would impudently apply that Scripture Joh. 3.13 No man hath ascended into heaven but he that came down from heaven the Son of man which is in heaven and what other Scriptures speak him coming down from heaven coming forth from God and such like to this erroneous doctrine that Christ as man first ascended into heaven was there and came down thence ere he shewed himself to the world is that according to truth or doth he this meerly to avoid the force these Scriptures have in them to prove the Deity of the Son what Scriptures have you that will sufficiently prove he did not so ascend as man ere he was discovered to the world Answ Mat. 1.8 The birth of Jesus was on this wise when as his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the holy Ghost behold a Virgin shall be with child Luke 1 30,31 And the Angel said unto her Mary Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son Mat. 2.8 Search diligently for the young child ver 9. stood over where the young childe was vers 11. They saw the young child with Mary his Mother vers 13. Arise take the child and his Mother for Herod seeketh the child to destroy him vers 14 15. He arose and took the babe and his Mother and departed into Egypt and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Out of Egypt have I called my son vers 19 20 21. And when Herod was dead behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Ioseph in Egypt saying Arise and take the babe and his Mother and go into the Land of Israel Then he rose up and took the babe and his Mother and came into the Land of Israel Vers 23. And went and dwelt in a City called Nazareth Luke 2.40 And the child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit 42. Now when he was twelve years old 43. The child Iesus remained in Jerusalem 51.52 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them and Iesus increased in wisdom and stature Joh. 20.17 Iesus said unto her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended unto my Father but I ascend unto my father and your father Quest These Scriptures prove indeed sufficiently that Jesus was conceived among us for she was with child born among us seen among us removing from place to place among us growing in years and stature and gifts among us and after all this his own testimony after his resurrection do sufficiently prove he ascended not as man before he descended what use then shall those Scriptures turn to which he abuses to that end Ioh. 3.13 No man hath ascended but he that hath descended the Son of man which is in heaven Iohn 8.42 I came from God Vers 29. I am from above Iohn 13.1.3 Jesus knowing that he came from God Ioh. 16.28 30. I came forth from the Father by this we believe that thou camest from God Answ Add them all to that Testimony afforded us by the Scripture Rom. 9.5 Who is God over all blessed for evermore Amen Quest Whereas our Catechist quotes several Scriptures importing that he that believes shall be saved if we hold fast our confidence to the end if a man purge himself if through the spirit we mortifie the deeds of the flesh we shall live if we repent our sins shall be blotted out if we do these things happy are we if we suffer with him we shall also raign and whereby he deducts that the promises of the Gospel are propounded conditionally to faith perseverance obedience doing and uttering which indeed is true but mean time conceals that Truth which ought to be considered herewith namely that we may perform these conditions we must have recourse to an absolute promise are there not therefore Scriptures that make all these first to be Gods gift ere they are our Act repeat some among many Answ Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith c. Eph. 6.23 Peace be to the Brethren and love with faith from God the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Eph. 2.8 By grace are ye saved through faith in Iesus and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Acts 26.22 I obtained help of God and continue unto this day 2 Tim. 2.14 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom Heb. 13.20 21. The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepheard of the Sheep thorough the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in all good works to do his will working in you what is pleasing in his sight thorough Jesus Christ to whom be praise for ever and ever Amen Eze. 11.19 And I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit in their bowels and will take their stony heart out of their bodies and I will give them a heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes and keep my Judgements and execute them Hosea 14.9 The wayes of the Lord are just and the r ghteous shall walk in them Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Acts 5.31 Him hath God raised up with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel to give repentance and forgiveness of sins Acts. 11.17 18. Forasmuch then as God gave them a like gift as he did unto us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ who was I that I could let God when they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life Rom. 2.4 Or despisest thou the riches of his bounty and patience and long-suffering not knowing that the bountifulness of God leadeth thee to repentance 2 Tim. 2.24 25. But the Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle toward all men apt to teach suffering the evil men patiently instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devil of whom they are taken prisoners to do his will Phil. 1.19 Vnto you it is given for Christ that not onely you should believe in him but also suffer for his sake CHAP. IX QVest Though the many Scriptures cited do prove the Divinity of the Son and we do in the main refer all other by strokes thereat one whereof we have in this Chapter to that distinct head yet whereas here is quoted Mat. 9.2 3 4 importing that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins and that the multitude glorified God which had given
Scriptures truly to press us to aim at perfection and have it as a rule in our eye nay doth not the Apostle Paul press such as he cals already perfect at the same time to press on to perfection as not having yet attained perfection though called perfect let us hear himself speak of himself and others Answ Phil. 3.11 12 13 14 15. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead not as though I had already attained or were already perfect But I follow after If I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended But this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before I press towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded Quest When Paul was at his highest pitch through the abundance of Revelations yet was he not then far from such an estate as perfection in degree what saith he himself Answ 2 Cor. 12. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of Revelations there was given unto me a prick in the flesh Quest. But though the degree of perfection were not attained or attainable yet there is sincerity which is perfection there is an universal general obedience to every part of the Law of God which is perfection too in Gods account so much these Scriptures compared with others declare but can they prove the compleat pitch and degree of perfection besides what is already named what say other Scriptures Answ 1 Cor. 13.9 10. For we know in part we prophesie in part Psal 19.12 13. Who can understand his Errors cleanse thou me from my secret sins keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins Mat. 6. 12. Forgive us our Trespasses Mark 9.24 Lord I believe help thou my unbelief Col. 3.5 Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Psal 51.4 My sin is ever before me Quest Touching good works enough hath been said in the former chapter to evince that they have nothing to do in the business of Justification so as that God should justifie us for or because of our works yet inasmuch as here it s again insisted on as the cause of Justification repeat therefore the same Scriptures here urged which prove our Justification to be not of works but of grace Answ Eph. 8 9. 10. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works Rom. 11.5 And if by grace it s no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace Quest But good works are so to salvation as is the Antecedent to the Consequent to say though we may not expect to be saved for them yet we cannot expect to be saved without them what therefore the Scripture makes the proper end of good works are they not especially these and such like as these obedience to God the honour of our profession the glory of God the proof evidence and justification of our faith a tryal to the sincerity of our profession a sign of our state in grace acceptance with God and from the whole to put to silence evil men and be a comfortable ground of peace in our own sâ—uls What says the Scriptures to each of these Answ 1 Thes 4.3 This is the will of God even your Sanctification Titus 3.8 This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly That they which have believed in God may be careful to maintain good works These things are good and profitable unto men Eph. 