to save himself or make a right use of those means of grace which tend to Salvation Ans Yea Eccles 7.29 Gen. 1.27 3.3 4 5. certainly there is great difference between the Covenant of works the Covenant of grace for in the first Covenant although God gave our first Parents a holy nature and ability if they would Isa 42.6 7. Acts 5.31 Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 2 Cor. 3.8 to keep the Covenant and be happy Yet did not God give them a grace and confirmed will to persevere in that holinesse or be preserved from falling But in the Covenant of Grace the Lord gives Christ for a Covenant and in and by Christ his Spirit knowledge Faith Repentance love a new heart freedom from dominion and damning power of sin and perseverance in grace and all things that pertain to life and godlinesse God writes the Law not in Tables of stone as on Mount Sinai but in the heart and as he requireth Faith as with an empty hand to receive Christ so he giveth Faith Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.3 4. and works it by his word and Spirit keeping the Saints by his power through Faith unto Salvation Gen. 3.15 17.17 Isa 5.3 Gen. 2.17 18. Ma. 1.21 Luke 2.10 c. Ioh. 1.14 1 Ioh. 3.14 c. Mat. 17.5 1 Tim. 1.1 5. Quest 14. What is the Covenant of grace Ans The Covenant of grace is that Covenant which God made with our first Parents in Paradice after their fall promising Christ the seed of the woman to break the Serpents head and in Christ life Eternall freely This Covenant renewed to Abraham held forth before Christ more darkly in Types and Figures but more fully since Christ in the glorious and clear Sun-shine of the Gospel Quest 15. You have explained what man was in the state of Creation and how miserable by nature after the fall Now what is mans condition by Grace and in the state of Grace when God hath drawn him to come into Christ and to seek Christ alone for Salvation by vertue of this Covenant Ans Man who could destroy Hos 13.9.14 1 Pet. 1.18 19. 2 Cor. 5.18 19. Phil. 1.29 Act. 5.31 Rom. 5.1 8.30 8.17 Gal. 5.4 5. but not save himself nor be Redeemed by silver and gold or by any other creature is now according to this Covenant of grace a Redeemed one by Christ reconciled to God in Christ called enabled to believe and Repent Iustified Sanctified Adopted to be a childe of God and in Christ an Heir of glory Quest 16. Are all men in this happy condition who live under the Gospel and hear the Preaching of this Covenant of Grace by Gods faithfull Ministers Ans No certainly not any in the ordinary way who are of years of discretion but only those who first waiting on Christ in his Ordinances in some measure by his Word and Spirit according to the working of Gods mighty power have their eyes opened Secondly Are made sensible of sin and misery by sin Thirdly Enabled to deny themselves Fourthly And by faith to apprehend apply Christ as their surety and redeemer Fifthly To rest on Christ alone for Salvation And Sixthly Declare their thankfulnesse by serving God in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the dayes of their lives 2 Chron. 34.19 c. Isa 66.2 Acts 2.37 38. and 16.17 18. Eph. 1.17 c. Rom. 7.23 24. Mat. 16.24 John 1.11 12. Mat. 11.28 29. Rom. 12.1 2. Luke 1.73 c. Quest 17. You have held forth and professed what you believe concerning the Providence of God in the state of man by Creation and his most miserable condition by the fall and declared in part what Gods Children are in the state of grace Now let me hear in brief what you believe concerning the Children of God in the state of glory And what is Gods works of Providence and government in the Heavenly Kingdom Ans First For the present Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so faith the Spirit they rest from their labours their immortall souls return to God that gave them and being dissolved from their bodies they are with their thâ—ir heavenly husband Christ Iesus in glory Revelation 14.13 Ecclesiastes 12.7 Phil. 1.21 c. Luke 23.43 Rev. 19.6 c. Secondly At the day of Iudgement their bodies being raised from the dead 1 Cor. 15.19 c. Mar. 25.34 Rev. 21.4 Mat. 5.8 1 Iohn 3.1 2 3. 17.20 c. 1 Thes 4 13. to 18. Ioh. 10.27 to 30. Mat. 25.46 Rev. 4.8 c. 5.11 c. 7.10 c. their souls and bodies re-united by the power of Christ the sentence of blessednesse shall be pronounced to them And Thirdly there shall be no more death but all tears shall be wiped away from their eyes God shall be all in all to them Fourthly They shall enjoy the vision of God in glory and by union and communion with God in Christ remain happy with the Lord in that Kingdom of glory in life everlasting praising and glorifying of God for ever and ever Quest 18. What shall become of unbelievers impenitent and wicked men and women who neglect Christ and Salvation tendred in the Gospel of grace and follow the course of this world and their own sinfull lusts ignorantly or presumptuously to their ends What is Gods government concerning them Ans When they die their souls desend presently to misery and the bodies shall be raised again at the last day by the power of God and appear before the Iudgement seat of Christ to receive that direfull sentence of condemnation Go ye cursed and be excluded Heaven and cast into the fire of Hell to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels in darknesse for evermore Luke 16.22 23. Heb. 2.2 3. Joh. 3.18 19 30. John 4.28 29. and 12.48 Acts 13.46 and 18.5 6. Rom. 2.8 9 12. 1 Cor. 6.9 Gal 5.19 c. Eph. 5.24 36. Phil. 3.18 19. Mat. 22.12 13. and 25.41 Rev. 21.15 Quest 19. But who shall be Judge of believers and unbelievers at that great Day to separate the precious from the vile the Wheat from the Tares the righteous from the wicked and to reward every man and woman according to their works Ioh. 1.12 Mat. 24.30 Iohn 5.22 23. Act. 10.42 Mat. 25.31 c. 1 Thes 1.9 c. Ans The Lord Iesus Christ who is the only begotten Son of God who stiled himselfe also as he is the Son of Man to whom God the Father hath committed all Iudgement and ordained him to be the Iudge of quick and dead He shall come in glory of his Father with his Angels and shall separate the sheep from the goats believers from unbelievers and pronounce the sentence of blessednesse to the one and of the curse and damnation to the other according to their works and the just rule of truth and righteousnesse Quest 20. But shall all both quick and dead good and bad be brought before Christ to receive
God is said to purchase the Church with his own blood which blood was ascribed to Christ-God not as God but as the Son of Man Thus you see the properties of both natures are ascribed each to other by this union Thirdly So in the 1 Tim. 2.5 there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Iesus That office of Mediatorship is ascribed to the Manhood which is common to both natures God and Man The eleventh Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have Answered concerning the natures and Person of Christ Now what is to be known concerning Christs Offices that we may come with more comfort to the Lords Table Heb. 12.24 1 Tim. 2.5 Psal 110.1 2. Deut. 18.18 19. Psal 2.6 Luk. 1.32 33. Rev. 19.16 Ans That the Lord Christ is the Mediator of the new Covenant the eternall high Priest the eternall high Prophet and the eternall King of his Church Quest 2. What are the principle parts or acts of Christs Priestly office Ans Chiefly two First as a holy and perfect Mediator Advocate and High Priest of God not only Originally in his holy nature and Actually in his life to keep the whole Law and fulfill all righteousnesse but passively in his death and passion as our surety to satisfie the wrath of God and drink the bitter Cup for our Redemption Heb. 12.24 and 3.1 Luke 1.35 1 John 2.1 2. Mat. 5.17 and 3.15 Isa 53.5 6. 1 Pet. 2.21 c. Mat. 26.38 39. Col. 1.23 Gal. 3.13 Rom. 5.10 Quest 3. But how could Christ dye and as a surety and by his death and passion make satisfaction to Gods Iustice for our sins since he was God and man in one Person and God cannot dye Rom. 13.4 4.25 Heb. 2 1 c. Ans As he was Man he dyed for our sins and by the power of his Godhead he rose again for our Justification Quest 4. But since Christs death and passion were temporall only and but for a short time How could that satisfie the Iustice of God due to our sins and free us from torments both of soul and body which should have been Eternall Ans The sufferings of Christ in his death ahd passion Isa 53.2 c. 63.2 3 Lam. 1.12 Gal. 3.13 14. 1 Pet. 2.23 24. Mat. 26.38 39. 26.48 42. 6.74 75. 27.20 c. Luk. 22.41 c. 23.46 Acts 20.28 Mat. 17.5 1 Thes 1.10 were not only great and bitter none like as in bearing the heavy burden of our sins both in his body and soul with the anguish of Spirit in sense of the wrath of God and curse due to our sins witnessed in his Agony his bloody sweat his desire that bitter Cup might passe from him and that dolefull cry of Gods forsaking him But above all the dignity of his Person being God and Man united by a Personall union this made his merit of so unmeasurable a vertue that it was price sufficient to satisfie for a world of sinners to please God the Father free them from wrath to come and procure for them Eternall life Quest 5. But is not Christ then inferior to the Father being thus united to our humane nature and subject to such a passion for us to be our Mediator Ans Though Christ be Gods fellow and one with the Father as he is God the second Person in Trinity yet as Man Zac. 13.7 Ioh. 10.30 and Mediator between God and Men thus humbling himself Ioh. 14.28 Phil. 3.6 and suffering for our sin he is inferior to his Father though he be Mediator as God and Man Quest 6. Are Christs sufferings so great and of such value that we need not further to satisfie Gods Iustice for our sins neither in this life nor after our death and departure hence Ans The whole sufferings and satisfaction for our sins was performed and endured and finished by Christ perfectly in his death and passion once for all so that there is no more for Gods Children to suffer to satisfie the Iustice of God either in this life or after God the Father being fully well pleased in Christ and his blood cleansing us from all our sins Heb. 10.7 c. Ioh. 19.28 c. Col. 2.13 Mat. 3.7 Rom. 8.12 1 Ioh. 5.8 9 10. and 1.7 Luke 16.23 and 23.43 Rev. 14.13 Quest 7. If Christ hath satisfied fully Wherefore then are Gods faithfull servants subject to so many sufferings and miseries both inward and outward in this life Acts 14 22. 1 Cor. 15.19 2 Cor. 6.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 4.9 c. 2 Cor. 11.24 c. Isa 53.10 11. Dan. 9.24 Eph. 2.8 Ans Of all the sufferings of the Saints not any for satisfaction of Gods Iustice for sin for that is satisfied fully already in Christ and God is well pleased Mat. 17.5 Heb. 10.4 c. Tit. 3.5 Rom. 3.24 25. 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 8.18 nor are all the sufferings of this life worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed But the Lord afflicts and suffers his Children to be afflicted for other ends Quest 8. For what ends or causes doth the Lord afflict or cause his Children to be afflicted or suffer them many times to lose their estates and lives by tyrants and wicked persecutors as Rom. 8.35 36 37 Ans First God doth this sometimes that his Children may be Martyrs and witnesses to testifie the truth of God and the Gospel for the greater condemnation of the wicked and the glory of the Saints which God freely giveth them whom he pleaseth to honour with the Crown of Martyrdome Thus Abel the first Martyr before Christ Gen. 4.8 Thus Steven that great Martyr after Christ Acts 7.55 c. and 5.41 and 22.17 c. Quest 9. What is the second end why God suffers his Chrildren to be oppressed Ans Sometimes God doth let wicked tyrants and ungodly men go on in oppression 1 Kings 21.29 Rom. 2.17 Mat. 23.34 c. Rev. 6.10 c. for the greater manifestation of his Iustice in requiring all the blood of his servants by some fearfull Iudgements upon such bloody men and women Quest 10. What is the third end why God afflicts or suffers his Children to be afflicted since their sins are satisfied for by Christ Micah 6.8 9 Deut. 1.23 Gen. 35.1 2 3. Iudg. 2.21 22. Iob. 1.42 Gen. 27.24 28. Psal 119.71 Heb. 12.11 2 Cor. 15.14.15 Rom. 8.28 8.17 1 Pet. 4.13 Ans Sometimes God doth it to teach his Children to walk more humbly with God or more carefully and circumspectly in his wayes or to renew our Covenant of Reformation or for exercise and tryall of Fair and Patience or other graces or to fit and prepare them better for other conditions of life for which he intends them or to make them more sensible of punishment which sin deserveth or which Christ hath suffered for their sins that they may prize and love Christ more but alwayes afflictions
Baptism that as you have said even now although it had been abolished as circumcision was which it was not yet it might be continued untill mens mindes were enlightned as circumcision was continued for a time and much more now be practised in the Church since it cannot be proved to be any where forbidden by Christ but rather approved and since there are such different and doubtful opinions of it in such as profess to be Saints how should Saints behave themselves one to another in the Church of Christ Ans Truly this may be a light from Christ to lead us unto Christ and learn from Christ and his Apostles not to un-Church the Churches of Christ Reformed and yet reforming for this difference of Poedobaptism and such like as some virulent and unchristianlike Adversaries to Infant-baptism have done and yet endeavour to do But to labour for Reformation rather then unlawful Schism and Separation from the Church Thus shall we declare our selves to be Christians indeed not seeking division but in a Christian Brotherly way endeavouring Union and Unity and Peace in the Church each one labouring for a true and pure Reformation 1 Cor. 13.11 rather then a separation one from another in the profession of the Gospel of peace that peace and the God of peace may dwell amongst us The seventeenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VErily I like well of your Christian conclusion for Peace and Vnity amongst Saints though there be some differences in opinion in lesser matters when as we all hold the Head Christ And since you have declared your knowledge and faith concerning the Sacrament of Baptism Now what do you know and believe concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and by whom and when was that instituted and what light is there from Christ to lead us to Christ therein 1 Cor. 10.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14. Luke 22. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Ans This Sacrament of the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ himself in the same night that he endured his bitter Agony and also sweat drops of blood before he was betrayed by Judas and apprehended by the Officers of the High Priests and Elders to be condemned and put to death that cursed death of the Crosse which he suffered for our Redemption Quest 2. What is the outward visible sign seal or external material thing of the Lords Supper or of that Sacrament of the confirmation of our Faith and renewing of our Covenant again with God in Christ Ans The external or outward thing Mat. 26.27 c. 14.22 c. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. sign seal badge or pledge in a Sacrament is that which being sanctified holdeth forth another thing to the inward ear or eye or hand or mouth of the soul which is Faith then it doth to the outward ear or eye or hand or mouth of the body and seals and assures another thing to the soul then that which the body partakes of and in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper this outward sign seal pledge and Symbol is the bread and wine consecrated or blessed and the bread broken and wine powred out the bread and wine given and received eaten and drunk of the faithful together with the whole Sacramental action according to the institution of Christ Quest 3. What is the inwrrd or internal grace and material thing in this Sacrament so signified sealed and communicated by Christ to every true and faithful receiver of these holy mysteries in this holy Ordinance Mat. 26.26 t. Iohn 6.55 c. 10.15 c. 1 cor 10.16 Eph. 5.25 c. Rom. 4.24 c. Heb. 9.25 c. 10.12 c. 1 Thes 1.10 Rom. 6.23 Ans The inward grace or inward material thing is Christ himself given for his Church with his body and blood spiritually received by Faith and all Christs merits with the graces procured by Christ in his death passion and Resurrection Ascention and all he hath done for our good both for this and a better life all which are lively represented sealed and communicated to the faithful in their souls according to the Covenant of grace held forth and confirmed in this communion of the body and blood of Christ Quest 4. But since Christ saith of the bread in the Sacrament This is my Body and of the wine This is my Blood do not the faithful receive corporally and carnally the Body and Blood of Christ in this Sacrament Ans No verily the Body and Blood of Christ cannot be received corporally and carnally with the hand and mouth of our bodies wratsoever the Capernaites of old or the Papists or any other since have imagined Quest 5. How then is the Body and Blood of Christ received in the Lords Supper Ans To understand this we must know that a body is divers wayes ascribed to Christ or Christ may be said to have a body in a fourfold respect or a fourfold body and spiritually and by faith the children of God do receive and partake of union and communion with Christ and Christs body in all these kindes Quest 6. What is the first kinde of body and how do the faithful receive and partake of that body of Christ in this Sacrament Ans The first was the Natural body of Christ Luke 1.15 Iohn 1.14 Mat. 27.21 c. 25.31.32 28.6 Acts 3.20 21. which was conceived and born of the blessed Virgin Mary crucified dead and buried and rose again for us and our salvation and ascended into Heaven and there is glorified and sits at the right hand of God the Father in power and glory where he shall remain making intercession for his Church till the day of Iudgement when he shall come with his glorious Angels in power to judge both the quick and the dead Quest 7. But how do we who are the Saints receive and partake of this Natural crucified and glorified body of Christ Ans We may be said to receive and partake of this natural body of Christ really and truly though not corporally and carnally by eating or receiving it by the hand or mouth of the body But 1 cor 10.16 First Spiritually and by Faith believing on Christ as our Lord and Saviour who gave his Natural body to be crucified and his Blood to be shed for our sins Gal. 2.20 Secondly Applying Christ and all his merits by Faith to our souls Iohn 6.5 6. Thirdly Receiving Christ to dwell in us and so having an union and communion with Christ as with our Lord and Head into whom we are ingrafted by Faith Fourthly To partake of Christ even the Divine Nature by our union and communion with Christ which is sealed in the Sacrament John 6.63 6.33 c. 10.18 Eph. 1.17 c. 3.16 c. 1 Cor. 12.12 c. 10.16 c. 2 Pet. 1.3 Quest 8. What is the second kinde of body which
