Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherein there is Full and unmixed Happiness Of the satisfaction of their Senses Their clear and distinct Knowledge Perfect Holiness And without Reluctance Blissful Companions Perfection of Love and Kindness Honour and Eminence of Place All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens without satiety or weariness For evermore Of the miseries of the Damned in Tormenting Passions The worm of Conscience Fire and Flames Disgrace Under all which no favour of God. No company but of Tormenting Devils and damned Spirits None to condole when they cannot relieve No rest and sleep for Recruit of Spirits No end of their miseries The Use of this The Practical Believer PART II. Of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. CHAP. I. Of the Office and Natures of Jesus Christ. The Contents In what Salvation by Christ consists Being Christ notes his being 1. A Prophet to teach his Church We must hear and learn of him in the Holy Scriptures and at the mouths of his Ministers 2. A Priest to Redeem and Intercede for it 3. A King to Govern it by his Laws And by his Officers whom we are to submit to in his place Also to Protect it against all visible and invisible Enemies Jesus Christ is the Son of God as having receiv'd from the Father the Nature of God. And the Power of God. On both these Accounts and others he is our Lord. And to be worshipped What we learn from his being our Lord. Of Christ's being Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost and Born of a Virgin. He was truly Man. And why he was so Quest. WHat is the Second Article of the Creed Answ. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Quest. Jesus signifies a Saviour from what doth Christ save us Answ. From two things 1. Our sins 2. Those eternal Torments which are the Punishment of them Quest. If he prove a Saviour to us must he Reform and save us from our sins Answ. Yes for this is the main Reason why that Name was given him Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. Quest. Will he save none from the Punishment but whom he saves from the sins first Answ. No for except ye Repent ye shall all perish Luke 13. 3. and at last he will say Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Mat. 7. 23. Quest. But when once they are delivered from their sins they may make sure of being freed by him from Eternal Death too Answ. Yes for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. Quest. Christ signifies anointed among the Greeks as Messiah doth among the Hebrews Messiah if interpreted being the Christ or anointed as St. Andrew said John 1. 41. But what mean you when you call Jesus the Messiah or Christ that is the anointed Answ. His being invested with the Office of a Prophet to teach his Church of a Priest to make Reconciliation and intercede for it and of a King to Govern and Protect it Quest. Why do you call such Investiture his Anointing Answ. Because anciently Investitures into these Offices were according to the Eastern Custom by pouring Oyl upon them as in the case of the Arch-Prophet Elisha 1 Kings 19. 16. and High-Priest Aaron Lev. 8. 12. And in Kings as the Jewish Doctors note when they received not their Office and Authority by Succession but by extraordinary Designation as in the case of King Saul 1 Sam. 9. 16. 10. 1. and King David 1 Sam. 16. 13. Answerable to which Messiah's Designation to his Office which was to include all these is call'd his being Anointed Isa. 61. 1 2 3. Quest. Was Christ invested in these Offices by pouring Oyl upon him Answ. No but by pouring a nobler thing the miraculous Powers and Gifts of the Holy Ghost which install'd him and answer'd to their anointing God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with Power Acts 10. 38. Quest. Was Christ in the Office and Quality of a Prophet to teach his Church Answ. Yes he was a Teacher sent from God John 3. 2. What he said he spake not of himself but as the Father gave him Commandment so he spake John 12. 49 50. So that the People spoke a great truth when they said This is of a truth that Prophet who was to come into the World John 6. 14. Nay he was not in the rank of an ordinary Prophet but in a pitch of Eminence far above all others For he not only had a Prophetick Spirit resting always on him which the best of them enjoy'd but on certain times and occasions but he knew the will of God by Personal Acquaintance and immediate intuition not barely at second hand by the Message of an Angel or by a Vision or a Dream as they all did The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1. 18. And on this account among others of all Prophets and Interpreters of God's mind he alone is call'd the Word because lying in God's Bosom he had his mind without any thing intervening as immediately as a word expresses ones meaning Quest. What must this teach us Answ. Whensoever we would know the mind of God to seek only unto him and never to hearken to any other New Lights or Enthusiastical Pretenders In all times both in the Apostles days and ours several Impostors and false Prophets have come with pretended Messages to shew men the will of God and the way to Happiness But we are to give ear to none of these this work of communicating God's mind to men not being left at random but peculiarly intrusted with Jesus Christ that great Prophet of the Church who is especially constituted by God and anointed for this purpose This is my beloved Son said God in the voice from the bright Cloud in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. Quest. But how shall we do to learn of him since now he is no more among us here on Earth but is gone to Heaven Answ. Two ways he exercises his Prophetick Office to communicate the mind of God to us 1. By the Scriptures What God told him he first by Personal Converse and afterwards by his Spirit leading them into all truth told the Apostles and Evangelists and they put it in writing in the Book call'd the Holy Scriptures to be preached and published to all others thro' all times So that when we hear them read we must think we hear Christ our great Prophet speaking to us And to be debarr'd or debar our selves of the use of them what is it but to be debarr'd of this great Prophet's free Communication 2. By his Ministers whom he has left and appointed to declare God's mind to the People in his place Thus the Priests were appointed among the Jews The Priests lips should preserve Knowledge and the People should seek the Law
please God and go to Heaven But do you suppose that some may still be Prophets and have Revelations about other things Answ. Perhaps they may about Particular accidents to particular Persons or Families or about great Revolutions to States or Empires As to these Matters it is not for me to stint the kindness and care of God or to determine what intimations he may sometimes vouchsafe from the other World. And if any wise sober and good men by the forcibleness of the impression on their minds after the Prophetick way which convinces and satisfies themselves and by the correspondence of events which may satisfie others find they have any such thing I shall not withstand them and so long as they do not offer these to innovate in Religion the Revelations of the Scripture are no bar against them Quest. You have fully explained this first miraculous Gift of the Holy Ghost the Gift of inspirations Were there any other miraculous Gifts subservient to it which you would explain to me under this Head Answ. Yes First the Gift of discerning Spirits i. e. among all the Pretenders to inspiration who spoke true inspirations and who meer pretences of it or Satanical delusions We have received the Spirit of God saith St. Paul which reveals to us the Things of God. And he that is Spiritual judgeth all Things that are pretended by others yet he himself is judged of no man i. e. they who want his Spirit cannot judge of him For who i. e. of those who want this Spirit hath known the mind of the Lord to discern when another meerly pretends to it 1 Cor. 10. 12 15 16. And this Gift of Discerning Spirits was very necessary in that Age to warn the Church against False Prophets For when there was such a commonness of true Revelations it gave the greatest opportunity to Diabolical Enthusiasts or wicked Impostors to obtrude their inventions or delusions upon the Church hoping they should pass for inspirations among the crowd of others Now are there many False Phrophets gone out into the World saith St. John which makes it necessary not to believe every Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. Quest. This Gift indeed was necessary to discover them before the Scriptures were written but when once they had them could not any Christians thereby detect Impostors without the Gift of discerning Spirits Answ. Yes and so St. John and the other Apostles in their Epistles gave ordinary Rules for this purpose One of these Rules was confessing Christ to be come in the Flesh. Try the Spirits says he whether they be of God and hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God and every one that denys it is not of God 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. and 2 Joh. 7. Another Rule was their submission to the Apostles and Governours of the Church since God would inspire no man to break Unity and make needless Schisms We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour 1 Joh. 4. 6. But the most comprehensive Rule of all was their agreement or dissonancy with the Holy Scriptures as I noted before and the Revelations of the undoubted Apostles If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the Things which I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14. 37. But if any Man or Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that you have received already let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. Quest. What other miraculous Gifts besides this of Discerning Spirits were subservlent to this Gift of inspirations Answ. Secondly the Gift of utterance i. e. of assurance fluency and volubility of speech whereby they were enabled to declare and make known their Revelations to advantage This St. Paul desired the Colossians to beg of God for him Praying for us that God would open to us a Door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak Col. 4. 3 4. Under which is comprehended that miraculous boldness which these poor men shew'd to admiration in asserting undauntedly a most exploded Cause in the face of their numerous and potent Adversaries That utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 19 20. Quest. Was this miraculous Boldness a Gift bestowed upon the Old Prophets Answ. Yes it was a part of that Spirit of Fortitude the Jewish Writers speak of wherewith God armed a Prophet before he sent him with a difficult and perillous Message in which he might foresee the greatest terrour and dread of men to stop his Mouth Thus God told Ezekiel when he sent him to the impudent and hard-hearted Israelites Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads As an Adamant harder than Flint have I made thy Fore-head Fear them not neither be dismayed at their Looks though they be a Rebellious House Ezek. 3. 8 9. Thus also he bid Jeremiah speak and not be dismayed at their Faces for he had that Day made him a defenced City an Iron Pillar and Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah the Princes the Priests and the People thereof Jer. 1. 8 17 18 19. Quest. And did the Holy Ghost give this miraculous Boldness to the Apostles Answ. Yes in a wonderful measure They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with Boldness Act. 4. 31. And when the Jewish Rulers saw the Boldness of Peter and John asserting freely the Power and Authority of Jesus and taxing them openly as his wicked Murderers to their very Faces they marvelled ver 10 11 12 13. Quest. Had they this boldness of Spirit at all times Answ. No. For at Corinth St. Paul says of himself that he was with them in Weakness and Fear and much Trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. In some great Dangers and pressing Necessities their Natural Fears would return upon them to trouble them for some time Thus it sometimes happen'd to St. Paul where he expected the most perillous opposition for after the hardships and hazards he had run through at Philippi and at Thessalonica expecting the like at Corinth too he was with them as he says in much trembling and so discouraged that he needed a Revelation to embolden him Act. 18. 1 9 10. And thus it did especially if at such time he were alone and had not his Companions with him When he came into Macedonia whilst he was by himself his Flesh had no Rest but he was troubled on every side without were fightings and within were fears But as soon as his Coadjutor Titus came to him he took heart and God who
