Faith Grounded Upon the Holy Scriptures Against the New Methodists, Part 2 – Part 3
THE Poſitive and Affirmative ARTICLES OF OUR BELIEF Are proved by Scripture.
Second Part.
CHAP. I. An expoſition of the principal and moſt neceſſary Articles of our Faith.
THeſe thing are ſufficient, in my judgement, to keep our ſenſe and reaſon from the troubleſome and unjuſt chains with which the new Methodiſts pretend tyrannically to bind them: Let us come now to our deſign, and briefly ſhew our Faith, that we may prove every one of the Articles of which it conſiſts, by Scripture, whether they be read there, or evidently inferred from thence.
Firſt then, We believe that which heaven and earth teacheth us, that there is one God, eternal, infinite, incomprehenſible, ſoveraignly good, wiſe, powerful, and juſt: Who hath created the Univerſe, and governs it by his Providence, nothing happening in Nature or amongſt Men without his Order or Permiſſion. We believe that this great God made Man, in the beginning of the World, according to his own image and likeneſs, and put him into the Garden of Eden, there to lead an immortal life, and that Man fell from this happy condition by his own fault, having diſobeyed his Lord, and that by this crime, he and all his Offſpring remains out of the grace of God, Slaves of Sin and Death. We believe that God, moved by compaſſion, towards his own work, hath ſent his Son Jeſus Chriſt into the World, in the fulneſs of time, who hath done and ſuffered all things neceſſary to draw men from perdition, and to give them eternal Life; that this Son is the ſame God, with the Father, of the ſame power and eſſence, and ſubſiſted from all eternity with him, that he made himſelf man in time, and took to himſelf our nature, in the womb of the virgin Mary, uniting it perſonally with his Divinity, and after having preached his Grace to the people of the Jews, he was, at their accuſation, crucified by Pontius Pilate, and being dead upon the Croſs, and then buried, he roſe the third day from the dead, and after having converſed forty dayes with his Diſciples, he aſcended into Heaven, where the Father hath given him all authority and power. We believe that he reigns there now in a Soveraign glory, governing all the World according to his good pleaſure, and that one day he ſhall come to Judge it for the laſt time. We believe that by his death he hath ſatisfied the juſtice of the Father, in as much as he hath ſuffered the pains for the Sins of humane kind, and that he hath acquired an eternal Salvation, and that the Religion which he hath given us to obtain this conſiſts in Faith and Charity; that the Father appeaſed by his Obedience, receives to mercy all thoſe, who knowing their miſery, and repenting of their Sins, do confide in his bounty, and believe in his promiſes, that he pardons them gratis all their faults, and treats them as if they had never offended, and theſe being animated, and enlivened by Faith, live afterwards holily and Chriſtianly in Piety towards God, and Charity towards their Neighbours, according to the Goſpel of Chriſt. For he wills, that all his Faithful love, and ſerve God with one love and ſoveraign adoration, and that they have a true Charity towards all men; carefully keeping themſelves from violating their dignity, Life, Chaſtity, Eſtates, or Honour, neither in Deed, Word, nor Thought, every one ſubjecting themſelves to their Order and Laws of their Civil Societies, and to the ſtate of the Country where they live: but that they entertain a particular amity with the reſt of the Faithful, cheriſhing them as their own Brethren, uniting themſelves to them, that ſo there may be but one Body in Religion: and that for this end, there be amongſt them Paſtors and Superviſers, who have the overlooking of their Communion, adminiſtring to them, as well the divine Doctrine, as the holy Sacraments, which the Lord hath left as tokens of his grace, and marks and ſeals of his Covenant, having commanded that his faithful Servants ſhould be baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt for the remiſſion of their ſins, and that they ſhould eat the Bread, and drink the ſanctified Wine, in commemoration of his Death, and communication of his Fleſh and Blood: We believe that although the truth of theſe things is moſt clear, yet men are ſo blinded by the Paſſion of their malice, that they would never underſtand them, if the HOLYSPIRIT, true God, eternally bleſſed with the FATHER and the SON, did not inlighten their underſtanding, opening their hearts, that the light of this heavenly Doctrine may enter in, and that God affords them this grace of his own good pleaſure, giving it when, to whom, and in what meaſure it ſeemeth good to him. We believe, that to thoſe who ſhall have believed, and lived according to this holy doctrine, God will give his Salvation, preſerving them and taking care of them, and when they depart this Life gather their Souls into his repoſe, expecting the laſt day, in which having raiſed their Bodies, will lift them up with Jeſus Chriſt their Head, into an incorruptable Heaven, there to live eternally in his Glory; but the Wicked and incredulous ſhall periſh, being puniſhed with the Devil and his Angels in the torments of Hell.
Reader, if thou art converſant in reading the Holy Bible, ſay in thy Conſcience, whether it be not too great a boldneſs to deny, that theſe things are clearly contained there? onelyonly hearing them named do you not as ſoon perceive, that theſe Divine Books, and eſpecially thoſe of the New Teſtament are full of them? How hard is it to find one verſe, which layes not down ſome of theſe inſtructions? Nevertheleſs (becauſe they will have it ſo) we verifie them, Article by Article; and to the end that they ſhould not (as tis their cuſtome) wrangle with us about words, we will produce paſſages of Scripture in thoſe very words, into which the Interpreter of our Adverſaries hath tranſlated them, and then ſay a little upon every point, contenting our ſelves to mark the reſt in the Margint. For if we ſhould gather together all the places of Scripture, where theſe Doctrines are poſitively laid down or hinted, we muſt tranſcribe almoſt all of them, and as to the Scripture it ſelf, we ſuppoſe the truth of it without diſputing it in this Treatiſe, where the buſineſs is only to prove, that the Articles, whoſe belief we eſteem neceſſary to Salvation, are all found in the Book, which we hold for the Rule and principle of our Faith. For that is ſufficient to bring to nothing the calumny of theſe new Diſputants, who to convince the Scripture of imperfection, and conſtrain us by the ſame means to have recourſe to the Authority of their Church, crying inceſſantly that we our ſelves who make ſo much account of Scripture, cannot prove by it all the things which we believe neceſſary to Salvation.
CHAP. II. Of the Eſſence and Nature of God. Of his Qualities and Works.
1. FIrſt then as to the Article of the Eſſence, and Divine Nature, the Scripture layes down at the firſt word that there is one God, in ſaying, that he created the Heaven and the Earth in the beginning, and ſpeaks of him every where as of a thing, whoſe being and ſubſiſtance, every one knows and underſtands, holding them not only for impious and irreligious, but for meer fools and ſenſe-leſs creatures who think there is none. Pſal. 13. (Heb. 14.) 1.The Scripture makes him Act and ſpeak in infinite wayes and manners, from the beginning to the very end, teaching not onelyonly that he is, but that there is none beſides him, who truly is, all the reſt not being but in him and by him. So long then as there are paſſages in Scripture which attribute to God ſome quality, action, or word (and of this kind there are an infinite number) they are ſo much the ſtronger and evident proofes of this truth.See Duet. 4.39. & 6.4. …ſa. 45.5.6.21. John 17.3 and many other places.
Heb. 11.6. It behoveth him that comes to God, to believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of thoſe who diligently ſeek him.
Act. 17.27, 28. God is not far from any one of us, for in him we live, move, and are.
1 Cor. 8.6. We have one God, who is the Father, from whom are all things, and we in him.
Exod. 3.14. The Lord ſaid to Moſes, I am, that I am, then he ſaid, thou ſhalt tell the Children of Iſrael, he that is hath ſent me to you.
Eſaiah. 37.16. Lord of Armies, the God of Iſrael, who art ſet upon the Cherubims, thou art alone God of all the Kingdoms of the earth, thou haſt made the Heaven and the earth.
Eſaiab. 43.10, 11. There was no God, formed before me, nor ſhall be after me, I am, I am the Lord, and there is none other Saviour but me.
Pſal. 89. (Heb. 90.) 2. Before the Mountaines were made, and the earth and world were formed, from age to age, thou art God.
2. That Godis Eternal.
Gen. 21.33. See Ex. 15.19. Job. 36.26. Pſal. 9. (Heb. 10) 8.37, 38. Heb. 90.2.Abraham &c. called upon the name of God Eternal.
