Doxologia; or Glory to the Father the Churches hymne, reduced to glorifying of the Trinity, in life, the Christians dutie, at Edinburth, by Will. Annand, M.A. one of the ministers of that city, late of Univers. Coll. Oxon.

DOXOLOGIA; OR, GLORY TO THE Holy GHOST. REDUCED TO PRACTICE; Tolbooth-Church, June 4. 1671.

1 PETER 4.14.

If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glo∣rified.

IT is no limitation to the Rambling and Roaving Fancy of the Lewd and Subtile, beholding eminency,

and pregnancy attending the parts of others, to traduce and endeavour to frustrate the paying of that Obligation of Honour and Re∣spect, which by Merit, is vertuously due to ••hose so qua••ified. But a certain Species of ••rmented envy is perceptible in the World, against the glorious God himself, for magni∣fying of his Son and sending forth of His Spirit. Men not only presuming to list ex∣ceptions and Buts of unsavoury restaints, for discharging just and full commendation ••f persons like themselves; But daring to defame with the Jew, the exalted Name of Christ; though his works, and their per∣swasion, testifie him to be God, sometimes ••penly in Ridicule, or Scorn, and ofttimes Covertly in Perfidie, or Treachery in postures of friendship & alliance, in significant Rites, and Expressions, Judas-like exposing him to the scorn of the base and contemptible; yea, no person in the Trinity, by their steel'd behaviour, escapes unspattered in obloquy, the Father having no Honour in his provi∣dence, the Son no respect in his Mediations, the Holy Ghost no Reverence in his effects and operations; that Spirit of Glory being re∣proached, blasphem'd, that is, evil spoken of by some in his nature, by some in his Acts, by others in his Gifts, by many in the Man∣ner of his being.

Hoping better things of you, and for pro∣curing the things that accompany salvation; we shall, for procuring the Holy Ghost his due Glory and Religious Veneration, sink our plummet in these (though deep) waters, descrying first, wherein his glory consisteth; next, how in practice that Glory may be ascribed to him.

SECT. I.

Praying for the assistance of that blessed Spirit, in clearing so dark a Theme, we enter upon laying the first Stone for build∣ing of his glory, in our Assurance, and owning of his Deity: for from this, must all other arguments for renown commence; And without this, Glory were neither his Due, nor our Debt; Therefore must it be prefixed, as an undoubted and an indis∣pensible principle; yea, is it not the first step we make in our moving toward Christian profession? Being Baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Not in their Names, as being many, but in the Name, these being one among themselves though three expressed; Yet the intimation of a single Name, to that

Triplicity, enforceth a reflection upon that Unity. The second being Holy as the Third, the Third with the First, that is, equally with the preceeding two, which to us, who glorifieth the Son, in the belief of those truths he hath avowed, is methodically clea∣red, from the event that Blasphemy against him committed hath, which is, never to be forgiven, though all manner of Blasphemy against the Father and the Son shall, Matth. 12.31. Whence it is manifest, He can be no whit inferiour to the Father and the Son, the Blasphemy against him being irremissible, not that against either of the other two, which at least excludes Subjection.

On the other side, his proceeding from the Father, John 15.26. apparently evinceth, his not being above the Father, the Father being the principle whence he cometh, which confidently may be said to deny su∣periority over the Father; And his not gi∣ving of his own, his not speaking of himself to the Church, but of the Son, John 16.13. equally demonstrats him not to be more ex∣cellent then the Son, He being but as a Mes∣senger from him; So that his not being in∣feriour to the Father and Son, and in no wise Superiour to them, the Illation of this mean is good and sure, that he is equall to them,

destroying at first, and dashing in pieces that thought, which hath a tendency to make of∣fer his being a Created thing, that casting him as far under God as a Creator is remote from the Creature, and that's no lesser di∣stance then Infinity.

At the Creation the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, Gen. 1.1. So that he was at the framing of this world; and because of that, must be concluded to exist before the World: for when a Man in verity, can be said to subsist without a Soul, the E∣ternity of God shall be allowed, granting him to abide without his Spirit; which here, Brooded over the worlds Embrio, ani∣mating the same for production, infusing such vivifying heat, as might capacitate the first confused Mass, to bring forth the seve∣rall forms of things we behold, And no Question was that which dark Philosophy called afterwards the Soul of the World, be∣holding Hourly, vertue and power; emit∣ted in framing this or that being, by an un∣known workman, yet curiously to be joyn∣ted by a close Union of parts, not knowing the Scriptures, inferred the certainty of this Globs animation, whereas the Universe re∣ceived that Energy, from the Spirit of God revealed to us, to be that Spirit that search∣eth

all things; yea, the Deep things of God, 2 Cor. 2.10. Solemnly informing him to be the true God, & accordingly to be adored, no Creature being in its utmost Sagacity, able to dive into the In-fathomable Abysse of Gods deep and secret purposes; It must be the Creator that is instanced, to make Scrutiny therein, which being adjusted by the Spirit, his Deity is excellently conclu∣sive therefrom, and the verity of his God-head triumphantly inferred thereby.

Ghost, or as our old English reads Gheest, or Geist, is a name common to all, or to any Spirit, but the Expression Heiligh or Holy, discriminats God from all other, being also called the Spirit of truth. Against whose Testimony Ananias lying, He is said to lye unto God. Paul was taught his Gospel only by the Revelation of Jesus Christ, for so it pleased God, Gala. 1.15. Yet the Holy Ghost saying, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them, Acts 13.2. proves, that he must be God; fo•• God it was that first set in the Church Apostles, Secondarily Prophets, and that for his own Work, 1 Cor. 12, 18. Wherefore, while the Church fasted and prayed unto the Lord, the Holy Ghost, commanded Separation, and that for his own designed Operations, en∣forcing

the report of his being that Lord, unto whom the Church at that time did pray and fast, and who in Answer to those prayers, did appoint Preachers, and A∣postles, for himself, Barnabas and Paul for two.

The Old and New Arrians readily grant the three Persons, yet deny the Unity, owning neither the Son nor Spirit, to be called God; but as Moses was, or as Kings are (that is) from their power and Au∣thority, not their nature. Turks and Jews avouch the Unity of God, but Abjure the Trinity in the God-head: Mahomets Alcha∣ron in that Chapter called of Truth, threa∣tens those who deny his Unity, that they shall know the truth thereof in Hell-fire. But such Bug-bares need not cause us flee from this truth, Our Triplicity agreeing with Ʋnity: the Jews unity ignorantly Speaking Solitude; Our Unity, Excluding Multitude; Speaking one, the Father Son and Holy Gho••, not like the Spirit, water and blood, agree∣ing in one But being one, 1 John 5.7. That is, in Name, Honour, Glory and Eternity, as well as Purpose, Mind and Counsel, con∣trivance and design, and seen in many thing•• sensibly, being groped at in the darknesse o•• naturall Reason, by the Poets and Orator••

of old: who made Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto the great three, ruling Heaven, Sea and Hel: yet oft would unite them in that one Name Jove. There was to them seen Time past, Time present, Time to come in that Flux and—Stream of Motion, they called Time. Man hath Memory, Ʋnderstanding and Will, yet these are joyned and are one, in that indivisible thing the Soul. The sacri∣fices to the Idols, were accompanied with Prayer, Fasting and Alms. The Graces Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Pithus, goddes∣ses distinct from others, yet for ever Inse∣parably handed together, was a Fiction shewing their groping (as the Men of So∣dom for Lots door) to obtain the hidden Mystery of this Sublime Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity.

