'T is very hard But Noble Spirits cannot brook it their Tongues and Pens and their whole Bodies may be captivated against their Wills but in their Souls they will be free Is there any greater Idleness Idleness than to stay and rest on that which men have formerly done said or written to attribute all to the Ancients without leaving any thing to be mended by those that come after them Surely all the Mysteries of God and Nature are not yet discovered the greatest things are difficult and long in coming and Truth is the Daughter of Time Many things which were hidden are come to light and more will come to light and our Successors will wonder that we were ignorant of them We do not build now adaies after the fashion of Vitruvius Improvements nor Till the ground or plant according to Varro or Columella we use not food or physick after the rules of Galen or Hypocrates we judg not exactly after the Civil Law of the Romans or the Feudal Customs of the Lombards neither plead we as Demosthenes and Cicero nor govern as Solon or Lycurgus did we war not fail not sing not c. as did the Ancients but much better And therefore the World is beholding to those brave Souls that have adventured by long Study care charges and bodily Labours to excel their Predecessors in finding out such rare secrets as serve more for the benefit of Mankind The Antipodes the Sailing by the Compass the Circulation of the Blood the Chymistry of Plants and Minerals Guns Printing c. were strange things to be believed before the truth of them was seen by Experience The Wisest men may not scorn better helps though offered by far meaner hands It must be pride that rejects teaching though from an Ant or Sow And let them be choaked that refuse to be drawn out of a Dungeon by Ropes and rotten Clouts Let the infection of Leprosie stick close to their Skin that scorn to wash it off in a narrow or shallow Stream Knowledg does very ill to puff up so as to scorn Ignorance much more to despise greater knowledg A Sickness a Disease of the Mind in men of high parts is hard to be cured but if their Bodies be in danger they will not disdain Album Graecum or the Receipt of a poor Beggar While they ail little or nothing they will resolve to die by the Book but if all the Great Doctors give not ease to the Gout or Stone Strangury or Flaming Feaver an Emperick a Quack an Old Woman any body that can be gotten for God's sake at any rate and thank you too a thousand times Obj. It is not safe to leave the old Road. Sol. What if it be rugged What if it be about c. What is he that will read in no bodies book but his own or that shuts his good book is wise enough and will read no further that begins to build and leaves off in the first story that goes half his journey and then comes back If Columbus had not discovered another World and Americus Vespucius conquered the same it had been no world still to us We must have wanted our Plantations of Virginia New-England c. and the King of Spain his Gold and Silver Mines Is there no progress to be made Must we stand at a stay Look into all Mechanick Trades Mysteries and Professions they grow more ingenious every day to their great Commendation Observe Lawyers Philosophers and Physicians Oratours Poets c. improving daily God's Blessing on their hearts for so doing Obj. But Divines must not stir a foot others may Sol. No Why so Stay let us consider more of this matter It is for certain that no other Foundation can be laid than what is already laid of Gold and Silver and pretious Stones But we may build upon this foundation suitable matter which will endure the Fire Christ Jesus delivered the full perfection of all truth the most pure precepts and highest promises in the Gospel The Apostles but it was a long time first understood it and preached it to the world The chiefest things which Christ did suffered and spake are written in the Gospels as also the Sermons Miracles and Acts of the Apostles in the Epistles also are occasionally taught the pure Doctrine of Christ unmixed with Moses and Vain Philosophy The Apostles by Inspiration understood the whole Will of God and preached infallibly and from their Light we all receive Light But Inspiration and Infallibility dying with them the Disciples of the Apostles and their Disciples were good men and kept the Faith which was delivered to them and so it hath been kept and would have been kept by constant tradition of Preaching if so much had not been written as is written In a word the Will of God was plainly revealed Corruption and as plainly understood but some after the Apostles days grievous Wolves entred into the Flock of Christ even Jewish and Gentile Christians who wrested the Scriptures both Old and New to their own destruction and too much trusting to art and subtilty corrupted the simplicity of the Gospel Then as mens Pride with their wealth and worldly polities encreased came in the Doctrines of Infallibility Supremacy Transubstantiation Purgatory Masses worshipping of Saints and Angels innumerable Superstitions of Will-worship and carnal services And though in all these ages good men saw the clearness of Gospel truths through these mists of vulgar errors yet could not swim against the Stream and the common sort relying upon men of mighty names grew careless to search any further believing all that was told them by their Leaders The rest contented themselves and sate still under those Tyrannies wishing for Reformation but they were poor and weak and the violence of the Powers and Multitudes was too strong against them Such was the humour of those dark and ignorant ages when the modest Disciple would not presume to know more than his admired Master though he were fit to be a Master himself to others And so the world lay in a trance for a long time and fetcht a sound sleep and was almost dead especially in and about the Eleventh Century that unhappy age overspread with Ignorance and Barbarity Reformation Till by degrees some more Heroick Spirits appeared and boldly told the world those glorious truths which they had discovered as Luther Melancthon Cassander Calvin c. who weeded out many Tares that the Enemy had sown while good men were fast asleep And since that greater men than these have more and more illustrated the Spiritual Dispensation of the Gospel to all mankind far different from that which was before the Law and under the Law And still we go on to perfection not for a new Faith or Religion but for the understanding of the old way of God more perfectly The Reformation grows higher and higher every day and the Faithful grow more and more spiritual and fitted for glory walking more sublimely and
when they have the Fee which their Fathers had and kept by their Allegiance to their death for them to succeed after them and they are punished when they have lost their Fee which their Fathers lost and did not keep by their felony to their death for them to lose after them what they might have had if their Fathers had performed the Condition So if Parents for their Vertue be made free their Children shall be free but this hath no true respect of reward but good fortune So if Parents for their Fine be reduced to slavery their Children shall be slaves but this hath no true respect of punishment but evil fortune Because no body before he is can have right that he should be born in such or such a condition but when he is born so or so it is his good or bad chance As an Infant in his Mothers womb is not properly acquitted when his Mother is acquitted and saved her life nor properly condemned when his Mother is condemned and loseth her life The CONTENTS Transition Demonstrations Traditions Scriptures Representative Church Some body must determine Pride Calumnies Scriptures Collections TITLE V. Of a Judge of Christs Laws Transition AFter all the discourse of Laws and the Law-maker there is a great cry that makes a great disturbance Who shall be the Judge and Interpreter of Christs Laws No hopes ever to convince such that take all upon trust and will be blinded for Policy and Interest but let Wisdom still speak and she will be justified of her Children and none but wilful Souls will stop their ears A Judge they lack and such as must be infallible but they cannot agree who this should be If some Moral Truths are