thy Might Deut. 6.4 5. Mat. 12.29 30. Knowledg puffeth up but Love edifieth And if any Man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know But if any Man love God the same is known of him 1 Cor. 8.1 2 3. see 1 John 4.7 8. Quest How does our love to God manifest and discover it self Answ Our Love to God discovers it self by our keeping the Commandments of God which require us to trust in him and live to him as the only true God Deut. 10.12 And now Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul 1 John 5.3 This is the love of God that we keep his Commandments 1 John 4.20 If a Man say I love God and hateth his Brother he is a liar Quest How do you prove from Scripture that we must not only know him whom God hath sent but also love him as such Answ I prove it from John 8.42 Jesus said unto them If God were your Father ye would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me Quest How does our love to him whom God hath sent manifest and discover it self Answ Our love to him whom God hath sent discovers it self in our keeping his Commandments which require us to trust in him and live to him as one whom God hath sent to be the Saviour of the World John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments Vers 21. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Vers 23. If a Man love me he will keep my Words Vers 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings the Word which ye hear is not mine but my Fathers which sent me 1 John 2.3 c. And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his Commandments He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a liar and the Truth is not in him But whoso keepeth his Word in him verily is the love of God perfected Hereby know we that we are in him Quest Tell me now what you intend by the Acknowledgment of God and of Christ which you have mentioned Answ By the Acknowledgment of God and Christ I intend nothing else but that Love now spoken of as manifested by the keeping of God's Commandments Quest Why do you call this an Acknowledgment of God and of Christ Answ I so call it because they who thus keep the Commandments of God do indeed acknowledg and confess That he who sent Jesus Christ is the only true God and that Jesus Christ is he whom God hath sent Quest Does the Holy Scripture express it in the same way and manner Answ Yes and in many places Col. 1.10 Ephes 4.13 Col. 2.2 1 Tim. 2.4 Ch. 4.3 2 Tim. 2.25 Tit. 1.1 2 Pet. 1.2 3. Prov. 3.6 2 Cor. 1.13 1 Joh. 2.23 Rom. 10.9 10. 1 King 8.33 Mat. 10.32 1 Tit. 1.16 Heb. 3.1 Ch. 4.14 Ch. 10.23 Quest You said as I remember in your first Answer That the best and chiefest thing we are to learn is the Doctrine that teacheth us to know God and Jesus Christ But why said you so Answ I said that the Doctrine which teacheth us to know God and Jesus Christ is the best and chiefest thing we are to learn for this Reason Because this Doctrine which is Truth revealeth to us the Promise of Eternal Life and directeth us in the way and means of obtaining this Eternal Life Quest How prove you this Answ I prove it from the words of our Saviour which we have now been discoursing of namely This is Eternal Life that Men may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Quest What do you gather from these words Answ First I gather from them that the Doctrine of Christ is a Doctrine concerning Eternal Life * Secondly That to know the Father the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is that which is required of us for obtaining Eternal Life ‑ These things are clearly and plentifully witnessed in the Holy Scriptures * 1 John 5.11 And this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son John 12.50 And I know that his Commandment is Life Everlasting John 6.68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of Eternal Life 2 Tim. 1.10 Our Saviour Jesus Christ hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel ‑ 1 John 2.24 25. Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life James 1.12 Blessed is the Man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entered into the Heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit 1 Pet. 1.8 9. Whom to wit Jesus Christ having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory receiving the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls 1 Cor. 16.22 If any Man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Thess 1.8 The Lord Jesus shall take vengeance of them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.2 Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledg or acknowledgment of God and of Jesus our Lord. Quest What do you conclude of hence Answ I hence conclude That there is nothing in the World we should so esteem of and glory in as the knowledg of God and of Christ Jer. 9.23 24. Thus saith the Lord Let not the wise Man glory in his Wisdom neither let the mighty Man glory in his Might let not the rich Man glory in his Riches but let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise Loving-kindness Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Phil. 3.7 8. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ c. The Second Part. Treating of Religion in the General and more particularly of the
Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in for him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Q. But who are they that in a good sense may be called Gods A. They in a good sense may be called Gods first who in some Imployment are instead of God Secondly They who in Government are the Sons of God Such both Men and Angels who in some Imployment from God are to others instead of God may be called by the very Name of the most high God As for instance in Exod. 7.1 The Lord saith to Moses See I have made thee a God Elohim to Pharaoh that is instead of God as it is exprest in Exod. 4.16 The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Moses in the flame of a Fire out of the midst of a Bush Exod. 3.2 This Angel is called in vers 4. Jehovah and Elohim or as we english it The Lord and God Also they who in Government over others are the Sons of the most High are called Gods See Psal 82.1 6. God standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty he judgeth among the Gods I have said Ye are Gods and even all of you are Children Sons of the most High John 10.32 c. Jesus answered them Many good Works have I shewed you from my Father for which of these Works do ye stone me The Jews answered him saying For a good Work we stone thee not but for Blasphemy because that thou being a Man makest thy self God Jesus answered them Is it not written in your Law I said Ye are Gods If he called them Gods unto whom the Word of God came and the Scripture cannot be broken Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the World Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God In Psal 8.5 we read thus Thou hast made him a little lower than the Angels In the Hebr. 't is than the Gods Here and in the like places a single Person is not Elohim but Eloah which is sometimes used of the most High as in Psalm 18.32 Job 12.4 Now the great God is in distinction from these sometimes called The God of Gods and Lord of Lords Deut. 10.17 Josh 22.22 Psal 136.2 Dan. 11.36 Chap. 2.42 And he is said to be greater than all Gods and above all Gods Psal 135.5 He is also said to be high above all the Earth and exalted far above all Gods Psalm 97.9 He is called The high God Psalm 78.35 56. The most High Numb 24.16 Deut. 32.8 2 Sam. 22.14 Dan. 4 17. and elsewhere often and in Acts 7.48 The most High God Gen. 14.18 Heb. 7.1 and elsewhere often The Lord the most high God Gen. 14.22 The Lord most High Psal 47.2 In Psal 83.18 That Men may know that thou whose Name alone is JEHOVAH art the most High over all the Earth See Dan. 5.21 In the place now quoted the same word is rendred High and most High Q. You said That God is a Spirit How prove you that A. Jesus Christ himself hath taught us That God is a Spirit Joh. 4.24 Jesus saith unto the Woman of Samaria Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father ye worship ye know not what We know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.21 22 23 24. Q. What must we understand by this That God is a Spirit A. By this That God is a Spirit we must understand two things in the general First That God is more excellent than all things Secondly That the Spirit of Man may be unto us in some manner a Shadow of God Although Method challengeth this place for the confirmation of this That God is said to be a Spirit in way of allusion to the Spirit of Man yet the proof of it shall be reserved for the close of this Discourse concerning God as consider'd in himself where it may be done more easily and in fewer words The Excellency of God is diversly expressed in the Holy Scriptures In 2 Pet. 1.17 He is called The Excellent Glory In the Scripture there is ascribed to God Excellency Deut. 33.26 Job 13.11 Ch. 37.4 Psal 68.34 Isa 35.2 Greatness of Excellency Exod. 15.7 He is said to be excellent in Power Job 37.23 More excellent than the Mountains of Prey Psal 76.4 O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth who hast set thy Glory above the Heavens Psal 8.1 Let them praise the Name of the Lord for his Name alone is excellent His Glory is above the Earth and Heaven Psal 148.13 In the same sence he is called the great God Tit. 2.13 Rev. 19.17 Dan. 2.45 Jer. 32.19 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable Psal 145.3 There is none like to the God of Jesurun Deut. 33.26 And Solomon said Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee in Heaven above or on Earth beneath 1 King 8.23 All Nations before the Lord are as nothing and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity To whom then will ye liken God or what likeness will ye compare unto him To whom then will ye liken me Or shall I be equal saith the Holy One Isa 40.17 18 25. To whom will ye liken me and make me equal and compare me that we may be like Isa 46.5 Who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto the Lord Psal 89.6 As the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts Isa 55.9 But will God indeed dwell on the Earth Behold the Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much less this House that I have builded 1 King 8.27 See Jer. 23.23 24. Acts 7.49 But how may we gather that God is thus excellent from his being called a Spirit Thus Jesus Christ here discovers the Divine Nature by the most excellent thing that is vulgarly known to wit the Spirit of Man Hereby he plainly signifies the Excellency of God And in that he discovers this Excellency not as it is in it self but by a Shadow he clearly intimates that this Excellency of God is such and so exceeding great that we now cannot perceive the same as it is in it self being far above the present strength of our Understanding and way of Knowledg The like we are to observe in many other scriptural forms of Speech concerning some things that are Spiritual and those things that pertain to another World See John 3.10 11 12. It was said That the Spirit of Man
