into the image of a corruptible man and of birdes c. Rom. 1.23 Fourthly they c Saturnians who make one God of the Iewes and another of the gentiles and either contrarie to other reade Rom. 3.29 Fiftly a Symonians they who affirme that the diuell hath free power ouer all thinges Iob. 1.8.9 Sixtly some ascribe ouermuch to phificke pollicie strength and witches reade 1. Sam. 2.3.8.9 Psal 36.6 Prou. 21.30.31 Seuenthly b Priscillianists some make starres and planets to gouerne mens actions Hier. 10.1 Eyghtly some ascribe the euent of things to fortune some the being and continuance of thinges to nature reade Esay 45.5 6 7. Rom. 11.36 Reuel 4.11 2.3.4 To these three of the Trinitie are contrarie three heretikes first c Montanists who say there is but one person in the trinity which is called by diuers names of father sonne and holy Ghost Secondly d Aetians who saye the three persons to bee onely three qualities Thirdly e Triformians who affirme the three persons to bee three diuers and separable Gods 1. Corinth 8.4 1. Iohn 5.7 Fiftly against the person of Christ the diuell hath fought by many heretikes Some f Nestorians make one person of his diuinitie and another of his humanitie some g Arrians make Christ to be God not by nature but by grace and to be lesse then his father Some h Bonosians call Christ an adopted sonne some i Marcellians say he was not begotten of the father some k Carpocratians say Christ was conceiued after the manner of other men l Apollinaris Some will haue his bodie to bee heauenly and not of the Virgin Marie m Eunomians Some denie Christ a minde n Eutyches Some auouch the humane nature to bee swallowed vp of the diuine o Timotheans Some confound the two natures of Christ and make him a mixt third thing The doctrine of the office of Christ doth condemne the Symonians Sethians Menander and all that shew any other sauiour or meanes of saluation or additament more then Christ onely and the faith and doctrine of him Such as are the Papists who ioyne mans workes merits satisfactions pardons pilgrimages prayers purgatorie and I cannot tell what trumperie as additaments to Christ Acts 4.11 Iohn 10.1 2 3. and 14.6 Gal. 6.14.15 Reuel 22.18 some a Manichies say the soule onely to be saued and b Paternians some the vpper partes of the bodie Rom. 8.1 Philip. 3.21 6. The doctrine of the estate of man without Christ condemneth them c Pelagians who deny children to be corrupted with originall sinne and that without the grace of God a man may doe all the commandements of God and d Papists they who dreame of certaine pure naturals by which they imagine they can prepare themselues to grace and worke with grace the merit to saluation 2. Cor. 3.5 Philip 2.13 Heb. 12.2 There bee also some among vs who thorow ignorance doe very lightly feele their miserie and how wickedly soeuer they liue they yet fancie to themselues an happie estate they say they will doe well or pray or aske pardon but not feeling the deep wound of sinne they little feare the sore and grieuous punishment which hangeth ouer their heads for neglecting so great saluation by Christ Heb. 2.1.2.3 and 12.25 7. The doctrine of the causes of our saluation first in the good pleasure of Gods will condemneth them e Pelagians who doe vtterly deny predestination to establish free-will And thē f Papists who tye it to workes foreseene Rom. 9.11 Concerning Christ the meanes it condemneth them g Heracleans who put in his roome oyntments and ceremonies And the Papists as before in the 5. Heb. 1.5 The doctrine of faith applying Christ is against the Papists who would ioyne workes Rom. 3.28 8. This ouerthroweth all Atheists Deists Sophisters and ignorant brablers who frame to themselues a God or saluation without faith in Christ 1. Tim. 3.16 Gal. 3.26 9. The doctrine of certaintie confuteth the Papists who would haue men to doubt of their saluation Heb. 10.19.20.21.23 10. Free saluation excludeth merit Tit. 3.4 11. Perfect saluation ouerthroweth the sacrifice of the Masse and much popish trash 2. Pet. 1.3 12. This ouerthroweth Purgatorie which is made a third place contrarie to 1. Iohn 1.7 13. This refelleth them a Cerdonians who deny the resurrection or b Hymineus Philetus say it is past alreadie or c Epicures make their happines in this life 1. Thess 4.14 1. Ioh. 3.1 14. This reprooueth them d Gnostici who make faith a naked knowledge of the Gospel without the fruites of good workes or e Libertines make good workes contrarie to faith or f Antitactae will men to be free from Gods commandements Eph. 4.24 Gal. 5.6 Eph. 2.10 15. Concerning the Sacraments in another place onely here if it can bee taught the difference