Pſalm. 101. (Heb. 102.) 27, 28. The heavens ſhall periſh, but thou ſhalt be permanent, and all of them ſhall wax old as a garment, and thou ſhalt change them as a veſture, and they ſhall be changed, but thou art the ſame, thou art and thy years fail not.
Rom. 16.26. Eſai. 41.4.43.10.44.6. and 48.12. 1 Tim. 1.17. Re. 1.8.By the commandment of the Eternal God.
1 Tim. 6.16. God onelyonly hath immortality.
3. That God is Infinite
Jerem. 23, 24. 2. Kings 8.27. and 2. Paralipom. 2.6. and 6, 18. Pſal. 138 (Heb. 139) 7. Eſa. 66.1.do not I fill heaven and earth ſaith the Lord.
Acts. 7.47, 48. The moſt high dwelleth not in Temples made with hands as the Prophet ſaith. Heaven is my throne and the earth is my foot ſtoole, what houſe will you build me ſaith the Lord, or where is the place of my reſt.
Job. 11.7, 8, 9. Shalt thou by chance find out the ways of God, and ſhalt thou at length find out the Almighty? he is higher then heaven and what wilt thou do? he is deeper then Hell, and how wilt thou know him? his meaſure is longer then the earth, and larger then the Sea.
4: That the nature and judgements of God are incomprehenſible.
Rom. 11.33. Exod. 33.20. 1 Tim. 1.17.O profound riches of the wiſdome and knowledge of God! how incomprehenſible are his judgments, and his waies paſt finding out! for who is he that hath known a thought of the Lord? or who hath been his Counſelour.
1. Tim. 6.15, 16. The bleſſed and onelyonly powerful King of Kings and Lord of Lords, &c. Hath only immortality, and inhabits an inacceſſible light, the which no man hath or can ſee.
5. That God is Soveraginly good.
Exod. 34.6, 7. Lord God ruler, Merciful, Pitiful, Patient, and of great compaſſion, and true, who keeps mercys for thouſands, who takes a way iniquity and ſin Pſal. 135. (Heb. 136.) 1. The Lord is good and his mercy indureth Eternally.
Matth. 19.17. There is one good viz. God. (or as our bibles are tranſlated) there is none good but one viz. God.
6. That God is moſt juſt.
Jerem. 12.1. In truth Lord if I diſpute with thee thou art juſt.
Pſal. 10. (Heb. 11.) 8. The Lord is juſt, and hath loved juſtice, his face hath ſeen equity.
Pſal. 118. (Heb. 119.) 137. Lord thou art juſt and thy judgment is right.
7. That God is Infinitely wiſe.
Pſalm. 146. (Heb. 147.) 5. Our Lord is great, and his Vertue great; and there is no numbring of his wiſdome.
Rom. 11.33. O profound riches of the Wiſdome and knowledge of God.
Rom. 16.27. To God onelyonly wiſe be honor and glory for ever through Jeſus Chriſt.
8. That God is all powerful.
Gen. 17.1. Gen. 1….14, & 35.11. and 48.3.God appeared to Abraham, and ſaid to him I am the Lord all powerful.
Matth. 19.26. To God all things are poſſible.
Luk. 1.37. Nothing ſhall be impoſſible to God.
Ephe. 3.20. To him, who by his power which Acts in us, can do in all abundance, above all that which we can ask or think, to him, I ſay, be glory in the Church in Jeſus Chriſt, in all ages, world without end, Amen.
9. That God hath created all things.
Gen. 1.1. Acts 14.14.God created in the beginning the heaven and the earth.
Acts. 4.24. Lord, who hath made the heavens and the earth the Sea and all things which are there.
Acts. 17.24. God hath made the World and all things which are in it.
Rom. 11.36. Of him, and by him, and for him, are all things, to him then be glory eternally, Amen.Gen. 18.25. Job. 38.41. Pſal. 103. (Heb 104.) 21. & 135. (Heb. 136.) 25. & 144. (Heb 145.) 15, 16. & 146. (Heb 147.) 8, 9. Prov. 16.1.4.33. & 20.24. & 21.1 Iſa. 45.6. Jer. 10, 11, 12, 13, 23. Amos 3.6. Matt. 6.26.28, 29, 30.
Ephe. 3.9. God hath created all.
10. That God governes all things according to his good pleaſure.
Matt 10.29. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing, nevertheleſs one of them ſhall not fall to the ground without your father. And even the hairs of your head are all numbred.
Acts. 17.25, 26, 28. God gives to all life, breath, and all things, and hath made all humane kind of one, to inhabit the whole ſpace of the earth, determining ordained ſeaſons, and the bounds of their habitation &c. in him we live, have motion, and are.
Rom. 11.36. From him, and by him, and for him are all things.
Eſa. 45.6, 7: I am the Lord and there is none other forming light and creating darkneſs, making peace and creating evil. I am the Lord doing all theſe things.
CHAP. III. Of the Creation, nature, and corruption of man.
1. That God created man at the beginning after his own Image.
GEn. 1.26, 27. Furthermore God ſaid: let us make man according to our Image and ſimilitude, and let him have dominion over the fiſhes of the Sea, and over the Birds of the heavens, Gen. 2.7, 8, 15, 17.and over the beaſts, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing creeping upon the earth. God then created man according to his own Image and likeneſs; he created him according to the Image of God.
2. That man is fallen from his happineſs by his diſobedience.
You have the Hiſtory of it in the third Chapter of Gen. and 7 Eccleſ. 30. God hath made man right and he hath intangled himſelf with infinite queſtions.
3. That by the diſobedience of the firſt man all his poſterity have been ſubjected to ſin and death.
Rom. 5.12. By one man ſin entered into the world, and by ſin death. And ſo death is come upon all men, in that all have ſinned.
1 Cor. 15.22. All die in Adam.
4. That all men are from their nature defiled by ſin and ſubject to death.
Rom. 3.23. All have ſinned, and have need of the glory of God.
Eph. 2.23. We have all converſed ſometimes in the concupiſcences of our fleſh, executing the deſires of the fleſh, and of our thoughts, and were from nature children of wrath as others, and in verſe the fifth we were dead in ſin.
5. That this corruption is in men from their birth.
Pſal. 50. (Heb. 51.) Behold truly I have been conceived in iniquity, and my mother hath conceived me in ſin.
John. 3.6. That which is born of the fleſh is fleſh.
Job. 14.4. Who can make man clean who is conceived of filthyneſs? is it not thou only?
CHAP. IV. Of the Mediator of his perſon and natures.
1. That God by his mercy hath ſent his Son Jeſus Chriſt into the world to ſave humane kinde.
JOhn 3.16. God hath ſo loved the world, that he hath given his onelyonly Son to the end that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh but have eternal life.
Rom. 8.3. That which was impoſſible to the Law (in as much as it was weak through the fleſh) God having ſent his own Son in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh, and for ſin condemned ſin in the fleſh, &c.
1 Cor. 1.30. Jeſus Chriſt hath been made to us by God, wiſdome, juſtice, ſanctification and redemption.
2. That the Son, ſent for us, John. 3 13. comp. with John. 662. 1 Cor. 10.9.ſubſiſted before he took humane fleſh in the womb of the Virgin.
John. 1.1, 2. In the beginning was the Verb (or the word as our Bibles have it tranſlated) and the Verb was with God, and the Verb was God, he was in the beginning with God, and vers. the 14 and the Verb hath been made fleſh and dwelt amongſt us.
Phil. 2.6, 7. Jeſus Chriſt being in form of God he hath not reputed it rapine to be equal with God, ſo he became nothing himſelf, having taken the forme of a ſervant, made in the likeneſs of man, found in figure as a man, he did, I ſay, abaſe himſelf.
2 Cor. 8, 9. You know the grace of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, viz. that he made himſelf poor for you, though he were rich, that by his Poverty you might be rich.
John. 8.58. Jeſus ſaid to them verily, verily, I ſay unto you before Abraham was made I am.
3. That the Son ſent for us is God.
St. John in the beginning of his Goſpel ſpeaking of the word which hath been made fleſh (vers. 14.) ſaith, in the beginning was the Verb and the Verb was with God. and the Verb was God.
Rom. 9.5. Chriſt who is God above all things bleſſed eternally.