as demonstrable as others which they call Mathematical then what need of a Judge When such moral Propositions are as Scientifical of themselves and create as full an assent to the understanding as Natural things which are perceptible of themselves and create a full apprehension to the sense The Laws of Nature are plain and as plain consequences may be made from them As that no man should steal or kill and from thence it is demonstrated That if Sejus or Titius do steal or kill they sin against the Law of Nature And such Ratiocinations as are rightly framed from necessary Principles create as undeniable Demonstrations As that a man is Risible Demonstrations because he is Rational That a Horse is one true and good because he is an Ens or that the Periphery of a Circle is Equidistant from the Centre Now if the Laws of Nature be so plain then they need no Judge And if the Positive Laws are so plain as they are or ought to be then they need no Judge also All Intellectual Entities have hitherto by the most of men been accounted probable only allowing by great favour infallibility to Revelations and therefore have been the more slighted and nothing thought worthy of credit but material Entities and objects of sense Now if Revelations come as they may do to the understanding as well as Natural notions and Sensual objects why may they not as plainly be apprehended supposing them as they must to be as plainly revealed as the rest are imprinted in the Soul or conveyed thither by the sense But still the Question is Who shall be the Judg and this Judge must be infallible too The old beaten way is to believe as the Church believes and the Churches Faith is resolved into the Pope or a general Council with or without him not yet agreed Surely there is a fallacy in the word Church as in the word People The Church is either taken for all the Church and the People for all the People which cannot meet to agree all or for the most part or best of the Church or People which can hardly meet to agree all So there is no certainty in either SECT I. Universal Traditions are doubtful Traditions The Eastern Church had one Tradition about Easter from St. John the Western another from St. Peter the Millenaries received their Tradition from Papias St. John's Disciple the rest denied it Councils were hardly ever universal or universally agreeing and mostly packt a few popular Orators and Politicians swayed all the rest So that we are at no certainty by these Certainty is either in Nature things actually existent to sense or in Morality from prime principles undoubted conclusions in the mind by Rational or Mathematical Demonstrations actually existent to Reason The Law of Nature is plain enough Consequences from thence are clear if rightly deducted by the help of Art Laws Positive are to flow from thence Subjects may know by these Laws what they are to have and what they are to do SECT II. Scriptures The Scriptures are God's Positive Laws commanded in his Will and Testament with Promises of Rewards so that by them all Subjects and Legatees understand what they are to have and what they are to do And as the Laws and Testaments of wise and good men are evident so much more the Laws and Testaments of God And therefore in all these Laws there is sufficient Certainty to every one who when all comes to all must judge as well as they can for themselves and the Laws fundamental and necessary are so plain that they may judge Else why should those Promises be made and those Duties be commanded if they to whom they were made and enjoyned could not possibly apprehend them and what other infallible Judge can be imagined especially when besides their own Judgments the Spirit is promised to all that will use what God hath already given them to lead them into all truth And so Christ the only Infallible Judge hath promised to be present by his Spirit unto the end of the World If in this state of Imperfection there remain doubts as there will we must be content to doubt as we do about such manners and circumstances of things as are not absolutely necessary to salvation the ignorance whereof may safely consist with our salvation If others be given over to believe lies it is a just Judgment of God upon them for their carelesness and sensuality As is the case of the Heathen Idolaters who though they knew God yet they glorified him not as God but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened But still Wisdom is justified of all her Children and the true Faith hath been kept by them and will be kept unto the end of the World and Truth is Truth still In natural Principles all conceptions agree as to worship God to do as we would be done by c. and in supernatural Principles there is the same harmony of Faith in God and a good life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thus the whole Church i. e. all Christians in all ages have received the Gospel and kept the Faith and so the Church is the pillar and ground of Truth The Church of God is guided
Correction Work Payment Church Elders Bishops Priests Deacons High Priest Altar Sacrifice Tithes Oblations First fruits Dedication Consecration Expiation Propitiation Excommunication Idol Faith Vow Covenant Contract Promise Oath Stipulation Sacrament Seal Intercession Hand-writing Mediator Obligation Assurance Evidence Conveyance Alliance Affinity Consanguinity Tribe Stock Familie Degrees Line Birthright Succession Dominion Lordship These and other learned Titles of the Law with the profound judgments of renowned Antecessors upon each of them serve more to the enrichment of the treasury of wisdom for the furnishing of apt Interpretations and Glosses upon the Laws divine than all the Arts or Learning of the World Besides the aptitude of resolving cases and doing business with prudence honesty and gallantry is created by them after the rellish of those equitable and brave Souls that made them The CONTENTS Of the Laitie's Calling AND as to the Laity I say consider your Calling we may not speak the mind of God in learned and unknown Tongues to the high ones only that Pearch on the Towers but in Vulgar language to the meanest that sit on the wall Quod omnes tangit ab omnibus tractari debet That which concerns all ought to be understood by all We will not hoodwink you to make your Ignorance the Mother of your as blind devotion we will not captivate your minds by Magisterial dictates of us men and hide from you the Royal Commandments of your God TITLE VI. Of the Laitie's Doctrine I. I Say then boldly Consider your Calling For Doctrine 1. From beyond the lowest Law of Nature 2. From beyond any Laws written upon Tables 1. To the Law of the Spirit and of Grace 2. To the Law written upon the Heart To the best of Precepts of Evangelical perfection taught by Christ in his famous Sermon upon the Mount and other occasional Discourses and by the Apostles and other holy Men of God that had the same treasure in earthen vessels To the best of Promises Viz. Forgiveness of sins Liberty Adoption Spirit Resurrection eternal life These are the Laws that are so high and yet so easie few favourable and pleasant for the wayes of Wisdom are wayes of pleasantness and all her paths are peace I exhort them therefore to a high belief and full assurance of Heaven by the seal and earnest of the Spirit to be partakers of the holy Unction of Wisdom and Perfection to be a Royal Priesthood and a peculiar people by vertue of the promises that belong to you and to your Children of high exemptions and priviledges of great honour and estate TITLE VII Of the Laitie's Persons II. FOR your Persons Look therefore to your selves that ye walk worthy of so great Salvation and having such an hope in you so full of a glorious and blessed Immortality see that ye purifie your selves even as God is pure and become a people altogether zealous of good Works perfecting Holiness in the fear of the Lord that at last you may obtain an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith which is in Christ Jesus Fear not therefore little Flock for it is your Father's good Will and pleasure to give you a kingdom Your hope is laid up for you in heaven And neither eye hath seen nor ear hath heard neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive what things God hath laid up