How may we make use of this the Catechismel or the lesser to best profit of private families or others First the Master or some one in the Family may read the Question and then first every one in order declare their knowledge or shew their ignorance and inability to answer Secondly the Master or any other may Reade the Answer in the Booke and let every one in order render the Answer again not verbatim word by word but as hee or shee understands the Question Thirdly let this be practized untill every one is able to give the sence of the Answer onely upon Reading of the Question without Reading the Answer The like a Christian man or woman may do in their closets by Reading and Meditation and questioning themselves And if young Scholars in the Vniversities or elsewhere make use of it at times convenient onely Reading the Questions and Answers out of the English into Latine or Greek I conceive it might be helpefull to receive some light from Christ by which they may sooner be prepared to hold forth the light of Christ for the good of Christs Church Which for the benefit of the Vniversities Cities and Kingdomes is the dayly Prayers of Yours Theirs and the Churches Servant in Christ IMMANUEL BOURNE London Printed for John Wright in the Old Bayly at the signe of Kings Head 1646. FINIS A light from Christ leading unto Christ by the Star of his word and to a lively refreshing in and by Christ at the Lords-Table OR A Divine Help and Directory for preparation to a sweet Communion with Christ in the more comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper Divided into thirty three severall Classes or companies of Question the better to order practise and help the memory The first Classis or company of Questions 1 Question IS every man and woman who professe themselves Christians bound in conscience to make confession or profession of their Faith and Hope in Christ to whomsoever is fit to require it in a fit time and place to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church and Children Answer Yes verely the holy Spirit of Truth holdeth forth this in the Scripture of Truth Mat. 16.23 14 15 16. Luke 9.25 26. 1 Pet. 3.14 15 16. as a Christian duty not to be ashamed of Christs Word or afraid of men but to sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts and to be ready to give an Answer to every man that asketh a Reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and reverence Quest 2. But doth not the holy Apostle Paul require a man to examine himself and prove himself What then need any man or woman 1 Cor. 11.28 29. 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Pet. 3.14 15. Gal. 6.4.5 Gal. 2.8 Col. 3.20.22 He. 13.17 1 Tit. 14,26 1 Tit. 5.17 2 Tim. 2.24 c. or childe give an Answer to the Examination or Question of another Ans The Apostle Paul indeed doth strictly require self-examination but neither he nor any other in Scripture doth forbid or gainsay that which the same Spirit of God in St. Peter requireth as a duty namely give a reason of the hope that is in us especially to our Superiours in order of nature or office in the Church as to Parents or masters to Teaching or Ruling Elders especially when it is desired discreetly holily humbly as in Gods presence with meeknesse compassion and love for Gods glory our own Edification and the good of Gods Church Quest 3. Is Catechizing or Instruction of the ignorant Children and others of ancient practice and approved authority in the Church of God Ans Most certainly it is Gen. 18.18 Mat. 16.16 17. Heb. 5.12 13. Heb. 6.1 2 3. Eusebius l. 5. c. 9.10 Hicronim in catalo Eusebius l. 6. c. 56. Faithfull Abraham instructed his Family Christ Catechized his Disciples the Apostles gave both milk for Babes and meat for strong men laying down the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and Catechisme hath still been continued in the Church of Christ as Catechismes and Catechists witnesse at large and in particular Pantaenus a Catechist in the Primitive times succeeding the Apostles After him Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and others Quest 4. But may not all those who call themselves Christians and have been Baptized when they were Infants be admitted to the Sacrament when they come to riper years although they were never Catechized or be they never so ignorant And if so Then what need Catechismes or Catechizing or any Examination other then wha man can examine himself Ans All are not Israel that are of Israel nor are all true Christians that call themselves Christians Rom. 9.6 Rev. 3.9 as some said they were Iews and were not but were of the Synagogue of Satan so it is now there are many Christians in name or Baptized persons not only secret Hypocrites undiscerned of whom we cannot judge but open carelesse and notoriously ignorant of Christ and Christianity yea without the knowledge of God or of themselves or of Christ or of the Sacrament in any competent measure requisite to enable them to examine themselves as the Scripture 