ftitiously addicted to it, and turns it into an Idol. Whereas, we know, of it felf it is but a dead letter, and therefore Maccovius handling that Queftion, whether the word of God may be favingly heard before Regeneration, concludes negatively, and to a void his Adverfaries Argument, he affirms, that that bearing of the word, which produceth Faith, doth preSuppofe Regeneration. To this agrees the Opinion of fome Divines, who think that Regeneration is affected after another manner than Fauh is. To which purpose Ryfius, in his confeffion faith thus; * Faith is conceived by the Grace of God thro' the word, but Regeneration procedes from God thro' Chrift, without the intervention of any Created thing whatsoever.

Mr. Takeo'trust. I conceive Sir, when we fee the Miniftry fo much eclipfed and undervalued as it is, if there were nothing elfe in it, Chriftian Policy fhould teach us, not to vent fuch Do&rins, as are apt to bring more contempt upon it: But the holy Ghoft hath fet it at a higher rate, by cloathing it with Titles of a greater reputation. He calls it the Word of Grace, the word of Faith, the word of Life, the word of Reconciliation, the miniftration of the Spirit, the word that is able to fave the Soul, the Power of God unto Salvation, the word of God that effectually worketh in them that believe.

Mr. Knowlittle. I conceive the Ministry of the word hath these excellent Titles bestowed upon it, in regard it is the inftrument, by and thro' which God doth infufe into the Understanding and Heart his fpecial Grace, or rather that Regenerating virtue, which alone doth Powerfully effect the work of Regeneration; fo that the outward word, as an inftrument, conferreth nothing at all to that effect, but is only as the Tunnel, whereby water is pour

Fides Dei Gratia per verbum concipitur: Regeneratio vero Deo per Chriftum fine ullius rei create interventu proficifcitur.

ed

ed into a Veffel; and yet the water receives no tincture at all from the Nature or Quality of the faid Tunnel.

Mr. Takeo'trust. I have feen this alleged: but they fay, we should confider that the Nature and Property of the Word is, to be intelligible in expreffion, and to carry fuch a fenfe as is apt to move the Party, to whom it is addreffed, by working upon his understanding, and inciting his heart to Love or Hatred, Hope or Fear; and this is the true efficacy the Word is endowed with. But if the Word contributes no more to our Converfion or Regeneration, than the Tunnel, that only conveys the Liquor to the filling of the Veffel: then it matters not whether the word be intelligible or no; for that Regenerating virtue being a diftinct Power infufed befides it, the word doth not work as a verbal, that is, a rational inftrument, but only concurs, as an inftrument deftitute of fenfe and reafon. And therefore as it matters not what mettal the Tunnel be made of, whether Wood, or Brafs, or Tin; fo, had the Word no other kind of inftrumentality than that hath, it were all one, whether the Language were barbarous non-fenfe, as is ufual amongst fome Sectaries, or fignificant. And to what end then did God confer the Gift of Tongues upon his Apoftles, and they take fuch care to condefcend and apply themselves to the capacity and apprehenfion of their hearers? Befides, if the word hath no more to do in this work, than is pretended; why fhould it confift of Precepts, and those established with Promises and Threatnings? For a Precept, fo established efpecially, doth prescribe the thing under command, as a duty; and concurs unto that duty, as the reason moving and obliging a Man to perform it: but if that fpecial Grace, or Regenerating virtue fo infufed, doth alone effect a Man's Regeneration, taking nothing at all from the word; how can that effect be faid to be

the

the performance of his duty, and an act of obedience to the command of the word?

Mr. Knowlittle. 'Tis a queftion, whether there be any Precepts properly fo called, under the new Covenant, or no? Some abfolutely deny it; but we confefs it; and they may be faid to concur to our Conversion and believing, as a sign or object, reprefenting what God by his free Grace, is faid to effect and work in us. Indeed they declare what Man ought to do; but they ferve rather to difcover and convince his weakness, than promote his duty.