for those that fear him When Christ the favourable Mediatour and Executor of God's Testament shall put the Faithful into actual possession of Eternal Glory saying Come ye Blessed Children of my Father receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World Aim therefore at a Gospel-Spirit 1. Care not for unnecessary Disputes God's Testament is a plain Testament of Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ As Men's Testaments are to be seen and read by all that are concerned so is God's Will to be seen and read by all Col. 2.6 c. As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ 2 Tim. 2.23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender strifes also Genealogies and contentions and strivings about the Law for they are unprofitable and vain 1 Tim. 1.4 Neither give heed to Fables and endless Genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in Faith If any man teach otherwise 1 Tim 6.3 c. and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to Godliness he is proud knowing nothing but doating about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness Jude 27 c. from such turn away Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly Lusts these be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit But ye Beloved building up your selves in your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life and of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garments spotted by the flesh Let the Clergy exhort and teach these things and whatsoever else belongeth unto sound doctrine with all long suffering and patience as the stout Soldiers of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.20 And let them be sure to keep that which is committed to their Trust avoiding profane and vain bablings and oppositions of Sciences falsly so called which some professing have erred concerning the Faith Tit. 1.14 Let them not give heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth nor yet to endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edification 1 Cor. 2.4 Let not your speech nor your preaching be with the entising words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Speak Wisdom among them that are perfect the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our Glory For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid 1 Cor. 3.11 c which is Jesus Christ Now if any man build upon this foundation Gold Silver Pretious stones Wood Hay Stubble every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall trie every man's work whatsoever it is If any
writ of Christ or not whether Judaism was to make way or give place to Christianity or not And seeing it can no more be questioned whether or no the Jews were to take upon them the Law of God as their King for the condition upon which they were to expect the land of Promise it is plain there wants nothing that can be required duely to infer that the condition the undertaking whereof entitles Christians to life everlasting is the profession of Christianity and the performance thereof that which is rewarded by the performance of all the promises which the Gospel tenders as the performance of the Law was that which secured the Israelites in the land of Promise against their enemies round about Now we know that when the Covenant of God with Abraham for the land of Promise came to be limited as to the condition required by God to the Law of Moses that Circumcision which God had required of all Abraham's seed became a condition limiting the same to the Israelites the want whereof at eight days old was a forfeiture of that promise For the waters of the Red Sea which saved them and drowned the Egyptians the Cloud that overshadowed them the Manna which they ate and the waters of the Rock which they drank though according to St. Paul Sacraments answerable to the Sacraments of the Church were so but for the time that they travelled through the Wilderness If therefore by virtue of these the Israelites were entituled to the land of Promise which of Circumcision is evident then must the Sacrament of Baptism be necessarily requisite to the right of a Christian in the heavenly Inheritance Mr. Thornd l. 2. c. 29. p 249. So that by publishing the Gospel the original Law of God is not abrogated continuing still the Rule of mens actions but rather strengthned and enlarged to all those Precepts which are positive under the Gospel and come not from the light of Nature as necessary conditions to salvation in all estates It may be called a new Law as proposing new terms of salvation which if any man challenge to be a derogation to Gods original Law I will not contend about words As for the Law of Moses if we consider it as containing the terms upon which the people held the land of Promise the publishing of the Gospel neither abrogates it nor derogates from it being only given to hold till the time of Reformation Heb. 9.10 But if we consider it as containing an intimation of that Spiritual obedience which God required of those that would be saved under that light by the outward and civil obedience of these positive Precepts whereby they were restrained from the worship of Idols and commerce with idolatrous Nations in proportion of the reward of the World to come signified by the happiness of the land of Promise then must we acknowledge another dispensation in the same original Law by the Law of Moses and for the time of it which was also in force under the Fathers from the beginning though not burthened with that multitude of positive Precepts which the Law of Moses brought in for the condition upon which they were to hold the land of Promise And in opposition to those it is called by the Fathers of the Church The Law of Nature not in opposition to Grace the very giving it by Gods voluntary appearing to the Fathers and instructing them by familiar conversation as it were being a work of meer Grace as also the effect of it in the works of their conversation which we find so truly Christian that the Fathers of the Church do truly argue from thence That Judaism is younger than Christianity And therefore I do here acknowledge this his dispensation by which the Fathers obtained salvation before the Gospel to have been granted also in consideration of that obedience which our Lord Jesus had taken upon him to perform in the Fulness of time Nothing hindring us to understand in Gods proceeding with them something like that which in the Civil Law is called Novatio or Delegatio renewing of Bonds or Assignation of payment God accepting the interposition of our Lord Christ to the reconcilement of them being as if he accepted a new bond for an old debt or of payment by Proxie to be made at a certain term This is a point as manifest in the Scriptures of the New Testament as was requisite that a point not concerning the salvation of those that live under the New Testament but the understanding of the reason thereof in the salvation of those that died under the Old for the maintenance of it against unbelievers should be manifest 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. I would not have you ignorant Brethren that your Fathers were all under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea and all were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea and all ate of the same spiritual meat and all drank of the same spiritual drink for they all drank of the same spiritual Rock that followed him Now the Rock was Christ They that entred into a Covenant of works to obtain the land of Promise entred not expresly into a Covenant of Faith in Christ for obtaining the World to come no more than being baptized into Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea that is into his government into the observation of the Laws he should give in hope of the Promises he should give they can be said to have been baptized expresly into Christ and that Profession which his promises require Wherefore when he saith that the Rock was Christ his meaning is not immediately and to those that rested in this temporal Covenant of works But as the Manna was Christ and Moses was Christ by the means of that faith which God then received at their hands to wit the assurance of everlasting happiness for them who under this calling should tender God the spiritual obedience of the inward man upon those grounds which his temporal goodness the tradition of their Fathers and the instruction of their Prophets afforded at that time Now I appeal to the sense of all men how those can be said to have that interest in Christ which I have shewed that Christians have and therefore in the same ground if there were no consideration of Christ in the Blessings of Christ which they enjoyed Wherefore when St. Paul proceeds hereupon to exhort them Not to tempt Christ as some of them tempted we must not understand that he forbids us to tempt Christ as they tempted God but that they also tempted Christ who went along with them in that Angel in whom the name of God and his word was So when the Apostle saith That Moses counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he looked at the recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 when putting them in mind to follow their teachers considering the end which they had attained and Moses aimed at he addeth Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
