A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

2 Because he is greater in truth; men may err, but God cannot lye, Tit. 1.2, 3. Rom. 4.2.

2 Because he is greater in truth; men may erre, but God cannot lye, Tit. 1.2, 3. Rom. 4.2.

2 This testimony is more evident, to make a thing evident is required, 1 Objectum perspicuum. 2 Organum been affectum. 3 Medium apt dispositum.

2 This testimony is more evident, to make a thing evident is required, 1 Objectum perspicuum. 2 Organum bene affectum. 3 Medium apte dispositum.

Now God doth make this truth evident by the concurrence of all these.

2 He opens the eyes of men to discern it, to long after it, to taste of his virtue and power, Acts 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.3. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. A natural man sees nothing of this work.

2 He opens the eyes of men to discern it, to long after it, to tast of his vertue and power, Acts 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.3. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. A natural man sees nothing of this work.

3 He clears the Medium, that is, the Word and Sacraments, Prayer & Christian ⟨p. 372⟩Communion; so that whereas before we looked at them, but as beggarly rudiments, of little power or worth, after God hath once enlightened us, we see the power and virtue of God therein, so plainly, as if we had been touched by the Sun beams.

3 He clears the Medium, that is, the Word and Sacraments, Prayer & Christian ⟨p. 372⟩Communion; so that whereas before we lookt at them, but as beggerly rudiments, of little power or worth, after God hath once enlightned us, we see the power and vertue of God therein, so plainly, as if we had been touched by the Sun beams.

3 This divine testimony is far more powerful then any humane testimony, Heb. 4.12, 13. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Ordinances of God are mighty and effectual through God, so to change and renew our hearts, that no humane power is able to reach them.

3 This divine testimony is far more powerfull then any humane testimony, Heb. 4.12, 13. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Ordinances of God are mighty and effectual through God, so to change and renew our hearts, that no humane power is able to reach them.

Use 1. To refute two doctrines of the Romish Church.

Ʋse 1. To refute two doctrines of the Romish Church.

1 That the last ground-work of faith is resolved on the testimony of the Church: Ask them if they believe Jesus to be the Son of God, they say yes; ask them why? Because the Scripture say so: ask rhem, But why do you believe the Scripture? From the testimony of the Church, say they; so that their best faith is but humane credulity: But ask a true Protestant, why he believes Jesus to be the Son of God? he tells you because the Scripture say so; ask him why he believes the Scripture? he saith, not because the Church believes so, but he believes it from a testimony within himself. What say they, you trust a private spirit of your own? nay his private spirit is common with him to all believers, ever since the world was, and that spirit is no other then the Spirit of God that breatheth in all his children. Besides, he hath other witnesses in his heart, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and this is a divine testimony, greater then the witness of all the world; so that here is a double error of theirs; 1 In grounding their faith upon the Churches testimony. 2 In blaspheming the Spirit of God, for a private spirit. Fundamental errors.

1 That the last ground-work of faith is resolved on the testimony of the Church: Ask them if they believe Jesus to be the Son of God, they say yes; ask them why? Because the Scripture say so: ask rhem, But why doe you believe the Scripture? From the testimony of the Church, say they; so that their best faith is but humane credulity: But ask a true Protestant, why he believes Jesus to be the Son of God? he tels you because the Scripture say so; ask him why he believes the Scripture? he saith, not because the Church believes so, but he believes it from a testimony within himselfe. What say they, you trust a private spirit of your own? nay his private spirit is common with him to all believers, ever since the world was, and that spirit is no other then the Spirit of God that breatheth in all his children. Besides, he hath other witnesses in his heart, the Spirit, the water, and the bloud, and this is a divine testimony, greater then the witnesse of all the world; so that here is a double errour of theirs; 1 In grounding their faith upon the Churches testimony. 2 In blaspheming the Spirit of God, for a private spirit. Fundamental errours.

That Doctrine that lifts the Church from Christ, and builds it on the testimony of the Fathers and the Schools, that doctrine overthrows the foundation; for other foundation can no man lay, then what is laid already, even Jesus Christ.

2 It refutes another uncomfortable doctrine of the Romish Church, that teach, that a man cannot by divine faith have assurance of his estate in grace and salvation; for say they, all divine faith is general; thus he that repents and believes shall be saved, but I repent and believe, this say they, the Scripture no where saith: But say we, besides the testimony of the Scripture, there is a threefold witness in heaven, and three on earth, all witnessing this truth; now their testimony is divine, and therefore my faith is divine, and they all witness to this truth, that Jesus is the Son of God; and that I believing on him shall be saved.

2 It refutes another uncomfortable doctrine of the Romish Church, that teach, that a man cannot by divine faith have assurance of his estate in grace and salvation; for say they, all divine faith is generall; thus he that repents and believes shall be saved, but I repent and believe, this say they, the Scripture no where saith: But say we, besides the testimony of the Scripture, there is a threefold witnesse in heaven, and three on earth, all witnessing this truth; now their testimony is divine, and therefore my faith is divine, and they all witnesse to this truth, that Jesus is the Son of God; and that I believing on him shall be saved.

Obj. All these are but suavis quidam motus, & cannot produce a divine faith.

Answ. Can the testimony of men produce an humane certainty, and cannot three divine witnesses in heaven, and three on earth, produce more then an humane probability? If not, how doth the text say, their testimony is greater then the testimony of men?

Answ. Can the testimony of men produce an humane certainty, and cannot three divine witnesses in heaven, and three on earth, produce more then an humane probabilty? If not, how doth the text say, their testimony is greater then the testimony of men?

Object. How comes it to pass then, that this witness is so low sometimes, that we can hardly discern it?

Object. How comes it to passe then, that this witnesse is so low sometimes, that we can hardly discern it?

Answ. We so grieve the Spirit of God sometimes, that he delights not to reveal himself to us; but this is our own fault, that we so black this evidence, that we cannot read it; but if we maintain and cherish it, it will be a strong testimony to our souls.

Answ. We so grieve the Spirit of God sometimes, that he delights not to reveal himselfe to us; but this is our own fault, that we so black this evidence, that we cannot read it; but if we maintain and cherish it, it will be a strong testimony to our souls.

Use 2. For trial of our faith; wouldst thou know whether thy faith be true or not? If it be, it will convey a double trinity of witnesses into thy heart, witnessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he came by water and blood. If you should resolve most mens faith into its principle, you should find most mens faith built upon antiquity, and authority, and universal consent of all men: Why, if these be the best grounds of thy saith, the Devil hath better grounds of faith then so; but if thou find this truth confirmed to thee, by the testimony of Gods Spirit within thee, this faith will hold trial.

Ʋse 2. For tryal of our faith; wouldst thou know whether thy faith be true or not? If it be, it will convey a double trinity of witnesses into thy heart, witnessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he came by water and bloud. If you should resolve most mens faith into its principle, you should find most mens faith built upon antiquity, and authority, and universall consent of all men: Why, if these be the best grounds of thy saith, the Divel hath better grounds of faith then so; but if thou find this truth confirmed to thee, by the testimony of Gods Spirit within thee, this faith will hold tryall.