The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of Supernatural Revelation of Gods Will to Man, and of the Holy Scriptures or Bible.
Q. 1. VVHat do you call Supernatural Revelation?
A. All that Revelation of Gods mind to man which is made by him extraordinarily, above what the common works of Nature do make known: Though perhaps God may use in it some Natural second Causes in a way unknown to us.aMat. 11. 27, 25. Luk. 10. 22. Deu. 29. 29. Mat. 16. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10.
Q. 2. How many wayes hath God thus Revealed his will to man?
A. Many wayes: 1. By some Voice and Signs of his presence, which we do not well know what Creature he used to it, whether Angels, or only at present caused that Voice and Glory. So he spake to Adam and Eve, and the Serpent, and to Moses in the Mount, and Tabernacle, and in the cleft of the Rock, Exod. 34. And to Abraham, Iacob, &c.bEph. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 12. Dan. 2. 47, 22, 28, 29, Am. 3. 7. Gal. 1. 12. & 2. 2.
2. By Angels certainly appearing as sent from God, and so he spake to Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Lot, Moses, and to very many.cEph. 3. 3.
3. By Visions and Dreams in their Sleep, extraordinary.d1 Cor. 14. 6, 26. &
4. By the Vision of some Signs from Heaven in their waking: As Saul, Act. 9. saw the Light that cast him down.e2 Cor. 12. 1, 7.
5. By Visions and Voices in an extasie: As Paul saw Paradise, and heard unutterable things; whether in the Body or out of the Body he knew not. And its like in such a rapture Daniel and Iohn had their Revelations.
6. By Christs own Voice, as he spake to men on Earth and Paul from Heaven.
7. By the sight of Christ and Glory, as Stephen saw him.
8. By immediate Inspiration to the minds of Prophets.
9. By these Prophets sent as Messengers to others.
10. By certain uncontrolled Miracles.
11. By a convincing course of extraordinary works of Gods Providence: As when an Angel killed the Armies of Enemies, or when they kill'd one another in one night or day, &c.
12. By extraordinary works of God on the Souls of men: As when he suddenly overcometh the strongest vicious habits and customs, and maketh multitudes new and holy persons by such improbable but assigned means, by which he promised to do it.
Q. 3. These are all excellent things, if we were sure that they were not deceived, nor did deceive: But how shall we be sure of that?
A. Its one thing to ask, How▪ they themselves were sure that they were not deceived; and another thing to ask, How we are or others may be sure of it: As to the first, they were sure as men are of other things which they see, hear, feel, and think. I am sure by sense and intellectual Preception that I see the light, that I hear, feel, think, &c. The Revelation cometh to the person in its own convincing Evidence, as Light doth to the Eye.f1 I…. 1. 1, 2, 3.
Q. 4. They know what they see, hear, feel; but how were they sure that it was of God, and not by some deceiving Cause?
A. 1. God himself gave them the Evidence of this also in the Revelation, that it was from him and no deceit. But it is no more possible for any of us that never had such a Revelation our selves, to know sensibly and formally what it is, and how they knew it, than it is for a man born blind to know how other men see, or what seeing is. 2. But moreover, they also were sure that it was of God, by the proofs by which they make us sure of it: And this leads us up to the other question.gHeb. 2. 3, 4.
Q. 5. And a question of unspeakable moment it is, How we can be sure of such prophetical Revelations delivered to us by others? viz, That they were not deceived, nor deceive us?
A. It is of exceeding consequence indeed, and therefore deserveth to be understandingly considered and handled.
And here you must first consider the difference of Revelation. Some were but made or sent by Prophets to some particular Persons about a personal particular business, (as to Abraham that he should have a Son, that Sodom should be burnt; to David, that his Son should be his punishment, his child die; to Hezekiah, that he should recover, &c.) These none were bound to know and believe, but the persons concerned to whom they were revealed and sent: (Till they were made publick afterwards.) But some Revelations were made for whole Countreys, and some for all the World, and that as Gods Laws or Covenants, which Life and Death dependeth on: And these must be accordingly made known to all.
Q. 6. I perceive then that before we further enquire of the Certainty, I should first ask you of the Matter; what things they be that God hath supernaturally revealed to man, especially for us all?
A. The particular Revelations to and about particular mens matters, are many of them recorded to us for our notice: But there may be thousands more in the World, that we know not, nor are concerned to know: What Revelation God ever made to any persons throughout the World (as what should befall them, when they should die,) what Wars or Plagues or Famine should come, &c. little do we know: But what is recorded by God we know.
2. But as for his Laws and Promises which we are all concerned to know, I shall now but name and afterward open what God hath Revealed.
I. He revealed to Adam besides the Law of Nature (which was perfecter and clearer to him than it is now to us) a trying Prohibiton to eat of the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, adding the Penalty of death to restrain him.hGen. 2. 16, 17. Gen. 3. 15.
II. He judged him after his Fall to some degree of Punishment, but declared his pardoning Mercy, and promised Victory to and by the Womans Seed in the War which they now engaged in with Satan, the Serpent and his seed. And he instituted Sacrificing to typifie the Means.iGen 4. 4. Gen. 9. 1, 2, to 8.
III. He renewed this Covenant with Noah after the Flood.
IV. He made a special Promise to Abraham, to be the God of his Seed, as a Peculiar people chosen to him out of all the World; and that all Nations should be blessed in his seed: And he instituted the Sacramant of Circumcision to be the Seal and Symbole.kGen. 12. 2, 3. & 17. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
V. When his Seed were multiplyed in Egypt, he brought them out, and in performance of this Promise made them a Holy Common-wealth as their Soveraign, and gave them at large a Law and Sub-governours; which as Political was proper to the people.lExod. 2. &c. 20. &c.
VI. In the fulness of time God sent his Son to reconcile man to God, to reveal his Love and Will most fully, and to make and Seal the Covenant of Grace in its last and best Edition, and as King to Rule and Judge the Redeemed, and Sanctifie, Justifie and Glorifie the Faithful. These are the publick Laws and Covenants Supernaturally revealed.mIoh. 1. & 3. 16. Gal. 4. 4, 5, 6. & 1. 4. Mat. 28. 19, 20.
Q. 7. Is it equally necessary to us to believe every word in the Bible? or is every word equally certain to us?
A. All Truths are Truths, which is, to be equally True in themselves: And so if by certainty you mean nothing but infallible Truth, every Truth is so certain; and all Gods words are True: But if by [certain] you mean that which is so evident to us that we may our selves be fully certain of the Truth, so the parts of Gods word have different degrees of Certainty. We suppose false Translations and false Printings are none of Gods Word: Nor the Words of Satan or fallible men recited in the Bible, save only the historical Assertion that such words were spoken by them. But that which is Gods Word indeed, is none of it so far void of proof, but that we may come to a certainty that it's true: And if we had equal evidence that every word is Gods Word, we should have equal Evidence that all is true. For that God cannot Lie, is the foundation Truth of all our certainty. But God did not Reveal every Truth in the Bible with equal evidencing attestation from Heaven. Some of them much more concern us than others, and therefore were more fully sealed and attested.nHeb. 7. 22. & 9. 15, 16, 17, 18. 9. 13. & 8. 10. & 10. 16. Matth. 4.
Q. 8. How are we sure of the Law that was given to Adam, and that he sinned, as is written, and had after a pardoning Law.