The Caldeans writ the Name God in three Letters, and these in the Center of a Circle, expressing their ignorance of First, Second and Third, as to place; yet hinting at Third, Second and First as to being. The Turk sits not down to Eat, goeth not to wash, goeth not to pray, untill first be pronounced in the Name of God, his Mercies, and the Spirit of them, which Sanctification of the Crea∣ture, by these three in practice, eludeth their Surmise of Gods singularity, taught

in their Law, that plainly, though darkly assaulting this, and peremptorly causing a perswasion of the three Persons. The He∣brew writes the ••ame Jehovah, in f••ur Let∣ters, but one (viz.) He, is twice found, in that one word, as standing in a double Relation to the other two, which the Son in the Three Persons, intelligibly doth. And all other Nations, finds the Word Spi∣rit, in the Holy Tongue, in the gender Feminine: with the Greeks it's found in the Neuter, & with the Latins in the Masculine; As if the infinity of the Spirit, and his be∣ing incomprehensible as God, could in this singular variety be even Grammaticaly dedu∣ced: that our juvenile understandings might be trained up in this necessary truth, of the Spirits Divinity. Nay where Learning was a stranger (viz.) in Peru, lately, in Temples stood an Image, called Pachacamac, believ∣ed by them, to have a Spirit, which he sent upon Earth, to execute his will, and that in his hand, he bo••e a Dart, exterminating all of bad lives; called of them Chinnequil, (i. e.) the Ghost of the Great Creator, Na∣ture, or Devil, not being ignorant of, or not daring to conceal so great and clear a truth, as the Existence of the third person rom the first.

In the Kingdom of Manopotapa, in Af∣rica, all kinds of Religion are embraced, (yet loyaltie to the Grand Tahaqui, their ••ing, Rigidely observed) the inhabitants be∣••g assured of Salvation from their friend∣••ip with all the Gods in Heaven, chiefly with Runia, Adula, Isaten, whom they call ••he Christian Gods; somewhat teaching them ••he Dominion of Three above all created Angels, Intelligences and Dominions. But ••o come nearer hand, Rome hath an Hospi∣••l dedicated to the Holy Ghost, that Church ••eing Orthodox in the Doctrine relating to ••s subsistence: and each Christian is to keep ••is Body (not to say as an Hospitall, or In∣••mary of, but) as a Temple of the Holy Ghost: And a Temple was never yet in any ••ge builded, but to One, who either was God, or so reputed; and the Spirits allow∣••ce, yea, injunctions of heeding this Temple ••nd cleaning this Temple as his, and for his own use, is apposite to refute the imperti∣••ency of his being Created: since Temples ••re made for instruction, and the knowledge ••f him being necessary for us, our Bodies are consecrated for this Important truth, that ••e is God blessed for ever. For though Eter∣••all life be Annexed to the knowledge of God ••e Father and Christ, John 17.3. Yet the

perfect knowledge of these two, when ac∣quir'd, the goodnesse which emergeth from them, being the Spirit, cannot is not pos∣sible to be concealed.

His procession or proceeding from the Father and the Son, hath not the least share of that Glory to be by us attributed to him: and hence, he is called Ghost or Spirit, not begotten as is the Son; not created, as are the Angels; but proceeding from the Es∣sence of the God-head, as a breath: A firm belief of which dark, and majestick Maxi∣me, must be opposed to all the probo••s, or arguments, Unbelief can draw from all the Topicks, when most sublimat: For though we cannot reach the Apex, or top of its Ex∣cellency; we may lay hold upon the Fund, or bottome whereon it stands, which is, Who proceedeth from the Father, John 15.26. He shall take of mine, and give it unto you, John 16.13. Which proposition mak∣eth not this conclusion Aiery, that he com∣eth from the Father and the Son, who was that Breath from the Lord, by the Word through whom the Heavens were made, and all the Hosts of them, Psal. 33.6.

The Greek Church did therefore degrade the Spirit one degree, in alledging his pro∣cedure from the ••ather only, to be seen: say

some in that it lost its Glory, Dominion, Crown and Dignity, May 29. 1453. Be∣••g the day of the year, in which the Church ••lebrates the memory of the Holy Ghost's ••ming down upon the Apostles, that is, ••hitsunday, the Turks having thereon en∣••er'd Constantinople, their Crown and City: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the da••es of Constantine the eleventh, Son to Helena, having been builded and de∣••eated, May the 5. Anno Dom. 330. By Constantine the first Son to Helena, Orthodox ••d Sound in the Faith in this particular, ••nd at this day possessed by the Grand Seig∣••or, the honour of Command being never Regained, perhaps for this one cause, among ••thers, that this Error is still continued and ••ropagated among them. Though with a ••everend Author, such deductions may be ••ft hazardous and uncertain; yet in this, ••he time, at least, is to be marked, as by the Finger of God, the Constantines therein, ••eing a matter worthy of all observance, the one being Sound, the other Corrupt, in the Doctrine of the Spirits precedure.

A studious Brain plodding about this Union and Procession of the Spirit, intend∣ing to compasse it within the Bounds, Mould ••nd Confinement of his reason, for fuller sa∣tisfaction, and clearer proof, then he sur∣mised

the Scripture afforded, was made to start by a Spirits Appearance in the Shape of a Body, with three Heads: which frighting him from further search, Concluding it too gross & Satanical; He learned greater Humi∣lity of mind, and sat down believing, without further search. In which resolution your Wisdom shall be seen, Happinesse be found: For as the Rivers flow'd from Paradise, and as waters proceed from a Fountain, so the Spirit proceeds from the Heavenly Father, with this Heavenly and Eternal difference, that what proceedeth, still abideth with the Father, preserving unity, which nature can∣not manifest; for as none can declare the Ge∣neration of the Son, so neither shall any be able to discover the processi••n of the Spirit, these things being written that we might be∣lieve, and no more, that we might still be∣lieve, and have everlasting life, begun here in that holinesse, which as proceeding from the Son and Father, he workes in us, by ver∣tue of our faith in him proceeding.

SECT. II.

TO atempt somewhat upon that Glory, we poor Creatures are to hold out unto the Holy Ghost in practice, in opposition to those

crude and unbelieving Notions, concern∣ing him in the Wor••d: Let us gird up the loins of our mind, and to death disjoyn nei∣ther our Hearts nor Tongues, strenuously maintaining him, to be the Author and In∣diter of the Holy Scriptures, in the old and new Testaments. From these alone is the will of God revealed, only in these are the Mysteries of the Deity published, they be∣ing destinate for that end. At first its true he Transmitted the contents therein by Traditi∣on, after he impressed them upon Tables of Stone, but the Church enlarging, and tra∣dition being capable of Error: He lastly writ it on writing Tables, that he who runs may Read it. The Turks as otherwise busi∣ed, Flinch from us, at every turn, going Forward and Backward, and Side-wayes at pleasure. The Jew with an untoward and Skew Countenance, keeps even pace with us untill Malachy: where if we presse him to proceed unto John the Baptist, or Jesus, he sayes, the Lord rebuke you, vowing by much, that God never writ more: and here he fixes his Foot. But Holy men of old speaking as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21. Isaiah, speaking by the Holy Ghost, Acts 28.25. The Holy Ghost himself testifying these things to us, Revel.

