and exacted more than can possibly or at least ordinarily be performed Or labour under some other cloudy and afflicting Error or distemper of mind which hinders a most comfortable Religion and peaceful Piety from creating any Joy or Comfort in them Quest. But when there are none of these intrinsick impediments to interpose betwixt his Joy and them doth not he sometimes Arbitrarily and without any provocation withdraw himself and hide his Face as if he were displeased with them Which withdrawing is oft given as the cause of many Good mens Grief and Dejection and is what some call Spiritual Desertion Answ. At this rate indeed all Spiritual Comfort must needs be most variable and uncertain as depending not on any Constancy of good and comfortable Dispositions in themselves but on the Arbitrariness of such unprovoked withdrawings to try Experiments upon Men. But this I think is all humane invention the Scripture on the contrary teaching us that when Sinners purify their hearts and draw nigh to him God doth not withdraw himself and shrink away but draws nigh to them Jam. 4. 8. It is an imputation on this good Spirit not at all agreeing with his inclination which is to be an immutable lover of goodness and of good men to be unalterably pleased with them whilst they do what is pleasing to him and to delight in having them take pleasure and joy in him It seems very opposite to his Office and Undertaking For his Work and Office as I have shewn is to engender Peace and Comfort as well as Goodness in the hearts of his Servants And since that is his business he will be as constant in pursuing it and no more withdraw his Comforts than he doth his Graces from them without being justly provoked thereto by some act of their own Nay on the contrary when their own melancholly humours or mispersuasions have intercepted his joyful presence from good men he is ready with the light of his Countenance to break thro' that darkness and in great pity very often restores that Comfort to their minds which their own errour or distemper had driven from it So that these arbitrary and unprovoked desertions whether in Grace or Comforts as they have no foundation in Scripture but there meet with opposition so are they not suitable to the Holy and good Spirit 's natural Genius or his Undertaking and Office He always loves and delights in good men and never voluntarily withdraws himself but is always driven from them CHAP. IX Of the Holy Catholick Church and the Communion of Saints The Contents No assurance of Salvation by Christ but in his Church This Church Holy. And Catholick Admission into it by Baptism when regularly perform'd in any one valid in all Churches Excommunication is so too This Church is one Body by external visible unity Of the Communion of Saints in this Church Of their visible union in Faith or Doctrine And in Prayâ—rs and Devotion Of communicating in Publick Prayers A Sin to separate without just cause Imposing Sins or Errours as Conditions of Communion is a just cause Not Lawful to separate for Things indifferent Nor for better means of edification Just to separate from a Church that doth not impose her Corruptions when her Errors in Faith overthrow the Foundation That is when she ceases to own the one true God. Or denys Jesus to be the Christ or Salvation by his Merits and Mediation Owning Jesus to be the Christ implies owning the Articles of the Apostles Creed which contains all Fundamentals Whilst any Churches hold to this Creed which is the Foundation Errors in other things do not unchurch them But such Erroneous are in a worse state than Orthodox Christians Nor is her Communion to be deserted meerly for such Errors tho' very gross if she doth not impose them Just to separate from a Church of a corrupt Worship when sinful things pollute her Publick Offices Or when good Devotions are put up in a strange Language Not for Rites and Customs about indifferent Matters Nor just to separate for scandalous Members where a Churches constitution is faultless Nor tho' it neglect Discipline which should reform them Of keeping Fellowship with the Apostles by submitting to our lawful Bishops their Successors Christians to communicate in Affections in Alms and Temporal good Things Quest. WHat is the Ninth Article in the Creed Answ. The Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints Quest. Is there no assurance of Salvation by Christ but in his Church Answ. No for Baptism whereby we are made members of the Church is compared to Noah's Ark whereinto all were to enter that would not perish with the World 1 Pet. 3. 20 21. Christ is represented to us as the Head of his Church and the Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. And God daily added to the Church such as should be saved saith St. Luke Act. 2. 47. In the Church all good men have a sure claim to God's favour by Promises and Compacts which ingage him in Faithfulness But out of it they stand to courtesie and can build at best only on presumptions and uncovenanted mercies the Covenant which God seals with us respecting his Church and being proposed and ratified in the Word which it preaches and in the Sacraments which it dispences Quest. Must not this make all careful to be Members of this Body and keep in Commâ—nion with Christ's Church who profess Christianity Answ. Most certainly as without which by their Religion there is not only a want of the set means and opportunities but also of all express Contracts and Promises of Salvation Our Saviour Christ has appointed not only the Christian Religion which all are to believe and practise but the Christian Church too wherein they are to profess that Faith and Communicate as Members And the same Baptism that lists us Professors of his Religion makes us Members of his Church also Quest. Why is the Church called Holy Answ. Because it is a Body of men that is Holy that is separated from the rest of the World and dedicated to Aâ—mighty God. Ye are a chosen Generation an Holy Nation a Peculiar People 1 Pet. 2. 9. And because whatever they prove in reality their Religion is a Profession of Holiness as their Baptismal Vow which is made at their entrance on Christianity sufficiently declares To the Church at Corinth called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. Quest. Why is it called Catholick Answ. To shew its Universality and that it is not confined to one Nation or Place as the Jewish Church was And the Catholick Church notes the whole Body of Christians diffused through all places and enduring through all times The Church is also call'd Catholick in relation to the Faith it holds which ought to be the same in all Places And in this sense particular Churches are sometimes stiled Catholick meaning thereby that they are Orthodox and live in the Faith and Communion of the Catholick Church not of any Heretical Combinations Quest.
