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ground_n	church_n	doctrine_n	faith_n	3,656	5	5.5334	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47130	A Christian catechisme, for the instruction of youth, and others to whom it may be useful in the grounds of Christian religion, and practice of Christian piety wherein the twelve articles of the Christian creed, and the Godhead and manhood natures of Christ and his prophetical, priestly, and kingly office are briefly explained : and the true Christian doctrin, concerning Christ his being a sufficient saviour, as he is both God and man : and with respect to both the absolute necessity, and excellent consistencie of his outward coming in the flesh, and his inward coming, and spiritual appearance in our hearts, through faith in him, and love and obedience to him, in order to our eternal salvation, declared and demonstrated by testimonies of Holy Scripture : and the divine excellency of the light within, in distinction from humane reason, asserted and vindicated : and the question concerning its sufficiency to salvation, truly stated and resolved : where also many other Gospel doctrins, and practical Christian truths and duties are held forth / by George Keith.	Keith, George, 1639?-1716.	1698 (1698)	Wing K150; ESTC R19823	60,929	128

and also in commemoration of the six days work of Creation and the 7th day of Rest the first day of the Week being one day in seven A. Yea. Q. What Reasons are to be given for the Observation of the first day A. The example of the Faithful in the Apostles days whereof we have divers Testimonies in Scripture and the constant practice of the Church in 〈…〉 ever since As also that the Lord's day mentioned by John in the Revelation whereon he had his Revelation was esteemed by the Ancient Christians that lived near to the Apostles days to be the first day of the Week as Justin Martyr plainly testifieth and that on that day the Faithful met for the solemn Worship of God and it was called the Lord's day not simply because our Lord arose on that day but because he commanded it to be kept in commemoration of his Resurrection as the Supper is called the Lord's Supper because he commanded it in commemoration of his Passion and Christ honoured the first day above others with his appearing several times to his Disciples after his Resurrection before he Ascended on that day and on that day gave the Holy Ghost being the fiftieth day from his Resurrection which did fall on the first day and still so falleth Matth. 28. 1. John 20. 1. 19. Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 36. 2. Rev. 1. 10. Q. Are not also solemn times of thanksgiving to be observed by the Faithful where not only in Private but in Publick Assemblies they ought to give thanks to God for solemn and more than ordinary Mercies Deliverances and Preservations A. Yea Exod. 5. 1. c. Jerem. 30. 18. 19. Dan. 4. 35. 36. 37. Rev. 5. 9. Rev. 15. 3. 4. Rev. 19. 1. 2. 5. Nehem. 12. 27. John 10. 22. compare Mar. 1. 4. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. SECT XII Q. WHat is the Catholick Church A. It is the whole Multitude of the Faithful where-ever to be found having one Faith one Lord one Baptism who are one Body though many Members having one Spirit and Hope of their Calling and one God and Father over All through All and in them All Eph. 4. 45. 6. Q. What are the best marks of the true Church A. Purity of Doctrin a due and right observation and practice of all the Institutions and Ordinances of Christ under the Gospel and Holiness of Life and Conversation Matth. 7. 24. Eph. 2. 20. 21. 22. Q. Are Hypocrites and bare formal Professors who have nothing of the inward Life and Power of Religion Members of the Church A. Nay as the Tares are not Corn yet as the Tares are mixed oft with Corn and until the Harvest hardly discernible from the Corn Matth. 13. 38. so there may be and are Hypocrites mingled among the Faithful under the same visible Profession with them like the foolish Virgins among the wise Matth. 25. 2. And such until they discover themselves either by Words or Deeds that are scandalous neither can nor ought to be rejected or disowned upon whatever pretence of a Spirit of discerning but the Rule that Christ has given is to be kept to to judge the Tree by its Fruit Matth. 7. 16. And whatever inward sense or discerning Men have or think they have they ought to have it to themselves as Paul said in a certain Case of Faith Rom. 14. 22. and accuse none but such whom they can prove guilty by their Words or Deeds and that by credible Witnesses Q. Is every error in Judgment or fault in Practice sufficient ground of disowning or rejecting a Person from being a Member of the Church of Christ A. Nay but such Error or Errors as oppose some Fundamental Doctrin of the Christian Faith and such evil Practice as is scandalous Philip. 3. 15. 16. Q. Ought we not therefore to receive one another as Christian Brethren and have mutual Charity and in that Charity Worship God together tho' differing in judgment in lesser matters endeavouring to become all things to all Men so far as the Truth and a good Conscience doth permit us A. Yea 1 Cor. 19. 20. 21. 22. Q. Is it not therefore a great Sin to be so uncharitable as to revile others by base and reproachful Names calling them the World Children of the Devil Idolaters false Worshipers who may be and are as good and possibly better Christians than our selves and can demonstrate that they are so by their Words and Works A. Yea 1 Tim. 6. 