we receive erroneous teachers into our houses or must we avoid them A. 2 Joh. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed Q. What 's the cause of Error A. Matth. 22.29 Jesus answered and said unto them ye doe erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Chap. 3. Of the Holy Scriptures Q. BY What Rule must we judge of the Doctrines we heare we must we judge by the Scriptures A. Yes Isai 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye thinke ye have eternall life and they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 12. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so therefore many of them believed Q. Are we to believe God speaking to us in the Scriptures as if he spake to us audibly by a voice from heaven A. 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye doe well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place untill the day-dawn the daystar arise in your hearts Q. Are we to believe even an Angel from heaven contrary to the Scriptures A. Galat. 1.8 But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Q. Ought we to believe the Scriptures rather than one who should come from the dead A. Luk. 16.27 28 29. I pray thee Father that thou wouldest send him to my Fathers house that he may testify unto them Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them Q. Would it be more effectuall to have our friends rise from the dead and warne us lest we come to the place of torment than to have the Scriptures read and applyed A. Luk. 16. last And he said unto him If they heare not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Q Did the Prophets of old speak and write the Holy Scriptures by any private motion or by the incitation or inspiration of the holy Ghost A. 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine c. 2 Pet. 1.20.21 Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Q. Did the Apostles of Christ preach the word of God or the word of man A. 1 The. 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Q. Did our Saviour Christ and the Apostles allow their Hearers no try their Doctrine by the Holy Scriptures A. Yea. Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readines of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Q. Did Christ and the Apostles who had the greatest measure and who were full of the Holy Ghost cite Scripture and prove by Scripture or appeal constantly to private Revelations or to a light or word within them or say alway Thus sayth the Spirit within us A. Luk. 10.26 What is written in the Law how readest thou Mar. 12.29 And as touching the dead that they rise have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spake unto him saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaack and the God of Jacob Q. Are the Scriptures and the Spirit joyned together and doth the Spirit of God goe along with the Scriptures A. Isai 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them sayth the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy feeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Joh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I spake unto you they are Spirit and they are life Q. But are the Scriptures able to make us perfect and wise unto Salvation without attending to visions and Revelations A. 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes Q. Are the Scriptures of the old Testament of use unto us now in the dayes of the Gospell A. Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 1 Cor. 10.1 to the 6th Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the Sea c. Now these things were our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evill things as they also lusted c. So. v. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come Q. May the common people read the Scriptures A. Yea Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 8.30 And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the Prophet Esaias and said Understandest thou what thou readest 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures Isai 34.16 Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read Deut. 17.18 19. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to doe them Q. May the Scriptures be translated out of the Originall languages into those tongues
which the people understand A. 1 Cor. 14.18 19 27 28. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue If any man speak in an unknown tongue let one interpret but if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speake to himselfe and to God Q. May we quote a translation of Scripture A. Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not c then said I Lo I come to doe thy will O God Which is a passage taken out of the 40th Psal verses 6.7 8. secundum Interpret 70 c. Q. Are the Scriptures to be read in the Church A. Luk. 4.16 And he came to Nazareth and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Act. 15.21 For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Q. In which book that of the Creatures or that of the Scriptures may we learne to know God best A. Psal 138.2 I will worship towards thy Holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnifyed thy Word above all thy name Psal 19.1 7 11. The Heavens declare the glory of God the firmament sheweth his handy worke the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Q. May Nations know any thing of God by his workes or Creatures A. Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall power and God-head so that they are without excuse Q. Is it a speciall blessing to have the word of God A. Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them praise ye the Lord. Chap. 4. Of God and of the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead Q. ARE the Gentiles in an Errour who worship many Gods A. Yea. Deut. 6.4 Heave O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world that there is none other God but one for though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be Gods many and Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Q. How doth the Scripture set out converts from the worship of false Gods or dead Idols which the Gentiles worship A. 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King c. Q. Is it possible for us to know God comprehensively or perfectly to comprehend his infinite being and perfection A. Job 11.7 8 9. Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection It is as high as heaven what canst thou doe Deeper than hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader then the Sea So chap. 26.14 Lo these are parts of his waies but how little a portion is heard of him but the thunder of his power who can understand Q. To speak after the manner of men is God a Spirit A. Yea Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Q. What doth the Scripture teach us to conceive of the nature of a Spirit or how doth a Spirit differ from a body A. Luk. 24.39 Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Q. What Scripture have you to prove that God is invisible to corporeall eyes A. 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall immortall invisible the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Deut. 4.15 16 17. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fires lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likenesse of male or female c. compared with Rom. 1.21 23. Because that when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and foure-footed beasts and creeping things Q. What proofe doe you bring that God is without Passion A. Act. 14.11 15. When the people saw what Paul had done they lift up their voices saying the Gods are come down to us in the likenesse of men c. Sirs why doe ye these things we also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turne from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven and earth c. Q. Give us a text to shew the unchangeablenesse or Immutability of God A. Mal. 3.6 For I am the Lord I change not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed Jam. 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh downe from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning Q. What text of Scripture is there to prove that God cannot be contained in any place or that he is Immense A. 1 King 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the heaven and the Heaven of heavens cannot containe thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand sayth the Lord and not a God a far off Can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Doe not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord Q. How doe you prove that he is Eternall A. Psal 90.2 Before the mountaines were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall
children or of strangers Peter saith unto him Of strangers Jesus saith unto him thē are the children free notwithstanding lest we should offend them go thou to the Sea c. That give for thee and me Q. May a Minister lawfully have a set manitenance A. 1 Timothy 5.17 18. compared with Math. 20.1 2. Luk. 10.7 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and Doctrine For the Scripture sayth thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corne and the Labourer is worthy of his reward For the Kingdome of Heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day he sent them into his vineyard Q. Is it lawfull to preach in a Pulpit A. Neh. 8.4 And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a Pulpit of wood which they had made for the purpose c. Q. Is it lawfull to read in the book of the Lord although no exposition immediatly follow A. Jer. 36.6 Therefore goe thou and read in the roll which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the eares of the people in the Lord's house upon the fasting day and also thou shalt read them in the eares of all Judah that come out of their cities Q. Is it lawfull to read and expound in the Congregation or make them to understand what is read A. Neh. 8.8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sence and caused them to understand the reading Act. 28.23 to whom he expounded and testified the Kingdome of God perswading them concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of the Prophets Mark 4.34 Luk. 24.27 Act. 8.30.31 35. Q. Is there any warrant to pray before reading and expounding A. Neh. 8.6 And Ezra blessed the Lord the great God and all the people answered Amen Amen with lifting up their hands and they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground Q. What warrant is there for the people to say Amen at the end of the Ministers prayer A. Ne. 8.6 And all the people answered Amen Amen with lifting up their hands Psal 106.48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Q. May we pray the Lord's prayer A. Luk. 11.1 2. And it came to passe that as he was praying in a certaine place when he ceased one of his disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples And he said unto them when ye pray say Our Father c. Q. May we pray other prayers A. Act. 4.24 And when they heard that they lift up their voice to God with one accord and said Lord thou art God which hast made heaven and earth and the Sea and all that in them is c. Q. Is there any thing to be said for the lawfulnesse of writing of Sermons after the minister A. Jer. 36.4 And Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord which he had spoken unto him upon a roll of a book Q. May we preach upon a text A. Luk. 4.20 21. And he closed the book and he gave it againe to the Minister and sate down and the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastened on him And he began to say unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares Q. May Ministers make use of books and give themselves to reading A. 2 Tim. 4.13 The cloak when thou comest bring with thee and the books but especially the parchments Q. Is it lawfull for a Minister to make use of humane learning A. Tit. 1.12 One of themselves even a Prophet of their own said the Cretians are alway lyars evill beasts slow bellyes 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evill communications corrupt good manners Act. 17.28 For in him we live and move and have our being as certaine also of your own Poets have said For we are also his off-spring Q. Had any of the Prophets or Apostles any humane learning A. Act. 7.22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdome of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds Act. 22.3 I am verily a man which am a Jew borne in Tarsus a city in Cilicia yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the Fathers c. Q. May a Minister marry and take care of wife and children A. 1 Tim. 3.4 One that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity Q. May a Minister keep a Servant A. 2 King 