The Equality of the Father Son and Holy Ghost, Title page – To the reader
SCRIPTURE MANIFESTATION of the Equalitty of the Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt.
Wherein is above an Hundred Particulars by parralell places of Scripture, this truth is clearely confirmed; NAMELY THAT THE Scriptures Manifeſt the Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt to be God equall with the Father, by aſcribing to them ſuch Names, Attributes, Works, and Worſhip, as are proper to God alone.
By BENIAMIN AUSTIN, Paſtor of the Church of God at Caſtle-Aſhbey in Northamptonſhire.
There are three that beare record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy-Ghoſt, and theſe three are one, 1 Joh. 5.7.
Goe and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt, Mat. 28.19.
Awake O Sword againſt my Shepheard, and againſt the man that is my fellow, ſaith the Lord of Hoasts, Zac. 13.7.
Chriſt Jeſus, who being in the forme of God, thought it no robbery to be equall with God, Phil. 2.5, 6.
LONDON, Printed for P. W. and JOHN WRIGHT, at the Kings Head in the Old-Baily, 1650.
To all thoſe that love the Lord Jeſus in Sincerity.
Brethren,
THE Beloved Diſciple of the Lord telleth us, 1 Joh. 2.18. That in his time there were many Antichriſts; Many that did ſeeme to profeſſe Chriſt, yet in truth did oppoſe him, which in words would confeſſe him, but in works would denye him, Tit. 1.16. If the firſt Age of the Church could not eſcape the fuery of Satan: and if thoſe more pure times did not avoide the unbridled rage of his Antichriſtian Darlings: we that live in the latter dayes, which are the perillous times, muſt not look to be free from Satans oppoſition, nor hope to be exempted from the malice of his Antichriſtian Factours. For the myſtery of iniquity which was but hatching, in the Apoſtles dayes, is now grown to it's full maturity: it then began onelyonly to worke, 2 Theſ. 2.7. it is now acting with the efficacy of Satan with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders, 2 Theſ. 2.9. And however there are many Antichriſts in the world, yet according to Johns threefold diſcription of them, we may worke them into three heads; For they are ſuch as deliver poyſonous Doctrine not truly grounded on Gods Word, and doe oppoſe, firſt, the Divine Nature of Chriſt: ſecondly, the Humane Nature of Chriſt: thirdly, the Offices of Chriſt.
Firſt, there are Antichriſts, who doe oppoſe the Divine Nature of Chriſt, as Cerinthians, Arrians, Samo-Satenians, Jews, Turkes, and in a word, the Sarcinians, whoſe Doctrine is as it were a filthy ſinke, into which al the Hereſies of former and latter Ages have emptyed themſelves. Theſe the Apoſtle John directly deſcribeth, 1 Joh. 2.22, 23. He is Antichriſt that denyeth the Father and the Sonne. For although never any Antichriſtian Heretick did in words deny the firſt Perſon; and however they may pretend with the blinded Jews, and miſled Turkes, they doe honour the Creatour of the World: yet by taking away that perſonall relation which he hath to the Sonne, they deny him by conſequence to be a Father, and diſhonour both the Father and the Sonne.
However therefore they would undeſeemedly faſten on us the Name of Antichriſt, becauſe we affirme the Lord Jeſus in Nature, and Eſſence, to be equall with the Father, whenas even the Father ſtileth him his fellow, Zac. 13.7. and the Sonne, who is in the forme of God thinketh it no robbery to be equall with God, Phil. 2.7. who was the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, Joh. 1.14, 18. Joh. 3.16, 18. 1 Joh. 4.9. and ſaid, that God was his proper Father, Joh. 5.…8. and he is ſaid to be his proper Sonne, Rom. 8.32. (for the word tranſlated own is foreign, in the Originall) yea he is the Sonne foreign, of himſelf, Rom. 8.3. And therefore the name and nature of Antichriſt agreeth to them, and not to us; For they oppoſe the Father, and the Sonne, and by denying Chriſt to be the eternall Sonne of God, they deny alſo God the Father to be a true and eternall Father. Thus doe they robbe them both of their excellent glory: making the one to be no proper Father of Ch…ſt, and the other to be no proper Sonne of God, whom they blaſphemouſly affirme to be a ….
