Gods Holy Mind Touching Matters Moral, Tract 2 · Part 5 – Part 6
Now to the second sort of false opinions of God, forbidden in this Commandement, (namely) when men doe not acknowledge God as hee is, and as hee hath reuealed him selfe in his Word.
Quest. How is it that men doe not acknowledge God as he is, and as he hath reuealed himselfe in his Word?
Answ. Thus; when men hauehave erroneous, and vaine opinions of God;Rom. 1.21. and thinke of him, according to their owne vaine, and foolish imaginations.
Quest How many wayes doe men erre in their opinions of God, and thinke of him according to their owne vaine and foolish imaginations?
Answ. Three waies:
First, in their conceit and opinion of his Essence and Nature.
Secondly, in their conceit and opinion, of the Persons of the Godhead.
Thirdly, in their conceit and opinion of his Attributes.
Of these in Order
Quest. How doe men erre in their conceit, and thinke vainely of God, in respect of his Essence and Nature?Psal. 96.4.5. I a. 37.19. Ierem. 14.22. 1. Cor. 8.5.
Ans. Two waies: First, in making a multiplicitie of Gods, and thinking there bee many Gods; as the Heathen did, and doe.
Secondly, when men thinke and conceiue God to be that which he is not: as ignorant persons doe, who thinke him to be an old man sitting in Heauen, with a crowne vponupon his head; or as the Heathen did, who thought him to be like to creatures, as gold, or siluer, or stone grauen by art,Act. 17.29. and the inuention of man.
Quest. How doe men erre, and misconceiue of the Persons of the Godhead?
Ans. Foure wayes especially.
Quest. What is the first of those?
Ans. This, when men affirme and hold one God, but denie the Three Persons; as some ancient Hereticks did of old; and as the Turkes and Iewes doe at this day; who denie Christ the second Person in Trinitie.
Quest. What places of Scripture condemne this sinne?
Answ. Such as plainely declare the Trinitie of Persons: as Gen. 1.26. Mat. 3.16.17. Mat. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.13. 1 Iohn 5.7.
Quest. What is the second way?
Answ. This, when men hold not only the distinction of the three Persons, but a diuision also of the substance; as that the three Persons, be three Gods; as the Tritheists did.
Quest. What places of Scripture condemne this sinne?
Answ. Such as shew the vnitie of the Godhead, and the Trinity of Persons: as Iohn 10.30. 1 John 5.7.
Quest. What is the third way?
Answ. This; when men hold not Christ, the Sonne of God to be very God, but affirme him to bee made and created, as the Arrians doe.
Quest. What places of Scripture, condemne this sinne?
Answ. Such as plainely prooue the Godhead of Christ; as Isai. 7.14. Isai: 9.6. Mat. 1.23. Iohn 1.1. Rom. 9.5.
Quest. What is the fourth way whereby men erre, and misconceiue of the persons of the Godhead?
Ans. This; when men hold the three Persons of the Godhead, to bee but three names, and titles giuen to God in the Scripture: as the Patripassians did.
Quest. What places of Scripture condemne this sinne?
Answ. Such as shew the distinction of the Persons of the Godhead; that the Persons are truly distinguished one from the other: as Gen 3.22. Mat. 28.10. 1 Iohn 5.7.
Quest. How doe men erre in their conceit, and opinion of the Attributes of God?
Ans. When they hauehave not a right apprehension, and consideration of his Attributes.
Quest. What are the Attributes of God, that men doe not rightly apprehend and consider of?
Ans. Not so much his simplicitie, his eternitie, and such like, which hauehave not relation to the creatures; but those especially that hauehave relation to the creatures.
Quest: What be those?
Ans: Th…se fiue; his Knowledge, his Power, his Truth, his Iustice, and his Mercy.
Of these in Order.
Quest. What is it not to apprehend, and consider Gods knowledge aright?
Answ. This; when men doe not rightly, and duely consider, that God s…es and knowes all things: Psalme. 94.7. Isai 29.15.
Quest: What is the fruit of this, when men doe not rightly conc…iu…, and consider Gods knowledge?
Answ The sinne of Hypocrisie, it makes men seeme to be t…at which they are not, and to co…tent themselues with a shew of …ol nesse.Ezech. 8.12. Iob. 22.13.14. Eliphaz holding Job to be an hypocrite, thus chargeth him: but thou sayest (saith he) how should God know? can he iudge through the darke Cloud? The Clowdes hide him that hee cannot see, and hee walketh in the Circle of Heauen
Quest. What is it not to apprehend, and consider Gods Power aright?
Answ. This; when men doe not rightly conceiue,Ierem 5.21.22. Psalm. 90.11. Mat. 10.28. 1 Cor. 10.22. and duely consider, that God is able to doe whatsoeuer hee will; and especially that he is able to arme all the creatures against them for their sinnes, and to punish their soules, and bodies in this life; and for euer in Hell.
