ends Psal. 29 10. Psal. 33. 11. Q. Doth God govern all creatures alike A. No but some he governs by a common providence and others by a special providence to wit Angels and Men to an eternal estate of happiness in pleasing him or of misery in displeasing â—…im Deut. 30. 15 16. Q. What of Gods Providence appears in his speciall government of man A. Two things 1. Mans Apostacy or fall 2. His Recovery or rising again Q. Concerning mans fall what are you to observe therein A. Two things 1. His transgression in eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 2. 17. 2. The propagation of this unto all Adams posterity Q. Was this so great a sin to eat of the forbidden fruit A. Yes exceeding great this Tree being a Sacrament of the Covenant also he had a special charge not to eat of it and in it the whole man did strike against the whole Law even when God had so highly advanced him Q. What are the causes of this transgression A. The blamelesse cause was the Law of God Rom. 5. 13. And hence as the Law did it so God did it holily justly and blamelesly Rom. 7. 10 1â—… 12. Q. What are the blameable causes A. Two principally 1. The devill abusing the Serpent to deceive the women Gen. 3. 1. 2. Man himself in abusing his own free-will in receiving the temptations which he might have resisted Eph. 7. 29. Q. What is the Devil A. That great number of apostate and rebellious Angels which through pride and blasphemy against God and malice against man became lyars and murtherers of man by bringing him into that sin Luke 11. 18. 1 Tim. 3. 6. 1 John 3. 12. John 8. 44. Q. What are the effects and fruits of this transgression A. They are two 1. Guilt whereby they are tyed to undergo due punishment for the fault Rom. 3 19. 2. Punishment which is the just anger of God upon them for the filth of sin Rom. 1. 18. Q. What are the particular punishments insllcted on the causes of this sin A. Besides the fearful punishment of the devils mentioned Jude 6. and that of the Serpent and the Woman Gen. 3. 14 16. the punishment of man was first Sin Original and Actual Secondly death Gen. 5. 5. Q. What is sin A. The transgression of Gods Law John 3. 4. Q. What is Original and Actual sin A. First Original sin is the contrariety of the whole nature of man to the Law of God whereby it being averse from all good is enclined to all evil Eccles. 8. 11. Gen. 6. 5. Rom. 6. 20. Secondly Actual sin is the continual jarring of the actions of man from the Law of God by reason of Original sin and so man hath no free-will to any spiritual good Esa. 65. 2 3. James 1. 14 15. Esa. 1. 11. Q. What death is that God inflicts on man for sin A. A double death 1. The first death of the body together with the beginnings of it in this world as grief shame losses sicknesses Deut. 28. 21 22 25. 2. The second death of the soul whiâ—…h is the eternal separation and ejection of the soul after death and soul and body after judgment from God into everlasting torments in hell Q Is there no beginning of this death as there is of the other in this life A. Yes at first security and hardnesse of heart which cannot feel sin its greatest evil 2. Terrors of conscience Heb. 2 15. 3. Bondage of Satan Eph. 2. 2. 4. The curse of God in all blessings whereby they are fitted for destruction Rom. 9. 22. Q. What of Gods Attributes shine forth here 1. His holiness whereby he being pure from all sin cannot away with the least sin in the best of his creatures Heb. 1. 13. 2. His Iustice whereby he being most just in himself cannot but punish man for sin as well as reward him for well doing 2 Thes. 1. 6. 3. His Patience whereby he useth pitty patience and bounty to his creatures offending Rom. 2. 3. Q. Is this sin and the punishment of it derived to all mens postetity A. Yes John 3. 3. Eph. 2. 3. Q. How is it propagated A. By the imputaiion of Adams sin unto us and so the punishment must needs follow upon it Rom. 5. 13. Q. Why should Adams sin be imputed to all his posterity A. Because we were in him as the members in the head as children in his loynes as debtors in their surety as branches in their roots it being just that as if he standing all had stood by imputation of his righteousnesse so he falling all should fall by the imputation of his sin Q. Thus have you seen mans apostacy from God What is his recovery A. It is the return of man to the favour of God again meerly out of favour and the exceeding riches of his free grace Eph. 2. 