is ascribed to Christ Ans A Sacramental body and so the bread and wine in the Sacrament Mat. 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 12.24 c. are the body of Christ which doth signifie represent and seal the vertue of the Natural body and blood of Christ crucified not to all but to all true Believers and this outward visible Sacramental body is received by the bodily outward hands and mouth of all communicants true Believers and Hypocrites who come to the Lords Table Quest 9. But is this Sacramental body the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament any thing available for their goods who come unprepared and receive that and no more Ans No certainly this is not profitable but hurtful to the souls 1 Cor. 11.28 c. Mat 22.11 c. because they want the Wedding-Garment and eat and drink Iudgement to themselves not being able to examine themselues or to discern rightly or partake Spiritually of the Natural or Spiritual body of Christ Quest 10. How can you call a body Spiritual Ans The Apostle calls the glorified body of the Saints Spiritual bodyes because they are endued with Spiritual qualities of glory 1 Cor. 15.44 Rom. 6.6 7.24 Col. 2.16 17. mortality as sin and death is compated to a body in respect of Natural corruption or sinful qualities and mortality so likewise the rich graces and spiritual benefits of the life of Christ communicated and sealed in the Sacrament may be called a Spiritual body as a whole body of spiritual heavenly graces bestowed upon faithful receivers thus Christ and his graces are a body of grace received by the faithful Quest 11. What do you call a spritual body of Christ Ans This is the third kinde of body a vertual or spiritual body comprehending all the power life vertue merits and benefits which do arise from the passion crucifying of the natural body shedding of the natural blood of Christ with his Resurrection and Ascention for the good and benefit of Gods Church and people held forth sealed and exhibited in the Lords Supper and received not by the hand and mouth of the body but of the soul and enjoyed only by the faithful communicant and such as are rightly prepared for this sacred feast of the Lord 1 Cor. 10.3 4 16. Phil. 3.10 11. Gal. 2.20 3.1 Christ held forth in the Word and Sacraments as crucified before our eyes and Spiritually communicated 1 Cor. 10.16 Quest 12. What is the fourth and last kinde of body attributed to Christ and how do the Saints partake of or receive an union or communion with that or assurance of it in this Sacrament Ans This fourth and last is the mystical body of Christ Rom. 12.45 1 Cor. 12 13 c. 10.16 17. Eph. 2.16 3.4 5. 4.12 Col. 3.14 15. Heb. 12.22 c. 1 Ioh. 1.3 7. the Church and people of God the Members of that body of which Christ is the head And a more full union and communion with which body the Saints do receive and partake of when in the Sacrament as in a communion of Saints rightly and spiritually not by mouth of the body but by faith they partake of Christ and have this union and communion of Saints sealed and assured in this Sacrament Quest 13. You have declared your knowledge concerning the author and matter of this Sacrament Now what is the form of it Ans The form of communicating in this Sacrament is likewise twofold outward and inward Quest 14. What is the outward form or manner of celebrating or partaking of and in this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans The external or outward form in this Sacrament Mat. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 10.16 11.23 c. Isa 42.3 c. 53.10 c. is first the whole Sacramental word of Christs Institution the blessing or consecrating of the bread and wine the command of receiving eating and drinking of the outward Elements and especially the Promise and Covenant of Grace Christ and all his benefits promised held forth and sealed to the faithful in this Sacrament Quest 15. What it the second part of the outward form or manner of celebration to be observed Ans The Sacramental actions of breaking bread Mat. 26.26 Luke 22. powring out of wine the distribution of bread and wine to and for the communicants and their receiving of of them by the hand eating of them by the body as Sacramental signifying sealing exhibiting communicating and applying signs and symbols of all inward grace given to the faithful and received by them in this Sacrament Quest 16. What is the inward form of or in this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans The internal or inward form is the analogy union and presence not local but vertual Sacramental and Spiritual of the outward signes and the things signifi'd the one representing and answering the other as the face doth answer a face in a glasse the outward signes being exhibited by the Minister of Christ and the things signifieth the light and warmth and soul-cherished vertue and nourishment of the life of grace from Christ given and communicated and applyed by that Sun of righteousnesse Christ and Christ his spirit at the same time to the faithful in the Sacrament as the Sun in the firmament doth its vertue of light and warmth to us or as the outward Elements of bread and wine do their vertue and refreshing 1 Cor. 10.16 to nourish the life of nature in man or woman that receive them in the Sacrament Quest 17. What Analogy proportion likenesse or agreement is there between the signes and the things signified First between the Bread and the Body of Christ to set forth and seal the benefits unto us Ans First as the bread corn of wheat is threshed with a flail or beaten with a staffe bruised ground in the Mill and baked in an oven with fire to make bread for our bodyes Isa 28.28 53.5 6 1 Cor. 9.10 so was Christ threshed with a flail and beaten with a staffe and ground in the Mill and baked in the fiery oven of his passion and of the wrath of God that he by his vertue and merits might be heavenly bread for our souls and bodyes to nourish us to life Eternal Quest 18. What is a second resemblance Ans Secondly as the bread is comfortable strength and nourishment for a hungry body for life of nature Psa 104.15 Ioh. 6.48 c. so the body of Christ and vertue of his merits in sweet nourishment for hungry true believers to nourish the life of grace in them to life Eternal Quest 19. What is a third agreement or resemblance 1 Cor. i0 16 Ans As the bread in the Sacrament is made of many corns and one bread is distributed to many and many partake of one bread so doth it set forth our union and communion with Christ and one with another we that are many are one body in Christ and all partake of that one
use of the means without carking care for this life or dismal despair for the life to come Thirdly as a life of certainly 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 4.21 1 Thes 5.23 2 as depending not upon our own changeable strength but upon the foundations of the sure decree promises power faithfulnesse and Oath of an unchangeable God Fourthly as a life of necessity 2 Chron. 20.12 Gen. 42.2 3 4. Col. 3.3 4. 2 Cor. 3.4 5. Gal. 9.5 2 Tim 2.7 8. a poor soul not having life or power of life in and of it self and therefore must needs go out of it self by faith to serch life and strength from God in Christ and so of necessity must live the life of faith both for grace and glory and assurace of both Quest 17. What other helps are there Ans Observe secondly thy present condition estate danger or temptation whereby thou art troubled for the Church of God in general and for thy self 2 Pet 1.12 or any other in particular for the want of assurance of Iustification or Sanctification or for want of particular graces or strength and growth of grace of knowledge of faith or repentance of confidence on God in time of prosperity and not on uncertain riches or friends or husband wife children parents or any creature-comfort whatsoever or for want or losse of any of these or of their help and comfort in time of adversity or for want of assurance of glory Quest 18. What is a third help Isa 43.2 3 4. Heb. 13.5 Ans Thirdly search the Scriptures and look out some promise general or particular for comfort of thy soul to depend upon God even as a ground of thy confidence to live by faith and that God will not fail thee Quest 19. What is a fourth help Ans To wait on Christ in the use of all good means 2 Pet. 1.19 and so live by faith taking heed to the sure word of promise until the day dawn and the day star Christ arise in thy soul And thus the life of faith upholds a poor soul in greatest doubts and fears whatsoever Quest 20. Now let me ask you one Question before I conclude this part of Catechism What is a sixth immediate preparatory grace or gracious act of the soul to be enlivened or acted and exercised immediatly before you draw near to the Lords Table Ans To attend the invitation of Christ by his Ministers and to draw near and come to the Lords Table as with all humility and reverence so as becomes my presence at so great an Ordinance to meet my Lord and Saviour so with joyful confidence holy hunger and faith yea with spiritual cars and eyes and mouth of faith to hear and see and receive and feed on Christ in my soul as well as with ears and eyes and hands and mouth of body 1. To hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed consecrated and set apart to this holy Sacramental use Matthew 26.26 27. 2. To see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out 3. To hear the Sacramental welcom Take ye and eat ye and Take ye and drink ye Mat. 26.27 4. And all this with a thankful remembrance of Christs death and passion who loved me and gave himself for me Luke 22.19 1 Corinthians 11.24 25. Gal. 2.20 Conclus Thus Sir I have made my profession of what I have learned concerning a right preparative the wedding garment to meet Christ at the Lords Table that I may walk more comfortably with Christ all the dayes of my life Quest 20. But do you think it is necessary that every one be thus prepared with Knowledge Faith Repentance and Love and the habits of graces so examined enlivened and quickned before he or she come to the Lords Table What light hath Christ left for resolution of this doubt Ans It is certain a competent measure of true knowledge true faith true repentance and true love is of necessity required and howsoever it may be the good Lord God may be gracious to any of his children whose hearts are up right towards God and who have life of grace in them and hunger after Christ though he or she be not so fully prepared according to the preparation of the Sanctuary as 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. yet assuredly that soul that cometh lesse prepared and the life of grace and living graces lesse enlivened in the soul doth ordinarily receive lesse comfort at the Lords Table when as that soul that is more carful to wait upon Christ in all good wayes and means of preparation not resting upon performances or preparation but with a self-denying and humble heart and soul of faith waiting on Gods goodnesse in Christ and Christs righteousnesse and merits may with a much more glorious assurance of comfort hear that gracious voyce of Christ speaking to his or her soul as to his welbeloved Spouse in the Canticles I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my mirrhe with my spice I have eaten my hoay-comb with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milk eat O friend drink ye abundantly O Beloved not drink abundantly of the outward Bread or Wine but feed on Christ by faith abundantly for thy spiritual refreshing to the eternal joy and rejoycing of thy soul yea a joy unspeakable and full of glory as Cant. 5.1 1 Pet. 1.8 The twenty seventh Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your preparation and enjoyment of the wedding garment in respect of the Antecedent graces and immediate enlivening of the preparative graces and gracious actions and quickning of them Now what are the third sort the present concomitant or accompanying graces and gracious affections and spiritual senses actions and operations of the soul and body which do accompany and are to be exercised and quickned in these Sacramental acts or actions of receiving as of the Elements outwardly so of Christ and his quickning and soul-refreshing vertue inwardly for the spiritual strengthning of your soul and life of grace to life of glory Ans There is a twofold nourishment which we receive and feed on in the Sacrament at the Lords Table The first outward and corporal the Elements of Bread and Wine which nourish and refresh the body The second inward and spiritual Christ himself and his Body and Blood or the living vertue and merits of Christ his Life and Death and Passion and Resurrection and Ascention and Intercession which feeds strenghneth and nourisheth our souls and the life of grace in our souls to life Eternal And so there are two sorts of sences as I may so call them to be exercised 1. Of the body 2. Of the soul or inward man and two sorts of actions to be acted in this Sacrament Quest 2. What are these two sorts of actions in the Sacrament Ans First the actions of the body and organical parts or by the instruments of the body The bodily eyes must see Mark
sence of seeing both bodily by eyes of your body and spiritually by eyes of faith Ans I must still by the power of Christ exercise these three spiritual acts or actions of my soul to be exercised in every particular sacramental action 1. Diligent observation 2. Divine meditation 3. Faithful application and appropriation of all to my own soul Quest 21. How must observation be exercised by you What light shineth from Christ for your direction Ans I ought diligently by the spirit of Christ to observe the sacramental action of breaking bread Luk. 22.17 c. or powring out or giving of the wine according to the institution of Christ as it is a sacramentâ—l actâ—on for the end for which Christ appointed it Qâ— st 22. How ought you to exercise medi ation Ans By help of Christ I ought so to meditate and think of the breaking bread and powring out of the wine as to meditate of Christ crucified his body broken with torments as before noted and his blood shed for my sins Gal. 3.1 Qâ—est 23. How ought you to exercise spiritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your self Ans By the strength of Christ and Christs spirit strengthning and communicating strength of life from Christ to my soul I ought to apply by faith and appropriate all this that Christ hath done or suffered as done and suffered by Christ for me and my Redemption and as loving me and giving himself for me his soul to be made an offering for my sin his body to be broken with torments and his blood to be shed to the death for my eternal Redemption and salvation Isaiah 53.10 Galathians 2.20 Heb. 9.12 The twenty eighth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the fifth Sacramental action or objâ—ct of your sences corporal or spiritual Or upon which your sences or acts of life in your soul and body are to be exercised when you are at this holy Sacrament Ans Sacramental commemoration of the death and passsion of the Lord Iesus Christ Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and of his Institucion of this blessed Sacrament the same night in whâ—ch he was betrayed his passion crucifying and death so lively set before my eyes in the celebration of this Sacrament and by Christs command to be commemorated and remembred as it is shewed forth until he come Quest 2. What are you to do in this act of commemoration Ans To exercise those three acts before specified 1. Diligently to observe how this Sacrament doth remember me of that sacrifice of the death of Christ of his inestimable love in dying for me and of the most glorious benefits that I am made partaker of in a right meeting of Christ at the Lords Table Quest. 3. What is the second 1 Ioan 4. Divine meditation I ought by the power of Christs spirit 19. Ioh. 17.20 21. to think of this memorial of Christs Death Passion and Resurrection and benefits till I be so affected with it as to rejoyce with it and never to forget this love of Christ but to be delighted with his love as to love Christ again until I come to glory with Christ Quest 4. What is the third Ans By the power of the spirit of Christ and by faith to apply the memorial of this action and passion of Christ unto my soul that it may be engraven upon my heart to be recorded and set before my eyes for ever that evening and morning and mid-day I may remember what Christ hath done for my soul and Christs love may for ever be in my heart and I may say as the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Christ loved me and gave himself for me Qâ—est 5. What is a sixth Sacramental action object or act on Christs part or on yours which is the object of your senses corporal or spiritual or in which these senses operations or actions of the soul and body are to be exercised in this holy Ordinance of Christ Ans Christs congratulation or Sacramental welcom he gives to his faithful prepared guests Take eat Take drink yea all of this and thus bidding them welcom 1. As in the Institution of Christ is evidently set forth unto us Mat. 26.26 27 28. Luke 22.19 20. 2. As Christ invited his Spouse his Church and children Canticles 5.1 Eat friends and drink abundantly O beloved that is eat abundantly not of the outward bread and drink abundantly not of the outward Wine but eat spiritually of the body of Christ by faith and the merits of Christ crucified for me and drink abundantly of the vertue of Christs blood which was shed for me For Christs flesh is meat indeed and Christs blood is drink indeed Ioh. 6.51 c. If I thus eat of Christs flesh and drink of Christs blood I shall live for ever Quest 6. What is to be acted by you And how are your corporal and spiritual sences to be exercised in this congratulation or heavenly welcom which Christ gives your soul at this Table Ans First a diligent observation of this welcom when I hear it with the ears of my body from the voyce of Christs Minister speaking comfortably cheerfully to me from Christ as to a prepared believing penitent humble hungry communicant Take and eat Take and drink in the Name of Christ bidding me welcom to Christs Table as Mat. 26. Luke 22. Quest 7. What is a second thing to be acted Answ A Divine meditation as if by the ears of my soul I did at the same time hear the voyce of Christ as once he spake to his Disciples at his last Supper so now speaking to my soul from heaven and bidding me welcom Eat my friend and drink my beloved I have loved thee I have given my self for thee I have given thee my body crucified my bloodshed for thee and for many for remission of sins feast and refresh thy soul with abundance of assurance of my love to thee at my Table O poor believing hungry and humble soul thou art welcom here in and amongst my congregation of Saints at my Table of grace and thou shalt one day be welcom and eat and drink heavenly and gloriously with me at my Table of glory in the Kingdom of heaven for ever Matthew 22. Luke 22.19 Quest 8. What is the third Ioh. 4.14 15. 6.33 c. Answ A sweet and short ejaculation or ejaculatory and darting prayer to this or this like in effect Even so Lord Iesus I blesse thy name for this sweet assurance of being welcom to thy Table strengthen my faith enliven mine eyes and hand and mouth of faith that I may see and discern thy body and thy blood I may so receive and feed on thy body and blood that I may finde and feel and enjoy such an everlasting vertue and sap and juyce of life from thee my Saviour which may enliven and strengthen thy life of grace in me here in this life to life everlasting in the
