The arraignment of slander periury blasphemy, and other malicious sinnes shewing sundry examples of Gods iudgements against the ofenders. As well by the testimony of the Scriptures, and of the fathers of the primatiue church as likewise out of the reportes of Sir Edward Dier, Sir Edward Cooke, and other famous lawiers of this kingdome. Published by Sir William Vaughan knight.

LINEAMENT V.

1 The description of the Holy Ghost.

2 How the Catholike Church was preserued from vtter ruine in time of Poperie.

3 That the misprision and contempt of the Holy Ghost, wrought the ru∣ine, first of the Easterne Church, and then of the Westerne.

4 Why this third person in Trinity is peculiarly termed Holy.

5 The manner to discerne them that be possessed with the Holy Ghost, and why S. Paul in his Epistles salutes men in the name of the Father, and the Sonne, omitting the Holy Ghost.

6 What it is to sinne against the holy Ghost.

7 The Authours supplication to the Trinity for his presumptuous dis∣course.

OVt of the incomprehensible Deity likewise issued the Spirit of spirits, the third person in Trinity, our holy Iehouah, as the meane of the other two Diuine persons, namely, of Ieho∣uah

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vnbegotten, and of Iehouah begotten: I say, the meane of the vnbegotten and begotten in respect of the Elect produced, propagated, or rather proceeding from both their wils; the oyle of gladnesse, the fiery Comforter, * 1.1 the Messenger of zeale, the Schoole-master of true loue, the miraculous power of God, the finger of God, which * 1.2 wrought miracles, and plagued the Egyptians, the Trea∣surer of sundry pretions iewels, as of Prophesie, Faith, Charity, diuersities of tongues, and other diuine gifts, the water of life, the wel of water, springing vp vnto euerlasting * 1.3 life: The mysticall seale of loue betwixt the Father and the Sonne; or to speake more naturally, the Sacramentall influence of both their actions, immanent and transient. Euen as it pleased God at Whitsuntide, about seuen weekes after Easter, and after the redemption of the Israelites from * 1.4 the bondage of Egypt, to giue them the law of the tenne Commandements at Mount Sinai, and that not priuate∣ly, but publiquely before all the Congregation; so it pleased his Diuine Maiesty at Whitsuntide, about seuen weekes after Easter, being the time of our Redemption from the bondage of Hel, to inspire his Elect with his ho∣ly spirit openly, before many witnesses of Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and men of diuers Nations, as it is writ∣ten, Suddenly there came a sound from heauen, as of a rush∣ing and a mighty winde, and it filled all the house where they * 1.5 sate. There appeared vnto them clouen tongues like fire, and it sate vpon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the spirit gaue them vtterance. But here is the difference worthy of obseruation, that euen as there on Mount Si∣nay, Iehouah the Sonne descended downe to the Israelites with fearefull thunder and lightning, to signifie thereby the wrath of God the Father, for the breach of his lawes: so here Iehouah the Holy Ghost descends (as the Angell of Christ) not in fire of fury, but in fire of loue and zeale; not with the loud voyce of a Trumpet, but with the sound

of winde, making a peaceable and still noise, because the Gospell comforts the deiected man. This is that spiritu∣all Angell, which inspires the Angels of heauen to ho∣nour their Creator, which breathes into them the know∣ledge of all goodnesse, which sanctified the Virgins wombe, which reuealed to the Prophets mysteries, and things to come. This holy Spirit regenerates the inward man, quickeneth our dull mindes, (like as the Sunne with his vegetatiue heat nourisheth the barrennest earth) and insinuates himselfe into the zealous professours of the Gospell effectually, mystically, and miraculously. This is that Spirit of God, which moued at the creation of the * 1.6 world vpon the face of the waters. This is that Spirit of sanctification, which descended down from heauen in the like∣nesse * 1.7 of a Done, and sate vpon our Sauiour Christ.

