how to reserve the uniust to the day of iudgement to be punished Chiefly those that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleannesse 2 Pet. 2. 9 10. 2. Swearers who never mention Christ but in their oaths never think of his sufferings his wounds his blood his death but to swear by them as much as in them lies they crucifie him again and again and continually make his wounds to bleed afresh Some such miscreants there are as Salvian complained of in his times They never lesse intend Nunquam minus cogitant quippiam facere quà m cum iurant per Christum se esse facturos Salv. de Gubernat l. 4. to do a thing then when they swear by Christ that they will do it Yea those things that are most evill and odious unto Christ they Cogitant se scelera etiam religiosè facturos Salv. Ibid. will swear by Christ that they will do as if saith he they thought that by this means their wicked acts shall be done religiously 3. Such as sleight or prophane the Ordinances of Christ his Word and his Sacraments Instead of observing that of the Apostle Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome Col. 3. 16. they are like those Jer. 6. 10. The Word of the Lord is a reproach unto them and they have no delight in it So for the Sacraments they think with Naaman Are not Abana and Parphar rivers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israel 2 King 5. 12. What is there more in the water of Baptisme then in other water What more in the bread and wine on the Lords Table then in bread and wine elsewhere 4. Such as despise and hate traduce and persecute Christs members These more especially shall give an account unto him who is ready to judge both the quick and the dead All the respect that is shewed unto the members of Christ and so all the indignity that is done unto them Christ at the last Judgement will take as shewed and done unto himselfe Come ye blessed c. For I was an hungred and ye fed me c. Forasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 34. c. On the other side Depart from me ye cursed c. For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat c. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these my brethren ye did it not to me V. 41. c. Therefore whoso shall offend one of these little ones that believe in Christ it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat. 18. 6. 5. They who in place and office are the Ministers of Christ but do not take heed to the Ministery which they have received in the Lord to Col. 4. 17. fulfill it How strictly did Paul charge Timothy to have a care of this setting before him Christs coming to Judgement I charge thee therefore said he before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge both the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome preach the Word be instant in season and out of season c. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. So Peter The Elders that are among you I exhort c. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither being Lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3 4. See Mat. 24. 45 51. Vse 2. Secondly here is comfort for those that belong unto Christ and have interest in him what need such to fear condemnation whenas it is Christ by whom they shall be judged He Advocatus noster factus est judex noster Greg. hom 34. in Evang. that is our Advocate who maketh intercession for us he shall be our Judge and how then shall we be condemned Though Satan be as his name imports and S. Peter terms him our adversarie 1 Pet. 5. 8. though he cease not to accuse us Rev. 12. 10. Yet we repenting and believing in Christ may say with the Apostle Who is he Rom. 8. 34 that condemneth seeing Christ is he that judgeth When the wicked shall be at their wits end and shall say to the mountains and to the rockes fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6. 16 17. Then shall all true believers lift up their heads for that their redemption is at hand Then shall they say L◠Luk. 21. 28. this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Esa 25. 9. Vse 3. Thirdly and lastly let us be admonished to consider Christ and to think of him not only as a Redeemer but also as a Judge let 's know and consider that as Christ came once to save sinners so he will come againe to condemn sinners even all impenitent sinners His first coming was in humility and meeknesse his second coming will be in majesty and terrour For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall render to every man according to his works Mat. 16. 27. So Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he fit upon the Throne of his glory The terriblenesse of Christs coming to judgement is lively set forth by the Apostle 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angells in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Well might he say as he did Knowing therefore this terror of the Lord we perswade men 2 Cor. 5. 11. Let us take heed lest we now despise that sweet invitation Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you ease Mat. 11. 28. lest hereafter we hear that dreadfull denuntiation Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Let us remember that of Paul The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.
bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper are holy as having peculiar reference unto God and set apart for holy uses There is also an internall and inherent holinesse whereby a thing is in it self holy And thus all true believers are holy being inwardly purged and cleansed in some measure from the filth and pollution of sin You are washed you are sanctified 1 Cor. 6. 11. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Thus also the good Angels are holy they are called the Holy Angels Mat. 25. 31. And after a most eminent manner God is holy he is stiled the Holy one Iob. 6. 10. Isai 40. 25. Yea it is said that he only is holy Revel 15. 4. to wit independently and essentially men and Angels being but holy by participation And peculiarly holinesse is attributed to the third Person in the Blessed Trinity though the first person and the second person be holy too yet the third person is peculiarly stiled holy it being the peculiar work of this person to sanctifie and make holy Not as if the Father and the Son did not sanctifie as well as the Holy Ghost but the Father and the Son do sanctifie by the Holy Ghost whence sanctification is called the sanctification of the spirit 2 Thes 2. 13. because it is peculiarly wrought by the spirit and so much for the name Holy Ghost or holy Spirit 2. The nature of the holy Ghost is to be considered viz. that the holy Ghost is God truly and Of the nature of the Holy Ghost that the Holy Ghost is God properly so called having one and the same divine nature with the Father and the Son for these three are one 1. Ioh. 5. 7. three persons yet but one God as hath been shewed before upon that Text but here the Godhead of the Holy Ghost is to be proved more fully and we have clear testimony of Scripture for it VVhy hath Satan filled thine heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost said Peter to Ananias Act. 5. 3. And he adds presently after Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God v. 4. This clearly shews the Holy Ghost to be God And the same may further be confirmed by divers arguments 1. Divine attributes belong unto the holy Ghost such as are proper unto God and consequently the Holy Ghost is God Ubiquity omnipresence to be every where which is peculiar unto God is attributed to the Holy Ghost Whither shall I go from thy spirit Psal 139. 7. So also is omniscience to know all things which likewise appertains to God only The spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2. 10. 2. Divine works are ascribed to the Holy Ghost such works as none can do but only God and therefore also the Holy Ghost is God The work of Creation which is proper unto God belongs to the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God hath made me said Elihu Job 33. 4. And surely he that made him made all So also the work of sanctification belongs only unto God The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly 1 Thes 5. 23. Yet this work is ascribed to the Holy Ghost yea this Person as hath been shewed is therefore called the Holy Ghost because he peculiarly doth work sanctification and make holy 3. Divine honour is given to the Holy Ghost that honor which is due only unto God And this also evinceth that the Holy Ghost is God Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. We may not baptize or be baptized in the name of any but only of God Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul 1 Cor. 1. 13. Seeing therefore that we baptize and are baptized according to Christs own institution as in the name of the Father and of the Son so also of the holy Ghost it necessarily follows that as the Father is God and the Son God so is the Holy Ghost God also And so in the Text that we have in hand the Apostle prayeth for the Corinthians that they might enjoy as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son and the love of God the Father so likewise the communion of the Holy Ghost and it is an implicit invocation as of Christ the Son and of God the Father so of the holy Ghost as if the Apostle should have said I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that his grace and to God the Father that his love and to the Holy Ghost that his communion may be with you all and this may suffice to prove that the holy Ghost is God 3. I passe to the person of the holy Ghost and Of the person of the Holy Ghost here three things are to be considered 1. That the Holy Ghost is a Person 2. That the Holy Ghost is a person distinct from the Father and the Son 3. That the Holy Ghost is a person proceeding both from the Father and from the Son 1. The holy Ghost is a person not an attribute That the H. Ghost is a person or affection as mercy justice power wisdom and the like For those things which are proper and peculiar to a person are attributed to the holy Ghost as to be vexed grieved They vexed his holy spirit Isai 63. 10. Grieve not the holy spirit of God Ephes 4. 30. True it is the holy Ghost being God cannot properly be vexed or grieved but this as other things in Scripture is spoken after the manner of men but however it argueth that the holy Ghost is a person even as that Psal 95. 10. Fourty years long was I grieved with this generation shews him that spake it to be a person So when the holy Ghost is said to speak to command and injoyn it argues that the Holy Ghost is a person The Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul c. Act. 13. 2. Above all that Mat. 3. 16. is most strong and forcible for this purpose There it is said that the Holy Ghost came down in the likenesse of a dove which could not be except the Holy Ghost were a person For nothing but a person can assume a shape wherein to appeare a meer attribute or affection cannot do it 2. The Holy Ghost is a person distinct from the That the H. Ghost is a person distinct from the Father and the Son Father and the Son I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter said Christ to his Disciples Joh. 14. 16. The Comforter there spoken of is the Holy Ghost as appears v. 17. Even the spirit of truth c. and v. 26. The Comforter which is the Holy Ghost This therefore is another a person distinct from Christ the Son and so likewise from the Father For the Father doth send this Comforter the Holy Ghost Iohn 14. 26. Now the person sending and the person sent must
