to bee the sole Sauior of mankinde Matt. 1.21 Fourthly in stéed of heauen euerlasting life they by their good intents and workes doo purchase hell and euerlasting death Ioh. 3.17 36. Question What vse ought we to make of this point Answere First to note how miserable we were of our selues after our fall as First in sinne Psal 51.5 Ier. 17.2 Secondly vnder the wrath of God eph 2.3 Thirdly captiues to the diuell eph 2.2 Fourthly inheritors of hell eternal death Rom. 6.23 Secondly the great and rich mercie of God First in giuing vs a Sauiour that might redeeme vs from sinne satan and hell Eph. 2.4 5. Tit. 3.4 5. Secondly in seeking to reconcile vs to him selfe and to make vs his children righteous 2. cor 5.18 19 20 21. Thirdly in giuing vs thereby euerlasting life and eternall happinesse Ioh. 5.24 Question Seeing we are now redeemed in Christ are we now therfore in a better and more happier estate vnder Christ our head than Adam was in his innocencie in Paradice Answere Yea surely the estate of Gods children is now more excellent Question Why so Answere First because wee haue an excellent head to wit Christ which Adam had not in the time of his innocēcie before his fal Eph. 1.22 col 1.18 Secondly God is more néerer ioyned vnto vs than he was vnto Adam at that time for he hath taken vpon himself since Adams fal our humane nature and ioyned the same to his diuine nature and is become one with vs sinne excepted Ephe. 5.30 Heb. 2.16 1. Pet. 2.23 1. Ioh. 3.5 Thirdly our saluation is more certain thā it was vnder Adam for then we had no power to stand in the perfection of our creation but now in Christ it is most certaine and firme because it is grounded First vpon the euerlasting vnchangable decrée and purpose of God Ephes 1. 11.2 Tim. 2.19 Secondly vppon the euerlasting mercies of God in Christ 2. Tim. 1.9 Thirdly vpon his faithfulnesse truth and righteousnes 1. cor 1.9 1. thes 5.24 Fourthly vpon his inuincible power omnipotencie Iohn 10.27 28 29. Fourthly God doth not onely giue vs heauen which Adam should haue had in his innocencie but also maketh vs heirs yea ioint heires with Christ in glorie the which Adam should neuer haue had if he had stoode in his innocencie so that wee maie see our estate farre better than Adams in Paradice Rom. 8.17 Question And is not man made more excellent than the Angels in heauen Answere Yes verely for First Christ tooke vpon him our nature and exalted it aboue all principalities powers and Dominions Eph. 1.20 21 22. Secondly man is made the Lord and ruler of the whole world that through grace in Christ which rule and lorldlie authoritie was neuer giuen vnto the Angels Psalm 8. the whole Thirdly the Angels by the free mercies of God are made the seruants of the faithfull to defend and comfort them for they are the ministring spirits sent foorth to minister for their sakes that shall be heires to saluation psal 34.7 Heb. 1.14 Question In that thou saist that man is restored to a better estate than Adam in his first innocencie in Paradice is become more excellent than Angels is thy meaning of all mankinde of all persons generally Answere No surelie but onely of the faithfull who are grafted into the bodie of Christ by the holy ghost as for infidels hipocrites heretikes libertines and atheists their estate is no better than the diuels in hell in shame and confusion for euer and euer Reuel 21.28 Eph. 5.5 Question Why died not Christ for all men as well as for a certaine number Answere No Christ died not for all for if Christ died for all then First there is no election 2. Tim. 3.19 Secondly God should be then vniust to condemne anie Rom. 3 4. psal 51.4 Thirdly al haue not faith 2. the .3.2 tit 1.1 Fourthly the spirit of Christ belongeth onely to the faithfull Rom. 8.9 10. Question Was there anie imperfection in the sacrifice of Christ in that it was not sufficient for all Answere There was no imperfection in the sacrifice of Christs bodie and soule for he was perfect and holy also it was sufficient for all people but effectual onely vnto those which lay hold on him through faith he 10.10 12 14. 9.25 26 28. Question The Scripture saith God would haue al men come to the knoledge of the truth be saued Answere The word all must be considered after this manner that First hee offereth grace vnto all but all receiue not the same Secondly that word must bee vnderstood some of all Nations Thirdly some of all callings as First Princes Secondly subiects Thirdly parents Fourthly children Fiftly masters Sixthly seruants Seuenthly men Eightly women Some of all which euen those that lay hold vpon Christ by a liuely true faith shall be saued and liue 1. Iohn 5.10 11 12 13. Fourthly we must consider that his reueled will is equally ruled by his secret wil and that they be not contrarie the one to the other although they seeme so to our foolish iudgements Fifthly that God is stable and vnchangeable in all his waies and workes Iam. 1 17. Question What moued God to saue some damne other some