vertue of the same promise of Christ who hath performed and sealed now in the Sacrament what he promised Receive assurance that Christ hath given his body to be crucified and given his blood to be shed for my sins And thirdly by the same Sacramental promise I am now assured that I shall receive all the vertue merits and efficacy of the body and blood of Christ necessary for assurance of my Justification sanctification and salvation as assuredly as if I had been present when Christ spake those words or made that promise to his Disciples or that I did now hear the bodily voyce of Christ now speaking unto me from heaven by the ear of my body as he speaks to the ear of my body by his Minister and now speaks to the ears of my believing soul by the voyce of his spirit perswading and enabling me to believe the truth of these Sacramental promises Fourthly Therefore I conclude that I may eat and drink at this Table to my joy and comfort Now I may be assured that Christ gave his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for my sins or that he loved me and gave himself for me Quest 15. What now is to be acted by you when you hear and see the Sacramental promises held forth unto you Ans I may follow the former Directory in a threefold respect 1. Diligent observation of the promisory words This is my body given for you broken for you This is my blood shed for you and for many for remission of sins Take and eat Take and drink 2. A divine meditation of this promise the same or like effect as before is declared in the Paraphrase of it in answer of the former Question 3. A sweet and rejoycing Application by faith of this promise to my own soul Mark 14.22 23. for my comfortable emboldning and encouragement to take and eat take and drink and feed on Christ to my souls cherishing comfort and the refreshing of life of grace in my heart Quest 16. What is the eighth Sacramental action object or subject in this Ordinance of Christ in and about which your senses acts or actions corporal or spiritual may be exercised when you are at the Lords Table Ans Sacramental participation 1. In taking and eating of that Bread the Sacramental body of Christ and taking and drinking that Wine the Sacramental blood of Christ with the hand and mouth of the body Matthew 26.26 27. 2. In taking and feeding on Christs body crucified 1 Cor. 10.16 and taking and drinking of Christs blood shed for me and of the vertue power and merits of Christ and all the benefits of Christs Passion Death and Resurrection not corporally or carnally with hand or mouth of my body but spiritually by a true and lively feeling apprehending and applying faith which is the hand and mouth of my soul to strengthen and nourish my soul and body my life of grace in me to life Eternal Quest 17. What may be done for better quickning your soul in this participation of Christ and this blessed feast at Christs Table Ans 1. I may and ought to observe diligently this rich feast upon which I feed Isa 25.6 as a feast of fat things which the Lord promised his people a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined Yea not onely Bread and Wine for my body but Christ himself and all his rich benefits to feed my soul Iohn 6.27 c. to strengthen my life of faith by the living vertue of Christ ingrace till I get possession of glory Quest 18. What is the second Ans A divine meditation of Christ as of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God Gen 2.9 3.22 Re. 22.2 22.17 Ioh. 4.14 Phil. 4.11 c. of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever as a Tree of Life yea a Tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits and yield fruit every moneth and oftner if I meet Christ oftner in his Ordinances yea living fruit which hath a living vertue to revive and quicken a dying fainting soul to strengthen a weak and almost decaying grace as of Knowledge Faith Repentance Love Joy Peace contentment in my heart yea the very leaves of this Tree Christ are good to heal all diseases and infirmities in a soul every taste of Christ in this feast is restaurative filling my dead heart with cheerful and soul-rejoycing spirits of life vital spirits indeed as from Christ himself that everliving fountain of water of life springing up in me to life eternal so that I may and can do all things and glorifie God with sweet contentment and rejoycing delight in every condition through Christ that strengthneth me Quest 19. What is the thing in exercise whereof your soul may be more fully revived and strengthned in the participation of Christ at the Lords Table Ans 3. A lively faithful application Psa 27.8 Cant. 5.1 Psal 19.10 Iohn 6.57 58. in feeding by faith upon Christ and the assurance of Christs love unto me a sweet spiritual eccho answering of Christs welcom as if thou shouldst say Lord thou bidst me eat and drink and welcom yea eat thy flesh and drink thy blood in and by believing that thou gavest thy body to be crucified and thy blood to be shed for my sins Now by faith I do eat by faith I do drink I do feed on thee I do rejoyce in thee I finde sweetness in thee above all the sweetness in the world sweeter then the hony and the hony-comb still feed thou my soul and shew me thy gracious and thy glorious refreshings more and more until I come to feast with thee in glory Quest 20. What is the ninth Sacramental object act action fruit or benefit in this feast of the Lord in and about which you should exercise your senses acts and operations of body or soul in or at this blessed Sacrament Ans That Sacramental union or communion with Christ and the Saints of God fellow-members of Christ and those most refreshings from Christ in the enjoyment of Christ and his spiritual and most joyful presence to my soul held forth in these Sacramental promises which Christ the God-man hath spoken in his holinesse and which makes my soul rejoyce within me and having the present possession of Christ in feeding on Christ spiritually eating his flesh and drinking his blood and so having an admirable union communion with Christs Iohn 6.56 Psal 16.12 in enjoyment of all his benefits Christ now dwelling in me and I in him as one day I shall in his presence have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more Quest 21. What may you now do by vertue of Christ Or What acts of your soul may you exercise Or in what may you wait on Christ for your greater profit and comfort in this most gracious union and communion with Christ and the Saints Rom. 8.17 the heirs
and fellow-heirs with you and with Christ of Eternal glory Ans I may follow the former direction and wait on Christ First in observation of this union and communion that is between Christ and my soul in this Sacrament as in part is set forth before this Catechism and so observe and consider what an union there is between the ouward signs of Bread and Wine and the inward thing signified and sealed the body and blood of Christ namely a mutual union and relation and this according to the nature of the signs and the thing signified is spiritual and invisible now it cannot be seen with bodily eyes and so there is a spiritual and secret union and yet a speedy present union and as there is a secret spiritual union and relation between the bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ represented to my soul to the eye of faith in me and conveyed to the hand and mouth of faith in me So there is a spiritual and speedy present union between the body and the blood of Christ and my believing soul and a speedy and present communion and union of vertue and spiritual refreshment unto my soul partaking by faith of this refreshing for as the word is no sooner spoken and is united to the outward ear but the thing signified thereby is present and united to the understanding and ear of my minde so it is here and so I do observe a divine and spiritual union and communion betwixt Christ and my soul Mat. 28.20 Rev. 2.1.17 for my more full refreshing at this sweet spiritual and reviving banquet hidden Manna of grace in this holy Ordinance Quest 22. What is a second act or operation of your soul to be exercised for your more full comfort in this sweet and spiritual union and communion with Christ at the Lords Supper Ans Divine meditation when I think and seriously ruminate and meditate again and again How I do exercise two kinde of eyes and two kinde of hands and two kinde of mouthes in this Sacrament and how and in what manner Christ is present as with the signs by relation and representation so with me by present enjoyment how as soon as by the eye of my body I behold the consecrated Elements of bread and wine and these are present to the eye of my body so speedily do I see the body of Christ crucified and the blood of Christ shed for my sins with the eyes of faith and they are present to the eyes of my soul and so I have a union and communion with them immediatly Secondly 1 Cor. 10.16 so speedily as I do with the hands of my body take the bread and the wine prepared and presented upon the Table for me to take but presently with faith the hand of my soul I do apprehend and take the body and blood of Christ presented to be taken and received spiritually and by faith at the Lords Table Thirdly I may meditate That so speedily as with the mouth of my body I do eat and feed on the bread 1 Kin. 19.7 8. Psal 63.1 c. and drink the wine in the Sacrament at the same instant with the mouth of faith or my believing soul I do feed on Christs body and blood and the vertue and merits of Christ are present with me and I have a sweet communion with them and in these or like meditations my soul is fatted with heavenly Manna as with marrow and fatnesse nourishing me in the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of heaven Quest 23. What is the third principal thing to be exercised concerning this union and communion with Christ and his soul-reviving comforts and benefits in this Sacrament Wherein hath light of Christ appeared unto you for duty in this Iohn 6.56 Gal. 2.20 Ans Spiritual and faithful application of Christ and his benefits to my soul that now as verily as the bread and wine which I have eaten and drunken in this feast are mine and the vertue of them is united to me and I to it so verily the body and blood of Christ is mine and the vertue and benefits of Christs body and blood is become mine and I am united to Christ and Christ to me to my joy everlasting so that I may say with confidence and rejoycing Christ loved me and gave himself for me Quest 24. What is the tenth principal Sacramental act or action which is or may be the object of your corporal or spiritual senses or operations of soul or hody in the right observation meditation and application of which you may wait on Christ the Lord Prince with more full rejoycing in or after your meeting of Christ at the Table of the Lord Ans Sacramental obsignation or sealing in communication of this spiritual union and communion with Christ and enjoyment of Christ and all the benefits of his Death Passion Resurrection Ascention and Intercession yea of his Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office and of the assurance of all these benefits of Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Freedom from the condemning and commanding power of sin from Death and Hell with all graces needful in this life and immortal glory when this Mortal life is ended all which are sealed and grounds of assurance of all communicated to Saints in this seal and Sacrament of the Covenant of grace the Lords Supper as Rom. 4.1 Quest 25. In what acts or operations of your soul may you wait on Christ for improvement of this Sacramental obsignation and sealing of this union and communion with Christ and the Saints of God and the assurance of all graces and benefits of Christ to his Church and children in this holy Ordinance Ans In those three before mentioned First In a serious consideration of this sealing by the word of promise and work of Christs spirit and Sacrament or this seal of confirmation of my faith and of all Gods promises of this sealing Ordinance the Sacrament of this body and blood of Christ and of Christs Death held forth unto me in the Lords Supper that as verily as I do partake of the outward Elements of bread and wine so verily the Lord Christ hath and doth communicate unto me the vertue and merits of his body and blood and all the benefits he hath procured to and for the benefits of his Church and children and for my soul in particular Gal. 2.20 for I know he loved me and give himself for me as he did for blessed Paul Quâ—st 26. What is a second operation or act of the soul enlightned and sanctified by the spirit of Christ in and by which you may wait on Christ for improvement of this obsignation or sealing of the Covenant of Grace and all those fruits and benefits Christ doth assure his Church and his Children in his Sacrament Ans Divine meditation by the help and power of Christs spirit to think meditate and ruminate or as it were chew the cud again and again in
the Churches of Christ to the end of the world Quest 11. Was there not a fourth Order of Christians Ans Yes There is mention made of the Penitents who were such believers as after profession of their Faith and partaking of the Sacrament did fall into some open notorious scandalous sin and were put back into the number and place of the Catechumens Hospin de Templis page 88. and kept from the Sacrament untill upon true signes of Repentance D. August Hom. 49. de verbis Apostol Eph. 6.20 and satisfaction to the Church they were received again into their former order and re-admitted unto the Lords Supper And so it is evident all were not promiscuously suffered to receive the Sacrament who had been baptized or were formerly received But they were and might be kept back by the Church and such as had right Authority of Government in the Church yea and be excommunicate upon lawfull and just cause given by notorious and scandalous offences 1 Cor. 5.3 4 5. 2 Cor. 2.5 6 7 8. Iustellus in notis cod can Eccl. citat per Godwin de Excom untill God gave them Repentance and they were restored again to the communion of Saints till when in some places they might not come into the Church but stand weeping without desiring with tears those that entred to pray for them Quest 12. Thus you have shewed the practice of the Church for men of ripe yeers converted to the Faith and for such as were Communicants once received But what say you of Children of believing Parents born in the Church and received by Baptisme as outward visible members of the Church had they any such priviledge that when they came to years they might be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without Catechizing Examination and making profession of their Faith and the graces of God in them Ans Children of believing Parents have a priviledge to be baptized as the children of Faithfull Abraham had to be circumcised Gen. 17.12 1 Cor. 7.14 and so to be distinguished from Children of Pagans steemed in the judgement of charity as members of the Church untill by wickednes scandalous lives or some other wayes they declared the contrary but yet as the children of the faithfull Israelites were by Gods speciall command to be instructed and Catechized in the knowledge of the Lord Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. Exod. 12.24 25 26 27. 