appoint it so because that if he had done well we should have been saved now consequently it must follow that because he sinned we must also be punished Q. How did Adams sinne become ours A. By imputation Q. What is imputation A. That whereby the fault of one man is put upon another Q. How came we to have originall sinne A. By propagation in regard that Adam sent his nature into us and we become like him The third Principle Concerning redemption by Christ Quest WAs our Redemption necessary A. Yes because God determined an end of his Creation now man because fallen if he should be destroyed the end would be frustrate Secondly God had ordained the glorification of his mercy in man now had there been no Redemption where would the glory of his mercy appeare Thirdly the Elect fallen without this could have had no comfort Q. Who is this Redeemer A. Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity hee onely can subdue our enemies and satisfie his Fathers wrath Q. Wherefore was Christ the fittest person in the Trinity Ans 1. Because hee could most prevaile with God being his Son Secondly God being he who was fully offended it was not justice that he should pay himselfe Q. Why did Christ take the nature of man upon him A. 1. Because it was man that sinned Secondly there must be a suffering as well as a satisfaction Q. Did Christ take upon him the person or nature of man A. The nature onely for else there should have been two persons which cannot be Q. How did Christ take mans nature upon him A. The Holy Ghost sanctified it and then Christ took the same Q. What are those things observable in this nature A. His union and the manner of his conception Q. How is his union A. Inseparable for our nature could not be separated from him the eternall Sonne of God so tooke the nature of man that when it met with him it was not changed but remained the same for ever Q. How was Christ conceived A. By the Holy Ghost who at this time and in this thing imitated the nature of man Q. Of whom was Christ conceived A. Of the Virgin Mary Q. Why had not Christ a Father as well as a Mother A. Then had he been lyable to sinne which was principally imputed to man Q. How did Christ suffer A. By his Death which was two-fold corporall and spirituall corporall whereby his body was separated from his soule and spirituall whereby hee was separated from God Q. What things are to be observed in the death of the soule Ans 1. The wrath of God and his anger against a man of which Christ tasted Secondly the consequences which are desperation and continuall punishments from which Christ was most free The fourth Principle A sinner of an humble and contrite spirit apprehends Christ by faith and so is justified and sanctified Here are two things 1. A preparation 2. The Benefit Quest WHat is contrition A. When a sinner is brought to such a sight of sinne that being enforced to feele the burthen thereof hee comes to bee sequestred from it Q. How many things are here considerable A. Three 1. A sinner must be brought to a sight of his sinne 2. Hee must bee enforced to feele it 3. He must come to be sequestred from it Q. Why doe you say Brought to a sight of his sinne A. Because of himselfe he neither will nor can see his sinne Q. What doe you meane by sight A. A cleare and convicting sight of sinne Q. What is it to have cleare sight of sinne A. When a man sees sinne as it is in its colours Q. What is it to see sinne convictingly A. When a sinner is perswaded in his conscience that that sinne which the Minister and the Word of God speakes of is his own sinne Q. What is meant by sinne A. In sinne there are two branches the evill of it and the punishment of it Q. Which is worse of these two A. The evill of sinne for 1. that which deprives a man of the chiefest good must needs be the greatest evill but sinne deprives the soule of God the chiefest good 2. We see Christ could suffer punishment but not be sinfull 3. And God is oft the Author of punishment but not of sinne Q. What is the second thing in the definition Answ Hee is inforced to feele it men would bee flying off from the meditation of this sinne Q. How may a man feele his sinne as he should doe Ans By meditation and application Q. How by meditation Answ 1. By considering what a GOD hee hath offended how great mercy abused and justice provoked not onely in time of ignorance but since wee knew him Secondly A serious meditation of the vile and filthy nature of sinne Q. How doth the vilenesse of sin appeare A. It separates us from Gods presence and procureth eternall misery Q. How by application Answ 1. By convincing the heart of its loathsome conditon 2. By dogging the heart when there is any occasion of sinne and still telling it of Gods judgement Q. Can any man of himselfe doe this A. No it must be Gods humbling hand Q. What doe you meane by sequestred Ans When a mans hearts desire and hungring is to get out of sinne though hee cannot saying with himselfe there is no reason why I should be thus ruled by base lusts Q. What is humiliation Answ When the heart of a poore sinner comes to despaire of all hope and helpe