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A59663 The first principles of the oracles of God collected by Thomas Shephard ... Shepard, Thomas, 1605-1649. 1655 (1655) Wing S3112; ESTC R37142 12,596 24

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the power of his Holy Spirit working in us by Faith according to the Will of God Eph. 6. 6 7. Psal. 139. 24. Rom. 6. 1. Luk. 1. 74. Q. Wherein consists our observance of God A. It is either Moral or Ceremonial Q. Wherein consists our Moral observance of God A. In two things 1. In suffering his will whereby a Believer for the sake of Christ chooseth rather to suffer any misery than to commit the least sin Heb. 11. 26. Acts 21. 13. 2. In doing his will whereby a Believer in sense of Christs love performeth universall obedience to the Law of God Rom. 7. 22. 1 John 5. 3. Luke 1. 6. Phil. 3. 12. Q. Is there any use of the Law to a Christian A. Although it be abolished to a Christian in Christ as a Covenant of life for so Adam and his posterity are still under it yet it remains as a rule of life when he is in Christ and to prepare the heart for Christ Rom. 6. 14 15. Ma●… ●… 17 18 19 20. Ezech. 10. 11. Rom. 9. Q. Why is not a Christian so under the Law as a Covenant of life so as if he breaks it by the least sin he shall die for it A. Because Iesus Christ hath kept it perfectly for him Rom. 8. 3 4. Rom. 5. 20 21. Q. Can any man keep the Law perfectly in this life A. No for the unregenerate wanting the Spirit of Life cannot perfect an act of life in obedience to it The regenerate having the Spirit but in part perform it only imperfectly Rom. 8. 7. Rom 7. 21. Q. What befal●… the unregenerate upon their disobedience unto it A. The eternal curse of God for the least sin and the increase of Gods fierce and fearful secret wrath as they increase in sin Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 2 5. Q. What befals the regenerate after their breach of the Law and imperfect obedience unto it A. The Lord may threaten and correct them but his loving kindness in covering their sins in their best duties by Christ and accepting their meanest services so far as they are quickned by his Spirit is never taken from them Psal 89. 31 32 33. Zach. 3 1. to 8. Isa. 56. 7. Rom. 7. 20. Q. What is that imperfect obedience of Believers which is accepted A. When they observe the will of Christ as that therein 1. They confesse and lament their sins 1 John 1. 9. Rom. 7. 24. 2. They desire mercy in the blood of Christ and more of his Spirit Phil. 39 10 11. 3. They return him the praise of the least ability to do his will Psal. 50. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Q. How is the Law or ten Commandments divided A. Into two Tables The first shewing our duty to God immediately in the four first Commandments The second our duty to man in the six last Commandments Q. What rules are you to observe to understand the Moral Law A. These 1. That in whatsoever Commandment any duty is enjoyned there the contrary sin is forbidden and where any sin is forbidden there the contrary duty is commanded 2. That the Law is spiritual and hence requires not onely outward but inward and spirituall obedience 3. Where any grosse sin is forbidden there all the signs degrees means and provocations to that sin are forbidden also and are in Gods account that sin And so where any duty is commanded there all the signs means and provocations to that duty are commanded also 4. That the Law is perfect and therefore there is no sin in all the Scripture but is forbidden in it nor no duty required if moral but it is commanded in it Thus much of our morall observance of God Q. What is our ceremoniall observance A. The celebration of the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper Q What is a Sacrament A. It is an holy ceremony wherein external sensible things by the appointment of Christ are separate from common use to signifie exhibite and seal to us that assurance of eternall life by Christ Iesus according to the covenant of his grace Gen. 17. 9 10. Q. Which are the Sacraments A. They are two Baptism and the Lord Supper Q. What is the externall sensible part of Baptism A. Water John 3. 23. Q. What is the inward and spirituall part of Baptism signified exhibited and sealed thereby A. Christs Righteousnesse and his Spirit 1. Washing away our sin and so delivering us spom death 2. Presenting us clear before the Father and so restoring us again to life Rom. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Mat. 3. 11. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is a Sacrament of our new birth and ingrafting into Christ John 3. 5. 2. That as we are perfectly justified at once and being new-born once shall never dye again Hence this Seal is to be Administred but once Q. What is the externall and sensible part of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine with the Sacramentall actions about the same Q What is the inward and spiritual part of it signified sealed and exhibited thereby A. The body and bloud of Christ crucified offered and given to nourish and strengthen beleevers renewing their faith unto eternal life 1 Cor. 11. 24. John 6. 54 55. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is the Sacrament of our growth in Christ being new-born because it is food given to nourish us having received life 2. That therefore it is to be administred and received often that we may grow 3. That children and fools and wicked ought not to partake of the Sacrament because they cannot examin themselves and so renew their Faith 1 Cor. 11. 28. Q. Ought not the Sacrament to be administred to carnal people if they have been baptized A. No because such as are not within the Covenant have no right to the seal of the Covenant Q. Where are Believers who have right unto this Sacrament to seek fruition from it A. Because it ought not to be administred privately as the Papists would hence Gods people are to seek to enjoy their right to it in some particular visible Church in joyning with them as fellow-fellow-members of the same body 1 Cor. 11. 20 22. 1 Chron. 10. 17. Acts 2. 42. Q What Members ought every particular visible Church to consist of A. Christ being head of every particular Church and it his body hence none are to be members of the Church but such as are members of Christ by faith 1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Thes. 1. Q. But do not Hypocrites and no true Members of Christ creep in A. Yes but if they could have been known to be such they ought to be kept out and when they are known they are orderly to be cast out Mat. 25. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Rev. 2. 20. Tit. 3. 20. Q. Are these Members bound only to cleave to Christ their head by Faith A. Yes and to one another also by brotherly love which they are bound to strengthen and confirm as well as their faith by a solemn Covenant Eph. 4. 15 16. Col. 1. 4. Jer. 50. 4. Isa. 56. 45. Zach. 11. 14. Zeph. 3. 9. Psal. 119. 106. Q. What benefits are there by joyning thus to a particular Church A 1. Hereby they come to be under the special Governmen●… of Chr●…st in his Church and the Officers thereof Isa. 30. 20. 2. Hereby they have the promise of special bless●…ng and on their children also Psal. 133. 3. Exod. 20. 6. 3. Herein they have the promise of Gods special presence 1. Reveuling unto them his Will Psal. 27. 4. Psal. 63. 2 3. 2. Protecting them Isa. 44. 6. 3. Hea●…ing all their Prayers Deut. 4. 7. Mat. 18. 19. Q. Are there not some who never find these benefits A. Yes Because many knowing not how to make use of Gods Ordinances not feeling a need of Gods presence only in them their sin also b●…inding partly hardning their hearts and polluting Gods h●…se they then become worse when they have best means Mat. 11. 23. ser. 17. 5 6. Heb. 6. 8. 1 Sam. 5. 8 9. Eze. 14. 4. 1 King 8. 21. Q. What are the miseries of those who carelesly and wilfully despise and so refuse to joyn to Gods Church A. Besides the losse of Gods presence in the fellowship of his people it is a fearful sign continuing so God never intends to save their soals Acts 2. 47. Isa. 60. 12. Rev. 2. 23 24. Q. What therefore ought people chiefly to labour for and to hold forth unto the Church that so they may be joyned to it A. A three-fold work 1. Of Humiliation under their misery death and sin as their greatest evil Act. 2. 37. Mat. 3. 6. 2. Of Vocation or their drawing to Christ out of this misery as to their greatest and only good Acts●… 38 41. 3. Of new Obedience how they have walked in Christ since called Act. 9. 26 27. Mat. 3. 8. FINIS Mr. Thomas Shepheard of New-England 2 Tim. 1. 13. Heb. 5. 12. Mat. 13. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1 Cor. 2. 10. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Joh. 5. 39. Act. 6. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 8. Act. 20. 32.