due to them equal to thy self and not contemning thy inferiors 1 Pet. 2. 17. 1 Tim. 5. 1 2. Eph. 6. 1 2. Isai 3. 5. Phil. 2. 3. Luke 18. 9. Quest What doth the sixth Command require Answ The sixth Command requireth to preserve the life of thy Neighbour and therefore to behave thy self meekly patiently peaceably and merciful towards him Numb 12. 3. Luke 21. 19. Col. 3. 13. Rom. 15. 2. Rom. 12. 18 20 21. Quest What doth the seventh Command require Answ The seventh Command requireth Chastity that is purity in all things respecting the generating of mankind and therefore to behave thy self modestly and gravely observing all things becoming purity Eph. 5. 3 4. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Tim. 3. 11. Rom. 13. 13. Quest What doth the eighth Command require Answ The eighth Command requireth to preserve the goods of thy Neighbour and therefore to behave thy self justly and equally in seeking after keeping and using worldly goods Eph. 4. 28. Gol. 4. 1. Jer. 17. 11. Prov. 3. 27. 1 Cor. 7. 31. Quest What doth the ninth Command require Answ The ninth Command requireth to preserve the Name of thy Neighbour and therefore to have in your Assertions and Promises a respect truly and faithfully to the Truth Psal 15. 2 3 4. Quest What doth the tenth Command require Answ The tenth Command requireth to preserve the prosperity of thy Neighbour and therefore a contentation with thine own things and not envying another 3 Epist Joh. 2. Heb. 13. 5. Gal. 5. ult Hitherto of Obedience next concerning helps to Obedience Quest What are special helps to Obedience Answ Prayer and the Sacraments of the New-Testament Quest What is Prayer Answ Prayer is a Religious presenting of our desires before God by Confession Petition and Thanksgiving according to the will of God sometimes with others and sometimes alone as in secret and to Prayer belongeth Religious singing 1. Prayer is a religious presenting our desires before God called the pouring out of the heart before God Psal 62. 8. the shewing him our trouble Psal 142. 2. nextly and directly presented to God therefore a religious presenting our desires Psal 57. 1 2. 2. The parts of Prayer 1. Confession of our sinful unworthiness Dan. 9. 4. 2. Petitioning for mercy and grace in the Name of Christ Dan. 9. 3. Joh. 16. 24. 3. Thanksgiving for mercy received or that we hope to receive Phil. 4. 6. 3. The Rule of Prayer it is an asking according to the will of God revealed in his Word 1 Joh. 5. 14. 1. According to his commanding will 2. According to his promising will 2 Sam. 7. 27. And Prayer ought to be 1. Sometimes with others in publick 1 Cor. 14. 16. 2. In the Family Jer. 10. 25. and sometimes alone in secret Math. 6. 6. Zach. 12. 13 14. and to Prayer belongs religious singing of Psalms Col. 3. 16. Eph. 5. 19. Quest What are the Sacraments of the New-Testament Answ The Sacraments of the New-Testament are Baptisme and the Lords Supper Baptisme a Sacrament of entrance into Covenant with Christ and his Church and the Lords Supper a Sacrament of our continuance in Covenant and Communion with Christ and his Church The one cometh in the place of Circumcision and is a Gospel Circumcision Col. 2. 11 12. The other cometh in the place of the Passover and is our Gospel Passover Math. 26. 17 18 24 27. 1 Cor. 5. 7 8. Rom. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 12 13. 1 Cor. 20. 16 17. 1 Cor. 11. 26 27. Quest What followeth hence that Baptisme is a signe and Seal of entrance into Covenant with Christ and his Church Answ That all Church members ought to be baptized and therefore the Infants of Parents in Church state ought to be baptized for they are in Covenant with Christ and members of his body and therefore called his Disciples and a holy Seed 1. All Church members ought to be baptized because they are of the body therefore to be baptized 1 Cor. 12. 13. if Church members then the promises visibly belong to them and therefore the visible Seal of them Acts 2. 38. 39. the Covenant and the Seal are so closely conjoyned by God that the Seal is called the Covenant Gen. 17. 10. 2. The Infants of Parents in Church state are in Covenant with Christ for God hath promised to circumcise their hearts and the hearts of their Seed Deut. 30. 6. and the promises belong to them and to their Children Acts 2. 39. and an Infant whose Parents either both of them or one of them being in Church state that Infant is a Church member called therefore a Disciple of Christ Acts 15. 