own death and the strange kind of it by hanging after the Roman way upon a Cross which was not only most accidental but most improbable since if he was taken off at all it was not like to be by Roman but Jewish malice He foretold also that Judas one of his own Disciples should betray him and that before he was given up to Satan to enter into him or Judas himself 't is like ever thought of any such thing nay he knew it says S. John from the very beginning John 6. 64 70 71. And that Peter should deny him yea and that just thrice before the Cock crew twice Mark 14. 30. whereas those three occasions of his denial were then not only in themselves most uncertain but at the same time Peter made so sure of his not denying him at all that he confidently said he would rather die with him than do it in any wise Verse 31. To these I might add his Prediction of the Bloody persecutions of his Disciples the unhappy success of false Prophets the continuance of his Church and Religion though ever and anon groaning under most heavy Sufferings to the worlds end with many others Quest. Is this Prediction of future Contingencies a work peculiar to the All-seeing God and above the skill of all infernal Spirits Ans. Yes and thence 't is called Divination as manifesting the Divinity of a Being And accordingly herein God challenges all the pretended Gods of the Heathens saying Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that you are Gods Isaiah 41. 23. And this the Devils plainly manifest themselves unable to do by the Ambiguity of their Oracles when they are consulted in these cases For not knowing what will be the event of things they use artifice in words and frame Responses of such doubtful construction as are liable to be turned both ways and so equally capable of being verified by all events Such was the noted Answer of the Devil at â— elphos cited by Cicero from Ennius which he is said to have given to Pyrrhus King of Epirus when he consulted him about the issue of the War with the Romans Aio te AEacida Romanos vincere posse Which according to the different ways Men should begin the construction was equally good Latin and would be equally true whether he should conquer the Romans or they should conquer him And such also was that other Answer which he cites from Herodotus said to be given to Croesus King of Lydia when he went against Cyrus Croesus Halym penetrans magnam pervertet opum vim That is if he passed the River Halys against Cyrus he should consume a vast Wealth and waste a great Domination which would be very true whether it fell out to be theirs or his own These studiously uncertain and ambiguous Answers are a plain sign the Demon was at a non-plus Besides that future Contingencies are out of the reach and foresight of impure Spirits is plain because those causes are whereon such futurities depend For they are wrapt up in the free-will of Men which the Devils cannot force but only tempt and in the Counsel and Providence of Almighty God whose early determinations are hid from them and are a secret locked up in his own Breast Quest. But have not Demons oft foretold such futurities as when Spurinna the Augur by the Diabolical signs in the Sacrifice could warn Julius Caesar of his danger such a day if he went into the Senate-House Ans. That the Demon might easily foretel when the time and place and persons and other circumstances of the Murder had been resolved on among themselves and he had been present and principally influenced their Debates in all their Consults Such Predictions are but like a seasonable discovery made by some of the Conspirators Quest. But what say you to Predictions of more remote things as yet unconcerted among the immediate Actors and to their foretelling the success of attempts or expeditions or other futurities of contingent nature which the Demons often revealed to their Prophets both by Oracles entrails of Sacrifices feeding of Pullen and other ways in use among Heathen Diviners Ans. When they ventured at these it was not with certainty and assurance as infallible understandings but only by guesses and conjectures from the appearances of things their preparations and probabilities as politick observers wherein they can go far by reason of their great knowledge and experience And when they were put to Answer on these points if they were more distrustful of the issue they gave ambiguous and uncertain Answers capable of being verified by all events which would be a sure reserve for their errors as in the case of Croesus and Pyrrhus But if the event seemed more likely and they were presuming and bold enough to Answer plainly then since the effect would several times hit as well as sometimes miss they hoped all would be expounded in their favour and their mistakes salved by the Candor and Devotion of their Worshippers Quest. But do not you think Demons can speak of some such futurities in plain Speech and there too with certainty and assurance Ans. Yes some events are put into their hands when any Persons are delivered to them either for their trial as Job or for their punishment as Ahab And after such delivery they may foretel these events as depending upon themselves Thus might Satan easily have foretold the Invaâ—ions of the Chaldeans and Sabeans upon Job's Oxen and Camels after he had gained God's Licence and Judas's Treason after he was delivered up to him to enter into him And thus might they in the Gentile Divinations foretel cures of Diseases whereof by God's Commission they had been the Inflictors seeming then to cure where they only ceased to kill as Tertullian says To predict such things as are left to their Power and Ministry to accomplish requires no more skill than to know before-hand what they intend to do and what are their own Decrees and Purposes But 't is beyond the fore-sight of any Demons to foretel such remote Contingencies before the abandoning of Persons as God doth frequently in the Holy Scriptures declaring the most accidental things which shall happen to Men yet unborn or the most free and voluntary which shall be done by them And as the Blessed Jesus did and his Apostles after him by his Spirit foretelling what should befal the whole Nation of the Jews both young and old after almost forty Years and what should happen to his own Church in remote Ages and what should be not only the temptations and trials but the most contingent carriage and free actions of good Men who were in God's Protection and whom the impure Spirits could only tempt not govern as is plain among many others in that of Peter's thrice denying and the Apostles forsaking him Quest. But the famed Oracles of the Sibyls from which Virgil transcribed some
Predictions and which startled Cicero when the Quindecemviri who had the custody and exposition of them were bringing out thence the news of a King into the Senate were spoke of Christ and fully verified in him who was no abandoned Person And did not Demons here foresee and foretel such futurities as depend on God and were wrapt up as you said in his Counsel Ans. No for very probably the Spirit that revealed those things to these Heathen Sibyls was not any infernal Spirit but the Spirit of the true God which sometimes inspired Heathens as it did Balaam the Aramite to Prophesy of several events particularly of Messiah thereby even among the Gentile World to raise an expectation of him who was to be the desire of all Nations Or if they had it not from the Spirit of God at the first hand yet had they it thence at the second viz. by reading it in the Jewish Prophets by whom God had before foretold these things which is a thing not improbable since they express them sometimes in their very Forms and Allegories The Demons revealed not these things to their Prophets or if they did the Prediction was not their own but as Tertullian says they stole their Divination Quest. The powers of darkness then can only guess at such futurities whose causes are at work and whereof they see signs and appearances like Politicians or discover things ready to take effect when they have been in the club of the Actors and Conspirators or presignifie what they intend to do with such as God has delivered into their hands or repeat Predictions from God's true Prophets in the Holy Scriptures in some one or other whereof did their fore-sight consist in Heathen Divinations But as for the voluntary actions of all under God's Protection and all such remote and contingent futurities as are not determinable by natural causes but depend upon Mens free-will and God's free Providence they are above their reach so that we are sure of the true God where we have such Predictions Ans. Yes and therefore it is evident Jesus came from God because he as I said and his Apostles after him by his Spirit did foretel such as these as I have shewn in several instances Quest. What other Miracles did Jesus work which are peculiar to God and above the power of a wicked Spirit Ans. Secondly He saw into Mens hearts and secret thoughts discovering before any outward proofs and manifestations the fickleness of some Disciples John 2. 24. and the veil'd falshood of the Scribes and Pharisees who stood as insidious Spies upon him Luke 6. 8. and adapting his Answers and Discourses not only to Mens Questions but also to their inward Thoughts and Surmizes before they expressed and proposed them to him as he did with the Pharisees Matth. 12. 25. and in several other places And this is another work which God claims as peculiar to himself stiling himself the searcher of hearts and trier of reins yea claiming the knowledge of them for this reason which is peculiar to him because he is to judge and recompence them I the Lord search the heart and try the reins to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 17. 10. And thou even thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men saith Solomon 1 King. 8. 39. Quest. Did Jesus any more Miracles which are performable only by the finger of God and are above the force of Magick Ans. Yes Thirdly He raised the dead as Jairus's daughter and the widows son of Nain when he was carried out to be buried and Lazarus after he had been four days dead And this again is peculiarly God's work For when once Souls are separated from their Bodies they undergo God's Sentence and are secured in such places as he allots whence they cannot return or be remanded but by his Licence and Power that effects all things There is no God with me for I kill and I make alive saith God by Moses Deut. 32. 39. All separate Souls are under Locks and Keys and 't is a Divine Hand which holds the keys of hell and of death Rev. 1. 18. Quest. Have you any more instances Ans. Yes Fourthly Casting out Devils And those not only where they were of the most stubborn sorts which had proved too hard for his Disciples but also where they were in greatest numbers the Devils ejected by him out of one Man being called by themselves Legion which notes a Roman Army of six thousand Men Mark 5. 9. Yea not only expelling but as their awful Judge whose Rod they dread and at whose frown they tremble terrifying them and forcing them often to cry out Let us alone thou Holy One of God thou Son of God we beseech thee torment us not art thou come to torment us before the time Mark 1. 24. Luke 8. 28. Nay he impowered the seventy Disciples and afterwards the very meanest of his followers in virtue of his dreadful Name with like Triumph to eject them Luke 10. 17. And what is more when some that did not adhere to him would try to scare and controul them by his Sacred Name the trembling Devils fled before them Mark 9. 38. And this is another work peculiar to God which whatsoever some Potent Demons can to be sure they never will imitate Indeed in some particular instances the higher Orders may command and eject some particular inferiour Spirits and thereby serve their own designs But to go on ejecting all Ranks and Orders and those where they are in the greatest numbers and combinations and that with terrors consternation and torments is plainly to commence an open War among themselves which as our Saviour argued must needs destroy the Devil's Kingdom and therefore is a thing too foolish and absurd to be imagined of intelligent subtle and designing Spirits Matth. 12. 25 26. Quest. I see the Miracles of Jesus were evidently distinguished from the lying wonders of Satan by the very kind of them in these instances Pray now show also how they were as convincingly discriminated by their intent and design in all others Ans. Because all the Miracles of Jesus were apparently wrought to exalt the honour and service of the true God and to promote the real good of Men and to plant Tempers and Practices diametrically opposite to the way and genius of evil Spirits aiming to root out all those Errors and Superstitions which they had cultivated with utmost care through all former Ages to overthrow their Altars reduce their Worshippers and utterly exclude them from all that Domination which they had so long usurped among Men. And 't is certain that a worker of Miracles for these Pious Heavenly and Charitable purposes is not acted or directed by wicked Spirits For if they cease to be God's Enemies and ours they cease to be Devils If they turn Preachers of Humility Purity the Love of God and of
beyond appearances Ans. Yes and the prospect of that animated the Apostles to go on couragiously in converting the World an attempt impossible in all human judgment And all Ancient and Modern Worthies to set on any Publick Reformations in evil times and do the World good against their wills And all honest Men whose cause was good and dear to God to hope he would stand by it and restore it even when they saw it reduced to the last extremities In summ in licentious times it has heretofore and must still strengthen Magistrates in asserting Laws and Justice and Ministers in preaching down prevailing errors and reigning vices and all Publick Spirits in pursuing Pious or Charitable Projects and all Good Men in supporting the oppressed in curbing vice in breaking wicked customs in setting on any great honour of God or good Men in their several stations They must not hastily think they shall not be able to effect what they have cause to hope God will set forward but believe as S. Paul said that they can do all things through Christ strengthening them Phil. 4. 13. But then their hope and confidence must still be fixed in God not in themselves or outward aids and when they go to meet difficulties it must be as David did to meet Goliah only in the Name of the Lord of hosts 1 Sam. 17. 45. Quest. Must this consideration of God's having in him the Power of all his Creatures teach us any thing else Ans. Yes to trust his Providence for the supply of any wants especially where he has given us any Word and Promise Nay then to hold on trusting even in the most destitute cases and against all probabilities For all things even the hardest and most improbable are equally easie unto God so that nothing must seem improbable which he declares he will bring about When Faith and Trust is in Man or any Earthly thing it is ruled by probability But when it is in a Power Almighty it makes no difference of likely or unlikely As Abraham's Faith did not when he believed Gods Promise to send him a son though at that time both Sarah and he were too old in course of Nature to have one and to make that Son a numerous seed which he firmly believed at the same time he was commanded to offer him up and so could have no Son by him unless he were first restored to him from the dead Quest. This indeed shows a high esteem and confidence in God to relie upon his Word when there is not the least sign of its taking effect but things look as if there were no way for it to be effected Ans. Yes so it doth And therefore among all acts of Religion there is none that doth more endear Men to God. This our Father Abraham found it being upon this account that he became so dear to God as to be called the friend of God Jam. 2. 23. and the father of the faithful Rom. 4. 11. 16. and that his bosom should be made the receptacle of the blessed Luke 16. 22. For his Faith saith the Apostle above all his other virtues was imputed to him for righteousness Rom. 4. 3 9. And among all his acts of Faith those God was pleased to impute to him as the most notable which were shown in these two difficult instances He staggered not at the unlikelihood of his having a son but was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform and therefore saith S. Paul it was imputed unto him for righteousness Rom. 4. 