The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Of God.
Psalm. 72.18.19.
HItherto of the principles concerning the fountaine of knowledge: the subiect of knowledge is God, who must bee considered two waies: first, In his nature: secondly; In his works.
4Principles concerning God.Concerning God considered in his nature, there are foure principles:
That he is, that is, that there is a God.
That he is glorious in Nature.
That he is three in Persons.
That he is one in Essence.
For the first, that there is a God, is eueryevery where apparant in eueryevery leafe, yea almost in eueryevery line of Scripture; and therefore I spare quotations, it being out of all doubt, that the Scripture saith so.
And against all seeds of Atheisme, That there is a God, is proued, first by testimonies internall.men may keepe in their minds these other testimonies; both inward and outward.
The inward testimonies that proue there is a God, are these:
The horror of conscience, that befalles men after the committing of sinne, dreading a supreame Iudge; which terrours we see are oftentimes such, as are most dreadfull, and such as no outward thing can still.
The testimony of the holy Ghost infallibly satisfying the godly herein.
The reuelation of God to the harts of his people, daily finding him in the vse of his ordinances, which presence of God they likewise misse, if they sinne presumptuously.
2By testimonies externall, and so either in the world,The externall testimonies are taken from the workes of God; either more generally in the world; or more specially in the Church.
The world testifies there is a God;
In respect of the creation of it: this huge frame could not make it selfe, and therefore of necessity there must be some being that gaue it being.
By the motion that is in it. For that shewes there is a supreame mouer.
By the strange Iudgements that fall vponupon the wicked, somtimes in the very act of sinning, and sometimes at the very instant of the wishes of wicked persons.
In that all nations hauehave at all times acknowledged a God.
In the Church God hath proued himselfe to be:or in the Church.
1 By apparitions: God hath shewed himselfe by certaine formes, or signes of his presence: thus Adam, Noah, Abrahā, Isaac, Iacob, Moses, &c. saw God.
2 By the miracles wrought beyond all the course of nature: as when he raised dead men; diuided the sea; made the Sunne goe backward, &c.
Thus of the proofe of the first principle.
That God is also maruellously glorious in his nature, these places shew: Psal. 29. all ouer.
Exod. 33.18. Againe, he said, I beseech thee shew me thy glory.
19. And he answered, &c.
Esa. 6.2.3. And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole world is full of his glory.
1. Tim. 6.16. Who onelyonly hath immortality, and dwelleth in the light that none can attaine vntounto, whom neuer man saw, neither can see, vntounto whom bee honour, and power euerlasting, Amen.
10Glories in the nature of God.And how can hee be but exceeding glorious, when as he is,
Incorporeall, beyond the perfection of bodily things. Ioh. 4. 24. God is a spirit.
Eternall without any beginning. Psal. 90.2. Before the mountaines were made, and before thou haddest formed the earth, and the world, euen from euerlasting to euerlasting thou art our God.
Infinitely immense, and incomprehensible. 1. King. 8.27. Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth? Behold the heauens, and the heauens of heauens are not able to containe thee, how much more vnable is this house that I hauehave built.
Ier. 23.24. Doe not I fill heauen and earth, saith the Lord?
Immutable without shadow of change. Iam. 1.17. EueryEvery good giuing, and eueryevery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the father of lights, with whom is no variablenesse, neither shadow by turning.
Numb. 23.19. God is not as man, that hee should lie, neither as the sonne of man, that hee should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not doe it? and hath he spoken, and shall he not accomplish it?
Omnipotent, so as nothing is impossible to him. Psalm. 115.3. But our God is in heauen, hee doth whatsoeuer he will.
Mat. 19.26. And Iesus beheld them, and said vntounto them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Iob 42.2. I know that thou canst doe all things, and that there is no thought hidden from thee.
Omni-scient, so as hee knowes all things vniuersally, and perfectly. Psalm. 147.5. Great is our Lord, and great is his power, his wisdome is infinite.
Rom. 11.33. O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his waies past finding out?
Hebr. 4.13. Neither is there any creature, which is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open vntounto his eyes, with whom we hauehave to doe.
Most holy: without sinne in himselfe, and hating sinne in others. Psalm. 5.4. For thou art not a God that louest wickednesse: neither shall euill dwell with thee.
Esa. 6.3. And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
All-sufficient and independant. Genes. 17.1. The Lord appeared to Abraham, and said vntounto him: I am God all-sufficient, walke before me, and be thou vpright.