either in himselfe or any creature and is contented to bee at Gods disposing Q. How many things are to be considered in this definition Answ Hee despaireth of all hope in himselfe or in the creatures and is content to be at Gods disposing Q. When doth a man come to this despaire A. When he seeketh to the world for succour and findes none Q. When is a man content to bee at Gods dispose A. When he acknowledgeth he hath no good in himselfe and confesses if at any time God afflict him that it is just with God so to doe resolving what ever trouble lyes upon him still to trust and call upon God Contrition and humiliation are two graces which must be wrought in the soul before faith can enter in 1. Because every naturall man hath sinne to be his God now there cannot be two Gods in any mans heart 2. Because by faith we goe unto Christ to receive good at his hands now one cannot goe to Christ before he goe out of himselfe before we can get the pearle we must sell all that we have now Christ is the pearle wee must sell all our corruptions to enjoy him Q. What is faith A. A resting upon God grounded upon knowledge and assurance that God is my God in Christ Q. How many things are included in this knowledge A. A sight of sinne and a sense of it which will produce three things 1. A prizing and seeking for mercy 2. No content in any thing till
doe not shew your selves for that is not herein intended but as much of God as wee can demonstrate that men may say the Lord hath been here indeed Q. How doth the heart behave it selfe in the putting up of this petition A. This behaviour of the soule doth mainly appeare in two things 1. It heartily desires in all things it shall doe that it may lift up the glory of God now this wee doe when in all actions there is a disposition for the furtherance of Gods praise All our life should be like a lanterne to convey light to others the heart should desire that in all things Gods glory may be furthered that we may doe nothing but we may advance Gods glory by it silver gold is fit to stamp the Kings Image upon so a mans practise should be good mettal to imprint Gods glory upon not as painted windowes to hinder Acts. but to rebound the light Herod did not give God glory hee tooke it to himselfe and we see what ensued There bee some kind of glasses will reflect a mans Image So there should bee a conveighing of glory from our selves to God looke as it is with a ball the falling of it makes it rebound so it should be with our hearts they should reboūd Gods glory where it falls upon us This is a great skill the soule should have nothing but whereby God might bee honoured any sinfull course blemisheth Gods glory any priding of a mans self no whit furthers Gods glory a good soule desires God might be acknowledged glorified in all it hath or doth Q. When doth the soule doe this A. When it labours that in all things something more then humane excellency may appeare for if any thing of a mans owne bee discerned wee fall short of Gods Name In every actiō such should be our disposition that somewhat more may bee seene then a base meane shadow there is a skill in preaching and praying which should bee more valued then all parts and gifts whatsoever If nothing appeare but selfe the Name of God is deprived of what it should have as S. Paul said Doe I speake like a man he demonstrated the spirit in him so should wee discover what we do that God works it in us that hee might have all the honor God who is the Author of all should have the glory of all our actions Wee talke of this that and say let God be glorified but wee doe it not in our life and conversation Q. What bee the severall works of the heart in doing this that it may appeare that God is the Author of all we give him the honour is due unto his Name A. The acts of the heart are two whereby it sets forth the glory of God 1. In all services a man should not bee quiet in his affections endeavours till he come to the highest pitch that is Gods glory All Actions are in the way one towards another as a paire of staires one goes from another and above the other a man should goe higher and higher til God his glory mounts and surmounts them all as a Minister first studies to teach the people that they may be enformed but why enformed that they may appeare to bee Christs that Gods grace may appeare in their conversation the soule never rests till it be here This should bee our desire that in all our actions God may bee discovered to bee the Authour and to have the honour of all 2. The soule must bee sure not to goe beyond Gods glory as thus a Minister preacheth that the people may bee converted and bee honoured as well as God this is to bee above God a man prayes to honour God and that it may be known he is a glorious professor thus a man is above God as a bird steps from one bough to another till it comes to the highest and then it flies away so wee step to Gods glory and oft times goe beyond it Wee would have God glorified to glorifie us it may bee but this is hypocrisie to have God honoured that wee may bee secretly base this is the deepest dishonor to God and hee