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation whereunto ye are called Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven James 2.14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 24 25. What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and have not works will faith save him if a brother be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them Depart in peace be you warmed and filled notwithstanding you give them not those things that are needful to the body what doth it profit even so faith if it hath not works is dead Was not Abraham our father justified by works Thou believest that there is one God thou dost well the Devils also believe and tremble but wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered his son Isaac upon the altar seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect 1 John 3.7 10. Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous in this the children of God are manifest and the Children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God 1 Iohn 2.29 If ye know that he is righteous ye know that every one which doth righteousness is born of him Acts 10.35 He that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Heb. 13.18 Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly 1 Pet. 3.16 Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as ev l doers they may be ashamed that falsly accuse your good conversation in Christ 1 Pet. 2.15 For so is the will of God that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Acts 23.1 And Paul earnestly beholding the Council said Men and brethren I have lived in all good conscience towards God untill this day Quest We are now come to that grand Question touching the perseverance of the Saints wherein we have many â—criptures brought telling us that the righteous may turn away from his righteousness and sin unto death and that for his iniquity which he hath committed he shall dye Eze. 18.24.33.13 Is there any denies a temporal death according to these Scriptures have ye not other examples agreeing with them that sickness and death are inflicted on good men under the Gospel for their miscarriages Answ 1 Cor. 13. For this cause some of you are sick and some are fallen asleep Quest But do these or other Scriptures following prove that doctrine to be false Once in Christ and ever in Christ as we have taken for granted in the question of Biddle The Scriptures are such as tell some shall depart from the faith some have made Shipwrack of faith cast off their faith erred from the faith overthrown the faith of some several exhortations in Scripture that we take heed we depart not from the living God left we be hardned thorough the deceitfulness of sin lest any man fall after the example of unbelief lest being led away by the error of the wicked fall
Biddle Dispossest OR His Scripture perverting Catechism reformed by Scripture Wherein Those points of the Christian Religion blasphemed by Biddle by wresting the Scripture to answer his heresies Question-wise propounded are vindicated in several Anti-questions resolving themselves by pertinent answers taken word for word out of the Scripture without either consequents or comments And which Biddle could not say no more is concluded in the Question then what is really and plainly contained in the Answer Collected for their sakes who desire to be true Christians and not of this sect of Biddle inasmuch as that Sect not more or less but hath altogether departed from the simplicity and truth of the Scripture Quid dignum tanto tulit hic promissor 2 Pet. 3.17 Beware lest ye being led away with the Error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness London Printed for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleet street neer the Temple-Gate 1654. BIDDLES Mock-Preface I Have wondred that there was no Catechism yet extant that ever I could see or hear of in which one might find the whole system of heresie as the same is exactly contrary to the holy Scripture as in this of Biddles which is generally so stuffed which abuses wrestings and forcing the Scripture to answer his heretical spurious and lying Questions that the least part thereof is at all consonant to or derived from the Word of God For thus it is the Councels Convocations and Assemblies of Divines having been attending to lesser things not sufficiently watching this envious one now whilest they sleep endeavours to justle the sacred Scriptures out of their place in the Church framing Articles and Intruding them on our faith according to his own fancy and Interest which is to gain Disciples after him as who is there that hath not heard of Biddles Disciples And the Civil Magistrate notwithstanding his Authority conniving at the same we have at last a Catechism fitted to those Articles that Interest and design wherein the Scriptures are some of purpose omitted others wrested or brought in only for a shew not one quotation amongst all the things controverted being a whit to the purpose as will soon appear to any man of Judgement who taking into his hands the said Catechism shall examine the text alledged with other Scriptures and the ends they are alledged for for if he do this diligently and impartially he will find the Scripture and this Catechism to be at so wide a distance one from another that he will begin to question whither and proceed to believe that Biddle did not himself believe what himself wrote or if he did so will positively conclude that spiritual and Scriptural understanding he hath none notwithstanding all his pretence to rational and that he did believe proudly supposing all men blind as himself that his Readers had no more In how miserable a condition then as to spiritual things must the Disciples of Biddle needs be when thus trained up not as the Apostle adviseth in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but in the blind and crooked paths of ungodly men deceived or deceving or both and in the doctrine of Devils not having onely no assurance of the reality but the clearest Scripture-conviction of the non entity of their faith Into which sad condition many notwithstanding are fallen into being so unhappy as not to know or having known to forsake the way of Truth and quite abandon all piety and honesty having departed from the Truth the onely firm ground whereon to build the same to prevent which mischief for time to come by reducing such to their prisline faith I mean such of them as own the Divine authority of the Scripture and withal to satisfie the just and pious desire of some and of my self who delight to see the Scripture vindicate its self and maintain the Truth of our religion to the end that they and all good men especially such to whose hands this blasphemous piece hath come may consume themselves their children and families in that truth wherein they are already built up and are yet building up one another I have therefore not by the understanding I have gotten but that God hath given me not compiled but collected certain Scripâ—ures which may serve touching several wronged Truths of God for a Scripture Catechism wherein I have not nor cannot but the Spirit of God may bring the Reader to a sure and certain knowledge of the truth of our profession and the Error of Biddles touching great things both touching belief and practice whilst I myself assert nothing much less force the Scripture to answer my lyes as Biddle hath done before me but onely introduce the Scripture uttering its own assertions which all Christains confess to be of undoubted Truth Take heed therefore whosoever thou art of Biddles Sect or not that lightest on this book and there readest things quite contrary to the lyes propagated by Biddle and currantly received amongst his deluded without grace lost followers for I maintain not onely the things here displayed but the many Scriptures alledged both in the Letter and sense of them not onely to have such a tendency but a direct and flat opposition to those his abominations I say take heed whoever thou art that thou art not once or again entangled or ensnared with these his Hellish diabolical insinuations for if thou art fair with him thou canst not be so without falling foul upon