4. Rom. 14. 10. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Q. Ought any Men to be received or owned to be Members of the Church of Christ who do not give some proof of their Christian Faith by the confession of their Mouth and good conversation before they be received and owned A. Nay 1 Tim. 6. 12. 13. Heb. 3. 1. Heb. 4. 14. 10. 23. 2 Cor. 9. 13. Q. Wherein doth the Communion of the Faithful consist A. Partly in Internals and partly in Externals Q. How doth it consist in Internals and in what A. In the Communion of the Gifts and Graces of God Philemon 5. 6. 7. whereby they are mutually edified refreshed and strengthned by and with one another through their partaking of one and the same Holy Spirit by their union with Christ their one Head and one with another from which Head the whole Body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every Joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying it self in Love Eph. 4. 16. And from which all the Body by Joynts and Bands having nourishment ministred and knit together Increaseth with the Increase of God Col. 2. 19. Q. Which are these Joynts and Bands A. Every one of the Faithful but most especially the most Eminent for Knowledge and Piety and ministerial Gifts such as the holy Prophets and Apostles were and such as their true Successors are who succeed them in the same Doctrin Spirit and holy Life Q. How doth it consist in Externals and in what A. In the profession of the same Faith and visibly joyning together in Christian Assemblies to hear the Doctrin of the Gospel Preached Worshiping God together with Prayer and Thanksgiving and in the due Practice and Observation of Christ's Institutions and Ordinances under the Gospel also in mutual acts of Piety and Charity Q. Is Fasting any necessary duty to be performed by the Faithful under the Gospel A. Not simply by or for it self but as it is a help to prepare and dispose them for more solemn Prayer Humiliation and Confession of Sin either in Private or Publick when some more than ordinary Occasion or Providence requires it or some more than ordinary Service is proposed for the good of the Church in general or some Member or Members in particular Matth. 6. 17. 18. Acts 13. 2. 3. Jonah 3. 5. SECT XIII Q. WHat other publick and visible Institutions and Ordinances hath Christ appointed to be practised by the Faithful beside the preaching

be and occasion requireth freely to give more than the Jews gave for the service of the Gospel Q. What is signified by Christ's descent into Hell according to the words of the Creed commonly call'd the Apostolical Creed and the 10th Psalm Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell A. That he remained in the State and Condition of the Dead all that time betwixt his Death and Resurrection in which interval of time he did further Conquer and Overcome the Powers of Hell and Death and made a glorious Triumph over them both at his Death and after his Death being free among the Dead Psal 88. 5. And at his Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven having led Captivity Captive Psal 68. 18. Q. How or in what Sense did he lead Captivity Captive A. By his powerful and victorious Conquest over the Devil Death and Hell having loosed the pains of Death it being impossible he could be held or detained by them He overcame the Devil and all his Angels who had Captivated so many Souls and made a Captive of him by means of which many Thousands of many Nations by the Power of Christ through the Preaching of the Gospel soon after Christ's Ascension were rescued from the Devil's Bondage and from serving him by their abominable Idolatries and other vile Sins and Lusts and became Servants of God and of Christ and by the same Victory then obtained the Kingdom of Sin and Satan will be more and more weakned until it be utterly destroyed and the Kingdom of God and Christ in Truth and Righteousness and Holiness advanced until its perfect State Q. Was the Guilt of our Sins laid upon Christ and imputed to him when he suffered Death for our Sins A. As Guilt signifieth obligation to Punishment it was laid upon him and imputed to him but not strictly and properly speaking as it signifieth the blame or the culpableness of them As when that Grocian King with his free consent and desire suffered Punishment for his Son to lose one of his Eyes for his Sons Adultery another Eye being taken from his Son that the honour and justice of his own Law might be preserved yet who will say that the blame of his Son's Crime was his or that he was blame-worthy on that account Q. How is that place of Scripture to be understood Is 53. 