bono Deo Aug. de Civ Dei lib. 11. cap. 23. Rerum creatarum causa non est nisi bonitas Creatoris Ibid. cap. 21. other cause moving God to make the world but that he being good might make things that are good The goodnesse of the Creator as the same Author speaks is the cause of the creatures 4. Gods eternity He that made all things must needs be before all things he that made all things in the beginning must needs himselfe be without beginning and consequently eternall Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Psal 90. 2 These excellent attributes of God shine forth and shew themselves in the work of the Creation and therefore let 's take notice of them let 's look upon the world and the creatures in it so as to see God his power wisdome goodnesse and eternity in them and let us praise and glorifie him for them Let us consider 1. That God expects this of us He made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. that is for his owne glory that we might know and acknowledge so far forth as he is pleased to reveal it the excellency that is in him 2. That the other creatures in their kind do glorifie God by keeping the order in which God hath set them and by ministring matter unto us whereby to praise God Thus the Heavens declare the glory of God Psal 19. 1. and all his works do praise him Psal 145. 10. But we ought to praise and glorifie God not only objectively but effectively as being indued with reason and understanding whereby to do it All thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall blesse thee Psal 145. 10. Gods Saints will do it and so all should do it And even Galen a heathen man admiring Beza in Rom. 1. 20 the frame and composure of mans body could not but praise and extoll the Maker of it for his goodnesse that did move him his wisdome that that did direct him and his power that did inable him to make it so exquisitely as he hath done besides God hath made all the other creatures for us and therefore we are bound to glorifie him as for our selves so for them also When I consider thy Heavens saith David the work of thy fingers the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained What is man that thou art mindfull of him and the son of man that thou visitest him For thou hast made him a little lower then the Angells and hast crowned him with glory and honour Thou madest him to have dominion over the workes of thy hands c. Psal 8. 3 4 5 6. But alas how many turne Gods glory into shame as he complaines Psal 4. 2. Instead of glorifying him for the creatures they dishonor him by the creatures setting their hearts and affections on the creatures rather then on him They assemble themselves for corn and wine but they rebell against me saith he Hos 7. 14. Excellent to this purpose is that of Austine Deum ex illis lauda in artificem eorum retorque amorem ne in his quae tibi placent tu displiceas Aug. Confess Take occasion by the creatures to praise God and bring back your love from them to him that made them least in those things which please you you your selves displease God Vse 2. Secondly we must take heed how we judge of the creatures seeing they are Gods creatures The Apostle fore-tells that some would forbid the use of meats which God hath created to be received with thankesgiving 1 Tim. 4. 3 But he addes that every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thankesgiving v. 4. So Rom. 14. 14. I know and I am perswaded saith he by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self c. I feare not saith Austine the uncleannesse of the Non ego immunditiam obsonâ—â— timeo sed immunditiam cupiditatis Aug. Confess meat but the uncleannesse of the appetite The superstition of some is exceeding grosse who think they should be polluted if they should eat a little flesh in Lent or on a Friday though it be Gods creature at one time as well as at another and no more forbidden by him at one time then at another yet they will lie swear c. and fear no pollution See Mar. 7. 14. c. to 23. Vse 3. Thirdly we must have a care how we use the creatures we may use them but we may not abuse them 1 Cor. 7. 31. Vse the world as not abusing it We must use the creatures 1. Soberly Take heed least at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfetting and drunkennesse Luk 21. 34. We must so use the creatures as that we may be more fit to glorifie the Creator and to do him service Whether ye eat or drinke or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. 2. Righteously so as not to oppresse defraud or any way wrong others in the use of them It must be our bread Mat. 6. 