A. 1. The Law of Nature given him is yet Gods common Law to the World, saving the strictness of it as a Condition of Life. 2. The fall of Man hath too full proof in all the pravity of Mankind from the Birth. 3. The Pardoning Act is evident in the Execution, God giveth all Men Mercy contrary to their deserts, and useth none in the utmost rigour. 4. The notorious Enmity between Christ and Satan, and their Seeds, through all Ages and Places of the World doth prove the Sentence, and the Law of Grace. 5. The universal Curse or Punishment on Mankind, sheweth somewhat of the Cause. 6. The Tradition of Sacrificing was so universally received over all the World, as confirmeth to us, that God delivered it to Adam, as a Symbol and a Type of the Grace then promised. 7. But our fullest proof of all that History, is that which after proved the Word that revealed it to us.oPsal. 14. Rom. 3. Psal. 145.9. Act. 14. 17. 1 Ioh. 3.8. Rom. 3.21, 23. Rom. 4. 12.15, 16, 17. 2 Kings 10. 19. Acts 14. 13. 18. 1 Cor. 10. 20.
Q. 9. How are we certain that the Law of Moses was God's Law?
A. 1. By a Course of wonderful Miracles wrought to prepare them to receive it, and to attest it. The Ten marvellous Plagues of Egypt; the Passage through the Red Sea, the opening of the Rock to give them Water; feeding them with Manna, raining twice Quails upon them, the sight of the flaming Mount, with the terrible concomitants: The sight of the Pillar of Fire by Night, and Cloud by Day, which conducted them: The sight of the Cloud and Symbol of God's presence at the Door of the Tabernacle; the miraculous Destruction of the Rebellious, even by the opening of the Earth, and the performance of God's Promises to them. All these were full proofs that it was of God. 2. But we have yet fuller proof in Christs latter Testimony, which confirmeth all this to us.
Q. 10. These were full Proofs to those that saw them. But are we certain that the Records of them in the Scripture are true?
A. 1. Consider that they were written by Moses to that very People who are said to see them. *Deut. 1. 31. & 3. 21, 22. & 4. 3. 9. & 5. 24. & 10. 21. & 11. 7. & 29. 3. Ios. 24. 7.And if one should now write to us English-men, that God brought us out of another Land by Ten such publick Miracles, as the Frogs, the Flies, the Lice, the Darkness, the Waters turned Blood, the Death of their Cattel, and of all their first Born, that he opened the Sea and brought us through it on Foot, that he opened Rocks, fed us with Manna, rained Quails for a Months food, spake from a flaming Mount, and opened the Earth to swallow up Rebells, &c. when we know all this to be false, would not all Men deride and abhorr the Reporter? Would any of us receive a Law, and that of such operous, numerous, costly Services, by the Motive of such a report as this?
2. Consider, that this Law so delivered was on this ground entertained, and unchangeably kept by them from Generation to Generation, it being taken for an heinous Crime to alter it in one word †Deut. 12. 32..
3. Consider, that Practised Sacramental Symbols from the first Day were so uninterruptedly kept, as was a fuller proof of the Fact than the bare Writings. 1. All their Males from the Promise to Abraham, were constantly Circumcised (save in the Wilderness Travels) and are to this Day. 2. From the very Night that the First-Born were kill'd in Egypt, and they driven hastily out; they yearly continued the Eating of the Passover with unleavened Bread, as in a hasting posture. 3. Since the Law given in the Wilderness, they constantly used the Sacrifices, the Oblations, the Tabernacle, the Priesthood and Ceremonies as that Law prescribed them. And the National constant use of these was an ascertaining Tradition of the matters of Fact which were their cause. 4. Yea, so tenacious were they of this Law, that (as they taught the very Syllables of it to their Children, and kept in the Ark the very Tables of Stone that had the Ten Commandments, so) they were Enemies to Christianity because the Christians were against the Gentiles Observation of their Law, and for its abrogation.
4. Consider again, that the Matter of Fact, and the Divine Institution is since made certain to us by Christs Testimony.
Q. 11. But seeing this Law doth not bind us now, nor the particular Messages of the Prophets were sent to us, is it any of our Concern now to know or believe them? It belonged to those that they were made for, and sent to; But what are they to us?
A. There is not the same necessity to know them, and so to be such that they were all of God, as there is to know and believe the Gospel: But it is greatly our Duty and Concern to believe them; 1. Because they were preparatory to the Gospel, and bore an antecedent Testimony to it. 2. Because the Gospel it self beareth witness of their Truth▪ which therefore if we believe it, we must believe. 3. Because by the Holy Ghost's direction all now make up our Books of Sacred Records, which is the certain Word of God, though not all of the same Necessity and Evidence.
And here I must tell you a great and needful Truth, which ignorant Christians fearing to confess, by overdoing tempt Men to Infidelity. The Scripture is like a Mans Body, where some parts are but for the preservation of the rest, and may be maimed without death: The Sence is the Soul of the Scripture, and the Letters but the Body, or Vehicle. The Doctrine of the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Decalogue, and Baptism, and Lords Supper, is the Vital part, and Christianity it self. The Old Testament Letter (written as we have it about Ezras's time) is that Vehicle which is as imperfect as the Revelation of those times was: But as after Christ's Incarnation and Ascension, the Spirit was more abundantly given, and the Revelation more perfect and Sealed, so the Doctrine is more full, and the Vehicle or Body, that is, the Words are less imperfect, and more sure to us; so that he that doubteth of the Truth of some Words in the Old Testament, or of some small Circumstantials in the New, hath no reason therefore to doubt of the Christian Religion, of which these Writings are but the Vehicle or Body, sufficient to ascertain us of the Truth of the History and Doctrine. Be sure first that Christ is the very Son of God, and it inferreth the certainty of all his Words, and enforceth our whole Religion.
Q. 12. I perceive then that our main Question is, both as to Necessity and Evidence, How we are sure that the Gospel is true? and the Records of it the very Word of God?
A. It is so: And as it is this that must Rule and Judge the Church, so we have to us fuller proof of this than of the Old Testament: Because that the narrowness of the Iews Countrey in comparison of the Christian World, and the many Thousand Years distance, and a Language whose Phrase and Proverbial speeches, and the very sence of the common words of it, must needs make it more unknown to us than the Language that the Gospel is Recorded in. And it is not the least proof of the Truth of the Old Testament, that it is attested and confirmed by the New.
Q. 13. Will you first tell me, How the Apostles and that first Age were sure that the Gospel of Christ was the very Word of God?
