the spirit of Christ to know believe and feel and be affected in his heart and conscience with his own self guiltinesse of sin original and actual and of bondage under sin and misery due to sin yea of his subjection to the wrath of God to death and damnation eternal for sin Thirdly with the sence of his utter inability to save himself Fourthly of his extreme need of Christ in some sence Eph. i. 16 c. Heb. 4.12 13. 1 Thes 1.4 5 6. 2 Tim. 3.15 c. Ier. 31.34 2 Cor. 5.16 Ps 57 i.2 3. Rom. 3.20 and 7.17 Eph. 16.28 c. Gen. 30. 1 Mar. 5.25 c. Phi. 1.29 Act. 16.14 and 13.48 2 Pet. 1.1 2 3. Eph. 1 i6 17 c. Rom. 10.17 Gen. 18.18 19. Mat. 16.13 c. Eph. 1.19 2 Cor. 3.8 and 4.5 Gal. 4.15 6. and 5.4 5 6. Luk. 24.25 c. Prov. 30.5 Isai 5.20 Ioh. 5.39 Rom. 15.4 act 17.11 12. and 24.14 c. and 2.19 Eph. 1.13 1 Tim. 1.5 c. act 20.24 Rom. 10.10 2 Tim. 1.12 act 15.9 Gal. 5.6 as Rachel did of children give me Christ or else I die then is the soul fit and ready to receive Christ with his precious justifying living Faith Quest 5. Who and what is the principal worker or efficient cause of our Faith Ans The principal efficient cause is God himself the Father Son and blessed Spirit or God the Father in the Son by the Spirit which great God by his Grace and in his free love hath elected and doth call his children to Faith and Glory in the Gospel and worketh Faith in them by the spirit of Faith and working of his mighty power in the world Quest 6. What is the instrumental efficient or working cause of Faith the means by which or by whom we believe Ans This is two fold outward and inward and the outward is ordinarily the Word of God in the preaching of the Gospel and catechizing inwardly the spirit of Christ called the spirit of Faith Quest 7. What is the material cause ground or object of Faith Ans The whole Word of God in general and the rich promises of Grace and Covenant of Gods free love or Gospel of the Grace of God in particular Quest 8. What is the form or nature of this Faith this precious Faith of Gods Elect Ans The form of this Faith First is not onely a light of knowledge in the understanding and assent to the truth of the Word of God as an historical Faith is Secondly Nor some temporary joy in the word as in temporal Faith Thirdly but it is this knowledge and assent joyned with a firm confidence and affiancy in the heart and will to rest on Christ and Christ his merits and righteousnesse and to trust in Christ alone for salvation As the vegetative or growing life and the sensitive or life of sence is joyned with the reasonable faculty or reasonable life in the soul in man which distinguisheth men and women from all brute creatures even so is this confidence and assured rest on Christ in this Faith joyned with knowledge and assent and sweet fruits in Faith which distinguisheth it from all false faith whatsoever Quest 9. But hath this true Faith allwayes joyned with it this confidence and assured rest on Christ Ans This Faith when it is a stronge well grown Faith 1 Cor. 7.5 Mat. 8.26 and 14.31 Isai 42.3 Psal 1.6 Heb. 12.2 it hath this blessed confidence and assured rest on Christ though not alwayes free from temptations to doubt But a weak Faith though it be a true Faith is often subject to fears and doubtings yet so as God in Christ inables the soul to stand and adhere to Christ and preserved from final despaire in greatest times of tryal for the comfort of weak Christians Quest 10. What are the effects and fruits of this true lively Faith Ans The effects of this true lively Faith in a believer or of Christ in the soul Christ thus truely apprehended and rested on by Faith in apprehending of Christs righteousnesse are divers And First justification by Christs righteousnesse and merits Rom. 5.1 act 13.39 Secondly sanctification and purity of heart 1 Cor. 1.1 2 3. Thirdly Christian liberty from the condemning and commanding power of sin Rom. 8.12 Rom. 5.1 Fourthly peace of conscience which passeth all understanding 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 8.35 36 37 38. Iohn 8. 5 6. Rom. 5.4.5 and 15.13 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 6. 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Heb. 11.1 1 Pet. 1.8 Fifthly Love of Christ and a longing desire to walk in the wayes of Grace inseparable against all persecution Sixthly Joy in the love and sight of Christ and in the comfortable assurance of perseverance in grace and lively hope of Heaven Seventhly A kinde of entrance into eternal glory Faith making that as present to the eye of our souls which is not seen or present to the eyes of our bodies and yet affecting a beleevers heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory Qâ—est 11. What is the end of this true lively justifying faith this precious faith of Saints Ans The end of this faith or Christs benefits received and enjoyed by Faith is Ephes 1.5 6 7. 2 Thes 1.10 Eph. 3.16 c. 1 Thes 5.23 24. 