11. we must come lawfully by it have a just right to it We command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietnesse they worke and cat their own bread saith the Apostle 2 Thes 3. 12. Bread of deceit saith Solomon is sweet unto a man but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravell Prov. 20. 17. And again to use the creatures righteously is to use them not only not to the hurt of others but also to the good of others viz. so as to succour and relieve others with them He that hath two coats let him impart to him that hath none and he that hath meat let him do likewise Luk. 3. 11. This is a work of righteousnesse Break off thy sins by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor Dan. 4. 27. He hath dispersed abroad See Beza on Mat. 6. 1. and given to the poor and his righteousnesse indureth for ever Psal 112. 9. 2 Cor. 9. 9. Nabal argued like a fool as he was saying Shall I take my bread and my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be 1 Sam. 25. 11. Cast thy bread upon the waters Eccles 11. 1. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry Isa 58. 7. It is not so thine but that thou must communicate to such as stand in need all thou hast is Gods he is the Lord of all and thou art but his steward and therefore must dispense that which he hath committed unto thee not as thou pleasest but as he appointeth As every one hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God 1 Pet. 4. 10. 3. Religiously 1. In faith so as to be perswaded of the lawfulnesse of the use
said Blessed be the Lord God of Israle who hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David where observe that Christ is described still more particularly as being not only the seed of Abraham but of David and so called the son of David Mat. 1. 1. immediately he addes As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began Luk. 1. 68 69 70. So Stephen speaking to the Jewes Which of the Prophets said he have not your Fathers persecuted And they have slaine them which have shewed before of the coming of the just One of whom now ye have been the betrayers and murtherers Acts 7. 52. Peter also in his Sermon to Cornelius and the rest that were with him speaking of Christ saith To him give all the Prophets witnesse that thorow his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sinnes Acts 10. 43. And as Moses and the Prophets did in words testifie that Christ is the only Saviour so from the time of Moses untill the coming of Christ there were many types and figures whereby this was signified Some of these types and figures were extraordinary and transient some were ordinary and permanent Of the former sort was the brazen Serpent which by Gods appointment Moses made and set upon a pole that the people being stung with fiery Serpents looking upon it might be healed as we read in Numb 21. * This was a figure of Christ lift up on the Crosse on whom whosoever being stung by that old Seâ—pent the Devil looketh with the eye of faith he shall be healed Our Saviour himself shewes this to have prefigured him and the benefit that cometh by him As Moses saith he lift up the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Son of Man be lift up that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 14 15. So the cloud which went before the Israelites in the wildernesse when they journeyed and was a guide unto them and when they rested abode over their heads and kept off the scorching heat of the Sun from them this cloud I say of which see Exod. 13. 21 22. was likewise a type of Christ by whom alone we are protected from the fire of Gods wrath and are directed to the heavenly Canaan The Apostle saith that the Israelites were baptized unto Moses in the cloud It was a kind of Baptisme unto them it was to them as baptisme is to us a Sacramentall sign pointing at Christ and shadowing forth salvation by him and him only And so also the Sea as the Apostle sheweth in the same place viz. 1 Cor. 10. 2. the Sea thorough which the Israelites passed when Pharoah and the Egyptians pursued them and were ready to destroy them wherein also their adversaries were drowned as the story is recorded in Exod. 14. Of this nature also was Manna wherewith God did feed the Israelites Exod. 16. The Apostle calls it Spirituall meat 1 Cor. 10. 3. because it had a spirituall signification it signified Christ and the body of Christ even as now the bread in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper doth that true bread which doth feed the soul unto eternall life as Christ sheweth at large in Joh. 6. So also was the rock out of which God gave drink to the Israelites in the wildernesse Exod. 17. That Rock was Christ saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 10. 4. That is it did represent and signifie Christ like as Christ called the bread in the Sacrament his body and the wine his blood which blood of his was also represented and signified by that water out of the Rock which therefore the Apostle there calls Spirituall drink in respect of the spirituall signification of it These types and figures of Christ I call extraordinary and transient because they were only appointed upon occasion and to continue but for a short time But there were other types and figures of him which were of a more solemn institution and of a more durable nature which therefore I call ordinary and permanent Of this kind was the Passeover or the Paschall Lamb the blood whereof being sprinkled on the doors of the Israelites they were preserved when the first-born of the Egyptians were destroyed Exod. 12. That Lamb was a figure of Christ the Lamb of God Joh. 1. 