The Sum of Sacred Divinity, Summary of book 2
THE SECOND BOOKE OF DIVINITIE. Of EMANVEL, God and Man, our Redeemer.
CHAP. 1.
Of CHRIST.
THis is the ſumme of that Doctrine which we hauehave concerning GOD. The other followeth, concerning Emanuel, GOD with vsus.
Emanuel (GOD with vsus) is in one Perſon, the Sonne of GOD, and very Man, conceiued of a Virgin by the Holy GHOST: Who is alſo CHRIST, or Anointed; called of his Father, euer ſince the Fall of Adam, to be a Mediatour betweene GOD and Man; of a Couenant, to ſaue through Faith in him (that is, by apprehending of the Couenant) certaine few Men, whom GOD his Father hath choſen from Eternitie, and giuen vntounto him, to ſet forth in them the prayſe of his MercieMercy.
This Couenant is called the Couenant of Grace: And ratified by the Death of Him that made it, hath alſo the Name of a Teſtament.
Being alwayes one and the ſame in ſubſtance, it is neuertheleſſe diſtinguiſhed, or diſtinctly to be conſidered in the Old and the New Teſtament.
The Old Teſtament was the Couenant, through CHRIST to come.
The New Teſtament, is the Couenant, through CHRIST alreadie come; IESVS, the Sonne of Marie.
CHAP. II.
Of the Priesthood of Chriſt.
OF the Office of Mediation, there be two parts, Priesthood, and Kingdome.
Prieſthood, is in the things which he doth to God for thoſe Elect. The parts are Oblation and Interceſſion.
Oblation, is the offring vp of Himſelfe for them. It ſtandeth in two things:
Firſt, the ſanctifying of his Humane Nature in all Holineſſe, from the very firſt moment of his Conception, for the worke of the Mediation.
Then, in the performing of the moſt excellent meaſure of Obedience to the Law of God, that can poſſibly fall vntounto any Creature: One principall part whereof, are his Sufferings; in taking vponupon him our Sinnes, and the whole Curſe, both that of this Life, and the fulneſſe of it, due vntounto them after Death. All which he fully ſatisfied. The Curſe vponupon vsus here, in the whole courſe of his Life; the fulneſſe of the Curſe, vponupon the Croſſe; and Death, by dying vnderunder the power whereof he lay three dayes in the Graue.
This Righteouſneſſe, or Obedience, being the Righteouſneſſe of Him, who is both God and Man, doth conſequently merit a like ſupreme meaſure of Bleſſedneſſe; euidently ſeene in the G…s that did follow his Sufferings, and were in Soule, or Bodie, apart, or ioyntly in them both. In Soule hee went to Heauen, preſently after Death: His Body hee rayled from the Dead, glorious, the third day, at the da… ning of the Day: In his whole Perſon (Soule and Body ioyned together) he aſcended into Heauen the fortieth day after his Reſurrection, and there ſitteth at the right hand of God; that is to ſay, imoyeth all Soueraigntie, Power, and Glory.
Hitherto of Oblation. Interceſſion is the continuall preſenting of his Merites to God his Father, on the behalfe of thoſe Elect.
CHAP. III.
Of Chriſts Gouernment of the World in generall.
SVch is the Prieſthood of Chriſt; his Kingdome followeth, Kingdome, is in the things which hee doth from God for thoſe Elect.
The Kingdome of Chriſt hath two parts: One, whereby hee gouerneth all the World according to their owne Nature, ſince the Fall. In the Angels, perfect; in Deuils, and Men, corrupted; in the reſt of the World, peruerted.
CHAP. IIII.
Of the Propheticall Office of Christ: And of his Word.
THe other, which is vntounto his Church; a Companie of Men, culled out of the World. This latter part contayneth his Propheticall Office, and that which the Scripture, by excellencie, termeth the Kingdome.
Propheticall Office, whereby hee hath a Church vntounto himſelfe, by his Word and the Power of his Spirit.
The Word of Chriſt, is his publiſhing of the Couenant of Grace: Which of the Old Teſtament, was called the Promiſe; of the New, is called the Goſpel.
CHAP. V.
Of the outward Church.
HIs Church is the outward Church, or the Church of Gods Elect.
Outward, is of thoſe that profeſſe, to beleeue in Him.
Seuerall Companies, that aſſemble for the Exerciſes of the Word, are ſo many Churches and Members of the Whole: And in eueryevery of theſe, God hath alwayes ſome that are His indeed.
Their Children alſo are of the Church.
