He is the builder and maker of heaven Heb. 11.10 and He laid the foundations of the earth Job 38.4 yea Isaiah representeth the Lord speaking in his owne person I am the Lord and there is none elfe I forme the light and I create darknesse I make peace I create evill I the Lord doe all these things Isa 45..6 7 8. This our Creator is one in Essence Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us saith Malachi Mal. 2.10 and yet there are three Persons that did create us First the Father createth thus we acknowledge in the Creed the Father to be Creator of heaven and earth and the Apostle affirmeth Of him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and by him are all things Heb. 2.10 Secondly the Sonne createth and thus the Apostle saith by him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1.3 the heavens were made by him Psal 33.6 they are the work of his hands and he laid the foundations of the earth Heb. 1.10 by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth wither they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 the World was made by him Joh. 1.10 Thirdly the Holy Ghost createth He made man Joh. 33.4 he made the body of Christ out of the seed of the Woman Mat. 1.18 Luk. 1.35 he garnisheth the heavens Job 26.13 he moued upon the waters Gen. 1.2 cherishing them and making them fruitfull and fit for the creatures to live in By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the Hoast of them by the Spirit of his mouth so it is according to the Originall Psal 33.6 Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did create and build the World and therefore God for so the Apostle affirmeth he that built all things is God Heb. 3.4 Yea it is observeable that Moses treating of the creation useth the word Elohim and no other word above thirtie times together Gen. 1. to shew that all the three Persons did work this great work besides in creating man how plainely is the pluralitie of Persons in the unitie of the essence set forth Gen. 1.26 and God said there the Noune is plurall ard the Verb is singular although after the Verb is plurall Let us make man after our Image and after our likenesse is and our surely note a pluralitie of Persons Besides how absurd a thing would it be to imagine God if but one Person to speake to himselfe and yet in the 27. vers it is he made man in his owne image to point forth to us the unitie of his Essence I know the Jewes object divers wayes against this Object 1. That in the Scripture one man speaketh plurally of himselfe as First Bildad Job 18.2.3 Sol. But he speaketh not onely of himselfe but his other two friends Secondly Absalom 2 Sam. 16.20 but he speaketh not onely of himselfe but of his people and Armie Thirdly Daniel Dan. 2.36 but Daniel doth speake of the three Children that were his companions together with himselfe Fourthly Cant. 1.3 But the Church although one yet the members are many 1 Cor. 12.12 and as she is one body she speaketh singularly but as she is many members she speaketh plurally Object 2. That God spake after the manner of Kings Sol. First That kinde of speech was not then in use as Abon-Ezra noteth on Gen. 29.27 Moreover in the examples of Kings speeches in the Scripture there is not the like as Gen. 14.21 Gen. 20.9 Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 4. Dan. 5. Dan. 6. 2 Chr. 36.23 Ezr. 1.2 Ezr. 7. or in any King of Israel or of Juda after ages brought in this custome among Kings Secondly if the Lord would at any time have spoken plurally it would have been especially when he gave his Law where although then he manifesteth the pluralitie of Persons Exod. 20.2 5 7 10 12. and useth the word Elohim plurally yet he speaketh in the singular number Exod. 20.2 3 5 6 7. Thirdly Kings doe speake plurally because they are publique Persons and represent the whole Kingdome and act by the advice of their Councels Fourthly Kings doe not use the singular and plurall promiscuously as the Scripture doth of God Object 3. That God did speake to the Angels Sol. 1. God spake to them in whose Image man was to be made but man is not said to be made in the Image of Angels but in the Image of God Secondly the Angels did not make man but God Thirdly the Angels were not called in for advice the Lord neither had nor did need any Counsell
soule-comforting graces that are therein First the Father witnesseth it to us he sendeth forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Secondly the Sonne witnesseth it to us he is the true and faithfull witnesse Rev. 3.16 Rev. 1.5 he witnesseth in us our salvation 1 Cor. 1.6 and testifyeth to us the comfort that are in his word Thirdly the Holy-Ghost witnesseth it to us he beareth witnesse with our spirits that we aâ—e the Children of God Rom. 8.16 There is three that beare record in heaven which doe not onely testifie Christ to be the Messiah or Saviour of the world but also to be our Messiah and Saviour the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 one God one witnesse Yea our Saviour Christ speaketh of this testimony plurally Joh. 3.11 we speake that we doe know and testifie that we have seene and ye receive not our witnesse a place not to be paralelld in the Evangelists where our Saviour speaketh plurally not in the name of John Baptist or the Prophets for their authority could no way adde to his neither did he receive testimony from man Joh. 5.34 where he spake it most peculiarly in regard of John Joh. 5.33 but he spake in his Fathers name and also in the Holy Spirits name whose testimony and authority he oft urged Joh. 5.32 Joh. 8.18 Luk. 4.18 19. and surely if Angel or Archangel or any Creature in heaven or in earth should onely witnesse our salvation to â—s in Christ we might then doubt but why should we doubt when the Lord himselfe witnesseth it First by word calling us in Scriptures his Children Secondly by deeds working in us grace which are the fruits of his spirit Gal. 5.22 and Thirdly by seale as I shall now shew ratifying it to our soules Eph. 1.13 CHAP. XVIII Sealing of us is a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost FIrst sealing is a note of appropriation we worke that which is our own and that which we have confirmed and sealed we doe account it our own now these whom the Lord chooseth to himselfe he sealeth The Lord knoweth who are his having this seale 2 Tim 2.9 Secondly sealing is a signe of distinction Lawyers cause seales to be put to Evidences Merchants set markes on their wares and Shepheards have brands for their sheep to know and distinguish them Thus Christ in a peculiar manner is sealed of God the Father Joh 6.27 and all the Elect are sealâ—d in him Eph. 1.4 Thirdly sealing is a worke of conforming There is a likenesse of the seale imprinted on the thing sealed and surely when the childe of God is sealed of God there is then an Image of God wrought on his soule God therefore sealeth us First to appropriate us as his own Secondly to distinguish us from others Thirdly to conforme us to his own Image which worke of sealing us is wrought by one God in three Persons First God the Father sealeth us so the Apostle sheweth Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 1.22 Secondly the Sonne sealeth us Ezek. 9.3 4. He is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 that hath the seale of the living God Rev. 7.2 who though an Angel by name yet is he not an Angel but a Sonne by nature Heb 2.16 Heb. 1.3 to 13. where the Apostle distinguisheth the creating Sonne from the created Angels plainly proving the Sonne to be the Creatour but Angels to be but creatures Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sealeth us Grieve not the Holy spirit of God by which we are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 where the Apostle meeteth with two contrary errours First the Righteous after their calling may fall into sinne and so grieve the spirit God yet Secondly they cannot fall totally and finally for they are sealed by the spirit of God to the day of redemption Sealing of us therefore is the Worke of one God who is one in Power Will and Operation who sealeth his Children in their hearts confirming them thereby to his own Image and also sealing them in their foreheads imboldening them to professe him By the former he maketh us to love him by the latter he causeth us to acknowledge him CHAP. XIX Christian Libertie is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost BEing Redeemed Justified Adopted and Sanctified and sealed by God we have the glorious Liberty of the children of God We that were Bondmen by nature Tit. 3.3 Eph. 2.2 3. become the Lords freemen through gtace 1 Cor. 7.22 Lawyers tell us that if any Lord of a Mannor doe contract with his Villain 〈◊〉 is by that Act of his Lords dâ—livâ—â—â—â—â— from his most slavish tenure of Villenage and made free thereby surely the Lord our God condescending so low as to covenant with us in Christ he doth thereby free us from