Christ by faith O my soul and rightly endeavour to declare thy thankfulnes to God in Christ again and shew forth my thankfulness to my Lord Jesus in daily remembring of him until he translate thee to eternal glory Quest 23. What are the subsequent graces to be acted and duties to be exercised and practised in manifestation of your thankfulnesse to your God in Christ all the dayes of your life And what light from Christ have you received for direction herein Gal. 2. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14 .. Mat. 22.37 .. Gal. 5. 13 14. Eph. 4.1 c. Ans There is one root-grace flowing into my soul from Christ and Christs wonderful love to me Christ loving me and giving himself for me And this is the grace of love that love of Christ with a holy gracious power as a precious Loadstone doth draw my soul to my God in Christ and sweetly constrain me to love Christ again who loved me first moving me powerfully to live henceforth not to my self but to him that dyed for me and role again and the fruits of this love are to be made evident by the power of Christ dwelling in me 1. Towards God the Father in Christ 2. Towards my self in true charity 3. Towards my Neighbour in love and unity all the dayes of my life all comprehended in one Grace Love And all this as fulfilling the Law of Christ Gal. 6.1 2. Iohn 13.34 25. and 15. 12 c. and because I finde God hath loved me first in the Lord Iesus John 4.19 Quest 24. What is the fruit that spring from this root Grace of your Christian Walking the free love of God to you in Christ assured by the spirit and faith and the reflex of that love as the eccho of love in your souls answering love again Ans The manifestation of my thankfulnesse or thankful remembrance of Christ of Christ Ioh. 4.9 c. love held forth to me in this Sacrament by a conltant and continued acting and exerciting of that grace of love wrought in me by the power of Christs spirit in my soul 1. Towards God my Father Iohn 20.17 2. Towards my self as to a childe of God in Christ Luke 10.17 3. Towards my Neighbour and especially towards the Houshold of saith the Church and Saints of the most High God and my fellow-members in Christ Iesus Gal. 6.10 Quest 25. Wherein ought you to declare your thankfulnesse and exercise your love towards God and your Neighbour in Christ Ans In yielding obedience to the will of God as my Father in Christ Iohn 5.39 6.68 First in believing whatsoever truth the Lord my God holdeth forth to be believed in the Scriptures Secondly Iohn 14.21 in doing or suffering whatsoever is by the will and pleasure of God my Father to be done or suffered by me according to his will Thirdly in praying to or praising God all the dayes of my life Quest 26. What light from Christ or what directory or rule is there of your faith or of tbose truths in which you are to declare in thankfulnesse your love and duty to God your Father by believing Ans The holy Scripture or whole Word of God recorded in Gods Book Ioh. 5.32 2 Pet. 1.19 20. Gen. 3.15 22. Isa 53. Ioh. 3.16 the holy Bible is my light but that which is especially for my comfort is the promises of the Gospel or Covenant of grace held forth unto me in the Old and New Testament by the Lord himself or by men of God as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Quest 27. What brief or sum is there to be believed of that which is taught at large as the Doctrine of faith in the holy Scriptures Ans Those twelve Articles in that symbole of faith or brief sum commonly called the Apostles Creed explained further in those other ancient Creeds received in the Church of Christ and known by the Names of Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed Quest 28. Which call you the Apostles Creed Ans That which begins thus I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Son our Lord c. as is expressed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 29. Which call you the Nicene Creed Ans That Creed which beginneth as followeth I believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and of all shings visible and invisible and in one Lord Iesus Christ the onely begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light very God of very God begotten not made c. Quest 30. Which call you Athanasius Creed Ans That Creed which begins and follows thus Whosoever will be saved before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholike Faith Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undâ—filed without doubt he shall perish everlastingly And the Catholike Faith is this That we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity Neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance For there is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost But the Godhead of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is one The glory equal the Majesty co-eternal c. as is also Printed at large in my lesser Catechism Quest 31. But are these Creeds the ground or rule of Faith 2 Pet. 1.19 2. Iohn 5.39 Ans The holy Scripture is the most proper ground of Faith and most perfect rule for judging all Controversies But these Creeds as they are grounded on the Scriptures and holy Wod of God are and may be an objâ—ct and directory of our faith and so they have been and are yet received in the Church of Christ and are very profitable for our help and furtherance in the knowledge and remembrance of the Doctrine of Faith Iohn 5.39 Romans 15.4 2 Timothy 3.15 16 17. 2 Peter 2.19 20. The thirtieth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat directory or rule is there of your thankfulnesse and declaration thereof in doing or suffering the will of God as your God and loving Father in Iesus Christ What light from Christ for instruction in our Christian walking with God all our life long Deut. 4.1 c 6.1 c. Psa 119.105 Isa 8.20 Matthew 5 6 7 c. Ans The will and command of God my God and Father held forth to his Church and to me in the Decalogue or ten Commandments and the Explication and meaning of them by Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament and by Christ and his Apostles in the New Testament as is evident by many places of Scripture in the Book of God Quest 2. What light is there from Christ Or what is that directory or rule of the Decalogue or ten Commandments held forth as a light to older our obedience and thankfulnesse is unto God as to our Father who hath brought us out of the
