of his glorious grace to be manifested in due time haâ—h elected some Angels to glory and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life and the means thereof and also according to his soveraign power and the unsearchable coâ—nsel of his own will whereby he extendeth or witholdeth favour as he pleaseth hath passed by and fore-ordained the rest to dishonour and wrath to be for their sin inflicted to the praise of the glory of his justice Q. 14. How doth God execute his Decrees A. God executeth his decrees in the works of Creation and Providence according to his infallible foreknowledg and the free and immutable counsel of his own will Q. 15. What is the work of Creation A. The work of Creation is that wherein God did in the beginning by the word of his power make of nothing the world and all things therein for himself within the space of six daies and all very good Q. 16. How did God create the Angels A. God created all the Angels spirits c immortal holy excelling in knowledge mighty in power to execute his Commandments and to praise his name yet subject to change Q. 17. How did God create man A. After God had made oll other creatures he created man male and female form'd the body of the man of the dust of the ground and the woman of a rib of the man indued them with living reasonable and immortal souls made them after his own image in knowledge righteousness and holiness having the law of God written in their hearts and power to fulfil it with dominion over the creatures yet subject to fall Q. 18. What are Gods works of Providence A. Gods works of Providence are his most holy wise powerful preserving and governing all his creatures ordering them and all their actions to his own glory Q. 19. What is Gods Providence towards the Angels A. God by his Providence permitted some of the Angels wilfully and irrecoverably to fall into sin damnation limiting and ordering that and all their sins to his own glory and established the rest in holiness and happâ—ness imploying them all at his pleasure in the administration of his power mercy and justice Q. 20. What was the providence of God towards man in the estate wherein he waâ— created A. The Providence of God toward man in the estate wherein he was created was the placing him in Paradise appointing him to dress it giving him liberty to eat of the fruit of the earth putting the creatures under his dominion and ordaining marriage for his help affording him communion with himself instituting the Sabbath entering into a Covenant of life with him upon condition of personal perfect and perpetual obedience of which the Tree of Life was a pledge and for biding to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil upon pain of death Q. 21. Did man continue in that estate wherein God at first created him A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will through the temptation of Satan transgressed the Commandment of God in eating the forbidden fruit and thereby fell from the estate of Innocency wherein they were created Q. 22. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression A. The Covenant being made with Adam as a publick person not for himself only but for his posterity all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him and fell with him in that first transgression Q. 23. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery Q. 24. What is sin A. Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of any Law of God given as a rule to the reasonable creatures Q. 25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consisteth in the guilt of Adams first sin the want of that righteousness wherein he was created the corruption of his nature whereby he is utterly indispos'd disabled and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good and wholly inâ—lined to all evil and that continnually which is commonly called Original sin and from which do proceed all actâ—al transgressions Q. How is Original sin conveyed from our first parents to their posterity A Original sin is conveyed from our first parents to their posterity by natural generation so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin Q. 27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind A. The fall brought upon mankind the loss of Communion with God his displeasure and curse so as we are by nature children of wrath bond-slaves to Satan and justly liable to all punishments in this world that which is to come Q. 28. What are the punishments of sin in this world A. The punishment of sin in this world are either inward as blindness of mind a reprobate sense strong delusions hardness of heart horrour of conscience and vile affections or outward as the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes and all other evils that befal us in our bodies names estates relations and employments together with deâ—th it self Q. 29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come A. The punishments of sin in the world to come are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God and most grievous torments in soul and body without intermission in hell fire for ever Q. 30 Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery A. God doth not leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin misery into which they fell by the breach of the first Covenant commonly cal'd the Covenant of works but of his meer love mercy delivereth his elect out of it bringeth them into an estate of Salvation by the second covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Q. 31. With whom was the Covenant of Grace made A. The Covenant of Grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the elect as his seed Q. 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second Covenant A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a Mediator and life and salvation by him and requiring Faith as the condition to interest them in him promiseth and giveth his holy Spirit to all his elect to work in them that faith with all other saving graces and to enable them unto all holy obedience as the evidence of the truth of their Faith and thankfulness to God and
