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
wrought it self into the most considerable parts of the then known world planted it self took root and prospered in the chief Cities and places thereof notwithstanding the Powers of the Earth set themselves as one man with all their policy rage and indignation to extinguish it and to hinder the course and progress of it Quest 18. What are the Scriptures Or of what Books or Writings do they consist so that none but these and the things contained in them ought to be reputed the Scriptures or any part of them Answ The Scriptures consist partly of the Books of the Old Testament and partly of those of the New and not of any other Books or Writings or of any Traditions whatsoever Quest 19. What are the Books of the Old Testament which make one part of the Scriptures Answ The five Books of Moses which are these Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie Besides these the Books of Joshua the Judges Ruth the first and second of Samuel the first and second of the Kings the first and second of the Chronicles the Books of Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job the Books of the Psalms the Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles or the Song of Solomon the Books and Writings of the Prophets as the Prophecie of Isaiah Jeremiah the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophecies of Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggie Zachariah Malachi Quest 20. What are the writings of the New-Testament which make up the other part of the Scriptures Answ The writing of the Gospel by four Evangelists Matthew Mark Luke and John the Acts of the Apostles written by the Evangelist Luke the Epistle of Paul to the Romans his first and second to the Corinthians his Epistle to the Galathians to the Ephesians to the Philippians to the Colossians his first and second Epistle to the Thessalonians his first and second to Timothy his Epistle to Titus to Philemon the Epistle to the Hebrews the Epistle of James the first and second Epistles of Peter the first second and third Epistles of John the Epistle of Judes the Apocalyps or Revelations Quest 21. Why should these Books and none but these be accounted the Scriptures Answ A sufficient account hereof hath been given already in this Chapter viz. in those Arguments and Considerations by which proof was made that God is the Author of the Scriptures Besides this the Books of the Old Testament lately mentioned and no other but these were as hath been also said committed unto the Jews as the Oracles of God that is to teach and instruct the world in things appertaining unto God and to salvation And for the Books of the new-New-Testament now rehearsed these and no other but these have from the Apostles days been received upon the same account by the general consent of all Churches that have been and are accordingly judged truly Christian and sound in the Faith CHAP. III. Of Christ his Person Eternal Generation and Incarnation in time Quest 1. YOu have affirmed Christ to be the Son of God and of the Virgin Mary In what sense or respect do you mean that he is the Son of God Answ Christ may be called the Son of God three ways First by Nature Secondly by Creation or miraculous Production Thirdly by Adoption Quest 2. How is he or why do you call him the Son of God by Nature Answ The Scripture frequently calleth him in respect of his Divine Nature or God-head the Son of God and the only begotten of God Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 Heb. 1.2 3 5 8. besides many other places So that Christ considered as God is and may be called the Son of God by Nature because he received this his Being from God the Father in such a way or by some such Eternal and Divine act which holdeth the best proportion and nearest resemblance amongst all actings known unto men and whereof they are capable with the act of natural Generation Quest 3. How is Christ the Son of God by Creation or miraculous Production Answ Because in respect of his Humane Nature and as Man he received his Being from God by the secret and extraordinary operation of his Spirit in the Virgin by which she was inabled to conceive him and did conceive him without the knowledge and co-operation of man Quest 4. How is He the Son of God by Adoption Answ Inasimuch as God the Father chose Him to be and accordingly hath made Him Heir of all things that is Proprietour and Lord of all things under him and for him Heb. 1.2 Joh. 3.35 Quest 5. Why do you affirm him to be also the Son of the Virgin Mary Answ Because as Man he was conceived in her Womb by means of the coming of the Holy Ghost upon her and her being over-shadowed by the power of the most High and was accordingly brought forth by her according to the orderly course of Nature and as other children are usually born of their Mothers respectively Luk. 1.31 35. Mat. 1.20 21. Quest 6. But is it not contrary to reason and above reason to believe that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a Child Answ It is neither contrary to reason nor above reason to believe that God is able to make a Virgin to conceive and bring forth Nor is it contrary to reason or above reason to believe that God should be willing to cause a Virgin actually to conceive and bring forth when he hath a design requiring such an exercise or interposure of his Power for the regular and due accomplishment of it But it is most contrary unto reason not to believe that a Virgin hath conceived and brought forth when God hath said it and given sufficient proof that he hath said it yea and hath given a most rational account both why such a thing should be I mean that a Virgin should conceive as why he should say and declare it unto the world All this He hath done in the Gospel Quest 7. But is it possible that the two Natures Divine and Humane so vastly yea infinitely differing the one from the other should meet together so as to constitute and make one and the same Person Answ With God the Scriptures saith all things are possible Mat. 19.26 And again The things which are unpossible with men that is which men are apt to judge or think to be impossible are possible with God Luk. 18.27 A kind of shadowey proof of the possibility that two very different Natures may conspire to constitute the same Person we have continually before our eyes in the course of Nature where that spiritual Substance which we call the Soul in due conjunction with an earthly Body make one and the same Person of a Man Quest 8. But was not Christ a compleat Person whilest he yet subsisted in the Divine Nature only and before his assuming of the Nature of Man unto him Answ He was in simple consideration a most compleat Person whilest he subsisted in the God-head only
