A. It is said 1 Thes. 4.14 If we beleeue that Iesus is dead and â—is risen euen so them which sleeepe in Iesus will God bring with him and 1 Cor. 15.21.22 for since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue therefore it is that hee is called the first fruits of them that sleepe Q. Proue that if there be no resurrection then the preaching of the Word and our faith is in vaine A. It is the Apostles argument to proue the resurrection 1 Cor. 15.14 that if there be no resurrection and so consequently Christ is not risen then saith hee our preaching is vaine your faith is also vaine and wee are found also false witnesses of God and verse 19. If in this life onely we haue hope in Christ we are of all men the most miserable X Of the day of Iudgement Q. Rehearse the Letter X. A. EXCeeding glorious in itselfe ioyous to the godly and fearfull to the wicked shall be the day of iudgment wherein Iesus Christ shall cal to account and iudge all men for all things done in this life according to their works For he shall come with glory in the clouds accompanied with innumerable Angels and fitting vpon his throne of Maiestie shall vpon due triall of euery mans workes the bookes being opened pronounce the sentence of saluation to the Godly and of damnation to the wicked Q. Proue that there shall be a day of iudgement A. It is written Act. 17.31 That God hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse and Salomon telleth vaine young men Eccles. 11.9 that they must know that for all these things God will bring them to iudgement yea it is a mayne Article of our Creed reason doth teach that seeing the godly liue here in much affliction the wicked in great pleasure there must needs be a day of iudgement to right all Q. When shall that day of iudgement be A. The day of iudgement is not knowne to any creature in heauen or earth but to God onely see Math. 24.36 But of that day and houre knoweth no man no nor the Angels of heauen but my Father onely and Mark 13.32 is added neither the Son himselfe that is in respect of his humane nature or as he is here in this world in the state of humiliation or to reueale it to vs whom it doth not concerne to know it as is said Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power yet there are signes foretold whereby wee knâ—w the approaching of this day of Iudgement Q. What are the signes foreshewing the day of iudgement A. The signes are chiefly these 2. The preaching of the Gospell through the whole world 2. Great calamities persecutions troubles wars famine pestilence and the like 3. A generall apostasie or falling away and departing from the faith and puritie of religion 4. The comming and reuealing of Antichrist the head of that Apostasie who shall take vpon him to be the head of the Church by sitting as God in the Temple of God aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped 5. Many deceiuers false Christs and false Prophets that shall seduce many 6. Generall corruption of manners and abundance of all iniquitie 7. Great securitie as in the dayes of Noe Mat. 24.37 8. The calling or conuerting of the Iewes Rom. 11.25.26 9. Strange signes in the heauens in the Sunne Moone and Starres on the land earthquakes in the sea roaring tempestuous storms 10. The burning of the world with fire and the comming of Christ in glory Q. Why is the day of iudgement concealed from men A. That day and houre is hidden and vnknowne to men and shall therefore be as the comming of a Thiefe in the night or as the trauaile of a woman with childe to the end that wee should waite and watch euery day and houre and be prepared for the Lords comming see Math. 24.42 Watch therefore for you know not what houre your Lord commeth and verse 44. Therefore be yee also ready for in such an houre as ye thinke not the Sonne of man doth come and Mark. 13.37 And what I say vnto you I say vnto all Watch. Q. Why is the day of iudgement so long deferred A. The Lord doth deferre the day of iudgement for diuers causes 1. that he might shew his patience toward vs in giuing so large a time of repentance 2. That all the elect both of Iewes and Gentiles might be gathered together their number compleat and so all Israel may bee saued 3. That he might try and exercise the patience of the faithfull who suffer so much at the hands of wicked men for the truth 4. That the vngodly and impenitent abusing the patience and long suffering of God which leadeth to repentance might bee left without excuse and be the more seuerely punished Q. Who shall be the Iudge A. He shall be the iudge who is our Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ see Act. 17.3 1. where it is said That God will iudge the world by that man whom hee hath appointed and Rom. 2.16 In the day when God shall iudge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ for saith he Ioh. 5.22 The Father hath committed all iudgement to his Sonnâ— yet at the day of iudgement the godly shall also be as iudges in assisting and consenting to the iudgement of Christ therefore the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 6.2 Doe you not know that the Saints shall iudge the world Q. Who are they that shall be iudged A. All men of what condition soeuer that haue beene are or shall be from the beginning to the end of the world must come to iudgement so we reade 2 Cor. 5.10 That wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ and Rom. 14.12 So then euery one of vs shall giue account of himselfe to God for the Apostle had said before verse 10. Wee shall all stand before the iudgement seat of Christ. And this must be that as the wicked haue ioyned in sinne with the Apostate Angels that is the Deuils so they may be conioyned with them in iudgement who are reserued in chaines of darkenesse vnto the iudgement of that great day 2 Pet. 2.4 Iud. 6. then shall Antichrist as a chiefe head of all impietie receiue the doome of his eternall destruction 2 Thes. 2.8 Q. Of what things shall all men be iudged A. Euery man shall be iudged of all things done in this life both good and euill the good shall bee approued the euill condemned so it is said Eccl. 12.14 That God shall bring euery worke into iudgement with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill and 2
Cor. 5.10 That euery one may receiue the thingâ— done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Q. How and how farre shall men be iudged for their euill workes A. All men that in this present life before their departure hence by death haue not laid holâ— on Christ and his merits by faith for the satisfaction of Gods iustice but dye in their sinnes and impenitencie shall giue account to God for euery sinfull thought word and worke 1. For euery thought though secret and hid from men therefore it is not onely said that God will bring euery work to iudgement but withall euery secret thing and Rom. 2.16 In that day God shall iudge the secrets of men 2. For euery word yea euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement Math. 12.36 3. For euery act or deed committed much more as before is shewed that God will bring euery worke to iudgement and euery one shall receiue the things done in his body Q. Shall men giue account for the omission or neglect of good A. Men shall not onely account and be iudged for the euill which they haue committed but also for the Good which they haue omitted and neglected for God hath commanded Psal. 34.14 Depart from euill and doe good and Isai. 1.16 Cease to doe euill and learne to do well Therefore the accusation of the wicked at the day of iudgement is thus propounded Math. 25.42 I was an hungred and ye gaue me no meat I was thirsty and ye gaue me no drinke I was a stranger and yee tooke mee not in naked and yee clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not For this cause Iohn Baptist for the auoiding of the wrath to come directeth Matth. 3.8 to bring forth fruits meet for repentance because euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen downe and cast into the fire though it bringeth not forth euill fruit Q. Why must iudgement be giuen according to works A. That euery one shall bee iudged according to his workes Gods word is plaine euery where 2 Cor. 5.10 Euery one shall receiue according to that hee hath done So it was reuealed to Saint Iohn Reu. 20.12.13 That they were iudged euery man according to their works The reason is because workes are the fruits of faith by which it is discerned as the tree by the fruit And therefore it is said according to workes not for the merit of them vnlesse it bee the works of sinne which doe worthily merit damnation Againe the triall by workes is the fittest way to conuince hypocrites Q. Shew that the comming of Christ shall be glorious A. That Iesus Christ shall appeare in great glory at the day of iudgement whether we respect the manner of his comming with the attendance of such a multitude of Angels or his sitting in maiestie vpon his tribunall seat we may see Matth. 25.31 where it is said briefely That when the sonne of man commeth in his glory and all the Angels with him then shall hee sit vp on the throne of his glory Q. Why shall it bee ioyous to the godly A. Christs comming to iudgement cannot but hee most ioyous and comfortable to the faithfull partly because hee that commeth thus gloriously to be their iudge is their Sauiour partly for that they shall then receiue their full redemption and reward of their pietie and on the contrary shall behold all their enemies vanquished and trod vnder their feete Therefore doth the spirit of God euery where comfort the godly with the consideration of this day and therefore that day is called the time of refreshing Acts 3.19 Q. Why shall it be fearefull to the wicked A. It cannot but be most fearfull to all wicked men to behold the Lord Iesus come to iudgement in such glorious manner whom they haue so pierced with their sinnes Reu. 1.7 the rather in regard that he shall come in flaming fire to take vengeance on them 2 Thes. 1.8 and to execute iudgement vpon all and to conuince all that are vngodly of all their vngodly deeds which they haue vngodly committed and of all their hard speeches which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him Iude 15. Q. What shall be the forme or manner of the last iudgement A. The forme and manner of the last iudgement is not to bee expressed only the word of God for our better vnderstanding doth set it forth by a similitude or resemblance of an earthly iudge shewing the manner of disposing the persons conuented the order of triall and euidence together with the sentence of the iudge and the execution thereof Q. How will hee dispose of all men at the barre of iudgement A. First the disposing of all men conuented