Bondage Gal. 5.1 And Secondly in that passage of St. Paul 1 Tim. 4. where he calls them seducing spirits that teach to abstain from meats that God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe the Truth he speaketh in the general without any restriction and Colos 2.22 23. He condemns them that say Touch not Tast not Handle not though such things had a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body not in any honour to satisfying of the flesh Now the forbidding to eat flesh upon certain days must be of these kind of Ordinances Q. Do you blame then all manner of Fasts A. No for though Fasting of it self be an indifferent thing yet it becomes profitable and good when Superstition and the opinion of Merit is separated from it and when it is employed to subdue the flesh and humble the mind to help forward Repentance and to excite Zeal in Prayer and therefore the Scripture ordinarily joyns Prayer and Fasting together Matth. 17.21 Jesus Christ saith that There is a kind of Devils that goeth not out hut by prayer and fasting And 1 Cor. 7.5 St. Paul would would have the Husband and the Wife to separate themselves for a time to give themselves to Fasting and Prayers Q. When is Fasting requisite A. First In time of Affliction either publick or private for extraordinary Humiliation before God in such a time is needful as in Joel 2.15 when the Church was in distress they were commanded to Blow the Trumpet in Sion sanctifie a Fast call a solemn Assembly Secondly When it is necessary to make Request by Prayer to obtain something of importance for the Church and to obtain a Blessing upon their Ministry Acts 14.23 And besides these publick Fasts every one ought to fast and to implore the Mercy of God for their Falls and for his assistance in dangers for to prepare them better for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper SECT XXIV Of Holy Days Quest WHat do you blame in the Church of Romes Holy Days or Feasts A. First That it is a departing from the Liberty that God hath given us in the fourth Commandment Six days shalt thou labour Secondly By them the Yoke is again put upon the Christians which Jesus Christ delivered us from by his death as heavy or heavier than it was upon the Jews Whereas S. Paul commands Colos 2.16 17. Let no man judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an Holy Day or of the New Moon or of the Sabbath days which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Thirdly That they are dedicated to the Saints Fifthly That the Observation is required as a thing as necessary as the Observation of the Lords Day Sixthly That they think they merit Salvation by the Observation of them Q. Are you then against all Holy Days except the Sabbath day A. Believers may profitably assemble themselves together on other days as well as on the Sabbath day to celebrate the Memory of signal Deliverances that we have received from God by Jesus Christ by Prayers and Thanksgiving and Meditation on the Word to give thanks for extraordinary deliverance or for publick humiliation provided that these days be celebrated without Superstition and without Scruple of Conscience and without an Opinion of any particular Holiness in that day or Merit in its Celebration SECT XXV Of the Providence of God Quest DOth any thing happen in the World that is not ordered by the wise Providence of God A. No For A Sparrow falleth not to the ground without the Will of your Father which is in heaven and the very hairs of your head are all numbred Matth. 10.29 Q. Do Evils come to pass by His Will and Permission A. Yes For if he would not have them to come he is Almighty and could hinder them Amos 3.6 Shall there be Evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it Doth not Evil and Good proceed from the Most High Lam. 3.38 Q. These places speak of Afflictions and Calamities which happen to men by the Providence and Permission of God for the manifestation of his Justice in the punishment of the wicked and of his Goodness in trying of his own people But do you believe that the sins and actions of the wicked are ordered by the Providence of God A. Yes For the Word of God shews us that the selling of Joseph by his Brethren came to pass by the Providence of God for the preservation of Jacob's Family Gen. 50.20 As for you ye thought evil against me but God meanâ— it unto good to bring to pass to save much people alive Likewise the taking away Joh's Goods was an effect of God's Providence for his trial and therefore he says The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1.21 And S. Peter saith Act. 2.23 that Jesus Christ was delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God And Act. 4.27 28. he speaks thus Of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast annointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Council determined before to be done Q. Can this be and God not be the Author of sin nor Partaker of the sins of the wicked A. Yes Even as a Physician gives not to Leeches their bloody Nature but doth fitly himself with the inclination of this Animal to draw blood of his Patient for his health and comfort so God doth not give to the wicked their wickedness nor