Apointing them to be the Norma, Rule, or Square, for Doctrine, for Reformation, for Disputation, while the World stands; yet not as Judge, but as the Judges Sen∣tence or his Decreet, or if as a Judge, not the Supreme, it being the Spirits Glory to pre∣ceed over all, in, or about the Church: And from the Mirrour of the Law, may be discovered the face of the Gospel to be of God, the resemblance being so just, in its Washings, Sacrifices, Temple, Priests &c. determining the same Spirit who writ, In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth, to have writ, composed and dictated, In the Beginning was the Word, John 1.1.

We are beholding for the Chapters of the Bible, to the Memory of the Most Reverend Father, Stephen Langton Archbishop of Can∣terbury, who Dyed Anno Dom. 1206. Ac∣cording to good Authors; and for the verses to that Exact Printer Robert Stephens, very lately: but for the Matter, or History, i•• these two contained, let us for ever glori∣fie the Holy Ghost; who registrating the Hi∣story of the Creation, the Faith of Abr••¦ham, Israels going down to Egypt, M••¦ses's travel in the wildernesse, Jobs patienc•• exercised about that time, the Royalty o•• David, the exhortations of the Prophets, th••

Birth, Death, the Resurrection of Jesus, the increase of the Church, and the hopes of the World to come; Being as bread given us by him to Eat, As Swords sharp'ned by him to fight with, untill we triumph, and have A∣bundance in the Kingdom which is above.

The greatest indignity upon this score of∣fered the Holy Ghost in this Age (if my judgement be of any weight) was by the Di∣vulgers, Believers, of those Prophesies, called of Drabicius his visions and pretend∣ed Revelations, touching the House of Au∣stria, Rome, &c. Not only by the old Man himself, given out as parallel in truth and clearnesse, to those of Isaiah, Jeremiah; and belief pressed as such, under the pain of Damnation: but received, expounded, as ear∣nestly, as the dreams of Daniel, and raptures of S. Paul. The terrible Oath compiled, and his being compelled, by the Hungarian Clergy, to swear against Iuggling, the pray∣ers before its taking, the singing of the Hymne, Come Holy Ghost; The Astonishment that fell upon, and the Tears which fell from the eyes of all beholders, are not Ner∣vous to Fetter the solid into a firm perswasi∣on, that his prophesies were in truth the words of God, the probability of delusion therein being so facile to be found from them∣selves.

His dedication prefixed before hi•• prophesies, contrary to Scripture Language or Holy practice, not being directed, a•• Burthens and Visions, to Moab, Edom, &c But poet-like and superstitious-like, ther•• were prefaceings. To the most Seren, most In∣vincible, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ; the Eternall and only begotte•• Son of God. a Style, suiting neither to the old nor new Prophets, in the old nor new Testa∣ment, in their Sermons. And to the Virgin Mary, who is the Alpha and Omega, the first born from the Dead. A prhase unbeseem∣ing a Prophet, and a Partner not becoming the Majesty of the Holy Ghost, whence it is said these predictions came.

Besides, it look'd (at least to me) scurvily, that he having found a Book of one Paul Ve∣terin, writ against him (which by the way I am sorry I could never see, nor any of that nature) in zeal took up the Sacred Book, resolving to ground a printed defence, from what places soever opened up; an Action that hath not very great Sympathy, with for∣mer Actings of Holy men of God; But the sad Luck was, that the third place, should happen in the Apocryphal book of Wisdom, and thence discourses: A Book which the Holy Ghost yet, in no Age respected so much

as to Name, and our Saviour and his Apostles in all their defences, Heeds it no more then if it had never been; yet this defence (for∣sooth) must be eyed, called for, as a∣nother Little Bible, as an appendix, a new Edition of the Blessed word of God: yea, it may be more heeded, so fond are men, of every trash that cometh with the appear∣ances of Novelty, though attended with Fals∣hood. The very contrary happening, to what that pretended Prophet had fore-spo∣ken, which yet is Caveated in his History, and urged as one Reason why he should be believed. Because we find many things threatned by the true Prophets, which for some time hath otherwise fell out, which we grant; yet its a bad Omen, that after a long Vacancy of Prophets, one should rise, and at the first dash, providence by Death and Warr, to walk in direct opposition to that which the Man sayeth, God ordered him to publish.

That Revelation commanded him to write June the 30^th 1664. I sha••l Subscrive unto (viz.) that there shall be a day of vengeance to the worshippers of Idols, and to all false worships of those that do not Rightly acknow∣ledge thee, the Tri••une God: But must, and shall demurre, upon the Revelati∣on

of that Christiana Poniatovia, a Virgin, who dyed that same year, and whose me∣mory must with some, smel like that of De∣borah, and her Prophesies, much like to Dra∣bicius's, must be Reckon'd as Authentick, a•• the Song of the Blessed Mary. And be∣sids the transgression of that established rule, prohibiting a Woman to preach (which u••∣till, or unlesse recalled, by some Stupendious an•• not to be Imagined Miracles, is now, and fo•• ever will be in force) For all her rising fro•• the Dead (Not to walk any longer in this, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to me, untroden Path) in behalf of the Scrip∣tures, I herewith cast in my protest, It is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Forgery, which I principally draw from th•• Familiar Entercourse, she is said to hav•• with God under the representation of an ol•• Man: Adding this only as a remark, that i•• this particular the Plot was somewhat cu••¦ningly layd.

God finisheth the Old Testament, wi•• the Charge of Remembering the Law 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Moses, Malach. 4.4. Lest his peop•• heeding other Teachers, should be unlim••¦ted in their Religious adherance, and c••¦ried away by the boldnesse of the Ambitio•• or Delusions of Confident, Proud or Ig••¦rant Enthusiasticks. And know we not, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the New Testament closeth with a C••

upon the Enlargers or Abridgers of its Doc∣trine, Rev. 22.19. Otherwise, whether might not the Church be Hurried by Diversity of Doctrine and brisk pretenders? For though it may be Granted, that some Devoto's may be Inspired; yet the least dissonancy from Holy writ, may justly cause somewhat more then Suspition: or admitting a Symetry, they may be looked into, Perus'd and Read, but to affront the Spirit by Incongruous and Unproportionate observes, by Firmnesse of Faith and Hope, Fear and other Qualities to Revolve the Treatises of men, though Learned, Old and Religious, upon the Charge of Damnation, by the Author, is a∣gainst the Glory, wherewith the Spirit is In∣vested on the throne of the Scriptures; God only so Speaking to us, and ordering a moul∣ding of our lives and conversation, conform to such Summons, as by his Servants, of old, and by his Son in these last da••es, in Holy writ, Promulgat and made known, and still publisheth unto us.

