true Christians in the World And 2. Because it consisteth of Persons that have every where in the World the same Essentiating qualifications summed up Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. One Body one Spirit one hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all though iâ— various Measures of Grace And so the Concordanâ— Churches of Christ through the World were called The Catholick Church as distinct from the Sects and Heresies that broke from it Q. 4. How comes the Pope of Rome to call only his Subjects Catholicks A. The greatest part of the Church on Earth by far was long in the Roman Empire and when Emperors turned Christians they gave the Churches Power for the Honour of Christianity to form the Churches much like the Civil State And so a General Council of all the Churches in that Empire was their Supream Church Power And three Patriarchs first and five after were in their several Provinces over all the rest of the Archbishops and Bishops And so the Orthodox Party at First were called The Catholicks because they were the greater Concordant part But quickly the Arrians became far greater and carryed it in Councils and then they called themselves The Catholicks After that the Orthodox under wiser Emperors got up again and then they were the greater part called Catholicks Then the Nostorians a little while and the Eutychians after and the Monothelites after them got the Major Vote in Councils and called themselves the Catholick Church And so since then they that had the greatest countenance from Princes and the greatest number of Bishops in Councils claimed the Name of the Catholick Church And the Pope that was the first Patriarch in the Empire first called himself the Head of the Catholick Church in that Empire and when the Empire was broke extended his claim to the whole Christian World partly by the abuse of the word Catholick Church and partly by abuse of the Name General Councils falsly pretending to Men that what was called Catholick and General as to the Empire had been so called as to all the World And thus His Church was called Catholick Q. 5. Why is the Catholick Church called Holy A. 1. To notifie the work of our Saviour who came to save us from our sins and gather a peculiar People a holy Society who are separated from the unbelieving ungodly World 2. To notifie the Work of the Holy Ghost who is given to make such an Holy People 3. Yea to notifie the Holiness of God the Father who will be Sanctified in all that draw near him and hateth the impure and unholy and will have all his Children Holy as he is Holy 4. And to tell us the fitness of all Gods Children for his favour and Salvation Q. 6. Wherein consisteth the Holiness of the Church A. 1. Christ their Head is perfectly Holy 2. The Gospel and Law of Christ which is our objective Faith and Rule are Holy 3. The Founders of the Church were eminently Holy 4. All sincere Christians are truly Holy and marked out as such for Salvation 5. The common Ministers have an Holy Office 6. The Church Worship as Gods Ordinances are Holy works 7. All that are Baptized and profess Christianity are Holy as to Profession and so far separated from the Infidel World though not sincerely to Salvation Q. 7. What is it now that you call The Holy Catholick Church A. It is The Universality of Christians Headed by Iesus Christ. Or It is a Holy Kingdom consisting of Iesus Christ the Head and all sincere Christians the sincere Members and all professed Christians the professing Members first founded and gathered by the Holy Ghost eminently working in the Apostles and Evangelists Recording the Doctrine and Laws of Christ for their Government to the End and guided by his Ministers and Sanctifying Spirit according to those Laws and Doctrine in various degrees of Grace and Gifts Q. 8. What is it that makes all Churches to be One A. 1. Materially their concord in the same qualifications which is called Eph. 4. 3. The Unity of the Spirit They are all that are sincere Sanctified by the same Spirit and have the same Essentials of Faith Hope Baptismal Covenant and Love And the Hypocrites profess the same 2. Formally their common Union with and Relation to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost that is to Iesus Christ their Head bringing them home to God the Father by the Spirit Q. 9. Is there no one Ministerial Head of all the Church on Earth A. No neither One Man nor one Council or Collection of Men For 1. None are naturally capable of being One Supream Pastor Teacher Priest and Ruler over all the Nations of the Earth nor can so much as know them or have humâ—ne converse with them And a Council gathered equally out of all the World as One such Supream is a more gross Fiction of impossibles than that of a Pope 2. And Christ that never so qualified any never gave any such power But all Pastors are like the Judges Justices and Mayors that rule subordinately under one King in their several Precincts and not like an Universal Viceroy Lieutenant or Aristocracy or Parliament Q. 10. But is not Monarchy the best Form of Government and should not the Church have the best A. 1. Yes and therefore Christ is its Monarch who is capable of it 2. But a Humane Universal Monarchy of all the World is not best nor was ever an Alexander a Caesar or any Man so mad as soberly to pretend to it or plead for it Who is the Man that you would have to be King at the Antipodes and over all the Kings on Earth 3. Yea the case of the Church is liker that of Schools and Colledges that rule Volunteers in order to Teaching them And did ever Papist think that all the Schools on Earth of Grammarians Philosophers Physicians c. should have one humane Supream Schoolmaster or a Council or Colledge of such to Rule them Q. 11. But Christ is not a Visible Head and the Church is Visible A. We deny not the Visibility of the Church but we must not feign it to be more visible than it is 1. It consisteth of visible Subjects 2. Their Profession is visible and their Worship 3. They have visible Pastors in all the particular Churches as every School hath its Schoolmaster 4. Christ was visible in the Flesh on Earth 5. He was after seen of Stephen and Paul 6. He is now visible in Heaven â—â— the King is in his Court 7. And he will come in glorious Visibility shortly to judge the World 8. And his Laws are visible by which he ruleth us and will judg us If all this Visibility will not satisfie Men Christ will not approve of Usurpation for more Visibility Q. 12. Of what use is this Article to us A. 1. To tell us that Christ dyed not in vain but will certainly have a Holy Church which he will save
terrified them and told the Rulers what they saw And after all it was to Paul a Persecutor and partly to his company that Christ appeared Q. 6. Why must Christ rise from the Dead A. You may as well ask Why he must be our Savior 1. If he had not risen Death had conquered him and how could he have saved us that was overcome and lost himself 2. He could not have received his own promised Reward even his Kingdom and Glory It was for the Joy that was set before him that he enendured the Cross and despised the shame Therefore God gave him a Name above every Name to which every created Knee must bow 3. His Resurrection was to be the chief of all those Miracles by which God witnessed that he was his Soâ— and the chief Evidence by which the World was to be convinced of his Truth and so was used in their Preaching by the Apostles That Christ rose from the Dead is the chief Argument that makes us Christians 4. The great executive parts of Christs saving Office were to be performed in Heaven which a dead Man could not do How else should he have Inceded for us as our heavenly High-priest How should he have sent down the Holy Ghost to renew us How should he as King have governed and protected his Church on Earth unto the End How should he have come again in Glory to Judge the World and how should we have seen his Glory as the Mediator oâ— Fruition in the Heavenly Kingdom Q. 7. I perceive then that Christ's Resurrection is tâ— us an Article of the greatest use What use must â—â— make of it A. You may gather it by what is said 1. By this you may be sure that he is the Son of God and his Gospel True 2. By this you may be sure that his Sacrifice on the Cross was accepted as sufficient 3. By this you may be sure that Death is Conquered and we may boldly trust our Saviour who tasted and overcame Death with our departing Souls 4. By this you may be sure that we have a powerful High-priest and Intercessour in Heaven by whom we may come with reverend boldness unto God 5. By this we may know that we have a powerful King both to obey and to trust with the Churches Interest and our own 6. By this we may know that we have a Head still living who will send down his Spirit to gather his Chosen to help his Ministers to Sanctifie and Comfort his People and prepare them for Glory 7. By this we are assured of our own Resurrection and taught to hope for our final Justification and Glory 8. And by this we are taught that we must Rise to Holiness of Life CHAP. XV. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty Qu. 1. HOw long was it between Christ's Resurrection and his Ascension A. Forty dayes He rose on the day which we call Easter-day and he ascended on that which we call Ascension day or Holy Thursday Q. 2. Did Christ stay all that while among his Disciples visibly A. No but appeared to them at such seasons as he saw meet Q. 3. Where was he all the rest of the Forty Days A. God hath not told us and therefore it concerneth us not to know Q. 4. He shewed them that he had Flesh and Blood hoâ—â—â—en was he to them invisible the most part of the Forty dayes A. The Divine power that raised Christ could make those alterations on his Body which we are unacquainted with Q. 5. How was Christ taken up to Heaven A. While he was speaking to his Apostles of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and answering them that hoped it would presently be and had given their Commission and the Promise of the Holy Ghost and commanded them to wait for it at Ierusalem he was taken up as they gazed after him till a Cloud took him out of their sight And two Angels like two Men in white stood by them and askt them why they stood gazing up to Heaven telling them that Iesus who was taken up should so come again Q. 6. Had it not been better for us that he had staid on Earth A. No He is many wayes more useful to us in Heaven 1. He is now no more confined in presence to that small Countrey of Iudea above the rest of the World as a Candle to one room but as the Sun in his Glory shineth to all his Church on Earth 2. He is possessed of his full Power and Glory by which he is fit to protect and Glorifie us 3. He intercedeth for us where our highest Concerns and Interest are 4. He sendeth his Spirit on Earth to do his work on all believers Souls Q. 7. What is meant by his sitting on the right Hand of God A. Not that God hath Hands or is confined to a place as Man is But it signifieth that the Glorified Man Iesus is next to God in Dignity Power and Glory and as the Lieutenant under a King is now the Universal Administrator or Governour of all the World under God the Father Almighty Q. 8. I Thought he had been only the Lord of his Church A. He is Head over all things to his Church All Power and things in Heaven and Earth are given him Even the frame of Nature dependeth on him He is Lord of all But it is his Church that he Sanctifieth by his Spirit and will Glorifie Q. 9. If Christ have all power why doth he let Satan and Sin still reign over the far greatest part of the Earth A. 1. Satan reigneth but over Volunteers that wilfully and obstinately choose that Condition And he reigneth but as the Jailor in the Prison as Gods Executioner on the wilfull refusers of his Grace And his reign is far from absolute he crosseth none of the Decrees of God nor overcometh his power but doth what God seeth meet to permit him to do He shall destroy none of Gods Elect nor any that are truly willing of Saving Grace And as for the fewness of the Elect I shall speak of it after about the Catholick Church Q. 10. But is not Christs Body present on Earth and in the Sacrament A. We are sure he is in Heaven and we are sure that their Doctrine is a fiction contrary to Sense Reason and Scripture that say the Consecrated Bread and Wine are substantially turned into the very Body and Blood of Christ and are no longer Bread and Wine Buâ—… how far the presence of Christs Soul and Body extendeth is a question unfit for Mans determination unleâ—… we better knew what Glorified Souls and Bodies are â—… We see that the Sun is eminently in the Heaven Anâ—… yet whether its lucid Beams be a real part of its substance which are here on Earth or how far they extend we know not nor know we how the Sun differeth in Greatness or Glory from
the Sun is as much as to say If this be not true then I have no Faith Truth Honesty there is no Temple Altar Fire Sun or let me be taken for one that denyeth that I have any Faith that there is any Sun Fire c. or it is as true as that this is Fire Sun c. so to Swear by God is to say It is as true as that there is a God or as God liveth c. or If I Lye take me for one that denyeth God to be God and consequently it is an Appeal to him as the Avenger so By the Life of Pharaoh was As true as Pharaoh liveth or else take me for one that denyeth the life of Pharaoh So that there is somewhat of an Imprecation or Self-reproach as the penalty of a Lye in every Oath but more dreadfully of Divine Revenge when we Swear by God and of Idolatry when men Swear by an Idol as if it were a God Q. 6. Which be the chief wayes of taking Gods Name in vain A. 1. Fathering on him false Doctrine Revelations or Laws saying as false Prophets God sent me and Thus saith the Lord when it is false saying This Doctrine or this Prophecy Gods Spirit revealed to me when it is not so therefore all Christians must be very fearful of false Revelations and Prophecies and see that they believe not every Spirit nor pretend to Revelations and to take heed of taking the Suggestions of Satan or their crazed melancholy Fancies for the Revelations of God 2. So also Gathering false Doctrines out of Scripture by false Expositions and fathering these on God And therefore all men should in dark and doubtful cases rather suspend their judgments till they have overcome their doubts by solid Evidence than rashly to conclude and confidently and fiercely dispute for Errour It 's a great prophanation to father Lies on God who is the Hater of them when Lying is the Devils work and character 3. The same I may say of a rash and false Interpretation of Gods Providences 4. And also of fathering false Laws on God and saying that he either commandeth or forbiddeth what he doth not To make Sins and Duties which God never made and say he made them is to father falshood on him and corrupt his Government 5. Another way is by false Worship 1. If men say that God commanded such Worship which he commanded not it is the sin last mentioned 2. If they worship him with their own Inventions without his Command Particular or General they prophane his Name by offering him that which is unholy common and unclean 6. Another way is by false pretending that God gave them that Authority which he never gave them Like counterfeiting a Commission from the King â—…f Princes should pretend that God gave them Authority to oppose his Truth to persecute Godliness â—…njustly to silence faithful Ministers of Christ to â—…aise unnecessary Warres to oppress the Innocent This were a heinous taking of God's Name in vain â—…f Priests shall pretend that God gave them Authority to make themselves Pastors of the Flocks that are unwilling of them without a just Call or to make Laws for any that are not rightfully their Subjects and to impose their Dictates Words and Forms and unnecessary Inventions as Conditions of Ministration or Communion without true right and to make themselves the Rule of other mens words and actions by usurpation this is all taking Gods Name in vain And so it is if they Preach false Doctrine in his Name and if they pronounce false Excommunications and Absolutions and justifie the wicked and condemn reproach and slander the Just and brand unjustly the Servants of Christ as Hypocrites Schismaticks or Hereticks and this as by Ministerial Power from Christ especially if they silence Christs Ministers impose Wolves or incompetent men scatter the Flocks and suppress serious Godliness and all this in the Name of Christ. Much more if any pretend as the Pope or his pretended general Councils to be Christs Vicar General or Head or Supream unifying Governour over all the Church on Earth and to make Lawes for the whole Church Or if they corrupt Gods Worship with imposed Superstitions Falshoods or Prophanations and say God hath Authorized them to do this It is hainous Prophaning God's Name by a Lie such doing brought up the Proverb In nomine Domini incipit omne malum When all their Abuses began with In the Name of God Amen And they that make new Church-forms which God made not either Papal Universal Aristocracy Patriarchal and such like and either pretend that God made them or gave them or such other power to make them must prove what they say lest they prophane Gods Name by falshood But the highest Prophanation is when they preâ—end that God hath made them Absolute Governours and set them so far above his own Laws and Judgment and himself as that whatever they say is the Word of God or the Sence of the Scripture though never so falsly must be taken for such by all and whatever they command or forbid they must be obeyed though Gods Word command or forbid the contrary And that God hath given power to Popes or Councils to forbid men the Worship which God commandeth yea to Interdict whole Kingdoms and excommunicate and depose Kings and that from these as a Supream Power no man must appeal to the Scripture or to God and his final Judgment This is by prophane Lying to use God's Name to the destroying of Souls the Church and the Laws and Government of God himself 7. Another way of taking God's Name in vain is by Heresies that is embodying in separated Parties or Churches against the Church and Truth of God for the propagating of some dangerous false Doctrine which they father on God and so militate in his Name against his Church If men as aforesaid do but promote false Doctrine in the Church without Separation it is bad But to gather an Army against the Truth and Church and feign Christ to be the Leader of it is worse 8. Another way is by Perjury appealing to God or abusing his name as the Witness and owner of a Lye 9. Another way is by false Vows made to God himself When men either Vow to God to do that which he abhorreth or hath forbidden Or when they Vow that which is good with a false deceitful Heart and as Ananias and Sapphira with false reserves or when they Vow and pay not but wilfully break the Vows which they have made The breach of Covenants between Princes or between them and Subjects or between Husband and Wife confirmed by appeal to God is a dreadful sin But the violation of the great Baptismal Vow in which we are all solemnly devoted and obliged to God is one of the hainousest sins in the World When it is not about a lesser duty but even our Oath of Allegiance to God by solemn Vow taking him for our God our Saviour and
