Their Adversaries confess, that they are found for the most Part free from the Abominations which abound among others; yet they count those Things Vices in them, which in themselves they extol as notable Virtues, and make more Noise about the Escape of one Quaker, than of an Hundred among themselves [451].
They destroy not the mutual Relation that is betwixt Prince and People, Master and Servant, Father and Son, nor do they introduce Community of Goods, [452].
Nor say, that one Man may not use the Creation more or less than another, [453].
R
Ranters, The Blasphemy of the Ranters or Libertines, saying, that there is no Difference betwixt Good and Evil, [213].
Reconciliation, How Reconciliation with God is made, [174] to [180].
Recreations; See Plays.
Redemption is considered in a twofold Respect; First, Performed by Christ without us; And Secondly, Wrought in us, [171], [172].
It is universal: God gave his only begotten Son Jesus Christ for a Light, that whosoever believeth in him may be saved, [85], [131], [132].
The Benefit of his Death is not less universal than the Seed of Sin, [86], [87].
There is scarce found any Article of the Christian Religion that is so expresly confirmed in the Holy Scriptures, [95] to [101].
This Doctrine was preached by the Fathers (so called) of the first six hundred Years, and is proved by the Sayings of some, [101], [102], [103].
Those that since the Time of the Reformation have affirmed it, have not given a clear Testimony how that Benefit is communicated to all, nor have sufficiently taught the Truth, because they have added the absolute Necessity of the outward Knowledge of the History of Christ; yea, they have thereby given the contrary Party a stronger Argument to defend their precise Decree of Reprobation, among whom were the Remonstrants of Holland, [87], [88], [103] to [105].
God hath now raised up a few illiterate Men to be Dispensers of this Truth, [107], [108], [149], [150].
This Doctrine sheweth forth the Mercy and Justice of God, [108], [124].
It answers to the whole Tenor of the Gospel Promises and Threats, ibid.
It magnifies and commends the Merits and Death of Christ, ibid.
It exalts above all the Grace of God, ibid.
It overturns the false Doctrine of the Pelagians, Semi-pelagians, and others, who exalt the Light of Nature, and the Freedom of Man’s Will, ibid.
It makes the Salvation of Man solely to depend upon God, and his Condemnation wholly and in every Respect to be of himself, [109].
It takes away all Ground of Despair, and seeds none in Security, ibid.
It commends the Christian Religion among Infidels, ibid.
It sheweth the Wisdom of God, ibid.
And it is established, though not in Words, yet by Deeds, even by those Ministers that oppose this Doctrine, ibid.
It derogates not from the Atonement and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but doth magnify and exalt it, [115].
There is given to every one (none excepted) a certain Day and Time of Visitation, in which it is possible for them to be saved, [107], [125] to [133].
The Testimony of Cyrillus concerning this Thing, [130], [131].
It is explained what is understood and not understood by this Day, [111].
To some it may be longer, to others shorter, ibid.
Many may outlive their Day of Visitation, after which there is no Possibility of Salvation to them, ibid.
Some Examples are alledged, ibid.
The Objections and those Places of Scripture which others abuse, to prove that God incites Men necessarily to sin, are easily solved, if they be applied to these Men, after the Time of their Visitation is past, [111], [125].
There is given to every one a Measure of the Light, Seed, Grace, and Word of God, whereby they can be saved, [107], [108], [125], [137] to [144].
Which is also confirmed by the Testimonies of Cyrillus and others, [135] to [143].
What that Light is; See Light.
Many though ignorant of the outward History, yet have been sensible of the Loss that came by Adam, which is confirmed by the Testimonies of Plato and others, [159], [160].
Many have known Christ within, as a Remedy to redeem them, though not under that Denomination, witness Seneca, Cicero, and others, [159], [160], [161].
Yet all are obliged to believe the outward History of Christ to whom God bringeth the Knowledge of it, [115].
Reformation, wherein it is not placed, [241], [242].
Mechanick Men have contributed much to it, [280], [281].