unspeakable goodnes to the sons and daughters of men Exod. 18.11 2 King 5.14 2 Chron. 14.11 20.12 13. Luk. 19.6 c. Act. 2.22 and 9.1 c. 20 21. 1 Tim. 1.11 Eph. 1.17 c. 2 Cor. 6.9 10. Hebrews 11. the whole Chapter Quest 20. What Evidence is there from the light of glory Exo. 34.29 30. Isa 6.1 2 3 2 Cor. 12.3 4. 1 Cor. 13.9.10 Iohn 3.1 2 3. 1 Thes 4.17 Ans That beginning and part-light of glory which God hath caused to shine in or upon his Children in this life and the fulnesse of which the Lord assureth them they shall see and injoy in Heaven for ever Quest 21. What profit or comfort is this knowledge what God is and what a one he is to you Ans Great cause of rejoycing that Jehovah this Lord God Isa 43.1 2 3. Psa 52.1 2 10. Dan. 3.17 18 25. Ioh. 20.28 is my God in Christ infinite able and willing and wise and alwayes present to preserve protect and do me good in this life and that life to come even for ever and ever Amen The fourth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the word of God Or what ought a Christian to know concerning the word and will of God Ans The word of God in the manifestation of Gods will and pleasure 1. Gen. 1. 2. 3. 17.2 7 22.16 17. Exod. 19.20 Isa 8.20 Luke 11.28 Rom. 10.27 Ioh. 5.39 2 Pet. 1.19 c. Either immediatly by himself as his word of command concerning the Creation of the world in generall and man in particular before the fall and the manifestation of his good pleasure after the fall to Adam Abraham and other Saints and Sons of men Or mediatly in Scripture by holy men as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Quest 2. Where is this revealed will and word of God written to be found Ans In the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Testament Ps 40.7 Mat. 1.1 Mar. 12.26 Dā 10.21 Mat. 21.42 Rom. 1.2 Ioh. 5.39 commonly called the Bible and Book of God and the holy Scriptures Quest 3. What is there to be known in the holy Scriptures concerning the will and pleasure of God Ans That the holy Scriptures are the most perfect rule of Faith and life above all other writings whatsoever and that they hold forth the good will of God by way of Covenant both in the Covenant of works to our first Parents before the fall and in the Covenant of Gods Free-grace in Christ since to and for the people of God to the end of the world Isa 8.20 2 Tim. 3.15 c. 1 Cor. 15.3 Joh. 5.39 Gen. 2.9.16 17. 3.15 17.7 Jer. 31.33 34. Matth. 17.5 John 3.16 Acts 2.28 22. Quest 4. Are the Scriptures the ancient and first written truths of God to be believed Ans Certainly they are most ancient of all written Divine truths preserved wonderfully so many hundred yea thousand years as witnesse them Divine and of most Divine Authority indeed Quest 5. By what means may you be assured that these Books of the holy Scriptures are the infallible truth of the most true God and that holy men writ them as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Mat. 4.4 22.29 30 c. Luk. 24.25 c. Mat 7.12 Ioh 15.35 17.17 Act. 2.17 17.11 24 14.2 Ans Not only by the witnesse of Christ the chief Prophet and of the Saints and Church of God and by Promises and Prophecies fulfilled by miracles and martyrdoms whereby the Doctrine hath been confirmed but by the Divine harmony perfection powerfull efficacy of the Scriptures themselves and the testimony of Gods Spirit in the souls of believers Quest 6. What necessity was there of the holy Scriptures and word of God written Ans The Lord did see it needfull to have his word written Isa 8.20 Rom. 15.4 Isa 59.20 21. Rom. 1.20 21. 2 Tim. 3.16 because men did not learn by the Book of Nature and work of Creation and government to keep God in their mindes but did run into Errors and fell to worship Creatures and false Gods and false Religions Therefore God gave Scriptures as a guide and rule of life and Doctrine to his Church Quest 7. But is the Old Testament needfull for Gods Children in the time of the Gospel Ans Yea certainly it is of excellent use for the Old Testament holdeth forth Christ and directs to Christ who is yesterday and to day and the same for ever And the whole Scripture is to be searched as profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished to every good work Gen. 3.15 Isa 9.6 and 53.1 2 3 c. Zach. 13.1 Mal. 4.2 Heb. 13.8 Rev. 13.8 Joh. 5.39 and 8.5 6. Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 2.16 17. Psal 119.105 Isa 8.20 Rom. 3.31 Matth. 5.17 18. Luk. 10.34 Heb. 8.10 11. Quest 8. In what languages were the holy Scriptures Originally written And whether may they be translated and read in our English and other tongues understood of the people Nehem. 8.8 1 Cor. 14.5 14.18 19 26 27. Ans The holy Scriptures of the Old Testament were chiefly written in the Hebrew tongue and the New Testament in the Greek as Originall copies evidence But they may be truly translated and read in other Languages and interpreted as the people of severall Nations may understand them for the perpetuall edification of the Church Quest 9. Are not the Scriptures subject to error Psa 19.7 8 c. Prov. 30.5 6. Ps 12.6 2 Pet 3.15 16. Ans No certainly the holy Scriptures are most true perfect and pure and free from error though some men not rightly understanding them have erred to their own destruction Quest 10. What rules may be observed for right understanding of the Scriptures Ans There are divers And first a competent knowledge in the Originall Languages and inspection into the fountains themselves Secondly Prayer for the assistance of Gods Spirit and to reveal truth Thirdly A deniall of self-opinion and Spirituall pride Quest 11. What is a fourth Rule Ans Fourthly a carefull observation of the chief scope of the holy Ghost Acts 8.20 Rom. 6.14 Eph. 1.16 c. 1 Cor. 12.10 Col. 3.6 1 Cor. 14.31 32. with the coherence and consequents of the Text and of proper and figurative speeches comparing of obscure and plain places together Fifthly a having respect to the Analogy of Faith and grounds of Divinity drawn out of Scripture Sixthly a humble submitting of the private Spirits to the Spirits of the Prophets Quest 12. What is a seventh Rule Ans To eye the chief Iudge of controversies namely the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and by consent of plain places expounding the harder Quest 13. What is the principle knowledge to be learned out of the Scriptures Ans How to attain life Eternall by the true