incite them to evil against his Children but doth wisely employ their wicked inclinations for their Consolation and Salvation knowing how to make all their evil designs serve by his admirable Providence the end that he hath determined and tend to the accomplishment of his wise and holy Will Q. Doth not that excuse the wicked since they only execute the Will of God A. No For they do it without their knowledge and contrary to their intentions for we are not to rule our Actions by God's Decree which is unknown to us but by his Commands which are revealed to us Deut. 29.29 Secret things belong unto the Lord our God but these things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children SECT XXVI Of Man's Free Will in the State of Sin Quest IS Not this Doctrine of Providence contrary to that of Man's Free Will A. Not at all For God so governs the things of the World that he lets them act according to their nature and inclination necessary things necessarily and the Free as Men and Angels freely Q. Wherein consâ—sts the Free Will and Liberty of Man in the State of Sin before Regeneration A. In four things 1. in Natural Actions as Eating and Drinking 2. In Civil Actions as Buying and Selling. 3. In external good and vertuous Actions as frequenting the Assemblies of God's People giving
That he had said no other things than these which the Prophets and Moses did say should come and to Teach us that these things did contain all that is Necessary to Salvation he assures the Ephesians Act. 20 27. That he had declared unto them all the Counsel of God Q. Yet the Church believes many Doctrines which are not contained in the Scripture as the perpetual Virginity of the Holy Virgin the Baptism of Children the translation of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday the number of the Sacraments to be but two A. For the perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin the Church receives it not as an Article of Faith necessary to Salvation but as an Article becoming the honour they think themselves obliged to render to this Sacred Vessel But for the other points they are taught in Scripture if not in formal terms at least by necessary consequences St. Peter Acts 2.38.39 would have all the Jews Baptized because the Promise was to them and to their Children and we see that in the time of the Apostles Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Rev. 1.10 Believers Assembled themselves for Prayer and to make Collection the first Day of the Week which St. John calls The Lord's Day And the Church may well conclude there are but two Sacraments since they see not in the Scripture that Jesus Christ hath instituted any more SECT V. Of Reading the Holy Scripture Q. IS it Lawful for all Persons to Read the Scripture A. Jesus Christ Recommends the Reading of it indifferently to all John 5.39 Search the Scriptures and Deut. 17.18 19. God Commandeth Kings to have the Book of the Law and to read therein every day and the Apostle St. Paul 1 Thess 5.27 Charges that his Epistle be read to all the holy Brethren and 2 Tim. 3.15 he praises Timothy because from a Child he had known the Holy Scriptures And the Eunuch of Queen Candace did Read in the Chariot Esaias the Prophet Acts 8.28 And in all the Synagogues the Law and the Prophets were read every Sabbath-day Acts 15.21 17. The believing Bereans having heard the Doctrine of St. Paul compared it with the Scriptures to know if it was as he had said And tho' the Revelations be the most obscure Book in the Scripture yet the reading of it is recommended to all Rev. 1.3 Blessed be he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie Q. It seems notwithstanding that it would be expedient to hinder the simple People from the reading thereof St. Peter tells us that there are in the Epistles of St. Paul things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction A. Upon the contrary the simple and ignorant are to read the Scriptures that they may become wise to Salvation and Jesus Christ tells us that the ignorance of the Scriptures is cause of Errors You Err not knowing the Scriptures said he to the Sadduces Mat. 22.29 And David Psal 19. says That the Law enlightens the Eyes and maketh wise the simple And tho' there be some ignorant and unstable that wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction yet it hinders not St. Peter from recommending in the same place to Believers the Epistles of St. Paul And in the first Chapter of the same Epistle he tells us That we have a sure word of Prophesie whereunto we do well to take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place For because those that are Prophane abuse the Word of God and his Graces the Children of God must not be forbidden the Use thereof Q. What Profit then do Believers receive from the Reading of the Scriptures A. By them they are instructed in the Knowledg of God fortified in the Faith and Expectation of their Salvation comforted in their Afflictions furnished against Temptations of Satan the World and the Flesh For whatsoever things were written afore-time they were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope Rom. 15.4 SECT VI. Of the Church Quest WHat signifies this word Church A. An Assembly Q. How many ways is the name of Church taken in the Scripture A. Four ways principally 1. For the Church of the Elect. 