Principles of Faith and Good Conscience, Appendix – To the reader
AN APPENDIX,
Containing and Explication of certain Theologicall Terms & Phraſe, frequently uſed in Engliſh Books & Sermons, & be either not mentioned, or not ſufficiently explained in the foregoing Treatiſe.
GRACE, ſignifieth in Scripture two things: 1. Gods free favour and love to man: 2. The effects thereof in us; thus faith is a grace, &c.
Predeſtination, is the eternall purpoſe of God touching the everlaſting ſtate of men, wereby of his own free will he ordaineth ſome to Salvation, and others to deſtruction.
Election in the eternall purpoſe of God, whereby, according to the counſell of his own will, he chuſeth ſome to ſalvation out of the corupted maſſe of Mankind; not becauſe he foreſaw they were or would be better then otners, but becauſe it ſo pleaſed him; to the praiſe of his rich grace.
Reprobation is the like eternall purpoſe of God, whereby he leaveth others in their ſinnes, to periſh for ever; to the praiſe of his glorious juſtice.
Vocation ſignifieth that work of grace whereby God calleth his elect out of their ſins, to receive the Goſpell, that is, unto faith and repentance.
Converſion ſignifieth Gods turning of a ſinner from darkneſſe to light, from ſin to grace, from love of the world to love of God, from careleſneſſe to conſcience of pleaſing God.
Juſtification ſignifieth Gods gracious act accepting of a ſinner into his favour, not imputing unto him his ſinnes, in and for the righteouſneſſe and death of Chriſt: or it is Gods gracious act whereby he reconcileth an humbled ſinner to himſelfe, forgiving his ſins freeely & fully for Chriſts ſake.
Regeneration is the begetting of a ſpirituall life of grace in the ſoule, by the ſeed of Gods word received into the heart, and made effectuall by the holy Ghoſt, whereby we are become new Creatures, to bring forth fruit unto God, the fruits of holyneſſe and righteouſneſſe.
Sanctification ſignifieth the clenſing of our Natures: & it is the grace of God infuſed into our hearts, whereby of unholy people we are made holy in our thoughts, words and actions.
Adoption ſignifieth Gods making Sons of us that were not Sons before: or it is the tranſlation of Sinners from a ſervile condition under ſinne and Satan, to be the Sonnes of God, in and with Chriſt to enjoy the priviledges and inheritance of Sonnes.
Glorification ſignifies the ſtate of Gods children in heaven.
Redemtion ſignifies Chriſts delivering of our Soules from ſin & wrath by paying of a price, even the price of his bloud for us.
Mediation ſignifieth that gracious work of Chriſt ſetting himſelfe between God and us, makeing peace, & procuring our acceptance with his father, both of our perſons and actions.
Propitiation ſignifieth the removing of wrath, and making of God favourable to us in Chriſt.
Chriſts active obedience ſignifieth his perfect fulfilling of the Law for us.
Chriſts paſſive obedience is his ſuffering of death, and undergoing of the puniſhment due to our ſinnes: by both which he ſatiſfied the juſtice of God in our behalfe, being put under the Law, that he might ſave them that were under the Law.
By the Law is meant the covenant of Workes, the way and offer of ſalvation to them that perfectly fulfill the Law of God in their own perſons.
By the Goſpel is meant the covenant of Grace, that is, Gods gracious purpoſe and promiſe of bringing men to ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt.
The Old Teſtament is the doctrine of ſalvation through Chriſt, taught by Moſes and the Prophets, and ſet forth under certain figures and ceremonies, ſhadowing forth the death of Chriſt, and the benefits of Chriſt, who was then to come.
The New Teſtament is the ſame Doctrine of ſalvation by Chriſt, taught nakedly, without ſuch figures & ſhadowes, ſhewing expreſly the death and benefits of Chriſt already come, and exhibited in the fleſh.
Leveticall we meane any Ordinance about Gods publicke worſhip, delivered by Moſes, till the Meſſias ſhould come.
By Legall we underſtand that which the Law of Moſes doth require, as legall righteouſneſſe is ſuch a compleat righteouſnes in every circumſtance as the Law doth require.
By Evangelicall, we underſtand that which the Goſpell doth require and accept: as Evangelicall righteouſneſſe is the righteouſneſſe of the Mediator accepted on our behalfe.
Legall perfection is to be free from ſin in every kinde and degree thereof.