2 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 3.15 of his will and works and in particular of the Sacrament and the reason of it So without doubt the Children of believing Parents are to be catechized and instructed in the knowledge of God and of themselves and of Christ and of the Sacrament be able to make profession of their Faith before they be admitted to the Lords Table D. Pet. Martyr locor com Class 3. c. 8. S. 14. And hence I conceive was that decree and order in the Church that Children of Believers Baptized in Infancy when they came to years of discretion Cum tincti fuerunt homines in infantia nec fidei confessionem edidorunt decretum est ut cum venissent ad maturiorem a tatem vocarentur ad Episcopum publicè fidem suam profiterentur Heb. 5.11 c. were Catechized and sufficiently instructed they should be called to make profession of their faith in publike and prayers put up unto God for their perseverance in the Faith to the end This after was called Confirmation so much abused since by the Romish Synagogue and by the Papists and Popish Bishops the good use of which according to the first institution as a policy of the Church might well have been continued and may be profitable in the Church of Christ that men so Baptized in Infancy might be approved for right knowledge and holy conversation before they be entertained at this Feast of the Lord And so Catechizing is a necessary duty in the Church of Christ Quest 13. But doth not the Sacrament hold forth Christ crucified to the eyes as well as Preaching of the Gospel doth to the eares And may not a man be converted to the faith of Christ by the Sacrament as well as by the Word Preached And if so Wherefore then may not all ignorant and scandalous and impenitent men and women be admitted to the Sacrament as well as to hear the Gospel Preached Ans First I will not deny but the Sacrament doth hold forth Christ crucified to a believing eye that by the eye of faith can look upon the Body of Christ broken with torments and blood of Christ shed to the death for sin whilest the eye of the Body doth behold the Bread broken and the Wine powred out in this Sacrament And Secondly I do acknowledge that the Lord may can if he please convert a wicked blinde ignorant prophane man or woman by seeing the Bread broken and the Wine powred out and especially by those manifestations of Christs Death and Passion and those Dehortations and Admonitions of Ignorant and prophane scandalous men and women to withdraw and not presume to come to the Lords Table untill God give them Repentance And by those invitations of believing humble hungry repenting souls to draw nigh to meet Christ and feast with him at his Table and this by the power of the Spirit of Christ bringing all home to the soul But it is the preaching of the Gospel in another manner then at the Sacrament that is the common and ordinary way of conversion in which men and women ought to wait upon Christ for Repentance and Remission of sins Acts 5.31 Rom. 10.14 15 16 17. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and this by Preaching as the Apostle Saint Paul publisheth Secondly the Sacrament hath properly another end namely as Circumcision of old was a sign of the Covenant between God and Abraham Gen. 17.7 8 c. Rom. 4.11 and and a seal and pledge not of a corporall Covenant but of that Covenant of Grace in Christ and of that Righteousnesse of Faith or of Christ received by Faith and which Abraham enjoyed by believing and Saints by our ingrafting into Christ And as the Passeover or Paschall Lamb and sprinckling of the Blood upon the two side-posts Exod. i2 22 and upon the lintell of the door of the house was a sign and seal and pledge to confirm the Faith of Israel That God would passe over their houses when the Angel destroyed the first-born of Egypt and that God would sprinckle their souls with the Bloud of Christ Heb. 12.24 that blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then did the bloud of Abell so this Sacrament was properly instituted to confirme and strengthen the Disciples Faith Mat. 26.26 c. and so the faith of all Beleevers and to seale and assure unto them the Covenant of Grace 1 Cor. ii 23 c. Christ and his benefits promised And it was not insitituted for Pagans
Wisd 5.1 2 c. But one day they shall confesse their folly and that they have erred from the way of truth But whatsoever the Atheists or prophane or blinde men of the world think both Saints and wicked shall one day finde that the soul dieth not with the body but liveth for ever in endlesse joy or woe And there are many Arguments to prove the immortality of our souls Quest 13. What is a first Reason or ground to prove the souls immortality Ans Truly first if we consider even the naturall Reasons found out by naturall men and their opinions who knew not the Scriptures or the Gospel of Christ at least yet they evidence the immortality of the soul the judgement of Tully and others in every thing saith Cicero Lex naturae putanda est the consent of all Nations is to be accounted the Law of nature and a consent amongst all good men ought to be valued as much as a thousand demonstrations Vox Dei in natura for it is the very voyce of God in Nature as Learned Zanchius speaks Now no Nation that have had any learning or knowledge worth the name of knowledge Cicero Tusculan Quest Quis sapiens sinc spe immortali talis se offeret ad mortem quid enim imprudentius quam sine ullo â—remto se vita virtute proprie privare but witnesse the souls immortality Thus Plato Cicero Cato Vticensis Caesar and many Philosophers in their works and men dying for their Countreys good yea amongst the heathen Infidels I have read of those costly Funeralls amongst the Idolatrous Pagans in Meaco a chief City of Japon in which amongst other ceremonies they brandish a flaming Torch over their heads intimating the souls immortality as a flaming spark living for ever And certainly even these shall rise up in Iudgement at the last day against those who deny the immortality of the soul Quest 14. Thus I conceive a good Argument naturall or prophane men but what is a second Ans Even the very nature of the soul it self may witnesse the souls immortality in that the nature of the soul is to aspire after and to desire immortality to use all means to preserve a name to live for ever after them Gen. 41.4 2 Sam. 18.18 Solinus de miraâ—â—ulis â—â—â—â—â—â—i as the builders of Babell and Absolon by his Pillar and when Xerxes had fired the Asian Temple all but Diana's Erostratus set that on fire and being asked wherefore he did so he Answered that he might be remembred and his name be immortall or to that effect This may Argue an immortality in the soul that desireth and so longeth after immortality Quest 15. What is a third Reason to evidence this truth Ans Truly the very Acts of the soul themselves and operations of it not waxing old as the body doth which appears in men especially of temperate life Though the body be blinde the eye of the soul can see wonderfully Historia Tâ—ipartita we read of blinde men admirable in learning A youth not twenty years old learned the liberall Arts well skilled in the Scriptures Dictated severall Books to be written And if an old man had a yong mans eye he would see as perfectly as the best we see men in years who cannot see a letter in the Book yet with Spectacles can read plainly Isaac was dimme sighted Gen. 27.1.27 28 48.14 15. and Jacob was blinde before their deaths but the blessing they gave to their Children did witnesse their souls waxed not blinde with old age And even this may witnesse the immortality of the soul Quest 16. Here are sufficient Arguments of this nature Now what Evidence of the souls immortality may be drawn from the holy Scriptures Ans The Scriptures are full of Evidence to manifest this truth And first Divine testimonies the Preacher tells us That when the Body dieth and returneth to the dust the soul vanisheth not but returneth to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 And Christ himself witnesseth that the soul cannot be killed by all the Tyrants in the world Mat. 10.28 Mark 8.44 though they kill the body But God can cast both body and soul into Hell fire where the worm never dieth and the fire never goeth out so the soul tormented in Hell fire for evermore must needs be immortall and never dye Quest 17. Is there no other Argument in Scripture but bare testimonies Ans If there were no other the witnesse of the holy Spirit of truth is sufficient to witnesse this truth of the souls immortality but it is evident by other Arguments also for the Lord is said to be the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 32 33. and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob not the God of the dead but of the living Now their bodies were dead many hundred years before Christ spake this therefore it must needs follow that the souls were alive and so they had not mortall but never dying and immortall souls Quest 18. This I conceive is a good Argument What is a second that you find in the holy Scriptures Ans The witnesse of Christ concerning the penitent Thief upon the Crosse Luk. 23.43 that he should be with him that day in Paradise Now this could not be in respect of his body for neither the body of the penitent nor the body of Christ were that day in Paradise for Christs body was taken down from the Crosse Mat. 27.60 and laid in a new Sepulchre and no doubt the body of the penitent also was buried And therefore it must needs be that Christ and the penitent should be and were in Paradise in their souls after the death of their bodies And hence it is evident that the soul is immortall and dieth not with the body as some wicked men dream Quest 19. Have you any more Arguments in Scripture to prove this Ans Yes there might be many more but I will note but a few and this you may take for another Even the practice of Christ at the time of death to commend in souls into the hands of God his heavenly Father Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit And that of blessed Stephen the holy Martyr of Christ commending his soul into the hands of Christ Acts 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit These confirm this truth of the immortality of the soul Quest 20. What is the next Argument which you observe in Scriptures Ans That fear and trembling and terror of conscience which falleth and hath fallen upon men for their sins against God or men and especially the fear of Iudgement to come as that of Belshazzer Dan. 5.1.5 when he saw the Hand writing upon the wall which made his kneeâ— to smite one against another and the thoughts of his heart to trouble him Acts 24.25 And that fear and trembling of Festus when he heard Paul to reason of Righteousnesse Temperance
at his pleasure Quest 13. You have Answered comfortably concerning the Elect Now what is Gods Providence concerning evil Angels or Devils and what they are Iob 4.17 c. 1.9 c. Iude 6. Gen. 3.1 2 3. 1 Chron. 21.1 Zach. 3.1 2. Mat. 13.28 29. Eph. 2.12 2 Tim. 2.26 Ioh. 8 44. Ioh. 3.8 2 Pet. 2.4 Mat. 25.41 Rev. 20. Ans They are those Angels or Spirits in whom God found folly who kept not their first state but left their own habitation sinned against God their maker for which they were cast out of heaven and of glorious Angels became ugly Devils enemies to God and Saints tyrants over wicked men ruling in them as their God and drawing them to sin in this life for which the Devils are reserved in chains of darknesse and shall be tormented with the wicked in Hell fire for ever Quest 14. What power hath the Devil and his Angels to hurt the Saints Ans A limited power and retrained for the Devils are conquered by Christ and can go no further then God gives them leave for his own glory and the triall and good of his Saints Job 1.12 and 2.6 Hebrews 2.14 15. John 6.11 Colloss 2.14 15. Quest 15. What benefit can this knowledge bring to the Church and Children of God Ans Great joy and profit that Christ our Saviour hath broken the Serpents head and hath power of Devils Gen. 3.15 Rev. 12.10 c. Mat. 8.28 c. Luke 11.21 22. that they cannot hurt so much as a Swine much lesse one of his Children without leave and license from Christ our Lord and King who doth and can restrain the Devils and dispossesse them at his pleasure Quest 16. What other benefit have we Ans To teach Saints to be watchfull and take heed of Satans temptations to keep close to Christ who doth and will tread down Satan under our feet shortly Mat. 26.41 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Gen. 17.1 Joh. 14.20 21 22. Act. 24.15 16. Rom. 16.20 The seventh Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared Gods Providence concerning Spirits Angels and Devils Now what should a faithfull receiver known of the creation and of Gods Providence concerning man and concerning himself in particular Ans A fourfold knowledge is requisite to a comfortable meeting of Christ in the Sacrament Quest 2. What is this fourfold knowledge Ans First what we were by Creation before Adams fall Secondly what was our condition in nature corrupted after the fall Thirdly what it is in the state of Grace And fourthly what it shall be in the state of glory Quest 3. What was the state and condition of man by Creation Ans He was created in the Image of God his soul in some degrees like God in nature a Spirituall invisible living substance indued with understandings will and memory and immortality the whole man blessed with knowledâ—e righteousnesse and true holinesse graced with a communion with God as their Father with an outward Majesty and Dominion over all inferior creatures without all sin and misery having a freedome of will and a promise if he would obey to persevere in happinesse for ever Gen. 26.27 and 2.7 Eccles 12.7 Zach. 12.1 Luke 16.22 and 23.43 Heb. 12.9 Eccles 7.29 Psal 8.3 4 5.6 Eph. 4.23 24. Gen. 1.28 c. and 2.18 c. Quest 4. What ground of assurance was there that Adam might have continued in that happy estate if he would Ans Gods promise in that Covenant of works made with our first Parents before their fall Gen. 1.26 27. 2.16 17. assuring life upon condition of persevering in obedience and threatning death if they break the Covenant or that command of triall given them Quest 5. Should Adam have enjoyed heaven for the merit of of his works if he had continued obedient and kept the Covenant with God his Maker or fulfilled the pleasure of Gods will so revealed therein Gen. 2.17 1 Cor. 4.7 Ans Certainly no the creature could not merit any thing at the hand of the Creator having received both his being and well being from God but he was to live for ever and receive heaven by vertue of the free Covenant and Gods free Promise as the end and free reward of his obedience and faithfulnesse in the Covenant of God Quest 6. What Evidence is there of this truth Ans Besides what is rehearsed this hath been the judgement of holy men in the Church of God after the opinion of our Rabines of blessed Memory saith an Hebrew If Adam had not sinned he had never dyed but the breath which he was inspired with of the most high blessed God should have given life for ever and the good will of God which he had in his creation had cleaved unto him continually and kept him alive for evermore Quest 7. How was this Covenant held forth to our first Parents before their fall Ans By those two Sacraments as some call them of the Tree of Life and of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil Gen. 2.9.17 Rom. 2.14 the first signifying and sealing life eternall if they kept the Covenant The second threatning death and the wofull knowledge of good and evil if they break that command of triall given and so walked contrary to the Morall Law or rule of life written in their hearts or that holy nature infused into them by God in their creation Quest 8. Did Adam and Eve keep that precept of tryall and Law written in their hearts Or walk according to that holy nature in which thty were Created Ans No Gen. 3.1 c. they did eat of the forbidden Tree and obeyed Satans temptations rather then the command of God their Maker Quest 9. What was the estate of Mankinde after this fall of our first Parents and their rebellion against God their Creator Ans Man lost the Image of God wherein he was made became a rebell like Satan in word and deed a slave to the world the flesh and the Devil polluted with Originall corruption and Actuall transgression liable to the wrath of God and all curses Spirituall and corporall in this life and eternall torments with the Devils in Hell fire for ever Eccles 7.29 Gen. 3.7 and 6.5 Psal 53.1 c. 2 Tim. 2.26 Luke 11.21 Joh. 3.36 Rom. 2.8 9 12 14. and 7.18 20. Gen. 17 18 19. Act. 28.27 Rom. 1.24 c. Psal 9.17 Isa 30.33 Mat. 25 41. Quest 10. Is every Childe of Adam in this wofull estate by nature Rom. 3.9 c. Eph. 2.1.2 3. Ans Yes There is none righteous no not one for all have sinned and are come short of the glory of God and were all by nature the children of wrath as well as others Quest 11. But how could the guilt of Adams sin and punishment be justly charged upon us their Posterity Rom. 5.12 c. 11.16 So contrary Luk. 13.26 27. Rev. 21.27 Gen. 3.22 c. Ans Because Adam and Eve sinned as the