of the outward signe and the thing signified and that these are not to bee confounded neither that which is proper to the one to bee giuen to the other it shall giue cleere sight against many errors As g 1. Pet. 3.31 Peter speaketh of Baptisme that it saueth vs openeth his meaning saying not the washing away of the filth of the flesh which is the outward signe but the inward working of the spirit which is in the answer to God and by the resurrection of Christ So h 22.19 Christ calling the bread his bodie dooth yet teach vs to follow this rule when he biddeth vs doe all that actiō of receiuing it in remembrance of him So that the outward action is as the signe and seale but the power of working is in the thing signified which is Christ by his spirit applying through faith that heauenly washing and foode vnto our soules CAP. 9. The seuenth Catechisme for establishing of iudgement HEre I will choose two places of holy scripture because mine especiall purpose is to teach the doctrine of the Sacraments and handle them both together and because they are seales of the couenant of grace the couenant also is therewithall to be declared that the one may shewe the vse of the other and each take light strength from other which I can hardly doe out of any one text The first Text. Tit. 3. vers 3. We our selues were in times past vnwise disobedient deceiued seruing the lusts diuers pleasures liuing in maliciousnes and enuie hatefull and hating one another 4. But when the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared 5. Not by the works of righteousnes which wee had done but according to his mercie hee saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost 6. Which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our Lord. 7. That wee being iustified by his grace should bee made heires according to hope of eternall life The second Text. 1. Cor. 11.23
teach theÌ„ to sing some short psalmes as the 117. the 131.133 and such like as they are in English meter CAP. 2. The second order of instruction for the opening of the vnderstanding This order is best from sixe yeare olde and vpwards in some capacities before and for such as are ignoraÌ„t of what age so euer AFter that they can handsomely do these things then this catechisme following will be most necessarie for the opening of their vnderstanding where the master of the house must not binde the learner to the very words as before here set downe but so teach as euery time he repeateth any question there may bee some little difference in his wordes And for that cause I will shewe him diuers formes of speaking in some of the most needefull pointes teaching the meaning of one poynt which a childe or young man will quickelie conceiue and by the variation be able to vnderstand and beare away and to answer with his own words in diuers sortes at diuers times and all to one sense The Catechisme for the second order b Or thus How many Gods are there But one only and three persons c. VVHat thinkest thou of God I beleeue there is one God and three persons God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost c Was there not a time wheÌ„ there was neither heaueÌ„ nor earth c. Yea How did they begin God created them by his word c. How came the World God made all things of nothing in sixe dayes In what day made he man The sixt day Was the woman made the same daye Both man and woman were made in one daye How were they made God made man of the dust of the grounde and breathed in his face the breath of life and the man was a liuing soule that is a liuely creature hauing bodie and soule After God cast Adam into an heauie sleepe and tooke out one of his ribbes and closed vp the flesh and of that rib hee made the woman so there was man and woman the mans name was Adam and the womans Eue. Was man made any whit more excellent then other creatures Yes in two things he was made after Gods image and clothed with happines What was that image of God Knowledge holines and righteousnes What was the happines He was made Lord ouer the creatures and being naked was not ashamed What did God with man after hee had thus made him Hee set him in a most pleasant place of the world called the garden of Eden appoynted him to keepe and dresse the garden gaue him leaue to eate of all the trees in the garden sauing one called The tree of knowledge of good and euill and if he eate of that tree he should die the death What death Of bodie and soule Was there not another tree of speciall name Yes the tree of life which was a Sacramentall signe that if man continued in his vprightnes he should liue for euer d If AdaÌ„ were made good and happie