outward signes and circumstances yet the internal Grace held forth signed and sealed in both is Christ and his Benefits who is yesterday and to day and the same for ever and so though there were divers figures and types yet here are not four properly in substance but two Sacraments in the Church ordinarily for the Baptizing in the Red Sea was extraordinary Quest 14. Who hath authority as the spiritual Efficient and Author to institute and ordain such a holy Sacrament Ans None but God Gen. 17.10 11. Exod. 12.1 29. Matth. 28.19 Mark 14.22 23. the whole Trinity in common and Christ God and man in particular who is the Angel of the Covenant and of whose last Will and Testament a Sacrament is a Seal to and for the good of the Church Quest 15. Who hath authority and power as an instrument to administer such a Sacrament Answ None but the Ministers of Christ lawfully Matth. 28.19 20. Heb. 5.4 Ephes 4.7 8 c. and rightly called and authorised thereto by Christ and his Church Quest 16. what is the external matter or material cause and outward signe in the first of these Sacraments the Sacrament of Baptism Ans The external signe Matth. 3.6 Acts 8.38 Mark 7.4 1 Cor. 10.4 and seal of Baptism is the Element of Water wherewith men of ripe yeers converted to the Faith of Christ and children of beleeving Parents within the Covenant of Grace have been are and may be Baptized or washed by diving under dipping or sprinkling Heb. 12.24 and washing with water sacramentally and according to the Ordinance of Christ Quest 17. What is the internal material thing signified in this Sacrament of Baptism Iohn 3.3 5. Heb. 12.24 1 Cor. 12.13 Rom. 6.4 5 6. Gal. 3.27 1 Ioh 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Acts 22.16 2 Cor. 5.17 Titus 3.5 6 7. Matth. 28.19 Acts 14.3 4 5. Ans Christ himself and his spirit and the vertue of Christ his blood the blood of sprinkling applyed by the Spirit washing and clearsing us from our sins makeing the baptized partakers of the vertue of Christs death and Resurrection and of the Grace of Regeneration and new Creation of union and engrafting whom God the Father pleaseth into Christ in this Sacrament of Baptism Quest 18. What is the outward form of this Sacrament of Baptism Ans The outward form of Baptism on Gods part and ours is the word of Promise in the institution of the Sacrament and action and profession of Faith and manner of baptizing by dipping or sprinkling or baptizing in or into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Quest 19. What is the inward form of this Sacrament of Baptism Answ That mystical and sacramental union that is between the outward signes of the Sacrament Gen. 17.10 Rom. 2.29 Col. 2.11 12. Tit. 3 5. Acts 2.38 39. and 10. 47 48. and 22.16 and inward Graces of the Covenant set forth and sealed in the Sacrament by vertue of which union as the signes are attributed to the things signified and these agree with the signes so the things signified and sealed are really communicated not by vertue of the work done and to every person baptized as the Papists dream but when God seeth good to those persons that are Gods elect children and have right unto and rightly partake of this Sacrament it sealeth their Iustification Regeneration and Salvation in Christ Quest 20. What kinde of union is this between the outward signe and the thing signified in the Sacrament Ans Not a Corporall Physical or Local nor yet an imaginary union onely but a true and real union yet so as the inward Grace is not communicated to all by vertue of the work done but to Saints in Covenant by vertue of the Covenant to whom and when God pleaseth Simon Magus he wanted Acts 8.13 20. and 8.36 39. and the Eunuch enjoyed spiritual Grace and joy in beleeving when he received Baptism as the outward signe and seal of inward Regeneration of the heart so that the outward signe and inward grace are not always united together but when and to whom God please he giveth grace and sealeth it to the joy of the soul The sixteenth Classis or Company Questions 1 Question VVHo are the subjects or persons to be made partakers of this Sacrament of Baptism Matt. 28.19 29. Mark 16.16 Acts 2.38 and 8.38 Answ All that are within the Covenant of Grace are first men or women of ripe yeers embracing the Gospel and converted to beleeve in Christ repent of their sins and be new Creatures yea able and willing to make profession of the faith and graces of God in them And secondly the custome of the Church for many hundred yeers hath practised Baptizing of Infants especially of beleevers in the Church Quest 2. What grounds or proof of this do you finde that have or may be produced from Scripture that children of beleevers should be admitted to Baptism Ans Divers Reasons have been observed by Divines But first this Rule is noted by Divines That whatsoever is or may be found a command or Institution of Christ in the Old Testament or in the New either in expresse words and terms or by good and necessary consequence not upon supposition onely but true foundation in the Book of God either for moral or for positive Duty It hath sufficient authority to be commended as a Truth of Christ for the benefit of Christs Church and may hold good for substance in the New Testament as well as in the Old although in a different manner of dispensation And therefore those who cast off a Truth of Christ plainly set forth in the Old Testament because it is not in so many words held forth or expressed in the New I conceive do much derogate from Christ who was the glorious Prophet of his Church as truly in the Old Testament as in the New The same Spirit of Christ preaching to 1 Pet. 3.19 20. and in the Patriarks and by the Prophets in the Old Testament as in the New and both Moses the Prophets and Apostles being all the Amanuenses and Pen-men of the Holy Ghost The whole Scripture being written by the Inspiration the Holy Ghost not by any private Interpretation and so the whole Scripture or any part of it in the Old Testament or in the New 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. either in expresse words or evident consequence is a sufficient ground to prove Infants Baptism or any Truth of God whatsoever Quest 3. Although this be granted yet vvhat Arguments do you finde dravvn either from the Old Testament or the Nevv for Pedobaptism or the practise of Infants Baptism in the Church Ans First you may take notice of this which followeth Whatsoever was a positive rule and institution of Christ to a beleever as a beleever either concerning himself or his children as children of a beleever for assurance of salvation by Faith in Christ and inward Circumcision of the heart according to