with Adam not only for himself but for his posterity all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him fell with him in his first transgression Q. 17. Into what estate did thâ— fall bring mankind A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfuâ—â—ness of that estate whereinto man fell A. The sinfulness of that estatâ— whereinto man fell consists in thâ— guilt of Adams first sin the want 〈◊〉 Original righteousness and the corâ—ruption of his whole nature which 〈◊〉 commonly called Original sin togâ—ther with all actual transgressions which proceed from it Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God are under his wrath curse so made liable to all miseries in this life to death it self to the pains of Hell for ever Q. 29. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery A. God having out of his meer good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life did enter into a Covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin misery and to bring them into an estate of Salvation by a Redeemer Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of Gods elect A. The only Redeemer of Gods elect is the Lord Jesus Christ who being the eternal Son of God became man and so was and continueth to be God man in two distinct natures one person for ever Q. 22. How did Christ being the Son of God become man A. Christ the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul being conceived by the power of the holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary born of her yet without sin Q. 23. What Offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer A. Christ as our redeemer executeth the Offices of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King both in his estate of humiliation exaltation Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Prophet A. Christ executeth the Office of a Prophet in revealing to us by his Word and Spirit the will of God for our salvation Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the Office of a Priest A. Christ executeth the Office of a Priest in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfie divine justice and reconcile us to God and in making continual intercession for us Q. 26. How doth Christ exâ—pute the Office of a King A. Christ executeth the Office of a King in subduing us to himself in râ—ling and defending us and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies Q. 27. Wherein did Christs Hâ—miliation consist A. Christs humiliation consisted in his being born and that in a low condition made under the Law undergoing the miseries of this life the wrath of God and the cursed death of the Cross in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christs Exaltation A. Christs exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day in ascending up into Heaven in sitting at the right hand of God the Father and coming to judge the world at the last day Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ A. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ by the effectual application of it to us by his holy Spirit Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ A The Spirit applyeth to us the Redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us and thereby uniting us to Christ in our Effectual Calling Q. 31. What is effectual calling A. Effectual calling is the work of Gods Spirit whereby â—â—nvincing us of our sin misery inlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills he doth perswade and inable us to imbrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of Justification Adoption Sanctification the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them Q. 33. What is Iustification A. Justification is an act of Gods frâ—e grace wherein he pardoneth all our sins and accepteth us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone Q. 34. What is Adoption A. Adoption is an act of Gods free grace whereby we are received into the number have a right to aâ—l the priviledges of the Sons of God Q. 35. What is Sanctification A. Sanctification is the work of Godâ— free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the Image of God and are inabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Iustification adoption sanctification A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are assurance of Gods love peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost increase of grace and perseverance therein to the end Q. 37. What benefits do Believers receive from Christ at death A. The Souls of Believers are at their death made perfect in holiness do immediately pass into glory r and their bodies being still united to Christ do rest in their graves till the Resurrection Q. 38 VVhat benefits do Believers receive from Christ at the resurrection A. At the resurrection believers being raised up in glory shall be openly acknowledged acquitted in the day of judgment and made perfectly blessed in full enjoying of God to all eternity Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the Moral Law Q. 41. Where is the Moral Law summarily comprehended A. The Moral Law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments Q. 42. What is the Sum of the Ten Commandments A. The sum of the Ten Commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart with all our soul wiâ—h all our strength and with all our mind and our neighbour as our selves Q. 43. What is the Preface to the Ten Commandments A. The Preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words I am the Lord thy God Which have brought thee out of