1 Pet. 1.9 Rom. 8.30 First and principally the glory of God in Christ Secondly the preservation comforting and strengthning of our souls in the Kingdom of Grace with our everlasting salvation in the Kingdom of glory for evermore The twenty one Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have made profession of your knowledge concerning the Grace of Faith Now what is you knowledge concerning the Third Grace the Grace of Evangelical Repentance to be examined renewed and enlivened of every Communicant men and women before the approach to the Lords Table What light have we from Christ concerning this Grace Ans By what I have learned from Christ I conceive Evangelical Repentance Renovation Regeneration new Creation and Conversion unto God is a Grace of God reconciled to us in Christ by which a poor soul enlightned by the Spirits working in or by the Word of God First With a true knowledge sight Rom. 3.20 and 7.7 Luke 15.17 and sence of sin original and actual Secondly Of the misery and bondage under sin Thirdly Terrour of the wrath of God due to sin Fourthly With tidings of Christ a Saviour Acts 5.31 Exalted to give Repentance and Remission of sin Iere. 31.18 Acts 2.36 37. Gen. 4.13 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.4 5. Acts 2.37 38. and 16.28 29 30. Iere. 31.19 First Is troubled stinged pricked and wounded in conscience sorrowful broken-hearted and humbled under Gods hand bemoaning himself for sin as Ephraim of old Secondly Brought to a kinde of despair though not final or a despair of Gods mercy in Christ as Cain Saul Achitophel and Judas yet with a despair of themselves or of any power in themselves to save themselves
to love Christ with her soul 3. Ezek. 36.3 Hos 14.8 And whether he hath made her willing and desirous to loath and dislike sin and to forsake her natural and sinful communion with sin the world the flesh and the Devil 4. Whether she be willing to take the Lord Christ for her Lord and Father 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and Heavenly husband and then no doubt she is one of the Elect of God the Lord is her Father and she is his daughter who is the Lord Almighty Quest 6. But what if she doubt still Ans Give her this one rule that she seek with an impartial eye First as not to flatter her self that she hath grace when she hath none So 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Cor. 10.11 c. 2 Tim. 1.12 4.7 8. Secondly on the other side not to deny that grace which the Lord of his Free-grace and love in Christ hath bestowed upon her soul as any measure or true knowledge of true faith of true repentance of true love of true hunger after the Word desire of assurance of the like graces Thus may she in Gods due time finde her self a dear Elect daughter in Christ and so in Christ an heir and fellow-heir of Eternall glory and in the end assurance may come Quest 7. This may be a means by the power of Christ to stay her soul from despair in that temptation But what do you say to her decay in grace What light have you from Christ to reveal any comfort to her soul in this respect Ans I say the Apostle gives a caveat to his Christian Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.19 to take heed of quenching the spirit and yet no doubt they had the spirit of grace in them but they must be careful not to quench the spirit Gods dear children may be in danger to quench the spirit for a time and may lose the acts and vigor of grace for a time as Peter did when he denied Christ Mat. 26. though not finally and totally therefore if your friend finde some decay of grace in her soul or want of holinesse she ought not to conclude presently she is none of Gods childe or exclude the favour of God in Christ from her For First as there is no wheat but there is some chaff groweth with it so the best of Gods children have some imperfections Phil. 3.12 13. Secondly In this life we are not like the Sun perfect in brightnesse and light but like the Moon receiving our light of grace from Christ as the Moon doth her light from the Sun and like the Moon 1 Iohn 1.8 we are subject to have some changes some decrease as well as increase some spots of darknesse in the center of our hearts And Thirdly take this for a certain rule as sight and sense of weaknesse of body is a sign of bodily life for a dead man feels nothing so a sight and sense of spiritual weaknesse Rom. 14.15 c. is an evident argument of spiritual life of grace in her soul as it was in blessed Paul Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.9 Rev. 3.2 3. Isa 40.30 31. Fourthly A dead man cannot see nor feel his own weaknesse at all a dead man complains not of sicknesse and therefore your friend ought not to despair because of sight and sence of failings which is an evidence of the life of grace but wait on Christ for more light and life till the soul recover strength and what is