A. Here I must first tell you that the great Mystery of the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, being One God, is made necessary to us to be believed, not only as to the Eternal unsearchable Inexistence, but specially for the Knowledge of Gods three great sorts of Works on Man: That is, As our Creator, and the God of Nature; as our Redeemer, and the God of Governing and and reconciling Grace; and as our Sanctifier, and the Applyer and Perfecter of all to fit us for Glory. And so the Son as Redeemer, is the way to the Father, (to know him and his Love, and be reconciled to him:) And the Holy Ghost is the Witness of the Son. The proof therefore of the Gospel of Christ in one word is the Holy Ghost; that is, the certain Testimony of God's Spirit. And this Testimony consisteth of these several parts: I. The foregoing Testimony of the Spirit by all the Prophesies of the Old Testament, and the Typical Prefigurations; which became a fuller proof than before, when they were seen all to be fulfilled in Christ: Yet many were fulfilled before. When Abraham had no Child, he was promised the Multiplication of his Seed, and that all Nations should be blessed therein, Gen. 12. 2. & 13. 16. & 15. 5. & 17. 2. & 18. 11, 12. The 400 Years of their abode in Egypt and Canaan before were foretold and punctually fulfilled, Gen. 15. 13, 14. Ex. 12. 31, 32. So was Iacob's Prophesie of Iudah's Scepter, Gen. 42. 8, 9, 10. And Ioseph's dreams: And verily Balaams last Prophesie was marvellous; who when he had blessed Israel and foretold their Victories, foretold also the Scepter of David and Christ, and the success of the Assyrians, and after that of Chittim against the Hebrews themselves, Numb. 24. And who seeth not the fulfilling of the terrible Prophesie of Moses against the Iews, Deut. 31? Iosiah by Name, and his Deeds were foretold 300 Years before he was Born, 1 Kings 13. 2. 2 Kings. 23. 15. Oft was the Captivity of the Iews foretold; and the destruction of Babylon, and the Iews return by Cyrus named long before he was Born, and the very time foretold▪ From the beginning Christ was promised, and the circumstances of his coming foretold, Gen. 3. 15. & 26. 4. & 49. 10. Deut. 18. 15. Psal. 2. & 27. & 89. & 110. Isa. 53. & 11. 1. Ier. 33. 15. Mic. 5. 2. That he should be Born of a Virgin, Isa. 7. 14. in Bethlem, Mic. 5. 2. and then the Infants killed, Ier. 31. 15▪ that he should come into the Temple as the Angel of the Covenant whom they desired, but they should not endure therein when he came, because he came as a Refiner, Mal. 3. 1. 3. That he should go into Egypt, and return thence, Isa. 19. 1. Hos. 11. 1. That One should go before him to prepare the way, Mal. 3. 1. That he should do wonders for the People, Isa. 35. 5. That a familiar should betray him, and that for Thirty pieces of Silver, Psal. 41. 9. & 55. 13, 14. Zech. 11, 12, 13, and a Potters Field be bought with them; all his Persecution, and abuse, and Sufferings are foretold, Isa. 50. 6. & 53. Psa. 69. 21. & 22. 18. & 118. 22. Isa. 6. 9. even …o the Circumstances of giving him Vinegar, casting Lots for his Garments, suffering as a Malefactor: Yea the very time is foretold, Dan. 9. 25, 26. And that then the second Temple should be destroyed.
II. The second part of the Spirits Testimony, or the certain proof of Christian Truth is, The Inherent constitutive Proof or Testimony in the unimitable Excellency of the Person and Gospel of Christ; which is the Image and superscription of God. The Person of Christ was of such excellency of Wisdom, Goodness and power, apparent in his Doctrine, Works and Patience, all sinless, and full of Holy Love to God and Man, as is not consistent with being the Deceiver of the World. His Gospel in the very Constitution of it, hath the impress of God. He that hath the Spirit of God, will find that in the Gospel which is so suitable to the Divine Nature, as will make it the easier to him to believe it. Angels preached the Summ of it, Luke 2. 14. It is all but the fore-promised and prefigured Redemption of Man Historically delivered, and the Doctrine, pCol. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Prov. 30. 5. Heb. 4. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 23. 1 Ioh. 2. 14. Ioh. 8. 48. & 12. 48. & 14. 25. & 15. 3. Act. 14. 3. & 20. 32. Rom. 10. 8. Eph. 5. 26. Phil. 2. 16. 1 Thes. 1. 5. Iames 1. 2. Matt. 12. 26. Mar. 4. 15. Luk. 10. 18. Act. 26. 18. Rom. 16. 20. Rev. 20. 2, 3.Laws and Promises of saving Grace most fully promulgated: It is the wonderful Revelation of the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness, the Truth▪ Justice, and Holiness of God, especially his Love to Man; and of his marvellous design for the recovery, Sanctifying and saving of Sinners, and removing all the impediments of their Repentance and Salvation: It is so wholly fitted to the Glorifying of God, and the reparation of depraved Nature, and the purifying and perfecting of Mans Soul, to the guidance of Mens Lives in the wayes of true Wisdom, Godliness, Righteousness, Soberness, Mutual Love and Peace, that Men may live profitably to others, and live and die in the Sence of God's Love, and in a safe and comfortable State; that we may be sure so good a thing had a good Cause. For had it been the device of Men, they must have been very bad Men that would put Gods Name to it, and tell so many Lies from Generation to Genration, to deceive the World: And it is not to be imagined, that from Moses time to the writing of Iohn's Revelations, there should arise a Succession of Men of such a strange, self-contradicting Constitution as should be so good as to devise the the most Holy, and Righteous, and Self-denying Doctrines, for the great good of Mankind, and yet all of them so odiously wicked as to belye God, and deceive Men, and do all this good in so bad a manner, with so bad a Heart.
And if any Blasphemer would Father it upon evil Spirits, what a Contradiction would he speak. As if Satan would promote the greatest good, for the Honour of God and Benefit of Man, while he is the greatest Hater of God and Man. And as if he would devise a Doctrine to reproach himself, and destroy his own Kingdom, and bless Mankind; and so were at once the best and the worst.
Indeed the Holy Scriptures do bear the very Image and Superscription of God in their Ends, Matter and Manner, and prove themselves to be his Word: For God hath not given us external proofs that such a Book or Doctrine is his, which is it self no better than humane Works, and hath no intrinsick proof of its Divine Original: q2 Pet. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 3. 15. 2 Tim. 3. 16. Matt. 5. 16. 44, 45.But the intrinsick and extrinsick Evidences concurre. What Book like the Sacred Scriptures hath taught the World the Knowledge of God, the Creation of the World, the End and Hope and Felicity of Man? What the heavenly Glory is, and how procured, and how to be obtained, and by whom? How man became sinful and miserable? And how he is recovered? And what wonders of Love God hath shewn to Sinners, to win their Hearts in Love to him? What Book hath so taught Men to live by Faith and the hopes of Glory, above all the Lusts of Sense and Flesh, and to referr all things in this VVorld to Spiritual, Holy and Heavenly Ends; to Love others as our selves, and to do good to all, even to our Enemies; to live in such Union and Communion and Peace, as is caused by this Vital Grace of Love, and not like a Heap of Sand that every spurn or blast of cross Interest will separate? VVhat Book so teacheth Man to Love God above all, and to pray to him, praise him, and absolutely obey him with constant pleasure, and to trust him absolutely with Soul, Body and Estate; and cast all our care upon him; and in a word, to converse in Heaven while we are on Earth; and to live as Saints, that we may live as Angels?qIoh. 3. 3. 5. Tit. 2. 14 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rom. 8. 9. Matt. 5. 20. Heb. 12. 14. Matt. 18. 3. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Rom. 8. 14.
Q. 14. But how few be there that do all this?
A. 1. I shall further answer that anon: None do it in Perfection, but all found Christians do it in Sincerity. 2. But at present, it is the perfection of the Doctrine of Christ, and of the Sacred Scriptures that I am proving: And it is not Mens breaking the Law, that will prove that God made it not.
Q. 15. You have told me of the foregoing Testimony of the Spirit to Christ and the Gospel, and of the Inherent Constitutive Testimony or Proof: Is there any other?