Titus. 2.13. We expect the happy hope and coming of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
1. 1 John 5.20. He, that is to ſay the Son, is the true God and life eternal. This is proved clearly thus, he who hath created heaven and earth, and who now preſerveth them is the true God as Eſay teacheth who makes the Lord ſpeak thus, I am the Lord who makes all things alone, expanding the heavene, rendring the earth, from Eſa. 44.24. From whence it comes, that the Scripture very often gives the quality of a creature to God as an elogy, which doth not agree with him, but only to diſtinguiſh him from all other things, as in Eſay theſe things ſaith the Lord God, who hath created the heavens and ſtretched them out, who hath conformed the earth and the things which ſpring from it Eſa 42.5. and likewiſe, Eſa. 45.12. and 48.13. and 51.13. Now the Son of God ſent for us hath created the heavens, and the earth, and all the things which are in them, and governs and ſuſtains them by his power and wiſdome, St. John ſpeaking of the Verb made fleſh: for us all things have been made by him, ſaith he, and without him nothing hath been done that hath been done. John 1.3, and to vers. 9, and 10. he is the true light which enlightens every man coming into the world, he was in the world the world hath been made by him.
Col. 1.15, 16. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of the Son of Gods love, who is the image of the inviſible God, firſt born (that is to ſay Lord) of every creature, adds, in him have been created all things in heaven and in earth viſible and inviſible, be they thrones, governments, principallities, or powers, all things, I ſay, are created by him and in him, and he was before all things, and all conſiſt by him.
Heb. 1.2, 3. God hath ſpoken to us in theſe latter dayes by his Son, whom he hath conſtituted heir (that is to ſay Lord) of all things, by whom alſo he hath made the ages, which Son being the ſplendour of the glory, and figure of the ſubſtance of him, and maintaining all things by his powerful word, having made the purgation of ſins, is ſet at the right hand of Majeſty in high places, and vers. 10, 11. The Apoſtle appropriates to him theſe words of the Pſalmiſt, Lord thou haſt founded the earth from the beginning and the Heavens are the works of thy hands.
They ſhall periſh but thou art permanent, and all ſhall grow old as a garment, and thou ſhalt change them as a veſture and they ſhall be, changed, but thou art the ſame and thy years fail not, it follows then that the Son ſent for us is the true God.
2. He who by his intelligence knows the thought of humane hearts truly is God, as Solomon teaches 3 Kings (Heb. 1 Kings) 8.39. 2 Chr. 6.20. Where ſpeaking to God, thou alone ſaith he knoweth the hearts of all the Sons of men; now the Son of God knoweth the ſecrets of the hearts of men: Reve, 2.23. where he ſayeth, I am he who examine the reins and hearts, and will give to every one of you according to his works.
One muſt then confeſs that he is the true God.
3. He whomay and ought to be ſerved and worſhipped with a ſoverain worſhip properly ſo called is God, for the Scripture teacheth us that this worſhip appertaines but to God alone Mat. 4.10. thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God and him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerve.
Now the Son of God ought to be worſhipped by men and angels with a Soveraign worſhip.
John. 5.22, 23. The Father hath given all judgment to the Son, to the end that all ſhould honour the Son as they honour the Father, he who honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father who hath ſent him, Heb. 1.6… when he bringeth his firſt begotten Son into the world, he ſaith, and let all the Angels of God worſhip him.
Phil. 2.9, 10. God hath Soverainly lifted up (Jeſus) and hath given him a name, which is above all names to the end that at the name of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow, of thoſe who are in heaven, in the earth, and under the earth.
4. That the Son of God is the ſame God who was worſhipped heretofore in Iſrael, and who is called the Lord or the Eternal, in the books of the Old Teſtament
1. This appears firſt from what we have already ſhown, that the Son is God. For all the Scripture teacheth us that there is no other God but the eternal Lord, known and worſhipped in Iſrael, Deut. 4.35. The Lord is God and there is no other beſides him. Deut. 6.4. Hear Iſrael the Lord our God is God alone, Deut. 32.39. See now that I am onelyonly, and there is no other God but me.
Now Chriſt is God as we have ſhewn by the Scriptures.
It follows then that he is the ſame Lord or eternal, who was worſhipped heretofore by the Iſraelites.
2. He whoſe glory Iſaiah ſaw in the ſixth chapter of his revelations, is truely the Lord eternal, worſhipped by the Jews, I ſee (ſaith he) the Lord ſitting upon an High Seat and lifted up, and this appears in the 3, 5, 7, and 11. verſes, now Jeſus is he whoſe Glory Iſaiah ſaw, as S. John in the 12. Chapter of his Goſpel witneſſeth verſ. the 41. where having alledged ſome words of this paſſage of Iſaiah, he adds, theſe things ſaid Iſaiah when he ſaw the glory of him (viz. of the Lord Jeſus) and ſpake of him.
It follows than that Jeſus Chriſt is this ſame eternal worſhipped by the ancient people.
3. The Lord of the Temple of Jeruſalem is the eternal, ſince the Templ… hath not been conſecrated to any but him, as it appears through all the Old Teſtament.
Now Chriſt is the Lord of the Temple of Jeruſalem, as it appears by the Prophet Malachy, who foretelling the coming of the Meſſias, the Governor whom you demand, ſaith he, and the Angel of the Covenant whom you deſire, ſhall come to (or into) his Temple, Malachy 3.1. Chriſt is then the very eternal.
4. The Lord of David, and other Beleivers, living under the old Teſtament, is the eternal whom they worſhipped, at it appears by all the books of the Old Scripture. I am the Lord thy God, thou ſhalt have no other before me, Exod. 20.2, 3.
Thou art our Father and Abraham hath not known us, and Iſrael hath not known us.
Lord thou art our Father and our Redeeemer, Iſai. 63.16.
Now Chriſt is the Lord of David, as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf remarks, alledging! theſe Words from Pſal. 109 (Heb. 110.) 1. The Lord hath ſaid to my Lord ſit thou at my Right Hand.
He is then truely the eternal.
5. He whom the Iſralites tempted in the Wilderneſs is the eternal.
Now Jeſus Chriſt is he whom the Iſraelites tempted in the deſert, 1 Cor, 10.9. Let us not tempt Chriſt as ſome of them have tempted him and have been deſtroyed by the Serpents.
He is then this ſame eternal worſhipped by Iſrael.
6. He of whom David ſpake in the 101 Pſalm (Heb. 102.) verſ. 26, 27, 28. Is the eternal, the God of Iſrael, as it appears through all that Pſalm, and perticularly by the 25. verſe where he calls him his ſtrong God (in the Hebrew text) which quality he had care, of not giving to any other then to the Lord eternal.
Now Jeſus is he to whom David, ſpake in that place, as the Apoſtle in the firſt Chapter of the Epiſtle to the Hebrews verſ. 10. witneſſeth in applying to him the words of the Pſalmiſt, already recited here above Chap. 4. Sect. 3.
It followes then that Jeſus is truely this ſame eternal.
7. In a Word the Lord proteſteth in Iſaia, that he would not give his glory to any other, Iſai. 42.8, and 48.11.
Now the Father eternal hath given this glory to Jeſus Chriſt, as he himſelf ſaith in St. John. The Father, &c. hath given all judgment to the Son, to the end that all might honor the Son as they honor the Father, John. 5.22, 23.
It follows then that Jeſus is none other then the Lord eternal.
5. That the Son of God ſent for us, is not the ſame perſon with the Father.
Now although this eternal worſhipped by the Iſraelites, and the Son ſent for us, be one and the ſame God as we have already ſhown, and that theyave by conſequence one and the ſame ſubſtance, eſſence, or nature, nevertheleſs theſe two perſons are diſtinct one from the other, and are repreſented to us ſo in the Scripture, one being called the Father, and the other the Son. For ſince he who begets is not the ſame perſon with him that is begotten, nor he who ſendeth the ſame perſon with him that is ſent, the Father and the Son are of neceſſity two perſons, ſince the Father hath begotten and ſent the Son. Pſalm. 2.7. where the Father ſpeaks to Jeſus Chriſt as the Apoſtle teacheth us in Acts 13.33. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Gal. 4.1, 4. God hath ſent his Son, John 3 16. It remains then that we ſay that the Father and the Son are two perſons, although they are one and the ſame divinity, which is the belief of every true Chriſtian.
