and drinks unworthily at the Lords Table and why may there not be the like misdemeanor committed and consequently the like guilt contracted in or about the other Sacrament also eat and drink Judgement or damnation unto themselves and consequently must needs sin in that action at a very grievous rate those Churches that shall suddenly admit men or women unto their Sacramental Communion or without some rational ground of their meetness to bear a part in so great and holy a Service having a right of power as hath been said vested in them by God to maintain the reverence and honour of it within their own Community and consequently to shut the door of admission here against all unknown persons whatsoever evidently by such a behavior incur the guilt or which amounts to little less expose themselves to the danger of being partakers of other mens sins which they cannot do without their own Secondly the holy things of God must needs suffer loss in that reverence and high esteem which either they have or ought to have in the Souls and Consciences of men by being made common or not managed with a solemnity of care and circumspection and as it were with an holy fear and trembling by those that are instrusted with the ordering of them We read that the wickedness of the Sons of Eli being Priests occasioned men to abhor the offering of the Lord 1 Sam. 2.17 And it is recorded of Jeroboam that designing to bring the Worship of God in the Temple at Jerusalem out of request and credit with the people and to establish the Idolatry of his Calves he made Priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the Sons of Levi I Kings 12.31 Yea after he had been admonished of this his wickedness by a Prophet sent on purpose unto him by God who confirmed his mission by a double miracle the one of Judgement the other of Mercy upon his person and by a double Miracle also upon his idolotrous Altar 1 Kings 13.4 5 6. it is written thus After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way but made again of the lowest of the people Priests of the high places WHOEVER WOULD he consecrated him and he became one of the Priests of the high places And this thing became sin to the house of Jereboam even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth v. 33 34. From whence this amongst sundry other things is of ready observation that the majestick awful pleasing reverence which is due unto the holy things of God by their coming unto unsanctified and undue hands is in danger of being ecclipsed and falling low in the hearts of men See and consider Psal 50.16 Therefore great care is to be taken by all the Churches of Christ respectively that as far as is possible no wicked person have the right hand of fellowship given unto him amongst them in declaring or shewing forth the Lords Death which they have that are admitted by them to eat and drink at the Lords Table as the Apostle himself interprets this action 1 Cor. 11.26 Thirdly every Christian Church or Congregation should endeavour the perfectest resemblance that may be unto the Kingdom of Heaven by the very name whereof these Churches at east in their collective body are frequently stiled or the New Jerusalem which is coming down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.2 Into this it is expresly said that there shall IN NO WISE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is upon no terms whatsoever or most assuredly there sha l not enter into it any th ng that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they only which are wr tten in the Lambs book of Life that is who by means of their Faith and Holiness come under Gods eternal decree of election unto life which 1 is compared to a Book wherein names or persons are written to shew that those that shall answer the terms of that decree that is shall truly and perseveringly believe in Jesus Christ shall be as certainly saved by vertue of that decree as if their names were written in such a Book the title whereof should be the Book of Life or of Salvation or A catalogue of the names of those that shall most certainly be saved 2. This decree is termed The Lambs that is Christ's considered as the Lambs of God slain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the foundation of the world that is immediately upon or soon after the foundations of the world was laid namely when or as soon as man sinned a thing being frequently in Scripture said to be or to be done when the cause producing or occasioning it taketh place and is in being either because the life which this book insureth unto those that are written in it is of the Lambs procuring or rather because the Lamb gave an opportunity to the mercy of God notwithstanding his justice or just severity against sin to write or make such a Book mean of election of sinners unto life upon the performance of such and such conditions in which respect believers are said to be elected or chosen in h m that is through or by means of him as the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in often importeth but this by the way Rev. 21.27 Therefore every Church of Christ being bound to conform it self with all diligence and care unto the holiness of the New Jerusalem ought not to suffer all comers hand over head to enter into their communion or to partake of their holy things with them Fourthly Several particulars recorded we find that God even under the Law was very jealous over his holy things that the honor and reverence due unto them might be maintained at their height and without the least imbezilement by neglect or prophanation what by declarations precepts and charges given in this kinde what by exemplary judgements inflicted upon transgressours of these precepts what by provisions made otherwise to prevent all delinquency of that kinde we speak of I mean about the sacred things of his worship he hath largely testified unto the world his great zeal to secure the honor and awful esteem of these things from all indignities and affronts that are otherwise like to be put upon them by the superstition neglect or presumption of men yea and his full resolution to avenge with great severity the contempt of them or the violation of those wise and holy prescripts or significations of his holy will and pleasures which he hath given concerning them and the use of them First there were many strict and peremptory charges given by him in this kinde I WILL be sanctified in them that come nigh me c. Lev. 10.3 Ye SHALL keep my Sabbaâ—hâ— and reverence my Sanctuary Lev. 19 30.26.2 Neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel LEST YE DIE Numb 18.32 In the former part of this Chapter no less penalty then death is threatned both to Priests and