that slavish tenure we held by since Adams fall and maketh us therewith free Denizens of Heaven fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 we are freed from sinne Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.33 we are set at libertie from Satan Heb. 2.14 15. Luk. 11.21 22. from the Law Rom. 7.3 6. Gal. 5.18 Rom. 6.18 from it's curses and maledictions Gal. 3.13 from it's condemnation Rom. 8.1 and from its rigour Gal. 3.10 there was Personall Universall Actuall and Constant obedience required in every title which left no place of repentance Repentance being an Evangelicall grace the proper priviledge of the covenant of grace Christ came from heaven to publish it Luk. 5.31 32. Mat. 4.17 he shed his bloud to purchase it Act. 5.31 he bids his Disciples to preach it Luk. 24.47 and surely therefore it cannot be legall the apostatizing Angels had not the benefit of it nor man till Christ had purchased it Christ hath freed us from this rigour of the Law and from the wrath of God Rom. 5.9 1 Thes 1.10 This Worke is a Worke of God none could effect it But First the Father procureth us Liberty He delivereth us from captivity Paul giveth thanks to God for it Rom. 7.24 25. where God is taken Essentially and not Personally for the Sonne and Holy-Ghost free us from our slavish captivity together with the Father Secondly the Sonne procureth us Liberty Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free There are two things which the Lord hath entrusted in his Churches hand First christian faith for which we must earnestly contend Jude ver 3. Secondly christian Liberty in which we must stand fast The Apostle calleth it the Libertie we have in Christ Gal. 2.4 which is Christian liberty not onely because we must use it to the glory of Christ and according to his rules but because he is the Author of it If the Sonne make you free then are you free indeed Joh. 8.36 he delivereth us who through feare of death were all our lifetime subject to bondage Heb. 2.15 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us liberty 2
Throne Rev. 4.5 and sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5.6 That which Didymus Alexandrinus in Lib. de Spirit Sanct. writeth is notable Ipse Spiritus Sanctus si una de creaturis esset duntaxat circumscriptam haberet substantiam sicut universa quae facta sunt nam etsi non circumscribantur loco finibus invisibiles creaturae tamen proprietate substantiae finiuntur Spiritus autem Sanctus quum in pluribus locis sit non habet circumscriptam substantiam The Holy-Ghost if he were a Creature he would have a circumscribed substance as all Creatures have for although Angels and Spirits are not circumscribed with place and bounds yet they are bounded with the proprietie of their substance but the Holy-Ghost being in severall places he hath not a circumscribed substance Secondly in regard of his Church in which God ruleth more especially as in his Kingdome and dwelleth more particularly as in his owne house who is above all and through all and in all Eph. 4.6 And thus without appropriation to any Person the Holy Trinitie is over all in regard of the excellencie of his glory through all in respect of the gifts of his Majestie and in all in the presence of his dignitie Or if you will iâ— reference to all three Persons First the Father is all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 God is all in all he is all as the first cause and working in us all as in the secondary causes Secondly the Sonne is all in all Col. 3.11 Christ is all in all as John Baptist speaketh with a reduplication Joh. 3.31 is above all yea he filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is all in all 1 Cor. 12.11 All these worke that one and the same Spirit dividing to every one severally as he will He is the incorruptible Spirit that is in all Wis 12.1 all Beleevers receive one and the same Spirit 2 Cor. 12.4 There cannot be many infinites which are present in all places for the infinitenesse of one would hinder the infinitenesse of another if they were not one and the same essence But Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost being gresent in all places are consubstantiall in essence one and the same infinite Lord God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.6 which are mutually in each other as Christ speaketh the Father in me and I in him Joh. 14.11 and the Holy-Ghost who is the Spirit of the Father Mat. 10.20 Rom 8.11 and the Spirit of his Sonne Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.9 Phil. 1.19 1 Pet. 1.11 and proceedeth from both Joh. 15.26 and is of both 1 Cor. 2.12 called the Spirit of Elohim Gen. 1.2 Gen. 41.38 Num. 24.2 to note the plurality of Persons from whom he proceedeth being in both even as the Spirit of man is in man 1 Cor. 2.11 and that not onely in the Father but also in the Sonne and therefore he is stiled the eyes of the Lamb Rev. 5.6 which is in the midst of the Throne and yet sent forth into all the earth where therefore the one is the other is and what the one worketh the other worketh likewise Oh that men would consider this omnipresencie of God! to wicked men it might be a Bridle to stop their course in Sinne that they runne not into all excesse of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 to consider that God is present with them he that is their Judge beholdeth them and their actions and to good men it would be also a Staffe to support them in all their soule-afflicting tentations that God knoweth their works Rev. 2.1 2. who is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love Heb. 6.10 CHAP. V. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are Omnipotent or Almighty OMnipotencie is an essentiall propertie of God it is one of his Names Gen. 17.1 He nameth himselfe to Abraham the Almightie God power being essentially in God he is not onely called Almightie but power Mar. 14.62 He hath power and sufficiencie of himselfe and he giveth power and sufficiencie to all things there is a two-fold power in God First an absolute power whereby God is of Himselfe able to doe all things that are not contradictorie Mat. 3.9 Secondly there is an actuall or limited power a power which is limited by Gods will Gen. 19.22 The Lord can doe more by his absolute power then he will doe by his limited power A creature may will more then he can doe but the Creatour can doe more then he will he taketh away who can hinder him who will say unto him what doest thou Job 9.12 what God is there in heaven or in earth that is able to doe according to his works or according to his might Deut. 3.24 he doth what he will in earth and in heaven and none can stay his hand Dan. 4.35 He is Almightie First the Father is Almightie so we acknowledge in the Apostles Creed Secondly the Sonne is Almightie Rev. 1.8 That verse is put between a double description of Christ First of his Names and Offices in the Antecedent or fore-going verses Secondly of his glorious power and Majestie as he appeared to John in a Vision in the subsequent and following verses Besides in Psal 68.14 he is stiled Almightie who led captivitie câ—â—tive and ascended on high Psal 68.18 That this was Christ the Apostle cleareth Eph. 4.8 he is most mightie so the Sonnes of Korah shew Psal 45.4 6. That this was the Lord Jesus the Authour o the Hebrewes manifest Heb. 1.8 9. Isaiah calleth him the mightie Gâ—d Isa 9.6 A creature in regard of Gods deputing him to some Office may with some limitation or addition be called God as Moses is Exod. 7. and Magistrates Psal 82.1 6. But El-Gibbor the mightie God is a Name of nature and never any Creature had that denomination ascribed to him he worketh all things that the Father worketh Joh. 5.19 and is equall with the Father so he himselfe thinketh Phil. 2.6 and so his Father accounteth him Zach. 13.8 he calleth Christ his fellow and we ought to acknowledge it for his power is Divine 2 Pet. 1.3 supporting all things therewith Heb. 1.3 and is thereby able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.21 who is above all Joh. 3.31 which promiseth to doe whatsoever we shall aske in his Name Joh. 14.14 which he could not effect if he were not Almightie Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is Almightie that which Balaam calleth a seeing of the visions of the Almightie Num. 24.4 16. Moses manifesteth it to be the inspiration of the Spirit of God Num. 24.2 He is the power of the Almightie Luk. 1.35 he measureth the Waters in the hollow of his hand and meteth out the heavens with a span and comprehendeth the dust of the earth in a measure he weigheth the mounâ—aines in scales and the hils in a ballance Isa 40.12 And that you may know that the Prophet speaketh of the Spirit of the Lord he addeth Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord Isa 40.13 He it was that