5.20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said my Master hath spared Naaman this Syrian c. Q. Is it lawfull for a Minister to suffer himselfe to be called Sr or Mr A. 1 King 18.7 That my Lord Elijah Act. 16.30 Sirs what must I doe to be saved 1 Sam 1.16 And she said oh my Lord as thy soul liveth my Lord I am the woman that stood by thee here praying unto the Lord. Q. What say you unto Mat. 23.10 Neither be ye called Masters c A. i. c. Doe not ye ambitiously affect great titles of Fathers and Masters or Governours or Guides as the Pharisees doe but account God your Father in heaven and me your master on earth and be ye content with the title of my disciples Q. Doth the holy Scripture ever give any titles of respect unto the disciples or Ministers afterwards A. Yes Act. 20.28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and Doctrine Eph. 4.11 And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls c. Q. Is the title or office of a Preacher dishonourale for any A. No. Eccles 1.12 I the Preacher was King over Israel in Jerusalem Rom. 15.8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirme the promises made unto the Fathers Q. Was it a disparagement among the Jewes to match with a Priest A. 2 Chr. 22.11 So Jehoshabeath the Daughter of King Jehoram the wife of Jehoida the Priest for she was the Sister of Ahaziah hid him Q. May Preachers lawfully suffer themselves to be taken up into the coaches of Nobles did not Elijah gird himselfe and run by Ahab's chariot A. Act. 8.28 31. And sitting in his charet c. He desired Philip
ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest chap. 7.7 Aske and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Is 55.1 3. Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price Incline your eare and come unto me hear and your soule shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Deut. 4.29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thine heart and with all thy soul Rev. 22.17 and the Spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely Q. May we pore upon predestination and look to see our names written in the book of life before we set our faces and hearts to look after a Saviour the Lord Christ A. Deut. 29.29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever that we may doe all the words of this Law 1 Joh. 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ Q. Is there any ground to stay the soul upon if it seek after the true knowledge and feare of God that it shall find it A. Prov. 2.3 4.5 Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Q. If Judas had repented and believed should he have been saved A. Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Q. If Peter had never repented and believed should he have been saved A. Joh. 3.18 But he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God vers 36. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Q. What if a man had a revelation from heaven that he should be saved might we say that Except he believed and repented and walked holily he could not be saved what saith the Scripture A. Act. 27.31 Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved compared with vers 23 24. There stood by me this night the Angell of God saying fear not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar and lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee Q. What if a Prophet should come and tell thee yet 10 or 20 or 40 dayes and thou shouldest dye and be damned if thou shouldest thereupon turne unto the Lord with all thy heart and believe in the Lord Christ shouldest thou be saved A. Jer. 18.7 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdome to pluck up and pull down and to destroy it If that nation against whom I have pronounced turne from their evill I will repent of the evill that I thought to doe unto them Matth. 11.23 If the mighty workes that have been done in thee had been done in Sodome it would have remained untill this day Is 38.1 2 5. Thus saith the Lord Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord Goe and say to Hezekiah thus saith the Lord the God of David thy Father I have heard thy prayer I have seen thy teares Behold I will adde unto thy dayes 15 yeers Jonah 3.4 10. Q. Shall any man be condemned at the last day because he could not or because he would not come unto Christ but put the Gospel away from him A. Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Joh. 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Q. May a man be fully assured of his Salvation A. 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens Q. Will Assurance make Saints Libertines in their lives A. Luk. 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Q. Is Assurance inconsistent with a filiall reverentiall obedientiall feare of the divine majesty A. Phil. 2.12 Worke out your own salvation with feare and trembling Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Q. What is the true meaning of that place 1 Joh. 4.18 A. Either perfect love casteth out all slavish base feare or if we love Christ in sincerity and with all our soules we shall not through feare deny him but confesse him before men although they persecute us for his names sake Q. May true Faith consist with some doubting A. Mat. 14.31 O thou of little Faith wherefore did'st thou doubt Q. Ought not Christians so to rejoyce alwaies in God as yet to be sorry for their sinnes and to weep with them that weep Are these things inconsistent Sorrow and Joy A. 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowfull yet alway rejoycing So chap. 7.9 Now I rejoyce not that ye were made sorry but that ye sorrowed to Repentance for ye were made sorry after a godly manner Rom. 12.15 Rejoyce with them that doe rejoyce and weep with them that weep Q. Shall men who live in grosse sins without Repentance Reformation ever come to heaven A. 1 Cor. 6.9 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shal not inherit the Kingdome of God c. And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Q. Are we commanded to make us a new heart and a new Spirit A. Ezek. 18.31 32. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selves and live yee Q. Hath God any where promised that he will doe this for us A. Jer. 24.7 And I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God For they shall returne unto me with their whole heart Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will