at that barre is noted by the Euangelist Math. 25.32 Before him shall bee gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the goates and he shall set the sheepe on his right hand and the goates on the left Q. What is intended by setting some on the right hand and some on the left hand A. The intention and meaning is that at the day of iudgement the godly who like sheepe haue heard the voice of Christ their shepheard and haue led an innocent life in this world shall then be aduanced and the wicked who haue here expressed the nature of filthy goates by satisfying their vngodly lusts shall then bee deiected And that whereas in this life they were mingled together and did many wayes annoy the flock of Christ then at that day there shall be a perfect separation to the ioy of the godly and terror of the wicked Q. How shall the triall be A. The triall shall be according to the rule appointed of God for that end Which is partly the law of nature partly the law written both morall and Euangelicall as we may see by the Scriptures following Rom. 2.12 As many as haue sinned without law shall perish without law and as many as haue sinned in the law shall be iudged by the law The reason is verse 15. Because they haue the law written in their hearts Ioh. 12.48 He that reiecteth me and receiueh not my words hath one that iudgeth him the word that I haue spoken the same shall iudge him in the last day Q What shall bee the euidence A. The euidence is said in the word of God to be certaine bookes This Iohn was shewed in a vision Reu. 20.12 I saw saith hee the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes Which is not to bee vnderstood properly that there shall bee materiall bookes but by way of similitude or resemblance because all things are as certaine and manifest to God and shall
then be as plainely laid open before Angels and men as if they were recorded in a booke or register Q. What are these bookes A. There are foure sorts of bookes which shall then be opened for the discouery of all the actions of men That is The booke of Gods prouidence whereof the Psalmist speaketh in Psal. 139.16 In thy booke were all things written The booke of the creatures spoken of in Ioh. 20.27 The heauen shall reueale his iniquity and the earth shall rise vp against him The booke of the conscience of which see Rom. 2 15.16 Their conscience bearing witnes and their thoughts accusing or excusing one another in the day when God shall iudge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ. The booke of life Reu. 20.12 which is the decree of Gods election wherein whosoeuer is not found written is cast into the lake of fire verse 15. Q. What shall bee the sentence A. The sentence shall bee twofold of saluation and of condemnation Matth. 25.34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come yee blessed of my father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And verse 41. then shall he say also vnto them on his left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his Angels Y Of the execution of the sentence of damnation Q. Rehearse the letter Y A. YOu that are wicked shall by the power of the voyce of Christ goe away into hell being separated from God consorted with the Deuils depriued of all comfort punished with vnspeakable torments both in soule and body according to your sinnes and that eternally without ease or end For it is iust with God so to punish the wicked and that they who haue liued heere in the pleasures of sinne should be recompenced with answeâ—able torment Q. Proue that there is a place of torment called Hell A. That there is a Hell or place of torment so called the word of God doth witnesse euery where we reade Math. 5.22 of the danger of hell fire so verse 29.30 of the whole body cast into hell fire so Math. 10.28 Feare him which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell so Math. 23.33 How can ye escape the damnation of hell This hell the Prophet resembleth by Topheth which is in the valley of Hinnon where the Israelites offered vp their children in fire to the Idoll Molech see in Isa. 30.33 the description of it Topheth is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared hee hath made it deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone doth kindle â—t Q. Where is the place of Hell A. The situation or locall being and place of hell cannot for any thing we reade in Scripture be certainely determined onely this in generall is certaine and out of all question that Hell is in respect of the Heauen of the Blessed called the third or highest heauen an inferiour or lower place exceeding farre remote and distant from it which may be gathered by that which we reade of the damned rich man in Luk. 16.23 That in hell he lift vp his eyes being in torments and sâ—eth Abraham a farre off and verse 26. it is said to him betweene vs and you there is a great gulfe fixed But it is better for vs leauing all curiositie to learne to auoid hell then by experience to finde where it is remembring that in Pro. 15.24 The way of life is aboue to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Q. Proue that the wicked shall by the power of Christs voyce goe into hell A. The wicked that here in this life will not heare the voyce of Christ shall then be constrained will they nill they by the power of that voyce to goe away into hell this is