cause all things about the Tabernacle to be made according to the pattern given him in the Mount other some things are commanded and set down with condition as when Christ said Marke 10. 17. 19. If thou wilt inherit eternall life keep the Commandements and the Law saith Doe this and this if thou wilt live and these are propounded conditionally to all as well the elect as the reprobate God his absolute will is always one and the same And are they propounded to both after one sort No not so for although they be given to the elect with condition yet the will of God to them is absolute for Gods will simply is that all his elect shall be saved if not always yet at the last and because of their own strength they cannot doe the Commandements of God therefore God doth give them strength by his Spirit and because by this strength they cannot doe Gods will perfectly therefore it is fulfilled for them by Christ which is made theirs by faith and in whom God doth accept their broken and imperfect obedience as if it were whole and perfect But as for the wicked and reprobates it is not so with them for although God doth give them a law to obey and doth promise them life if they doe obey it yet his will to them is not so absolute that they shall keep it neither shall they obtain the promises either in themselves or in Christ. But doth not God mock and delude the Reprobate when he willeth them in his law to doe this and that which yet is not his will to be done No he doth not delude them for although he doth not shew what he will absolutely have done of them which is properly his will indeed yet by his law he doth teach what is their duty and the duty of all men adding moreover that whosoever shall neglect and fail in this their duty he sinneth grievously against God and is guilty of death Can you make this plain by some instance or example or any Parable in the Scripture Yea it is manifest in the Parable of the Kings supper and the bidden guests they which were first bidden and came not were not deluded by the King because he signified unto them what he liked and what was their duty but yet he did not command that they should be compelled to come in as the two sorts which were bidden afterwards where we see that the Kings will was not alike in bidding the first as it was in the second for in calling the latter sort his will was absolute that they should come indeed and so caused that they did come but to the first he onely signified what he liked if they had done it How doe you apply this to the matter in question I apply it thus as it cannot be said that the first bidden guests were mocked by the King although his will was not so absolute for their comming as it was in calling and commanding the second sort of guests so it cannot be said that God doth delude and mock the Reprobate in giving them a law to obey although it be not his absolute will that they should come and obey the law for it is sufficient to leave them without excuse that they know what is acceptable to God and what is their duty to God who hath absolute authority and power over them and over all Obj. God commandeth Pharaoh to let Israel goe and yet his will was to the contrary therefore there were two contrary wils in God one revealed the other concealed It followeth not for the will of God was one onely and most constant and that was that Israel should not be sent away by Pharaoh and so that was fulfilled as for the Commandement given to Pharaoh it was a doctrine to teach Pharaoh what he must have done if he would avoid so many plagues and yet shewed him his duty and what was just and right to be done but it was no testimony of the absolute will of God Whether doth God will evill or sin or no Before we can answer to this question we must consider of three things How many ways sin may be considered How many things are to be considered in sin How many ways one may be said to will a thing Go to then shew first how many ways sin is to be considered Sin is to be considered three ways As it is of it self sin and striving against the law of God As it is a punishment of sin that went before for God doth oftentimes punish one sin with another As it is the cause of more sin following Rom. 1. 26. for one sin doth beget another as one Devil calleth seven Devils 2 Thess. 2. 11. Now declare how many things you doe consider in sin In every sin there be three things The action and that is either inward or outward the action which we call inward is threefold either of the mind as evill thoughts or of the heart as evil affections and desires or of the will as an evill choice or consent to sin The actions which we call outward are the actions or work of the senses fighting against the law of God The second thing in every sin is the deformity or corruption of the action that is when the action doth decline from the rule of Gods law and this properly is sin or the form of sin The third thing in every sinne is the offence or guiltinesse thereof whereby the party offending is bound to undergoe punishment this guiltinesse and obligation whereby we are bound to undergoe the penalty of sin hath its foundation in sin it self but it ariseth from the justice of God Rom. 6. 23. who in his justice rewardeth sin with death as justice indeed giveth to every one his due Now come you to your third point and shew how many ways one is said to will a thing We are said to will a thing two ways either properly for it self or improperly for another end What mean you by a proper willing of a thing We doe will a thing properly for it self or for it own sake when the thing which we will or desire is of its own nature to be wished and desired as for the body health food apparell and such like or for the soul faith repentance patience c. We doe will a thing improperly when the thing which we will is not of it self to be wished but yet we will have it for some good that may come thereof as for example we will the cutting off some member of the body not because of it self it is to be wished but for the health of the body which doth follow that cutting What difference is there between these two wils There is great difference for those things which we will properly we love approve them we encline unto them we delight in them but that which is known of it self to be evill our will is not caried unto that with love and liking but doth decline from it
all things that we doe teaching us how we are to live in such sort as whosoever walketh not accordingly cannot be saved What further use hath the Law in the Regenerate First as a light it directeth us for the world being a darke wildernesse and we being naturally blinde are in continuall danger of falling unlesse our steps be guided by the Lampe of the Law Secondly as a prick it inciteth us to obedience because God commandeth them Thirdly it frameth us to humility whilst by it wee understand that we are farre from fulfilling it What gather you of this First what great reason there is that we should be well acquainted with the Law of God seeing it is of so great use Secondly that every one should have a warrant of all his doings out of this Law of God whereby all the creatures are sanctified for mans use What is the contrary vice Ignorance whereof Christ saith that the blinde fall into the ditch Matth. 15. 14. So much of the use of the Law What is required for our profiting therein In the first place it is required that we have the right understanding of the Law without which it is impossible to reap any of the former fruits for how can a man acknowledge the breach of that Law which he knoweth not or how can he serve God in the endeavour of the performance of it unlesse he understand his Masters will What Rules are principally to be observed for the understanding and right interpreting of the Law Three especially What is the first That the Law is spirituall reaching to the soule and all the powers thereof and charging as well the heart and thoughts as the outward man Rom. 7. 14. Deut. 6. 5. Matth. 22. 37. Mark 12. 30. Luke 10. 27. How doth the Law shape all the powers of the soule It shapeth the understanding to know every duty even all the will of God It chargeth the judgement to discerne between good and evill and between two good things which is the better It chargeth the memory to retain It chargeth the will to chuse the better and to leave the worse It chargeth the affections to love things to be loved and to hate things to be hated Doth the Law require these alike of all No but according to the Sex growth in age and difference of calling as more of a man than of a woman of a young man than of a childe of a publike person than of a private man What is the second Rule That the Law is perfect Psal. 19. 7. Not onely binding the soule but also the whole soule the severall functions of her faculties perfectly as the understanding to know the will of God perfectly the judgement to discerne perfectly betwixt good and evill the memory to retain and remember all perfectly the will to chuse the good and leave the evill perfectly the affections to love the one and hate the other perfectly So in condemning evill it condemneth all evill and in commanding good it commandeth all good charging man to practise the good and refuse the evill perfectly and that not only as it was commanded Adam before his fall but also according to the severall times before in and after the Law What is the third That in every Commandement there is a borrowed Speech whereby more is commanded or forbidden than is named What speciall Rules are comprehended under this third These three following 1. Whatsoever the Law commandeth it forbiddeth the contrary and whatsoever it forbiddeth it commandeth the contrary Matth. 5. 21 23 24 25. So where any duty is enjoyned as in the affirmative Commandements there we must understand the contrary sinne to be forbidden Matth. 4. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 34. And where any sinne is forbidden as in the negative there must we know the contrary duty is required Eph. 4. 28. 2. Whatsoever the Law commandeth or forbiddeth in one kinde it commandeth or forbiddeth all of the same kinde and all the degrees thereof for under the kinde manifest and plaine are understood all things of like sort and under one maine duty or crime expressed all degrees of good or evill in the same kinde are either commanded or forbidden Matth. 5. 21 22 c. 1 Ioh. 3. 10. Thirdly whatsoever the Law commandeth or forbiddeth it commandeth or forbiddeth the causes thereof and all meanes whereby that thing is done or brought to passe So that with the thing forbidden or the duty enjoyned all occasions and provocations or furtherances thereto are consequently condemned or required 1 Thes. 5. 22. Heb. 10. 24 25. Matth. 5. 27 30. Besides the true knowledge what is further required for a profitable course in the Law First remembrance without which our knowledge is nothing as that which is powred into a riven Vessell And therefore in the fourth Commandement God using this word Remember teacheth us how deeply negligence and forgetfulnesse although not alike in all are condemned Secondly judgement to take heed that we doe nothing rashly and suddenly but ever to examine our wayes Thirdly the will and affections must be formed to an obedience of the Commandements whereto also it may helpe to consider that God propoundeth the ten Commandements in the second person of the singular number saying Thou shalt not c. Why are the Commandements uttered in this sort rather than by yee or no man or every man c. First because God being without partiality speaketh to all men alike as well the rich as poore high as low Secondly because no man should put the Commandements of God from himselfe as though they did not concerne him but every particular man should apply them to himselfe as well as if God had spoken to him by name What gather you of this That God wisely preventeth a common abuse amongst men which is to esteeme that spoken to all men to be as it were spoken to none as you shall have it common amongst men to say and confesse that God is good and mercifull and that he commandeth this and forbiddeth that and yet they usually so behave themselves as that they shift the matter to the generall as if it did nothing belong to them in particular and as if they notwithstanding might live as they list and therefore every man is to judge and esteeme that God speaketh in the Law to him in particular and is accordingly to be affected therewith That this obedience may be more willing and cheerefull what is further to be thought upon We must set before our eyes Gods benefits bestowed upon us as the Lord did before the Israelites in the Preface to the ten Commandements What benefits ought we chiefely to call to minde First those which God doth generally bestow upon all his Children as our Election Creation Redemption Vocation Iustification Sanctification continuall Preservation and then particularly such blessings as God hath severally bestowvd upon every one of us Are not the judgements of God also to be thought
employed onely in the gathering of Toll Matth. 9. 9. Peter James John Fishermen whose liberty of speech when the chief Priests the Elders of Jerusalem beheld and understood that they were unlettered and ignorant men it is recorded Acts 4. 13. that they marvelled and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Paul from a bloody persecuter converted to be a Preacher and a writer of the Gospel shewed by that sudden alteration that he was moved by a command from heaven to defend that Doctrine which before he so earnestly impugned Fourthly the matter of the holy Scripture being altogether of heavenly Doctrine and savouring nothing of earthly or worldly affections but every where renouncing and condemning the same declareth the God of heaven to be the onely inspirer of it Fiftly the Doctrine of the Scripture is such as could never breed in the brains of man three Persons in one God God to become man the Resurrection and such like mans wit could never hatch or if it had conceived them could never hope that any man could beleeve them Sixtly the sweet concord between these writings and the perfect coherence of all things contained in them notwithstanding the diversity of persons by whom places where times when and matter whereof they have written for there is a most holy and heavenly consent and agreement of all parts thereof together though writen in so sundry ages by so sundry men in so distant places one of them doth not gain-say another as mens writings doe as our Saviour Christ confirmeth them all Luke 24. 44. Seventhly a continuance of wonderfull prophesies foretelling things to come so long before marked with their circumstances not doubtfull like the Oracles of the Heathen or Merlins prophesies but such as expressed the things and persons by their names which had all in their times their certain performance and therefore unto what may we attribute them but to the inspiration of God Vide Calvins Institut lib. 1. cap. 8. Thus was the Messias promised to Adam 4000. years before he was born Gen. 3. 15. and to Abraham 1917. years before the accomplishment Gen. 12. 3. The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt to the same Abraham 400. years before Gen. 15. 13 14. The prophesies of Jacob Gen. 49. concerning the twelve Tribes which were not fulfilled till after the death of Moses and that of the continuance of the Tribes and Kingdomes of Judah held untill the comming of Christ In the first Book of Kings the 13. ch 2 3. there is delivered a prophesie concerning Josias by name 331. years Esa. 45. 1. concerning Cyrus 100. years before he was borne Daniels prophesies and that especially of the 70. weeks Dan. 9. 24. are wonderfull so likewise are those of the rejection of the Jews the calling of the Gentiles the kingdome of Antichrist c. some of which now we see fulfilled Eightly the great Majestie full of heavenly wisdome and authority such as is meet to proceed from the glory of God shining in all the whole Scripture yea oftentimes under great simplicity of words and plainnesse and easinesse of style which neverthelesse more affected the hearts of the hearers then all the painted eloquence and lofty style of Rhetoricians and Oratours and argueth the holy Ghost to be the Authour of them 1 Cor. 1. 17. 21. 24. 2. 15. Ninthly in speaking of the matters of the highest nature they go not about to perswade men by reasons as Philosophers and Orators but absolutely require credit to bee given to thē because the Lord hath spoken it they promise eternall life to the obedient and threaten eternall woe to the disobedient they prescribe Laws for the thoughts to which no man can pierce they require sacrifice but they preferre obedience they enjoin fasting but it is also from sin they command circumcision but it is of the heart they forbid lusting coveting c. which is not to be found in any Laws but in his that searcheth the heart Tenthly the end and scope of the Scriptures is for the advancement of Gods glory and the salvation of mans soule for they intreat either of the noble acts of God and of Christ or the salvation of mankind and therefore by comparing this with the former reason we may frame this argument If the Author of the Scripture were not God it must be some creature if he were a creature he were either good or bad if a bad creature why forbiddeth he evill so rigorously and commands good so expresly and makes his mark to aim at nothing but Gods glory and our good if he were a good creature why doth he challenge to himself that which is proper to God onely as to make Laws for the heart to punish reward eternally c if it were no creature good nor bad it must needs be God Eleventhly the admirable power and force that is in them to convert and alter mans mind and to encline their heart from vice to vertue Psal. 19. 7 8. Psal. 119. 111. Heb. 4. 12. Acts 13. 12. though they be quite contrary to mens affections Twelfthly the Writers of the holy Scriptures are the most ancient of all others Moses is ancienter then the gods of the heathen that lived not long before the wars of Troy about the time of the Judges and the youngest Prophets of the Old Testament match the antientest Philosophers and Historians of the heathen Thirteenthly the deadly hatred that the devill and all wicked men carry against the Scriptures to cast them away and destroy them and the little love that most men doe bear unto them prove them to bee of God for if they were of flesh and blood then flesh and blood would love them and practise them and every way regard them more then it doth for the world loveth his own as our Saviour Christ saith Joh. 15. 19. But wee being but carnall and earthly savour not the things that bee of God as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2. 14. and untill the Lord open our hearts and we bee born again of Gods Spirit and become as new-born babes wee have no desire unto them 1 Pet. 2. 2. Fourteenthly the marvellous preservation of the Scriptures though none in time bee so ancient nor none so much oppugned yet God hath still by his providence preserved them and every part of them Fifteenthly the Scriptures as experience sheweth have the power of God in them to humble a man when they are preached and to cast him down to hell and afterward to restore and raise him up again Heb. 4. 12. Shew now how the holy Scriptures have the consonant testimony of all men at all times since they were writen that they are the most holy word of God First Joshua the servant of Moses the first Scribe of God to whom God spake in the presence and hearing of six hundred thousand men besides women and children who was