10. those are called Disciples upon whom the false Teachers would have imposed the yoke of Circumcision according to the Law of Moses but these were Infants and these are called a holy Seed 1 Cor. 7. 14. Quest What followeth hence in the second place Answ That Baptisme ought to be administred by pouring of water and so washing and not by dipping the body in the water because it is a Sacrament of entrance into Covenant in which Christ by his Spirit doth apply himself to us 1. That the Sacrament of Baptisme is a signe and Seal of entrance into Covenant is plain from the former Scriptures in the description of Baptisme 2. That Christ doth in the Covenant of grace first apply himself to the Soul is clear Phil. 3. 12. he is first in loving us and cometh to us before we can come to him 3. Hence that means of administring of Baptisme as iâ— most suitable to the thing signified ought to be attended but the applying of water to the baptized this signifieth Christ by his Spirit applying himself Acts 1. 5. baptized with water and baptized with the holy Ghost that is baptized by water and the holy Ghost poured out upon them Acts 2. 33. 4. Hence the body ought not to be dipped into the water for that would signifie that the baptized is first applyed to Christ and not Christ to him firstly Rom. 6. 3. buried with Christ in Baptisme In burying the body there is not a thrusting the body into the dust or earth but a casting of earth upon the body Quest What followeth hence that the Lords Supper is a Sacrament of continuance in covenant and communion with Christ Answ That those only ought to be admitted to partake of the Lords Supper who doe hold forth Repentance and Faith with an ability to examine themselves and discern the Lords body for he that partaketh before he doth partake of the Lords Supper he ought to examine himself and discern the Lords body 1 Cor. 15. 28. 29. Hence it followeth 1. He ought to have Faith and Repentance before he doth partake for the Lords Supper is instituted not for Regenaration but for nourishment and confirmation 2. Repentance and Faith are the matter concerning which the communicant ought to examine himself with a discerning into the Gospel sense and mistery of the Lords Supper 2. Hence he that partaketh must have this ability thus to examine himself otherwise he cannot perform these preparatory dutyes 2. He ought to hold these forth 1. To his own conscience that his own conscience may not condemn him for presumptuous partaking 1 Cor. 11. 29. Rom. 14. 23. 2. To hold these forth to the judgment of the charity 1. Of the Church Officers that so the Minister in the judgment of charity may say Take eat this is the Body of our Lord Jesus given for you 2. To the judgment of the charity of the Church for communicants do profess to have communion with Christ and one with another as one body in him 1 Cor. 10. 15 16 17. And it 's the duty of the Church and Officers to put the difference between the clean and the unclean the holy and the profane according to their respective capacityes Ezek. 44. 7 8 23. And although Faith be weak and obedience imperfect and prayers and preparations far short of the perfection of Sanctuary Institutions yet the Lord will pardon and confirm his favour by the Lords Supper to the humble believing Soul FINIS YOU doe take God the only true God to be your God the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour your Prophet Priest and King and the holy Spirit to be your Sanctifyer and Comforter Promising in his name and strength to cleave to him as your chiefest and only good and by the help of his Spirit and Grace to walk before him in a faithfull discharge of Covenant duties and in a regular subjection to and observation of all the holy Ordinances and Institutions of Christ of which at present you are capable as they shall be duly administred within this Church and Congregation and to refrain and what in you lyeth to reform all sin that is contrary hereto especially the provoking and growing sins of this time ERRATA The Authors absence from the Press and his Copy being difficult to read hath occasioned many mistakes which thâ— Reader is desired thus to correct P. 1 l. 16 r. a Doctrine P 2. l. 14. r. arts l. 30. r. by Faith p. 3. l 12 r. by Faith l. 22 r. unknown good p. 4 l. 17 r. Truths p. 5 l. 2 r. for us l. 13 r. manners p. 8 l. 2 r. Psal 99. l. 19 r. these are one l. 22 r. Psa 90. p. 12 l. 8 r. 2. Individual l. 16 r. spirants p. 14 l. 10 r. for his p. 15 l. 8 r. rational p. 19 l. 22 r. water p. 23. l. 33. r man p. 24 l. 22 r. 3. l. 25 r. 4. p 29 l. 32 r. act under p. 30 l. 27 r. to man p. 34 l. 16 r. John 3. 34. p. 45 l. 29 r. Act. 2. p. 4â— l. 4 r. 2 Cor. p. 51 l. 9 r. 2. p. 54. l. 25 r. as an Individual p. 54 l. 32 r. Keyes p. 55. l. 15 r. Act. 6. p. 56. l. 6 r. Psa 74 p. 57 l. 13 r. Eph. 4. p. 60 l. 5 r. Psal 119. 152. p. 61 l. 3 r. Soul being p. 62 l. 10 r. 2. Abomination p. 69 l. 12 â— seventh day l. 21 r. seventh day p. 70 l. 28 r. otheâ— means p. 73. l. 32 r. 1 Cor. 10. p. 75 l. 1. r. that manner l. 22 r. 1 Cor. 11. l. 34. r. 3. He ought