the Flesh the World and the Devil from the revenging Justice of God and from everlasting Damnation giving us here a Union with Christ the Pardon of our Sins and Sanctifying Grace and hereafter everlasting heavenly Glory Q. 3. Is there any other Religion besides the Christian Religion A. There be many errours of Men which they call their Religion Q. 4. Is there any True Religion besides Christianity A. There be divers that have some part of the Truth mixt with Error 1. The Heathens acknowledge God and most of his Attributes and Perfections as we do But they have no knowledge of his Will but what meer Nature teacheth them and they worship many Idols if not Devils as an under sort of Gods 2. The Iews own only the Law of Nature and the Old Testament but believe not in Jesus Christ our Redeemer 3. The Sadduces and all Bruitists worship God as the Governour of Man in this World but they believe not a Life to come for Man 4. The Pythagorean Heathens look for no Reward or Punishment after Death but by the passing of the Soul into some other Body on Earth in which iâ— shall be Rewarded or Punished 5. The Mahometans acknowledge One God as we do but they believe not in Jesus Christ as Mans Redeemer but only take him for an excellent Holy Prophet and they Believe in Mahomet a Deceiver as a Prophet greater than he 6. The meer Dâ—ists believe in God but not in Jesus Christ and have only the Natural Knowledge of his Will as other Heathens but worship not Idols as they do Q. 5. Is there but One Christian Religion A. No True Christianity is one certain thing Q. 6. How then are Christians said to be of divers Religions A. Sound Christians hold to Christian Religion alone as Christ did institute it But many others corrupt it some by denying some parts of it while they own the rest and some by adding many corrupting Inventions of Man and making those a part of their Religion as the Papists do Q. 7. Where is the true Christian Religion Doctrinal to be found that we may certainly know which is it indeed A. The Christian Religion containeth I. The Light and Law of Nature and that is common to them with others and is to be found in the Nature of all things as the Significations of Gods Will II. Supernatural Revelation clearing the Law of Nature and giving us the Knowledge of the Redeemer and his Grace And this is contained I. Most fully in the Holy Bible II. Briefly and summarily in the Creed Lords Prayer and Commandments III. Most briefly of all in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Covenant made and sealed by them Q. 8. But are not the Articles of our Church and the Confessions of Churches their Religion A. Only Gods Word is ouâ— Religion as the Divine Rule But our Confessions and Books and Words and Lives shew how we understand it Q. 9. What is the Protestant Religion A. The Religion of Protestants is meer Christianity They are called Protestants but accidentally because they Protest for meer Scripture Christianity against the Corruptions of Popery Q. 10. What sorts of false Religion are there among Christians A. There are more Corruptions of Religion than can easily be named The chief of them are of these following sorts I. Some of them deny some Essential Article of Faith or Practice As the Immortality of the Soul the Godhead or Manhood or Offices of Christ or the Holy Ghost or the Scripture c. II. Some of them pretend new Revelations falsely and set their pretences of the Spirits Inspirations against the sealed Word of God III. Some of them set up an Usurped Power of their own against the Office Authority or sufficiency of the said Sealed Scriptures Pretending that they are Successours to the Apostles in the Power and Office of making Laws for the Universal Church and being the Judges of the sence of Scripture yea and what is to be taken for Gods Word and what not and Judges of all Controversies about it Of these the Papists pretenâ— that the Pope and a General Council are Supreaâ— visible Governours under Christ of all the Christiaâ— World and that none may appeal from them â—… God to Christ to the Scripture or to the Day oâ— Judgment Others pretend to such a Power iâ— every Patriarchal National or Provincial Church And all of them instead of a humble helping guiding Ministry set up a Church Leviathan a silencing Abaddon and Appollyon a destroying Office Setting up their Usurped power above â—â— equal in Effect with Gods Word Q. 11. How come the Scriptures to be Gods Worâ— when the Bishops Cannons are not And to be â—â— far above their Laws A. You must know that God hath two differenâ— sort of Works to do for the Government of hiâ— Church The first is Legislation or giving Neâ— Doctrines and Laws The other is the teachinâ— and guiding the Church by the Explication anâ— Application of these same Laws God is not stiâ— making New Laws for Man but he is still Teaching and Ruling them by his Laws Accordingly God hath had two sort of Ministers One sort for Legislation to Reveal neâ— Doctrines and Laws And such was Moses undeâ— the Old Administration and Christ and his Commissioned Apostles under the New These werâ— Eminent Prophets inspired by God infallibly â—â— record his Laws and God attested their Officâ— and Work by Multitudes of Evident uncontrolled Miracles But the Laws being Sealed the Second sort of Ministers are only to Teach and Apply these same Laws and Doctrines and not to reveal New ones And such were the Priests and Levites under Moses and all the succeeding Ministers and Bishops of the Churches under Christ and the Apostles who are the Foundation on which the Church is built And though all Church Guides may determine of the undetermined Circumstances of Holy things by the General Laws which God hath given therein Yet to arrogate a power of making a new Word of God or a Law that shall suspend our Obedience to his Laws or any Law for the Universal Church whether it be by Pope or Council is treasonable Usurpation of a Government which none but Christ is capable of And as if one King or Council should claim the Civil Soveraignty of all the Earth which is most unknown to them Q. 12. But I pray you tell me how the CREED comes to be of so great Authority seeing I find it not in the Bible A. It is the very Summ and Kernel of the Doctrine of the New Testament and there you may find it all with much more But it is Older than the writting of the New Testament save that two or three words were added since I told you before 1. That Christ himself did make the Nature and Terms of Christianity Commissioning his Apostles to make all Nations his Disciples baptizing them into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy
2. To shew us in the blessed effect that the Sanctification of the Spirit is not a Fancy but a Holy Church is renewed and saved by it 3. To tell us that God forsaketh not the Earth though he permit Ignorance Infidelity and Wickedness to abound and Malice to persecute the Truth still God hath a Holy Church which he will preserve and save And though this or that Church may apostatize and cease there shall be still a Catholick Church on Earth 4. To mind us of the wonderful Providence of God which so continueth and preserveth a Holy People hated by open Enemies and wicked Hypocrites by Satan and all his Instrments on Earth 5. To teach us to love the Unity of Christians and carefully maintain it and not to tear the Church by the Engins of proud Mens needless Snares nor to be rashly censorious of any or excommunicate them unjustly nor to separate from any further than they separte from Christ but to rejoice in our common Union in Christian Faith and Love and not let wrongs or infirmities of Christians or Carnal Interests or Pride or Passion nor different Opinions about things not necessary to our Unity destroy our Love or Peace or break this holy bond CHAP. XIX The Communion of Saints Qu. 1. HOw is this Article joyned to the former A. As it belongs to our Belief in the Holy Ghost it tells us the effect of his Sanctification And as it belongs to our belief of the holy