euident Math. 25. if wee conferre together the 41. and 46. verses where wee may see that when Christ had said Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire it is added withall And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment Q. Proue that the wicked shall then bee separated from God A. They that in this life say vnto God Depart from vs for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes to them it shall be said at that day I neuer knew you depart from me ye that worke iniquitie for this must be one chiefe part of the punishment of the reprobate to be excluded out of the glorious presence of God and of his Angels and Saints so wee reade 2 Thes. 1.9 That they shall bee punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Q. Proue that they shall bee consorted with the deuils A. In this life wicked men doe preferre the deuill before God for as our Sauiour saith Ioh. 8.44 They are of their Father the deuill and the lusts of their Father they will doe therefore as here they ioyne with the deuils in sinne so there they shall be consorted with them in punishment according to the sentence and iudgement giuen Math. 25.41 Depart from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his Angels Q. Proue that they shall be depriued of all comfort A. That the wicked being in hell shall be destitute of all ease and comfort wee may see by the example of him who refusing to giue one crumme of refreshing could not receiue so much as one drop of comfort And indeed what comfort can there bee where there shall be notâ—ing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth when the wicked shall see Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the kingdome of God and themselues thrust out Luk. 13.28 Q. Proue that they shall bee punished with vnspeakeable torments A. The exceeding greatnesse of their torments may appeare in that they are said to be in the lake that burneth with fire brimstone Reu. 19.20 where their worme dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Mark 9.44 To bee cast out into vtter darkenesse Math. 8.12 And into a furnace of fire Math. 13.42 Which epithets or termes the spirit of God doth vse to note how fearefull and intollerable the paines of the damned shall be Q. Proue that their punishment shall bee proportionable and according to their sinne A. The punishment of the damned reprobates shall be proportioned according to the quality degree and measure of their sinnes they that haue had the meanes of grace and repentance the word of God and haue neglected or contemned it shal be more seuerely punished then they that neuer heard it therefore it is said Math. 10.15 That it shall be more tollerable for Sodome and Gomorrha and Math. 11.22 for Tyre and Sidon at the day of iudgement then for such Againe sinnes of knowledge shall be punished
and faith worketh outwardly by the word as by an instrument and inwardly by his spirit Q QValities of faith inseparable vnto it are these to vnite vs to God in Christ. to assure vs of Gods loue in him to purifie the heart and to worke by loue For vntill we beleeue wee are without God without Christ and without hope but when once wee beleeue wee haue peace with God and cannot but be fruitfull in all good workes R REmember that faith and so all other graces are increased and confirmed by the hearing of the word of God preached as also by reading meditation conference practise prayer and Sacraments For as God requireth of euery Christian a daily increase of grace so he hath appointed these meanes to that end S SAcraments are outward visible signes of the couenant and promise of God in Christ ordained by Christ himselfe to signifie and to seale or confirme and as instruments or meanes to conuay sauing grace to euery true beleeuer and to bee as badges or tokens of our Christian profession And they are in number onely two namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper For such helpes our weake faith doth require and these only hath Christ ordained and no more being answerable to the two Sacraments vnder the Law that is Circumcision and the Passouer and are alone in that kinde sufficient both for the beginning and continuing of sitting grace T THe sacrament of Baptisme is when the persons baptized professing repentance and faith in Iesus Christ and the children of such are by the Minister of the word washed with water in the name of the Father the sonne and the holy Ghost being thereby admitted into the communion of the body of Christ which is the Church assured of the remission of their sinnes do vow and promise and are by Baptisme confirmed in grace to beleeue in Iesus Christ and to liue no more in sinne but in newnesse of life For Baptisme is the signe of our regeneration or new birth and therefore is once onely to bee receiued as it is sufficient to be once borâ—e and yet the virtue of Baptisme is perpetuall V VNderstand that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is when bread and wine representing the body and blood of Christ broken and shed for vs being by the Minister taken and blessed is broken and poured forth and so deliuered to all the faithfull prâ—sent and of them receiued by eating the bread and drinking the wine in remembrance of Christs death as also to communicate vnto vs the very body and blood of Christ spiritually by faith and so to confirme