6. That the Son of God is made man in the fulneſs of time, taking our fleſh in the womb of the bleſſed Virgin Mary.
John. 1.14. The World hath been made Fleſh and dwelt amongſt us (and we have ſeen its glory, Rom. 8.3. Phil. 2.6. Heb. 2.17. Rom. 13, 4.glory I ſay, as of the onelyonly iſſue of the Father) full of Grace and Truth.
Gal. 4.4. When the fulneſs of time is come, God hath ſent his Son made of woman, made under the Law, that he might Redeem thoſe who were under the Law.
1 Tim. 3.16. Without contradiction the ſecret of Piety is great, viz. God is manifeſted in the Fleſh, ſanctified in the Spirit.
Luk. 1.30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Mat. 1.18.The Angel ſaid unto her fear not Mary. For thou haſt found favour before God. And behold thou ſhalt conceive in thy womb, and ſhalt bring forth a Son, and ſhalt call his name Jeſus, he ſhall be great, and ſhall call himſelf the Son of the Soveraign, and the Lord ſhall give him the Throne of David his Father, &c. The Holy Ghoſt ſhall come upon thee and the Vertue of the Soveraign ſhall over ſhadow thee, or in-ſhadow thee, therefore that alſo which ſhall be born of thee: Holy ſhall be called the Son of God.
CHAP. V. Of the Sufferings, Actions, Glories, Merits, and Doctrine of Chriſt the Mediator.
1. That the Son of God manifeſted in the Fleſh hath been crucified in Judea by the Sentence of Pontius Pilate.
ACt. 2.23. Acts 4.10, and 10, 39.Jeſus of Nazereth being delivered by the determinate counſel and Providence of God, you have taken, crucified, and killed him by the Hands of wicked men.
You have the Hiſtory of it at large in the 27. of S. Mat. in the 15. of S. Mark; the 23. of S. Luke; and the 19. of S. John; which is known enough to every one.
2. That the Son of God did riſe the third day from the dead.
1 Cor. 15.3, 4. Before all things I have given you that which I had alſo received viz. that Chriſt is dead for our ſins according to the Scriptures, that he hath been buried, and is riſen the third Day according to the Scriptures.
You have the Hiſtory of his Reſurrection at large, Acts 2.24, 31. and 10.40. and 13.30. & 17.31. Rom. 4.25, & 6.4, & 8.33. & 14.9. 2 Tim. 2.Mat. 28.6. Mar. 16.6. Luk. 24.5. John 26.9.
3. That the Son of God is aſcended into Heaven, and that he reigns there in a Soveraign power.
The Hiſtory of it is deſcribed in St. Mar. 16.19. Luk. 24.51. and more at large, Act. 1.9.
Eph. 1.20, 21, 22. 1 Cor. 15.25, 27. Eph. 4.10. Phil. 2.9.10.11. Heb. 2.9.God hath raiſed Chriſt from the dead, and hath made him ſit at his Right Hand in Heavenly places, above all Principalities and Powers, Vertue and Dominion, and every Name which is Named. Not only in this World, but in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his Feet.
1 Pet. 3.22. Jeſus Chriſt is at the Right Hand of God ſwallowing up death, to make us Heirs of life eternal, being gone to Heaven to whom the Angels, Powers, and Dominions are ſubject.
4. That the Son of God ſhall come at the Laſt Day to Judge the World.
Mat. 16.27. Mat. 24.30. Luk. 17.24.30. & 21.27. Acts 1.11, & 17.31. Rom. 2 16. 1 Cor. 4.5. 2 Cor. 5.10, 1 Theſ. 4.16. 1 Pet. 4.4, 5. Rev. 20.11, 12, 13.The Son of God ſhall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels, and then he ſhall render to every one according to his works.
Acts 10.42. Jeſus hath commanded us to preach to the people and to Teſtifie that 'tis him who is ordained by God, to be judge of the living and the dead.
2 Theſ. 1.6, 7, 8. This is a juſt thing with God, that he renders affliction to thoſe who a flict you, and to you who are afflicted deliverance with us, when that the Lord Jeſus ſhall ſhew himſelf from Heaven with the Angels of his power, and with the flame of fire, doing vengeance upon them that know not God.
2 Tim. 4.1. Jeſus Chriſt ſhall judge the living and dead at his coming and raign.
5. That the Son of God is dead for ourſins, and bath Redeemed us in ſuffering death for us.
1 Peter 3.18. Rom. 4.25. Gal. 1.4.Chriſt hath ſuffered once for our ſins, the juſt for the unjuſt that he might lead us to God.
Iſaiah. 53.5. He hath been wounded for our iniquities, he hath been bruiſed for our ſins. The diſcipline of our peace is upon him, and we are healed by his ſtripes.
Rom. 3.25. God hath propounded Jeſus Chriſt a propitiator (propitiatory) by Faith in his blood to demonſtrate his juſtice for the remiſſion of ſins paſt, through the forbearance of God.
Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, Eph. 1.7. Col. 1.14. Heb. 9.12. Revel. 5.9.when he was made a curſe for us, for it is written, curſed is he who hangs upon a tree.
1 Tim. 11.5. There is God and one Mediatour (Moyenneur) between God and men, viz. Jeſus Chriſt man, who hath given himſelf as a ranſome for us all.
1 Peter 1.18, 19. Mat. 20.28You have been Redeemed from your vain converſation (which was given to you by your Fathers) not by things corruptible as by Gold or Silver, Act. 20.28but by the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb without blemiſh and ſpot.
Rom. 5 8. Luk. 22.19. John 10.11, 15. & 10, 51, 52. 2 Cor. 5 15. Gal. 2.20. Heb. 2.9. 1 Pet. 2.21. & 4.1. 1 Joh. 1.16.God certified his love to us, in this, that although we were yet abandoned to ſin, according to time Chriſt is dead for us.
Rom. 8.32. God hath not ſpared his own Son, but hath given him for us all.
Eph. 5.2. Chriſt hath loved us and delivered himſelf for us, an oblation and ſacrifice to God, an Odour of a good ſmell.
Tit. 2.14. Jeſus Chriſt hath given himſelf for us, to the end he might Redeem us from all iniquity, and cleanſe us, to be to him an agreeable people, given to good works.
1 Peter 2.24. Chriſt hath born our ſins in his Body upon the Tree, Heb. 1.3. Joh. 1.29. 1 Joh. 1.7.to the end that being dead to ſin, we might live to juſtice, by whoſe bruiſings we have been healed.
Hebrews 9.28. Chriſt hath been offered one time to aboliſh the ſins of many.
2 Corinthians 5.21. God hath made him who knew no ſin to be ſin for us, to the end we ſhould be made the juſtice of God in him.
Iſaiah 53.4, 5. Truely he hath born our greifs, and himſelf hath carried our Sorrowes, and we have eſteemed him as leprous, and ſtricken of God, and abaſed; and verſe 6. The Lord hath put upon him the iniquity of us all; and verſe 11.12. This ſame is my juſt ſervant, in juſtifying many by his knowledge, and even he ſhall bear their iniquities, therefore I will part to him many, and he ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, becauſe he hath given his ſoul to death, and hath been reputed amongſt the wicked, and even he hath born the ſins of many, & prayed for tranſgreſſors.
6. That the Religion of the Lord conſiſteth in Faith and Charity.
1 John 3.23. Behold the command of God, that we believe in the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt and love one another as he hath commanded …s.
CHAP. VI. Of the Juſtification of man by the Grace of God: and of the Nature of Faith.
1 That God appeaſed by the Sacrifice of the death of his Son, received into Grace all thoſe who believed in him, pardoning their ſins and treating them as if they had never ſinned.
…Ohn 3.18. He who believeth in … Jeſus Chriſt ſhall not be condemn…d, but he who doth not beleive is al…eady condemned.
