did see me when I was without form for in thy book were all things written which in continuance were fashioned when there was none of them before Joh. 21.27 Peter said unto him Lord thou knowest all things and Jesus said when thou wast young thou girdedst thy self and walkedst wither thou pleasedst but when thou shalt be old another shall girde thee and lead thee whither thou wouldst not and this he spake signifying by what death he should glorifie God Psal 147. Great is our Lord his wisdom is infinite Isa 40.28 there is no searching of his understanding Acts. 2.3 The determined counsel and fore knowledge of God 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the fore knowledge of God the Father Psal 94.9 10 11. He that planted the ear shall not he hear and the eye shall he not see he that teacheth men knowledge shall not he know the Lord knoweth the thoughts of a man Jer. 17.9 10. The heart is deceitful and wicked above all things who can know it I the Lord search the heart and try the reins Eph. 1. He hath chosen us in him ere the foundationn of the world that we should be holy that in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things according to his purpose who ruleth all things after the counsel of his own will 2. Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God stands sure having this seal the Lord knows who are his James 1.17 With God is no variableness or shaddow of change Prov 19.21 Many devices are in mans heart but the Lords counsel shall stand CHAP. III. QVest Whereas we read in Gen. 3. the curse denounced by God upon our Parents first sin to be sorrow in conception a curse on the ground and mans labour in this life is that the full extent of the curse or in the question of Gods enemies did not their sin bring on them and us the guilt of hel-f re deface the Image of God in us darken our understandings enslave our wills deprive us of power to do good and cause mortality did it or did it not what saith the Scriptures Answ Gen. 2.17 in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dying dye Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death went over all men vers 14. but death raigned from Adam to Moses Verse 15. Through the offence of one many be dead 16. The fault came of one man to condemnation 17. By the offence of one death raigned 18. By the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation 21. Sin raigned unto death Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Rom. 3.9 We have proved both Jews and Gentiles to be all under sin vers 12. They are altogether become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Iohn 8.34 Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Rom. 6.17.20 Servants to sin Rom. 7.14 Sold under sin 15. What I would that I do not but what I hate that I do 18. In me that is in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing 19. For the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do 23. But I see another Law in my members bringing me into captivity of the Law of sin which is in my members 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death 2 Pet. 2.19 While they promise liberty themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage Eph. 2.1 Dead in trespasses and sins Iohn 8.41 You do the deeds of your Father ye are of your Father the Devil and his deeds will ye do James 1.14 Every man is tempted of his own lust and enticed Rom. 8.7 They that are in the flesh cannot please God Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin unless ye be born from above you cannot enter into the kingdom of God Titus 3.5 He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the holy Ghost Psal 54.5 Behold I was born in iniquity and in sin hath my mother conceived me Gen. 6.5 The Lord faw all that all the imaginations of mans heart are evil continually Quest What saith the Scripture concerning the understanding 1 Cor. 2.4 For the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Eph. 4.17 18. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind having their understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesss of their hearts Rom. 8 5 They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh 7. The carnal mind is enmity with God Luke 24.45 Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scripture Isaiah 44.18 They have not known nor understood God hath shut their eyes that they cannot see and their hearts that they cannot understand 19. None considereth in his heart neither is there knowledge nor understanding 10. A seduced heart hath deceived him Quest What of the Will Answ Phil. 2.18 It s said God worketh in us to will and to do Rom. 7.23 But I see another Law in my members bringing me into captivity into the Law of sin Rom. 6.20 Being servants to sin we are free from Righteousness Rom. 8.7 8. The carnal mind is enmity with God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God Eph. 4.19 Have given themselves over to lasciviousness CHAP. IV. QVest Whereas we find in the Catechism of Gods enemies and ours an endeavour to prove Christ the Lord by way of distinction from the one God as he blasphemes to that end several Scriptures quoted and many Questions stated as that Jesus is the Lord born of his Mother Mary that he dyed to be Lord over quick and dead that God raised him up from the dead that he was approved of God by miracles which God did by him that the Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do that he abode in his Fathers house because he abode in his Fathers commandments that he is the Son of God that the Father is greater then he that he shall deliver up his kingdom to his father that at the same time Thomas cals him and the Scriptures call him God himself and the Scripture confess him to have a god by these doth that wretched Creature prove what he intends to wit that the Lord Jesus Christ is so our Lord as not our God very God with the Father or doth he prove that which we shall never deny him the humanity of our
in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Quest In Truth this is an eminent experience in this eminent Apostle writ for our instruction but what more express Scriptures have you Answ Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 John 8.10 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say we have not sinned we make him a lyar and the truth is not in us 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Psal 14.3.2 Enter not into Judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Esay 64.6 We have all been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy rags Quest Indeed this makes little for the possibility of keeping the Law of God but yet more are not these laws broken by us ere we come unto act and if so there is yet further impossibility Answ Mat. 5.28 I say unto you whosoever looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Quest Here is sin proved effectually to be in all even the best men omitting good committing evil yea and against their endeavours and desires and sin in thought but what is this sin which the best men do and cannot but do is it not the breaking transgressing or not keeping the Commandments of God Answ 1 John 3. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Quest But suppose a man exactly observe and do all the Law some few points nay ore breach in his time onely excepted doth not that intitle him to the guilt of all so that he that keeps not all and every one keeps none of the Commandments Answ Iames 2.10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Quest If this be our possibility to keep the Commandements the Lord be merciful to me a sinner but yet the Scriptures speak of keeping the Commandements of God doing the will of God hearing and doing to which blessedness is annexed is there not therefore a new obedience required of and practised by the Saints according to the tenour of such Scripture which though it be not perfection yet is accounted to them as perfection and hath blessedness intailed to it That obebience centring on these two Bases Sincerity and Faith Answ Walk before me and be perfect c. upright seat Psal 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in Law of the Lord. Gal. 3.21 22. If there had been a Law given which could have given life surely righteousness should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them which believe Quest But David said of himself he had keep the ways of the Lord did he mean perfectly How could that be since he is recorded a fit example alledged by Biddle both an Adulterer and a Murderer what can be then meant by his keeping but his sincerity is not that his righteousness cleaness of hands and his keeping the ways of God namely his not wickedly departing from God and his being upright before him quote the very words already by Biddle for which light we thank God not Biddle to the contrary end Psal 18.20 to 24. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompenced me for I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eysight Quest What saith Paul whom before we find could not keep the commandments yet in Gods sight was accounted perfect but how Answ Phil. 3.7 That I might be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is of the faith of Christ Quest That the Lord Jesus himself did respect and the Saints may the recompence of reward is not denyed by us which is warranted by those Scriptures that tell us by wel-doing we should seek for Honour Glory and Immortality we should look for the blessed hope But how is this to be looked on as due unto us ex debito vel ex congruo for our doing or for our suffering or rather to the grace of God which pleaseth so to reward us in short is the reward of merit or of grace Answ Luke 17.7 to the 10. but which of you having a servant plowing or feeding Cattle will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field go and sit down to meat and will not rather say unto him Make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy self and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink doth he thank that servant because he did those things that were commanded him I trow not so likewise you when you have done all those things commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Ephes 2 8.9 By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Quest The Scripture tels us we are chosen to be holy and unblameable That Christ gave himself for the Church to present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 2. That the gifts of Christ were for the protecting of the Saints we are exhorted to be perfect prayed for that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God and that our whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we have it recorded that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation That Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless if these and such like be intended of perfection compleat is it not in respect to the imputation of Christs Righteousness and perfection to us not of our own righteousness or perfection in us Answ I desire to be found in him not having my own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 Quest But rather is not the scope of those
Lord Iesus Christ God is faithful 1 Cor. 10 13. God is faitful and will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will give with the temptation that ye may be able to bear it 1 Thes 5.23 24. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soul and body may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord is faithful which will stablish you and keep you from evil Phil. 1.6 And I am perswaof this thing that he that haeh begun this good work in you will perform it until the day of Iesus Christ 4 The Elect cannot fall 4. Mat. 24.24 For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. Rom. 8.29,30 For those whom he knew before those also he predestinated moreover whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 11.1 God hath not cast away his people whom he knew before vers 7. what then Israel hath not obtained that he sought but the election have obtained it and the rest have been hardned 5 Christ prays and is always heard 5. Luke 21.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not John 17.15 20. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou keep them from evil I pray not for these alone but for them which shall believe in me through their word Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn it is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ John 11.41 42. And Iesus lift up his eyes and said Father I thank thee because thou hast heard me I know that thou hearest me always 6 The Saints pray and shall obtaen 6. Mat. 6. 13. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 1 John 5.14 And this is that assurance that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us 7 6 Saints are preserved in the faith 7. John 6.37.38 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I cast not away This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Chap. 10.27 28. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me have I kept and nore of them is lost chap. 13.1 Forasmuch as he loved his own which were in the world unto the end he loved them 8. 2 Cor. 1.21 And it is God which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath annointed us who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Ephes 1.13 14. In whom also ye have trusted after that ye heard the word of truth even the Gospel of your Salvation wherein also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance Chap. 4.30 Grieve not the holy spirit of God by whom ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption Psal 9. Comparison of Believers in Scripture 1.3 For he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that will bring forth her fruit in her due season whose leaf shall not fade Mat. 7 24.25 I will liken him to a wise man which hath builded his house on a rock Luke 8.15 But that which fell on good ground are they which with an honest and good heart hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience 10. Rom. 6.2 8 10 Saints dead to sin 9 11. How shall we that are dead to sin live yet therein wherefore if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall live also with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominon over him likewise think ye also that ye are dead to sin but are alive to to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Iohn 3 9. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sin because he is born of God Chap. 5,4 For all that is born of God overcometh this world Rom. 8.35.37 to the end Who shall separate us from the love of Christ in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Quest Our Saviour tels his Disciples hitherto they had asked nothing in his name was it because they prayed God without a Mediator without the name of Christ nay sure but they had asked nothing that is nothing comparatively to what they might have asked and God would give was there at any time even before Christs Incarnation any acceptance with the Father without him was not Christ the Centre of all those types Surely yes the Scripture is full Let it suffice us here to hear one Scripture proving that Christ was to them before his coming in the flesh as to us since though more darkly one Scripture proving that they did then pray the Father through his name even before his incarnation One Scripture that there is but one Mediatour for all men whether them before or us since his manifestation in the flesh let us hear them faithfully recorded Answ 1 Cor. 10.4.3 Moreover Brethren I would not have you ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ Dan. 9.17 Now therefore oh our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that lieth waste for the Lords sake 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus CHAP. XX XXI QVest It s of great comfor to the Church indeed that Christ her head hath the Keys of hell and death But hath not the Lord Jesus committed to the Church the power of these keys that the publike regular and due use thereof may according
he into the holy place meaneth it that Christ was not a Priest c. as this lying wretch insinuates from this place that Christ offered not himself till he went into the holy place or rather means it that Christ by his offering himself and suffering upon the Cross then being a Priest went up to God rehearse some passages in this Chapter Answ Verse 12.13 14 15. But Christ being come an High-Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood entred he once into the holy place and obtained Redemption for us for if the blood of Bulls and Goats and the ashes of an Hiefer sprinkling them that are unclean sanctifieth as to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternal spirit offered up himself without spot unto God ver 24 25 26. for Christ is not entted into holy places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary but is entred into the very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for us not that he should offer himself often as the High-Priest entred into the holy place every year with other blood for then must he have often suffered since the foundation of the world but now in the end of the world hath he appeared once to put away sins by the sacrifice of himself Quest shough indeed that oblation once offered for the sins of many which Christ offered up himself was the great act of his Priestly office yet was not Christ as Priest before his suffering or came he to his Priestly office by suffering That is to say did he first suffer and then was a Priest Is that meant in that place that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest Answ Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec so speaks the Psalmist before Christ Psal 110.4 Quest Seeing we have such an High-Priest let us come boldly unto the Throne of grace Heb. 4.14.16 is the proper use indeed we ought to make of the Priesthood of Christ but principally respecting his intercession what other Scripture therefore doth the Scripture direct us to to be made of his satisfaction Answ Luke 1.68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because he visited and Redeemed his people and hath raised up the horn of salvation unto us in the house of his Servant David ver 74 75. that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies should serve him without fear all the dayes of our life in holiness and righteousness before him Luke 2.8 to the 14. Rom. 5.8 9 11. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us much more then being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him and not only so but we rejoyce in God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement 1 Pet. 21.24 Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree that we being delivered from sin should live in righteousness 2 Cor. 5,21 For he hath made him to be sin for us that we should be made the righteousness of God through him CHAP. XII QVest It s demanded whither it were the will and purpose of God that Christ should suffer the death of the Cross what say you in answer Answ We say answer and confess that he was delivered by the determinate councel and foreknowledge of God and that what was done was whatever Gods hand and councel derermined before to be done onely we would herewith take in that 9. to the Heb. 13. which saith expresly that Christ through the eternal spirit offered himself to God Quest Reconciliation being properly betwixt two persons at variance the Mediator of Reconciliation hath in both these respecting God and us made an atonement and reconciliation And because God was the party offended the Scripture therefore speaks that man was reconciled hence are we said to be reconciled to God God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Christ suffered for sins that he might bring us to God But the adversary of all truth takes occasion hence to insinuate that God was not at ods with us and if so needed no satisfaction Therefore saith he Christ died not to reconcile God to us but us to God That so he may null that glorious work of Christs satisfaction To which in its proper place the Scriptures have already spoken yet that this false conclusion may fall do not the Scriptures say we lay under the displeasure of God which was done away by that work of his satisfaction Answ We were the Children of wrath as well as others Eph. 2.3 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law when he was made a Curse for us Gal. 2.13 Jesus which delivereth from the wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 Rom. 5.9 Saved them from wrath to come through him Quest If we lay under the curse of the Law and were children of wrath and this curse and wrath are we by this Mediator redeemed from then indeed hath he reconciled God unto us by his satisfaction that glorious part of his Mediation but have you no Scripture that doth expresly hold out our reconciliation to God by the blood of Christ to be in order to our acceptance with God Answ Col. 1.19 20 21. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell and by him to reconcile all things to himself and to set at peace through the blood of his cross both the things in heaven and the things on earth and you which were in times past strangers and enemies because your mindes were set on evil works hath he now also reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to make you holy and unblameable and without fault in his sight Rom. 5.9.10 When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through his son and not only so but we all rejoyce in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have now received the atonement Quest When the Scripture says Christ dyed for our sins our sins indeed procured his death Accidentally for we might have sinned and Christ not have dyed which is causa causata but whereto doth the Scripture assign the first principal and moving cause which is causa causans Answ John 3.16 Grd so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me Rev. 1.5 Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood Quest Christ indeed learned obedience by the things he suffered left us an example brought us to God destroyed him that had the power of death sanctifie us with his own blood makes us live together with him not live to our selves which are glorious ends the Scripture tels us of the death of Christ but are these the only