will bee revenged of them one day pluck his praise out of their bowells the three Wisemen would not stay till the starre stood and then they went no further so where the starre of Gods glory goes let us goe and not stay till we come thither and when wee are there goe no further this is the cariage of the heart that in life and death God may bee honoured and exalted looke as it is with a workeman that makes a peece of curious worke wee doe not give the honour to the toole but to the workeman so God should receive the honour of all and from all 2. As a good soule makes God discovered in himselfe so hee desires that God might bee acknowledged by others and that appeares in two things 1. That they might embrace the excellency of God Let your light shine before men why so that they may see your good works that is God in your good works Doe not thinke that I would have men see their owne good parts gifts and the like but onely that they may see God in them the fisher desires that the fish may see the baite not him so hee that angles for the soules of others doth not desire that others might see him but the grace of God An apprentice doth not stand in the shop to call men to looke on his propernesse and the like but to sell his masters wares If we desire that God may bee exalted labour not that men may see your good works so much as God in them wee should all so walke that others may admire Gods grace in us wee are GODS workemanship 2. And therfore should have hearts enlarged to blesse God that hee hath been pleased to reveale himselfe so sweetly to us thus much for the first petition Thy Kingdome come 2. Petition Q. Why is this added immediatly to the former A. Because it is a speciall meanes whereby the glory of God is advanced The first was to hallow Gods Name and to that end the Kingdome of Christ must bee set up no naturall man can glorifie God for so long as sinne and corruption prevailes wee can never yeeld to him therefore the rule of Christs Spirit must effect it and by this wee must bee swayed to the same Q. What is the scope of this petition A. The maine scope of it is thus much that the government of God by Christ might be set up and prevaile every where as before Gods Name was highest so here the power and governement of Christ is to bee universall that is in generall Now wee come to the particulars and here 1. Consider the sence of the words 2. The cariage of the heart in putting up this petition 1. What is meant by Kingdome 2. What is the coming of this Kingdome Q. What is meant by Kingdome A. By Kingdome is
the cause of drawing any man to wickednesse There are tryals of proofe indeed the Lord may try his as hee did Abraham Gen. 22.1 A man doth not hurt his armour if it be good when as hee prooves it so God intends no evill to a man when as hee thus deales with him Q. In what manner doth God lead us into temptation A. Hee doth it three wayes 1. When the Lord withdrawes not those nets that are laid for us when GOD removes not our stumbling blocks nay God may put an object of temptatiō before us Thus a master may lay a baite for his servant by putting money in a corner now it is lawfull thus for a man to leave his money to discerne whether his servant be faithfull or no he desires not that he should steale but that he may try his fidelity So God justly permitteth occasions There must be heresies for the triall of Gods servants They that pitch their net first let it fall and then take it up this is to raine snares The favour of God accidentally is but a baite to a wicked man his prosperity is his ruine it is just with God to deale so because wicked men desire it So Iudas would faine have gotten something by the ointment it is just with God to suffer the Pharisees to give him 30. pence and ruine too Now his mind is pleased hee hath 30d. and damnation too 2. As God suffers occasions so hee lets sinne and Sathan loose a mans hart would faine bee hankering and God gives him up to his hearts lusts saying take him sinne and Sathan let him have field roome 1 King 22.22 Ahab would faine goe to warre it was a thing not allowed but hee desired it therefore God sends the Divell God askes who will prevaile over Ahab the Divell saith I will goe then God saith goe and doe it Abimelech and the men of Sichem did very ill Jud. 9.23 then God sent an evill spirit that is hee let loose the spirit of contention and they destroyed him and hee laboured to destroy them so God Rom. 1. is said to give them up when they departed from the government of the truth no saith God will you not be ruled by holines then take uncleanenesse many a man that hath a wrathfull disposition take him envy saith God let him bring blood on others and so ruine to himselfe thus God tooke away his spirit from Saul and gave him up to sinfull distempers of all plagues there is none that is like this 3. God leaves a man to himselfe and lendes him not the assistance of his grace but suffers him and Sathan to grapple together Thus he dealt with He-Zechiah 2 Chron. 