John verſe 24. Verily verily I ſay …nto you, that he who hears my word, …nd believes in him who hath ſent me, …ath life eternal, and ſhall not come …nto condemnation, but is paſſed from …eath to life,
John. 6.40. This is the will of …im that ſent me, that who ever …eth the Son and believes in him …ath life eternal, and therefore I will raiſe him up at the Laſt Day
Romans 3.21, 22, 23, 24. No… the juſtice of God is manifeſted with… out the Law, having witneſs of … Law and Prophets, viz. the juſtice … God by the Faith of Jeſus Chriſt fo… all, and upon all them which believ… in him; for there is no difference ſin… all have ſinned, and have need of th… Glory of God, being juſtified grat… by his Grace, by the Redemptio… which is in Jeſus Chriſt, whom G… hath Propounded a Propitiator b… Faith in his blood.
Romans 4.5. To him who work… eth not but believeth in him wh… juſtifieth the wicked his Faith … counted to him for Righteouſneſ… according to the good will of th… Grace of God. And verſe 23, 24▪ Now that this was imputed to Abr… ham for righteouſneſs, was not o… ly written for him, but alſo for us, t… whom alſo this ſhall be imputed, viz to us, who believe in him who hat… raiſed from the dead our Lord Jeſ… Chriſt.
Romans 10.9, 10. Rom. 5.1.If thou confeſſeth the Lord Jeſus Chriſt wit… thy mouth and believeſt in thy heart, that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteouſneſs, and with the mouth confeſſion is made unto ſalvation.
Epheſians 2.8. By Grace are you faved through Faith, and this is not of your ſelves, (for it is the gift of God) not by works, leaſt any man ſhould boaſt. For we are his workmanſhip, being created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, which God hath prepared, that we ſhould walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5.19. God was in Chriſt, reconciling the World to himſelf, not imputing their forfeits to them.
1 John 1.19. If we confeſs our ſins he is Faithful and Juſt to pardon our fins and cleanſe us from all iniquity.
1 John 2.12. If any one hath ſinned we have an Advocate with the Father, viz. Jeſus Chriſt the Juſt. For tis he who is the Propitiatory for our ſins, and not onelyonly for ours, but for thoſe of the whole World.
2. That thoſe who believe in God and know him truely give themſelves to Sanctification and good works.
James 2.26. As the Body without the Soul is dead, ſo Faith without works is dead.
1 John 2.3. By this we know that we have known him, Gal. 5.24.viz. If we keep his commandements, he who ſaith he knoweth God, and keepeth not his commandements, is a lyer and the truth is not in him.
1. This is proved clearly thus who is begotten of God, gives himſelf to holineſs and good works, and doeth no more the myſtery of iniquity 1 John 3.10. By this is manifeſt the children of God and the children of the Devil. Whoever doth not juſtice nor loveth his brother is not of God. Now whoever beleiveth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God, ſaith S. John in his firſt Epiſtle Chapter 5. verſe 1. Then who ever believes that Jeſus is the Chriſt gives himſelf to Holyneſs and good works.
2. Who ever ſhall have eternal life is ſanctified, as 'tis clear by that which the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 12.14. without holineſs no man ſhall ſee God.
Now who ever believes ſhall have eternal life, he who believes in the Son of God ſhall not periſh but have eternal life, John. 3.16, 18. and 5.24. and in other places alledged here above, then who ever believeth is ſanctified.
CHAP. VII. Of the ſanctification of the faithful, and of their principle parts, Piety, Charity, Submiſſion, Humanity, Chaſtity, Juſtice, Truth, and others.
1. Of the Charity and ſanctification of the faithful; and firſt that they ought to love God and ſerve him with a Soveraign adoration.
MAt. 22.37.38. Deut. 6.5, Luk 10.27.Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy Soul, and with all thy thought, this is the firſt and great command.
Matt. 4.10. Thou ſhalt worſhip. the Lord thy God, and him only ſhalt thou ſerve.
Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you then brethren by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies a living ſacrifice… holy, pleaſing to God, which is your reaſonable ſervice.
2. That we muſt love our neighbours with an ardent and ſincere affection.
Mat. 22.39. The ſecond commandment is like the firſt, thou ſhalt love thy neighbor as thy ſelf.
Mat. 5.43, 44, 45. You have heard that it hath been ſaid thou ſhalt love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy, but I ſay unto you love your enemies, do good to them who hate you, and pray for them who calumniate and perſecute you, that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven, who makes his Sun to riſe upon the good and evil, and ſendeth rain upon the juſt and unjuſt.
Rem. 12.9. Let love be without diſſembling, &c. Be inclined by brotherly Charity to love one another, preferring one another in honor.
1. John 4.7, 8. Well beoved let us love one another. For charity is of God, and whoever loves, is born of God, and knoweth God, he that loves not knows not God, for God is charity.
3. That we muſt honor our Superioues.
Eph. 6.1, 2, 3. Children obey your Parents in the Lord, for that is juſt, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, which is the firſt commandment with promiſe, that it may be well with thee; and that thou mayeſt live long upon the earth.
Verſe 5. Servants obey them that are your Maſters according to the fleſh, with fear and trembling, in ſimplicity of heart, as to Chriſt, Rom. 13.7, 8. Render then to all that which is their due, to whom tribute is, tribute, to whom cuſtome is, cuſtome, to whom fear, fear, to whome honor, honor, owe no man any thing, but love one another, for he who loves his neighbour hath accompliſhed the Law.
4. That we muſt preſerve our ſelves pure from all murders, outrages, offences, and batred againſt our neighbours.
Mat. 5.21, 22. You have heard that it hath been ſaid by them of Old time, thou ſhalt not kill, and he who ſhall kill, ſhall be worthy to be puniſhed by judgment; but I ſay unto you whoſoever is angry with his brother he ſhall be worthy to be puniſhed; by judgement; and he who ſhall ſay to his brother Raca, ſhall be worthy to be puniſhed by the Council; and who ſhall ſay to him fool, ſhall be worthy to be puniſhed with the fire of hell.
Eph. 4.31, 32. Let all bitterneſs, anger, indignation, clamor, and evil ſpeaking be taken from you with all malice. Be ye kind one to another cordially, pardoning one another as God hath pardoned you by Chriſt.
5. That we muſt flie all the filthyneſs and ſtains of the fleſh.
Mat. 5.27, 28. You have heard that it hath been ſaid to them of Old time thou ſhalt not commit adultery, but I ſay unto you, whoſoever ſhall look upon a woman to covet her, he hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Eph. 5.3. Col. 3.5.Fornication and all uncleaneſs, or covetouſneſs, let it not be once named amongſt you, as becometh Saints, neither filthineſs, nor fooliſh talking, nor jeſting, &c.
1 Theſ. 4.3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 6.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,This is the will of God, your ſanctification, that is to ſay, that you abſtain from whore dome, and that every one of you poſſeſs his own veſſel in ſanctification and honor, not being paſſionate with concupiſcence, as the Gentiles who know not God.
6. That we muſt keep our ſelves from Thieving, and every one work in his calling.
Eph. 4.28. Let him who ſtole, ſteal no more, but rather let him work, being buſied with his hands in that which is good, that he may have to give to him who hath need of it.
2 Theſ. 3.10. When we were with you, we told you that if any one would not work he ſhould not eat.
7. That we muſt fly lying and calumny, and be true in all our Actions and Words.
Epheſians 4.25. Put away lying, and ſpeak truth every one to his neighbour; for we are members one of another.
Col. 3.9. Lye not one to another having put off the Old man with his deeds; and having put on the new.
8. That we muſt be ſubject to, and humbly obey, the ſuperior powers of the Country where we live.
Rom. 13.1, 2, 5. Tit. 3.1. 1 Pet. 2.13. 14, 17.Let every perſon be ſubject to the Higher powers; for there is no power but of God. The powers which are, are ordained of God. Wherefore he that reſiſteth the power reſiſteth the Ordinance of God, and thoſe who reſiſt it draw damnation upon themſelves, &c. Therefore we muſt be ſubject not onelyonly for fear of anger, but alſo for conſcience.
Matthew 22.21. Render to Caeſar the things which are Caeſars, and to God thoſe which are Gods.
9. That in a Word we live Holily and Honeſtly.
Romans 12.2. Do not conform your ſelves to the World but be you transformed by the renewing of your ſenſes to try what is the good will of God, well pleaſing and perfect;
Epheſians 4.22, 23, 24. Put off the Old man according to the foregoing converſation, which is corrupt by concupiſcences, which ſeduce it, and be renewed in the ſpirit of your mind, and be ye cloathed with the new man, created according to God in juſtice, and true holineſs.