9. With his Stripes we are healed Were not these Stripes his Sufferings both of Soul and Body as Man that he suffered without us A. Yea with or by which we are healed because they were of that merit and efficacy that by them he procured and purchased that inward Virtue and Grace to be given us by which the Wound and hurt that Sin had given us is healed and by means of which that pure healing Balsam and Oyl comes from him into our Souls for their healing Q. What Figure or Type of this was given in the Old Testament A. The beaten Oyl that by the beating and bruising of the Olive came out of it which was commanded together with the fine Flower that came out of the Wheat by its being ground to be offered with the daily Sacrifices and 〈◊〉 the Wine that was to be offered with the 〈…〉 ring which was the Blood of the Wine 〈◊〉 after it was pressed also the Water that 〈◊〉 out of the Rock being struck by Moses 〈…〉 that refreshed the Israelites when they were ready to dye for thirst hath the like 〈◊〉 ●…tion the beaten Oyl the fine Flower and the Wine in these Offerings did all of them signifie as well as the Water that came out of the Rock when struck by Moses's Rod the healing nourishing and refreshing Vertue of Christ's Grace which is given us by his Sufferings Exod. 29. 38 39 40 41. Q. Is it not therefore a gross perversion of that place of Scripture to understand by the Stripes of Christ wherewith we are healed as some have understood them the Stripes wherewith Men by their Sins stripe Christ in themselves wound and bruise him as some affirm or yet the stripes that he The Light Within giveth them in their Consciences when they sin A. Yea. Q. Did Christ's Body in the Grave see Corruption A. Nay Acts. 2. 31. Q. Did it really rise on the third day A. Yea. Q. Was it his real Body which appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection which spoke unto them and did Eat and Drink with them A. Yea. Q. What Sign or Figure of Christ's Restirrection in the third day did Christ himself give out of the Old Testament A. The Sign of Jonas Matth. 12. 39 40. That as Jonas was three days and three nights in the Whale's Belly so should the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie that Christ should rise from the dead on the first day of the Week being the next day after the Sabbath and be the first Fruits of the Resurrection A. The sneaf of the first Fruits of their Harvest Levit. 23. 10. 11. which they were to bring to the Priest and which he was to wave before the Lord on the morrow after the Sabbath that answers to the first day of the Week wherein Christ rose from the dead and became the first Fruits of them that sleep Q What signified the waving of the Sheaf A. The waving of it was the Priest's moving it Southward and Northward Eastward and Westward signifying the Redemption and Salvation of all the Elect by Christ Jesus from the South North East and West Parts of the World called the four Winds of Heaven Luke 13. 29. Q. What other Type in the Old Testament signified our Redemption by the Death of Christ our high Priest A. The Release of the Man-slayer out of the City of Refuge by the Death of the high Priest so that he had liberty to return to his ancient Inheritance Q. What did the year of Jubilee that was each fiftieth year signifie wherein they had their former Inheritances restored after they were sold A. Our Restoration by Christ who came in the fiftieth Generation from the Flood of Noah which was as a beginning of the new World for from Arphaxad who was the first that was born after the Flood to Abraham are eight Generations and from Abraham to Christ forty two Generations making in all fifty Generations Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. Beside what Mystery lyeth hid in the number Fifty Q. Is it not a great Error in them who say that Christ 's Body evanished or was changed in Substance and did not ascend but another Body in its place and stead A. Yea. Q. What is the hurt and evil Consequence of that Error A. It overturns not only all the Ground of the Hope of the Resurrection of our Bodies but of our whole Salvation for it Christ be not risen they that are sallen asleep in Christ are perished and all their Faith is vain and Preaching vain and all Men are yet

in their Sins and the Apostles are false Witnesses and Christ 's Prophecy who foretold his Resurrection on the third Day hath failed 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15. Q. But may not his Resurrection be owned and not his Ascension into Heaven with the same Body A. The one cannot be owned without the other for if Christ 's Body did not ascend it did evanish or return to Dust and Christ Dyed again and his Body suffered Corruption which could not be for the Scripture witnesseth that Christ having once dyed dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion over him Q What Scriptures in the Old Testament foretold Christ 's Ascension A. Diverse places such as Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. Psal 47. 5. Psal 68. 18. Isaiah 52. 13. Gen. 49 9. Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie Christ 's Ascension A. The burnt Offering the Smoke of which ascended straight upwards whence it has its name in the Hebrew from a word that signifieth to ascend Q Was not Isaack's being said on the Altar and afterwards being raised alive a Figure of Christ 's Death and Resurrection according to Heb. 11. 19. Q. Is there a real place above the Earth called Heaven into which Christ hath entred with his Body and whole glorified Manhood of Soul and Body A. Yea. Q How doth this agree with Scripture that saith Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. A. It is the same Body in Substance though changed greatly in Manner and Qualities from Natural or Animal Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. to Spiritual from Mortal to Immortal such as the Bodies of the Saints shall be at the Resurrection Q. Why do we not see that Heavens with our bodily Eyes into which Christ 's Body is entered A. Because of the Weakness and Grossness of our Flesh and of our fleshly Sight which can scarce see the Body of the Air that we breath in nor behold the brightness of the Sun but when our Bodies shall be changed and made Spiritual at the Resurrection we shall see the glorious Heavens and also the glorious Body of Christ and the glorified Bodies of all the Saints in Heaven Q. Is there also a real place called Hell into which the Wicked both Soul and Body shall be cast at the Day of Judgment A. Yea which is that called Tophet Isaiah 30. 