common Parents of all Mankinde all being then in their loynes as the branches in the stock the streams in the Fountain and so the corruption and guilt of sins in them was justly derived and imputed to all Mankinde and all subject to be excluded heaven and Gods gracious presence as Adam and Eve were cast out of Paradise Quest 15. Could not our first Parents or Mankinde since the fall Redeem themselves from this damnable estate by being sorrowfull and doing penance for their sin or by gold or silver or good works make God amends again and so recover their lost estate and get heaven by vertue of the first Covenant Do and live Ans No Ier. 10.23 Ezek. 37.1 c. Ioh. 11.39 Psal 49.6 c. 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Eph. 2.1 as 1 Tim. 5.6 It was and is altogether impossible as much as for the dead bones to raise themselves to life or Lazarus to get out of his grave by his own strength after he had been dead four dayes and stinking in the grave by corruption Quest 13. How can this be since the dead bones and Lazarus in the grave had no life at all but man by his fall is only half dead as our Saviour seemeth to intimate Luke 10.30 Ans If we consider the life of nature in man that is half dead Gen. 2.17 3.16 c. Luk. 15.32 Eph 2.1 1 Cor. 2.14 Eph. 4.17 c. 1 Cor. 44. 2 Cor. 3.5 as being since the fall subject to mortality sorrows weaknesse sicknesse pains death of body and outward miseries besides imbecilities of understanding will and memory But if we look to the life of grace and power to please and walk with God that is wholly dead and every one totally unable to recover himself or gain happinesse by that first Covenant Luke 10.31.32 Do and live Quest 14. But did not the understanding will conscience and inferior appetite remain in man after the fall Ans Yes The naturall faculty of the Vnderstanding did remain but darkned and so of th Will but corrupted of the Memory but wounded of the Conscience but defiled and of inferior Appetite but vitiated and deprived of Originall purity the clear light of the understanding rectitude of the will and conscience and conformity of appetite with right reason or light of that light which man had by creation being lost and so Man altogether unable to think or act any thing pleasing to God whilest his guilty person like Cains is not accepted but as Cains so every naturall mans person actions service and sacrifice are abominable before God Gen. 6.5 Eph. 4.18 19. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rom. 8.7 Deut. 6.12 Judg. 3.7 Job 8.13 Psal 9.17 1 Tit. 1.15 Col. 3.5 6. Gen. 4.4 5. Prov. 21.4 and 28.9 Isa 13 14. Quest 15. But are not unregenerate mens naturall actions as to eat drink plow perform works of callings and their well meanings acceptable to God and helps to get Gods favour again that was lost by Adams sin Ans No certainly Prov. 21.4 15.8 Isa 66.3 2 Sam 6.6 Zach. 7.5 6. Iam. 4.3 for although mens naturall actions are good in themselves as they are Gods Ordinance in wayes of his Providence and commands and so to be done yet as acted by ignorant unbelieving unregenerate men they are defiled sinfull and odious men seeking themselves not Gods glory and so their well meaning plowing and prayer is sin Quest 16. Cannot a naturall or civill honest man by good use of his naturall parts doing no man harm to his knowledge performing works of charity hearing of Gods service please God prepare himself for Grace repent and convert himself to God and so walk according to the rule of Gods Law and be saved Ans No verily Ier. 10.14.23 Mat. 10.14 15. 11.20 c. Ier. 31.18 c. It is not in man to direct his steps or come unto God and turn to the Lord from sin and though walking civilly he may have lesse torments in Hell then some notorious wicked men yet since Adams fall the Covenant of works was not renewed nor is there any getting that way into the Kingdom of Heaven The eighth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question BVt hath not a man or woman free will to repent and convert himself to God if he please and so to do Gods Commandements and live as Adam and Eve lived before their fall Ier. 10.23 Iohn 6.44 Phil. 2.13 Ans The will of man was and is alwayes free from violence and constraint since Adams fall but not from defilement and servitude since Adam lost his purity and freedome so that the liberty of will differs much from what it was before that transgression and no naturall man hath free will of himself to turn to God in Christ for Salvation Quest 2. Wherein doth this difference of freedome in mans will consist Ans There is a fourfould condition of mans freedome of will according to his fourfold state and condition of life Quest 3. What is this fourfold difference in the freedome of mans will Ans First In the state of innocency before the fall man had freedom of will both to good and evil Genesis 2.17 Eccles 7.29 Deut. 30.19 This was in Adam and not in us Secondly Gen. 6.5 8.21 In the state of corruption after the fall man hath freedome of will to evil not good Thirdly In the state of grace man hath freedome of will from evil i Cor. 13.9 Phil. 3 i2 c. and unto good but imperfectly Fourthly In the state of glory the will of man shall be wholly free from evil and unto good 1 Cor. 13.10 c. 1 Iohn 3.1 2 3. most perfectly and blessed for ever Quest 4. But hath man lost his freedome of will since Adams fall in all sorts of actions Ans Actions are of severall kindes First Naturall common to men and bruit creatures as to lye down to rise up Acts 17.25 c. stand go eat drink sleep hear see taste smell or the like and all these man hath a naturall freedome of will and minde to do or not to do at choyce only with subordination to the will leave permission and power of God without which we can do nothing Quest 5. What are the second sort of actions Ans Humane actions common to all men regenerate and unregenerate as to speak to lend an outward ear to what is spoken that he may understand it to make use of naturall reason and memory to practise a manuall Trade or liberall Art or Science to perform acts of civill and morall vertues prudence justice temperance and fortitude to plead at the Bar as a Lawyer to be a Iudge of differences between man and man to be a Law-maker to be a Peace-maker a Souldier or any outward Calling All which an unregerate man may do or act and have freedome of will to chuse or refuse at pleasure with Subordination to Gods wil and license as aforesaid as 2 Kings 5.1
yet so but naturall Quest 6. What are a third sort of actions Ans They are mixt actions partly naturall partly tending to Spirituall ends and in outward appearance Spirituall actions as to come to the Church to hear a Sermon Mark 6.20.21 2 Kin. 10.16 31. to partake of the outward Ordinances to reach out the hand in Sacrament to receive the elements of Bread and Wine to joyn with the lips and mouthes in common and ordinary praiers or praises Iohn 3.3 5. to make a shew of Religion like Herod and have a John like zeal of Reformation and he may have a kinde of naturall free will in all these Ioh. 3.3 and yet be a naturall man or woman and never enter into the Kingdom of heaven Quest 7. But is the understanding will and judgement as right now in these actions by nature as they were before the fall Ans Assuredly no In these and the like motions and actions Rom. 8.7 Thef 4.17 c. Mat. 5.20 the understanding since Adams fall is weak and dark the judgement subject to erre and be deceived and the will is weak and wounded weighed by corrupt affections when it meets with temptations as a bowle is drawn with a byas or a corrupt Lawyer Souldier Committee-man or any other in state of nature is drawn contrary to a good conscience And the rule of Gods Word Quest 8. What are the fourth sort of actions Ans They are actions Spirituall and these are of two kindes First Evil and sinfull actions tending to death and damnation Secondly Good and right actions tending to life and salvation in and by the merit and righteousnesse of Christ apprehended by faith 1. Evil as Adams actions Gen. 3.6 or as Cains Gen. 4.8 Gal. 5.19 20.2 Good actions as Abraham Gen. 15.6 Rom. 4.3 as Iayler Acts 16.30 c. Quest 9. What is the condition and power of mans will in the first of these sinfull thoughts words or works tending to death and damnation Ans Mans will in nature corrupted is free to evil thought Gen. 6.5 8.21 words and works yea prone and ready to consent to sin without compulsion with a kinde of delight the will in respect of defilements and inticements of corrupt affections being servile and running not constrained but willing to sin Quest 10. What is the condition of mans will by nature in Sprituall good things tending to life and Salvation as in Divine knowledge Faith Repentance Conversion to God and new obedience in Jesus Christ and such like graces Ans In the very first act of Conversion although the will be free from all violent constraint Rom. 3.9 c. yet in Spirituall good things the will is unable to convert it self Phil. 2.13 or will a turning of it self to God the Free-grace of God in order of nature goeth before and enlightens the minde and moveth the will and yet in the order of time the Spirit of Christ freely moves Act. 9.6 Luk. 19.5 c. and the will of man willingly wills both together to believe to repent to be converted and obey God in Christ Quest 11. But is there any principle in man or mans will to joyn willingly with the motions of Gods Spirit in Faith and Conversion to God Ans No The life of Grace and principle of Grace is wholly dead in man by the fall Eph. 2.1 Phil. 3.13 Col. 2.13 and all is of Gods Free-grace who works both the will and the deed of his good pleasure preventing with his Free-grace both the unwilling that he may will and the willing that he may not will in vain Quest 12. But cannot a naturall man or woman will or desire their own Salvation Ans A naturall man hath not a power and principle in himself to understand 1 Cor. 2.14 1.18 Luke 11.21 Num. 13.10 Acts 8.19 or be sensible of his own misery or danger of eternall damnation and so he cannot desire eternall salvation as a freedome from it yet as Salvation is held forth in the Gospel as a good thing so far as he is enlightned by the common grace of the Spirit he may desire it as Baalam did the death of the righteous or Simon Magus power by laying on hands to Communicate the Holy Ghost Quest 11. But can they desire Salvation truly in a right way 1 Cor. 3.5 Mark 16.15 16. Mat. 16.24 Luke 13.5 Mat. 19.21 22. Ans No For desire of Salvation in the way and means of it the true knowledge of Christ Faith Repentance self-deniall taking up the Crosse leaving all for Christ Thus a naturall man cannot desire it but rather leaves Christ and Salvation as the yong man did in the Gospel Quest 14. But if a naturall man by naturall power cannot so much as will or desire the right way and means of his own Salvation nor by all he can do procure life Eternall To what end then should a naturall man go to Church attend the Preaching of the Word or perform any good duty whatsoever since by all he can do he cannot save himself Ans Yes verily even a naturall man is bound to wait upon God in Christ in all the means of Grace as far as God giveth him power as to come to the Church to attend the work of Christ by his Spirit in hearing of the Word Preached in Catechizing in Christian conference and such like outward Ordinances Matthew 22.1 2 3 4 c. Luke 14.16 c. Quest 15. But why should he doe this Ans Because although a man or woman cannot convert themselves to God Ier. 10.23 Mat. 20.1 c. Act. 16.4 Iohn 5.2 3 4. Rom. 8.15 Mat. 16.17 Gal. 1.16 Acts. 2.37 38. 3.18 c. yet as that multitude of impotent folk of blinde halt and withered came or were brought to the Pool of Bethesda waiting for the moving of the Water that they might be healed so these may come to the Gospel and wait till the Spirit of Christ come and open their hearts and trouble their consciences with sight and sense of sin and misery reveal Christ and give them life and work grace to believe and be converted and be saved and made happy for ever The ninth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YEt once again Exo. 20.1 to 20. Lev. 18.5 2.6 Deut. 28. Ezek. 20.21 Isa 8.20 Luke 10.25 c. if man by naturall strength or by good works cannot redeem himself nor gain heaven To what end then did God hold forth the ten Commandements though not by way of any Covenant of works yet as the matter or Articles of the Law or first Covenant as some call them on Mount Sinai and since that in divers places of the Old and New Testament as if it were a repetition of the Covenant of works with Promises of life upon obedience and threatnings of death if the Law be broken Ans There are divers Answers may be given to satisfie this doubt Chiefly these following may
their Judgement at that Day Ans Yes 1 Thes 4.14 c. 1 Cor. 15.51 52 none excepted or priviledged but when the Trumpet shall sound and the voyce of the Archangel shall call the dead shall arise incorruptible the living shall be changed Rev. 20.12 and all shall appear before the Lord Christ to receive their sentence according to their works Quest 21. How shall the unbelievers and all wicked impenitent ones who have been enemies to the Lord Christ and to his wisdom holinesse and government stand affected at that Day Ans They shall tremble with horror Mat. 24.33 Rev. 1.7 2 Pet. 3.10 Rev. 3. 12 c. amazement and unspeakable sorrows when they shall see the Son of man the Lord Christ come in such glorious and terrible Majesty and though they cry to the Mountains to fall on them and to hide them yet they shall not escape the wrath of the then angry Lamb. Quest 22. How shall believers and the Saints of the most High be affected at the presence of Christ Luke 21.28 Act. 3.19 Mat. 1.21 Rev. 1.5 Ans They shall be affected with joy unspeakable at that day of Resurrection when they shall behold him to be their Iudge who is their Lord and Saviour and who hath washed them from all their sin in his own Blood Quest 23. What are or ought to be the affections of Saints towards Christ coming to Judgement Rom. 5.2 Heb. 9.28 1 Thes 1.10 Ans They should rejoyce in hope and look and wait daily for Christ who hath saved us from wrath to come Quest 24. Are not Gods Children then in a most happy condition above all other in the world being freely delivered from this damnable estate of the wicked and made Heirs of the grace of life Eternall Ans Yes verily the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour Prov. 12.23 Isa 64.4 i Cor. 2.9 as it is written for the eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the hearts or men the things which God hath prepared for them that love him both in grace and glory Quest 25. By whom are we thus Redeemed from sin death and Eternall damnation and made partakers of life Eternall and to be Citizens in that Kingdom of glory Ans Only by Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of our Faith in whom God the Father is well pleased with us Acts 4.12 1 Pet. 1.11 19. Heb. 12. Matth. 17.5 The tenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared the knowledge of God and of our selves Now what should we know concerning Christ that we may draw near with comfort to this Sacrament of the Lords Supper And know more fully how the Lord doth govern us by Christ in Grace till he brings us to glory Ans We ought chiefly to know Christ First In his natures Ioh. 3.2 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.7 c. Divine and Humane Secondly In his Person and wonderfull union with our natures 1 Cor. 1.30 Iohn 1.16 2 Cor. 5 i9 c. Thirdly In his offices 1. Priest 2. Prophet 3. King exercised in Active and Passive obedience and application to both Fourthly In the glorious fruits and benefits which the Lord Iesus by his vertue and power as Mediator communicates to poor sinners for their everlasting Salvation Quest 2. How must Christ be known in respect of his nature Ans That he is perfect God and perfect Man both of a Divine and Humane nature that Immanuel God-man or God with us in our Humanity the Son of God and the Son of Man mighty to save full of grace and truth Isa 9.6 Joh. 1.14 Zach. 13.7 Isa 7.14 Joh. 3.16 Matth. 25.31 Isa 63.1 Mat. 1.21 Heb. 7.25 Iohn 1.16 Quest 3. How and when was Christ our Saviour God Ans He was God of God from all eternity not made but begotten of God the Father before all worlds and from everlasting very God of very God being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made the unchangeable wisdom and essentiall Word of God abiding God for ever Joh. 1.1.14 11. 1 Ioh. 5.20 Ioh. 10.30 1 Ioh. 5.7 Joh. 1.2 3. Col. 1.15 c. Prov. 8.12 c. Tit. 1.3 Iude 23. Rev. 19.13 1 Tim. 1.16 17. Rev. 1.11 1 Tim. 6.14 15 16. Heb. 1.8 9. Quest 4. You say Christ the Son of God in his Divine nature was God of God How I pray you do you understand that the Son of God was God of God was it or is it in respect of his Divine Essence or in respect of his Person and his filiation or Sonship only Ans This is a great mystery as is the mystery of his Incarnation But I humbly conceive and believe that in respect of the Person of the Son or of his Sonship he was God of God the Father Iohn 8.42 and is said to be God of God Light of light very God of very God But in respect of his Divine Essence he is Auto-Theos God of himself Iohn 10.30 and by himself from all Eternity and one Essence with God the Father blessed for ever Quest 5. But how can the Son of God be said to be begotten of God the Father since God the Father is a Spirituall Essence and can one Spirit be said to beget another or how might this be Ans This is a great mystery more fit for Faith to believe then Reason to apprehend nor do I know any similitude can truly and fully expresse this mystery but the learned endeavoring to give some light of it have held forth the eternall generation of the Son of God in these and the like expressions First as the minde of a man when it thinketh of and understands it self by reflection upon it self doth form and beget in it self and as it were of it self some Image or likenesse of it self though not perfect or distinctly of it self subsisting So God the Father when as he fully knoweth and beholdeth himself in his Eternity and infinity After an unutterable manner he did beget in himself the most perfect Image and expresse likenesse of himself distinctly subsisting and yet wonderfully co-essentiall with himself from all eternity and to this effect Christ is called the brightnesse of Gods glory Heb. 1.3 and the expresse Image of his person Col. 1.15 and of the invisible God and the like in holy Scriptures Secondly As a word is the Image of the minde Iohn 1.1 2. and begotten of the minde so the essentiall word is the Image of God the Father Thirdly not far different from this others expresse it thus That as a man looking his naturall face in a glasse doth beget his own image or likenesse which so long as he looketh continueth as his own expresse image though that is not subsisting by it self So God the Father beholding himself from all Eternity in the eternall glasse of his own most glorious Essence he did eternally or from all eternity beget his own Son his own