Person hence they co-operate to the same effect 2. It s according to their properties and distinct manner of working when the humane nature was the Sacrifice the divine nature was the Altar which sanctifieth the Sacrifice and as he was God and man he was the Priest and when his body was raised out of the grave this divine nature acted in that work by virtue of its relation to the humane nature Hence what is proper to the Person is attributed to the humane nature by reason of its relation as to be in the beginning and what belongs to one nature is attributed to another as God manifested in the flesh c. And hence the humane nature is to be worshipped not in respect of it self but as united to the divine nature Heb. 1. 6. And yet the distinction of his natures remain that is they remain the same in essence and essential properties 1. In essence his divine nature cannot be a humane nature that cannot change his humane nature cannot be a divine nature for finite cannot become infinite 2. Distinct in their essential properties that although they doe make use of one anothers propertyes yet the essence remaining distinct their essential properties are distinct a divine and an humane understanding will and presence as we said before Thus of the Incarnation next of Christs Vnction Call Furniture 1. His Call his Father called him that is 1. Chose him to this work Isai 42. 1 2. 2. Gave him a Commission Joh. 3. 17. 3. Promised to prosper and reward him Isa 53. 10. 11. And Christ accepted of this work Psal 40. 6 7. Hence a Covenant between the Father and the Son and thus in this respect our Mediator was eternal Heb. 13. 8. 7. 17. 2. His Furniture 1. A fullness of grace Joh. 1. 16. beyond measure Joh. 3. 39. Isa 42. 1 2. Hence all the three Persons have their hand in Redemption 1. In making the humane nature 2. In uniting the humane nature to the divine nature for these belong to the efficiency of God as he is God 3. But the second Person only assumes it he alone is the term of that Relation their act terminates only on and in him Quest Why must Christ be God and Man Ans Christ must be man that he might suffer for man and teach man familiarly and be of the same kind with his body and he was God that he might enable his humane nature to suffer and that he might be a most able Prophet and be able to suâ—â—ly his body and rule as King 1. He was man that he might suffer for man for man had sinned and man must suffer and he was God to enable his humane nature to suffer Heb. 9. 14. 2 He was man that he might teach man familiarly after the manner of man and he was God that he might be an able Prophet 1. Cor. 2. 16. 3. He was man that he might be of the same kind with his body the head and the body must be of the same kind and yet he must be God that he might be able to supply his body and to rule as King Eph. 1. 21 22. Rev. 1. 17 18. Quest What are the parts of Redemption Answ The parts of Redemption are Christs humiliation and his Exaltion 1. His humiliation whereby he satisfied for offences and merited life humbling himself in his life and especially in his death The parts of Redemption are humiliation and Exaltation 1. Christs humiliation whereby he satisfied for offences 1. Man had sinned 2. Hence ought to suffer punishment 3. Christ as a Surety beareth the punishment 4. He satisfied for offences by his passive obedience Gal. 4. 4. 2. Merited life 1. If man had obeyed he should have been rewarded with life 2. Hence no reward without doing well 3. Christ doth perform this 4. Hence Christ merited by his active obedience Rom. 5. 