Aphorisms of Christian Religion, Chapter 17 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVII. Of Predeſtination.
I. APHORISME.
PRedeſtination we call the aEphe. 1.4. 2. Tim. 1.9.eternall decree of God, wherein he determined with himſelfe what he would hauehave done with bRom. 9.20.21.22. & 23.eueryevery man: as concerning their eternall ſaluation or damnation.
II.
This predeſtination hath two ſpeciall branches. The firſt is called election: the other reprobation, by a metonymie of the effect (that is, a change of a word properly ſignifying an effect, to ſignifie the cauſe) for election and reprobation are properly referred to man: who being created, is fallen and corrupted with ſinne: but metonymically the very decree of election & reprobation is ſo aEphe. 1.4.called.
III.
Therefore we ſay with the Scripture, that God in his eternall and a2 Tim. 2. v. 19. Eſa. 46.9. Malach. 3.6. 1. Theſſ. 5.9.immutable coūcell hath once decreed, whom in time to come he will bRom. 9.23.aduaunce to glorie: and whom on the contrarie he ſhall cAct. 1.25. Iohn. 17.12. 1. Pet. 2.8. Iude v. 4.giuegive ouer to condemnation.
IIII.
This purpoſe we auouch was founded on the aEphe. 1.5. Rom. 8.29. Mat. 11.25.26. Rom. 9.18.meere pleaſure of God.
V.
Moreouer, whom God hath predeſtinate to ſaluation, them alſo hath he decreed to make partakers of the meanes by which men come to ſaluation: which meanes are theiraEphe. 1. recōciliation by Chriſt, their bRom. 8.effectuall calling, and cIbid.iuſtification. And contrarily whom he hath predeſtinate to deſtruction, them alſo hath he decreed, not to make partakers of thoſe meanes which tend to ſaluation, but to leaue dPſal. 81.13them to themſelues, or to deliuer them to eEſa. 29.10. Rom. 11.8.Sathan that both by his and their owne naturall inſtigation they may purchaſe to themſelues damnation.
VI.
The end or ſcope of predeſtination is is the glorie aProu. 16.4.of God: that is, the glorie of his bEphe. 1.6. and 12. Rom. 9.23.grace, and mercy, manifeſted in the ſaluation of the elect, and of his cRom. 9.25.26.iuſtice in the death of his ſonne our mediatour: the glory alſo of his dRom. 9.17 and 22.power and eRom. 9.22.iuſtice in the damnation of reprobates, yea of his iuſtice, both fRom. 11.33ſecret in their reiection, and alſo gRom. 1.18manifeſt in puniſhing them, for their ſinnes: finally the glorie of his moſt free hRom. 9.15 8.20.21.power, both in the condemnation of the reprobate, and in the glorification of his elect.
VII.
The infallible teſtimonie of our election is our aRom. 8.30. 1. Tim. 1.1.effectuall calling, when as the holy ſpirite, by the preaching bRom. 10.17of the Goſpell, doth worke faith in Chriſt, in the harts of his elect, that thereby they may be cRom. 8.30. Ephe. 1.7.iuſtified, working alſo ſome beginning of new d2. Tim. 2.19obedience, that they may be ſanctified, that ſo in time they may be fully eRom. 8.30.glorified.
VIII.
And as the Lord a2. Tim. 2.19ſealeth and marketh his elect, by their vocation, iuſtification, and ſanctification, ſo by excluding the reprobate either from the knowledge of his truth or from the ſanctification of his ſpirite, as it were by certaine notes he ſheweth what iudgement remaineth for them.
IX.
Neither yet may any raſhly define or pronounce, that he is in the number of the reprobate, if the ſignes of election as yet appeare not in him, for ſome are called, aMath. 20.3 &c.later then others, yea the bLuk. 23.40 &c.theefe on the croſſe was not before the end of his life called: wherefore we may deſpaire of none vnleſſe manifeſt ſignes be ſhewed, that he hath ſinned to death: that is, againſt the holy c1. Ioh. 5.16ſpirite, neither yet may any ſecurely ſinne in hope of mercy, but euer remēber to dHeb. 3.7.day, if ye heare his voyce harden not your harts: for God is not mocked.eGal 6.7.
X.