life which is not plainely and sufficiently set forth in many places of Scripture by which other places that are abused by the Devill or his ministers may bee interpreted as our Saviour Christ giveth example Mat. 4. 6. when the Devill abused the Text of Scripture Psal. 91. 11. declaring that this place must bee so understood as it may agree with that most evident and expresse Commandement writen in Deut. 6. 16. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God What bee the speciall uses of the Scripture rightly understood Two First to teach Doctrine by laying out the Truth and confuting errours Secondly to exhort out of it by stirring us to good and turning us back from evill whereunto belong those foure uses mentioned by the Apostle in 2 Tim. 3. 16. Two whereof are Theoricall pertaining to the information of our judgement in matters of Doctrine viz. first teaching of Truth secondly reproving or convincing of Errours Two are practicall pertaining to the direction of our life and actions viz. first reformation or correction of Vice under which is comprehended first Admonition secondly instruction or direction to good life under which is comprehended Exhortation and Consolation which is a speciall instruction to patience in adversities Rom. 15. 4. What persons are meet to read or heare the Scriptures The holy Scriptures are reverently and profitably to bee read and heard of all sorts and degrees of men and women and therefore to bee truely translated out of the originall Tongues into the language of every Nation which desireth to know them For the Lay people as well as the learned must read the Scriptures or heare them read both privately and openly so as they may receive profit by them and consequently in a tongue they understand 1 Cor. 14. 2. How doe you prove that the Scriptures ought to bee read and heard of all sorts of people First Deut. 31. 11 12. Moses commanded the book of the Law to bee read to all the children of Israel Men Women Children and Strangers that dwelt amongst them that they might thereby learn to feare the Lord their God and diligently to observe all the words of the Law Secondly Joshua 8. 34. there was not a word of all which Moses commanded that Joshua read not before all the Congregation of Israel with the Women and little ones and Strangers that were conversant among them so likewise did Josiah 2 King 23. 2. 2 Chro. 34. 30. and Ezra Nehem. 8. 2 3. Thirdly Psal. 1. 2. David sheweth this to bee the property of a godly man and pronounceth him to bee happy whose delight is in the Law of the Lord and studieth therein day and night Fourthly Matth. 22. 29. our Saviour teacheth that ignorance of the Scriptures is the mother of errour not the mother of devotion as the Papists have affirmed Fifthly Joh. 5. 39. Christ commandeth all men that seek eternall life in him to search the Scriptures Search the Scriptures for in them yee think to have eternall life c. Sixthly Act. 17. 11. the Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures Seventhly 2 Tim. 3. 15. the Apostle Paul approved in Timothy that hee had learned the holy Scriptures from a young childe Eighthy 2 Pet. 1. 19. the Apostle Peter commendeth the faithfull for taking heed to the Scriptures of the Apostles Ninthly Rev. 1. 3. Blessed is hee that readeth and they that hear the word of this Prophesie Tenthly Col. 3. 16. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisdome Eleventhly Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever things were writen afore time were writen for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope if the Scriptures bee writen for our learning they are necessarily to bee read by us Twelfthly Rom. 7. 7. Paul saith hee knew not sin but by the Law but the knowledge of sin is necessary for all that will repent and bee saved therefore also is the knowledge of the Law necessary Thirteenthly Luke saith that hee wrote the Gospel to Theophilus that hee might know the certainty of those things which before hee was catechised in Luk. 1. 4. but every one ought to labour to be most certain of their salvation c. Divers things are opposed by the adversaries against the necessity of the Scriptures and the reading of them by all sorts as first there were many beleevers amongst the Gentiles in the time of the Old Testament who yet wanted the Scriptures which was kept in Jury as Job and his friends Those if any such were after the Law for Job was before were bound to have the Scripture when it was delivered by God and the Eunuch had it and read it Act. 8. 28. Object 2. The book of the Law was lost for many yeers as appeareth by 2 King 22. 8. and yet the Church was then therefore it may want it The losse of that book doth argue rather the carelesnesse of the Priests in not keeping it and the sins of the people in that God for a time deprived them of it Object 3. The Church of Christians many yeers after Christ wanted the Scriptures of the New Testament and contented themselves with bare teaching First though the Church for certain yeers then had not the New yet they had the Old Secondly there passed not many yeers before the Gospels and Epistles of the Apostles were writen and in the mean time their heavenly Doctrine inspired from God sufficed till they wrote Object 4. There bee many poore Country-men as Plough-men and Shepherds which never learned to read which yet are saved though they never read Scripture They ought to have learned to read and being not able to read they might heare the Scriptures read by others Object 5. If all ought to read Scriptures then should they understand Hebrew and Greek wherein the Scripture was writen It were happy if they could understand Hebrew and Greek but howsoever they may read Translations Will it not follow hereof that preaching and expounding of the Scriptures may bee neglected as unnecessary No for God hath appointed not onely reading but also preaching of his Word especially to apply it to the use of all sorts of men to their eternall salvation Rom. 10. 13 c. So were the Prophets Interpreters of the Law as is before shewed the Scribes and Pharisees taught in the Chaire of Moses Matth. 23. 2. The Eunuch could not understand the Prophesie of Isaiah without an interpreter Act. 8. 31. The Ministery of the Word therefore is necessary as the ordinary means unto salvation 1 Tim. 4. 16. and the people by reading and hearing of the Scriptures are better prepared to receive profit by preaching not discharged from hearing the Preacher What is the summe of all that hath been delivered hitherto That wee should labour for a due knowledge of the true God that wee may know what wee worship and worship what wee know 1 Chron. 28. 9. Joh. 4. 22. 17. 3. That this knowledge
calling of God thereunto 1. Because he is too subtile for us we being simple in regard of him 2. Because he is so desperately malicious that he will give place to no good thing we can alledge to make him leave off his malicious purpose What shall we then doe We must turn our selves unto God and desire him to command him away at whose only Commandment he must depart Is there any thing blame-worthy in Eves answer to the question of the Serpent Notwithstanding that so far she answered truly that God had forbidden them to eat of the fruit of that tree and telleth also the punishment truly that would follow thereof yet began she to slip in the delivery both of the charge and of the punishment for where she saith they were forbidden to touch it it is more then the Lord made mention of and she thereby seemeth to insinuate some rigour of the Lord forbidding even the touch of the fruit and where the Lord had most certainly pronounced that they should die if they eat of the forbidden fruit she speaketh doubtfully of it as if they should not certainly die What learn you from this latter Observation That albeit men are oft perswaded they sin yet that they are not perswaded of the Justice of God against it whereby the door is opened to sin which is to make God an Idoll in spoiling him of his Justice as if he were so all mercy as he had forgotten to be just when as he is as well justice as mercy as infinite in the one as in the other which correcteth sharply the sins of such as he will save What learn you of the abuse of the tongue in this conference That as the tongue is a singular blessing of God whereby man excelleth all the creatures upon the earth so the abuse of it is most dangerous because it setteth on fire the whole course of nature and it is set on fire of hell Jam. 3. 6. What observe you of that it is said that Eve saw the fruit was delectable to look on Her lustfull and wicked eye in suffering her mind to be allured to look on the beauty of the fruit with a purpose to affect the eating of it How is it said that she saw it was good to eat when shee had never tasted of it Shee knew by the beautifull colour it was so for if we are able in this darknesse we are fallen into to discerne commonly by the sight of the fruit whether it be good and the skilfull in Physick by the colour onely of the hearb to tell whether it be hot or cold sweet or sowre how much more were Adam and Eve who had the perfection of the knowledge of those things more then ever Solomon himselfe What learn you by the abuse of these outward senses That they are as it were windowes whereby sin entred into the heart when there was no sin and therefore will much more now the heart being corrupted What instructions gather you from thence First that we must shut them against all evill and unlawfull use of their objects and open them to the use of good things make a Covenant with them as Job did with his eyes Job 31. 1. by a strong and painfull resistance of the evill that commeth by the abuse of them as it were and cut them off and throw them away as our Saviour giveth counsell Mat. 5. 29 30. Secondly that as the senses are more noble as the hearing and sight called the senses of learning so there should be a stronger watch set upon them those being the senses that Adam and Eve were especially so deceived by What observe you of that it is said shee saw that it was desirable for knowledge That was only her errour which shee having begun to sip of by communication with the Devill did after drink a full draught of by beholding the beauty of the fruit and receiving the delicate tast thereof and withall observe how we can heap reasons true and false to move us to follow our pleasures What learn you from thence That the heart inclining to errour doth draw the senses to an unlawfull use of them and that the abuse of the senses doth strengthen the heart in errour What gather you hereof That before the heart was corrupted there was no abuse of these outward senses But that being corrupt the abuse thereof doth settle the heart deeper in errour What was the effect of all these outward and inward meanes First Eve yeelded to Satan and put his will in execution in eating of the fruit that was forbidden Secondly shee gave it also to Adam to eat What force hath the word also here used by the holy Ghost Thereby as by a speciall word of amplification the sin is aggravated against her to shew her naughtines not only in committing the sin her selfe but also in alluring the husband to doe as she had done What learn you from thence 1. The nature of sinners to draw others to the condemnation they are in as Satan Eve and Eve her Husband even those that are nearest them whose good they should procure 2. That we should take heed of that the Apostle warneth us not to be partakers of other mens sins as if we had not enough of our own to answer for which especially belongeth unto those in charge 1 Tim. 5. 22. 3. How dangerous an instrument is an evill and deceived wife which the Lord commandeth men should beware to make choice of and if the man which is strong much more the woman What learn you of that Adam eat forthwith First that which hath been before noted that the Devill by one of us tempteth more dangerously then in his own person so that Satan knew he could not so easily have deceived Adam by himself as by Eve Secondly for that in excesse of love he yeelded it teacheth husbands to love their wives but it must be in the Lord as the wives must doe their husbands How doth it agree with the goodnes or with the very justice of God to punish mankind so fearfully for eating of a little fruit Very well for first the heynousnesse of an offence is not to be measured by the thing that is done but by the worthinesse of the person against whom it is committed And how much more the Commandement our first parents brake was easie to be kept as to abstain from one onely fruit in so great variety and plenty so much more grievous was their sin by breaking it Secondly though God tryed their obedience in that fruit especially yet were there many other most grievous sinnes which in desiring and doing of this they did commit Insomuch that we may observe therein the grounds of the breach in a manner of every one of the ten Commandements For the transgression was horrible and the breach of the whole Law of God yea an Apostasie whereby they withdrew themselves from under the power of God nay rejected and denied him and not so little an offence
the name of Adam was comprehended the man and the woman for by mariage two are made one and Moses calleth both the man and the woman Adam Gen. 5. 2. and last of all the Apostle used the word here signifying both man and woman What reason is there that all their posterity should take part with them both in their fall and in the wofull effect thereof It seemeth not to stand with the Justice of God to punish us for the sin that we never did Our first parents by Gods appointment were to stand or fall in that triall not as singular persons only but also as the head and root of all mankind representing the persons of all that should descend from them by naturall generation and therefore for the understanding of the ground of our participation with Adams fall two things must be considered First that Adam was not a private man in this businesse but sustained the person of all mankind as he who had received grace and strength for himself and all his posterity and so lost the same for all For Adam received the promise of life for himself and us with this condition if he had stood but seeing he stood not he lost the promise of life both from himself and from us and as his felicity should have been ours if he had stood in it so was his transgression and misery ours So that as in the second Covenant the righteousnesse of the second Adam Christ Jesus the Mediatour is reckoned to those that are begotten of him by spirituall regeneration even those that beleeve in his name although they never did it so in the first Covenant the sinne of the first Adam who herein sustained a common person is reckoned to all the posterity that descend from him by carnall generation because they were in him and of him and one with him Rom. 5. 15 16 17 18 19. Secondly that we all who are descended from Adam by naturall generation were in his loyns and a part of him when he fell and so by the law of propagation and generation sinned in him and in him deserved eternall condemnation therefore as two Nations are said to be in the womb of Rebekah Gen. 25. 23. and Levi to have paid tithes to Melchisedec in the loins of Abraham Heb. 7. 9 10. who was not born some hundred years after so is it here Thus we see that as by the act of generation in leprous parents the parents Leprosie made the childrens and the slavish and villanous estate of the parents is communicated unto all the off-spring for a man being a slave his progeny unto the hundred generation unlesse they be manumitted shall be slaves even so the naturall man howsoever he thinketh himself free yet in truth he is sold under sin and is the very servant of corruption and in that state shall for ever remain unlesse the Son doe make him free Joh. 8. 33 34. 36. Rom. 6. 17. 19 20. 7. 14. 2 Pet. 2. 