The Equality of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, Book 3 · Section 1
The first Section.
CHAP. I.
The Scriptures manifeſt the Sonne and the Holy-Ghoſt to be God, equall with the Father, by aſcribing to them, equally with the Father, ſuch Workes as are proper to God.
HE that worketh ſuch Workes as God alone worketh, is God, equall with the Father in Power and Glory.
The Sonne and Holy-Ghoſt worke ſuch Workes as God alone worketh:
Therefore the Sonne and the Holy-Ghoſt are God, equall with the Father in Power and Glory.
The Workes of God are of two kinds:
Firſt, there is Opus ad intra, vel perſonale; the Perſonall Workes of God, which are begun by, and terminated in ſome Perſon of the Deitie; as, the generation of the Sonne by the Father, and the proceſſion of the Holy-Ghoſt from the Father and the Sonne; theſe are ſimply perſonall Workes, whereby the Perſons are diſtinguiſhed from each other: Theſe, ſome call Workes of Relation.
Secondly, there is Opus ad extra, vel eſſentiale; Eſſentiall Workes of God: and they are ſuch, as are common Workes of the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt, and are terminated in the Creature: where it is the Scriptures uſe, to attribute theſe common Workes ſometimes to one Perſon, and ſometimes to another; whereby they hold forth unto us the Unitie both of Nature, and of Working, which is in the Trinitie of Perſons.
Theſe Eſſentiall Workes are undivided, according to that knowne Axiome; Opera Trinitatis ad extra, ſunt indiviſa: None of them doth ought for us, without all. My Father worketh hitherto (ſaith Chriſt) and I worke, Joh. 5.17. where, as Ch…yſoſtome obſerveth, He ſaith not, My Father worketh, and I ſubminiſter to him; but he uſing the ſame word of the Father and of himſelfe, ſaith, My Father worketh, and I worke; whatſoever things the Father doth, the Sonne doth likewiſe, Joh. 5.19. and ſo the Holy-Ghoſt, who ſpeaketh not of himſelfe, but whatſoever he ſhall heare, that ſhall he ſpeake, Joh. 16.13, 14. Hence every Perſon Worketh of himſelfe, according to that cauſall power which he exerciſeth; where there is not any preheminence, nor difference in dignitie, but an unitie, and identitie of one and the ſame cauſe; they having one Eſſence, there is therefore one operation; That therefore which the Father doth, the Sonne doth; and what the Father, and the Sonne doe, the Holy-Ghoſt likewiſe doth, (as I ſhall ſhew) in theſe Outward, Common, and Eſſentiall actions.
Yet as there is a diſtinct order of ſubſiſting, ſo they have a diſtinct manner of working; and they being three Perſons, they work in three diſtinct manners. The Holy-Ghoſt proceeding from the Father and the Sonne, uſually worketh from them both; He ſhall receive of mine, ſaith Chriſt, and ſhew it unto you; all things that the Father hath, are mine, Joh. 16.14, 15. The Sonne having his perſonalitie from the Father, uſually worketh from the Father; The Sonne doth nothing of himſelfe, but what he ſeeth the Father doe, Joh. 5.17. Thus each Perſon Worketh according to the manner of his ſubſiſting, which manifeſteth a diverſitie of Perſons, but no difference, or inequalitie of power; For they Worke not as Inſtruments one to another, but as Co-workers, tanquam principium a principio, as one Principle from another, in regard of their Perſons: but as one, and the ſame Principle in regard of their Eſſence; where the Sonne, in regard of his Eſſence, he is God of himſelfe, and worketh of himſelfe, and ſo doth the Holy Ghoſt likewiſe. But as the Sonne is begotten of the Father, ſo he worketh from the Father.