1 Cor. 11.28 and the Spirit of Christ in the Scriptures require and these I conceive though some men account them visible Christians and although neither their lives are so scandalous nor their ignorance such as for which they may be fitly Excommunicated from the preaching of the Gospel and all communion with the Saints they being willing to hear the Word Preached and not rejecting Christs ministers yet their very ignorance is such that in my judgement they are not fit to be admitted to the Sacrament 1 Example I will give you an Example or two of my own experience I did know one W.W. whom I found ignorant of Christ although he was above threescore years old and telling him that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 and that he must know some one that had died for him or would die for him to satisfie Gods Justice for his sins or else being a sinner he could not be saved He Answered me That none had dyed for him and none should dye for him but he would stand between God and himself This man verely was unfit in my minde to be admitted to the Sacrament of the death of Christ who did neither know nor believe that Christ dyed for sinners Rom. 4.25 nor rose again for their Iustification And when he did presume thus ignorant to come to the Lords Table 1 Cor. ii 29 30. he sinned in so doing and did eat Iudgement to himself not discerning the Lord Body And yet I conceive he was not so scandalous in life or ignorant as to be Excommunicated from the Preaching of the Gospel For when after I did shew him his misery by sin Ioh. 3.16 and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving Christ to dye for poor sinners the tears ran down his cheeks for joy and he confessed he never understood so much before And yet
or division in the Body or Church of Christ as the Apostle St. Paul excellently holds forth unto us Quest 35. But may there not be a Separation from a true Church when corruptions and faults are found in it in Doctrine or practise of life and conversation Ans First I conceive there is a great deal of difference between the Errors or faults of a Church and of particular Members of a Church and also between failings of a Church in substantials and fundamentals which destroy the Essence and being of a Church and between failings and faults in circumstantials only If any Church or company of people should fall away the greater part of them in substantial truths and fundamental unto Error and Heresies which cannot stand with the foundation and being of a Church then I conceive such company may be rather said to have left the true Church though it be the lesser part in number then the lesser part to have left the Church The greater part Rom. 8.1 1 Tim. 1.19 20. as the seeming Church of Rome having left their first Faith and the truth of God in those Fundamental verities of Christ and his Offices and Graces without the holding and believing of which no company of people can be a Church of Christ Secondly If particular Members or a Church or company of professors fail in some particulars not Fundamentals but circumstantials only and such as it may yet be and is a true Church of Christ both in respect the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments Then I believe there ought not to be presently an unchurching or a Separation from this Church Eph. 4.1 c. but rather a labour and industry for a Reformation the preservation of unity and avoyding of Schisms and Rents and Divisions in the Church of Christ Quest 36. What do you call that company of people which fall away to Error and Heresies destroying the Foundation and in that respect separate from Saints Ans The name of Church cannot be given unto them but abusively and improperly only But these are a Heretical company rather then Church leaving the true Church of Christ 2 Ioh. 2.18 19. because they were never truly of the Church and so departing to their own destruction Quest 37. What do you call those who agree in the Fundamentals of Faith with the Orthodox and true Churches of Christ yet for some External Rites or things indifferent or some particular failings in manners or different Opinions in Dispensation of Ordinances or Discipline and these not Fundamental unchurch the Orthodox Reformed Churches of Christ and Separate themselves as if it were from Rome or Babylon Ans These are truly called Schismatical congregations who intentionally without cause do separate and unchurch the Churches of Christ and making Schismes 1 Cor. 3.3 11.18 so much complained against by the Apostle do divide themselves from the unity of the Churches condemning the true Churches as not Churches of Christ Quest 38. But whether is the Church of Christ subject to erre in fundamentals finally and totally or to perish for ever Ans Certainly no Mat. 16.18 Ioh. 10.27 c. Psa 125.1 2. howsoever particular Churches have erred in many particulars yet the universal Churches of Christ cannot erre in Fundamentals neither totally nor finally in any particular necessary to salvation nor can the Church of Christ perish it being built upon the Rock Christ but shall abide firm for ever Quest 39. Yet tell me I pray you what firm ground is there that the Church and Children of Christ shall be inabled to persevere and continue in grace unto Eternal glory and not fall from Christ and grace to perdition Ephes 1.4 14. 