The Doctrine of Justification, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAPTER X.
THE firſt ground, is moſt neceſſarie to be knowne: not only to the end that we may know God in him ſelfe aright: but alſo, that we may know, his gracious working towards vsus aright. Wherein by the ſpeciall conſideration of the Trinitie: three things are to be marked.
Firſt, That every worke of grace, is the worke of all three.
Secondly, That the order of their working, is according to the order of their ſubſiſting: ſo that in every worke, the Father is firſt, the Sonne ſecond, the holy Ghoſt third, in order of working.
Thirdly, That in reſpect of theſe two former groundes, theſe workes of grace, which according to the maner and order of ſubſiſting, are moſt properly attributed to every perſon: according as their maner of working doth chieflie ſhine and appeare in every worke: are to be ordered, according to the order of the perſons them ſelves. So that the actions, attributed to God the Father, are in order firſt: the actions attributed to the ſonne, in order ſeconde: and the actions attributed to the holy Ghoſt, in order third. And this conſideration, of the order of Gods working, is no more to be altered, then the nature of God it ſelfe: in whom the vnitie of eſſence, is no more eſſentiall, then the Trinitie of perſons.
Theſe three pointes, are cleare in the ſcriptures of God. The firſt: when one, and the ſelfe ſame worke, is ſometimes attributed to the Father, ſometimes to the Sonne, and ſometimes to the holy Ghoſt. to teach vsus that not onelyonly theſe three perſons, are but one God in nature: but further, that what thinges the one doth, the other doth alſo. according as Chriſt ſayeth: My Father worketh vntounto this time, and I alſo worke, Iohn chap. 5. ver. 17. And againe: VVhatſoever things the Father doeth, the ſame things doth the Sonne. likewiſe, Ihon chap. 5. verſ. 19.
The ſecond of theſe pointes, is likewiſe manifeſt in the ſcripture: when in one and the ſame worke: The Father is made in order of working, firſt: the Sonne, ſecond: and the holy Ghoſt, third: according to the ſaying of Chriſt: The Sonne can doe nothing of him ſelfe, except he ſee the Father working. Iohn chap. 5. ver. 19. And againe, I doe nothing of my ſelf. as I heare I iudge. Ioh. cha. 5. ver. 30. And againe: The thinges that I ſpeake, I ſpeake them ſo as the Father ſaid vntounto me, Iohn chap. 12. ver. 53. And againe, The Spirit he shall not ſpeake of him ſelfe: but whatſoever he shall heare, he shall ſpeake. He shall glorifie me, for he shall receyve of myne, and shew it vntounto you. Iohn chapt. 16. verſes 13. and 14. By which ſpeeches, it is manifeſt, that as the Father, ſubſiſteth in order firſt, and ſo in order poſſeſſeth life before the Sonne: and the Sonne before the holy Ghoſt: even ſo in operation of life and all good grace in vsus: the Father in order worketh before the Sonne, and the Sonne, before the Holy Ghoſt. According to which order, we are taught in the ſcriptures, to worſhip God, praying and giving thankes to the Father, in the Sonne, by the holy Ghoſt. according to the order of our acceſſe vntounto God: which is vntounto the Father, through the Sonne by the Spirit, Ephe. chap. 2. verſ. 18. Drawing neare vntounto God, in our aſcending vp to him, according to the order of his drawing neare vntounto vsus. that is, we aſcende by God, in God, vntounto God: who of him ſelfe, and in him ſelfe, and by him ſelfe, worketh all grace in vsus. of him ſelfe as the Father, in him ſelfe, as the Sonne: and by him ſelfe, as the holy Ghoſt. For no man hath any grace, either of him ſelfe, but of God alone, and that as he is the Father: either in him ſelfe, but in God alone, and that as he is the Sonne: either by him ſelfe, but by God alone, & that as he is the Holy Ghoſt.
The third point, is likewiſe manifeſt in ſcripture. When as the worke of creation, and of the firſt beeing and exiſting of all thinges, be it either naturall or ſpirituall, is attributed vntounto the firſt perſon: of whom are all things and the worke of diſpenſation, and redemption is attributed to the ſeconde perſon: in whom onelyonly we enioye all grace. And the worke of conſummation and ſanctification is attributed to the holy Ghoſt. For according to the diſtinction, that is inward, aryſing from the inward properties, whereby theſe perſons are diſtinguiſhed: there is alſo a diſtinction outward, in the workes of outwarde diſpenſation: according to the terme in which is the beginning of acting. Neither is this only to be conſidered, in the actions of outward diſpenſation, towardes vsus: but in the actions that are inward in God himſelfe. according to which ground, Chriſt acknowledgeth that the Father hath given him to have life in himſelfe. Iohn chap. 6. verſ. 26. For albeit all operation of bleſſings in vsus, proceede from the nature and eſſence of God, as the common beginning and terme in all three: yet notwithſtāding thy are reſtrayned in reſpect of order, to one beginning: that is to one of thoſe three perſons: according as in every worke, the manner of every perſons working, either of, in, or by, doth moſt cleerely ſhine.
And as they are thus reſtrayned: ſo alſo they are in order to bee conſidered. So that whatſoever workes of grace, are chieflie attributed to the Father, muſt needes in order of diſpenſation bee firſt. And what workes are chieflie attributed to the Sonne, muſt needes in order bee ſecond. And the workes chieflie attributed to the H. Ghoſt, muſt needes in order bee third.