SCRIPTURE MANIFESTATION of the Equalitty of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Wherein is above an Hundred Particulars by parralell places of Scripture this truth is clearely confirmed NAMELY THAT THE Scriptures Manifest the Sonne and Holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them such Names Attributes Works and Worship as are proper to God alone By BENIAMIN AUSTIN Pastor of the Church of God at Castle-Ashbey in Northamptonshire There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Goe and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 Awake O Sword against my Shepheard and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hoasts Zac. 13.7 Christ Jesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.5 6. LONDON Printed for P. W. and JOHN WRIGHT at the Kings Head in the Old-Baily 1650. To all those that love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Brethren THE Beloved Disciple of the Lord telleth us 1 Joh. 2.18 That in his time there were many Antichrists Many that did seeme to professe Christ yet in truth did oppose him which in words would confesse him but in works would denye him Tit. 1.16 If the first Age of the Church could not escape the fuery of Satan and if those more pure times did not avoide the unbridled rage of his Antichristian Darlings we that live in the latter dayes which are the perillous times must not look to be free from Satans opposition nor hope to be exempted from the malice of his Antichristian Factours For the mystery of iniquity which was but hatching in the Apostles dayes is now grown to it 's full maturity it then began onely to worke 2 Thes 2.7 it is now acting with the efficacy of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 And however there are many Antichrists in the world yet according to Johns threefold discription of them we may worke them into three heads For they are such as deliver poysonous Doctrine not truly grounded on Gods Word and doe oppose first the Divine Nature of Christ secondly the Humane Nature of Christ thirdly the Offices of Christ First there are Antichrists who doe oppose the Divine Nature of Christ as Cerinthians Arrians Samo-Satenians Jews Turkes and in a word the Sarcinians whose Doctrine is as it were a filthy sinke into which al the Heresies of former and latter Ages have emptyed themselves These the Apostle John directly describeth 1 Joh. 2.22 23. He is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne For although never any Antichristian Heretick did in words deny the first Person and however they may pretend with the blinded Jews and misled Turkes they doe honour the Creatour of the World yet by taking away that personall relation which he hath to the Sonne they deny him by consequence to be a Father and dishonour both the Father and the Sonne However therefore they would undeseemedly fasten on us the Name of Antichrist because we affirme the Lord Jesus in Nature and Essence to be equall with the Father whenas even the Father stileth him his fellow Zac. 13.7 and the Sonne who is in the forme of God thinketh it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.7 who was the onely begotten Sonne of God Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 and said that God was his proper Father Joh. 5. â—8 and he is said to be his proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 for the word translated own is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall yea he is the Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of himself Rom. 8.3 And therefore the name and nature of Antichrist agreeth to them and not to us For they oppose the Father and the Sonne and by denying Christ to be the eternall Sonne of God they deny also God the Father to be a true and eternall Father Thus doe they robbe them both of their excellent glory making the one to be no proper Father of Châ—â—st and the other to be no proper Sonne of God whom they blasphemously affirme to be a 〈…〉 Secondly they are Antichrists who deny the Humane Nature of Christ as Marcionites Valentinians Manichees and others They take away the benefit of his death and passion The Apostle doth more especially point at these 1 Joh. 4.3 and 2 John 7. where he sheweth him to be of an Antichristian Spirit that denyeth Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh Thirdly they are Antichrists who doe not oppose directly the person of Christ but by delivering Doctrine contrary to the Word doe oppose Christ in his three-fold Office First they depive Christ of his Kingly Office and make the Pope the Supreame and uncontroulable Head of the Church exalting him above all that is called God 2 Thes 2. namely above Angels Magistrates Divels which in Scripture are called Gods yea above God and Christ whenas they give power to him to prescribe Lawes which are more authentique to them then the Laws of God None being of power to dispence with his as he can and doth with Cods Lawes And they attribute such soveraignty to him as not onely to forgive sinnes on earth but to place or displace soules in Heaven or in Hell at his pleasure Secondly they take away the Propheticall Office of Christ For they in stead of teaching the Doctrine of Christ teach the Doctrine of the Devils 1 Tim. 4. Setting up Legens Councels Decreees Decretals Traditions and their corrupt glosses of the Text above the Scripture And with their Anagogicall Allegoricall and Tropicall interpretations of the Scriptures have quite taken away the true sense thereof Thirdly they divest Christ of his Priestly Office by Indulgencies Pardons Penances Pilgrimages Masses Dirges Purgatory workes of Supererogation and a thousand the like inventions have taken away the one al-sufficient Oblation and satisfaction of Christ All whose wearing service shall one day have no better reward then who required this at your hands yea that which in a word overthroweth all the Doctrine of Christ and was enough If Rome had stood guilty of no other errour to have made us to separate from her even her soule-destroying Doctrine of Justification by Workes For as the Apostle speaking of the Jewes told the true Church of Rome Rom. 10.3 They being Ignorant of Gods Righteousnesse and going about to establish their own Righteousnesse have not submitted themselves to the Righteousnesse of God These the Apostle John principally deciphereth in the Revelations Rev. 13. c. However these Antichrists are divided and doe crash one against another yet all doe fight against Christ and doe oppose his Church They being like Sampsons Foxes joyned together by the tailes with the fire of dissention betwixt them whereby they doe set on fire Gods dearely beloved Vinâ—yard And although Antichrist had alwayes a mouthfull of blasphemies yet never were
first and the last Rev. 1.11 Rev. 22.13 Rev. 2.8 Rev. 1.17 Who is the first though not the first alone because the Father is with him He is the beginning the ending Re. 22.13 He is the everlasting Father Isai 9.6 who though born in Bethlehem in regard of his humanitie yet in respect of his Divinity his goings forth hath been from of old from everlasting Mich. 5.2 Or as the Originall will beare it from the dayes of eternitie His Kingdome is everlasting Isai 9.7 Luk. 1.33 Rev. 11.15 His Throne is for ever and ever Heb. 1.8 Psal 45.7 He is without beginning or ending Heb. 3.7 He liveth for ever Rev. 1.18 Heb. 7.25 He is before all things Col. 1.17 18. He is eternal life 1 Joh. 5.20 1 Joh. 1.2 As he is the Sonne of Man he is a Priest after the order of Melchizedeck Heb. 7.15 But as he is the Sonne of God Melchizedeck is said to be like unto him that abideth a Priest continually Heb 7.3 The heavens and all other creatures shall faile but his yeares faile not Heb. 1.12 Yea the Jewes knew that the Messiah must be eternall John 12.34 John the Evangelist proveth the eternitie of Christ First because he had his being before any creature was created 1 Joh. 1.12 Secondly because he was begotten of the Father Joh. 1.18 Joh. 3.16 he was not created not made as creatures are and John Baptist sheweth Christ to be after him yet before him Joh. 1.30 After him in his Humanitie yet before him in regard of his Divinitie Yea the beloved Disciple John speaking of Christ he repeateth was foure times Joh. 1.1 2. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and that Word was God The same was in the beginning with God He was was was was where can wicked blasphemers shew he was not Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is eternall He is the eternall Spirit Heb. 9.14 and the everlasting God which gave Commandements by the Prophets Rom. 16.26 That this was the Holy-Ghost is manifest For he spake and commanded by them 2 Pet. 1.21 Eph. 3.5 Nehem. 9.30 Isai 6.9 10. with Act. 28.25 26. 