how came wickedneâ— and punishments By eating the forbiddeÌ„ fruit sinne shame damnation and all other miseries came vpon mankinde Did man continue in his vprightnes No for the diuell abusing the bodie of a serpent tempted the woman Eue and shee did eate of the forbidden fruite and she gaue Adam and he did eate and then they were ashamed And so Adam and Eue and all mankinde were dead in sinne and vnder damnation of bodie and soule e How shall we 〈◊〉 deliuered 〈◊〉 How shall we escape sinne and damnation Onely by Iesus Christ f 〈◊〉 â—â—leefe in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was he 〈◊〉 Of God 〈…〉 â—â—man Of â—â—ngin Ma 〈◊〉 If Mary 〈◊〉 this Moâ—er who was 〈◊〉 He as â—uching his Godhead and she touching his manhood What is Christ He is the eternall sonne of God made man that is perfect God and perfect man What did he for vs to saue our soules Hee died and shed his most precious blood to redeeme vs from our sinnes Is it not possible for a man to liue so iustly and vprightly that he may g Deserue or merit obtaine his owne saluation by well doing No man hath such a gift or power Why Because no man can keepe al the commandements of God if we breake any one we be guiltie of all How shall we doe then If we beleeue in Iesus Christ we shall be saued All All doe not beleeue What neede we then care to do h To liue honestly or godly good works We must doe good works because they are commanded by God and it is our duetie to obey him that made and saued vs wee ought to bee thankefull and to glorifie him and to declare our faith by our workes for the good ensample of others and for many other necessarie vses How are we saued by Christ seeing we die daylie This bodily death is but the parting of the soule from the bodie for a time but the bodie shall rise againe euen as Christ rose the third day for at the last day when Christ shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead all that beleeue in him shall rise againe vnto euerlasting life and all other to euerlasting damnation How come we to know these things God sendeth his word to bee preached vnto vs. Doe all beleeue who heare the worde None but they whose hearts are opened by his holy spirit Are there no other helps of i Beleese faith Many as the experience of all Gods doings according to his word and namely in tribulation the exercise of all good works and especially the right vse of the seales of the promise which are commonly called Sacraments Which be they Baptisme and the Lords Supper What is to be seene in them The outward signe as water bread and wine and the signification which is the * The death or promise of Christ the benefits of Christes death grace of Christ Wherefore bee children baptized with water In token that their sinnes are washed away by the blood of Christ Why doe men receiue the bread and wine in the Communion In token that Christ gaue his bodie and blood for our redemption Are they onely tokens or bare signes No they are also as seales to assure vs of the grace of Christ and his last will How doe Baptisme and the Lordes supper differ Baptisme is outwardly with water and the Lordes Supper with bread and wine secondly Baptisme signifieth the washing of our sinnes to enter vs into the Church the Lords Supper is for the strengthening of our faith thirdly Baptisme is once signifying that wee which are by nature the children of wrath are once borne in Christ to be Gods children but the Lords Supper is often signifying by eating bread and drinking wine the davly nourishing of our faith in and by Christ that wee may continually grow stronger and stronger vnto eternall life What is eternall life To liue with God and to bee partakers of his glorie for euer
vse namely that it is not now as common bread to feede our bodies onely but it hath a sacramentall and holy vse annexed for the feeding of our soules that is Wee shew the Lordes death herein till hee come The summe then is seeing hee deliuered vnto them onely that he receiued and that in this order and to this vse they must not prophane this holy Sacrament by their disorder or additaments what so euer to doe in any other order or to any other vse more or lesse then it was ordained Whereupon he proceedeth in the rest of the chapter to giue them certain canons or precepts out of the premisses namely how they should reforme themselues and doe it orderly and profitablie The Doctrine of the Catechisme 1. Out of both places These two places open vnto vs the couenant of God touching the saluation of his elect by two things First by doctrine as a writing declaratorie Secondly by Sacraments as seales of that writing confirmatory 2. The doctrine is in the description of the persons couenanting one with another and the couenant it selfe 3. 