What is a fifth argument drawn from the subject-matter of the Scriptures to evince their descent to be from God Answ That heart-searching property which oft discovereth it self in the preaching and opening of them by learned and faithful Ministers yea and sometimes in the diligent and attentive reading and meditating of them by men themselves Many times the secret thoughts inclinations and intentions of mens hearts are presented unto them in and by the Scriptures as their natural faces are shewed to them in a glass Therefore he who only searcheth the heart and trieth the reins of the Children of men that is God can be the Author of the Scriptures Quest 10. What is there in the words phrase or style of the Scriptures which giveth any light whereby to discern them to be from God Answ There is a kind of majestique plainnesse and simplicity in the style of the Scriptures very unlike the strein of humane Eloquence and greatly differing from the style of other writers which giveth strong evidence that their Author and Inditer is God This argument the Apostle Paul taketh notice of where he writeth thus Which things speaking of the things of the Gospel also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth Comparing spiritual things with spiritual or rather fitting spiritual things or spiritual matter with spiritual words or with a spiritual style 1 Cor. 2.13 The force of this argument cannot be well apprehended but by those that are in some measure acquainted with the books and writings of other Authors and so able to compare them in point of style with the Scriptures Quest 11. What other considerations are there besides these taken from the Scriptures themselves which any waies prove them to be from God Answ There are several others of this import but amongst these there are two which seem to have in them a great weight of proof in this kind Quest 12. What is the first of these Answ The special care and interposure of God by his providence in all ages that they neither in whole nor in part should miscarry or be lost no nor yet suffer any such defacing or corrupting but what might and may be healed and restored by men notwithstanding the many revolutions and turnings upside down even in those parts of the world where they have had their beings whereas the rarest choysest and most desirable writings of men otherwise are wholly perished and lost The names of some of them as of Solomons natural History who spake as the Scripture testifieth of trees from the Cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall as also of beasts and of fouls and of creeping things and of fishes 1 King 4.33 only remaining and of many others of them some fragments and imperfect sentences only Quest 13. How can you prove that no part of the Scripture is lost Answ The Scriptures of the old Testament called the Oracles of God are said to have been committed unto or intrusted with the Jewes Rom. 3.2 who are known to have been and yet to be very solicitous exact and careful preservers of this Treasure Nor were there any more writings or any other then those now called the books or scriptures of the old Testament committed unto them by God as his Oracles or as given by divine inspiration nor did Christ nor any of his Apostles nor any of the Jewish Nation and Religion ever complain or give the least intimation that these Scriptures were any waies maimed or any part of them lost but rather give Testimony unto their intirenesse and compleatnesse See Job 5.39 compared with 2 Tim. 3. 15.16 17. and Rom. 15.4 And for the Scriptures of the New Testament the same books which are now extant under this account are found named and reckoned accordingly in very ancient Records Neither have any other been owned or cited by the Fathers who have lived and written since the daies of the Apostles as any part or parts of the new Testament but these only Quest 14. Is every thing to be believed as a truth of God which is proved by the Scriptures Answ Every thing that is substantially that is by sound and evident proof proved from the Scriptures ought thus to be believed But many things are pretended and said to be proved by the Scriptures when as there is no more but only a colour of proof brought from hence to prove them as when the places urged and insisted on by way of proof are either mis-understood or else mis-argued or misapplied Quest 15. How may a solid and sufficient Proof of a Doctrine from the Scriptures be distinguished from that which is only colourable and in shew Answ In many cases it requires a great exactness and profoundnesse of judgment and which few Christians if any doe attain unto to distinguish between the one and the other But it is much more easie of the two and will in a great measure relieve a Christian under such a defect to be able to distinguish between a true Doctrine or Opinion and that which is erronious or false For certain it is that every true Doctrine may be substantially proved from the Scriptures though sometimes the proofs that are brought for such a Doctrine be impertinent and weak Quest 16 But how may a true and sound Opinion or Doctrine be discerned from that which is false Answ The Gospel it self being a body or pile of Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 1.1 that is made and as it were purposely contrived for the advancement of Godliness it must needs be that every particular Doctrine or Opinion which in the native tendency of it is really apt and proper to promote Godliness in the hearts and lives of men is of correspondency with the Gospel and either a branch of it or a true consequence of some branch of it and consequently a truth Quest 17. What is your other Argument of the latter kind to prove the descent of the Scriptures to be from God Answ The wonderful success which the Gospel (a) The Gospel so frequntly avouching the authority of the Scriptures of the Old Testament and universally according with them the same Argument one and all which prove it to be from God prove the whole Systeme or Body of the Scriptures to be of the same Parentage and Original with it found on the first going forth and publishing of it in the world For notwithstanding the Persons that were imployed in the ministry and publishing of it were but few in number comparatively and these of mean ranck and quality in the world some of the chiefest of them being bur poor Fishermen they and others of them illiterate and unlearned yea and notwithstanding the Doctrine and Contents of this Gospel so strongly opposed and were so highly offensive unto the wisdom ways and doings of the world especially of the Rulers and Great-men here yet within a very short time it insinuated and