the whole bulk of holy Scripture it self inasmuch as all the Questions and answers thorough Biddles Catechism are forced either to speak another Dialect then themselves know or at least then the current of other Scriptures know whereas the Scripture wars not against its self but is in sense reconcileable one place to anoother though in words perhaps may have another tendency for how can a Kindom divided against its self stand And for the Answers in this Anti-Catechism now before thee they are faithfully transcribed out of the holy book rightly applied to Question and made father no more in the Question then is really contained in the proof if thou shalt make a dilligent inspection into the several texts with all their Circumstances which besides his pretentions Biddle could not say To evince it that he could not say so Take onely one Instance for many in his Catechism In his 5. Chap. his first question is How many holy spirits of Christians are there He answers it by Eph. 4 4. One spirit Put the Question and answer together they make one entire proposition whither true or false judge Reader There is but one holy Spirit of Christians This he does to take off the power of the word which calls the holy Ghost the Spirit God But neither here nor elsewhere the Spirit of Christians which yet as an answer to this Question this Scripture is made to say ex ungue Leonem by this may you judge of many such and yet Mr. Biddle gives you express Scripture without consequent
Mediator according to the Scriptures for such an high Priest it became us to have let us hear what testimony the Scripture gives to the Godhead of Christ and that he may see the wisdom of that God whom he hath blasphemed as a token of vengeance to him bring out one dart for the heart of him and his blasphemy out of his own quiver The two first Scriptures he quotes in this God defying Chapter what say they and other Scriptures Answ He begins with Ephes 4.5 and 1 Cor. 8.6 One Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things Col. 2.9 In him in Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Isaiah 9.6 For unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given the Government is upon his shoulders he shall call his name wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Jer. 23.5 Behold the days come saith the Lord I will raise unto David a righteous branch and this is the name whereby they shall call him the Lord our righteousness Mat. 16.16 Then Peter answered and said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God John 1.1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and that word was God John 20.28 Then Thomas answered and said Thou art my Lord and my God Acts 15.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Rom. 9.5 Of whom concerning the flesh Christ came who is God over all blessed for ever Amen 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the Mysterie of godliness God manifested in the flesh 1 John 5.20 But we know the Son of God is come Christ and we are in him that is true Christ that is his son Jesus Christ this same is very God and eternal life Ioh. 3.13 No man ascendeth up to heaven but he that descended from heaven the Son of man which is in heaven before Abraham was I am Phil. 2 6 Who being in the form of God thought it no robberie to be equal with God took on him the form of a servant Mat. 24.44 The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstool Joh. 5.17 18 My Father worketh hitherto and I work therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him not only because he had broken the Sabbath but said also that God was his Father and made himself equal with God Joh. 19.7 The Jews answered we have a Law by which he ought to dye because he made himself the Son of God Rom. 8.3 15 God sending his own son not sparing his own Son Isa 7.14 Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and she shall call his name Emanuel God with us John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son Ioh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and we saw the glory thereof as the only begotten son of the father Col. 1.13 Giving thanks unto the Father who hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son who is the Image of the invisible God the first born of every creature for by him were all things created which are in heaven and which are in earth things visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or powers all things are created for him and by him and he is before all things and in him all things consist Heb. 1.6 Let all the Angels of God worship him vers 8. Vnto the Son he saith O God thy throne is for ever and ever vers 10. And thou Lord in the beginning hast established the earth and the heavens are the works of thy hands Heb. 3.3 Christ is worthy of more honour then Moses inasmuch as he that built the house hath more honour then the house and he that built all things is God Heb. 13.8 Jesus the same yesterday to day and for ever Isa 45.21 22 23. Who hath declared this from the beginning who hath told it of old have not I the Lord there is none other God beside me a just God and a Saviour look unto me and ye shall be saved all the ends of the earth for I am a God and there is none other I have sworn by my self every knee shall bow unto me and every tongue shall swear by me compared to Rom. 14.10 11 12. We shall appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ for it is written I live saith the Lord and every knee shall bow to me and all tongues shall confess unto God so then every one shall give account of himself to God Isa 44.4.44.6 Rev. 1.18 compared who hath wrought and done it he that calleth the generation from the beginning I the Lord am the first and with the last I am the same thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts I am the first and the last and without me there is no God And I saw seven Candlesticks and in the midest one like the Son of man and he said I am the first and the last Pro. 8.22 The Lord hath possessed me the beginning of his wayes I was before his works of old Mar 3.1 Behold I will send my Messenger and he shall prepare my way before me and the Lord whom ye seek shall speedily come to his Temple even the Messenger of the Covenant whom ye desire Psal 45.6 Vnto the Son he saith O God thy Throne is for ever and ever Esa 40.3 A voice cryeth in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a path for our God CHAP. V. QVest We find the Blasphemer pretending to the Letter of the Scripture without Consequent or Comment how then does Eph. 4.4 one Spirit resolve his Question how many holy Spirit 's of Christians are there Ans No ways Quest Whereas then he would ungod God the holy Ghost he makes a phrase and gives the holy Ghost a new name The holy spirit of Christians whereas we find no such thing in Scripture but the holy Spirit of God what shall we then say to such a Blasphemer who would under pretence of express Scripture put on us that for Scripture which we never find there that to so damned an end Answ The Lord rebuke thee Satan to the Law and to the Testimony Quest The Scriptures indeed are the rule of faith and no God ought we to worship but the God in the Scriptures What Scripture have we then that expresly proves the Deity of God the holy Ghost Answ The first Scripture being unhappily quoted by our Adversary being 1 Chron. 10.11 I shall therefore first give you The Spirit searcheth all things Esay 6.9 compared to Act. 28.25 and I heard the voice of Jehovah the Lord saying whom shall I send And I said here am I send me Then he said go and fay unto this people they shall