It is a new Doctrine, and Augustine laid the first Foundation thereof, which Dominicus, Calvin, and the Synod of Dort maintained, [89], [103], [104].
Also Luther, whom notwithstanding Lutherans afterwards deserted, [103], [104].
It is injurious to God, and makes him the Author of Sin; proved by the Sayings of Calvin, Beza, Zanchius, Paræus, Martyr, Zuinglius, and Piscator, [90], [91].
It makes the preaching of the Gospel a mere Mock and Illusion, [92].
It makes the Coming of Christ, and his Propitiatory Sacrifice to have been a Testimony of God’s Wrath, ibid.
It is injurious to Mankind, and makes his Condition worse than the Condition of Devils, Beasts, Jews under Pharaoh, and the same which the Poets applied to Tantalus, [93].
Revelation, God always manifested himself by the Revelations of the Spirit, [iii.][14], [15], [43].
Yea, it is horrible Sacrilege to accuse them of Uncertainty, [28].
The Examples of the Anabaptists of Munster do not a Whit weaken this Doctrine, [36], [39], [42].
They can never contradict the Holy Scripture, nor sound Reason, [iii.][43], [65].
They are evident and clear of themselves, nor need they another’s Testimony, [iii.][43], [44].
They are the only, sure, certain, and unmoveable Foundation of all Christian Faith, [45].
Carnal Christians judge them nothing necessary; yea, they are hissed out by the most Part of Men, [5].
Of old none were esteemed Christians save those that had the Spirit of Christ; but now-a-days he is termed an Heretick who affirms that he is led by it, [28].
The Testimonies of some concerning the Necessity of these Revelations, [6] to [9], [27], [28].
By whose and what Devices they have been brought out of Use, [106].
Sacraments, of their Number, Nature, &c. how much Contention there hath been, and that the Word Sacrament is not found in Scripture, but borrowed from the Heathens, [356], [357], [385].
Its Definition will agree to many other Things, [358].
Scriptures of Truth, whence they proceeded, and what they contain, [48].
They are a Declaration of the Fountain, and not the Fountain itself, ibid.
They are not to be esteemed the adequate primary Rule of Faith and Manners, but a secondary, and subordinate to the Spirit, and why, [48] to [72], [255].
Their Certainty is only known by the Spirit, [48], [235].
They testify that the Spirit is given to the Saints for a Guide, [48], [61], [66], [71].
Their Authority depends not upon the Church, or Council, nor upon their intrinsick Virtue, but upon the Spirit; nor is it subjected to the corrupt Reason of Men, but to the Spirit, [48], [63].
The Testimonies of Calvin, the French Churches, the Synod of Dort, and the Divines of Great Britain at Westminster concerning this Thing, [49], [50].
The Contentions of those that seek the Certainty of the Scriptures from something else than the Spirit, ibid.
Divers Opinions of the Fathers (so called) concerning some Books, ibid.
Concerning the Taking away, and the Corruption of same Places; the Translation, Transcription, and various Lections of the Hebrew Character, and of the Greek Books, the Interpretation of the Septuagint, concerning the Hebrew Books, and of admitting or rejecting some Books, [60], [61].
Of the Difficulty in their Explanation, [64], [65].
Augustine’s Judgment concerning the Authors of the Canonical Books, and concerning the Transcription and Interpretation, [61], [62].
The Use of them is very profitable and comfortable, [51], [63], [64].
The Seed of Sin is transmitted from Adam unto all Men, but it is imputed to none, no not to Infants, except they actually join with it by Sinning, [73], [81] to [84].
They think Reason is the chief Rule and Guide of Faith, [24], [25], [37].
Albeit many have abused Reason, yet they do not say, that any ought not to use it; and how ill they argue against the inward and immediate Revelations of the Holy Spirit, [36] to [39].
Yet they are forced ultimately to recur unto them, [44], [45].
They exalt too much their natural Power, and what they think of the Saving Light, [147].
Suffering, How Paul filled up that which was behind of the Afflictions of Christ; how any are made Partakers of the Sufferings of Christ, and conformable to his Death, [216].