catholick Church it tells us the end of Church Relation that Saints may live in a holy Communion Q. 2. What is it to be a Saint A. To be separated from a common and unclean Conversation unto God and to be absolutely devoted to him to Love serve and trust him and hope for his Salvation Q. 3. Are all Saints that are members of the catholick Church A. Yes by Profession if not in sincerity All that are sincere and living members of the Church are really devoted to God by Heart-consent and the rest are devoted by Baptism and outward Profession and are Hypocrites pretending falsly to be real Saints Q. 4. Why then doth the Church of Rome Canonize some few and call them Saints if all Christians be Saints A. By Saints they mean extraordinary Saints But their appropriating the Name to such much tendeth to delude the People as if they might be saved though they be not Saints Q. 5. What is meant by the Communion of Saints A. Such a frame and practice of Heart and Life towards one another as supposeth Union such as is between the Members of the Body Q. 6. Wherein doth this Communion consist A. 1. In their common Love to God Faith in Christ and Sanctification by the Spirit 2. In their Love to one another as themselves 3. In their care for one anothers welfare and endeavour to promote it as their own and when Love makes all their goods so far common to all Christians within their converse as that they do to their power supply their wants in the order and measure that Gods Providence and their Relations and Acquaintance direct them preferring the relief of others necessities before their own superfluity or fulness 4. In their joyning as with one Mind and Soul and Mouth in Gods publick Worship and that in the holy Order under their respective Pastors which Christ by his Spirit in the Apostles hath instituted Q. 7. Why is our joyning in the Lords Supper called our Communion A. Because it is a special Symbol Badge and Expression of it instituted by Christ to signifie our Communion with him and one another Q. 8. Is that to be only a Communion of Saints A. Yes that in a special manner is appropriated to Saints Other parts of Communion as eating together relieving each other duties of Relation c. are so far to be used towards Unbelievers that they are not so meet to be the distinguishing Symbols of Christians But the two Sacraments Baptism for Entrance and the Lords Supper for continuance of Communion Christ hath purposely appointed for such Badges or Signs of his People as separate from the World Q. 9. By what Order are others to be kept from Church-communion A. Christ hath instituted the Office of the Sacred Ministry for this end that when they have made Disciples to him they may be entrusted with the Keyes of his Church that is especially the Administration of these Sacraments first judging who is fit to be entred by Baptism and then who is fit for continued Communion Q. 10. May not the Pastors by this means become Church-Tyrants A. We must not put down all Government for fear of Tyranny else Kingdoms Armies Colledges Schools must be all dissolved as well as Churches some body must be trusted with this Power and who is fitter than they who are called to it as their Office and therefore supposed best qualified for it Q. 11. What if none were trusted with it and Sacraments left free to all A. Then Sacraments would be no Sacraments and the Church would be no Church If any man or woman that would might baptize whom and when they would they might baptize Turks and Heathens and that over and over who come in Scorn and they might baptize without a Profession of true Faith or upon a false Profession And if every man might give the Lords Supper to another it might be brought into Alehouses and Taverns in merrymerit or as a Charm or every Infidel or Enemy might in scorn profane it Do you think that if Baptism and the Lords Supper were thus administred that they would be any Symbols or Badges of Christianity or of a Church or any means of mens Salvation No Christians ever dreamt of such Profanation Q. 12. But why may not the Pastors themselves give them to all that will A. Either you would have them forced to do so or to do it freely If forced they are no Judges who is fit And who then shall be Judge If the Magistrate you make him a Pastor and oblige him to teach examine hear and try all the Peoples Knowledge Faith and Lives which will find them work enough And this is not to depose the Ministers power but to put it on another that hath more already than he can do And a Pastor then that delivereth the Sacrament to every one that the Magistrate bids him shall be a Slave and not a free performer of the acts of his own Office unless that Magistrate try and judge and the Minister be but a Deacon that must give account for no more than the bare delivering it But if it be the Receivers of Baptism or the Lords Supper that shall be Judges and may force the Pastor to give it them I have shewed you already the profanation will make it no Sacrament nor Church And if Pastors that are Judges shall freely give them to all they will be the Profaners and such Ministration will confound the Church and
though Hypocrites are the Church-visible and his professed Subjects 3. Subjects by sincere Heart-consent And so all such are his Subjects as make up the Church-mystical and shall be saved So that the Kingdom of God is a word which is sometime of a larger signification than the Church and sometime in a narrower sence is the same Eph. 1. 23. Christ is Head over all things to the Church Q. 7. What are the Acts of Christs Kingly Government A. Law-making Judging according to that Law and executing that Judgment Q. 8. What Laws hath Christ made and what doth â—e rule by A. First He taketh the Law of Nature now as his own as far as it belongeth to sinful Mankind And 2. He expoundeth the darker passages of that Law And 3. He maketh new Laws proper to the Church â—ince his Incarnation Q. 9. Are there any new Laws of Nature since the Fall A. There are new Obligations and Duties arising from our changed State It was no duty to the Innocent to repent of Sin and seek out for Recovery and â—eg Forgiveness But Nature bindeth Sinners not yet â—nder the final Sentence to all this Q. 10. What new Laws hath Christ made A. Some proper to Church Officers and some â—ommon to all Q. 11. What are his Laws about Church-Officers A. First He chose himself the first chief Officers â—nd he gave them their Commission describing their Work and Office and he Authorized them to gather â—nd form particular Churches and their fixed Officers â—t Pastors and necessary Orders and gave them the â—xtraordinary Conduct and Seal of his Spirit that their determinations might be the infallible significations of his Will and his recorded Law to his Universal Church to the end of the World His Spirit being the Perfecter of his Laws and Government Q. 12. How shall we be sure that his Apostles by the Spirit were Authorized to give Laws to all future Generations A. Because he gave them such Commission to teach Men all that he Commanded 2. And promised them his Spirit to lead them into all Truth and bring all things to their Remembrance and to tell them what to say and do And 3. Because he performed this Promise in sending them that extraordinary measure of the Spirit And 4. They spake as from Christ and in his Name and as by his Spirit And 5. They sealed all by the manifestation of that Spirit in its Holy and Miraculous manifold Operation Q. 13. Have not Bishops and Councils the same Power now A. No To be the Instruments of Divine Legislation and make Laws which God will call His Laws is a special Prophetical Power and Office such aâ— Moses had in making the Iewish Laws which noâ—… had that came after him But when Prophetical Revelation hath made the Law the following Officeâ—… have nothing to do But 1. To preserve that Law 2. And to expound it and apply it and guide thâ— People by it and themselves obey it 3. And to determine undetermined mutable Circumstances As the Iewish Priests and Levites were not to make another Law but to preserve expound and Rule by Moses Law so the ordinary Ministers Bishops or Councils are to do as to the Laws of God sufficiently made by Christ and the Spirit in his Apostles Q. 14. What are the New Laws which he hath made for all A. The Covenant of Grace in the last Edition is his Law by which he obligeth Men to Repent and Believe in him as Incarnate Crucified and Ascended and Interceding and Reigning in Heaven and as one that will Judge the World at the Resurrection As one that pardoneth Sin by his Sacrifice and Merit and Sanctifieth Believers by his Spirit And to believe in God as thus reconciled by Him and in the Holy Ghost as thus given by him And he promiseth Pardon Grace and Glory to all true Believers and threatneth Damnation to impenitent Unbelievers And he commandeth all Believers to devote themselves thus to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost by a solemn Vow in Baptism and live in the Communion of Saints in his Church and Holy Worship and the frequent Celebration of the Memorial of his Death in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood especially on the first Day of the Week which he hath separated to that Holy Comemoration and Communion by his Resurrection and the sending of his Spirit and by his Apostles And he hath commanded all his Disciples to live in Unity Love and Beneficence taking up the Cross and following him in Holiness and Patience in hope of Everlasting Life Q. 15. But some say that Christ was only a Teacher and not a Law-giver A. His Name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given him and all things put into his Hands the Government is laid on his Shoulders and the Father without him judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son For this end he died rose and revived that he might be Lord of the Dead and of the Living He is at God's right Hand above aâ—â— Principalities and Powers and every Name being Head over all things to the Church Q. 16. May not this signifie only his Kingdom as â—â— is God or that which he shall have hereafter only at the Resurrection A. 1. It expresly speaketh of his Power as God and Man the Redeemer 2. And he made his Law iâ— this Life though the Chief and Glorious part of hâ—â— Judgment and Execution be hereafter How elsâ— should Men here keep his Law and hereafter â—â— judged according to it He that denieth Christ to be the Lawgiver denied him to be King and he that denieth him to be King denieth him to be Christ and is no Christian. Q. 17. Hath Christ any Vicegerent or Universal Governour under him on Earth A. No It is his Prerogative to be the Universal Governour for no mortal Man is capable of it As no one Monarch is capable of the Civil Government of all the Earth nor was ever so mad as to pretend to it much less is any one capable of being an Universal Church-Teacher Priest and Governour over all the Earth when he cannot so much as know it or send to all or have access into the contending Kingdoms of the World To pretend to this is mad Usurpation Q. 18. But had not Peter the Monarchical Government of all the Church on Earth in his Time A. No He was Governour of none of the Eleven Apostles nor of Paul nor ever exercised any such Government no nor it seems so much as presided at their meeting Act. 15. Q. 19. But is not a General Council the Universal Governour A. No 1. Else the Church would be no Church when there is no General Council for want of its Unifying Government And 2. There indeed never was a general Council of all the Christian World But they were called by the Roman Emperours and were called General as
to that Empire as the Subscriptions yet shew 3. And there never can be an Universal Council It were madness and wickedness to attempt it To send for the Aged Bishops from all Nations of the Christian World when none is Empowered to determine Whither or When even from the Countreys of Turks and other Infidels or Princes in War with one another that will not permit them And what room shall hold them and what one Language can they all speak And how few will live to return home with the Decrees And will not the Countrey were they meet by nearness have more Voices than all the rest And what is all this to do To condemn Christ as not having made Laws sufficient for the Universal part of Government but leave such a burden on uncapable Men And to tell the Church that Christian Religion is a mutable growing thing and can never be known to attain its ripeness but by new Laws must be made still bigger and another thing Q. 20. But the Bishops of the World may meet by their Delegates A. Those Delegates must come from the same Countreys and distance And how shall the whole World know that they are truly chosen And that all the Choosers have trusted them with their Judgments Consciences and Salvation and will stand to what they do Q. 21. But if the Universal Church be divided into Patriarchates and chief Seats those can Govern the whole Church when there is no General Council even by their Communicatory Letters A. 1. And who shall divide the World into those chief Seats and determine which shall be chief in all the Kingdoms of Infidels and Christian Kings in the World And which shall be Chief when they differ among themselves How many Patriarchs shall there be and where There were never Twelve Pretenders to succeed the Twelve Apostles The Roman Empire had three First and Five after within it self But that was by Humane institution and over one Empire and that 's now down and those Five Seats have many Hundred Years been separated and condemning one another so far are they from being One Unifying Aristocracy to Govern all the World And if they were so then Europe is Schismatical that now differs from the Major Vote of those Patriarchs Q. 22. But did not the Apostles as one Colledge Govern the whole Church A. 1. I proved to you before that the Holy Ghost was given the Apostles to perfect Universal Ligislation as Christs Agent and Advocate and that in this they have no Successors 2. And it was easie for them to exercise Acts of Judicial Determination over such as were among them and near them when the Church was small 3. And yet we read not that ever they did this in a General Council or by the Authority of a Major Vote For that meeting in Act. 15. was no General Council and the Elders and Brethren joyned with them that belonged to Ierusalem and they were all by the same Spirit of the same mind and none Dissenters Every single Apostle had the Spirit of Infallibility for his proper work And they had an Indefinite charge of the whole Church and in their several circuits exercised it Paul could by the Spirit deliver a Law of Christ to the World without taking it from the other Apostles Gal. 2. The Apostles were foundation Stones but Christ only was the Head Corner-stone They never set up a Judicial Government of all the Churches under themselves as a constitutive Unifying Aristocracy by whose major Vote all must be Governed When they had finished the work of Universal Legislation and settled Doctrine and Order for which they stayed together at Ierusalem they dispersed themselves over the World and we never find that they Judicially governed the Churches either in Synods or by Letters by a major Vote but settled Guides in ever Church as God by Moses did Priests and Levites that had no Legislative Power Q. 23. But hath not Christ his Subordinate Official Governours A. Yes Magistrates by the Sword and Pastors by the Word and Keyes These are Rulers in their several Circuits as all the Judges and Justices and Shoolmasters of England are under the King But he that should say that all these Judges and Justices are one Sovereign Aristocracy to make Laws and Judge by them by Vote as one Person political though many Natural would give them part of the Supream power and not only the Official All the Pastors in the World Guide all the Churches in the World by parts and in their several Provinces and not as One Politick Person Q. 24. But how is the Universal Church visible if it have no Visible Unifying Head and Government under Christ A. It is Visible 1. In that the Members and their Profession are visible 2. And Christ's Laws are visible by which he ruleth them 3. And their particular Pastors are visible in their places 4. And Christ was visible on Earth and is now visible in his Court in Heaven and will visibly Judge the World e're long And God hath made the Church no further Visible nor can Man do it Q. 25. But should not the whole Church be One A. It is one It is one Body of Christ having one God and one Head or Lord one Faith one Baptism one Spirit one Hope of Glory Q. 26. But should they not do all that they do in Unity and Concord A. Yes as far as they are capable Not by feigning a new Universal Legislative Power in Man or making an Universal Head under Christ but by agreeing all in the Faith and Laws that Christ hath left us And Synods may well be used to maintain such Union as far as capacity reacheth and the case requireth But an Universal Synod and a partial or National a Governing Synod and a Synod for Concord of Governours differ as much as doth a Monarch or Governing Senate over all the World and a Dyet or an Assembly of Christian Princes met for mutual help and concord in the conjunction of their strength and Councils Q. 27. What is the Pastoral Power of the Church Keyes A. It is the Power of making Christians by the Preaching of the Gospel and Receiving them so made into Communion of Christ and his Church by Baptism and feeding and guiding them by the same Word and communicating the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood in his Name declaring Pardon and Life to the Penitent and the contrary to the Impenitent and applying this to the particular Persons of their own charge on just occasion and so being the stated Judges who shall by them be received to Church Communion or be rejected and this as a presage of Christ's future Judgment Q. 28. But have not Pastors or Bishops a power of constraint by the Sword that is by Corporal punishments or mulcts A. No That is proper to Magistrates Parents and Masters in their several places Christ hath forbidden it to Pastors Luke 22. and appointed them another kind of work Q.