19. We see also that great Parsonages rebelling against the King do not only thereby hurt and disgrace themselves but also stain their whole bloud and lose their honour and Inheritance from themselves and from their children for by our Law a man being attainted of High treason the attaint of bloud reacheth to his posterity and his children as well as he lose the benefit of his Lands and Living for ever unlesse the King in favour restore them againe as God in his mercy hath done unto us Then it appeareth that by propagation from our last parents we are become partakers of the sin of our first parents Even so and for the same transgression of our first parents by the most righteous Judgement of God we are conceived in sin and born in iniquity and unto misery Ps. 51. 5. for men are not now born as Adam was created but death doth reign over them also that sinned not after the like manner of the transgression of Adam Rom. 5. 14. that is over infants who are born in sin not by imitation but by an inherent corruption of sin even as we see the young Serpents and Wolves that never stung men or devoured sheep are notwithstanding worthy to die because there are principles of hurtfulnesse and poysonsomnesse in them How is it shewn that babes new born into the world have sin In that they are afflicted sundrily which they bewray by their bitter cries and in that they comming out of the mothers womb goe straight into the grave What is then the naturall estate of man Every man is by nature dead in sin as a loathsome carrion or as a dead corps and lieth rotting and stinking in the grave having in him the seed of all sins Eph. 2. 1. 1 Tim. 5. 6. For the fuller understanding of the state of sin and the consequents thereof declare first what sin is It is defined in one word 1 Joh. 3. 4. to be the transgression of the law namely a swerving from the law of God making the sinner guilty before God and liable to the curse of the law Gen. 4. 7. Seeing by the law sinne is and the law was not before Moses Rom. 5. 13. it seemeth there is no sin untill Moses When it is said the law was not before Moses it is to be understood of the law written in the Tables of stone by the finger of God and other laws Ceremoniall and Politicall written by Moses at the commandement of God for otherwise the law the Ceremoniall law excepted was written in the heart of man and for the decay therof through sin taught by those to whom that belonged from the fall unto Moses Is every breach of the Law of God sin Yea if it be no more but the least want of that God requireth Rom. 7. 7. Gal. 3. 10. And doth every sin the very least deserve the curse of God and everlasting death Yes verily because God is of infinite Majesty and dignity and therefore what so toucheth him deserveth endlesse wrath wherefore Purgatory and our owne satisfaction for small sinnes is vain How many sorts of sins are there Sin is either imputed or inherent the one without us and the other within us What is the sin Imputed Our sin in Adam in whom as we lived so also we sinned for in our first parents as hath been shewed every one of us did commit that first sinne which was the cause of all other and so we all are become subject to the imputation of Adams fall both for the trasgression and guiltinesse Rom. 5. 12. 18. 19. 1 Cor. 15. 22. What sins are Inherent in us They doe either defile our nature or our actions the one called Originall sin the other Actuall Col. 3. 9. For every one naturally descending from Adam beside the guilt of that first sin committed in Paradise first is conceived and born in original corruption Ps. 51. 5. Secondly living in this world sinneth also actually Gen. 6. 5. Esay 48. 8. yea of
a debt is a debt though a man knoweth it not and it is by so much the more dangerous as not knowing it he will never be carefull to discharge it till the Lords arrest be upon his back when his knowledge will doe him no good VVe may see many which heap sinne upon sinne and know also that they sinne and yet for all that cease not to make good cheer and make their hearts merry The countenance doth not alwayes speake truth so that sometimes under a countenance in shew merry there are stings and pricks in the Conscience Rom. 2. 15. which yet is oftentimes benummed and sometimes through hypocrisie it is seared as it were with a hot iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. but the Lord will find a time to awaken and revive it by laying all his sinnes before his face Psal. 50. 21. VVhen it is known what is the remedy of it It were wisdome not to suffer our guilt to run long on the score but reckon with our selves every night ere we lie down to sleep and look back to the doings of the day that in those things which are well done we may be thankefull and comfort our own hearts and in that which passeth otherwise from us we may call for mercy and have the sweeter sleep for if Solomon willeth us in that case of debt by suretyship to humble our selves to our Creditor and not to take rest untill we have freed our selves Prov. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6. much more ought we to haste the humbling our selves unto God sith the bloud of Christ is the onely sacrifice for sinne Is the guilt of sin in all men alike No for as the sin encreaseth so doth the guilt both in regard of the greatnesse and of the number of our sins as appears out of Ezra 9. 6. where as sin is said to be gone above their heads so the guilt to reach up to the heavens VVhen the sin is gone and past is not the guilt also gone and past Christ taketh away both the guilt and the sin of the godly except originall sin which continueth during life but in the wicked when the act of sin is gone the guilt remaineth always as the strong savour of garlick when the garlick is eaten or as the scarre of a wound or the mark of a burning when the wound or burning is past VVhat is contrary to the guilt of sin The testimony of a good Conscience which is a perpetuall joy and comfort yea and a heaven to him that hath walked carefully in Gods obedience as the other is a torment of hell So much of the guilt what is the punishment It is the wages of sin sent for the guilt Rom. 6. 23. namely the wrath and curse of God by whose just sentence man for his sinne is delivered into the power both of bodily and spirituall death begun here and to be accomplished in the life to come Gen. 2. 17. John 3. 18 19. 5. 24. 28. 29. Lamen 3. 36. Esa. 64. 5 6. Rom. 6. 12. Gal. 3. 10. VVhat do you understand by bodily and spirituall death By the one I understand the separation of the soule from the body with all personall miseries and evils that attend thereon or make way thereto by the other the finall separation of both from God together with present spirituall bondage and all forerunners of damnation Are all the particular punishments expressed in the word which shall come for sin They cannot wholly be laid down they be so manifold and so divers and therefore it is said they shall come written and unwritten Deut. 29. 20. 28. 61. Against whom are these punishments addressed Against the whole estate of him that sinneth For whereas executions upon obligations unto men are so directed as they can charge either the person alone or his goods and lands alone so as if the Creditor fall upon the one he freeth the other as if he fall upon the person he cannot proceed further then unto his body the execution which goeth out from God for the obligation of sin is extended to the whole estate of the sinner both to the things belonging unto him and likewise to his own person VVhat be the punishments that extend to the things belonging to him Calamities upon his family wife children servants friends goods and good name the losse and curse of all these and unhappy and miserable posterity Matth. 15. 22. Psalme 109. 12. hinderances in goods Deuter. 28. in name ignominy and reproach Matth. 7. 12. Job 18. 17. Prov. 10. 7. losse of friends acquaintance c. What are the judgements executed upon his person They are executed either in this life or in the life to come What punishments are inflicted in this life They be partly outward partly inward What be the outward punishments 1. His want of dominion over the creatures and the enmity of the creatures against him calamities by fire water beasts or other means disorder in the world in summer winter heaven earth and all creatures 2. Shame for the nakednesse of body 3. All hunger in extremity thirst nakednesse penury poverty of estate and want of bodily necessaries 4. Wearinesse in following his calling with sweat of his browes with trouble and irksomnesse Gen. 3. 19. 5. Outward shame and infamy 6. Servitude 7. Losse of limbs or of the use of his senses deformities in body 8. Weaknesse of beeing want of sleep pains of body aches soars sicknesses and diseases of all sorts Deut. 28. Mat. 9. 2. even to the itch which few make accompt of therby to feel the anger of God and punishment of sin hither is to be referred pain in Child-bearing Gen. 3. 16. What be the inward punishments in this life 1. Sorrow and anguish of soul for these plagues and the like 2. Madnesse frenzy and foolishnesse 3. Blindnesse and distemper of the soul when God striketh it with an ignorant spirit with want of judgement to discern between good and bad with forgetfulnesse of holy things or hardnesse of heart Eph. 4. 17 18 19. which although for the time they be least felt yet are they more fearfull and dangerous then those whereof the sense is presently sharp 4. Terrour and vexation of spirit driving into hell guiltinesse and horrour of Conscience the fury of a despairing soul beginning even in this life to feel hell torments Deut. 28. 28. Heb. 10. 27. Esa. 33. 14. 5. Strangenesse and alienation from God 6. Spirituall bondage whereby sinfull man is become subject to the lust of the flesh the curse of the Law the rule of Satan and the custome of the world yea even blessings are cursed Malac. 2. 2. and prosperity causeth ruine Psal. 69. 22. In what sort is man in bondage unto Satan Both soul and body is under the power of the Prince of darknesse whereby man becommeth the slave of the Devil and hath him to reign in his heart as his God till Christ deliver him Col. 1. 13. Ephes. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 26.
things concerning God wherein consisteth his Priestly office Heb. 2. 17. 5. 1. 7. 24. The second in things concerning man wherein he exerciseth his Propheticall and Kingly function Why must he be a Priest To offer sacrifice for his Church and to reconcile us unto God Psa. 110. 4. Heb. 3. 1. 4. 14. 5. 5 6. c. 7. 3. 17. 8. 2 3. 9. 11. 14. otherwise we should never have been justified nor sanctified and so not have been at peace with God Why must he be a Prophet Doctor or Apostle To teach his Church Deut. 18. 15. 18. Act. 3. 22. 7. 37. Luke 4. 18. otherwise we should never have known God nor the things that belong unto him Joh. 1. 18. Why must he be a King or Prince To rule and govern his Church Psal. 110. 1 2 3. Luk. 1. 33. otherwise we should never have been delivered from the captivity of sin and Satan nor be put in possession of eternall life What is his Priesthood It is the first part of his mediation whereby he worketh the means of salvation in the behalf of mankind and so appeaseth and reconcileth God to his elect Heb. 5. 5 c. and 7. 1. 3. 13. 17 c. and 13. 11 12. Where is the doctrine of Christs Priesthood especially handled In the Epistle to the Hebrews and namely in the 7 Chapter from the 13. ver to the end wherein is contained a declaration of his office of Priesthood being compared with the Priesthood of Aaron the Apostle shewing 1. What manner of one he ought to be that hath this office 2. How he executeth it Wherein standeth the manner of him that shall have this office Partly without him and partly within himself without him as first that he was chosen of the Tribe of Judah and not of Levi to shew that he was not successor of Aaron but rather was to abolish all those Ceremoniall services and offices Secondly that the Priests of Levi were appointed by the law of the fleshly commandement whereas Christ was appointed by the law of the power of life Thirdly that he was installed in it by his Father and appointed by an oath for ever to be a Priest after a new order of Melchisedec What benefit ariseth to us in that this was confirmed by an oath It giveth unto us comfortable assurance that all the parts of his Priesthood be performed unto us and that he paid the ransome for our sins Was not the Word of God sufficient for the performance of this promise without the binding of it with an oath Yes doubtlesse but the Lord in this promise having to deal with weak man and willing more abundantly to shew unto the heires of promise the stablenesse of his Counsell bound himself by an oath Heb. 6. 17. Whereby is the perpetuity thereof confirmed In that it did not proceed by succession as from Aaron to Eleazar from Eleazar to Phinehas and so by descent but is everlasting always abiding in him which is another difference of their Priestly office What profit comes to us by the perpetuity of his Priesthood That he continually maketh intercession for us to God and of himself alone is able to save us comming to the Father through him So much of the quality of him that is to be Priest which is without him what is the part that is within him 1. That in himself he is holy 2. To others harmlesse and innocent 3. Undefiled of others or of any thing and to speak in a word he is separated from sinners in all which he differeth from that of Aaron for they are neither holy in themselves nor innocent neither undefiled but polluting and being polluted by others What is the fruit we gather of this his holinesse innocency and undefilednesse That he being holy innocent undefiled and so consequently separated from sinners the same is attributed to the faithfull and these his properties imputed for theirs and therefore he freeth them both from originall and actuall sins Contrary to their doctrine who say that he delivereth us from originall sin onely and that we must make satisfaction for actuall What is the difference touching the execution of this office 1. That they offered first for themselves he for the people only for himself he needed not 2. He but once they many times 3. He offered himself they something else then themselves What is the use of this To prove the absolutenesse perfection and excellency of this his Priesthood May not the Priesthood of the Papists be overthrown by all these arguments and proved to be a false Priesthood Yes verily for 1. They are not of the Title of Judah and so cannot succeed our Saviour 2. They are not confirmed by an oath from God and therefore not perpetuall 3. They are not as he was holy in themselves but unholy neither innocent nor undefiled but defiling others and being defiled of them and so not separated from sinners but altogether sinfull and set in sin 4. They offer first for themselves then for the people likewise many times 5. They offer sacrifices which are not themselves 6. They bring a great disgrace to the Priesthood of Christ by preferring themselves to him as the sacrificer to the sacrifice whom they say they offer 7. Christ hath a Priest hood that passeth not away What comfort have we by the Priesthood of Christ Hereby we are assured that he is our Mediatour and that we also are made Priests VVhat need was there of such a Mediatour Between parties so disagreeing the one of finite nature offending the other of infinite nature offended the one utterly disabled to do any the least good 2 Cor. 3. 5. or satisfie for the least sin Job 9. 3. the other requiring perfect obedience Deut. 27. 26. and satisfaction Mat. 18. 34. what agreement could there be without a Mediatour In this case what was this Mediatour to doe He was to work the means of our salvation and reconciliation to God 1. By making satisfaction for the sin of man 2. By making intercession Mat. 20. 18. Joh. 17. 19 20. Heb. 7. 24 25 26 27. therefore Jesus Christ our high Priest became obedient even unto the death offering up himself a sacrifice once for all to make a full satisfaction for all our sins and maketh continuall intercession to the Father in our name whereby the wrath of God is appeased his Justice is satisfied and we are reconciled VVherein then stands his satisfaction to Gods Justice which is the first part of his Priesthood In yeelding that perfect obedience whereupon dependeth the whole merit of our salvation Dan. 9. 24. Eph. 1. 2. 14 15 16. VVhat is the effect thereof towards us Redemption Luc. 1. 69. Heb. 9. 24 25. which is a deliverance of us from sin and the punishment thereof and a restoring of us to a better life then ever Adam had Rom. 5. 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 15. 45. For our Saviour Christ