2. Generally for the Universal Visible Church and they that make profession of Faith in Jesus Christ And it is this Church St. Paul speaks of when he says That in a great house there are not only vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth because that this Church is composed of good and of evil ones 2 Tim. 2.20 3. The Church signifies an Assembly of the Leaders of the Church which Jesus Christ speaks of Matth. 18.17 When there is a quarrel between two Brethren he will have the party offended tell it to the Church 4. The name Church is given to each particular Christian Assembly which is a part of the Universal Visible Church such in the time of the Apostles was the Churches of Corinth of Ephesus of Rome c. to whom St. Paul directs his Epistles Q. What is meant by the Church of the Elect A. It is the Assembly of all Believers that Goth hath Elected in Jesus Christ of which some are Glorified in Heaven others are yet Combating on the Earth others are not yet born or called to the Faith but must be in their time and subsist already in the Counsel of God of these Jesus Christ speaks John 10.16 saying Other sheep have I which are not of this fold they also I must bring and they shall hear my voice Q. Where doth the Word of God speak of this Church of the Elect A. The Apostle Hebrews 12.23 calls it the Heavenly Jerusalem the General Assembly and Church of the first born It is this Church which St. Paul calls the Body of Christ for Christ cannot have dead Members 1 Cor. 12.27 Ephes 4.12 Colos 1.24 and the Spouse of Christ Ephes 5.32 for Christ cannot have an Adulteress for his Spouse St. Peter 1 Epist 2.9 call this Church A chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People Q. Which Church is spoken of in this Article of the Apostles Creed I believe the Holy Catholick Church A. Of the Church of the Elect for we believe things that are not seen as the Apostle Heb. 11.1 says Faith is the Evidence of things not seen And after those words I believe the Holy Catholick Church is put the Communion of Saints in this Church that the Profane may be excluded Q. Why is this Church of the Elect said to be invisible since it is composed of men who are Visisible A. Not only because the Glorified Saints are out of our sight and that those who belong to the Election of God and are not yet born cannot be seen but also because that though the Elect that live upon the Eatth are visible men yet it is not visible that they are
we have an Advocate with the Father even Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.1 And Jesus Christ says John 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh to the Father but by me Q. But may not Saints and Angels be also Mediators A. No For St. Paul says 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Jesus Christ Q. This passage seems to be altered for in the Greek it is There is one Mediator and not one only Mediator A. The Greek word as in this Context signifies one only as also Ephesians 4.4 5 6. And they of the Roman Church in the Louvain Version have turned it so in the next Chapter Verse 2. That a Bishop must be the Husband of one Wife they have it of one only and it is clear that in that place it should be taken so for the Apostle would have us to understand that there is one Mediator as there is one God now there is but one only God there is therefore also but one only Mediator Q. It is true there is but one Mediator for redemption but there may be more for Intercession A. Not as Intercessor is to be understood in this question for one who can procure us the favour of God by his own Merit and Intercession and so those of the Roman Church understand the word when they pray God in the Mass to hear them for the Merits of the Saints whose Relicks are under the Altar Now there can be no such Intercessor but Jesus Christ only who alone hath reconciled us to God by his blood and is the only Advocate and Propitiation for our sins 1 John 2.2 And it is in this beloved that God accepteth us Eph. 1.6 Q. Why may not glorified Saints Pray to God in Heaven for us as well as Believers Pray for one another on the Earth have they less Knowledge and Charity in Heaven then they had on Earth A. Glorified Saints may pray for the Church in general but not for particular Believers not for want of Charity but for want of knowledge of the persons and their necessities for though their knowledge be much more perfect because of their seeing God yet have they no more communication with Believers here on Earth as it hath been said before that they have no more portion for ever in any thing that is done under the Sun Q. But is it not expedient at least to make use of the Intercession of Saints to go to Jesus Christ for us A. No For he commands us to come to himself Matth. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden SECT XIII Of Images Quest IS It not lawful to make Images of God A. No for the Prophet Isaiah sheweth us that God cannot be represented Chap. 40. Vers 18. To whom will ye liken God or what Likeness will ye compare unto him And Deut. 4.15 Moses speaketh to the Israelites saying Take ye heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of Similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire 16. Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a Graven Image the similitude of any Figure the likeness of Male or Female Q. Nevertheless God hath often appeared to Believers under the Old Testament in humane shape as to Abraham and Lot Gen. 18. 19. A. Extraordinary Appearances of God are not to be the Rule of our Actions but his Commands and though God appeared in Humane Likeness yet the Church of Israel never made any such Representation of him Q. Is it lawful to make Images of Saints and give to them any Religious Worship or Honour A. No for God hath forbidden us to bow down before any Image whatsoever in his second Gommandment Thou shalt not make unto thee any Graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath Thou shalt not bow down to them nor serve them Q. This word should he translated Idol and not Image for God forbids there only the Pagan Idols which did represent false Gods and not Images of Saints A. Images both of Saints and Angels are forbidden for he forbiddeth to make any Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven Q. Why then did God command to put Cherubims upon the Ark and in the Tabernacle which did represent Angels A That was a Command of the Ceremonial Law which since hath been abolished by Jesus Christ but the forbidding to worship Images is a Command of the Moral Law which is eternal and indispensable Besides they were not put there to be worshipped by the people for there were two Veils between the people and them so that the people could not see them and there was moreover an express Command to make Cherubins whereas there is none to make Images of Saints and to put them into the Church Q. Is it lawful to worship the Relicks of Sainis A. No We should have a respect unto the Sepulchres of the Saints and Martyrs since their Bodies have been the Temples of the Holy Ghost but to give them any Religious Worship is to leave the living God to serve dead Idols And God hid the body of Moses lest the people of Israel should have committed Idolatry with it Deut. 34.6 SECT XIV Concerning Praying for the Dead Quest MVst we pray for the Dead A. No Because we have neither Command nor Example in the Word of God and since the Scripture speaks only of two places Heaven for the Righteous and Hell for the Wicked our Prayers cannot draw the Wicked out of Hell for their Torments are to be Eternal nor can they add to the Happiness of those in Heaven because it is already Compleat Q. Yet we have an Example in the 12th Chapter of the 2d Book of the Maccabees where Juda and his Men prayed for their Brethren which were slain and under whose Garmenâ—â— were found things consecrated to Idols that their sin might be pardoned A This Book is not Canonical nor was ever acknowledged as such by the Church of the Jews and there were many Superstitions sliden in among the Jews in the time of the Maccabees so their Practice cannot be an Example to be followed neither did they pray that they might be delivered out of Purgatory but that they might be happy at the Resurrection as it appears from Vers 44. SECT XV. Of Purgatory Quest DO You believe that after this Life the Souls of all Believers go to the fire of Purgatory for many years to be tormented that they may be purged and cleansed from their sins A. No For the Scripture speaking of the Condition of Believers after this Life tells us Isa 57.1 That the Righteous is taken away from the Evil to come and shell enter into Peace and Rev. 14.13 that Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord from henceforth yea said the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do
follow thom And Eccles 12.7 Then shall the Dust return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it And 2 Cor. 5.1 that If our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a Building of God an House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens Likewise Jesus Christ by the Parable Luke 16. of Dives and Lazarus teacheth us that Believers after Death are carried into Abraham's Bosome where they are comforted and at his Death he says to the Converted Thief This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Luk. 23.43 and St. Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Promises to himself That having kept the Faith and fought the good Fight he should receive the Crown of Righteousness and the Spirit of Christ says to Believers Rev. 2.10 Be Faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life In a word Jesus Christ John 5.24 saith That he that believeth on him shall never enter into condemnntion but is passed from death unto Life And St. Paul Rom. 8.1 says There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus then certainly neither in this Life nor in that which is to come is there any condemnation to them it must then be much rashness to condemn those whom God hath justified and to think that God takes pleasure to punish his Children many thousands of years for Sins already pardoned and for which he hath had full