This is that spirituall Light, whose vniuersall presence is neuer absent from the Lordes Spouse, the Catholicke * 1.8 Church: euen as hitherunto euer since the Ascension of our Sauiour, his pure power hath vouchsafed to preserue her from vtter damnation in some Countrey or other. When Idolatry ouer-swayed these Westerne parts of the world, doubtlesse the Lord had his Spouse eyther in Mos∣couia, Greece, Armenia, Aethiopia, or some other Regi∣on: and perhaps in one or two housholds, as heretofore fell out in Adams, Noahs, and Abrahams time. This the Apostle in the Apocalyps manifesteth, when as he prophe∣sied, that 1 1.9 she should flie into a Wildernesse, and soiourne therefor feare of the Dragon, or Antichristian deceite; 2 1.10 while faith was departed, and 3 1.11 Gods two testimonies lay dead and despised. O yee that go vnder the naked name of Catholikes, marke how well the concordance of these three places Propheticall answeres your stentorean voci∣feration, on Priestly succession. It is dangerous to mea∣sure Illumination, or any other mentall gift of the holy Ghost, according to mistaking times, or mens traditions: for the Gold-smith that softneth, hardneth, and tempe∣teth

the mettall at his owne free and secret pleasure, may cause his old iewels to be newly in request, and distribu∣ted againe, as it were by degrees, or nurses milke by little and little, for Our reconciliation to the Lord of life, the Lambe that leades to the liuing fountaines of waters, or to * 1.12 these Royall Magazins and shops of the Spirit.

Euen as this Spirit speakes in the hearts of true Gos∣pellers, without any noyse of wordes, and moueth them * 1.13 oestro miraculoso; so the misprision of this Al-quickning Spirit, made our forefathers subiect to schismes, heresies, and superstition; and wrought the ruine of the Easterne Church, their chiefe Imperiall Citie of Constantinople (as it is said) being taken on a Whitsunday, our festiuall time of the holy Ghost. And at this day, if we strictly examine our consciences, we shall finde the originall fountaine of all our errours, Detractions, defamations, and other infinite pollutions, to arise from our hardnesse of hearts, in not glorifying our most glorious God, and seeking after this Spirit of consolation, who is the third person in Trinity. As our Sauior Christ said to his disciples, Go and teach alna∣tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Sonne, * 1.14 and of the holy Ghost. And as the Apostles taught, There are three which beare record in heauen, the Father, the Word * 1.15 and the holy Ghost, and these three are one.

But why is the third person in Trinity peculiarly ter∣med the Holy Spirit? Is not the Father Holy, and the Son * 1.16 Holy? God forbid that I should hold the contrary. The Father is a holy Spirit, and the Sonne a holy Spirit; yet notwithstanding, because Holinesse or Sanctification to∣wards mankinde proceedes from loue, which loue is sent or produced from their mutuall will; from the Father by election in loue, and from the Sonne by his word and re∣demption in loue, this Holinesse, as a Tertian or third in∣fluence, proceeding out of two Diuine respects towards, the saluation of mankind, is rightly attributed to the third person in Trinity, as to the Ambassadour of both their

willes: so that the whole Trinity partakes of the same. Holines, of the same Loue, of the same Will, of the same Spirit, of the same Godhead, of the same Vnity; as S. Paul very manifestly expresseth in these wordes: Endeuourye to keepe the vnity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace; one bo∣dy * 1.17 and one Spirit, euen as ye are called all in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one Faith, one Baptisme; one God and Fa∣ther of all, which is aboue all, and through all, and in you all. So that whatsoeuer name or power is ascribed to anyone peculiar person of the Trinity, the same is meant of the whole Trinity. The Father is called the Spirit of God, the Sonne the Spirit of God, and the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God: yea, the Father is the Spirit of him (of whom S. Paul speakes) that raised vp Iesus from the dead; the Sonne is that Spirit that raised himselfe, and the Holy Ghost the * 1.18 same Spirit. The Sonne is the Father, and the Holy Ghost is in the Father: the Sonne is the euerlasting Father. This the Prophet witnesseth, when as hee names Christ, the * 1.19 mighty God, and euerlasting Father. But when they are seuerally named or distinguished into persons, that sense or morall is to be vnderstood parable-wise, as including the mysteries of our saluation, which our humane capa∣cities cannot otherwise rightly apprehend. For euen as a Prince in his prudence, loue, an I wisedome; and for the more honorable establishment of his Monarchy or King∣dome, authorizeth his sonne, and some other as his Chan∣celour, to impart his lawes vnto his subiects, and to go∣uerne them in order, whereby their power becommeth equall; so let vs conceiue, that the glorious Trinity is but one Diuine and essentiall power, all alike, all equall, and of one authority; onely for the glory of the Godhead, and for the mysterie of our Redemption, the Trinity is really distinguished to the view of the inward man, whose wil is stirred vp to meditate vpon the personall relation of their functions and offices, which they deriue one to another.

