A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 34
CHAP. 34.
Of the parts of Chriſts Kingdome.
Chriſts Kingdome hath two parts; his gouernment
Till the laſt day, conſiſting in meanes, by which the former fruits are effected:
Inward.
Outward
things, which
God giues to vsus, as
1. word in
Generall.
Speciall.
Chap. 35.
2.
Sacraments.
Chap. 36.
Diſcipline.
We giuegive to God, Chap. 39.
Perſons. Chap. 40.
At the laſt day. Chap. 53.
1. THES. chap. 5. verſ. 19. 20.
19. Quench not the ſpirit.
21. Deſpiſe not prophecyings.
Q. HItherto of the excellency of Christs Kingdome: What are the parts thereof?
A. Firſt, his gouernment till the laſt day. Secondly, his gouernment at the laſt day.
Q. How doth he gouerne till the laſt day?
A. By beſtowing thoſe meanes whereby the former fruits are effected.
Q. What are thoſe meanes?
A. Two: inward, and outward; as appeareth, 1. Theſſ. 5. 19. 20. both which are ordinarily ioyned together.
Q. What are the inward meanes?
A. His Spirit.
Q. VVhat meane you by the Spirit of God in this place?
A. That power of God which worketh in the hearts of men, things which by naturall reaſon cannot be comprehended.
Q. How may we come to ſome vnderſtanding, and apprehenſion of this worke of the Spirit.
A. By the things whereunto it is compared in the Iohn 3. 8. Act. 2. 2. Hebr. 1. 9. 1. Ioh. 2. 27. Iohn 4. 14. Ezech. 30. 25. 27. Mat. 3. 11. Act. 2. 3.Scriptures: as firſt, it is compared to winde, to ſhew the maruellous power thereof in operation. Secondly, to oyle, that is of a hot and moiſt nature; and therefore pierceth and ſuppleth. Thirdly, to water, that cooleth, ſcoureth and cleanſeth. Fourthly, to fire, that ſeuereth good mettall from the droſſe.
Q. How doth the Spirit worke in the hearts of men?
A. Diuerſly, in diuers reſpects: It mortifieth, quickeneth, woundeth, healeth, terrifieth, comforteth, enlighteneth, ſofteneth, &c.
Q. Hitherto of the inward meanes, what are the outward, by which the Spirit worketh?
A. They are either things, or perſons.
Q. What are the things?
A. They are either ſuch as God giueth to vsus, or ſuch as we giuegive to him.
Q. What are the things which God giueth to vsus?
A. Thoſe things which are heere comprehended vnderunder the word Prophecying.
Q. What is meant by the word Prophecying?
A. Firſt, the word of God preached and interpreted, which is the principall, and that which is properly and principally meant by Prophecying. Secondly, herein alſo (by a figuratiue ſpeech) is meant all other outward meanes, wherby God vſeth to giuegive his holy ſpirit, and by meanes whereof it ordinarily worketh; as the Sacraments, and the diſcipline of the Church.
Q. Before we enter into this matter, there are ſome difficulties to be cleared in the words of the text. And firſt tell me, why the Apoſtle hath ſet the Spirit, before the preaching of the Word, meant by prophecie; conſidering that by, and after the preaching of the Word, the Lord giueth his Spirit?
A. 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.
Q. Another difficultie is this: It may ſeeme by theſe words, that the ſpirit of adoption and ſanctification, proper to the faithfull, may be loſt; ſeeing hee exhorteth that wee ſhould not quench the ſpirit.
A. Nothing leſſe: but as God doth aſſure the faithfull of their continuance in him; ſo hee doth declare by theſe exhortations, that a ſpeciall meanes whereby John 4. 14. 1. Pet. 1. 23.hee will nouriſh this holy fire in vsus, is, by taking heed vntounto the preaching of the word.
Q. Come then to the matter: Is it not lawfull to ſeparate theſe meanes?
A. In no caſe: for that which God hath ioyned Matth. 19.together, no man may ſeparate.
Q. How doth it appeare more euidently, that God hath ioyned theſe together?
A. By that which the Prophet ſaith (Eſa. 59). That he will make this couenant with his people, that his ſpirit ſhall be vponupon them; and that his words which he Eſay 59. 21.hath put into their mouth, ſhall not depart out of their mouth, nor out of the mouth of their ſeeds ſeed, for euer.
Q. VVhat learne you hereby?
A. That no man is to content himſelfe, with this fancy, that he hath the ſpirit, and ſo neglect the Word, becauſe ordinarily they goe together. Yea alwaies, where God vouchſafeth to giuegive his word.
Q. VVho are by this condemned?
A. The Anabaptiſts, Papiſts, and Libertines, which aſcribe to the ſpirit yt which they luſt, though it hauehave Iohn. 14. 26.no warrant from the word: whereas the ſpirit doth not ordinarily ſuggeſt any thing to vsus, but that which it teacheth vsus out of the Word.
Q. VVhat other ſort of men is here condemned?
A. The Stancariſts, who eſteeme the word to be fit Mark. 4. 1. 2. &c. compared with Eſay 2. 1. 2. &c. 2. Pet. 3. 15. 16. Dan. 9. 2.to catechize and initiate, or enter vsus in the rudiments and firſt beginnings of Religion; but too baſe to exerciſe our ſelues in afterward: whereas the Prophets and Apoſtles (moſt excellent men) did notwithſtanding continually exerciſe themſelues in the Scriptures.
Q. Are none ſaued without hearing of the word?
A. Yes: for firſt, children (which are within the Gen. 17. 7. 1. Cor. 7. 14.Couenant, and belong to Gods Election) are ſaued, without the ordinarie meanes of the Word and Sacraments. Secondly, ſome alſo of age, who are in places Mat. 2. 1. Heb. 11. …1.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 they which are deafe borne, &c. which (by the way) ſerueth to ſhew that God is not tied to the meanes, but can, and ſometimes doth, (when and where it pleaſeth him) worke without them. Yet here wee muſt take heed of Mat. 13. 3. 1. Cor. 3. 6. 1. pet. 1. 23.preſuming; for if God vouchſafe the meanes, and giuegive capacity for the vſe of them, and we ſhall deſpiſe them, we hauehave no more cauſe to expect ſaluation by Chriſt, then the husbandman a harueſt, that deſpiſeth to plow and ſow his ground.