him although he hath no explicit or expresse knowledge of Christ or by name and consequently hath no such Faith in his name which necessarily requireth such a knowledge of him yet by means of that implicit knowledge of Christ which is virtually and as it were consequentially included in that Faith or belief of his concerning God namely that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him his Prayer may be accepted by him The Apostles themselves as it seems by those words of Christ himself unto them You believe in God believe also in me Joh. 14.1 did not for a long time believe explicitely in Christ as neither did the Saints more generally at least under the old Testament yet their Prayers doubtlesse all this while were accepted with God Yea when Christ drew up that absolute Modell or Prescript for the Regulation of Prayer extant Mat. 6.9 10. c. and Luk. 11.2 3 c he did not so much as mention his own name in it nor direct or prescribe any thing about praying in his Name or out of Faith in his Name in any formal literal or explicit manner but only inclusively argumentatively or in a consequential way as viz when he directeth or prescribeth unto those who desire to pray that they call God Father Our Father which art c. that relation in God unto men winch is imported in this word Father supposing and including in it that Restantation of Mankind unto the grace and favour of God which hath been procured and effected by Christ in his death whether this be particularly known by him that prayeth or no. Quest 12. But doth not this opinion or Doctrine that a Prayer made unto God may find acceptance with him although it be not tendered or presented unto him in the name of Christ make void or at least lesse considerable all those promises directions and incouragements so frequent in the Scriptures by which men are invited and taught by God himself to present their Prayers and Requests unto him in the name of his Son Jesus Christ Answ No whit more then this opinion or Doctrine that Salvation was attaineable under the Old Testament by means of the shadowes and obscure Representations of Christ in the Levitical Law doth either abrogate or make void the Gospel or render it lesse considerable For as the glory of the Gospel doth not stand in this that there was no Salvation in the world before that entered into it but in this that life and immortality were brought to light by it the contrivance of that Salvation in all particulars clearly discovered which before were little known or understood the means of obtaining it which before were scant and sparing most graciously and bountifully enlarged c. In like manner neither doth the worth and excellency of those directions and promises whereby God would bring men to pray unto him explicitely and directly in the name of his Son and with the like Faith in him lie in this that no other Prayer but this shall find any degree of Acceptance with him But in these Two things rither First that by them men are more vigorously put upon it to seek after an explicit and distinct knowledge of Christ that so their Faith in him may be answerable which must needs add to the comfort and joy of it exceedingly Secondly that they are very proper and effectual to awaken and stirre up the Faith which men have in Christ when they are about to pray which must needs cause them to pray with the greater fervency and so render their prayer proportionably the more availant or prevalent with God Quest 13. What is meant by praying and making supplication alwaies in the Spirit Eph. 6.18 Answ To pray and make supplication alwaies in or with the Spirit is to be careful that whensoever or as oft-soever as we pray unto God either for the obtaining of things that are goâ—d or for preservation from things that are evill we engage our Spirits that is our hearâ—s and souls effectually in the work that we â—e not superficial overly or remiss in so important a businesse making it rather a labour of the Tongue or lip then of the mind and spirit and Soul The lip and tongue may sometimes be excused from having any thing to do in our applications by Prayer unto God and the work be wholly laid upon the Spirit heart and soul and the prayer made by these alone be accepted with him But as the Scripture saith Psal 147.10 That he taketh no pleasure in the leggs of a man meaning for any natural endowment as of comlinesse of shape activity or the like or unlesse their use and motion be guided according to his will so neither doth he take pleasure in any mans tongue or lippes for any thing uttered in Prayer by them though never so eloquently with never so pertinent pleasing or piercing expressions unlesse they be acted herein by the Spirit that is by the power and strength of the heart and soul of him that prayeth Quest 14. Whether is it lawful to pray by a Book or to read all that we Pray Answ Inasmuch as Prayer is only a representation or tender of the motions and desires of the heart and soul unto God if we can raise and be accordingly careful to raise such inward motions and desires as are expressed in the words which we read supposing these to be regular and such as are meet to be found in us and that all along as we read we be alike mindful to hold forth or tender these motions and desires unto God I see no sufficient ground to condemn praying by a Book as simply or in all sorts of men unlawful when the Master of a Family upon whom it lieth as a Christian-duty to pray with those of his house from time to time is not guifted with competent utterance Judge it more convenient for him when he prayeth with his Family rather to make use of a book then to undertake the duty without it But as we are justly offended with those who being healthful and sound in their limbs leggs and feet are well able to go and walk without crutches and yet as if they were lame will ordinarily use them as the worst and laziest sort of beggers are wont to doe So when men that are enabled by God of themselves and without the help of a book to utter and expresse competently at least the inward conceptions motions and desires of their Souls if notwithstanding they shall dissemble and in effect deny the ability and guift which God hath given them in that behalf by making use of a book or writing alwaies when they pray They are in Peters condemnation when Paul reproved him for dissembling Gal. 2.11 c. When a person desireth to pray privately in the presence and hearing of God only although his gift of utterance be never so mean yet I suppose it more convenient for him to make use of it then of a book at such a