Theſe words foreign, and foreign, by, and in, which are ofttimes found in Scripture, to expreſſe the Perſonall working of the Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt, yet are not ſo uſed, as if the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt were ſubordinate Inſtruments to the Father: but as one and the ſame efficient cauſe. For theſe Prepoſitions you ſhall finde indifferently prefixed to the Works of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
Firſt, (foreign) or (by) is uſed in reſpect of,
Firſt, the Father, Gal. 1.1. Paul an Apoſtle, not of men, nor by men, but by Jeſus Chriſt, and God the Father, Eph. 1.1. Paul an Apoſtle of Jeſus Chriſt by the will of God, Col. 1.1. 2 Tim. 1.1. yea, the Father no Inſtrument of chooſing Paul to be an Apoſtle, but an duplicate page duplicate page efficient cauſe, Jude ſaith Jude 1. we are ſanctified by God the Father; yet he is not the Inſtrument, but the cauſe of our Sanctification. And Chriſt is ſaid to be raiſed up by God the Father, Rom. 6.4. and God is faithfull, by whom ye are called to the fellowſhip of his Sonne, 1 Cor. 1.9. yet the Father is no Inſtrument, but a cauſe of Chriſts Reſurrection, and of our Vocation.
Secondly, the Sonne, Joh. 1.3. Heb. 1.2. Col. 1.16. Eph. 3.9. Gal. 1.1.
Thirdly, the Holy-Ghoſt, Act. 11.28. 1 Cor. 12.3. yet in none of theſe places is it uſed to note any inſtrument, but an efficient cauſe.
Secondly, the Prepoſition (foreign) or in, is placed likewiſe before the working of,
Firſt, the Father, as, Act. 17.28. Eph. 3.9. 1 Cor. 8.6. 1 Theſ. 1.1. 2 Theſ. 1.1. Rom. 11.36. 1 Pet. 1.5.
Secondly, the Sonne, Joh. 1.4. 1 Theſ. 1.1. 2 Theſ. 1.1. Eph 1.1. Phil. 1.1. Col. 1.14. Col. 2.11.
Thirdly, the Holy-Ghoſt, Jude 20. Eph. 4.30. Eph. 1.18. 1 Cor. 12.3. 1 Cor. 12.3. 1 Cor. 6.11:
By theſe and the like places, you may ſee the weake and ſandy foundation, on which they build their faith, who make the Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt not onelyonly to be unequall, but unlike in Nature, becauſe the Apoſtle ſaith, one God of whom, 1 Cor. 8.6. one Lord by whom, 1 Cor. 8.6. and one Spirit in whom, 1 Cor. 12.3, 4, 13. For this different manner of ſpeech doth not argue a different Nature in them, of whom he ſpeaketh, as they blindly collect, and fondly imagine; For the ſame reaſon would prove the Father to be infeirour to the Sonne, and it would make him his inſtrument, as in ſome places above ſpecified.
The Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt are not inſtruments to, but co-workers with the Father, they worke together: Firſt, in theſe common works, which extend generally to all of all ſorts, and kinds; Secondly, in theſe ſpeciall works, which reach eſpecially to the Church of God.
Firſt, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt work together in theſe Common works, which extend generally to all, of all ſorts and kinds, both of good and bad, as namely, Firſt, Creation: Secondly, Preſervation or providence. Firſt, Univerſally, in regard of all creatures in all places of the World; Secondly, particularly, in regard of the Sea; Thirdly, illumination, or working of common gifts and graces in all men; Fourthly, judging the earth.
The Scriptures doe manifeſt the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt to be God, equall with the Father, by aſcribing theſe works to them equally with the Father.
CHAP. II.
Firſt, Creation is a work of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt.
CReation is a work of God alone, He ſtretcheth out the heavens alone, and ſpreadeth abroad the earth by himſelfe, Iſa. 44.24 He alone ſpreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the Sea, Job 9.8. He is the builder and maker of heaven, Heb. 11.10. and He laid the foundations of the earth, Job 38.4. yea, Iſaiah repreſenteth the Lord ſpeaking in his owne perſon, I am the Lord, and there is none elfe, I forme the light, and I create darkneſſe: I make peace, I create evill, I the Lord doe all theſe things, Iſa. 45..6, 7, 8.