Phil. 4.8. Finally my brethren, what ever things are true, Col 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.what ever things are modeſt, whatever things are Juſt, what ever things are Holy, what ever things are Lovely, what ever things are of good renown, if there be any vertue and any praiſe of diſcipline, think of theſe things.
Titus 2.11, 12. The grace of God which bringeth ſalvation to all men hath appeared, teaching us that by renouncing infidelity, and Worldly deſires we ſhould live in this preſent Age, Soberly, Juſtly, and Religiouſly, expecting the happy Hope and advent of the Glory of our great God and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
10. That this Holineſs of life is neceſſary for the having a part in the Kingdome of Chriſt.
Matthew 5.20. John 3.2.I ſay unto you that if your Righteouſneſs doth not ſurpaſs that of the Scribes and Phariſees you ſhall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven.
Rom. 8.13. If you live according to the fleſh you ſhall dy, but if by the Spirit you mortifie the deeds of the fleſh you ſhall live.
1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Know you not that the unjuſt ſhall not inherit the Kingdome of God? Eph. 5. Heb. 12.14. Gal. 6.7, 8.do not abuſe your ſelves, neither Whoremongers, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor (les bougrees) abuſers of themſelves with mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor evil ſpeakers, nor (raviſſeurs) Extortioners, ſhall inherit the Kingdome of God.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Ʋnion of the Faithful: Of the means neceſſary to preſerve it; as of the order of the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and the Diſcipline.
1. That we muſt perticularly love the Faithful.
JOhn 13.34, 35. I give you a new commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you, to the end that you love one another, by this all ſhall know that you be my diſciples, if you have love one to another.
John 15.12, 13. 1 John 3.2, & 4.12. 1 Pet. 3, 8. Heb. 13.3. Mat. 18.6, 10.This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. None hath greater love then this, viz. when any one lays down his ſoul for his friends.
Gal. 6.12. Whilſt we have time let us do good to all, but eſpecially to the Houſhold of Faith.
1 Peter 2.17. Bear honor to all, love the brotherhood.
2. That the Faithful ought to meet together to pray to God, and to mind other exerciſes of Religion.
Heb. 10.24, 25. Let us take care of one another, to incite us to charity and good works, not forſaking our aſſembling as ſome have uſed to do, but admoniſhing one another.
This appears by the examples of the firſt Chriſtians in the times of the Apoſtles, when you gather your ſelves together (ſaith St. Paul to the Corinthians) you hold not the form of eating the Supper of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.20.
And by the promiſe which the Lord made us, Matt. 18.20. Where there be two or three gathered together in my name, I am there in the midſt of them.
3. That there ought to be Paſtors and Overſeers in the Church of the Faithful.
Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether propheſie, let us propheſie, according to the proportion of Faith: or miniſtery let us wait on our miniſtring, or he that teacheth on teaching; or he that exhorteth on exhortation, he that giveth, let him do it with ſimplicity: he that ruleth with diligence, he that ſheweth mercy with chearfulneſs.
1 Cor. 12.27, 28. Now ye are the Body of Chriſt and (membres de membre) members in perticular; Eph. 4.11,And God hath ſet ſome of them in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Doctors, after that vertues, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diverſities of tongues, interpretations of them.
Tit. 1.5. I have left thee in Crete, to the end that thou ſhouldeſt correct the things which remain, and that thou ſhouldeſt conſtitute Prieſts (or elders) through the Towns as I have ordered thee.
You have the Hiſtory of the inſtitution of the Deacons, and the diſtinction of the Miniſters ſerving the word, from thoſe who ſerve the table and Almes, in the 6 Chap. of the Acts.
4. What ought to be the Morals of Paſtors and other Miniſters
1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3. and ſo on. Tit. 1.7, 8, 9.This word is certain, if any one hath an affection to be a Biſhop he deſireth an excellent work. But a Biſhop muſt be irreprehenſible, the Husband of one woman onelyonly, Sober, prudent, modeſt, chaſt, willingly receiving ſtrangers, apt to teach, not given to wine, no ſtriker, but benigne, no quarreller, not covetous, but governing his houſe honeſtly, having his children ſubject in all chaſtity, &c. Not a new convert for fear he being puffed up with pride, ſhould fall into the condemnation of the devil; he muſt alſo have a good teſtimony from them who are without, leaſt he fall into reproach, and the ſnare of the devil. Likwiſe the Deacons muſt be grave not double in words, not given to much wine, nor covetous of diſhoneſt gain, holding the myſtery of the faith in a pure conſcience, and let theſe firſt be proved, then let them ſerve being irreprehenſible, &c.
5. What the Charge of Paſtors is.
1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. Act 20.28, 1 Cor. 4, 1, 2 1 Tim 5.20. 2 Cor. 1.23. and 13.8.5.1, 2, 3. I beſeech the eſders which are amongſt you, I who am an elder with you, and a witneſs of the ſufferings of Chriſt, who am alſo a partaker of the glory which ſhall be revealed? feed the flock of God, which is committed to you, having, care over it, not by conſtraint, but willingly, according to God; not for diſhoneſt gain but of a ready mind, not as having Lord-ſhip over the people and clergy of God, but ſo that you be examples to the flock by good will.
2 Cor. 4.5. We do not preach our ſelves, but Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and that we are your ſervants for Jeſus.
2 Tim. 2.2. that which thou haſt heard of me among many witneſſes, do thou commit to faithful men, who ſhall be ſufficient to teach others alſo, and verſe the 14 remember theſe things, proteſting before God &c. Study to render thy ſelf approved to God, to open without confuſion, and handling rightly the words of truth.
2 Tim. 4.2. Preach the word, be inſtant, in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all patience and doctrine.
6. The dignity of the charge of Paſtors and Superviſors.
1 Cor. 4.1. Let a man eſteem of us as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5.10.and diſpenſors of the ſecrets of God.
1 Tim. 3.1. This word is certain if any one hath a mind to be a Biſhop he deſireth a good work.
7. That the Faithful ought to honour their Paſtors, obey, and nouriſh them.
Matt. 18.17. If thy brother diſdains to hear the Church let him be to thee as a Pagan and Publican.
Luk. 10.16. He that heareth you heareth me, ſaith the Lord, ſpeaking to his Diſciples, and he that rejects you rejects me.
Heb. 13.17. Obey them who rule over you and ſubmit to them, for they watch for your ſouls, as they who ought to give an account of them, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that will not become profitable to you.
1 Tim. 5.17. The Prieſts (or elders as the Louvain verſion renders this word, Sect 5 in the paſſage of St. Peter, 1 Ep. Ch. 5.1.) who rule well, let them be reputed worthy of double honor, principally they who labour in the word of doctrine. For the Scripture ſaith, thou ſhalt not tie the throat of the Ox that treadeth out the corn, and the work man is worthy of his hire.
1 Cor. 9.13, 14. Do you not know that thoſe who do Sacrifices, Gal. 6.6.eat the things which are ſacrificed? and they who are buſied at the altar, partake with the altar? ſo likewiſe our Lord hath ordained that thoſe who preach the Goſpel ſhould live of the Goſpel. See the verſes 7, 8, 9, 10. Of the ſame Chapter.
8. That the Faithful ought to reject the Miniſters who preach any other thing then the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt
Gal. 1.8. If we our ſelves, or an an Angel from Heaven ſhould preach, other wiſe then we have preached to you, let him be accurſed. So as we have ſaid before, now alſo I ſay again, if any one preach to you any thing but that which you have received let him be accurſed.
1 John 4.1. Beloved, believe not all ſpirits; but try the ſpirit whether they are of God. For many falſe Prophets are come into the World.
2 John verſe 10. If any one comes to you, and brings not this Doctrine do not receive him into your houſe, nor ſalute him.
CHAP. IX. Of the holy Sacraments, Baptiſm and the Euchariſt.
1. That Chriſtians ought to be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
MAt. Mark, 16.16.28.19. Go and teach all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
Examples of this are common, in the books of the New Teſtamentperticularly in the Acts of the Apoſtles, where we read that thoſe, who believed the Doctrine of Jeſus Chriſt and received it, were baptized, Acts 2.38, 41. and 8.12, 13. and 9.10. and 10.47, and 16.15.