3 In the first place vers 4.5.6 The first person is he who offereth the couenant namely God who is described by the speciall worke which hee doth in the couenant hee maketh his bountifulnes appeare and is therefore intituled a Sauiour as one that seeketh vs and not we him 4. The second man 4 Vers 3. shutting out pure naturals free will c. who receiueth the couenants who is described voyde of all goodnes in minde will affections works for so * Ezech. 16.4.5.8 God findeth vs in our filthines before the couenant 5. 5 In the second place vers 24.25 The third person is the mediator of the couenant Christ who giueth his body and blood for the confirmation of the couenant 6. 6 This is out of both places The couenant it selfe is first called the new Testament that is * Ierem. 31.31 not of the lawe of workes but of mercie and grace Therefore on the partie that offereth it is thus described First God propoundeth himselfe to bee our God and Sauiour then hee receiueth vs to himselfe by mercie in Christ and not by our workes Thirdly he sheweth the effect of the couenant that wee should bee iustified by his grace and made heyres thorow hope of eternal life On our part the condition is no more but to receiue all this by faith in Christ which is giuen vs in the new birth and therefore * Rom. 8.15 called the spirite of Adoption by which wee call God Father And so the couenant is made on our part as it is * Gal. 3.26 written Yee are all the sonnes of God by faith in Christ Iesus Where you may see that Christ is the mediator * Eph. 2.18 to bring vs to God namely by beleefe in him Which couenant God will haue declared before men by the vse of his seruice as profession Sacraments c. and by obedience vnto euery good worke 7. In beholding which couenant wee may see all merit and reioycing in man vtterly excluded For before the couenant wee are altogether voyde of all goodnes in the couenant wee are receiued and saued by mercie without workes Christ is a mediator to God for vs paying the ransome of our sinnes by him is powred vpon vs the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost by him we are iustified and made heyres of euerlasting life If we haue faith or hope they are all the giftes of God thorow Christ so that wee haue euery way cause of abasing our selues and onely to * 1. Cor. 1.30 reioyce in him Wherefore the Church ascribing nothing to her selfe maketh this ioyfull confession a Esay 61.10 I will greatly reioyce in the Lord and my soule shall be ioyfull in my God for he hath clothed mee with the garments of saluation and couered me with the robe of righteousnes c. Now not minding to shew euery particular poynt which these two places affoord An obseruation to the teacher we will come to the second parte of the Sacraments In handling whereof if any thing bee not in one of these two texts for it were much all to be I will set in the margine some other place as a supplie to their wants and this doctrine is in two things 1. How many Sacraments 2. What they be 8. There are but two Sacraments of the * I say couenāt because the word sacrament is vsed diuersly this shutteth of vnproper vses couenant that is to say Baptisme and the Lords Supper The other poynt What they bee will appeare easie if wee learne how they agree betweene themselues and how they differ both betweene themselues and also from others 9. Two Sacraments agree in foure things These two Sacraments agree in these things 1. In a generall definition A Sacrament is a signe and seale of the couenant of grace First they are signes 1 In a generall definition as water washing in Baptisme bread and wine eating and drinking in the Lords Supper They are both signes of the couenant for Baptisme signifieth Christs bloud in the couenant and so dooth the Lords Supper and they bee both more thē bare signes euen seales of assurance For as the seale is set to a will or deed to confirme the writing so are these two appointed by Christ to assure vs of the thing they signifie Therefore the one is called his body and the other the washing of the new birth not because they bee chaunged in nature but by such a neere speech to assure vs of the thing sealed or signed They both herein assure vs of our iustification and sanctification Secondly 2 They be as badges they bee both outward badges of our profession as by the one we shew the Lords death and by the other that wee are Gods children by a new birth Thirdly 3 Both commanded Mat. 28.18.19 they both haue a commandement from Christ Fourthly 4 Both haue a forme of