gracious God doth often times leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruption of their own hearts to chastise them for their former sins or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts that they may be humbled and to raise them to a more close and constant dependance for their support upon himself and to make them more watchfull against all future occasions of sin and for sundry other just and holy ends VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God as a righteous Judg for former sins doth blind and harden from them he not only witholdeth his grace whereby they might have been enlightned in their understandings and wrought upon in their hearts but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin and withal gives them over to their own lusts the temptations of the World and the power of Satan whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves even under those means which God useth for the softning of others VII As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures so after a special manner it taketh care of his Church and disposeth all things to the good thereof CHAP. VI. Of the fall of Man of Sin and of the punishment thereof OUr first parents being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan sinned in eating the forbidden fruit This their sin God was pleased according to his wise and holy counsel to permit having purpos'd to order it to 's own glory II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God and so became dead in sin and wholly defiled in all the faculties parts of soul and body III. They being the root of all mankind the guilt of this sin was imputed and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation IV. From this original corruption whereby we are utterly indisposed disabled and made opposite to all good and wholly inclined to all evil do proceed all actual transgressions V. This corruption of nature during this life doth remain in those that are regenerated and although it be Through Christ pardoned mortified yet both it self and all the motions thereof are truly and properly sin VI. Every sâ—n both original and Actual being a transgression of the righteous Law of God and contrary thereunto doth in its own nature bring guilt upon the sinner whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God and curse of the Law and so made subject to death with all miseries spiritual temporal and eternal CHAP. VII Of Gods Covenant with man THe distance between God and the creature is so great that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their creator yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward but by some voluntary condescension on Gods part which he hath been pleased to express by way of Covenant II. The first Covenant made with Man was a covenant of Works wherein life was promised to Adam and in him to his posterity upon condition of perfect and personal obedience III. Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant the Lord was pleas'd to make a Second commonly called the Covenant of Grace Wherein he freely offereth unto sinners Life Salvation by Jesus Christ requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto Life his holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe IV. This Covenant of Grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture by the Name of a Testament in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator and to the everlasting Inheritance with all things belonging to it therein bequeathed V. This Covenant was differently administred in the time of the Law and in the time of the Gospel Under the Law it was administred by Promises Prophecies Sacrifices Circumcision the Paschal Lamb and other Types and Ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews all fore-signifying Christ to come which were for that time sufficient and efficacious through the operation of the spirit to instruct and build up the Elect in Faith in the promised Messiah by whom they had full remission of sins and eternal Salvation and is called the Old Testament VI. Under the Gospel when Christ the substance was exhibited the Ordinances in which this Covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word the administration of the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Lords Supper Which though fewer in number and administred with more simplicity and less outward glory yet in them it is held forth in more fulness evidence and spiritual efficacy to all Nations both Jews and Gentiles and is called the New Testament There are not therefore two Covenants of Grace differing in substance but one the same under various dispensations CHAP. VIII Of Christ the Mediator IT pleased God in his eternal purpose to chuse and ordain the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son to be the Mediator between God and Man the Prophet Priest and King the Head and Saviour of his Church the heir of all things and Judge of the World Unto whom he did from all eternity give a people to be his seed and to be by him in time Redeemed Called Justified Sanctified and Glorified II. The Son of God the second Person in the Trinity being very and eternal God of one substance and equal with the Father did when the fulness of time was come take upon him mans nature with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof yet without sin being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary of her substance So that two whole Perfect and distinct Natures the God-head and the Man-hood were inseparably joyned together in one person without Conversion Composition or Confusion Which person is very God and very Man yet one Christ the only Mediator between God and man III. The Lord Jesus in his humane nature thus united to the divine was sanctified and anointed with the holy spirit above measure having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in whom it pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell to the end that being holy harmless undefiled and full of grace and truth he might be thorowly furnished to execute the Office of a Mediator and Surety which Office he took not unto himself but was thereunto called â—y his Father who put all power judgment into his hand
Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland The sum of Saving knowledge may be taken up in these four heaâ—s 1. The woeful condition whâ—râ—in all men are by nature through breaking of the Covenant of Works 2. The Râ—medy prâ—vided for the Elect in Iesus Christ by the Covenant of Grace 3. The means appointed â—o make them partâ—kers of this Covenant 4. The blessiâ—gs which are effectually convâ—yed unto the Elect by these means Which four heads are set down each of them in some fâ—w Propositions HEAD 1. Our woful condition by nature through breaking the Covenant of Works Hos. 13 9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self THe Almighty and Eternal God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost three diâ—tinct persons in one and the same undivided God-head equally inâ—inite in all perfections did before time most wisely decree for his own glory whatsoever cometh to pass in time and doth most holily and infallibly execute all hiâ— Decrees without being partaker of the sin 〈◊〉 any creature II. This God in six days made all things 〈◊〉 nothing very good in their own kind in specialâ— he made all the Angels holy and he madâ— our first Parents Adam and Eve the root 〈◊〉 mankind both upright and able to keep the Law written in their heart Which Law theâ—â— were naturally bound to obey under pain 〈◊〉 death but God was not bound to reward theiâ— service till he entered in a Covenant or Contract with them and their posterity in them to give them eternal life upon condition of perfect personal obedience withal threatning death in case they should fail This is the Covenant of Works III. Both Angels and Men are subject to the change of their own free-will as experience proveth God having reserved to himself the incommunicable property of being naturally unchangeable For many Angels of their own accord fell by sin from their first estate and became Devils our first Parents being inticed by Satan one of these Devils speaking in a serpent did break the Covenant of Works in eating the forbidden Fruit whereby they and their posterity being in their loins as branches in the root and comprehended in the same Covenant with them became not only lyable to eternal death but also lost all ability to please God yea did become by nature enemies to God and to all spiritual good and 〈◊〉 lined only to evil continually This is our original sin the bitter root of all our actual transgressions in thought word and deed HEAD II. The remedy provided in Jesus Christ for the Elect by the Covenant of Grace Hos. 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thine help ALbeit man having brought himself into this woeful condition be neither able to â—elp himself nor willing to be helped by God â—ut of it but rather inclined to ly still unsenâ—â—â—le of it till he perish yet God for the glory â—f his rich Grace hath revealed in his Word â—way to save sinners to wit by faith in Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God by vertue of â—nd according to the tenor of the Covenant of Redemption made and agreed upon between God the Father and God the Son in the counsel of the Trinity before the World began II. The sum of the Covenant of Redemption is this God having freely chosen unto life a â—ertain number of lost mankind for the glory â—f his rich Grace did give them before the world began unto God the Son appointed Redeemer that upon condition he would humble â—imself so far as to assume the humane naturâ—â—f a soul and body unto personal union with â—is Divine Nature and submit himself 〈…〉 Law as surety for them and satisfie Justice for them by giving obedience in their name even unto the suffering of the cursed death of the Cross he should ransom and redeem them all from sin and death and purchase unto them righteousness and eternal life with all saying graces leading thereunto to be effectually by means of his own appointment applyed in due time to every one of them This condition the Son of God who is Jesus Christ our Lord did accept before the world began and in the fulness of time came into the World was born of the Virgin Mary subjected himself to the Law and compleatly payed the ransome on the Cross but by vertue of the foresaid bargain made before the World began he is in all ages since the fall of Adam still upon the work of applying actually the purchased benefits unto the elect and that he doth by way of entertaining a Covenant of free grace and reconciliation with them through faith in himself which Covenant he makes over to every believer a right and interest to himself and to all his blessings III. For the accomplishment of this Covenant of Redemption and making the Elect partakers of the benefits thereof in the Covenant of Grace Christ Jesus was clad with the threeâ—old Office of Prophet Priest and King Made a Prophet to reveal all saving knowledge to his people and to perswade them to believe and 〈◊〉 the same Made a Priest to offer up himself a sacrifice once for them all and to interceed continually with the Father for making their persons and services acceptable to him And made a King to subdue them to himself to feed and rule them by his own appointed Ordinances and to defend them from their enemies HEAD 3. The outward means appointed to make the Elect partakers of this Covenant and all the rest that are called to be inexcusable Mat. 22.14 Many are called THe outward means and ordinances for making men partakers of the Covenant of Grace are so wisely dispenced as the Elect â—hall be infallibly converted and saved by them and the Reprobate among whom they are not be justly stumbled The means are specially these four 1. The Word of God 2. The Sacraments 3. Kirk Government â— Prayer In the Word of God preached by â—ent Messengers the Lord makes offer of Grace to all sinners upon condition of faith in Jesus Christ and whosoever do confess their sin accept of Christ offered and submit themselves to his Ordinances he will have both them and their children received into the honour and priviledges of the Covenant of Grace By the Sacraments God will have the Covenant sealed for confirming the bargain on the foresaid condition By Kirk Government he will have them â—edge in and help foreward unto the keeping of the Covenant And by Prayer he will have his own glâ—rious Grace promised in the Covenant to be daily drawn forth acknowledged and imployed All which means are fâ—llowed either really or in profession only according to the quality of the Coâ—enanters as they aâ—e true or counterâ—it believers II. The Covenant of Grace set down in the Old Testament before Christ came and in the New since he came is one and the same in substance albeit different in outward administration for the Covenant in the Old Testament being sealed with the Sacraments of Circumcision and the