The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 15
P Of the preaching of the word, the ordinary meanes of faith.
Q. Rehearse the letter P?
A PReaching of the word of God is the ordinary meanes to worke repentance and faith.
For God that giueth all grace, and so repentance and faith, worketh outwardly by the word, as by an instrument, and inwardly by his spirit.
Q. Proue that Preaching of the Word is the ordinary meanes to worke repentance?Preaching the means of repentance.
A. It is euident, in that repentance was the subiect matter of Christs Preaching, Matth. 4.17. Iesus began to Preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand, and in that S. Paul saith, Act. 17.30. speaking of the preaching of the Gospell, that God now commandeth all men eueryevery where to repent; and Act. 20.20. I kept backe nothing that was profitable, but hauehave shewed you and taught you publikely, and from house to house, both to the Iewes, and also to the Gentiles, the repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Iesus Christ,
Q. Proue that Preaching of the Word is the meanes of saith?
A. So we reade, Preaching the means of faith.Rom. 10.14. How then shall they call on him in whom they hauehave not beleeued? and how shall they beleeue in him, of whom they hauehave not heard? and how shall they heare without a Preacher, and verse 17. so then faith commeth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,
Q. Proue that God giueth all grace?
God the giuer of all grace.A. It is written, Iam. 1.17. EueryEvery good gift, and eueryevery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the father of lights. And 2 Pet. 1.3. according as his diuine power hath giuen vntounto vsus all things that pertaine to life & godlinesse, through the knowledge of him, that hath called vsus to glory and vertue.
Q. Proue that God giueth repentance?
The giuer of repentance.A. We may learne so much by S. Paul his exhortation to Timothy, 2 Tim. 2.25. where he aduiseth him, to instruct with meekenesse, those that oppose themselues, prouing if God at any time will giuegive them repentance, that they may know the truth. And it is said, Act. 5.31. that God hath lift vp Iesus Christ with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Sauiour, to giuegive repentance to Israel, and forgiuenesse of sinnes.
Q. Proue that God giueth faith?
A. It is expresly affirmed, The giuer of faith.Eph. 2.8. For by grace are ye saued through faith, and that not of your selues, it is the gift of God. And Phil. 1.29. For vntounto you it is giuen for Christ, that not onelyonly you should beleeue in him, but also suffer for his sake.
Q. Proue that God worketh by the Word, as by an instrument.
A. That the word of God is the outward meanes, God worketh by the Word.which God doth vse as an organe or instrument, is manifest, Iam. 1.18. Of his owne will begat he vsus, with the word of truth, that wee should bee as the first fruits of his creatures. And 1 Pet. 1.23. Being borne anew not of mortall seed, but of immortall by the word of God; and verse 25. This is the word which is preached among you.
Q. Proue that God worketh inwardly by his spirit.
God workes by his spirit.A. It is euident by these arguments. First, it was so prophecied and foretold, Ioel 2.28. And it shall come to passe afterward,1Argument. that I will powre out my spirit vponupon all fl…sh, and Zach. 12.10. I will powre vponupon the house of Dauid, and vponupon the inhabitants of Ierusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication, and they shall look vponupon me whom they hauehave pierced.
Q. What is the second argument to proue that God worketh inwardly by his spirit?
2Argument.A. Secondly, The prophesie was accomplished and effected accordingly, as the Apostle Peter noteth, Acts 2.16. This, saith hee, is that which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel. And at his Sermon, Acts 10.44. It is said, That while Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on them all which heard the word.
Q. What is the third argument to proue that God worketh inwardly by his spirit?
A. Thirdly, 3Argument.it is euident that all spirituall gifts are wrought by the spirit, as it is in 1 Cor. 12.11. All these, saith the Apostle, worketh that one and the selfe same spirit, diuiding to eueryevery man seuerally as hee will. Insomuch as the outward meanes without this inward worke of Gods spirit is of no force. Whereupon it is that Paul saith, 1 Cor 3.6.7. I hauehave planted, Apollo watered, but God gaue the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither hee that watereth: but God that giueth the increase.
Q. What is the fourth argument to proue that God worketh inwardly by his spirit?
4Argument.A. Fourthly, God acknowledgeth none for his, that hauehave not his spirit working in them. See 1 Cor. 3.16. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you. And Rom. 8.9. If any man hauehave not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. This is so euident a truth, that the Apostle doubteth not to affirme, that no man can so much as say that Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12.3.