frequently called A light in Scripture yet is it not the Fountain of light Christ is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and the Word is but a means or instrument in his hand to convey light unto us It is not the word it self in the ordinary dispensations of it but Christ by the word that illuminates dark understandings and opens blinde eyes and turns people from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto GOD. Men may injoy the outward sound of the Gospel and yet never feel the inward power of it upon their hearts 〈…〉 Lord says the Prophet who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed that is though there be a report made a sound of words in the ears of many yet unless the arm of the LORD be revealed in the Ministery of his Word there will be no believing nor no repenting nor no converting or turning in to God thereby But Secondly The special Instrument that God makes use of By his Spirit for the teaching and instructing of his people is his Spirit without which the very Word it self is but as a sealed Book Isa 29.11 or a dead letter unto them 2 Cor. 3.6 and by the means whereof he is pleased to reveal and manifest not onely mean and ordinary things but the secrets of the Gospel the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the deep things of God are hereby manifested and made known to the Saints 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him But says he God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit * Scrutatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est nihil in Deo tam profunde ac penitus abditum quo non penctret spiritus nempâ— quoniam perillum docemur etiam abditissima Bez. in loc Quia de Deo est hic spiritus omnia novit Dei Hic spiritus Dei docuit nos quos scit naturaliter non doctos docuit nos de mysterio Christi qui non solum spiritus Dei est sed Christi Amâ—ros Com in loc searcheth all things yea the deep things of God And in the same Chapter and following verse he tells us yet farther That as no man knows the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knows no man but the spirit of God Though ye should have Ten thousand instructers besides as the Apostle speaks in another case yet all would do you little or no good without this instructer And therefore though the Ephesians had as excellent Preaching as any that the world afforded Quia animalis homo non percipit ca quae sunt Spiritue stultisia enim sunt ci Spiritualis verò disudicat omnia opuâ— est ergo Spiritus sanâ—ti illuminatione ad inveniendum dijudicandum verum scripturae sensum Ita Paulus optat â—cclesiis Spiritum illuminationis Pater coelestis dabit Spiritum peâ—entibus Chemnit Examen Decret Concil Trident. de Interpret sacr Script Ezangelium per humanam sapientiam capi non potest sed requirit operationem Spiritue sancti per quam cordibus nostris insinuetur Muscul loc com Ambiguitas igitur vel obscuritas scripturarum quam causantur pontificii non inâ—ringit carundem authoritatem sed ostendit necessitatem Spiritus illuminantis ministerii â—â—centis atque exponentis scripturas Davenant de Iud. ac norm fid cap. 13. Palà m est verbum Dei Spiritus virtute armatum corda Piorum trahere ad consentiendum sibi decretis suis Id. ibid. Spiritus sapientiae revelationis ab officio dicitur quod vera Agnitione Dei ecclesiam ornat Centuriat Magdeburg lib. 2. centur 1. cap. 4. Paulus quaedam citavit ex Arato Epimenide sed affirmo Apostolos non propterea ejusmodi testimoniis usos fuisse ut inde caput aliquod fidei confirmarent nam ad eam rem semper Adhibucrunt expressos locos petitos ex scriptis Propheticis cosque Afflatu Spiritus sancti expossuerunt Sadeel de verb. Dei script advers Hum. trad Nos nihil hic somniamus extra ordinem sed id ipsum Agnoscimus quod in reliquis Articulis fidei omnibus nimirum omninò opus esse internâ Spiritus sancti persuasione ut libris sarris plená fide assentiamur Chamier Panstrat Cathol tom 1. lib. 6. cap. 1. D. White in his way to the true Church sect 8. num 1 11. Reinold Confer with Hart. Chap. 2. Divis 2. Jewel Repl. to Harding 15. Art 11. Divis in Pauls own Ministery yet you may see how earnestly he prays for them Ephes 1. That the GOD of our Lord Iesus Christ and Father of glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him The eyes of their understandings being enlightened thereby to know what was the hope of their calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what the exceeding greatness of his power towards them that belieeve c. And that it may appear to you How necessary the presence and help of the Spirit is to bring in these Divine Instructions how necessary the presence and assistance of the Spirit is to bring in these Divine Instructions be pleased to observe thus much That the most plain Fundamental Truths that are cannot be rightly understood without the help and assistance of GOD's Holy Spirit To give instance but in one main Fundamental Truth and that which is indeed the very basis or foundation of all Christian Religion The Divinity of Iesus Christ The Divinity of Iesus Christ instanced in who is there almost that looks not upon it as a most dangerous yea damnable Heresie 2 Pet. 2.1 for any body to deny the Deity of the Son of God The Godhead of Jesus Christ who is not ready to say Out upon him it s not fit he should live that holds forth such an horrid Blasphemous Opinion as this But now I beseech you take heed Caution That whilest ye condemn this Opinion in others and cry out upon it others that in the mean time ye be not deeply guilty of it your selves And that this may appear to be no needless Caution pray give me leave to tell you That no man living is able to assert the Divinity of Iesus Christ in heart and life No 〈◊〉 able to 〈…〉 the Divinity of Christ in heare and life but by the help of the Spirit 〈…〉 Ambros but by the special ayd and assistance of Gods Holy Spirit Natural light will never reveal thus much unto a man it must be the Spirit of GOD that must teach him this lesson or else he will never be able to hold forth the power of this Truth That