It is also Incumbent upon Men, to speak of the Spirits Endowing of the Ministry with Qualities and Abilities, for opening that Book; A Work Meriting great Glory, these having from him. Diversity of Gifts, One the Word of Wisdom, perswading to

things Divine; to another the Word of Know∣ledge, that by the Creatures God may b•• made manifest, 1 Cor. 12.5. For the per∣fecting of the Saints, for the Edifying of th•• Body of Christ, which is the Church of ou•• Lord, Ephes 4.12. It is He who speaketh by us unto you, and in you, through us, He making us your Overseers, as ••urely as he made those Elders of Ephesus Feede••s of that flock, Acts 20.28. Though our Call be not so Immediat, as the call of the Ap••stles was, which Immediat Call from Jesus those Ephesian Preachers also wanted with us; yet by him set apart for that Function, as we also are. Stephen disputed by the Spi∣rit, the Apostles Preached by him; And we also do, Figured in those Seventy upon wh••m God sent the Spirit of Moses, qualifying them to prophesie: not that Moses gift was there∣by Diminished, but that thei•• Vessels were filled at his Fountain, he still Remaining full himself: their Lamps Kindled at his Flame, he still burning clear himself, Numb. 11.11. That Knowledge, Light, Heat, Spi∣rit, Faith, Love, or Hope, which at Tim•• Shine Forth toward God, toward Man, toward the Gospel, and towards Heave•• by our Preaching, ought to be looked upon, not as ours, but as the Work of the Spirit,

and He Glorifi'd, not the Preacher, Accord∣ingly.

For Prophesie is not to be bounded to a predicting, or shewing things to come, but for an orderly declaring of the will of God, in speaking to Edification and Exhortation and Comfort, 1 Cor. 14.13. Which is done by the Gifts severally bestowed, in one, two or three Talents, on the Ministry, by the Holy Ghost, and for preparing people, as the voice of a Cryer, to make straight paths for their Feet; or as the wind▪ to awake them for R ceiving of the Holy Ghost, as at Pentecost. Every Sermon, being as so many Stones, for Building the Saints up in the most Holy Faith; the Contrived Method of Gods con∣verting Men from the Errour of their wayes, being the Scriptures opened and applyed; God in this Informing his Servants, his Prea∣chers, as he did David his Servant, his King, in the Matters of the Temples Materials and Structure, 1 Chro. 28.19. Making the build∣ers of his Spiritual Temples the Souls of men, to understand by writing and his Spirit upon them, how the converted should Edifie themselves, and one another, in the Faith and Love of God, He letting them know that holy Maxime oft in the Mouth of Judi∣cious Hooker: That the Scripture was not

writ, to beget Pride and Disputations, and Opposition to Government; But Humility, and Obedience, and Peace, and Piety in Man∣kind.

This sure is the cause that maketh the Rude Russians to speak so Respectfully of their Churches, that when Destroyed by Fire, they say not, They are burned, but they are Ascended, or gone up: As if the place wherein the Holy Spirit gave them Lessons of Holy Deportment, and endowed them by preaching to aspire to a Holy Life, should not be Deemed to vanish when out of sight, but rather r••moved to that Holy Place the Spirit dwelleth in above, that sometime vi∣sited them in it, when below: Respecting the Church for the preachers sake, and him for the Spirits sake, fixing their Eyes on him as principal Agent of their Saving Knowledge. For though Paul preached, yet it was the Lord opened the heart of Lydia to attend up∣on the things by him taught, Acts 16.14. A stone of Obduration against the word, of peevishnesse against the Preacher, lying ordinarly upon the cave of the hearts of Men, untill the Spirit, as Joshua roll it away, and bring forth Envy, Covetousnesse, Pride, Self-love, Fury, Uncleannesse, Intempe∣rance, and whatever is contrary to true

Holinesse, setting his Feet upon their Necks, ••en hanging them up as Trophees of his ••ictory, and pledges of the Souls Release ••om their Tyranny and force. Of which Conquest, It were Adultery to give Paul, ••r that Son of Nun, and not the Holy Ghost ••e Glory; but Laudable and true Glorying ••ere it to blesse the Lord, for his great de∣••verance in this matter.

Henrie the fourth Emperour, in a pro∣••resse. Allighted at a Countrey Chappel to ••ear Sermon and Service: the Priest that Officiated, being unusually deformed, and ••most Monstruous; His Majesty said with∣•• himself, How can God like so ugly a Fel∣••w's Service? Disdaining him in his Heart: But that part of the office being through Mistake twice repeated, It is He that hath made us, and not we our selves, His High∣••esse changed his mind, concluding him a Prophet, for Knowing and Checking his Harsh thoughts, which so wrought (by the Spirit sure) upon the heart, that Royalty stoop∣ed to crave the Priests Remission, and bounty opened, to set him now regarded, in great Authority, which he Piously, Honourably and Faithfully discharged. The Holy Ghost is that Master, that teacheth within, the up-taking of such Rules, as are outwardly

sent to the Ear▪ whether it be in the fear∣ing of God, or Eschewing of evil.

Among other temptations laid upon Mar∣tin Bishop of Tours by Satan, this was thorny, that one Cloathed in Purple, Crown'd with a Diadem, appeared to him, saying, Know, Martin, that I am Christ, whom thou wor∣shippest, &c. But the Word, and the Spirit, (sayeth my Author) so far instructed him, as to reply, My Christ was crucified, and wounded, in that Habit, I will neither wor∣ship nor believe.

Be this Relation true, or false, this is sure, that by the word, as in Cornelius House, the Spirit is obtained: and He that heareth not us, that is, he who obeyeth not; but taunts at the Preacher, and scoffs at the Sermon, hath not yet received the Holy Ghost: being a stranger to his Fruits, Comforts, Intent∣ments and his Law, He being abused in these his Messengers, their garments being Cut in the Middle, for discovery of that, which they ought to hide (if Vanity be found) as Hanun did to Davids Ambassadors, 2 Sam. 10. to his own Destruction: Which oft in Death-Bed, and publick Executions, is evidenced, the most Ignorant Buffoons, then Regrateing this Insolence; How shall it then peirce the Soul of the more Serious

Don Pedro; if God ever call him to Repen∣••ance, or the Inquisitour, if he make Inquisi∣••ion for Sin, towards Amendement of life?

Yet alas! may it not be surmised that this ••ame Prophesy shal be Accosted with Derisi∣••n and Encountred with a Smile? Men, ••arnal men, saying to it, as the Children to E∣••isha, go up, go up, that is, to Heaven with ••hy Master; These things being our ••efuse, and such thoughts, as Glory in the Holy Ghost, being too lean a duty for our Honourable Tables: For to be plain, and to passe Law-distinctions, to avoid Boggling at Words, There is a thing men surnames, as from Simon Magus, Simony, not a vice, but with too many accounted vertuous, though loathed by, because leading unto, Ignomi∣niously handling of the Spirit, so much the more, as his Disciples (in this, short of their Master) that they give not, (though they might) signes of their Repentance and Con∣version, in calling Pray for us, Acts 8.24. But by Simoniack Compact, continue to Affront the Holy Ghost, the Servants and the House of God; And that from the right of Patronage, against which we have no de∣bate, proclaming peace peace unto it: But however it would be known, that the right of presentation according to the old verse.

