combated Satan Matth. 4. He proved the Resurrection from the dead to the Saducees Matth. 22.23.29 31 32. And showed to his Disciples the necessity of his Death and of his Resurrection Luke 24.46 By them John Baptist proved his Mission Matth. 3.3 And by them the Apostles overcame the Jews and shewed powerfully that Jesus was the Christ Acts 9.22 and Acts 18.28 Q. Hath God commanded us to consult the Scriptures as our Judge A. The Prophet Esay 8.20 sends to the Law and to the Testimony and if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no Light in them And Jesus Christ commands the Jews to search the Scriptures because they testified of him John 5.39 and Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And St. Peter after having mentioned the voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased adds We have also a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed 2 Pet. 1.17 18.19 Q. But when there is a difference about the interpretation and sense of the Scripture is it not necessary to have a Judge who can judge Infallibly and with Authority of the meaning of the Scripture and declare it to us for our agreement A. God hath not given this power to any in the world but Scripture must Interpret Scripture one passage must be Interpreted by another as they did in the time of Esra who made them understand the Law by Reading of the Scripture Nehem. 8.8 Q. How can you decide matters of Faith by the Scripture since it is obscure A. If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost of whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds even Unbelievers 2 Cor. 4.3.4 But it is not obscure to them who have received the Spirit of God that they might know the things that are freely given to us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 And to accuse the Scripture of obscurity is to accuse it falsely for David Psal 119.105 says Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths Q. Yet St. Peter says in the 2 Epistle 3.16 That in the Epistles of St. Paul there are some things hard to be understood A. I grant there are many obscure places in the Scripture to exercise the Faith of Believers and keep the most Learned humble but God hath so ordered that all things necessary to Salvation are clear and easie to be understood Q. But since St. Paul would have Believers to judge of his Doctrine 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak as to wise men judg ye what I say Why should not the Church assembled in Council hvve that Authority A. There are two kinds of judgment one is a judgment of Authority the other of discretion by which particular Believers ought to try the Spirits whether they be of God and discern the true Doctrine of Christ from lies and of this judgment Paul speaks when he says judge ye what I say but for the judgment of Authority God hath not given it to any Mortal man not to the Councils themselves which have no power to make any Canons or Decisions to oblige the Consciences of any but so far as they are conform to the word of God Jesus Christ only hath Soveraign Authority in the Church as the well beloved Son that the Father hath commanded us from Heaven to hear Matth. 3.17 and John 5.22 Jesus Christ says that the Father hath given all judgment to the Son SECT IV. Of the Perfection of the Scripture Q. IS the Scripture the perfect Rule of our Faith A. Yes Because all the Articles of Faith and Doctrines necessary to Salvation are contained therein and therefore St. Paul 2. Tim. 3.15 says That the Holy Scriptures are able to make wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus Q. St. Paul speaks there only of the Books of the Old Testament for the New was not then writ so it follows by your reason that the New Testament is superfluous since the Old is sufficient for to instruct us to Salvation A. Upon the contrary St. Paul speaking of the Books of the Old Testament only fortifies strongly our reason for the sufficiency and perfection of the Scripture for if the Books of Moses and the Prophets were sufficient to make the Church wise unto Salvation Why may not the Scripture be sufficient now since to Moses and the Prophets God hath added the Evangelists and the Apostles Besides it follows not that because the Books of the Old Testament were sufficient for the Church then that the New is Superfluous since God hath pleased to give it us to manifest the Doctrine of Salvation more clearly and fully as 2 Tim. 1.10 Paul says That Jesus hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel Q. Is all Tradition to be Condemned A. No for this word Tradition signifies nothing but a Doctrine given from hand to hand the Scripture it self is a Tradition and the Doctrine of Salvation before it was written was a Tradition and hath been called Scripture since it was put into Writing and St. Paul calls the Doctrine of the Gospel Tradition which is written 1 Cor. 15.3 I have given unto you that which I have received viz. That Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures Q. What Traditions then are to be condemned A. All Traditions of men wherewith they pretend to bind the Consciences of men and give them for Articles of Faith which S. Paul Colos 2.8 would that we should take heed of Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of men after the Rudiments of the World and not after Christ Such were the Traditions that the Pharisees added to the Law which Christ condemns Matth. 