2 Sam. 23.2 he abideth with the faithfull for ever John 14.16 The Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost are consubstantiall coeternall of one and the same Substance Essence and Nature being one eternall Lord God which hath being in and by himselfe alone There cannot be more infinites nor more eternals then one as God is who is one in essence though distinguished into three Persons Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which are not before or after each other in regard of any prioritie of Nature Honour or Time but onely in Order who are before or after each other onely in order of subsisting and working Thus the Father is before the Sonne in order who is begotten of his Father and doth nothing but what he seeth the Father doe Joh. 5.19 And the Father and the Sonne before the Holy-Ghost in order who proceedeth from them Joh. 15.26 and who speaketh not of himselfe Joh. 16.13 but receiveth of the Father and of the Sonne and sheweth that unto the faithfull Joh. 16.14 15. that neither is the Sonne before or after the Father in time neither is the Holy-Ghost after either of them but being Relatives are together by nature CHAP. IV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are Omnipresent OMnipresency is a propertie peculiar to God he is ever with us ever before us he alwayes overseeth us though our eyes see him not His essence is immeasurable He filleth all places Act. 7.49 1 Kin. 8.2 7. Isai 66.1 He is a God at hand and a God afarre off Jer. 23.23 God alone is every where Psal 139.8 9. Amos 9.2 3 4. He is not in loco definitivo in any place definitively as Angels are much lesse is he in loco circumscriptivo in any place circumscriptively as corporeall creatures are But he is every where present whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot containe 2 Chron. 6.18 He is in Heaven reigning in Glory and Majestie He is in earth ruling by his power and providence he is in Hell tormenting with his wrath and justice First in regard of all Creatures the immensitie and greatnesse of God is seene working in and by them Act. 17.28 and present with them And so First the Father is present in all places his eyes are upon the children of men and he heareth the prayers of his servants in all places Joh. 16.23 he dwelleth in th faithfull Joh. 14.23 Secondly the Sonne is present in all places when he was on earth in regard of his humanitie was also in heaven in regard of his Divinity Joh. 3.13 And now though ascendâ—d into heaven in regard of his humanitie Act. 1.9 10 11. Act. 7.55 yet in regard of his Divinitie he is ruling by his power both in heaven and in earth and in all places under the earth Phil. 2.10 The Lambe who is in the midst of the Throne and of the foure Beasts and in the midst of the Elders Rev. 5.6 yet also walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 yea where two or three are gathered together he is in the middest of them Mat. 18.20 he is with all the faithfull to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 yea he dwelleth in them Ephes 3.17 And surely where God the Father is he is in the unity of the essence with him Joh. 1.1 being in the Father and the Father in him Joh. 14.10 11. filling all things Ephes 4.10 At his ascension he ascendeth where he was before Joh. 6.62 he ascended with his bodie into heaven where he was before in his Deitie Joh. 1.18 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is likewise every where David demandeth whither shall I goe from thy Spirit or whither shall I goe from thy presence Psal 139.7 Thus the Spirit with the Father and the Sonne are present every where The Holy-Ghost abideth at all times and in all places of the earth in the hearts of all faithfull men Joh. 14.16 17. he remaineth amongst the people of God Hag. 2.5 He dwelleth in them Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.9 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Cor. 3.16 the beleevers are his Temples 1 Cor. 6.19 this one and the same Spirit worketh all gifts and all graces in all the faithfull 1 Cor. 12.11 2 Cor. 11.4 and is in all the hearts of the faithfull Gal. 4.6 and abideth in them for ever Joh. 17.16 1 Joh. 2.27 yea the Spirit of the Lord filleth the World and containeth all things Wisd 1.7 he proceedeth both from the Father and the Sonne Joh. 15.26 Joh. 16.7 and is with them which are mutually at the right hand of each other Psal 110.1 5. he being alwaies where they are Psal 139.7 David joyneth Gods presence and his Spirit together The Father and the Sonne being one in another Joh. 10.38 and he in both and they in him Zac. 7.12 he is the Lambes eyes who is in the midst of the Throne Rev. 5.6 he is before the
determined to be done Act. 4.27 28. Secondly the Sonne gave himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 He gave himselfe for us to redeeme us from all iniquitie Gal. 1.4 He gave himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it and clense it Mat. 20.28 1 Tim. 2.6 He gave his life a raâ—some for many Heb 9.14 He offered up himselfe Col. 2.20 He loved me saith Paul and gave himselfe for me Joh. 10.17.18 He laid down his life of himselfe Thirdly through the Holy-Ghost this Worke was done Heb. 19.14 Christ through the Eternall Spirit offered himselfe He sent him to doe this Worke Luk. 4.18 19. This Worke though it was consummated perfected and terminated by the Sonne of God when his soule did make an offering for Sinne Isai 53.10 So the Translators render it in the Margent it being terminatively wrought by Christ yet inchoactively it was the Worke of the whole Trinitie and so Isa 53.10 The Lord shall make his soule an offering for sinne And thus the Translators render it in the Text the Originall will beare either neither of them is contrary to the Analogie of faith for Christ suffered and dyed for the sinnes of the World by the common decree of the Father the Sonne the Holy-Ghost which was their essensiall and common Worke Act. 2.23 He was delivered by the determinate Counsell and fore-knowledge of God whom the Jewes tooke and by wicked hands crucified and did slay It being a worke of love to Man in God but a Worke of malice to Christ in the Jewes CHAP. VII The raising of Christs Body from death was a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Resurrection of Christ or raising up of his Body was a Worke of God Act. 3.15 Rom. 10.9 Act. 10.40 Act. 2.32 Rom. 4.24 Act. 4.10 It required a Divine power to effect this Where the Lord Jesus may be considered either First essentially as he is one Essence with the Father and the Holy-Ghost so he raiseth and is not raised Secondly Personally and that First as he is the Sonne of Man and so he is raised Mat. 17.22 23. Luk. 9.22 and raiseth not Secondly as he is the second Person in the Trinitie which was made flesh Joh. 1.14 and thus he is raised Luk. 9.21 and did rise againe Luk. 18.33 yea did raise up himselfe Joh. 2.19 The resurrection of Christ from the dead is attributed to the whole Christ and yet is was actively wrought according to his Divinitie and passively according to his Humanitie This Doctrine was mightily explauded by Philosophy who thought Paul to be a Babler and setter forth of strange Gods because he preached Christs Resurrection Acts 17. but Christians doe know by the Word First the Father raiseth him Gal. 1.1 1 Thes 1. last Rom. 6.4 Rom. 8.11 Act. 13.33 Secondly the Sonne raiseth himselfe Joh. 2.19 1 Pet. 3.16 2 Cor. 13.4 1 Cor. 15.12 Joh 10 17 18. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up where he seemeth to compare his life to a garment that he can take up and lay down at his pleasure It was not possible that Death should hold him by force Thirdly the Holy-Ghost raiseth him Rom. 1.4 The Father therefore raiseth the Sonne by the Sonne and the Sonne raiseth himselfe by the Spirit of Sanctification whereby he is declared to be the Sonne of God where therefore the Scripture ascribeth the raising of Christ from the dead to the Father it excludeth not the power of the Sonne and Holy-Ghost but sheweth the Identitie or samenesse of Will Power Operation in them Where if Christ had not dyed we could not have lived and if he had not risen againe we had slept for ever but loe the Dragon is vanquished and the Lamb is victorious the Lord of life grapling with Death foiled him in his owne Territories He brake all the Prisons of death and unfettered all his fellowes If when Christ was borne old Simeon was willing to dye Luk. 2.27 how willingly ought we to dye that know Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruites of them that sleepe 1 Cor. 15.20 Seeing that the first fruites differ onely in maturity from the time of the Harvest Let an Infidell sorrow immoderately for his friend that is dead as for a man without hope and let an unbeleever bewaile the misery of his dying soule but we have not so learned Christ Eph. 4.20 Christ who is the Key of our resurrection hath raised himselfe and opened a way for us to follow Heb. 10.20 CHAP. VIII The lifting up of Christs body into Heaven or his ascention was the Worke of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost THe Ascention of Christ or the lifting up his body into Heaven is a worke of God