VponUpon the outward Church, Chriſt beſtoweth Gifts, both for the Churches common good, and for a Mans owne priuate.
For the common good▪ are firſt things committed to the Churches keeping; then, Miniſteries and Graces.
The things committed, are his Word (whereof wee hauehave ſpoken) to be preached, Sacraments to be adminiſtred, and other holy Things.
Preaching, is an Inſtruction of the Church by liuely Voice in the Word of Chriſt; and that by Doctrine, or Exhortation.
Doctrine, in laying forth the Truth, and confuting of contrarie Errors.
Exhortation, to apply it alſo to all good vſes; of comforting, denouncing, ſti…ing vp, reprouing.
A Sacrament is a ſigne and ſeale of the Couenant, either for our entrance, or continuance in the Couenant.
The adminiſtration, is to deliuer them, with declaring Chriſts Inſtitution, and Prayer vntounto God, to make the ſame effectuall, to the end for the which they were ordayned: Which the Scripture calleth Bleſſing, or Conſecration.
It followeth to ſpeake of Ministeries, and Graces.
Ministeries▪ are publike Functions in the Church; ſpecially for Preaching (which includeth the dutie of offering the Churches Prayers) and Adminiſtration of the Sacraments.
Among the Miniſters of the Word, ſome hauehave beene (extraordinarily) inſpired of Chriſt, to deliuer both by liuely Voyce and Writing (ſo as they could not erre) the whole Truth of Chriſt, and had power to worke Miracles, for the confirming of their Doctrine.
All other Miniſteries are to fetch their Light from the Doctrine of thoſe that were ſo inſpired.
Graces, are Gifts for the diſcharge of thoſe publike Functions.
Gifts for a Mans owne priuate, are Knowledge of the Word of Chriſt, and a Taſte of the ſweetneſſe of it: Which being the higheſt Step that it is poſſible for any Reprobate to aſcend, changeth after a ſort Mans corrupt Nature▪ yet ſo, as it may be loſt againe. But whoſo once of Malice falleth from it, can neuer be repayred.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Church vnderunder the Law.
THe Church is One, and cannot be diuided: but hauing regard to the diuerſitie of Gods Diſpenſation, it may be diſtinguiſhed into the Church vnderunder the Old Teſtament, and the Church in the New.
That vnderunder the Old Teſtament, had diuers Rites, Ceremonies, and Sacrifices, Figures of Chriſt, and of the good things we hauehave in him; eſpecially among the Iewes, his then peculiar People: Whereby the Diſpenſation of thoſe Times was more obſcure, and leſſe accompanied with Knowledge, and other Graces.
But of all theſe things, as alſo of their Sacraments, (which, in regard of the outward Signes, were a part of the Legall Paedagogie) and likewiſe of the Miniſteries that were among them, both that of Prophets (inſpired) by whom were written the Bookes of the Old Teſtament, and of other, I hauehave written at large, in a Treatiſe entituled, The Old Teſtament, or the Promiſe.
CHAP. VII.
Of the Church in the time of the Goſpell.
TO the Church of the New Teſtament, the Diſpenſation is in all cleereneſſe and perfection.
Touching the Sacraments, and Miniſteries of the New Teſtament, there be two Sacraments, Baptiſme, and the Lords Supper.
Baptiſme, is a waſhing with Water, to aſſure our entrance into the Couenant; the forme whereof is thus, or to this effect:
I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
The Lords Supper, is a feeding with Bread and Wine, to aſſure our continuance in the Couenant; the forme whereof is thus, or to this effect:
For the Bread, Take ye, eate ye; This is my Body, which is giuen for you: Doe this in remembrance of me.
For the Cup, Drinke ye all of this; for this is my Bloud of the New Teſtament, which is ſhed for many, for the remiſſion of ſinnes: Doe this as oft as ye ſhall drinke it, in remembrance of me.
The Miniſters of the New Teſtament, were Apoſtles (inſpired) (by whoſe Miniſterie were written the Bookes of the New Teſtament) Prophets, Euangeliſts, Paſtors, Teachers, &c.
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Church of Gods Elect.
THus farre of the outward Church. The other is the Church of Gods Elect, drawne to beleeue in Chriſt, ordinarily, by Preaching: Wherefore with theſe, God maketh indeed his Couenant. By vertue whereof, our Faith, albeit apprehending Chriſt abſent, it apprehend Him weakely; yet confirmed by the Word, and Sacraments, Prayer, and other holy meanes, it neuer letteth goe the Hold, but continually groweth, till we come to ſee Chriſt in his glory: So as Faith hath alwayes Hope, that is, an aſſured waiting for of that bleſſed Sight, going with it.