Quest. What followes on this, when men doe not rightly conceiue, and duely consider the power of God?
Answ. Two things:
First, contempt of God.
Secondly, a proud tempting of God.
Quest. Wherein doe men shew contempt of God?
Answ: In two things.
First, in contemning his threatnings,2 Chro. 33.10. 2 Chro. 36.16. I…ai. 5.19. Isai. 28.15.22. Pet. 3.3.4. 2. Chron. 28.22 Ierem. 5.3. Amos. 4. from v. 6. to 12. and making light account of his iudgememts denounced against them, for their sinnes.
Secondly, in taking no profit by his punnishments. A number of plagues sent, but none could moue them to repent: as cleanenesse of Teeth, scarcenesse of Bread, Drought, Blasting, and Mildew, and such like.
Quest. Wherein doe men shew a proud tempting of God?
Answ. In three things.
First, in muttering against God: Num. 14.11.Nom. 14.11. Nom. 14.2. Exod. 17.7. Psal 78.18.19. Mat. 4.6.7. Act. 5.9. Malac. 3.15. And all the people muttered, verse 2.
Secondly, in desiring experience of Gods power.
Thirdly, in trying wheth…r God be such a powerfull God of vengeance, as the Scrptu…e sets him forth to be.
Quest. What is it, not to apprehend and consider Gods truth aright?
Answ. This; when men doe not rightly conceiue, and duly consider, that God is most true in his Word, and will certainely make good,Psal. 57.10. Nom. 13.2.32. 2 Pet. 3.4 9. whatsoeuer he hath promised or threatned. Nomb. 13.3. The Lord said, he would giuegive vntounto the Children of Israel, the Land of Canaan. Then verse 32. they reason against Gods Truth.
Quest. What followes on this, when men doe not rightly conceiue, and duely consider the Truth of God?
Ans: Two sinnes.
First, incredulity or vnbeliefe.
Secondly, impaciency.
Quest: Wherein doe men shew incredulity or vnbeliefe?
Gen. 19 14. Psal. 11 6.11. Nom. 11.21.22.23. Rom. 4.20. Psal. 42.5. Heb. 10.38. Pro. 3.5.Ans: In two things.
First, in doubtfulnes, when men doubt, and call into question the truth of gods wo…d.
Secondly, in diffidence or distrust, when men withdraw their hearts from the truth of God, made knowne in his word; and doe not wholly rest on that, at all times.
Quest: Wherein doe men shew impaciency in respect of Gods truth?
2. King. 6.33. Isai. 28.16. Habac. 2 3.4.Ans: In their fainting in the time of triall, and not wayting on God, for the accomplishment of his word, and promise for their good.
Quest. what is it, not to apprehend and consider Gods iustice aright?
Gen. 18.25. Ierem. 51.56. Nahum. 1.2.3. 2 Thes. 1.5.6. Rom. 2.5.6.7.8.9.Ans. When men doe not rightly conceiue, and duly consider, that God is iust in all his wayes, and especially that he is the iust iudge of all the world, and will one day render to eueryevery one according to his workes.
Quest: What followes on this, when men doe not rightly conceiue and duly consider the iustice of God?
Ans: Three things.
First, carnall security.
Secondly, spirituall slothfulnesse.
Thirdly, rash and inconsiderate zeale.
Quest: What is to be carnally secure?
Ier. 8.6. Mat. 24.38.39. Luk. 12.19. Luk. 21.34.35.Ans: This; when a man giues himselfe wholly to follow the profits, and pleasures of this life, and neuer thinkes of his sinnes heartily and seriously.
Quest. What is to be spiritually slothfull?
Ier. 48.10. Rom. 12.11. Reuel. 13.15.16.Ans: This; when a man is cold or lukewarme in the louelove of God, and of his truth, and of his seruants, and performes good duties, heauily, drousily, and negligently.
Qu…st: What is to be rashly Zealous?
Luk. 9.54.Ans. When a man would hauehave God presently according to his desire, to powre out his wrath and vengeance on such as highly dishonour him. Luke, 9.54.
Qu…st. What is it, not to apprehend, and consider Gods merciemercy aright?
Answ. This, when men doe not rightly conceiue,Exod. 34.6.7 2. Chron. 30.9. Isai. 55.7. Ierem. 31.20. Iam. 5.11. and duely consider, that God is freely inclined to helpe, a…d relieue his creatures, being in misery; and especially, that hee is ready to grant to poore sinners, that are penitent, pardon of sinne, and acceptance in Christ, to life euerlasting.
Quest. What are the fruits of this, when men doe not rightly conceiue, and duely consider the mercy of God?