A. Yes, III. There is the Concomitant Testimony, by the Works of Christ: Nicodemus could say, We know that thou art a Teacher come from God, for no Man can do the Works that thou dost, except God were with him, Joh. 3. 2. He cleansed the Lepers with his word, he cast out Devils, he healed the Lame, the Deaf, the Blind, yea that were born Blind; he healed Palsies, Feavers, and all manner of sicknesses with a touch, or a word▪ he turned Water into Wine, he fed twice many Thousands by Miracle, he walkt on the Sea, and made Peter do the same, the Winds and Sea obeyed his Command; he raised the Dead: This course of Miracles were the most evident Testimony of God.
And he was brought into the World by Miracle: Born of a Virgin: Foretold and Named Iesus by an Angel: Preached to Shepherds by Angels from Heaven; a Star conducting the Eastern Wise-men to the place; Iohn his foregoer named by an Angel, and Zacharias struck dumb for not believing it: Prophesied of by Anna and Simeon; owned at his Baptism by the visible descent of the Spirit in the shape of a Dove, and by a Voice of God from Heaven, and the like again at his Transfiguration, when Moses and Elias appeared with him, and he did shine in Glory: And at his Death the Earth trembled, the Sun was obscured, and the Air darkened, and the Vail of the Temple rent: But the fullest Evidence was Christs own Resurrection from the Dead, his oft appearing to his Disciples after, and conversing with them at times for Forty Dayes, and giving them their Commission, and promising them the Spirit, and ascending into Heaven in their sight. And all this was the fuller Testimony, in that he had oft over and over foretold them of it, that he must be put to death and rise again the Third day, before he entered into his Glory: and the Iews knew it, and were not able to prevent it, Angels terrifying the Souldiers on the Watch.: Yea the Disciples understood it not, and therefore believed it not, and Peter disswaded him from such talk of his Sufferings, till Christ called him Satan (doing like Satan that had tempted him, when he faste… Forty dayes:) to shew that the Disciples were no contrivers of a deceit herein.
Q. 16. Is there yet any further witness of the Holy Ghost?
A. Yes, IV. There was the Consequent Testimony of the Spirit by the Apostles, and other first publishers of the Gospel: Christ bid them wait at Ierusalem for this Gift, and promised them that when he was ascended, he would send that Paraclete, Advocate or Comforter, that should be better than his visible presence, and should lead them into all Truth, and bring all things to their remembrance, and teach them what to say; that is, to Enable them to perform the work to which he had Commissioned them, which was to go into all the World, and preach the Gospel, and Disciple the Nations, Baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all things that he had commanded them; which they performed partly by word, and partly by writing, and partly by practice, Baptizing, gathering Churches, establishing Offices and Officers: And he promised to be with them to the end of the World; that is, with their Persons for their time, and with their Doctrine, ordinary Successors, and the whole Church ever after. (r)
On the Day of Pentecost, even the Lords Day, when they were assembled, this Promise was so far performed to them, that the Holy Ghost suddenly (q) Ioh. 16. Act. 2. Matt. 28. 20. The whole Book of the Acts of the Apostles is the History of these Miracles. Gal. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. Ioh. 7. 3. 9. Rom. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 12. 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13.fell on all the Assembly, in the likeness of fiery cloven Tongues, after the noise as of a rushing Wind, and they were filled with the Spirit, and spake in the Tongues of all the Countreys near them, the Praises and wonderous works of God. After which they were endued with the various miraculous Gifts of the Spirit; that is, the use of the Tongues which they had never learnt; the Interpretation of them, Prophecying, Miracles, healing all Diseases, insomuch that those that came but under the shadow of Peter, and those that had but Cloaths from the Body of Paul, were all healed; the Lame and Blind cured, Devils cast out, the dead raised, some Enemies struck blind, some sinners struck dead; and which was yet greater, by their Preaching, or Praying, or laying on of Hands, God gave the same miraculous gift of the Spirit to others; and that not to a few, but ordinarily to the faithful, some having one such Gift, and some another.
And as Christ had promised that when he was lifted up, he would draw all Men to him, so he blest the labours of the Apostles, Prophets and Evangelists accordingly; many Thousands being converted at a Sermon, and multitudes still added to the Church. And when the Preachers were forbidden and imprisoned, Christ strengthened them, and Angels miraculously delivered them. When Peter was in Prison designed for Death, the Angel of God loosed his Bolts, and open'd the Doors, and led him forth. When Paul and Silas had been Scourged and were in the Stocks in the Prison, an Earth quake sets them free, and prepareth for the Conversion of the Jaylor and his House. And Christ himself had before appeared to Paul in glory when he was going on in Persecution, and struck him down in blindness, and preached to him with a Voice from Heaven, and converted him, and sent him as his Apostle into the World. By these Miracles was the World Converted.
And as Christ had promised them that they should Greater Works than those which he himself did, so indeed their Miracles did more to Convert the World than the Works of Christ in Person had done. For, 1. Those which were wrought by One Man would leave suspicious Men more doubtful of the Truth, than that which is done by many, at a distance from each other, and in several places. 2. And that which was done but in one small Countrey would be more doubted of, than that which is done in much of the World. Sometimes indeed Thousands, but usually Twelve Men were the Witnesses of what Christ said and did: But what these Witnesses said and did to prove their Testimony, Thousands in many Lands did see and hear.
Q. 17. But why was it that Christ forbad some to declare that he was the Christ?
A. Because the time was not come, till the Evidences were given by which it must be proved: It was not a matter to be rashly believed, and taken upon the bare word of himself or any other: That a Man living in a mean Condition was the Son of God, and Saviour, and Lord and Teacher of the World, and the Judge of all Men, was not to be believed without good proof: And the Chief proof was to be from all Christs own Miracles, and his Resurrection, and Ascension, and the great gift of the Holy Ghost, and Tongues and Miracles of the Apostles and other Disciples: And these were not all done or given then: Yet because the Iews received Moses and the Prophets, he sometimes shewed how they Prophesied of him: Yea, his very Doctrine, whose frame had a self-evidencing Light, was not fully revealed till it was done by the Spirit in the Apostles.rLuke 4. 22. & 24. 27. 32. 45. Ioh. 5. 39. Act. 17. 2. 11. & 18. 28. Rom. 1. 2. & 16. 26. 1 Cor. 15. 3. 4. 2 Pet. 1. 19, 20. Heb. 2. 3, 4. Rom. 3. 4. Ioh. 3. 2. 1 Ioh. 5. 10. Tit. 2. 2.
Q. 18. But though all these Miracles were wrought, how could it be certain that they were the attestation of God, when it is said that Magicians, false Prophets and Antichrist may do such things?
A. 1. I shall first mind you, that though we were never so uncertain of the Nature of a Miracle, whether it be wrought by any Created Cause, yet we are agreed that by Miracles, we mean such works which are wrought quite out of and against the common Course of Second Causes, called Nature: And we are sure that as no work can be done without Gods premotion or permission at least, so specially the Course of Nature cannot be altered and over-ruled but by Gods Knowledge, Consent and Execution; what ever Second Cause unknown to us may be in it, certainly God is the first Cause.
2. And it is most certain that the Most perfect Governour of the World, is not the great Deceiver of the World, and is not so wanting in Power, Wisdom and Goodness as to Rule them by a Lie; yea, and an unresistible and remediless deceit: This is rather the description of Satan.