Mr. Takeo'truft. This Doctrin doth cancel the very formal reafon and force of all the commands of Chrift, and makes the word of God, intended for an inftrument of Man's Converfion, to serve only for an object and mere Doctrin for his Faith and Repentance to converfe with; for it feems they are not to be wrought by this means, but immediatly effected and wrought of Almighty God in the heart by a fpecical action and operation; and confequently, all the Exhortations and Precepts, as fuck, all the Promises and Threatnings, Complaints and Obteftations, wherewith the word of God aboundeth, become nothing else but empty figns, and bufy trifles, if not a ludicrous Stage-Play, conducing nothing to that effect, which they pretend to be defigned for. But that Faith and Regeneration are both wrought in a rational way, by the outward Miniftry of the Word, moving and inciting the understanding and heart of Man, will evidently appear to be the Doctrin of Chrift and his Apoftles. For Faith, take that expreffion in our Saviors Prayer; Sandlify them thro' thy truth: thy word is truth. Neither pray I for thefe Apoftles alone; but for them alfo, Joh. 17. which shall believe on me through their word. And therefore Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. That he understands Faith working by

17. 20.

Rom. ros

17.

love, which the Gospel determines to be the only means, by which we may, and ought to be faved, appears in the ninth and tenth vertes; If thou shalt conjefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and believe with thine heart, that God raised him up from the dead; thou shalt be faved. For with the heart Man believerh unto righteou nefs, and with the tongue confeffion is made unto Salvation. And that by the Word which works - this Faith, he understands the outward Word, appears by the whole contexture of this Chapter; for Fift, he faith, this is that word of Faith, which we Preach: Secondly, that Word which cannot be heard unlefs it be Preahed, not Internally by God, but 7. 14. 15. Externally by Men, fent out to that purpose; Thirdly, that Word which is heard with the Ears of the Body, and may be difobeyed.

7. 8.

19.

23, 24, 25.

As the working of Faith is attributed to the Miniftry of the word, fo is the working of RegeneraJam. 1.18. tion too; Of his own Will begat he us with the word of truth: wherefore let every Man be swift to hear. 1. Pet. 1. And being born again not of Corruptible feed, but of Incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever, and this is the word which by the Gofpel is Preached unto you. Hereupon St. Paul tells the Corinthians, not only that he was a Minifter of God, by whom they did believe; but tells them alo, that 1. Cor. 4. he was their Father: for in Chrift Jefus he had be 14. 15. gotten them, thro' the Gospel.

1.Cor.3.6. Mr. Knowlittle. The Apoftle faith, I have planted and Apollos watered; but God gave the increafe.

38.

Mr. Takeo'truft. So the Apoftle faith, God giv 1. Cor. 15. eth to every feed his own body, as it hath pleased him: but ftill it is in the ordinary way of husbandry: and therefore the Sower goes out to fow his feed, Eccl. 5.9 and fo the King himself is ferved by the field, but the Prov. 20. fuggard who will not plow by reason of the cold, he Shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. In these natu

ral

ral things we fee, God doth not bring forth fruit, by any peculiar divine action diftinct from that of planting and watering; but by preferving that force and vigor, once put into the Earth and Water, wherein and whereby fuch plantation is made, he concurs to make the labor of the husbandman fucceffull, and fo gives the increase. Thon vifiteft the Pfal. 657 Earth, and Watereft it; thou greatly inrichest it with 9. 10. IIẻ the river of God, which is full of water: thou prepareft them Corn when thou hast so provided for it. Thon watereft the ridges thereof abundantly: thon fettleft the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers, thou bleffeft the fpringing thereof. Thou crowneft the year with thy Goodness, and thy paths drop fatness. So 'tis here in a Spiritual fence; je are God's husbandry, or 1. Cor. 3 God's tillage; and he hath inftituted a Miniftry to9. bring you unto fruitfulness. I have planted, laying the foundation, or firft Principles of Chriftian Faith among you; of Heathens making you believers: Apollos watered, he Baptized you, and promoted that Faith to fome further growth in you. But yet there is no great matter imputable to him or me, that you should make a Schifm upon this account, as if either of us were the Author of your Faith; but it is God alone, who gave us our ability, and put all the force and efficacy into thofe facred ordinances, which we adminifter, and fo gave the increase. Thus, I fay, God gives the increase, not by any peculiar, fpecial action, diftin&t from that planting and watering of Paul and Apollos: but by continuing to profper that vigor and efficacy, which he was pleafed to put into that Miniftry. Hence the Apoftle faith, we are laborers together with God, and Minifters by whom ye believed. To this purpofe, the Apostle is a Chofen veffel to bear the Gospel to the Gentiles. And Acts 9.15. his commiffion is, to open their Eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the Power of Satan 26. 18. Mato God. And he doth fo well manage and exe