19 20 21 22. And when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar says S. James then the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God Jam. 2. 21 23. Such is the extraordinary value and recompence of trusting God in a seemingly most improbable and desperate case where 't is visibly put to a push of Omnipotence to make good his Promise Quest. I see God can do whatsoever any things in the World can do But can he also hinder any things in the World from doing whatsoever they are naturally bent or wont to do Ans. Yes for as by him they were all made so as the Apostle says in him they still subsist and move and operate and therefore whensoever he pleases to suspend or withdraw their Power they have no longer use of it Thus the fire could not consume nor singe Shadrach Meshach and Abednego nor the hungry Lyons fasten on the Prophet Daniel nor the venemous Beast sting the Holy Apostle nor the destroying Angel touch an Israelite nor the Plague or Pestilence or other contagious Disease infect or seize the Psalmist nor the wicked Jews act their spite on our Saviour Christ nor the Infernal Spirits touch Job or try his Patience whilst God was pleased to withhold them He suspends the Operations of all hurtful Creatures evil Men and wicked Spirits at his Will so that they invade no Person and act at no time but only when and so far as he allows them Quest. And what must this teach us Ans. Not hastily to conclude any case of good Men desperate and incapable of cure or ease For when dangers or disasters from the most hurtful things or Persons threaten most 't is but for God to interpose and either divert or suspend their power and then the most fierce and mischievous things become tame and harmless and the dangers from them little or none at all And thus he is wont to interpose for good Men rescuing them as he did Holy David frequently out of the very jaws of Death and saving them as he did S. Paul after he had the sentence of death in himself 2 Cor. 1. 9. Quest. But what if we are at the last extremities must we hope still when evil is fastning upon us or at the very door Ans. Yes if we have any express promise of deliverance for God as I noted formerly never forgets his Word though sometimes he may delay the performance of it to the last Or if we have an express command for the work wherein the danger meets us as S. Peter had for coming to Christ upon the water For since Christ bid him do the thing he should have hoped to the end that he would stand by him and therefore was rebuked for doubting and staggering in Faith though it were when the wind was boistrous ready to bury him in every Wave and he already began to sink Matth. 14. 29 30 31. Or lastly if we have no other claim for relief but only from God's Providence whose Protection we may generally presume on in his own ways and in pursuit of all good and prudent enterprizes as our Lord intimates when he rebukes the Apostles for want of Faith in fearing Shipwrack though they neither had any particular command to Sail nor express promise of a safe Voyage but were to ground this Faith
it is also free in the second so as not to require in us any Terms or Conditions Answ. No for the main instances of God's Grace that is of his gratuitous and undeserved Gifts are the forgiveness of sins the saving assistances of his Spirit and Eternal Life And all these are given tho' not for any of our Deserts yet upon Conditions Quest. Is forgiveness of sins one instance of God's Free Grace Answ. Yes we are justified that is acquitted in judgment or have our sins pardon'd freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. and we have forgiveness according to the riches of his Grace Eph. 1. 7. Quest. And this Grace of Forgiveness you say is granted to us on Conditions Answ. Yes on Condition of our true Repentance For we are to Repent that our sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. And Christ was exalted to be a Saviour to give Repentance and Remission of sins Act. 5. 31. And when he sends out his Apostles to publish this Grace he orders them to preach Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name to all Nations Luk 24. 47. Quest. The saving Assistance of God's holy Spirit is another eminent instance of Grace and is most commonly called so in common speech but is that given too upon Conditions Answ. Yes on condition of our own care and concurrent endeavours For tho' the first motions and suggestions of the Spirit which make the first step in our Conversion may prevent our endeavours yet the continuance of them on our Hearts and their encrease to a saving pitch that will govern our Lives and guard us against Temptations depends upon our own Concurrence To him that hath that is improves what God bestows shall more be given but from him that hath not i. e. doth not profit with it as the wicked Servant did not who went and hid his Talent shall be taken away even what he hath Mat. 25. 25 29. And when St. Paul tells us God works in us both to will and to do he tells us withal that we must be Fellow-workers and work out our own Salvation Phil 2. 12 13. Quest. Is Eternal Life another instance of Free-Grace Answ. Yes it is an instance of it and the Crown and consummation of all the rest It is called the Gift of God Rom. 6. 23. and the Free gift of God Rom. 5. 15 16 18. Quest. And is it also bestow'd upon Conditions Answ. Yes upon condition of our Obedience to the Laws of God. Being made perfect thro' Suffering Christ became the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. And blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22. 14. Quest. The Grace we have by the death of Christ then is free as you say only as that excludes all our Deserts but not as it excludes all Terms and Conditions Answ. Very right And this is plain by that way wherein God makes over all that Grace to us which is by the New Covenant For what is given by way of Covenant is given upon Terms because Covenants differ from absolute Grants and imply Articles on both sides And thus the Benefits of the Gospel are given to us For Christ's sake we shall receive Remission of sins the Assistance of the Spirit and Eternal Life tho' we never deserved them but we shall not receive them unless we Repent and obey in order to them Quest. By this I perceive the Grace of Christ is no encouragement to sin or slothfulness and that his dying for our sins will not save us from dying for them our selves unless we repent of them Answ. Undoubtedly it will not Quest. But as soon as ever we repent we may believe and trust that we shall be saved by it Answ. Yes and this is the true Faith in his Blood that is a Faith that our Life shall be spared and we reconciled to God for the sake of it God hath set forth Christ a Propitiation for the Remission of sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. But this Faith belongs not to any whilst they continue in sin and are wicked men but only when they begin to obey and serve him Quest. From what you have said it appears that Christ's great aim in dying for us was to reclaim us from our sins and make us holy and good men and that he purchased Reconciliation and the favour of God only to shew us it would not be in vain and to encourage us to become so Answ. Yes so it was For he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. And he bare our sins in his own Body upon the Tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. Quest. You say Christ died to atone and satisfie for sins that God might pardon us when we repent of them But why did he not think Repentance enough without a Ransom Why would he not pardon Penitents unless Christ would die to make satisfaction for them Answ. Because the requiring such a satisfaction shewed his perfect hatred of sin which is for the Honour of his Holiness and the strict care of his Laws which maintains the Reputation of his Justice and took off all hope of impunity if men shall go on still to transgress and so was the greatest discouragement to future offences All which would have been otherwise had he been easie in forgiving and admitted of a Reconciliation without a Ransom Quest. How doth the requiring such a satisfaction shew his perfect hatred of sin for the Honour of his Holiness Answ. Because he would not remit the Punishment of it but upon the highest Ransom and because when he undertook to answer for it he would not spare it in his own Son so that his hatred to it could not be overcome even by his love to him Nay moreover because when in consideration of his infinite Merits and their Repentance he returns into favour with them yet to shew his absolute detestation of their former sins he will not receive even the Prayers and Devotions of Penitent Sinners at their own Hands or treat with them in person but requires a Mediator to offer up and transact all for them And withal admitting no other either in Heaven or Earth for that Advocate but only his own eternal and most dearly beloved Son To shew that when they offered the greatest Consideration yet in indignation at their former Provocations he would have no deangs with them by any person less great and dear than him Quest. How doth it shew his strict care of his Laws for the Honour of his Justice Answ. Because he would not dispense with the threatnings of those Laws where he had no less a Reason than the Salvation of all men the greatest and most considerable part of the visible Creation without a valuable recompence Quest. How doth
fit to come to a most holy God from the Hand of no other Mediator but him who has not only the acceptableness of his Person to prefer but the Merit of his Sacrifice too to atone for them Quest. By this it should seem that whensoever we pray for any thing to Almighty God we should not seek after other Mediators but apply by him And since he is so Powerful in Mediation this is not only our bounden Duty but our truest Wisdom Answ. So it is For he is our Advocate with the Father 1 John 2. 1. the one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 2. 5. Whatsoever says he you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 16. 23. We are sure he is now in the immediate Presence of God to prefer any Suit but we are not sure that Departed Saints are there who for ought we know may be kept till the last Day in some inferior Place of Comfort and Refreshment Good Souls as I shall note hereafter not receiving their Consummation before the last Judgment When we address by him we only take that way of Application God himself has prescribed and in all Justice and Reason we should allow God the Direction how we shall seek his Favours since he is the most Free and Soveraign Disposer of them Nay since the Prayers we put up are uttered by sinful Lips and mingled with our own Frailties and Defects they can come worthy and pure to God from him alone whose Blood as I said has Merit enough to purge as well as his Person Favour enough to prefer them Tho a perfect Prayer had not God otherwise order'd it might in it self be presented especially from a perfect Man by an acceptable Mediator yet a sinful Prayer from sinful Men doth plainly need such a Mediator as in the same Person is both Intercessor and Redeemer Thus the Altar of Incense among the Jews which stood without the Vail before the Mercy-seat daily to perfume and present the Peoples Prayers was once a year to be sprinkled with the Blood of Atonement plainly intimating that the Means of presenting Prayers must be endow'd withal with a Power of expiating them Exod. 30. 6 7 8 10. And accordingly the Apostle mentions Christ's Mediation as joyn'd to and founded on his Redemption One Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. And If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father who is also the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Quest. What other Design doth Christ carry on for us in Heaven Answ. 2. The Care of Governing his Church as a King. He is at the Right-hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. and all Authority in Heaven and Earth being put into his Hand Mat. 28. 18. This Power he purchased by his Death but was put in full Possession of it when he came to claim it by his Intercession Quest. Wherein doth he exercise this Plenitude of Power Answ. In Giving Laws to his Church For he is the one Law-giver that is able either to save or to destroy Jam. 4. 12. And since he is the Legislator in Religion 't is an Usurpation upon his Prerogative for any to form to themselves a new-fangled Worship and beat out other Paths to Heaven of their own devising In Protecting it from all both outward and intestine Enemies whether the World the Flesh or Men or Devils For he sits at God's Right-hand till his Enemies be made his Foot-stooll Psal. 110. 1. and Heb. 10. 12 13. and he must reign till he hath put all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. And lastly in judging all the World to their present Portion of the Eternal State when they leave the Body and to the full Consummation of it at the last Day For now the Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. 27. Which as it makes for the unspeakable Comfort of all his Faithful Servants since they are to be judg'd by their own Advocate who has preferr'd their Ease and Happiness to his own Life so will it be to the eternal Terrour of all those his Enemies who would not have him to reign over them Luk. 19. 27. And all this Power he exercises himself from Heaven besides what he doth by his Bishops and Pastors who are the Officers of his Kingdom and his Deputies and Substitutes here on Earth Quest. Has he any other Business to do for us at God's Right-hand as our King Answ. Yes to prepare a Place for us and allot us Royal Habitations with himself I go to prepare a Place for you and I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 2 3. The First Adam lost Paradise and the Second Adam was to restore us to it Who after he had merited it for us by his Cross ascended into Heaven to instal our Nature there and claim his Purchase And discharging the mighty Angel whose flaming Sword after the Fall was set to guard the Passage to it from our Intrusions open'd the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers Quest. What further Concern did he transact for us by going to Heaven Answ. 3. As a Prophet he sent down the Holy Ghost to instruct his Church in his Absence and to be with us in his stead It is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away the Comforter will not come to you but if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. Being by the Right-hand of God exalted he received the Promise of the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 33. and sent him on his Apostles to abide with them for ever Joh. 14. 16. Quest. How did the holy-Holy-Spirit supply his Absence Answ. By endowing them with such miraculous Gifts as enabled them to propagate his Religion thro the World as effectually as if he had staid with them and with such inward Graces as would fit themselves for those Mansions he had provided for them Of both which I shall say more in their proper place Quest. And these Gifts you say he ascended to bestow upon his Church Answ. Yes the Holy-Ghost was not to be given till after Jesus was glorified Joh. 7. 39. but when he ascended up on high he received Gifts for Men that the Lord might dwell among them Psal. 68. 18. and Eph. 4. 8. Quest. Now our Saviour Christ is Ascended is not his Glorified Body to take up its Mansion and fixt Abode at God's Right-hand Answ. Yes as St. Peter told the Jews the Heavens must receive him unto the Times of Restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. And then as the Angel told his Apostles he shall so come again to judge the World from Heaven in like manner as they then saw him go into Heaven Act. 1. 1â— Quest. If his Bodily Presence and Local
Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists which were for the Planting and Propagating Christ's Religion 1. The gift of inspiration in Revelations This bestowed upon the Apostles These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures after which we are not to look for any others This Gift of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation necessary only in Apostles and Evangelists And design'd for the Infancy of the Church Other Rules whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion As try them by the Scriptures Call for their Miracles wherewith God still empower'd men when he sent them to reveal new Things No need of Miracles when men pretend only to revive old and acknowledged Revelations If they shew Miracles for things plainly against Scripture they must work more than were wrought to confirm the Scripture An account of Joel 2. 28 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points but also in Devotions And about Temporal matters Subservient to this Gift of Revelations was the Gift of discerning Spirits This done afterwards by ordinary Rules And the Gift of utterance and boldness Their minds not influenced by this constantly and at all Times But ordinarily they were and especially when they had most need of it 2. Of the Gift of Miracles Miraracles a Proof of Divine Revelation How discernible from Lying Wonders by the Doctrines built on them By their ends and usefulness and being wrought on needful Occasions Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases This sometimes by anointing with Oyl And Prayers Of casting out Devils and other Miracles Of delivering to Satan what it was and why so call'd Of Joy in Tribulations and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles To the working these Miracles there was always required Faith in him that wrought them And sometimes Faith in him that received them 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues The ends of this And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter The Sin against the Holy Ghost is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost Some of these Temporary others to continue through all Times the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces By these we may know he dwells in us Our care required towards these Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages and inward good motions Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces in six Particulars How God gives them though we are thus to acquire them The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments But they are withheld from none through his Arbitrary withdrawing which some count Spiritual Desertion Quest. WHat is the eighth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Quest. Is the Holy Ghost very God Answ. Yes For Lying to the Holy Ghost is call'd Lying to God Act. 5. 3 4. And because Christians are the Temple of the Holy Ghost they are said to be the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. And all the Properties of Divinity are ascribed to him as knowing all things ubiquity or Presence in all Places Eternity or duration through all Times Creating the World being joyned with God who will not impart his Glory to another as an Object of Faith and Worship in Baptism and the Apostolical Benediction and the like Quest. But if both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost be God are there not three Gods Answ. No because these three are One that is one in Nature or one Thing 1 Joh. 5. 7. There is a Trinity of Persons but these three are mysteriously united in Nature and dependance which makes but one God-head not three Gods. Quest. But why is he call'd Holy more than the Father or the Son Since Holiness was reckon'd one of the Divine Attributes are not all the three Persons who are equally God equal also in Holiness Answ. Yes But though they are equally Holy in Nature or Essence yet is he particularly styled so in respect of his Operations For as God the Father particularly undertook for the Creation of men and God the Son for the Redemption of them so did God the Holy Ghost for their Sanctification being always ready to work holiness in those who set themselves to fear God and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by the renewal of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5 6. And purified through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. Quest. Why do we profess Faith and trust in him Answ. Because we are to receive all our Graces and preparations for Eternal Glory from him For after Christ had Redeemed us with his Blood and ascended into Heaven the Rest which was to be done further for our Salvation here on Earth was left to the care of the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent down as his substitute to supply his absence and minister whatsoever he left wanting to his Body which is the Church to perfect it in Faith and Holiness Quest. By this I perceive a great part of Christian Knowledge lyes in understanding what the Holy Spirit has done and is still to do for us Pray what has he bestowed for the effecting of this great work Answ. Gifts of two sorts 1. Extraordinary bestowed upon the Apostles and Evangelists for the Planting and Establishing Christ's Church and Religion 2. Ordinary that are given in common to all oothers for every particular man's Salvation Quest. What are his extraordinary Gifts bestowed upon the Holy Apostles for the Planting and Establishing of Christ's Church and Religion Answ. They consist not only of Gifts but likewise of Offices which he is the Author of Quest. What are the Extraordinary Gifts he gave them to this end Answ. I shall reduce them to three The Gift of Inspiration which revealed Christianity to themselves of Miracles which enabled them to prove it undeniable unto others and of Tongues whereby they could publish it over all the World and be understood by men of every Language Quest. When were these extraordinary Gifts bestowed Answ. First at the Feast of Pentecost upon the Twelve when the Spirit descended on each of them in the shape of Cloven Tongues Act. 2. 3. And afterwards generally upon others at the imposition of their hands as abundantly appears from St. Luke's account of the Acts of the Holy Apostles Quest. And all these you say were to enable them to Plant and Propagate their Religion Answ. Yes for by these Gifts which are call'd the Promise of the Father Act. 1. 4. that is that Spirit which Christ had promised
to send them from the Father Joh. 15. 26. the Holy Ghost was to act the Part of an Advocate as the word Paraclete signifies and is accordingly render'd 1 Joh. 2. 1. which was to plead his Cause to the unbelieving World. For when this Comforter or Advocate is come saith our Lord he will reprove or convince the world of these three Things Of Sin because they believe not on me i. e. of the sinfulness of infidelity Of Righteousness because I go to the Father i. e. of my being a Righteous Person and of Gods owning me for such though the Jews condemned me as a Malefactor And of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged i. e. of the downfall of Idolatry and Demon-worship because the Devil is to be cast out of the Heathen Temples by this Almighty Advocate and all his Oracles silenced Joh. 16. 8 9 10 11. Quest. The first of these Gifts bestowed upon the Apostles you say was the Gift of Inspiration which revealed Christ's Religion fully to themselves Did the Apostles receive their Religion from God and were they inspired by the Holy Ghost in what they Taught Answ. Yes all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. Thus God inspired Moses and the Holy Prophets of old for no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation nor came by the will of man i. e. therein the Prophets did not speak their own sense and reason but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. And after the same manner Christ promises the Apostles that the Holy Ghost should teach them The Holy Ghost when he shall come shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Joh. 14. 26. And when the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth Joh. 16. 13. Quest. But had not Christ been their Teacher for several years together and then what need was there for the Holy Ghost to come after him for a further Instructer Answ. Christ taught them by outward and humane means as one man doth another And in this way though he took care abundantly to propose Things to them yet after all they being Persons of slow and rustick understandings were very liable to forget or misconceive them as 't is plain they did the Nature of his Kingdom the Reasons of his Death and his Resurrection But when the Holy Ghost came upon them he inwardly enlightned their minds and fill'd them with all variety of Heavenly Truth bringing to their remembrance whatsoever Christ had said and supplying whatsoever he designedly omitted till they were better able to bear it And though he did not teach them all things at once they being ignorant for some time after his descent of the calling of the Gentiles yet in a moment he made a strange progress with them and so far illuminated their minds that immediately upon his coming down they understand and apply Scriptures and expound Prophecies and set up for Teachers of other men Act. 2. Quest. And what knowledge they had of their Religion you say was of his inspiring Answ. Yes after once he took the conduct of them Their way of knowing all things as St. John told the Church in their Age was by an unction from the Holy one 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. And the Gospel which was preached by me saith St. Paul is not after Men i. e. of Mans devising For I neither received it of Man neither was I taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1. 11 12. And of all Holy Scripture it is declared that it is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. Quest. 'T is plain indeed they say they are inspired and taught of God. But have we any more than these Testimonies of Scripture that is their own word and saying for it Answ. Yes the Miracles they wrought in confirmation of it They preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with Signs following Mar. 16. 20. Quest. I perceive the Holy Ghost did reveal God's will to them and in the Holy Scriptures they have revealed it unto us But in those Scriptures have they done it fully Answ. Yes for in that Epistle which St. Paul sent last to Timothy before which the greatest Part of his other Epistles and of the Gospel-Canon was writ he Declares of all the Scriptures then extant that they are able to make us wise unto Salvation being Profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness That the Man of God may be Perfect throughly furnished out of them unto all Good works 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Nay some single Books of Scripture as the Particular Gospels are full enough to this end And accordingly St. Luke testifies of his Gospel that it contains those Things which all Christians most surely believed and wherein Theophilus an Excellent Person and no way Defective in saving Knowledge had been Principled and instructed Luk 1. 1 3 4. and all that Jesus began to do and teach till he was taken up Act. 1. 1 2. All necessary Christianity was Faithfully preached by Jesus Christ and they Faithfully set out his Life and Preaching And what St. Luke added afterwards in the Acts of the Holy Apostles was only an Historical Account of the Method they took what they suffered and how they succeeded in Preaching this Doctrine And as for the Epistles of the several Apostles which were accidentally and occasionally writ for the Emergent Benefit of the Churches they either repeat and press the same Things or Comment upon them in fuller Explications or Determine some Controversies started in the Church about them or confute some unchristian Opinions and Heretical corruptions of Gospel-Truths as is obvious to any careful and intelligent comparer of them Quest. Having therefore these Scriptures Faithfully conveyed to us by God's Blessing we must not look for or listen to any New Revelation Answ. No not of the Way to please God and go to Heaven Christ our Great Prophet who was to Seal up Vision and Prophesie having inspired his Apostles and fully Revealed all these things to us once already by them it is a vain thing to fancy he should do it over again Quest. The Gift of Inspiration then or of having Religion immediately Revealed to them was necessary only to Apostles and Evangelists who were the first Publishers of it from God Answ. 'T is very true And accordingly in Suiting the Gifts and Ministries reckned up 1 Cor. 12. to the word of Wisdom or Gospel Revelation which is the First and Chiefest in the List of Gifts v. 8. St. Paul adapts the Order of Apostles as its Correspondent and the first and chiefest in the Number of Ministries ver 28. Inspiration of Religion was only to fit and Qualifie them for that Office. Hence it is probably that it is by St. John called