administration Acts. 2.14.37.38 Mar. 16.15.16 they both haue a prescribed forme of administration in regard of the Minister and people The Minister is appoynted to preach and declare the couenant and to administer the Sacraments the people to heare and to receiue the Sacraments In Baptisme the Minister must wash with water in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost the person to bee admitted into the Church is to submit himselfe to such a washing In the Lords Supper the Minister by thanksgiuing is to set apart to this holy vse the bread wine seuerally to breake the bread and to giue afterwards seuerally first bread and then wine to the people bidding them to eate drinke c. and the people ought to receiue them both seuerally first bread and then wine and to eate the bread and drinke the wine not as common bread and wine but as sanctified to the
holy vse by Christ prescribed 10. 10 The first disagreement with others The fiue forged Sacraments of the Church of Rome cannot bee reckoned with these because they are not pertaining to the couenant nor commaunded by God with outward signes to the vses here described but either haue no outward signes as Penance or els other significations and vses As Matrimonie hath no signe ordained of God to this vse but sometime is made an * Hoseah 2.19 Eph. 5.23 allegorie or metaphor and sometime is taught by comparison from Christ and his Church Orders haue imposition of hands but not commanded by God for the grace of this couenant or to bee badges of our profession but for the * 1. Tim. 4.14 grace of the office of the Ministrie So the annoynting of the sicke in the Gospell is not taught as the Papists vse it but only to bee an * Iam. 5.14 outward signe in healing the bodie but a SacrameÌ„t is for the comfort of the soule The like may be sayd of the other 11. 11 The second difference in themselues The differences betweene these two Sacraments of the couenant in themselues are these 1. In the signe Baptisme hath water and washing the Lords Supper hath bread and wine eating and drinking c. 2. In the manner of signifying because they apply the couenant to vs in diuers sorts Baptisme applieth it as our first entring into couenant and there it signifieth our new birth and renewing c. and therefore all that are * Act. 10.47 with the places before quoted first receiued into the Church are admitted by Baptisme and a man is but once baptized because hee is but once to bee borne againe The Lords Supper applieth the couenant in regard of the euerlasting continuance of fauour betweene God and vs in Christ therefore wee eate bread and drinke wine as liuely signes of our growing increasing in Christ in faith and good life and in all assurednes of eternall life And therefore it is often vsed that wee may continually bee strengthened and confirmed in his grace from faith to faith 12. 12 The third difference from others In all this declaration agreeing to holie Scripture and so in all the Bible beside you shall neuer sinde that the Sacraments by the outward worke wrought doe giue grace or that the signe leeseth his nature to be turned into the thing signified or that there is a reall locall and corporall presence of the thing in the outward signe or that in Baptisme exorcisme creame spettle salt or any other thing is to be mingled or vsed but onely water or that in the Lords Supper there should bee an vnbloudie sacrifice the bread adored reserued or carried about or the wine should bee kept from the common people Therefore all these and whatsoeuer other additaments and abuses of the holy Sacraments are altogether to be reiected and condemned by the rule Apostolicall because they are not receiued of the Lord. Here the master of the familie may applie the substance of the former Catechisme to his folke by this place 1. Cor. 12. vers 13. By one spirit wee are all baptized into one bodie whether we bee Iewes or Grecians whether we bee bond or free and haue been all made to drinke into one spirit 1. One bodie one spirit Where one bodie and one spirit to Iew and Gentill c. shew the couenant in grace and communion of God with all nations and sorts of people thorow Christ by his spirit in one bodie 2. Both Sacraments teach Baptised into Drinke into there is one holie communion betweene GOD and his Church 3. Baptisme our regeneration and incorporation into the same communion the Lords Supper our daily nourishment from our head Christ growing together in the same couenant CAP. 10. The fourth order of Catechisme NOw for the masters further helpe To the householder I will commend vnto him these foure places namely Ephes 2.8.9.10 2. Thess 2.13.14 Tit. 2.11.12.13.14 Iam. 1.18 whereof hee shall see euery one fit to bring into his remeÌ„brance the doctrines of the former Catechismes And I hope both he and his familie may easily gather the same of themselues being made ripe thereunto by their former practise reioycing in the plentifull and sweete consent of so many places of Gods word and admiring the goodnes of God that so abundantly and liberally bestoweth vpon vs his rich treasures of wisedom and vnderstanding And if in them he finde something not easie let the master repayre to his pastor and seeke the lawe at his mouth For a Malac. 