them seeing that by this craft they get their living Let it not be grievous therefore for these high Lytae and stately Regents to stoop down to this inferiour Science as they deem it because it is more profitable for them than all their sublime Arts and Sciences can be without it and because it precedes all other wisdom even the sacred Scriptures themselves Quoad nos This strong Foundation well laid will bear up stoutly all that shall be fairly built upon it This plain Rule will try the truth of every Proposition There will be no tottering Hypotheses nor crooked Conclusions if the analogy and proportion of Natural truths be faithfully inspected and followed We may all agree in all main things if we would all look this way and fairly comply in these Principles Amphibologies Equivocations Distinctions Fallacies Tropes and Figures will be found as so many vizards and fucus's to cast a mist before the eye of the Mind and darken the clear light of the Understanding and so in time will be abandoned by all wise men This is the Light under God by which together with the Supernatural light thereupon I have wrote these things not without many failings God knows and by the same Lights they are to be examined and understood or not at all For I have had no other meaning than what is contained in natural and supernatural Revelations whatsoever is more than these is Error By these 't is safe to abide and as safe to be tried And so every man may judge and satisfie himself in his own and others Notions as well as he can and be content And this is all that can be done when all is done Do but bring all things to the common Test touchstone and standard of this Light of natural and supernatural Law and we shall all quickly meet agree kindly and pardon one anothers mistakes and be in a fairer way of mending all that is amiss every day more and more This is the way to truth and peace But alas Proud men strongly interested for honour favour and riches Ignorant men Self-conceited men Opiniators Flatterers and Lazy men that resolve to stick to their education and practice and the sentiments of their Ancestors with the Examples and Doctrines of their admired Masters will never go this way to work while the World stands There is therefore no remedy for these things but Patience The World it is to be hoped will grow older and wiser but still there must be errors and sects for the trial of steady and unbiassed Souls and the Truth at last will be no loser thereby Magna est veritas praevalebit THE CONTENTS OF THE First Volume of the Will of God To the Reader RIghts Laws Jural sense of Scriptures Title of Scriptures Distinction of old and new Testament Legists Hugo Grotius c. Will of God Superstition Fathers Schoolmen Rosicrucians Promises preached Pacification Means to understand Scriptures Mercurial spirits Principles Christianity unmixt Aspire to perfection Valn Sciences Right reasoning Sound Judgment Eloquence Demonstrations Confutations Papists Offences Two Testaments Quotations True Eloquence Prolegomena Title 1. Of Principles Theology and Laws Axioms Moral Entities Demonstrations Mathematicians Topicks Principles Aristotle Demonstrations The Authors Apology Compendiums Rules of Civil law Precepts of the law of Nature p. 1 Title 2. Of God Soul imperfect Soul under a Law Soul hath vast desires Works of God magnificent Works of God beautiful Works of God harmonious Idolatry p. 12 Title 3. Of Religion Natural Religion Supernatural Religion Revelation p. 17 Title 4. Of Scriptures Of Scriptures Writings Traditions Inspiration Testament Ethnick Theology p. 19 The First Book Of a Testament Title 1. Of Ownership Owners Proprietaries Power Gods absolute Propriety Gods disposition p. 23 Title 2. Of a Testament Testament Berith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Covenant Sanction Asseveration Title of Scriptures Other Covenants Old Covenant New Covenant Proofs for the title of a Testament Acts of a Testament Confirmation of a Testament Instrument Inheritance Dispositions Oath Testament to Christ. Law no disannulling of Testament Law given 430 years after Promise p. 25 The Second Book Of a Covenant Title 1. Of the Nature of a Covenant Definition Precept Penalty Promises Free grace All hope from Covenant God our God by Covenant Covenant advances the Creature above Nature p. 34 Title 2. Of a Covenant with God To give ones self to God To give our Souls to the Devil Claim by Covenant p. 36 Title 3. Of the distinction of Covenants First Covenant with Adam Second Covenant with Adam Resemblance of Covenants First Covenant inculcated from the Creation Second Covenant inculcated from the Creation Law written Spirit more plentiful in the Gospel Predestination of Rewards in Christ Men would be Gods to themselves Natural to have a God Natural to be in covenant with God p 38 The Third Book Of the Law or Old Testament Title 1. Of the Nature of the Law Definition of Law p. 53 Title 2. Of Moses Law Letter Spirit Promises Precepts Judgments Works Contract Revelation of Eternal life reserved Temporals prepare for Eternals Outward obedience Sufficient means under law Love of God Love of Neighbour Life Christ expounded the law p. 55 Title 3. Of the Weakness of the law Eternal life Rites troublesome and chargeable Permission Things not originally good Sacrifices Sacrifices first from men Imperfection Rigour p. 59 Title 4. Of the Deceit of the law Sin deceives Grace undeceives My Defect Fruition High understanding Ignorance True knowledge Means to discern Truth Rules Principles Authority Infallibility Will. My lust Vnderstanding Physical and Moral Agents Will. Casual Cause of sin Law p. 63 Title 5. Of Deceit without a law Law of Nature Law Positive p. 67 Title 6 Of Deceit with a Law By all good Law Lust a Law Law a Restraint Law an equivocal word Law of mind Law of Flesh Law of God Law of sin Grace a sole Remedy By all bad Law By one Law in the same law Words and sense of Law Letter and Spirit By one Law in another By the Law of God in the law of Man By the law of Man in the Law of God By one Moral law in another By the law of Nature in a Positive law By a pretended Law of God in a certain law of Man By a Private law in a Publick law By the Moral law in the Ceremonial law By the Ceremonial law in the Moral law By one Law in all other laws p. 69 Title 7. Of the Reasons of Deceit Deliberation by halves Judgment by likelyhood Ampliations and limitations of Law Weighing my action by one Law Suspense between two Laws Sin hath the casting voice Reason of Law p. 78 Title 8. Of slavery under the Law Transition Nature of slavery Tye of slavery p. 80 Title 9. Of the Seat of slavery The Soul Spirit 's free p. 81 Title 10. Of the Cases of slavery Restraint from proper end Restraint from proper guide Restraint from proper act Restraint from