Patronum Faciunt Dos, Aedificatio, Fundus, came either from Endowing, or Building of a Church or Allotting some of their Land whereupon it should be builded, and by the Conveyance of Estates and Sale of Lands, doth this passe from Hand to Hand: as a property in Succession; now Consider, whether if he, who never did any of these, make advantage of Gods House▪ for stand∣ing upon his Ground, may not justly be cal∣led unthankful, God suffering Many Houses, and Large Mansions of that same Person, to be founded upon his Soyl, For the Earth is the Lords. And his hands formed the dry Land. For which it may be, the Holy Ghost hath no requital, or at least none greater, then exemption of his own House, from that Annual Tribute, though it perhaps be payed roundly at once.

The usuall answer is easily repelled, that this is neither Buying, nor Selling of the gift of the Holy Ghost; for though I acknow∣ledge another Expression might have been chosen, yet custome the Rule of Speech, hin∣ders from carping at the word: but for the thing it self, is it not a Buying and a Selling, a Taking up, and a laying down of Money, for the performance of that, which both Merchant and Customer know, to be the

Mean, by which the Holy Ghost is given; (viz.) Preaching the Word, Administring of the Sacraments, which if the Patron will not suffer to be entr'd upon, untill the time that Money open the Pulpit door, which, when done, the Chaplain in opening his Bible, for sanctifying the People, may by ••hem be accounted somewhat Diminishing to his Acceptance, Cash being Princi∣pal Virger or Usher to that Exercise: And ••hough the Poverty of some, might Extenuat ••heir unthankfulnsse, pleading Excuse, yet ••he Wealth of others, maketh it the more Criminal; Yea the dark conveyance of it ••owards all, is a strong Circumstance of self-Condemnation: but the unsuccessfulnesse ••hereof, in most of all the Ages of the Church (it Seldom thriving on any Side, but Con∣trary) might be urged as Arguments of Abhorrency.

But We Proceed. When we shew that Henry the second of that name, Emperor, en∣gaging in battel against the Hungarians, (con∣scious in guilt) openly vowed in the Head of his Army, if God gave Conquest, to Root out from his Dominions, as David the wicked from the Land, all Simonists and Simony, which his Predecessors had temerè, rashly, suf∣fered and unadvisedly permitted to be used in

the Empire. he Fought, he Vanquished, De∣throning an Usurper and Fixed the throne upon its own Basis.

In the winter nights of Fears, Entangle∣m••n••s, Faintings of a touched Conscience, Hungry B••••ly, diseased Body, Perplexed Heart, How hath the Spirit Formerly come with, The Lord is with thee? Judg. 6.12. in unexpected supply and comfortable re∣lief, Reason failing, Sense growing, the Spi∣rit hath called, ••etire into thy Chambers, talk with Job, with David, with Daniel, with Silas, with Peter, with Lazarus, as the Leper, Math. 8. Lord, if thou wilt thou canst help me and then if Comfort, Patience, Strength, flow forth, fo••get not to say, this is the Comforter. For his Oyntment Runs down from the Head Christ to the utmost skirts of his Garment, that is, the poorest De∣pender, supplei••g the Flesh, cleansing the Wounds, glading the Heart, beautif••ing the Face of such as have lyen among the pots, causing a glistring in the Sun-shine of Sere∣nity, by secund Providence and warmth to the whole man▪ by the precious Knowledge of a reconciled God. While others, in Great Vanity, for no profit, Rise up Early and sit up Late, eating the Bread of Sorrow, Psal. 127. (i. e.) Got by that, which shall pro∣cure

them sorrow, or sorrowing, because they ••ust eat Bread, or Sorrowing that they can∣••ot get more, grumbling they have so little, ••r hasting Sorrow upon themselves by un∣••earied diligence and pains, that they may ••ill have bread: Whereas the Heritage of ••hem who blesse the Lord, hath, as his Beloved ••ot only sweet sleep, but, as the text may be ••ead, Good Children, Rooted in God, bloom∣••g towards Man, Content, Peace, Wealth, Honour, Courage and Holy Audacity, At∣••ending them in their Correspondence with ••sen, and Employment with God, Speaking, ••hat is, Defending themselves, against all ••heir Enemies, and overthrowing them in ••e Gate, that is, in Judgment, the Spirit ••leading for them, Psal. 127.2, 3.

Is the Soul convinced of it's Sin? of it's of∣••ences? is it thereupon prompted to acknow∣••edge, Father, I have Sinned; to say, Lord, ••ir give, and that in a sweet f••eedom, this must ••e entertained, as Acts not flowing from Flesh and Blood, or obtruded upon us, from Principles and Collections of our own: but for Enhansing of the respect due to the Holy Ghost, they are to be Noted, as d••legated by the Spirit, for testifying to the Conscience of Acquir'd peace with H••aven; For it is he ••hat maketh intercession for us, R••m. 8.26.

That is, provocketh us to interceed for our selves, with groans that cannot be expressed (i. e.) which we cannot expresse, being ignorant of those particular Remedies, re∣quisit for that Condition, we groan, or pray under, which he can readily delineat, being God, and passionatly alarum the Soul by Home-set reproofs, Forcible Convictions, Joh. 16.9. To shake off Sensuality, stout∣ly to Guard against wrath to come, by put∣ting on the Armour of God, particularly that piece of it, Prayer, from which excitation, the Spirit is Surnamed a Spirit of Grace and Supplication, Zach. 12.10. As infusing good∣ness, discovering to the darkned understand∣ing, the past ingratitude of a Debauch'd life, loosely Spent in opposition to the Fathers Benevolence, Mercy and Tender-hearted∣nesse: So that Petition and Thanksgiving, for preventing deserved judgement, and for Re∣ceiving undeserved Acts of Grace, filleth up the la••ge Scrolls of the Souls Capacity, that but these, and what are Annexed to these, are only Legible, in their presentments unto God.

Hence proceeded that pious Custome of the Church, in all Meetings, wherein Go∣vernment, Doctrine and Order were con∣cerned, first to sing that Hymne, Come Holy

Ghost, &c. and then enter upon Businesse, Enact Laws, or form Conclusions, his want exposing the most choice Elections to Igno∣rance, Division, Inadvertence; But direc∣ting the most Suspected, to the desired port of Truth, Unity and Peace, flatting Carnal Interests, enlightning doubtful breasts, by calming the Clamorous Tongue, and sug∣gesting convincing arguments to the Costive Fancy, by which, how much glory, with the Devout, hath the Spirit in all Ages got unto himself? Commencing since the Death of all the Apostles, from two Famous Coun∣sels held in Jerusalem and Nice, when its thought this Hymne was first composed, and drawn up by the Holy Constantine, the second being like unto the first, called of Nice not so much, or not only from the City Ni∣cea, wherein it was held, as from the Greek word Nikos, the Eternal Truth, the Holy Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, therein con∣quering, & triumphantly coming off Against Arius and his Doctrine, in denying the Tri∣nity, and Famous Stately Churches Edified, wherein to publish, that Christ and the Holy Ghost was from the beginning.