Evangelicall perfection is to be free from guile and hypocriſie, when in uprightneſſe of heart we frame our ſelves to the whole will of God.
Legall repentance is a ſorrow for ſin ariſing from fear of wrath: ſuch a ſorrow the Law can work.
Evangelicall repentance is ſuch a ſorrow for ſin as ariſeth from love of God, and hatred of ſin, which the Spirit of Adoption begets in us, becauſe we diſpleaſe our Father, and diſhonour our God.
By the Image of God in men, is meant, to be like God in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe.
By the fall of man is meant the firſt ſin of Adam and Eve, whereby they fell from that ſtate of holineſſe, and happineſſe, wherein they were at firſt created, and plunged themſelves and their poſterity into ſin and miſery.
By Fleſh in Scripture is meant the unregenerate heart of man, and that remainder of corruption which is found even in regenerate perſons, whereby they are hindred from doing the good they would.
By Spirit is meant the new Man, the renewed he…rt and ſoule of Man which oppoſeth it ſelfe againſt all ſin.
When we ſpeak of a naturall Man & of the ſtate of Nature, we doe not mean Heathens or Fooles, but all, even the beſt & wiſeſt among Chriſtians, that be not regenerate & effectually called; foraſmuch as they be in no better caſe then Heathens.
When we ſpeak of a Spirituall Man, we meane one that is regenerate & led by the Spirit of God, minding Spirituall things in the firſt place, and temporall things in a ſpirituall manner.
When we ſpeake of a Carnall Man, we meane them that are led by Carnall and corrupt Principles and doe follow after Earthly things with greateſt earneſtneſſe and delight; and Spirituall things in a formall and careleſſe manner.
A Sincere Chriſtian is one that walketh with God and to God uprightly, making conſcience of every duty, and of every ſin, according to that meaſure of knowledge which he hath received, and doth not hide his eyes from any part of Gods will, neither is willingly ignorant of any part of his duty.
An Hypocrite, in Scripture, is not one that doth profeſſe Religion, and ſeparate himſelfe from the ſinnes of others; but it is any one that knoweth Truth, and doth not obey it ſincerely and univerſally; but is partiall, and halting with God in points of obedience: approving himſelfe to man, rather then to God.
By Civill honeſty, which we teach cannot bring men to heaven, we doe not condemne juſtice and honeſty in mens dealings; But we mean meere civill honeſt men, that is, deluded, & formall Chriſtians, who being free from groſſe ſins, and outwardly conformed to good orders, do flatter themſelves in a morall righteouſneſſe without faith, or any aſſurance of their particular intereſt in Chriſt, or any endeavour to attaine thereunto.
By Common Graces, we mean ſuch gifts of Gods ſpirit as be common to the elect and reprobate, as gifts of Miracles, of Propheſying, and other abilities to ſpirituall duties.
By Saving Graces we mean the ſpeciall worke and fruits of the renewing Spirit which whoſoever hath received, is undoubtedly ſaved.
By Reſtraining Grace we meane that power of Gods word on the conſcience, whereby men do outwardly forbeare evill, though they doe not inwardly hate it.
Humiliation is the wounding, and caſting downe of the conſcience with feare, in a ſenſe & apprehenſion of the curſe of God belonging to our ſinfull ſtate, all former hopes of being in Gods favour & in a good caſe; being now diſcovered to be utterly falſe and unſound.
Self-deniall ſignifieth the renouncing of our own righteouſneſſe and worthineſſe as alſo our own deſires, reaſons, wits, wills, and deareſt contentments for Chriſts and the Goſpells ſake, that ſo we may preſerve faith & a good conſcience according to the rule of the words whatſoever croſſe ſhall happen to us in ſo doing.
Spirituall Combat is the ſtrugling between the fleſh and the Spirit, between Grace & Corruption, in the ſame faculties of the ſoul of a regenerate perſon, our new nature inclining us to good, and to pleaſe God, our corruption inclining to carnall contentments.
By the World, unto which we muſt be crucified, we mean the ſinfull courſes, opinions, waies, and faſhions of the world.
Luſt in any evill motion and inordinate deſire of the ſoule after any thing; as after riches, honour, revenge, food, preferment; therefore covetouſneſſe is Luſt, and ſo is pride, anger, and other motions of the fleſh.