But how shall we discerne who is possessed with the Holy Ghost▪ To be possessed with the Holy Ghost, is as * 1.20 much to s••y, as to be possessed with the giftes of the Holy Ghost, namely, with saith, humility, and other Diuine gifts. Of these his gifts some are visible, some in••isible, some abundant some restrained. With the former the A∣postles and Prophets were miraculously inspired; with the latter all we, who according to our Christian profession, doe protest to fight in this life against the world, the flesh and the Deuill doe hope to be possessed through grace, according to the measure of Christs gift. The branch that drawes not iuyce and life out of this spirituall Vine, is ad∣iudged * 1.21 dead: for what amity can there be betwixt light and darkenesse, betwixt life and death? The chiefest gift of the Holy Ghost is saith; which is a spirituall light, en∣lightning our liues with the Gospell, & with the beames of good workes, causing vs to loue all men after his owne example, who communicates his Sunne to the iust and vniust. And if we may lawfully boast of any gifts of the Holy Ghost, ingraffed by his powerfull Maiesty in our hearts, then surely may wee glory of our Illummation, wherwith we are enlightned vndeseruedly in these daies. Neither is it possible for vs in these dayes to obtaine a more visible measure of spirituall gifts, by reason that our mindes are captiuated vnto coueteousnesse, enuie, and o∣ther vncleane thoughts, by reason that our bodies are pampered with gluttony, drunkennesse, eating and drin∣king without appetite or necessity: and by reason that we dare not, in respect of these pollutions, and of our vn∣worthinesse, communicate one with another the Lords holy Supper but very seldome; whereby the gifts of the Holy Ghost might be multiplied and increased in vs. As long as we are carnal and worldly minded, our soules are farre from these gifts of the Spirit, which the Apostle like∣wise calles the fruits of the Spirit, as loue, ioy, peace, long suf∣fering, * 1.22 gentlenesse goodnesse, faith, meekenesse, and tempe∣rance.

They that are Christs, doe endeuour to follow his Fathers will. And what is the will of the Father? Euen our sanctification and vnion in the Spirit. For euen as the carnall coniunction of man and wife makes of them one flesh; so the spirituall coniunction of Christ and the sanctified soule makes of them one spirit, so they that are vnited in the Spirit, are vnited in their willes; and they that are vnited in their willes, are vnited in their actions. They that follow Christs actions, doe labour in all humi∣lity, to attaine vnto these gifts of the Holy Ghost. But first, they must tame their bodies with fasting. And here I giue you one note worthy the consideration, that whereas S. Paul in all his Epistles makes often mention▪ and sendeth often salutations in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, not ioyning the Holy Ghost in plaine litterall wordes with them, he doth it, because it was the Holy Ghost himselfe that spake through the mouth of Paul in those Epistles. And whatsoeuer he wrote, he wrote by commandement and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, whose office and function was to signifie vnto the Church the will of the other two persons in Trinity. So that the naming of the Holy Ghost was needlesse, while the Elect vnderstand, that it was He which spake, and that Paul was no other then as Moyses to God, or as Baruch to Ieremy, that is, the Notary or Scribe of the Spirit; and as it is else-where specified, a chosen vessell. This himselfe protested in these words; If any man thinke himselfe a * 1.23 Prophet or spirituall let him know, that the things which I write vnto you are the commandements of the Lord.