comforteth those who are cast down comforted him by the coming of Titus 2 Cor. 7. 5 6. And when he came to Troas where a Door was opened to him he had no Rest in his Spirit because he found not Titus his Brother as he expected to stand by him 2 Cor. 2. 12 13. And at Corinth whilst he was alone he was the more afraid but when Silas and Timotheus were come he was pressed in Spirit i. e. vigorously put forward and emboldened by their Presence Act. 18. 5. Quest. By this I see the Apostles were Men and had some Returns of Humane Fears and Infirmities and this miraculous boldness did not actuate and invigorate them at all times Answ. 'T is true indeed But ordinarily they injoy'd it and particularly at those very instants when they had the greatest need of it As St. Paul did before Nero where the Lord stood with him and strengthned him i. e. with a mind undaunted 2 Tim. 4. 16 17. And as Peter and John did before the Sanhedrim where they were so bold that the Rulers marvelled Act. 4. 6 7 8 10 13. And as Christ promised they should all do when they were brought before Governours and Kings for his sake For then says he take no thought beforehand how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same Hour what you shall speak i. e. both matter and Presence of Mind to utter it For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Mat. 10. 18 19 20. Quest. What is the second of those Extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles for the Planting and establishing of Christ's Church and Religion Answ. The Gift of Miracles which enabled them to prove those things undeniably unto others which God had revealed to themselves Quest. Is working a Miracle for any Doctrine a Proof it comes from God Answ. Yes if the Doctrine tends to Holiness and be worthy of God. For a Miracle is not the work of Man but of God's and shews that God stands on his side that works it So that Miracles are God's Witness and way of proving Things The Works that I do in my Father's Name bear witness of me Joh. 10. 24 25. If I do not the works of my Father believe me not But If I do though you believe not me believe the Works ver 37 38. And God bore the Apostles witness with signs and wonders and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost Heb 2. 4. and confirmed the Word with signs following Mar. 16. 20. The Power of Miracles is the Spirits Proof or Demonstration My Speech was in Demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2. 4. Quest. But doth not Satan himself sometimes work a Miracle or such a lying Wonder as will pass for a Miracle Answ. Yes for Doctrines that serve his own ends but never for a Doctrine that plainly opposes and overthrows them For so Satan as Christ argues undeniably would be divided against Satan and then how could his Kingdom stand Mat. 12. 25 26. If a Doctrine therefore tends to Holiness as I said and is worthy of God as Christianity doth most eminently a Miracle is a sure proof of it and 't is certain the evil Spirits have no hand in working it Not to mention those other most demonstrative marks of the Miracles wrought for Christianity whereof I have already discoursed in another Place Quest. In any Miracles then which are proposed to us we are to look not only at the works but also at their end and usefulness Answ. Yes For if they are for impious and impure Ends 't is plain they come from impious and unclean Spirits if only for Ostentation and Praise from vain-glorious and proud ones if meerly to gratifie idle Curiosity of Spectators like Feats of Juglers from Ludicrous and Vain Spirits who delight to amuse with Toys and Trifles All Miracles being the effect of intelligent Agents by their Design shew the Temper and Genius of the Actors And therefore when any are pretended to come from God that must be shewn in their gravity grandure pious heavenly fruits or important usefulness But we must not put his Hand to any that serve only to vicious ends or ridiculous impertinence Quest. And as God works them only for important and needful ends Doth he not also only on needful occasions Answ. Very right either of succouring his Servants or Crediting his Messengers especially when he sends them out at first to promulge a Law or sometimes though in this more seldom when he sends them to revive it after some great and general Defection from it and accordingly the most Miracles that were wrought all the time of the Jewish State were either by Moses who first published the Law or by Elias and Elisha to restore it after Jeroboam's Calves had made ten Tribes of twelve most grosly to swerve from it And therefore it is a vain thing for any of those to listen after new Miracles who pretend to Rule their Faith by the Holy Scriptures which stand attested by all the old ones as if there were some Defects in the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles which need to be supplied by their Followers But 't is more especially vain to pretend as the Church of Rome doth to work such Miracles only among themselves who believe without them but never before us who have more need to be convinced by them Moses and our Saviour Christ and his blessed Apostles shewed their Miracles among those they design'd to make Converts or such young and unsetled Followers as needed to be confirmed and established in the Faith. And in Testimony to the Man of God Jeroboam's hand is miraculously withered and as miraculously restored before the Altar at Bethel the very Seat of the Schismaticks 1 King. 13. 4 5 6. And if Tongues are used for a sign 't is not to those saith St. Paul who believe but to those who believe not 1 Cor. 14. 22. To shew signs where they are not needed and withhold them where they are more needful is not the way and method of hâ—s Almighty Power who is neither wanting in necessaries nor Liberal in superfluities Quest. Was this Gift of Miracles bestowed upon the Apostles Answ. Yes God bore them witness with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles Heb. 2. 4. and confirmed the word with Signs following Mar. 16. 20. Quest. What Miracles had they the Gift of Answ. They had the Gift of Healing without the help of Medicine To one is given by the Spirit the Gift of healing 1 Cor. 12. 9. And thus by the Holy Ghost Petâ—â— and John healed the Lame Man Act. 3. 2 6. In working these Cures when our Saviour sent them out at First they used the Ceremony of anointing with Oyl They anointed with Oyl many that were sick and healed them Mar. 6. 13. And this Ceremony of anointting was held on afterwards whilst this miraculous Gift of Healing
Quest. I see the Holy Ghost endowed the Apostles with strange Gifts of Miracles But could they work these Miracles at any instant of time when they would or were some Preparations required to them Answ. There was required to them 1. Always Faith in him that wrought them And 2. sometimes particularly in miraculous Cures Faith in the Person that received them or whom they were wrought upon Quest. What was the Faith required in him that wrought them Answ. A Perswasion that God's Power would assist him and perform the Miracle by him For that they might never offer at this in vain which would have exposed both themselves and their Religion whensoever God would enable them to work a Miracle he first possessed their minds with a firm Belief and Assurance of it And this is the Faith so oft required of Wonder-workers in the Scriptures Though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains 1 Cor. 13. 2. And if ye have Faith as a Grane of Mustard-Seed ye shall say to this Mountain Remove hence to yonder Place and it shall Remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you Mat. 17. 20. And this Faith is reckon'd as one of the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit To another Faith by the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 9. Quest. What was the Faith that sometimes but more especially in the cure of Diseases was required on him that received a Miracle or the Person it was to be wrought upon Answ. A Perswasion that God would enable the Wonder-worker to do the cure for or shew the Miracle upon him This also was another Requisite For Paul stedfastly beholding the Creeple and perceiving he had faith to be healed said to him stand upright Act. 14. 9 10. Believe ye that I am able to do this said Christ to the blind Men according to your Faith so be it unto you Mat. 9. 28 29. If thou canst do any thing said the Father of the Demoniack have Compassion on us and help us Jesus said unto him if thou canst believe I can all miraculous Things are possible to be done to him that believeth Mar. 9. 22 23. And in his own Country 't is said Christ did not many Miracles because of their unbelief Mat. 13. 58. or as St. Mark he could not do them God it seems suspending this miraculous aid in the case of such whose unbelief rendred them unworthy of it Mark 6. 4 5. Quest. What is the third and last of those extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles Answ. The Gift of strange Tongues whereby they who were all Jews were able in an instant to Publish that Religion God had revealed to them over all the world and be understood by men of every Language Quest. Was this given to the Apostles Answ. Yes visibly at the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost descended upon each of them in the shape of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire and they spake with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and talked to Parthians and Romans Cretes and Arabians and to the devout men from every Nation under Heaven at that time gathered together to Jerusalem to every man in the Tongue wherein he was born Acts. 2. 1. to 12. And at the imposition of the Apostles hands it was generally bestowed on others afterwards As on the Disciples at Ephesus at the imposition of Paul's hands Acts 19. 2 6. on Cornelius and his Gentile Friends at Peter's Preaching for while he yet spake to them the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word and they spake with Tongues and magnified God Acts 10. 44 45 46. And so on others in great numbers particularly in the Church of Corinth Quest. To what end were they thus endowed with all Languages Answ. To enable them to Preach to all Nations for they were Commission'd to teach all Nations Mat. 28. 19. And they could not teach them without speaking to every man in his own Language And therefore wheresoever they came the Spirit immediately made them as perfect in the Language of the Place as they were in their own Mother Tongue Quest. Had not some the Gift of Tongues who were not sent out to men of another Language Answ. Yes as particularly in the Church of Corinth for there many would speak in the Assemblies where all or most were Greeks in Strange Tongues which because the Church did not understand St. Paul directs such gifted Linguists to Pray for another Gift of interpreting Tongues to make such enthusiasms intelligible to their Hearers 1 Cor. 14. 2 5 13. In these strange Tongues they Preached v. 6. and Prayed to God v. 14. And this being an offering up both inspired Prayers and in inspired Tongues which are both his extraordinary Gifts is called Praying and Singing by or with the Spirit v. 14 15. Quest. To what end then served these strange Tongues in such Churches all of one Tongue Answ. Not to make known Religion indeed because the hearers did not understand them But they serv'd to express the Speakers Devotion and so edified himself 1 Cor. 14. 4. and as a Sign to confirm our Religion and so were an argument as all other Miracles were to prove it true to Infidels Tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not v. 22. Quest. Was there any Guilt subservient to this of speaking with strange Tongues Answ. Yes the Gift of interpreting those strange Tongues when spoken either by themselves or others Quest. But I pray you what need of that did not they that spoke these strange Tongues understand themselves Answ. Yes he that spoke in an unknown Tongue edified himself 1 Cor. 14. 4. and he that gave Thanks in it gave Thanks well as St. Paul says v. 17. But in this exercise of strange Tongues the heat of Enthusiasm and Divine Rapture was sometimes so great that the Speaker could not interpret himself as he spoke nor remember it after that heat was over so as to give an explication to those that heard it And this defect the Gift of interpreting Tongues supplyed which Gift St Paul directs those who had the other of speaking with strange Tongues to beg of God in order to their greater usefulness Let him that speaketh in an unknown Tongue pray also that he may interpret i. e. do it with such consistency and moderation of mind as to be able afterwards to give the same in other more intelligible words v. 13. and orders that when any spoke with Tongues who were not thus qualified to explain themselves they should speak not all at a time as they sometimes did but by course and have one still to second them to interpret their strange speech v. 27. Quest. By this I see what are the extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles viz. the Gift of inspiration whereby they should be infallibly instructed in their Religion of Tongues and utterance whereby they should intelligibly and undauntedly