Concupiſcence ſignifies the habituall indiſpoſition of the heart to that wh…ch is good and its proneneſſe to that which is evill; as alſo every evill motion of the heart that ſwerves from the Law of God: All this is called evill Concupiſcence.
By Principles & Principled, we mean the rules and grounds wherewith men are ſeaſoned & guided in their courſe; as carnall Principles are carnall grounds & rules; ſpirituall Principles are ſpirituall conſiderations moving and guiding in a buſineſſe.
Heretick is one that departs from the true Faith; & obſtinatly cleaves to error in Doctrine.
Shiſmatick is one that unneceſſarily makes or cauſeth others to make a ſeperation from any true and found Church to the diſturbance of the outward eſtabliſhed peace thereof.
By Wil-worſhip we meane any thing that is brought into Religion, and made matter of conſcience by mans device or authority without warrant from the word of God By Superſtition we meane the aſcribing of Holyneſſe, or any ſpirituall and ſupernaturall vertue, to any creature, geſture, place, day, words, or actions which is not given to the ſaid creature by Creation or divine inſtitution.
When we commend Good workes we meane not onelyonly the works of charity and outward pomp but the whole courſe of obedience in our thoughts, words, and actions as the word of God requires of us.
By Chriſtian Liberty we meane not a liberty to ſinne, as if we might ſin more frely and ſafely becauſe of Chriſts death; but we meane that liberty which Chriſt hath obtained to us againſt the bondage of the Law, condemning all that doe not fulfill it: And alſo our freedome from the ceremonies of Moſes Law, and from all human ordinances, ſo that they doe not bind, in conſcience.
Perſeverance ſignifies a conſtancy and cotinuance in faith and obedience to our end.
Apectacy is a totall and finall departure from the faith once profeſſed.
Back-ſliding is a falling again into our old ſinnes for a time, out of which we recover through Gods grace, being renewed againe by repentance.
By Spirituall Deſertions we meane that trouble of minde, which ariſeth from loſſe of aſſurance, and feeling of Gods favour; occaſioned uſually by our backſliding in to ſome ſinne or great careleſſeneſſe and unevenneſſe in our walking with God.
By Temptations we meane ſometimes allurements to ſinne, and ſomtimes the exerciſe of our faith, wherein Sathan laboureth to queſtion our Son-ſhip and intereſt in Chriſt: This kind of Temptation is uſually called diſtreſſe of minde.
Diſpaire is finally to doubt of Gods favour and mercy, refuſing to reſt on it.
Preſumption is a conceit that we are in good caſe when we have no ſolid grounds to thinke ſo; it is alſo a venturing to practiſe this or that without warrant of Gods word.
Aſſurance is the well grounded peace of conſcience awakened and enlightned, and quieted upon good grounds that his ſins be forgiven in Chriſt Jeſus.
When we pray that God would Sanctifie any of his dealings to us (as croſſes, afflictions, preferments, deliverances, or any other outward mercy) we pray that God would give grace with outward mercies, holy wiſdome, and gracious hearts to make right uſe of them, that in all things we may be brought nearer to God in the exerciſe of faith, humility, thankfulneſſe and better obedience for time to come.
Laus Deo.
TO THE READER.
THe foregoing TREATISE (Chriſtian Reader) intituled Principles of Faith and good Conſcience, is ſo called, becauſe it doth containe, not only points of Faith, and poſitive Truths touching the chiefe Heads of Religion, but alſo the moſt materiall points of Practicall Divinity, (properly ſo called,) that is, to ſhew the work of Grace in the Converſion of a ſinner, and in the hearts of them that be converted, and how a Chriſtian may judge of his ſpirituall eſtate to God-ward.*As in cap: 4. 5. 8. 13. 14. 18. &c. I have had ſome thoughts of publiſhing a juſt Treatiſe touching the ſtate of Nature, and of Grace, the Tranſlation of a ſinner from the ſtate of Nature to the ſtate of Grace, from death to life, together with the Cauſes, Order, and effects thererf; And this may be done, if God be pleaſed to give me Life, Liberty, and Peace to the Church. In the mean time, Accept, and make uſe of this ſhort Diſcourſe intended for the good of the Ignorant, and the comfort of weake Chriſtians, [The markes of Gods Children.] Bleſſed are the Pure in heart—Bleſſed is the man, in whoſe ſpirit there is no Guile, ſo ſaith the ſpirit, Pſal. 32.2. and Mat. 5.8.