Business greatness of Temptations Bodily Indispositions For Pitiable Defects of Degrees in Duties Great Latitude on the side of Bliss and all not required to be of the same Size He will Reward Good Things tho' done with Difficulty and Reluctance yea when Pitiably stain'd with impure mixtures Our Judge will shew all this Candor and would have us expect it In Recompencing good Men he will consider the Difficulties and Oppositions And the hazard and cost of their Services And the hardships of Providence allotted to exercise good Men in this Life Of the Condemnation of ill Men. The Fire which is to torment them shall burn up and dissolve the World. Practical Inferences from the last judgment ☞ Through a Mistake there is neither 5th 6th nor 7th Chapters But tho' in the numbering of the Chapters there is this mistake yet there is no omission of matter CHAP. VIII OF the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists which were for the Planting and Propagating Christ's Religion 1. The gift of inspiration in Revelations This bestowed upon the Apostles These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures after which we are not to look for any others This Gift of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation necessary only in Apostles and Evangelists And design'd for the Infancy of the Church Other Rules whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion As try them by the Scriptures Call for their Miracles wherewith God still empower'd men when he sent them to reveal new Things No need of Miracles when men pretend only to revive old and acknowledged Revelations If they shew Miracles for things plainly against Scripture they must work more than were wrought to confirm the Scripture An account of Joel 2. 28 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points but also in Devotions And about Temporal matters Subservient to this Gift of Revelations was the Gift of discerning Spirits This done afterwards by ordinary Rules And the Gift of utterance and boldness Their minds not influenced by this constantly and at all Times But ordinarily they were and especially when they had most need of it 2. Of the Gift of Miracles Miracles a Proof of Divine Revelation How discernible from Lying Wonders by the Doctrines built on them By their ends and usefulness and being wrought on needful Occasions Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases This sometimes by annointing with Oyl And Prayers Of casting out Devils and other Miracles Of delivering to Satan what it was and why so call'd Of Joy in Tribulations and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles To the working these Miracles there was always required Faith in him that wrought them And sometimes Faith in him that received them 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues The ends of this And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter The Sin against the Holy Ghost is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost Some of these Temporary others to continue through all Times the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces By these we may know he dwells in us Our care required towards these Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages and inward good motions Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces in six Particulars How God gives them though we are thus to acquire them The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments But they are with-held from none through his Arbitrary withdrawing which some count Spiritual Desertion CHAP. IX OF the Holy Catholick Church and the Communion of Saints No assurance of Salvation by Christ but in his Church This Church Holy. And Catholick Admission into it by Baptism when regularly perform'd in any one valid in all Churches Excommunication is so too This Church is one Body by external visible unity Of the Communion of Saints in this Church Of their visible Union in Faith or Doctrine And in Prayers and Devotion Of communicating in Publick Prayers A Sin to separate without just cause Imposing Sins or Errours as Conditions of Communion is a just cause Not Lawful to separate for Things indifferent Nor for better means of edification Just to separate from a Church that doth not impose her Corruptions when her Errors in Faith overthrow the Foundation That is when she ceases to own the one true God. Or denys Jesus to be the Christ or Salvation by his Merits and Mediation Owning Jesus to be the Christ implies owning the Articles of the Apostles Creed which contains all Fundamentals Whilst any Churches hold to this Creed which is the Foundation Errors in other things do not unchurch them But such Erroneous are in a worse state than Orthodox Christians Nor is her Communion to be deserted meerly for such Errors tho' very gross if she doth not impose them Just to separate from a Church of a corrupt Worship when sinful things pollute her Publick Offices Or when good Devotions are put up in a strange Language not for Rites and Customs about indifferent matters Nor just to separate for scandalous Members where a Churches constitution is faultless Nor tho' it neglect Discipline which should reform them Of keeping Fellowship with the Apostles by submitting to our lawful Bishops their Successors Christians to communicate in Affections in Alms and Temporal good Things CHAP. X. OF the Forgiveness of Sins What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all Sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of Sins CHAP. XI OF the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin but of our Bodies from the Grave This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies viz. Immortality Spirituality and Glory The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal And exquisitely sensible Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies Good Souls carried straight-way into a
right Hand of God there to intercede and mediate for us till at last he shall come again to judge the World and eternally reward or punish all according as their lives have been good or bad Quest. So that I perceive Faith in Christ is our believing the Gospel and all things contained therein concerning God our Selves or another World upon Christ's Authority And particularly believing what he therein declares concerning his being the Christ and Son of God who died roâ—e again ascended to God's right Hand and shall return again to judge the World as is also expressed in the Creed And that for the sake of his death to expiate sins God will be reconciled to Sinners upon their true Repentance Ans. Yes this is the true Faith in Christ upon profession whereof the Apostles at first enter'd Men as Disciples S. Peter without more ado Baptizing the three thousand that gladly receiv'd the Word wherein he had declared to them these very things Act. 2. 41. And the Christian Church ever since admitting them to Baptism upon their professing Faith of the Apostles Creed which contains the same particulars Quest. By this I perceive what Faith in Christ is Pray what wants this to make it saving and available unto Righteousness Ans. Only that it suitably affect us or work in us such Godly Affections Purposes and Practices as may justly be expected from Men of such persuasions Quest. Pray what are these suitable affections Ans. They will best appear by running over briefly some of the chief of those particulars which we believe on the word of Christ and which are to produce them in us Quest. We believe that God is our Father who at first made us and still preserves and provides for us with Paternal care and tenderness How must this affect us Ans. With Love Honour and dutiful Obedience If I be a Father where is my honour Mal. 1. 