32.31 who because he had a lease of his life begā to bee proud now God left him to himselfe to see what was in him hee thought himselfe a brave man therfore God leaves him as a father lets a child goe when hee will not be held so saith God see what thou canst doe try thine owne strength But deliver us from evill Hence observe that though God would doe nothing against us yet we are not able to deliver our selves from our corrupt heart Q. What is meant by evill A. Not so much trouble or punishment as sin in it are three things 1. The breach of the Law 2. The guilt that a man gets by this breach and so is liable to this punishment 3. The vigour of sinne which rules over the soule the two former wee pray against in the fifth petition because we stand guilty of the breach of the Law Therefore wee pray that hee would not enter into judgement with us wee pray now against the power of sin and that is in three particulars 1. Sinne would be a comander over the soule it is the King Sathan is the Jaylour it hath a Kingly soveraigne authority and would rule over him sin is often compared to a King his servants are his obeyers sinne is a master at least it would bee it is so in every naturall foule and it would bee so in the godly the law of life saith the Apostle hath freed mee from the law of death Rom. 8.2 sinne gives parliament lawes and edicts to the soule and as the Centurion bad one servant goe and hee went and another come and hee came so doth sinne say pride it is my pleasure you should bee proud therefore I would have you imperiall and snappish sayes anger I would have you spleneticke and rage sayes the soule then I will it shall be done thus sinne sets up it selfe as supreame in the soule hence a proud heart saith I will doe that I list say God what hee will tell not mee of lawes it is my mind Thus your proud heart sets you lawes and you yeeld to them Now wee pray here that how soever sin bee in the soule yet that God would snib it that it may bee an underling and daily bee subdued in us 2. As sinne desires to set up a master like rule and a supreame soveraigne Lord-like dominion so sinne carries the soule and sometimes separates it frō God whereas the command of God should be a guide to us and take place in our hearts this authority takes up armes resists and stands in defiance against the rule of the spirit hence came these phrases they forsooke God and turned their backs to his Commands What saith pride shall I be a slave that the world should awe mee and snub me I will never yeeld it while I live I will dye first this is a Divell that drawes you from God and will carry you to hell Rom. 7.23 That is the meaning of this place sin carries a man captive when the soule sees it selfe so ruled by him a gratious hart would teare it selfe off if it could but a naturall man is a slave to sinne and dares not affect any good in another nor labour for it himselfe 3. Sinne leaves a kind of blemish and staine upon the soule after the Commission of it there is a kind of jarring to the heart and of running wrong in the soule Peter after his deniall of Christ was averted from Christ so a man after sinne shall find himselfe so dull to any good and prone to any evil this is the staine of sin when a mans arme is put out of joint besides the fall there is a bruise so after a man hath broken the commandements of the Lord the law unjoints him hee is more awke to any good then ever Gal. 6. If any man be unjointed by sin so that of the Romans wound their owne soules this sin doth Now these wee pray against partly against the power of sin partly against the authority of sinne partly against the staine of sinne But deliver us from evill To deliver from evill implies three things 1. Wee pray that the Lord would prevēt those occasions and stragglings of sinne that trouble us wee pray that hee would take off these distempers whereby sinne would lay siege against
wee can forgive others on a right ground 1. Because all the mercy we have wee receive from him 2. All wee have is but a drop in comparison of that Ocean which is in God 3. Our mercy is mixed with cruelty and many oppositions but God is all compassion Q. What is the scope of the sixth Petition A. Sanctification Q. What doth temptation properly signifie A. A proving of grace so God tempted Abraham and proved his love Here by temptation is meant a solicitation to commit evill Q. Why not tentation of triall A. Because we ought rather to pray against this then against that Q. What doe you meane by deliver Ans 1. That God would give us a fore-sight of sinne 2. That God would give us power that we be not thereby overtaken 3 That God would recover us being falne and fortifie us against sinne for time to come Q. What doe you meane by lead Ans 1. That God would let us have no occasion of evill Secondly if occasions be offered that he would so assist and strengthen that they prevaile not against us Q. How hath God a hand in the sinnes of men A. Whatsoever may be said in the Law and Word of God may be said of God now the Law may be said to have an hand in the sins of men As when counsell and admonition comes the heart swells immediately as when a thing is put into a channell or any other place the water