12 13. Rom. 5. 8. Q. How are we brought into favour and what are the parts of this recovery A. Two wayes First by Redemption 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 Secondly by Application hereof Tit. 3. 6. Q. What is Redemption A. The satisfaction made or the price paid to the justice of God for the life and deliverance of man out of the captivity of sin Satan and death by a Redeemer according to the Covenant made between him and the Father 1 Cor. 6. 20. Luk. 1. 74. Esa. 55. 10 11. Q. Who is this Redeemer A. Iesus Christ God and Man Matth. 1. 23. John 1. 14. Col. 2. 19. Q. Why is he God-Man A. That so he might be a fit Mediator to transact all businesses between God and man in the execution of his three Offices whereunto he was anointed of the Father 1 Tim. 2. 5. Esa. 42. 12. Q. What are those three Offices of Christ 1. His Propheticall Office whereby he doth reveale the will of the Father Act. 3. 22. Col. 2. 3. 2. His Priestly Office whereby he makes full atonement with the Father for us Col. 1. 20. 3. His Kingly Office whereby he governs his people whom he had taught and reconciled subduing their enemies and procuring their eternal peace Psal. 2. 6. Esa. 9. 6. Q. How hath Christ Jesus made satisfaction A. By his humiliation whereby he was made subject throughout his whole life and death to the strict Iustice of God to perform what ever the same might require for the redemption of man Gal. 4. 4 5. Q. What did Gods Justice require of man A. 1. Death for the breach of the Law and that Christ tasted in his bitter sufferings both of body and Soul by being made sin and so abolishing sin and this is called his Passive Obedience Heb. 2. 9. Eph. 1. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 2. Perfect Obedience in fulfilling the Law perfectly both in his Nature and Actions for the procuring and meriting of life and this is called his Active Obedience Heb. 7. 26. Q. What follows Christs Humiliation A. His Exaltation which is his glorious victory and open Triumph over all his and
the power of his Holy Spirit working in us by Faith according to the Will of God Eph. 6. 6 7. Psal. 139. 24. Rom. 6. 1. Luk. 1. 74. Q. Wherein consists our observance of God A. It is either Moral or Ceremonial Q. Wherein consists our Moral observance of God A. In two things 1. In suffering his will whereby a Believer for the sake of Christ chooseth rather to suffer any misery than to commit the least sin Heb. 11. 26. Acts 21. 13. 2. In doing his will whereby a Believer in sense of Christs love performeth universall obedience to the Law of God Rom. 7. 22. 1 John 5. 3. Luke 1. 6. Phil. 3. 12. Q. Is there any use of the Law to a Christian A. Although it be abolished to a Christian in Christ as a Covenant of life for so Adam and his posterity are still under it yet it remains as a rule of life when he is in Christ and to prepare the heart for Christ Rom. 6. 14 15. Maâ—… â—… 17 18 19 20. Ezech. 10. 11. Rom. 9. Q. Why is not a Christian so under the Law as a Covenant of life so as if he breaks it by the least sin he shall die for it A. Because Iesus Christ hath kept it perfectly for him Rom. 8. 3 4. Rom. 5. 20 21. Q. Can any man keep the Law perfectly in this life A. No for the unregenerate wanting the Spirit of Life cannot perfect an act of life in obedience to it The regenerate having the Spirit but in part perform it only imperfectly Rom. 8. 7. Rom 7. 21. Q. What befalâ—… the unregenerate upon their disobedience unto it A. The eternal curse of God for the least sin and the increase of Gods fierce and fearful secret wrath as they increase in sin Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 2 5. Q. What befals the regenerate after their breach of the Law and imperfect obedience unto it A. The Lord may threaten and correct them but his loving kindness in covering their sins in their best duties by Christ and accepting their meanest services so far as they are quickned by his Spirit is never taken from them Psal 89. 31 32 33. Zach. 3 1. to 8. Isa. 56. 7. Rom. 7. 20. Q. What is that imperfect obedience of Believers which is accepted A. When they observe the will of Christ as that therein 1. They confesse and lament their sins 1 John 1. 9. Rom. 7. 24. 