Wisd 5.1 2 c. But one day they shall confesse their folly and that they have erred from the way of truth But whatsoever the Atheists or prophane or blinde men of the world think both Saints and wicked shall one day finde that the soul dieth not with the body but liveth for ever in endlesse joy or woe And there are many Arguments to prove the immortality of our souls Quest 13. What is a first Reason or ground to prove the souls immortality Ans Truly first if we consider even the naturall Reasons found out by naturall men and their opinions who knew not the Scriptures or the Gospel of Christ at least yet they evidence the immortality of the soul the judgement of Tully and others in every thing saith Cicero Lex naturae putanda est the consent of all Nations is to be accounted the Law of nature and a consent amongst all good men ought to be valued as much as a thousand demonstrations Vox Dei in natura for it is the very voyce of God in Nature as Learned Zanchius speaks Now no Nation that have had any learning or knowledge worth the name of knowledge Cicero Tusculan Quest Quis sapiens sinc spe immortali talis se offeret ad mortem quid enim imprudentius quam sine ullo â—remto se vita virtute proprie privare but witnesse the souls immortality Thus Plato Cicero Cato Vticensis Caesar and many Philosophers in their works and men dying for their Countreys good yea amongst the heathen Infidels I have read of those costly Funeralls amongst the Idolatrous Pagans in Meaco a chief City of Japon in which amongst other ceremonies they brandish a flaming Torch over their heads intimating the souls immortality as a flaming spark living for ever And certainly even these shall rise up in Iudgement at the last day against those who deny the immortality of the soul Quest 14. Thus I conceive a good Argument naturall or prophane men but what is a second Ans Even the very nature of the soul it self may witnesse the souls immortality in that the nature of the soul is to aspire after and to desire immortality to use all means to preserve a name to live for ever after them Gen. 41.4 2 Sam. 18.18 Solinus de miraâ—â—ulis â—â—â—â—â—â—i as the builders of Babell and Absolon by his Pillar and when Xerxes had fired the Asian Temple all but Diana's Erostratus set that on fire and being asked wherefore he did so he Answered that he might be remembred and his name be immortall or to that effect This may Argue an immortality in the soul that desireth and so longeth after immortality Quest 15. What is a third Reason to evidence this truth Ans Truly the very Acts of the soul themselves and operations of it not waxing old as the body doth which appears in men especially of temperate life Though the body be blinde the eye of the soul can see wonderfully Historia Tâ—ipartita we read of blinde men admirable in learning A youth not twenty years old learned the liberall Arts well skilled in the Scriptures Dictated severall Books to be written And if an old man had a yong mans eye he would see as perfectly as the best we see men in years who cannot see a letter in the Book yet with Spectacles can read plainly Isaac was dimme sighted Gen. 27.1.27 28 48.14 15. and Jacob was blinde before their deaths but the blessing they gave to their Children did witnesse their souls waxed not blinde with old age And even this may witnesse the immortality of the soul Quest 16. Here are sufficient Arguments of this nature Now what Evidence of the souls immortality may be drawn from the holy Scriptures Ans The Scriptures are full of Evidence to manifest this truth And first Divine testimonies the Preacher tells us That when the Body dieth and returneth to the dust the soul vanisheth not but returneth to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 And Christ himself witnesseth that the soul cannot be killed by all the Tyrants in the world Mat. 10.28 Mark 8.44 though they kill the body But God can cast both body and soul into Hell fire where the worm never dieth and the fire never goeth out so the soul tormented in Hell fire for evermore must needs be immortall and never dye Quest 17. Is there no other Argument in Scripture but bare testimonies Ans If there were no other the witnesse of the holy Spirit of truth is sufficient to witnesse this truth of the souls immortality but it is evident by other Arguments also for the Lord is said to be the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 32 33. and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob not the God of the dead but of the living Now their bodies were dead many hundred years before Christ spake this therefore it must needs follow that the souls were alive and so they had not mortall but never dying and immortall souls Quest 18. This I conceive is a good Argument What is a second that you find in the holy Scriptures Ans The witnesse of Christ concerning the penitent Thief upon the Crosse Luk. 23.43 that he should be with him that day in Paradise Now this could not be in respect of his body for neither the body of the penitent nor the body of Christ were that day in Paradise for Christs body was taken down from the Crosse Mat. 27.60 and laid in a new Sepulchre and no doubt the body of the penitent also was buried And therefore it must needs be that Christ and the penitent should be and were in Paradise in their souls after the death of their bodies And hence it is evident that the soul is immortall and dieth not with the body as some wicked men dream Quest 19. Have you any more Arguments in Scripture to prove this Ans Yes there might be many more but I will note but a few and this you may take for another Even the practice of Christ at the time of death to commend in souls into the hands of God his heavenly Father Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit And that of blessed Stephen the holy Martyr of Christ commending his soul into the hands of Christ Acts 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit These confirm this truth of the immortality of the soul Quest 20. What is the next Argument which you observe in Scriptures Ans That fear and trembling and terror of conscience which falleth and hath fallen upon men for their sins against God or men and especially the fear of Iudgement to come as that of Belshazzer Dan. 5.1.5 when he saw the Hand writing upon the wall which made his kneeâ— to smite one against another and the thoughts of his heart to trouble him Acts 24.25 And that fear and trembling of Festus when he heard Paul to reason of Righteousnesse Temperance