There be two notable fruits of this doctrine, the one that we may with humble adoration, acknowledge how much we are bounde to God, that hath vouchſafed to chuſe vsus, ſo vnworthy, out of the aRom. 11.35companie of the damned, and to aduaunce vsus to the ſtate of heauenly glory. The other, that we may with good bRom. 8.31. &c. 2. Tim. 2.19.aſſuraunce reſt our ſelues on the vnchaungeable purpoſe of God touching our ſaluation and therfore be fully perſwaded and aſſured thereof in Ieſus Chriſt.
CHAP. XVIII. Of the reſurrection, and of life euerlaſting.
I. APHORISME.
ALbeit the doctrine of the reſurrection ſeeme incredible in mans reaſon: yet we that are Chriſtians muſt beleeue it & receiue it: that is, we muſt beleeue that the bodies of the dead ſhalbe reſtored to their firſt ſtate, and their ſoules ſhall reenter them againe, ſo they ſhall liue and riſe againe at the laſt day.
II.
This faith of ours is grounded on the aDan. 12.2. Ioh. 5.29. &cteſtimonies of the word of God, who is almighty and can not lye.
III.
But of them that ſhall riſe againe, the eſtate ſhalbe very vnlike. For the godly ſhall riſe to aDan. 12.2.life and glory euerlaſting, but the vngodly to ſhame and bIohn. 5.29.death euerlaſting.
IIII.
This glorious and bleſſed reſurrection of the godly dependeth vponupon the reſurrection ofa1. Cor. 15.12. &c. 1. Theſſ. 4.14 Chriſt, as of their head to whom they as members muſt be conformed.
V.
Chriſt then the head of the godly, ſhal in the reſurrection make our bodies aPhil. 5.21. 1. Cor. 15.35 &c.like to his glorious body.
VI.
Againe, Chriſt ſhall raiſe the dead at his glorious a1. Theſ. 4.16.comming to iudgemēt with the ſhout of an Archangell and ſound of a trumpet.
VII.
The dead being raiſed, then in a moment as in the twinckling of an eye, the liuing ſhalbe a1. Theſſ. 4.16 and. 17. 1. Cor. 15.52 and 53.chaunged, ſo that their bodies ſhalbe made incorruptible.
VIII.
Then ſtreight wayes all the godly ſhalbe a1. Theſſ. 4.17.caught vp into the ayre to meete the Lord and ſo ſhall bIbid. Math. 25.34. and 46.euer be with the Lord and with him enioy euerlaſting happines.
IX.
On the contrary, the vngodly ſhall together with the deuils be thruſt down into aMath. 25.41. and 46.hell into the bReue. 20.15 & chap. 21. 8lake that euer burneth with fire and brimſtone and there ſhalbe tormented.
X.
Againe, eternall life conſiſteth chiefly in the full feeling of Gods louelove, & in the communion of his nature according to theſe ſayings, aPſal. 17.15.I shalbe (ſaith Dauid) ſatisfied with thine Image: againe, bPſal. 16.18in thy preſence is the fulneſſe of ioy and pleaſures at thy right hand for euermore. And Peter affirmeth c2. Pet. 1.4.that the faithfull are to this end called that they may be partakers of the diuine nature, that is, of the graces of God, his wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, holineſſe and glory.
XI.
And albeit the bleſſed there, ſhall want nothing pertinent to perfect felicitie, becauſe God ſhalbe a1. Cor. 15.28.all in all, yet of that heauenly glory, wherewith they ſhalbe beautified there ſhalbe certaine b1. Cor. 15.41. and 42.degrees as there were alſo c1. Cor. 12.4degrees of their giftes in this life, and as there ſhalbe dMat. 10.15 and chap. 11 20. &c.degrees of torments amongſt the dāned. And aboue others excelling, & moſt ſhining, ſhalbe the glory of the teachers of the word, that hauehave faithfully inſtructed the Church, and ſo brought many to righteouſneſſe, as eDan. 12.3.Daniell ſpeaketh.
XII.
This doctrine as it may iuſtly terrifie the vngodly; ſo to the godly in al miſeries, and euen in death, it is a1. Theſſ. 4. verſ. laſt.moſt comfortable, as they that know, and by the grace of God ſtedfaſtly truſt, that their ſoule by death bIohn. 11.25paſſeth into life, and by the Angels is cLuk. 16.22.caried into Abrahams boſome, that is, into heauē, & ſo to dPhil. 1.23.Chriſt, & their bodies, although they rot and be eaten of wormes, yet ſhall in due time riſe again, and be clothed with euerlaſting glory.
CHAP. XIX. Of the Church.