15.3 Why do ye transgress the Commandement of God by your Tradition applying to them what God says of Hypocrites Esay 29.13 In vain they do Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of men Such are the Traditions which the Roman Church hath added to the Gospel as Worshipping Images and Praying to Saints which tho' they have no foundation in the Scripture but are formally condemned therein yet the Council of Trent hath commanded them to be received with the same Devotion and Piety that the Scripture is Q. Nevertheless St. Paul 2 Thess 2.15 Commands the Thessalonians to hold the Traditions that they had been Taught by Word or Epistles and 2 Tim. 2.2 He recommends to Timothy to commit to faithful men the things which he had heard in presence of many Witnesses A. I Answer that those Traditions and Instructions of St. Paul are not Traditions of men but the Word of God as he himself says 1 Thess 2.13 And the Instructions he gave Believers by Word and Living Voice are the same he hath writ in his Epistles and that we may be assured that his Doctrine is not Traditions of men he protests to the Jews Acts 26.22
That he had said no other things than these which the Prophets and Moses did say should come and to Teach us that these things did contain all that is Necessary to Salvation he assures the Ephesians Act. 20 27. That he had declared unto them all the Counsel of God Q. Yet the Church believes many Doctrines which are not contained in the Scripture as the perpetual Virginity of the Holy Virgin the Baptism of Children the translation of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday the number of the Sacraments to be but two A. For the perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin the Church receives it not as an Article of Faith necessary to Salvation but as an Article becoming the honour they think themselves obliged to render to this Sacred Vessel But for the other points they are taught in Scripture if not in formal terms at least by necessary consequences St. Peter Acts 2.38.39 would have all the Jews Baptized because the Promise was to them and to their Children and we see that in the time of the Apostles Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Rev. 1.10 Believers Assembled themselves for Prayer and to make Collection the first Day of the Week which St. John calls The Lord's Day And the Church may well conclude there are but two Sacraments since they see not in the Scripture that Jesus Christ hath instituted any more SECT V. Of Reading the Holy Scripture Q. IS it Lawful for all Persons to Read the Scripture A. Jesus Christ Recommends the Reading of it indifferently to all John 5.39 Search the Scriptures and Deut. 17.18 19. God Commandeth Kings to have the Book of the Law and to read therein every day and the Apostle St. Paul 1 Thess 5.27 Charges that his Epistle be read to all the holy Brethren and 2 Tim. 3.15 he praises Timothy because from a Child he had known the Holy Scriptures And the Eunuch of Queen Candace did Read in the Chariot Esaias the Prophet Acts 8.28 And in all the Synagogues the Law and the Prophets were read every Sabbath-day Acts 15.21 17. The believing Bereans having heard the Doctrine of St. Paul compared it with the Scriptures to know if it was as he had said And tho' the Revelations be the most obscure Book in the Scripture yet the reading of it is recommended to all Rev. 1.3 Blessed be he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Q. It seems notwithstanding that it would be expedient to hinder the simple People from the reading thereof St. Peter tells us that there are in the Epistles of St. Paul things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction A. Upon the contrary the simple and ignorant are to read the Scriptures that they may become wise to Salvation and Jesus Christ tells us that the ignorance of the Scriptures is cause of Errors You Err not knowing the Scriptures said he to the Sadduces Mat. 22.29 And David Psal 19. says That the Law enlightens the Eyes and maketh wise the simple And tho' there be some ignorant and unstable that wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction yet it hinders not St. Peter from recommending in the same place to Believers the Epistles of St. Paul And in the first Chapter of the same Epistle he tells us That we have a sure word of Prophesie whereunto we do well to take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place For because those that are Prophane abuse the Word of God and his Graces the Children of God must not be forbidden the Use thereof Q. What Profit then do Believers receive from the Reading of the Scriptures A. By them they are instructed in the Knowledg of God fortified in the Faith and Expectation of their Salvation comforted in their Afflictions furnished against Temptations of Satan the World and the Flesh For whatsoever things were written afore-time they were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope Rom. 15.4 SECT VI. Of the Church Quest WHat signifies this word Church A. An Assembly Q. How many ways is the name of Church taken in the Scripture A. Four ways principally 1. For the Church of the Elect. 2. Generally for the Universal Visible Church and they that make profession of Faith in Jesus Christ And it is this Church St. Paul speaks of when he says That in a great house there are not only vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth because that this Church is composed of good and of evil ones 2 Tim. 2.20 3. The Church signifies an Assembly of the Leaders of the Church which Jesus Christ speaks of Matth. 