2.7 his lippes should preserue knowledge being the messenger of the Lorde of hostes and b 〈◊〉 4.1 steward of the secrets of GOD. Howbeit in so waightie and needfull prouision I woulde haue this housholder to bee well stored that hee maye feede his familie with more ioy and plentie to make them strong well liking in the house of our God children that boldly will answer the enemie in the gates and sight valiantly the battels of the Lord. Therefore I will here adde two Catechismes more for his helpe where the first will shew him in a notable order Iacobs Ladder namely by what steppes God bringeth all his children into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ and the heauenly mansions of his diuine palace And this is in one scripture most orderly compact together by the heauenly spirit The other is * Therefore I make it a book by itselfe and â—â—uide it into chapters a more perfect bodie of Christirn doctrine of many and diuers places of scripture as a shining light vnto the feete of all Gods children in the dayes of their pilgrimage till they shal come into the land of their celestiall inheritance The eyght Catechisme for helpe of the housholder The text Ephes 1.3 Blessed bee God euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ. 4. As hee hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world that wee should bee holie and without blame before him in loue 5. Who hath predestinated vs to bee adopted thorow Iesus Christ vnto himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will 6. To the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted in his beloued 7. By whom we haue redemption through his blood euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to his rich grace 8. Whereby hee hath been aboundant toward vs in all wisdome and vnderstanding 9. And opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to the good pleasure which he had purposed in him 10. That in the dispensation of the fulnes of times he might gather together in one all thinges both which are in heauen and which are in earth In shewing the Catechisme out of this text I will follow this order In the middle by interpretation I will poynte out the golden steppes of this heauenly
saluation expressely and some to damnation by consequent Iud vers 4. Pro. 16.4 1. Pet. 2.8 The performance of this predestination is by election in Christ expressely by reprobation from Christ by consequent such as refuse Christ Ioh. 8.42.43.47 CAP. 4. Of the execution of Gods decree Psalm 33.6.7.8.9.10.11 The execution of Gods decree is that he performeth his eternal purpose by creating all things vers 6.7.8 By gouerning all things in their times seasons vers 10.11 CAP. 5. Of the creation Gen. chap. 1. and chap. 2. These two chapters teach vs. 1. God made all things by his word of nothing 2. In sixe daies 3. Man in the sixt day 4. God made man and woman that is male and female in one day cap. 1.26.27 5. God made man of the dust of the earth touching his body and breathed in him his soule so he had both body soule cap. 2.7 6. The woman was made of the man God cast him in a deepe sleepe took out one of his ribbes and closed vp the flesh and of the ribbe made the womā the mans name was Adam the womans Eue chap. 2.21.22 chap. 3.20 7. The excellencie of man aboue other earthly creatures is in two thinges 1. They were created after the image of God which shineth principally in the soule chap. 1.27 which is in knowledge Coloss 3.10 and practise of holines righteousnes Eph. 4.24 2. They were created in most perfect happines where vnto the image of God these things were ioyned they had authoritie and Lordship ouer the creatures chap. 1.28 they were so beautifull that being naked they were not ashamed cap. 2.25 CAP. 6. Gouernment before the fall Gen. cap. 2. God placed man in a most pleasant place of the world called the garden of Eden vers 15. 2. He gaue him commandement to keepe and to dresse the garden vers 15. 