19. passive obedience did only satisfie for the breach and wrong but it was his active obedience which did merit the reward namely life and happiness 3. Humbling himself in his life and especially in his death the consideration of these followeth Quest What was the Humiliation of Christ in his life Answ Christs humiliation in his life was first in respect of his private life his body was born of the Seed of the Virgin Mary and both Soul and body having been made and sanctified by the holy Ghost in his Infancy he was Circumcised and offered and fled into Egypt and become subject to his Mother and afterwards laboured with his hands until he came to his publick life The humiliation of Christ in his life private and publick life 1. Private life his admission into the World commoration in it 1. His admission in which his Conception and Nativity 1. His Conception his body was born of the Seed of the Virgin Mary both Soul and body made and sanctified by the holy Ghost 1. His body was of the Seed of the Virgin Mary as the passive principle Luk. 1. 35. the holy thing born of her 2. Thus he was of the Seed of the woman according to the promise Gen. 3. 15. 3. Mary was of the Seed of David hence Christ was king of the Jews by birth being of the Seed of David Math. 2. 2. 2. Both Soul and body were made and sanctified by the holy Ghost as the active principle Luk. 1. 35. 1. His Soul made immediately out of nothing created by infusing and infused by creating as the Soul of man is 2. His body formed by the holy Ghost hence though of the Seed of the woman yet not of the Seed of man 2. Hence the course of Original sin was stopt and he was called that holy thing Luk. 1. 35. 2. Sanctified by the holy Ghost Soul and body united and raised to the highest perfection 1. In respect of habitual perfection there could be no addition 2. In respect of actual perfection there might be and was a growth Luk. 2. 52. thus in respect of his humane nature he was a Son without a Father in respect of his divine nature a Son without a Mother tipified by Melchizedech Heb. 7. 3. 2. The Nativity of Christ he was born of Mary the wife of Joseph before they came together after she had gone a full time Math. 1. 25. 2. His Commoration in the World 1. His private and publick life and 1. His private life 1. In his Infancy circumcised and offered and thus performed the Ceremonial Law Luk. 2. 21 22. 2. Flight into Egypt he was born to misery and yet was to deliver his people out of Egypt Math 1. 21. 3. His subjection to his Mother thus fulfilled the Moral Law Luk. 2. 51. his dispute with the Doctors when he was about twelve years of Age to shew that he needed not to be taught of man Luk. 2. 42 46 47. and his labouring with his hands and thus did bear the curse of our labours Genesis 3. 19. Quest What was the Humiliation of Christ in his
publick life Answ Christ's Humiliation in his publick life was that whereby he entred into his publick life with baptisme and temptation and his course in it was a going about doing good in poverty and much labour preaching and working of miracles towards the conclusion prepared himself and his Disciples for his death 1. Christ entred into his publick life with Baptism Temptation 1. By Baptisme Mat. 3. 15. shewing himself to be the band of both the Covenants and that the Covenant of works and the covenant of grace were performed in and by him 2. By Temptation Mat. 4. the beginning of that Chap. shewing he was come upon his trial and should overcome and be able to succor the tempted 2. His course in his publick life in going about doing good Act. 10. 38. 1. in poverty 2 Cor. 8. 9. 2. In much labour 1. In preaching Luk. 4. 18. 2. Working Miracles of all sorts which was proper to Christ Mat. 11. 5 6 3. Towards the conclusion prepared himself and his Disciples for his death by his practice and his speech 1. His practice 1. His Example in giving such an excellent pattern of humility and love in washing his Disciples feet Joh. 13. 1. to the 18. 2. More especially in his Transfiguration Mat. 17. 2. And his Celebration of the Passover and abolishing of that thereby shewing he was the lamb to be offered up and appointing his Supper in the place of it Matth. 26. 17. 26. 2. By his speech 1. To God in prayer Joh. 12. 27. his most solemn prayer in Ioh. 17. 2. His speech to his disciples in the 14 15 16. Chapters of John Quest What was the Death of Christ Answ Christ's death was the extream punishment he suffered first before his Crucifixion especially in his agony in the Garden and his being arrested by a band of men with Judas being arraigned he suffered extream ignominy by derision and whipping and the sentence of condemnation but principally his suffering the Crucifixion it self Christs death was the extream punishment he suffered before his Crucifixion especially in his Crucifixion 1. Before his Crucifixion 1. Before his arraignment 1. His Soul trouble especially his Agony in the garden Luk. 22. 