33. Which hath been ordained of old he hath made it deep and large the Pile thereof is Fire and much Wood the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it Q. What signifieth Tophet and why is it so called A. Tophet signifieth the beating of a Drum and was the place where the Idolatrous Israelites burned their Children and Sacrificed them alive to their Idol Molech where they used to beat Drums to hinder them from hearing the pitiful Cry of their Children therefore by a Metaphor Hell is called Tophet and by the like Metaphor Hell is called by Christ in the N. Testament Gehenna i. e. the Land or Field of Hinnon where all the Filth of the City of Jerúsalem was cast into that piece of Ground having formerly belonged to a Man called Hinnon Q. Why hath God so ordered it that as the place of Reward to the Saints and of Punishment to the Wicked should not be seen by us in this Life nor apprehended by any of our outward Senses so that none should come from the Dead to tell us of these things A. That thereby we might have the greater occasion for the Exercise of our Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. We have not only Moses and the Prophets Testimony concerning future Rewards and Punishments but the Testimony of Christ himself who rose from the Dead and hath given us in the Records of the holy Evangelists and Apostles in the New Testament full and sufficient Ground of Faith to believe these things to which the Spirit of Truth doth bear an inward Witness and who will not believe on such great Evidences nor would they believe if any should rise from the Dead to tell them Luke 16 31. Q. How is Christ the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sin and Justification is it as his Blood is shed in us and as he offers up himself a Sacrifice in us as some say to appease the Wrath of God A. Nay for all such Notion of Christ 's blood being shed in us and his offering up himself in us a Sacrifice for Sin to appease the Wrath of God is false and contrary to Scripture c. Q Is then Jesus Christ considered as he died for us without us and rose again and as he was the Sacrifice for our Sins by his Death and Blood that was outwardly shed the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sins and Justification A. Yea Rom. 10. 9 10. Coloss 1. 20. Heb 12. 2. Acts 10. 41. SECT VII Q. HOW doth Christ perform his Kingly Office A. By his various Administrations of it in the several Parts thereof Q. Which are the several Parts of it A. First Such as respect Angels both good and bad and the whole Creation Secondly Such as respect the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church Thirdly Such as belong to his Church Q. Hath Christ a Kingly Power and Government over all the good and holy Angels A. Yea Heb. 1. 6 7. Col. 2. 10. Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 10. Mark 1. 25 9 25. Luke 4. 35 9 42. Q. Hath he also a Power and Government over the evil Angels and all evil and unclean Spirits and the Devil the Prince of them A. Yea as plainly appeared by the Power and Authority he used to cast forth the unclean Spirits out of the Bodies of many that were Possessed Q. Hath Christ also a Kingly Power and Government over Heaven and Earth and the whole Creation A. Yea as is evident from his own words that all Power in Heaven and Earth was his being given him of the Father Matth. 28. 18. Matth. 8. 26 27. Mark 2. 27 28. Acts 10. 36. And which he shewed by his commanding the Winds and the Seas and the great Miracles which he wrought who as he was Lord of the Sabbath so he was Lord of all Creatures Q. How doth Christ put forth his Kingly Power and Government over Devils and wicked Men seeing they are Disobedient to him A. By restraining and limiting their Power over-ruling their evil Designs and Actions and causing them to turn to his Glory and the Glory of his Father and to the good of his chosen and lastly by Judging and Punishing them at the last day Psal 76. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Acts 17. 31. Matth. 8. 29. Q. How doth Christ perform his Kingly Office over the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church and neither are nor shall become Members of it but remain Impenitent to the last A. By giving them a righteous Law universally in their