3. And Man must know the will of God by some signs or other, or else he cannot do it: And what signs can the Wit of Man devise, by which they that would fain know the will of God, may come to be certain of it, if such a Course of Miracles may deceive us? Would you believe if some came from the dead as Witnesses? Or if an Angel or many Angels came from Heaven? All these could give you no more certainty than such Miracles may do.t2 Cor. 11. 4. Mark 16. 17. Exod. 4. 5. 8. & 19. 9.
4. And you must note, that the proof of Miracles lyeth not on this, that Angels, or other Spirits, or Second Causes can do no such things, but that they cannot do it without God, and that God will not do it to confirm a Lie, or any thing which he would not have Man believe: For then either Man must believe nothing sent from God, though it were by an Host of Angels, or else he must say, I am unavoidably deceived by God himself; for I have no possible means left to know the Fallacy.
5. Therefore you must note, that whenever God permitteth a Magician or false Prophet to do any wonder or unusual thing, he never leaveth Man without a remedy against the Deceit, but doth control… and confute the Words of the Deceiver: And usually he doth it but first to trie the Faith and steadfastness of Men, and then to bring Truth into the clearer light. And he controlleth false Miracles these wayes.
1. He sealeth up the Truth which the Deceiver denyeth, with a stream of most unquestionable Miracles; and so sheweth us that it cannot be a Truth and of God which is said against such Sealed Verity, while all his Miracles confute theirs. 2. Or if it be a Truth known to Man by the Common Light of Nature, that Light confuteth the Pretenders Miracle. 3. If he do it to confirm a false Prediction, it's confuted by the thing not coming to pass. 4. In the case of Egyptian tAct. 8. Simon Magus's Case.Magicians wonders, God permitted them that his power might triumph over them, and confute them; As he may permit a Sophister to talk against the Truth, that he may be silenced and shamed. In none of all this doth God become the Worlds deceiver. But the Miracles of Christ, and his Apo…les and Disciples, were never controlled by the Light of Nature, by more prevalent Miracles, or any such means; but were the fullest Signification of Gods attestation that Man can have to save him from Deceit.
Q. 19. I confess if I had seen all these things my self, I should have made no doubt, but God and Reason bound me to believe: But how can we at this distance be sure that all these words of Christ were spoken, and these works done?
A. Let us first consider how they were sure of it that lived in that Age with the Apostles, and then how we may be also sure. And …. That Age, 1. Had the common Evidences of the best credibility of Men. 2. They had most infa…lible perception of it by their Senses; and 3. They had an immediate Testimony from God themselves. Of these let us consider in order.
Q. 20. 1. What credible humane Testimony do you mean they had?
A. It is supposed that some Persons are to be believed much above others; uIo. 19. 35. & 20. 31. 1 Io. 5. 13. 1 Cor. 15. 6.else all humane trust and conversation would cease. He that will believe no Body, cannot expect to be himself believed.
And, 1. The Witnesses of Christs words and works were not strangers to him, that took it by report, but those that had accompanyed him, and heard and seen them.
2. They spake to Men of the same Generation, Time and Countrey, and mentioned things done before Multitudes of Spectators; so that had it been a false report, it had been most easie to confute it, and turn it all as a Lie unto their scorn.
3. They sharply reproved the Rulers and Teachers for rejecting Christ, and provoked all their rage against them: So that no doubt they would do their best to have searcht out all deceit in the Reprovers.
4. They were Men of no Carnal Interest, to tempt them into a deceiving Plot; but were foretold that they must be hated, persecuted and killed for their Testimony.
5. They were purposely Chosen from among the meaner Unlearned sort, that there might be no Suspicion that it was a Work of carnal Craf… or Power.
6. Though they heard and saw, so far were they from plotting it, that they understood it not themselves, nor believed that Christ must Die for Sin, Rise the Third Day, and Ascend into Heaven, and gather a Catholick Church, and Reign Spiritually; till the time that Christ was Risen, and the Holy Ghost came down upon them. And yet Ch…ist over and over foretold it them.
They taught not one another, nor came to it by Study and Degrees; but (in the main) by su… dain common inspiration, and such as Christ had before promised them.xGal. 1. & 2.
8. Paul was called by a Glory and a Voice of Christ from Heaven, in the sight of other persecuting company.
9. Their Testimony all agreed, and they all spake the same Truth.
10. Their Enemies never wrote a Confutation of them, nor decryed most of the matters of Fact, but imputed it to Beelz…bub.
11. None of them ever repented of his Testimony: Whereas, had they confederated to deceive the World, some ones Conscience living or dying would sure have forced him to confess it.
12. Yea they sealed it with their great Labour, Sufferings, and Blood.
13. When false Teachers turned some of their Followers to Heresies, and to forsake them, they still appealed for the matters of Fact, even to those Dissenters or opposers.yGal. 3. 3. 5.
14. Their Doctrine by its fore-described Light and Goodness testified of it self that it was of God: And that those Men that at so dear a rate divulged it, in design to Sanctifie and Save Mankind, were no such wicked Knaves as to Plot the Worlds Delusion. These were evidences of more than humane credibility.
II. And the Disciples in Iudea heard and saw Christ and his Miracles, and so had as much certainty of the matter of Fact, as sense could give them.
III. And they had Gods Immediate Testimony in themselves; even his Spirits internal Revelation, Illumination and Sanctifying Work: And the wonderful Gifts of Healing, Tongues, Miracles, by which they convinced others.
Q. 21. Proceed to shew me how their Followers were certain?
A. 1. They were Persons present, and therefore their Senses assured them, what was said and done: They were the Men that heard the use of Languages given by Inspiration; that heard the Triumphant Praises of God; that saw them that were miraculously healed, and some raised from the Dead; could those doubt of the Miracles, that saw the Lame Man that begg'd at the Temple cured by Peter and John; and that saw Multitudes Cured by the very Shadow and Cloaths of the Apostles; when they that saw the Lame Man healed, Act. 14. would have Sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas as gods?zAct. 2. & 3. & 4.
2. They kept constant Church-meetings; and the use of Languages and other extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit were the ordinary Exercises of those Assemblies; so that they could not be unknown.a1 Cor. 14. 1 Cor. 12. Rev. 1. 9, 10.
3. It was not a few Apostles only that had this extraordinary Spirit, but in one sort or other the generality of the Persons converted by them: Sometime as the Apostles were Preaching, the Spirit came upon the Hearers, as it did on Cornelius and his Assembly, Act. 10. Usually by the laying on of the Apostles Hands the Holy Ghost was given: And this not only to the sincere Christians, but to some unsound Ones that sell away: All that did Miracles in Christ's Name, were not saved.
4. Yea those that accused Christ as casting out Devils by Devils, might have seen their own Children cast them out, Matt. 12. And those that were seduced, and quarrelled with the Apostles, could not deny but they themselves had received the Spirit by their Preaching: Paul appealeth to themselves when the Galatians were perverted, Gal. 3. 1, 2, 3. O foolish▪ Galatians! who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the Truth, before whose Eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you? This only would I learn of you; Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the Flesh? He that ministreth to you the Spirit, and worketh Miracles among you, doth he it by the Works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith?