Exod. 3.14. And God answered Moses: I am that I am, &c.
Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, and for him are all things: to him be glory for euer. Amen.
Most mercifull. Exod. 34.6.7. So the Lord passed before his face, and cried: The Lord, the Lord, strong, mercifull, and gracious, &c.
Reseruing mercy for thousands, forgiuing iniquity, and transgression, and sinne, and not making the wicked innocent.
Psalm. 136. the whole.
Lastly, Immortall: so as hee can neuer die or cease to bee. 1. Tim. 1.17. Now vntounto the King euerlasting, immortall, inuisible, vntounto God onelyonly wise, be honour and glory for euer and euer. Amen.
The vses.And all this should teach vsus:
To adore, and feare this great and glorious God.1For instruction. Rom. 11.33.35.36. O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God, &c.
To dilate our hearts in a speciall manner in his praises: Neuer such a subiect of praise, as God: His praises should take vp all people, by all meanes, and at all times, while we hauehave any being. Psalm. 72.18.19. Blessed bee the Lord God, and blessed bee his glorious name for euer, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, Amen.
Psalm. 96. vers. 1. &c. Oh sing vntounto the Lord all the earth, blesse his name, declare his glory from day to day; the Lord is great and greatly to be praised: giuegive vntounto the Lord the glory due vntounto his name.
Psal. 147.1. Praise ye the Lord; for praise is comely, Psalm. 148. the whole. Reuel. 5.9. &c.
With speciall admiration to set our hearts and affections vponupon him, to louelove him with all our soules, and all our might. Deut. 30.6, And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the hart of thy seed, that thou maist louelove the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soule, that thou mayest liue.
Oh these beauties should make vsus wonderfully in louelove with God! who onelyonly is worthy to be accounted of a good nature.
Matth. 19.17. And he said vntounto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good, but one, euen God, &c.
With all diligence to seeke all good at his hands.
With all thankfulnesse to acknowledge what good wee receiue from him; yea acknowledging all we hauehave to bee from him. Iam. 1.17. EueryEvery good giuing, and eueryevery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the father of lights, &c.
What are wee, that so great a God should set his heart vponupon vsus to shew vsus mercy?
Seeing hee is a spirit, and so transcendently glorious, and knowes all things, we should resolue to serue him with all possible affection, putting on all the beauties of the best holinesse we can get, when we come into his presence. Ioh. 4.24. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.
Let vsus for euer hate sinne, and striue for all possible imitation of his holinesse. Psal. 36.10. Extend thy louing kindnesse to them that know thee, and thy righteousnesse vntounto them that are vpright of hart.
1. Pet. 1.15.16. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conuersation.
Because it is written: Be you holy, for I am holy, &c.
1. Ioh. 5.18.19. We know, that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not: but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himselfe, and the wicked toucheth him not, &c.
Iob 42.6. Therefore I abhorre my selfe, and repent in dust and ashes.
Finally, wee should striue to get and encrease in the true knowledge of our glorious God,If wee would study the glorious nature of God, we must obserue 6. rules. wee should study his glory; but then wee must be warned, when we go about this study, to looke to diuers things.
1. We must repent vsus of our sinnes, for this knowledge requires a cleane heart.
2. Wee must bring an humble and teachable mind: Psalm. 25.9. Them that bee meeke will hee guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way.
3. Let the Word bee thy guide: looke for him in the Word: Thou must captiuate thy Reason, and aduance thy faith.
4. Thou must goe to the Sonne to reueale the Father: pray Christ to shew thee the Father: Ioh. 1.18, No man hath seene God at any time: the onelyonly begotten Sonne, which is in the bosome of the Father; hee hath declared him, &c.
5. Pray for the spirit of reuelation to forme this in thee, and resolue to get thy heart established in the knowledge of God, by many prayers.
6. Obserue him in his Image in his children, get affection to them, and liue much with them. 1. Ioh. 4.8.12.16, Hee that loueth not, knoweth not God; for God is louelove.
No man hath seene God at any time; if wee louelove one another, God dwelleth in vsus, and his louelove is perfect in vsus, &c.
Thus much for Instruction.
Here is also much matter of humiliatiō for those vile Atheisticall thoughts, For humiliation.and base conceits which are in mens minds cōcerning God: and for the daily neglect of Gods presence; forgetting him dayes without number, and for daring to sinne in his sight; but especially for want of those burning desires after God, and that surpassing louelove of his glorious nature.