our faith in Christ and loue one to another For this Sacrament is the signe of our new life as Baptisme is of our new birth And therefore as we haue neede of often nourishment so wee ought to receiue often and that with due preparation W WE must know and beleeue that all men dying the soules of the godly goe immediatly to heuenly ioy the wicked to hell torments and all of them shall at the last day rise againe in their owne bodyes by the power of Christ the godly to life eternall the wicked to euerlasting damnation For Christ came to destroy death for vs and is himselfe risen from death that wee might rise with him and if there were no resurrection the preaching of the word and our faith should bee in vaine X EXCeeding glorious in it selfe ioyous to the godly and fearfull to the wicked shall be the day of iudgement wherein Christ shâ—ll call to account and iudge all men of all things done in thiâ— life according to theâ—r works For he shall come with glory in the clouds accompanied with innumerable Angels and sitting vpon his throne of Maiestie shall vpon due triall of euery mans workes the bookes being opened pronounce the sentence of saluation to the Godly and of damnation to the wicked Y YOu that are wicked shall by the power of the voyce of Christ goe away into hell being separated from God consorted with the Deuils depriued of all comfort punished with vnspeakable torments both in soule and body according to your sins and that eternally without case or end For it is iust with God so to punish the wicked and that they who haue liued heere in the pleasures of sinne should be recompenced with answerable torment Z ZEalous godly men the iudgement being ended shall immediatly goe with Christ into heauen hauing in him immediate communion with God who shall be all in all vnto them and so shall be freed from all euills and possessed of all good things as perfection of grace brightnes of glory and fulnesse of ioy in their seuerall degrees and that vnspeakable and euerlasting For it stands with the certainty of Gods election with the truth of his promise and with his iustice for the merit of Christ thus to reward the faithfull that so all their sorrowes may bee turned into ioy THE SECOND PART of the Christian ALPHABET Containing The grounds of knowledge repeated by way of Question and Answer with the proofe of euery particular point of Doctrine A Of the knowledge of God in Generall Q. Rehearse the first Letter of the Christian Alphabet that is the Letter A. A. ACknowledge God as hee hath reuealed himselfe in his written word For no man can bee saued without the knowledge of God neither can a man know God to saluation but by the Scriptures Q. How proue you that there is a God to bee acknowledged A. That there is a God to bee acknowledged of all is euident both by the light of nature and of grace as also by the workes of God Q. How may it appeare by the light of nature that there is a God A. It is manifest by these euidences 1. Because in the very Heathen there is the worke of the conscience 2. Because they haue by naturall instinct an inclination to some kinde of Religion 3. In that they haue the vse of an Oath 4. In that they make obseruation of GODS vengeance against sinne Q. Proue that in the Heathen there is the worke of the conscience A. The Apostle doth affirme so much Rom. 2.15 That the Gentiles shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witnesse and their thoughts the meane while accusing or excusing one another This worke of the conscience is a manifest euidence that there is a God who is aboue the conscience according to that in 1 Ioh. 3.20 If our heart condemne vs
the Disciples hearts and exhorting them to continue in the faith and 1 Cor. 14.3 Hee that prophecieth that is preacheth and expoundeth the word speaketh vnto meâ— â—o edification and exhortation and comfort Q. Proue that reading is a meanes to increase and confirme faith and all other graces A. Therefore it is that in 1 Tim. 4.13 Paul exhorteth Timothie to giue attendance to reading as well as to exhortation and to doctrine and 2 Tim. 3.15 commendeth him that hee had knowne the holy Scriptures of a childe which are able to make him wise vnto saluation and Rom. 15.4 he saith that whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Q. Proue that meditation is a meanes to increase and confirme in vs the sauing graces of God A. It is euident in the example of Dauid Psal. 119.97 O how loue I thy law It is my meditation all the day And to shew what increase and confirmation of heauenly grace he receiued by this his religious exercise of meditation he addeth immediately verse 98. That it made him wiser then his enemies verse 99. That hee had more vnderstanding then all his teachers And verse 100. That hee did vnderstand more then the ancients Q. Proue that conference is a meanes to increase and confirme grace A. Thus the godly meeting together strengthened one another Mal. 3.16 where it is said that Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord harkened and heard it and a Book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought vpon his Name To this end are those frequent exhortations in Scripture as in 1 Thes. 5.11 Comfort your selues together and edifie one another euen as also you doe And Heb. 3.13 Exhort one another daily while it is called To day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Q. Proue that practise is a meanes to increase and confirme grace A. Therefore it is that Dauid saith Psal. 119.100 I vnderstand more then the ancients because I kept thy precepts hereupon our Sauiour affirmeth Ioh. 7.17 That if any man will doe his will hee shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no. Now we know that to be able to discerne of doctrine is a note of great increase and strength of grace Nay our Sauiour placeth the happinesse of knowledge in practise see Ioh. 