29. by whose blood we are saved whenas all that are not sprinkled with it shall be destroyed what is spoken of that Lamb Exod. 12. 46. is applied unto Christ and alledged as meant principally of him Joh. 19. 36. So all the sacrifices and other rites and ceremonies of the Law had reference unto Christ and did typifie him as the only Redeemer and Saviour Which are a shadow of things to come saith the Apostle speaking of some of them but the body is of Christ Col. 2. 17. The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ Joh. 1. 17. Grace in opposition to the Morall Law and truth in opposition to the ceremoniall Law which was but a shadow of those things the truth whereof is in Christ For the Law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things c. Heb. 10. 1. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin v. 4. No it 's only the blood of Christ which was typified by the blood of those creatures that can do it See there what follows in the same Chapter And indeed the scope of the whole Epistle is to shew that the ceremoniall Law did but shadow out Christ and therefore is now abolished Christ being come and having accomplished that which it shadowed Thus in the Scriptures of the Old Testament is Christ set forth as he in whom alone salvation is to be found But much more clearly and fully is this revealed in the Scriptures of the New Testament We use great plainnesse of speech And not as Moses that put a vail over his face c. saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 12 13. The Text in hand doth plainly tell us that there is not salvation in any other c. So Mat. 1. 21. it 's said that therefore he is called Jesus because he doth save his people from their sins And S. John saith God hath given unto us eternall life and this life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath life but he that hath not the Son hath not life 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. Every where in the New Testament such sentences and sayings are obvious But for the fuller manifestation of the truth of this Doctrine let us further consider that all the links of the golden chain of salvation viz. Election Redemption Adoption Justification Sanctification and Glorification all have reference unto Christ and dependance upon him 1. Election God hath elected such as shall be saved God hath chosen you unto salvation 2 Thes 2.
as he did to that Leper v. 3. I will be thou clean For he is not lesse willing to save those that come unto him then he is able He invites all to come and offers his grace unto all if they do come Ho every one that thirsteth come unto the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Esa 55. 1. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Mat. 11. 28. Therefore whatever thou art if thou beest sensible of sin if burthened with it if thine iniquities be gone over thine head and be as a heavy burthen too heavy for thee to bear as David complained of his iniquities Psal 38. 4. Come and cast thy burthen upon the Lord as he exhorts Psal 55. 22. Cast it upon the Lord Christ who is both able and also willing to beare it If thou beest as perplexed as the soul smitten Iaylor was who cryed out What must I do that I may be saved I say unto thee as Paul said unto him Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. So are we troubled for want of sanctification because grace is so weak and corruption so strong in us let us come unto Christ who is full of grace Ioh. 1. 14. And of his fulnesse we all receive grace for grace V. 16. He is made of God unto us sanctification 1 Cor. 1. 30. His grace is sufficient for us 2 Cor. 12. 9. Though in us there be nothing but want and weaknesse yet in Christ is all fulnesse and all power I can do all things thorough Christ that strengtheneth me Phil. 4. 13. As the conies being in themselves weak yet provide for their safety by this that they make their houses in the rocks Prov. 30. 26. So let us get into the rock Christ and then how weak soever otherwise we be we are safe though the Devill our adversary be a lion a roaring lion and go about seeking whom he may devoure 1 Pet. 5. 8. yet Christ is a lion as well as he Rev. 5. 5. yea a lion stronger then he more potent to save then he is to destroy He will bruise Satan under our feet Rom. 16. 20. Therefore be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Ephes 6. 10. Ioab fled to the horns of the Altar and yet was never the better 1 King 2. but let us flie to Christ the horn of salvation and whatsoever the danger be that doth pursue us it shall not overtake us we shall either escape the thing it self or at least the evill of it we shall not be the worse but the better for it All things shall work together for our good Rom. 8. 28. Even death it self shall be gain unto us Phil. 1. 21. Vse 3. But as there is this consolation for us so is there also admonition to take heed least we fail or come short of the grace of God Heb. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Heb. 2. 