Fealty the best Absolute Election and Reprobation p. 485 Title 2. Of Christ's Feudal Kingdom Transition God covenanted with Christ conditionally Christ hath all power Christ's new way of conquest Covenant of Grace Christ shares with Christians Covenant of Grace with all men Parties of a Covenant must be certainly known Appellative names in Covenants Publick stipulation Obligation free Conditions of Covenants must be certainly known All Covenants are conditional Absolute Decree Collections Power Sacred p. 506 Title 3. Of the Laws of Christ's Kingdom Transition Catholick Church Scriptures Collections p. 518 Title 4. Of Merit Transition Foundation of Merit Supererogation Demerit Rewards and Punishments p. 521 Title 5. Of a Judge of Christ's Laws Transition Demonstration Traditions Scriptures Representative Church Somebody must determine Pride Calumnies Scriptures Collections p. 524 Title 6. Of Heresie Transition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heresie Sect. Separation Christian Society Corruptions Sectaries How Hereticks are to be dealt with Rules for Hereticks p. 530 Title 7. Of Election Transition Calling Election Faithful are elect Faith Walking by faith Worthies of old Election need not to be concealed Election an easie point Diligence to make Election sure p. 537 Title 8. Of Marriage Transition Contracts real and personal Marriage Devil an enemy to marriage Excellent laws for marriage Originals of marriage Definitions of marriage Effects of marriage Who may lawfully marry Members of Christ's Church Just generations of Men. Virginity Why marriage was ordained Benefits of marriage Abuse of marriage Bastardy Rights by marriage Laws about marriage Age of persons Quality of persons Infamous Captives Pupils Officers Kinds of marriage Confarreation Co-emption Vse Rights of a Wife Two wives at one time Concubine Annus Luctus Coelibate Marriage for all estates and degrees of men p. 545 Title 9. Of Consanguinity or kindred by Blood Consanguinity Cousins german Levitical law of Cousins german Christian law Publick honesty and good report Instances The Canon law p. 553 Title 10. Of the degrees of Consanguinity or kindred by Blood Computation of degrees Vnjust marriages Stemma Cognationis Right line ascending Right line descending Line transverse equal Line transverse unequal p. 557 Title 11. Of the degrees of Affinity or Alliance by marriage Affinity Instances Stemma Affinitatis Conclusion Tables of Consanguinity and Affinity p. 564 Testimonia Laciniata Peccatum Originale Lex Fides Duo Testamenta Fides Scripturae Nature Grace Absolute Decree Spirituale Sacrificium Superstitio Promissa Adamo Praedestinatio Meritum Perseverantia Satisfactio Praedestinatio Peccatum Originale Imputatio Labes Originalis Controversies Ceremonies Definitions and Determinations Scoffing and Railing Atheism Gravity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Two Covenants Testament New Covenant Correspondence of Covenants Sacrifices Decalogue Baptism Natural law Law and Gospel Resurrectio Justitia Imputatio Fides Justificatio Remissio Imputatio Justification Imputed Righteousness Justification Original sin Weakness Generousness Elements Non-age of the Church Fanatick's terrible representations of God Popular Errors Fathers not all pure Oeconomy of Moses decaying Signs Some jealous conceits of God's indifferency to the World Jewish Nation a Pattern for others Votum pro Pace Christian Religion Immanation of God Emanations of God Appetites of Man's happiness Recovery Doctrines troubled Vulgar errors Discerning Party Primitive Terms Reformation p. 572 ERRATA PAg. 13. line 39. read Extrinsecal p. 43. l. 2. r. Land p. 52. l. 28. r. Promiser p. 60. l. 17. r. promittuntur ib. l. 19. r. promitti p. 65. l. 37. r. erre p. 72. l. 16. r. fucus p. 101. l. 16. r. almost p. 102. l. 34. r. Paul p. 141. l. 13. r. honesty p. 157. l. 12. r. free woman ib. l. 14. r. Gospel p. 160. l. 18. r. poorly p. 179. l. 8. r. graciously p. 254. l. 14. r. to fear p. 277. l. 20. r. soon p. 279. l. 23. r. weakness p. 284. l. 18. r. Aquila p 310. l. 22. r. celare p. 402. l. 41. r. Inspiration p. 403. l. 23. r. goodness p. 435. l. 41. r. Cases p. 439. l. 37. r. pure mind p. 440. l. 19. r. are advised p. 440. l. 33. r. and more p. 441. l. 26. r. good principles p. 446. l. 45. r. purity p. 452. l. 43. r. rocks p. 452. l. 44. r. her dying p. 457. l. 46. r. fails p. 458 l. 22. r. in to p. 480. l. 24. r. Case p. 505. l. 29. r. Man's ways p. 501. l. 18. r. is it p. 502. l. 4. del as we ib. l. 39. r. in other p. 517. l. 15. r. Kings p. 524. l. 9. r. Sin p. 533. l. 28. r. expel p. 542. l. 17. r. that p. 549. l. 30. r. labours p. 551. l. 29. r. Lares p. 562. l. 8. r. Nephews Nephews p. 562. l. 14. r. Neece or with p. 564. l. 34. r. own sister p. 570. l. 12. r. keep off The Method of the whole Work First Volume GOD the Author and disposer of all Laws and Estates hath of his free Grace ordained his last Will and Testament in which he hath disposed a perfect Rule of Righteousness to be observed an Eternal estate of Happiness to be enjoyed to all that accept the Promises and upon the Conditions of the Covenant therein contained All which gracious Dispositions are actually conveyed to all that have gotten a right to them by Faith through the meritorious working of the Mediator and Executor Jesus Christ Second Volume GOD hath created all Things and all Persons of Angels and Men to be partakers of all the Rights in and belonging to all things Especially the Best Rights to the Best Things to the Best Persons the Faithful Subjects by the Best Mediator of his Best Kingdom JESVS CHRIST by whom through Faith he Justifies them to the best Inheritance of Heaven To have and to hold by the Title Tenure of Fee in this life and of Allodium in the life to come Det Deus optatum felici Sydere cursum Prolegomena The CONTENTS Theology and Laws Axioms Moral Entities Demonstrations Mathematicians Topicks Principles Aristotle Demonstrations The Authors Apology Compendiums Rules of Civil Law Precepts of the Law of Nature TITLE I. Of Principles IN Theology and Laws Theology and Laws which are the best parts of the best Philosophy called Moral many have made large Volumes and so have I being transported thereunto by the excellency of the Matter contained in them And by the way must needs find out many rare Notions that occur in those most high and stately Faculties though they and I as no man can arrive not to perfections So do Chymists extract most exquisite Salts Elixirs and Spirits by their workings in the way although they never come nor never will to the Philosophers Stone in the end These large Treatises are Axioms or ought to be grounded upon certain Axioms and Principles of Faith and Reason as Postulata from whence they demonstrate Scientifical Conclusions as firmly as from the Axioms and Postulata of Sciences called Mathematical Moral Entities For moral immaterial Entities that
Birds and all sorts of Prodigies as Omens and Prognosticks of Casual contingencies in this life and the Futurities of another World as if by such absurd conveyances God had made a Divine discovery of Religious concernments The CONTENTS Of Scriptures Writings Traditions Inspiration Testament Ethnick Theology TITLE IV. Of Scriptures FOr the better settlement of all Mediums for ever in the concerns of true Religion God saw it most convenient That all his Will revealed by Moses for that Dispensation Temporal and by Christ for Reformation Eternal should both be assigned to Writing Writings because written Laws and Testaments are far more evident and lasting Monuments and Records than verbal or transient oral Traditions can possibly be 1. Because by oral Traditions when Men were few Traditions and their Ages long and Doctrines few they might the better be preserved but when Men were multiplied and their Ages cut short and Doctrines multiplied they must be the harder to continue and the sooner lost But by Writing notwithstanding Mortality the Monuments and Records might be immortal 2. Because there will be a failure of unwritten Traditions and vocal Reports by carelessness and contradictions of Delivery and Debauchery succeeding in the place of the simplicity and honesty of first Generations Hence it came to pass that the old Ethnick Laws were lost for want of writing and such as are preserved are fabulous and ridiculous for want of wit and honesty and men are lapsed thereby into Polytheisme and absurd filthy ceremonies of Religion Therefore it came to a necessity Inspiratio◠to prevent a decay of Knowledge and divine Fear that some eminent Persons should be stirred up to commit the laws of Nature and other Positive laws of God to Writing