2. They desire mercy in the blood of Christ and more of his Spirit Phil. 39 10 11. 3. They return him the praise of the least ability to do his will Psal. 50. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Q. How is the Law or ten Commandments divided A. Into two Tables The first shewing our duty to God immediately in the four first Commandments The second our duty to man in the six last Commandments Q. What rules are you to observe to understand the Moral Law A. These 1. That in whatsoever Commandment any duty is enjoyned there the contrary sin is forbidden and where any sin is forbidden there the contrary duty is commanded 2. That the Law is spiritual and hence requires not onely outward but inward and spirituall obedience 3. Where any grosse sin is forbidden there all the signs degrees means and provocations to that sin are forbidden also and are in Gods account that sin And so where any duty is commanded there all the signs means and provocations to that duty are commanded also 4. That the Law is perfect and therefore there is no sin in all the Scripture but is forbidden in it nor no duty required if moral but it is commanded in it Thus much of our morall observance of God Q. What is our ceremoniall observance A. The celebration of the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper Q What is a Sacrament A. It is an holy ceremony wherein external sensible things by the appointment of Christ are separate from common use to signifie exhibite and seal to us that assurance of eternall life by Christ Iesus according to the covenant of his grace Gen. 17. 9 10. Q. Which are the Sacraments A. They are two Baptism and the Lord Supper Q. What is the externall sensible part of Baptism A. Water John 3. 23. Q. What is the inward and spirituall part of Baptism signified exhibited and sealed thereby A. Christs Righteousnesse and his Spirit 1. Washing away our sin and so delivering us spom death 2. Presenting us clear before the Father and so restoring us again to life Rom. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Mat. 3. 11. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is a Sacrament of our new birth and ingrafting into Christ John 3. 5. 2. That as we are perfectly justified at once and being new-born once shall never dye again Hence this Seal is to be Administred but once Q. What is the externall and sensible part of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine with the Sacramentall actions about the same Q What is the inward and spiritual part of it signified sealed and exhibited thereby A. The body and bloud of Christ crucified offered and given to nourish and strengthen beleevers renewing their faith unto eternal life 1 Cor. 11. 24. John 6. 54 55. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is the Sacrament of our growth in Christ being new-born because it is food given to nourish us having received life 2. That therefore it is to be administred and received often that we may grow 3. That children and fools and wicked ought not to partake of the Sacrament because they cannot examin themselves and so renew their Faith 1 Cor. 11. 28. Q. Ought not the Sacrament to be administred to carnal people if they have been baptized A. No because such as are not within the Covenant have no right to the seal of the Covenant Q. Where are Believers who have right unto this Sacrament to seek fruition from it A. Because it ought not to be administred privately as the Papists would hence Gods people are to seek to enjoy their right to it in some particular visible Church in joyning with them as fellow-members of the same body 1 Cor. 11. 20 22. 1 Chron. 10. 17. Acts 2. 42. Q What Members ought every particular visible Church to consist of A. Christ being head of every particular Church and it his body hence none are to be members of the Church but such as are members of Christ by faith 1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Thes. 1. Q. But do not Hypocrites and no true Members of Christ creep in A. Yes but if they could have been known to be such they ought to be kept out and when they are known they are orderly to be cast out Mat. 25. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Rev. 2. 20. Tit. 3. 20. Q. Are these Members bound only to cleave to Christ their head by Faith A. Yes and to one another also by brotherly love which they are bound to strengthen and confirm as well as their faith by a solemn Covenant Eph. 4. 