ready to dye be quickned and she finde peace in the end Quest 8. But I have heard my friend complain that sometimes she neither feels any signes of life of grace nor doth she feel any want of life of grace she is dead â—nd senslesse no hunger after the Word or Sacraments or Prayer or to meet Christ in any good duty she is sometimes so far from resting in a duty or setting it up in stead of Christ that she is carelesse of any duty at all as if all were in vain as to her her faith is dead and without life her soul and life is dead in respect of grace or any sense of want of grace in her soul like those Isaiah 64.6 7. no stirring of life in her And what comfort can be given to one in such a condition Ans Your friend hath no cause to despair but to live by faith For First did she ever finde or feel any signes or sense of life of grace in her soul any sight and sense of her sin and misery by natural corruption any sweetnesse or delight in meeting Christ in the Word or Sacraments or Prayer any combating or stirring in her soul between the flesh and the spirit Then although now she be as dead to all these let her know that the state of the childe of God in this life and the life of grace may be sometimes 1. Like a childe in the Mothers Simile 1 womb alive though not felt to stir or to have any motions of life at all 2. Or like a man in a trance wherein Simile 2 his own sense being as it were without sence or understanding yea and in the judgement of others may seem to be dead and yet after revive and come to himself again and so may a dear childe of God in respect of the life of grace Assuredly David after his fall until Example 1 Nathan came to him he had little sense of life of grace little remorse for his sin especially while after his sin of Adultery with Bathsheba he went on to plot and procure the making of Vriah drunk and after to take away his life so addes sin to sin Exam ∣ ple 2 The like may be said of Peter between his first and third time of denying Christ until the Cock did crow and Christ cast a look of mercy 2 Sam. 11 12 c. Mat. 26.69 75. Psal 51.1 c. and pity and love upon his poor soul then indeed he went out and wept bitterly as David repented and bewayled his folly and sinful fall in the end and prayed earnestly to the Lord to restore unto him the joy of his salvation and to stablish him with his free spirit Quest 9. What other around of comfort Ans Let her consider that Gods childe doth not sin as the wicked do with full heart consent and freedom because his seed of grace remaineth in him 1 Iohn 3.8 9. but like a man in a crowd or throng sometimes carried forwards and sometimes backward 1. Carried forwards in grace willingly the will regenerate and sanctified striving together with one consent with the grace given and good motions of Gods spirit assisting as in Christ Iesus to presse on to perfection And 2. Sometimes carried backward by corruptions and the violence of Satans temptations as it were against our will Simile to an ebbing in grace as in the Tide the water runneth back as the Moon decreasing Rom. 7.23 c. as Peter sinking in the water of presumption senslesnesse or despair as
do without sin for these and the like reasons First when the incestuous person was suffered in the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 5.1 c. 1.10.11 3.2 3 4 those Saints who no doubt were offended did not presently separate from the Church but rather informed the Apostle of that as of other failings that there might be a Reformation rather then a separation in the Church Secondly the Apostle doth not write to the Corinthians or other Churches Rom. 16.17 18 1 Cor. 5.14 to separate one from another but to beware of self-divisions and to cast out from amongst them that wicked person whom after upon his repentance he ordered to be restored again 2 Cor. â— 6 7 8. Thirdly although the Lord commands his people to separate and come out from Babilon and from wicked Idolators Rev. 18.4 2 Cor. 6.15 c. and promiseth a blessing yet the Lord doth not require Saints to separate from Saints or leave a Church for some particular failings and it may be but for a time a Church of Christ may remain a Church though there be found some failings witnesse the Churches of Christ in the Primitive times Rev. 2.4.14 3.2 3. And if separation should be for every failing there would be no end of separation amongst some till no Church could be found and all must be Zion-seekers indeed which must needs be a scandall to those which are without and cause the worthy Name of Christ to be ill spoken of as our lamentable divisions do at this day Rom. 2.24 Iam. 2.7 Eph. 4.1 2.3 4. to the great grief of Gods people Saints therefore must pray for and seek unity in the Church But howsoever that the Church may fail Saints not sin in not separating Yet it is certain that ignorant or scandalous persons eat judgement though not to others yet