Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 23
1. THES. chap. 5. verſ. 19.20.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Deſpiſe not prophecying.
BY what meanes doth God effect theſe things? and how ruleth he till the last day?
By the meanes of his ſpirit and word ioyned together according as the words doe make mention.
What meane you by the ſpirit of God to this place?
That power of God which worketh in the hearts of men, things which the naturall diſcourſe of reaſon is notable to attaine vntounto.
Being incomprehenſible, how may wee come to ſome vnderstanding and ſenſe of it?
By the things whereunto it is compared: firſt,Acts 2. Heb. 1. Ioh. 4. Matth. 3. Acts …. to wind, to ſhew the maruellous power of it in operation. Secondly, to oyle, that is of a hote nature, that pierceth and ſuppleth. Thirdly to water, that cooleth, ſcoureth and cleanſeth. Fourthly, to fire, that ſeuereth droſſe and good mettall.
How is the operation of it?
Diuers: as ſoftening, and hardening; enlightening, and darkning; which it worketh after a diuers maner, by the word, in the hearts of the elect and reprobate, according to the good pleaſure of God, and ſecret will only: and after that, according to the good pleaſure of his reuealed will; and ſo the lawfull vſe thereof, is rewarded with a gratious encreaſe of bleſſing: and the abuſe puniſhed with further hardnes to condemnation.
Is by the word, prophecying, onelyonly meant, the preaching of the word?
No, but by a figuratiue ſpeech, all thoſe outward meanes whereby God vſeth to giuegive his holy ſpirit, as are the Sacraments and the diſcipline of the Church; ouer and aboue the preaching of the word which being principall of all, is heere ſet downe for the reſt.
Before we enter into this watter, there are ſome difficulties to be auoided in theſe words, and first I aske why the Apoſtle hath … ſpirit before the preaching of the word mea… by prophecie: conſidering that by, and after preaching of the word the Lord giueth his ſpirit?
Becauſe the ſpirit is the chiefe of the two: the word being but the inſtrument whereby the ſpirit of God worketh. And ſecondly, for that the worke of the ſpirit is more generall, and reacheth to ſome to whom the preaching of the word cannot reach. Laſtly, for that the word is neuer profitable without the ſpirit: but the ſpirit may bee profitable without the word, as after will appeare.
Another difficultie is, that it ſeemeth by theſe words, that the ſpirit of adoption and ſanctification proper to the faithfull, may be lost; whilest he exhorteth that we ſhould not quench the ſpirit.
By no meanes: but as God doth aſſure the faithfull of their continuance in him: ſo he doth declare by theſe exhortations, that the onelyonly meanes whereby he will nouriſh this holy fire in vsus, is, to take heed vntounto the preaching of the word.
Now to returne to this matter: I demand, Is it not lawfull to ſeparate theſe meanes?
Matth. 19.In no caſe for that which God hath ioyned together, no man may ſeparate.
Now doth it appeare more euidently that God hath … thoſe together?
Becauſe hee ſaith by the Prophet, that this is the couenant he will make with his people; to put his ſpirit and word in them,Eſa. 59.21. and in all the poſterity of the Church.
What doe you heere learne?
That no man is to content himſelfe, to thinke hee hath the ſpirit, and ſo to neglect the word; becauſe they goe together.
Who are by this condemned?
The Anabaptiſts, Papiſts, and Libertines, which aſcribe to the ſpirit that which they like,Ioh. 14.26. although wickedly: ſeeing the ſpirit doth not ordinarily ſuggeſt any thing to vsus, but that which it teacheth vsus out of the word.
What other ſort of men is heere condemned?Mark. 4.1.2. &c. compared with Eſa. 2.1.2. &c. 2. Pet. 3.15.16.
The Stancariſts, who eſteeme the word to be fit to catechiſe and initiate: or enter vsus in the rudiments of religion, but too baſe to exerciſe our ſelues continually in it: whereas the Prophets and Apoſtles moſt excellent men, did notwithſtanding exerciſe themſelues in the Scriptures.
Are none ſaued without hearing of the word?Rom. 8.9.14.
Yes: for firſt children, which are within the couenant,hauehave the ſpirit of God,Matth. 2. without the ordinary meanes of the word and Sacraments. Secondly, ſome alſo of age and places, where thoſe meanes are not to be had. Thirdly, ſome alſo, which liuing in place where ſuch meanes are, yet hauehave no capacity to vnderſtand them; as ſome natural fooles, madmen, or deafe home; to ſhew that God is not tied to meanes.
What muſt we heere take heed of?
That we preſume not vponupon this, ſith that notwithſtanding this ſecret working of God, yet it is as vnpoſſible to come to heauen, if hauing the meanes and capacitie of receiuing them, we contemne the meanes; as it is Impoſſible to hauehave a harueſt,Matth. 13. 1. Pet. 1. where no ſeed time hath gone before; or to hauehave children without the parents ſeed; ſeeing amongſt ſuch the ſpirit of God doth onelyonly worke faith by the preaching of the word.