all nations ages and conditions of men Eph. 5. 23. Ioh. 10. 16. Gal. 3. 28. Rev. 7. 9. 17. and that my self am one of that company and a sheep of that fold Why say you that you beleeve that there is a Catholick Church Because that the Church of God cannot be alwayes seen with the eyes of man Why is this Church called holy Because she hath washed her robes in the blood of the Lamb and being sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word is presented and accepted as holy before God Rev. 7. 14. Eph. 5. 26 27. Col. 1. 21 22. for though the Church on earth be in it selfe sinfull yet in Christ the head it is holy and in the life to come shall be brought to perfection of holinesse What learn you hence That if ever we will have the Church for our Mother or God for our Father we must labour to be holy as he is holy What is meant here by catholick Church The whole universall company of the elect that ever were are or ever shall be gathered together in one body knit together in one Faith under one Head Christ Jesus Eph. 4. 4 5 6. 12. 13. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 1. 22 23. For God in all places and of all sorts of men had from the beginning hath now and ever will have an holy Church that is Gods whole or universall Assembly because it comprehendeth the whole multitude of all those that have doe or ever shall believe unto the worlds end Doe all those make one body The whole number of believers and Saints by calling make one body the Head whereof is Christ Jesus Eph. 1. 10. 22 23. Col. 1. 18. 24. Having under him no other Vicar and so the Pope is not the Head of the Church for neither property nor office of the head can agree unto him What is the property of the Head To be highest and therefore there can be but one even Christ. What is the office of the Head First to prescribe lawes to his Church which should bind mens consciences to the obedience of the same and of such law-givers there is but one James 4. 12. Secondly to convey the powers of life and motion into all the members by bestowing spirituall life and grace upon them For the naturall members take spirit and sense from the head so the Church hath all her spirituall life and feeling from Christ who is only able and no creature beside to quicken and give life Thirdly to be the Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. But Christ Jesus only is the Saviour of the Church whom by this title of the head of the Church Paul lifteth up above all Angels Archangels Principalities and Powers And therefore if the Pope were the successour of Peter and Paul yet should he not therfore be the head of the Church which agreeth to no simple creature in heaven or under heaven So much of the Head where be the members of this holy Catholick Church Part are already in heaven triumphant part as yet militant here upon earth VVhat call you the Church triumphant The blessed company of those that have entred into their Masters joy Heb. 12. 23. Rev. 7. 14. 16. waiting for the fulfilling of the number of their fellow-members and their own consummation in perfect blisse Rev. 6. 7. VVhy is it called Triumphant Because the Saints deceased have made an end of their pilgrimage and labours here on earth and triumph over their enemies the world death and damnation Are the Angels of the Church triumphant No First because they were never of the Church militant Secondly because they were not redeemed nor received benefit by the death of Christ and therefore it is said that He took not on him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. VVhat is the speciall duty which the Church triumphant in heaven doth perform Praise and thanksgiving to God VVhat is the Church militant It is the society of those that being scattered through all the corners of the world are by one faith in Christ conjoyned to him and fight under his banner against their Enemies the World the Flesh and the devill continuing in the service and warfare of their Lord and expecting in due time also to be crowned with victory and triumph in glory with him Rev. 1. 9. 12. 11. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Who are the true members of the Church militant on earth Those alone who as living members of the mysticall body Eph. 1. 22 23. Col. 1. 18. are by the Spirit and Faith secretly and inseparably conjoyned unto Christ their head Col. 3. 3. Psalm 83. 3. In which respect the true militant Church is both visible Mat. 16. 18. and invisible Rom. 2. 29. 1 Pet. 3. 4. the elect being not to be discerned from the reprobates till the last day But are none to be accompted members of this Church but such as are so inseparably united unto Christ doubtlesse many live in the Church who are not thus united unto him and shall never come to salvation by him Truly and properly none are of the Church saving only they which truly beleeve and yeeld obedience 1 John 2. 19. all which are also saved howbeit God useth outward meanes with the inward for the gathering of his Saints and calleth them as well to outward profession among themselves as to inward fellowship with his Sonne Act. 2. 42. Cant. 1. 7. whereby the Church becommeth visible Hence it commeth that so many as partaking the outward means doe joyn with these in league of visible profession Act. 8. 13. are therefore in humane judgment accompted members of the true Church and Saints by calling 1 Cor. 1. 2. untill the Lord who only knoweth who are his doe make known the contrary as we are taught in the Parable of the tares the draw-net c. Mat. 13. 24. 47. Thus many live in the Church as it is visible and outward which are partakers onely outwardly of grace and such are not fully of the Church that have entred in but one step Cant. 4. 7. Eph. 5. 27. 1 John 2. 19. That a man may be fully of the Church it is not sufficient that he professe Christ with his mouth but it is further required that he believe in him in heart These doe the one but not the other or if they believe in heart they believe not fully For they may generally believe indeed that Christ is the Saviour of mankind but they know not whether themselves have part in him yea by their works they disclaim any interest in him VVhat say you then of such They are partakers of all good of the outward or imperfect Church and therefore their children also are baptized and admitted as members of Christs Church These are like evill citizens as indeed the Church is Gods city who are in truth but citizens in profession and name only For they as yet want the chiefest point which onely maketh a
far off and aliens from God are now brought neer through Christ Eph. 2. 12 13. 18. 19. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Heb. 12. 22 23. What is Adoption Adoption is the power and priviledge to be the sons of God Joh. 1. 12. Eph. 1. 5. derived unto us from Christ who being the eternal Son of God became by Incarnation our brother that by him God might bring many sons and daughters unto glory Heb. 2. 10. What are the benefits that flow to us from our Adoption 1. Some are privative immunities and freedome from many grievances as 1. We are freed from the slavery of sin Rom. 6. 14. 2 From condemnation Rom. 8. 1. 3 From all slavish fears and terrors Rom. 8. 15. We have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again but the spirit of adoption 4 From the law not Ceremoniall only Gal. 5. 1. but Moral freed I mean from the curse of it freed from the condemning power of it freed from the coaction and compulsion of it freed from the rigorous exaction inexorable demands of it as it is a Covenant of works But not freed from the doctrine of holinesse contained in it the justified and adopted are every way freed from the Law as it was an enemy and against us Luc. 1. but not freed as it is our guide and director containing the rule of Gods holy will Our Sonship doth not free us from service but from slavery not from holinesse but to holinesse There is a free service which benefits the condition of a son Gods service is perfect freedome 2. Some are positive dignities as 1. Free accesse to the throne of Grace that we may come to God in prayer as to a Father Gal. 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15. 2 We have an Interest in Gods particular and speciall Providence 2 Cor. 6. ult Rom. 8. 28. 3 We by our adoption have a free and sanctified use of all Godâ— creatures restored the right unto which we forfeited in Adam for no man hath any true right to any thing now by nature he may have the use of Gods creatures by Gods patience forbearance but not by Gods licence and allowance untill he be in Covenant with God in Christ and made a son and heir with him and then all things are restored 1 Cor. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 32. 4 From Adoption flows all Christians joy which is called the joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. Rom. 5. 2. For the spirit of Adoption is first a witnesse Rom. 8. 16. 2ly A seale Eph. 4. 30. 3ly The pledge and earnest of our Inheritance Eph. 1. 14. setling a holy security in the soul whereby it rejoyceth even in affliction in hope of glory Doe the Justified children of God always then rejoyce Joy considered as a delightfull apprehension of the favour of God gladding the heart though it ought continually to be laboured for Phil. 4. 4. and preserved yet it may be at times not only darkned and daunted but for a time even lost and to be restored Psal. 51. 12. yet it is as all spirituall gifts of God perpetuall and without repentance if we regard 1. The matter of rejoycing which is Gods unchangeable love and grace Mal. 3. 6. 2. The causes and fountains of joy in the regenerate which are the never failing graces of Faith Luk. 22. 32. Hope Rom. 5. 5. and Love towards God in Christ 1 Câ—â— 8. 3. The valuation even in the deepest dismay of our part and hope in Christ above the pleasures of ten thousand worlds 4. The pretence and claim of a faithfull heart promising and challenging unto it self a comfortable harvest of joy for the present seed-time of sorrow Psal. 42. 5. Psal. 126. 5. 57. 11. So much of the first main benefit which Christians receive by their communion with Christ viz. Justification Now what is the second benefit which is called Glorification and Sanctification It is the renewing of our nature according to the Image of God in righteousnesse and true holinesse which is but begun in this life and is called Sanctification and perfected in the life to come which therefore is most strictly called Glory How far forth is our nature renewed in this life by Sanctification This renewing is of our whole nature 1 Thess. 5. 23. Rom. 12. 2. the understanding being enlightned the will rectified the affections regulated the outward man reformed But not wholly in this life and this is done by the powerfull operation of the Spirit of God who having begun a good work in us will perfect it unto the day of the Lord Joh. 13. 6. Psal. 51. 10. Ezek. 36. 26. What be the parts of our Sanctification Two answerable to the two powerfull meanes whereby they are wrought First Mortification or dying unto sin and thereby freedome from the dominion thereof by the death of Christ Rom. 6. 6 7. Secondly Vivification or quickning unto newnesse of life by the power of the resurrection of Christ In regard whereof it is also called our first resurrection Rev. 20. 6. How doth Sanctification differ from the former grace of Justification In many main and materiall differences as 1. In the order not of time wherein they goe together Rom. 8. 30. nor of knowledge and apprehension wherein this latter hath precedency 1 Cor. 6. 11. but of nature wherein the former is the ground of this latter 2 Cor. 7. 1. Secondly in the Subject the righteousnesse whereby we are justified being inherent in Christ for us but this of Sanctification in our selves from him Rom. 8. 10. Thirdly in the cause our Justification following from the merit our Sanctification from the efficacy of the death and life of Christ. Fourthly in the Instrument Faith which in Justification is only as an hand receiving in Sanctification is a co-working vertue Acts 15. 19. Gal. 5. 6. Fiftly in the measure Justification being in all Beleevers and at all times alike but Sanctification wrought differently and by degrees Sixtly in the end which being in both eternall life Rom. 6. 23 24. yet the one is among the causes of reigning the other onely as the high-way unto the kingdome What is the rule and square of our Sanctification The whole word of God Joh. 17. 17. Ps. 119. 9. as containing that will of his Rom. 12. 2. which is even our Sanctification 1 Thess. 4. 3 c. How doe you prove that Gods word is such a rule 1. By expresse warrant of Scripture 2 Tim. 3. 14. 17. 2. By the resemblances and things whereunto it is compared as to the way we walk in Jer 6. 16. Mark 12. 14. Act. 18. 24 25. to a Light and a Lanthorn in a dark place to guide our feet into the way of peace Psa. 119. 105. Prov. 6. 23. 2 Pet. 19. 20. Luc. 1. 77. 79. to a Glasse Jam. 1. 25. to a Rule Line Square Measure and Ballance whereby must be framed ordered measured and
pondered Isa. 28. 17. Gal. 6. 16. 3. Because they only are commended for a holy and righteous life who have framed it according to the Word Luc. 1. 6. and all others secluded Isa. 8. 19 20. Mat. 22. 29. 4. Because nothing can be counted holy and righteous which God doth not so accompt and that in his Word so as he only is righteous and maketh this or that to be holy and righteous So his Word only sheweth us what that is which he so accompteth and therefore it is called his holy Word holy Scriptures righteous Laws c. Deut. 4. 8. VVhat mean you here by the holy Word of God Both the Law and the Gospel the Old Testament the New How is the Gospel a rule of obedience being the rule of faith As the Law requireth obedience Jam. 12. 1. so the Gospel directeth the faithful how to perform it 1 Tim. 1. 9 10 11. only with difference 1. Of the manner the Law propounding God to be worshipped of us in himself as our Creator the Gospel in Christ as our Saviour 2. Of the end The Law requiring all duties as for the procurement of our own salvation The Gospel in way of thankfulnesse for salvation in Christ already bestowed 1 Thess. 5. 18. 3. Of the effect the Law like Pharaoh that required brick but allowed no straw demanding obedience but vouchsafing no assistance supposing man as in the state of Creation The Gospel both offering and conferring to the regenerate that which it requireth Rom. 10. 5 6. 8. for it both requireth and confirmeth faith unto the Elect and that not only as a hand to lay hold on Christ but also as a chief vertue working by love in all parts of obedience without which even the Gospel is a Law that is a killing letter 2 Cor. 3. 6. to the unregenerate and with which the Law becommeth as it were Gospel to the regenerate even a law of liberty Jam. 1. 25. 2. 12. For as the Law saveth us not without the Gospel so the Gospel saveth us not without the Law Doth not the Gospel add other Precepts or Counsels to those of the Law Not any other in substance of action but only reneweth and enforceth those of the Law 1 Joh. 2. 7 8. and specifieth some duties as of faith in the Messias of the Sacraments c. which have their generall ground from the Law As for those that are propounded in form of counsell and doe concern things indifferent they are not therefore arbitrary courses Rev. 3. 18. of higher perfection much lesse meritorious of greater glory but as they are applyed with due circumstances necessary precepts referred to some or other Commandement of the Law the neglecting whereof excludeth from the kingdome of God VVhat is that law which with the direction of the Gospel is the rule of Sanctification The Morall law or law of nature engraven by God himself first in the heart of man in his Creation after in Tables of stone in the days of Moses and so published and committed to the Church for all ages as the royall Law for obedience to God our King Jam. 2. 8. Why did God write that law in Tables of stone Partly to signifie the perpetuall use and continuance of them to the end of the world Partly to shew the stony hardnesse of our hearts in which this law was to be written and to declare how hard it is to bring us to obedience of them VVhy did none but God write this Law in Tables of stone Because none but God can write his Law in our hearts How was this Law delivered To shew the gloriousnesse of it God delivered it in fire for the Mountain burned the Trumpet sounded the people fled and Moses himself trembled What did this signifie to them and teach us 1. That without Christ the Law is but death 2. That we should be very careful to perform obedience to the same Did God give no other law but the Morall law onely Yes he added the Ceremoniall and Judiciall laws as speciall explications and applications of the law Morall unto that present Church and people the Israelites What was the Ceremoniall law That law which did set down orders for direction in rites of outward worship shadowing the grace of the Gospel Heb. 10. 1 c. Are we bound to keep and observe those laws No for the substance being now exhibited those shadows are utterly abolished by the death of Christ and therefore the use of them now would be a kind of denyall of his death What call you the Judiciall law That wherein God appointed a form of Politique and Civill government of the Common-wealth of the Jews which therefore is ceased with the dissolution of that State for which it was ordained saving only in the common equity Is this law utterly revoked and abolished by Christ No for he came not to overturn any good government of the Common-wealth much lesse that which was appointed by God himself May not Christian Magistrates then swerve any thing from those laws of government which were set down by Moses In some circumstances they may but in the generall equity and substance they may not What Judiciall laws are immutably to be observed now of Christian Magistrates Those which have reasons annexed unto thē specially those wherin God hath appointed death for the punishment of hainous offences VVhat is the Morall law That which commandeth the perfection of godlinesse righteousnesse and directeth us in our duties to God and man Deut. 5. 32. 12. 32. Are we not delivered from this law by the means of Christ From the burthen of the law exacting in our own persons perfect obedience from the curse of that law due unto disobedience we are delivered by Christ Gal. 3. 10 11 12 13. But from the Commandment as a rule of life we are not freed Jam. 2. 8. but contrariwise are inclined disposed by his free Spirit to the willing obedience therof Ps. 51. 12. 119. 32. 45. 1 Joh. 5. 3. To what end serveth the Law First it is a Glasse to discover our filthinesse and to shew us our sinnes and the punishment thereof that thereby we may be driven unto Christ to be purged by him Gal. 3. 24. Rom. 3. 20. 27. For it layeth open all the parts of our misery both sinfulnesse accursednesse and impotency or unablenesse to relieve our selves so whipping us and chasing us to Christ that in him we may finde deliverance Secondly when we are come to Christ and feele our selves saved by him it is a guide to direct us in the way we have to walke in all our life after Matth. 5. 17. Luke 1. 6. Deut. 6. 6. For after the Law hath brought us to Christ the feeling of the love of God within us maketh us to strive towards the obedience of it and then it is a rule to direct us how to behave our selves in