to themselves 1 Cor. ii 28 29. And therefore Catechizing is necessary in the Church Quest 19. What then is required of such â—ersons as desire to meet Christ to have â—ommunion with Christ and to partake of Christs Soul-cherishing vertue in the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11 28. Exod. 12.47 48. Num. 9.1 2 c. Ans To Examine themselves whether they be rightly prepared and then to eat of that bread and drink of that cup. Quest 20. When is a man or woman rightly prepared to meet Christ in that holy Ordinance Ans When he or she is cloathed upon with that wedding garment without which we cannot be welcome to that Feast of the Lord Mat. 22.12 As in that Feast so it is in this Feast of the Lord Christ Quest 21. What is that Wedding garment Ans Iesus Christ with his merits righteousnesse Ioh. 1.16 and living graces applied infused or wrought by Christs Spirit in our souls Quest 22. But why must we be prepared with such graces before we come to the Lords Table 2 Tim. 1.6 Is 64.7 Ans Because they are to be actuated stirred up quickened and enlivened if we will meet Christ to our comfort As a man must examine himself 2 Cor. 13.5 so here Grace is before hand to be Examined Quest 23. Wherefore do you call Christ a Garment Ans Gal. 3.27 Rom. 13.14 Because as many as have been baptized into Christ have and do put on Christ Quest 24. How is Christ put on Or when are men and women cloathed upon with the Lord Jesus as with a garment Ans When by the work of Christs Spirit upon our souls we believe and see Act. 2.37 Acts 16.29 30. Ioh. 1.11.11 12. Isa 61.10 Gal. 3.27 and finde and feel in our consciences our sin bondage and misery by sin and our extream need of Christ and by the eye and hand of Faith see and receive and rest or Christ as our only surety Saviour and remedy and so are and may be assured we are the children of God and cloathed upon with Christs robes of Righteousnesse as with a garment Quest 25. What are these living Graces which a Christian should wear and put on as a garment and the habits of which are to be examined stirred up and enlivened when we thus meet the Lord Jesus Ans As Aarons holy garments were made up of divers materials and variety of colours of gold and blew and purple scarlet Exo. 28.4 5. Psal 45.13 14. Ezek. 16.10 c. and fine linnen curiously imbroydered So this christian garment is interwoven with variety of Graces or gracious dispositions and ornaments of the soul but chiefly with four sorts Quest 26. Which are those four sorts of Graces the habits of which must he examined and enlivened that we may come with comfort to this blessed Sacrament Ans First Antecedent Primitive foregoing Graces to be examined stirred up and enlivened before we come to this holy Sacrament Secondly Antepresent or â—ore immediate foregoing Graces and gâ—acious affections and resolutions in the soul to be stirred up exercised and enlivened immediatly before and when we draw near to the act of receiving Thirdly present acting Graces and sanctified affections operations and spirituall senses of the soul together with our bodily senses to be stirred up enlivened and exercised at the Sacrament and in the act of receiving as of the Elements of Bread and Wine bodily so of the body and blood of Christ inwardly and spiritually in our souls Fourthly Subsequent living Graces to be examined and exercised after the Sacrament for the constant improvement of Christs vertue received in that holy Ordinance both when we return home and all the dayes of our lives Quest 27. What or how many are those habitual Graces to be examined and quickned before we come to this blessed Sacrament Ans They are in my minde chiefly these four 1. A Divine knowledge 2. A lively Faith 3. Evangelical repentance 4. Christian charity The second Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question WHat or how manifold is that Divine knowledge requirâ—d the habit of which must be examined and enlivened before we come to the Sacrament Ans A fourfold knowledge 1. Of God 2. Of our selves 3. Of Christ 4. Of the Sacrament Quest 2. Why is this Divine knowledge so necessary 2 Cor. 11.27 c. Hos 4.6 act 17.30 Luk. 10.41 42. Zeph. 1.6 Heb. 2.3 Iob. 21.14 Prov 1.29 30. Ans Because ignorant persons are unworthy receivers not able to examine themselves or discern the Lords body especially such as those that might learn and be Catechized and neglect the means of knowledge or That are wilfully ignorant that refuse knowledge and instruction Quest 3. Wherefore is a lively Faith so necessary Heb. 11.6 4.2 Ans Because without Faith it is impossible to please God in any duty or to feed on Christ and his vertue in the Sacrament Quest 4. For what cause is Evangelical Repentance requisite Ans Because the presence service and sacrifice of unregenerate impenitent persons are abominable before God Isa 1.12 13 c.