satisfaction by the death of his Son our Saviour Q. But since the Scripture tells us Rev. 21.17 That no unclean thing shall enter into the Holy City is it not necessary that Souls so much infected with Sin should be purged with fire that they might be presented pure and holy unto God A. In this passage of the Revelations God speaketh of wicked persons and not of Believers such as Traitors and Adulterers who committed abomination and falsehood and who entered not into the City of God Revel 22.15 And it is not material fire that cleanses the soul but the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 for by vertue of his blood our sins are blotted out we are also cleansed by the Holy Ghost in Regeneration and Sanctification Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Q. Have Believers no need then to be purged after death A. No For God hath in this life freely forgiven all our sins Col. 2.13 Neither is there any place for Repentance and Amendment after this life and where the Tree faleth there it shall be Eccles 11.3 Q. What do you understand then by the fire St. Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 3.15 That the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is A. I understand the Word of God by which all Doctrines are to be tryed for the Apostle in that place speaks of the Doctrine of the Gospel as of a Building whose Foundation is in Jesus Christ and upon which Pastors builded some Gold Silver and Precious Stones that is good and solid Doctrines and others Wood Hay and stubble that is light and curious Doctrine which will perish and vanish away when they are examined by the Word of God as Wood Hay and Stubble in the fire is burned and turned to Smoak Q. Doth not that saying of St. Paul 1 Cor. 15.29 What shall they do which are Baptised for the dead if the dead rise not imply a Purgatory A. This passage cannot prove Purgatory for it is only the Resurrection that the Apostle considers Many Learned men in the Church have thought that St. Paul speaks of certain Hereticks who denyed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and yet when any of them dyed without Baptism Baptised some others for the dead and in their name fearing that they should be punished for dying without Baptism Q. But Jesus Christ says in Matth. 12.32 That the sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven either in this world or in the world to come there must then be a world to come in which sins are forgiven and punished A. These words shall not be forgiven signifie only that it shall be punished in this World and in that which is to come as St. Mark explains it Chapter 3.29 He that Blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost hath never Forgiveness but is in Danger of Eternal Damnation Also by the World to come may be understood the day of Judgment in which the Scriptures tell us Sins shall be forgiven and punished because then shall be publickly pronounced the Sentence of Condemnation or of Absolution according as St. Paul prayed for Onesyphorus That he might find mercy of the Lord in that day 2 Tim. 1.18 because then mercy or Punishment would be manifested SECT XVI Of Human Satisfactions Quest CAn men satisfie the Justice of God for their Sins by Works of Penitence as Fasting Alms Stripes and such like A. No for they are imperfect and to think that any Suffering and Pains but those of Jesus Christ can Reconcile us to God is to esteem the Blood of Jesus Christ and his Sufferings superfluous and unprofitable for God takes not two payments for one debt and the Scripture tells us Col. 2.13.14 That God hath freely forgiven all our Trespasses in blotting out the hand-writinng of Ordinances that was against us Nailing it to his Cross and this Word freely excludes all Satisfaction on our part for as St. Paul Rom. 11.6 says If by Grace then it is not by Works Q. But they will tell you that they hold those penitential works Satisfactory only by vertue of the death of Christ A. These things are contradictory for Jesus Christ dyed that we should not be obliged to make satisfaction our selves and to pay that debt which it was impossible for us to pay and the Apostle Hebr. 1.3 tells us That he had by himself purged our sins and not by our making Satisfaction Q. God hath indeed freed us from the guilt of our sins for Jesus Christ's sake but not from all the punishment of them A. This is an absurd evasion for the forgiving of Sin is nothing else but the not punishing of it and when we desire That God would forgive our Sins as we forgive them that trespass against us we pray That God would not inflict the punishment that we deserve for our sins no more than we seek to Revenge the Wrongs done unto us Q. Yet God often inflicts punishments after he hath pardoned Sins as he did upon David after having signified to him that his Adultery and Murder were pardoned 2 Sam. 12.10 14. A. Such punishments God inflicts for to humble and correct his Children but not to satisfie his Justice and are rather Effects of Love and Mercy than of Justice therefore Eliphas says to Job Happy is the man whom God Correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastning of the Almighty Job 5.17 Q.