ends of Christs death the Scripture mentions if not what other principal end is here omitted Answ Ephes 1.7 We have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins Col. 1.14 Same words Ephes 1.14 Redemption of the possession purchased Gal. 4.5 When the fulness of time was come God sent forth his son made of woman and made under the Law that he might redeem them which were under the Law Titus 2.13 14. Our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquities CHAP. XIII QVest Were there neither Scripture nor Argument against the doctrine of universal love and general Redemption this were enough to a sober mind to Question it in that it s bound up in the volume of our Authors Truth and so vigorously contended for by such a Master of heresie And may cause our late assertors thereof to blush to see their opinion touching so important an head in Divinity inserted in so black and Atheistical a Calender But to the thing the Scriptures speaking Christ dyed for all gave himself a ransom for all tasted death for every man giveth life to the world will have all men be saved all should come to repentance for the sins of the whole world c. and other such of a general tendency how must they be understood of a general confused and universal love to men so that God willed and Christ effected the Salvation of all men or else according to restraint given us in other Scriptures to the Election of the Father the prayer of Christ the faith and obedience of men the sheep of Christ his Church such whom his Father hath given him his people his peculiar people and this general term all expounded by other Scriptures to be many which will if so effectually prove that though Christ is indeed in common tendered and propounded to all men but intended and effectually applyed only according to these restraints Rehearse the Scriptures therefore on each of these Answ Rom. 9.11 12.13 For ere the Children were born and when they had done neither good nor evil that the purpose of God might remain according to Election not by works but by him that calleth it was said the elder shall serve the younger as it is written I have loved Iacob and hated Esau Rom. 11.5 Even so then at this present is there a remnant according to the election of grace ver 7. The Election have obtained it the rest have been hardned v. 28. As touching the election they are beloved for the Fathers sake Iohn 17.9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Iohn 12.46 I come a light into the world that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in the darkness Acts 10.43 To him also give the Prophets witness that through his name all that believe in him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 3.22 The righteousness of God by the Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe Heb. 5.9 Being consecrate was made the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Mat. 25.33 And he shall set his sheep on his right hand and the Goats on his left John 10.26 27. My sheep hear my voice and I give unto them eternal life John 10.15 I lay down my life for my Sheep Mat. 15.24 And he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock whereof the holy Ghost had made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Ephes 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it Iohn 6.29 And this is the Fathers will who hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Titus 2.13 14. Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself zealous of good works Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many Mat. 26.28 This is the blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered to take away the sins of many Isa 53.11 But his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Quest These Scriptures are undeniable as to this great point but is there not a general providential temporal good mercy and salvation in God common to all men yea to irrational creatures as well as men Answ Psal 145.8 9. The Lord doth good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 36. O Lord thou savest man and beast Quest In this Chapter we have another blow at the Godhead of the Son The Scriptures abused to this end are such as tel us Christ was raised by God by the power of God by the glory of the Father and such like whence it is concluded Christ rose not by his own power but by the power of another Is that therefore the language of these Scriptures which tels us he was not raised by himself Touching that we must address to other Scriptures what therefore saith the Lord himself touching this thing Answ Iohn 2.19 20 21. Jesus answered and said unto them Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again then said the Jews Forty and six years was this Temple a building and wilt thou rear it in three days but he spake of the Temple of his body Iohn 10.17 Therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I may take it again no man taketh it from me But I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again Quest This discourse of the resurrection was improvidently medled with to that end intended for if the Lord Jesus Christ did by his own power raise himself from the dead as those Scriptures prove then onely was he God yet have you not other Scriptures do prove that when God the Father raised up the Son from the dead the Son then raised up himself inasmuch as the Father and the Son work together in one and the same work Answ John 5.21 For likewise as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickeneth whom he will John 5.19 Whatsoever things the Father doth the same things doth the Son also
the father worketh hitherto and I work CHAP. XV. QVest To usher in the doctrine of works way is made for it by confounding the terms Iustification and Righteousness as if they were but one and the same thing when indeed there 's nothing less for the Scripture indeed tels us of a righteousness which is of the Law but nowhere a Iustification which is of the Law That we may therefore understand them both let us hear the Scripture speaking touching them both and first for Iustification doth not the Scripture expresly say it cannot be righteousness in us Answ Psal 143.3 For in thy sight shall no man that liveth be justified Rom. 4.5 To him that worketh not but believes on him that justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for Righteousness Quest Justification then cannot be righteousness in us but accounted to us what is Justification then but remission of sins and doth not the Scripture make our Justification to consist herein that iniquities are forgiven and sin not imputed Answ Psal 32.1 Blessed is he whose iniquitie is forgiven and whose sin is covered blessed is the man to whom God imputeth not sin Quest But how prove you this is meant to be Justification doth not the Apostle Paul treating on this very thing Iustification quote this very place summing up Iustification in two parts Imputation of righteousness without works non-Imputation of sin Answ Rom. 4.2 5 6 7 8. For if Abraham were Iustified by works he had wherewith to boast but not before God But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that iustifieth the ungodly his faith is accounted for Righteousness even as David declareth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord Imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin Quest What then is our Righteousness doth not the Scripture tell us it s the satisfaction and obedience of Christ in life and death performed for us and of God freely imputed to us that believe report the language of the Scripture touching this glorious import first of his satisfaction Answ 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ and him crucified Esay 53.5 6. By his stripes we are healed the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquities of us all Luke 22.20 This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you Rom. 3.24 Justified freely by his grace through the Redemption which is in Christ Iesus whom God hath sent forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness to the forgiveness of sins Rom 5.8 9. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us much more then being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Gal. 5.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law when he was made a Curse for us Eph. 1.7 By whom we have Redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins 1 Joh 1.7 The blood of Iesus Christ the Son of God cleanseth us from all sin Christ the Son of God cleanseth from all sins Col. 2.10 Ye are compleat in him Rom 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many also be made righteous Quest It s clear indeed tha its the suffering of Christ the obedience and righteousness of Christ that makes us righteous and justified but then how doth the Scripture say his faith was counted righteousness Abrabam believed in God and he counted it for righteousness Is it contrary to the sense of all the forementioned Scriptures the act of faith or the blood of Christ the Object of faith that justifies in short is Justification for our faith or by it how say the Scriptures Answ Eph. 2 10. By Grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Rom. 5.9 Being now justified by his blood Quest But the Scriptures say we are justified freely by grace the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace eternal life is the gift of God c. Is it so as if the gift of God and the merit of Christ are inconsistent nay rather do they ever act apart may not nay is not that which is a free gift of God respecting us the price of blood respecting Christ Answ We need no farther then the Scriptures wrested on this very account Rom 3.24 We are justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Eph. 