In that he saueth some is it for that they deserue the same or did he foresee that they would both beleeue and worke out their saluation Answere His owne mercie is the cause that he saueth some out of the sinfull lumpe of Adam for First all deserued damnation for the best worke after regeneration is defiled with sin and the reward of sinne is death how much more then deserue we death before God doth regenerate vs by his spirit 1. cor 13.9 Ro. 7.24 Secōdly faith is the only gift of god eph 2.8 Thirdly we cannot work wel before God regenerate vs vnto good works eph 2.9.10 Fourthly in that he dampneth other some it is of right and according to his righteous iudgements for that it is written if you do this you shall liue if you do not yee shall die Question How shall we bee perswaded of our saluation in Christ Answere Thorough faith Gal. 3.11 Gal. 2.16 Rom. 3.27 28. Question What is faith Answere A firme perswasion grounded vpon a sounde knowledge in sacred Scriptures that God is reconciled and become both our God and father thorough the merits obedience and bloudshedding of Iesus Christ in whome wee shall be saued and haue eternal life so assuredly as though wee possessed the same already which faith is wrought by the holy Ghost in the hearts of the elect thorough the ministerie and preaching of the word Rom. 5.1 2. Rom. 8.38 39. and 3.24 Ephe. 3.17 Ephe. 1.13 1. Ioh. 3.1 2 3. Question Then our faith must not bee wauering but firme in Christ and his promises Answere It must be firme and not wauering as Saint Iames teacheth for note this that not he which doubteth shall be saued but
Iudg. 9.23 24.25 psal 46.9 Then to mouing creatures of other kindes as First al manner of cattle as oxen horses sheepe c. Gen. 2.19 20. 7.1 to 11. Secondly lions 1. Reg. 13.24 Thirdly beares 2. Reg. 2.24 Fourthly frogges Exod. 6.12 Fiftly flies Exod. 8.22 Sixtly lice Exod. 8.17 Seuenthly wormes Ioel 1.4 Iona. 4.7 Eightly serpents Num. 21.6 Ninthly hornets Iosh 24.12 Tenthly rauens and sparrowes 1. Reg. 17.4 Now for al creatures that grow and are vnmoouable hauing their being on in the earth I will touch them but first beginning with the Earth it selfe for which this is my proofe Gen. 1.12 13. Secondly trees Matth. 19.19 20. Iona. 4.6 7. Thirdly hearbes flowers grasse corne Psal 104.14 Matth. 6.28 29 30. Question Proceede now vnto the third point and tell me how thou canst proue that all plagues and punishments come from God Answere The holy scripture sheweth how that there commeth no euil vnto a Citie vnlesse that God doo sende the same it is hee that killeth and giueth life and bringeth downe vnto the graue he maketh poore and bringeth lowe yea neither the pestilence consumption feauer burning ague feruent heat mildeaw sword blasting bocches emeroides scabbe itch madnes blindnes a mans wife defiled a mans house vineyeard taken away dearth famine captiuitie grashoppers worms to destroy the fruits of the earth hunger thirst nakednesse to eate the fruites of the wombe and such like nor anie else can happen except the Lord send them so that they neither come by chance or through ouersight or anie other way but by Gods prouidence and appointment Leuit. 26. Deut. 28. Exod. 8.9 10. chap. 1. Sam. 2.6 7 8. Amos 3.6 Question Proceede vnto the 4. point that God ruleth all the creatures in the sea Answere I will and therein proue that he ruleth First the sea it selfe Exod. 14 16. Iosh 3.14 15 16 17. Secondly the fishes in the sea Iona. 1.17 2.10 Matt. 17.27 Luk. 5 6 7 8. Thirdly the foules thereof Gen. 7. 8. Question Proceede vnto the 5. and last point tel me how ye proue that God ruleth the diuels of hel Answere I will effectually doo the same for First these places of Scripture doo affirm and proue his dominion and rule ouer them and of them Iob. 1. and 2. 1. Sam. 16.14 1. Re. 21.20 to 23. Ma. 8.31 32. Act. 16.18 Secondly if he were not tied by the power of God he would soone destroy and deuoure vs. 1. Pet. 5.8 Question Thou saist that God ruleth the planets and the firmament with all things therein Answere It is most true Question Yea but doo they not serue for times and seasons to rule dispose man in all his affairs as sicknesse health life and death in al good lucke and bad lucke besides Answere Farre be it from all good Christians once to thinke so but much more to beleeue affirme the thing for it is very sorcerie and soothsaying Question What els is it when Moses saith they are appointed for times seasons daies yeres Answere It is most true that he saith so but he meaneth nothing lesse than such a cursed astrologie his meaning is onely for things belonging to naturall and politicke order Question What meanest thou by this word naturall Answere Winter and summer sowing time reaping planting graffing gardening mowing and all tilling Question What meanest thou by this word politique Answere The reckoning of yeares daies months as some from the creation of the world some from Christes incarnation and some from one daie and some