44. 2. His being arrested by a band of men with Judas ver 47 and 52. 2. His being arraigned before civil and ecclesiastical Tribunal Luk. 22. 54. Thus Justice pursued our Surety Isai 53. 12. 3. Vpon his arraignment followed 1. His Extream ignominy by derision and scourging Mat. 26. 67. A Sentence of condemnation Mat. 26. 27. He was reproached as a Deceiver a false Prophet a Blasphemer and many other horrible crimes for he suffered for all sorts of sins Isai 53. 5. Quest What was Christs Crucifixion Answ Christs Crucifixion was that whereby he was lifted up and hanged upon a cross and so being made a curse languished to death and suffering both a bodily and spiritual death gave up the Ghost and his body continued in the grave three dayes 1. His Crucifixion is that whereby he was lifted up and hanged upon the cross Matth. 27. 35. 2. And thus was made a curse and languished to death Gal. 3. 13. hence the death he suffered was 1. A cursed death the hanging upon the cross being a Symbolum or sign of the curse 2. A most shamefull death hanged up between the heaven and the earth as if the heaven at present rejected him and as if the earth would not bear him 3. A most tormenting death in pain and languishing especially considering the perfection of his spirits and senses and consequently the pam he felt was the greater being perfectly sensible of pain 3. Suffering both a bodily and a spiritual death 1 A spiritual death wholly deprived â—â— the sense of the sweetness of the love of the Father and possessed with the sense of the contrary bitterness Mat. 27. 46. 2. Bodily death He gave up the Ghost Mat. 27. 50. 1. He was a Surety for sinners 2. Hence he was to suffer death 3. Hence must shed his heart blood 4. Hence wholly deprived of the life of joy and comfort in Soul and body 5. But yet not left to sin for that befals man because he is weak and breaks under the punishment of sin but Christ was able to endure the worst and extremity of the punishment The consequence of his death his body continued in the grave three dayes Luk 24. 7. 1. He had endured the punishment respecting sense when he said it is finished 2. Yet continued in the state of death 1. His body buryed 2. His Soul seperated from it though not suffering pain 3. The union of his Soul and likewise of his body continued unto his divine person that although they were severed one from another yet they remain united to his divine person Acts 2. 31. The second part of Redemption namely Christs Exaltation Quest What is Christs Exaltation Answ The Exaltation of Christ is his Tryumph over his and our Enemies the degrees of which are his Resurrection from the dead his ascension into Heaven his session at the right hand of the Father and at the end of the World his return in glory to be the Judge of the World 1. His Exaltation that is his Tryumph over his and our Enemies Acts 2. 35 36. Phil. 2. 8 9. 2. The degrees of which Exaltation 1. Before the end of the World 2. At the end of the world 1. Before the end of the world 1. His Resurrection his body raised Soul and body reunited and this done by his God-head Rom. 1. 4. and seen by his Disciples forty dayes Acts 1. 3. 2. His Ascension 1. His humane nature ascended into the highest Heavens by the power of his God-head Eph. 4. 10 11. his Disciples being witnesses Acts 1. 10 11 3. His session at the right hand of his Father which holds forth 1. His entertainment by his Father Psal 110. 1. having accepted him and put all things under him 1 Cor. 15. 21 22 27. 2. He well satisfied with his reward Psal 16. 11. 3. Hence his Intercession he presents his merits claimeth the performance of what was promised him respecting his glory and the good of his people Heb. 9. 24 25. 2. At the end of the World his return in glory to be the Judge of the World 1 Thes 4. 16 17. 1. In Christs humiliation the glory of Christs divine nature was hidden but not diminished in his Exaltation it is manifested but not augmented 2. His humane nature was really abased and really exalted enjoying the actings of the glory of his divine nature according to its manner and measure 3. When the day of Judgement is come and finisht he will deliver up his Kingdome to his Father as compleat and so to continue for ever but not so as to put an end to his Head-ship and Mediator-ship 1 Cor. 15. 24 28. 4. The degrees of his Exaltation are according to the degrees of his humiliation 1. Christ dyed and he rose again 2.