and towards us in Redemption Thirdly to us in giving the Gospel and and Spirit of Christ whereby men and women most sinfull and miserable by nature are gathered and called by the Ministery of the Gospel without and power of the same Spirit within First out of darknesse to light Secondly from the power of Satan to God reconciled in Christ Thirdly from self-confidence to believe in Christ Fourthly from communion and union with the world the flesh and the Devil in all sin and wickednesse to an union and communion with God in Christ in all righteousnesse and true holinesse as that true way and path in by and for Christ which leads to glory Matth. 11.25 c. Joh. 6.44 45. Acts 13 47 c. Eph. 4.8 c. Acts 26.17 c. 1 Pet. 2.2 c. Rom. 7.1 Matth. 10.3 The Publican Zacheus Luke 19.5 c. as Acts 9. Paul called extraordinarily So Acts 2.37 c. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Tit. 2.11 12. Joh. 14.6 Quest 11. What is the sixth grace or benefit which Christ hath procured for us and we do receive from God our Father in and through Christ his only begotten Son our Lord Ioh. 17.3 Eccl. 17.18 19. Ier. 31.33 34. Ans The precious gift and grace of Divine and Heavenly knowledge by the Spirit of Wisdom to know God the Father together with God the Son and the same blessed Spirit the true God and the knowledge of Iesus Christ whom the Father hath sent into the world for our salvation and whom to know is life Eternall Quest 12. What is a seventh grace or gift procured by Christ and given of God to us in Christ by the Spirit in Christ to our comfort Ans The rich and precious gift and grace of Faith Phil. 1.29 Ioh. 1. 11 12. Ioh. 3.16 of which we shall speak in due place as a hand to receive and apply Christ and in Christ Iustification and life Eternall Quest 13. What is the eighth blessing gift or grace procured by Christ and given of God the Father Son and blessed Spirit in Christ and for Christ to his Church and Children Ans That inestimable gift and grace of free Iustification before God for life and Salvation Rom. 5.1 9 10. Quest 14. What is this gift and grace of Justification Ans Iustification is the free gracious act of God Psa 32.1 2. A s 13.37 Rom. 3.23 c. Rev. 2.17 Rom. 6.14 8.1 33 34. 2 Cor. 5.20 21. in which for the merits and righteousnesse of Christ apprehended by a true and lively Faith The Lord doth first freely discharge acquit forgive absolve and set free a faithfull or believing man or woman from all the imputation guilt and punishment of sin yea from death and Hell the second death or death Eternall due to sin Secondly doth also repute account esteem and judge or sentence and so make them righteous in and for and through not their own but the merits and righteousnesse of Christ and so in and for Christ gives them the white stone of grace and adjudgeth them to life Eternall Quest 15. You say Justification is the free act of God How is it free Or how are we said to be freely justified when as you also say it is for the merits of Christ Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. Rom. 8.32 Ans We may well be said to be Iustified freely by grace 1. Because we pay nothing for it of our own to God himself 2. Because Christ by whose merits and righteousnesse we are Iustified is Gods free gift Quest How are ye said to be Justified by Christ Rom. 5.1 when the Apostle saith We are Justified by Faith Ans Faith is the Instrument by which we receive and apply Christ Mat. 5.17 Rom. 5.9 by whose merits and vertue we are Iustified Faith brings nothing of our own but receives from Christ indeed properly and meritoriously It is Christ applyed by Faith in whom God is well pleased and for whom we are Iustified in Gods sight Quest 17. But doth not the Apostle Iames say That Abraham was justified by works How then are we justified by Christ apprehended by Faith or how by works as St. Iames speaks Ans The Apostle James speaks of Iustification Iam. 2.20 c. Rom. 4.1 c. Rom. 3.27.28 or rather a Declaration of our Iustification before men and this is by works the fruits of a true and lively faith but before God not by or for any works of ours but for Christs merits applyed by Faith we are justified in the presence of God Quest 18. What benefit is there to a true believer in and by this grace of Justification before God in Christ for being thus made righteous in Gods presence Ans An excellent change into a new state and condition 1. Before a sinner subject to an angry God Eph. 2.3 But now a Saint delivered from wrath to come 1 Thes 1.10 2. Before an enemy to God in our carnall mindes Rom. 8.7 But now friends reconciled to God in Christ Rom. 5.10 2 Cor. 5.10 3. Before afar off Eph. 2.1 3. But now brought nigh Eph. 2.13 4. Before strangers and forraigners but now fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 5. In a word Before neither sons nor daughters in grace But now sons and daughters of God in Christ and heirs and fellow-heirs of Christ in Eternall glory 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Rom. 8.17 Quest 19. This is comfortable knowledge concerning this blessing and grace of Iustification Now what is a ninth blessing or benefit which is procured by Christ and bestowed upon us from God the Father in and by the Lord Iesus 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Ans Great blessings and benefits of Adoption to be sons and daughters of God in Christ The fourteenth Classis or Company Questions 1 Question VVHat is the grace and great blessing of Adoption 1 Iohn 3.1 Eph. 1.5 6. Ioh. 1.12 Gal. 4.4 5. Ans It is the act of Gods Free-grace and love in Christ whereby according as he hath Predestinated Redeemed Called and Iustified So he doth Adopt and take those who were strangers in unbelief now brought neer by Faith and receiving Christ by Faith to be sons and daughters of God in Christ Iesus Quest 2. What difference is there between a Natural and an Adopted Son or Daughter Ans A Natural Son or Daughter is one who is begotten or born of a Natural Father or Mother Gen. 21.2 as Isaac was the Natural Son of Abraham and Sarah And Rebekah the Natural Daughter of Bethuel and Milcah Gen. 24.24 c. But an Adopted Son or Daughter is one not Naturally begotten or born but a stranger by birth Adopted and taken to be a Son or Daughter Exod. 2.5 c. as Moses was the Adopted Son of Pharaohs Daughter And Esther the Adopted Daughter of Mordecai Esth 2.7 Hos 2.23 So is it between God and us Quest 3. What is a certain property or sure
Doctrine in that 1 Cor. 7.14 15 16. noted already Quest 19. But what outward means is there then to separate and distinguish these truly from the world when these come to years of discretion Ans I have answered this Question in part too already I now adde Not to be Baptized again as some are in these dayes as if that had power of it self to convey an inward Grace or communicate the holy Ghost or to make and evidence them to be true Disciples as some dream For certainly men may be outwardly Baptized and made outside Disciples and have outward common gifts of knowledge utterance to professe the Faith of Christ and be Rebaptized and yet be but Hypocrites and no true Disciples nor Teachers Rom. 2.28 29. as were many in the Primitive times and too many amongst our selves Quest 20. What outward means then will suffice Children Baptized when they come to years of discretion to evidence them without Rebaptizing as far as any outward badge can do to be true Christians separated from the world and approved of as Members of the Church of Christ and of the Congregation of Saints Ans first a professiō of total resigning thēselves to Christ with a right preparation in themselves with gifts of Grace from Christ outward and inward evidencing the truth of their knowledge Faith and Regeneration or new conversion unto God in Christ so far as can be discerned by the Church in Christian charity Secondly a right Examination of them and their knowledge Faith and other Graces to this end with admission of them by the Church or Ministers and Elders of the Church to the Lords Supper after Examination and sufficient proof and approbation aforesaid Thirdly their joyning with the Church in that Sacrament of Establishment and confirmation of their Faith in Christ and communion with the Saints of the most high in Profession of Faith and holinesse Fourthly and lastly their Religious walking in all holinesse and good works according to their callings manifesting their Christian thankfulnesse to God for his Free-grace in Christ to Gods glory the good of Gods Church and joy of their own souls in Christ Iesus These may suffice to evidence and approve them Christians without Rebaptization or separation of themselves from the publike Preaching of the Gospel Heb. 10.22 c. and communion of Saints as the manner of some is Quest 21. What profit or comfort can there come by Baptizing of Infants Ans First It may be a comfort to the Parents in this assurance that their Children are within the Covenant of Promise when as Infidel can have no such assurance of their Children that they might praise God for such goodnes And Secondly Great profit to their Children themselves for their Instruction when they come to years of discretion what Covenant they are ingaged in by Baptism to be Gods Children and have as Children in Covenant with God in Christ right to many Prerogatives which Infidels have not no nor their Children Quest 22. What is the end and use of this Sacrament of Baptism Ans To set forth and seal First Our ingrafting into Christ as Rom. 11.17 18. 6.4 c. Secondly And our union and communion with Christ and his Church 1 Cor. 12.12 13 27. Thirdly Our putting on of Christ and Righteousnesse in graces Gal. 3.27 Fourthly To hold forth our inward washing in Christ blood partaking in the vertue of Christs death and Resurrection Rom. 6.3 4 c. Fifthly Our assurance of Repentance and remission of sins Acts 22.16 Sixthly Our Adoption to be Gods children Gal. 3.24 4.4 5. Seventhly Assurance of Eternal life when this life is ended 1 Pet. 1.9 Gal. 3.20.29 Rom. 4.11 Quest 23. But should not children be Dipped over head and ears the whole body in the Water as some thinks Iohn Baptized in Iordan and as Papists did use to Baptize their children Ans It is not the outward dipping or washing that clenseth away sin but the vertue of the blood of Christ And we read no absolute command of Baptizing in a River or washing the whole body in water nor do we believe the Iaylor and his houshold Baptized at midnight went forth to a River to be dipped all over It is sufficient to Baptize or wash part as Christ said to Peter in washing the Disciples feet He that is washed needs not have to wash his feet but is clean every whit For if Christ wash any part of the soul or body with his blood he washeth the whole man Ioh. i. 7 Rev. 5.6 Ioh. 13.8 9 10. Heb. 12.24 it needs then save to Baptize or wash the head or face of a man woman or childe with water in Baptism That may suffice to seal our Spiritual washing with the blood of Sprinkling which speaks better things then did the blood of Abel Quest 24. What say you of the Popish custom of Dipping the whole body of the childe all over in water three times First in the Name of the Father Secondly in the Name of the Son Thirdly in the Name of the holy Ghost Ans It is evident to me that they rested too much in the work done and outward action Christ giving no command for such a threefold baptizing of the body and I conceive the like of baptism of some Adversarie to Poedobaptism in a River too much magnifying the manner of the outward action of their Baptizing of their whole body of their Rebaptized Disciples For which kinde of Baptizing the whole Body or Baptizing in a River Mat. 28.19 Christ gives no word of command that we finde in Scripture in the Institution of Baptism Quest 25. You have held forth divers grounds from the Word of God to shew the lawfulnesse of Baptizing the chil-of Believing Parents But I desire the resolution of another doubt Do you believe I pray you that there is such a necessity of Baptizing children that if they die without Baptism they are damned or go to Limbo as the Papists dream and too many Popishly affected amongst us Ans I answer I believe Baptism is not a thing indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure but it is necessary to be used of Christians according to the Institution of Christ Mat. 28.20 And if it cannot be obtained by men of ripe years converted or for children of Believers yet it is to be sought for and desired in a right and due manner with the Word adjoyned unto it not resting on Baptism but on Christ for Salvation And yet I do not believe that outward baptism makes a Christians soul Gal. 6.15 or Baptism to be so absolutly necessary to Salvation or the Grace of God in Christ to be so tied unto the Sacrament that those who desire it and die without it cannot be saved or that they go into some Limbo and not into Heaven as Papists and ignorant people have dreamed Or that believing Parents should be so troubled for their children dying without Baptism as if they were
heavenly bread Christ for our everlasting comfort The eighteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat analogy resemblance or similitude and fitnesse of agreement is there between the wine and the blood of Christ in the Sacrament Ans First Gen. 49.11 Deut. 32.14 Isa 63.2 c. Iohn 15.1 5. Luke 22.42 c. Mat. 27.24 c. as the wine is made of the blood of Grapes pressed and strained in the winepresse for the benefit of men and women so the blood of Christ was pressed out in the winepresse of the wrath of God which Christ did endure in his most bitter agony and passion for our Redemption Quest 2. What is a second resemblance and analogy between Wine and the Blood of Christ Ans As wine when it is drunken doth â—â—rm the stomack Psal 104.15 Prov. 3.6 Psal 119.13 Ier. 16.7 Mat. 26.27 c. Acts 10.28 Col. 1.10 Heb. 12.24 Iohn 1.7 Rev. 1.5 6. 5.8 c. chear up the spirits and make glad the hearts of men and women in times of sorrow as a cup of consolation of old time yea doth quicken and strengthen to labour and duty so likewise the blood of Christ received and drunken by faith doth by Christs vertue and merits warm the life of grace in the soul in assuring remission of sins purchased with his blood cherish comfort and quiet the soul and make it able and ready to every good work to the glory of God in Christ good of his Church and joy of our own hearts Quest 3. What is a third analogy or simulitude between Wine and the Blood of Christ 1. Cor. 10.3 Mat. 26.27 1 Cor. 12.4 Gal. 3.27 28. Eph. 4.3 c. Ans As many Grapes pressed together make but one wine and all that receive the Sacrament drink of one and the same blood and juice of the Grape as of the cup so all the vertue of the passion of Christ his active and passive obedience to his Fathers will for us makes one cup of precious blood for the faithful to drink and all the faithful drink of the same blood of Christ as of one cup of love to signifie and seal our union and communion with Christ and one with another in love as all made one in Christ Iesus Quest 4. Now what kinde of union and presence is this between the signes and the things signified if it be not a corporal and local union and presence Ans First for the union between the signes and the things signified though there he not a corporal or local or place union yet it is not an imaginary but a true Spiritual relation and union by vertue of which and of the Covenant of Grace in Christ the things signified are really and truly communicated to all them that lawfully and rightly partake of the outward signes in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 10.16 Quest 5. How is there a presence of the thing signified with the signes if there be not a local presence or that the things signified be not present in place with the outward signes either by way of Transubstantiation the Bread and Wine turned into the Natural Body of Christ as Papists or of Consubstantiation or of the Natural body in or under Bread and Wine as some others have imagined Ans There is a fourfold manner of presence in and by which one thing may be said to be present with another which being rightly observed a man may easily see how Christ and things signified are and may be said to be united and present to the outward signes in the Sacrament and to Believers that partake of them Quest 6. What is the first of these Heb. 2.14 Luke 24.38 c. Mat. 28.6 Acts 3.20 21. 1 Cor. 8.17 12.13 27. Ans The first a local or place-presence a bodily presence in a place as a man is present in a house as Christ was in the Temple or the Sun in the Firmament or the like and with this presence Christ may be said to be present not bodily but in respect of his Divine Person and Spirit by which he is alwayes present with his to the end of the world yet not by the presence of his Natural body either by Transubstantiation or turning the bread and wine by vertue of the Priests words of consecration into the Natural body and blood of Christ as the Papists or by Consubstantiation as if in or under the bread and wine the Natural body and blood of Christ were contained as some Lutherans have affirmed Christs Natural body though glorified being finite like ours and cannot be in multitudes of places and persons at the same moment of time But indeed is in heaven and there to continue till the day of Iudgement yet present by spiritual union with us as we are Members of his Body Quest 7. What is the second manner in which one thing may be said to be present in or with another Ans By a Sacramental sâ—mbolical Gal. 13.1 1 Cor. â—0 16 or figurative presence when a thing is represented to the minde of a man by some outward signe as a thing is represented by a word or a voyce or a man to the sight by a Picture And thus Sacramentally Christs true natural body and bloud are present as represented to the eye of the soul the minde of a believer by the outward signe of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Quest 8. What is the third manner of presence Ans The third is a spiritual presence Heb 11 i 1 Cor. 10.3 4 5. Ioh. 8.56 when we represent a spiritual thing not present as present to and with us by Faith as faithful Abraham by the eye of Faith did see Christ day many hundred yeers before Christ was born or as by a prospective Glasse we do bring the body of the Sun or Moon or of a Star far off to be neer and as it were present to the eies of our bodies and thus Christs natural Body and Blood his passion death resurrection ascension and all his benefits are present to our souls and bodies by Faith to our joy and comfort Quest 9. What is the fourth kinde of presence in and by which one thing may be said to be present in or with another Ans This is a virtual presence when that which is distant and far off in place Mat. 28.20 Mat. 18.20 1 Cor. 10.16 is by the virtue power and efficacie present to and with us for our comfort and nourishment as the Sun in the firmament is far off in place and yet the vertue the light and warm'th of the Sun is present with us here on the earth to direct revive quicken nourish and cherish the creatures yea men and women whom experience teacheth to be refreshed by it And thus vertually Christ is present yea his natural Body and Blood whole Christ and his vertue present for the nourishment of true believers and their assurance of eternal salvation by Christ sealed in this Sacrament Quest 10.