6. Quest. We believe him to be infinite in Justice and Almighty in Power able and ready as to conâ—er whatsoever is desirable on those that fear so to inflict whatsoever is dreadful on those that affront him What should this beget in us Ans. Reverence and godly fear Fear him who when he hath killed hath Power to cast both Body and Soul into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Luk. 12. 5. Matth. 10. 28. Quest. We beâ—ieve him to be perfectly Righteous that is most Holy and Just and True and Faithful and Merciful and Patient and pleased only with what is so How ought we in reason to be influenced by this belief Ans. Made Holy and Righteous as he is that so we may be like him the Supreme Object of all imitation and find favour in his Eyes If we know that he is Righteous we know that every one that doth Righteousness is born of him 1 Jo. 2. 29. Quest. We believe his Providence orders all events What should we do upon this Ans. Be content under all that happens and say as the Holy Psalmist I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal. 39. 9. or as old Eli It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good 1 Sam. 3. 18. Quest. We believe that this Providence will never leave nor forsake those that fear God Heb. 13. 5. that it will make all the evil they meet with here to work for their good Rom. 8. 28. That the desire of the Righteous shall be granted Prov. 10. 24. That they shall not want any good thing Psal. 34. 10. And that when they seek first the kingdom of God all other things shall be added to them without their being solicitous about them Matth. 6. 33 34. What would one in reason expect from Men so persuaded Ans. That they trust in the living God 1 Tim. 6. 17. that they lay aside all distracting solicitude and thoâ—ghtfulness for outward things Matth. 6. 25 31 34. That they be careful for nothing but making their case known to God cast all their care upon him who careth for them Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Quest. We believe he will not forget his word although the performance of it be long delaied but remember it faithfully and in due time give it effect What should this work in us Ans. Patience and Perseverance of Hope whereof all have need that after they have done the will of God they may receive the Promise It being God's way for some time to exercise Mens Faith of a Promise before he accomplish it Heb. 10. 36 37. Quest. We believe he is able to fulfil it when it is most improbable and unlike to take effect there being no word impossible with God Luk. 1. 37. and that he will do it What should be the effect of this Ans. To beget in us a firm Faith and unshaken confidence in his Promise such as Abraham's was for having a Child when both He and his Wife were past Age for Children and of having a numerous Issue by him when at Gods command he was just about to slay him Rom. 4. 20 21. Heb. 11. 19. Quest. We believe that for Christ's sake God will give good things to those that seek to him for them and that if they ask it shall be given Matth. 7. 7. What should follow upon this opinion Ans. Prayer and Devotion So that whatsoever Temporal or Spiritual Blessings Men stand in need of they should seek to God the Author and by Jesus Christ the procurer of them Quest. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ that was to come into the World. What would any serious and considerate Man do that is so persuaded Ans. Confide in him and worship and submit to him as a most just Object of our Homage Trust and Adoration Quest. We believe this same Jesus to be our Lord. What should he in reason do who believes and professes that Ans. Keep his Commandments and observe his Orders For why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luke 6. 46. Quest. We believe that he came down from Heaven in love to us to restore us to God's Favour and Eternal Happiness What would any ingenuous Person do that is convinced of this Ans. Love him most dearly that so loved us and thank him most heartily and intirely for having done and suffered so much for our sakes Quest. We believe the cause of his dying so painful and ignominious a Death upon the Cross was not any ill that he had done himself but only our sins and that at last they will bring us to Eternal Death unless we repent of them What can be expected of all that have this persuasion Ans. Irreconcileably to hate sin and to repent and sin no more lest they come to â—eel the same at last intolerably and that too without all hopes of remedy in their own Persons We must die to sin says the Scripture since he died for it Rom. 6. 6 8 11. And if we judge that he died for us his love
dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen Quest. Doth this Creed contain all points of Doctrine necessary to be believed by every Christian Ans. Yes for it was given for a Confession of Faith that should fit Men for Baptism and shew any Person to be a Christian and they had better have made no Rule or Confession of Faith at all than an imperfect one Quest. What do you make the first Article in this Creed Ans. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Quest. How doth it appear that there is a God Ans. From this vast World that he has made Even as we are unquestionably assured of the Being of a Skilful Architect where we see a stately and well contrived House erected or of a learned Author from an excellent and well-penned Book or of an Ingenious Artificer from a Watch of exact and various Movements or other elaborate and curious piece of Workmanship And this shows us not only that there is a God on whom we and all this created World depend but also that he is most Wise Powerful and Good because the greatest Power Wisdom and Goodness are every where apparent in the contrivance and formation of it For the invisible things of God even his eternal Power and Godhead are clearly seen from the Creation of the World being understood by the things that are made as S. Paul says Rom. â— 20. Quest. Indeed nothing in reason seems more obvious than that all this World must have an Architect and that we and all the things about us which every where spring up and perish could never make our selves and that things of such admirable Order Harmony and Usefulness could not any one and much less all of them be put together by blind and uncontriving chance And therefore methinks this proof of God's Being from the voice of his Works must needs convince all his reasonable Creatures Ans. Yes and ever since the World began so it has There is neither speech nor language where their voice is not heard their â—iâ—e is gone out through all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Psal. 19. 