This our Creator is one in Eſſence. Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us, ſaith Malachi, Mal. 2.10. and yet there are three Perſons that did create us.
Firſt, the Father createth; thus we acknowledge in the Creed, the Father to be Creator of heaven and earth; and the Apoſtle affirmeth: Of him are all things, 1 Cor. 8.6. and by him are all things, Heb. 2.10.
Secondly, the Sonne createth; and thus the Apoſtle ſaith, by him are all things, 1 Cor. 8.6. all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made, Joh. 1.3. the heavens were made by him, Pſal. 33.6. they are the work of his hands, and he laid the foundations of the earth, Heb. 1.10. by him were all things created that are in heaven; and that are in earth, wither they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities or Powers, all things were created by him, and for him, Col. 1.16. the World was made by him, Joh. 1.10.
Thirdly, the Holy Ghoſt createth; He made man, Joh. 33.4. he made the body of Chriſt out of the ſeed of the Woman, Mat. 1.18. Luk. 1.35. he garniſheth the heavens, Job 26.13. he moued upon the waters, Gen. 1.2. cheriſhing them, and making them fruitfull, and fit for the creatures to live in. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the Hoaſt of them by the Spirit of his mouth; ſo it is according to the Originall, Pſal. 33.6.
Thus the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt did create, and build the World: and therefore God; for ſo the Apoſtle affirmeth, he that built all things is God. Heb. 3.4. Yea, it is obſerveable, that Moſes treating of the creation, uſeth the word Elohim, and no other word above thirtie times together, Gen. 1. to ſhew that all the three Perſons did work this great work; beſides, in creating man, how plainely is the pluralitie of Perſons in the unitie of the eſſence ſet forth, Gen. 1.26. and God ſaid, (there the Noune is plurall, ard the Verb is ſingular) although after the Verb is plurall; Let us make man after our Image, and after our likeneſſe; (is) and (our) ſurely note a pluralitie of Perſons. Beſides, how abſurd a thing would it be to imagine God, if but one Perſon to ſpeake to himſelfe, and yet in the 27. verſ. it is he made man in his owne image, to point forth to us the unitie of his Eſſence.
I know the Jewes object divers wayes againſt this.
Object. 1. That in the Scripture one man ſpeaketh plurally of himſelfe: as, Firſt, Bildad, Job 18.2.3.
Sol. But he ſpeaketh not onelyonly of himſelfe, but his other two friends; Secondly, Abſalom, 2 Sam. 16.20. but he ſpeaketh not onelyonly of himſelfe, but of his people and Armie; Thirdly, Daniel, Dan. 2.36. but Daniel doth ſpeake of the three Children that were his companions together with himſelfe: Fourthly, Cant. 1.3. But the Church, although one, yet the members are many, 1 Cor. 12.12. and as ſhe is one body, ſhe ſpeaketh ſingularly, but as ſhe is many members, ſhe ſpeaketh plurally.
Object. 2. That God ſpake after the manner of Kings.
Sol. Firſt. That kinde of ſpeech was not then in uſe, as Abon-Ezra noteth on Gen. 29.27. Moreover in the examples of Kings ſpeeches in the Scripture, there is not the like, as, Gen. 14.21. Gen. 20.9. Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 4. Dan. 5. Dan. 6. 2 Chr. 36.23. Ezr. 1.2. Ezr. 7. or in any King of Iſrael, or of Juda: after ages brought in this cuſtome among Kings.
Secondly, if the Lord would at any time have ſpoken plurally, it would have been eſpecially when he gave his Law: where although then he manifeſteth the pluralitie of Perſons, Exod. 20.2, 5, 7, 10, 12. and uſeth the word Elohim plurally, yet he ſpeaketh in the ſingular number, Exod. 20.2, 3, 5, 6, 7. Thirdly, Kings doe ſpeake plurally, becauſe they are publique Perſons, and repreſent the whole Kingdome, and act by the advice of their Councels; Fourthly, Kings doe not uſe the ſingular and plurall promiſcuouſly, as the Scripture doth of God.