by Divine Inspiration Which was done accordingly for matter of Fact and God himself first began to do this thing by writing his own Law with his own Finger upon two Tables of Stone and delivered them to Moses and commanded him to write other Statutes in a Book to be laid up altogether in the Ark for Posterity Till he should cancel that and make another and better Law which he did and delivered it to Christ who confirmed it by his Death so as to continue for ever by way of Testament which therefore was not of force till the death of the Testatour and therefore should never be disanulled because Testamen◠Christ being dead from henceforth dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him And so we are given to understand according to the manner of Men That it can no more be changed than a mans Testament who being once dead and to live no more it is impossible he should alter his last Will having no Will after his Death because his Will died with him And for the preservation of this Testament after it was delivered by Christ to his Apostles by word of mouth They by inspiration from God committed it to writing in the Book of the New Testament as now it is preserved for us and transmitted to us I. A Testament barely nuncupative cannot be permanent 1. Because words spoken vanish into air and may be mis-heard and mis-understood or forgotten 2. Because the Hearers and Witnesses must die and then all is lost only by hear-say from others who must die also and so the farther the Testimony passes from one generation to another the more it loses or varies till at last it dies and comes to nothing II. A Testament Written is most permanent 1. Because Litera scripta manet and though errours in ignorant Souls may be committed yet the sense and comparing of Copies will direct to Orthography Thus the Testatour dies but his Will and Testament lives and never lives till he dies and ever lives after his death because none can put his Will to death but he that made it who is dead himself and therefore can have no will or power to do it 'T is true a Man may make Testaments and unmake them again as long as he liveth as God did the Law of Moses and as men may do to their Laws and Statutes but when a man dies his last Testament stands if there be a thousand before it they all fall and come to nothing And whereas Publick Laws may be changed by new Law-makers upon new occasions for a new People and are ambulatory in every Age yet the last Wills and Testaments of men which are private Laws can never be changed by their Heirs and Successours but must stand in force for ever because they are dead that made these Laws for their private Families to tie up them and their Heirs for ever For if it be but a mans Testament no man disannuls it For the fastening therefore of the Gospel for ever amongst men this is the way that God hath taken for men after the manner of men to settle his Commands and to settle his Estate upon men And all this is left written in a Book which is the Scriptures which no other Book can rival in this pretence of a Divine Will Ethnick Theology Ethnick Legislatours Poets Philosophers in all their writings of Mythick Politick or Natural Theology they and all became vain in their Imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they lost the seeds of God which were in them and though they knew God yet they glorified him not as God but deified the Creatures that might have led them to the Creatour Hence came Sabaisme and all the Oriental Idolatry in which Statesmen bore their part not a little pretending conversation with Numens for the better obtruding of their devices And Satan abused them all by Oracles from Oracular Priests and Pythian Virgins those mad organs of the Daemons and evil Spirits in those daies Poets they say were the first Authors of Ethnick Divinity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by these saies Plato God speaks unto us The same Philosopher saith that Philosophers were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God such were ranck Magicians who brought in prophane Dogms and impure Worship Ergo not Divine but Diabolical and Inhumane even to the sacrificing of their Sons and Daughters unto Devils If we look to the Alcoran six hundred years later than the New Testament it is answerable to the genius of the Arabians fertil of Dreams full fraught with carnal Precepts and sensual Rewards mixed with Heathenisme Judaisme and Christianity by Mahomet prompted by the Monk Nestorius and advanced by the Sword As for the Bible it is for Words plain for matter pure for stile clear in the Testamentary parts thereof The Prophesies thereof are fulfilled the History most ancient the Spirit of it most Majestick and convincing those Divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither is there any Eloquence like it without meretricious ornaments of Oratours and demagogues whose end was ostentation and faction The Harmony admirable the End the glorious restauration of Mankind the quality of the Pen-men venerable the Antiquity highest and
future consummation of it In the New Testament God hath promised unto us the inheritance of Heavenly Blessedness whereto by Faith we have a present right but because we have not a present possession of that inheritance Therefore God gives us his earnest to assure our future possession of that inheritance And the earnest which he gives us is his Holy Spirit 2 Cor. 5.5 whereby he worketh us for the possession thereof Now he that hath wrought us for the self same thing is God who also hath given us the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 122. And that very Spirit which is a Seal to our Spirit is also an Earnest in our Hearts Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts And that possession for which the Holy Spirit is both a Seal and an Earnest is the Inheritance of Blessedness Eph. 1.13 In whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our Inheritance And of that Inheritance the Spirit is the Earnest until the possession be delivered unto us for unto the words last cited thus immediately followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. unto the delivery of the possession or as a Common Lawyer would read it until the livery of seizon Which being done the Spirit shall cease being an Earnest seeing the use of it shall be then extinguished Thus the Spirit is an Assurance for Blessedness because it is an ability to perform the condition of it a Seal for our present Right to it and an Earnest for our future possession of it The CONTENTS Names Species TITLE III. Of the Kinds of Assurances IN Scripture the Names importing the nature and kinds of Assurance Names are these 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith is the substance of things hoped for Hebr. 11.1 Hebr. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto the end 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in fundamento 2 Cor. 2.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this confident boasting 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evidence Proof Judgment Conviction Heb. 11.1 The evidence of things not seen 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 3.12 1 Tim. 3.13 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him We have great boldness by the Faith which is in Christ Jesus 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If we hold fast the confidence Hebr. 3.6 Heb. 4.16 1 Joh. 3.21 and the rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the end Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God Seeing we have such hope we use great plainness of Speech 2 Cor 3.12 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance 1 Thes 1.5 Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6.11 Heb. 10.12 Bas Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith draws the heart to stricter communion with God than all other rational acts can do 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 1.14 The Spirit is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession 2 Cor. 1.22 He hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 5.5 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God Eph. 4.30 whereby ye are sealed unto the day of your Redemption Who hath sealed us 2 