Passeover and may partake of that Ordinance being rightly prepared although not named in the institution Quest 11. You have answered concerning the spiritual Seed of Abraham the elect children of beleevers that they may be Disciples by way of Covenant and by right of Election and so may have a right and interest to Baptism the seal of the Covenant which is not denied by some chief adversaries of Pedobaptism if they could be known to be such But now what say you for other children of beleevers which it may be are none of Gods elect nor disciples by way of that internal Covenant of Grace nor inward sanctification of the Spirit What right or title can such Infants have to baptism in infancy or until they be discipled by publike Teaching and Declaration or profession of themselves to be beleevers and converted to the Faith of Christ and such to be admitted by vertue of Christs Institution Go Disciple all Nations and Baptize as is opened before Ans I answer for all children of beleeving Parents though they be none of Gods Elect yet I conceive they may have as good a priviledge now and be under outward Administrations as Ishmael and Esau had if these were not elected or as any of the beleevers children before Christ had not being elected by way of priviledge as children of beleevers to partake of outward Ordinances and priviledges as children of the faithful especially when as it is not known of us who are elected and who are not Why may it not be that Esau was made partaker of this outward priviledge for Jacob and Abrahams sake And for the elect childrens sake all in general who are children of beleevers in the Church of God might and may have this outward badge of Christianity as a note of distinction between children of Iews Turks and Pagans who deny and reject Christ and children of such faithful who beleeve and embrace Christ and the Gospel in truth and sincerity And thus you have one ground of Scripture opened and applyed for Pedobaptism which may evidence That it is not a meer humane invention and absolute will-worship as some have affirmed whom I dare not for this one opinion against Infants baptism utterly condemn excommunicate and cast out of the Churches of Christ as enemies to Christ and the Gospel but rather look upon some of them as weak Brethren to be drawn in by bands of Love and cords of Amity by all means seeking to inform them and reveal that light the Lord hath opened in the Cannonical Books of the Old and New Testament praying God that every Saint may joyn in love and humility in prayer to God every day more and more to reveal and settle Truth in his Churches that God may be glorified and truth and peace established in Christ Jesus Quest 12. I am of your minde not to condemn all as utter enemies to Christ who are adversaries to childrens baptism But yet their Divisions and Separations they have made in the Church their unchurching of the Churches of Christ their contempt of Christs Ministers for difference of Opinion in things of lesser importance with divers such like cannot be answered or justified I think before God or men as being contrary to that Christian love and unity required by Christ in and amongst all that professe the Name of the Lord Jesus But tell me I pray you what other grounds of Scripture have you to prove the lawfulnesse of childrens Baptism Ans There are divers Grounds of Scripture discussed and handled at large by several learned men I will onely name a few and leave the more full opening of them to those who have undertaken the controversie in their larger Treatises And first That encouragement which the Apostle giveth to those Converts Acts 2.38 39. to repent and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins because the Promise is to them and to their children and not to them onely and their children but to as many as are afar off even as many as the Lord our God should call that is to the faith of Christ or to be beleevers in Christ and why not to their children also as being children of beleevers as well as to the former whether they were far off of the Iews or far off of the Gentiles who should be or are since brought in to beleeve on Christ and so their children have an encouragement to be baptized as well as other If you ask what the promise here spoken of was I cannot see why it should not be that promise made to Abraham and to beleevers in him as being in some respect the Father of the Faithful I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed and then as circumcision was especially the seal of that spiritual Covenant to Abraham and his spiritual Seed so virtually to beleevers and their spiritual children is there a signe and seal belonging And this is not circumcision which is vertually forbidden in that Institution of Baptism by Christ in the Gospel as Baptism is Matth. 28.19 20. and may be vertually commanded to children of beleevers though not expressed by Name in that Institution of Baptism aforesaid In like manner as women are not expressed by Name in the Institution of the Lords Supper and yet are vertually by Christs Ordinance to be admitted and made partakers of that holy Sacrament Quest 13. But may not there be the same Arguments for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be given to children of beleevers now as for the Sacrament of Baptism since the children of the Israelites are conceived to eat the Passeover Exod. 12. as well as they were circumcised Ans I conceive there is not the same Reason of Baptism and the Lords Supper For in the Act of Baptism both men of ripe yeers and children are meer patients suffering themselves to be baptized which a childe is capable of and may suffer as well as a man of ripe yeers But in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there is action not onely of eating and drinking for that a childe may do But of eating and drinking in remembrance of Christ of shewing the Lords death until he come of offering up an Eucharistical Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the death and passion and Resurrection and Assention of Christ and all benefits thereby and an Act of renewing our Covenant with God in Christ at the Sacrament which an Infant cannot do Nâ—â—â— 10 2â— as not being of knowledge and understanding and so an Infant may not he be capable of the Lords Supper though he be capable of Baptism or inchoate admission into the Church of Christ But this is discussed at large by others therefore I passe to the next Quest 14. What is that third ground you finde produced for childrens Baptism Ans That priviledge of the children of beleevers in Christ above the children of Turks Pagans and Infidels unto whom I perceive there are divers priviledges and
