Abraham his father Heb. 7.9.10 Q. Proue that mankinde is becomâ— most wretched and miserable A. The wretched and miserable estate of all mankinde may appeare by that lamentable outcry of the Apostle Romans 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Q. Proue that all men are conceiued and borne in sinne A. It is euident by the confession of Dauid Psal. 51.5 Behold I was borne in iniquity and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me And it is said Ioh. 3.6 That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the spirit is spirit Q. How then could Christ bee free from sinne seeing hee was true man A. Christ Iesus was true man descended of Adam as we are in all things like vnto vs but yet sin excepted For he was not a mâ—ere man but was also God and againe as he was man he was not so by naturall generation as we are but by the supernaturall worke and power of the holy Ghost was conceiued in the wombe of the virgin Mary Q. Proue that all men are corrupted with sinne A. It is written Rom. 3.9 That all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne 1 Kings 8.46 There is no man that sinneth not And 1 Ioh. 1.8 If we say we haue no sinne wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. And this corruption of sinne is nâ—t by example or by imitation only or meerely of some euill custome but by propagation and naturall generation all men being conceiued and borne in sinne as is shewed before Q. Proue that all are corrupted both in soule and body A. It is euident by the Apostles prayer 1 Thes. 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. For what need he to pray for the sanctification of the whole man both soule and body if all and euery part were not corrupted Q. Proue that man by nature cannot perceiue any good thing A. The Apostle doth expresly auouch so much in 1 Cor. 2.14 That the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned And 2 Cor. 4.4 he saith That the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of the infidels that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the image of God should not shine vnto them Q. Proue that man by nature cannot thinke a good thought A. It is written Gen. 6.5 God saw that the wickednesse of man was great in the earth and that euery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only euill continually Therefore the Apostle taketh it for granted 2 Cor. 3.5 That we are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiency is of God Q. Proue that man cannot will desire or effect any good thing by nature A. It is manifest in that it is said Rom. 8.7 That the wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God for it is not subiect to the law of God neither in deed can be Whereupon it is inferred verse 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God Therefore it is that the Apostle saith Phil. 2.13 It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleasure Q. Proue that man cannot by nature speake any good thing A. Saint Paul noteth so much speaking of all men in the corruption of nature Rom. 3.13.14 Their throat saith he is an open sepulchre with their tongues they haue vsed deceit the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lips Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse Q. Proue that man cannot do any good thing by nature A. It is euident by that which we read in Psal. 14.1.2.3 where it is said They are corrupt they haue done abominable works there is none that doth good The Lord looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there were any that did vnderstand and seeke God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Which texâ— the Apostle citeth Rom. 3.10 to proue that all men are vnder sinne Q. Proue that hereupon all men are subiect to sinne A. That all men are subiect iâ— sinne as very seruants or slaues is plainely proued by the Apostle Rom. 6.16.17 Know yee not that to whom yee yeeld your selues seruants to obey his seruants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse But God bee thanked that yee were the seruants 〈◊〉 sinne but yee haue obeyed from the heart that forme of doctrine which was deliuered you And our Sauiour saith Ioh 8.34 Whosoeuer committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne For as it is in 2 Pet. 2.19 Of whosoeuer a man is ouercome euen vnto the same is he in bâ—ndage Q. Proue that man is by naâ—ure coâ—rupted become subiect to Satan A. It is euident in that Satan is called Ephes. 2.2 The spirit that work thâ—in the children oâ— disobedience And 2 Tim. 2 26. it is said That they may recouer themselues out of the snare of the Deuill Who are taken captiue by him at his will Againe 2 Cor. 4.4 hee is called The God of this world that hath blinded the mindes of them which beleeue not Q. Proue that man is by nature subiect to the wrath of God A. The Apostle saith Ephes. 2.3 That wee all were by nature the children of wrath as well as others And Ioh. 3.36 it is said That he that beleeueth not the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Q. Proue that man is by sinne subiect to the curse of God A The curse was pronounced vpon Adams first sinne Gen. 3.17 It was repeated against the breach of the Law of God Deut. 28.15 Mal. 2.2 And is noted by the Apostle Gal. 3.10 Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them Vnder this burden of the curse vpon man for sinne euery creature is said to groane Rom. 8.22 Q. Proue that all men are subiect to death by reason of sinne A. So saith the Apostle Rom. 5.12 By one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death passed vpon all men for that all men haue sinned And Rom. 6.23 The wages of sinne is death Q. Proue that all men are subiect to eternall damnation for sinne A. It is manifest by that which is said 2 Thes. 1.8.9 That they that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ shall be punished with euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his
