A Treatise of Knowledge and Love, Part 2 · Chapter 14
Chap. XIV.
Queſtions and Objections anſwered.
Queſt. 1. IF ſo much knowledge will ſave a man as helpeth him to love God as God, may not Heathens or Infidels at leaſt be ſaved? For they know that there is one God who is Infinitely Good and Perfect, and more amiable than all the World, and the great Benefactor of man, and of the whole Creation: So that there is no goodneſs but what is in him, or from him, and through him, and finally to him: And mans will is made to love apprehended good, and followeth the laſt practical act of the Intellect, at leaſt where there is no Competitor, but omnimoda ratio boni. And all men know that God is not only Beſt in himſelf, but Good, yea Beſt to them, becauſe that all they have is from him: And they have daily Experience of pardoning Grace contrary to their Commerit. It ſeemeth therefore that they may love God as God.
Anſ. 1. To cauſe a man to Love God as God, there is neceſſary both Objective Revelation of God's Amiableneſs, and ſuch Subjective Grace which conſiſteth in a right Diſpoſition of the Soul. 2. Objective Revelation is conſidered as ſufficient either to well diſpoſed, or to an ill diſpoſed Soul. 3. This Right diſpoſition conſiſteth both in the abatement of mens Inclinations to contrary (ſenſual) objects, and in the inclining them to that which is Divine and Spiritual. And now I anſwer,
1. It cannot be denied but that ſo much of God's Amiableneſs or Goodneſs is revealed to Infidels that have not the Goſpel, by the means mentioned in the Objection, as is ſufficient to bring men under an obligation to love God as God, and to leave them unexcuſable that do not.
2. Therefore to ſuch the Impoſſibility is not Phyſical, but Moral.
3. And there is in that objective Revelation, ſo much ſufficiency, as that if the Soul it ſelf were ſanctified and well diſpoſed, it might love God upon ſuch revelation. (Which Amyraldus hath largely proved.)
4. But to an unholy and undiſpoſed Soul no objective Revelation is ſufficient without the Spirits help and operations.
Of all this I have diſcourſed more largely in my Cath. Theology, and the applyed Epitome.5. Only the Spirit of Chriſt the Mediator, as given by and from him, doth thus operate on Souls, as ſavingly to renew them.
6. Whether ever the Spirit of Chriſt doth thus operate on any that hear not of Chriſts Incarnation, muſt be known either by the Scripture or by experience. By the Scripture I am not able to prove the Univerſal Negative, though it's eaſy to prove ſanctification incomparably more common in the Church, than on thoſe without, if any there have it. The caſe of Infants, and of the Churches, and the World before Chriſts Incarnation, muſt here come into conſideration. 2. And by experience no man can prove the Negative; becauſe no man hath experience what is in the Hearts of all the perſons in the World.
Q. 2. May a Papiſt or an Heretick by his knowledge be a lover of God as God?
Anſ. What is ſaid to the former queſtion is here to be reviewed. And further, 1. A Papiſt and ſuch Heretick as poſitively holdeth all the eſſentials of Chriſtianity, and ſeeth not the oppoſition of his falſe opinions hereto, and holdeth Chriſtianity more practically than thoſe falſe opinions, may be ſaved in that ſtate, for he is a Lover of God: But no other Papiſts or Hereticks can be ſaved but by a true converſion. 2. There is a ſufficiency in the Doctrine of Chriſtianity which they hold, to ſave them, as to Objective Sufficiency. And that God giveth not ſubjective Grace (of Sanctification) to any ſuch, notwithſtanding their errours, is a thing that no man can prove, nor any ſober charitable Chriſtian eaſily believe: And experience of the piety of many maketh it utterly improbable, though we know not certainly the Heart of another.