their sealing all this in receiving Baptism the signe and seal of this Covenant between God and them and so were formally admitted into the Church and brought into a Church union and fellowship with the Saints And this our Adversaries confesse was a true form of admission into the Church at first conversion And this I say was right for Iews and Pagans born out of the Church converted to the Faith of Christ but it doth not follow that because it was the ordinary way for them Therefore the same order and form in every circumstance must be for those who are born in the Church for children of believers have a priviledge as the children of believing Abraham had and as we have proved already above all the children of Pagans and Infidels out of the Church whatsoever And yet the substance of this Form of admission is and hath been observed in the Churches of Christ and so we may Justifie of our particular mixed Congregations as they are called that they are true Churches of Christ in respect of outward admission into the Church Quest 40. But how do you make this to appear Ans First children of believing Parents have according to their priviledge due to them an infant admission into the Church in Baptism in which whereas they themselves cannot present themselves and desire Baptism that seal of the Covenant as circumcision was of old I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Acts 2.38 39 The Parents do present their children and desire Baptism for them as a Covenant priviledge belonging to children of believers Secondly because the children cannot professe their Faith The Parents do professe or declare their assent and consent to the Faith of Christ and truth of the Gospel Thirdly because the children cannot intimate their Covenant with Christ therefore their Parents do Covenant and promise to do their endeavour not only to catechize their children and bring them up in the knowledge of Christ but to do their endeavour that the childe when he or she shall be of years and that God hath given knowledge and Faith shall make a solemn profession of the Faith of the Gospel and of their Graces and Faith in Christ Fourthly the Parents promise that they will do their endeavour that the childe when called of God and enabled with knowledge and Faith shall not onely professe Faith and Covenant but desire to renew and solemnly to enter Covenant with the Lord and to seal it in the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper after examination profession and approbation of the Church and thus the children of believers have a true infant admission and form of admission into the Church and are true infant members of the visible Church so far as infant-membership is or can be to them now as it was to Isaac at eight dayes old and to all children of believing Abraham before the coming of Christ Quest 41. But this is but an infant-membership which though true yet it doth not Answer that admission of men of ripe years in the Primitive Times Answ I Answer again that when these children of believers baptized in infancy are come to years of discretion and God hath given them knowledge and Faith in Christ and they have made profession of their Faith and Graces of God in them and desire to enter Covenant solemnly with the Lord and to seal it in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and upon examination and approbation of the Church are formally admitted by the Minister of Christ and the Church and officers thereof there are such persons made compleat visible members called to be of Saints and to the fellowship of the Saints in the Church of Christ And of this person or persons so admitted I affirm that they have a true Form of admission into the Church and if their Faith and prfession of Faith be true and sincere they are as true members of the Church of Christ as the Eunuch was and if their Faith and profession of Faith be but false and counterfet as Simon Magus his was and too many have been in our Churches yet a Church made up of such members is as true a Church visible for our form of admission as any we reade of was since the Apostles times Let any man declare if he can when and where a Church was constituted of such as were born in the Church in a better form for the first six hundred years after Christ None to be admitted to the Sacramēt before catechized and approved See the Rubrick before at Sacrament in the old Book of Commō-Prayer And therefore I conclude that however many corruptions and failings have been in particular Congregations in the practical part of this admission yet the Lawes of our Church did require both catechizing and profession of Faith and approbation and allowance after examination before admission to compleat visible ripe year membership and admission to the Sacrament to renew covenant as aforesaid And thus our Churches are true in form in respect of outward formal admission into the Church substantially true which is sufficient Quest 42. This I think may satisfie for the form of admission into a Church fellowship When a man or woman born in the Church Mr. Calvin Iustitions l. 4. c. 19.8.4 Ierome Contra. Lucifer I would it were restored to its pure use a childe of a believing Parent baptized in infancy is thus admitted when he or she cometh to years not by Popish confirmation worthily abolished but by this ancient order of solemn profession of Faith in Christ and holinesse and approbation of the Church which learned Martyr speaks of noted before And reverend Mr. Calvin commends as most worthy to be restored in the Church to its pure use But our Adversaries deny our Ministers Ordination and affirm the form of their Ordination and admission or call to be Ministers to be Antichristian and therefore our Churches to be no true Churches of Christ Ans First I Answer that it is the opinion of these Adversaries that there is no need of Ordination of a Minister onely for a particular Congregation to chuse one of their fellow Brethren to be their Minister or to have an approbation of a company of professours to be their Minister there needs no more and then the Ordination of our Ministers as in the opinion of separatists it doth not further so it is certain it cannot hinder a man from being a Minister of Christ if at any time he be called and approved of a Church and whosoever he be who renounceth his calling to the Minister because he was ordained by a Bishop and a company of preaching Presbyters I think in this as in other things he is too superstitious and Popishly affected to an outward form of admission and worthy to be censured of the Church for such an errour in which he condemns valiant Martin Luther judicious Master Calvin worthy Latimer Cranmer Ridley Hooper those glorious Ministers and Martyrs of Christ as if