Secondly, they are Antichriſts who deny the Humane Nature of Chriſt, as Marcionites, Valentinians, Manichees, and others; They take away the benefit of his death and paſſion. The Apoſtle doth more eſpecially point at theſe, 1 Joh. 4.3. and 2 John 7. where he ſheweth him to be of an Antichriſtian Spirit, that denyeth Jeſus Chriſt to be come in the fleſh.
Thirdly, they are Antichrists who doe not oppoſe directly the perſon of Chriſt, but by delivering Doctrine contrary to the Word, doe oppoſe Chriſt in his three-fold Office.
Firſt, they depive Christ of his Kingly Office, and make the Pope the Supreame, and uncontroulable Head of the Church, exalting him above all that is called God, 2 Theſ. 2. namely above Angels, Magiſtrates, Divels, which in Scripture are called Gods; yea, above God, and Chriſt, whenas they give power to him to preſcribe Lawes, which are more authentique to them, then the Laws of God. None being of power to diſpence with his, as he can, and doth with Cods Lawes. And they attribute ſuch ſoveraignty to him, as not onelyonly to forgive ſinnes on earth, but to place, or diſplace ſoules in Heaven, or in Hell at his pleaſure.
Secondly, they take away the Propheticall Office of Chriſt. For they in ſtead of teaching the Doctrine of Chriſt, teach the Doctrine of the Devils, 1 Tim. 4. Setting up Legens, Councels, Decreees, Decretals, Traditions, and their corrupt gloſſes of the Text above the Scripture. And with their Anagogicall, Allegoricall, and Tropicall interpretations of the Scriptures, have quite taken away the true ſenſe thereof.
Thirdly, they diveſt Chriſt of his Prieſtly, Office; by Indulgencies, Pardons, Penances, Pilgrimages, Maſſes, Dirges, Purgatory, workes of Supererogation, and a thouſand the like inventions, have taken away the one al-ſufficient Oblation, and ſatisfaction of Chriſt. All whoſe wearing ſervice ſhall one day have no better reward, then, who required this at your hands? yea, that which in a word overthroweth all the Doctrine of Chriſt, and was enough. If Rome had ſtood guilty of no other errour, to have made us to ſeparate from her, even her ſoule-deſtroying Doctrine of Juſtification by Workes. For as the Apoſtle ſpeaking of the Jewes, told the true Church of Rome, Rom. 10.3. They being Ignorant of Gods Righteouſneſſe, and going about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſſe, have not ſubmitted themſelves to the Righteouſneſſe of God. Theſe the Apoſtle John principally deciphereth in the Revelations, Rev. 13. &c.
However, theſe Antichriſts are divided, and doe craſh one againſt another, yet all doe fight againſt Chriſt, and doe oppoſe his Church. They being like Sampſons Foxes, joyned together by the tailes, with the fire of diſſention betwixt them, whereby they doe ſet on fire Gods dearely beloved Vin…yard.
And although Antichriſt had alwayes a mouthfull of blaſphemies, yet never were there more loathſome blaſphemies belched forth from the rotten hearts of his corrupt followers, then in theſe latter dayes. For now many in a pretēded zeale againſt the whore of Babel, have joyned with the falſe prophet Mahomet, and out of a ſeeming oppoſition to the Romaniſh Antichriſt, have imbraced the Turkiſh Antichriſt, whereby the hearts of ſound profeſſours have been ſadded; thoſe who have been weake in the faith, have had their faith ſhaken, and others who before were wavering, have been toſſed to and fro, with the ſtormy winds of erroneous Doctrine, and have ſplit themſelves on the ſoule-deſtroying Rocks of Hereticall opinions, miſerably blaſpheming God, and deploredly making ſhipwrack of faith, and a good conſcience, 1 Tim. 1.19, 20.