Object. 3. That God did ſpeake to the Angels.
Sol. 1. God ſpake to them, in whoſe Image man was to be made: but man is not ſaid to be made in the Image of Angels, but in the Image of God.
Secondly, the Angels did not make man, but God.
Thirdly, the Angels were not called in for advice: the Lord neither had, nor did need any Counſell, Iſai. 40.13. for he worketh all things after the Councell of his owne will, Eph. 1.11. yet the Scripture treating of God as the Creator, and maker of all things ſpeaketh not onelyonly in this place, but in divers other places plurally, as Eccleſ. 12.1. Remember thy Creators; Heb. and Pſal. 49.2. Let Iſrael rejoy e in his Makers: Heb. Iſai. 54.5. thy Makers are thy Husbands, yea, Eloah, which is ſeldome uſed ſingularly, yet Job 35.10. it is ſo uſed, and a word of the plurall number is joyned with it; Non… ſaith, where is God, my Makers: God, there is the Unitie: my Makers, there is the Trinitie.
And ſurely, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt, if they did not with the Father, make the World, they were ſubject to that imprecation which Jeremie teacheth the captived Jewes, and delivereth it in the Caldean Language, (although the whole Book beſide is written in H…rew) that the Jewes might anſwer the Caldeans in their owne Language, when they tempted them to worſhip God that mad… not the Heavens, Jer. 10.11. Th s ſhall ye ſay to them, The Gods which made not the He…vens, and the earth, ſhall periſh from the earth, and from under theſe heavens. Woe therefore unto them that ſtrive with their Maker, Iſai. 45.9. who count that their glorie, which is their ſhame, Phil. 3.19. namely, that they can contend with their Maker, and fight againſt the Deitie of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt, who together with the Father, did make them. Theſe are they which deny the Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. 2.1. Theſe bring on themſelves ſwift destruction.
CHAP. III.
The Workes of Providence on the dry Land, are wrought by the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt.
PRovidence is a work of God, whereby he preſerveth and governeth all his Creatures, ordering them, and all their actions to his owne glory. It requiring the ſame power to preſerve, as it did to create. He who is the Creator of all, he is the Owner of all, Pſal. 50.11, 12. Pſal. 24.1. he that is the great Houſe-keeper of heaven and earth, he provideth for all, Pſal. 104.28. they wait on him for food, Pſal. 145.15, 16. he giveth them their meate in due ſeaſon, he openeth his hand, and ſatiſfieth the deſire of every living thing; he is the preſervrr of men, as J…b ſtileth him, Job 7.20. and the Saviour of all, as Paul ſheweth, 1 Tim. 4.10. as Job therefore ſpeaketh: Aske now the Beaſts, and they ſhall teach thee, and the Fowles of the aire, and they ſhall tell thee: or ſpeake to the earth, and it ſhall ſhew thee, or to the Fiſhes of the Sea, and they ſhall declare unto thee, who knoweth not in all theſe, the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? Job 12.7, 8, 9. where, in all the long controverſie between Job and his three friends, the Name Jehovah is uſed onelyonly there; even when Job ſpeaketh of the Lords giving life, and being to all Creatures, and of his preſerving his life, and being, which he hath given them; where though this Jehovah, who alone provideth for all, is one; yet there are three Perſons which doe diſtinctly work according to their perſonall order, in all the works of providence, both, Firſt, on the dry Land, as alſo, Secondly, on the broade Sea.
Firſt, Gods providence is ſeene in the Workes on the dry Land, and that in regard of all the three Perſons.