and the bounds of their habitation and in this civil co-habitation there is a union and this civil union in a Kingdom City or Parish or the like doth not un-church a people for this respect for then certainly all the Churches of Christ in Corinth Galatia Ephesus Pergamos Smyrna and others as well as in England London or a Parochial Congregation must have been un-churched then which what is more absurd to imagine Secondly there is a religious and more spiritual formal union when a company of men and women professing the Faith of Christ held forth in the Gospel and subjection thereunto in righteousnesse and true holinesse and united in a Parochial Church or congregational meeting place to partake of the holy Ordinance of the Word Prayer and Sacraments and other acts of Christian communion and Church fellowship This is a true form of a Church amongst us though not without some failings yet so as we have and do remain true Churches of Iesus Christ and such as ought not to be un-churched by schism and separation Quest 45. But how will this appear in particular Ans I Answer first for the preaching of the Gospel and our union in that we have had and do enioy a most comfortable union and meeting of Christ and one with another even our Adversaries being judges they themselves have found the sweetnesse of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel in our mixed Congregations by Gods faithful Ministers And although some Ministers there preach otherwise as in Galatia they do yet not un-church a Church for all this Secondly for prayer howsoever set forms have been by some in Authority so much pressed yet if we look to the ancient form prescribed in the dayes of King Edward the sixt of happy memory That was but a kinde of directory as was evident in the Rubrick and directions at the end of that Book that liberty given to use or not use in divers respects as that in prayer a man might knock his brest or not knock it he might kneel or not kneel in ordinance he might crosse or not crosse and divers other of like nature yea I conceive the late Book of Common-prayer howsoever pressed by some yet was but a kinde of directorie as in divers particulars is evident in direction for visitation of sick thanksgiving for womens deliverance from danger of childebirth left to discretion of a Minister and though pressed by other yet not un-church a Church for all this Thirdly for the Sacrament and administration of them those that object that Christ did blesse first the Bread and after distribution of the Bread or partaking of that did then blesse the Cup that we blesse them both together This is but a circumstance of time and if unchurch a Church for this then why not for changing the time of receiving from after supper to the morning or at feasts of charity or the like These are weak objections to unchurch a Church or to separate from a true Church for any such differences I may say the like to that of the cutting of the bread although the bread be cut and fitted for preparation yet we constantly break the Bread in our administration of the blessed Sacrament as those who joyn in communion with us know well Quest 45. But they object we admit ignorant and scandalous persons many times to the Sacrament which should be cast out of the Church Ans I Answer as Saint Paul did ordain concerning the incestuous person all such as are ignorant and to be cast out of the Church when once they are discovered and proved to be so not upon bare surmises onely and this is that which alwayes ought to have been done by the Discipline of the Church of England reade the old Rubrick in that Directory or Book of Common prayer before and at the Sacrament confirmed in the dayes of Edward the sixt and you may finde first that none ignorant ought to be admitted to the Sacrament they must first be catechized and approved before they be received to partake of that holy Ordinance and secondly none scandalous ought to be received yea if there have been or be but a controversie between two parties any malice or hatred the Minister ought first to examine the parties and to perswade to charity and admit the penitent and reject the uncharitable and howsoever this duty may have been neglected yet this failing is not a sufficient ground to un-church a Church or to separate from a Congregation presently for all this else might the Church of Corinth and other Churches of Christ have been unchurched as we noted before Quest 46. But what power of Discipline hath there been in particular Congregations in the Church of England that there might have been a power of Reformation in these things Ans I answer Certainly there was a great power in the Ministers of particular Congregations especially joyning with the Church-Officers who were sworn to assist in Execution of Discipline and further although there was a power taken to the Bishops in the great matter of Excommunication and such like censures yet not the Bishop nor any under him had any lawful power to Excommunicate any inflict any censure until they were first presented by the Minister or Church-officers of the particular Congregation Nor was any man taken notice of as Excommunicate or suspended from the Sacrament until the Sentence was Declared in the particular Congregation and thus There was a power of Discipline in particular Congregations although it was many times obstructed and not put in due Execution as it ought to have been yet for all this it had sufficient to declare and point out a form of a Church and to constitute and continue a true Church for all this Look to the Church of Corinth noted before Look to the Church of Pergamos where Discipline was obstructed the Church and Church-Officers suffered those who taught the Doctrine of Balaam Rev. 2.14 15. and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which Christ hated and yet a true Church for all this though corrupt and unsound in this respect Look to the Church of Thyatira Christ complained against them that Discipline was not exercised Rev. 2.20 they suffered the woman Jezabel yet Christ doth not un-church them nor direct any separation from them for all this And so our Churches are true Churches both for matter and form and not to be un-churched or any separation but a Reformation to be sought for and true unity in the Churches of Christ Quest 47. Yet once again Howsoever formerly there hath been a matter and form of a Church yet now the outward form is gone and the Church like an old house pull'd down to be new builded and where and what form of a Church have we now until Discipline and a Government be setled in the Church Ans I answer Our Church is now in a hopeful way of Reformation blessed be God but yet it is not like a house wholly pull'd down to be