heart 2. Cor. 4. 13. Rom. 6. 17. 2. Causeth the soul to come to Christ Cant. 1. 4. for life Joh. 5. 40. 3. And is joyned to Christ as its spiritual head Eph. 1. 22. and this is internal and mystical none knows but he that hath it Rev. 2. 17. Quest In what manner doth the Spirit work Faith Answ The Spirit doth work Faith by an unresistible power he prepareth the heart by making it contrite and humble and then infuseth Faith Concerning the working of Faith consider who worketh it and how 1. Who worketh it It is wrought by the unresistible power of the Spirit 1. Those who are dead cannot of themselves move so are all by nature Eph. 2. 1. 2. By nature a meer resistance against the Spirit Acts 7. 51. 3. Hence the Soul at first is passive in this work moves as moved 4. The power at first put forth by the Spirit is exceeding great more then at Creation for then as there was nothing so there was no resistance but here is not a meer emptiness and nothingness but worse a Spirit of resistance against the work of Faith Eph. 1. 19. 2. How he worketh it by preparation and infusion 1. Preparation before the infusion of Faith 1. So long as there is a resisting there can be no receiving consent and dissent cannot be in the same Subject in the same part respect and time 2. But to resist and not be subject is natural Rom. 8. 7. 3. Hence the power of resistance must be taken away before an infusion of Faith a turning from sin and self before there can be a turning unto Christ This preparation is in contrition and humiliation 1. Contrition Quest What is Contrition Answ Contrition is that whereby a sinner being convinced of the evil of sin and feeling the bitterness of it is broken under the burthen of it and broken off from the same with a hatred sorrow abomination and fear of sin as the greatest evil Contrition consists of conviction and compunction 1. Conviction whereby a sinner is convicted of the evil of sin Ioh. 16. 8. Ier. 2. 19. 2. Compunction a pricking of the heart letting in a sense of the bitterness of sin into the heart Act. 6. 37. Zach. 12. 10. The effect of this brokenness of heart 1. Vnder the burden of sin as too heavy to bear 2. And off from sin as a most detestable soe and this appears 1 In respect of sins past and present 1. Hatred 2. Sorrow 3. Abomination 2 Cor. 7. 11. 2 In respect of the future a fear Psal 51. 17. Quest What is Humiliation Answ Humiliation is that whereby a sinner despairing of life in himself and of any ability of himself to go to Christ is content to be at the dispose of God and is brought down to the foot of God hence is poor in spirit and is cut off from self confidence and self-soveraignty 1. Humiliation is that whereby a sinner despaireth of life in himself for he sees himself to be naked and miserable Rev. 3. 17 18. 2. And of any ability in himself to goe to Christ that he is blind maimed and halt Luk. 14. 21. 3. Hence is content to be at the foot of God at the Lords dispose Act. 9. 6. Isa 41. 2. hence poor in spirit Mat. 5. 3. And thus is cut from self-confidence and self-severaignty 1. From self-confidence he feels its in vain for him to lean upon any thing that he hath or can doe 2. From self-soveraignty for he is weary of the yoke of sin and he cannot rule himself he is weary of himself and heavy laden Ioh. 7 20. Mat 11. 28 29. Quest What is the infusion of Faith Answ The infusion of Faith is the pouring into the heart a spirit of faith whereby the soul is affected toward Christ as a giver of life and by means of the covenant of grace cometh to Christ for life and is joyned to him as its head 1. This infusion of Faith is the pouring into the heart a spirit of Faith a disposition or spirit to believe 2. Cor. 4. 13. Hence followeth 1. The heart is affected towards Christ as the giver of life Iohn 4. 10. 2. Comes to Christ for life Ioh. 6. 37. and this is by means of the covenant of grace which containeth the promise of life to believers The Law is a means remotely to prepare for saith but the Gospel nextly as it contains the covenant of grace Gal. 3. 2. 3. And thus the soul is joyned to Christ as its head 1. Christ propounds himself as a most suitable husband and Match for the soul 2 The soul consenteth 3. By consent is joyned to Christ 1 Cor. 11. 