covet thy Neighbours House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife c. VVhat is the sinne chiefely here forbidden Concupiscence that is those secret and internall sinnes which goe before consent of will and are the seedes of all other vices of which sort are wicked and corrupt inclinations thoughts desires which are repugnant to charity VVhat is the end of this Commandement It respecteth either God our Neighbours or our Selves VVhat is the end which respecteth God That He might shew the perfection of that Charity which in His Law He requireth of us and the excellency of it above all other humane laws For humane and Divine Lawes differ as the Lawgivers themselves And as God is a Spirit who is omniscient and searcheth the heart so Hee requireth spirituall obedience Rom. 7. 14. and bindeth by His Law which is spirituall like Himselfe not onely the hand tongue and outward man as men doe by humane lawes but even the most inward hidden and secret thoughts and desires of the minde and heart VVhat is the end respecting our Neighbours That wee might not thinke or desire any thing tending to their hurt but that with all the powers of our soules we exercise Charity in doing them good not seeking our owne good onely but theirs also 1 Cor. 13. 5. What is the end of this Commandement respecting our selves That it might discover unto us our corruption and how far wee are from that perfection which Gods Law requireth Rom. 7. 7. 13. 24. Prov. 20. 9. Psal. 19. 13. and secondly that it might bee unto us a perfect rule of spirituall obedience and might teach us chiefly to observe our hearts Prov. 4. 23. to suppresse the first and inward motions of sin and to aspire to that originall puritie that we had by Creation What was the occasion of this Commandement Threefold first the pravity of our hearts and thoughts Gen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. Secondly the blindnesse and stupidity of our mindes and hearts which could neither see nor feele their owne pravity and corruption Rom. 7. 7 8. Thirdly the errour of our judgements which suppose that our thoughts be free and that concupiscence and first thoughts are not sins till they have our conscent because they are not in our power to restraine them What is the difference betweene the spirituall obedience required in this and the other Commandements In that it not onely requireth the internall obedience of the heart with the outward man as the rest doe but also restraineth the first motions and inclinations which goe before consent If wee had not rather say that it is added to the other as a full and more cleare explication of that spirituall obedience which is required in all the rest Now shew the meaning of this commandement and first what is that concupiscence which is here spoken of There are two sorts of concupiscence or of the affections of the heart the first called the Irascible conceived against things evil which we shuâ— as anger hatred feare griefe c. The other called Concupiscible conceived towards things good and desirable as love joy delight c. And these are things either truely evill or good or else so onely in appearance Is all concupiscence here forbidden No for there is some good and lawfull some evill and unlawfull the one commanded the other forbidden What is lawfull concupiscence It is either naturall or spirituall Naturall that which desireth things good and necessary to our being or well-being as food cloathing and other lawfull comforts of this life Secondly spirituall which lusteth and fighteth against the flesh Gal. 5. 17. and affecteth and coveteth after spirituall things Psal. 119. 40. What is opposite hereunto Vnlawfull and evill concupiscence Col. 3. 5. which is also called concupiscence of men 1 Pet. 4. 2. concupiscence of the flesh Gal. 5. 16 17. worldly concupiscence Tit. 2. 12. lusts of the Devill John 8. 44. What are the kindes of this evill concupiscence Either habituall or actuall Habituall is an evill inclination and pronenesse to that which is evill or an evill desiring of it which is a part of originall injustice Rom. 8. 6 7. What is that evill concupiscence which is actuall It is distinguished into two kinds First in respect of the forme Secondly in respect of the object What is that which respecteth the forme It is either inchoate and imperfect which is an act of sensuality onely and the first and sudden motions of concupiscence which goe before the act of reason and the will tickling the minde and heart with a kinde of delight Or it is formed and perfected having also the act of the will joyning with it and consenting to it 1 Thess. 4. 5. What are the degrees of that inchoate concupiscence They are three First an evill motion cast into our mindes by either the Devill the World or our owne Flesh corrupting the sense memory or phantasie whereby wee have an hanging and hankring appetite after that which is our Neighbours as thinking it fit and convenient for us Secondly a longing after it and wishing for it following that motion Thirdly a tickling delight arising from a conceit of the pleasure or profit which we should have in the enjoying of it James 1. 13 14 15. How then doth sinne grow from its first conception to its full growth Saint James in respect of the degrees of it compareth it to the conception growth and birth of an Infant in and from the wombe James 1. 14 15. The first is the abstraction of the minde and heart from good to evill by the evill motion and appetite which may be called the carnall copulation between the heart and sinne and Satan The second inescation and enticing of the heart with delight and consent unto it as it were the retention of the seed The third consent to the acting of it which may be called the conception of it The fourth deliberation after this consent by what meanes and how it may be acted which is the articulation and shaping of the parts and members The fifth is the acting of sin it selfe that is the birth of it which being borne causeth death Which degrees and growth of sin may be observed in the example of Eve Ahab and David himself How may evill concupiscence be distinguished in respect of the object Into three kindes First of pleasure which is the lust of the flesh Secondly of profit which is the lust of the eyes Thirdly of honour and glory which is the pride of life 1 John 2. 25. What are the parts of this Commandement Two First the Affirmative Secondly the Negative The first is here to be understood the other is plainly expressed What is forbidden in the Negative Evill concupiscence which is twofold either originall or actuall What is originall concupiscence Originall sin which is the corruption and disorder of all the powers and faculties of soule and body disposing them to all that is evill
23. And first that it doe not admit any evill concupiscence Secondly that if it be admitted it be not retained And this care must be taken both when wee be awake that we keep our mindes intent unto lawfull and good things Matth. 12. 44. And when we goe to sleep that by hearty prayer we commend them to Gods keeping But what if the heart have admitted evill concupiscences We must strive and fight against them and never be at rest untill we have cast them out and extinguished them What further is required to the conserving of the heart in purity In the third place we must observe our sences that they doe not bring into our mindes such objects as being apprehended will stirre up in us evill concupiscence Gen. 3. 6. 6. 2. Josh. 7. 21. 2 Sam. 11. 2. Matth. 5. 28. Job 31. Psal. 119. 37. What are the speciall meanes to suppresse or take away the concupiscence of the eyes First we must mortifie selfe-love and not seek our owne but every man anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10. 24. Secondly we must pull out the eyes of envy Thirdly we must labour after contentation Phil. 4. 11. And to this end consider First how many want those good things which thou enjoyest who are farre more worthy of them Secondly thine owne unworthinesse of the least of Gods benefits Thirdly meditate on Gods providence and fatherly care who provideth all things necessary for thy good and salvation What doe you learne from this Commandement thus expounded That it is most impossible for any man to keep it For who can say that his heart is cleane from the first motions of sinne and concupiscence that goe before consent Prov. 20. 9. To what purpose serveth the knowledge of this impossibility To humble us in the sight and sense of our sinnes which have made us subject to the wrath of God and the curse of the Law that so despairing in our owne merits we may be driven out of our selves and with more ardent desire flye unto the mercies of God in the satisfaction and obedience of Iesus Christ. What other use are we to make of it That being by Christ freed from the curse of the Law we study and endeavour to conforme our selves our soules and lives according to the prescript rule of this holy and most perfect law Matth. 5. 48. and that mortifying the flesh with all the carnall concupiscences and lusts of it we be dayly more and more renewed unto the Image of God in all holinesse and righteousnesse and walke worthy of our high calling as it becommeth Saints Eph. 4. 1. Hitherto we have treated of the rule and square of our Sanctification viz. The ten Commandements Now wherein is the effect or exercise of Sanctification seene IN unfeigned repentance and new obedience springing from thence For the fruits of Sanctification are First inward vertues whereby all the powers of the minde are rightly ordered Secondly the exercise of the same by putting those heavenly and sanctified abilities to holy use and service If then the exercise of Sanctification be first seen in repentance what is repentance An inward and true sorrow for sinne especially that we have offended so gracious a God and so loving a father together with a setled purpose of heart and a carefull endeavour to leave all our sinnes and to live a Christian life according to all Gods Commandements Psalme 119. 57. 212. Or a turning of our selves to God whereby wee crucifie and kill the corruptions of our nature and reforme our selves in the inward man according to Gods will What is it to crucifie the corruption of our nature It is freely and with all our heart to be sorry that we have angred God with it and with our other sinnes and every day more and more to hate it and them and to flye from them How is this wrought in us It is wrought in us partly by the threatning of the Law and the feare of Gods judgements but especially increased by feeling the fruit of Christ his death whereby we have power to hate sin and to leave it For when the sinner is once humbled with the terrours of the Law he flyeth to the comforts of the Gospell and he there seeth in Christ Crucified not onely the mercy of God discharging him of all his sinnes but also how deep the wounds of sin are wherewith he hath pierced his Saviour Zach. 12. 10. and how severe the wrath of God is against sin even to the slaughtering of his owne Son and hence 1 Peter 4. 1. commeth he to hate his sins Psalme 97. 10. as God hateth them and to look backe thereon with godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 10. resolving for ever after to forsake them all How is the reformation of our selves newnesse of life wrought in us Onely by the promise of the Gospel whereby we feele the fruit of the rising again of Christ. What doth ensue hereof Hereby we are raised up into a new life having the Law written in our hearts and so reforme our selves Wherein then doth repentance properly consist In a thorough changing of our purpose and desires from the evill which Gods Word rebuketh in us to the good which it requireth of us Rom. 12. 1 2. Esa. 1. 16 17. What is required in respect of the evil we turne from First knowledge of the evill then a condemning of the same together with a judging of our selves for it and then with godly sorrow for that which is past a hatred of it for ever and all this because it is sin and displeaseth our God What is required in regard of the good we turne unto First a knowledge and approbation of good to be done with a purpose of heart to doe it then an earnest love of the same shewed by care desire and endevour Can men repent of themselves or when they list No for it is the gift of God given unto them that are born againe Is it sufficient once to have repented No we must continue it alwayes in disposition and renew it also in act as occasion is given by our transgressions and Gods displeasure for there is none of Gods Saints but alwayes carrying this corruption about them they sometimes fall and are farre from that perfection and goodnesse which the Lord requireth and therefore stand in need of repentance so long as they live When then is this repentance to be practised of us The practice of repentance ought to be continually an abhorring of evill and cleaving unto that which is good Rom. 12. 9. for as much time as remaineth in the flesh after our conversion 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. yet at times there ought to be a more speciall practice and renewing thereof as after grievous falls Psal. 51. in feare of eminent judgements Amos 4. 12. Gen. 33. 2 3 c. or when we would fit our selves to receive speciall mercies Gen. 35. 2 3 c. In what manner must the especiall practice of repentance in such
all his works even in his ordaining of some to eternall life and other some to everlasting destruction That his infinite justice and infinite mercy over all his creatures but especially over his Church may be reverenced and adored by all men but especially by my selfe That the name of God may be reverently and holily used of all men but especially of my selfe That when the glory of God commeth in question between my selfe and any thing that belongeth unto me I may preferre that unto this Finally that God would vouchsafe to plant and encrease in me and others such graces whereby his name may be glorified What are those graces for which we pray here in particular 1. Knowledge of God Psalme 100. 3. 67. 2. That God would give us the knowledge of himselfe his Word and Works for we cannot glorifie his name unlesse we know it 2. Beliefe of his Word that wee and others may sanctifie God in believing his Word how unlike soever Iohn 3. 33. Wherefore Moses and Aaron are said not to have sanctified the name of God because they beleeved not Numb 20. 12. Contrariwise Abraham glorified God in beleeving Rom. 4. 20. 3. Fearing the Lord alone and not men That the Lord be our feare Esa. 8. 12 13. 1 Pet. 3. 14 18. 4. Humility for our selves and others without which wee cannot glorifie God as it is meet Psalme 115. 1. 2 Sam 7. 18. Psal. 8. 4 5. 144. 3. Luke 1. 48. 5. Patience arising from thence whereby wee doe willingly submit our selves unto the correcting hand of God as Eli 1 Sam. 3. 18. Hezekiah Esa. 39. 8. 6. Thankfulnesse that we may praise him for his benefits more particularly where we are to hallow Gods name as well by praising it for the benefits we have received as for his wonderfull works in the Creation and government of the world the Church especially 7. Lips opened and tongues tuned to speak of him with reverence Psal. 51. 15. 44. 1. 45. 1. 8. A life so ordered that men may say he is a holy God who by his grace maketh us an holy people Matth. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Tit. 2. 10. That according as we know the vertues of our good God so the fruits of them may appeare in ours and all good peoples lives that so his name may be honoured and praised and he may get glory by the godly conversation of us and others VVhat doe we pray against in this Petition We pray against all ignorance of holy things we should know Hos. 8. 12. and against infidelity and want of good works whereby God wants of his glory we pray against all lofty and high things that hinder that God onely cannot be exalted Esa. 2. 11 12 13 14 15 16. especially the pride of our hearts which we are to confesse and lament Prov. 8. 13. Against all false religion and prophanenesse impatience unthankfulnesse Rom. 1. 21 c. those tongue-wormes of swearing blasphemy and unreverent speaking of God Exod. 20. 7. Esa. 2. 11 12 13 14 15. Prov. 8. 13. together with all wickednesse and ungodlinesse whereby Gods Name is dishonoured In a word we pray that God would remove and root out of our hearts tongues and lives all such vices by and for which his name is dishonoured especially an evill and scandalous life for which the name of God and his religion is evill spoken of in the world Rom. 2. 23 24. What doth this teach us Our dulnesse is hereby condemned who by nature are so ill-disposed to glorifie God and to use his name holily and reverently What is to be considered in the second Petition Let thy Kingdome come Matth. 6. 10. Luke 11. 2. One of the meanes how to have the name of God sanctified which is a dependance of the former Petition What is the summe of this Petition That God may reigne in our hearts and not sinne and that the Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ both by the inward working of his Spirit and also by the outward meanes may be enlarged dayly untill it bee perfected at the comming of Christ to judgement that the Kingdome of sinne and Satan being more and more abolished Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. Christ may now reigne in our hearts by grace Col. 3. 15 16. and we with him for ever in glory 2 Tim. 2. 12. What is meant here by Kingdome That government which our Saviour Christ exerciseth first in the world then in the last day both in the whole Church and in every member thereof For by the Kingdome of God wee must understand here not so much that univerall soveraignty which as Creator he exerciseth over all creatures disposing them all to their proper ends for his glory Esa. 5. 6. Psal. 95. 3 c. as the spirituall regiment Psalme 110. 2. 1 Cor. 15. 25. of the Church and of all things for the good of the Church wherein God hath appointed Christ to be the King Psalme 2. 6. Hos. 3. 5. the Saints his Subjects Rev. 15. 3. the Word his Law Job 22. 22. the Angels and all creatures his servants Heb. 1. 6 the Ministers his Heralds and Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5. 20. Finally the Devills kingdome Matth. 12. 26. that is wicked Angels and men enemies to the Kingdome of Christ Luke 19. 27. his foot-stoole Psalme 110. 1. How is this Kingdome said to come 1. In regard of the meanes where the word of the Kingdome is published Matth. 12. 28. 13. 19. Marke 4. 15. 2. In regard of efficacy where from the heart obedience is yeelded Rom. 6. 17. 3. In regard of perfection it hath these degrees 1. Increase of grace in the time of this life Matth. 13. 18. 2. The translation of blessed soules into heaven in the moment of death Luke 23. 42 43. 3. Finally the full redemption of glorification of the Saints in soule and body in the life to come Matth. 25. 34. VVhat doe we then desire concerning the kingdome of God in this Petition We pray either for that he exerciseth in this world or for that hee exerciseth in the world to come called the kingdome of glory How many sorts are there in that kingdome he exerciseth in this world Two First that he exerciseth over all men and other creatures called kingdome of power Secondly that he exerciseth over all the Church called the kingdome of grace What desire we of God concerning the government he exerciseth over all Creatures That he would governe all the creatures both in the naturall course of things and in the civill and domesticall government of men yea in the rule of Devils themselves in such sort as they may serve for the good of his Church Psal. 97. 1. Mat. 6. 13. John 17. 2. What desire we concerning his government in the Church That it may be here in this world inlarged and that it may be accomplished in the last day Psalme 112. 6. Isa. 62. 7. What doe we desire for the
