But I should conceive the word preached, being in that which it signifieth, a divine sign, and indeed the word of God, as the scripture every where calls it, and a real message from heaven, may, and (I nothing doubt) doth contribute an organical, instrumental, active influence to the begetting of faith, but ever as it is elevated as it were above it self, and above the nature and sphere of a mere vocal, and audible sound, and powered by the Spirit. Now I should think it but curiosity to inquire how the Spirit and word are united in the working of faith: for let those, that ask,1 show the union between bread eaten and the nutritive power that turneth bread, and transsubstantiateth it into blood, and flesh, and worketh the last work which Physicians call [Greek or Hebrew] or assimilation, the very substantial turning of bread into a piece of the child's hand, foot, shoulder to cause the parts and members increase and grow to the stature and real bigness of a perfect man. I shall not think that the Spirit entereth into the bodily sound of words, and cometh along enclosed in it, to the hearers soul▪ and makes him believe. I rather think with learned Pemble, that the Spirit quickeneth rather the dead man that heareth the word, then the dead letter of the word: for the Holy Gho•• never so far reproached the word of God as to call it a dead letter in the sense of Schwenkfeldians, Familists and Antinomians, whose mind is that word and seals and all ordinances ⟨p. 38⟩are but the Alphabet to unconverted men, as Jo. Valdesso saith, and so say they of Images and Crucifixes that are as books to teach the ignorant and rude,2 but when men are once Justified, called, regenerated they have no more need of word, and ordinances of obliging Laws to lead them, awe them, teach, direct, or oblige or command them, then a learned man hath need to go back to the Catechise and learn the abc and spell and read again; Therefore the word doth but prepare and dispose the outward man, say they, and when men are perfect as they are, being once Justified, and as sinless and clean as Christ: honeycomb, c. 3. pag. 25. Saltmarsh, free grace, pag. 140 and their sins are but seeming and imaginary not really and truly sins, Saltmarsh free grace. 32.142.154. Town asser. grace 39 40. honeycomb Chap. 5.47. Den, man of sin. pag. 9, 10, 11.
But I should conceive the word preached, being in that which it signifieth, a divine signe, and indeed the word of God, as the scripture every where calls it, and a reall message from heaven, may, and (I nothing doubt) doth contribute an organicall, instrumentall, active influence to the begetting of faith, but ever as it is elevated as it were above it selfe, and above the nature and sphere of a meere vocall, and audible sound, and powered by the Spirit. Now I should thinke it but curiosity to inquire how the Spirit and word are united in the working of faith: for let those, that aske,1 shew the union betweene bread eaten and the nutritive power that turneth bread, and transsubstantiateth it into blood, and flesh, and worketh the last worke which Physitians call 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or assimulation, the very substantiall turning of bread into a peece of the childs hand, foot, shoulder to cause the parts and members increase and grow to the stature and reall bignesse of a perfect man. I shall not thinke that the Spirit entereth into the bodily sound of words, and commeth along inclosed in it, to the hearers soule▪ and makes him beleeve. I rather thinke with learned Pemble, that the Spirit quickneth rather the dead man that heareth the word, then the dead letter of the word: for the Holy Gho•• never so farre reproached the word of God as to call it a dead letter in the sense of Swenckefeldians, Familists and Antinomians, whose minde is that word and seales and all ordinances ⟨p. 38⟩are but the Alphabet to unconverted men, as Io. Valdesso saith, and so say they of Images and Crucifixes that are as bookes to teach the ignorant and rude,2 but when men are once Iustified, called, regenerated they have no more need of word, and ordinances of oblieging Lawes to lead them, awe them, teach, direct, or obliege or command them, then a learned man hath need to goe backe to the Catechise and learne the abc and spel and read againe; Therefore the word doth but prepare and dispose the outward man, say they, and when men are perfect as they are, being once Iustified, and as sinlesse and cleane as Christ: honycombe, c. 3. pag. 25. Saltmarsh, free grace, pag. 140 and their sinnes are but seeming and imaginary not really and truly sinnes, Saltmarsh free grace. 32.142.154. Towne asser. grace 39 40. honycombe Chap. 5.47. Den, man of sinne. pag. 9, 10, 11.
- 1Of the union of the Word and Spirit.
- 2Valdesso divine consider 32 p. 106, 107. Antinomians make the Scripture but a Catechism for babes, and fruitless and useless to believers.Valdesso divine consider 32 p. 106, 107. An•inomians make the Scripture but a Catechisme for babes, and fruitlesse and uselesse to beleevers.