But as for Pastors and Teachers to govern the Church and ordain Successors and to minister the Word and Prayers and Sacraments they will be equally wanted in every Age and therefore the Holy Ghost has appointed them to continue always Go Baptise all Nations teaching them to observe all my Commandments And lo in such Teaching and Baptising I am with you always even to the end of the World Mat. 28. 19 20. And tho as I say some of the Offices mentioned by St. Paul were necessary only in the first Age yet others which are equally necessary to the edifying of the Church and the Work of the Ministry in every Age are to continue as he says tiâ— we all i. e. all Christians that are and aâ— that shall be come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of God untâ— a perfect Man unto the Measure of the Stâ—ture of the Fulness of Christ. So that the Church is to enjoy the Benefit of them to the Worlds end Eph. 4. 12 13. Quest. Since all that are at any time in these Offices die in one Age how are they to be continued in the next Answ. The Bishops or Governours are stilâ— to Ordain others to remedy their owâ— Mortality and supply the Necessities of the Church through all Times Thus Christ told his Apostles As my Father sent me viz with a Power of Commissioning you to succeed in this Ministry when I am gone sâ— send I you i. e. with Power of Ordaining others in like manner of Succession John 20. 21. Pursuant to this they Ordained Bishops in all Churches as St. Paul did Titus at Crete and Timothy at Ephesus And these in a constant Succession were to Ordain others as Paul bid Timothy give Commissions as he had been Commission'd himself or commit what he had heard of him to faithful Men who should be able to teach others also 2 Tim. 1. 14. and 2. 2. And with these in their Work of the Ministry God would be present and assistant in all after Times as he had been with the Apostles in the First Age. In thus Preaching and Baptizing lo I am with â—ou always even to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. With you that is with your selves during your own Lives and your Successors in all after times which is the only way that in this Work he could be with them to the Worlds end who were all to die in that Age. Quest. Is the Holy Ghost the Author of these Offices Answ. Yes God hath set these Officers in the Church saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 12. 28. and Christ gave them as a Gift after he was ascended Eph. 4. 8 11. That is God gave them and Christ gave them by the Holy Ghost who now since Christ is gone to the Right-hand of God is come down to his Church as his Substitute from whom both the Authority and Ability of all these Officers is derived Feed the Flock saith the Apostle over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Acts 20. 28. And when Christ ordain'd his Apostles giving them Power to send others as the Father gave him and to remit and retain Sins he breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost Joh. 20. 21 22 23. And accordingly to shew from whom these Powers are derived in Ordinations of these Officers whether Bishops or Priests the Power is to this day conferr'd by saying Receive thou the Holy Ghost Quest. What shall we think then of those who reject the Ministry and cast off all Church-Officers and Ordinances and yet pretend in all this to be guided by the Spirit Answ. You may be sure it is not by that Spirit which Christ sent down upon the Apostles and which indited the holy Scriptures For that Spirit gave these Offices as the most necessary and greatest Blessing to the Church Whereas this Spirit of theirs plucks up what he planted and endeavours to abolish and overthrow them Quest. From what you have said I perceive how infinitely we are obliged to the Holy Ghost for that care he has taken in Planting and Propagating Christ's Church and Religion both in the miraculous Gifts he bestowed upon his Church so amply in the First Age and in the Offices and Governments he has appointed to Feed and Rule it in all succeeding Ages But besides these extraordinary Gifts bestowed only on some for the Propagation and Establishment of Christ's Church and Religion you mention'd another sort of Gifts for the effecting this Great Work of our Salvation which the Holy Ghost bestows ordinarily on Persons of all Times and Places What Gifts are those Answ. All the inward Graces and vertuous Endowments which are necessary to the Salvation of all particular Persons such as the Apostle reckons up Gal. 5. The Fruits of the Spirit are Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance and such like v. 22 23. Particularly he excites Devotion and helps to raise in us holy Desires and Life and Quickness in our Prayers There says the Apostle the Spirit helps our Infirmities making Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God by inspiring them with such Desires and Groanings as cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26 27. Quest. Is the Holy Ghost the Author of all these inward Graces in us and can we not have them without his Gift Answ. No for the Renewing of our Nature is ascribed to the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. And St. Paul calls all the recited Virtues Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. And no Man can come to me saith Christ i. e. believe on me and obey me except the Father which hath sent me draw him John 6. 44. All our Graces come from God and must be sought of him And because we are daily in want of them we are taught by our Lord himself to pray Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done Deliver us from Evil c. as constantly as we say Give us this Day our Daily Bread. Quest. If the Holy Spirit gives these then any Man that has them may know he has Grace and that the Holy Ghost dwells and acts in him Answ. Yes if he is affected and influenc'd not only by some few but by all of them For they are the Fruits of the Spirit as I noted and where we see the genuine Fruit we may make sure of the Principle that gives Birth to it as our Saviour said the Tree is known by its Fruit Luke 6. 43 44. Mat. 7. 16 20. And accordingly they are given as Marks of Grace and a sure Proof that Men belong to God in the Scriptures Hereby know we that we know him and that we are in him if we keep his Commandments 1 John 2. 3 5. We know that we have passed from Death unto Life because we love the Brethren 1 John 3. 14. He that doth Righteousness is righteous in this the Children of God are manifest 1 John 3. 7 10. Quest. But may
of David and upon his kingdom to order and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever verse 6 7. Now this Person whose Title and Character is Wonderful The mighty God The everlasting Father The Prince of Peace and whose government on the throne of David was to be perpetually increasing is plainly no other but Messiah And he being the Person promised by Isaiah to be born of a Virgin that Prophecy however answered in some parts before could never be fulfilled and accomplished but in him Quest. But you said before it had respect to the Virgins Son of that time and was in part effected then And if it must still be meant of Christ and made good in him again some hundreds of Years after this makes the same words to be designed for several meanings yea such as must be verified at far distant times which seems a strange thing Ans. This is most usual in the Scriptures and especially in Prophecies which are often spoken of one Person next in view and near at hand in whom they are fulfilled in part but of another further off who though he lies hid till he is shown by the event is yet the Person chiefly meant whereof the other was only a Figure or Type and in whom they are fully to be accomplished Thus God's Promise to David 2 Sam. 7. 12 c. Of setting up his seed for ever after him and saying I will be his Father and he shall be my Son though it were spoken immediately and in part of Solomon as is most apparent yet was chiefly intended and fully made good in Christ. And the words of David about God 's not leaving his soul in hell c. Psal. 16. 8 9 10. though seemingly spoken and in part verified of his own Person were yet meant and fully accomplished in Christ's Resurrection whereto S. Peter applies them Act. 2. 29 c. And so when God said unto him Thou art my son and I will give thee the Heathen Psal. 2. 7 8. which had its full effect in Christ according to S. Paul's interpretation Act. 13. 33. And the same S. Matthew assures us of the Virgins Son which though it might have some regard to a Child of that time yet was then only fulfilled when Christ came Matth. 1. 21 22 23. Quest. But if this Virgins bearing a Son be meant of Christ How could it be given to Achaz and the House of Judah for a sign since he was then afar off and not to come till long after that Generation Ans. Because it was meant of another too who was to be conceived at that very time and would prove a sign to them And as this inferiour accomplishment would be a sign of this answerable Deliverance in that Age so would the miraculous Birth of Christ when it should more eminently fulfil this Prophecy be a much more illustrious sign of an incomparably greater to their Successors And this also answers the end of its being given here for a sign which is not limited to any Person or Time but indefinite to the House of David Hear says the Prophet not O! Ahaz but O! house of David c. verse 13 14. Besides in Ahaz's time the Faith of Christ's being born of a Virgin whilst only promised would give it the virtue of a sign as well as the sight of it when performed The end of it was to assure them that the Kings of Syria and Israel should not prevail against them verse 4 7 9 10. And this if they believed it 't was apt to do as an argument from God's intending for them a greater kindness to his readiness in performing a less for sending Messiah to be born of a Virgin and to be God with us must argue a greater power and kindness than would suffice to work this deliverance from these invading Princes And after all it is not unusual in the Scriptures to beget Faith and confidence by such signs as are remote and far off as God did to Moses Exod. 3. 12. and to Hezekiah and the Jews Isaiah 37. 30. Quest. By this I perceive this Prophecy of a Virgin bearing a Son was intended of Messiah But was it fulfilled in Jesus when he came Ans. Yes most miraculously For his Mother that bare him was a pure Virgin as appeared both from her own account and Joseph's her reputed Husband both Persons of known Integrity and unquestionable Credit And when after her espousal Joseph doubted of her Chastity because she was found with Child before their coming together an Angel is dispatched from Heaven to clear her Honour and to assure him that what was conceived in her was not any Humane Production but of the Holy Ghost Matth. 1. 18 19 20. The Holy Ghost as another Angel explained it to her self coming upon her and the power of the Highest overshadowing her when she objected the impossibility of her being a Mother because she was a pure maid Luke 1. 34 35. All which was so unquestionable and notoriously made out to the Apostles and Primitive Christians their greatest Enemies finding no pretence to cavil and start doubts upon it that they universally and firmly believed it and thought it a point of so great account as to deserve a place and make one Article in that short Summary and Abridgment of Christian Faith called the Apostles Creed For in that one thing we profess to believe concerning Jesus is That being conceived by the Holy Ghost he was born of the Virgin Mary Quest. No wonder it found a place there for it is a sign not more strange than convincing being of it self alone sufficient to prove Jesus to be the Christ since in this he has no Competitors the like I think being never known or pretended of any other Man. But besides this are there not other notable things set down by the Prophets as belonging to him which may serve still further to discover him Ans. Yes Secondly That an extraordinary Spirit not only of Wisdom and Goodness but also of Might or miraculous Power should not only descend now and then by fits but make a settled abode and rest upon him Concerning the branch that shall grow out of the root of Jesse says the Prophet the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord Isaiah 11. 1 2. And when once the former Prophecies had pointed out the exact Year and place of his appearing this sign of it self had been enough to discover him For being thus extraordinary not only for Wisdom and Piety but also for Might and miraculous Power when any would survey all the Men in Bethlehem in search of Messiah at the prefixed time he infinitely above all others must needs draw all Mens Eyes to him Quest. Are there any more things still belonging to him which confirm the same Ans. Yes Thirdly That he should be
tender plant out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comeliness there is no beauty that we should desire him He is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as it were our faces from him being ashamed to own him Isaiah 53. 2 3. By these accounts in outward appearance he was to come more like a Peasant than a Prince But his Kingdom so much cried up was to be Spiritual giving Laws not only to Overt-Acts which are triable in Secular Courts but to Mens Hearts and Consciences protecting and aiding them by unseen Providences and Spiritual Assistances rewarding and punishing not with Temporal but Eternal Recompences not medling with a Secular Domination over Mens Persons or Purses in things relating to this Life but leaving that Power in the same hands where it was lodg'd before And such a principality as this our Saviour claimed telling Pilate he was a King but that his kingdom was not of this world for if it had his servants would have fought to have delivered him from the Jews John 18. 36. Quest. Was Messiah to do any other notable thing which would still be a further manifestation of him Ans. Yes Sixthly He was to convert the Heathen world from their Idol-worship and make Pagan-Idolatry fall before him In that day saith Isaiah describing Christ ' s Kingdom both over Jews and Gentiles the Lord alone shall be exalted and the Idols shall he utterly abolish Isaiah 2. 17 18. In that day says God by Zechary I will cut off the names of the Idols out of the land and they shall no more be remembred Zech. 13. 2. All nations then shall serve him all nations shall call him blessed saith the Psalmist Psal. 72. 