effect of his pride He boasteth himselfe that he is God as the Popes flatterers in the Canon Law call him Our Lord God the Pope Neither doth his pride stay there but also he challengeth to himself things proper to God as the title of Holinesse also power to forgive sins and to carry infinite soules to hell without check or controlment and to make of nothing something yea to make the Scriptures to be no Scriptures and no Scripture to be Scripture at his pleasure yea to make of the creature the Creator It should seeme to be an impossible thing that men should be carried away from the faith of the Gospel by one so monstrous and directly opposite to Christ. It might seem so indeed if at once and at a sudden he had shewed himselfe in such foule colours and therefore by certaine decrees of iniquity he raised himselfe to his height of wickednesse and did not at the first shew himselfe in such a monstrous shape and likenesse How doth that appeare By the Apostle who in the 2 Thess. 2. 3. unto 13. sheweth of two courses the Devill held to bring this to passe one secret and covert before this man of sin was revealed the other when he was revealed and set up in his Seat What were the wayes of Antichrists comming before he was revealed Those severall errours which were spread partly in the Apostles time and partly after their time thereby to make a way for his comming and in this respect this mystery of iniquity was begun to be wrought as it were under ground and secretly in the Apostles time How was this mystery of iniquity wrought in the Apostles time By many ambitious spirits as it were petty Antichrists which were desirous to be Lords over the Church and wicked Hereticks which then sowed many errours and heresies as justification by works worshipping of Angels and which put Religion in meats and condemned marriage which were beginnings and grounds of Popery and Antichristianisme 3 John 9. Acts 5. 1. Gal. 1. 6 7. 2. 6. Col. 2. 18 21. 1 Tim. 4. 3. What gather you of this That those whom God hath freed from the bondage of Popery should strive to free themselves from all the remanents thereof lest if they cleave still to any of them God in judgment bring the whole upon them againe How shall Antichrists Kingdome be continued and advanced after that he is revealed By the power of Satan in lying miracles and false wonders What difference is there betwixt Christs miracles and theirs Very great every way for Christs miracles were true whereas these are false and lying and by legerdemaine Christs miracles were from God but theirs where there is any strange thing and above the common reach of men from the Devill Christs miracles were for the most part profitable to the health of man but theirs altogether unprofitable and for a vain shew Christs miracles were to confirme the truth but theirs to confirme falshood What gather you of this That seeing the Popes Kingdome glorieth so much in wonders it is most like that he is Antichrist seeing the false Christs and the false Prophets shall doe great wonders to deceive if it were possible the very Elect and that some of the false Prophets prophesies shall come to passe we should not therefore beleeve the doctrine of Popery for their wonders sake seeing the Lord thereby tryeth our faith who hath given to Satan great knowledge and power to work strange things to bring those to damnation who are appointed unto it Moreover whatsoever Miracles are not profitable to some good neither tend to confirme a truth they are false and lying so that as the Lord left an evident difference between his Miracles and the inchantments of the Egyptians so hath he left an evident difference between the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles and those of the Romish Synagogue Matth. 24. 24. Deut. 13. 12. Exod. 7. 12. Are not miracles as necessary now as they were in the time of the Apostles No verily for the Doctrine of the Gospell being then new unto the world had need to have been confirmed with miracles from heaven but it being once confirmed there is no more need of miracles and there we keeping the same Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles must content our selves with the confirmation which hath already been given What ariseth out of this That the Doctrine of Popery is a new Doctrine which hath need to to be confirmed with new miracles and so it is not the doctrine of Christ neither is established by his miracles What force shall the Miracles of Antichrist have Marvellous great to bring many men to damnation God in the just revenge of the contempt of the truth sending a strong delusion among them Hither to we have heard Antichrist described by his effects and properties now tell me here where is the place of his speciall residence That is the City of Rome How doth that appeare First because he that letted at the time when Paul wrote was the Emperour of Rome who did then sit there and must be dis-seated as the learned Papists themselves grant ere the Pope could enter upon it Secondly Rev. 17. 18. John called the City where he must sit the Lady of the world which at that time agreed onely to Rome being the Mother City of the world Thirdly it was that City which was seated upon seven hills Rev. 17. 9. which by all ancient Records belongeth properly and onely to Rome As for the occasion of the Popes placing there it came by the meanes of translating of the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople from whence ensued also the parting of the Empire into two parts by which division it being weakned and after also sundred in affection as well as in place was the easier to be entred upon and obtained by the Pope What doe you further gather of that the Apostle saith that he that letteth shall let That the Antichrist is not one particular man as the Papists doe fancy for then by the like phrase he that letteth must be one particular man where it cannot be that one man should live so many hundred yeeres as from Pauls time to the time of the translation of the Empire from Rome much lesse untill within two years and a half of the latter day as they imagine the time of Antichrist and therefore as by him that letteth is understood a succession of men and not one onely man so in Dan. 7. 3. 17. the foure beasts and the foure Kings doe not signifie foure particular men but foure governments in every one whereof there were sundry men that ruled so that the argument of the Papists who upon the words the man of sinne would prove that the Antichrist the Apostle speaketh of is one singular man is but vaine and hath no consequence in it But how can Antichrist be already come seeing the Empire yet standeth The name of the Empire onely remaineth the
nature onely which is the remainder of the morall Law written in the hearts of our first parents and conveyed by the power of God unto all men to leave them without excuse or that written Word of God vouchsafed unto the Church in the Scriptures first of the old and after also of the new Testament as the rule of faith and life 2. By the evidence of every mans conscience bringing all his works whether good or evill to light bearing witnesse with him or against him together with the testimony of such who either by doctrine company or example have approved or condemned him Shall there be no difference in the examination of the Elect and the Reprobate Yes for 1. The Elect shall not have their sinnes for which Christ satisfied but onely their good works remembred 2. Being in Christ they and their works shall not undergoe the strict triall of the Law simply in it self but as the obedience thereof doth prove them to be true partakers of the grace of the Gospel Shall there be any such reasoning at the last judgement as seemeth Matth. 7. 25 No but the consciences of men being then enlightned by Christ shall cleare all those doubts and reject those objections and excuses which they seem now to apprehend How shall the sentence be pronounced By the Iudge himselfe our Lord Iesus Christ who according to the evidence and verdict of conscience touching workes shall adjudge the Elect unto the blessing of the kingdome of God his Father and the Reprobates with the Devill and his Angels unto the curse of everlasting fire Shall men then bee judged to salvation or damnation for their workes sake 1. The wicked shall be condemned for the merit of their workes because being perfectly evill they deserve the wages of damnation 2. The godly shall be pronounced just because their workes though imperfect doe prove their faith whereby they lay hold on Christ and his meritorious righteousnesse to be a true faith as working by love in all parts of obedience Hitherto of the act of judgement What are we to consider in the third and last place The execution of this judgement Christ by his almighty power and ministery of his Angels casting the Devils and the reprobate men into hell and bringing Gods Elect into the possession of his glorious kingdome wherein the Reprobates shall first be dispatched that the righteous may rejoice to see the vengeance and as it were wash their feet in the bloud of the wicked What shall be the estate of the Reprobates in hell They shall remaine for ever in unspeakable torment of body and anguish of minde being cast out from the favourable presence of God and glorious fellowship of Christ and his Saints whose happinesse they shall see and envie into that horrible Dungeon figured in Scripture by utter darknesse blacknesse of darknesse weeping and gnashing of teeth the Worme that never dieth the fire that never goeth out c. What shall be the estate of the Elect in heaven They shall bee unspeakeably and everlastingly blessed and glorious in body and soule being freed from all imperfections and infirmities yea from such Graces as imply imperfection as Faith Hope Repentance c. endued with perfect Wisdome and Holinesse possessed with all the pleasures that are at the right hand of God seated as Princes in Thrones of Majesty crowned with Crownes of Glory possessing the new Heaven and Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousnesse beholding and being filled with the fruition of the glorious presence of God and of the Lambe Iesus Christ in the company of innumerable Angels and holy Saints as the Scripture phrases are What shall follow this Christ shall deliver up that dispensatory Kingdome which hee received for the subduing of his enemies and accomplishing the salvation of his Church unto God the Father and God shall be all in all for all eternity Amen What use may we make of this Doctrine concerning this generall end and finall judgement First it serveth to confute not onely heathen Philosophers who as in other things so in this concerning the worlds continuance became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was full of darknesse Rom. 1. being destitute of the Word of God to guide them but also to confute many prophane Atheists in the Church of God who doe not believe in their hearts those Articles of the Resurrection and of the generall judgement it is much indeed that there should bee Atheists in the Church of God and none in hell that any should deny or doubt of that which the devills feare and tremble at But sure the Apostle Peters prophesie is fulfilled 2 Pet. 3. 3. there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their owne lusts and saying Where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers dyed all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation and as they would perswade themselves so they shall for ever And answerable their lives are to such conceits Eccl. 11. 9. But if neither the light of reason it being impossible that the truth and goodnesse and justice of God should take effect if there were not after this life a doom and recompence 2 Thes. 1. 6. Nor secondly the light of Conscience which doubtlesse with Felix Acts 24. 25. makes them tremble in the midst of their obstinate gain-saying Nor thirdly the light of Scripture can convince and perswade men of this truth then we must leave them to be confuted and taught by woefull experience even by the feeling of those flames which they will not beleeve to bee any other then fancies and by seeing the Lord Iesus come in the Clouds when all nations shall weep before him and these Atheists especially lament their obstinate infidelity with ever dropping teares and ever enduring misery And this Doctrine may be terrour to all gracelesse and wicked livers to consider that the wrath of God shall be revealed from heaven against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men 2 Thes. 1. 6. when all the sweetnesse of their sinfull pleasures shal be turned into gall and bitternesse for ever Wis. 5. 6 7 8. How may the consideration of this Doctrine touching the end of the world and the day of Judgement be usefull to the godly First it should teach us not to seek for happinesse in this world or se our affections on things below for this world passeth away and the things thereof Secondly here is a fountaine of Christian comfort and a ground of Christian patience in all troubles that there shall be an end and a Saints hope shall not be cut off If in this life onely we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here is the comfort and patience of the Saints they wait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after