2. That Baptiſm gives remiſſion of ſins, and the Grace of the Holy Ghoſt
Acts 2.38. Peter ſaid to them repent, and be every one baptized, and you ſhall receive the gift of the Holy Ghoſt.
Rom. 6.3. Mar 6.16. 1 Pet. 3.21 Ehh. 6.26.Know you not brethren that all of us who have been baptized in Jeſus Chriſt, have been baptized in his death? for we are buried with him in death by baptiſme, ſo that as Chriſt is riſen from the dead, by the glory of the Father, we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life.
Gal. 3.27. You all who were baptized in Chriſt have put on Chriſt.
Col. 2.11, 12. You being circumciſed with a circumciſion made without hands, by putting off the body of Fleſh, viz. by the circumciſion of Jeſus Chriſt, being buried with him by baptiſm, in which alſo you are riſen together by the Faith of the operation of God, who hath raiſed him from the dead.
3. That the Faithful ought to eat the bread and drink the ſanctified wine in commemoration of the death of the Lord.
1 Cor. 11.23. &c. I have received from the Lord that which alſo I give you; that the Lord Jeſus in the night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and ſaid, take eat; this here is my Body which ſhall be given for you, Mat 26, 26, 27, 28. Mar. 14.22, 23, 24. Luk. 22, 17, 18, 19, 20.do this in remembrance of me. Likewiſe alſo he took the chalice, after he had ſupped, ſaying, this chalice is the New Teſtament in my blood, I do this every time that you drink of it in remembrance of me. For every time that you ſhall eat this bread and drink this chalice, you will ſhew forth the Lords death till he comes, &c. Let a man then try himſelf, and ſo eat of this bread and drink of this chalice.
4. That the bread and wine of the Euchariſt are the communication of the Body and blood of Jeſus Chriſt.
1 Cor. 10.16. The cup of bleſſing which we bleſs, is it not the communication of the blood of Chriſt? and the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of the Lord.
CHAP. X. Of the Holy Ghoſt: Of the neceſſity of his light to have Faith: Of his Nature and Perſon.
1. That the malice of man is ſo great that of himſelf he neither underſtands nor believes the heavenly Doctrine preached by the Apoſtles of Jeſus Chriſt, nor can he live in piety according to the Goſpel.
JOhn 3.3. Verily, verily, I ſay unto thee, that who is not born again cannot ſee the Kingdome of God.
John 6.44. No one can come to me except the Father who hath ſent me draw him.
Rom, 8, 7. The wiſdome of the fleſh is an enemy to God, for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, nor in truth can it be.
1 Cor. 2.14. The Animal man doth not comprehend the things which are of the Spirit God, for they are to him folly, and he cannot underſtand them in as much as they are diſcerned ſpiritually.
2. That the Spirit of God which gives to men the graceof underſtanding & believing the Goſpel, and of living according to the Doctrine of the Lord.
1 Cor. 2.7, 8, 9, 10. We ſpeak the Wiſdome of God, which is a miſtery, which is hid, &c. Which none of the Princes of this World hath known (for if they had known if, they had never crucified the Lord of glory) but as it is written the things which the eye hath not ſeen, nor the ear heard, and which are not entered into the heart of man, are thoſe which God hath prepared for thoſe which love him: but God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit.
Matth. 11.25. At that time Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, I thank thee, that thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and underſtanding; and haſt revealed them to little Children.
Matth. 11.17. Thou art bleſſed Simon, Son of Jonas, for fleſh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee viz. That Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of the living God, but my Father which is in heaven.
John. 1.12, 13. Thoſe who believe in the name of God, are not born of blood, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but are born of God.
Acts 16.14. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, to underſtand the things which Paul ſaid.
Phil. 1.29. It is given to you for Chriſt, not onelyonly to believe in him but alſo to indure for him.
Phil. 2.13. 'Tis God that worketh in you to do and to will, according to his good will.
Ezech. Jer. 31.33. and 32.39.11.19, 20. And I will give them a heart, and will put into them a new ſpirit, and I will take away the heart of ſtone from their fleſh, and will give them a heart of fleſh, that they may walkin my commandments, and keep my judgments, and do them, and that they be my people, and that I be their God.
3. That the Holy Ghoſt is a perſon diſtinct from the Father and the Son.
John. 14.16, 17. I will pray the Father (ſaith our Lord Jeſus Chriſt) and he ſhall give you another comforter, to abide with you eternally, viz. The Spirit of truth which the world cannot receive, becauſe it neither ſeeth him nor knows him, but you know him, for he ſhalld well with you, and be in you, and verſe the 26. The Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, ſhall teach you all things, and ſhall inſpire into you all things which I have ſaid.
Matt. 28.19. Teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghoſt.
This appears becauſe he proceeds from the Father, and is ſent by the Son. When the Comforter ſhall come (ſaith the Lord) which I will ſend to you from my Father, the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from my Father that ſhall witneſs of me. John 15.26. If I go I will ſend to you the Comforter Joh. 16.7. and ver. 13, 14. When the Spirit of truth ſhall come he will teach you all truth, for he will not ſpeak of himſelf, but will ſay all which he ſhall have heard, and will tell you things to come, he ſhall gloryfie me, for he ſhall take of mine and ſhew it unto you.
4. That the Holy Ghoſt is God.
Acts. 5.3, 4. Peter ſaid to Ananias, Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghoſt &c. Thou haſt not lied unto men but God.
This is proved evidently becauſe the proprieties and works of the true God, are attributed to him in the Scripture: as firſt, His preſence in all places, Pſal. 138 (Heb 139.) 7, 8. Where ſhall I go back from thy Spirit, or where ſhall I flee back from thy face; if I go into heaven thou art there, if I deſcend into hell thou art preſent there.
Secondly, his preſence in the perſons of all the faithful, Rom. 8.9. You are not in the fleſh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you, 1 Cor. 6.19.1 Cor. 3.16. Know you not that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 2 Tim. 1.14. The Holy Ghoſt dwells in us.
Thirdly, His knowing all things, 1 Cor. 2.10, 11. The Spirit ſearcheth all things, yea even the deep things of God, for what is it in men which knows the things of man, except the Spirit of man which is in him? likewiſe no man hath known the things of God except the Spirit of God. John. 14.26. The Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, which the Father will ſend in my Name, ſhall teach you all things, ſee alſo, John. 14.13.
Fourthly, His knowledge and prediction of things to come, 1 Tim. 4.1. The Spirit ſaith expreſly, that in the laſt times ſome ſhall revolt from the Faith.
Fifthly, His all powerfulneſs, 1 Cor. 12.11. One and the ſame Spirit doth all things, diſtributing to every one particularly, according as he will.
Sixthly, His right of having a Temple an evident ſign of his Divinity, 1 Cor. 6.19. Do not you know that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, which is in you, the which you have of God.
Seventhly, His vertue of creating, Job. 26.13. His Spirit hath adorned the heavens, Job. 33.4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life, Luk. 1.35. The Angel anſwered and ſaid to Mary. The Holy Ghoſt ſhall come upon thee, and the Vertue of the Soveraign ſhall over ſhadow thee, and therefore the Saint which ſhall be born of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God.
Eighthly, That tis he which teacheth the faithful of Jeſus Chriſt, which is a work of God, (as it appears by Iſai 54.13. alledged by the Lord, John. 6.45. They ſhall be all taught of God) 1 Cor. 2.10. God hath revealed to us heavenly things by his Spirit, and verſe 12. and in John. 16.13. The Spirit of truth ſhall teach you all truth.
Ninthly, That he ſubſiſted before the creation of all things, Gen. 1, 2. The Spirit of God moved upon the waters.
5. That the Holy Ghoſt is that ſame God which is called the Lord or Eternal in Scripture.
This appears clearly. For ſince there is no other God but the Lord Eternal, (as we have already proved by Scripture) the Holy Ghoſt being God, (as we have ſhown) it muſt neceſſarily be concluded that he is the ſame Lord eternal, ſince otherwiſe he would not be God.