On the other hand, with the Advertent, how hath the Spirit purchased praise, in be∣holding the Ghostly, that is, the Dead-like

Issues of Subtil, Factious and Unholy As∣semblies; where through the want of the Spirit, Ignorance hath vanq••••shed Learning, Confusion triumphed over Order, Passion silenceing Reason, Fraud conquering Justice, and Brawling honting at Peace, Pride, En∣vy, Interest, Treason, insulting over Humi∣lity, Love, Clemency, Loyalty and Piety, (which ought not to be Separat) to the di∣sturbing, not Quieting a Common Wealth; The Spirit not blessing, not directing the convention, because convocat for some sly purposes, concerning the Members own Grandeur, not about the Refulgency of his Glory, therefore Blasted be their deepest Contrivances, and Withered their Fairest Flourishes, confounding theirs, preserving the honour of his own Name.

What ever we suffer, let us by a Holy, Pure and Innocent life, evidence our re∣spect to the bless d Spirit; Lying, Stealing, Bitt••rness••, U••cleann••sse, Idlenesse, Filthy talking, Ba••e whispering, Bitter reviling, Devillish revenge, Brutish anger, Deafning clamour, Foolish malice, Ape and Mimick-like conversation; Grieving his Holy Person, Ephe. 4.30. Being Exotick, Forreign and Strange plants, not consisting with the Soyl, with the Soul he hath given us. To that good

example expected of us, nor to those Acts, promises, gifts, assurances, he hath offered, and freely given for our behoof: But most ••f all, for their Dissonancy from that Majesty, Sanctity, Honour, wherewith he is endowed ••n himself, and according to which he justly expects, our conversation should conform, ••re alwayes being in his presence and under his inspection.

No Creature we read to be made accor∣••ng to the Image of God, but Man; and that ••mage by his fall, is not so much broken, or ••f it were, the second Creation by Christ hath ••et so much of it together, that our know∣••edge can competently and savingly in∣••t uct, how to be righteous to our Brethren, S••b••r to our Selves, and Holy to God, even ••ur Father, if we will be studi••us: And ••ught it not to be ponder'd, that the know∣••edge already infused, repells and puts to Flight, propha••e, S••rdid, Fetid and Mad ••ehaviou••, as procuring shame and dishonor ••o our Man-hood, the Indignity offered the Spirit in whom we live, in Ingenuous mo∣••ality, being but brought in to Aggrege the guilt; For disdaining su••h Monstruous, Pro∣digious and Unmanly Deportment: But its ••irect Tendency for moving the Holy Ghost ••o forsake the Christians Body his own

temple, Rom. 3.16. Because too loathsome, too sluttish for his pure being, who will not have the Ranknesse of the Goat, nor the Drunkennesse of the Swine, to be in any cor∣ner of that House, wherein he inhabits, I say, this immediat operation upon him, obligeth Man to put his Knife to his throat, that is, kill the Appet t, destroy the thought, avert the object, that in the lest degree delights in, or warps toward, such impurity: And if by these or the like, the mind be defiled, by Religious Ejulations, holy mournings, con∣trite tears; Let the floor be washed and cleaned again, for a Second Invitation, by Love and Repentance.

When Dead mens sculls by an unknown hand, were one morning found cast into Je∣rusalems Temple, a little before its last De∣struction, the Angels were Heard saying, Let us be Gone; the place by these bones be∣ing defil'd: And surely Lustfull thoughts, Fleshly concupiscence, Rousting in the Soul and Heart of a Christian, enforceth the Spi∣rit (who is Holy and loves to ly Clean) to prepare for a Remove; Which change con∣sidered, the disadvantages thereby, when cal∣culated and cast up, the folly before man is inexcusable, the Choice undiscreet; but in the Sight of God, so Disrespectfull, that

the pleasures Contracted in such embraces, shall be requited with ineffable Anguish, when he leaves that breast in Justice, and Anger, which made him Relinquish it, for Filthinesse in Grief.

That Good. Wise, Learned and Great Alphonsus of Aragon, blessed oft God that he was a Man, that he was a Christian, and that he was a King of many Kingdoms: And what Testimony of G••atitude, can in Fairer Characters, with more Authoritative sub∣scriptions, be drawn up, for our Reveren∣cing the Holy Ghost, as Homage for what we possesse, then Harmlesnesse, then Innocency, in denying ungodlinesse and worldy Lusts; living Soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present evil world, Tit. 2.12. In op∣position to the Luxury, Avarice and Haughtinesse, which is in the world, In con∣tradiction to the Pleasures of the Flesh, the delights of the world, and Temptations of the Devil, which the Spirit himself in a Se∣cret opennesse, hath forced us to Remember, in descending upon Christ at's Baptism, which figureth Washing, and Whitnesse, in a Dove, Mystically presenting to the Baptized, Sim∣plicity and Love. At his presentment in the Temple, there was offered by Mary a pair of Turtle Doves according to the Law, or

two young pigeons; Undoubtedly and Em∣phatically, Subjected such, who followeth him to the Church, to live, or be as the Turtle, whose Vidual Chastity (after the death of her Mate, or first choice) whers I am sure against Prophane Ribbauldry; and the young Pigeons, as not Acquainted with Ge∣neration, (without a perhaps) Leads to cap∣tivate every deceitfull Lust, Contributive to make more Glistring, in the eyes of the World, the Glory we owe to the Holy Ghost.

In Rome its said, there is a Place, called Via Pia the Holy way, and the life of Man ought to be spent in the like Ascent, still climbing up from one Scale to another, in Cumulative vertue, adding to Faith Know∣ledge, to Knowledge Temperance &c. 2 Pet. 1.5. Untill the Crown of all Excellency, of perfect Holinesse, be Acquir'd in Heaven (by the Guidance of the Holy Ghost) which shall indubitatly be fixed on that head, wher∣in the thoughts of being Candidate for Glo∣ry, are pressing and urging; to the Disan∣nulling the sinful Decrees, of Satisfying flesh; Heaven admitting of nothing that defileth, Revel. 21.27. And practically condemning, the Frumping Hector, who Facius Cardan-like, will in unholy Jollity, conjure up se∣ven

Devils at o••ce, ••hat is, Entice men to Act as Devils, in all kind of Sensual Excess, Outstripping the inhabitants of Jangona, ••n Feasting, Dancing, Eating and Drinking, ••houting and Roaring with the Devil, be∣••ause we know him to be the bas••st of Crea∣••ures; and yet in those Debaurds, daring to Name the Persons of the Blessed Trinity, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods associate w••re Belzebub (whom they Caress) then which nothing is more con∣••ounding, or more obscuring, his Fame and ••ranscendent Perfection.

Were it not more Conducing to our Feli∣••ity, if, as is Prophesyed of the Kings of the Earth, we would bring our Glory and Ho∣••our to the City of our God? Revel. 21.24: Delivering into the Exchequer of the Most High, Most Mighty, all the substance of our Revenues, that he might be All in All, which ••o us should be no deprivement, or Diminuti∣on, of that which the World calls Great∣••esse; But a more expedient way for its per∣manency and fixednesse, to us and ours. When in Spite of Carnal Interests, Pretend∣••ng the losse of all we ••ngage with Holiness, as Merchants with the Assurance Office, the Principal Venture of a Souls Worth is Se∣cured, and insured, Durable Glorys, of E∣verlasting Blesse, upon the bare offer of Ac∣ceptance,

Articled for, the Oath of Verity it self Appended to the Bargain, for great∣er certainty. It was this made Canutus of England (for Refutation of vain-Glorious Buffoons in conceiting him a god) to Erect his Throne on the Shoar-side, Prohibiting the Sea, not to touch his Royal Feet: but the Fierce and Sawcy Element, slighting the Charge, Accosted his Pavilion, to that near∣nesse, that his Kingship drew back, yet with that Austerity, that he would never after wear a Crown, fixing that (according to the Superstition of the Times) upon the Crucifix, as if he had said, there is no King to the King of Saints, when he did say, that none deserved to be called King, but he that could Command both Sea and Land.