If these Galatians had not the Spirit, and such as work't Miracles among them, would not this Argument have turned to Paul's reproach, rather than to their Conviction? Even Simon Magus was so convinced by the Spirit falling on the Samaritans, that he was Baptized, and would have bought the Power of giving the Holy Ghost with Money, Act. 8. Their Sense convinced them: And they that had the Spirit themselves, must needs be sure of it▪
Q. 22. Now tell me how We may be certain that all this History is true, and that these things are not misreported by the Scripture?
A. I will speak first of the Gospel as such, and then of the Book.
I. You must first know that the Gospel in the strict …e…ce, is the History and Doctrine of Christ, necessary to be believed to our Salvation; which is summarily contained in the Baptismal Covenant; For men were Christians when they were Baptized; and they were not adult Christians till they believed the Gospel.
2. You must know, that this Gospel was long preached and believed before it was written: St. Matthew began and wrote eight years after Christs Resurrection, and the Revelation of St. Iohn was written about ninety four years after Christs Birth: Luke's Gospel about fifty, and Marks about fifty nine, and St. Iohns about Ninety nine from the Birth of Christ.bMar. 16. 20. Act. 6. 8. & 8. 6. 13. & 15. 12. & 19. 11. & 4. 16. 22.
3. You must know, that all the foresaid Miracles were wrought to confirm this Gospel preached before it was written.
4. And that while the Apostles lived their Preaching had as much Authority as their Writing: But they being to die, were moved by the Spirit to write that they had preached, that it might be certainly without Change delivered to Posterity to the end of the World; For had it been left only to the Memory of man, it would soon have been variously reported and corrupted.
5. And you must know, that this Scripture is so far from being insufficient as to the Matter of our Faith, as that it containeth not only the Essentials, but the Integrals and useful Accidents of the Gospel; as a compleat Body hath every part, and the very Ornament of Hair and Colour. So that a man may be a Christian that knoweth not many hundred words in the Scripture, but not unless he know and believe the Essentials of the Gospel.
6. And you must note therefore, that the foresaid Miracles were wrought primarily to confirm the Gospel, and that they do confirm all the Accidental passages in the Bible but by Consequence, because the same Persons by the same Spirit wrote them.
Q. 23. Proceed now to shew me the Proof which you promised.
A. 1. That there have been from that time Christians in the World, is past all doubt, acknowledged by the History of their Enemies that persecu…ed them. And all these Christians were Baptized; for Baptism was their solemn Christening. And every one that was Baptized (at age) did openly profess to receive this same Gospel; even to Believe in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, renouncing the Devil, the Lusts of the Flesh, and the Vanities of the World.cThe Acts of the Historical Tradition of the G…el.
2. Yea all that were Baptized were before taught this Gospel, by Teachers or Catechizers, who had all but one Gospel, one Faith and Baptism.
3. And they were all tryed how they understood the foresaid General words; and therefore they were opened in more words, which we call the CREED; which in Substance and Sence was still the …ame, though two or three words be added since the first forming of it. So that every Christian being instructed by the Gospel, and professing the Essence of it in the Creed and Baptism, we have as many Witnesses that this Gospel was then delivered, as there have been Christians.
4. And no man doubteth but there have been Ministers as long: And what was a Minister but a Preacher, of this same Gospel, and a Baptizer and Guide of them that Believe it?
5. And none can doubt but there have been Christian Ass…mblies from that time: And what were those Assemblies, but for the preaching, professing and practising this Gospel?
6. And none doubteth but they celebrated the Lords Supper in those Assemblies: And the Celebration of that Sacrament containeth practically the profession of all the Gospel of Christ.
7. And none can doubt but that the Lords day hath ever since been constantly kept by Christians in commemoration of Christs Resurrection, and in the performance of the foresaid Exercises: And therefore the very use of that day assureth us that the Gospel hath been certainly delivered us.
8. And all grant that these Churches had still the use of Discipline, which was the censuring of such as corrupted this Sacred Doctrine by Heresie, or sinned against it by wicked Lives. And this could not have been, if the Gospel had not been then received by them.
9. Yea the Numbers and Opinions of Hereticks then, are left on Record: And they tell us what the Gospel then was, by telling us wherein they departed from it.
10. Yea the History of the Persecutors and Enemies, tell us that this Gospel was then extant which they persecuted.
11. The Old Testament was long before in the common possess on and use of the Iews: They read it every Sabbath day: And in that we see Christ foretold, and abundance of Prophecies which in him are since fulfilled.
12. Lastly, the Sacred Scriptures, which contain all that God thought needfull to be transmitted to Posterity for History and Doctrine, have been most certainly kept and delivered to us; so sure and full is our Tradition.
Q. 24. That Christianity hath been propagated none can doubt: But how are we sure that those Christians of the first age did indeed see, or believe that they saw and heard those Miracles?
A. 1. To be a Christian was to be one that believed them. It was half their belief in Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, and so the very Essence of Christianity to believe that Christ wrought his Miracles and rose again, and that the Apostles by the Holy Spirit did work theirs, and that Believers received the Spirit by their Ministry.
2. They had not been made Christians but by these Miracles: They all professed that it was the Gifts of the Spirit that Convinced and Converted them.
3. All the forementioned Professions of their Christianity contained a Profession that they believed these Miracles. As the use of the Lords day, Baptism, the Eucharist, shewed their Belief of Christs Life, Death and Resurrection.
4. They suffered Persecution and Martyrdom in the Profession of that Belief.
5. They pleaded these Miracles in all their Defences against their Adversaries.
6. The Writings of their Adversaries commonly acknowledge this Plea, yea and deny not the most of the Miracles themselves.
7. But most fully their receiving the Sacred Scriptures as the Word of God, as indited by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles, sheweth that they believed the Miracles recorded in that Book.
Q. 25. You are come up to the last part of the Doubt in the History, How are we sure that these Christians then commonly believed the Book as now we have it, and that it is the very same?
A. We have for this, full, infallible, historical Proof (premising that some parcels of the Book (the Revelations, the Epistle of Iude, the Second of Peter, the Epistle to the Hebrews, and that of Iames) were longer unknown to some particular Churches than the rest.)
1. The constancy of Christian Assemblies and publick Worship is a full proof, seeing that the Reading, Expounding and applying of these Books, was a great part of their publick work, as all History of Friends and Enemies agree.
2. The very Office of the Ministry is full proof, which lay most in reading, expounding and applying these same Books. And therefore they were as much by Office concerned to keep them, as Judges and Lawyers are to keep the Statute-book.
3. These Ministers and Churches which so used this Book, were dispersed over a great part of the World: If therefore they had changed it by adding or diminishing, they must have done it by Confederacy, or by single mens errour or abuse. It was impossible that all Countreys should agree in such a Confederacy, but the meeting, motives and treaties would have been known: But no History of Friend or Foe hath any such thing, but the clean contrary: And that it should be done by all single Persons in the Christian World, agreeing by chance in the same Changes, is a m…d supposition.
4. And it is the belief of all Christians, that it …s a damnable Sin to add or alter in this Book: And the Book it self so concludeth: Therefore if …ome had agreed so to do, the rest would have detected and decryed it. 5. They took this Book …o be the Charter for their Salvation. And therefore would never agree to alter it; when Men keep the Deeds, Evidences, Leases and Charters of their Estates, and Worldly Priviledges unaltered.
6. When a few Hereticks rose up that forged some new Books, as Apostolical, and rejected some that were such indeed; the Christian Churches condemned and rejected them, and appealed to the Churches that had received the Apostles own Epistles and kept them.