18.17 When there is a quarrel between two Brethren he will have the party offended tell it to the Church 4. The name Church is given to each particular Christian Assembly which is a part of the Universal Visible Church such in the time of the Apostles was the Churches of Corinth of Ephesus of Rome c. to whom St. Paul directs his Epistles Q. What is meant by the Church of the Elect A. It is the Assembly of all Believers that Goth hath Elected in Jesus Christ of which some are Glorified in Heaven others are yet Combating on the Earth others are not yet born or called to the Faith but must be in their time and subsist already in the Counsel of God of these Jesus Christ speaks John 10.16 saying Other sheep have I which are not of this fold they also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Q. Where doth the Word of God speak of this Church of the Elect A. The Apostle Hebrews 12.23 calls it the Heavenly Jerusalem the General Assembly and Church of the first born It is this Church which St. Paul calls the Body of Christ for Christ cannot have dead Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Ephes 4.12 Colos 1.24 and the Spouse of Christ Ephes 5.32 for Christ cannot have an Adulteress for his Spouse St. Peter 1 Epist 2.9 call this Church A chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People Q. Which Church is spoken of in this Article of the Apostles Creed I believe the Holy Catholick Church A. Of the Church of the Elect for we believe things that are not seen as the Apostle Heb. 11.1 says Faith is the Evidence of things not seen And after those words I believe the Holy Catholick Church is put the Communion of Saints in this Church that the Profane may be excluded Q. Why is this Church of the Elect said to be invisible since it is composed of men who are Visisible A. Not only because the Glorified Saints are out of our sight and that those who belong to the Election of God and are not yet born cannot be seen but also because that though the Elect that live upon the Eatth are visible men yet it is not visible that they are
seems to be hidden or to be vanished from the Earth as when she was Captive in Egypt and in Babylon shut up in the Family of Abraham and when many days passed in Israel without the True God and without a Teachin Priest and without the Law 2. Chron. 15.3 and when Idolatry was publickly introduced into the Kingdom of Juda and into the Temple of Jerusalem Q. But the Christian Church having received more authentick promises for extention and splendor it is not likely to be invisible and that City set on a Hill cannot be hidden Matth. 5.14 A. It is true that by the calling of the Gentiles the Christian Church is more extended than that of the Jews was and there shall always be a Visible Christian Church in the World but it is not necessary to a particular Churches being pure that it be Splendent and Visible The seven thousand men that had not bowed their Knee to Baal were the true Church though they appeared not in Israel and since the Church of Jerusalem ceased not to be the True Church when Revelation 12. she was forced to fly into the Wilderness to shun the persecution of the Jews and Rev. 12. Wings are given to the Church that she might fly and hide her self in the Wilderness And Chap. 13. there is spoken of a time wherein all the Earth should Worship the Beast Jesus Christ says Luke 18.8 When he shall come he shall find no Faith in the Earth and they of the Church of Rome themselves say that Antichrist will make the Sacrifice of the Mass to cease for three years and a half Q. May not perpetual duration be a mark of the true Church A. No because perpetual duration is a thing not known but hoped for and there is no particular Church hath received any promise from God to endure for ever Q. But some will say we wonder not that you reject those precedent marks seeing it is two hundred years agoe only since you appeared in the World so that you cannot show your Succession nor where you were before Calvin and Luther A. We do not boast of our Succession but of our Truth yet we prove sufficiently that our Religion is not new but the first and most antient in making appear that we have the same Religion that Christ and his Apostles had and being truth it self by consequent it could not be interrupted Truth being Eternal and immutable and there must needs therefore always have been some Church in the World that hath made profession thereof for the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church Those then that ask us where our Religion was before Luther and Calvin we will ask them where theirs was in the time of Christ and his Apostles both of us begin the History of our Religion at that time Q. May not multitude be a good mark of the True Church A. No more than the rest for it agrees better-with a false than with a True Church Jesus Christ commands us to enter in at the strait gate for broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at Matth. 7.13 and Luke 12.32 he calls his Church the little flock and Exodus 23.2 we are forbidden to follow a multitude to do evil in short multitude cannot be a good mark of the True Church since Pagans and Mahumetans are more in number than the Christians and amongst the Christian Churches the Hereticks are commonly more numerous than the Orthodox as Christian Catholicks were fewer than the Arians Q. What think you of Miracles A. That we have reason to suspect that Mark since Jesus Christ hath foretold us Matth. 24.24 That false Christs and false Prophets shall arise shewing great signs and wonders and St. Paul foretels us 2 Thess 2.9 That the son of perdition will come with signs and lying wonders Q. How know you that the Miracles of the Roman Church are lying wonders A. First Because they give Authority to lies as Worshiping of Images and Praying to Saints Secondly Because often they are not done in the Name of God and Jesus Christ as the Miracles of Jesus Christ and his Apostles but in the name of some Images or Saint Thirdly Because they are feigned inventions and contrivances to deceive the simple and credulous and to keep them in their Superstition therefore they do them not in publick before those they call Hereticks to Convert them but secretly without Witnesses Q. Hath the True Church no Miracles A. Yes Those of Jesus Christ and his Apostles which having sufficiently comfirmed the Doctrine declared to us we have no need of new Miracles to give Authority thereto an Evil and Adulterous Generation seeketh after a sign Matth. 