29. But if Bishops judge that Civil Magistrates are bound to destroy or punish Hereticks Schismaticks or Sinners are not such Magistrates thereby bound to do it A. They are bound to do their duty whoever is their Monitor But if Prelates bid them sin they sin by obeying them Nor may a Magistrate punish a Man meerly because Bishops judge him punishable without trying the Cause themselves Q. 30. But if it be not of Divine Institution that all the Church on Earth should have one Governing Unifying Head Monarchical or Aristocratical is it not meet as suited to humane Prudence A. Christ is the builder of his own Church or House and hath not left it to the Wit or Will of Man to make him a Vicegerent or an Unifying Head or Ruler of his whole Church that is to set up an Usurper against him under his own Name which is Naturally uncapable of the Office Q. 31. But sure Unity is so excellent that we may conceive God delighteth in all that promoteth it A. Yes And therefore he would not leave the Terms of Unity to the Device of Men in which they will never be of a mind nor would he have Usurpers divide his Church by imposing impossible Terms of Unity Must God needs make one Civil Monarch or Senate to be the Unifying Governour of all the Earth as one Kingdom because he is a lover of Unity The World is politically Unified by one God and Soveraign Redeemer as this Kingdom is by one King and not by one Civil humane Supream Ruler Personal or Collective Men so mad as to dream of one Unifying Church Governing Monarch or Aristocracy are the unfittest of all Men to pretend to such Government Q. 32. At least should we not extend this Unifying Government as far as we can even to Europe if not to all the World A. Try first one Unifying Civil Government Monarchical or Aristocracitical for Europe and call Princes Schismaticks as these Men do us for refusing to obey it and try the success 2. And who shall make this European Church-Soveraign And by what Authority and limit his Kingdom 3. And what is all this to do To make better Laws than Christs When were any so mad as to say that all Europe must have one Soveraign Person or Colledge of Physicians School-masters Philosophers or Lawyers to avoid Schism among them 4. Is not Agreement by Voluntary consent a better way to keep Civil and Ecclesiastical Unity in Europe than to have one Ruling King Senate or Synod over all Councils are for voluntary concord and not the Soveraign Rectors of theiâ— Brethren Q. 33. But are not National Churches necessary A. No doubt but Christ would have Nations discipled baptized and obey him And Kings to govern them as Christian Nations and all men should endeavour that whole Nations may be Christians and the Kingdoms of the World be voluntarily the Kingdoms of Christ. But no man can be a Christian against his will Nor hath Christ ordained that each Kingdom shall have one Sacerdotal Head Monarchical or Aristocratical But Princes Pastors and People must promote Love Unity and Concord in their several places Q. 34. So much for Gods publick Kingdom on Earth But is there not also a Kingdom of God in every Christians Soul A. One mans Soul is not fitly called A Kingdom But Christ as King doth govern every faithful Soul Q. 35. What is the Government of each Believer A. It is Christs Ruling us by the Laws which he hath made for all his Church proclaimed and explained and applyed by his Ministers and imprinted on the Heart by his holy Spirit and judging accordingly Q. 36. What is the Kingdom of Glory A. It hath two degrees The first is the Glorious reign of our Glorified Redeemer over this World and over the Heavenly City of God before its Perfection which began at the time of Christs Ascension his Resurrection being the Proeme and endeth at the Resurrection 2. The perfect Kingdom of Glory when all the Elect shall be perfected with Christ and his work of Redemption finished which begins at the Resurrection and shall never end Q. 37. What will be the state of that Glorious Kingdom A. It containeth the full Collection of all Gods Elect who shall be perfected in Soul and Body and employed in the perfect Obedience Love and Praise of God in perfect Love and Communion with each other and all the blessed Angels and their Glorified Redeemer and this is in the sight of his Glory and the Glory of God and in the continual joyful sence of his Love and essential Infinite Perfection All imperfection sin temptation and suffering being for ever ceased Q. 38. But some think this Kingdom will be begun on Earth a Thousand Years before the General Resurrection and some think that after the Resurrection it will be on Earth A. This very Prayer puts us in hope that there are yet better things on Earth to be expected than the Church hath yet enjoyed For when Christ bids us pray that His Name may be hallowed his Kingdom come and his Will done on Earth as it is done in Heaven we may well hope that some such thing will be granted for he hath promised to give us whatever we ask according to his Will in the Name of Christ And he hath not bid us pray in vain But whether there shall be a Resurrection of thâ—… Martyrs a thousand years before the general Resurrection or whether there shall be only a Reformation by a holy Magistracy and Ministry and how far Christ will manifest himself on Earth â—… confess are Questions too hard for for me to determine He that is truly devoted to Christ shall have his part in his Kingdom though much be now unknown to him of the Time Place and Manner And as to the Glory after the General Resurrection certainly it will be Heavenly for we shalâ—… be with Christ and like to the Angels And thâ—… Nâ—w Ierusalem being the Universality of the Blessâ—… how with Christ may well be said to come doâ—… from Heaven in that he will bring all the Blessâ—… with him and in the Air with them will judge tâ—… World But whether only a New Generation shâ—… inhabit the New Earth and the Glorified rule theâ—… as Angels now do or whether Heaven and Eartâ—… shall be laid common together or Earth made â—… Glorious as Heaven I know not But the perfect knowledge of Gods Kingdom â—… proper to them that enjoy it Therefore even wâ—… who know it but imperfectly must daily pray thaâ—… it may come that we may perfectly know it wheâ—… we are perfected therein CHAP. XXVII Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Qu. 1. VVHy is this made the Third Petition A. Because it must be the Third in our Desires I told you this Prayer in perfect Method beginneth at that which must be the first in our Intention and that is God's Interest as above our own which is consistent
us preach and pray c. and yet to quench a Fire or save mens Lives we may and must at that time forbear Preaching or Sacraments or other publick Worship Q. 7. But what if as many will be scandalized or tempted to sin on the other side if I do it not A. No duty being a duty at all times much less a thing indifferent though commanded everâ— Christian must prudently use the Scales and by aâ— the helps of wise men that he can get must discern which way is like to do most good or hurâ— considering the persons for number for quality and probability of the effect God binds us to Charity and Mercy and no man can disoblige us from that And he that sincerely desireth to do the greatest good and avoid the greatest hurt and useth the best means he can to know it shall be accepted of God though men condemn him Q. 8. But is nothing here forbidden but symbolizing with Idolaters in seeming to mean as they by doing as they A. That 's it that is directly forbidden But by consequence it is implyed that all Doctrines are forbidden that falsely represent God and all Worship â—or acts pretended to be Religious which are unâ—â—itable to Gods holy Nature Attributes Will or Word as being prophanation and an offering to God that which is unclean Q. 9. What is the Command which is here imâ—lyed A. That we keep our Souls chast from all outward and seeming Idolatry and that we worship â—im who is the Infinite Almighty Holy Spirit with Reverence Holiness in Spirit and Truth according to his Blessed perfect Nature and his holy Will and Word Q. 10. Hath God given us a Law for all things â— his Worship A. The Law of Nature is Gods Law and obâ—…geth man to that devotion to God and worship â—f him which is called Natural And the sacred Scripture prescribeth both that and also all those positive means or Ordinances of Gods Worship which are made necessary to the universal Church on Earth And as for the meer Accidents of worship which are no proper parts as Time Place Words Methods Gesture Vesture c. Gods Laws give us gèneral Precepts only telling us how to order them leaving it to humane Prudence and Church Guides to order them according to those general Rules Q. 