2 Thes 2.13 Matth. 24.24 2 Tim. 2.19 Acts 26.17 18. 2 Tim. 2.9 10. Rom. 8.28 Rom. 11.29 Isa 42.1 Luk. 17.5 Luke 22.32 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 15.10 Isa 53.11 Ier. 23.6 Acts 13.38 39. Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Rom. 8.1 Col. 1.20 Answ We might hold forth unto you many grounds But you may observe these First The certainty and infallibility of our Election by God the Father in Jesus Christ both unto grace and glory Secondly The certainty of our vocation or calling from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world was Thirdly The certainty of our Faith being true though sometimes weak yet receiving relying and resting on Gods promise in Christ is sure to hold out not by our own power but by the grace of God in Christ Fourthly The certainty of our justification in and by Christs righteousnesse and merits by which we are freed from condemnation and have peace with God in Christ for ever Fifthly The certainty of our regeneration and new creation and glorification begun here and to be perfected in glory 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.17 and 3.18 Rom. 8.30 Phil. 1.6 Sixthly 2 Pet. 1.7 8 c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Our entrance already into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ endeavouring by the grace of God in Christ to make our calling and election sure Seventhly 1 Thes 5.23 â—4 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. Iohn 10.29 30. Iude 4. Our assurance of faithfulnesse and mighty power of God to keep his children through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last times Quest 40. But doth not this Doctrine of Assurance open a way to Libertinism and so to sin Answ Certainly Iohn 8.31 32 36. the children of God have an excellent liberty and true freedom in and by Christ 1. Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.13 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.12 c. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Rom. 14.1 2 3 23. 1 Cor. 14.26 40. Rom. 6.1 15. From the condemning or damning power of the Law sin and curse due to sin having our pardon sealed in Christ 2. From the commanding power of sin and Satan unto both which by nature we were in bondage 3. From tyranny and rigid imposition of things indifferent to binde the conscience where Christ bindes not Christian charity and order guiding us to our comfort and the peace of the Church Yet there is no liberty for a childe of God to commit the least sin What shall we sin that grace may abound Rom. 6.11 12. 2 Pet. 2.19 20. Psal 19.13 God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin take any liberty to sin as the wicked do but rather pray continually by the power of Christ to be kept from sin Quest 41. What should the childe of God do that wants this assurance of perseverance in grace to glory Gal. 1.16 Gal. 2.20 Ioh. 13.1 2 Cor. 1.20 Iob 44.14 Iohn 17.24 Answ Waite on God in Christ in all good means of grace till the Lord be pleased to reveal Christ in you and his love and assurance of his free-love in
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-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-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
with this in the New and so all this is to no purpose which is spoken Ans For mens opinions no assertion is therefore true because some men affirm it but it must have ground in the Word of God Now for circumcision it is evident by the Apostle that it is not a seal of the Covenant of works but of Faith and the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4.11 Rom. 11.6 and therefore not of works For Faith and works in respect of the Covenâ—nâ— and justification of life are opposite and contrary the one to the other if of works then not of grace And Mr. Ainsworth well observes upon that place that the word Covenant is thirteen times named in that Chapter Gen. 17.21 and hereby is meant the promise of Christ â—nd salvation in him and that the promise was not onely of corporal but of spiritual and heavenly things As Saint Luke testifieth Luk. 1.72 73 c. Chapter the first To perform this mercy promised to our fore-Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant the Oath which he swear unto our Father Abraham which was an Oath and Covenant of spiritual things as you may reade at large And so circumcision a seal of that Covenant must needs be not a seal of the Covenant of works but of grace Not of Mount Sinai gendring to bondage but of Mount Sion and of Jerusalem which is free the Mother of us all of all the free born children of faithful Abraham free born not by a natural but