from Babylon it self The force and falshood of their minor proposition will appear as it relates to our Congregations if we compare the Church of Corinth and our great mixed Congregations together we shall finde the Church of Corinth and other Churches as corrupt and mixt as ours and yet not un-churched by Christ or the Apostles You may observe these particulars 1 Cor. 1.10 c. 1 Cor. 3.3 4. First in the Church of Corinth there were contentions Schisms and Divisions For which the Apostle reproveth them and tells them they were carnal and carried themselves not Christian like and yet he did not un-church them for all this 1 Cor. 5.1 2 13. Secondly in the Church of Corinth were prophane persons the incestuous person and such as with whom they should not eat in their civil societies as professing themselves Brethren for such are intimated and warning given of them and such as should have been cast out of the Church and excommunicated or suspended from the Sacrament at least and were not and yet the Apostle doth not un-church them for all this but admonish to put from them wicked persons Thirdly 1 Cor. 6. 1 2 8 in the Church of Corinth there was quarrelling and going to Law one with another and that before unbelievers yea Brother with Brother yea doing wrong and defrauding one another and yet the Apostle doth not un-church them nor exhort to a separation for all this Fourthly in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 8.1 2 10. there were some puffed up with knowledge but had little charity they offended their weak Brethen by eating meat in the Idols Temple and yet no un-churching for all this Fifthly in the Church of Corinth there were such as did grudge at the maintenance of Christs Ministers 1 Cor. 9. 1 2 34. as if Christs Ministers had not power to eat and to drink and to receive and require maintenance for their labour in preaching the Gospel as some amongst us have not been ashamed to affirm For which the Apostle reproveth them and proveth by several Arguments 1 Cor. 9.13 14. the equity justice and duty of Ministers maintenance as being an Ordinance of Christ that those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel of duty not of meer alms at pleasure or not at pleasure as som◠think And yet the Apostle doth not unchurch them for all this or exhort or teach a separation by all this Sixthly in the Church of Corinth there were Idolaters those who did go to partake of the Lords Table and the Table of Devils and provoked God to jealousie 1 Cor. 10 14 c. as the Apostle intimates and yet he doth not un-church them for all this Seventhly In the Church of Corinth there were such as came to the Sacrament and Church-Communion not for the better 1 Cor. 11. but for the worse There were divisions amongst them they neglected the poor one was hungry another drunken for so the Greek signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one is hungry another is drunken The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ebrius est he is drunken is taken for drunkennesse in divers other places of Scripture Thus Acts 2. For these are not drunken as ye suppose The same Greek word is used in the Plural Number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are drunken or they are not drunken as ye suppose it implieth a distemper by wine or strong drink which the Apostle did affirm the Church was not at that time to whom God gave the gift of Tongues in such an excellent manner by the power of the holy Ghost The same word is used in 1 Cor. 6. Neither Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God not drunkards the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ebriosi drunken men distempered with drink I might name other places These are enough to shew the condition of the Corinthians some of them hungry others drunken that is distempered with drink It is not enough to say they were merry and cheerful with drink for it is evident they were so far distempered or drunken that the Apostle reproveth them for it as a sin some are hungry some are drunken and yet he doth not un-Church them nor move them to Separation for all this Quest 36. But do you approve of drunkennesse or these sinful corruptions in a Church Ans God forbid nay we reprove them as Saint Paul did and declare they ought to be informed against to the Church and Elders of the Church and if after Admonition and warning given they do not repent they are to be Excommunicated to be excluded the Sacrament and cast out of the Church But if there be failing in this and the like as Corinth did in not casting out the Incestuous person for a time yet the Apostle doth not un-Church them for all this or presse a Separation from Saints or from the Church though failing in this particular Eighthly They came to the Sacrament without due Examination of themselves 1 Cor. 28 c. they were guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ by unworthy receiving They did eat and drink judgement to themselves not discerning the Lords Body they were both ignorant and scandalous and God did punish them some with sicknesses some with death This the Apostle tells them of and reproveth them and exhorts to examine and judge themselves But yet he doth not un-Church them for all this or give any way to Separation from Church Ninthly 2 Cor 11.12 c. They had in the Church of Corinth false Teachers false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ as Satan changeth himself into an Angel of light whose Ministers these safe Apostles were labouring by fair shew to seduce the people of God in Corinth and yet the Apostle doth not un-Church Corinth nor presse or give way to a Separation for all this Tenthly and lastly In the Church of Corinth there were such as said there is no resurrection from the dead A notorious Atheistical Doctrine 1 Cor. 15.12 c. overthrowing the very foundation of Religion For as the Apostle argueth If there be no Resurrection then Christ is not risen then our Preaching is vain and our faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins But Christ is risen and there is certainly a Resurrection from the dead as the Apostle proveth at large in that Chapter Certainly too many in the Church of Corinth were seduced to that opinion and denied this truth of the Resurrection from the dead And yet the Apostle doth not un-Church them for all this nor give any way to a Separation from that Church Qest 37. And what the reason of this may some one demand Ans There might be many reasons given but this one amongst the rest Because although there were many corruptions in that Church both in life and Doctrine yet the Word and Sacrament were continued the prophane wicked men and Hypocrites
heard one acknowledge That the Lord did strike him with a terrible sicknesse and fear of death and hell for his sins which terrified him and when he did recover God did draw him to attend more diligently to the Preaching of the Word by which he became so convinced of his former evil life and of the damnable danger of his former wicked companions and of the vanity of this present evil world 1. Christs spirit by the law or commanding part of the Word revealing even the vain thoughts Ier 4.14 Rom. 7. and speculative sinful imaginations odious to God yea the lusts of the heart to be damnable and as Christ interprets the Law He that is angry with his Brother rashly or calls his Brother Raca or gives him evil names shall be in danger of Iudgement and he that saith thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire or he that but looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5.28 Gal. 3.24 that Law was his School-master to bring him unto Christ and the Law so expounded by Christ convincing his conscience and so accusing him of sin that he could finde no rest or peace in his soul 2. The spirit of Christ by the promising part of the Word the Gospel of grace drawing him unto Christ Acts 13.48 Mat. 11.28 29. wrought faith in his soul enabled him to believe and imbrace Christ to receive and rest on Christ as he is All-sufficient and alone Redeemer and then he found rest in the arms of his Saviour and did know that Christ had communicated life of grace to his soul Quest 18. Sir have you known none in a different manner converted unto Christ Ans Yes truly to answer your relation I remember one acquainted me with the manner of his life and told me of his conversation I was saith he Mr. M. of London first a Souldier beyond Sea and got money and outward riches but I had gotten no life of grace in my soul Then I came into England and was a Courtier and encreased my riches but I gained no grace at Court nor life of grace to my soul Then I turned Merchant in the city and gained a place in custome for a great Merchandize and increased my gold and silver by trading but I gained no life of grace for my soul till in the time of the great Plague I fled the city for fear of infection and in the country though I took great store of gold and silver with me yet I was in danger to perish for want of provision no one would come near me for fear of the Plague nor suffer me to stir out of doors so that in a straight I began to think there was a great God who could starve me in the midst of gold Gen. 42.16 Iam. 4.16 2 King 7.19 20. Acts 16.29 5.42 Phil. â—3 7 c. of heaps or bags or take my life in a night and what was my gold and silver to me and I went back to London like the affrighted Iaylor not knowing what to do and I heard a Minister of the Gospel Preach Christ and the Doctrine of Gods Free-grace in Christ so sweetly that the spirit of God wrought faith in my soul drew me in to imbrace Christ to count all but dung for Christ and so I gained the life of grace more of value then all the gold and silver in the world And thus you may see how God is pleased to work divers wayes in the conversion of sinners Acts 2.36 c. 9.4 5. 16.14 Ioh. 3.1 and communicating the life of grace to their souls as we finde evidence in the Scriptures in Peters tears the Eunuch Paul Lydia and the Iaylor and others some wrought upon by the spirit of Christ in one way some in another but which way soever it pleaseth God to give grace that soul that findes and feels this life of grace to be nourished may assuredly approach with boldnesse and comfort to the Table of the Lord. Quest 19. But Sir Psal 116.11 Isa 50.10 Psal 51.8 c. Isa 63.17 Psal 77.7 c. I have heard a friend of mine complain that although in time past she thought she had the life of grace in her soul and she found divers evidences of her conversion felt joy and comfort in Christ with hungring desire and rejoycing to meet Christ in his Word Sacrament and other Ordinances and although she felt sweet refreshment from Christ in them yet now she walks in darknesse and seeth no light she findes hardnesse of heart and deadnesse of spirit to prayer or any spiritual duty she is forgetful of good cannot remember Gods Word full of fears and doubtings that she is none of Gods Elect she is subject to fearful temptations against God and Christ and the Gospel and Ministers as if false Preachers yea to speak against Gods Government or think strange thoughts of God and that God hath hardned her heart and his mercy is gone from her for ever And because she seeth so many divisions even amongst those whom she hath esteemed to be Saints she is ready to cast off all and to think it is in vain for her to meet Christ in the Word or in the Sacraments judging her case desperate and in a sad condition she findes such decay of grace in her soul What counsel I pray you is to be given to her Or what comfort or means of comfort in Christ that she may be revived and the life of grace revived in her and she filled again with longings after Christ that so she may meet Christ again with comfort at the Lords Table Ans I have satisfied this doubt and answered these cases of conscience at large out of Gods Word in a Sermon which I Preached at Pauls Crosse London Printed by G. Fayrbead 1617. called The true way of a Christian to the new Jerusalem but I believe it is difficult to be gotten in print therefore I will acquaint you with the brief resolutions of these and such like cases of conscience by which some christians in the like temptations have found comfort and it may be with Gods blessing they may be profitable for your friend The twenty sixth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question I Shall be right glad to hear of any comfort for my friends Now what I pray you are the causes wherefore the Lord somtimes suffers these doubtings and these temptations to disquiet his children Ans There are divers occasions why the Lord withdraweth the beams of his graces from his own people and leaveth them as it were to themselves for a time of many take a few which follow 1. Isa 57.16 c. Psal 31.1 c. It may be for some sin for which the soul is not humbled so God doth it for humiliation that the soul may see more need of Christ both for Iustification and Sanctification Psal 77.2 c. 1 Pet. 5.8
14.22 23. the bodily ears must hear the bodily hand must receive and the bodily mouth must eat and feed on the outward Elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament And secondly the acts or operations of the soul or of the inward man The spiritual eye of the soul must see the ear of faith must hear the hand of faith must receive and apply Christ the mouth of faith must feed on Christ So you see there are two sorts of eyes the eys of the body the eys of the soul And two sorts of ears the ears of the body and the ears of the soul And two sorts of hands the hands of the body and the hands of the soul And two sorts of mouthes the mouth of the body and the mouth of the soul Rom. 10.6 c. Iohn 6.54 c. And so all the objects and Sacramental acts or actions at the Lords Table So by faith we spiritually feed on Christ Quest 3. Are there not two sorts of objects about which these bodily and spiritual senses are to be exercised Ans Yes there are first outward visible objects of Bread and Wine with all the audible and visible acts and operations of Christs Ministers Mat. 26.26 c. and Christs people in the several Sacramental actions and branches of the Lords Supper Secondly Inward invisible and heavenly acts of Christ and graces from Christ in the institution of this Sacrament and participation thereof presented and communicated to faithful receivers at the Lords Table and each of these corporal and spiritual answering one another in every particular object branch or Sacramental action in this sacred Ordinance in and about which the acts and operations of the soul and body and inward man are to be chiefly exercised in time of this solemn feast with the Lord Jesus Quest 4. What are these acts and operations of the soul and body thus to be exercised at the Lords Table Ans There are chiefly these three First diligent Observation of every Sacramental action and object of the soul or body The second Divine Meditation of every of them Thirdly spiritual and faithful Application of all to my own soul for my joy and comfort in this holy Ordinance Quest 5. What or how many are the Sacramental actions or objects of senses corporal or spiritual in which these senses and operations of the soul and body are to be exercised and these acts of the soul to be busied at the Lords Table Ans There are divers but chiefly these ten which follow First a Sacramental preparation of Bread and Wine on the Lords Table Secondly a Sacramental invitation to draw near to the Lords Table with eyes of body or soul when we are come rightly prepared Thirdly Sacramental Consecration first of the Bread to be received and after of the Wine to be drunk at the Lords Table Fourthly Sacramental Representation of Christs Death and Passion by breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine upon the Lords Table to shew the Lords death till he come Fifthly Sacramental Commemoration and doing this in memory of Christ with a thankful remembrance of Christs Death for my sins and for my salvation Sixthly Sacramental Congratulations or Christs welcom to his guests at his Table Take eat Take drink Seventhly Sacramental Foederation or Covenant-promises held forth by Christ when he took the Bread and said This is my Body and took the Cup and said This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood shed for many for