15 16. Col. 1. 4. Jer. 50. 4. Isa. 56. 45. Zach. 11. 14. Zeph. 3. 9. Psal. 119. 106. Q. What benefits are there by joyning thus to a particular Church A 1. Hereby they come to be under the special Governmenâ—… of Chrâ—…st in his Church and the Officers thereof Isa. 30. 20. 2. Hereby they have the promise of special blessâ—…ng and on their children also Psal. 133. 3. Exod. 20. 6. 3. Herein they have the promise of Gods special presence 1. Reveuling unto them his Will Psal. 27. 4. Psal. 63. 2 3. 2. Protecting them Isa. 44. 6. 3. Heaâ—…ing all their Prayers Deut. 4. 7. Mat. 18. 19. Q. Are there not some who never find these benefits A. Yes Because many knowing not how to make use of Gods Ordinances not feeling a need of Gods presence only in them their sin also bâ—…inding partly hardning their hearts and polluting Gods hâ—…se they then become worse when they have best means Mat. 11. 23. ser. 17. 5 6. Heb. 6. 8. 1 Sam. 5. 8 9. Eze. 14. 4. 1 King 8. 21. Q. What are the miseries of those who carelesly and wilfully despise and so refuse to joyn to Gods Church A. Besides the losse of Gods presence in the fellowship of his people it is a fearful sign continuing so God never intends to save their soals Acts 2. 47. Isa. 60. 12. Rev. 2. 23 24. Q. What therefore ought people chiefly to labour for and to hold forth unto the Church that so they may be joyned to it A. A three-fold work 1. Of Humiliation under their misery death and sin as their greatest evil Act. 2. 37. Mat. 3. 6. 2. Of Vocation or their drawing to Christ out of this misery as to their greatest and only good Actsâ—… 38 41. 3. Of new Obedience how they have walked in Christ since called Act. 9. 26 27. Mat. 3. 8. FINIS Mr. Thomas Shepheard of New-England 2 Tim. 1. 13. Heb. 5. 12. Mat. 13. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1 Cor. 2. 10. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Joh. 5. 39. Act. 6. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 8. Act. 20. 32.
our enemies sin Satan and death in the severall degrees of it Luke 24. 26. Phil. 2. 8 9. 1 Cor. 15. 5 7. Q. What is the first degree of Christs Exaltation A. His Resurrection the third day whereby his Soul and body by the power of the God-head were brought together again and so rose again from death appearing to his Disciples for the space of fourty days 1 Cor. 15. 4. Joh. 2. 19. Act. 1. 3. Q. What is the second degree of Christs Exaltation A. His Ascension into Heaven which was the going up of the Man-hood into the third Heaven by the power of the Godhead from Mount Olivet in the sight of his Disciples Acts 1. 11 12. Q. What is the third degree of his exaltation A. His sitting at the right hand of God whereby he being advanced to the fulnesse of all glory in both natures governeth and ruleth all things together with the Father as Lord over all for the good of his people Mark 16. 9. Psal. 110. 1. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Eph. 1. 20 21 22. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Q. What is the fourth and last degree of his exaltation A. His return to judgement which is his seconid comming into this world with great glory and Majesty to judge the quick and the dead to the confusion of all them that would not have him rule over them and to the unspeakable good of his people Mat. 19. 28. 2 Tim. 4. 1. Act. 17. 31. 2 Thes. 1. 7 8 9. Q. Thus much of Redemption the first part of his Recovery What is application A. Whereby the Spirit by the Word and Ministery thereof makes all that which Christ as Mediator hath done for the Church efficacious to the Church as her own John 16. 14. Titus 3. 5 6 7. John 10. 16. Rom. 10. 14 17. Eph. 5. 25 26. Q. What is the Church A. The number of Gods Elect Heb. 12. 23. John 17. 9 10 11. John 10. 16. Eph. 1. 22 23. Q. How doth the Spirit make application to the Church A. 1. By union of the Soul to Christ Phil. 3. 9 10. By Communion of the benefits of Christ to the Soul Q. What is this Vnion A. Whereby the Lord joyning the Soul to Christ makes it one spirit with Christ and so gives it possession of Christ and right unto all the benefits and blessings of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 17. John 17. 21. Rom. 8. 32. 1 John 5. 