The instructed Christian

Front matter

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! UNITED STATES OP AMERICA.!

THE

Preface

AMERICAN EDITION

Clear, scriptural statements of gospel truth, and of the grounds of the Christian faith, are always acceptable to the intelligent Christian : to the less informed, they are eminently profitable. Faith is grounded upon testimony : the faith of the Christian, upon the testimony of God speaking in the scriptures. The Christian's faith is no mere prejudice or fancy; it is not the fruit of fear or of sympathy ; it has its seat in an enlightened understanding; it is ever the result of a full conviction of the judgment. Hence, the value of such works as Lyford's, in which the truth is held up distinctly to our view, and that, moreover, in convu

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trast with the opposite errors; and in which arguments in defence of truth, on the one hand, and against error, on the other, are scripturally stated, illustrated, and applied.

This volume is eminently calculated to aid the inquirer after truth, and, also, to assist the believer in his endeavours to attain such an acquaintance with the grounds of his faith, as will enable him to " give an answer to every man that asketh him a reason of his hope." 1 Peter, iii. 15. The plan of salvation by free grace, is here exhibited with very great perspicuity, and defended with no ordinary ability; and we know of no error noticed in these pages, against which the inquirer does not now need to be warned, and the Christian armed. Those portions of the work in which the very foundations of our faith — the authenticity, and sufficiency of the scriptures — are examined, and their solidity confirmed against the infidel and the papist, are singularly appropriate to our own times; for on these points the enemy seems to be directing not a little of his energies : those in which gospel truth is explained, and its principles employed in the way of practical application to the diversi-

PREFACE. IX

fied circumstances of the godly, will be found, by the divine blessing, as fruitful of edification now as they have ever been. The work is committed to that divine blessing, the absolute necessity of which, to any good and spiritual result, it is one of its primary objects to confirm. (t)

PREFACE

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER,

BOTH MINISTERS AND PEOPLE.

Op you that are ministers, I humbly crave three things: 1. Your pardon for this my audacious undertaking ; it is a work best befitting the protestors themselves, or some other able divine, who is a man of greater parts and learning, better versed in controversies, new and old, than I am, or pretend to be. In the church there are two ranks of teachers; some whose work is dolare lapides; others, ipsos artifices: our people are like rough stones dug out of the quarry. By the hammer of God's word, many of them are, by his blessing upon our labours, made polished stones for God's temple. But we ourselves need polishing by the skill and learning of others; for they dig deep to search out hidden knowledge, they hunt and catch the venison, which we so readily dress, and dish out to our hearers. Let them have the honour of their gifts and labours. It is the work of an age to produce a sound

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learned man, and none Dut dunghill-spirits will undervalue such precious jewels.

2. If any think himself causelessly charged with error, I beseech him not to impute that to me; for I neither choose my adversary, nor my argument, but take up both as drawn up by the testimony of faithful ministers. And although it be no fair dealing to take up an ill report of another, and it is not my manner to take upon trust what I believe, or propose to others to be believed ; yet thus far I hope I may be excused, because every one's error, which I tax by name, or by some characterizing circumstance, I do it upon my own certain knowledge that it is their opinion by the testimony of their own writings. As for the rest, I name none, I asperse none, I charge none ; only this I do, known vulgar errors I endeavour to confute; and this I may do, without asking who is the father, and without wronging the unknown author of them.

3. Seeing it has pleased God, when I came to the end of the eleventh chapter, to put a period to my studies, by the great increase of my disease upon me ; my humble request to some of my brethren of the clergy, is, that if it be not too mean a condescension, that they will be pleased to go on where I left off, and so to finish the work, unless they judge it more fit to draw all anew with their own more learned pencil. The work is likely to be profitable to the people of this nation, especially in such a time as this.

You that are the people, I crave leave, first, to admonish; secondly, to exhort.

First, Let no man beguile you with fair words, under

PREFACE, XIII

the gilded notions of saints. Accept no man's face against the least truth of Jesus. If any come to you in great humility, and show of love, in sheep's clothing, and bring new and strange doctrines; if he go about to cause divisions; if he be one that forsakes ordinances, vilifies ministers, and the old way of holy walking with God; you are bound in conscience not to receive him into your houses, but to avoid him: (Jude ver. 19; 2 John v. 9, 10; Rom. xvi. 17,) you sin, if you do not.