love and respect to the Ministers and Ambassadors of Christ as to harbour in their breasts much lesse to publish with their mouths such a prophane and irreligious an opinion but that a brother may erre and I have heard men of the same opinion my selfe and once had a paper in writing delivered unto mee before divers witnesses declaring the very same opinion in substance the writing I have yet in my Study to shew but this little volum is now growne so big In S. P. L. or meeting place that I cannot stand to prove the Divine right of Ministers maintenance so fully as it may be proved by infailible grounds of holy Scriptures and in particular from those places noted before Quest 32. But howsoever some Separatists have erred so far as to deny any Divine Right of Ministers maintenance Cor. 9.15 yet others more moderate acknowledge an Ordinance of Christ for it although they deny Tithes to be payd by Divine Right in the Gospell declare I pray you in briefe what you conceive may bee said for satisfaction herein Ans First for Divine right of Tithes as of old to be paid now in kinde of every increase by Divine right Levit. 19.30 31 32. I refer the Reader to those Bookes of learned men who have writ of this subject at large In particular to Doctor Willets Synopsis Papismi Carleton to Sir Iames Temple M. Slater and divers other which doe out of Scripture and learned Authors doe confirme the Divine right further then I could yet ever see any appearance of satisfaction in answer to the conscience of true Christians Gen. 14.15 Gen. 28.22 But in briefe for the Lords inheritance of Tithes or of a part of increase reserved to himselfe and manifested in Scripture long before Levi was borne howsoever Leviticall Tithes which were a Leviticall and ceremoniall Ordinance may seeme to be abolished by that place of this Apostle Eph. 2.15 Christ having abolished the Law of Commandements contained in Ordinances compared with that Deut. 12.5.6 and Deut. 14.22.23 Where the Lord ordaineth that they should pay Tithe of all their increase yeare by yeare and bring it up to the place which the Lord should choose and eate it there before the Lord which Tithe was Leviticall and so abolished and not needfull now Secondly if any man will consider that there was not onely that Tithe but a second Tithe to be tithed every third yeare for the poore as you may reade Deut. 26.12 called in this respect the yeare of tything to be eaten at home within their gates for widowes and Fatherlesse and the rest and this tenth though not required now as then yet the poore is not to be forgotten for ever Thirdly if you consider that besides these Leviticall tithes there was a third kinde of tith which was first in command Josephus li. Antiquit. 4. cap. 8. and which the Lord challengeth a speciall right in as a reserved part for his service to be disposed of at his pleasure and which hee gave to his Ministers for an inheritance as for their service for them and their househoulds to eate as a reward for their service as you may reade Numb 18.20.21.31 And of this third tithes as reward for Minisâ—ers labour I finde no colour nor ground of abolishment in the new Testament But rather a confirmation by Christ that they ought to be paid or that which is answerable to them for the maintenance of Christs Ministers for although Aaron be dead yet Melchisedeck in his Antitype Christ or Christ in his Ministers is still alive to receive the Lords portion to the end of the World as St. Paul declares Heb. 7.8 And as that learned Knight Sir James Semple proves evidently a Book I never yet saw answered by any man But to evidence this in a few words consider First that what reason the Lord giveth for the bestowing of this speciall tenth upon Levi his Ministers who expounded the Word of God and gave the sence of it to teach Gods people Nehe. 8.8 namely for a wages and reward for their labour and service as is evident in Numbers 18.21 and in other places the very same reason Our Saviour Christ giveth wherefore his Apostles and Ministers should bee maintained and have a comfortable livelyhood for their labour in Preaching of the Gospell as a reward for their labour by Christs appointment for the labourer is worthy of his reward saith Christ and so the Greeke word signifieth Luke 10.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Apostle St. Paul giveth the same reason and ground for the honorable maintenance of the Ministers of Christ in that 1 Tim. 5.17.18 and concludes the point that Ministers maintenance is an ordinance of Christ 1 Cor. 9.14 And therfore certainly seeing the Lord Christ giveth the same ground for his Ministers maintenance in the new Testament as he did for this speciall first tithe for his Ministers maintenance in the old Testament The payment of this speciall tithe being commanded in the old Testament and nowhere forbidden in the new Testament the payment of this tithe for maintenance of Christ Ministers can never be proved to be unlawfull and therefore may lawfully be paid as a reward of Ministers labour or a due answerable in consideration thereof for Ministers maintenance without any scruple of conscience Malac. 3.8 9. and much more when it is confirmed by the Christian Magistrate Thus have I endeavored in briefe to satisfie your desire and herein to hold forth the duty of people to their Pastors and Teachers in the Churches of Christ to pay that honorable maintenance due by Christs Ordinance unto them Quest 33. Now you have declared their duties I pray you what are the sinnes of people and congregations contrary to these duties Ans The sins of the people are divers I will name them in brief First for a peple or congregation not to embrace a Minister sent of Christ rightly called Mat. 10.14 15. and approved by themselves and others in authority by Christ in his Church 1 Thess 5.12 and inabled by Christ and his spirit with gifts fit for the Ministeriall office and not to acknowledge him as over them in the Lord is sinne Secondly 1 Kings 22 8. Luk. 10.16 Gala. 4.16 John 15.18 19. 1 Cor. 16.22 for any to hate the Ministers of Christ or any of them for their worke sake especially or to disteeme or dishonour them or be enemies is a greivous sin and an evidence such a man or woman loveth not the Lord Jesus is subject to be cursed with the great curse Anathema Maranatha Thirdly 2 Chron. 36.16 17. 2 Kings 2.23 24. 1 Kings 13 Psal 105. for any man woman or child to make scorne taunt or any other wayes to abuse the faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ is a fearfull sinne which brings Gods judgements upon such men weomen or children Fourthly for any to disobey Deut. 17.12 Hosea 4.4 Acts 5.39 Acts