Christ the Mediator of it the promise of the Spirit and the saving Graces and Gifts thereof for our Sanctification Regeneration and Renovation and for our mortifying and crucifying the Old Man and the body of the Sins of the Flesh the taking away the heart of Stone and giving us a heart of Flesh God's writing his Laws in those hearts of Flesh and giving us his special teachings and special Illuminations Operations and influences of his Holy Spirit working in us Faith Hope and Love and filial Fear and all other Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit and true Gospel Repentance all suited to the Gospel and new Covenant Dispensation and all this freely by and through and for Jesus Christ's sake together with the promise of Eternal Life and Salvation Jer. 31. 33. 34. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. 20. 36. 25. 26. 37. 26. 27. Gal. 4. 24. 26. 28. Heb. 12. 24. Isa 44. 3. 4. 59. 21. Q. But doth not the Covenant of Grace require any terms or conditions on our part as Faith and Repentance and new Obedience A. It requireth nothing of the true Subjects of it as terms and conditions but such as God promiseth freely to give the Faith and Repentance and Obedience that it requireth God has promised freely to give by virtue of his Covenant and no condition or terms that Men can perform are any the least moving cause to move God to enable us to perform those conditions Q. But is there not an Order in the way and manner of God's giving his many several Favours Gifts and Blessings to the Children of the New Covenant as remission of Sin Justification Adoption and Eternal Salvation A. Yea There is an excellent Order of some things to go before and other things to follow some of which go before and others follow only in order of Nature and others in order of time as plowing and sowing the Ground goes before Harvest and Reaping yet neither the plowing or sowing are the moving cause to move God to give the Fruit and Increase Q Doth then Faith and Repentance in order of Nature go before remission of Sin and Justification though they are together in time A. Yea. Q. How doth this appear from Scripture A. By many plain testimonies of Scripture as first concerning the necessity of Conversion and Faith in order both to forgiveness of Sin Justification and Salvation This was Paul's Commission given him by Christ unto both Jews and Gentiles Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 10. 6. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy heart c v. 7. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness c. Again Rom. 8. 29 30. In that excellent golden Chain containing several Links that follow one after another There is Predestination going before Calling and Calling before Justifying and Justifying before Glorifying The Calling that is not an outward Calling only but chiefly an inward Calling and inward Work of God's Holy Spirit enlightning the understanding and moving the Heart and Will to answer the Call is not the proper Cause of either Justification or Glorification but a necessary antecedent of it in order of Nature as the holding out of the Hand is antecedent in order of Nature to receive a free gift from him who freely gives for Faith has no causality in order to receive forgiveness of Sin and Justification more than the Hand has to receive a rich and free Gift which Faith is also the free Gift of God Again Acts 10. 43. Said Peter in his Preacing to Cornelius and his Friends To him viz. Christ Jesus even him whom they Slew and Hanged on a Tree gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins Secondly As to Repentance its being necessary in order to forgivness and blotting out of Sins Peter's words are plain Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out c. And Acts 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and forgivness of sins And Luke 24. 47. Christ after his Resurrection taught the Disciples the true Method and Order of Preaching That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus we see how though Repentance and Remission of Sins are joyned together in those places yet in order Repentance is put antecedent to Remission of Sins Q. But is not Repentance a proper effect of remission of Sin as the Soul has a lively sense of it wrought by the Spirit of God in the Soul as it was said of Mary Magdalen she loved much because much was forgiven her who was a deep and great Penitent A. As some degree of Repentance is antecedent to forgiveness not as its Cause so there are other degrees of it that are consequents thereof and may be called the effects of it Q. Are the Infant Children of believing Parents within the Covenant of Grace together with their Parents so that the Promise is to them and their Children A. Yea Act. 2. 39. Gal 4. 28. Gen. 17. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. What is the alone meritorious and material Cause of Mens Justification before God Is it not the Righteousness of Christ's most holy and perfect Obedience unto Death and the shedding of his most precious Blood done and performed by him without us freely of God imputed to us and received by Faith A. Yea. Q. What places of Scripture in the Old Testament hold forth the Justification of the Faithful and their eternal Salvation by Faith A. That in Genesis 15. 6. compared with Rom. 4. 2 3. Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for Righteousness from whence Paul inferred that Abraham was not justified by Works though he was a very holy Man but by Faith And though Abraham's Faith is not expresly said to have been in Christ as he was to come and suffer Death for our Sins in the Flesh yet it is certainly imply'd for the great Promise of God to Abraham was That in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed and therefore Abraham also was blessed in that seed which seed was Christ as he came in the Flesh out of Abraham's Loins and not the Light within or