11 17. Quest. Did Jesus perform this when he came Ans. Yes he drave the proud Spirits out of their Temples and silenced them in all their Oracles and other Divinations and convinced the World that those they had hitherto worshipped for Gods were Devils and that those are no Gods which are made with hands And of this there were so many instances as there were of Heathen Men and Heathen Nations that turned Christians Quest. Those Converts indeed are so many plain proofs of the overthrow of Idols since the first step in Christianity is the renouncing of the Devil and of all Idol gods But how doth it appear that he put an end to their Oracles and other Divinations which were the strongest argument of their Divinity among their Worshippers Ans. As his Birth drew near they all grew dumb God stopping all their false mouths against that time that his own Eternal Word might be heard alone The famed Apollo was then so sparing of his Responses that Cicero thought his renowned Oracle at Delphos had ceased in his days And though afterwards he did speak sometimes as I shall note in several instances yet by the Power and Spirit of our Lord when his Religion had got footing in the World his Mouth was wholly stopped and locked up with the Keys of never Divining silence as he himself says in a Farewel Answer recorded by his Champion Porphyrius And so were also the Mouths of Jupiter Ammon and of all other impure Spirits most famed for Oracles in other places This their devout Worshippers with grief beheld and admired and Plutarch a learned Heathen who lived within an hundred Years after Christ writ a Book about it still extant wherein he inquires the best he can into the causes of it Quest. I see their general silence is beyond question But can you show that Jesus silenced them Ans. Their own professed Advocates make him the cause of the Demons withdrawing themselves from Men both in this and in other effects of their presence with them For since Jesus began to be worshipped says Porphyry the Gods are no longer conversant with Men nor has any Man received any publick benefit by them Nay the vanquished Spirits themselves who gave so many Testimonies to him when he drove them from before his personal Presence here on Earth in their Oracles and other Divinations confessed so For when Augustus in whose time our Saviour was born inquired of Apollo who should succeed him in the Empire his Reply was as Suidas reports That an Hebrew Boy who rules the blessed Gods had commanded him to pack away to Hell and leave that place so that he was like to give them no more answers Again in the days of Diocletian as Constantine relates in his Edict to the Provincials of the East he gave out another Oracle Declaring he could give no true Answers because of the just Persons upon the Earth And when Diocletian asked Who were those just Persons the Priest answered They were the Christians Which Constantine declares and calls God to witness was said in his hearing who being a very Youth attended the Emperour at that time Afterwards in the Reign of Julian when his Temple at Daphne celebrated for Oracles was confronted by a Christian Church wherein were laid the Bones of the Martyr Babylas he presently grew speechless And when Julian pressed him for an Answer by magnificent Gifts and Sacrifices at last he told him He was hindred from giving Oracles by the dead Bodies in that place Which the Emperour well understanding singled out the Coffin of Babylas without disturbing the other dead whereof many lay there interr'd and ordered the Christians to remove it Indeed when the Heathens at any time consulted their Gods by Sacrifice and were to read their Answer painted upon the entrails if any of their Christian Servants happened to stand by the wicked Spirits fled away without giving the accustomed signs and their deserted Prophets could make no Predictions Which being complained of to their wicked and superstitious Princes was several times the chief cause as Lactantius notes which enraged them to persecute the Christians In particular it inflamed Diocletian to begin his Persecution the Bloodiest of all others For his madness against them as the same Author reports was because their presence and profession of Faith in Jesus stopped the mouth of his Gods and troubled all his Sacrifices So that whilst any of them was there though he offered often one time after another this superstitious Man an insatiable inquirer into Futurities could receive no answer Nay to shew further the Power which as I say not only Christ himself but every common Christian had to command and controul these unclean Demons Tertullian desires the Emperours to make the Experiment and bring any that is vexed by a Demon or any Prophet that is thought inspired by him before the Judgment-seat and there set any poor Christian to command that Demon to speak who he is And if saith he not daring to lye to him he doth not as truly there before you all confess himself a Devil as he had falsly otherwhere proclaimed himself a God then let that malapert Christian be put
Persons in his days but only of all that will be his true followers and govern themselves according to Prince Messiah's Laws and Practice For that which shall prevent all doing hurt among them says Isaiah is the full knowledge of the Lord which restrains only such as will practise what they understand Isaiah 11. 9. And they who shall beat their swords into plow shares says he again are the many people whom Messiah shall rebuke which according to the usual Phrase of Scripture may imply their amending upon his rebuking them Isaiah 2. 4. They were the sincerely devout and honestly obedient who say to one another Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in them verse 3. But as for the inviolable maintenance of this Probity and Peace by those who are only his nominal Servants or by the universality of Men in his days that doth not follow from these places nor doth it well comport with the present state of human Nature which is mixt with many angry and incroaching Passions nor suit with other Prophecies before-mentioned that speak of much wickedness after Messiah's coming and of many still retaining their old genius which Predictions must all be accomplished as well as these Quest. But if this Peace and Probity are to be so limited and conditionate in the event how come they to be expressed so generally and absolutely in the Prediction Is it not odd to speak of an effect as universal under Messiah which shall not appear universally in all under him but only in those that will hearken to him Ans. No for in an effect wherein both he and they are joyntly concerned his saying all shall do it implies they shall so far as concerns his part and that he would do all which behoves him towards it And this Jesus has done giving a Law as apt to engender and preserve Peace as any Law can be and taking away all separating and dividing rites introduced by Moses which were apt to make difference between Jews and Gentiles And to say all Men shall do a thing when God has done his part to make all do it though through their obstinate wickedness many of them will not do it in the event is a form of Speech usual in Holy Scripture Thus it is particularly in Ezekiel when God foretels the taking away all detestable Idols and yet in the same place speaks of several who would still retain them and thereby incur his heavy indignation Ezekiel 11. 18 21. And in Jeremy when God foretels his peoples living again in their own land after the captivity most piously and peaceably Jer. 32. 37 c. although through their stubborn wickedness which nothing would amend things fell out contrary Quest. But though these Prophecies do not imply that every Man shall live so when Messiah comes yet however they seem to note that many will who would not otherwise and that Godliness Peace and Justice shall mightily increase in the World by his appearance And has this been fulfilled by Jesus Ans. Yes it was eminently verified in the first times For then the Christians were remarkably as the most virtuous livers and honest dealers so most kind and friendly among themselves See said the Gentiles how the Christians love one another They were absolutely the best Neighbours being so far from offering any injuries that they durst not requite them but with Prayers and Kindnesses They were indisputably the most tame and peaceable Subjects overcoming all the outragious violence and oppressions of their Persecutors not by fighting their way through them but by Faith and Patience under them And like effects his Religion has produced in all other times upon all those who were true followers both of him and them and were Christians in very deed not only in name and profession It has improved all peaceable tempers and sweetned many sowre and smoothed many rough ones and brought Men of the most different Complexions Estates Interests and Abilities to live fairly and sociably together Indeed all Men are not thereby made godly just and tame as we must not expect they ever will be in this World for Men will be Men and shew human passions and errors under any institution But yet the common estate of the World is much amended and things generally much more fairly and equitably managed and the true God more duly and devoutly worshipped and all Virtue and Piety in greater repute and Injustice much curbed and both private and publiâ—… Quarrels much more frequently prevented and more fairly and speedily composed since Christ's coming amongst us than they were before So that although the improvement of these Virtues among us is little in respect of our aids and opportunities yet is it great in comparison with the former face of the World and may pass for a New Righteous and reformed Statâ— in respect of what it was in days of Heathen ignorance And this is as much accomplishment as 't is reasonable to require in such Prophecies which being made of men who have frail and corrupt Natures and converse in the midst of temptations ought not to be strained beyond what is consistent with the condition of this World and with human Nature and Circumstances But if the above cited Prophecies did really speak of a more universal effect than has been hitherto accomplished there is time enough still behind ere Christ resign up the Kingdom to the Father wherein to make it good For of the things predicted to fall out under Messiah some came to pass at first and others in the long flux of time ever since have still been successively fulfilled but many are still behind and to have no accomplishment till near the day of Judgment Quest. You have fully shewed how Jesus appears to be the Christ from ancient Prophecies whereby I plainly perceive how deserved 〈◊〉 in the Revelations the Spirit of Prophecy is called the testimony of Jesus Rev. 19. 10. But do the Jews to whom these Prophets all spake and who not only had the keeping but were also most diligent and careful in examining these Oracles understand these places as Predictions of Messiah which appear to have had such clear and undeniable accomplishment in our Jesus Ans. The old Jews who lived before Christ generally did as is plain from Rabbi Nehumias and others and from their general expectation of him about the time prescribed according to those Prophecies And so did numbers of their earliest and most renowned Doctors since as learned Men have shown abundantly from their Writings But many of the later Rabbins not daring to denie the suitableness of the events in Jesus have chose rather to wrest those places against their plain meaning and the opinions of their Ancestors to other purposes and deny them as spoken of Messiah And what should make this difference and cause later Men to go off from ancient times even from those who lived near to some
appropriated to it without that separate Honour and visible Reverence which is due to them is to unhallow and prophane him which he says in Ezekiel the Priests did when they put no difference between the holy and prophane Ezek. 22. 26. Our great and matchless Creator must have a distinguishing respect and honour visibly paid him in our outward behaviour And when in Gifts and Presents some would shew visible neglect and dishonour of him he complained they did not treat him as a Great and Dreadful King adding that herein their undutifulness might evidently appear because they durst not go so to pay respect to any Temporal Governour or Superiour Mal. 1. 8 13 14. But though this hatred of External irreverence be one thing implied in it yet is it but the outside of God's Holiness And therefore no Man must ever think to content him by Ceremonious Formalities as being extreme nice and scrupulously careful about the Place the Garb the Posture or other decent Dress or circumstance of his Worship and Service except at the same time he shun all sin and wickedness which affront him most of all and bear the directest opposition to his Holiness As this without the other is Spiritual ill Breeding and Clownish Rusticity so is the other without it mere Form and Complement and an empty unprofitable Ceremony Quest. If this Holy God is so irreconcileably set against sin sure he can never be the Author of it Ans. No let no Man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither doth he tempt or incite any man to it James 1. 13. The Devil tempts us who is called the Tempter in the Scriptures Matth. 4. 3. And wicked men who are his Instruments And our own Lusts most of all when they draw us away and intice us to evil as S. James says James 1. 14. But as for the most Holy God the concern he has about our sins is in no wise to decree or help them on but only to forbid and punish them He has no pleasure in wickedness or as the Septuagint translate it he doth not will it Psal. 5. 4. Quest. But doth not God himself say That he had hardned Pharaoh's heart and the heart of his servants Exod. 10. 1. and Chap. 14. 4 17. and is it not also said that he moved David to number Israel and Judah 2 Sam. 24. 1. Ans. Yes but God did these not by way of positive influence and efficiency as a concurrent cause but only by withdrawing his Grace and leaving Men to be hardned by their own Lusts and by evil Spirits And thus of Pharaoh 't is said that he hardned his own heart Exod. 8. 15 32. and of David that Satan moved him to number the people 1 Chron. 21. 1. Quest. But doth not his withdrawing of his Grace show a willingness to have sin take place and that although he is loth to do it himself yet he is free Men should be hardned by others Ans. No 't is only when he is put to it as a Wise and upright Judge in way of Justice For he never withdraws his Grace and thereby leaves Men to their own Lusts and malignant Spirits till they have first made a forfeiture of it by reiterated repulses and affronts or some high provocations Thus in the Story of Pharaoh in Exodus except what is said Chap. 7 13. he bardned Pharaoh's heart which as the Learned note may as well be rendred Pharaoh's heart was hardned as the same word is rendred verse 22. God is not said thus to harden Pharaoh's heart and send all his plagues upon his heart chap. 9. 12 14. till Pharaoh had several times wickedly disobeyed and wilfully hardned his own heart chap. 8. 15 32. And when 't is said that God moved David to number the people 't is added that their sins had provoked him to Anger which made him give him up to it 2 Sam. 24. 1. God's Grace and Holy Spirit is always repulsed and driven away before he recals it from Men and thereby gives them up to an evil Lust or an infernal Spirit to harden and work in them Quest. What say you when God threatens Men with Spiritual Blindness that they shall look on without seeing and hear without understanding Isaiah 6. 9. Which Judgment S. Paul testifies was befallen the unbelieving Jews Rom. 11. 7 25. As our Lord himself also noted Matth. 13. 14 15. Ans. Not that he instils into them any errors or pushes and precipitates them on to any wicked act without opening their Eyes But only that he leaves them to their own violent and blind prejudices which will neither let them hear nor see any thing that makes against them and withdraws clear means of knowledge after they have long slighted and abused them as our Saviour did from the blinded Jews therefore as he says speaking to them in Paxables because seeing they saw not and hearing they heard not that is they would not be made to see and hear by plain Speeches Matth. 13. 13. This infliction of Spiritual blindness S. Paul in the case of the Romans calls giving up to a reprobate sense Rom. 1. 28. Whereto God then gave them up when they of themselves having already gone far in wickedness contracting it he justly left them to it Whilst they knew God they gave him no due glory and acknowledgment and thereupon he gaue them over to a reprobate mind verse 21 28. Their reprobate sense verse 28. was the woful consequent of their own foul lusts and precontracted foolishness noted verse 21 23 25 26. God did not leave them till they had first by false worship and filthy practices not only deserted but driven him and his enlightening Spirit away from them Quest. But what say you to Ahab's case did not God himself deceive him Ans. No but only left him to be deceived by a wicked Spirit and that not till Ahab had sold himself to work wickedness and thereby most justly deserved to be deserted by him The wicked Spirits though they have will enough to hurt us yet are held in Chains and Fetters and are not let loose or in power to work their wills till they have God's Licence And therefore when the good Angels from their several earthly charges return back to God to make their reports some wicked ones as 't is represented in the Story of Job still croud in among them to gain Commissions either for trial or punishment and see who will be delivered into their hands Thus Satan did when he obtained power against Job for a trial of his patience Job 1. 6. And thus on another set day when God publickly decreed the fall of Ahab an evil Spirit presents himself and voluntarily offers to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets to encourage him to his fall at Ramoth Gilead in deserved punishment of his wickedness And God not only foretels that Ahab would hear him but bids him