if Christ do not un-Church for this fault nor for personal corruptions of particular members then what say you of those particular persons men or women who will and do not onely Separate from but un-Church those Churches and Congregations where they cannot deny but the Gospel hath been comfortably preached and Sacraments administred so as they have been converted conceived in the Womb born again and received Isai 66. suck from the Brests of consolation for nourishment of the life of Grace in them Matth. 18.20 in which Churches they have often met Christ in his Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments in prayers and praises to their comfort And yet now for particular failings it may be for want of full power in the Congregation to exercise Reformation as they desire do brand the Churches and Congregations of Christ with the name of Antichrists Synagogues and the faithful painful Ministers of Christ Baals Priests Lims of Antichrist no true but false and counterfeit Churches and not Ministers of Christ indeed as they judge but of Antichrist himself Ans Truely howsoever some weak Christians may be seduced by deceivers and led into this errour yet it appears divers of these spirits have either none or but little of Christ or true Christianity in them for a man to call his mother whore it would be very uncivil and unchristian although she be sick and weak and faln into divers noysome diseases it is his duty rather to seek first to God and secondly to the Physitians and use all good means for the recovery of her health not separate from and leave her to death and desolation without respect Simile Is it a Christian course when two or three are sick or faln lame in a Family to forsake the house without taking care or affording help and assistance for recovery of a brother sister or fellow servants How will the father or master of the family take this certainly if a murderer must be destroyed when the great King Christ shall come to judgement These that kill in not endeavouring to save life shall not escape unpunished except in time God open their eyes and in and by Christ Acts 5.32 give them repentance let such then repent and return and assist in Reformation not go on in Separation from the Church Quest 31. But what if men be forbidden by Law and men of power to use those means which might by Gods blessing reform such corrupted persons or heal such sick Congregations Ans Howsoever any new course of Discipline or that great censure of excommunication may be forbidden by some acts except they be repelled and so in some course directed by authority of Parliament yet no Law forbids brotherly and neighbourly Exhortations Admonitions Reprehensions Counsels Instructions out of Gods Word Prayers and Supplications and such like and all these should be used for Reformation and not fall to a rash and offensive Separation to grieve the souls of weak Brethren and harden wicked men which it may be by good means and Gods blessing might be reformed and reclaimed as I have shewed in former Classes of this Diologue But God giveth us good hope of authority sufficient in a Christian humble way to reform our Congregations and if some blemishes be not reformed yet a Church may be a true Church if it hold forth the substantial and necessary truth of the Gospel and professed subjection thereunto though many failings and corruptions be botn in particular members and the Church in general 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 1. Revel 2. Revel 3. witnesse the Churches of Corinth of Galatia Ephesus Pergamos Sardis and Philadelphia and many other ancient and modern Churches of Iesus Christ and yet esteemed true Churches as the Church of England Scotland France Bohemia Belgia Geneva the Churches of Holland yea the Churches of London and our particular Congregations though they be too full of corruptions may and ought to be esteemed true Churches at least where true Saints are joyned together in the enjoyment of Ordinances although in mixed Congregations Quest 35. You have given me good satisfaction thus far what is a true visible Church of Christ or the matter of a Church and who are visible Members and of the houshold of faith to and with whom we may exercise our Christian love and charity But how can Infant-children of beleevers baptized in their infancy which can neither professe the Faith of Christ or their Faith in Christ nor shew any subjection to the Gospâ—l agree to your description of a visible Church or how and when and in what manner can these be accounted Members of the visible Church of Christ Ans This is the next manner of admission to Church-membership to be held forth unto you to shew who are Saints and of the houshold of Faith and who is our neighbour and fellow Saint to and with whom I ought to exercise this Christian love and charity even children according to their capacity as well as men of riper yeers Quest 33. But how or in what