from another Question Yea but earthly things inferiour bodies haue a kinde of affinitie and kindred with the course of the starres and so come by their disposition and qualitie and so may be tolde because they are ruled by thē what shall become of them and what things shal happen vnto thē by the planets and starres Answere Although it be granted that there is such affinitie and kindred yet to conclude therefore that we may gather what shal befall vnto man either in good lucke or badde health or sicknesse life or death and what qualities and disposition he shall be of and what death he shall die it is most wicked for these things belong onely to God and are most vncertaine to men Question What reasons moueth thee thus to thinke 〈…〉 These first for the one of their chiefest grounds is vncertaine as the time of bearing to the time of conception as First it is a thing altogether impossible to haue a certaine knowledge of the verie time of begetting Secondly the time of birth is not onely oftentimes sooner than it should be thorough some occasion offred but also through weaknes of the woman shee oftentimes continueth a longer time or thorough long labour shee misseth often times not a minute but houres yea dayes so that in the meane time there is a very great inclination and moouing of the heauens and Starres Secondly seeing they that are borne at one minute and the selfe same instant of time are commonly altogether First vnlike in nature and manners Secondly doo die one before another some one death some another some are poore and some rich and some in authority and some of lowe degree Thirdly that the force of seed which is the matter whereof the childe is begotten and bred in the wombe is greter than the force of Starres concerning the framing of man to manners and nature as we may see children to imitate their parents in naturall things seeing this I say it cannot bee rightly attributed to the nature of the Planets and courses of Starres Question What euills doo they commit by these their southsayings in attributing the gouernement of man vnto the Planets and constellation of Starres Answere First if good lucke hang vpon the Starres then our holy obedience vnto God doth depend vpon them too for this is the proper cause of that and so we shall make the holy Ghost a lyer for he saieth that euery good and perfect gifte commeth of God Secondly if the kinde of death and euill luck as they cal it do hang vpon the starres then shall sinne depende vpon them too for of sinne commeth all punishments which is altogether foolish and wicked to bee so attributed for it commeth of the diuell and of our selues Math. 15.19 1. Ioh. 38. Thirdly they herein make the starres partakers of the diuine nature and power of God in that they say they gouerne and beare rule ouer mankinde to direct them in al their affaires and life and death Iob. 14.5 Fourthly in this they both rashly enter into the secrets of God and also as Gods they determine what shall come to passe Fiftly they are deceiuers and bewitchers of the people that so teach and therefore God will set himselfe against them and they are worthie to die the death Le. 20.6.27 Deut. 15.7 Esay 44.25 Mala. 3.5 Question Can the diuell and his inchanters raise vp windes stormes lightnings and raine when
place neither subiect to change Rom. 1.23 1. Tim. 6.16 Psal 139.7 to 14. Esay 46.10 Iam. 1.17 Deut. 32.4 Psal 5.4 Question Now shew me what is a person Answere A Person is a subsistance in the Essence of God which being referred vnto the rest is distinguished by a certaine incommunicable propertie or which is not common to the other Question Then a subsistance is another thing than an essence Answere It is true for if the Word were simply God and had nothing proper seuerally to it self then had the holie Euangelist Iohn said ill when he said The Word which he afterwards calleth God was with God Iohn 1.2 3. Question What is the vse of this deepe mysterie Answere We are taught hereby First how we ought in all diuine wisedome and godlie humilitie to reuerence this deepe and holie mysterie of the Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the Holie Ghost and yet but one God in being and glorie contrarie to the opinion of Sabellius Secondly how Christ was both God man First God from euerlasting and begotten of his Father before all times contrarie to the heresie of Arius Iohn 1.1 2. Micah 5.2 Reuel 22.13 Secondly Man when the fâ—â—nes of time was come by taking flesh of the Virgine Marie not bringing the same froÌ„ heauen from the Father so afterward swallowed vp of the Father became al one with him as Marcellus the heretike affirmed also renewed by the Anabaptists Rom. 1.3 4. Gal. 4.4 Heb. 2.16 Thirdly that the holy Ghost is God with the Father and the Sonne of the same beeing and glorie from all eternities Gene. 1.2 Esay 48.16 Math. 12.32 2. Cor. 5.19 contrary to the heresie of the Macedonians who denied the Diuinitie of the holie Ghost Fourthly it teacheth vs to praie vnto Almightie God and search after true wisedom and vnderstanding that we may both be led into the true mysterie and auoide al heresies herein Matth. 