2. Revel 22. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 17. But con 〈…〉 ing the salvation of Infants we may consider 1. Some Infants are saved otherwise all that dye in their infancy are destroyed which would be a cruel conceit Mar. 10. 15. 2. All that are saved must be saved by Christ if one might be saved without Christ then not needfull for any one whomesoever 3. All who are saved by Christ must be saved by union to Christ otherwise cannot have communion with him 4. This union to Christ must be by faith for there is no other union to Christ revealed in the Gospel 5. This Faith is wrought either mediately by means of the Gospel revealing the Covenant of grace or immediately without this Gospel revelation but those Infants whom Christ saveth are not capable of hearing and understanding the Gospel preached and yet let it not be hard for us to believe they may be saved 1. If the first Adam could convey of his sinful image to his Seed surely the second Adam the Lord Jesus can communicate of his image 2. Have Infants a union to the first Adam by natural generation or propagation and shall not some Infants have union to the second Adam in the way of regeneration surely Christ hath as much power to save Infants as Adam had to destroy them Rom. 5. 20. Qu. What is Communion with Christ mystically considered Answ Communion with Christ is that whereby Christ doth communicate unto a believer a state of life and makes him partaker of life it self and thus hath communion with Christ not only relatively in Justification and Adoption but by real communication in sanctification and glorification 1. A believer having union to Christ hath communion with Christ Eph. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 32. 2. Hence communion 1. In respect of the state of life 2. In life itself and thus is translated from death to life 1 Joh. 3. 14. The first is communion relatively in Justification Adoption 1. He that was condemned is now absolved in Justification 2. He that was a stranger from God yea an Enemy is become a friend yea a child of God in Adoption The second is communion by way of real communication and as the former respects condition so this respects disposition And this is in sanctification and glorification 1. He that was filthy
was to be for ever happy hence Joy Rom â— 3 4 5. 2. The Perfection 1. Of the soul immediately after its departure out of the body Phil. 1. 23. 2. Of the soul and body both glorified at the day of Judgement Eph. 4 13. Phil. 3. 20. 21. Joh. 17. 23. Hitherto of internal and mystical union to and communion with Christ proper to believers now of external and visible union to and communion with Christ Quest What is visible union to and communion with Christ Answ Visible union to and communion with Christ is that whereby believers doe visibly profess the Faith and subject to the visible government of Christ having visible communion with Christ in his ordinances and thus the Church considered as visible doth in which those who have only and nothing but a visible union to communion with Christ are Hypocrites 1. A visible professing of the faith having and holding forth so much knowledge of Christ as may let Christ into the soul not grosly and sottishly ignorant 2. Doe subject to the visible Government of Chirst in his Ordinances Isai 44. 5. 2 Chron. 30. 8. And thus to the judgement of rational charity are visible Saints they profess this in words and their works do not deny it Tit. 1. 6. And visible Saints may be considered in a segregative or a congregative manner 1. Segregatively as scatter'd sheep by themselves as those certain disciples scatter'd Act. 19. 1. 2. Congregatively as flocking together and thus a Church as a visible body doth But those who have only an external and visible union and communion with Christ but not internally mystically and sincerely these are Hypocrites Luk. 8. 13. 1 Ioh. 2. 19. Ioh. 15. 2. Quest What is a visible Church Answ A visible Church is a company of visible Saints joyned in a visible covenant with Christ and one with another to walk together in the use of Christs Ordinances in a visible Church order 1. That there is a visible Church is manifest otherwise Christ hath no visible Body no visible Officers or they to officiate to them who are not visible 1 Cor. 12. 12. 2. The matter of a visible Church is visible Saints for Christ's visible Church is called his Body 1 Cor. 12. 12. his Temple Ephes 2. 