manner have children of beleevers been admitted and esteemed or reputed members of the visible Church Ans How the children of faithful Abraham and professors of Faith were admitted in the Old Testament Gen. 17. First in infancy to the Sacrament of Circumcision and after to the Sacrament of the Passeover Exod. 12. especially when they were come to yeers of discretion so far as to be able to enquire of their parents the reason of that service Neh. 10. And so to covenant solemnly with God when they were of knowledge and understanding I have shewed before Now for children of beleevers in the New Testament there are two things to be considered First their admission unto Baptism as the children of Abraham in the Old Testament were to Circumcision in infancy and so they were used to be admitted to a true Infant-membership of and in the Church and were and are to be reputed as true visible Infant-members of and in the Church of Christ and visible Infant-saints in judgement of charity Mark 10. and such as of which is the Kingdom of God as our Saviour speaks And this is a true and compleat admission in respect of truth to outward membership though I cannot call it a compleat and perfect membership in respect of perfect visibility and declarative subjection to the faith and profession of the Gospel which they are to declare themselves when they come to yeers of discretion as before in part I observed Quest 34. What reason is for this Ans The cause of those four particulars in Baptism we declared in the example of the Eunuchs baptizing 1. A desire of Baptism 2. A profession of Faith in Christ and subjection unto it 3. An intimation of Covenant and an embracing of Christ and Faith and Covenant union with Christ the head of his Church and in him with members of his mystical body 4. And last of all the receiving of the seal as a patient and
after the Lord 1 Sam. 7.1 2. Quest 9. What is the fifth help Answ Application of the Sacrament to my self as a seal of the covenant of grace 1 Cor. 10 16 17. Rom. 4.11 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 9.23 24. and of my confirmation in the faith and love of God to me as my God and Father reconciled to me in Christ untill I prize it as a rich treasure and part of the riches of Christs kingdome of grace for my preparing to glory Quest 10. What is the sixth and last help Answ Prayer to God with faith in the name of Christ zeal and constancy and humble waiting untill I can understand by the help of Christs Spirit Ios 16.23 Iam. 1.6 Iam. 5.16 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 Cant. 5.8 Gâ—n 30.1 Esther 5.13 Luke 22.20 1 Cor. 11 25. the excellency of this ordinance and that glorious union and communion which a prepared humble faithfull soul enjoyes with Christ feeding on Christ spiâ—itually and feasting with him at the Lords Table and untill my soul be so far sick of love for Christ that I can truly say as Rachel did of children O my God give me the holy Sacrament and to feast with Christ in it or else I dye Or as Haman did of all his riches and honours and of Hesters banquet in another kinde what is all this so long as I enjoy not Christ and banquet not with Christ at the Supper of my Lord. Quest 11. You have declared how you conceive the grace of knowledge both of God and of our selves and of Christ and of the Sacrament may be enlivened waiting on Christ in these or the like helps now how do you conceive the grace of faith may be enlivened by the power of Christ so as you may come with greater comfort to the Lords Table What light from Christ to enlighten in this work of grace Answ First time and secondly place being observed as before Thirdly I conceive I may wait on Christ in a serious examination of my faith as it is held forth before in this catechisme First distinguishing this lively faith from all other kindes Secondly examining and trying my faith 1. In the nature of it an entertaining receiving applying faith 2. In the means disposing my heart to believe 3. In the heavenly author or efficient and instrumentall causes of faith the word of promise and spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 4.13 4. In the matter and object of faith 5. In the form and life of faith 6. In the effects and fruits of faith all proved and set forth already Fourthly I may enliven my faith by waiting upon Christ in self-application of all those rules of tryall to my own heart to see how the truth of this grace is in my soul Fifthly I may wait on Christ in a solid and devout meditation of the grace of saith in my heart of the promises of Free-grace in Christ and especially the sacramentall promises now to be looked upon in the Sacrament This is my body Mat. 26.26 27. this is my blood which is given which is shed for you untill my soul findes and feeleth that it believes more firmely receiveth and rests on Christ for salvation more fully Sixthly wait