None but the Lord did receive him into glory 1 Tim. 4 16. and did set him at his owne right hand in heavenly places First it was a Worke of the Father not onely to raise him from the dead but by lifting up his body to to set him at his owne right hand Eph. 1.20 Secondly it was a worke of the Sonne to ascend into Heaven so the Psalmist foresheweth Psal 68.18 and the Apostle affirme Eph. 4.8 1 Pet. 3.22 and Christ himselfe witnesseth Joh. 20.17 Joh. 3.13 Joh. 16.15 As man he was taken up into heaven Mar. 16.19 Act. 1.9.11 and was set at Gods right hand which posture of his imployeth First resting from his labours Secondly raigning as a King Thirdly judging as a Judge but as he was also God so he lifted up his owne body Psal 68.18 He assended by his owne power He that did at the first make Joh. 1.3 and doth still support all things by his power Heb. 1.13 did likewise exalt himselfe and ascend above all things by the power of himselfe who used a cloud rather to magnifie his Divinitie Psal 104.3 in his riding theteon Psal 68 4. and commanding it then for any assistance he received from it He supporteth the cloud the cloud of itselfe could not support him Thirdly it was a Worke of the Holy-Ghost He led Christ into the Wildernesse Mar. 1.12 Mat. 4.1 Luk. 4.1 He translated the bodies of the faithfull from place to place 1 King 18.12 Act. 8.39 He who formed Christs body in the Virgins Wombe Mat. 1.18 20. Luk. 1.33 who raised up his body out of the grave Rom. 1.4 did also exalâ— his body into heaven who was exalted by the right hâ—nd of God Act. 2.33 Now the Spirit of God is called the Finger of God Luk. 11.20 with Mat. 12.28 The Hand of God Act. 11.21 Ezek. 8.1 Ezek. 1.3 Ezek. 3.14 yea Peter Act. 2.33 doth distinguish this right hand of God from the Father and therefore it cannot be taken personally for him where if it be used Essentially the Holy-Ghost is necessarily included but if Personally the Holy-Ghost is then there described to be him by whom Christ was exalted Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doe co-operate as they are three
Persons in these Workes which concerne Christ the Head of the Church and as they are one Essence so they are one and the same cause of effecting them Oh that we could by the eye of faith see Christ ascended into Heaven and placed on the right hand of his Father then might we at once thereby behold our Saviours honour and our owne happinesse It was expedient for him for his owne honour to ascend into Heaven and to lead Captivitie captive Eph. 4.8 and to have Angels and Authorities and Powers made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 in regard of us it was expedient Joh. 16.7 for our eternall safetie for he is gone to prepare a place for us Joh. 14.2 He is entred into heaven to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 and is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 The third Section CHAP. I. The Workes of God which concerne the Church in generall are the Common Workes of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe Co-operate in these Workes which doe concerne Christ the Head of the Church so they likewise effect these Workes which doe concerne the bodie of Christ the Church of God which works concerne either First the Church in generall or Secondly the faithfull in particular First these Workes which concerne the Church in generall First Gods covenanting with his people Secondly his delivering Israel out of Egypt Thirdly his sending Angels on any extraordinary message to his Church Fourthly his sending Prophets under the Law Fifthly his sending Apostles Sixtly appointing them to preach in some places and not in others Seventhly his speaking in and by the Prophets and Apostles Eighthly his strengthening them in their callings Ninthly his sending Pastors and Teachers Tenthly his giving Lawes to his Church Eleventhly his giving more particularly the Law unto Mount Sinai Twelfthly the transgression whereof is an offence committed against him and Thirteenthly provoketh him to wrath grieveth him Fouretenthly his wonders Fifthteenthly his gifts of Miracles Sixteenthly his building the Church Seventeenthly his raising the dead These Workes are wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them these Workes equally with the Father CHAP. II. The making of a Covenant with the Church was a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Lords Covenanting with his Church and people is a Worke of God alone There is not any Dayes-man betwixt them that can lay his hand upon them both Joh. 9.33 that should or could Vmpire for them onely the Majestie of Heaven is pleased so farre to abase himselfe as to Covenant with us for whenas there was such an infinite distance between heaven and earth God and man that man could never have enjoyed Ged as his never-failing blessednesse or have had communion with him as his soule-filling happinesse but by the Lords voluntary condescention to us which he expresseth by way of Covenant it was out of the riches of his grace to us in Christ that his infinite Majestie humbled himselfe to Covenant with us that he would be our God and that we should be his people in this worke the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have an equall share with the Father or rather they Co-worke First the Father Covenanted with us in Christ Hag. 2.5 According to the word that I coveâ—anted with you when ye came out of Aegipt he covenanted with them First that he would be their God Secondly that they should be his People Ezek 36.28 And thus Christ calleth the Father The Apostles God and Faâ—her Ioh. 20.17 who Thirdly suffereth in all the afflictions of his Church and People for so Esay telleth us In all their afflictions he is afflicted Esay 63.9 Secondly the Word who being made flesh is the Mediator of the Covenant Heb 8.6 1 Tim. 2.5 Mal. 3.1 Yet he being the second Person of the Trinitie is the Testator and Covenanter of his Church For if Christ be not a Testator whereunto tendeth the Apostles reasoning Heb. 9.16 Where a Testament is there must of necessitie be the death of a Testator First it was the Lord Jesus that dyed he is therefore the Testator or Covenanter secondly the Church of God are his people Mat. 1.21 Luk. 1.77 Zach. 2.11 Mat. 16.18 Through him and in him God is ours and we are his Cant. 6.2 who thirdly suffereth in the afflictions of his people Act. 9.4 The persecuted members suffer on earth and the Lord Jesus the Head complaineth from heaven Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is the Author of this Covenant So the Apostle sheweth Heb. 10.15 16. The Holy-Ghost also is a witnesse to us for after he had said before This is the Covenant that I will make with them c. And surely there cannot be a better interpreter of the Leviticall Rites then the Apostle who having spoken of the first Covenant and of Divine Ordinances pertaining to it Heb. 9.18 which God had commanded Exod. 26. Lev. 16. and comming to shew their signification which was intended in them by God that ordained them he saith Heb. 9.8 The Holy-Ghost this signifying that the way out of the Holyest was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing as if he had said the Holy-Ghost in giving these ceremoniall lawes intended to shew that the way to Heaven was not so wide not so common not so open as it should be when Christ abolished in his flesh the Law of Commandements contained in Ordinances Eph. 2.15 And blotted out the hand-writing that was against us Col. 2.14 Secondly the Church of God are his People So the Apostle sheweth 2. Cor. 6.16 that this was the Holy-Ghost appeareth by comparing this verse with 1. Cor. 6.19 for we are the People of God who dwelleth in us and whose Temples we are but we are the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Cor. 3.16 and he dwelleth in us Rom. 8.11 And Thirdly he suffereth in the persecutions of his people and the persecutors doe resist him Act. 7.51 and doe despite to the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 Thus the Father the Word and the Spirit are one God in Essence and have one common and essentiall operation and are one and the same author of the Covenant with the Church though in respect of the order of their Relations and their personall manner of working there is in this and in all their workes a distinct order Thus the Father maketh a Covenant with his Church by his Sonne who is the Mediator 1. Tim. 2.5 and through his Spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance Eph. 1.14 Which sheweth no inequalitie in the Persons but onely the voluntarie dispensation of this and other Divine Actions which God in his infinite Wisedome is pleased to use CHAP. III. The delivering of Israel out