Against such corruptions of pure doctrine, Ignatius Martyr, in his epistle ad Trallianos, page 6S, most gravely warns all Christians in these words:

There are certain vain talkers and seducers, not Christians, but such as make merchandise of Christ and his gospel, who mingle the poison of their errors with sweet and pleasant words, as vintners that mingle honey with their wine, so that he which drinketh of that pleasant cup, being delighted with the taste, is unawares mortally poisoned. Thus that holy martyr who lived in the apostle John's time.

It is an unworthy, temporizing, and a soul-destroying,

flattering speech, of one that says, "Heresy in a good man

is no sin, and heresy, though the matter be ever so gross,

if it be not affected, if there be no design of the will in it,

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is no sin." But you, beloved, remember what the scrip* ture says of heresy, "There shall be false teachers among you, which shall privily bring in damnable heresies." 2 Pet. ii. 1. Heresies are damnable, though privily and unawares brought in. Another apostle tells you, that "it is a fearful judgment to believe a lie;" (2 Thess. ii. 11, 12,) and heresy is a lie. And if it be so damnable, not to believe necessary truths, what is it to hold that which is most opposite to truth, gross heresies? Lastly, observe what a third apostle says, (2 John v. 9, 10,) " Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son." The testimony of three apostles, I hope, will establish your hearts against the sophistry and power of all seducers, and not suffer you to think or speak favourably of the least corruptions of Christ's blessed gospel ; it is matter of jealousy to him. Read 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3.

Secondly, I exhort, that you carefully observe the method and scope of this book, which is to lay before you certain distinctions upon the most material, yet perverted points of religion in these days, that so the chaff being sorted from the wheat, you may see on which side of the distinction the truth lies, and in which the fallacy. All things are set down as perspicuously as the nature of the matter will permit ; yet some things you must read over twice or thrice, else you will not discern things that differ. It is chiefly intended for your edification and confirmation. The God of truth guide you into all saving truths. Amen.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR,

SOME MEMORIALS OF THIS GODLY, ABLE, PROFITABLE MINISTER OF CHRIST,

TOGETHER

WITH TWO REMARKABLE CLAUSES TAKEN OUT OF HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.

And it was in the same state of comfort, namely, the looking- for the appearance of the great God, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, which did uphold oar dear deceased friend and brother, whose funeral we are now to solemnize, in the long time of his sickness; and in whatever former trials the Lord was pleased to exercise with him, he still had an eye to that blessed hope, which he did so firmly believe was laid up for him. There are material pithy expressions of his own, to this purpose, with which I think fit to acquaint you, out of two or three of the last Christian letters I received from him. In one of them he thus expresses himself: " However it shall please God to dispose of my health, ] rest comfortably assured of his everlasting love to me in his Son, Christ Jesus; who loved me, and gave himself for me." In another, thus: "In the use of the means I wait, what the Lord will do with me: I know it shall be well with me at the last, having so many pledges of his everlasting love to support me." In a third, he hath these words : " My wasting continues, and my stomach also fails me, but my God fails me not: in him I have refreshings, in the consideration and experience of the great things he hath done for me here, and in the contemplation of far greater things yet prepared for me." Some few days before his dissolution, being desired to give some that visited him a little taste of his present hopes, together with the grounds of them, for their comfort and instruction, he cheerfully answered, "I will let you know how it is with me, and upon what ground I stand." Then stretching forth his hand, he spake to this effect: " Here is the grave, the wrath of God, and devouring flames, the just punishment of sin, on the one side, and here am I, a poor sinful soul, on the other; but this is my eomfort; the covenant of grace, which is established upon so many sure promises, hath saved all. There is an act of oblivion passed in heaven : ' I will forgive their iniquities, and their sins will I remem-

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ber no more,' saith God. This is the blessed privilege of ajl within the covenant, among whom I am one. For I find the Spirit, which is promised, bestowed on me, in the blessed effects of it upon my soul, the pledges of God's eternal love: by it, I know my interest in Christ, who is the foundation of the covenant, and therefore ray sins being laid on him, shall never be charged on me." When the time of his dissolution approached, he called for his nearest relations, his wife, and children; he commended them to God, the living God, the everlasting Father, with blessings, and prayers that they may have their part and interest in the everlasting covenant, laying a charge upon them all, that they should continue still to give themselves to reading the scriptures. When the earthly house of his tabernacle was even upon the point of being dissolved, with much ado he uttered these words : " My dissolution is more comfortable to me than my marriage-day. l iS'ow thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord • forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 7 ' 7 1 Cor. xv. 57, 58.