put all things under him that God may be all in all God ruleth and reigneth as Lord of Heaven and Earth and as a great King above all Gods Gen. 14.19 The Possessor of Heaven and Earth Deut. 10.14 Behold the Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens is the Lords thy God the Earth also with all that therein is Psal 95.3 The Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods See Psal 97.9 1 Chron. 29.11 12. Thine O Lord is the Greatness and the Power and the Glory and the Victory and the Majesty for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as Head above all Both Riches and Honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all 1 Cor. 11.3 But I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God Psal 113.4 c. The Lord is high above all Nations and his Glory above the Heavens Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth 1 Tim. 6.15 He is the blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords See Psal 93. 97. 99. Psal 24.7 145.12 Rev. 19.6 2 Chron. 20.6 Q. What have you learned more particularly touching God's Government in respect of Angels A. Touching God's Government in respect of Angels I have learned a few things that are more easy and needful to be known as this in the general that part of those Spirits called Angels having sinned God spared them not but cast them down to Hell and deliver'd them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment but that part of those Spirits abode in the Truth and are now called the Holy Angels and the like when the name of Devils and the like is given to those that sinned 2 Pet. 2.4 Jude v. 6. Joh. 8.44 Deut. 32.17 1 Cor. 10.20 Mat. 25.31 Q. What have you learned in special concerning those Spirits that sinned not A. Concerning those Spirits that sinned not I have learned that there is an innumerable company of them and that God hath made them to be his Angels that is Messengers and his Ministers in the exercise of his Government and hath made them all subject to Jesus Christ even those that were among them Thrones and Dominions that is Kings and Lords Heb. 12.22 Heb. 1.7 1 Pet. 3.22 Ephes 1.20 Q. What have you learned in special concerning those Spirits that sinned A. Concerning those Spirits that sinned I have learned That their number is very great that one of them is the Prince or Chief and that the rest are his Angels He is called The Devil Satan and the like who as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour but is now under the Power of Jesus Christ Mark 5.9 Ephes 2.2 Mat. 25.41 Mark 1.13 Mat. 12.28 Heb. 2.8 14. Phil. 2.9 c. The name Devil signifies a Slanderer or one that seeks to deceive by lies and Satan signifies an Adversary See Rev. 12.9 CHAP. IV. Of God's Government relating to Men before the sin of our first Parents and thence to the times wherein Christ was raised up Q. WHat have you learned more particularly touching God's Government in respect of Men A. Touching God's Government in respect of Men I have learned several things according to its difference in different times namely the time before our first Parents sinned and the times after it Q. What have you been taught concerning the Government of God as it respects the time before our first Parents sinned A. Concerning God's Government as relating to the time before our first Parents sinned I am taught some general things namely That they had for the place of their abode the Garden of Eden which the Man was to dress and keep that they had given to them for Meat every Herb and the Fruit of all Trees except the Tree of the Knowledg of Good and Evil which God forbad them to eat of Also that they both transgressed this Commandment the Woman first being seduced by the Serpent the Devil then the Man whom his Wife drew to eat of the forbidden Fruit. Gen. 1. 2. 3. Chapters 1 Tim. 2.14 2 Cor. 11.3 Q. What have you been taught concerning the Government of God as it respects the times after our first Parents had sinned A. I am taught in the general That when Man had sinned and so became subject to the Judgment of God then God publish'd his Promise of Christ whom since he hath raised up and since by one Man Sin entred into the World and Death by Sin and so Death passed upon all Men The Government of God towards Man is to be considered according to the times in which Christ was promised and the times after his being raised up Gen. 3.8 c. Rom. 3.19 5.12 Luk. 1.68 69 c. Acts 13.23 Q. What have you been taught touching God's Government towards Men in the times when Christ was promised A. I am taught That the Government of God did then respect Mens being in the World and their seeking of God therein and both in a way agreeable to Men that were subjected to a natural Death and by their sins liable to eternal Death and in a way suitable to the times before the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Gospel Act. 17.25 c. Rom. 5.12 6.23 Ephes 2.1 2. 1 Thess 1.10 Matth. 11.20 c. 2 Tim. 1.10 Q. How did this Government of God respect the Being of Men in the VVorld A. This Government did respect Mens Being in the World in that God gave unto them places wherein to live and supplies for the sustaining of their Lives and the maintaining of good order amongst them Gen. 3.23 24. Deut. 32. Psalm 115.16 Act. 17.26 Exod. 23.20 Neh. 9.6 Psalm 36.6 Nehem. 9.21 Psal 65. 147. Prov. 24.12 1 King 8.45 Job 10.22 Rom. 13.1 c. Q. How did this Government of God respect Mens seeking of God in the World A. This Government of God did respect Mens seeking of him in that he dealt in such a way and manner with them that they might so seek him as to find mercy and favour with him Heb. 11.6 Psalm 105.4 14.2 Act. 17.27 Jer. 29.13 c. Jer. 6.16 Prov. 21.21 Gen. 6.8 Ps 33.22 63.13 Nehem. 1.5 Psal 25.10 32.10 86.5 103.11 Prov. 8.35 36. Q. VVhat is it so to seek God as to find mercy and favour with him A. To seek God so as to find Mercy and Favour with him is To fear God and to hope in his Mercy This is variously exprest in the Scriptures sometimes as in the