3 4. On this or other Arguments all People in every Age and Nation believed and acknowledged that there is a God and delivered down that Belief to those who followed them And therefore no Person can ever oppose this and pretend to reason since thereby he sets up himself against all People of every place and time and against what passed for the plainest and most uncontestable Principle of humane reason ever since there was any such thing So that if therein he has reason he has it to himself alone and all the present World besides yea and all Ages too that went before him had none Quest. What things are we to know and believe concerning God Ans. First His God-head and Divine Attributes Secondly His Providence Quest. There is nothing in all Religion more necessary or useful for us than to have a right apprehension of Almighty God. Is he like any thing which we behold with our Eyes or feel with our Hands or discern by any Bodily Senses Ans. No in Scripture indeed he is said to have Ears and Eyes and Hands and Feet But therein as the Jewish Rabbins say the Law speaks of God with the Tongue of the Children of Men. And we are to understand not that he has any such parts but only that he has as full perceptions and performs the same things as we do by them The invisible God whom no man hath seen or can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. is a Spirit says our Saviour John 4. 24. And this must teach us in all our Services which we pay to him never to think of putting him off with outward Shows Gifts and Ceremonies but to be inwardly affected in all we do or say and always to offer him our Hearts and Spirits For he being a Spirit must be worshipped as Christ said in spirit and in truth John 4. 24. And moreover never to make any Bodily Images and representations of him or fancy to give him Worship and Honour by them since a pure unbodied Spirit is not represented but belyed not honoured but debased by any such thing Ye saw no manner of similitude of God when he came and spake to you said Moses to the Jews therefore take good heed left ye corrupt your selves in making any of him Deut. 4. 15 16. And thou shalt not make to thee any likeness of any thing either in Heaven or Earth to bow down to them said the Law Exod. 20. 4 5. Quest. But although we cannot see him with our Eyes yet we may apprehend several things of him in our minds And one you say is his God-head what mean you by that Ans. His Sovereignty or being the Supreme Being that depends on none and that all other things depend upon Particularly Men who were at first made by him and still absolutely depend on him In him we live move and have our being Act. 17. 28. Quest. If he depends on none he must be an eternal Being which never had beginning Ans. Yes because there was nothing before him to give beginning to him So that if he had not been from all Eternity he could never have been at all Quest. And if all things else but especially all Men do absolutely depend on him that will make all careful to serve and please him and found Religion Ans. Undoubtedly so it should And where it is not only believed but seriously laid to heart so it will. Quest. What are the Divine Attributes or Properties of God which will show us how he stands affected and what will please him Ans. He is all Holiness Goodness Justice Faithfulness Wisdom Almighty every where present and can never change Quest. What is meant by God's Natural Purity and Holiness Ans. His absolute exemption from all sin in himself and his perfect aversation and immutable hatred of it in all others He can take no pleasure in wickedness he hates all workers of iniquity and therefore evil shall not dwell with him Psal. 5. 4 5. Quest. If this be his unalterable Nature he can never be reconciled to Mens sins nor take delight in any Man whilst he goes on to be a sinner Ans. No as soon may we hope to bring Light and Darkness Snow and Fire to dwell together So far is he from living with it that he cannot endure to look upon iniquity Habak 1. 13. Quest. Since God's Holiness bespeaks such absolute abhorrence of all vice and wickedness I see it implies something more than barely his affectation of External Decency or his hatred to be treated rudely and unmannerly Ans. Yes so it doth It implies that too For God's Holiness often notes his supereminent Power and Greatness And to use this peerless Majesty or any things
that it shall never be destroyed by them The Promise is That the Gates of Hell that is the Powers of Satan and all his wicked instruments shall not prevail against the Church Matt. 16. 18. Quest. What must Christ's protecting his Church teach us Answ. To trust him with Religion and not sin to save it in the most perillous times He is more concern'd for his Church than any of us are or can be and he knows how to protect it without the help of our sins or our acting wickedly for it So that in all such times we are to practise Religion and do our duty and then recommend and trust the Preservation of it to his care Quest. If we would own Christ as our King then I perceive we must obey his Laws and Ministers and commit our selves to him in well-doing as the Protector of his Church Answ. Yes Quest. And will none partake of the Reconciliation of his Priesthood but they who thus believe him as their Prophet and obey him as their Lord Answ. No for Faith and Obedience are necessary to our Peace with God and there is no injoying the benefit of one without embracing him in all his Offices Quest. To believe in Christ then or to acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ is to own him for the Prophet of the Church by hearkning to his Word and Ministers for the Priest of God by hoping in him and applying to God by him for Reconciliation and all other mercies and for the King of his Church by obeying both his Laws and Officers and in a course of well-doing trusting both our selves and our Religion to his Protection here on Earth Answ. Yes Quest. What is meant by that which follows in the Creed his being God's only Son Answ. Our meaning is in respect of his Nature that God begat him as a Father doth a Son of like nature with himself so that he is God as well as Man. For he is equal with God Phil. 2. 6. The true God 1 Joh. 5. 20. and over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. Which last was the special Character and Title of the true God in the common stile and expression of the Jews Who from their Custom when the Priest in the Sanctuary rehearsed the Name of God of answering Blessed be his name for ever came in their common speech to call him The Blessed One which phrase the Scriptures often denote him as in Mar. 14. 61. 2 Cor. 11. 31. Rom. 1. 25. And agreeable to his having this Divine Nature we find the Divine Works as Creating and Sustaining and Divine Honours as Worship and Prayers and Baptism in the Name of the Son as well as of the Father ascribed to him in Holy Scripture Quest. Why was it requisite our Redeemer should be God Answ. 1. To give Merit to his Sacrifice which was infinitely advanced in regard his Blood was the Blood of God Act. 20. 28. How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Consciences who offered himself thro' the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. As its being committed against God was the extreme aggravation of our sin So must its being performed by God be equally an enhansement of his Reparation 2. To several other purposes as to his having Power enough to conquer Death and Hell and save us from all our Spiritual Enemies to fit him for a capable and competent Judge of all men seeing into their Hearts and Thoughts which is one of God's Prerogatives To recommend Vertue as much as was possible by an example since in him it appears that all the things required of us are worthy of the most excellent Natures yea are not below the practice of God himself Quest. What other meaning is there of it Answ. Another is in respect of his Power because he is invested with all the Authority and Power of God. For Son of God signifies sometimes the same as the Christ that is one whom God hath commissioned to act in his stead He shall be great and the Son of the Highest and God shall give him the Throne of his Father David Luk. 1. 