Though it was the desire of our deceased brother, that 1 should not make any solemn narration of his demeanour here among you, yet I cannot but speak something of him, that we may glorify God in him, and for him; and to stir up myself, and you, to an imitation of those graces of God, which were so eminent in him. We are to take special notice of it, that by the strength of God's grace, he remained steadfast and unmoveable in the articles of our holy religion, in these declining times. Being asked at one time, Why he continued so resolved in his way, when many in divers things altered their opinions'? His answer was this, Because he grounded himself upon the word of God, which is not altered. He was not a reed shaken with the wind, but a pillar in the house of God. He could profess with holy Job, according to his degree and measure, "But he knoweth the way that I take, when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold; my foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined, neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." Job xxiii. 10 — 12. He could profess with the Psalmist, " I have stuck unto thy testimonies, and thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart." Psal. cxix. 31, 111. With those sincere converts, " He continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,' and breaking of bread, and prayers:" (Acts ii. 42.) in breaking of bread, when as we have so many half-ministers of late, who only preach the word without administering the seals, the sacraments which are annexed to it. He had a singular dexterity in catechising, in opening the grounds of our holy religion, in a perspicuous clear manner, to the capacity of the meanest. He did feed Christ's lambs, as well as his sheep. He took great delight in it, he would often say, " That if he had done any good here among you, it was by catechising." Where let me in a word commend this necessary part, though so generally neglected, of our ministerial function, to his fel»

PREFACE. XV11

low-labourers, who have so lovingly assisted him for so long time together; that they would effectually set themselves to it, that so they may, by God's blessing, reap the like benefit and comfort that he did. How cheerful was he in his going out, and coming in among you, in public, and in private! How was his heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord! He served the Lord with his spirit, in the gospel of his Son: he was a workman that need not be ashamed; he preached in demonstration of the Spirit, and in power: he was able to convince gainsayers. In his sermon, which he was importuned to print at Oxford, after he had preached it there, how does he woo those that are off from family exercises, to remember from whence they are fallen, and to do their first works. His words are to this effect, When you were wont to pray with your families, to repeat sermons, to instruct and catechise your children and servants, was not that your best time? and it is a great pity they did not listen to the voice of the charmer, who charmed so wisely. He went over the whole body of divinity among you. He acquainted you with the whole counsel of God. He spent himself for you. God grant your profiting may prove in some sort answerable to his endeavours. He was constant in the duty of prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving; it was a branch of his daily devotions, that God would be pleased to assist him mightily in his last conflict; and he did, as he told some of his friends that were about him, reap the benefit of it.

He was so far from being affrighted at the approach of death, that he lifted up his hands, and his eyes, and with a serene cheerful countenance yielded up his soul into the hands of his faithful Creator and Redeemer. He was daily mindful of you, the people of this place. of which he had the pastoral charge, in his prayers. Not long before his departure, he lifted up his heart to God, for a good successor for you, as Moses, the servant of the Lord did, when he was to be gathered to his fathers. Num. xxvii. 16, "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out and in before them; that the congregation of the Lord be not a9 sheep which have no shepherd." The Lord make good that gracious promise to you, "'And I will give you pastors after mine own heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Jer. iii. 15. Only acknowledge your iniquity, as the prophet exhorts, (verse 13,) That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and that you have not obeyed his voice, which so oft sounded forth unto you in his ministry. Now suffer, I beseech you, one word more of exhortation, and it is that of the apostle; " And we desire, that every one of you do show the same diligence, to the full assurance of hope to the end. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises."* Heb. vi. 11, 12. O that this may be the issue of our thoughts and meditations, as touching our deceased brother, and fellow-labourer, and your faithful minister, of our coming to the house of mourning, of our accompanying the hearse, of our solemn assembling of ourselves in this place, that we may be excited by occasion hereof, and so effectually wrought upon, that we may tread in his steps. Non est amicorum prosequi defunctos ignavo questu, sed, quep voluerint, meminisse, quae

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mandaverint, exequi. It is not sufficient for friends, that they wail a I mourn over those that are departed from them after a dull and fruitless manner, but it is by all means required that they follow the counsel and good advice they gave them, that they imitate the good example they left behind them. Let us think with ourselves, that we hear our deceased brother, and your pastor, speaking thus to us, as the apostle did to the Philippians: " Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue ; if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do." Phil. iv. 8, 9. And then we shall be in a capacity to expect the blessing there promised, and the God of peace shall be with you.

EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTHOR*S WILL.

The first clause. — 1 give and bequeath unto the President and Fellows of Magdalen College, in Oxford, for the time being, and their successors for ever, the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds, to be paid unto them by my executrix, within seven years, next after my decease; and by them, or my executrix, and overseers, to be laid out, to raise an exhibition for, and towards the maintenance of a godly poor scholar of that college, in manner and form as is here expressed, that is to say, my will is, that the scholar, to be chosen from time to time to partake of this yearly exhibition, shall be nominated, and chosen by the votes of the President, the senior Dean of Arts, and the Moderator of that form, whether logic, or philosophy, wherein the said young scholar shall be a disputant, or by any two of them. And my earnest desire, and will is, that the scholar to be nominated from time to time, to partake of this small encouragement of studiousness and piety, be such a one, and so qualified, as may give the best evidences for the present, of his sobriety, ingenuity, studiousness, and proficiency, and for the future, the best hopes of being a godly, able, and profitable minister of the gospel, in the church of Christ. It being dedicated to God, by way of thankfulness, for his mercy to me, in that college, and in way of restitution, for a sum of money, which, according to the corrupt customs of those days, I received for the resignation of my fellowship in that college.

The second clause. — And now I commend myself and them all, my dear wife and children, unto God's grace and mercy, giving thanks unto him from my soul, for revealing his Son Jesus Christ in me, and to me, and for justifying me, and his whole church, freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, and for honouring me to be a minister of the gospel. And I do humbly beseech the God of all grace and mercy, to continue and preserve the power and purity of his gospel in this land, together with a faithful and learned ministry to dispense the same. Also, my humble prayer to the God of all grace is, that he will be pleased, out of the riches of his grace and goodness, to guide and preserve all my poor children, and all his people, into all saving 1 truths.

Contents

Introduction, ----- page 25

Chapter I

Errors against the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures.

Sect. 1. Of their error, who hold the scriptures to be but

human, and so no rule to walk by, not able to

discover a divine God, 30

The scripture is of divine authority, the supreme

judge, determining in matters of faith and duty,

what is good, and what is evil, 32

Use 1. Therefore in all your actings and opinions be sure

to get scripture on your side, 37

Use 2. To vindicate the divine authority of scripture

against four sorts that weaken it, 39

1. Of papists, who set up the church's authority

above the scripture, 40

2. Of their error, who appeal from scripture to the

Spirit for trials of truth, &c, - - 40

What we allow of the Spirit's revelation, what

3. Of their error, who set up reason as the judge, 47 What use to be made of reason, and what not, 47

4. Of their error, who leave scripture, and appeal

to providences, as the rule of men's persuasions and actions, 52 What use to make of providences, 52 ) And what not, ----- 55

Quest. Into what is our faith finally resolved, and whereupon does it rest and stay itself? - - 59 Sect. 2. Of their error, who deny the authority of the Old Testament.

The ceremonial law is still a teacher of moral

Sect. 3. Whether the scriptures in English are the word of

God, and the foundation of Christian religion, 67

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The divine truth of God's word is presented to us

in our English Bibles ; 70

And how the unlearned are assured thereof, - 72

Quest. How to judge of the true sense or interpretation

of scripture, ----- 74 Sect. 4. Of their error, who teach that no writing whatsoever, whether translations or original, are the

foundation of Christian religion, 77

Eternal life is in the scriptures, and no where else, 77

The efficacy of scripture in six things, 78

How they testify of Christ, 80 Use. Reproof of them that neglect their own salvation,

because they neglect the knowledge of scripture, 82

False ends in reading scripture, 83

When hath a Christian found Christ in the scripture, 85

CHAPTER II. Errors against the nature and essence of God, and against

the Trinity, answered and cleared.

Sect. 1. God has no personal bodily shape, 88

How human parts and passions are ascribed to

God in scripture, - - 89

Sect. 2, 3. Of their error, who say, that it is a wretched distinction to distinguish between essence and person in the Godhead, 91

There are three persons in one nature of the

What a person in the Trinity is, 93

Sect. 4. Only the Son, not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost,

was incarnate to suffer for the sinning creature, 99

Sect. 5. Of their error, who teach, that God is the author.

not only of actions, but also of the depravity ana

sinfulness in them, - 102

What hand God hath in and about sin, - - 106

God's permissive will no rule of our actions, - 108

CHAPTER m.