In purer Rethorick, did James the Fourth of this Kingdom, expresse his Dependence; who in a wreath of Laurel, on a Shield, Shadowing his Soveraignity, and growing Strength, writ the word Jehovah, encompas∣sed with this devise, in virtute tua (i. e.) by thy power. As if the Glory of his Dominion had (as it had) for its principal Efficient, and Government. not his, but the Almighty's benign Aspect. Care, Blooming and Fructu∣ating Influence, Poor Feeble Man, being con∣fined to a narrow bounds, in a Spacious

Kingdom, God must Reign, Rule, Protect, ••nd blesse, or the Scepter of the Wisest un∣prosperously shall be Manag'd, & the Coun∣••ellors of the most Potent, Jeroboams like, will Separat Subj••cts, first from Loyalty, then ••rom God. The power of Kings without Gods Authority, not strengthning Laws, in Reference to the Subj••cts Obedience, but ••ather maketh such Convulsions in the Face ••f Affairs, that Frequently the glory and dig∣••ity of Princes undergoeth an Ecclipse and ••uffereth a Diminution: yea, is oft Extinguish∣••d. The Serpentine Qualities, inherent in ••en, in whom there may be somewhat of ••he Spirit, being not purged and drained by ••he awe and f ar of God, will be found at ••he back, that ••s at the Strength, of all their Edicts, consuming them and Reducing them ••o nothing, as was that Still-born Infant, at Cracovia in a Street called the Holy Ghost, Anno Dom. 1494. A living Serpent be∣••ng found and seen with astonishment to have ••ed upon the miserable and poor Infant, then ••nd there brought forth; Jehovah only be∣••g able to Charm those Adders, of Ambi∣••ion, Pride, Covetousnesse, Revenge and Spite, which may infest a Land, and lay it desolate, kill a Soul, and make it deformed ••nd confounded.

Upon this account it is, that to the Glory given to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost the Church hath added, As it was in the be∣ginning, is now and ever shall be, World with¦out End. In which words, the word IT ex¦empts plurality of Gods, when the numbe•• of Persons in the God-head is Individuall•• expressed, THEY or YOURS, not being s•• much as thought upon in this Holy Stanza but IT, the Glory of the Three being one, no•• Multiplied, but United. As in the Angel•• Antiphony's, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lor•• of Hosts, the whole Earth is full of his Glory Isa. 6.3. Expressing the three Persons, t•• have but one Glory, and that Glory to be af∣fix••d in the Words, to him who is, Holy Holy, Holy, the Lord God; not Lords, no•• Gods, but, Lord God of Hosts. And as in th•• Psalmists predictions. God shal blesse us, Go•• even our own God shall blesse us, and all th•• Ends of the Earth shall fear HIM. God be∣ing thrice Named because of three Persons yet three Gods denyed, because HE, n•• THEY shall blesse us.

And therefore Kings, States, Princes, No∣bles, and all, who are inferiour to him, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who possesse the ••••ds or Shreads of th•• Earth are, being Incapable of giving t•• three-fold blessing here intended, of Eart••

Conscience, and of Heaven, are to fear, that is, Glorify him, who filleth the Earth, This is o••e God, these three Persons. The power of the Father making him Glorious, the Wisdom of the Son making him Glorious, the Goodnesse of the Spirit making him Glorious, yet inferr not three, but one Glory which was in the Beginning, when Kings were not, and who is, in the whole Earth, where Princes cannot be, and who shall be, that is, Endure when both are gone, His glory Enduring for ever: Unto which let the whole World say, Amen. And they who say that, in Si••cerity, say the Jews, Hasten their Redemption; be∣cause for the Elects sake, these dayes, that is, ••hese evil dayes shall be shortned, sayes our Sa∣••iour.

Glory be to God from all Creatures, said Holy Chrysostome, and Dyed in a troublesome ••nd turbulent time. Beholding now that glo∣ry, in that Holy Mount, where three is seen, as Peter James and John, three heard, as Christ Moses and Elias. Three lived in, as Father Son and Spirit, and that after Six days wher all Created things and Essences are passed o∣ver, Faith only being Guide and Captain in Soul-Employes of which the Trinity in Uni∣••y is Eminently one, as appeareth in that Splen∣••ide Name, which is, and which was, and which

is to come, Revel. 1.8. The Father being that He which is Exod. 3. the Son which Was John 1. and the Spirit He which is to come, Rev. 1. and in all, one only Amighty Gen. 17.

The Churches Care in this particular, in Transmitting the Trinity-Doctrine to her Sons, is Religiously methodicall, for having Fe∣stival days for Commemorating the Birth, Pas∣sion, Resurrection and Ascension of her Re∣deemer the Son, she Nobilitats the Year, with one Day, indeed a Whitsunday, for Remem∣brance of the Holy Ghost; And the Fathers Kindnesse to Mankind, being in these Unitely taught, lest Detractors, or Ignorants, should Surmise a Separation, Trinity Sunday of old Judiciously followed, and yet Succedeth, that White one which teacheth the Existence of these three, to be in themselves, but one, that the Unity might be Glorified by us, and all other at all Times.

Over and above the yearly Celebration of these Invaluable Mercies, with the weekly ob∣servation of our Lords Resurrection, wrought by the Father, and the Spirit, we have by ou•• Pious Ancestors been taught to assert, and pro∣vide for Beautifying of the Holy Trinity through the Person thereof Incarnat, that is the Son, in regard that though some Nations reckon and begin their Day with the Sun Ris••¦ing,

that being indeed the cause of the Day, as Persians and Babylonians: others from the Setting of the Sun, that being the Scripturall account, making the evening and morning the first day, as Bohemians and Italians, with whom it is ordinary to dine at sixteen of the Clock. Others from Noon to Noon, accounting it day, when the bright Sun is seated in his highest Triumphal Pavilion, as with the Arabians which it is with a witness, we with the German Pro∣vinces reckon from mid-night to mid-night, be∣cause about that time was our Lord Jesus born of the Virgin; Evidencing thereby our Chur∣ches account of time, not to be so much, from the Suns motion in the Firmament, as from our Saviours lying in the Manger, when rejected by the Jews.