increaseth hugely not because there is any water put into it but by opposition Q. What doe you mean by evill A. There is no kinde of evill worse then the evill of sinne and punishment here is specially meant the evill of sinne and also punishment so farre as it may hinder us in the wayes of godlinesse Q. Why do you say deliver us A. Here wee desire that God would provide meanes for others good and make us instruments to deliver them 1 In watching over their conversation 2 In telling them of that which is amisse 3 To follow it and never leave till wee have convinced them of it Q. What is meant by Kingdome A. The right ruling over his servants By power is meant an ability and sufficiency to governe And by Glorie is meant 1 The worship of God 2 The shining of Gods glory Q. Why doe you say Thy A. All this is in God Secondly all that men have in the world is from God therefore they must render all to his glory Q. What is Amen A. The voyce and word of faith Q. What is here implyed A. Two things 1 An earnest desire of what wee beg as a man when his friend goeth beyond sea faith The Lord be with you 2 A repose of our selves upon God that he would grant our requests who hath promised whatever we aske in Christs Name wee shall have it The sixt Principle All men shall rise with their bodies to judgement the godly shall inherit the kingdome of Heaven but reprobates and unbeleevers shall bee cast into hell fire with the Devill and his angels Qu WHat are we to observe out of this Principle A. Two things 1. The judgement 2. The reward of every man In the judgement we must observe two things First the preparation to this judgement that is the resurrection 2. The judgement it selfe Q. What is resurrection A. It is the re-uniting and knitting the soule and body together that were separated by death Q. Why is it necessary that there must be a resurrection A. There are two grounds one is taken from the justice another from the mercy of God Wicked men they have the happinesse of this life and therefore they must have misery in the life to come else God were not just Againe the godly are here in misery and they that should be most respected have the worst entertainment therefore they must have a happinesse in heaven So the Author to the Heb. saith God is just that he should not forget their labour of love And the Apostle to the Thessal It is a righteous thing to render peace to you it were unjust if they did not see some good dayes Abraham tels Dives Son remember thou in thy life time receivedst thy pleasure and Lazarus paines therefore now he is comforted and thou art tormented It was the speech of Master Greenham that wicked men have some good in them therefore God gives them outward things but they have an infinite evill therefore they must perish eternally Secondly Gods mercy hath promised heaven to his servants therefore there must be a Resurrection heaven is not here There be two sorts of men that shall be judged First those that dye Secondly those that live when Christ shall come Q. How doe the godly rise againe A. By Christs Resurrection because Christ was dead and they are his members Christ being their Surety and whatsoever he doth he doth it not for himselfe but for them Q. How shall it be with the godly when Christ shall come A. They shall be freed from all sinne and weaknesse of body Q. Shall the same bodies arise A. Yea the same God shall gather together all the elect He that is able to make all things of nothing is able to raise men and gather them out of the dust for it is lesser to repaire a thing of the matter that it is made of then to make a thing of nothing Q. But is there no change in regard of substance A. Onely this The qualities conditions of the body shall be altered the body shall be incorruptible immortall whereas here we are subject to death and diseases Secondly the body shall bee spirituall that is there shall be no dependance upon any outward comforts Here we must use meat and drink for preservation of our lives but there shall be no need of them The Sadduces told Christ Such an one had seven brethren and they all married one woman one after another now say they In the Resurrection whose shall this wife be and Christ said to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures for in heaven they neither eate nor drinke marrie nor give in marriage but are as the Angels they need no meat nor apparel So the godly shall be there 3. All imperfections and weaknesses shall then be taken away If a man dyes sick he shall be whole when he rises againe If a man be lame or if he were born blind or if one dyed being a child all these shall be taken away then Object But it seemes it shall not be the same body for if a man shall have every limbe and be perfect in every part how can these things stand together Ans There is nothing added to the substance of the body but only changed and increased it is in the nature of many things to increase when as nothing is added unto them As may be observed in an Onyon take a great Onyon and hang it up in the house and it will grow bigger and bigger what is the cause of it not because