the tree of the knowledge of good and euill thou shalt surely die And by the speciall sentence of bodily death Gen. 3.29 Dust thou art and vnto dust shalt thou returne So Ro. 5.12 it is said by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne And Ro. 6.23 The wages of sinne is death Q. Proue that the soule is of spirituall substance immortall in its selfe A. That the soule of manâ—s of spirituall substance immortall in its selfe by nature existing as well out of the body as in the body and giung life to the body it is euident both in the creation Gen. 2.7 where it is said That God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a liuing soule As also by the parting of soule and body in death Eccles. 12.7 Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit shall returne to God who gaue it Else Christ could not haue said of the Patriarchs deceased Matth. 22.32 God is not the God of the dead but of the liuing And Matth. 16.26 What shall it profit a man though hee should winne the whole world if hee lose his owne soule Q. Proue that man was made a most excellent creature aboue all others excepâ— the Angels A. That next to the Angels man excelled all other creatures in the world see Psal. 8.4.5 What is man that thou art mindfull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels and hast crowned him with glory and honour Q. Proue that man was created in the image of God A. That God made man in his own image and liknesse is specially noted in the creation more then onee as it is written Gen. 1.26 God said Let vs make man in our image after our likenesse And verse 27. So God created man in his owne image in the image of God created he him male and female created hee them Q. Proue that man had dominion and rule ouer all other creatures A. It is granted to man in his first creation Gen. 1.26.28 To haue dominion ouer the fish of the sea and ouer the fowle of the aire and ouer euery liuing thing that moueth vpon the earth And the grant is humbly acknowledged Psal. 8.6 Thou madest him to haue dominion ouer the workes of thy hands thou hast put all things vnder his feete K Of the image of God wherein man was created Q. Rehearse the Letter K A. KNowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse are the chiefe things wherein the image of God doth consist For otherwise the word of God would not call vpon vs to renew this image in Christ and without these graces man had not beene fit to rule the creatures nor yet himselfe Q. Proue that the image of God doth consist in knowledge A. The Apostle noteth so much Col. 3.9.10 where speaking of the Christians renewed estate iâ— Christ he saith Ye haue put of the old man with his deeds and haue put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Q. Proue that it doth also consist in righteousnesse and true holinesse A. That the image of God in man doth not onely consist in knowledge but also in iustice and in sanctity or holinesse may appeare by that of Saint Paul to the Ephesians 4.24 Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Q. How is man said to bee thus made in the image of God A. Man is said to bee thus made in the image of God not that he is the very stampe and representation of the Deity for the infinite and invisible God cannot be resembled in the person of a sinite creature but in respect of some kind of similitude or likenessâ— therefore when God said Let vs make man in our image it is added after or according to our likenesse the later words expounding the former For this is the peculiar priuiledge of Christ Iesus the eternall sonne of God who alone is so called 2 Cor 4.4 The image of God And Col. 1.15 The image of the inuisible God And Heb. 1.3 The brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his person because he is one and the same God eternall with his father Q. Doth the image of God consist onely in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse A. Knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse are the chiefe but not the onely image or resemblance of God in man for in that God made man ruler ouer all creatures in earth man doth therein represent the soueraignety of God who is Lord of all things Againe besides those gifts of true knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse God gaue vnto man diuers excellent representations of the deitie both in his soule and body Q. What other resemblances of God are there in the soule of man A. In the soule of man besides those heauenly graces of diuine knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse God gaue man excellent wisdome and vnderstanding whereby he did know the nature and property of all things as may appeare in that Adam was able to giue to euery creature a name according to the nature of it Gen. 2.19 where it is said That God brought them vnto Adam to see what he would call them and whatsouer Adam called euery liuing creature that was the name thereof Q. Is there any resemblance of God in the substance of mans soule A. The very essence and substance of mans soule doth in some respects beare the image or likenesse of God as namely in that the soule of man is a spirituall nature invisible and immortall Againe the soule being onely one is endned with diuers properties as vnderstanding memory will which after a sort doe shadow out and resemble the vnity of the Godhead and the trinity of persons Q. Is there any part of the image of God in the body of man A. The whole man both soule and body was made in the image of God as may appeare by these euidences First God saith Gen 1.26 Let vs make man not the soule onely or the body onely in our image Secondly sinne being the contrary to Gods image is seated not onely in the soule but also in the body Rom. 6.12 Thirdly the renewing of Gods image which is our sanctification is as well in the body as in the soule see Rom. 12.1 1 Thes. 5.23 Fourthly God forbidding murder doth vse this reason Gen. 9.6 For in the image of God hath hee made man Q. How is the image of God in the body of man A. The image of God is not said to be in the body as it is a body or in respect of the shape and parts or limbs for God is an infinite spirit incorporaell and inuisible but in these respects 1. As the body vnited to the soule in which the image of God doth chiefely