Thirdly, here is singular Consolation vntounto all those that are assured they are in fauour with God.For consolation. Why doe not our hearts say, Wee hauehave none in heauen but God? and doe desire none in earth with him? Psalm. 7.3.23. seeing he is so all-sufficient, able to doe vsus so much good, and our plentifull reward, Genes. 17.1. and knowes our wayes, Psal. 1.6. and entertaines his people with so much grace, Psalm. 36.7.8. and the rather because he will neuer change, and louelove thee with an eternall louelove. Iam. 1.17. 2. Tim. 2.13. Numb. 23.19.
This should be the life of our liues, it is very eternall life to know him to be ours in Christ. Ioh. 17.3. Ierem. 9.24.
Thus of the second principle.
The third Principle is, that there be thre persons in the Trinity, which may be proued two waies:
That there is more then one person:Proofes for the Trinity. Gen. 1.26. Furthermore God said, Let vsus make man in our owne Image, according to our likenesse, &c.
That there are three in number. Mat. 3.16.17. And loe the heauens were opened vntounto him, and Iohn saw the spirit of God descending like a Doue, and lighting vponupon him.
And loe a voice came from heauen, saying; This is my beloued Son, in whom I am well pleased, &c.
Matth. 28.19. Goe therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.
2. Cor. 13.13. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the louelove of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.
Ioh. 14.16.17.28. And I will pray the Father, and hee shall giuegive you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for euer, &c.
Ioh. 15.26. But when the Comforter shall come, whom I will send vntounto you from the Father, &c.
1. Ioh. 5.7. For there are three which beare record in heauen; the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one, &c.
These three were called in the old Testament, the Lord, the Angell of the Lord, and the Spirit of God: and in the new, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.Vses of the doctrine of the Trinity.
The vse should be:
To teach vsus to conceiue of God with all possible adoration of his glorious condition, who hath in the manner of his nature what is beyond the reach of men or Angels: thou must beleeue, that this is so, though reason cannot tell …hee, how it is; let it suffice thee to know, that it is. Thou shalt know more how it is, both when they knowledge is more growne on earth, and when thou commest to thy perfect age in heauen.
When thou commest to worship God, make conscience of it, that thou rob not any of the persons of their glory: But know, that there are three persons, not one person onelyonly.
Learne thou in thy course of life from the word, and works of God, to giuegive to each person his glory, as it is written of him, or done by him.
This may be an vnspeakeable comfort to thee, if thou consider what the blessed Trinity is to thee: thy holinesse and happines was conceiued, decreed, framed, purchased, renewed, and shall be for euer testified by …ree in heauen, 1. Iohn 5.7. For there are three which beare record, &c. Gen. 1.26. as before.
Thus of the third principle.
That there is but one God, is proued in these places,That there is but one God proued. Deu. 6.4. Heare, O Israel, the Lord our God is Lord only, &c.
Esay 44.6.8. Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and without me is there no God. You are my witnesses whether there be a God beside me, &c.
Mark. 12.29. Heare Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord, &c. Ephes. 4.5.6. 1. Cor. 8.4. We know that an idoll is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God, but one, &c.
The vses are these:The vses.
Adore him, whom al creatures are bound to serue and acknowledge, who hath no partners in his supreame Soueraignty.
Psal. 86.9.10. All nations, whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord, and shall glorifie thy name:
For thou art great, and dost wondrous things, thou art God alone, &c.
LoueLove him alone, or aboue all: He knoweth them that louelove him, and shew it by seruing him only, Deut. 6.4.5. The Lord our God is Lord onelyonly:
And thou shalt louelove the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with al thy soule, and with al thy might, &c. Mark. 12.29.30. as before.
It should repent vsus, that euer wee relied vponupon any other but him, learning hereafter for euer to relie vponupon him in our desperatest extremities, as these places shew, Deut. 32.37.38.39. Isay 37.16. 1. Sam▪ 2.2.3.
We should therefore keepe the vnity of the spirit in the bond of peace, as is vrged, Ephes. 4.3.6. &c.
We should therefore vse but one Mediator to him, 1. Tim. 2.5. For there is one God, and one Mediatour betweene God and Man: Which is the Man Christ Iesus, &c.
Lastly, how happy are his people? they are most sure to prosper and grow, as from the consideration of this principle is shewed, Isai. 44.6.7.8. with coherence.
Hetherto of the nature of God; the workes of God follow: His workes are either of Creation or Prouidence.