12. Q. How doth the Spirit make this Vnion A. Two wayes 1. By cutting off the Soul from the old Adam or the wild Olive-Tree in the work of preparation Rom. 11. 23 24. 2. By putting or ingrasting the Soul into the second Adam Christ Iesus by the work of vocation Acts 26. 18. Q. What are the Parts of the Preparation of the Soul so Christ A. They are two 1. Contrition whereby the Spirit immediately cuts off the Soul from its security in sin by making it to mourn for it and separating the Soul from it as the greatest evill Isa. 61. 1 3. Jer. 4. 3. 4. Mat. 11. 20 28. 2. Humiliation whereby the Spirit cuts the Soul off from self-confidence in any good it hath or doth Especially by making it to feel its want and unworthinesse of Christ and â—…nce submitteth to be disposed of as God pleaseth Phil. 3. 7 8. â—…ke 16. 9. Luke 15. 17 18 19. Q. Whâ—…t aâ—…e the parts of Vocation of the Soul to Christ A. 1. The Lords call and invitation of the Soul to come to Christ in the Revelation and offer of Christ and his rich Grace 2 Cor. 5. 10. 2. The receiving of Christ or the comming of the whole Soul out of it self unto Christ for Christ by vertue of thâ—…t resistable power of the Spirit in the call and this is Faith Jer. 3. 32. John 6. 44 45. John 10. 16. Esa. 55. 5. Q. Thus much of our Union What is the communion of Christs benefits unto the Soul A. Whereby the Soul possessed with Christ and right'unto him hath by the same Spirit fruition of him and all his benefits John 4. 10. 14. Q. What is the first of those benefits we do enjoy from Christ A. Justification which is the Gracious Sentence of God the Father whereby for the satisfaction of Christ apprehended by Faith and imputed to the faithfull he absolves them from the guilt and condemnation of all sins and accepts them as perfectly righteous to eternall life Rom. 3. 24 25. Rom. 4. 6 7 8. Rom. 8. 33 34. Q. What difference is there between Justification and Sanctification A. Iustification is by Christs Righteousnesse inherent in Christ onely Sanctification is by a righteousness from Christ inherent in our selves 2 Cor. 5. 21. Phil. 3. 9. 2. Iustification is perfected at once and admits of no degrees because it is by Christ his perfect righteousnes sanctification is imperfect being begun in this life Rev. 12. 1. Phi. 3. 11. Q. What is the second benefit next in order to Justification which the faithfull receive from Christ A. Reconciliation whereby a Christian justified is actually reconciled and at peace with God Rom. 5. 1. John 2. 12. and hence follows his peace with all creatures Q. What is the third benefit next unto Reconciliation A. Adoption whereby the Lord accounts the faithfull his Sons câ—…owns them with privileges of Sons and gives them the Spirit of Adoption the same spirit which is in his only begotten Son 1 John 3. 2. Rom. 8. 11. 14 15 16 17. Q. What is the fourth benefit next to Adoption A. Sancification whereby the Sons of God are renewed in the whole man unto the Image of their heavenly Father in Christ Iesus by Mortification or their dayly dying to sin by vertue of Christs death and by Vivification their dayly rising to newness of life by Christs resurrection 1 Thes. 5. 23. Eph. 4. 24. Jer. 31. 32. Rom. 6. 7 8. Q. What follows from this Mortification and Vivification A. A continuall war and combat between the renewed part assisted by Father Son and Holy Ghost and the unrenewed part assisted by Satan and this evill world Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Q. What is the fifth and last benefit next unto Sanctification A. Glorification which hath two degrees The one in this life and the other in the world to come Q. What is the first degree of Glorification in this life A. Lively expectation of Glory from the assurance and shedding abroad Gods love in our hearts working joy unspeakable Rom 5. 2 5. Titus 2. 13. Q. What is the second degree in the world to come A. Full frution of Glory whereby being made compleat and perfect in Holinesse and Happinesse we enjoy all that good eye hath not seen nor ear hath heard in our Immediate and Eternall Communion with God in Christ Heb. 12. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 23. Thus much of the first part of living to God by Faith in God Q. What is the second part viz. our Observance A. It is the duty that is to be performed to God of us through