consist dâ—â—h constitute the whole man 2. As the body like a microcosme or little world doth expresse in euery part the wonderfull worke of the Creator 3. As those excellent graces of wisdome sanctity and iustice principally seated in the soule doe expresse themselues in the body and as Solomon speaketh Make the face to shine according as we see the light of a candle shine through the lanterne Q. Proue that the word of God doth call vpon vs to renew this image in Christ. A. That the word of doth call vpon vs to renew this image of God consisting in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse and so consequently prouing that herein the image of God doth chiefely stand see Ephes. 4.22.23.24 where the Apostle saith by way of exhortation That yee put off concerning the former conuersation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts And be renewed in the spirit of your minde And that yee put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Q. Proue that without these graces man was not fit to rule the creatures nor yet himselfe A. It is euident in that man hauing lost these graces is said to become like the very brute beast as it is Psal. 49.20 Man that is in honour and vnderstandeth not is like the beasts that perish L Of the fall of man and losse of Gods image by reason of Adams sinne Q. Rehearse the letter L A. LEarne that man hath lost that image of God wherein hee was created by the sinne of Adam the first man in eating the forbidden fruit For Adam hauing power not to sinne if he would being seduced by the woman and the woman by the serpent which is the Deuill did willingly yeeld to the temptation Q. Shew how and in what respect man hath lost the image of God A. Man hath lost the image of God not in respect of the substance of soule and body which doe yet remaine the same which essentially they were in their first creation nor in regard of the faculties of reason will and affection without which we were not men but brute creatures But the image of God which man hath chiefely lost is that conformiâ—y to the will of God consisting in the true knowleâ—ge of God in righteousnesse and holinesse Q. Proue that this heauenly knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse is the image which man hath lost A. It is manifest by that exhortation of the Apostle Ephes. 4.24 where we are exhorted to renew that image wherein man was created after God in righteousnesse and true holinesse Which exhortation were needlesse if man had not lost this image and if this were not the image of God which man hath lost Q. Proue that this image of God was lost by Adams sinne A. It is euident in that the Scripture speaking of Adam saith Rom. 5.12 That by one man sinne entred into the world And verse 18. By the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation And verse 19. By one mans disobedience many were made sinners Q. Proue that it was by eating the forbidden fruit A. It is apparant in the history partly by the charge which God gaue vnto Adam Gen 2.16.17 The Lord God commanded the man saying Thou shalt eat freely of euery tree of the garden But of the tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt not eate of it Partly by the threatning in the words immediatly following For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death Partly by the sentence of curse denounced against man after hee had sinned Gen. 3.17 Q. Proue that Adam had power not to sinne if hee would A. It is manifest in that God made man so excellent a creature Whereupon it is said Eccles. 7.29 That God made man righteous and vpâ—â—ght Neither could it haue â—ood with the iustice of God to require that of man which he was not able to performe or to punish him hauing by his creation no power to obey Q. Proue that Adam was seduced by the woman A. It is so written Gen. 3.6 That the woman gaue also vnto her husband with her and he did eat It was Adams excuse verse 12. The woman which thou gauest to be with me she gaue me of the tree and I did eat And it is alleaged to humble that sex 1 Tim. 2.14 That Adam was not deceiued but the woman being deceiued was in the transgression Q. Proue that the woman was deceiued by the Serpent A. It is said by the Apostle 2 Cor. 11.3 That the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty And the story Gen. 3.1 doth shew the manner how it was done Q. Proue that that Serpent was the Deuill A. That the Serpent was the Deuill or rather the Deuill in the Serpent see Reu. 12.9 where it is said That the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Deuill and Satan which deceiueth the whole world And Chap. 20.2 The Dragon that old Serpent which is the Deuill and Satan Q. Proue that Adam did willingly yeeld to the temptation A. The history doth shew it by expressing Adams owne confession and excuse before cited And Eccles. 7.29 where it is said That God hath made man vpright it is presently added but they haue sought out many inuentions M Of the miserable estate of all mankinde through Adams fall Q. Rehearse the Letter M. A. MAnkinde being tainted by Adams sinne is become most wretched miserable both in respect of sin and punishment For hereby all men are conceiued and borne in sinne and are so corrupted with sinne both in soule and body that they cannot perceiue thinke will speake or doe any good thing but are become subiect to sinne Satan the wrath and curse of God to death and to eternall damnation Q. Proue that all mankinde is tainted by Adams sinne A. It is manifest that the tainture of Adams sinne hath seized vpon all his posterity inasmuch as all mankinde doth stand guilty thereof before God see Ro. 5.12 where the Apostle saith That by one mans sinne death passed vpon all men for that all haue sinned or in whom all haue sinned Againe verse 17. by one mans offence death reigned by one verse 18. By the offence of one iudgement came vpon all men to condemnation For verse 19 By one mans disobedience many were made sinners Q. What is the reason of this guiltinesse A. The reason why all men are guilty of Adams sinne is because Adam being as it were the root out of which all mankinde doth spring did receiue whatsoeuer good hee had by creation not onely for himselfe but also for his posterity and so againe lost all as well for them as for himselfe In regard whereof all men are truely said to sinne in Adam as Leui is said to haue paid tithes in Abraham because being of the posterity of Abraham he was then in the loynes of