by a spiritual new birth Ioh. 1.12 not of the will of the flesh or of man but of God Quest 24. Gal. 5. But what say you to that place of the Apostle he that is circumcised is bound to keep the whole Law doth not this evidence that circumcision did bind a man to legal obedience and then how could it be a seal of the Covenant of Grace Ans I Answer the Apostle in this Chapter concludeth his disputation concerning justification by the merit of Christ and not by the observation of the works of the Law or of circumcision appointed to Abraham before the holding forth of the Law of Moses Gal. 2.3 c. or by any of Moses his Ceremonies Iustification before God being onely by Christ received by Faith and Christs righteousnesse as he had proved by divers Arguments in the former Chapters For the Iewish Doctors which came to the Galathians had preached a false Doctrine Act. 15.1 2 c. that except they were circumcised they could not be saved As those did at Antioch against which the Councel at Jerusalem made a Decree that no such burden as circumcision should be laid upon the Church Acts. i5 24 28. and this Doctrine of justification by circumcision the Apostle vehemently opposeth Not as if circumcision indeed had been ordained by Moses or was any Sacrament or seal of the Covenant of works or so esteemed by the Apostle For it was appointed by God Himself to Abraham a believer in Christ Ioh. 8.56 Gal. 3.17 four hundred yeers before that dispensation of the Law by Moses or matter of the Covenant of works by Moses and the same Apostle himself had held it forth not as a seal of the Covenant of works but of the righteousnesse of Faith in Christ Rom. 4.11 12. as is noted before Therefore the Apostle doth not speak against circumcision as it was an Ordinance of God to Abraham continued until Christ or as if it ever was a seal of the Covenant of works but as it was falsly abused by the false glosses of the Pharisees and Iewish legal Doctors who came and disturbed the pure Doctrine of the Gospel amongst the believing Galatians contrary to the Apostle and Churches Decree at Jerusalem and truth of Christ taught the Galathians by the Apostle Saint Paul himself for otherwise he speaketh of Circumcision as indifferent in the times of the Churches respect to the Jews whom they desired to convert as he made it evident in his own circumcising of Timothy which he would not have done if Circumcision had been a Seal of the Covenant of Works B. Arce in Gal. 5. Observa de circumcisione hic agi respectu abusus quem in ducebant falsi Doctores Alibi Circumcisionem tulit ut rem mediam in Timotheo alibi ut figillum justitiae commendavit in Abrahamo c. or subjected Timothy to perform the whole Law or could have caused that Timothy should have received no profit by Christ as here he speaketh of Circumcision to the Galathians when the false Doctors taught Justification by Circumcision which Errour the Apostle here so strongly contradicts as most contrary to Christ and the Doctrine of Faith in Jesus And to this effect both blessed Luther Benedictus Aretius and others expound that place And so it is a most clear truth that Circumcision was never a Seal to Abraham or to any other of the Covenant of Works of onely of temporal Benefits or that there is any such difference between Circumcision and Baptism as between Hagar and Sarah or between Mount Sina in Arabia gendering to bondage and Mount Sion or Jerusalem between Law and Gospel as some Antipoedobaptists have affirmed And therefore it is not unprofitable to hold forth the manner of entrance into the Church declared and appointed by God to Abraham for his posterity for Proselytes converted and the Church untill Christ as is noted before Quest 25. You have satisfied me in this trouble now I pray you what was or is the manner of outward admission into the Church since Christ in the time of the Gospel Answ For outward admission into the visible Church of Christ since Christs Ascention This was and is by way of Covenant also though in a different manner of dispensation as it respects divers persons and times of admission or at least of approbations of persons admission as visible compleat members of the Church and fellowship of the Saints fit to partake and communicate in al Ordinances and Acts of fellowship especially in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper And this in several ages and practises of the Church Quest 26. What was the first way or practice of the Church in the new Testament according to the Ordinance of Christ Ans First Inwardly men of ripe yeers Jews or Gentiles converted or professing themselves to be converted by the preaching of the Gospel to beleeve in Christ were admitted as members of the Church and into or for this admission there was First As there was or should have been a beleeving or faith in Christ true and sincere or at least temporary in which the soul did close or seem to close with Christ and Covenant and agree to receive Christ for a Saviour Act 8.13 and 8 37 Psa 27.8 according to the promise and tender of the Gospel And this was a kinde of union agreement and secret covenanting with Christ 1. The Lord Christ speaking inwardly to the soul in kindnesse O poor