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye doe them Q. Proue that praier is a meanes to increase faith and all other graces A. Prayer is the Conduit pipe to conuey Gods graces vnto us therefore Luk. 17.5 The Apostles said vnto the Lord Increase our faith and Dauid prayeth Psal. 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law And Paul Col. 1.9 Ceased not to pray to God for them that they might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthened with all might c. Q. Proue that the Sacrâ—ment are meanes to increase and confirme grace A. It is manifest in that they are called signes to signifie and seales to confirme as circumcision is called Rom. 4.11 the signe of circumcision and the seale of the righteousnesse of faith And 1 Pet. 3.21 Baptisme is called the figure that now saueth vs because it signifieth and sealeth or confirmeth our saluation by Christ. Q. Proue that God requireâ—h of euery Christian a daily encrease of grace A. It is written 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. And Heb. 5.12 They are reproued that when as concerning the time they ought to be teachers yet they had neede againe to bee taught the first principles of the word of God And Chap. 6.1 they are exhorted to goe on vnto perfection Q. Proue that God hath appointed these meanes to that end and first the preaching of the word A. It is euident that the ministery of the word was therefore ordained Ephes. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Till wee all come into the vnity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ That wee henceforth bee no more children wauering and carried about with euery wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceiue But following the truth in loue in all things grow vp into him which is the head euen Christ. Q. Proue that God hath appointed reading to that end and first publique reading A. God so commanded Deut. 31 11. When all Israâ—l come to appeare before the Lord thy God in the place which hee shall choose thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing And verse 12. Gather the people together men women and children and the stranger that is within thy gates that they may heare and that they may learne and feare the Lord your God and obserue to doe all the words of this Law Q. Proue that God appointed reading priuately in the family A. It is written Deut. 6.6.7 These words which I command thee this day shall bee in thine heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thy house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thou risest vp Q. Proue that God appointed reading solitarily euery one by himselfe first in the old Testament A. It is manifest Deut. 17.19 in that euen the King himselfe is commanded to read in the Law of God all the dayes of his life that hee may learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of this Law And to Ioshuah the like charge is giuen Iosh. 1.8 This booke of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day night that thou mayst obserue to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt haue good successe Q. Proue that God appointed reading solitarily euery one by himselfe in the new Testament A. It is the expresse câ—mmandement of Christ Iohn 5.39 Seâ—rch the Scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of me And Col. 3.16 Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another c. And Acts 17.11 The Bereans are commended in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so And of the booke of the Reuelation which is the hardest to be vnderstood
of all the rest it is said Reu. 1.3 Blessed is hee that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophesie and keepe those things which are written therein Q. Proue that God appointed meditation to that end A. It is euident in that charge before mentioned which the Lord gaue vnto Ioshuah namely that hee should meditate in the booke of the Law day and night Ios. 1.8 And it is propâ—uâ—ded as the way to happinesse Psal. 1. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsell of the vngodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornefull but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his law doth hee meditate day and night Q. Proue that conference was appointed to that end A. Therefore it is that they are commanded Deut 6.7 To talke of the word of God in the house in the way lying down and rising vp and therefore the Apostle hauing said Heb. 10.23 Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering addeth immediately the meanes appointed of God to that end verse 24.25 And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selues together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another Q. Proue that practise is appointed to that end A. Therefore our Sauiour requireth the condition of practise of