按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Servants in all things obey your Wasters according to the flesh。
Children obey your Parents in all things。 Col。 3。 v。 20； 22。 And
the command of CHRIST； The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moyses
chair； all things therefore whatsoever they command you； that
observe； and doe。 Mat。 23。 v。 2。 On the contrary； if they command
us to doe those things which are punisht with aeternall death； it
were madnesse not rather to chuse to dye a naturall death； then
by obeying； to dye eternally； and then comes in that which CHRIST
sayes； Feare not them who kill the body； but cannot kill the
Soule。 Mat。 10。 v。 28。 We must see therefore what all those
things are； which are necessary to Salvation。
II。 Now all things necessary to Salvation are comprehended in
two vertues； Faith； and Obedience。 The latter of these if it
could be perfect would alone suffice to preserve us from
damnation； but because we have all of us beene long since guilty
of disobedience against God in Adam； and besides we our selves
have since actually sinned； Obedience is not sufficient without
remission of sinnes。 But this； together with our entrance into
the Kingdome of Heaven is the reward of Faith。 Nothing else is
requisite to Salvation； for the Kingdome of Heaven is shut to
none but sinners； that is to say； those who have not perform'd
due Obedience to the Lawes； and not to those neither； if they
beleeve the necessary articles of the Christian Faith。 Now； if we
shall know in what points Obedience doth consist； and which are
the necessary articles of the Christian Faith； it will at once be
manifest what we must doe； and what abstaine from； at the
commands of Cities； and of Princes。
III。 But by Obedience in this place is signified not the
fact； but the Will and desire wherewith we purpose； and endeavour
as much as we can to obey for the future： in which sense the word
Obedience is aequivalent to Repentance。 For the vertue of
repentance consists not in the sorrow which accompanies the
remembrance of sinne； but in our conversion to the way； and full
purpose to sinne no more； without which that sorrow is said to be
the sorrow not of a Penitent but a desperate person。 But because
they who love God cannot but desire to obey the divine Law； and
they who love their Neighbours cannot but desire to obey the
morall Law； which consists as hath beene shewed above in the 3。
Chapter； in the prohibition of Pride； ingratitude； contumely；
inhumanity； cruelty； injury； and the like offences； whereby our
Neighbours are prejudic't； therefore also Love or charity are
aequivalent to Obedience。 Justice also （which is a constant will
of giving to every man his due） is aequivalent with it。 But that
Faith and Repentance are sufficient for Salvation； is manifest by
the Covenant it selfe of Baptisme； for they who were by Peter
converted on the day of Pentecost； demanding him what they should
do？ He answered； Repent； and be Baptiz'd every one of you in the
name of Jesus for the remission of your Sins。 Act。 2。 v。 38。
There was nothing therefore to be done for the obtaining of
Baptisme； that is to say； for to enter into the Kingdome of God；
but to Repent； and beleeve in the Name of JESUS。 For the Kingdome
of Heaven is promis'd by the Covenant which is made in Baptisme；
farthermore； by the words of CHRIST answering the Lawyer who askt
him what he should doe to inherit eternall life； Thou knowest the
Commandements； Thou shalt not Kill； Thou shalt not commit
Adultery； &c。 which refer to Obedience； and； Sell all that thou
hast； and come； and follow me； which relates to faith； Luke 18。
ver。 20。 Mar。 10。 ver。 18。 And by that which is said； The just
shall live by Faith； （not every man； but the just） for justice is
the same disposition of Will which Repentance and Obedience are；
And by the words of Saint Mark； The time is fulfilled； and the
Kingdome of God is at hand； Repent yee； and beleeve the Gospell；
by which words is not obscurely signified that there is no need
of other Vertues； for our entrance into the Kingdome of God；
excepting those of Repentance and Faith。 The Obedience therefore
which is necessarily requir'd to Salvation is nothing else but
the Will； or endeavour to obey； that is to say； of doing
according to the Lawes of God； that is the morall Lawes； which
are the same to all men； and the civill Lawes； that is to say；
the commands of Soveraignes in temporall matters； and the
Ecclesiasticall Lawes in spirituall； which two kinds of Lawes are
divers in divers Cities； and Churches； and are knowne by their
promulgation； and publique sentences。
IV。 That we may understand what the Christian Faith is； we
must define Faith in generall； and distinguish it from those
other acts of the minde wherewith commonly it is confounded。 The
object of Faith universally taken； namely for that which is
beleev'd； is evermore a proposition； （that is to say a speech
affirmative； or negative） which we grant to be true。 But because
Propositions are granted for divers causes； it falls out； that
these kind of concessions are diversly called： But we grant
Propositions sometimes which notwithstanding we receive not into
our mindes； and this either for a time； to wit； so long； till by
consideration of the consequencies； we have well examin'd the
truth of them； which we call supposing； or also simply； as
through feare of the Lawes； which is to professe； or confesse by
outward tokens； or for a voluntary compliance sake； which men use
out of civility to those whom they respect； and for love of Peace
to others； which is absolute yeelding。 Now the Propositions which
we receive for truth； we alwaies grant for some reasons of our
owne； and these are deriv'd either from the Proposition it selfe；
or from the Person propounding。 They are deriv'd from the
Proposition it selfe； by calling to minde what things those words
which make up the Proposition doe by common consent usually
signifie： if so； then the assent which we give is called
knowledge； or Science。 But if we cannot remember what is
certainly understood by those words； but sometimes one thing；
sometimes another seeme to be apprehended by us； then we are said
to thinke。 For example； if it be propounded that two and three
makes five； and by calling to minde the order of those numerall
words； that it is so appointed by the common consent of them who
are of the same language with us； （as it were by a certaine
contract necessary for humane society） that five shall be the
name of so many unities as are contain'd in two and three taken
together； a man assents； that this is therefore true because two
and three together； are the same with five。 This assent shall be
called knowledge； and to know this truth is nothing else but to
acknowledge that it is made by our selves； For by whose will and
rules of speaking the number。。。 is called two；。。。 is called
three； &c。。。 is called five； by their will also it comes to
passe； that this Proposition is true； Two and three taken
together makes five。 In like manner if we remember what it is
that is called theft； and what injury； we shall understand by the
words themselves； whether it be true that theft is an injury； or
not。 Truth is the same