go and do so as Christ bid Judas when he went out to betray him as also the Devils when they entred into the herd of swine not thereby commanding and authorizing his Practice but only taking off his restraint and letting him loose to his own wicked purposes by way of permission and sufferance 1 King 22. 19 20 21 22. Quest. And is that S. Paul's meaning when under the great mystery of iniquity or Man of sin he says God shall send men who loved not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness strong delusion 2 Thess. 2. 11. Ans. Yes that delusion was to be by giving evil Spirits Licence to delude them It shall come with all deceivableness of power and signs and lying wonders after the working of Satan verse 9 10. So that God's sending strong delusion in those days is letting Satan loose and permitting him to give plausible proofs and shows to seduce Men. Which with those that loved unrighteousness and had no love for the truth but would be glad of any pretence to embrace a pleasing error instead of it would be like enough to prevail Quest. Doth God often give Men up thus to evil Spirits to delude them Ans. Yes evil Spirits have a general influence in producing the errors as well as the sins and transgressions of all Men. But they have often a more especial Licence and extraordinary power of delusion in degree sometimes greater and sometimes less according as any Persons or Places through their own wickedness their pride and wantonness are left more or less to themselves and thrown out of God's protection Thus the darkness of the Heathen World or Age S. Paul ascribes to the spiritual wickednesses in high or heavenly places or to the wicked Spirits in the Air called Heaven in the Jewish Books who were the Rulers of it Eph. 6. 12. And in account of the deluded nations we are told that the old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan had deceived them Rev. 20. 2 3 8. And the general Apostasie and Delusion by the Man of sin is ascribed by the Apostle as I noted to the working of Satan 2 Thess. 2. 9 10 11. And on the rising of any notable Hereticks and perverters of the truth the crafty and malignant Devil is usually said to stir and rage in the Ecclesiastical Language The great deceits and delusions of the World are not owing only to the darkness of Mens own minds and hearts but to the malignant fraud of wicked Spirits who by themselves and their instruments miserably blind and mislead such as are forsaken of God and delivered into their hands And therefore it need not seem strange to us if we see Men abused into such gross absurdities as are against the plainest Scriptures Reason and common Sense Nay though they be as confident of them as if they received them by immediate inspiration and a voice from Heaven and think they have as sure Revelations for their sensless and absurd dreams as ever the blessed Apostles and Evangelists had for the Holy Scriptures For though several of these seem too gross for the natural folly of Men yet are they not for the malignity of a delusive Daemon When he has gained a Licence to besot and abuse Mens minds we need not stand astonished at the most extravagantly sensless or ridiculous Opinions Quest. If this is one method of God's Justice to give up those who abuse the Light and the means thereof to Satan's delusion must not this make us all exceeding careful with Humility and Reverence to keep in his ways and appointments that so we may abide under his Protection Ans. Most certainly And therefore by all means we must have a care not to set our selves above Ordinances to vilifie Prayers or Preaching to despise Sacraments to disparage the Sacred Scriptures to contemn superciliously and outbrave our Ministers making our selves wiser than our Teachers to cast off the Government of our Lawful Pastors or break the Unity of the Church or such things For this is breaking all God's Bounds and discarding his Methods appointed to keep us all stable in the knowledge and practice of the Truth And if we thus leave him and wantonly leap out of all his ways we have just cause to fear lest he leave us and then we are ready to become a prey to evil Spirits who as they get leave in more or less degrees will carry us away with their delusions Quest. You think then that there is less danger of these delusions whilst Men keep humbly and awfully in the Unity and Communion of Christ's Church than when they depart from it Ans. Yes by breaking out thence they are got into a place more insecure and more full of danger As out-lying Deer no more under the Eye and Care of the Keeper are ready to become a prey to every Hunter Or as Sheep without the Fold whilst they straggle from the Flock and out of the compass of that special Providence which protects it are in danger by every hurtful Beast to be made a prey and picked up Or as near an Enemies Quarters they who will run abroad without the Camp are in danger of being seized or slain by Adversaries so are Men without the Church by evil Spirits For they are more at liberty and let loose in the World though chain'd and fetter'd in the Church and if they find any leap'd out thence are more likely to seize them as straves in their own Dominions Quest. Indeed that which restrains their malice is the Protection of God which is called the Hedge that fenced off Satan from Job Job 1. 10. And since all have not an equal share in the Guardianship of Almighty God and of his good Angels 't is obvious to infer that these impure Spirits have more power in some Places and over some Persons than over others Ans. Yes and this the Daemon in Tertullian urged for himself who being charged by some that in those days of Miracles came to eject him and rebuked for daring to attempt and possess a Christian Woman who was listed under Christ's Protection constantly pleaded his seisure was most just because he found her in his own Precincts viz. at the lewd bloody and ungodly shows in the Heathen Theatres This Power of evil Spirits is greatest in the unhallowed World as the Scripture sufficiently intimates when Satan is called by our Lord the Prince of this world John 12. 31. and chap. 14. 30. and 16. 11. and by S. Paul the God of this world 2 Cor. 4. 3. and when the Apostle ascribes the darkness of the Heathen world to wicked spirits who had the rule and Empire of it Eph. 6. 12. and wrought in those that were disobedient or the unpersuadable part of Mankind Eph. 2. 2. So that they are able to do most before Men are entred into the Covenant and Church of God as from the danger Moses was in before he had Circumcised his Son the
owning the Authority of our own Bishops who are their Successors and rule the Church in their stead Christ told the Apostles he would be Present with them to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. Being present with their Successors he calls being Present with them And in like sort keeping Fellowship with our Lawful Bishops who are their Successors is keeping Fellowship with them He that one sends saith the Jews is as himself And accordingly when Christ had sent out his Apostles he tells them he that receiveth you receiveth me Mat. 10. 40. and he that receives whomsoever I send receiveth me Joh. 13. 20. And the Apostle commends the Galatians that that they received him not only as an Angel of God but as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 14. And St. Ignatius that Blessed Martyr and contemporary of the Apostles applauds the Trallians that they were subject to their Bishop as to Jesus Christ and to the Presbytery as to the Apostles In Scripture Account and Legal estimate that is done to any Persons which is done to their Substitutes and Representatives And thus keeping Fellowship and Subjection to the Bishops of the Church in all Ages who were at first sent and commissioned by the Apostles and empowered to send and ordain others at all times is holding Fellowship and paying subjection to the Apostles themselves and by them to Christ Jesus Quest. This then is one Part of the Communion of Saints to live subject to our own Bishops not suffering our selves to be drawn away by such as would seduce us but adhering to them against all Schismatical Opposers Answ. Yes Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves Heb. 13. 17. And mark those that cause Divisions and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Be their Pretences and Appearance what they will if they lead us into Schism and an unnecessary Rejecting of our Lawful Governours God hath not sent nor doth his Spirit go along with them That cannot lead to Schism it is the Author of Peace not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. It will not put us upon a needless rejecting of our Spiritual Governours since Adherance to them in the Apostles Days as I noted before was made a Test of discerning True Spirits from False ones We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4. 6. Quest. But if a Man is careful to Believe and Practise Christ's own Laws and Doctrines is not that enough to make him a good Christian except he likewise submit to Church-Rulers and peaceably conform to their innocent Constitutions and Rules of Discipline Answ. No. For this is one of his Laws to obey those that have the Rule over us and watch for our Souls and to submit our selves Heb. 13. 17. He orders them to take care that all things in his Worship be done decently and to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26 40. And he requires us to obey and submit to their ordering A good Christian is not only one that believes and professes the Christian Religion but is also a Member of the Christian Church And they cannot be good Church-members who will not submit so far as conscionably they may to Church-Governours nor Communicate in Church-Offices Quest. I see the Communion of Saints implies their Communion in Christian Doctrine Worship and Government But doth it not also imply Communicating not only in Affections but in all Good Offices in Alms and outward Things Answ. Yes to do Good and to Communicate forget not Heb. 13. 16. And the Receiving their charitable Contributions St. Paul calls taking upon him the Gift and Fellowship or Communion of Ministring to the Saints 2 Cor. 8. 4. In the extream distress of the Jerusalem Christians at first this communication of Alms was wonderful For all that were Rich sold their Pessessions and put them into a Common Stock to be distributed by the Apostles as every one had need Act. 2. 44 45. and c. 4. 33 34. And in other places where they did not take this course yet was Communicating as in all good Offices so particularly in outward Things with their poorer Brethren the Profession of all Christians Their Rule was as they had opportunity to do Good unto all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. And to do good to these more particularly when they travelled about as Strangers and fled from place to place for the Faith of Christ which is the Charity and Hospitality of the Scriptures so much magnified Quest. When any Saints then of Foreign Countries are forced to fly and come among us for Christ's sake to entertain them in our Houses and communicate to them of our Substance which is here professed is of Great Account with God Answ. Yes of high Account For it is one of those Good Deeds which Christ will expresly mention in our behalf at the last Judgment Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom for I was a Stranger and ye took me in Mat. 25. 34 35. And therefore St. Paul when he tells us of distributing to the necessities of Saints reminds us particularly of being given to Hospitality Rom. 12. 13. CHAP. X. Of the Forgiveness of Sins The Contents What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of sins Quest. WHat is the Tenth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe the Forgiveness of Sins Quest. What is Sin Answ. The Breach of a Commandment or a Transgression of some Law of God committing what his Law forbids or omitting what it injoins us Sin is the Transgession of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And all the Laws of God which we transgress in sinning against him are contain'd in Holy Scripture Quest. Then we never offend God nor shall suffer for any thing but what the Scripture has forbid and against which we can produce some Law out of it Answ. No for Sin is not imputed where there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. And it must always be a Law that worketh Wrath i. e. makes us liable to suffer it For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. The strength of sin is the Law saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Law enter'd e're sin did abound Rom. 5. 20. Quest.