12.39 16.4 Signs are not for them that believe but for them that believe not 1 Cor. 14.22 Q. May the titles of Catholick and Holy be marks of the True Church A. No Because names are not essential properties and an Heretical Church may as well assume these Titles as the True one besides the Title of Catholick or Universal can be no mark of any particular Church Q. What think you of Vnion A. That it is not an absolute mark of the Church for it is found in false and Heretical Churches which are well United but Union in Faith and Conformity to the Word of God is a true mark of a Church but if destitute of Truth it is only a conspiracy against God Q. What judgment make you of Holiness A. That is the only right mark of the True Church provided that Holyness in Doctrine be understood as well as in manners SECT IX Of our Separation from the Roman Church Quest WHy have you separated from the Church of Rome A. Because our Conscience would not suffer us to partake of her Errors and Superstitions since we find not in her the only mark of the True Church which is Conformity to the Word of God nor the pure Administration of the Sacraments Q. But ought not Christian Charity and the love of peace make us bear with their errors St. Paul tells us that Charity beareth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 and should the infirmities and faults of our brethren make us separate from them and break the Vnion of the Church by a Schism A. We must bear with our Neighbours faults but we must not consent to them now we cannot continue in Communion with an Heretical Church but we must consent to their Errors 2 Cor. 6.14 What Fellowship hath Righteousness with Unrighteousness and what Communion hath Light with Darkness and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols And it were not just that to please our Neighbours we should defile our selves with their Superstition St. Paul recommends Truth to us as well as Charity and Ephes 4.3 he would have us to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Q. But may not our separation be justly accused of Schesm A. No For it is not absolutely Separation which makes
Schism but that which is the cause of Separation now our Separation being upon a just account cannot be called Schism for the Errors and Superstitions of the Roman Church made our Separation necessary for God having discovered them to us by his Word we could not without bringing guilt upon our selves neglect that Commandment of God Revel 18.4 to come out of Babylon that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues besides it doth not become them to reproach us with our Separation and to accuse us of Schism since they first thrust us from amongst them by their Excommunications and all sorts of violence and we may much more justly call them Schismaticks they having so unworthily separated from Jesus Christ and his Apostles and from the purity of his Doctrine by so many Heresies which they teach Q. Yet could you not for peace sake have dissembled and contented your selves with distasting them in your heart A. No For God vomits out of his Mouth those that are luke warm Revel 3.16 and would have us to glorifie him as well in our bodies as in our spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 and that as we believe with the Heart unto Righteousness we should with our own mouth make Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 SECT X. Of the Head of the Church Quest WHo is the Head of the Church A. Jesus Christ only for St. Paul says Ephes 4.5 There is one Lord and one Faith and Chap. 1.22 he says that God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body Now as Jesus Christ hath but one mystical Body viz. his Church also this Body can have but one Head Q. But hath not Jesus Christ established under him one here upon Earth to be the visible Head of the Church A. No for the Word of God hath made no mention thereof and Ephes 4.11 St. Paul rekoning up the Offices in the Church says He gave some Apostles and some Pastors and Teachers but says nothing of this pretended Head which should have been the first And Jesus Christ forbids all Superiority of Authority amongst his Disciples Luke 22.25 26. The Kings of the earth exercise Lordship over them but ye shall not be so and Matth. 23.8 Be not ye called Rabby for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren Q. It would seem that Jesus Christ looked on St. Peter as a Head Ordinarily he is first named in the Gospel and Matth. 16.18 Jesus Christ says to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church A. His being named first doth not import any Superiority of Authority or Jurisdiction but of Honour and Order because of his Age or Gifts and when Jesus Christ says upon this Rock will I build my Church he had not regard to the person of St. Peter but to his Doctrine and the Confession he had made in the name of the other Apostles saying Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and on this consideration not only Peter but the rest of the Apostles are called the Foundation of the Church as we are taught by St. Paul Ephes 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself beeing the chief corner stone Q. But Jesus Christ in the same place promises to give him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and that whosoever he shall bind on Earth shall he bound in Heaven A. In those words he gives no Authority to St. Peter which he gives not to the other Apostles to whom also he hath given the Keys and the power of binding and loosing and of remitting and retaining sins John 20.21 As my Father hath sent me so send I you verse 23. Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted But supposing it were as true as it is false that Jesus Christ did in this passage Establish Peter Visible Head of the Church it would not follow that the Bishops of Rome are his Successors in that Office since we see no warrant for it in the Scripture neither hath the other Apostles had any Successors in their Offices as Apostles Q. But since the death of Jesus Christ and his Ascension did not the Apostles acknowledge St. Peter for their Head A. No on the contrary Acts 8.14 the Apostles send him with John to Preach the Gospel in Samaria and St. Paul says 2 Cor. 11.5 That he esteemeth not himself a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles and Gal. 2.9 Naming James before Peter he says James Peter and John gave him the right hand of Fellowship and proves at length in the same place that he was not called to be an Apostle by any but by Jesus Christ alone and 1 Cor. 1.12.13 He reproves those amongst the Corinthians that did choose to themselves any other Head or Patron but Jesus Christ every one of you says I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided Was Paul Crucified for you Or were you Baptized in the name of Paul To acknowlege then another Head than Christ is to divide Christ Neither can we acknowlege any other Head but he who was Crucified for us and in whose Name we are Baptized St. Peter himself takes no other Title in his Epistles but that of Apostle and Elder and speaks to the Pastors of the Church not as having Authority over them but as their comparison in service 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders that are among you I exhort who am also an Elder SECT XI Of the Invocation of Saints Quest MVst we pray to Saints A. No Because we have neither Command nor Example in the Word of God for it and when the Apostles desired Jesus Christ to teach them to Pray he injoyns them to pray to God only Luke 11.2 When you Pray say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now that which is without the Word of God is without Faith Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God It is then a sin to Pray unto Saints since it is to Pray without Faith which is required in Prayer James 1.6 Let him ask in Faith nothing wavering Q. But is not Praying to Saints expresly forbidden in the Word of God A. Yes For God hath commanded us to Adore and Serve him only Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve now praying is one of the chief and principal Acts of Religious Worship and Service and St. Paul teaches us that we cannot call on those we do not believe in Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed then we are not to Pray to Saints since it is not lawful to put our confidence in them for God declares them cursed that put their trust in man Jerem. 17.5 Cursed be the the man that trusteth in man Q. It is true we are to serve God
follow thom And Eccles 12.7 Then shall the Dust return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it And 2 Cor. 5.1 that If our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Likewise Jesus Christ by the Parable Luke 16. of Dives and Lazarus teacheth us that Believers after Death are carried into Abraham's Bosome where they are comforted and at his Death he says to the Converted Thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luk. 23.43 and St. Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Promises to himself That having kept the Faith and fought the good Fight he should receive the Crown of Righteousness and the Spirit of Christ says to Believers Rev. 2.10 Be Faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life In a word Jesus Christ John 5.24 saith That he that believeth on him shall never enter into condemnntion but is passed from death unto Life And St. Paul Rom. 8.1 says There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus then certainly neither in this Life nor in that which is to come is there any condemnation to them it must then be much rashness to condemn those whom God hath justified and to think that God takes pleasure to punish his Children many thousands of years for Sins already pardoned and for which he hath had full satisfaction by the death of his Son our Saviour Q. But since the Scripture tells us Rev. 21.17 That no unclean thing shall enter into the Holy City is it not necessary that Souls so much infected with Sin should be purged with fire that they might be presented pure and holy unto God A. In this passage of the Revelations God speaketh of wicked persons and not of Believers such as Traitors and Adulterers who committed abomination and falsehood and who entered not into the City of God Revel 22.15 And it is not material fire that cleanses the soul but the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 for by vertue of his blood our sins are blotted out we are also cleansed by the Holy Ghost in Regeneration and Sanctification Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Q. Have Believers no need then to be purged after death A. No For God hath in this life freely forgiven all our sins Col. 2.13 Neither is there any place for Repentance and Amendment after this life and where the Tree faleth there it shall be Eccles 11.3 Q. What do you understand then by the fire St. Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 3.15 That the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is A. I understand the Word of God by which all Doctrines are to be tryed for the Apostle in that place speaks of the Doctrine of the Gospel as of a Building whose Foundation is in Jesus Christ and upon which Pastors builded some Gold Silver and Precious Stones that is good and solid Doctrines and others Wood Hay and stubble that is light and curious Doctrine which will perish and vanish away when they are examined by the Word of God as Wood Hay and Stubble in the fire is burned and turned to Smoak Q. Doth not that saying of St. Paul 1 Cor. 15.29 What shall they do which are Baptised for the dead if the dead rise not imply a Purgatory A. This passage cannot prove Purgatory for it is only the Resurrection that the Apostle considers Many Learned men in the Church have thought that St. Paul speaks of certain Hereticks who denyed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and yet when any of them dyed without Baptism Baptised some others for the dead and in their name fearing that they should be punished for dying without Baptism Q. But Jesus Christ says in Matth. 12.32 That the sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven either in this world or in the world to come there must then be a world to come in which sins are forgiven and punished A. These words shall not be forgiven signifie only that it shall be punished in this World and in that which is to come as St. Mark explains it Chapter 3.29 He that Blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost hath never Forgiveness but is in Danger of Eternal Damnation Also by the World to come may be understood the day of Judgment in which the Scriptures tell us Sins shall be forgiven and punished because then shall be publickly pronounced the Sentence of Condemnation or of Absolution according as St. Paul prayed for Onesyphorus That he might find mercy of the Lord in that day 2 Tim. 1.18 because then mercy or Punishment would be manifested SECT XVI Of Human Satisfactions Quest CAn men satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins by Works of Penitence as Fasting Alms Stripes and such like A. No for they are imperfect and to think that any Suffering and Pains but those of Jesus Christ can Reconcile us to God is to esteem the Blood of Jesus Christ and his Sufferings superfluous and unprofitable for God takes not two payments for one debt and the Scripture tells us Col. 2.13.14 That God hath freely forgiven all our Trespasses in blotting out the hand-writinng of Ordinances that was against us Nailing it to his Cross and this Word freely excludes all Satisfaction on our part for as St. Paul Rom. 11.6 says If by Grace then it is not by Works Q. But they will tell you that they hold those penitential works Satisfactory only by vertue of the death of Christ A. These things are contradictory for Jesus Christ dyed that we should not be obliged to make satisfaction our selves and to pay that debt which it was impossible for us to pay and the Apostle Hebr. 1.3 tells us That he had by himself purged our sins and not by our making Satisfaction Q. God hath indeed freed us from the guilt of our sins for Jesus Christ's sake but not from all the punishment of them A. This is an absurd evasion for the forgiving of Sin is nothing else but the not punishing of it and when we desire That God would forgive our Sins as we forgive them that trespass against us we pray That God would not inflict the punishment that we deserve for our sins no more than we seek to Revenge the Wrongs done unto us Q. Yet God often inflicts punishments after he hath pardoned Sins as he did upon David after having signified to him that his Adultery and Murder were pardoned 2 Sam. 12.10 14. A. Such punishments God inflicts for to humble and correct his Children but not to satisfie his Justice and are rather Effects of Love and Mercy than of Justice therefore Eliphas says to Job Happy is the man whom God Correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastning of the Almighty Job 5.17 Q.
with more liberty and less distraction but Jesus Christ himself says in the same place that all men cannot receive this saying Matth. 19.11 Q. Yet St. Paul Condemns widows who having consecrated themselves to the service of the Church would afterwards Marry 1 Tim. 5.12 Having damnation because they have cast off their first faith A. St. Paul condemns them because by Marrying they make themselves uncapable of fulfilling their promise to serve the Church and not for their Marrying and therefore least they should be obliged to quit their Office and so violate their Faith by Marrying he forbids to receive any into that number under threescore and commands young Widows to Marry saying I will therefore that the younger women marry 1 Tim. 5.14 Q. Is this command in the 1 Cor. 7.9 If they cannot contain let them Marry made to Ministers and Ecclesiastical persons as well as to other people A. Yes For Ministers are as much obliged to obey God as others and therefore Ecclesiastical persons under the Law did Marry both Priests and Prophets and under the Gospel St. Peter was Married and Philip the Evangelist St. Matth. 