I. APHORISME.
THe Church is a aMat 26.28. Iohn. 17.20.multitude of men bEphe. 1.13 Ro. 10.14.15.effectually cRom. 8.30.called by the preaching of the dRom. 1.7. 1. Cor. 1.2.Goſpell, and therefore they be ſuch as beleeue in Chriſt, and eRo. 10.9.10.profeſſe his faith, and fRom. 1.7. 1. Cor. 1.2. 1. Cor. 2.2. Ephe. 1.1.ſerue God in the faith; accounting in this number with the elect, their gAct. 2.39. Gene. 17.7. 1. Cor. 7.14.children, and the children of hypocrites, which as yet by their age are not capable of this calling.
II.
The Church is either vniuerſall, which commonly the Greekes call Catholicke, or particular.
III.
The vniuerſall or Catholicke Church is the whole multitude of them, who from the beginning of the world, hauehave beleeued in Chriſt, that now do beleeue, and ſhall beleeue to the worldes end. Whereof one part now triumpheth aEphe. 1. …. Co…. …in heauen, to wi…, the faithfull that are departed: another part is militant on the earth, that is, the faithfull, that yet liue. And this again, is diuided into particular Churches.
IIII.
A Particular Church is a particular Congregation of the faithfull, dwelling a1. Cor. 12. 2. Cor. 1.1. Gal. 1.2. 1. Theſſ. 1.1. 2. Theſſ. 1.1.together in one place, & exerciſing them ſelues in Gods worſhip according to the direction of his word.
V.
A Particular Church may be diſtinguiſhed in the old and the new.
VI.
By the old I meane that which was before Chriſtes incarnation, as the Church of the Iewes, which then did excel as touching the forme of outward gouernmēt.
VII.
I call that the new Church, which began after Chriſts comming, eſpecially after his aſcenſion in heauen, being gathered out ofaEphe. 2.13. diuerſe nations: and this is called bAct. 11.26.the Chriſtian Church.
VIII.
Where the Church is aRom. 2.28.29. &c. 11.7.diſtinguiſhed in the inuiſible and viſible, it may not be thought that there be two Churches of diuerſe kinds, but one & the ſame Church in diuerſe reſpectes may be ſaid to be viſible and inuiſible.
IX.
And it is called inuiſible for that it can not be ſeene with mens eies: for that faith, by which the Church hath her being in Chriſt, is placed in the aRom. 2.29.hart, which none but bAct. 1.24.God can ſee.
X.
But it is ſaid to be viſible, for that it hath certain markes, which may be ſeene, and whereby we may conclude aſſuredly that there is a Church & people of God: albeita1. Ioh. 2.19. Math. 13.3. &d. Item 43. &c. hypocrites be mingled with them, who profeſſe the ſame faith, & yet beleeue not in Ieſus Chriſt.
XI.
Theſe markes are the aEphe. 2.20. Act. 2.24.pure preaching of the word, and lawfull adminiſtration of the b1. Cor. 1.13. 1. Cor. 12.20. and 23. Mat. laſt v. 19 and 20. Mat. laſt. v. 15. and 16.Sacraments.
XII.
For albeit in the Church of God, holy aMat. 18.15.16.17. 1. Cor. 5.5.diſcipline be alſo required: yet if here the gouernours of the Churches be ſlacke in their duties,☜ the Church is not preſently to be thought no Church, as long as the two former markes remaine.
XIII.
And yet further I ad, there may creep in ſome corruption, both in aCor. 3.12.doctrine and in the adminiſtratiō of the b1. Cor. 11.12.Sacraments: & yet it ſhall not ceaſe to be a Church, as long as the c1. Cor. 3.11.foundation is retained, which is Chriſt, or ſaluation by Chriſt alone.
XIIII.
It is the dutie of eueryevery godly man, to aHeb. 10.25 1. Cor. 11.20ioyne himſelf to ſuch a congregation, or ſocietie, as he ſeeth to hauehave thoſe markes and (as bPſal. 43.much as lyeth in him) to profeſſe himſelfe a member thereof, and to keepe in holy communion & felowſhip with it.
XV.
It is called the holy Church, partly becauſe it is waſhed & a1. Iohn. 1.7 Eph. 5.25.26purged by the bloud of Chriſt: partly becauſe it is ſanctified by his bRom. 8.1. Eph. 5.26.27 Pſal. 15.holy ſpirit and by Gods grace hath a cEphe. 4.13.growth in ſanctificatiō, vntill at length it be fully perfected, which ſhalbe when this life is dPhil. 3.12. & chap. 1.6.ended.