And ſurely, it maketh my heart to melt, and my ſoule to mourne in ſecret, to ſee how greedily men ſuch in this Antichriſtian poyſon, in ſtead of the pure milke of the Word; poyſoning thereby there owne ſoules, and with their poyſonous breath endangering, if not infecting the ſoules of others; making them to vilifie the Sonne of God, and to doe deſpite to the ſpirit of Grace.
Now that which firſt revived this curſed Monſter of opinion in our Fathers dayes, was carnall policy. For ſome Polonians, Tranſylvanians, and other Turkiſh borderers out of ſiniſter reſpects, and baſe ends, went about to reconcile God and Belial, Chriſt and Mahomet, Chriſtianity and Turciſme together.
But that which hath ſince heightned their pride, and made them bold to fight againſt the Lord Jeſus, and his holy Spirit, and yet to promiſe themſelves Victory beforehand in this their unequall combate: is firſt, their naturall blindneſſe, which maketh them to have the groſſe conceits of God, and of his ſimple Nature; They conceiving him to be like ſome corporall Subſtance, and therefore require alike inſtance in Nature in this myſtery, whereas the Lord is of a pure, ſpirituall, tranſcendent Nature.
Secondly, Pride, who although they cannot fully underſtand what their own ſoules are, yet dare to think they can comprehend, and bound the incomprehenſible God in the narrow limits of corrupted reaſon, and therefore as Peter propheſieth of them, 2 Pet. 2.12. They ſpeake evill of the things they underſtand not, who therefore ſhall utterly periſh in their own corruptions. And as he ſheweth, 2 Pet. 2, 1. By denying the Lord that bought them, bring upon themſel…es ſwift deſtruction.
Thirdly, Giant-like ambition, who thinke themſelves able to reſiſt truth, though manned with a whole army of Martyrs confeſſours; Fathers living in all Ages of the Church.
Fourthly, Groſſe Ignorance, and falſe gloſſes of the Scripture, which they wreſt to their own deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3.
Fifthly, the not conſidering of Gods wrath againſt them, which have formerly undertaken this and the like cauſe, as againſt Arrius, Cerinthus, Olympius, Valens, the Arrian Emperour, Pope Anaſtatius. 2. Julian. and divers other as ye may ſee recorded in the Centurialiſts, Ruffin. Tripart. Hiſtor. Platin. Cyril. For that which Moſes ſpeaketh of Korah and his Companions, was true in theſe, Numb. 16.29. They dyed not as every man dyeth, neither were they viſited after the viſitation of all. Arrius, and Anaſtaſius which went to eaſe Nature, voided their own bowels into a Jakes. Oerinthus killed with the fall of a Houſe, Olympius was ſlain with thunder and lightning, Valens burnt in a Cottage, Julian, if not ſlain with a darte from Heaven, yet with a Dart directed by a divine hand, which being ready to give up the Ghoſt, he took it out of his body and threw it towards Heaven, and cryed out, Thou haſt overcome me, O Galilean.
But haply ſome will object againſt me, firſt, why I ſhould adventure to traffique in publike, when others who have more, and greater Talents, yet deſire to keep theirs private.
In briefe, all that I ſhall ſay for my ſelf is this; An earneſt deſire of doing good, hath put me on this labour, and hath made me to ſeeme careleſly prodigall of my little; Oh that it were as fervent in richer hearts, and that they would traffique in the like kind. How would the Church of God which is beautifull as Tirzech, comely as Jeruſalem, be alſo then terrible to the enemies thereof, as an Army with Banners? Whereas yet (me thinks) I heare oppoſed truth cry aloud for helpe, and doe ſee the languiſhing Church robbed of her Children, with cheeks bedewed with teares, bewailing her ſelf, and ſpreading her hands, imploring aid of all her friends, and crying out in the bitterneſſe of her ſoule to all that paſſe by. Look away from me, for I will weep bitterly? labour not to comfort me, becauſe of the ſpoyling of the Daughter of my people.