12. What sins are contrary to these duties concerning hearing or believing and obeying Gods word Ans To come to Gods house without a due preparation of the heart and minde and memory before we come 1. By examination of our knowledge or want of knowledge or by meditation of Christ and his Prophetical Office to teach us that we may learn of Christ or prayer for Gods Ministers or for our selves for our profiting in the Ordinance Mic. 7.16 Mat. 13.15 2 Tim 1.4.3 2. To be present without serious attentions with gazing eyes deaf dull itching prejudicate ears or wandring hearts Ier. 6.10 3. To hear with hypocritical prophane or uncircumcised hearts oâ— ears without love towards Gods Word 4. To hear with wilful hard impenitent hearts Acts 28.27 28. 17.11 or disobedient forgetful mindes without care to remember or confer of Gods Word after or prayer to God for a blessing upon it to our selves or those who have heard it Quest 13. What danger or judgement are such evil hearers subject unto Or how doth doth God punish such wicked and carelesse hearers of his word Prov. 28.9 Mat. 13.14 15. 2 Thes 2.10 c. 1 Cor. 1.18 c. Ans He that turneth away his ear from hearing of Gods Word his prayer is abominable and God many times gives them up to blindenesse of minde and hardnesse of heart to strong delusions to believe lyes and perish for ever Quest 14. What may these sins and dangers teach such wicked men Ans To come in betimes to wait on Christ for hearing ears Pro. 20.12 Mat. 13.16 and seeing eyes that they may hear and believe on and receive Christ and be justified and saved Quest 15. What way this teach Gods Children Ans To wait daily on Christ for more strength Ioh. 15.5 to prepare more conscionably to hearken more attentively to believe and follow Christ more fully until they come to glory Quest 16. You have answered concerning the first part of Gods worship the Prceaching of the word Now what is required in this command concerning Gods Ministers and their duty in this solemn worship Ans 2 Tim. 4.12 3 4. Deu. 33.9 2 Cor. 5.20 1 Cor. 5.20 2 5 6. The Ministers of Christ rightly called to this great Ministerial Office they are to Preach the Word of God in season and out of season with all faithfulnesse long-suffering and patience as for God and in Christs stead in godly sincerity boldnesse and zâ—al for Gods glory and the salvation of souls And this with Divine authority and holy wisdom and in demonstration of the spirit and of power Quest 17. What are the sins of Ministers contrary to this Ans To Preach Lyes in Hypocrisie 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Gal. 1.8 9. 1 Tim. 1.3 4. 6.3 c. or any Doctrine contrary to the word of God or Gospel of Christ or unprofitable for the people to whom they Preach Secondly to Preach the word of God corruptly 2 Cor. 2.17 Ier. 23.28 1 Pet. 5. 1 c. or not of a ready minde but for filthy Lucre sake or with Lording over Gods heritage Thirdly to Preach the Word flatteringly to please men sowing pillows under mens Elbows Ier. 23.18 Ezek. 22.28 or not as the Servant of Christ Fourthly not to Preach or to be negligent Ministers in their Ministerial Office Exo. 34.2 3. Quest 18. What it the penalty of such Ministers who Preach or people Who hear the word of God in such a sinful manner Mat. 7.21 c. Luk. 13.24 c. Ans The Lord Christ will not know or own them to be any of his at the day of Judgement but shut them out of heaven Quest 19. What should he the consideration of this work in these mens mindes as Ioh. 5.1 c. to want ordinances Acts 8.21 c. 2 Tim. 2 25 26. 1 Thes 1.10 Ans It should teach them in time to wait on Christ in his Ordinances to see if God will give them true faith in Christ and true Repentance and forgivenesse of their sinful speaking or hearing of Gods Word that they may be delivered from wrath to come Quest 20. You have answered concerning the first outward part of Gods worship the Preaching and hearing of Gods word Now what are the duties commanded or the sins forbidden in relation to the second part of Gods outward worship the blessed Sacraments Ans They are already declared in the former part of this Catechism in the 26 27 28 Classis where you may finde divers directions of duties to be practised for right preparation and participation for the blessed Sacrament And divers sins are or may be observed contrary to those duties with the danger of unworthy receiving 1 Cor. 11.27 both intimated by the Apostle and the Doctrine of the Sacraments are opened at large in the Classes aforesaid Quest 21. What are the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the third publike Ordinance or part of Gods worship offering up the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praises unto God And first for prayer Ans It is a general duty for all to pray to God in the Name of Christ for all things lawful and necessary for themselves or others Ioh. 16.23 1 Tim. 2.1 2. for Gods glory and good of Christs Church Quest 22. What is the general sin contrary unto this duty of prayer unto God in the Name of Christ Isa 46.6 7. 