remission of sins Eigthly Sacramental Participation by the mouth of the body of the outward Elements and by the mouth of faith feeding on Christ himself and his benefits to my soul Ninthly Sacramental Vnion and Communion with Christ and all his merits and benefits with my head and with the Saints as my fellow-members of the same mystical body of Christ with whom I do partake and have communion at the Lords Table Tenthly Sacramental Obsignation or sealing and communication of this spiritual union and communion with Christ and of all graces from Christ to my believing-Covenanting-soul renewing my general and particular Vows and Protestations to God in Christ as Christ reneweth and re-confirms his Covenant of grace and love to my soul in this Sacrament at the Lords Table Matthew 22.1 2 3 4. and 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.25 26. and 10.16 17. Quest 6 What is the first Sacramental action word or object of your bodily or spiritual sences about which the acts and operations of the soul or body are to be exercised when you are to draw near to the Lords Table Ans Sacramental invitation when the voyce of the Minister of Christ having expressed 1. The inestimable benefits communicated to the Saints in this Sacrament 2. The Author 3. The Institution 4. The ends 5. The use of it to Believers 6. The profit of it 7. The great preparation required And 8. The danger of coming unprepared 9. The solemn Admonition and Dehortation to all ignorant scandalous and prophane persons that they stand back and presume not to approach the Lords Table least they eat judgement to themselves and drink their own damnation as 1 Cor. 11.19 And 10. Invitation calling and embracing and emboldening me with all Saints truly prepared to draw neer and partake of that blessed feast which according to the institution example and command of Christ is there prepared for me and them at the Lords Table as Matthew 22.4 Quest 7. What must you do when you hear this voyce of the Minister of Christ sounding to the ears of your body and inviting you to draw near to the Lords Table Ans I should be careful by the power of Christ to wait on Christ in these three acts noted before 1. Rightly to observe and consider what is spoken by the Minister of Christ in this invitation 2. To meditate and think by the power of Christs spirit what this invitation is and what a joyful thing it is to be invited to the Table of the Lord Jesu 3. To labour by the same power of Christs spirit Psa 104.34 to apply this invitation to my own soul as to one believing and longing for refreshing from Christ to the joy and comfort of my soul and the reviving of my spirit in Christ Jesus Quest 8. How must you exercise the ear of your faith Ans In attention as if I heard the voyce of Christ from heaven Cant. 5.1 calling me spiritually to feast with him at his Table Quest 9. What is the second object or Sacramental action or object which answereth your corporal sence of Seeing in the Celebration of this holy Sacrament Ans The Sacramental preparation of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine which I see set upon the Table or made ready to be consecrated Mark 14.22 23. and set apart for that holy Ordnance when I am come to the Lords Table Quest 10. What is that spiritual sense and spiritual object which answereth the spiritual sense of
Sacrament Ans First I am to joyn with the Minister of Christ 2 Cor. 2.14 Col. 1.12 13. and the congregation of Saints in solemn thanksgiving unto God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the inestimable gift of the Lord Iesus Christ for his taking our humane Nature upon him that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and my soul to reconcile me to God for his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and all his rich merits and benefits of my Redemption Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Glorification so gloriously set forth and sealed and so graciously communicated in this Sacrament to my soul and to all Saints with me at the Lords Table Secondly Humbly and faithfully to joyn in Petition for assurance that all failings and infirmities in my performances are pardoned in Christ my pardon sealed my person whole service accepted with the sweet merits and incense of Christs righteousness upon the golden Altar with a continual influence of power and vertue from Christ that all the congregation of Saints may keep covenant with the Lord and declare our thankfulnesse by our fruitfulnesse in all good works as becometh the people of God who have received so great ahd assuring plesges of the love of God to us in Christ and of our eternal salvation in and by the Lord Iesus Quest 21. What is the fourth and last thing to be acted or joyned in with the Congregation Ans Divers particulars 1. After the example of Christ to glorifie God in a holy Hymn or Psalm if it be thought fit praising the Lord for his goodnesse to his Church in Christ Iesus and to his congregation present in his Ordinance And secondly waiting for the blessing giving in and with which the congregation is dismissed according to the practise of Christ the Apostles and Churches of Christ as of old to leave the people of God with a blessing as Numb 6.22 c. 2 Sam. 6.17,18 1 Kings 8.55 c. Luke 22.50 51. And the blessing which the Apostle gave when they took leave of the Church in several Epistles as Rom 16.24 c. 2 Corinthians 3.15 And thirdly I should return home with rejoycing as the Eunuch did after he was baptized or the two Disciples who met with Christ as they went to Emmaus and take notice my self and tell others how my heart burned within me and how my souls was affected 1. With grief for my sins And 2. With joy in my Saviour while I heard Christ talking with me 1. Outwardly by the voyce of his Minister 2. Inwardly by the voyce of his spirit at his Table and how it was declared out of the Scriptures that Christ ought to suffer that his most bitter Passion and cursed Death for my sins and to rise again for my Iustification and so to enter into his glory And 3. How Christ was known to me in the breaking of the Bread in the powring out of the Wine and in Christs giving and my receiving of those soul-reviving and soul-cherishing refreshing which I enjoyed at his Table And 4. And lastly by the strength of Christ and this refreshing from Christ I am resolved with the assistance of the spirit of God the Father and God the Son and of God the holy Ghost daily to keep in memory that feast of the Lord with that sweet welcom I had at the Lords Table and in this or the like manner to bespeak my soul every morning O my soul thou hast this night received a sweet refreshing from the Lord for thy body praised be the Name of thy God and Father in Christ who is the keeper of Israel who never slumbreth not sleepeth who hath kept thee from the dangers of this night past and brought thee to the light of this day who hath awakened thee out of sleep and given thee a kinde of Resurrection from the dead Quest 22. How may I stir my soul to this Ans In this or the like manner Now O my soul be thou awakened and break thy fast with Christ and call to minde the sweet refreshing the Lord did give thee the last Sacrament at his Table and in what thou didst see and hear 1. His invitation to draw near and partake of the feast that he hath prepared 2. Didst thou not see Bread and Wine set upon the Table and with the eye of faith didst thou not behold Christ himself prepared for thy spiritual refreshing 3. Didst thou not hear the Minister of Christ consecrate those Elements to that holy use and with the ear of faith hear how God the Father had consecrated and sealed his beloved Son Iesus for thy Redemption 4. Didst thou not see the Bread broken and Wine powred out and by the eye of faith see Christs body broken with torments and his blood shed to the death for thy sins to Redeem thee from Hell and death eternal 5. Didst thou not hear Christ bidding thee welcom Take eat this is my body Drink this is my blood which is shed for thee and for many for remission of sins Mat. 26.26 27 c. 6. Didst thou not observe and believe those Sacramental promises assuring that Christ loved thee and gave himself for thee and as verily as Christs Minister having blessed and broken the Sacramental Bread and blessed and powred out the Sacramental Wine did present and give them unto thee to eat and to drink so verily hath Christ given and did Christ present and give and reach out himself for a spiritual and heavenly refreshing to thee to nourish thee to life eternal according the the Govenant of Grace 7. O my soul didst thou not take and eat the Bread and take and drink the Wine and so spiritually feed on the body and blood of Christ that in strenght thereof thou mightest walk thy great journey of this life not as Elijah fourty dayes and fourty nights to Horeb the Mount of God but to Heaven Gods Kingdom of glory 8. O my soul didst thou not actually renew thy Covenant with the Lord as God in giâ—ing and thou in actual receiving and partaking of these seals and pledges of his love consider thy self what hast thou now to do any more with sin and Satan with the World the Flesh or the Devil with any sin of omission or commission that may grieve the spirit of life Remember thy Covenant thy Promises thy Vow thy Protestations to thy God and be conscientious by the power of Christ to keep them all the dayes of thy life 9. O my soul was there not a soul-satisfying feast set before thee at that time never to let thee to return to the feast of sin again 10. And was it not the command of Christ to celebrate that Sacrament in remembrance of him Acts 8.39 Luk. 14.13 Phil. 4.11 c. 2 Tim. 4.7,8 and what he hath done for thee O then remember that holy feast every morning when thou awakest every evening when thou goest to bed Thus thou maist feed daily on
Commandements of my Heavenly Father and so these foure first Commandements or first Table of the Law of God Psal 119.101.128 and to refrain from every sinwhatsoever Quest 49. What is the finall cause or chiefe ends at which your soule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience Ans The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 5.10 11 12. my God and Father in Christ And the next the Declaration of my love and thankfulnesse to the Lord my God and to shew forth his praises who called me out of darknesse to light and hath freely given me life eternall and everlasting salvation in Christ Jesus The Thirty two Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have profitably and plainely endevoured to declare the duties commaded and the sinnes forbidden in the first Table of the Law of God and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the spirit of Christ And in the performance of our Duties and Declaration of our more immediate love unto our God in Christ Now what I pray you do you call the second Table of the Law of God and what are the Commandemtnts comprehended in this second Table what light from Christ to teach this Ans This second Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manifestation of our love to our Neighbour Mat. â—2 38 39 40. in and for God as our selves and these Rules are comprehended in the six last Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people Ex. 34.28 Quest 2. What then you doe conceive to be the generall duties of this second Taeble of the Law Ans That which the Lord Christ and the spirit of Christ in the Prophets Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18 Rom. 13.8 9. and Apostles holdeth forth unto us namely to love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 3. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our selves Ans Not to do as we would be done be done by Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17 18. Isai 58.7 or instead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our selves from our own flesh Quest 4. You say the Lord requireth that we should love our Neighbours as our selves Therefore it seemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love himselfe Now what is this love of a mans selfe according to which hee ought to love his Neighhour Ans Certainly the Lord doth require that a man should in a right manner love himselfe Mâ—t. 22 37 38 39. Phâ—l 2.12 Eph. 5.29 and this love of a man towards himselfe is that love wherewith a Believer should in and for and after God love his owne soule and body in seeking the temporall and eternall good of both for Gods glory and his owne eternall happinesse and salvation Quest 5. What are sinnes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans selfe Ans There are diverse sins contrary to a right and true love of a mans self first a perverse and wicked hatred of Mans selfe Acts 18.6 either of a Mans soule and body by an obstinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace or willfull Rebellion against God or hatred of his body and life by a Mans desperate rejecting and refusing the meanes of preserving the body and health and life of it or by a desparate destroying of the body and life by any meanes whatsoever An example of this I have seen in divers who in strength and violence of Satans temptations or a kinde of frensie and braine distemper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort some for the soule some for the body some for both as Francis Spira did in Germany after his fall from the Gospell History of Francis Spirra to subscribe to Popery continuing in that sad condition to the day of his death I say nothing of Ahitophel and Iudas 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 who wickedly destroyed themselves contrary to the sixt Commandement of which I shall speak in its place Quest 6. What is a second sinne contrary to the true love of a mans selfe Ans Philauty or corrupt and inordinate love of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either above God which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans selfe and setting up an Idoll in his heart and preferring that above God 2 Tim. 3.2 Or to be so inebriated and drunk with selfe love as to admire onely himselfe and turne his affections of love wholy into himselfe as that Misanthropâ—s who hated every man but himselfe â— Cor. 4.14 Thirdly to love a mans selfe from and for himselfe not from and for God in Christ or from Christ Quest 7. But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans selfe Ans We must distinguish of a mans selfe there is a threeford selfe First a mans soule and body or person consisting of both considered in themselves as Gods creatures 1 Thess 5.23 Secondly the old Adam in a mans selfe or the corruption of soule and body by sinne Rom. 6.6 either originall or actuall that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling against the Law of our minds or Thirdly a mans spirituall selfe or the new Adam and image of Christ in the soule the regenerate part Galat. 5.14 the spirit that fighteth against the flesh Now to hate the first of these selfe our soule or body or person is against nature Ephes 5.29 no man ought to hate himselfe though he may loose himselfe for Christ which is love and no hatred And to hate the third the selfe of grace or grace of Christ in a mans selfe The life of grace in us this is against grace this self must be loved and cherished by all means in and through Christ But for the second selfe spoken of namely our corrupt old Adam in us our body of sinne Coloss 3.5 This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of soule and bodie for ever Job 42.6 as Iob abhorred himself and Paul chastised his body and the converted People of God loathed themselves as they were loathsome to God in their sinnefull corruption Ezek. 36.31 Quest 8. You have satisfied mee in this question how a man ought to love and not to love himselfe now what say you in generall of the love of our Neighbour before we come to the Commandements in particular Ans I have described that in generall before That we must love our neighbour in God and for God as our selves Quest 9. Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and Charity Ans All that stand in neede of our helpe or love whether they be our own kindred or strangers Luk. 10.36 37. 1 Tim. 5.8 Mat. 5.48 Prov. 25.21 Galat. 6.10 yea our very enemies and especially the household of faith but