There are many murmurings againſt me in this City (behind my back: for never one man of them to my remembrance to this day, did ever uſe any charitable endeavour to my face to convince me of my ſuppoſed errour) as one that holds that a Papiſt may be ſaved, yea, that we are not certain that none in the World are ſaved beſides Chriſtians; and the Sectaries whiſper me to one another to be like Origen, a perſon in theſe dangerous opinions, forſaken of God, in compariſon of them: What really I aſſert about theſe Queſtions, I have here briefly hinted; but more largely opened in my Catholick Theology: But I will confeſs that I find no inclination in my Soul, to deſire that their doctrine may prove true, who hide the Glorified love of God, and would contract his Mercy and Mans Salvation into ſo narrow a Room, as to make it hardly diſcernable by man, and the Church to be next to no Church, and a Saviour to ſave ſo very few, as ſeem ſcarce conſiderable among the reſt that are left remedileſs. And who would make us believe that the way appointed to bring men to the Love of God, is, to believe that he hath elected that particular perſon, and left almoſt all the World (many ſcore or hundreds to one) unredeemed, and without any promiſe or poſſibility of Salvation: I am ſure that the covenant of Innocency is ceaſed; And I am ſure that all the World was brought under a Law of Grace made after the fall to Adam and Noe: And that this Law is ſtill in force to thoſe that have not the more perfect edition in the Goſpel. And that Chriſt came not to bring the World that never hear of him nor can do, into a worſe condition than Jews and Gentiles were in before: nor hath he repealed that Law of Grace which he before made them; nor hath God changed that Gracious Name which he proclaimed even to Moſes, Exod. 34.6, 7. And I am ſure that Abraham the Father of the Faithful conjectured once, even when God told him that Sodom was ripe for deſtruction, that yet there might be fifty Righteous perſons in it; By which we may conjecture what he thought of all the World*Read, Ma…. 1.14. with all the old Tranſlations in the Polyglot Bible, and conſider it.. And I know that in every Nation he that feareth God, and worketh righteouſneſs, is accepted of him; And that he that cometh to God muſt believe that God is, and that he is the Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him, and therefore without Faith none can pleaſe God: And that men ſhall be judged by that ſame Law which they were under and obliged by, whatever it be. And they that have ſinned under the Law (of Moſes) ſhall be judged by it; And they that ſinned without that Law ſhall be judged without it. And I know that God is LOVE it ſelf and Infinitely Good; and will ſhew us his goodneſs in ſuch Glorious Effects to all eternity as ſhall ſatisfy us and fill us with Joyful praiſe: And as for the Papiſts, I know that they are ſeduced by a worldly Clergy, and that by conſequence many of the Errours in that Church do ſubvert the Fundamentals; And ſo do many Errors of the Antinomians and others among us that are taken for religious perſons; yea and as notoriouſly as any Doctrines of the Popiſh Councils do: But I know that as a Logical Faith or Orthodoxneſs, which conſiſteth in holding right Notions and Words, deceiveth thouſands that have no ſound belief of the things themſelves expreſſed by theſe words; So alſo Logical errors about Words, Notions and Sentences, may in unskilful men conſiſt with a Sound Belief of the Things which muſt neceſſarily be believed. And that Chriſt and Grace may be thankfully received by many that have falſe Names and Notions, and Sayings about Chriſt and Grace. And I know the great Power of Education and Converſe, and what advantage an opinion hath even with the upright, which is commonly extolled by Learned, Godly, Religious men, eſpecially if by almoſt all. Therefore I make no doubt but God hath many among the Papiſts, and the Antinomians, (to name no others) who are truly Godly, though they Logically or Notionally hold ſuch errours as if Practically held would be their damnation, and if the conſequents were known and held: Much more when thouſands of the Common People, hold not the errours of the Church which they abide in. And it ſhall not be my way of perſwading my own Soul or others to Love God, by firſt perſwading them that he Loveth but few beſides them. And when ſuch have narrowed Gods Love and mercy to all ſave their own party, and made themſelves eaſily believe that he will damn the reſt of the world, even ſuch as are deſirous to pleaſe God as they are, they have but prepared a Snare for their own Conſciences, which may perhaps when it is awakened as eaſily believe that he will damn themſelves. Let us give all diligence to make our own calling and election ſure, and leave others to the righteous God, to whoſe Judgment they and we muſt ſtand or fall. Who art thou that judgeſt anothers Servant?
As the Covenant of Peculiarity was made only with the Iſraelites, though the Common Law of grace (made to Adam and Noe) was in force to other Nations of the World; So the more excellent Covenant of Peculiarity is ſince Chriſts Incarnation made only with the Chriſtian Church, though the foreſaid Common Law of Grace be not repealed to all others: Nor can it be ſaid that they ſin not againſt a Law of Grace; or mercy leading to repentance.