on Christ in prayer to God the Father in the name of Christ Isa 11.10 Isa 66.11 1 Cor. 10 21. That I may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation and feed with joy at the Lords Table Quest 12. How or in what manner may you wait on Christ to quicken and renew your Evangelical Repentance or daily turning more and more from sin to God in minde will affection and conversation that you may with more comfort come to the Lords Supper What light is there from Christ to lead you to Christ in this grace and duty Ans First Time Secondly Place observed as before Thirdly I am to set my self as in Gods presence and examine Ier. 31.18 19. First My first conversion to God to finde evidence of the truth of that by considering 1. The meritorious cause Christ 2. The Nature 3. Author And 4. Means of working this grace in my soul as far as I can discern 5. The matter of it the whole man soul and body 6. The manner And 7. The end and effects of this conversion and repentance as in this Catechism is held forth or a I finde in other Catethisms or word from Christ Ezek. 36.31 Psal 51.10 Mat. 26.57 Secondly To examine the progresse and growth of it daily in my soule not only loathing but turning from sinne to God and lamenting my fâ—â—ling with sorrow if I have fallen as David Peter or other Saints of God and ungratefully forgotten the love of my Saviouâ— Fourthly meditating of my sinnes and vile ingratitude against so good a God to me in Christ Fifthly a right application all to my own soul in particular Psa 51.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Isa 2.1 2 3. Psal 122 1 2 3 4. Cant. 1.7 8. And lastly prayer to God in the name of Christ untill I finde an increase of power over my sinfull corruptions and a more ful assurance of my pardon new heart and spirit-restored joy which that it may better be communicated from Christ to my soule I long to meet Christ in his ordinances Quest 13. But what help and light from Christ have you to finde out not only your originall sin and sinfull nature in generall before your repentance and conversion to God but you daily actuall sals an A failings by which you do dishonour God grieve the Spirit of Christ and wound your own conscience and make your self more unfit to come to the holy Sacrament Answ I conceive I may wait on Christ and his Spirit looking for light from Christ into a threefold glasse or book which reveils sins to my soul by the power and light of Christs Spirit Quest 14. What is the first Answ The first is the book of the law or commanding part of Gods will or Word revealed by Christ held forth in the ten Commandements in particular Isa 8.21 and in the whole Scriptures of God in generall Quest 15. What is the second glasse Ioh. 3.17 18 19 20. Ioh. 16 8 9. Hebr. 2.2 3. Mat. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6. 9 10 11 12. Mat. 25.19 c. Answ Secondly the book ot the Gospel or gracious promising part of Gods Word against which I have sinned by unbelief too little regard of the tender of grace to improve my talent of faith other graces communicated to Saints and to my soul in and by Christ Iesus Quest 16. What is the third glasse or light from Christ to see this truth Answ The book of my own conscience enlightned which as Register recordeth my sins and will upon search by the help of Christs Spirit and light from Christ set my sins before my face with the circumstances Rom. 2.14 15. Rom. 9.1 2. Gen.
Paul despairing Quest 10. What is the third comfort Ans Thirdly that though the faith of Gods childe be asleep for a time like Christ in the ship and the life of grace be covered as fire in the Embers not to be seen though like a tree in winter the faithful soul seem dead or as a sick man doth lose his taste of soul-refreshing-meat for a time or a childe of God like the Moon be Ecclipsed and all darknesse who can see no light ready to complain with the Psalmist Isa 50. lo Rom. 70.22 13. Mat. 8.24 Psal 77.7 8 9. Is his mercy clean gone for ever and will he be no more entreated hath God forgotten to be gracious and hath he shut up his loving kindnesse in displeasure Yet when Christ is pleased to cast a good look of grace upon their souls then life grace and sense of sin and sorrow for unthankfulnesse and for losse of first love will return as ni Peter noted before and as Christ looks for Rev. 2.4 5. Quest 11. What is a fourth consolation Ans That when the Lord Christ is pleased to draw near with his bright beams of light and love Mal. 4.2 then the soul will be enlightned and be enlivened with longings after Christ and a re-union with him in love and renewed acquaintance as in times past Quest 12. What is a fifth consolation for such a poor Saint Ans That when the spring time of grace returns and showers of Divine love and dews of spiritual refreshments from Christ fall upon the soul then will childe and declare he hath loved her freely that he