Cor. 1.22 and given us the earnest of his Holy Spirit In whom after ye believed Eph. 1.13 ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise SECTION I crave leave to rank together all the Species of Assurances that I can think of As Species 1. Natural in matter of Being the truth of Entity and Existence in rerum naturâ in the world for things present as that there is a state of Nature and a state of Grace A Temporal a Spiritual and an Eternal condition a Generation and a Regeneration an Old Man and a New an Old Creation and a New Creation 2. Historical in matter of Faith in story by relation of Authors worthy to be believed Tradition universal from Age to Age Records and Monuments the beginning of all certitude for things past 3. Prophetical in matter of Word by inspiration for things to come confirmed by Miracles creating thereby a good Assurance 4. Legal in matter of Right in Law by Statutes positive and Rules Divine or Humane to have and to hold things temporal or eternal to which we may safely lay claim and challenge as dues by Sacred Constitution from Supreme powers which cannot be denied 5. Donative in matter of Grace in Love Bounty and Equity to which also a just claim may be made because offered by Free Grace upon the meer good will and spontaneous motion of the Donor to the Donatary 6. Testimonial in matter of Witness in credit by the hand and seal of the Testator or other Donor and by the hands and seales of the Witnesses Free-Men and worthy to be believed 7. Real in matter of Pledg in pawn deposition sequestration caution or other security direct or collateral personal or real in full satisfaction and satisdation Thus God hath given us Christ and with him all things Thus all things are ours and we are Christ's and Christ is God's And God hath given us the Spirit of Christ to be our Comforter and Assurance 8. Logical in matter of Reason in proof by Discourse inference conclusion from necessary propositions which no Man in his wits can deny making Faith by demonstration 9. Fiducial in matter of Hope in trust confidence and relyance upon the Power Continuance Fidelity and Love of a Benefactor 10. Federal in matter of Covenant Promise Agreement Oath or Contract in claim challenge and demand to and with and from a private or publick person or persons aggregated in one communion which are accounted Quasi-immortal unchangeable and Omnipotent 11. Vital in matter of action in labour and working by such a conversation and practice as is a means proper and effectual to bring assuredly unto such correspondent ends as a direct way leading to such a City or Country which if follow'd must necessarily bring the traveller thereunto Every one of these kinds of assurances in one degree or other at one time or other joyntly or severally sensibly or insensibly have their several existences or operations in the heart of a Christian creating a certitude or evidence of a higher more certain and lasting Nature than any other evidence whatsoever that is attainable in this life and can be inferior to none but the fruition it self of the Beatifical vision Nemo negat salutem vitae Patriae mutuò se inferre ad se invicem
by the Scriptures and by the Spirit of God in them If there be other Traditions without writing they also for the main agree with the Traditions written but some circumstances may differ and some must needs be lost in both But still the Traditions in Writing must needs be the surest and most lasting wherefore God himself wrote the two Tables with his own hand and commanded Moses to write the rest for a perpetual Record As for Traditions without writing they must needs be more hazardous because of the shortness of mens lives the weakness and varieties of mens apprehensions and memories the Interest of parties c. Nor are Writings impregnable but in the changes of times if they escape the fire and other ruines they cannot escape the ignorance and perversness of Scribes But God hath hitherto among both Jews and Christians secured the main Oracles written and unwritten and will secure them for ever SECT III. As for an exact Representation of the holy Catholick Church it cannot easily be imagined either in the Head thereof which is Christ Representative Church there being no express warrant for such a Representative Head or in the Members for such a Representative Body For who can represent the mind of Christ but the Spirit of Christ which is in him or who can represent the mind of Christians but the Spirit of Christians which is in them For Christ will not needs not come in Person to declare his will because he hath sufficiently done it already and Christians cannot meet all together to declare their will because there are most in Heaven from whence it is impossible for them to come and the rest are in all parts of the World from whence it is little less than impossible they should gather together and if they should they would all agree most certainly in the same Faith and Holiness but in Forms and Circumstances they could not And besides there would be Hypocrites among them do what they can for all that Profess have not faith And moreover men as men have various conceptions apprehensions and reasonings and languages and humors and interests And words are too few for things and are ambiguous and Idioms are diverse and there will be mistakes and there is no help for it and few have the true Arts of right reasoning therefore in these cases they must be contented to bear one with another and keep the peace well enough We may thank God that he hath left us the Scriptures and they are sufficient for salvation and be contented and judge as well as we can So men are fain to do in Civil Laws with some helps of Judges because mens Laws are not so plain as they should be but Gods are and they must rest satisfied with what they know till God shall come in into them by farther discoveries upon their honest search and endeavours after saving truth But still where scruples are some body must determine Some body must determine because of practice and because of peace I mean in matters of Discipline and so people must be contented though not satisfied but in Faith and a good Conscience every one knows sufficiently and every one is satisfied So in a Ship the Pilot must steer as well as he can though he may fail and some body else may know better For every one hath liberty to judge for himself but not altogether to act for himself much less for others That 's left to Governours who are as Gods yet they may erre as men it being Gods Prerogative only to know all good and evil and yet under God we must be guided by them who with reverence and godly fear do determine hard cases as the Turkish Mufti who when consulted to give his Judgment sets it down in writing and subscribes modestly This is my Judgment but God knows better And now what would the World have or what can they have more than they have and why will they not be contented with what they have and God thinks fit for them to have Why call they for a Judg when God is their Judge as the Israelites called for a King when God was their King This is to reject the Judgment and Government of God and trust to the judgment and government of Men and to have greater assurance than God thinks fit to allow them Pride There is an itch of Power in all this in the Clergy that are forbidden by their Master to seek after Greatness and leave the care and government of the Church and Commonwealth to Kings and Princes to whom it is committed to be Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers of Gods People Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers Let them give their Advice to Kings humbly and teach their People truly and give them good Examples and they have done their duty God is not will not be wanting to his People for soul or body for this life or for a better But still the noise of an Earthly Judg rings in mine ears and I cannot be quiet for it And the sound thereof takes with the Vulgar and they are too willing to be cheated and some body thereby gets no small advantage O good God when shall we be at peace A Faction a stream of Worldly-mindedness and glory runs high The true Spirit of Christianity is lowly and lovely and quiet and looks up to God in the midst of all distractions What