Iesus Christ is every way the eternal Son of GOD. For the clearing of this to you Cleared by â—â—ve places of Scripture I shall onely intreat you to cast your eyes upon two places of Scripture that may I suppose abundantly satisfie you concerning this particular The first place is that Matth. 16. from the 13. 〈…〉 place Mat. 16. from 〈◊〉 c. 〈…〉 verse c. It is there said That when Iesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his Disciples this question Whom do men say that I the Son of man am And they said Some say that thou art Iohn the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremias or one of the Prophets Verse 14. Well says Christ this is the Opinion that the world hath of me Verse 15. But says he whom do you say that I am you that are my disciples and followers Simon Peter answered and said 〈◊〉 Confesâ—â—â— ver 16 Thou art Christ the son of the living GOD Mark here was Peters confession of Christ But then I pray observe withal Our Savior Reply v. 1.17 our Saviors reply to that answer of Peters at the 17. v. of that Chapter Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven But why does our blessed Lord say so Quest why does he tell Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed it unto him why may not flesh and blood reveal thus much unto any man almost As now suppose that one should come to any man in this Congregation or to any man of understanding within the compass of this great City and put this question to him Do not you believe that Iesus Christ is the son of the living God There is no man almost but would answer and say Yea I do believe that Iesus Christ is the son of the living God Sol. But let me here tell you Quad earo sanguis revelare non potuis Spiritus sancti gratia reâ—clatum est Hieron com in Mar. Non sit ergo mirum quod intelligere divina non valent qui Spiritum Dei non habent Fulgent cones Serm. â—ustid Ar. cap 18. That if nothing else but flesh and blood hath revealed this truth unto you if ye have onely learned it by rote out of a Book or if ye have taken it upon trust as it fell from the Ministers lips or if ye have meerly held it forth in conformity to the customs of the times if ye are onely upon such carnal Principles and Foundations as these are if the Spirit of God did never deal with you about it nor never instruct you with a strong hand about it nor never beam in light clearly and distinctly into your souls about it and thereby convince you of it ye are not yet in any measure sufficiently perswaded of this truth neither do ye rightly understand the meaning of it Flesh and blood says Christ hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father c. Adde to this another like place 1 Cor. 12.3 says the Apostle there The second place 1 Cor. 12 â— explained Thus much I give you to understand that no man can say that Iesus Christ is the Lord but by the holy Ghost No man can say it why every man says it almost with his lips and with his tongue what more ordinary then for men to profess That Jesus is the Lord and a desire to come under his Discipline and Government But yet though men may make an outward profession of these things with their lips Memo porest ut Dominum Deum seriò agnoscere nisi per Spiritum sanctum Bez hic Dictum enim ipsum quo significatur Deminus Jesus non adulatione hominum sicut idola dii vocantur sed spiritus sancti veritate profusum est Quicquid enim verum à quocunque dicitur à spiritu sancto dicitur Ambr. com 1. Ep. ad Cor. Lombard lib. 1. sentent dist 46. yet their hearts and consciences and spirits and lives can never stoop to the obedience of Christ in all things without the mighty over-ruling power and direction of the holy Ghost So that if ever ye would know things to purpose if ever ye would know Christ and his Truths not after the flesh or after a carnal maner but so as ye ought to know them and so as that ye may be the better for the knowledge of them then do not meerly rest upon mens teaching but be sure of this That the Spirit of God teach you how to compare spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 1 Thess 5.21 how to try all things and thereupon to retain a savor of that which is truly good Not that I would by this lead you besides the Scriptures neither or any other Ordinance No denial of the Scriptures here or of any other Ordinance I have no such thought nor no such intention But still I say Attend the motions and the breathings and the teachings of the Spirit in the use of Ordinances and from the holy Scriptures without which they 'll all prove but dead letters and dry things unto you and ye will never understand the spiritual sense of any thing but still be carnal in every thing without the spirits ayd and assistance to you and continual vouchsafement of its presence and co-operation with you The truth is There is nothing spiritual but that which comes from the spirit Nothing Spiritual but that which comes from the Spirit as a fruit of â—â—s teaching as a fruit of its teaching and of its divine and heavenly informations That which is born of the flesh is flesh says our Savior and That which is born of the spirit Iohn 3 6. is spirit As the Philosophers say of those things that they call Homogeneous Homogeneum est quod constat â—x partibus idem nomen cum toto habentibus Keekerm System log lib. 1. cap. 