Firſt, the Father provideth for us; He knoweth what things we have need of, Mat. 6.32. he feedeth the Ravens, …loatheth the Lillies, and careth for man, Mat. 6.26. Luk. 12.24. &c. and giveth good things to them that …ke, Mat. 7.11. and ſtill worketh in regard of his providence, Joh. 5.17. preſerving men from danger.
Secondly, the Sonne, he provideth for us; He upholdeth all things by the Word of his power, Heb. 1.34. by him all things were created, and doe conſiſt, Col. 1.16, 17. he doth for us whatſoever we ſhall aske, Joh. 14.17. he worketh alwayes in regard of his providence, Joh. 5.17, 19. pro…ecting us, Mat. 23.34. and preſerving us from danger, Rev 3.10. Jude verſ. 1.
Thirdly, the Holy-Ghoſt, he provideth for us; he proſpered Zerubbabels bulding, Zac. 4.6, 7, 8. he governed the Apoſtles in their journies: he ſent Philip to the Eunuch, to preach Chriſt to him at that time, when he was reading of Chriſt in the Prophet Iſaias, Act 8 29, 33, 35. he directed Paul to preach the Goſpell in ſome Countries, and ſuffered him not to preach in others, Act. 16.6, 7. Simeon to whom the Holy-Ghoſt revealed, he ſhould not dye, till he had ſeene the Lord Chiſt, was directed by the Holy-Ghoſt to goe then into the Temple, when Chriſt was there, Luk. 2.27. he governeth the faithfull, Rom. 8.14. and ſuffereth them not to live after the fleſh, but after his direction, and guiding, and he worketh alwais in regard of his providence, both in renewing of the Creatures. Pſal. 104.30. by producing a new generation of them, as alſo in preſerving men from danger, Pſal. 143. the good Spirit of the Lord leadeth us.
Providence is the undevided worke of the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt, and is equally competent to all the Perſons in the holy Trinitie: and is not to be attributed principally to one Perſon, and leſſe principally to another; there being the ſame and equall Power, Wiſedome, Will, and Operation, of all, as Chriſt himſelfe witneſſeth; My Father worketh hitherto, and I worke, Joh. 5.17. whence you may eaſily collect, the Father and the Sonne are Coeſſentiall, and Cowarkers, and that in works of Providence, not onelyonly on the Land, but alſo (as I ſhall ſhew) on the Sea.
CHAP. IV.
Ruling the Sea is a Worke of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt.
GOds providence is ſeene in every thing, the Lord is wonderfull in all his works, Pſa. 98.1. Pſa. 39.14. but eſpecially is his overruling providence in the great Waters, and he is wondrouſly wonderfull in the Sea, Pſal. 107.24, 25. both in the firſt making of it, cauſing the Waters to gather on heapes, Gen. 1.9. He ſhutteth it up with doores, and barres, Job 38. He layeth up the deep as in a treaſure-houſe, Pſal. 33.7. he giveth ſtayes and bounds to it, cauſing the ſmall ſand to bound that, which if he command, ſhall breake down Rocks, and Mountaines, Job 38.10.11. he for the drowning of the world, can open the Fountaines of the great deep, Gen. 6. making the Waters to overflow the earth. as in the firſt Creation, and he can with a violent Wind, keep back the Sea, and make it dry Land, Exod. 14. that Iſrael may paſſe through, Pſal. 78. Pſal. 106.
It is the Lord alone that ruleth the Sea, and ſtilleth the noiſe and Waves thereof, Pſal. 65.7. he bindeth up the Sea in ſwadling-hands; Job 38.9. God ſwadleth the Sea as eaſily as the Midwife doth the young Infant. Now this Worke is not a Work of one Perſon alone, but of all three.
Firſt, the Father bindeth the Waters as in a garment, Prov. 30.4. with the Clouds above, and the Sands beneath, compaſſing them in.