Oh that all in their ſeverall places, would endeavour to quench theſe horrid flames of Doctrinall Errours, and that to this end they would with the Children of Iſrael, 1 Sam. 7.6. draw water out of their hearts, and poure it out of their eyes before the Lord, and beſeech him to put to his hand, becauſe they have almoſt deſtroyed his truth, by wickedly trampling under foot his Chriſt, and by miſerably blaſpheming his holy Spirit.
Secondly, others that are more learned, will perhaps blame my plaineneſſe of Language, and diſlike my labour for want of elegant expreſſions, and haply, becauſe I have not cited the Fathers that have copiouſly written of this ſubject.
But theſe I beſeech, that they would not diſlike truth, becauſe ſhe commeth plainly attyred, nor diſregard ſo…d Doctrine, although ſhe weareth a homely dreſſe. The ſtrength of the matter was the thing that I aimed at, and not elegancy of words: and the validity of the argument was more intended by me, then any neateneſſe of ſtile. Beſides, I held it moſt fit to ſpeake of the Lord in his own words, and not in the wiſedome of ſpeech, and I deſired Gods holy Spirit, rather then mans enticing words.
As touching the Fathers, I have indeed ſeldome cited them, not out of any diſlike of them: but becauſe I know they are diſliked, ſlighted, and contemned of the enemies of this truth. And becauſe the thing I propoſed, was the confirmation of this point by Scripture.
Where if I ſhould have uſed Hamane Eloquence, this Subj…ct of all other is moſt unfitting. There being nothing in which want of words doth more wrong us, or can more grieve us, then in the diſcuſſing of this miſterious truth. Where many things may be adored, which we cannot ſearch into: many things may be ſearched in, which we cannot conceive: and many things be conceiued, which we cannot utter. The path of this truth is narrow, ſlippery, ſteep, and therefore it will not admit of a ſtragler, to rove up and down in a wandring diſcourſe.
Thirdly, Some there be that may carp at the word Eſſence, Trinity, and Perſons, which I have uſed.
To theſe I anſwer, firſt, in every Art this liberty is granted, to uſe termes of Art, which haply are no wayes uſed but in that Art: and why ſhould Divinity which is more excellent then all Arts and Sciences be debarred that common priviledge, which every inferiour Art, and Science hath granted to it.
Secondly, the thing is in the Scriptures, if not the word, and it is a vanity to dote about queſtions, and ſtrife of words, when as we agree in the thing.
The word being but the ſhadow, and the thing the ſuſtance, and therefore the word neceſſarily followeth the thing, as the ſhadow the body. And ſurely did not men diſlike the truth, they would never quarrell with the words that expreſſe it.
Thirdly, the words were uſed in the Church long before the Councell of Nice, as ye may ſee in the writings of Ireneus, Juſtin, Martyr, Clemens, Alexand. Syprian, Origen, Tertul. Lactant. and others, yea, and the ſame of theſe words are uſed by the enemies of this truth.
Fourthly, the words Eſſence, Trinity, Perſon.
Thuſchija, or Eſſence derived of Jaſcha fuit, is uſed of God, Iſa. 28.19. Job 12.16. Pro. 8.14.
Secondly, Eſſence is moſt properly aſcribed to God, who alone hath Eſſence of himſelf, and all things have their eſſence from him.
Thirdly, If the word Eſſence were not in the Scriptures, yet the Adverſaries cannot deny, there is that which is equivolent to it. As for example, the Names of God, both in the Old Teſtament, Jehovah. Jah, Ehejeh, all derived of the Hebrew Roote, Havah, or Hajah, that ſignifieth to be, and alſo the Names of God in the New Teſtament, Rev. 1.4, 8. Rev. 41, 17. Rev. 16.5. He that was, and is to come, and I am, Joh. 8. whoſe conjugate is Eſſence.