7. The many Heresies that rose up did so divide Men, and set them in cross Interests and Jealousies against each other, that it was impossible for any one Sect to have altered the Scripture, but the rest would have fallen upon them with the loudest Accusations. But all sorts of Adversaries are agreed that these are the same Books.
And though the weakness and negligence of Scribes have made many little Words uncertain, (for God promised not infallibility to every Scribe or Printer) yet these are not such as alter any Article of Faith or Practice, but shew that no Corruption hath been designedly made, but that the Book is the same.
For instance, Let it be questioned▪ Whether our Statute-Book contained really the same Statutes that are there pretended? And you will see that the Historical certainty amounteth even to a natural certainty, the contrary being a meer impossibility: For, 1. They are the Kings Laws, and the King would not bear a fraudulent alteration. 2. Parliaments would not bear it. 3. Judges that successively judge by these Laws would soon discover it. 4. So would all Justices and Magistrates. 5. Mens Lives and Estates are held by them, and therefore Multitudes would decry the Fraud. 6. Enemies have daily Suits which are tryed by these Laws, and each Party pleads them for himself, and their Advocates and Lawyers plead them against each other, and would soon detect the Forgery. So that to suppose such a Change, is, 1. To suppose an Effect that hath no Cause in Nature. 2. And that is against a stream of Causes Moral and Natural, and so impossible.
And to …eign such forgeries in the Book that all Christians have taken for Gods Laws, is just such another Case, and somewhat beyond it. That is but Moral Evidence which dependeth only on Mens Honesty, or any free unnecessary acts of Mans will. But Mans will hath also of Natural Necessity, such as the Love of our selves, and our felicity, &c. And it is a Natural Impossibility that all Men or many should agree in a Lie, which is against these Acts of Natural necessity. But so they must do, if all Men of cross Interests, Principles and Dispositions should knowingly agree; c. g. That all our Statutes are counterseit, that there is no such place as Rome, Paris, or other such l…s. And so the Gospel History hath such Testimony of necessary Truth.
Q. 26. You have made the Case plainer to me than I thought it had been: But you yet seem to intimate that some Words, yea, some Books of Scripture have not the same Evidence a… the rest: can a man be saved that Believeth not all the Scripture?
A. All Truth is equally True; and so is all Gods Word: But all is not equally Evident: He that taketh any Word to be Gods Word, and yet to be false, believeth nothing as Gods Word: For he hath not the …ormal essentiating Act and Object of Faith. If God could lie, we had no certainty of Faith: But he that erroneously thinketh that this or that word, yea, Epistle, or Text, or Book in the Bible is not Gods, but came in by mistake, may be saved, if he believe that which containeth the Essentials of Christianity: A lame Faith may be a saving Faith. And he may see how Miracles sealed the Gospel, that cannot see how they sealed every Book, Text or Word in the Bible.dRom. 14. & 15.
Q. 27. Though we have been long on this, it is of so great importance to us living or dying, to be sure of the Foundations of our Faith, that I will yet ask you, Have you any more Proof?
A. I have told you of four Proofs already: I. The Antecedent Testimony of the Spirit in the Old Testament. II. The Inherent Constitutive Testimony in Christ and the Gospel. III. The concomitant Testimony of Miracles. IV. The consequent Testimony of the Spirit to and by the Apostles Miracles and Gifts. But there is yet that behind which to us is of the greatest moment; and that is,
V. The Sanctifying Testimony of the Holy Spirit in all true Christians, in all Ages and Places o… the Earth.eRom. 3. 10, 11, 12.
Here you must remember, 1. That the common experience of the World assureth us, that Mans Nature is greatly vitiated, inclined to known evi… for some inferiour good, and averse to the greatest good by the prevalency of the lesser; hardly brought to necessary knowledge, and more hardly to the Love, Delight and Practice of that which is certainly the best. And that hence the World is kept in confusion and misery by Sin.fRom. 8. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Io. 12. 39, 40. Act. 28. 26, 27.
2. Experience assureth us that there is no hope of any great Cure of this, by the common helps of Nature and humane Reason: For it is that Reason that is diseased, and blinded, and therefore unapt to cure it self, as an In…ant or Fool is to teach himself. And as Philosophers are a small part of the World (for few will be at the cost of getting such knowledge) so they are wofully Dark themselves in the greatest things, and of a Multitude of Sects, contradicting one another, and few of them have Hearts and Lives that are answerable to that which they teach others; and the wisest confess that they must expect few Approvers, much less Followers▪ And every Mans own experience tells him, how hard it is to Inform the Iudgment about Holy things, and to conform the Will to them, and to Reform the life to a Holy and Heavenly State.gLuk. 18. 34. 1 Cor. 13. 11. Isa. 17. 11. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Ier. 13. 23.
3. The Multitude of Temptations makes this the more difficult, and so doth the nature of a vicious habit, and the privation of a good one; the self-defending and propagating Nature of Sin, and the experience of the World, tells us how wicked the World is, and how little the Labours of the wisest Philosophers, Divines or Princes do to reform it, and to make Man better: And especially, how hard it is to get a Heavenly mind, and joy and conversation: And all this being sure, it is as sure that the Renovation of Souls is a great work, well beseeming God. 4. And it must be added, that this is the most necessary work for us, and the most excellent: Paul tells us but what Reason tells us in that, 1 Cor. 13. how much Holy Love (which is the Divine Nature and real Sanctity) excelleth all Knowledge, Gifts and Miracles: This is the Souls health and well-being: No man can be miserable so far as he is Good and Holy: And no Man can choose but be miserable that is not so: Many shall lye in Hell that cast out Devils, and wrought Miracles in Christ's Name; but none that love God, and are Holy. Christ wrought Miracles, but in order to work Holiness; (as St. Paul, 1 Cor. 1. 14. tells them, that strange Languages are below Edifying plainness:) His work as a Saviour is to destroy the works of the Devil. Holiness is incomparably better than the Gift of working Miracles.h1 Io. 3. 24. & 4. 12. 15, 16. Matt. 7. 21, 22. 25, 26. Heb. 12. 14.
This being considered, further think, 1. That All true Christians are Saints: Hypocrites have but the Name and Image: No one soundly and practically believeth in Christ, and consenteth to his Covenant, but he is renewed by the Holy Ghost.
2. Consider how great and excellent a Work this is; to set a Mans Hope and Heart on Heaven; to live by Faith on an unseen World; to place our chiefest Love and Pleasure on God, Holiness and Heaven; to mortifie fleshly Lusts, and be above the power of the Love of the World, and Natural Life; to love others as our selves in the measure that God appeareth in them; to love our Enemies, and to make it the work of our Lives to do the most good we can in the World; to bring every true Believe… to this in all Ages and Countreys, which neither Princes nor Perswafion alone can do, this is above all Miracles. And this is a standing Witness which every true Christian hath in himself.iEzek. 36. 26. 1 Io. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 1. 7. Rom. 8. 3, 4. 13. 15. 26. 33. 1 Cor. 2. 10, 11, 12. & 6. 10. 11. 17. & 12. 11. 13. 2 Cor. 3. 3. 17. Gal. 4. 6. & 5. 5. 16, 17, 18. 25. Eph. 2. 18. 22. & 4. 3, 4. 23. & 5. 9. 2 Thes. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2, 3. 1 Io. 3. 24. & 4. 13.
