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
ends of Christs death the Scripture mentions if not what other principal end is here omitted Answ Ephes 1.7 We have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins Col. 1.14 Same words Ephes 1.14 Redemption of the possession purchased Gal. 4.5 When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his son made of woman and made under the Law that he might redeem them which were under the Law Titus 2.13 14. Our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquities CHAP. XIII QVest Were there neither Scripture nor Argument against the doctrine of universal love and general Redemption this were enough to a sober mind to Question it in that it s bound up in the volume of our Authors Truth and so vigorously contended for by such a Master of heresie And may cause our late assertors thereof to blush to see their opinion touching so important an head in Divinity inserted in so black and Atheistical a Calender But to the thing the Scriptures speaking Christ dyed for all gave himself a ransom for all tasted death for every man giveth life to the world will have all men be saved all should come to repentance for the sins of the whole world c. and other such of a general tendency how must they be understood of a general confused and universal love to men so that God willed and Christ effected the Salvation of all men or else according to restraint given us in other Scriptures to the Election of the Father the prayer of Christ the faith and obedience of men the sheep of Christ his Church such whom his Father hath given him his people his peculiar people and this general term all expounded by other Scriptures to be many which will if so effectually prove that though Christ is indeed in common tendered and propounded to all men but intended and effectually applyed only according to these restraints Rehearse the Scriptures therefore on each of these Answ Rom. 9.11 12.13 For ere the Children were born and when they had done neither good nor evil that the purpose of God might remain according to Election not by works but by him that calleth it was said the elder shall serve the younger as it is written I have loved Iacob and hated Esau Rom. 11.5 Even so then at this present is there a remnant according to the election of grace ver 7. The Election have obtained it the rest have been hardned v. 28. As touching the election they are beloved for the Fathers sake Iohn 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 12.46 I come a light into the world that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in the darkness Acts 10.43 To him also give the Prophets witness that through his name all that believe in him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 3.22 The righteousness of God by the Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe Heb. 5.9 Being consecrate was made the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Mat. 25.33 And he shall set his sheep on his right hand and the Goats on his left John 10.26 27. My sheep hear my voice and I give unto them eternal life John 10.15 I lay down my life for my Sheep Mat. 15.24 And he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost had made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Ephes 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it Iohn 6.29 And this is the Fathers will who 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 Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Titus 2.13 14. Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself zealous of good works Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many Mat. 26.28 This is the blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to take away the sins of many Isa 53.11 But his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Quest These Scriptures are undeniable as to this great point but is there not a general providential temporal good mercy and salvation in God common to all men yea to irrational creatures as well as men Answ Psal 145.8 9. The Lord doth good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 36. O Lord thou savest man and beast Quest In this Chapter we have another blow at the Godhead of the Son The Scriptures abused to this end are such as tel us Christ was raised by God by the power of God by the glory of the Father and such like whence it is concluded Christ rose not by his own power but by the power of another Is that therefore the language of these Scriptures which tels us he was not raised by himself Touching that we must address to other Scriptures what therefore saith the Lord himself touching this thing Answ Iohn 2.19 20 21. Jesus answered and said unto them Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again then said the Jews Forty and six years was this Temple a building and wilt thou rear it in three days but he spake of the Temple of his body Iohn 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I may take it again no man taketh it from me But I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again Quest This discourse of the resurrection was improvidently medled with to that end intended for if the Lord Jesus Christ did by his own power raise himself from the dead as those Scriptures prove then onely was he God yet have you not other Scriptures do prove that when God the Father raised up the Son from the dead the Son then raised up himself inasmuch as the Father and the Son work together in one and the same work Answ John 5.21 For likewise as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickeneth whom he will John 5.19 Whatsoever things the Father doth the same things doth the Son also
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