A BODY OF DIVINITIE OR THE SVMME AND SVBSTANCE OF Christian Religion Catechistically propounded and explained by way of Question and Answer Methodically and familiarly handled Composed long since by JAMES VSHER B. of ARMAGH And at the earnest desires of divers godly Christians now Printed and Published VVhereunto is adjoyned a Tract intituled IMMANVEL OR THE MYSTERY OF THE Incarnation of the SON OF GOD Heretofore writen and published by the same Author JOHN 17. 3. This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent LONDON Printed by M. F. for THO DOVVNES and GEO BADGER and are to be sold in S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet MDCXLV To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader I doe here present and commend unto thee a booke of great worth and singular use which was written and finished about twenty years since the Author whereof is well knowne to bee so universally eminent in all Learning and of that deepe knowledge and judgement in sacred Divinity that he transcendeth all elogies and praises which I can give him I commend it unto the Christian Reader under a two-fold notion the first respecteth the subject matter of this whole Work which is of greatest excellency ad being The summe and substance of Christian Religion upon which as a most sure foundation we build our faith ground all our hopes and from which we reap and retain all our joy and comfort in the assurance of our salvation which as at all times it is most profitable to be read studied and known so now if ever most necessary in these our days wherein men never more neglected these fundamentall principles as being but common and ordinary truths and spend their whole time study and discourse about Discipline Ceremonies and circumstantiall points and herein also not contenting themselves with those common rules and that clear light which shineth in the Word they are onely led by their own phantasies daily creating unto themselves diversity of new opinions and so falling into sects and schismes they break the bond of love and fall off from the communion of Saints as though it were no Article of their Creed and being in love with their own new Tenets as being the conception and birth of their own brains they contend for them more then for any fundamentall truths and not onely so but also hate maligne and most bitterly and uncharitably censure all those that differ from them in their opinions though never so conscientious and religious as though they professed not the same faith yea served not the same God nor beleeved in the same Christ but remain still Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and in comparison of themselves no better then Papists or at the best but carnall Gospellers The second notion under which I commend it respecteth the Work it self or the manner of the Authors handling it which is done so soundly and solidly so judiciously and exactly so methodically and orderly and with that familiar plainnesse perspicuity and clearnesse that it giveth place to no other in this kind either ancient or modern either in our own or any other Language which ever yet came to my view in which regard I may say of it as it is said of the vertuous woman Many have done excellently but this our Author exceedeth them all I will adde no more in the deserved praises of this Worke but leave it Christian Reader to thy self to peruse and judge of it commending thee to the Word of Gods grace and the good guidance of his holy Spirit who is able to build thee up in fruitfull knowledge to lead thee into all truth to direct and support thee in the wayes of godliness and to give thee an everlasting inheritance amongst the blessed Thine in the Lord Jesus Christ JOHN DOWNAME The Connexion of these Points together and Dependence of them one upon another IN Christian Religion wee are to consider the Ground thereof contained in the Scripture Parts which treat of Gods Nature in his Essence considered absolutely in it selfe where the doctrine of divine Attributes which respect either His perfection in his Simplenesse whereby he is exempted from Composition and division Infinitenesse wherby he is exempted from all measure of Time by his eternity Place by his immensity Life whence he is called The living God Considered in his All-sufficiency Al-seeing wisdom Foreknowledge Counsell Almighty power Holy will wherein is seen his Goodnesse and therein his love unto his creatures mercy or grace shewed them in their misery Iustice in his word called his Truth deeds disposing of all things rightly rendring to the creatures according to their works Persons subsisting in one and the same undivided Essence Kingdome in his Eternall decree which men must not curiously prie into but content themselves with what is made manifest Execution thereof in the workes of Creation of things Invisible The highest Heavens Angels Visible Unreasonable Reasonable man consisting of Body Soule Providence Common unto all creatures Proper respecting the everlasting condition of principall Creatures Angels Good Bad. Men who are ordered in This life by the tenor of a two-fold Covenant Nature or Workes where we are to consider the Conditions and Events Shame Primary the fall of our first parents Secondary the corruption of Nature originall Actions actual of omission commission Death comprehending all the curses of the Law whereunto the nature of man standeth subject Grace wherein we are to consider the state of Christ the Mediator in his Person and there in his Natures and their Union where of his Conception Nativity Distinction Two fold state of Humiliation Exaltation Office with his Calling thereunto Execution thereof concerning God the party offended wherein his priestly office is exercised the parts whereof are Satisfaction giving contentment to Gods Iustice by his Obedience to the Law Suffering for our sinne Intercession soliciting Gods mercy for those he hath redeemed Man the party offending to whom he communicates the grace by him purchased by his Propheticall office Kingly office The rest of mankind who are called by participation of his grace where we are to consider 1. The company thus called out of the world The Catholike Church of Christ where such as obey this calling in Outward profession alone hold onely externall communion with it Inward affection also internall with the Head Christ Iesus there being a Mutuall donation whereby the Father gives Christ to them them to Christ. Mysticall union whereby they are knit together by Gods quickning Spirit The rest of mankind whence ariseth the Communion of Saints 2. Grace whereunto they are called Reconciliation Iustification where of Iustifying Faith Adoption and therein of Hope Sanctification and therein of Love here consider the Rule of Holines the morall law contained in the ten Commandements wherein are to be considered Generall rules to be observed in the exposition of them Distinction of them into two tables containing the duties we owe unto God namely Having the
true God and entertaining him in all the powers of the soule Com. 1. Honoring him with that worship which is to be given from men to him Every day as occasion requireth either in Solemne worship prescribed in the 2. Com. Glorifying his name in the common course of our life in the 3. Com. One day certain in the week prescribed in the 4. Com. Man respecting Such acts as are joyned with advised consent in duties which we owe unto Speciall persons in regard of some particular relation which we beare unto them prescribed in the 5. Com. All men in generall for the preservation of their Safety in the 6. Com. Chastity in the 7. Com. Goods in the 8. Com. Good name in the 9. Com. The first thoughts and motions of evill towards our neighbour that doe arise from the corruption of our nature in the 10. Com. Exercise thereof Repentance Fruits thereof in Resistance of sinne by Christian warfare where of the spirituall Armour Conflict with the World Flesh Devill in prosperity adversity here of bearing the crosse Abounding in good workes especially towards God in Praier the rule whereof is contained in the Lords Prayer wherein are to be considered the 1 Preamble 2 Petitions 3 concerning Gods glory 3 touching our necessities 3 The Conclusion and there of thanksgiving Fasting Our brethrens Edification in respect of their soules Almsgiving for the good of their bodies 3 Meanes whereby they are called The outward ministery of the Gospell wherein consider 1 Minister 2 Parts of the ministery Word Seales annexed thereunto viz. Sacraments for confirming the promises to the obedient which are either of Initiation or Admission into the Church Continuall nourishment Censures for ratifying of threatnings towards the disobedient in Word by admonition Deed by Suspension Excommunication 3 The kinds thereof namely the Old ministery before Christ called The old Testament where of the 1 Word of the Gospell more sparingly and darkly delivered 2 Types and Ceremonies 3 Sacraments Initiation Circumcision Nourishment Paschall Lambe New from the comming of Christ unto the end of the world called The new Testament wherein is to be considered the cleernes and efficacy of the Word Sacraments Initiation Baptisme Nourishment The Lords Supper 4 Divers states of the Church The world to come by the sentence of a twofold Iudgement Particular upon every soule as soon as it departs from the body Generall upon all men at once both in soule and body therein is to be considered 1 Iudge Christ comming with the glory of his Father 2 Parties to be judged Quick of whom there shall be a change Dead of whom there shall be a resurrection 3 Sentence and execution thereof where of the The torments of the Damned The joyes of the Blessed THE HEADS OF THE BODY OF DIVINITY DIVIDED INTO Two and fifty Heads 1. OF Christian Religion and the grounds thereof Gods Word contained in the Scriptures 2. Of God and his Attributes Perfection Wisdome and Omnipotency 3. Of Gods Goodnesse and Justice and the Persons of the Trinity 4. Of Gods Kingdome and the Creation of all things 5. Of the Creation of man in particular and the Image of God according to which he was made 6. Of Gods Providence and continuall government of his creatures 7. Of the good Angels that stood and the evill Angels that forsooke their first integrity 8. Of the Law of nature or the Covenant of works made with man at his Creation and the event thereof in the fall of our first Parents 9. Of Originall and Actuall sinne whereunto all mankind by the fall is become subject 10. Of Gods curse and all the penalties due unto sinne whereunto man is become subject as long as he continueth in his naturall estate 11. Of the Covenant of Grace and the Mediator thereof Jesus Christ our Lord his two distinct natures in one Person together with his Conception and Nativity 12. Of the state of Humiliation and Exaltation of our Saviour his office of Mediation and calling thereunto 13. Of his Priestly office and the two parts thereof Satisfaction and Intercession 14. Of his Propheticall and Kingly office 15. Of the calling of men to partake of the grace of Christ both outward and inward and of the Catholick Church thus called out of the world with the members and properties thereof 16. Of the mutuall donation whereby the Father giveth Christ to us and us unto Christ and the mysteriall union whereby we are knit together by the band of Gods quickning spirit with the Communion of Saints arising from thence whereby God for his Sons sake is pleased of enemies to make us friends 17. Of Justification and therein of justifying faith and forgivenesse of sinnes 18. Of Adoption whereby in Christ we are not only advanced into the state of friends but also of sons and heires and therein of the spirit of Adoption and Hope 19. Of Sanctification whereby the power of sin is mortified in us and the image of God renued and therein of love 20. Of the direction given unto us for our sanctification contained in the Ten Commandements with the rules of expounding the same and of distinction of the Tables thereof 21. The first Commandement of the choice of the true God and the entertaining him in all our thoughts 22. The second Commandement of the solemn worship that is to be performed unto God and therein of Images and Ceremonies 23. The third of the glorifying of God aright in the actions of our common life and therein of swearing and blaspheming 24. The fourth of the certain time set apart for Gods service and therein of the Sabbath and Lords day 25. The fift of the duties we owe one unto another in regard of our particular relation unto such as are our Superiours Inferiours and equals 26. The sixt of the preservation of the safety of mens persons and therein of peace and meeknesse 27. The seventh of the preservation of chastity and therein of temperance and mariage 28. The eight of the preservation of our own and our neighbours goods and therein of the maintaining of justice in our dealing one with another 29 The ninth of the preservation of our own and our neighbours good name and the maintaining of truth in our testimony and truth 30 The tenth of contentednesse the first motions of concupiscence which doe any way crosse that love we owe to our neighbour whereto for conclusion may be added the use of the Law 31 Of Repentance 32 Of the spirituall warfare and Christian armour 33 Of resistance of the temptations of the Devill 34 Of resisting the temptations of the world both in prosperity and adversity and here of patient bearing of the Crosse. 35. Of resisting the temptations of the flesh 36. Of new obedience and good works and necessity thereof 37. Of Prayer in generall and
not those spirituall creatures sinning against him neither will he spare us rebelling against his Majesty 2 Pet. 2. 4. Thirdly to feare to offend God that hath such messengers to send at his command Fourthly to learn to arm our selves with the shield of faith and fear of God since we have such great enemies to fight against Eph. 6. 11. 1 Pet. 5. 9. Fifthly to be comforted that though the Devill be powerfull and most malicious against us yet Christ hath broken his head Gen. 3. 15. and at last will tread Satan under our feet Rom. 16. â—0 Thus much of the providence that concerneth Angels Shew now how God doth deale with man As with that creature in whom above all other he intendeth to set forth the glory of his Wisdome Power Justice and Mercy Prov. 8. 31. Psal. 8. 3. c. 1 Cor. 9. 9 10. and therefore the Scriptures doe most plentifully declare the dealing of God with man both in the time of this world and for ever hereafter How is man upheld in his being Two wayes First as all other bodily creatures partly by maintenance of every mans life here on earth for the time alotted by God himselfe Acts 17. 28. Ps. 36. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 10. Partly by propagation of kind unto the end of the world through the blessing of procreation Gen. 1. 28. Eccl. 1. 4. Secondly as Angels after a sort God so providing that though the body of man returneth to the earth from whence it was taken yet the soule perisheth not but returneth to God that gave it Eccl. 12. 7. yea that the same body also and every part thereof is preserved in the grave and shall be joyned intire to the soule at the last day so to continue for ever Job 19. 26 27. How manifold is the state wherein man is to be considered Threefold first the state of innocencie commonly had and lost of all mankind both elect and reprobate without difference Eccl. 7. Secondly the state of corruption and miserie seising on all men naturally but abiding without recoverie only in the Reprobate Rom. 3. 23. Thirdly the state of Redemption proper to the elect 1 Pet. 2. 9. Psal. 130. 8. All which doe make way unto that finall and everlasting estate of honour or dishonour fore-appointed unto all men beginning at the end of this life perfected at the day of judgement and continuing for ever in the world to come And thus touching this part of Gods providence the Scriptures doe teach us both the benefits of God bestowed upon man before his fall and likewise his justice and mercy towards him after his fall his justice upon the Reprobate who are left without hope of restitution and reserved together with the Devills unto everlasting punishment Matth. 25. 41. Rev. 20. 10. 15. His mercy upon the elect who notwithstanding their fall are restored again by grace Gen. 3. 15. Is it not likely that all the visible world together with man is fallen without hope of restitution by mercy Yes for it standeth well with the justice of God that seeing the visible world was made for the use of man Gen. 2. 9. that with the fall of man it should be punished Gen. 3. 17 18. and with his raising up be restored Rom. 8. 20 21 22. What is that speciall order of government which God useth towards mankind in this world and in the world to come In this world he ordereth them according to the tenor of a two-fold Covenant in the world to come according to the sentence of a two-fold judgement What understand you by a Covenant An agreement which it pleaseth Almighty God to enter into with man concerning his everlasting condition What be the parts of this agreement Two the one is the Covenant that God maketh with us the other is the Covenant that we make with God the summ of the former is that he will be our God of the latter that we will be his people Jer. 31. 33. What gather you from the former The sir-name of God as it is in divers places of Scripture and namely Exod. 3. 15. where it is said The Lord God of your Fathers the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Jacob hath sent me unto you this is my name for ever and this is my memoriall unto all generations from whence we may observe the singular glory and priviledge of Gods people in that God is content to take his sir-name of them Heb. 11. 16. Why is this sir-name added For that it is a fearfull thing to think of the proper name of God alone unlesse this be added to it whereby he declareth his love and kindnesse to us What gather you from the latter That man standeth bound by these Covenants of agreement to perform that duty which God requireth at his hands How many such Covenants be there Two First the Law and Covenant of works Secondly the free promise or Covenant of grace which from the comming of Christ is called the Gospell Rom. 10. 5 6. Gal. 3. 11 12. Which of them was first The Law for it was given to Adam in his integrity when the promise of grace was hidden in God How so since it is said that the Law was first given to Moses That is to be understood of the written Law as it was written by Moses and ingraven in tables of stone by the finger of God otherwise the same was imprinted in the beginning in the hearts of our first parents and therefore it is called the Law of nature Rom. 2. 14. How was this Law given unto Adam in the beginning It was chiefly written in his heart at his creation and partly also uttered in his eare in Paradise for unto him was given a will both to good and also to evill and also to be inclined thereto with ability to perform it There was something likevvise outwardly revealed as his duty to God in the sanctification of the Sabbath to his neighbour in the institution of marriage and to himselfe in his dayly working about the garden How doth it appeare that the substance of the Morall Law was written in the hearts of Adam and Eve First by the effect of it in them both who immediately after their fall were forced by the onely guilt of conscience not yet otherwise charged to hide themselves from Gods presence Gen. 3. 8. Secondly by the remainders thereof in all mankind who even without the Law are by light of nature a Law unto themselves Gen. 4. 6. Rom. 2. 14 15. How hath the Morall Law been delivered since the fall The summe thereof was comprised in ten words Exod. 34. 28. Deut. 4. 13. commonly called the Decalogue or ten Commandements solemnly published and engraved in tables of stone by God himself Deut. 10. 4. Afterwards the same was more fully delivered in the books of holy Scripture and so committed to the Church for all ages as the Royall Law for direction of obedience to God our King Jam.