22. that each small portion thereof retains the name of the whole Quaelibet pars Aquae est Aqua every drop of water is water and every spark of fire is fire and so all that comes from the flesh is flesh and all that comes from the spirit is spirit All that comes from thence is spirit and All that is spirit comes from thence True it is that in all the truths of GOD and in all the ways of GOD there is something meerly external that belongs not to the substance of the business and that men may teach you How far mans teaching reaches and truly that 's all they can teach you Learned men large parted men brave gifted men they may teach you to be Protestants or teach you to be Presbyterians or teach you to be Independents they may engage you upon this outward Profession or upon that outward Form but they cannot teach you to be righteous or teach you to be humble or teach you to be
THE NECESSITY OF Divine Instructions In point of REFORMATION Discovered in A Sermon Preached before the Right Honorable The LORD MAYOR The Right Worshipful The Sheriffs and Aldermen with other worthy Citizens of the City of London at a Solemn Anniversary Meeting April 4. 1648. By John Cardell ISA. 54.11 12 13. O thou afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundations with Saphires And I will make thy windows of Agates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children April 13. 1648. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl London Printed by John Field for Henry Overton and are to be sold at his shop at the entring into Popes-head-Alley out of Lumbardstreet 1648. To the Right Honorable the LORD MAYOR AND Court of Aldermen OF ENGLANDS METROPOLIS THE Famous City of London THe Service that I was lately called to by your Honorable Appointment was a Spiritual Service and the Theam or Argument that my Meditations were ingaged and carried out upon was of a Spiritual nature far above the reach of those that live meerly by Sense and Carnal Reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homâ— animalis cui anima prosale non alia quam naturali animi luce prâ—â—itus Bez Non Regnitue per spiri tum sanctum Piscâ—â— and that savor not the things of God The natural man says the Apostle receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 My desire was to suggest something from the Word of Truth in so great a Presence that might advance the Work of Reformation which is so much spoken and talked of amongst us and whereunto we are above all other People in the World so many ways ingaged But surely our misery even in this respect aswel as in some other is many times great upon us Vivâ—â—◠〈…〉 That whilest we onely pretend to a right end we wofully miscarry about the means that should bring us to that end My endeavor therefore was To rectifie this great Error and to lay something at the bottom which might sustain the Building of a Scripture-Reformation viZ. Jesus Christ by his Word and Spirit This is doubtless so â—â—re a Foundation that a better cannot and another ought not to be laid or thought upon Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which iâ— Jesus Christ says the Apostle The Prophet calls him 〈…〉 â—nn A precious corner-stone A sure foundation Isa 28.16 And whilest men go about to erect Buildings of Reformation or Buildings of Salvation or of any thing that tends thereto upon other Foundations they do but as the Disciples when they fished all night and caught nothing they do but busie 〈…〉 and weary themselves to no purpose and in conclusion utterly lose their labour yea they many times both sow the wind 〈…〉 and reap the whirlwind as the Prophet speaks Now to establish us upon this sure Foundation in point of Reformation was the scope and drift of the ensuing Sermon That we might not meerly hearken unto or carnally rest upon that which men hold forth unto us about that great Work but consult the minde of Christ therein from his Word faithfully interpreted and opened unto us by that Spirit which at the first gave us the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 3.16 Scripture cúm sint à Spiritu Dei non possunt intelligi sine Spiritu Dei Zanch. de sacr Script and that must still give us the true sense and meaning of it Not that I would altogether exclude men neither from having any hand in this business any farther then God himself excludes them I knew that in all Times and Ages God hath been pleased to select and chuse out men Magistrates and others and to qualifie them accordingly for the helping on of this great Work not that he stands in any absolute need of Men or Means or Instruments onely to testifie his love and honorable respects unto some he hath been always pleased to take them in and to put that glorious Title upon them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 6.1 of being co-workers with him in this weighty business though they can do no more then what in his strength and in the power of his might Ephes 6.10 they are continually inabled to perform And among other Engines or Instruments of great worth The Preaching of the Gospel by men rightly qualified for and duly called unto that great Work must and will certainly have a very great stroke in this business which accompanied with the Spirit is The Rod of Christs strength Psal 110.2 or The Scepter of his Kingdom that whereby he teaches and governs his People Casting down imaginations and pulling down strong holds 2 Cor. 104 5. and captivating every thought to the Obedience of himself by these weapons that are not carnal And therefore certainly the Civil Magistrate cannot honor Christ more or do Him better service who is King of kings 1 Tim. 6.15 and Lord of lords then by supporting such a