21 22. therefore the matter of this ought not to be visible Rebels and Traitors 3. The form of a visible Church is their covenanting 1. There is such a covenant for the covenant so often mentioned with the Israelites 1. It was not the covenant of works for that was made only with our first Parents and with us in Adam but since mans fall who could engage in that 2. Not the covenant of grace strictly taken for believe and live for many were in the covenant spoken of made with the Church of the Jews who were never in the covenant of grace but were graceless Zach. 11. 10. 3. Yet this belongs to the covenant of grace as an Ordinance appointed by it and an outward means to administer it 2. That this is a form of the visible Church appeareth 1. They are a City and Corporation therefore a covenant to make them such 2. They joyne in holy fellowship either without consent or with consent if without consent then though a Church be unwilling they cannot keep them out then they cannot cast them out though they ought to keep out the unworthy and to cast out the obstinate offender If by consent then it is either manifest or unknown consent if an unknown consent be sufficient to admission then an unknown dissent may be sufficient to keep out or cast out and if a manifest consent be necessary to a joyning in Church fellowship then a covenant for what is a Church covenant but a manifest consent to walk with Christ and one with another according to the rules of the Gospel in visible Church order Quest How may a visible Church be considered Answ A visible Church may be considered in respect of the time in which it lived 1. As it was confined to a Family from Adams time to Moses time and then they had Prophets to be extraordinary Rulers and the Head of the Family was the ordinary Ruler and the rule of Religion was given by Tradition A visible Church may be considered either as totum homogeneum or Integrale 1. As totum homogeneum and thus is distributed into individual Congregations and Churches as mankind into Individual men and thus every individual Church hath the matter and form of a Church and thus we read of the Churches of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 16. 2. Or as totum Integrale or an individual man made up of his members and so every individual Church doth consist of its members and in this sense comes in the consideration of a Church as Organicum totum as fitted for operations for the good of the whole And hence Governours and governed 1. Governours who exercise Authority over the â—hurch having the Ecclesiastical 〈…〉 s doctrinal Judicial 1. Doctrinal dispensation of the Word as Church Officers and of the Sacraments Rom. 11. 17. Eph. 4. 10 11. the administration of these committed to Church-Officers 2. Judicially by the Officers with the consent of the Church 1. In respect of those without 2. And within 1. Without 1. Some to be taken in by opening 2. Some to be kept out by shutting the dore of the Church 2. In respect of those within to bind loosen 1. To bind the first degree of which is admonition the second degree is excommunication Math. 18. 16 17 18. The Ministerial Rulers of the Church who act in the name of Christ the supream Ruler and Head of the Church Col. 1. 18. these are extraordinary ordinary 1. Extraordinary called of God immediately Gal. 1. 1. and had infallible direction and inspiration from God Gal. 1. 1 2. 2 Pet. 1. ult 2. Ordinary Rulers called of God mediately by the Church Acts 3. 5. Acts 14. 23. hence Election and Ordination 1 Tim. 5. 22. and these ought to rule according to the Word given by the extraordinary Rulers 2 Tim. 1. 13. 2. The governed is the Church Heb. 13. 17. and may be considered in respect of the time in which it lived 1. In a Family from Adams time to Moses time some Prophets were Rulers 2 Pet. 2. 5. Jude 14. 2. The Head of the Family was the ordinary Ruler Gen. 18. 19. the eldest Son Exod. 24. 5. Numb 3. 12. 14. And then the Rule of Religion was given by Tradition it was not written until Moses time Quest How was it with the Church in Moses time Answ The Church in Moses time and afterwards was in and confined to the people of Israel who had their great congregation and inferior congregations the Synagogue and their extraordinary Rulers were Prophets some of them wrote the old Testament and their ordinary Rulers were the high Priest inferior Priests and Levites and the Rulers of the Synagogues and of this Church Christ came typed out in