2. 8. and for the discovery of sin and punishment due thereto Deut. 27. 26. Rom. 1. 31. 3. 20. What then doth the Law now require of us All such duties as were required of Adam in his innocency Levit. 18. 5. and all such as are required since by reason of his fall Deut. 27. 26. binding us to eternall death for our least defect therein Declare now out of that which hath been said what the Covenant of works is It is a conditionall Covenant between God and man whereby on the one side God commandeth the perfection of godlinesse and righteousnesse and promiseth that he will be our God if we keep all his Commandements and on the other side man bindeth himselfe to perform intire and perfect obedience to Gods Law by that strength wherewith God hath endued him by the nature of his first creation What was done in this Covenant on Gods part There was his Law backed with promises and threatnings and unto them were added outward seales What was the summe of this Law Doe this and thou shalt live if thou dost it not thou shalt dye the death What is meant by Doe this Keep all my Commandements in thought word and deed What is meant by life promised to those that should keep all the Commandements The reward of blessednesse and everlasting life Levit. 18. 5. Luke 10. 28. What is meant by death threatned to those that should transgresse In this world the curse of God and death with manifold miseries both of body and soule and where this curse is not taken away everlasting death both of body and soule in the world to come Deut. 27. 26. 29. 19. 20. 32. 22. Levit. 26. Deut. 28. What were the outward seales added hereunto The two trees planted by God for that purpose in the midst of the garden Gen. 2. 9. 3. 3. that Adam before and in the sight of them might resort to some speciall places to serve God in and might by the sight of them be put in mind of those things whereof they were signs and seales What did the tree of life serve for It sealed up happinesse life and glory unto man upon condition of obedience that by tasting thereof which no doubt according to the manner of Sacramentall signes was a tree of marvellous comfort and restoring he might be assured he should live in Paradise for ever if he stood obedient to Gods Commandements Gen. 2. 9. Prov. 3. 18. Revel 2. 7. Was this tree able to give everlasting life to man or otherwise why did God after the fall shut man from it It was no more able to give everlasting life then the bodily eating of any other Sacrament but Adam having by sin lost that which was signified hereby God would have him debarred from the use of the Sacrament What did the tree of the knowledge of good and evill serve for Both for triall of obedience and also for a warning of their mutability and of what would follow upon sin so sealing death and damnation in case of disobedience not as though the tree was able to give any knowledge but that by tasting of it contrary to Gods command they should have experimentall knowledge of evill in themselves which before they had of good only and by wofull experience should learn what difference there was between knowing and serving God in their integrity and being ignorant of him by their sin Gen. 2. 17. What was done in this Covenant on mans part Man did promise by that power which he had received to keep the whole law binding himself over to punishment in case he did not obey In what state is man to be considered under this Covenant In a twofold estate 1. Of Innocency 2. Of Corruption and misery What things are you to note in the innocent estate of man First the place where he was seated Secondly the happy and glorious estate he there enjoyed both in soul and body Where did God place man when he created him In a most glorious pleasant and comfortable Garden which is called Paradise or the Garden of Eden for pleasantnesse Gen. 2. 8. What doth the Scripture teach concerning it The place where it was and the commodities thereof Where and in what part of the world was it In Asia neer the meeting of Euphrates and Tygris those two famous Rivers What commodities had it All the principall creatures of God did adorn it and therefore it is said to be more extraordinarily then the rest of the world planted by God There are set down also the precious stones thereof under the Sardonyx pure metals under the gold precious woods under the Bdelium and so all other living things and growing creatures that it might be as it were a shop furnished for man to see in and learn by it Gods Wisdome Power and Majesty Doth this place now continue The place remaineth but the beauty and commodities be partly by the Floud partly by mans sin for which the whole earth is cursed almost abolished though as may be observed out of good Authors it is a very fruitfull place still What happinesse did man enjoy thus placed in Paradise It was partly inward partly outward Wherein did the inward appear First in his wonderfull knowledge whereby he made use of all the creatures of God as the greatest Philosopher that ever was Secondly in that holy and heavenly image of God of which Adam had the use and comfort before his fall it shining in him without tainture or blemish and he thereby being without all sin or punishment of sin Thirdly in the full fruition and assurance of the favourable and blissefull presence of his Creator Matth. 5. 8. Psal. 17. 15. and his heavenly company and conference with God without all fear as a subject with his Prince Gen. 3. 8. Fourthly in his joyfull serving God together with absolute contentment in himself Gen. 2. 25. Wherein did the outward appear First in having so comely perfect and glorious a body in which there was no infirmity pain nor shame though naked Gen. 2. 25. Secondly in his dominion over all the creatures that submitted themselves and did service unto him to whom also as their Lord he gave their originall names Gen. 2. 19 20. Thirdly in the comfortable state and sense not of Paradise alone but of all the world round about him having neither storm winter nor extremity in any creature What employment had man in this estate A twofold employment the first outward to till and dresse the Garden Gen. 2. 15. the other spirituall to worship and serve God his Creator and to procure his own everlasting blessednesse whereto he was fitted with freedome of will and ability for perfect obedience unto God according to the tenor of the Covenant of works What use are we to make of the knowledge of mans happinesse before his fall First to admire and praise the great goodnesse and favour of God in so dealing with man a clod of the earth Secondly
instant pronounceth and the conscience apprehendeth the sentence of blessing or cursing Heb. 9. 27. 2. The soule of every man accordingly is by the power of God and the ministery of Angels immediately conveyed into that state of happinesse or misery wherein it shall remaine till the resurrection and from thenceforth both body and soule for ever Luke 16. 22 23 26. Eccl. 11. 3. What gather you of this That the doctrine of Purgatory and Prayer for the dead is vaine seeing it appeareth by the Word of God that the souls of those that die in Gods favour are presently received into joy Isay 57. 2. Ioh. 5. 24. Luke 23. 43. Apoc. 14. 13. 1 Thess. 4. 16. and the souls of those that dye in their sinnes cast into endlesse torments no means being left after death to procure remission of sinnes Isay 22. 14. Iohn 8. 24. Rom 6. 10. What is the generall and finall judgement The great day of assize for the whole world wherein all mens lives that ever have been are or shall be being duly examined every one shall receive according to his works In which judgement we are to consider 1. The preparation to it 2. The acting of it 3. The execution of the sentence Wherein doth the preparation to the last judgement consist In five things 1. In the foretokening of the time thereof which though it be so sealed up in the treasury of Gods counsell that neither men nor Angels nor yet our Saviour himself as man in the dayes of his flesh had expresse notice thereof that from the uncertainty and suddennesse of it we might be taught to be alwayes in readinesse for it yet it hath pleased God to acquaint us with some signes whereby we may discern Christs approaching as men in the Spring time may discerne Summer approaching by the shooting forth of the Figtree What are the signes foretokening the last judgement They are certaine notable changes in the world and Church some further off some nearer unto the comming of Christ as 1. The publishing and receiving the Gospel throughout the world 2. The Apostasie of most part of professors not loving the truth 3. The revealing of Antichrist that Man of sinne and Childe of perdition who under the title of Christs Vicegerent opposeth himselfe to Christ in all his offices and ordinances both in Church and Common-wealth 4. Common corruptions in manners joyned with security as in the dayes of Noah and Lot 5. Warres and troubles in the world and Church 6. False Christs attended with false Prophets and armed with false miracles 7. The calling of the Iewes unto the faith of the Gospell 8. And lastly signes in Heaven Earth and all the Elements As the darkning of the Sunne and Moone c. Yea firing of the whole frame of Heaven and Earth with the signe of the Sonne of man whereby his comming shall then be clearly apprehended by all men What is the second thing in the preparation The comming of Iesus Christ the Iudge of the world who in his humane visible body but yet with unspeakable glory shall suddenly break forth like Lightning through the Heavens riding on the clouds environed with a flame of fire attended with all the host of the elect Angels and especially with the voice and shout of an Archangel and the Trumpet of God and so shall sit downe in the royall throne of judgement What is the third thing The summoning and presenting of all both dead and living men together with Devils before the glorious throne of Christ the judge How shall all men both dead and living be summoned By the voice of Christ appeared by the ministery of Angels and namely by the shout and Trumpet of the Archangel whereto the Lord joyning his divine power as unto the word preached for the work of the first resurrection shall in a moment both raise the dead with their own bodies and every part thereof though never so dispersed and change the living so that it shall be with them as if they had been a long time dead and were now raised to life againe Shall there be no difference betweene the resurrection of the elect and reprobate Yes for howsoever they shall both rise by the same mighty voice and power of Christ in the same bodies wherein they lived upon earth and those so altered in quality as then they shall be able to abide for ever in that estate whereunto they shall be judged yet 1. The elect shall be raised as members of the body of Christ by vertue derived from his resurrection the reprobate as Malefastors shall be brought forth of the prison of the grave by vertue of the judiciary power of Christ and of the curse of the law 2. The elect shall come forth to everlasting life which is called the resurrection of life the reprobate to shame and perpetuall contempt called the resurrection of condemnation 3. The bodies of the elect shall be spirituall that is glorious powerfull nimble impatible but the bodies of the reprobate shall be full of uncomelinesse and horror agreeable to the guiltinesse and terror of their consciences and liable to extreame torment How shall all men be presented before the throne of Christ The elect being gathered by the Angels shall with great joy be caught up into the aire to meet the Lord Luke 21. 28. 1 Thess. 4. 17. The reprobate together with the Devill and his Angels shall with extreame horrour and confusion be drawne into his presence Rev. 6. 15. What is the fourth thing The separation of the Elect from the Reprobate For Christ the great Shepheard shall then place the Elect as his Sheep that have heard his voice and followed him on his right hand and the Reprobates with the Devils as straying Goats on the left hand Matth. 25. 33. What is the fift and last thing The opening of the book of record by which the dead shall be judged Rev. 20. 12. viz. 1. The severall books of mens consciences which then by the glorious illumination of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shining in his full strength shall be so enlightned that men shall perfectly remember what ever good or evill they did in the time of their life the secrets of all hearts being then revealed 2. The book of life that is the eternall decree of God to save his Elect by Christ which decree shall then at length be made known to all Thus farre of the preparation to judgement what are we to consider in the second place The act of judgment wherein the Elect shal first be acquitted that they may after as assistants joyne with Christ in the judgement of the reprobate men and Angels How shall the act of judgement be performed 1. By examination 2. By pronouncing sentence The examination shall be according to the Law of God which hath been revealed unto men whether it be the Law of