Moreover this is proved moſt evidently thus, he who hath inſtructed, ſent, and inſpired the ancient Prophets of the Old Teſtament is the true eternal God worſhipped heretofore in Iſrael, as it appears through all their prophecies, now it is the holy Spirit which hath inſtructed, ſent, and inſpired them, 2 Pet. 1.21. The holy men of God being inſpired by the holy Spirit have ſpoken. 'Tis he perticularly (Acts. 1.16.) who hath foretold that which we read in David, Pſal. 40. (Heb. 41.) 10. 'Tis he who ſpake by Iſai. (Acts. 28.25.) and commanded him to ſay that which we read in the 6 Chap. verſe. 9. of his prophecy, 'Tis he (Heb. 9.1, 8.) who gave to Moſes the ordinance which we read, Levit. 16.2. 'Tis he (Heb. 10.15.) who ſpake in the 31 Chap. verſe 32. of Jeremy. 'Tis he laſtly (Heb. 3.7) who ſaith in the 94 Pſal. (Heb. 95.) 8. that which we read there: it follows then of neceſſity, that he is the ſame Lord Eternal, whom the Faithful under the Old Teſtament adored.
Thus have we clearly proved the Doctrine of the Trinity. That there is three of them, the Scripture teacheth it expreſly, 1 John. 5.7. There are three which gives witneſs in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and theſe three are one, Matt. 28.19. Teaching all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Ghoſt, 2 Cor. 13.13. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Spirit, be with you all, Amen. And when the Lord Jeſus was baptized theſe three perſons were manifeſted diſtinctly, the Father crying from heaven, this is my beloved Son in whom I have taken delight; the Son receiving the baptiſm in his humanity, the Holy Ghoſt deſcending from heaven upon hm in form of a dove, Matth. 3.16, 17. And that theſe three perſons are one and the ſame divinity, appears by what we have all ready ſaid. Now that the Father is the true eternal God adored by the Iſraelites all the Scripture ſaith it, and the words alone of Jeſus Chriſt, John. 17.3. ſufficiently teacheth it, were ſpeaking to the Father, this is life eternal (ſaith he) that they ſhould know the only true God. That Jeſus Chriſt is likewiſe the true eternal God, and that the Holy Spirit is ſo alſo, we have proved here above. Since then that all the Scripture profeſſeth, that this eternal Lord is one only God, as we have alſo juſtified, one muſt then of neceſſity conclude, that theſe three bleſſed and glorious perſons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt; are but one and the ſame God; which is that which the Church nameth the doctrine of the Trinity.
CHAP. XI. Of the Liberty, Efficacy, Effect, and Conſtancy of the Grace of the Lord.
1. That God gives the Grace of his Spirit according to his good pleaſure.
ROm. 9.15, 16. I will have mercy (ſaith the Lord) on him on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaſſion on him on whom I will have compaſſion. It is not then (concludes the Apoſtle) of him who wills; nor of him who runs; but of God who doeth mercy.
Eph. 1.5. God hath predeſtinated us into the adoption of his children by Jeſus Chriſt, according to the good pleaſure of his will.
Phil. 2.13. Tis God, which hath made in you both to will and to do according to his good will.
Matt. 11.25, 26. O Father Lord of heaven and earth, I render thee thanks, that thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe, and underſtanding, and haſt revealed them to little children, even ſo Father for as much as thy good pleaſure hath been ſuch.
2. That thoſe whom God hath enlighttened by his Spirit come unto him.
John. 6.45. Whoſoever hath heard of the Father, and hath learnt, he cometh to me.
Rom. 8.29. Thoſe whom God hath before known, he hath alſo predeſtinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son, &c. And thoſe whom he predeſtinated, he hath alſo called, and thoſe whom he hath called, he hath alſo juſtified, and thoſe whom he hath juſtified, he hath alſo glorified.
3. That God will give his Salvation to thoſe who ſhall have-believed in his Son, and lived according to his Goſpel.
John. 3.36. Who believeth in the Son hath eternal life.
Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to thoſe who are in Jeſus Chriſt, who walk not according to the fleſh, ſee alſo, verſe 13. and 14.
Joh. 5.11, 12. God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; who hath the Son of God, he hath life, who hath not the Son of God, hath not life.
4. That he preſerveth and comforts them by his Spirit dureing this life.
John. 15.18. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter to dwell with you eternally. &c. I will not leave you Orphans, and adds Matth. 28.20. behold, I am with you alwaies, even to the end of the world.
John. 17.11. Now I am no more in the world; (ſaid the Lord upon the point of his paſſion) but theſe are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep them in thy name, thoſe I ſay, which thou haſt given me, to the end they may be one, as we are, &c. And in verſe 15. I do not pray that thou wouldeſt take them out of the world, but that thou wouldeſt keep them from the evil, and in verſe. 20. Now I pray not onelyonly for them, but alſo for thoſe who ſhall believe in me by their word.
Rom. 8.32. God who hath not ſpared his own Son, but gave him for us all, how ſhall he not give us alſo all things with him? and in verſe. 35.37. Who then ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt, ſhall it be oppreſſion, or trouble, or ſamine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or perſecution, or ſword? &c. But rather in all theſe things we are conquerrours, through him who hath loved us.
1 Cor. 1.8, 9. The Lord ſhall preſerve you unto the end, that you may be blameleſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. God is faithful by whom you have been called into the company of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
1 Cor. 10.13. God is faithful who will not ſuffer you to be tempted beyond what you are able, ſo he will give you aid in temptation, to the end you may be able to bear it.
CHAP. XII. Of the laſt end of Men, as well Faithful as Reprobate.
1. That God gathers the Spirits of the Faithful into his Repoſe when they depart this life.
REvel. 14.13. Bleſſed are the dead who die to the Lord from henceforth (ſaith the Spirit) that they reſt from their labours for their works follows them.
2 Cor. 5.1. We know that if our earthly habitation of this body were deſtroyed we have a building from God, viz. a houſe which is not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens, and ver. 6, 7, 8. Wherefore having always confidence, and knowing that when we are in this body we are abſent from the Lord (for we walk by Faith and not by ſight) but we are aſſured, and have a good will rather to be out of the body, and to be with the Lord.
2. That God ſhall raiſe the Faithful at the laſt day, and ſhall lead them into heaven, to live and reign eternally with Chriſt in a Soveraign glory
John. 6.39. The will of my Father, which hath ſent me, is, that I ſhould loſe nothing of all that which he hath given me, but that I ſhould raiſe them up at the laſt day.
Rom. 8.11. If the ſpirit of him who raiſed up Jeſus from the dead, dwell in you, he who raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the dead ſhall quicken alſo your mortal Bodies, becauſe of his Spirit dwelling in you.
Phil. 3.20, 21. We expect from heaven a Saviour, viz. the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Who ſhall transform our vile bodie, that it may be made conformable to his glorious body, according to the efficacy by which, he can even make all things ſubject to himſelfe.
1 Theſ. 4.14. If we believe that Jeſus is dead and riſen, likewiſe thoſe who ſleep in Jeſus, ver. 16.17:God will bring them with him. Then in verſe 15.16. For the Lord, with the command and voice of the Arch-Angel, and with the trumpet of God, ſhall deſcend from Heaven, and thoſe, who are dead in Chriſt, ſhall riſe firſt. Then we, who live and remain, ſhall be caught up together with them in the clouds before the Lord in the air, and ſo ſhall be always with the Lord.
See the deſcription, the clearneſs, and the hiſtory of all the Myſtery of our laſt reſurrection in the Chap. 1 Cor.
3. That life eternal is a gift and grace of God.
Rom. 6.23. The wages of ſin is death, and the grace of God is life eternal by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.
2 Tim. 1.18. The Lord give to Oneſiphorus, to find mercy from God in the laſt Day.
4. That the wicked and incredulous ſhall periſh eternally.
2 Theſ. 1.7, 8, 9. The Lord Jeſus ſhall ſhew himſelf from heaven with the Angels of his power; with a flame of fire doing vengeance upon them, who know not God, and who obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall be puniſhed with eternal puniſhments, from the face of God, and from the glory of his power.
Revel. 21.8. But the fearful, and Unbelieving, and execrable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Poyſonous, and Idolaters, and all Liars, their part ſhall be in the lake burning with fire and brimſtone: which is the ſecond death.
The End of the Second Part.