32. And thus Jesus Christ is God's Son for he hath given him all Power both in Heaven and Earth Matt. 28. 18. and committed all Authority to the Son that all should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Quest. And being the Son of God in this sense that is having Soveraign Power from him he is our Lord Answ. Yes in respect of this derived Power and of his own Soveraign Divine Nature of his invaluable Merit and Purchace and of our voluntary Compacts and Submissions on all accounts that can found a just Dominion and Lordship over us God has given him a Name above every Name that every Tongue should confess Jesus Christ is Lord Phil. 2. 9 11. To us there is one Lord 1 Cor. 8. 6. Quest. And being God not only in Power but also in Nature must we not all worship him and pray to him and trust in him as God Answ. Yes for at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow Phil. 2. 10 and all must honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 23. This is done by all good Christians and Saints on Earth who are styled They that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 2. And also by those who are glorified in Heaven who sing their Hallelujah's as to God the Father so also to the Lamb Rev. 5. 11 12 13 14. Yea by the Angels too for when he bringeth his first-begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. And this Divine Honour if he were not a God in Nature as well as in Power he could never claim nor receive from them Quest. If Christ is our Rightful Sovereign Lord then we must give up our Wills to his and perform faithfully whatsoever he orders Answ. Yes Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luk. 6. 46. Nay since he is our Lord and we are his Houshold-Servants we must not as he says be the Servants of Men that is so wholly given up to their Service as that we cannot mind his or serve their pleasure when it interferes with his Laws or comply with their Meen and Customs when they are contrary unto his or sooth and flatter their weak Minds and feed their sickly Humours like timerous or mercenary Slaves No man says our Saviour can thus serve two Masters Matt. 6. 24. Ye are bought with a price saith St. Paul be not ye therefore the Servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. And if I yet pleased or soothed up men I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Quest. Since he is our Lord we should not think any thing too mean or ill for us which he thought not so for him but compose our selves to his Behaviour willingly following where he has gone before it
himself in all things towards them and was correspondently treated by them as a Brother In any common Debates and particularly in the Council of Jerusalem he did not so much as preside as St. James there seems rather to have done but as an Equal gave his Reasons and his Voice among them Act. 15. 7. When his actings seem'd very Novel and Doubtful as his going in to Cornelius and his Gentile Friends the Brethren of the Circumcision freely required an Account thereof and stifly contended with him Act. 11. 2. And when they were really Blame-worthy as his dissimulation was at Antioch St Paul like his Com-Peer Apostle openly withstood and rebuked him Gal. 2. 11 12 13 14. These with sundry other like Passages shew how unknown such Universal Headship was in the Apostles time And the same may be made appear of the Church in the Ages following But that visible Unity which all Christians were obliged to endeavour after in the Church was preserv'd as I say by their joint readiness to communicate externally as Brethren not by a profest subjection of all Churches to one Visible Head and submitting to his Authority and Jurisdiction Quest. In this one Church indeed as it follows in the Creed there must be a Communion of Saints what is meant by Saints Answ. Christians By their Enemies they were styled Hereticks or Nazarenes But the Names they gave themselves were the Elect the Brethren the Christians or many times the Saints as is very commonly seen in the inscriptions or salutations of the Epistles writ to them by the holy Apostles Quest. And what is the Communion of these Saints or Christians Answ. Their joining in common in those things which make them Christians or in the common Offices and concerns of Christianity There must be Communion because of their Unity as one Body And this Communion must be in something sensible to shew a visible Unity which the World shall see and reflect upon as I noted from our Saviour Quest. In what doth this Communion consist Answ. In adhering to the same Doctrine Government and Worship both in Prayers and Sacraments For in these St. Luke places the Communion of the Primitive Church They continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and breaking of Bread and in Prayers Act. 2. 42. Quest. How must they keep to the same Faith and Doctrine Answ. By adhering to the Holy Scriptures which ought to be every where the same Rule of it And this Unity of Faith requiring not only that they inwardly believe the same things but also that they outwardly profess that Belief to make Unity in this Profession in the first days there is mention of its being drawn up into a Form of Sound words 2 Tim. 1. 13. This Form was as some think the Apostles Creed which contains all that Catholick Doctrine that is necessary to make any Man a Good Christian and which accordingly has been always received as the Form in Baptism the most learned not professing more thereat nor the most ignorant less through all Ages of the Church Quest. This united Adherence to the same Rule and Form will keep up a visible Union in Faith or Doctrine But how can they all be thus united in Prayers and Devotions not having one and the same Forms of Prayer and Liturgies Answ. By making them all according to the same Rules and for the same intents and purposes For all their Prayers are put up to one and the same God for one and the same common mercies on the same common terms and expectations through the same common Merits and Mediation and with the same common Affection and Brotherly concern for each other Which make them in Substance the same Worship and Devotions though put up in far distant places or in different Forms of expression or Languages Quest. According to what you said before of the Unity of the Church the Members of this one Body must not only worship and pray like each other but be ready to worship and pray together But how can we communicate or joyn in the use of Prayers and Sacraments with all Christians who are so far spread and widely distant in their Habitations Answ. With Foreigners we are bound to joyn only as we meet with them When we happen to be amongst them or they amongst us to shew we are all of the same Body and that the Church is one we must mutually Associate in worship and receive each other to