Errors against the Deity of the Son of God.

Sect. 1. Christ, the Son of God, is true God, equal, and of the same nature, power, and eternity with the Father,- ----- HO

Sect. 2. Yet not two Sons, nor two Gods, but Christ is God

and man in one person, - - - 114

Sect. 3. Christ is Mediator according to both his natures, 118

How Christ shall be subject to his Father, - 121

The personal union, the ground of Christ's meriting, and of our access to God, - 122

Chapter IV

it is betw Christ and us.

Of the union that is between God and Christ, and between

CONTENTS. XXI

Sect. 1. There is a strict union between Christ and the

Father, and between Christ and us ; - - 125

Dock Of a threefold union in scripture. 1. Essential.

2. Personal. 3. Spiritual, - 126

Sect. 2. Of the union between Christ and us, - - 129

Sect. 3. The manner and means by which it is made, - 133

Whether our union with Christ be completed without and before faith, - - - - 136 Why it is necessary, - - - 138 Uses. Comforts and privileges arising out of our union

with Christ, - - - - 139

How our union with Christ may be tried and evidenced, ------ 142

Chapter V

Errors against the Deity of the Holy Ghost cleared.

Sect. 1. The Holy Ghost is a person in the Trinity to be

worshipped and glorified, - - - 149

The word of God, and the works of the Holy

Ghost, show him to be God, - - - 150

Sect. 2. Jin Spiritus Sanctus sit nuda virtus Dei patris } - 153

Quest. Whether the indwelling of the Spirit in the godly,

is only of the gifts, or also of his person, - 156

The Holy Ghost is worshipped, - 157

The properties of God are ascribed unto him, - 158

Sect. 3. Of the sin against the Holy Ghost, - - 159

Consolations to the weak and troubled, showing

who do not sin against the Holy Ghost, - - 165

And terror to the presumptuous, - - - 168

Sect. 4. Of quenching the Spirit, - 170

When, how, and by whom is the Spirit quenched, 170

Beware of quenching the Spirit, - - - 174

Helps to preserve you from that great sin, - 176

Chapter VI

Errors against God's eternal decree of election and reprobation, cleared and answered.

Sect. 1. Of predestination, and what it is, - - 179

Sect. 2. The elect, and none but they, shall be saved, - 182

This doctrine is no hinderance to piety, nor holy

endeavours, ----- 189

But a furtherance thereunto, - 190

God's love is infinite, though but few be saved, - 192

Sect. 3, God chooses some, and passes by others in the same condition, and that without respect to faith, or works foreseen, as a consideration moving him thereunto, - - 194

1. We are chosen in Christ, - 195

Not without respect to Christ. - - 196

XX11 CONTENTS.

2. God does not ordain any to damnation, but sinners, and for sin, both original and actual. - 199

Yet foreseen faith in the one, and unbelief in the other, are not as conditions or qualifications required in the parties elected or rejected, - 202

A brief examination of the doctrine of Arrainians touching election and reprobation : they err in four things, ----- 203

Three arguments against election upon faith foreseen, ------ 210

Some passages of Romans ix. considered, - 214

Some objections of the author of " God's Love to

Mankind," proposed and answered, - - 217

In particular, three objections answered, - 220

Odious absurdities falsely charged on our doctrine

of election, removed, - 224

Whether God is bound to give ability to believe,

to all those to whom the gospel is preached, - 225

Sect. 4. The reprobate condition of men and angels shall

be regained, ----- 226

CHAPTER VII. Errors about original sin, &c

Sect. 1. Of God's covenant of life and obedience with Adam. 231

Sect. 2. Adam, by transgressing that first covenant, diet plunge himself and all his posterity into a state of sin and death, - 232

The effects of that transgression upon his posterity, - - - - - - 235

Quest. How all sinned in Adam, - 237

Three particular evils we received from Adam, 1. Imputation of his sin. 2. Corruption of our nature. 3. Death, 239 Some objections cleared, ... 241 Quest. What death it is that was threatened to Adam's

transgression, ----- 244

Some objections answered, - 246

Sect. 3. All mankind continue and lie under that sad state of sin and death, till they are regenerated, and effectually planted into Christ, the second Adam, by whom alone we have deliverance, - - 248

Use. To bewail our cursed estate in nature, - - 251

CHAPTER VIII. Errors against Jesus Christ our Mediator

Sect. 1. Of their error, who deny that Christ purchased