The Lord alone doth wondrous things First God the Father doth great wonders Mat. 3.17 he caused his voyce to be heard from Heaven to Earth though it passe through many Mediums and be many Millions of Miles distant Secondly God the Sonne doth great wonders He made a light to be seene above the brightnesse of the Sunne Act. 26.13 and a voyce to be heard from Heaven to Earth Act. 9.3.4 Act. 26.13 14. God did this and al other wonders by the Lord Jesus as he was man Act. 2.22 But he did them by his own power as he was God Luk. 6.19 Mar. 5.30 He clenseth the Leaper by his absolute power he toucheth him and saith I will be thou cleane Mat. 8.2 I will is the stile of God only who doth whatsoever pleaseth him in Heaven in Earth and in the Sea Psal 135.6 The commanding word I will the Imperative Mood be thou cleane if wee reade not with the false-colouring Spectacles of Arrius doe evidently shew that Christ is God and wrought this by his owne will and power for he healed this Leaper in a most exact and compendious manner both by the operation of his humanity in touching him and of his Divinity in saying I will be thou cleane He raised likewise Magisterially the young man from death Luk. 7.4 Young-man I say unto thee arise with him it being al one to say and to doe He effecting that with his Divine Power which he commanded with his humane voyce yea in his own person he grapled with death in the grave and conquered him in his own territories 1. Cor. 15.55 57. Tryumphantly raysing himselfe from the dead Joh. 2.19 Joâ— 10.18 2 Cor. 13.4 He ascended into Heaven Joh. 3.13 Joh. 6.62 Act. 1.9 And led captivity captive Eph. 4.8 And he will at his second comming make those which have beene dead for many hundred yeares to heare his voyce Joh. 5.28 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost doth great wonders he can make his voyce to be heard from Heaven to earth Rev. 14.13 He made the Apostles in a moment to speake with strange toungs and severall languages they spake as he gave them utterance Act. 2.4 That which multitude of Schoole-masters could not effect in many years in one man the Holy Spirit doth effect it exactly in a moment and that in many and no wonder for man shall soone learne that which the Lord himselfe undertaketh to teach It was the Holy-Ghost who led the people of Jsrael safely through the red Sea and the wildernesse Esa 63.14 Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have one and the same power whereby they worke miracles and therefore none of them is greater or lesser then another but are coequall and consubstantiall CHAP. XVI Gifts of Miracles is from the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THough the Apostles and others wrought Miracles yea greater Miracles then Christ Joh. 14.12 as Peters shadow cured many Act. 5.15 and Pauls Handkerchifs healed diseases Act. 19.11 yet they did them not in the same manner as the Father Sonne or Holy-Ghost did There was these notable differences First the Apostles had not this power at all times Mat. 17.16 Phil. 2.27 1 Tim. 5.23 2 Ti. 4.20 Secondly they did not effect them by their own power or in their own name Act. 3 1â—.16 but by the power of God who wrought these wonders by them Act. 15.12 It was God that gave gifts of healing 1 Cor. 12.28 for it is God alone that can worke Miracles Psal 72.18 and therefore he alone can give this power of working Miracles to others The gift of Miracles is an Essentiall worke of God and is common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost First the Father giveth this power and therefore the Apostles pray to him for this power of Miracles Act. 4.31 where the Father alone is not personally prayed to but Essentially with the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Secondly the Sonne giveth this power to the Apostles Luk. 10.19 Mar. 6.7 Mat. 10.1 8. Mar. 16.17.18 Joh. 14 12. and Miracles were done in his Name Peter telleth Eneaâ— that Jesus Christ maketh him whole Act. 9.38 and sheweth the chiefe Priests that it was not their own power and holynesse Act. 3.12 but by faith in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazaneth they had made th clame man strong Act. 3.16 Act. 4.10 and Paul was restored to his sight by his power Act. 9.17 who though in Heaven in regard of his bodily presence yet is also on earth healing men by his Divine power Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth this power to men to worke Miracles 1 Cor. 12.9 10. He so illuminated the eyes of Stephen that being on earth he did not onely by the eye of Faith but with the eye of his bodily sense see Christ from earth to Heaven Act. 7.55 If the Holy-Ghost had been a Creature how could he have given such power to Steven it being proper onely to God to effect Wonders And Paul full of the Holy-Ghost struck Elymas with blindnesse Act. 13.9 10 11. Yea God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy-Ghost wrought Miracles by the hands of Paul Rom. 15.17 18 19. I have saith he therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things that pertaine to God namely in God the Fathers working Miracles by him For I will not dare to speake of any of these things which Christ hath not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient in word and deed Thus the Lord Jesus wrought effectually in him in his Apostleship and gifts of healing through mightie signes and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God There is the Holy-Ghost working Miracles by Paul Thus the Father the Word and the Spirit one God in Power Majestie and Essence doth great wonders and gave power to Paul and others to worke Miracles and effect wondrous things CHAP. XVII The building of the Church is a worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe Church is Gods house 1 Tim. 3.15 He is the builder of it Heb. 3.3 4. the faithfull are his building 1 Cor. 3.9 Where First not only the Father buildeth it but also secondly the Sonne buildeth the Church Mat. 16.18 upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it The gates of the City were the places where usually they sate in Councell 1 Kin. 22.10 and where their chiefest strength lay The Lord Jesus intimateth in this his promise to his Church that neither the policy nor power of Sathan and his Angels should ever prevaile against his Church a worke proper to God to promise and to effect This is the house which wâ—sedome built Prov. 9.1 Yea the Apostle proveth Christ to be God First because he built all things Secondly because he built the Church which it his house Heb. 3.3 4 5 6. the Chuch is bis Act. 20.28 the faithfull are his people Mat. 1.21 Zac. 2.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost buildeth us up for an habitation
Luke 5.20 Matth. 9.6 And this he did to manifest his power Marke 2.10 That they might know the Son of man had power on earth to forgive sinnes Where the Lord Jesus manifested his divine power in healing corporally the sicknesse of the body and curing spiritually the infirmities of the soule He caused the filthy Garments to be taken away from the holy Priest and he said Behold I have caused thine iniquities to passe from thee and I will clothe thee with change of raiment Zach. 3.4 he tooke away his sin and clothed him with his righteousnesse And surely this is an unquestionable truth in the Apostles judgement and therefore he saith Col. 3.13 As Christ forgave you so also do ye This healing of the soul is a worke of Christ Joh 12.40 Luke 4.18 He as God healeth by the power of his Deity but as man by the merit of his passion Esa 53.5 his blood being a Soveraigne balme to cure our sin-wounded soule yea Esa 43.25 I even I am he that blot out thy transgressions for mine owne sake He it is that forgiveth who was made to serve with our sinnes which was Christ who took on him the formâ— of a servant Philippians 2.6 Secondly he who forgiveth forgiveth sins for his owne sake but our sinnes are forgiven in â—hrist it is his blood wâ—sheth them away 1 John 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Heb. 9.14 Acts 20.28 Eph. 5.2 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost forgâ—veth sins Heb. 10.15.17 The Holy Ghost that made a Covenant with Israel as I have shewed promiseth them to forgive their sins The Holy-Ghost also commanded legall sacrifices Heb. 9.8 whereby attonement was made for sinne yea because the Holy-Ghost doth apply and distribute remission of sins whiâ—h is obtained by the blood of Christ Therefore when as our Saviour entrusteth his Disciples with the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven ministerially to binde or loose he first saith Receive the Holy-Ghost John 20.22 manifesting thereby that it was the Holy-Ghost who did remit sins by them It is the Spirit who promiseth to give to them that overcome a white stone Rev. 2.17 The Holy-Ghost alludeth to the custome of the Gentiles to whom he wrote which used these stones in judicature If the Judge gave a white stone it was a token of absolution but if it were a black stone it was a signe of condemnation The Spirit promiseth to give absolution or pardon of sin or freedome from condemnation to them that overcome Moreover healing of the soule is a worke of the Holy-Ghost so Paul manifesteth Acts 28.25 27. And I should heale them saith the Holy-Ghost there The Father the Son and Holy Ghost are equall in Power Majesty and Glory and do co-worke in forgiving of sins and healing of the soule of the believer CHAP. VII 2. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost do co-worke in imputing of Christs Righteousnesse ANd as not imputing our sinnes is a worke of God 2 Cor. 5.19 so the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to the believer is his worke likewise Though we have not a righteousnesse of our owne yet the Lord giveth us a righteousnesse of his own Rom. 10.3 which is answerable to his justice and what man or Angell is able to resist it He justifieth who shall condemn Rom. 8.33 It is one God that justifieth the circumcised Jew by faith and the uncircumcised Gentile through faith Rom. 3.30 Yet this one God is distinguished into three persons who do co-operate in this great work of justifying man through faith by the imputative righteousnesse of Christ which word imputed though divided by Papists yet is eight times used by the Apostle in one chapter Rom. 4.6 8 10 11 22 23 24. First The Father justifieth us not onely by pardoning of sin but by imputing of Christs righteousnesse which the Apostle calleth the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10 3. And that first because it is it which God imputeth for righteousnesse to us secondly because it is that which God accounteth for righteousnesse in us thirdly because it is that righteousnesse which Jâ—sus Christ who is God over all blâ—ssed for ever Rom. 9.5 hath wrought for us Thus the Father who raised Christ from the dead Gal. 1.1 1 Thes 1.10 imputeth this righteousnesse to us Rom. 4.24 Secondly the Sonne justifieth us By his knowledge saith Esay shall he justifie many Esa 53.11 He it is that maketh a reconciliation for sinne and bringeth in everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9.24 But more cleerly doth the Apostle shew this truth 1 Cor. 6.11 Ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus This righteousnesse of ours by faith Peter calleth the righteousnesse of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.1 Not as if the Apostle spake of two distinct persons there being but one Article in the Originall and therefore there cannot be two distinct persons described thereby Yea our Lord Jesus promiseth to them that overcome to clothe them in white raiment Rev. 3.5 Thirdly The Holy Ghost justifieth us Ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Thus the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost who are one God are also one and the same efficient cause of our justification both in forgiving of sinnes and in imputing the righteousnesse of Christ through faith which is the instrument of our justification and is also the worke of God John 6.29 CHAP. VIII Faith is the worke of the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost FAith is the instrument by which we are justified that is the hand by which we lay hold on the Lord Jesus and his righteousnesse and apply it also to our soules Yet faith is a Gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is his worke to purifie our hearts by faith Acts 15.9 Yea it is a worke of God wherein he exercised the same exceeding greatnesse of â—is power in effecting it that he used in raising Christ from the dead Eph. 1.19 20. It being as great a worke to worke faith in the heart of an unbeleever who is spiritually dead as it was to raise Christ from the grave when as he was corporally dead This being also an essentiall worke of God common to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost undividably to effect First the Father worketh faith in us the Apostle prayeth to him for it Eph. 6.23 Secondly the Sonne worketh faith in us the Apostle prayeth to him for it Eph. 6.23 and the Disciples of him the increase thereof Luke 17.5 And so likewise doth the father of the Lunatick Mark 9.24 By him do we believe in God 1 Pet. 1.21 Thirdly The Holy-Ghost worketh faith in us Cor. 12.9 It is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 And we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith Gal. 5.5 Thus the mighty worke of faith is wrought in us by God who is distinguished into Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which do unseparably undividably and unconfusedly worke this grace in our hearts in their personall order making us to believe and
Cor. 3.15 where the Spirit of the Lord is theâ—e is liberty David calleth the Holy-Ghost the free Spirit Psal 51.12 First because he worketh freely in us 1 Cor. 12.11 Secondly because he worketh freedome in us and for us and therefore the Apostle telleth us The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made us free from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 It is manifest Christian liberty is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who worke this worke in us and for us God loosing us from all bondage that we may serve him Luk. 1.74 and delivereth us from the slavery of our enemies to tye us more firmly to his service CHAP. XX. Salvation or Glorification is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost SAlvation or Glorification is the worke of God alone I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Isai 41.11 Isa 43.23 he saveth us 1 Tim. 1.9 he giveth us eternall life Rom. 6. last Eph. 2.8 First the Father saveth us so he promiseth Hos 1.7 I will save them by the Lord their God Here are two Persons stiled Jehovah First the Father promiseth to save Israel Secondly the Sonne by whom this deliverance is wrought and Israel is saved And the Lord Jesus telleth us John 10.29 None can pluck his sheep out of his Fathers hands Intimating thereby that he will preserve them to that Kingdome which he hath prepared for them Matth. 25.34 and according to his good pleasure giveth them it Luke 12.32 And to this end out of his love to us was it that he gave his onely begotten Sonne for us John 3.16 yea even for his little ones those who are little in their own eyes through humility little in the eyes of others through contempt yet it is not his will that any one of these little ones should perish Matth. 18.14 Secondly the Sonne saveth us John 6.33 He giveth life to the world So the Father promiseth Hos 1.7 and he himselfe affirmeth that he will give them that are faithfull to death a Crown of life Rev. 2.10 He giveth his sheep eternall life John 10.28 It is his mercy we must look for unto eternall life Jude ver 21. It is his Name by which we are saved Act. 4.12 There is no other Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved According to the merit of our salvation Christ Jesus is alone But according to the efficacy and application of it it is common to him with the Father and the Holy-Ghost Thirdly the Holy-Ghost saveth us He is the Spirit of life Rom. 8. that giveth life to us we being saved by the renewing of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 who promiseth to give to them that overcome to eate of the tree of life Rev. 2.7 and that they shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2.12 Thus these Actions and Works of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are their joynt and undividâ—d Works because there is not in God a divided or multiplyed Essence but one and the same divine Essence it being the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.6 The unity of whose working dependeth on the unity of their power That therefore which the Scripture ascribeth to one Person of the Godhead it ascribeth sometimes to another As in the seven Epistles to the Churches in Asia the Sonne in the beginning is described as the Author of them yet in the conclusion we must here what is spoken as spoken by the Spirit of the seven Churches Rev. 2. Rev. 3. Again the gifs that are given to the seven Churches some times the Spirit doth promise them as to Ephesus Rev 2.7 to Smyrna Rev. 2.11 to Pergamus Rev. 2.17 and sometimes Jesus Christ promiseth them as to Thyatyra Rev. 2.28 to Sardis Rev. 3.5 to Phyladelphia Rev. 3.12 to Laodicea Rev. 3.21 Though therfore the Scripture in setting down the graces doth usually ascribe them to the Father in the Sonne and by the Spirit Ephes 1.