3. And they neglect this so great salvation 1. Who expect salvation from any thing but Christ only And so do not only the Papists but also many simple and superstitious ones among our selves who build upon themselves their own righteousnesse their good prayers good meanings and the like whereas though all were indeed good as without a true faith in Christ nothing is good yet are they not so good as that it is safe to rest in them and to build upon them Paul was as good in every respect I dare say as any of these yet did he renounce all his own righteousnesse as not sufficient if God should contend with him and flie unto Christ and his righteousnesse as that which alone is sufficient unto justification and salvation Phil. 3. 9. 2. They who pretend to Christ and presume of salvation by Christ and yet indeed are aliens from Christ and have no interest in him they say that they believe in Christ and hope to be saved by Christ and yet live in their sins which Christ came to destroy For the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the Devill 1 Ioh. 3. 8. Therefore though Christ be never so able to save yet such as remain impenitent and disobedient shall have no salvation by him they have neither part nor portion in this matter Christ commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name Luk. 24. 47. No remission of sins thorough him without repentance Paul testified both to the Iews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Iesus Christ Acts 20. 21. As many as walk according to this rule peace shall be upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God Gal. 6. 16. THE TENTH SERMON JOH 10. 30. I and my Father are one I Have * Serm. 7. p. 63. before shewed that the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are three distinct Persons yet but one and the same God Now I shall treat more particularly and more fully of the second Person the Son our Lord Iesus Christ and shall prove his Divinity which hath been much impugned both of old and of late yea is still at this day Christ himself here speaking of himself and of his Father affirmes that they are one that is as I shall indeavour to demonstrate one in essence and nature one and the same God And thus they to whom he spake these words did understand them as appeares by the Verses immediately following where it is said that the Iewes presently upon these words took up stones to stone him charging him with blasphemy for that he being a man did make himself God Indeed Calvin upon Abusi sunt hoc loco veteres ut probarent Christum esse Patr◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neque n◠Christus de Vnitate substantiae disputat sed de consensu quem cum Patre habet quicquid scilicet geritur à Christo Patris virtute confirmatum iri Calv. in loc the place likes not that these words should be made use of to prove the Godhead of Christ as the Ancients have done for he supposeth that Christ here speaketh not of the unity of substance but onely of the consent and agreement that he hath with the Father so that whatsoever is done by him is authorized and ratified by the Father But first Calvin himself for the thing viz. Christs Divinity and consubstantiality with the Father is expresse and full 2. So is the Scripture it self as shall be shewed in many places 3. Not only the ancient Writers have thus Hilar. de Trinit l. 8. interpreted it amongst whom Hilarie doth tax and confute the Arrians who expounded it of unity of will and consent but the later also Beza Zanchius c. 4. Christ having immediately before spoken of the power of his
Ioseph was of whence it seems as some called him the Carpenters son Mat. 13. 55. so others called him the Carpenter Mar. 6. 3. When he came abroad to execute the office for which he was sent presently he was set upon and assaulted by the divell and continually was he Mat. 4. haunted and baited as it were by the Scribes and Pharisecs and such as could not indure the splendor of his life and doctrine Besides he was poor and indigent having no home no habitation of his own though he were rich yet for our sakes he became poor 2 Cor. 8. 9. Even so poor that others did minister unto him of their substance Luk. 8. 3. And whereas the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests he had not where to lay his head viz. otherwise then to be beholding unto others for it Luk. 9. 58. But all this was but the beginning of Christs sorrows his chief suffering was at last at and immediately before his death from the time of his agony in the garden to the time of his hanging and dying upon the Crosse That which he then suffered was such and so great that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is called his Passion or his suffering Let us therefore a little as we are able see and consider what he then suffered And he fuffered as the Scripture shews both outwardly inwardly He suffered outwardly 1. in his reputation for goods he had none to suffer in except his clothes which he was devested of Ioh. 19. 23. 24. But for his reputation he suffered much in it and that is no smal suffering For a good name is better then precious ointment Eccles 7. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches Prov. 22. 1. A good report maketh the bones fat Prov. 15. 30. Therefore on the otherside an evil report slaunder and defamation contempt and reproach maketh the bones lean it s a great griefe a great vexation False witnesses did rise up against me they laid to my charge things that I knew not Thus David complains of the hard measure that he found from some Psal 35. 11. v. 21. Yea they opened their mouth wide against me and said Aha Aha our eye hath seen it And Psal 120. 