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Rom. 6 23. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Quest Doth not the Scripture say therefore positively that we are bought with a price and that price is the precious blood of Jesus Chrâ—st Answ 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not the Servants of men 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Knowing that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by the traditions of the fathers but with the precious blood of Iesus Christ as a Lamb undefiled and without spot Quest Nay more doth not the Scripture expresly say that without this price of blood there is no remission Answ Heb. 9.22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission CHAP. XVI Quest Our Saviour tels us his Commandments are not grievous his yoak is easiy and his burden light this indeed is a slight proof of our Master of Arts to conclude our possibility of keeping the Commandments of God let 's hear the sense of the Apostle Paul to this very thing affectionately expressing the desire of his regenerate part to keep the Law of God and his hearty closing therewith making good that of our Saviour That his Commandments are not grievous his yoak is easie and his burden light yet withall plainly telling us that he was not able to keep them by reason of his unregenerate part and in plain terms giving our Master of Arts the lye Answ Rom. 7.14 For we know the Law is spiritual but I am carnal sold under sin for that which I do I allow not for that I would that do I not but what I hate that I do now then it s no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me for I know in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to perform that which is good I know not for the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that do I I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me for I delight in the Law of God after the inward man but I see another Law
in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Quest In Truth this is an eminent experience in this eminent Apostle writ for our instruction but what more express Scriptures have you Answ Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 John 8.10 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say we have not sinned we make him a lyar and the truth is not in us 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Psal 14.3.2 Enter not into Judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Esay 64.6 We have all been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy rags Quest Indeed this makes little for the possibility of keeping the Law of God but yet more are not these laws broken by us ere we come unto act and if so there is yet further impossibility Answ Mat. 5.28 I say unto you whosoever looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Quest Here is sin proved effectually to be in all even the best men omitting good committing evil yea and against their endeavours and desires and sin in thought but what is this sin which the best men do and cannot but do is it not the breaking transgressing or not keeping the Commandments of God Answ 1 John 3. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Quest But suppose a man exactly observe and do all the Law some few points nay ore breach in his time onely excepted doth not that intitle him to the guilt of all so that he that keeps not all and every one keeps none of the Commandments Answ Iames 2.10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Quest If this be our possibility to keep the Commandements the Lord be merciful to me a sinner but yet the Scriptures speak of keeping the Commandements of God doing the will of God hearing and doing to which blessedness is annexed is there not therefore a new obedience required of and practised by the Saints according to the tenour of such Scripture which though it be not perfection yet is accounted to them as perfection and hath blessedness intailed to it That obebience centring on these two Bases Sincerity and Faith Answ Walk before me and be perfect c. upright seat Psal 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in Law of the Lord. Gal. 3.21 22. If there had been a Law given which could have given life surely righteousness should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them which believe Quest But David said of himself he had keep the ways of the Lord did he mean perfectly How could that be since he is recorded a fit example alledged by Biddle both an Adulterer and a Murderer what can be then meant by his keeping but his sincerity is not that his righteousness cleaness of hands and his keeping the ways of God namely his not wickedly departing from God and his being upright before him quote the very words already by Biddle for which light we thank God not Biddle to the contrary end Psal 18.20 to 24. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompenced me for I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eysight Quest What saith Paul whom before we find could not keep the commandments yet in Gods sight was accounted perfect but how Answ Phil. 3.7 That I might be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is of the faith of Christ Quest That the Lord Jesus himself did respect and the Saints may the recompence of reward is not denyed by us which is warranted by those Scriptures that tell us by wel-doing we should seek for Honour Glory and Immortality we should look for the blessed hope But how is this to be looked on as due unto us ex debito vel ex congruo for our doing or for our suffering or rather to the grace of God which pleaseth so to reward us in short is the reward of merit or of grace Answ Luke 17.7 to the 10. but which of you having a servant plowing or feeding Cattle will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field go and sit down to meat and will not rather say unto him Make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy self and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink doth he thank that servant because he did those things that were commanded him I trow not so likewise you when you have done all those things commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Ephes 2 8.9 By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Quest The Scripture tels us we are chosen to be holy and unblameable That Christ gave himself for the Church to present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 2. That the gifts of Christ were for the protecting of the Saints we are exhorted to be perfect prayed for that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God and that our whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we have it recorded that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation That Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless if these and such like be intended of perfection compleat is it not in respect to the imputation of Christs Righteousness and perfection to us not of our own righteousness or perfection in us Answ I desire to be found in him not having my own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 Quest But rather is not the scope of those
or comments to save his credit we say so too without true ones And let not Biddle say or any for him we need a mystical or figurative interpretation though many texts of Scripture are of that nature to make the doctrines of Truth in our hand and the texts of Scripture alledged to maintain their sence for we do not as Biddle in this Instance draw the Scripture falsly to our doctrine but our doctrine truly from the Scripture nor do we once take this liberty to impose our mystical and figurative interpretations on the Scripture without express warrant of the Scripture it self and with that they are no more our interpretations but the Scriptures neither have we the less settled belief nor are we the more liable to be turned aside by any one can Invent a new mystical meaning of the Scripture there being as sure a rule to judge of such meanings as there is of the litteral ones to wit the spirit of Revelation in the knowledge of him I say Revelation conversant in not without and besides the Scriptures and that form of wholsome words once to the Saints nor is there any error how absurd or impious soever can on such terms be accorded with the Scripture nor the abominable Idolatries of the Papists nor the superstitious fopperies of the Turks nor the licentious opinions and practice of the Ranters nor all these abominable and damnable heresies the smoak belched out by Satan in several ages from the bottomless pit and now all Epitomised in the Person and Catechism of Biddle may upon such terms be palliated much less