11. Is à ll use of Images unlawful A. God did so much hate Idolatry and the Neighbourhood of the Idolaters made it so dangerous to the Israelites that he did not only forbid the Worshipping of Images but all such making or using of them as might become a snarâ— or temptation to any So that though it be lawful to make Images for Civil uses and when they are made to fetch holy Thoughts or Meditationâ— from them as from all other Creatures or thingâ— in the World yet in any case when they becomâ— a snare or danger being not necessary things â—… they become a sin to those that so use them as snare to others or themselves Q. 12. Is it lawful to make any Picture of God A. No for Pictures are the signs of Corporeal things and it is Blasphemy to think God likâ— a bodily Substance But it is Lawful to make sucâ— Pictures as of a Glorious Light from which oâ—casion may be taken of good thoughts concerniâ— God Q. 13. Is it lawful to make the Picture of Christ as Man or as Crucified A. The doing it as such is not forbidden nor the right use of it when done But the abuse i. e. the worshipping of it or of Christ by it is forbidden and the making or using such when it tendeth to such abuse and hath more of snare than profit Q. 14. Why is Gods Iealousie here mentioned A. To make us know that God doth so strictly require the great duty of worshipping him as the true God and hate the sin of Idolatry or giving his Glory to another or blaspheming him as if he were like to painted things that he would have us accordingly affected Q. 15. Why doth God threaten to visit the iniquities of the Fathers on the Children in this Command rather than in the rest A. God hath Blessings and Curses for Societies as well as for individual persons And societies are constituted and known by the Symbols of publick profession And as Gods publick Worship is the Symbol of his Church which he will bless so Idolatrous Worship is the Symbol of the societies which he will Curse and Punish And it was Specially needful that the Israelites should know this who could never else have been excused from the guilt of Murdering Man Woman and Child of all the Nations which they conquered had not God taken it on himself as judging â—hem to death for their Idolatry and other Crimes â—nd making the Israelites his Executioners Q. 16. But doth not God disclaim punishing the Children for the Fathers sins and say the Soul that sinneth shall die A. Yes when the Children are either wholly innocent of that sin or else are pardoned through Christ upon their true repentance and hating and renouncing their Fathers sins But not else Q. 17. Are any Children guilty of their Parents sins A. Yes all Children are guilty of the sins which their Parents Committed before their birth while they were in their loins Not with the same degree and sort of Guilt as the Parents are but yet with so much as exposeth them to just penalties Q. 18. How prove you that A. First by the Nature of the Case For though we were not Personally existent in them when they sinned we were seminally existent in them which is more than Causally or Virtually And it was thaâ— semen which was guilty in them that was after made a person and so that person must have the same guiltâ— 2. From the whole History of the Scripture which tells us of the Children of Cain the old World Sodoâ— Cham the Canaanites Saul David as an Adulterer Achan Gehazi and others punished for theiâ— Parents sins And the Jews cast off and Cursed oâ— that account to this day 3. And our common Original sin from Adam proveth it Q. 19. But our Original sin from Adam had anâ— ther cause God decreeing that Adam should stanâ— or fall for all his posterity A. We must not adde to Gods Word much leâ—… blaspheme him as if it were God himself that bâ—… a Decree or Covenant made all the world sinneâ—… save Adam and Eve If Adam had not sinned it would not have saved all or any of his Posterity unless they also had continued innocent themselves Nor did God make any promise to continue and keep innocent all Adams posterity in case he sinned not We sinned in Adam because we were seminally in him and so are our Children in us And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean if it was essentially in it Q. 20. If we are guilty of all neerer parents sin will not our guilt increase to the end of the World and the
Such as only enjoyn the obeying of Christs own Laws 2. And such as only determine of such meer Accidents of Doctrine Worship and Discipline as Christ hath commanded in General and virtually and left the particular sort to humane determination of Governours as Time Place Utensils c. 3. Such as are not extended beyond the Churches of which they are Pastors to others of whom they are no Rulers 4. Such as being Indifferent are not made more necessary than their Nature and Use requireth Nor used to the Churches Destruction or hurt but to it's Edification 5. Such as being mutable in the Reason or Cause of them are not fixed And continued when the reason of them ceaseth Christ calleth us Minsters that we may not think we are Lords of his Heritage Our Work is to expound and apply his Laws and perswade men to obey them and not to make Laws of our own of the same kind as if we were his Equals and Lords of his Church It 's true he hath bid us determine of Circumstances to the Churches Edification and the Pastor is Judge for the present Time and Place what Chapter he shall read what Text he shall preach on and in what Method what Psalm shall be Sung and in what Tune and such like But who made him Lord of other Churches to impose the like on them Or how can he prove that the very same circumstances are necessary to all when a day may alter the case with himself which depends on mutable causes If all the World or Land be commanded on such a day to read the same Psalm and Chapter and occurrents make any Subject far more suitable who hath power to deprive the present Pastor of his Choice and to suppose Ministers unable to know what Subject to read or preach on unless it be they that make such men Ministers that they may so rule them Q. 10. Why must there be stated Worshipping Congregations A. 1. For the Honour of God and our Redeemer who is best honoured in united solemn Assemblies magnifying him with one Mind and Heart and Mouth 2. For the preservation of Religion which is so best exercised honoured and kept up 3. For the Benefit and Joy of Christians who in such concordant Societies receive Encouragement Strength and Comfort 4. For the due Order and Honour of the particular Churches and the whole Q. 11. Is every worshipping Congregation a Church A. The Name is not much worthy of a debate There are divers sorts of Christian Assemblies which may be called Churches 1. There are occasional accidental Assemblies that are not stated 2. There are stated Assemblies like Chappels which have only Curates and are but Parts of the lowest political Governing Churches 3. Christians statedly associated under such Pastors as have the Power of the Church Keyes for personal Communion in Holy Doctrine Worship and Conversation are the lowest sort of Political Governed Churches 4. Synods consisting of the Pastors and Delegates of these may be called Churches in a laxe sence 5. And so may a Christian Nation under one King 6. And all the Christian World is one Catholick Church as Headed by Jesus Christ. 7. And the Roman Sect is a spurious Church as it is headed by a humane uncapable Soveraign claiming the Power of Legislation and Judgment over all the Church on earth Q. 12. But how shall I know which is the true Church when so many claim the Title the Papists say it is only theirs A. I have fully answered such doubts on the Article of the Holy Catholick Church and Communion of Saints in the Creed Either you speak of the Whole Church or of a Particular Church which is but a Part. If of the whole Church it is a foolish question How I shall know which is the true Church when there is but one If of a Particular Church every true Christian Society Pastors and Flocks is a true Church that is a True Society as a part of the Whole Q. 13. But when there are divers contending Churches how shall I know which of them I should joyn with A. 1 If they are all true Churches having the same God and Christ and Faith and Hope and Love You must separate from none of them as Churches though you may separate from their sins But must communicate with them in all lawful Exercises as occasion requireth 2. But your fixed Relation to a particular Pastor and Church peculiarly must be chosen as your own Case and Benefit all things considered doth require When you can have free choice the Nearest and Ablest and Holyest Pastor and Society should be chosen When Violence interposeth a Rulers will may do