Communion not sticking at any different Rites and usages we find in other Churches whilst there is no Sin in them And as for the Christians of our own Country there is no difficulty of joining thus in Worship yea and Government too with them because we are all under the same Laws and spiritual Guides and live among them Quest. Do you lay much weight upon Publick Prayers and think the People ought to place much in attending the Churches Service and Praying along with the Minister Answ. Yes For though God is ready to hear any Good man by himself alone Yet for the Countenance of the Publick Worship and the maintenance of good order he sets particular marks of Favour on those Prayers which are offer'd to him in Publick in concurrence with his Minister Thus in the Jewish Law he appointed the Priests to Offer and burn incense twice a Day for a Daily Service the end whereof was to present those Prayers which the People offer'd up during this Ministration as a sweet smell to God in these Perfumes And David when he would desire a great Recommendation to his Prayers begs they may come fortifi'd with this advantage to be set forth in God's sight like Incense Psal. 141. 2. In like manner the four and twenty Elders in the Revelations that is the Bishops or Pastors of the Church are represented as having every one like the Jewish Priests Golden Vials full of Odors which are the Prayers of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. And when any Persons in sickness would have Recourse to Prayers St. James directs them to present them by their Pastors and send for the Elders of the Church Jam. 5 14. And Jesus Christ that Angel who at the Golden Altar offers up the Prayers of all Saints is set out particularly as presenting those Prayers of theirs which came up with the smoke of incense Rev. 8. 3 4. Not to mention the many other Advantages of Publick Prayer as its being an addressing to God in a Body and united Number which in all Addresses is confessedly a way of most Force and Power and among them perhaps in conjunction with some of the best Souls and very likely with several more Holy and dearer to him than our selves for whose sake he may be more like to hear our joint supplications as he would hear Job for his Friends when he would not accept either their Prayer or Sacrifice at their own hands Job 42. 7 8. And therefore it is a most fond
forth all the Forecited Articles But doth it contain all Points of meer Belief that are necessary and Fundamental Answ. Yes For it was made for a Badge of true Christians and thereupon we may conclude was design'd to be no ways Defective in any necessary Articles of Christianity It has ever been the Form of Faith at Baptism and was all which not only the Ignorant but even the most Learned then professed So that it is sufficient to make any Person a Disciple and Member of Jesus Christ. It was held and Styled as is well known by the Ancient Fathers as the Canon the Sum the Perfect Sum of Faith that Token which was sufficient to shew who preached Christ according to the Doctrine of the Apostles and to distinguish Believers from Infidels that wherein the Church Educated and Catechized her Children and in sum which passed as the Test of common Christianity among them Lastly since the Compilers of it short as it is gave room to some things only Circumstantial as the Judge under whom Christ suffer'd and the Time of his Rising from the Dead 'T is not to be thought they would omit any thing essential and of the Body of the Faith which was necessary to be inserted Quest. Whilst any Church then professes this Creed which is the Foundation doth it continue a Christian Church tho' it tacks thereto many gross Errors and as St. Paul says builds Wood Hay and Stubble thereupon 1 Cor. 3. 12. Answ. Yes for they who profess this may be Baptized as I said and Baptism admits men into the Church and makes them Christians And some Churches in the Apostles days had imbibed sundry great Errors But retaining still their Faith in Christ they were owned notwithstanding as Churches of Christ and styled and treated so in the Apostolical Epistles to them And tho' it be a most sad thing to consider of the present divisions of Christendom yet God be thanked this Creed which is the full foundation of Faith is still unanimously own'd and profess'd by all Churches which make any considerable Figure and large spread or have attain'd at this day to become National in the Christian World. On account whereof how wide soever their differences or great the errors of many of them are in superstructures we must still look upon them as Churches of Christ tho' some alas are very degenerate and corrupt ones Quest. And may they be saved too Answ. Yes if they have nothing else to hinder their Salvation but such Errors and under them they sincerely fear God and work Righteousness For Christ is the Saviour of the Body so that retaining so much truth as may qualifie them to be of the Church and receive Baptism they have so much as is indispensably requisite to Salvation But that they are saved notwithstanding their great Errors which imply unbelief of some weighty and concerning Truths our Lord has revealed to us is on the score of their well meant and pityable ignorance or of their unmasterable Prejudices and Prepossessions Whilst men hold the Foundation and err only in superstructures tho' their corrupt superstructures their Hay and Stubble which they Build thereupon as St. Paul says shall be burnt and suffer loss yet for the Foundations sake if they do not hold the errors thro' an evil mind nor are obstinate in them against convictive evidence the Persons themselves may be saved who were such unskilful Builders 1 Cor. 3. 15. Quest. Are not such erroneous Christians or Churches then in as good a state as more sound and Orthodox ones Answ. No they are neither so sure of having any Reward nor if that falls right like to receive so much of it For their errors make their passage at the Day of Judgment to the side of the Blessed more hazardous errors being punishable in some as well as pardonable in others according as they have more or less of willfulness And if finally they do not hinder it they will at least render it more difficult and painful to them as the Apostle intimates in comparing mens escape from among such errors to ones escaping out of a House all on Fire about him Yea I add as with much pain and trouble so with much harm and loss too For their superstructed Works at that day suffering loss instead of receiving recompence their reward for the Foundations sake which they still hold will be less than the reward of other Christians who not only hold to it but also build thereon rewardable superstructures void of their Corruptions This the Apostle sets off by Fire which when it tryes solid Works like as when it proves Gold or Silver doth no harm but only makes them finer But when it meets with corrupt ones like as when it seizes Hay or Stubble it feeds upon and consumes them as combustible Matter If a mans work says he abide the Fire which tryes all Works at that Day he shall receive a reward for it But if any Man's Work be burnt he shall suffer loss yet he shall be saved but so as by Fire i. e. snatch'd out of the midst of those superstructures as are set all on Fire like a man rescued out of a House on Fire where he lay encompassed with the Flames which is a way of escape full of dammage as well as difficulty and danger 1 Cor. 3. 