57.8 Ans First to put up our prayers to any other god then to the true God or to any other as to God or to any Idol Image or similitude of the true or any false God or to any Mediator as Mediator either Angels or Saints departed or the Image of any of them 1 Sam. 22.23 Iob. 15.4 Secondly to neglect prayer for our selves or not to pray for another and for the Churches of Christ Militant upon Earth Quest 23. What are the particular duties required in Prayer Ans There are many particular duties you may observe these in brief 1 Cor. 14.15 1. We must pray with knowledge and understanding both to whom in whose Name and for what we pray Iam. 1.5 2. We must pray with Faith and in Christs Name having an eye to Gods promises of those things for which we pray 3. We must pray with repentance that our sins separate betwixt God and us Iohn 16.23 to keep good things from us 4. We must pray with reverend Devotion having our hearts and mindes firmly fixed on God to whom we pray Acts 10.1 2. 5. In sincerity powring out our hearts unto God 1 Sam. 1.13 15. 6. With humility or humblenesse of spirit Isa 57.15 Ps 51.17 Luk. 22.41 42. submitting our wills to the will of God 7. With fortitude even wrestling by faith with our God in prayer until we conquer Gen. 32.24 c. Hos 12. 8. With fervency and zeal of spirit for the grace we do pray for even with tears
prerogatives may be found in Scriptures and besides that they are in the bosome of the Church in godly Families bred up under the means of Grace partakers of their Parents instruction in the knowledge of Christ and in many respects more happy then the children of Pagans and Infidels in regard of outward privileges even in spiritual things There is as the Apostle intimates a special kinde of holinesse belongeth to them which pertains not to children of unbeleevers This seemeth to me held forth by the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 1 Cor. 7.14 The unbeleeving Husband is sanctified by the Wife i. e. by or in the beleeving wise and so on the contrary part for I conceive these are opposed one to the other and the conclusion or inference followeth else were your children unholy but noâ— they are holy And this for what 〈◊〉 yet finde may and must be meant of more then Matrimonial holinesse for that may be amongst unbeleevers And if it should be no more the conclusion would be but this else were your children Bastards as some have expounded it But I do not beleeve that all the children of unbeleeving persons in the married estate are Bastards Heb. 13.4 since marriage is honourable amongst all whether beleevers or unbeleevers And although neither of the Parents be a beleever yet if they be lawfully married their children are not Bastards nor so to be esteemed And if there be more meant and to be understood then a Matrimonial holinesse Then what reason is there why this holinesse should not be a Covenant holinesse Ben. Aret in 1 Cor. 7. Sumit Argumentum naturâ fidei melioris personae singulis fidelibus dicitur Ero Deus tuus seminis tui Ad sanctificationem filiorum satis est si alter parens sit fidelis 1 Cor. 7.14 15. intitling children of beleevers to covenant priviledges for in this I subscribe to the judgement of Bendictus Aretius upon that place That the Apostle takes an Argument from the nature of the Faith of the better party namely of the beleever to prove the sanctification of the worser party that is of the unbeleever And so the priviledge of this holinesse of the children ariseth not from a bare Matrimonial or Conjugal union of the married parties but from the excellency and priviledge of Faith and so of that Covenant union and Covenant holinesse of the Covenant to beleevers I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed And a Covenant priviledge may be to have a signe and seal of the Covenant belong to these holy children of beleevers as the Apostle calls them And if so then why not Baptism as is held forth in the Reason before and for that iâ— is objected by some that divers Divines hâ—ve been of other mindes and given other Inâ—erpretations of the place it is no satisfactory ground against Poedobaptism to another Christian who cannot underwrite to their opinions Quest 15. Is there no more Reasons given or held forth by Divines for this Infant Baptism Ans There are divers Reasons drawn from other places of Scripture Col. 2.11 c. that Col. 2. where the Apostle makes mention of inward circumsion made without hands and after of Baptism â—s coming in place of circumcision for so some argue from that place and from other the like Scriptures But because the Controversie grown to be great in these present times many Books written pro and con for and against Infant Baptism and for that the opening and handling of