CHAP. IX.
Of Regeneration.
HItherto of Chriſts Propheticall Office. The Kingdome (by excellencie ſo termed) is that, whereby deſtroying the Old Man by the Power of his Death and Sufferings, all that are of the Church of Gods Elect, He doth regenerate, by the Power of his Reſurrection.
The Day of his Riſing, which was the firſt Day of the Creation, is (for an euerlaſting Remembrance of that Benefit) come in place of the Sabbath, and called the Lords Day; beginning when he aroſe, and began to renew the World.
Regeneration, is our ſpirituall incorporating into Chriſt, eueryevery Member in his due proportion; whereby being one with him, through him with God, and his Spirit ours, we become Gods children by adoption.
Of a regenerate eſtate there be two Degrees, as it were two Ages, Infancie, and Mans eſtate.
Infancie, which is during this Life, by Faith, and therefore by meanes of the Word, and imperfectly ſealed vp in our owne inward aſſurance of the Spirit, not in the Worlds diſcerning of it; and growing according as our Faith doth grow: And this is called the State or Kingdome of Grace.
Mans eſtate, which is after this Life, by Sight, and therefore immediately by Chriſts Spirit, and in all Perfection: And that is called the State or Kingdome of Glorie.
CHAP. X.
Of Wiſedome, Righteouſneſſe, Sanctification, and Redemption.
THe Spirit of Chriſt being ours, conſequently doth ſaue vsus from our ſinfull and curſed eſtate, to inioy all the Good that is in him.
It ſtandeth in Illumination, and Iustification, and (from thence comming) Sanctification, and Redemption.
Illumination, Whereby expelling Darkeneſſe, he doth inlighten our Minds with the Knowledge of the Will of God in Chriſt; which the Apoſtle calleth Wiſdome.
Iuſtification, Whereby forgiuing our ſinnes, by his taking them vponupon him, he doth account the Holineſſe of his Nature and Righteouſneſſe to be ours.
From whence (as I ſaid) come Sanctification, and Redemption.
Sanctification, Whereby ſlaying Sinne, he putteth a new Life of Holineſſe into vsus, to bring forth fruits of Righteouſneſſe. Wherein there is no more now required, but that Sinne beare not the rule in vsus: and our Workes of Righteouſneſſe, though all mingled with ſinne, are not onelyonly pleaſing vntounto God, through his forgiueneſſe of the ſinne; but hauehave beſide, of Gods free Goodneſſe, looking vponupon them in the perfection of his Sonne, ſpeciall Promiſes of Reward made vntounto them, both in this Life, and in the Life to come.
Redemption, Whereby freeing vsus from the Curſe, himſelfe becomming a Curſe for vsus, he maketh vsus bleſſed, by the participation of his Bleſſedneſſe.
Our Bleſſedneſſe in this eſtate ſtandeth,
Firſt, in the LoueLove of God anew: Whereby all things, not the Calamities and Troubles of this Life, and alſo Death it ſelfe, but euen our very ſinnes turne vntounto our good; and in the aſſurance whereof, wee hauehave Peace of Conſcience, and Ioy in the Holy Ghoſt.
Secondly, in that wee are made neere vntounto him, and hauehave continuall acceſſe, with boldneſſe, into his Preſence.
Thirdly, in our former Soueraigntie and Power ouer the Creatures; whereof commeth free liberty of vſing them all, and deliuerance from the Bondage of Satan. This alſo as a noble acceſſe added thereunto, that the holy Angels themſelues are made miniſters for our good.
Fourthly, in a Spirituall Glorie and Wiſedome, and other Graces.
After this Life, commeth the fulneſſe of Bleſſedneſſe, more or leſſe, according to the diuers meaſure of our Faith here. To the Soule in Heauen, preſently after Death, till the Latter Day: At what time our Bodies being rayſed vp glorious, the whole Man ſhall meete CHRIST comming to Iudgement in the Ayre, and there receiue Sentence of all fulneſſe of Bleſſedneſſe for euer: Which we ſhall inioy; taken vp into Heauen by the vertue of his Aſcenſion.
Certaine Men, vponupon our Sauiour CHRISTS Reſurrection, roſe againe, and are alreadie with him in Heauen.
So are Enoch and Elias both aliue, aſſumed thither.
Thoſe that are liuing at the Latter Day, ſhall ſuddenly be changed, after the dead are once riſen.
The Creatures alſo, for our ſake, ſhall then be renewed into a Glorious eſtate, not ſubiect to Corruption.