Secondly, the Sonne quieteth the Sea, as a man would quiet an unrulie Child, by commanding it to be ſilent, Mar. 4.39. or as one would tame an unruly Beaſt, by putting a bridle into its mouth, foreign, be thou with a bridled mouth, ſo the word ſignifieth; thus Chriſt putteth a bridle into the mouth of the Sea, that it can rage no more: where you may ſee effects both of his Humane as alſo of his Divine Nature. Firſt, of his Humane Nature, in ſleeping in the Ship. Secondly, of his Divine Nature, rebuking the wind, and the Sea, and they obey …im.
Thirdly, the Holy-Ghoſt meaſureth the waters in the hollow of his hand, Iſa. 40.12. even as a man would meaſure a ſpoone-full of water. That this is the Holy-Ghoſt, the words following ſhew: Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord? Iſa. 40.13.
The Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt therefore are equall in …ower, Majeſtie, and Glory, and worke together on the Land, and on the Sea; who are one God, and rule all things by his providence, according to his owne will, Dan. 4.35.
CHAP. V.
Illumination is a worke of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt.
ILlumination is a worke of God, who worketh not onelyonly ſaving graces in the hearts of his Elect, but alſo common graces in the hearts of good and bad; who diſtributeth theſe his gifts according to his owne will Heb. 2.4. He worketh all his pleaſure, Iſa. 46.10. What his ſoule deſireth, that he doth, Job 23.13. in all places acting whatſoever he will, Pſal. 135. Dan. 4.33. Yea, the Lord doth not onelyonly what he will, without reſiſtance, Pſal. 115.3. Rom. 9.19. but he maketh his owne will, in all workes, of his divine diſpenſation, the rule of his actions, which is proper to God alone. And thus,
Firſt, the Father giveth gifts to all; ſecondly, enlighteneth all with common illuminating gifts, Jam. 1.17. thirdly, working all according to his owne will and pleaſure, Mat. 11.26. Luk. 10.21. Eph. 1.11.
Secondly, the Sonne giveth gifts to men freely, Eph. 4.10. Joh. 15.5. ſecondly, He enlighteneth all with common illuminating gifts, Joh. 1.9. thirdly, He worketh all things according to his owne will, Luk. 5.13. Joh. 17.24. Joh. 5.21. Joh. 10.28. Eph. 4.7.
Thirdly, the Holy-Ghoſt giveth gifts to men freely, 1 Cor. 12.8, 9, 10, 11. ſecondly, He enlighteneth all with common gifts and graces, as he did Bezaliel and others, Exod. 31.3, 4, 5. Exod. 28.3, 4. Exod. 35.31. It is a worke of the Spirit of God, to have skill to worke in gold, and in ſilver: yea; it is his worke, that Saul can propheſie, and governe Iſrael, 1 Sam. 10.6. 1 Sam. 11.6. thirdly, He giveth his gifts to men as he pleaſeth, dividing them to all ſeverally as he will, 1 Cor. 12.11.
There being one and the ſame Will in the Father, and the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt, the ſame Power, are the ſame God in eſſence; what therefore the one willeth, the other willeth: it is one and the ſame God, which worketh all in all, 1 Cor. 12.6. and dealeth to every man his meaſure of gifts, Rom. 12.5.
CHAP. VI.
To judge, and puniſh the World, is a Worke of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt.
TO Judge the World, and to puniſh thoſe that offend the Supreame Majeſtie, is the Worke of God, who is the Judge of all the World: Gen. 8.25. There is but one Law-giver and Judge, Jam. 4.12. So Tremelius, and the Vulgar reade it. He judgeth particular men on the earth and he it is, which at the generall Judgement, which is called Gods day, 2 Pet. 3.12. judgeth the quick, and the dead; Neither is there any that can deliver out of his hand, Deut. 32.39. and if he worke, who ſhall let it? Iſa. 43.13. Where,
Firſt, the Father judgeth the World, and puniſheth wicked men therein, Amos 4.10. I overthrew ſome of you, as God overthrew Sodome and Gomorrah; Patrem hic loqui, & de filio dicere. Euſeb. lib. 5. de Demonſtra. Evan. cap. 23. It is the Father, who ſpeaketh of his puniſhing Iſrael with ſin-revenging judgements, even as the Sonne puniſhed Sodome and Gomorrah. For although the Father is ſaid to judge no man, Joh. 5.22. we muſt not thinke (as Calvin obſerveth, that the Father ſits idle, and doth nothing; For he worketh hitherto, Joh. 5.17. But this is ſpoken ex Hypotheſi. He doth not ſimply deny the Fathers judging the earth, but ſpeaketh according to them to whom he directed his ſpeech; He denieth the World to be ſo governed of the Father (as the Jewes thought) which did ſeparate the Sonne from the Father: whereas the Father, as he made the World by his Sonne, Eph. 3.9. ſo he judgeth likewiſe the world by his Sonne, Act. 17.31.