3. He gaue him the tree of life in the middest of the garden as a Sacrament that if hee continued in well doing he should liue for euer vers 9. cap. 3.22 4. He gaue him this order he might take of all the trees in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and euill and in that day he should eate thereof he should dye the death vers 16.17 5. Hee instituted marriage to bee of one man and one woman that they two should be one flesh vers 24. CAP. 7. The fall of man Gen. 3. In this chapter the storie of the fall of man is set forth in these poynts 1. The diuell abusing the tongue of a serpent entised the womā Eue and she did eate of the forbidden fruite and she gaue to her husband Adam he did eate and so the cōmandemēt of God was broken ver 1.2.3 c. 2. By this disobedience Adam and Eue and all mankind were dead in finne and vnder damnation of bodie and soule that is hee lost his excellencie and became ashamed of himselfe vers 7.8.9.10 expounded Eph. 2.1.2.3 Rom. 5.12.13.14 3. To make man to see his owne miserie God cursed the earth for his sake that it shuld bring forth briers thistles and thornes made the man to get his liuing with toile and paine till hee dyed the woman with sorrowe and griefe to bring forth and bring vp her childrē and banished them both out of the garden of Eden vers 16.17 c. CAP. 8. Gouernment after the fall The restoring of man The two couenants Iere. 31.31.32.33.34 This place teacheth 1. For the restoring of man from the death of sinne and damnation God made two couenants the couenant of workes and the couenant of mercie 2. The couenant of works is that God will be our God if wee keepe all his commaundements vers 31.32 3. The couenant of mercie is God will bee our God by forgiuenes of sinnes thorow Christ and write his lawes in our hearts vers 33.34 Heb. 10.12.13.15.16 4. We are not saued by the couenant of workes that is by keeping of Gods commandements for no man can do them vers 32. But wee are saued by the couenant of mercie that is by beleefe in Iesus Christ by whom our sins are forgiuen vers 33.34 Rom. 8.3 Eph. 2.8.9 CAP. 9. Of the first couenant which is of workes and the true force and perpetuall vse of the law Rom. 3.10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. The lawe bewrayeth sinfulnes pronounceth vs guiltie maketh vs vnable to open our mouthes to claime any things at Gods hand for our owne righteousnes or well dooing that we might run vnto Christ in the couenant of mercie to be iustified and saued by beleefe in him Gal. 3.21.22 Ephes 2.8 9 10. Although we cannot bee saued or iustified by our workes or well-dooing yet God hath ordayned the good workes commanded in his lawe for those who shall be saued by the couenant of mercie to walke in as a perpetuall rule of right liuing to all beleeuers 1. Thess 4.2.3.4 with 1. Ioh. 3.6 7 8 Here the ten Commaundements are to be expounded CAP. 10. Of the couenant of mercie and the mediator thereof 2. Cor. 5.19 This teacheth the order of the couenant of mercie namely thus God calleth vs by his Gospell vnto his mercie thorow Christ and offereth to reconcile vs vnto himselfe thorow him by forgiuenes of sinnes and we are in couenant with him when he giueth vs faith in Christs blood Rom. 3.25 Gal. 4.4.5 This place sheweth the mediator Christ by his person and office His person that he is the sonne of God made man that is to say perfect GOD and perfect man in one person man to be like his bretheren as Heb. 2.17 God to be holy harmeles c. as Heb. 7.26 His office to be the mediator of the couenant of mercie in that by his death he redeemeth vs from vnder the lawe to bee made the children of God Psal 110.1 2 3 4. This text sheweth the parts of Christs office of mediatorship namely that hee should bee King verse 1.2.3 and Priest verse 4. CAP. 11. Of the Priesthoode of Christ 1. Pet. 3.18.19 This declareth that Christs Priesthoode is fulfilled in two points 1. in his perfect obedience as a iust and holy man vnto death and all other priestly actions thereunto adioyned verse 18. Secondly in his propheticall function verse 19. Rom. 8.33.34 This declareth the priestlie actions of Christ to be of two sortes 1. the sacrifice of his death and his resurrection to put away our sinnes and to make vs righteous Rom. 4.25 2. sitting at the right hand of God to make intercession for vs. CAP. 12. Of the Kingdome of Christ and namely before and vntill the last iudgement Ephes 4.11 12 13 14 15 16. Here is the kingly office of Christ described 1. Hee is head of his church who nourisheth it and furnisheth it in all things verse 16. 2. This furniture is in the applying of the workes of his priesthood both before and vntill the last iudgement and at the iudgement verse 11.12.13 3.