There is no sinne more detestable, nor more difficult * 1.24 to be forgiuen, then the sinne against this Spirit of God. Dost thou wantonly detract from God the Father, and de∣nie thine owne and the worlds creation by his omnipotent word? Search the Scriptures, repeale thy detractions, and vpon thy recantation thou shalt receiue remission. Dost thou blaspheme the Sonne of the euer-liuing God, and

belie his Incarnation, his Passion, his Resurrection? Reade ouer the new Testament, remember to compare the same in an euen ballance, with the Prophesies of Esay, and the rest of the Lords holy Legates, and it may be, thine eyes will be opened, and thou wilt renounce thine errours by the bright light of the holy Spirit. But, silly soule, what wilt thou doe, if this glorious Spirit comes not neere thee? Where then wilt thou expect forgiuenesse of thy blaspemies? Nay, how caust thou expect, or aske forgiue∣nesse, seeing that without his operation the fruites of re∣pentance can no more spring in thy faithlesse heart, then the Apples of Paradise could fall into the hands of Tan∣talus in hell? All other sinnes are pardonable, and there∣fore termed debts or trespasses: Onely this sinne against the Holy Ghost is Treason in the highest degree, against the whole Godhead his crowne and dignity, by reason that his personall subsistence was produced both from the Father and the Sonne, and propagated vnto vs euen from our Baptisme; so that to sinne against his authori∣tie, is to sinne against the whole Maiesty of the sacred Trinity, and against our owne soules, being created by the Father, redeemed by the Sonne, and sanctified by the Ho∣ly Ghost. Chiefly, those reprobates are guilty of this vn∣pardonable sinne, which sometimes hauing had great feeling, great vnderstanding of the word of God (and per∣haps especiall inspiration of the Holy Ghost, as Ananias and Saphira had) if such persons afterwards without neede do fall into malitious Apostasies, causelesse Hypo∣crisies, and contumacious blasphemies against the sancti∣fied Church of Christ in their words, works, & thoughts, ending also their liues without repentance, doubtlesse they incurre the penalty of this irremissible sinne for this their spirituall fornication. But to discerne who they be particularly that offend in this height of sinne, in my iudgement very few or none can vndertake that charge in these dayes, because we haue not that gift of the Holy

Ghost, namely, of discerning Spirits, as apparantly as the Apostles had.

To conclude these excellent exorcismes against the spitefull spirit of Detraction, O ••riumphant Trinity▪ di∣stinguished * 1.25 really, and indistinct essentially, not into three Gods (as that holy Martyr protested) nor into three incar∣nated▪ but into three of the same degree, of the same honour, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, * 1.26 whose powerfull Maiesty vnited and i∣dentified in one eternall Deity, the celestial spirits loue to contemplate, and we earthly Pilgrims long to see, Here I your vnworthy seruant, prostrating my soule in all humi∣lity, doe craue remission in the dust and ashes for my sim∣ple speaking of your intellectuall substance. O God of endlesse bounty, direct my vnskilfull pen, that it stray not too much from the rule of verity, nor lay down any thing but with reuerend shame of my blinde and bluntish ig∣norance, concerning thy Heauenly vertues, thy blessed Guarde, and holy Hoste; let them which reade this Trea∣tise, beare nothing in their hearts away, saue that, which is conformable to the square of wholsome doctrine. In∣flame my spirit with true zeale, the true seale of thy sa∣cred Spirit, that it may soare vp like an Eagle, to the sunne of thy Grace, with feruencie founded on Diuine discretion; for feruency is but foolish fury without Di∣uine discretion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 45.
• * 1.2

  Exod. 3.
• * 1.3

  Ioh. 4.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 19.
• * 1.5

  Act. 2.
• * 1.6

  Gen. 1.
• * 1.7

  Mat. 3.
• * 1.8

  2
• 1 1.9

  Apoc. 12.
• 2 1.10

  2. Thes. 2.
• 3 1.11

  Apoc. 11.
• * 1.12

  Apoc. 7.
• * 1.13

  3
• * 1.14

  Mat. 28.
• * 1.15

  1. Ioh. 5.
• * 1.16

  4
• * 1.17

  Ephes. 4.
• * 1.18

  Rom. 8.
• * 1.19

  Esay. 9.
• * 1.20

  5
• * 1.21

  Ephes. 4.
• * 1.22

  Gal. 5.
• * 1.23

  1. Cor. 14.
• * 1.24

  6
• * 1.25

  7
• * 1.26

  Ignatius in Epist. ad Phi••ippenses.