3. And note al…o, that it is by the foresaid Gospel or sealed Word of Christ, that all this is wrough… on all true Christians. And the Divine effect proveth a Divine Cause. God would never bless a Lie, to be the greatest means of the Holiness, Reformation and Happiness of the World. And were not the Cause fitted to it, it would never produce such Effects.
Q. 28. Is this it that is called, The witness of the Spirit in us?
A. Besides all the foresaid Witnessings of the Spirit without us, the Spirit within us, 1. Causeth us to understand and believe the Scripture. 2. Maketh it powerful to Sanctifie us. 3. And therein giveth us a connaturality and special Love to it, and sense of its inherent Divine Excellency; which is writing it in our Hearts. 4. And causeth us to live by it. 5. And confuteth the Objections made against it. 6. And causeth us to fetch our comfort from it; in a Word, Imprinteth the Image of it on us: and this is the inward Witness.
Q. 29. But when we see so much Ignorance, Wickedness, Confusion and Cruelty, Pride, Lust and Worldliness among Christians, and how they live in malicious tearing one another, how can we know that their Goodness is any proof of the truth of Christianity?
A. I told you, Hypocrites have but the Name and Picture and Art of Christianity. If Custom, Prosperity, Laws or Carnal Interest bring the World into the visible Church, and make Men say, k1 Cor. 1. 1, 2. Act. 20. 32. & 26. 18.They believe, when they do not, is Christianity to be judged of by Dissemblers and Enemies? Mark any that are serious Believers, and you will find them all seriously Sober, Just and Godly: And though weak Believers have but weak Grace, and many Failings, they are sincerely, though imperfectly such as I have described. And though the Blind malignant Enemies can see no Excellency in a Saint, he that hath either known Faith and Holiness in himself, or hath but impartially observed Mankind, will see that Christians indeed are quite another sort of Men, than the Unbelievers, and that Christ maketh Men such as he teacheth them to be, and the Sanctifying Spirit is the sure Witness of Christ, dwelling in all true Christians, (Rom. 8. 9.) as Christ's Agent and Advocate, witnessing that he is True, and that we are his; Interceding from Christ to us by communicating his Grace, and in us toward Christ, by Holy Love and Desires: And is God's Name and Mark on us, and our Pledge, Earnest, and First-Fruits of Life eternal: and though we were in doubt of old Historical Proofs: Yet I. The Old Testament fulfilled in the New. II. The Divine Impress discernible on the Gospel. III. And the most excellent Effect of Sanctification on all true Believers, are Evidences of the truth of Christianity and the Scriptures, which all true Christians have still at hand.lIoh. 17. 17. 19. Eph. 5. 26. 1 Thes. 5. 23. Heb. 2. 11. & 10. 10. 14.
Q. 30. But there are things in the Scripture of exceeding difficulty to believe: Especially that God should become Man?
A. 1. It is folly to be stalled at the Believing of any thing, which we once are sure that God revealeth, considering how unmeet our shallow Wit is to judge of the things of infinite Wisdom, to us unseen.mProv. 8. 9. & 14. 6▪
2. To Holy illuminated prepared Souls, Belief is not so hard: It's Blindness and Vice that make it difficult.
3. God did not become Man, by any Change of his Godhead; nor by confining his Essence to the Manhood of Christ: But, 1. By taking the humane Nature into a special Aptitude for hi… Operations. 2. And so Relating it neerly to himself. 3. And Operating peculiarly in and on it, as he doth not on any other Creature. And when all are agreed that God is essentially every where, and is as near us as we are our selves, and more the Cause of all good which we do than we our selves are; it will be harder to shew that he is not Hypostatically united to every Man, than that he is so to Christ, (Though the foresaid Aptitude of Christ's humane Nature, and the Relation and Operation of the Divine, indeed make that vast difference.) If God can so peculiarly Operate in and by our humane Nature, where lyeth the Incredibility?
Q. 31. But it is so transcendently above all the Works of Nature, that such condescension of God is hard to be believed?
A. Great Works best beseem the Infinite God: Is not the make of the whole World as wonderful, and yet certain? Gods Love and Goodness must have wonderful products as well as his Power.
But is it not very congruous to Nature and Reason, that God should have Mercy on lapsed man? And that he should restore depraved humane Nature? And that he should do this great work like his Greatness and Goodness, and above Mans shallow reach? And that Polluted Souls should not have immediate access to the most Holy, but by a Holy Mediator? And that Mankind should have one Universal Head and Monarch in our own Nature? And that when even Heathens are conscious of the great need of some Divine revelations, besides the light of Nature, and therefore consult their Oracles and Augurs, that God should give us a certain Menssenger from Heaven to teach us necessary Truth? Many such Congruities I have opened in the Reasons of the Christian Religion, Part 2. Ch. 5.
The Summ of all that is said, is This: I. If any History in the world be sure, the History of the Gospel is sure. II. And if the History be sure, the Doctrine must needs be sure. III. The continued Evidences: 1. In the Holiness of the Doctrine: And 2. In the Holiness of all true serious Believers, are a standing proof of both, as the Miracles were to all the beholders, who did not Blaspheme the Holy Ghost.
Q. 32. But how comes it to be so hard then to the most to become serious Believers and Godly, when the Evidence is so clear?
A. A Blind, Dead, Worldly, Fleshly Heart doth undispose them, and they will not Consider such things, nor use the means.
Yea, they so wilfully sin against Knowledge and Conscience, and will not obey that which they know, that they forfeit further Grace. I will name you briefly many things which every Mans Natural Reason might know, and ask you whether you ever knew any Unbeliever that was not false to this Light of Nature.
1. Doth not Sence and Reason tell men, how vile a thing that Flesh is which they preferr before their Souls? 2. Doth it not certifie them that they must die, and so that Fleshly Pleasure is short? 3. Doth it not tell them of the Vanity and Vexation of this World? 4. And that greatest Prosperity is usually parted with, with greatest sorrow? 5. Doth it not tell them, that Mans Nature can hardly choose but fear what will follow after Death? 6. Doth it not tell them that there is a God that made them, and Ruleth all? 7. And that he is infinitely Great, and Wise, and Good, and therefore should be Obeyed, Loved, and Trusted above all? 8. And that their Lives and Souls, and all are his, and at his will? 9. And that Man hath Faculties which can mind a God and a Life to come, which Bruits have not; and that God doth not make such Natures in vain. 10. Doth not experience tell them that humane Nature seeth a vast difference between Moral Good and Evil, and that all Government, Laws, and Converse shew it; And no Man would be counted false and bad? 11. And that Good Men are the Blessing of the World, and Bad Men the Plagues? 12. And that there is a Conscience in Man, that condemneth Sin, and approveth Goodness? 13. And that most Men when they dye, cry out against that which Worldly, Fleshly Men preferr; and wish that they had lived the Life of Saints, and might die their death? Are not these easily knowable to all? And yet all the ungodly live as if they believed none of this: And can you wonder if all such Men understand not, or believe not the Heavenly things, have no experience of the nIo. 3. 7, 8. Rom 1. 19, 20. Act. 14. 17.Sanctifying Work and Witness of the Holy Spirit, and have no delight in God and Goodness, no strength against Sin and Temptations, no Trust in God in their necessity, no suitableness to the Gospel, nor the heavenly Glory: But as they lived in sin, do die in a stupid or despairing state of Soul?