will be as the dew to his daughter Hos 14.4 c. Isa 61.3 and that she shall grow in grace as the Lilly and the root of grace shall be fastned as the Trees of Lebanon and their beauty shall be as the Olive tree and she shall bring forth fruits as a tree of righteousnesse that the Lord hath planted that God may be glorified Yea she shall greatly rejoyce in the Lord and be joyful in her God she shall finde that he hath clothed her with the garments of salvation and covers her with the robes of his righteousnesse Isa 61.10 Psal 45.13 14. as a Bridegroom decketh himself with his Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Quest 13. These are comfortable and good encouragements if it please the Lord by the power of his spirit to apply and give strength to apply them to her soul But what if still she finde her faith weak and her holinesse so feeble that she yet is doubtful and fearful to meet Christ in his Ordinances or to come at the invitation to feast with him at his Table Ans Let her know that its not her act of believing or strength of holinesse doth justifie before God or maketh her acceptable in his sight but it is the object of her faith Christ Jesus and his righteousnesse and merits for which God is well-pleased with her Mat. 17.5 As it is not the hand that receiveth the Plaister and apply eth it to the sore Simile but the Plaister it self and the vertue of that with Gods blessing that healeth the wound So though faith be an instrument or hand to receive Christ and so an instrumental cause of Justification yet it is Christ and his merits and righteousnesse that is the meritorious cause and that which giveth true and full peace to the soul And this rest on Christ will prove a glorious rest in the end Isa 11.10 And therefore if your friend do but see the day light or renewing and requickning grace begin to dawn in the soul if but a wishing for the day as Pauls company in that long and sad night on the Sea of danger Acts 27.29 let her wait on Christ in his Ordinances and take her to the sure word of Gods gracious promises until the day light of grace dawn and the day star of joy appear in her heart 2 Pet. 1.19 If she finde any hunger though but a weak stomack like a man or woman new recovered or recovering from some long and tedious sicknesse yet let her weak soul almost fainting for lack of Christ as sorrowful for her former failings yet hungring after Christ and rejoycing at Christs invitation draw near to Christs Ordinances the Word Preached and Sacraments administred waiting to see the face of her beloved the Lord Iesus Christ Cant. 5.8 that she may tell him she is sick of love and be revived with the light of his countenaunce that she may sit down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit may be sweet to her taste Conclus And thus I have endeavored to satisfie your doubts to heal and help a tender conscience or comfort a drooping soul in time of a spiritual desertion that such a soul may not Excommunicate her self from Christs Ordinance but rather come and finde soul-refreshings of unutterable value 2 Tim. 1.1.2 1 Pet. 1.8 and believing on Christ and trusting Christ with her soul she may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Quest 14. I will propound but one doubt more What shall a poor soul do if in use of all these helps for comfort he or she still walk in darknesse and can see no light of comfort or peace to their souls What light from Christ to such a poor disconso-spirit late Ans Although the childe of God walk in darknesse Isa 50.10 Hab. 2.3 4. Heb. 10.35 36. Isa 40.29 c. and can see no light of comfort no light of sense of the favour of God in the soul yet the poor weak soul must not despair but labour by the power of Christ to live by faith and dependent upon God in Christ until the Lord Christ Iesus that Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Gal. 2.20 Mal. 5.4 1 Pet. 1.9 and peace and joy be communicated through believing unto the soul to life and salvation the end of faith Quest 15. But how or by what means may a poor weak soul gain strength from Christ to live this life of faith when it walketh in darknesse Is there any light from Christ for this Ans By waiting upon Christ in the means of faith and endeavouring by strength from Christ to make use of those helps and furtherances which are held forth in Scripture Phil. 4.13 2 Cor. 5.7 to stregthen the foul and enable it to live this life of faith when evident sight and sense is absent Qued 16. What are these helps Ans There are divers but you may observe these that follow First to consider the nature of this life of faith First as a life of excellency by which the creature is enabled to glorifie the Creator as Abraham being strong in faith gave glory to God Rom. 4.20 Secondly as a life of suavity delightful and pleasant Mat. 6.25 c to live by dependence upon God in Christ 1 Pet. 5.7 Gal. 2.20 in the