7.7 Question Nowe let vs proceede vnto the seconde point of the diuision namely of the creation of the world tell me what order wilt thou obserue herein Answere This first of creation generallie Secondly of creation particularlie Question Let vs then come to the first was the world without beginning Answere No for it was created although the philosophers did dream the coÌ„trarie Gen. 1.1 2. 2.2 Question Who created the same Answere Almightie God by his wisedome and power Gen. 2.1 2 3 4. Iohn 1.1 2 3 4. Prouerb 8. Question What is creation Answere Creation is that action of God whereby hée created and made of nothing all thinges both Heauen and earth and whatsoeuer is conteined in them when that there was none of them Gen. 1.12 Psal 33.6 Iere. 10. Acts. 14.15 Iohn 1.1 2 3. Question Were they created such as they bee now Or in what estate where they created at the first Answere Touching their nature it is all one but the qualities and conditions of them are merueilouslie altered and changed for whereas now we see them subiect to vanitie they were not so then but created verie good and perfect for that the worke did sufficientlie preach and set foorth the glorie and cunning of the worke man as it is plainelie set downe in the booke of Genesis thus The Lord sawe all that he had made and it was very good Gen. 1.31 Question How came this ruine and confusion to the creatures which were created perfect by God Answere Onely by the Apostacie and fall of man who was appointed of God to be Lorde and ruler ouer the whole world and all the creatures thereof Gene. 3.17.18 Rom. 8.20 Question Were all creatures that are now mouing and growing vpon the earth then made Answere No for God in his iustice to punish the fall and apostacie of Adam and mankinde yet iust good in God did cause the earth to bring forth thorough corruption many noisome and corrupt creatures since the sixe dayes which were not created at the first for it is saide that all the works of God were very good Gen. 1.31 Question How proouest thou that such noisome creatures were created after the fall of man and for his punishment Answere By the words of GOD which the holy seruant of God Moses rehearseth in Gene. 3.17 18. Cursed be the earth for thy sake thornes also and thistles shall it cause to growe vnto thee c. â—o that whatsoeuer corrupt things doo growe and proceede from corruption they are not the natural fruits of the earth as reckned in the order of nature but corruptions and of corruptions which haue their originall of sinne as lice fleas flies frogges toades catterpillers grashoppers spiders briers thistles and such like noysome and hurtfull creatures Question Shall the heauens and the earth be consumed because the Elements the Ayre and the earth are corrupted by corruption in their substances at the day of Iudgement and so a new heauen and a new earth created Answere No but they shall bee renewed and purged from their corruptions which the sinne of man brought into the world Question Yea but it is written by S. Iohn that GOD will make a new Heauen and a new earth and that the first Heauen and earth shall fleete away from before him and their place shall bee no more founde Reuel 20.11 12. Answere Saint Iohns meaning is not that there shoulde bee a newe Heauen and a newe earth in respect of new and other substances then they were before but when Christ shall appeare hée shall chase away and purge all the corruptions of the Elements and the earth with his purging and pure fire Heb. 1.11 2. Pet. 3.12 13. Question What other proofe haue you for this thing Answere This the holie Ghost will not bee against himselfe for he sheweth by his Apostle that the heauens and the earth shall be restored and purged from all corruption but yet in their substances to remaine Roma 8.19 to 23. Actes 3.21 Question Rehearse the words of the first place Answere For the feruent desire of the creature saith the Apostle Paule waiteth when the sonnes of God shall be reuealed because the creature is subiect to vanitie not of it owne will but of him which hath subdued it vnder hope because the creatures also shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God for wee knowe that euerie creature groneth with vs also and traueleth in paine together vnto this present and not onlie the creature but we also Rom. 8.19 20 21 22 23. Question What gatherest thou out of these words Answere First by this word Creature is ment all creatures that liue mooue and growe vpon in or vnder the earth both senceles and sensible liuing and without life and not onely Angels men or diuels and therefore the Apostle saith euerie Creature Secondly the Apostle saieth that they waight for the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God that they also might be not destroyed but deliuered from the bondage of coruption Thirdly