euery man that will be able to iudge of truth and error and to withstand seducers see Ioh. 7.17 and the Apostle directeth Heb. 5.14 that through long custome which standeth in experience and practise men haue their wits exercised to discerne both good and â—uill and the Lord himselfe saith Psal. 50.23 To him that ordereth hiâ— conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Q. Proue that God appointed prayer to that end A. It is included in the generall promise Math. 7.7 Aske and it shall be giuen you and verse 8 for whosoeuer asketh receiueth Againe â—ro 2.3 4.5 If thou criest after knowledge and liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding Then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God Q. Proue that God appointed Sacraments to that end A. That Sacraments were ordained for our confirmation see Gen 17.10 concerning circumcision which is therefore called the Couenant because it did signe seale and confirme the couenant as the Apostle noteth Rom. 4.11 The like is said of the Passeouer Exod. 13.9 So vnto vs Christians Baptisme was to that end ordâ—ined Math. 28.19 and the Lords Supper Luk 22.19 S Of Sacraments in generall Q. Rehearse the Letter S A. SAcraments are outward visible signes of the couenant and promise of God in Christ ordained by Christ himselfe to signifie and to seale or confirme and as instruments or meanes to conuay sauing grace to euery true beleeuer and to bee as badges or tokens of our Christian profession And they are in number onely two namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper For such helpes our weake faith doth require and these only hath Christ ordained and no more being answerable to the two Sacraments vnder the Law that is Circumcision and the Passouer and are alone in that kinde sufficient both for the beginning and continuing of sauing grace Q. Proue that Sacraments are signes of the couenant A. That Sacraments are signes of the couenant promise of God is manifest in Circumcision which is called the Couenant because it was the signe of the couenant conferre Gen. 17.10 with verse 11. This is my couenant which ye shall keepe betweene mee and you and thy seede after thee Againe see Act. 2.38 where the Apostle Peter exhorting them to be baptized in the Name of Iesus Christ alledgeth this reason for saith he the promise is made to you and to your children c. Thereby intimating that to whomsoeuer the couenant doth belong to them belongeth the signe and seale of the couenant which is baptisme Q. Proue that the Sacraments are ordained by Christ A. The Lord God is the sole and onely author of all Sacraments for as it is only in his power to make the couenant and to conferre grace so he only hath authority to ordaine and appoint the signes and seales of the couenanâ— of grace Thus did hee both enter the couenant with Abraham and his seed for euer Gen. 17.7 and also appoint the signe of Circumcision verse 10.11 The like hee did concerning the Passeouer Exod. 12. and 13. In the same manner our Sauiour Christ being eternall God with his Father did institute Baptisme Matth. 28 19. Goe teach all nations baptizing them c. And the Lords Supper Luk. 22.19 Doe this in remembrance of mee Whereupon Saint Paul saith 1 Cor. 11.23 I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered vnto you Q. To what end or vse were the Sacraments ordained A. The end or vse of Sacraments is diuers First Sacraments are ordained to signifie shew and represent vnto vs the grace offered in the couenant In which respect they are called signes because they are as it were tokens and resemblances of Gods grace and fauour towards vs. So circumcision is called the signe of circumcision Ro. 4.11 the signe of the couenant Gen. 17.11 Baptisme is said to be the figure that now saueth vs. Againe of the celebration of the Passeouer the Lord saith Exod. 12.14 This day shall bee to you a remembrance And of the Lords Supper Christ saith Doe this in remembrance Luk. 22.19 And the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.26 Yee shew the Lords death till hee come Q. What is the second end or vse of Sacrameâ—ts A. Secondly Sacraments are appointed of God to seale or confirme the inâ—aâ—â—ible certainty of his couenant of grace in Christ made with his Church that thereby the faythfull may more firmely belieue and rest vpon it by faith as ciuill contracts are ratified and made authenticke by their seales annexed Therefore it is that the signe of circumcision is by the Apâ—stle Rom. 4.11 câ—llâ—d The seale of the righteousnesse of faith Q. What is the third end or vse of Sacraments A. Thirdly Sacraments are ordained to bee as instruments or meanes to conuay grace to euery true beleeuer which is euident for Baptisme in that Christ is said Eph. 5.26 to sanctifie and cleanse his Church with the washing of water by the word And Tit. 3.5 God is said to saue vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost And for the Lords Supper see 1 Cor. 10.16 where the Apostle calleth the cup of blessing the communion of the blood of Christ and the bread the communion of the body of Christ because in the right vse of these outward elements the faith full doe communicate with Christ himselfe and all his benefits Q. Proue that grace is conuayed not to all receiuers but onely to euery true beleeuer A. That grace is not conuayed to euery one