Of this it will follow, that adoption being chiefly the action of God the Father (for none ſave he who beares the perſon of a Father can properly bee ſaid to adopt any to be Sonnes: for the Father and the Sonne are relative) muſt in order goe before our redemption, which is chiefly the action of the Sonne: for he only dyed to redeeme vsus: and he only bought vsus by his blood vntounto God. Revel. chap. 5. verſ. 9.
And ſeeing our Iuſtice or righteouſnes, conſiſteth in the action of our redemption; for as ſayeth the Apoſtle Rom. chapter 3. verſ. 24. we are iuſtified freelie by his grace through the redemption which is in Chriſt Ieſus. Therefore it muſt follow, that iuſtification in order of diſpenſation muſt follow adoption. For albeit all bleſſings be beſtowed vponupon vsus of the Father, in the Sonne, in whom alone wee are adopted iuſtified and glorified, &c. Yet ſtill the former reſpect of order muſt perpetually be kept.
For which cauſe it is that in the Scriptures, the Decree of God or his predeſtination, is defined from the benefite of adoption: as the firſt and chiefeſt of all bleſſings: and the firſt fruite of the love of God, in the firſt Perſon, that is the Father vntounto Mankinde.
And for this ſame cauſe is it that in the Scriptures wee are ſaid firſt to bee the Fathers: and to bee given by him vntounto the Sonne: for as the Sonne hath nothing of himſelfe, but of the Father: ſo he hath not vsus of himſelfe but of the Father. Therefore ſayeth he: Thyne they were and thou gaveſt them vntounto me, Iohn chap. 17. verſ. 6. And againe; Behold I and the Children whom God hath given mee. Eſay. chap. 8. verſ. 18. and Hebr. chap. 2. verſ. 13.
Thirdly it is for the ſame reſpect, that in the Scriptures the firſt of all the workes of grace in vsus, which is the bringing of vsus vntounto Chriſt, is ſtill attributed vntounto the Father: as his ſpeciall worke. For no man commeth vntounto the Sonne, but by the Father. Iohn chapter 6. verſe 65. Neither can any man come to mee ſayeth Chriſt, except the Father which hath ſent mee, drawe him. Iohn chapter 6. verſ. 44. VponUpon which worke, dependeth two other principall workes of grace.
The firſt is, our embracing and receyving of the Sonne: according to the ſaying of Chriſt, All that the Father giveth mee, shall come vntounto mee. Iohn chapter 6. verſ. 37.
The ſecond is, the infalliblenes of Chriſt his ſaving of vsus. according to his owne ſaying: This is the Fathers will that hath ſent mee: that of all which hee hath given mee, I should looſe nothing: but should rayſe it vp againe at the laſt daye. Iohn chapter 6. verſ. 39. For whatſoever we have of Chriſt, whether it be righteouſnes, ſanctification or life, &c. it wholy dependeth, vponupon this worke of the Father his giving and bringing vsus vntounto him. For as the Sonne hath vsus not of himſelfe but of the Father; ſo he diſpenſeth nothing to vsus of himſelfe: neither is hee redeemer to vsus of himſelfe, but according to the will of the Father. For according to the order of the perſons, ſo becomes God our God in order. And therfore according to that order, are we baptized in the name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghoſt. God ſealing vsus vntounto himſelfe, and his bleſſings vntounto vsus, according to the order that he is our God: and in which he diſpenſeth his bleſſings vntounto vsus.
Thus by this firſt ground it is manifeſt, that the benefite of ſonne-ſhipp, (which is the proper worke of God, as he is the Father) muſt in order be firſt of all. and next the benefite of freedome and chriſtian libertie by redemption, and ſo conſequentlie of righteouſnes, muſt be ſecond in order: ſeeing it is the work of the Sonne. For If the Sonne make vsus free, we shalbe free in deed, ſaith Chriſt, Iohn, chap. 8. ver. 36. and that the worke of ſanctification or glorification in the which it comprehended ſanctification, muſt be third in order of diſpenſation: ſeeing it is the worke of the Holy Ghoſt. And this order the Apoſtle plainly confirmeth, in ſetting downe the order of Gods working, in the execution and accompliſhing of his Decree, Rom. chap. 8. verſe 30. ſaying: VVhom he predestinated, them alſo he hath called: and whom hee hath called. them alſo he hath iuſtified: and whem he hath iuſtified, them hee hath alſo glorified. The whole execution of Gods Decree beeing compriſed in theſe three workes: our calling, our iuſtification, and glorification: according to the number of the perſons and order of their working. For (as we hauehave marked) two ſpeciall bleſſings in Gods Decree or Predeſtination, are ordayned vntounto vsus. The firſt and principall is our adoption, or making vsus ſonnes through Chriſt. according as is manifeſt by the definition of predeſtination, ſet downe by the Apoſtle, Ephe. chap. 1. verſe 5. The ſecond which is included and implyed in the firſt, is, The making vsus (now being ſonnes) to be like to the Image of the Sonne of God. as is cleere by the definition of predeſtination ſet downe by the Apoſtle, Rom. chapter 8. verſ. 29. Both theſe bleſſings are accompliſhed in the execution of this Decree. The firſt bleſſing which is adoption, is chieflie performed in our calling: when as we are brought by the Father to the Sonne, and are given vntounto him, and hauehave it given vntounto vsus to come vntounto him, that is, to beleeve in him, or to receyve him: which are all one in effect. The ſecond bleſſing which is the making of vsus like to the image of the Sōne of God, is performed in the other two points: that is in our iuſtification and glorification. For the Image of God, conſiſteth in righteouſnes and holines of truth: which begunne in this life, is the beginning of our glorie, wherein wee ſhall be perfited in the life to come.