Answ. Th…se foure sinnes. 1. Desperation. 2. Presumption, 3. Impenitency. And 4, Enuying of Gods grac… in others, or his mercy to others.
Quest. What is Desperation?
Answ. To want hope, or rather to be out of hope of obtayning mercy at the hands of God, to helpe and relieue, in the time of neede.
Quest. In what necessities doe men shew themselues desperate, and out of hope of obtayning mercy at the hands of God?
Answ. Sometimes in outward necessities;1. King. 19.4. 2 King 7.4. 1. King. 6.18. Act. 16.27. men dispairing of Gods mercy, for their helpe in things of this life.
Sometimes, in spirituall necessities, men dispayring of Gods mercy, for the pardon of their sinnes, that lye heauy on their soules and consciences; as Caine, and Iudas.
Quest. What is Presumption?
Answ. This; to be bold to doe euill, on a vaine confidence and false perswasion, of obtaining mercy at the hands of God.
Quest: Wherein are men bolde to doe euill on a vaine confidence, and perswasion of obtayning mercy at the hands of God?
Ans: In two things.
1. First, in the affaires of this life,2. Sam. 4.5.7. Eccles. 11.6. men giuing themselues ouer to idlenesse, and to take their ease and pleasure, and yet perswading themselues, that God is so mercifull as he will neuer see them want. 2, Sam. 4.5.7. Eccles. 11.6. a precept to the contrary.
2. Secondly, in spirituall things,Deut. 29.19 20. Psal. 19.13. men neglecting the meanes of saluation, and going on wilfully in their sinnes, and yet perswading themselues that God will be mercifull vntounto them. Deut. 29 19.20. Psal. 19 13. Dauid prayed, keepe thy seruant from presumptuous sinnes, let them not raigne ouer me Iude. 4.
Quest: What is Impenitency?
Psal. 130.4. Rom. 2.4.5.Ans: Out of hardnes of heart, and the want of the true feare of God, purposely to continue, and to goe on in sinne without repentance.
Quest: What is it to enuie gods grace and mercy in others, or to others?
Gen. 3. Mat. 27.18. Act. 11.2.3. 1 Ioh. 3.12.Ans. This; to greiue and repine at the good things, God hath vouchsafed to others, whether inward or outward; and to hate the good things themselues; which is the Deuills sinne.
Now to the third sinne in generall forbidden in this commandement, namely confidence in creatures.
Quest. What is that confidence in creatures, that is forbidden in this commandement?
Psal 20.7. Isai. 2.22. Ierem. 17.5. Zach. 4.6.Ans: This when men so rest and rely on the creatures, as they thinke they are able and sufficient of themselues, to doe them good: and withdraw their hearts from the Lord.
Quest: What are the things that men rest on and thinke able of themselues, to doe them Good?
Ans: These. Either themselues, or other men, or other things.
Quest: How doe men rest on themselues, and put confidence in themselues?
Pro. 28.26. 2 King 18.35. Isai. 10.13. Mat. 26.33.35.Ans: Thus; when men rest and relie on some good thing that is in themselues, and thinke that able of it selfe to helpe them, and to doe them good; as their wit, their wisdome, their eloquence, their strength, their beauty, and such like.
Quest: What are the fruits of this, when men rest on themselues, or some good things in themselues?
Ans: These two.
First, Pride, or arrogancy.
Secondly, Vaine glory, and carnall boasting.
Quest: What is the Pride, or arrogancie that followes this?
Ans: It it this; when men ascribe the good they doe,Deut. 8.17.18. Daniel 4.27. Habak. 1.16. Acts 12.22, 23. not to God, but to something in themselues, and take the praise of it which is due to God, to themselues.
Quest: What is the vaineglory, or carnall boasting that followes on this?
Ans: This; when men glory in their good gifts,Iohn 5.44. Luke 10.20. Galat. 5.26. 1 Cor. 4.7. as if they had them of them-selues, and not from God; and doe referre all they hauehave or can doe, to their owne priuate glory and aduancement.
Quest. How doe men rest on other men, and put confidence in them?
Ans: Thus;Isai. 36.6. Ierem. 17.5. Hester 6.6. 2 Chron. 16.12 when men rest and relie on some good thing in others, and thinke that able of it selfe to helpe them, and to doe them good: as on other mens wit and policie, skill, strength, kindnesse, or the like.
Quest. How doe men rest on other things, and put confidence in them?
Ans: Thus, when men rest and relie on other things,1 Tim. 6.17. Psalm. 62.10. Ierem. 49.16. Obad. v. 3, 4. Psal. 146.3. as able of themselues to helpe them, and to doe them good; as on riches, strong holds and defenced places; honour, authority, and high place, and such like. Job 31.24.