8.14 Acts 21.9 And St. Paul 1 Cor. 9.5 tells us that he had power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and Brethren of the Lord and Cephas And 1 Tim. 3.2 he would have a Bishop to be the Husband of one Wife and therefore speaking of them who forbid Marriage he calls them seducing Spirits teaching Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. SECT XX. Of Vowing Poverty Quest IS it lawful to Vow Poverty to God and quit our Goods for to shut our selves up the rest of our days in a Cloister and beg our Bread from door to door A. No Jesus Christ indeed Commands us to quit joyfully our Goods Wives and Houses for to follow him when we cannot keep them without dissembling or abandoning the Truth but he commands us not to beg but on the contrary would have us Gen. 3.19 to eat our bread in the sweat of our faces and 1 Tim. 6.18 that the Rich should be rich in good Works ready to distribute willing to communicate and Ephes 4 28 the Apostle would have us labour working with our hands the things which are Good that we may have to give to him that needeth Q. Yet Jesus Christ commandeth the young men Matth. 19.21 to sell what he had and give it to the poor A. Jesus Christ commanded this young man to do it that he might make manifest his Covetousness and to show that he loved not God with all his heart as he had boasted Luke 14.26 but he commandeth not others to do it SECT XXI Of Vowing Obedience Quest IS it lawful to Vow a blind Obedience without contradiction to a Superiour A. No For God only hath Soveraign power over our Consciences 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men Q. What think you of the Vows of Children that without the consent and against the will of their Parents and Superiours put themselves into Monasteries A. That they are void for the Scripture tells us Numb 30.5 That if a Father disallow the Vows of a Child yet in his house they shall not stand and they that allow such Vows make void the Commandment of God Honour thy Father and thy Mother by their Tradition as Jesus Christ chargeth the Pharisees Matthew 15.6 SECT XXII Of Lawful Vows Quest WHat is requisite in lawful Vows A. First That they be made to God only and not to Creatures Psal 76.11 Psal 50.14 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the most high Secondly That the things Vowed be lawful and good It was a wicked Vow of the Jews not to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul Acts 23.12 Thirdly That it be not rash as Jeptha's was to Sacrifice the first thing that should meet him after his Victory Judg. 11.31 and Herods Matth. 14.7 Fourthly That the thing Vowed be our own and that it be in our power to fulfil it Q. Are unlawful and wicked Vows to be kept A. No For a wicked and rash Vow ought not to make us violate our first Vow in Baptism to obey the Commandments of God and the keeping and fulfilling such Vows is as great or greater crime than the making of them SECT XXIII Concerning Fasts Quest WHat think you is to be blamed in the Romish Fasts A. Four things chiefly 1. Their making them consist in distinction of meats and not in abstinence from meats 2. Their ordering them precisely at a certain time of the year without respect to the fittest time in which we ought particularly to humble our selves before God 3. Their being become Superstitious and being imposed with as much or more rigour than the Commandments of God 4. And above all the believing that they merit Eternal Salvation in observing of them Q. Are such Fasts Condemned in the Word of God A. Yes for St. Paul forbids us to make any distinction of meats 1 Cor. 10.25 Whatsoever is Sold in the Shambles that Eat asking no question for Conscience sake And our Lord Jesus Christ tells us Matth. 15.11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man And 1 Cor. 8.8 Meat commendeth us not to God for neither if we eat are we the better neither if we eat not are we the worse And Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost And above all the Apostle speaks very expresly Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in meat or in drink And 1 Tim. 4.3 he says that they are seducing Spirits teaching doctrins of devils who command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Q. It may be answered to these passages that in them St. Paul condemns two sorts of persons First Those who under the Gospel would oblige Christians to observe the Ordinances of the Law touching the distinction of meats which we ought not any more to observe because they were shadows of things to come but the body is of Christ Colos 2.17 And Secondly Those who looked on some meats to be polluted by Nature as some Hereticks have done but these passages do not seem to condemn those who in some certain times ordained abstinence from some sorts of meats to humble and subdue the flesh A. To the first I Answer That if S. Paul Colos 2.20 would not have us to Obey the Ordinances of the Law about the distinction of meat because we are dead with Christ though they were Ceremonies instituted of God much less are we obliged seeing we are dead with Christ to observe New Ordinances which are but inventions of men for we ought to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be intangled again with the Yoke of
of their Salvation but it follows not that other Believers must have such Assurance A. It doth follow since that these Saints had not this Assurance by an extraordinary Revelation of their Salvation but that it was built upon the goodness of God the stability of his Promises and upon the efficacy of the death and intercession of Jesus Christ which are Motives and Considerations common to all Believers Q. Have Believers always this Assurance A. No For Faith hath its weaknesses and distempers and according as Sin and the Flesh predominates Faith and Assurance diminishes but at last Faith becomes victorious Q. But may not one be deceived in this Assurance and take carnal Security for true Faith and Assurance A. I grant some may deceive themselves but from thence it follows not but that true Believers may know they have a true Faith otherwise S. Paul's Exhortation was in vain 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith if it cannot be known by Examination Q. By what marks do you certainly know true Faith A. By its effects as a Tree by its Fruits Matth. 