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.10 Tit. 3.4 5. This order of dispensation holdeth forth unto us a distinction of persons onely and no division of Essence It sheweth an order in which they worke no inequality in regard of their Nature Essence and Substance which is one their Majesty Power and Glory is one though in respect of the distinction of Persons they are Relatives and therefore so are not one but are thus co-equall and co-eternall Oh that we would look into the Glasse of Gods Word then might we see cleerely how the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe worke in all their Works in us and for us Oh what unspeakable comfort would this work in our soules to praisâ— God for his mercies And Oh what soule-comforting matter would this yeild to stirre up our Brethren to praise the Lord for his mercies there might we say one to another Come and heare all ye that feare God and I will tell you what he hath done for my soule Psal 66.16 then might we sing praise one with another saying Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Praise ye the Lord Psal 106.48 The fourth Booke Divine Honour is given to FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Honour and religious worship as is due to God onely THEY who have the same Honour or religious Worship given truly to them which is given to the Father are God equall with the Father But the Sonne and Holy-Ghost have the same honour given truly unto them as is given to the Father Therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father I shall first cleare the major though undeniably true and then shew the truth of the minor in divers particulars The Lord is a jealous God Exod. 20.4 As a King of his Church he will not endure a partner in his throne or as a Husband of her he will not away with a Rivall in his bed He will not give his Glory to another nor his praise to Graven Images Isai 42.8 We are to worship the Lord and to doe service to him onely Mat. 4.8 we are not to doe service to any that is not a God by Nature Gal. 4.8 The Apostle blamed the Heathen for this sinne much more it is blame-worthy in Christians He may winke at grosse Idolatries in them Act. 17.30 which he will not pardon in his owne people Amos 3.2 The Lord knew Israel by his mercies and he will make Israel know by his judgements what it is to sinne against him If therefore the Heathenish Galathians may not doe service to them that are not Gods by Nature much more may not Christians give this honour unto him who is not a God by Nature Where the distinction inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not serve the true for he reproveth them
that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gave service to them which by nature are no Gods If the Lord Jesus be no God by Nature nor the Holy-Ghost how is that Divine Honour hath been given to the Sonne and Holy-Ghost equally with the Father Doth not the Scripture enjoyne such worship to be given to them as is due to God alone For first Religious worship is due to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First from Men Secondly from Angels Thirdly we are to obey and serve Fourthly Love Fifthly Heare Sixthly Know Seventhly Believe Eightly Hope or trust in them Ninthly to be baptized in their name Tenthly Paul sweareth by them Eleventhly we are to pray to them Twelfthly praise is given to them by men Thirteently Angels Fourteenthly the Temple was built Fifthteenthly and Sacrifice offered to them Sixthteenthly we are to glorifie in our lives the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who though distinguished into three Persons yet are Essentially one and the same eternall and everliving Lord God CHAP. II. Divine worship is due from man to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost DIvine and Religious Worship is due to God both from men and Angels First Religious worship is due to God from men So our Saviour answered Satan tempting him to worship him Mat. 4.4 Thou shalt worship the Lord â—â—y God and him onely shalt thou serve This one God whom we are to worship is the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost First God the Father is to be worâ—hiped The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirt and in truth and the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Secondly the Sonne is to be worshiped So Isaiah sheweth that every knee shall bow to him Isa 45.23 That this was the Lord Jesus Paul manifesteth Rom. 14.10 11. So likewise the Church is commanded Psa 45.11 He is thy Lord it is spoken of Christ and worship thou him Yea all the faithfull are thus enjoyned Psal 2.12 Kisse the Sun lest he be angry There was a kisse of homage due to Christ from all the world even such a kisse of homage Samuel gave to Saul when he anointed him King 1 Sam. 10.1 Idolaters did superstitiously give this to their Idols as the Arabians when they saw the new Moon because they could not reach to kisse her they kissed their hands in homage to her from this Idolatry Job purgeth himselfe If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moone walking in brightnesse And my heart hath been secretly inticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand This were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denyed the God that is above Job 31.26 27 28. Thus the Israelites gave this kisse of homage to their Calves Hos 13.2 and to Baal 1 King 19.18 giving that worship due to Christ to their Idols yea when Christ required faith of the blind man he received faith and worship of him Joh. 9.35.38 he was also worshipped of the holy women Mat. 28.9 and of his Disciples Luke 24.52 Mat. 28.17 and of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.25 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is to be worshiped Psal 95.6 The Prophets inviteth all to worship him whom he after introduceth speaking in the foure next verses where the Apostle sheweth to be the Holy-Ghost Heb. 3.7 8 9 10 11. The Church ministred unto the Lord and fasted Act. 13.2 that the Lord whom they ministred in the Holy Ghost is evident for he that was supplicated to and worshiped giveth an answer to them As they ministred to the Lord and fasted separate me Paul and Barnabas for the worke whereunto I have called them and they obey his voyce and send them forth at his command Act. 13.4 and surely he that hath Temples consecrated to his service hath or ough to have worship given to him in those Temples How therefore are we the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 6.19 why are we consecrated in baptisme to his worship and service Mat. 28.19 if we may not worship him if we may not serve him moreover we are to believe in him so we professe in the Creed Him therefore whom we beleeve in we may worship The Apostle joyneth faith and invocatâ—on together Rom 10.14 we are therefore to serve God the Spirit So Ambrose Lib. 2. de Spirit Sanct would have Phil. 3.3 to be read according to the Originall The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost in whom as I shall shew we are to beleeve in with the Father and to whom in baptisme we give up our names to serve them who are one God with the Father ought to have one and the same worship given to them with the Father who will not give his glory to another neither would he joyne himselfe in covenanting with his Church to have the same worship given by her to them if that they were not in the forme of God and had not one and the same Essence with him being equall with him in Majestie and glory CHAP. III. The Angels do worship serve and minister at the command of the Father of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost DIvine worship is due to God from Angels Neh. 9.6 The Hoast of heaven worshipeth him and he commandeth and giveth charge to them Psal 91.11 and they are ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 sent forth at the command of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost First Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Fathers command Heb. 1.7 They behold his face Mat. 18.10 they stand in the presence of thiâ— great King and are ready to doe his will who doe give worship to him Rev. 5.11 12 13. as John there sheweth They worship him who sent Isaiah Isai 6.2 9. which was the Father Isai 48.16 Secondly Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Sonnes command Rev. 22.16 and did minister to him Mat 4.11 they are his Angels Mar. 13.27 Mat. 13.41 2 Thes 7.8 and serve him but attend us Psa 91.11 12. Satan cited this place falsly Mat. 4.6 two wayes First he corrupted the Text he left out part of it Secondly he mis-applyed the Text to the Lord Christ it being onely true of his Members for whom he hath procured this ministery for the Lord Jesus is the head of the Angels Col. 2.18 and â—ardeth them they keep not Christ himselfe they were made by him and for him Col. 1.16 they worship him Rev. 5.11 12. Heb. 1.6 so Isaiah sheweth Isa 6.2.3 they worship him who sent the Prophet Isaiah That it is the Lord Christ whose glory Isaiah saw when he was sent by him John a faithfull interpreter affirmeth Joh. 12 40 41. yea not onely the good Angels worship him but evill Angels also First acknowledge Christ and obey him Mar. 1.27 Secondly they professe Christ and acknowledge him to be the Sonne of God Mar. 1.21 Luke 4.34 Thirdly they worship him Mar. 5.6 Fourthly they pray to him and beseech him Mar. 5.10 Luke 8.28 Fifthly they feare Mar. 5.7 Luke 8.31 Sixthly they believe Jam. 2.19 That