Secondly, the Sonne judgeth the World, and puniſheth wicked men therein, Pſal. 72.4. He threatned to caſt Jezabel into a bed, and thoſe that commit fornication with her into great tribulation, Rev. 2.23. He rebuketh, and chaſteneth thoſe that he loveth, Rev. 3.19. He breaketh his Enemies with a rod of Iron, and daſheth them in pieces, like a Potters Veſſell, Pſal. 2.9. when he is angry, they periſh from the way, Pſal. 2.12. He it was that raigned fire and brimſtone from heaven on Sodome and Gomorrah, Gen. 19.24. The Lord rained from the Lord, fire and brimſtone out of heaven; where Jehovah a Name of Gods Eſſence, is there uſed Perſonally for the Father, and the Sonne. Yea, God the Father ſpeaking of this act, twice relateth it in the ſame manner, as Moſes doth; I overthrew ſome of you, … God overthrew Sodome and Gomorrah, Amos 3.10. Againe, as God overthrew Sodome and Gomorrah, and the neighbour Cities, ſaith the Lord. Jer. 50.14. Loe, God the Father relating, and God the Sonne acting the deſtruction of theſe Cities. Moreover, in the Creed we acknowledge Chriſt to be the Iudge of the quick, and of the dead, whith the Scripture likewiſe cleareth. For the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven, with his mightie Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8. and Paul ſpeaking of this Judgement-Seat, Rom. 14.10. calleth it the Tribunall Seat of Chriſt, before whom we muſt appeare to give an account; yet in the 12. verſe, he ſaith, we muſt give an account to God; the Lord Jeſus being God as well as man; and 2 Cor. 5.10. ſpeaking of the Judgement-Seat of Chriſt, and the terror thereof, calleth it the terror of the Lord, verſ. 12. calling Chriſt God and Lord in theſe places, who, as he is the Sonne of Man, he hath this Worke committed to him, Joh. 5.27. but he being the ſecond Perſon of the Trinitie, and God equall in power and glory with the Father, ſo he hath this power of himſelfe, as the Father hath.