7.16 If it worketh by love Gal. 5.6 If it produces in us the love of God and disesteem of the World Ardour and pleasure in praying to God and Zeal for his Glory And besides these Testimonies a Believer hath The spirit of God which beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Rom. 8.16 Which sealeth us unto the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 and Who is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory Ephes 1.14 Q. This Doctrine seems to incline men to be licentious for every one may say If I have assurance of Salvation what need I employ my self in good works A. This is the thought of a prophane person and not of a child of God for none can promise themselves Salvation without good works We know not our Election by Election but by the examination of our Consciences therefore S. Peter 2 Epist 1.10 compared with vers 5 6 7 8. would have us give diligence to make our Calling and Election sure by good works And the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of Adoption in the hearts of Believers is also the spirit of Holiness And in witnessing to them that they are the children of God he giveth to them also such holy Motions and Affections Q. Yet in the Scripture we are often exhorted to fear and trembling Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling And Phil. 2.12 S. Paul would have us to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling And 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall A. By these words we are not exhorted to distrust but to a reverend fear and to walk before God with an holy care and fear lest we should offend him And this fear of God is so far from being prejudicial to the Confidence we ought to have in the goodness of God and to the assurance of Salvation that on the contrary it is an effect of Faith and a most assured indication that our Assurance is not a carnal Security but sincere and right and in this fear Believers walk on to the Salvation that they wait for Jer. 32.40 Acts 9.31 SECT XXXIII Of Sin and if all Men are Sinners Quest WHat is Sin A. Whatsoever is contrary to the Law 1 Joh. 3.4 Q. Are all Men defiled therewith A. Yes except only Jesus Christ who is the Lamb without blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 For if we say we have no sin we are Lyers and the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1.8 In many things we offend all James 3.2 Q. Yet the Scripture gives testimony to many Believers that they have walked without reproach in the Commandments of God that they have been holy and righteous and have loved God with all their heart as David Job Zacharia and Elizabeth A. These things are not said of them because they were without sin for the Scripture it self gives us an account of great sins committed by them as of David's Adultery Zacharia's Distrust Job's Murmuring but because they walked in the integrity of Conscience and gave themselves with all their heart and power to serve God Q. In what sense then are Believers called just and holy A. They are called just and righteous because the Righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to them Rom. 1.17 and they are accepted of God as righteous themselves Secondly They are called righteous in opposition to the wicked which the Word of God calls Workers of iniquity Thirdly They are particularly called holy because God sanctifies them by his Spirit and consecrates them to his Service and calls them to be Saints Rom. 5.17 and 6.17 Q. Why doth David say then Psal 18.24 that God hath recompensed him according to his Righteousness and according to the cleanness of his hands A. He speaks so to maintain the innocence of his Carriage in respect of Saul and his other Enemies which persecuted him without cause but when he speaks of his Righteousness before God he prays that He would not enter into Judgment with his Servant for in thy sight says he shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 and Psal 130.3 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquity O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared Q. Notwithstanding S. Paul speaks of perfect men Phil. 3.15 Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded A. S. Paul calls not them perfect in respect of their fulfilling of the Law but in respect of the perfection of their growth and Advancement in the knowledge of God and therefore he opposed 1 Cor. 14.20 perfect men to children Be not childrin in understanding but be ye children in malice but in understanding be ye men in the Original be ye perfect And the Apostle Heb. 5.14 says that Strong meat that is to say Solid Doctrine belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of their use have their Senses exercised to discern both good and bad SECT XXXIV Of Venial and Mortal Sins Quest WHat doth Sin deserve A. Death The soul that sinneth shall die Ezek. 18.4 Q. Yes indeed for mortal sins but there are venial sins which are of so small importance that it would seem that they merited not to be punished with death A. The Word of God makes no such distinction it shews us indeed that some Sins are more grievous than others and that he who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes but it shews us likewise that all Sins without exception are by nature worthy of death Rom. 6.23 The wages of Sin is death And our Saviour tells us Matth. 12.36 That for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement and Matth. 5.22 That he who call'd his Brother Fool is