Ministery which is Experimentally found and known to be vehiculum Spiritus the Chariot as it were of that Spirit which hath always made a world of Believers to come flocking to Christ and flying apace unto him 〈…〉 like so many Doves to their windows Now as to this the Honorable Houses of Parliament have lately Declared themselves very fully to the Satisfaction I am perswaded of all unbyassed and well-affected People throughout the Kingdom and that in these words among the rest to that purpose Mens consciences say they must be mollified and prepared by the powerful Preaching of the Word â—eâ—â—aâ—ation of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament concerning the â—apers of the Scorâ— Commistioners 〈◊〉 before they will be capable Subjects of Ecclesiastical Discipline and till then there is no other means to restrain them from vice and impiety but by the Power of the Magistrate armed with wholesom Laws to that purpose and by the powerful Preaching of the Word which is our hearty desire and endeavor to advance throughout the Kingdom Which Noble Resolution of theirs seconded and pursued by the Power and Authority of this great City what a world of good might it do in a short time How mightily in all likelihood would the Sun of Righteousness cast forth his beams even all the Kingdom over if LONDON were but quietly and thankfully possessed of this most savory mercy And truly Iâ—â— â—oyce very much That in taking upon me the boldness to be herein your humble and faithful Movitor Qui monei utfacias quod jam facis ipse monendo laudat hortatu fortius ire juvat that I do but onely intreat the pursuance of that which ye are already doing
uprighthearted or teach you to be holy or teach you to be faithful with those that are most holy Hos 11. â—â— Nothing in the world can teach you thus much but only that Anointing that John speaks of 1 Iohn 2.20 Haec unctio â—â—quit â—acâ—â— ut tatelligatis omnia scilicet pâ—â— manire possunt adversus Antichristorum Imposturas Heming in loc which is the Spirit of truth and holiness purposely appointed to lead us into all truth and to make us * Quoad partes de praesenti licet non quoad Gradus By Pauls Rule he is no Saint 〈◊〉 is not wholly Sanctified he hath Sanctity in no part that is not Sanctified in 〈…〉 part Dr. Slater Somerset on 1 Thess 5.23 completely holy And therefore in a word that so I may conclude Take heed oâ— dealing unkindely with the Spirit Res delicata est Spiritus Domini if ever ye would know any thing concerning the minde of God in point of Reformation Take heed of dealing unkindely with the Spirit which is of a very tender and delicate disposition Take heed of Acts 7.51 Ephes 4.30 Isa 63.10 1 Thess 5.19 Heb 10.29 Resisting the Spirit of Grieving the Spirit of Vexing the Spirit of Quenching the Spirit of Despighting the Spirit of the living God Which last whereunto all the rest tend is conceived to be a branch of that unpardonable sin against the holy Ghost Let the Word of Christ and the Spirit of Christ dwell in you richly Col. 3 16. Tit. 3.6 the wholesom instructions of the one and the sweet suggestions of the other the grave counsels of the one and the gentle perswasions of the other let them be dearer to you then thousands of gold and silver Mal. 119.72 yea then All the world besides To this purpose be pleased to consider but this one thing more and I have done It is certainly very observable by us That albeit amongst men Several Parties several Spirits several Mysteries among men But the Scripture that takes notice of 〈◊〉 more but Two Parties two Spirits 〈◊〉 mystâ—â—ies Mat. 12 30. Rom 8 9. 1 John 4.3 â— Thess 2. â— â— Tim. 3 16. and among your selves here you have I know not how many several Parties and Spirits and Mysteries moving and working and stirring up and down perpetually yet the Book of GOD and especially the New Testament that takes notice but of two Parties and two Spirits and two Mysteries He that is not with me is against me says our Savior and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad So that in all the world there is but a Christian and an Antichristian Party the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Antichrist the Mystery of iniquity and the Mystery of godliness no more And let me tell you further That each of these Parties and Spirits and Mysteries they do now work at this very day both very secretly and very strongly very curiously on the one side and very craftily on the other side In which respect it is very easie to be deceived in these times and somewhat a difficult business not to be deceived Hag. 1.7 Prov. 4.26 2 Iohn 8. And therefore consider your ways and ponder the pathes of your feet and look to your selves Remember the watchword and him that gave it Rev. 16.15 Bono animo jubet esse Christuâ— promittcoâ—sc venturum tanquam furcm ex improviso aâ— ulturum Hostes vindicaturum ceclesiam prater omnem expectationem Brightman in loc Behold I come as a thief blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame There is a great deal of unsavory salt upon the dunghil already and in all likelihood there will be more ere long If ye would have God to teach you better and to reveal the truth to you Ephes 5.21 as it is in Iesus by his Word and Spirit then take heed of Pride and take heed of Passion Iames 4.6 for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to none but to the humble and The meek he will guide in judgement Psal 25.9 14. and the meek he will teach his way The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Lye at his feet therefore meekly and humbly and be often saying to him That which I see not teach thou me that having done iniquity I may do it again no more FINIS