defended by the Word of God Certainly we do not of our own heads figuratively interpret the Scripture when the Letter seemeth repugnant to our spiritual sense to the scope of the respective Text and to many plain Texts to the contrary for in such cases Biddle himself confesseth we must of necessity admit figures in the sacred volume as well as we do in profane ones that the Scripture clash not with it self or with our spiritual sense which indeed as it hath the word for its foundation and only so is of infallible certainty I say if then we do admit a figure or spiritual meaning in the plain word of God neither do we make as some blaspemously and Biddle wickedly would make the Scripture a nose of wax for Instance it s delivered in the Scripture that the heaven of heavens cant contain God that there is no flying from his presence that he is present in heaven and in hell and in the uttermost parts of the Sea that the Heaven is his Throne and the Earth his Foot stool and alt these things hath his hand made that he is a God at hand and a God afar off that no man can hide himself in secret places from God and that he fills the heaven and the Earth neither is any thing said in the Scripture to the contrary but that several places say he is in heaven none saying he is not elsewhere I say now in this or such other cases why should I thus stick to the Letter of the Word and boldly affirm with Biddle having his understanding darkened with vain Philosophy of which we are bidden to beware that God is in a certain place would not this be to use the Scripture as a nose of wax and when of it self it looketh one way to turn it another at our pleasure the like may be said of the similitude or shape of God his Passions and affections the Redemption of all men and the falling from the faith and such like whatever is controverted in the ensuing Catechism And doth not God so speak to our capacity in his Word which is a sure refuge in many matters concerning God in Scripture as that he doth not render us uncapable of finding out his meaning when he speaks one thing and explains himself by another yea is not that way of his a direct course not to make us substitute an Idol in his place but to prohibit our so doing when he tells in one place our God is in the heavens and explains himself in another yea sundry other that he is also in the Earth in Hell and in the furthestmost parts of the Sea for thus doth he in plain terms express himself that we may not conceive amiss of him Thus we see that when sleep which plainly argueth weakness and imperfection is ascribed to God Psa 44.23 the contrary is said of him Psa 121. Thus does God in these forementioned things he tells us he is in heaven but that he is in the Earth and the Sea also which is the manner of God in Scripture to explain himself in one place what he means by another which hath so much weight in it that it cannot be avoided and he that shall deny it to any heretical end does but take up one erroneous tenet to maintain another But it s no wonder indeed this fellow doth so who entertains himself and would have us to entertain such conceipts of God and Christ as are repugnant to the current of the Scripture and far below the Divine Majesty as he hath pleased to discover himself in the plain but certain Letter of sacred writ which he doth in design to beguil the rude apprehensions of the vulgar and instead of making them meer Christians to make them worse then Heathens the root whereof is pride desiring to be accounted a learned man and able to speak more truly of God and the things of God then himself hath spoken in his word This indeed hath brought that more then Babylonish confusion into the Church whilst men such men who being of their Father the Devil his works they will do have framed those horrid doctrines under colour of Religion and Truth but in Truth to put a baffle on the simplicity of the Scripture and usher in heresies that so they may with the more advantage carry on their designs whither of applause or profit by their seduced followers which could not be effected but by the ignorance of such people and by wrapping up such dangerous conclusions in the guilded coverts of wrested misapplied Scriptures such things probably as our Author for so he would but shall not be called doth not and the first Inventors thereof for he hath taken them all from the inventions of others indivers ages before him who did not themselves believe even then when they did whither in design or in malice or both I say not first of all broach them wherefore there is no possibility to keep the Christian Religion in its primitive purity a thing worthily boasted of in reformed Churches as having been sincerely indeavoured and in some good measure effected by the good hand of God upon the labour among others his Servants Luther and Calvin but by detecting and cashiering those many false notions and devised forms of lying fathered on religion and wholly keeping our selves to the plainness and Truth of the Scripture for I have observed and
hear and not understand c. In Acts its quoted well said the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet go unto this people and say by hearing ye shall hear and not understand Heb. 9.14 The etternal Spirit 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 Know you not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in you therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit for they are Gods 2 Cor. 6.16 And what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God Acts 5.3 4. Then said Peter Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lye unto the holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed unto man but unto God Esay 40.9 Say unto the Cities of Judah behold your God ver 10. behold the Lord God will come with power ver 13. who hath instructed the Spirit of the Lord or was his Councellour ver 15. Behold the Nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the dust of the ballance Behold he takes away the sles as a little dust vers 17. All Nations before him are as nothing less then nothing and vanity ver 18. To whom then will ye liken God Luke 1.3 And the Angel said the holy ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee the Spirit of God hath made me 1 John 1.5 7. Three bear Record in heaven and these three are one Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the waters 1 Cor. 12.1 Now concerning gifts vers 4. There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit vers 6. And there are diversities of operations but God is the same which worketh all in all ver 8 9. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit vers 11. All these things worketh the self-same Spirit distributing to every one severally as he will Mat 12.28 31.32 I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God therefore I say unto you every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy of the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men and whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shal not be forgiven him either in this world or the world to come Quest Are there not some workings of the Spirit in the hearts of men already regenerate that are extraordinary and miraculous such as in the Acts which is called receiving the holy Ghost the holy Ghost falling upon them c. in use for confirmation of the primitive Church some that are proper to such a state as the Spirit of Adoption Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son of Consolation so the Spirit is called the Comforter which Christ prays shall be sent of assurance and evidence after ye believed ye were fealed with the holy Spirit of promise if there be and that this is the meaning of such Scriptures do they then prove that Regeneration Conversion and the first beginnings of grace are in us without the working of the Spirit until after as our Catechist would insinuate or else do they prove only the further and gradual workings of the Spirit what say the Scriptures Answ 2 Cor. 3.8 The Gospel by which we are converted is called the Ministration of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Mat. 3.12 I baptize you with water unto amendment of life but he that cometh after me will baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Ioel 2.28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh 2 Cor. 6.11 18. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are purified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Ioh. 3.24 No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the Law of sin and death CHAP. VI. QVest That Scripture Rom. 5.10 We shall be saved by his life is it so to be understood as Saints ought not to expect salvation by the death of Christ as Biddle insinuates What say other Scriptures to this thing Answ Rom. 8.3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh condemned sin in the flesh Heb. 2.9 14 15. that he by the grace of God should taste death for all men that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 2 Cor. 5.14 If one dyed for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again 1 Tim. 2.6 who gave himself a ransom for all men Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and give his life a ransom for many Mat. 26.28 For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Heb. 9.28 Christ wat once offered to bear the sins of many Esay 53.11 By knowledge shall my righteous servant Justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Eph. 5.25 Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it without blood there is no remission he dyed for us and gave himself for us Eph. 1.7 We have redemption through his blood Heb. 9.12 But by his own blood entred he once into the holy place and obtained redemption for us Heb. 13.13 Therefore even Jesus that he might sanctifie his own people by his own blood suffered without the gate 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Knowing ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ 1 Iohn 1.7 And the blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rev. 1.5 Who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood Rom. 4.25 Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures he laid on him the iniquities of us all Quest But how is the other Question of Christ his being given raised and exalted by another to be a Saviour according to those Scriptures a name given exalted to be a Saviour raised unto Israel a Saviour to be understood Answ As are those Scriptures in the fourth Chapter of the humanity of Christ else the Scripture tels us 1 Tim. 2 6. He gave himself a ransom he gave himself for us CHAP. VIII QVest Whereas he
so much power unto men Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel which Scripture he accommodates by his Question to his Lye namely that Christ forgiving sins on earth and heaven does it as a man impowered and exalted by God and not as God That so he may remove the irresistible force of this argument He that forgives sins is God but the man Jesus Christ forgives sins Ergo. Have you therfore no Scripture that directly proves this thing that what the Lord Jesus did in the work of Redemption and forgiveness of sins he did it as God and so what ere act he did as Mediator he did by vertue of his Divine nature Acts 20.28 The Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood CHAP. X. QVest What shall we say to this Blasphemer who yet in despight of Jesus Christ God blessed for ever abuseth that place Iohn 22.23 The father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father to th s cursed end The Son is not to be honoured as the Father because he hath not the same esteem with the Father but the same judiciary power that so he may divert the dint of two unanswerable Arguments in this glorious Text. 1. He that is Judge of all the world is God but the Son is Judge of all the world Ergo Gen. 18.22 25. And Abraham stood before the Lord and said Shall not the Judge of all the world do right And the Lord answered If I shall find 50. persons in Sodom righteous I will spare the place for their sakes 2. The second is He that is to be Honoured even as the Father is equal to the Father but the Son is to be Honoured even as the Father Ergo. So that though there be enough in the naming this Scripture to confute this child of Satan yet have ye no Scripture over and above those Scriptures already brought to vindicate the Divinity of the Son that expresly proves the Son is honoured as he is and because he is God Answ 1 Pet. 3.15 Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts that they may be ashamed which blame your good conversation in Christ Luke 17.15 16 17. Then one of them when he saw that he was healed turned back and with a loud voice praised God and fell down on his face at his feet and gave him thanks and he was a Samaritan But Jesus answered and said Are there not ten cleansed but where are the nine There were none found to give God thanks save this stranger Quest Since in this Chapter he belches out yet more blasphemy what shall be said in answer to his perverting of this Scripture Iohn 5 27. he hath authority to execute Judgement because he is the Son of man Christ therefore saith he had it not as he is God and that Rev. 1.5 6 11 12. Unto him which washed us from our own sins in his own blood be glory and dominion worthy is the Lamb that was slain when saies he Saints and Angels praise him not because he is very God of very God but because he died for us Answ These are sufficiently spoken to in the Scriptures to the other Answer yet more to follow him in regard in this Question he blasphemes the term very God of very God see Phil. 2.5 6.7 8.9 Let the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but he made himself of no reputation and took on him the form of a Servant and was made like unto man and was found in shape as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto the death even the death of the Cross wherefore God also highly exalted him and gave him a name above every name 1 Iohn 5.20 But we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us a mind to know him that is true and we are in him that is true that is in his Son Iesus Christ this same is very God and eternal life Iohn 1.14 And the word was made flesh and pitched his tents among us and we saw the glory thereof as the glory of the onely begotton Son of the Father full of grace and truth CHAP. XI QVest There being two parts of the Priesthood of Christs satisfaction and intercession according to the Scriptures it s the design of this Chapter to make void the first of them namely the satisfaction of Christ by making the Priesthood of Christ meerly to consist with latter namely his intercession contrary to that rule What God hath joyned let no man put asunder And whereas he doth this First by Heb 8.4 If he were on earth he should not be a Priest Heb. 7.15 16. There ariseth another Priest made not after the Law of a Carnal Commandement but after the power of an endless life hereby concluding that Christ was not a Priest untill after his death and resurrection and if so no Priest upon the Cross since then this is so weighty a business what saith the Scripture in other places Answ The Scriptures to this thing are already cited in the sixth Chapter All centring in that 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ died for us according to the Scriptures Quest But whereas that Scripture Heb. 7.25 he is able to save seeing he ever lives to make intercession for us is alledged doth he save only by his intercession or by his intercession without his satisfaction What other Scriptures therefore have you to prove Christ to be a Priest and a Priest able to save because he offered up himself Answ Many but some of the principal our adversary names I cannot tell why unless that we should not Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offered up to bear the sins of many Heb. 10.11 12. This man after he had offered one sacrifie for sins for ever sat down at the right hand of God for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 7.26.27 For such a High-Priest it became us to have which is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens which needed not daily as these High-Priests to offer up a sacrifie first for his own sins and then for the peoples for that he did once when he offered up himself Quest Doth our Catechist pretend to expres place of Scripture and yet tells us so impudent and known a lye as that Christ entred into the holy place to offer himself as in his nineth Question in this Chapter intimating he offered himself not here what will you then say to so bold a Blasphemer Answ Acts 13.10 Oh full of all subtilty and all mischief the child of the Devil and enemy of all righteousness wilt not thou leave to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord Quest What means that place in Heb. 9.12 By his own blood entred