And as the Covenant of Peculiarity was not repealed to the ten tribes (though the benefit…s were much forfeited by their violation;) but God had ſtill Thouſands among them in Elias time that bowed not the knee to Baal, and ſuch as Obadiah to hide the Prophets; though yet the Jews were the more Orthodox: Even ſo though the Reformed Churches, as the two Tribes, ſtick cloſer to the truth, the Kingdoms where Popery prevaileth, have yet many thouſands that God will ſave; and notwithſtanding their errours and corrupt additions, they have the ſame Articles of Faith and Baptiſmal Covenant as we. And if any man think himſelf the wiſer or the happier man than I, for holding the contrary, and thinking ſo many are hated of God more than I do (and conſequently rendering him leſs lovely to them,) I envy not ſuch the honour nor comfort of their wiſdom.
Obj. III. You will thus confirm our Ignorant people in their preſumption, that tell Profeſſors of Godlineſs, I Love God above all, and my Neighbour as my ſelf, though I do not know and talk, and pray ſo much as you do.
Anſ. Either they do ſo Love God and Man, or they do not: If they do, they are good and happy men, though you call them ignorant: Yea he is far from being an Ignorant man that knoweth God and Chriſt, and Heaven and Holineſs ſo well as to be unfeignedly in Love with them. But if he do not, what ſay I to his encouragement in preſumption! But you muſt take another courſe to cure him, than by calling him to a barren ſort of Knowledge. You muſt ſhew him that the Love of God is an operative principle, and where it is will have dominion and be higheſt in the Soul, and that telling God that we Love him, while we love not his Law, his Service, or his Children, yea while we love our Appetite, our Wealth, our Credit, and every beaſtly luſt above him, and while we cannot abide much to think or hear talk of him, this is but odious Hypocriſie, which deceiveth the ſinner, and maketh him more abominable to God.
But if really you ſee a poor Neighbour whom you count ignorant, live as one that loveth God and Goodneſs, take heed that you proudly deſpiſe not Chriſts little ones; but Love and Cheriſh thoſe ſparks that are kindled and Loved by Chriſt: The leaſt are called by Chriſt, his Brethren, and their intereſt made as his own, Mat. 25. And the leaſt have their Angels which ſee the face of God in Heaven.
Qu. IV. How then are Infants ſaved that neither have knowledge nor Love.
Anſ. 1. While they have no Wills of their own, which are capable of holy duties, they are as members of their Parents whoſe Wills are theirs; and who know God and Love him, for themſelves and their Infants: As the Hand and Foot doth not know or Love God in itſelf, and yet is holy, in that it is the Hand or Foot of one that doth know and Love him.
2. Sanctified Infants have that Grace which is the ſeed of holy Love, though they have not yet the Act nor proper habit of Love. I call it as ſeed, becauſe it is a holy diſpoſition of the Soul, by which it is (not only Phyſically as all are, but) Morally able to Love God, when they come to the uſe of reaſon, or at leaſt mediately to do that which ſhall conduce to holy Love.
3. And in this ſtate being Loved of God and known of him as the Children of his Grace and Promiſe, they are happy in his Love to them: For he will give their natures their due capacity in his way which we are not yet fit to be fully acquainted with, and he will fill up that Capacity with his Love and Glory.
Obj. V. If this hold, away with univerſities, and all our Volumes and Studies of Phyſicks, Mathematicks and other Sciences; for they muſt needs divert our thoughts from the Love of God! And then Turks, Muſcovites and other contemners of Learning are in the right.
Anſ. There is a right and a wrong uſe of all theſe: As there is of Arts and buſineſs of the world: One man ſo followeth his trade and worldly buſineſs as to divert, diſtract or corrupt his mind, and drown all holy thoughts and Love; and leave no due place for holy diligence. And another man ſo followeth his calling, as that Heaven hath ſtill his heart and hope, and his labour is made but part of his obedience to God, and his way to life eternal, and all is Sanctified by holy Principles, End and Manner: And ſo it is about common Learning, Sciences or Arts: And I have proved to you, that among too many called great Scholars in the world, many books and much reading and acquaintance with all the arts of ſpeaking, with Grammar, Logick, Oratory, Metaphyſicks, Phyſicks, Hiſtory, Laws, &c. is but one of Satans Laſt and Subtleſt means of waſting precious time, deceiving Souls, and keeping ſuch perſons from purſuing the ends of their excellent wit, and of life itſelf, that would not have been cheated, diverted and undone, by the groſſer way of brutiſh pleaſures: But holy Souls have a Sanctified uſe of all their common knowledge, making it ſerve their high and holy ends. But O that ſome Learned men would in time, as well underſtand the difference between common Learning (which ſerveth fancy, pride or worldly hopes) and the Love of God and a heavenly life, as they muſt know it when they come to die.