this Controversie at large is too great for this little Body of Divinity and beyond my intention in this work I will leave the deciding of the Question to those I hope holy and learned men that are engaged in the Controversie for I dare not but think there may be Saints on both sides and onely hold forth a few Questions for clearing of some objections at least in part as I conceive and desire that the Lord Christ will so discover truth by his light that whatsoever hath been practised amisse may be reformed and the Church of Christ be glorious in Truth and Unity Qâ—â—st 16. Is not Baptism 〈◊〉 badge of Christianity and sign to put difference between the Church of Christ and the world and if so then doth not Baptizing Children though of Believers destroy that difference and confound the World and Church together sometimes receiving them for Saints which are not and so frustrate one end of Baptism to different Believers from the world Ans It is true outward Baptism is one outward sign or badge of difference in men and women of riper years between the world and the Church and yet all that are baptized in Infancy or amongst men and women of ripe years and who have made an outward confession of Faith and Repentance and have been baptized after Profession are not by their outward Baptism truly separated from the world and made Members of Christ by vertue of that work done as Papists have taught Acts 8. For Simon Magus was outwardly Baptized and made a profession and shew of believing yet was he in truth still one of the world 1 Tim. 1. and Hymeneus and Alexander no doubt were outwardly Baptized and yet they and many others after made ship-wrack of Faith and were not truly separated from the world But there is more required then this Quest 17. What then is that which doth thus truly separate and make this true difference Ans It is Gods Election effectual calling Justification Regeneration and inward Baptism and true ingrafting into Christ and to be born of the Spirit that truly separates from the world in respect of inward separation And this Children may have as Jeremy John Baptist might and many Children of Believers Luke 1.15 and such as died before outward Circumcision and all elect children whatsoever before the Eight day and therefore by right of foederal holinesse may Children of Believers have this priviledge to be outwardly entred into the Church by an Infant Solemn admission and being Baptized to be as true outward Members of the visible Church and compleat in respect of truth and perfection of true visible Infant-Membership and so may partake of outward Administrations according to their capacity although they be incompleat in respect of perfection of degrees of visibility and declarative admission to the Lords Supper and other acts of Church-fellowship agreeing to Professors of the true Faith of the Gospel and subjection thereunto in holinesse as well as Isaac Ishmael Iacob and Esau when they were Children being Circumcised and so Children now since they cannot be discerned to be otherwise then Elect of God and of Gods Kingdom no more then Esau could till he was discovered and therefore children may be accepted as outward true Members and inward in judgement of charity and partake of Baptism otherwise what chief holinesse or priviledge have they above the Children of Infidels for to say they have none is directly contrary to the Apostles
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
though they were in the Church and taken as members until they were discovered and tryed and proved and cast out yet they were not true members of the Church nor true members of Christ nor any true members of the Congregation but in shew and outward appearance They were amongst the Saints but they were not of the Saints as John speaks They were and are indeed of the world they went out from us 1 Ioh. 2.18 19. but they were not of us but they went out from us that it might be known they were not all of us they were with and in the Church and yet they were not truly of the Church And howsoever this corruption was yet the Church did still remain a true Church and had many true Saints in Corinth although it had rotten and corrupt members which by right course and execution of Discipline should have have been cast out the Church And thus for the Saints sake though the Church of Corinth had false member and corrupt members and many Errors both in life and Doctrine yet the Apostle doth not un-Church the Church of Corinth or give way to a Schism or Separation for all this As a tree is a true tree although it have some rotten Branches Simile Or as a sick or wounded man is a true man although he be sick or wounded So a Church of Christ may be a true Church although it be sick and weak and wounded and full of imperfections both in matter and form as the Church of Corinth and other Churches of Christ have been and yet esteemed by Christ and his Apostles to be true Churches of Christ as the Scripture hold forth evidently unto us Now