he that in these things Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men. See Joh. 12.26 Rom. 16.18 Rev. 1.1 In Eph. 5.22 c. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord for the Husband is the Head of the Wise even as Christ is the Head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be unto their own Husbands in every thing To serve God and Christ is from Love to obey them as having respect to the Authority of both and aiming at the Glory of both 1 Pet. 1.2 and v. 14. Heb. 5.9 Joh. 5.27 Mat. 28.18 c. Rom. 16.27 Ephes 3.21 Phil. 1.11 1 Cor. 10.31 Rom. 15.6 2 Thess 1.12 Thus to live is to live not to the Lusts of Men but to the Will of God 1 Pet. 4.2 Q. You said That God according to his purpose did thus promise What mean you thereby A. I mean That God having through his Grace so purposed before the World began did at length bring to light this purpose of his and that by Jesus Christ Tit. 1.1 2 3. Paul a Servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the Faith of God's Elect and the acknowledging of the Truth which is after Godliness in hope of eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised in purpose before the World began But hath in due time manifested his Word Promise through preaching the publication of his purpose which is committed unto me c. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Who hath saved us and called us with an Holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace gracious Purpose which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality an Immortal Life to Light through the Gospel Q. You said That God hath thus promised to Believers that they might be to the praise of his Glory What is your meaning here A. I mean this That God in thus promising had for his principal end therein that the Glory of his Grace Wisdom and Power might be shewen forth on Believers and praised by them Ephes 1.12 2.7 Q. Now tell me What is it for Men to be partakers of this Promise of God A. Men are then said to be partakers of this Promise when they become Heirs of Eternal Life and do at length possess it Gal. 3.29 Tit. 3.7 Heb. 6.17 Jam. 2.5 1 Pet. 3.7 Heb. 1.14 10.36 Q. What is it to be partakers of this Promise by the Gospel A. Men are said to be Partakers of the Promise by the Gospel Because Faith cometh by the Gospel and because the Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth Rom. 10.17 Ephes 1.13 Rom. 1.16 Q. But what do you mean by the Gospel A. The Gospel is that Revelation of the Mystery concerning the Promise of Eternal Life which began to be spoken by the Lord Jesus The word Gospel is used to express a word in Greek which in general denotes any good and joyful Message or good and glad Tydings and which in special and by way of eminency signifies that good and glad Tydings brought into the World by Jesus Christ in which sense some would rather use the term Evangelie than Gospel following therein most Nations who retain in this sense the Greek word and that not unadvisedly That we call the Gospel is that Revelation or discovery of the Mystery concerning the Promise of Eternal Life which first began to be spoken by Jesus Christ See Rom. 16.25 Ephes 3.3 c. Joh. 1.17 Heb. 2.3 It is called the Revelation of the Mystery concerning this Promise because this Promise was before the coming of Christ contained in a Mystery that is in Types and Figures after an obscure way and manner But Christ hath expounded this Promise making known the substance of the shadow and bringing forth clearly the Spirit that is the meaning of the Letter Rom. 4.13 c. and 9.8 9. Heb. 6.13 Joh. 1.17 2 Cor. 3.6 2 Tim. 1.10 Q. Before we return I have one Question yet to ask you namely Whether nothing else but Eternal Life is in this Promise promised to Believers A. In the Promise of Eternal Life all good things that must come from God and are necessary for obtaining it are necessarily included in this Promise 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Touching the matter of this Answer see in that which follows CHAP. VII Of God's Work by Jesus Christ for the saving of Sinners Q. YOu having thus spoken of the Promise of Eternal Life which is the Promise of the New Covenant let us consider the Work of God for the saving of Men by Jesus Christ which you said is that Work of God and that Work of Jesus the Christ of God that Men may be saved What have you learned in the general concerning this Work A. Concerning God's Work for the saving of Men or preparing them for Salvation by Jesus Christ I have learned that this Work doth respect first Those that are the Servants of Sin and the Children of the Devil Secondly Those that are the Servants of Obedience the Children of God Q. It being so we will speak of this Work accordingly beginning with that part which respecteth the former sort of Persons you mentioned But because it will be needful to know who they are I therefore ask you Who are they that are the Servants of Sin and Children of the Devil A. All they who live in Sin which is the transgression of the Law of God are the Servants of Sin and Children of the Devil The Law of God is a binding direction from God concerning Duty forbidding that which is Evil and commanding that which is needful to be done Now the Transgression of this Law either in doing what it forbids or leaving undone what it commands is sin 1 Joh. 3.4 5.17 That man whoever he be that lives in Sin or committeth Sin by loving Sin and walking in it is a Servant of Sin and a Child of the Devil Joh. 8.34 Verily verily I say unto you saith Christ Whosoever committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin Rom. 6.2 Such are said to live in Sin 1 John 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Q. But why are they that live in Sin thus called A. They that live in Sin are called the Servants of Sin because they yield their Members Servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity and may expect the Wages of Sin which is Death and they are called the Children of the Devil