should poor Souls do but trust to their good God and be silent acquaint themselves with him and be at peace Calumnies They tell us we have no Church we are without a Head we have no Shepherd no Guide no Assurance we are utterly lost and out of the bosom of the Church c. Soft and fair Are we not Men have we not our reason and senses about us have we not Faith and a good Conscience within us What should we have more They that have ears to hear let them hear We will speak for our selves once more O ye that call your selves the Darlings of God the only True Church give us leave to own the same God and Faith with you and God will own us we doubt not whether you will own us or no. We are men and Christians still for all you our Senses and Judgments and Wills are our own still for all you There is Grace sufficient for us and you notwithstanding all your Anathema's and Curses against us Though you curse yet we bless All the Evidences cannot be on your side we have something to say for our Religion as well as you Scriptures The Scriptures of God we say under God are our Judges We go to the Law and to the Testament of God These you say are not Evident they are dead letters they cannot speak We say that the mind of God in them is a living letter and the Spirit speaks in them and is to be trusted to when the Spirits of men fail and are not to be trusted We understand
dispensation of the Gospel God hath now in a great measure left frighting of men to heaven by visible terrors The Law of the Messias was delivered upon the Mount in the small and still voice and is set home upon the hearts of men by the terrour only of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 23.14 a more heavy vengeance in another world than what overtook the despisers of Moses Law God expects now that we should be judiciously religious and acted to his service by a spirit of love and of a sound mind to fear his threatning more than the burnings of Sinai to look upon a bad man since the appearance of Christ to take away sin as the greatest prodigy and to expect the signs of an approaching Judgment non in Erratis naturae sed Saeculi Id. ib. p. 18. Fanaticks Now we shall ever find that all Persons which take up Opinions from their own poetical genius and busie fancy are impregnable to all the assaults of reason The Rosicrucians acted so hugely by imagination in Philosophy Some kind of Chymists in Medicks The Cabalists in Scripture Expositions Enthusiasts in Religion Figure-casters in Astrology are so invincibly resolved upon their Hypotheses that like him in the story when their hands those little reasonings wherewith they hold them are cut off they will mordicùs defendere hold them with their teeth biting and reviling language thrown upon their opposers and neglecters They are entertained with pleasant and easie dreams and therefore angry with those that attempt to awaken them and discompose them Ib. p. 19. As the assistance of God the Spirit with our holy endeavours doth not take away the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the weaknesses attendant on Christian practises because he acts us ad modum nostrum so neither doth the Co-assistance of God the Father with all natural Agents quite remove the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Errours of Nature Ib. p. 23. Terrible Representations of God The opinion of Prodigies represents God before the Soul with a rod of Vengeance perpetually in his hand A Belief of a God is that Fort which the Devil could never storm force by any direct temptation and therefore he designs by such terrible and servile conceits wrought in the hearts of men to undermine it For perpetual jealousies and slavish fears of God like over-heated waters boyl over at last and extinguish that fire that faith and sense of God which first produc't them When the Notion of a Deity stands alway before the mind like a Gorgons head pregnant with nothing but horrours and dismaies it quickly works and turns it to a stony stupid neglect of him so to get rid of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that mighty Fear which was its continual Executioner Moreover the Devil no doubt loves to bring men off from a noble and generous temper And as it is the design of Religion to cast out fear and to introduce a spirit of true freedom and confidence toward God so it is the work of the Devil to call on a spirit of Bondage and Fear that so he see may in men the more lively and express images and pourtraictures of himself who believes and trembles He would have his Rites of Worship of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frightful and amazing mysteries the Idols wherein he was worshipped bear in their very Names and Titles a remembrance of that Baseness and Servility of spirit which attended his Votaries in the service of so absolute a Tyrant being styled sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 horrours Is 40 5. Jer. 50.38 Ps 106.36 as 't is rendred in the Margin 2 Chron. 15.16 sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying trouble and terrour and the Devils are styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coming from a word which signifies horrour because usually tendring themselves to view in the most frightful forms Now this Superstitious perswasion of Prodigies doth hugely minister to bondage of Spirit and tends to seal men with the mark of Cain according to the Jews a perpetual Trembling and Astonishment P. 24. That which possibly assisted this Tradition was the succeeding of Rome Christian as into the place so into very many of the Rites and usages of Rome Pagan as might be easily made appear at large were that our business and into as large a power over the Faiths and Consciences of men as Rome Pagan had over their Bodies and so was enabled to mold them into what Opinions or Practises they might best serve themselves upon Ib. p. 29. As in Heresie Populus sequitur Doctiores ☜ Popular Errors the People follow the Learned as being in a matter more abstract and subtil more apt to believe than to judge so in Superstition Doctiores sequuntur Populum the Learned are not seldom observed to follow the People because early surprized into an opinion that can enter so valuable a plea for its self as common Consent This Notion of presages by Prodigies being so popular and Catholick Wise men in their first and unwary years when they are Discipuli Plebis may entertain conceits thereof which shall plead prescription against the strongest reasons to dispossess them As Iron in a greater and more massie body sequitur Naturam communem follows the Law of common Nature in all heavy bodies and moves to the earth but in smaller pieces sequitur Naturam privatam it follows its own private Nature and directs it self to the Load-stone Thus Learned men where they are prest by the force and weight of Education and a Common prejudice generally follow common Nature in men which inclines to embrace Society and therefore more in Judgment Secundum viam Terrae but in matters out of vulgar ken and where they cannot be tempted by a common Agreement they move Secundum viam Consilii and pursue the dictates of their private light and understanding Even wise men in many instances held Aras Focos their Faith and their Estates by the same Tenure Tradition from Ancestours and therefore we may receive their Judgments tanquam ex Cathedrâ as engagements to consider not alwaies tanquam ex Tripode as obligations to believe Ib. p. 39. They look upon their Gods as a kind of Fairies which would throw Firebrands and Furies about the house for the omission of some petty Criticisms in their Rites and that therefore they gave forth frequent intimations of those impotencies and distastes They thought they were lost with a Trifle and won again to a good opinion of them by paying them the homage of a little crouching and circumstantial Devotion ☞ Fathers not all pure To the Testimony of Fathers I answer in general That 't were no wonder to find them living so near the times of Gentilism speaking in favour sometimes for some of the Doctrines thereof The main trunk and body of the Gentile Superstition was indeed hewen down in their minds but still there were some small roots and fibres remaining which are observed to spring up ever