Such as descend for searching into the cau∣ses moving the Christian Philosophers. for give∣ing or owning, the Names appropriat to the Zodiack Signs, finds Aries the Ram to reign in March. From the deliverance of Isaac from the Altar, beginning the year with Remem∣brance of Abrahams obedience: but Capricorn is called a Goat, and reigns in December, the Jews being as Goats placed on the left hand of him then born, who is to Judge the world, be∣cause they contemned him, when born in the night, though sent by the Father, Formed by

the Holy Ghost. compleatly furnished with Au∣thority & Gifts from both to bring them & u•• from Darknesse unto Light, from the power of Sa∣tan unto God, Acts 26.18. the Christian world Acknowledging (as it were) ignorance to reign untill his appearance, Acts 17.30. Dating Imperial Letters from the year of Christ, first done by the Emperour Charles the Gross, A. Dom. 800. Papers before him, bearing from the Worlds Creation or building of the City, &c. Which universal dignity is to be seen Abridged, in the Symbole, or Motto of Ge∣nevah that formerly being, Post Tenebras, Spero Lucem, but in the last Age, when (and since) Enlightned by reformed Doctrine, as the Expresse is, Post Tenebras Lux. Jesus by his Gospel-Doctrine, his Apostles mission, converting da••kn••sse, not only, into Sun-shine, but creating confidence of a brighter day. One great Mean whereof is a yeelding to the Daz∣ling truth of Three in Heaven which are one, the Holy Ghost having asserted it in writing, John 1.7. Rather then Bely, whom, let's, stand for this Grand Truth, when Tabled in our Churches (the Trinity being so much blas∣phemed in some Books, Mouths and Streets) fl••cking unto it as a Vexillum, or Flag, demon∣strating affiance, lest the Glory of our God be Darkned in its just Refulgency, yet shining in

our Assembly. And the Mahumetan Turk, rise up against us, with Equal Confidence to those of Sodom▪ against the Jews, who will, and are bound to rise in arms at the display of the Banner of Mahomet (which is carefully keeped for, and brought forth in, extremity) to that intensnesse, or degree of Ardour and Zeal, that the Boy of seven years old, will and must fight, for its Protection, and Dignity, or be Accounted Guar, that is, an Unbeliever, in re∣gard they think (as they are Foolishly taught) it came from Heaven, whence this Doctrine of the Trinity, did Certainly and Infallibly Descend, &c.

In a Word, it is our Christian Philosophy, to believe in one God and three Persons, which the Doltish world of the Ethnicks, on one Hand, cannot consider, nor the perverse Jews one the other Comprehend, which neither can we; yet both we and they may discover it in the Scriptures, and so discover it, that we may perceive it to be a hard th••ng, yet neces∣sary to be Embraced. We may read it in the Creation, when the Lord God said, Let us make Man, Gen. 1.23. There are who be∣hold it in the Patriarchs, Abraham shadowing the Father, in giving up of his Son for sacrifice; Isaac the Son, in being obedient to the Death; Jacob the Spirit, in issuing from these two; and

all swallowed up in the Name Israel, Psal. 105.10. Yet with ••avour, these see but darkly, the saving knowledge of the Great Three, being Supernatural: And as nothing is more dange∣rous, and nothing more laborious, so nothing is more Fruitfull, then Sober Questions about the Trinity, in Unity, when Founded upon Faith, that Eminently forming Purity, by con∣sequence, the Avoiding of Filthinesse and Fri∣gidnesse, or coldnesse in Devotion, enticing to Fixednesse and Perfectnesse in Gospel Light and Revelation.

For though some Articles of our Faith have reason to wait upon them, Enforcing an A∣theist to consent, as the Worlds Creation, the Immortality of the Soul, the being of God, &c. Yet there are others, in which Reason, is of no Reason, Weight, or Force, such as the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Essence of the Trinity, which Faith must still contend for, and obedience through the Ear must listen un∣to, In Integro, without baulking, virtuated with the same qualities, Ph••losophers Requir∣ed their pupils of old to attend their Lectures, (viz.) with Ʋpright Bodies (i. e.) not shrug∣ing through Misbelief; A steady Soul, not wan∣dring among the thorns of debates; Cleanses Ears, in being apt to hear, that is, Consent t•• its Verity, through purity, lest the Body o••

Soul of the Discipls Conversation admit every unclean Pilgrim lust, with rich, that is, Car∣nal or Hearty Entertainment, as the Hospital of ••he Trinity at Rome admits all Travellers, for ••hree days: Or any unlawfvll motion, of unchast pleasures, at the sound of each Temptation, as that Hospital of the Holy Ghost, in the same City, receiveth Bastards, at any hour of the night, by the Ringing of a Bel, from their Parents and Trustees: Such practices, being de∣structive to that Grandeza that Excellent Glo∣ry, we owe to the third Person or to the whole Trinity.

The first part whereof is Believe, for the Pa∣ternity of the Father Begetting, the Generation of the Son, and Procession or the Spirit is a sight not Adequat to Flesh and Blood, and therefore preserved for Heaven, which as yet is locked up from our eyes. And therfore I can∣not understand those Novissima, or last words of that Great Trismegi••stus (An Egyptian Prince the first Hum••ne writer in the World, (i. e.) whether they Flowed from Reason, or Revelation, or both. he being about the time of, if not before Moses, for having ad∣vised his Son to pray to th•• Lord and Father, and to the Alone, and to ••he One, fr••m whom is One, to know and understand so great a God closed his eyes with these sayings, not favor∣ing

of Heathenism, nor partaking of Flesh and Blood (viz.) O Heaven, the Work of the Great and Wise God, And thou O Father! I ad∣jure thee by the only begotten Word, and by the Spirit, comprehending all things, to have mercy upon me. Hence its inferable, that by the blood of the Lamb, God hath Redeemed unto himself (some men) out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, Revel. 5 9. And the Redeemed are to sing this new, this old Song, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the Beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without End. Amen.

The rather that there be among us some that Deny the Glory, some the Trinity, and others the Eternity of God; and being a short Creed ought the more to be Inculcate into the heads of the unlearned, being the Jewish Alleluia, praise ye the Lord, at the End of some Temple Psalms, making them all with us. Church Offices, by this Appendix, Giving thanks un∣to the Lord, for he is Good, for his Mercy endur∣eth for ever, Psal. 107.1. Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy, Praising him for his Mighty Acts, Psal. 150.2. And according to his excellent greatnesse, Halleluia, praise the Lord, all ye his Angels, praise ye him both Sun and Moon, Rich and Poor, High and Low

together, giving him the Glory due unto his Name.

In this Spiritual Hymne aimed at from its beginning, where after the Form of Baptism, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the Ancients gave Glory to the whole Three; But Arius and his Disciples, acknowledging a time when the Son was not, making him to be but called a God, as Moses was, as Kings are, about A. Dom. 300 The Church Condemning that Ambitious He∣retick, added to the words. As it was in the beginning, is now, &c. Which to the worlds End is to be stood unto, as a necessary truth•• both in Confession and Conversation the se∣cond without the first, being but a Flowre with∣out a Root, as not proceeding from Faith; The first without the second, as a Root, not blos∣oming into Fruit, in not tending to a good example, making our Faith to be evil spoken of, if we may call it Faith, that Justifies not, (that is) that declares not it self to be Faith by works: which all that believe, must be care∣full to maintain. Otherwise our Believing in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, is no more to be thought believed upon by us, then He who making a conf••ssion of all the Twelve Articl••s, in English can be thought

Christian when Immediatly he should turn and Renounce them all in the French Lan∣guage. So necessary is Practice, to the Doc∣trine of our Faith, in giving

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

FINIS.