Thirdly, the Holy-Choſt judgeth the World, and puniſheth the wicked therein. The Spirit of the Lord gathereth the uncleane Creatures together, to puniſh the enemies of the Church, Iſai. 34.16. He that is a Comforter to the Elect, is a Reprover, and Convincer to the World, Joh. 16.8. They that reſiſt the Holy-Ghoſt, doe it by gain-ſaying his Word, not by fruſtrating his Worke; for he convinceth the World, either to converſion, or confuſion. He puniſhed Ananias by Peter, Act. 5.5 and Elymas by Paul, who is then expreſſely ſaid to be full of the Holy-Ghoſt, Act. 13.9, 10. He caſteth theſe Sinners, that doe deſpite unto him, Heb. 10.29. into eternall puniſhment. He that blaſpemeth the Holy-Ghoſt, ſhall never be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come, Mat. 12.32, 33. Mar. 3.29. Surely, there is not the like ſaid of the Father, or of the Sonne; yea, our Saviour ſaith the contrary of ſinnes committed againſt himſelfe; not as if the Holy-Ghoſt were greater then the Father, or the Sonne, but onelyonly equall with them in Majeſtie, and in glorie; This Sinne is not onelyonly againſt his Perſon, but againſt his operation, and working; It being a ſinne againſt the light of illumination, which he terminatively worketh in them. A ſinne againſt the Father, is remitted by the blood of the Sonne, which waſheth away all ſinne, 1 Joh. 1.7. and a ſinne againſt the Sonne, is done away by the worke of the Spirit, who applyeth the Merrits of Chriſt to every penetent Soule, by faith, purifying their hearts, Act. 15.9. but if the ſinne be againſt the Holy-Ghoſt, and againſt his Workes, by falling away from his graces, Heb. 6.4, 5. by grieving this holy Spirit, Eph. 4.30. and by maliciouſly oppoſing, and blaſphemouſly doing deſpite to the Spirit of grace, Heb. 10.29. All hope of obtaining pardon is quite cut off; for there is no fourth Perſon to cure this Apoſtatizing relapſe; and the Worke cannot be wrought backward: for the Spirit proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne, in regard of his Perſonalitie, worketh alſo from them both, who alſo begin that Worke, which he terminateth, which he perfecteth in us. Now the Spirit worketh neither by the Father, nor by the Sonne, (as the Sonne is God, though he worketh by him, as I ſhall have occaſion to ſhew, as he is the Sonne of man;) wherefore, where the Spirit applyeth not the blood of Chriſt, there is no remiſſion of ſinnes; for there is neither faith nor repentance wrought in that mans heart by the Spirit of God, who terminateth, and perfecteth thoſe graces; which alſo the Father and the Sonne worketh with him, in the hearts of every true beleever. This ſinne therefore is alſo againſt the Father, and the Sonne, and not onelyonly againſt the Holy-Ghoſt; but becauſe it is more immediately againſt his worke; therefore it is ſaid to be againſt the Holy-Ghoſt, who together with the Father and the Sonne, puniſheth this Apoſtaſie, by giving up ſuch a wretch to his owne hearts luſt, and by delivering him up to a reproba…e ſenſe.
Thus Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt, are coworkers in this Worke, namely, in judging the earth, and in puniſhing the World; which the Lord doth manifeſt, when he was about to caſt Adam and Eve out of Paradice; for God ſaith, the man is become like one of us, Gen. 3.22. which cannot be ſpoken, where there is but one Perſon; againe, in the deſtruction of Babel, and confuſion of Languages, the Lord ſaith, Gen. 11.7. C…me ye, and let us goe downe, and let us confound their La…guages: where the Father ſpeaketh to the Sonne, and to the Holy-Ghoſt. Beſides, confuſion of Languages is no worke of the Creature, but a Worke proper to God alone; which is ſpoken in the plurall Number, Let us goe downe, and let us confound them; and yet to ſhew the unitie, it is Jehovah who is one, did ſcatter and confound them, Gen. 11.8, 9. Moſes relating that action in the ſingular Number, which God himſelfe ſpeaketh of plurally; it being the worke of one God in three Perſons to effect this Worke; Moreover, the Pſalmiſts phraſe is remarkeable, Pſal. 58.11. Jeſh, Elohim Shophedim, (eſt dii judicantes, word for word) one word ſingular, and another plurall is joyned with Elohim, a word of the plurall number, intimating the unitie of that one God in Eſſence, and Trinitie of Perſons that judge the earth.
Oh that men would ſing Halelujah, and give praiſe to …od for his worke! And ſurely, the firſt time that Hal…lujah is uſed in the Old Teſtament, is, Pſal. 104. laſt, wh…re conſuming of ſinners is mentioned; as in the New Teſtament, it is firſt uſed in, Rev. 19. where the deſtruction of Antichriſt, that man of ſinne is foretold. Thus you may ſee, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy-Ghoſt is that one God that effecteth theſe Workes, which extend Generally to all.