2. he cries out Deliver my soul from lying lips from a deceitfull tongue And Psal 123. 3 4. Have mercy upon us O Lord have mercy upon us cry the people of God unto him for we are exceedingly filled with contempt our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Amongst other grievous sufferings which the Saints endured are reckoned mockings Heb. 11. 36. In this respect its said that Ismael persecuted Isaac Gal. 4. 29. in that he mocked him Gen. 21. 9. Now how was Christ traduced and slandered how visited and reproached how taunted and mocked We have found this fellow perverting the Nation said his malicious adversaries of him and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ a King Luk. 23. 2. Thus they accused him most falsly for he taught the people quite contrary both by word and deed as appears Mat. 22. 17. 17. 24 25 26 27. So they called him a deceiver yea that deceiver as if he had been the grand Impostor Mat. 27. 63. whereas he is the Amen the true and faithfull witnesse Revel 3. 14. Yea the truth it self Joh. 14. 6. They cloathed him with a scarlet robe put a crown of thorns upon his head and a reed in stead of a Scepter in his hand and bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail King of the Iewes Mat. 27. 28 29. As he hung upon the Crosse they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads and saying Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it againe in three daies save thy self If thou be the Son of God come down from the Crosse likewise also the chiefe Priests mocking him with the Scribes and Elders said he saved others himself he cannot save If he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the Crosse and we will believe him He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God The thieves also that were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth Mat. 27. 39 40 41 42 43 44. They not only crucified him which was a thing ignominious and shamefull enough but they crucified him betwixt two thieves so that he was numbered among the transgressors Isai 53. 12. Mar. 15. 28. Yea he was accounted the chief transgressor 2. He suffered outwardly in his body What part of his body was free from suffering his head was â—ricked with thorns his face spit upon and buffeted his back scourged all this he suffered before he was crucified And by these sufferings together with the tossing of him from place to place want of sleep and the like he was so wearied and so vveakned that he vvas not able to bear his Crosse it seems to the place vvhere he vvas crucified It s said Ioh. 19. 17. that he vvent bearing his Crosse Lipsius de Cruce and so the learned observe that they vvho vvere crucified used to do But it s said Mat. 27. 32. As they came out they found a man of Cyrene Simon by name him they compelled to bear his Crosse So Luk. 23. 26. It appears by comparing the Evangelists together that Christ at first as the manner vvas bore his Crosse himself but aftervvards in the vvay they perceiving him unable to bear it laid hold on that Simon whom they met and made him to bear it After this his hands and feet parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 22. 16. most tender sensible of pain vvere pierced yea as the Hebrevv vvord signifies vvere digged vvith nails his vvhole body vvas stretched vvracked upon the Crosse for many hours together before Aquin. part 3. quaest 46 art 6. he gave up the Ghost All this bodily pain that Christ indured is justly conceived to have been so much the more vehement and grievous by hovv much his body vvas of a more excellent temper complexion as being miraculously formed and framed by the holy Ghost Luk. 1. 35. For things that are vvrought supernaturally by miracle excell those things that are effected by naturall causes as the vvine that Christ did miraculously make of vvater was better then other vvine Joh. 2. 10. Christ also suffered invvardly and his invvard suffering vvas his sorest suffering the suffering of his body vvas but as the body of his suffering the suffering of his soule was as the soule of his suffering The spirit of a man will bear his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. Now Christs spirit was wounded He was sore amazed and very heavy Mar. 14. 33. The words in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are very emphaticall and the
11 12 13. And that of Peter Wherefore beloved seeing that you look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2 Pet. 3. 14. In a word let 's have a care so to assure our selves of interest in Christ by faith and so to shew forth our faith in Christ by our love and obedience unto him that as he saith Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. Surely I come quickly v. 20. So we may have courage and confidence to say as there immediately it followeth Amen even so come Lord Jesus The six and twentieth SERMON 2 COR. 13. 