compare the Church of England or the Churches of Christ in England collectively though they be mixed Congregations yea divers of our Congregations in London and in the countrey where faithful and painful Ministers have been Preaching Baptizing Catechizing calling to profession of Faith and holinesse and approbation before the Admission to the Lords Supper where there hath been and is a communion of Saints as I know there hath been in divers places and mixed Congregations compare I say these with the Church of Corinth and by the same Argument that these Seducers may or can Separate or un-Church our Churches by the same the Saints or some of the Saints in Corinth might have separated from their fellow Saints and Church of Corinth which yet would have been a sin in them as it is a sin in these who separate and labour to seduce and draw others amongst us to separate from their fellow-Saints and to un-Church or make rents and Schisms and divisions in our Church which is a grievous sin against the Lord Christ the Lord and Head of his Body the Church Quest 38. But some will object It may be that there is not the same condition of our Church of London or any great mixt Congregation amongst us in respect of the matter as there was of Corinth For in Corinth it is most like that the greater part of the Church were Saints indeed or visible Saints in outward appearance at least But in our mixt Congregations commonly the greatest part visible ignorant prophane or scandalous persons or but civilly honest and formal professors at best and so are not to be compared to the Church of Corinth no not so much as for the matter of our Church Ans First Certainly men ought to be very careful as not to un-Church a Church so not to un-Christian a Professor for some failings in knowledge or practice 1 Cor. 13. 1 Pet. 4.8 Charity covers many failings and as the Apostle speaks Secondly Corinth was a great city wd Church and yet consider the divisions and other faults it is not certain which was the greater part the innocent or the faulty But howsoever grant that the Church were so decayed that that the greater part had onely a name to live and indeed were dead Rev. 3 1 2. as is spoken of the Angel or Church of Sardis Or that the greater part of the Church were grown Luke-warm Rev. 3.15 16. and such as Christ threatens to spew out of his mouth as the Church or Angel of Laodicea yet it may be a true Church of Christ for all this A Bushel of good Wheat in a Barn amongst three or four or more Bushels of chaff is yet a true Bushel of Wheat though it be mixed with much more chaff then Wheat Or an Army of men although consisting of more sick and wounded Souldiers and Officers then whole is yet a true Army though weak And so is a company of Professors of the Gospel of Christ enjoying a communion in Ordinances holding the truth of Christ and professing subjection thereunto Yet a true Church when the greater part be the worse yea both ignorant and scandalous but yet a sick Church and stands in need of the Reformation And thus is the Church of England and our great mixt Congregations true Churches for matter of a Church of Christ as the Church of Corinth was and not to be separated from or un-Churched for these coruuptions as Corinth was not whatsoever any seducers in this respect oppose to the contrary Quest 39. But howsoever this may prove our Churches as true as Corinth was for matter yet the Adversaries of our Church deny our Churches to be true Churches in Form And how will you Answer this Objection Ans I Answer the Form of a Church doth consist in union This union is two fold first internal with Christ our Head Eph. 1.22 23. 1 Cor. 12.13 Eph. 4.1 2 3. by the spirit and Faith The second is external of members one with another Now to understand this better and to declare that our Churches are true visible Churches of Christ in respect of outward Form Consider First the outward Form or union in respect of admission into a Church membership Secondly the outward Form of Ordination of Ministers and appointment of them for a Church and union with them Thirdly the outward Form in possession and profession of union with them in outward ordinances As First in the Word or Gospel Secondly in prayers Thirdly in the Sacraments Fourthly observe the outward Form of union in government and execution of Discipline in the Church I will not stand to handle these at large but touch them in brief First for outward Form of union in respect of admission into a Church we have shewed how men of ripe years Iews or Pagans converted to the Faith were admitted first after they had heard the Gospel and believed either with a false Faith as Simon Magus or with a true Faith as the Eunuch they did desire a union and admission into the Church by Baptism Secondly did make profession of their Faith Thirdly did intimate in this desire of Baptism and profession of Faith their receiving of Christ to be their Lord and Saviour and their Covenanting with the Lord to be his people And Fourthly