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
time partly because God needeth not the significancy of words nor indeed any words at all to come to the knowledge of our desires partly because guifts by an humble and conscientious use of them and the blessing of God thereon are oft times improved and the imperfection of them to a good degree healed partly also because the heart is at so much the more liberty to conceive desires or petitions of the best accommodation to a mans present condition and occasions whatsoever they be Quest 15. Supposing a set Form of Prayer as it is called to be simply and in it self Lawful whether is the constant use of it amongsft people by him who is their mouth in Prayer more expedient or promising more edification or comfort unto them then such prayers which are from time to time conceived and uttered by the guift of prayer at the same time Answ A Prayer of a fresh and present conception when it is uttered being conceived by the Spirit or by a guift of Prayer hath some things in it which render it more likely to edifie and comfort those that are partakers of it then one and the same Prayer still repeated First A prayer that is new is more like to awaken and engage attention in those that are to joyn in it Customary things are but as matters of course which are commonly passed over with little or no observation Whereas things that are new are of kin to things that are strange after which even they that are but drowsily disposed wil force themselves to hearken God himself makes account that if men should be but able to say even of his great works when he bringeth them forth Behold we knew them before that they would despise or at least lesse regard them Esa 48.7 Secondly A prayer newly conceived by the help of the Spirit of God comes warm from the heart and so is more like to convey warmth to the hearts of those that hear it then a Prayer that is brought out of the memory where it hath lain for a long time dead Besides the womb of the memory and much more of a book is but a cold place in comparison of that of the heart or soul If it be said That a prayer which is brought out of the treasury of the memory may when it is uttered come from the heart also and this with as much spiritual warmth or heat as if it had been newly conceived here I answer The heart cannot in reason be so much raised or ingaged with borrowing of or from the memory or with delivering out what is borrowed from hence as with travailing in birth with new conceptions and in bringing forth these with apt expressions which must suddainly be found and taken up Thirdly A prayer conceived by a spiritual gift and such is the gift of Prayer is more proper for a Church or Church-Assembly and like to do better service here then a prayer composed or framed by a natural gift one or more as good parts or abilities of learning rhetorique c. And I take this for granted that no person that finds or knows himself to be endued by God with a gift of prayer and he that is thus endued by him cannot likely be long ignorant of it will decline the use or exercise of this guift and chuse rather to imply his natural gift instead of it Fourthly Praying from time to time with variety of matter with new and different petitions and expressions doth set forth and commend upon terms of farre greater advantage the unsearchable riches of the manifold wisdome knowledge and bounty of the Spirit of God then the constant use of one and the same Prayer and consequently must needs be more like to awaken men to discern and acknowledge the gracious presence of God with them or among them in their holy assemblies and likewise to glorifie him for vouchsafing so much of himself or of his goodnesse unto men as it is said They marvelled and glorified God which had given such power unto men Mat. 9,8 And the Apostle Paul expostulates thus with the Church of Corinth Know ye not your own selves though I should not affirm it or remind you of it how that Jesus Christ is in you or rather among you in your Church-community meaning by a notable presence of his power and of his grace and love towards you except ye be Reprobates or rather very injudicious and undiscerning meaning that those Apostolical gifts and abilities which God had given him for their sakes and of which they had had large Testimony and proof amongst them did evidentiy demonstrate the presence of Christ in the middest of them 2 Cor. 13.5 Fifthly and lastly when men pray by a gift of Prayer the Holy Ghost is at full liberty both to act their Hearts and Spirits in prayer as he pleaseth and to prompt them with such Holy motions and streins of petition as he judgeth most congruous and commodious for the respective occasions of those that are present and withall to act their tongues and lipps in praying and to give them utterance as he pleaseth Whereas he that alwaies confineth himself to a set form of words in praying confineth also the Spirit of God either to give him alwaies one and the same matter of Prayer or a like set form of motions and desires to present in prayer unto God or otherwise to permit him to utter words in prayer which in their significations have no agreement with the inward impressions upon his heart Besides he that prayeth upon such termes doth not so much speak as the Spirit gives him utterance but rather as he gives utterance unto the Spirit or at the best unto himself Quest 16. But have not many either pretended unto or presumed upon a guift of Prayer from God been a shame and dishonour unto the holy Ordinance of Prayer uttering before God and his people things that have been uncomely offending against the Lawes and Rules of this sacred exercise by tautologies that is by unseasonable importune and needlesse repetitions of the same things by broken in-coherent and distracted sentences by an immethodical confusion and preposterousnesse in ordering petitions by presenting petitions contrary to the revealed will of God and the like Were it not better then to prevent so great inconveniencies as these that set forms of Prayer should be constantly used at least in publique and where many are present and that extemporary praying should in such cases be restrained or refrained Answ When many pretending to the knowledge of the truth and presuming themselves to be orthodox as few Ministers yea or Teachers of one kind or other but doe shall notwithstanding teach errours and unsound Doctrines publiquely doubtlesse it is not expedient nor lawful for the preventing of this inconvenience though it be farre greater and of much more dangerous consequence then any such defect or miscarriage â—n praying as those mentioned to confine all teachers to the reading of homilies or to the reading