14. And the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all THese words are a part of the conclusion of this Epistle The Apostle usually begins and ends with prayer in the behalf of those to whom he writes So in other Epistles and so in this Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ Chap. 1. v. 2. And here in like manner The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen I am to treat only of that part of the verse which concerns the Holy Ghost and before I come to the doctrine which the words afford I must insist a little upon the name nature person and operation of the Holy Ghost 1. For the name Holy Ghost Ghost is as much as Of the name Holy Ghost spirit and ghostly as much as spirituall In the Scripture where this Person called the Holy Ghost is spoken of our Translators sometimes use the word Ghost and sometimes the word Spirit Yet as I observe they do not altogether use the words promiscuously but with this difference Where the word Holy is not prefixed they alwaies The word Ghost explained use the word Spirit and not the word Ghost And so also when this Person is spoken of in relation to God or to Christ although the word Holy be prefixed As the Spirit not the Ghost the Spirit of God or of Christ not the Ghost of God or of Christ his holy Spirit not his Holy Ghost Otherwise when this Person is spoken of without any such relation and with the Epithite Holy prefixed they use the word Ghost rather then Spirit But however the word in the Originall is the same and these words Ghost and Spirit differ in sound rather then in sense and signification Now the word in the Hebrew and in the Greek and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spiritus in the Latin the three learned Languages which is rendred sometimes Ghost but more frequently Spirit this word I say is attributed to divers things 1. Sometimes it is taken for breath I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live Ezek. 37. 5. In the Originall the word rendred breath is that which usually is rendred Spirit So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 2. 26. Where it is said the body without the Spirit is dead in the margent for spirit is breath 2. The word sometimes is used for the wind as Joh. 3. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth so is every one that is born of the spirit In the Originall it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one and the same word which is rendred in the beginning of the verse Wind and in the end of the Spiritus ubi vult spirat verse Spirit the vulgar Latin there hath not Ventus which properly signifieth wind but Spiritus whence we have the word Spirit 3. This word Spirit is used to signifie an incorporeall and immaterial substance A spirit hath not flesh and bones Luk. 24. 39. And thus by spirit sometimes is meant the soul of man VVhen a man dies then shall the dust that is the body made of dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God that gave it Eccles 22. 7. Where by spirit is meant the soul of man which is a spirituall substance Thus also the Angels whether good or bad are called spirits The good Angels Are they not all ministring spirits c. Heb. 1. 14. The bad Angells when some said unto Christ Lord even the devils are subiect unto us thorough thy name Luk. 10. 17. Christ answered them Notwithstanding in this rejoyce not that the spirits are subject unto you but rather reioyce because your names are written in heaven v. 20. And in this sense is the word Spirit attributed unto God Ioh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit And so 1 Pet. 3. 18. By spirit is signified Christs divine nature which is the Son in all the three Persons Being put to death by the flesh that is the humane nature but quickned in the spirit that is the divine nature And peculiarly the third Person of the sacred Trinity hath the name of Spirit appropriated to him Sometimes this Person is called the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. Sometimes the Spirit of God 1 Joh. 4. 2. Sometimes the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. Sometimes the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost as in the Text and other places VVhy the third Person is peculiarly called the Spirit though the Father be a spirit and the Son a spirit as well as the Holy Ghost the Scripture doth not expresse neither is it much material for us to inquire Some give Secundum quod spiritus dicitur à spiritualitate sic convenit toti Trinitati Secundum autem quod dicitur à spiratione sic convenit illi soli Personae quae procedit ut amor c. Bonavent in Sent. l. 1. dist 10. quest 3. this reason that this Person proceeds from the Father and the Son by spiration or breathing which must be understood after a spirituall and ineffable manner It may be said that this divine Person is therefore called the Spirit because he was inspired or breathed into and did breath in the Prophets and Apostles This inward and spiritual inspiration was signified and confirmed by Cum arcanâ inspiratione possâ—t Christus gratiam conferre Apostolis visibilem flatum ad dere voluit ad cos melius confirmandos Calvin in Ioh. 20. 22. that outward and corporall breathing which is mentioned Ioh. 20. 22. Where it is said that when Christ gave the Holy Ghost unto his Apostles he breathed on them and said unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost Ioh. 20. 22. This Person is called Holy Now there is a holinesse which is only externall and adherent which doth not constitute a thing holy in it self but only in its use and relation Thus Ierusalem is called the Holy City Mat. 4. 5. to wit because The word Holy expounded it had speciall relation unto God it was the City of the great King that is of God Mat. 5. 35. Thus also the Temple and the things of the Temple were holy And thus the water in Baptism and the