13 14 15. So that the reward of the pityable misled is neither so considerable nor so secure as that of the Orthodox and well directed Quest. And whilst a Church holds to this Foundation of Faith are we not to forsake her meerly for her building many gross Errors thereupon if she doth not impose them Answ. No for under such Errors as I have shewn it still remains a Christian Church and among all true Christians there should be the Communion of Saints i. e. a readiness to joyn mutually in the Worship and Offices of our common Christianity Requiring no unlawful terms of Communion we may unite with her without sin and then if we separate it is without just cause and it is always blame-worthy to separate causelesly from any Church And thus the Apostles taught the Christians to practise in their Days For many great Errors had then crept into the Churches Some indeed struck at the very Foundation as that of denying Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh a Point the Profession whereof is necessary to our having both the Father and the Son and accordingly the denyal of it is given as a sure mark of an Antichrist by St. John and all Christians warn'd not to have any Communion or Society with him 2 Joh. 7. 9 10 11. Such also was the error of those at Corinth who deny'd the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 12. and that of the most rigorous sort of Judaizers who set up not only the necessity of the Law of Moses but its sufficiency without any need of Christs Sacrifice so casting off all dependance on his Blood for Salvation Both which the
any Church locks up her Publick Prayers and Offices in an unknown Tongue good People must seek out another where they may offer up the same Services in a Language their Spirits can joyn in and Worship as the Scripture requires to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26. We must not separate as I said from a sound Church only because it seems less edifying But we must separate when there is no Devotion but what is directly contrary to Edification Quest. If we may not separate where there are such real Faults in a Church then much less for the dislike of received Customs Rites and Usages when confessedly as you said in indifferent matters Answ. Most certainly To rend the Body and make disturbance for light things shews an ill Member in all Societies Not to yield to an innocent Custom as I noted before from St. Paul shews a man to be no lover of peace but a lover of contention 1 Cor. 11. 16. Nay if any man would shew himself a Catholick Christian he must not only readily comply with the indifferent Rites and Usages of his own Church which has Authority over him but as he has occasion to pass by them or converse among them with the Usages of other Churches or Christians tho' very different from his own so long as there is no sin in them a Catholick Christian must have a Catholick Spirit and be ready to shew he owns all other Christians 'till they are regularly cast out of Christ's Church for Brethren and fellow-members and never stick out from exercising with them the common Christianity whereby all Christians serve and honour Christ by reason of the particular Rites in any Church or Place which are no offence to him Quest. If we may not lawfully separate from a Church whose Constitution has some Faults yea some great ones as were among the Churches in the Apostles times I suppose we may much less separate when the Church it self in its constitution is faultless meerly for the ill and scandalous Lives of its Members Answ. Most certainly And accordingly St. Paul is most severe against the Schisms at Corinth tho' in the same Church he complains of the horrible prophaneness of many among them who came drunk to the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11. 21. and of the Wraths Envyings Strifes Back-bitings Swellings Tumults unrepented Uncleanness Laciviousness and Fornication for which he feared God would humble him when he came among them 2 Cor. 12. 20 21. The Church of God in all times under the Ancient Patriarchs and afterwards in the Nation of the Jews was a mixt Society of good and bad livers And in Christianity it is compared to a Net that catches Fish of every kind and to a Field sown with Tares as well as Wheat and wherein both must grow together till the Great and General Harvest 'T is always its misfortune here together with some true Saints to have some Hypocritical Professors So that were we to separate from a good Church for this Cause we must separate from all Churches and could hold Communion with no Church on Earth And therefore men must never think of leaving a good Church because it happens to have some corrupt People or scandalous Ministers From the Sins we must separate which give the scandal but unite and adhere to the Church which condemns them the good must not desert it because the bad will not obey and be ruled by it Quest. But what if it doth not use the Rod of Discipline to correct them Answ. We are not to separate notwithstanding as the Apostles told the Churches where the Sins were too strong And the Sinners too numerous for Discipline or the Pastors too remiss in using it Thus the Pastors were at Corinth who instead of mourning over the incestuous Person were rather puff'd up with him 1 Cor. 5. 2. And yet for all this St. Paul would not bear to hear of any tendenoies towards Schism among them 1 Cor. 3. 3. Thus also it was at Pergamus where several were infected with the scandalous Doctrines of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2. 15. and at Thyatira where the followers of Jezabel the False Prophetess were suffer'd to go on in their Spiritual Fornication and Sacrificing to Idols v. 20. And in other Churches which either out of necessity or neglect relaxed the reins of Discipline and tolerated scandalous Persons in the Apostles own times But yet no plea for separation would ever be admitted by them on this pretence In these cases the Church must answer for the neglect of its power and scandalous Sinners for the scandals they give but as for any private Christians whilst they neither help on their scandals nor imitate them their Consciences are not defiled with them Besides the growth of Schism has been one of the greatest weakners of Discipline one Congregation admitting and harbouring men when another rejects them And therefore to pretend want of Discipline for separation is not only a most dis-ingenuous thing but the way to bring Discipline which they complain of as too little already to be none at all Quest. By what you have discoursed on this Point I perceive we are never Guilty of Schism in separating from any Church when we have just cause But that all breaking off from any Part of Christ's Body is Schismatical which is Causeless Answ. Yes And so is all Driving others into Separation by imposing sinful Terms as the Condition of their Communion And then which is the last thing I shall note concerning it Schism from any Churches is most compleat when we do not only separate from their Religious Assemblies and Divine Offices but withal deny them to be Members of Christ's Body or Parts of the Catholick Church This is the Highest step in Separation and leaves not the least Ground for Church-Communion For 't is only the Members of Christ's Body that must Communicate under him their Head in the proper Offices of Christianity and the Communion of Saints profess'd in the Creed is only within the compass of the Catholick Church So that if we cut off any Societies from being Members of Christ and a true Church we must have no more Communion with them than if they were profest Heathens And this was the Sacrilegious Breach of the Donatists and Novatians the Consummation of whose Schism was their confining the Catholick Church to their own Party and allowing no Church no Sacraments or Promise of Salvation but among themselves Quest. There remains yet one instance of the Communion of the Primitive Christians mentioned by St. Luke viz. Continuing in the Apostles Fellowship Act. 2. 