Fifthly, the word Trinity, though not found in the Scriptures, yet the word three being uſed of God … Joh. 5.7. it followeth from the equivolency of its conjugate; even as the word Unity is not found in the Scriptures, but the word One being uſed, it followeth from the equivolency of its conjugate alſo.
Secondly, If the word Three were not ſo uſed, yet Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and Prophets Name, Three, Mat. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.14. Mat. 3.16, 17. Hag. 2.5. Pſal. 33.6. Rev. 1.4, 5. 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6. Eph. 2.18. Eph. 2.22. 1 Joh. 5.7. Iſa. 63.9.10. Joh. 14.16. Joh. 15.26. Gal. 4.6. 2 Theſ. 3.5. &c.
Firſt, as touching the word Perſon, which we uſe, becauſe we have no fitter. The Greek word, foreign, is applyed to the Father, Heb. 1.3. as alſo foreign, is aſcribed to the Father, Mat. 18.10. to the Sonne, 2 Cor. 2.10. 2 Cor. 4.6. the Holy-Ghoſt, Pſal. 95.6. in the Greek; David inviteth all to worſhip his Perſon, whom he introduceth, ſpeaking; which was the Holy-Ghoſt, Heb. 3.7. which Greek words are tranſlated by the word Perſon.
Secondly, if that may be called a Perſon, which hath perſonall Acts aſcribed to it. Surely then the word Perſon may be given to the Father, to the Sonne, and to the Holy-Ghoſt, for we have all three ſpeaking in the firſt, ſpoken to in the ſecond, and ſpoken of in the third Perſon. I might inſtance in many hundred places of Scripture, I ſhall onelyonly name a few.
Firſt, you have all three ſpeaking in the firſt.
1. The Father. Pſ. 2.7, 8. Heb. 1.5.
2. The Son, Mal. 3.1. Can. 2.1. Re. 21.1
3. The Holy-Ghoſt, Ac. 10.1. Ac. 13.2
Secondly, you have all three ſpoken to in the ſecond.
1. The Father, Joh. 11.42. Joh. 17.
2. The Son, Act. 13.35. Pſ. 2.7. Pſ. 110.4.
3. The Holy-Ghoſt, Can. 4. la. Act. 4.24. It was he that ſpake by the mouth of David, Act. 1.16.
Thirdly, you have all three ſpoken in the third, 1 Cor. 12.4, 5, 6. where to ſhew there is none greater, nor leſſer then other: you have, firſt, the Spirit, and from him are derived gifts, verſ. 4: ſecondly, the Son, and from him are Adminiſtrations, uerſ. 5. thirdly, the Father, and from him your have Operations, verſ. 6. you have in the like manner, the Sonne, mentioned in the firſt place, before the Father, 2 Cor. 13.14. 2 Theſ. 2.16. Gal. 1.1. Eph. 5.5. Sometime the Sonne, put in the laſt place, after the Holy-Ghoſt, Rev. 1.4, 5. Though the uſuall order of the Scriptures, is Father, Sonne, and Holy-Ghoſt, Mat. 28.19. 1 John 5.7. 1 Theſ. 3.11, 12.
If men were not blinded with ſinne, they might ſee this their great errour, in fighting againſt the Lord Jeſus and his Spirit. The Lord open their eyes to ſee the glorious light of the truth, and draw their hearts to imbrace it.
Now the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and God even our Father, who hath given us everlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and eſtabliſh you in every good worke and word, 2 The. 2.16, 17. That ye may grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 3.18. Looking for the mercy of the Lord Jeſus to eternall life, Jude 21. Which is the prayer of him, who through the grace of the Lord Jeſus hath devoted himſelfe to the ſervice of the leaſt of Chriſts little Ones, which beleeve in him, And is
Yours in the Lord Ieſus, BENIAMIN AUSTIN.