much to turn the scales for a tolerable Pastor and Society if it make it most for the common good and your Edification Q. 14. May men adde any thing to the prescribed Worship of God A. Worship is a doubtful Word If you will call meer mutable Accidents and Circumstances by the Name of Worship Man may adde to them such as is putting off the Hatt the Meetre and tune of Psalms and such like But men may do nothing which implyeth a defect in the Laws of Christ and therefore may make no new Articles of Faith or Religion or any thing necessary to Salvation nor any Sacraments or Ordinances of Worship of the same kind with Christs much less Contrary thereto Q. 15. May we hold Communion with a faulty Church and Worship A. Or else we must have Communion with none on Earth All our personal Worship is faulty we joyn with them for Christian Faith and Worship If the Minister say or do any thing contrary it is his sin and our presence maketh it not ours Else we must separate from all the World But we may not by false Professions Subscribing Swearing or Practice commit any sin our selves for the Communion of any Church on Earth CHAP. XLV Of Baptism Qu. 1. WHat is Baptism A. It is a Sacred action or Sacrament instituted by Christ for the Solemnizing of the Covenant of Christianity between God and Man and the solemn investing us in the State of Christianity obliging us to Christ and for his delivering to us our Relation and right to him as our Head and to the gifts of his Covenant Q. 2. Why did Christ institute such a Ceremony as Washing in so great and weighty a Work as our-Christening A. 1. A Soul in flesh is apt to use sense and needs some help of it 2. Idolaters had filled the World with Images and outward Ceremonies and the Jews had been long used to abundance of Typical Rites And Christ being to deliver the World from these and teach them to Worship in Spirit and Truth would not run into the extream of avoiding all sensible signs and helps but hath made his Sacraments few and fitted to their use to be instead of Images and mens vain Inventions and the Jewish burdens as meet and sufficient helps of that kind to his Church
that men might not presume to set up any such things of their own on pretence of need or usefulness Q. 3. What doth this great Sacrament contain A. 1. The Parties Covenanting and Acting 2. The Covenant as on both parts with the Benefits given of God and the Duty professed and promised by man 3. The outward signs of all Q. 4. Who are the Parties Covenanting and Acting A. God and Man that is 1. Principally God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and Ministerially under him the Baptizing Minister 2. The party baptized And if he be an Infant the Parent or Owner on his behalf Q. 5. In what Relations is God a Covenanter with man A. 1. As our Creator and Governour offended by sin and reconciled by Christ whom his Love gave to be our Saviour 2. As Christ is our Redeemer and Saviour 3. As the Holy Ghost is our Rgenerator and Comforter sent by the Father and the Son Q. 6. In what Relation stands the person to be baptized A. As a Sinner miserable by guilt and pravity and loss of his blessed Relation to God but Redeemed by Christ and called by him and coming to receive him and his saving Grace Q. 7. What is it that God doth as a Covenanter with the baptized A. You must well understand that two Covenanting acts of God are presupposed to Baptism as done before I. The first is Gods Covenant with Jesus Christ as our Redeemer by Consent In which God requireth of him the work of mans Redemption as on his part by perfect Holiness Righteousness Satisfactory Suffering and the rest And promiseth him as the reward to be Lord of All and the saving and Glorifying of the Church with his own perpetual Glory II. A Promise and Conditional Covenant or Law of Grace made to lost Mankind by the Father and the Son that whoever truly believeth that is becometh a true Christian shall be saved Now Baptism is the bringing of this Conditional Promise upon mans consent to be an actual mutual Covenant Q. 8. And what is it that God there doth as an actual Covenanter A. First he doth by his Minister stipulate that is demand of the party baptized whether he truly consent to his part And next on that supposition he delivereth him the Covenant-gifts which at present are to be bestowed Q. 9. What be those A. 1. The Relation of a pardoned reconciled sinner and adopted Child of God or that God will be his God in Love through Christ. 2. A Right and Relation to Christ as his actual Saviour Head Teacher Intercessor and King 3. A Right and Relation to the Holy Ghost to â—e to Him the Illuminating Sanctifying quickenâ—â—g Spirit of Light and Love and Holy Life and deliverance from the Devil the World and Flesh â—nd from the Wrath of God Q. 10. What is it that God requireth of Man and â—e professeth A. That he truly believeth in this God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and Presently and Resolâ—edly consenteth to be His in these Relations taking â—im as His God and Father his Saviour and his Sanâ—tifier repenting of his sins and renouncing the â—ontrary Government of the Devil World and â—lesh Q. 11. What are the Outward signs of all this A. 1. The Water 2. And the Actions of both â—arties I. The Action of the Minister on Gods â—â—rt is to wash the body of the baptized with the Water which in hot Countreys was by dipping â—â—em over head and taking them up To signifie â—… That they are washed from the guilt of Sin by â—â—e Blood of Christ. 2. And are as dead and buâ—â—ed to sin and the World and Flesh and risen to a â—ew and Holy Life and heavenly Hope 3. And â—â—at by this act we are solemnly bound by God to â—â—e Christians II. The Action of the baptized is To be a wilâ—â—â—g receiver of this Washing to signifie his believâ—â—g and thankful receiving these free Gifts of Christ and his solemn self-engagement to be henceforth a Christian. Q. 12. Are Infants Capable of doing all this A. No They are personally capable of receiving both the sign and the Grace even Right to Christ and Life but not themselves of actual believing and covenanting with Christ. Q. 13. Why then are they baptized who cannot Covenant A. That you may understand this rightly yoâ— must know 1. That as Children are made Sinneâ— and miserable by their Parents without any act oâ— their own so they are delivered out of it by thâ—â— free Grace of Christ upon a Condition performeâ— by their Parents Else they that are visibly born iâ— sin and misery should have no visible or certain waâ— of Remedy Nature maketh them as it were paâ—… of the Parents or so near as causeth their Sin aâ—â— Misery And this nearness supposed God by frâ—â— Grace hath put it in the power of Parents to acceâ—â— for them the blessings of the Covenant and to eâ—ter them into the Covenant of God the Pareâ—â— Will being instead of their own who yet have noâ— to Choose for themselves 2. That Baptism is the only way which God haâ—â— appointed for the entering of any one into the Châ—â—stian Covenant and Church 3. That the same Sacrament hath not all the saâ—â— Ends and uses to all but varyeth in some things â—… their capacites differ Christ was baptized and yet nâ—â— for the remission of Sin And the use of Circuâ—cision partly differed to the Old and to the Inâ—ants 4. It is the Will of God that Infants be Members â—â— the Christian Church of which Baptism is the enâ—â—ance For 1. There is no proof that ever God â—ad a Church on Earth in any age of which Infants â—ere not members 2. The Covenant with Abraham the Father of the â—aithful was made also with his Infant Seed and â—ealed to them by Circumcision And the Females â—ho were not circumcised were yet in the Church â—â—d Covenant and when the Males were uncircumâ—â—â—ed forty years in the Wilderness they were yet â—embers of the Jewish Church And Deut. 19. the â—arents entered their little ones into the renewed Coâ—enant And Christ came not to cast all Infants out â—â— the Church who were in before 3. Christ himself saith that he would have gaâ—â—ered Ierusalem as a Hen gathereth her Chickens â—â—d they would not so that he would have taken â—â— the whole Nation Infants and all that were in beâ—â—re 4. And Rom. 11. it 's said that they were broken â—â—f by unbelief Therefore if their Parents had not â—een unbelievers the Children had not been broken â—â—f 5. And Christ himself was Head of the Church in â—…s Infancy and entered by the Sacrament then in â—…rce though as Man he was not capable of the â—…ork which he did at age Therefore Infants may â—… members 6. And he rebuked his Disciples that kept suâ— from him because of such is the Kingdom of God He would have them come as into his Kingdom 7. And plainly the Apostle saith to a