from their own stedfastness least any man fail of the grace of God lest by any means the Tempter tempts us and the Apostles labour be in vain lest we destroy our weak brother by our knowledge and the Apostle lest when he preach unto others himself should be cast away severall other positive Scriptures speaking such Saints as were enlightned have tasted the heavenly gift made partakers of the holy Ghost tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they fall away that some are cursed children having forsaken the right way and have gone astray That some after they have escaped the pollutions of the world are again entangled therein and overcome who after they have known the way of righteousness turn from the holy Commandment delivered to them and to conclude if a man abide not in Christ he is cast forth and withers every branch in him that beareth not fruit he taketh away Do not some of them prove that hypocrites may go far in the business of Religion and have much light much experience yea faith though temporary and yet fall away do not others of them as the last prove that such men may have the profession of Christ and be members of the visible Church of Christ and so said to be in him yet being strange from the work of regeneration and implantation in the end be cast out But notwithstanding all this do any of these Scriptures or all of them prove that a real member of Christs mystical body or a true Believer may fall from that state lofe his faith and finally perish is not this contrary to the whole tenure of the Gospel what do the Scri tures speak do they not tell us that such as thus fall were never true Believers that many did thus believe whom our Lord himself did not account to be true Believers 2. Hath not God in his word plentifully promised that true believers should persevere and be preservd from total and final apostacy and if so doth not the Scripture tell us God cannot lye 3. Doth not the Scripture tell us that God doth keep true believers that they cannot thus finally fall 4. Doth not the Scripture tell us that such as are true believers are elected of God and cannot thus fall but have already attained the inheritance 5. Doth not the Scripture tell us that Christ prayeth the Father for the perseverance of the Saints and doth not Christ himself say the Father hath always heard him 6. Do not the Saints and true Believers daily pray for their perseverance and doth not the Scripture tell them what ever necessary thing they ask in the name of Christ shall be obtained 7. Are not true believers thus kept by Jesus Christ in the faith so as they can never totally and finally lose their faith 8. Are not such sealed by the holy Spirit in their hearts that they shall never fall 9. Are not Believers compared to a Tree that withers not a house that is builded on a Rock and fals not seed sown in good ground which bringeth forth its perfect crop 10. Are not such Believers so dead to sin that it cannot again have dominion over them and are they not so born of God as the seed of God abides in them that they cannot so sin again as do other men yea are not such believers so endued as that they shall overcome all their enemies and cannot be overcome In short if these particulars are the Tenour of Scripture and the truth as it is in Jesus shall not this truth of the Saints everlasting perseverance be worthy of all acceptation to the worlds ends sure it will let us therefore hear what the Scriptures speaks to each of these and first of the first Answ 1. John 8.31 Then said Iesus to those Jews that believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed 1 John 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us for if they had been of us they would have no doubt continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest they were not all of us Heb. 3.6.14 Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Luke 8.18 Whosoever hath not from him shall be taken what he seems to have 2 John 23 24. Now when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover in the feast day many believed in his name when they saw the miracles that he did But Iesus did not commiit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man 2 Gods promise 2. Jer. 32,38 40. They shall be my people and I will be their God and I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will never turn a may from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Esa 54.10 For the Mountains shall remove and the Hills shall fall down but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee Isa 59.10 And I will make this my Covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shal not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed saith the Lord from henceforth even for ever Hosea 2.19 In that day I will marry thee unto me for euer al. 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Iohn 4.14 Whosoever drinketh of this water that I shall give him shall never be more athirst but the water thar I shall give him shall be in him a well of water that springs up to everlasting life Iohn 6 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Iohn 10.27 28 29 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave them me is greater then all and none is able to take them out of my Fathers hand Mat. 16.18 Upon this rock I wil build my Church and the gates hell shall not overcome it Ioh. 14.16 I will ask the father and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever Titus 1.1,2 This hope of eternal life God that cannot lye hath promised before the world began 3 God keeps them 3. 1 Cor. 1.7 8. Waiting for the appearing of our Lord Iesus Christ who shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our
Ordinance of Baptism administred in the Element of water Answ Mark 1.9.10 And it came to pass in those days that Iesus came from Nazareth a City of Galilee and was baptized of Iohn in Iordan and assoon as he was come out of the water Iohn saw the heavens cleaving in twain and the holy Ghost descending on him like a Dove Mrt. 3.13 to the end Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto Iohn to be baptized of him but Iohn earnestly put him back saying I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Then answering Iesus said Let it be now for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness so he suffered him and Iesus when he was baptized came straight out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him and Iohn saw the the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on him and lo a voice came from heaven saying This is my welbeloved Son in whom I am well pleased CHAP. XXIV QVest Well were it for the Heresie of former ages and of this if the last thing in the Catechism were true fitly brought if believed to lull asleep the present torments of a checking Conscience which will work in the heart of such as maliciously sin against the truth but alas they cannot but know the greater is their present sentence and receipt of Iudgement and fiery indignation which shall devour such adversaries Heb. 10.26 27. They have a lye in their right hand It is most fitly added therefore as a close hereto The thing is this then in one word dreadful enough whereas we read of a lyar ought to have a good memory see the last Question of the third Chapter death opposed to everlasting life the second death destruction perdition Hell-fire c. Is it as I know Biddle could wish such a death as immediately maketh the Creature cease to be and dye as doth a beast and so that the height of their misery were that they should not be happy to say they should dye and that 's all or else more truly according to Scripture doth this death second death destruction damnation hell fire c. consist in eternity of torments and everlasting death so that damnation is a life though miserable in opposition to which salvation is only called eternal life Two or three Scriptures and so end Answ Isa ult ult And they shall go forth and look on the carkasses of the men that have transgressed against me for their worm shall not dye neither shall their fire be quenched and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh Mark 9.42 to the 48. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me it were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were cast into the sea Wherefore if thy hand cause thee to offend cut it off it is better for thee to enter into life maimed then having two hands to go into hell into the fire that never shall be quenched where the worm dyeth not and the fire never goeth out likewise if thy foot cause thee to offend cut it off it is better for thee to go halt into life then having two feet to be cast into hell into the fire that never shall be quenched where the worm dyeth not and the fire goeth not out and if thy eye cause thee to offend pluck it out it is better for thee to go into the kingdom of God with one eye then having two eyes to be cast into hell fire where the worm dyeth not and the fire never goeth out Mat. 25.41 46 verses Then shall he say to them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the Devil and his Angels and these shall go into everlasting pain and the righteous into life eternal FINIS