42. I pray you what is meant by that Answ. Owning their Authority and continuing under their Government They were appointed by Christ as his Deputies to Govern his Church and therefore adhering to them as the Delegates of Christ is call'd living in their Fellowship Quest. But how can we live in their Fellowship and adhere to their Government now they are dead Answ. By adhering to and
their Trespasses neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you Mat. 6. 14 15. And therefore when we pray for forgiveness our Lord allows us to do it only upon these terms Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us Quest. What if we have wronged any Persons is it not enough towards forgiveness to do so no more Answ. No it is not but withal we must make Restitution and amends for the wrong we have done already If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. Quest. I see we must hope to have forgiveness of our Sins of willfulness and also of our Sins of Passion which you shew'd to be of like guilt with them only upon our true Repentance and amendment of them But upon what terms shall our slips of ignorance and inadvertence be pardon'd since they are never perfectly amended but hang about us more or less as long as we are in this World Answ. Upon our great Charity to other men especially to their Souls in endeavouring their Conversion and Salvation And therefore that St. Peter recommends above all other Virtues and for this Reason Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. And if any of you err and one convert him let him know that he who converts a Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Quest. For whose sake doth Almighty God allow us all this Benefit of Forgiveness Answ. For Jesus Christ's who as you have seen dyed for our Sins and gave his blood a Ransom to purchase for us all this Pardon of them He is set forth a propitiation for the remission of Sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. And then for his sake we shall receive all this mercy when with the dispositions before express'd in his Name we devoutly pray to God for it Quest. By the promises of the Gospel I see this forgiveness is assured to all Christians upon the terms you have described But is it in any Signs and Tokens outwardly dispensed to them Answ. Yes both in the Holy Sacraments and in Sacerdotal Absolution Which ways of ministring this forgiveness as well as the forgiveness it self are noted in some Ancient Creeds This Article being thus profess'd in St. Cyprian's Form at Baptism I believe the Remission of Sins by the Church Quest. Is this forgiveness dispensed to us in the Sacrament of Baptism Answ. Yes and that most amply the water of Baptism washing off the stain of all former Sins Be Baptized and wash away thy Sins said Ananias to Saul Acts 22. 16. Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins said St. Peter to the Jews Acts 2. 38. And he hath saved us by the Laver of Regeneration i. e. the water of Baptism and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3 5. So that whateve pollutions men had before upon them if they come to Baptism with true Faith and Repentance they are thereby made clean again Quest. Is it also dispensed in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Answ. Yes if after the Baptismal cleansing they relapse and contract new guilt in that they are admitted to renew the same Covenant of Grace again and seal the Pardon of it For therein Christ gives us his own Blood which as he says particularly was shed for the Remission of Sins Mat. 26. 28. He entertains us there at his own Table which is an open profession to all worthy comers that he is reconciled to them and receives them again as Friends And therefore when any Baptized Christians are startled and terrified with the Conscience of their Sins let them repair to that Holy Sacrament to seal and assure the forgiveness of them But let them come with Faith and Repentance and Reconciliation to their Brethren which as I said are the Terms of our being Forgiven For the Holy Sacraments dispense this forgiveness to none but such as worthily receive them and those they do cleanse from all former Pollutions Quest. Is there also a dispensation of this Pardon in Priestly Absolution Answ. Yes for therein Christ has authoriz'd his Ministers that act in his place and stead to pronounce the Sentence of Pardon upon all true Penitents and bid them expect that what they regularly thus declare on Earth in his Soveraign Court in Heaven he will make good He breathed on them and said receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Joh. 20. 22 23. And therefore when a true Penitent hears his Pardon solemnly pronounced by an Officer whom God has deputed and Commission'd for it he may quiet his heart as one whose case is judged and firmly hope God will pronounce the same at the last Judgment But this I say he must do only after true Repentance For 't is only the Ministry of Reconciliation saith St. Paul which God hath committed unto us 2 Cor. 5. 18. but the direction and ratification of it he has reserved to himself and then only ratifies what his Ministers do when they pronounce according to his own Rules and Orders So that if the Priest pronounce by mistake and absolve the impenitent God will judge right tho' he judge wrong and Condemn at last whom he had before erroneously absolved in his Judgment Quest. Christ says what they retain shall be retained as well as what they remit shall be remitted Ought not that to beget in all Christians a great dread of Excommunication and Reverence for Church-Censures Answ. Yes questionless when they proceed upon just Cause for then Christ will maintain the Honour of his Deputies and make good their sentence He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. If any Offender will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican Mat. 18. 17. In these Acts what his Ministers do Regularly and according to his Direction they do it as representing him by vertue of his Commission and Authority which having given to be sure he will stand by And accordingly St. Paul and the Church-Governours at Corinth under him exercising their Power by virtue of Christ's Commission Declares that both in binding and relaxing or forgiving he acted with the Power and in the Person or place of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. and 2 Cor. 2. 10. Quest. Do all Censures of the Church then where the Truth is on its side cut men off as from the Church which is his Body so from Jesus Christ who is the Head of it Answ. All those do which are passed for such sins or errors as are Damnable by