manifest unto them when God shall reveale them unto his Saints by making such a cleare evidence of his grace to appeare so that they may discerne the same worke of grace in others that is in themselves For it is impossible that true grace should alwayes lye hid but it will be manifested at one time or other to the comfort and rejoycing of the rest of the Saints Quest But by the parable of the Draw-net in the thirteenth of Mathew it doth appeare that there may be wicked men in the Church undiscovered and not knowne to be hypocrites untill the great day of the Lord Answ It is true there may bee such for I doe not say that all hypocrites may be discerned and knowne but that it is possible for the Saints to know one another even in this life Quest If all the Saints may be discerned and knowne then those that are not discerned to bee Saints are to be judged hipocrites Answ We cannot so conclude of them for though they bee nor as yet discerned and knowne yet afterwards they may be or they may be Saints and depart this life undiscerned through want of the fellowship of the Saints who onely are able to discern the truth of grace in the Saints Quest But how may we discern and know others to be Saints Answ It is very hard to set down any particular notes whereby they may be knowne because the graces that do demonstrate them to be Saints are inward and therefore are better conceived then can be expressed in word by us neverthelesse if we can upon good ground assure our selves that we are Saints let us see and observe wherein we go beyond an hypocrite in the injoying of any speciall and peculiar grace and then let us expect and look for the same grace in others and wheresoever we find that blessed worke of grace and fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ by a lively faith we may certainly conclude he is a good tree because he bringeth forth good fruit Quest But the most holy and righteous do daily sinne and do that which is evill and hypocrites may also do many good things even works which are very good in outward appearance Answ It is true indeed but yet notwithstanding the evill which the Saints do is none of their fruit nor the good that hypocrites do is none of their fruit It cannot properly be called their fruit for the fruit is that which doth discover the tree either to be good or evill Matth. 7.16.20 Rom. 7.19 Quest What is then the fruit of the good tree that doth discover it self and prove him to be a good tree Answ The fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ is manifold but principally it is love which hath its first beginning from the apprehension of Gods love to them and is first returned to God again and to the Lord Jesus Christ next to their brethren the begotten of God to all men even to their very enemies doing good even to them that hate them Mat. 5.44 1 Joh. 4.19 Chap. 5.1 Quest What is the fruit of the evil tree Answ It is also manifold but principally it consists in the contrary to this fruit of the good tree as contempt of God and despising and hating of his truth and children Quest But hipocrites may dissemble a love unto God and to his truth and children Answ It is true but yet they cannot so dissemble to make the children of God believe and account them for Saints yet they will hope the best of them untill their dissimulation be made manifest and they discovered to be evill trees Quest But is it possible to know them to be Saints of a sudden assoon as they come to converse with them Answ No certainly especially in these times wherein we live for no doubt corruption doth beare great sway in many that no doubt are Saints and the power of Grace doth not manifest it self in many by reason of many discouragements that they meet with and for want of examples to go before them to incourage them and therefore it is very hard to discern them hence it comes to passe that it is held an impossible thing to know them in this life Quest How are the company of Saints called in the Scriptures Answ They are called by many honourable names and titles as the Church of Christ his body his spouse his habitation his Temple Sion Jerusalem the pillar and ground of truth and many such like Ephes 5.30 1 Cor. 12.27 Cant. 4.8.9.10 2 Cor. 6.16 Gal. 4.26 Quest When is this Church and company of Saints to be found Answ This Church is dispersed over the whole world even amongst the very heathen Quest How can it be that there should be any Saints in such places seeing they are ignorant of Christ and there is no name under Heaven whereby we may be saved but onely by the name of Iesus Christ Acts 4.12 Answ It is true neither are they saved by any other name under heaven but by Christ alone Quest How can they be saved by him who never came to know him either to come or come in the flesh Answ It may well be notwithstanding for there is left in man even since his fall a certaine knowledge of God and that he is to be feared and served and there is also a law written in their hearts condemning of them for disobeying the law of God whereby they come to see themselves miserable and to be lyable to the wrath of this just God though they know not how they came to be so at the first and also they see the goodnesse of God extended towards them manifested in his creatures God also working in them by his spirit perswading them that if they will seek mercy at his hands he will be mercifull to their souls as well as to their bodies and this mercy of God is extended unto them for Christ his sake though they know not by whose meanes and for whose sake they receive it Rom. 2.14 15.26 Acts 14.17 Rom. 1.19 20. Qu. Is there not a communion and fellowship amongst the Saints although they be thus dispersed Answ Yes verily they have a spirituall communion and fellowship all partaking of the same grace all being begotten by one father all born of water and spirit all partakers of one precious faith all ruled and governed by one and the same holy spirit who worketh in them a love to one another though they never beheld the faces one of another and do joy and rejoyce in the happinesse and prosperity one of another and for that end are dayly sutors to God in prayer one for another Ephes 2.14 Chap. 4.4.5.6 Quest What is the duty of the Saints being made known one to another Answ Their duty is to assemble themselves together in the name of Christ to worship God to pray unto him and to praise him to exhort comfort and build up one another and to rejoyce in the fellowship one of another
and to pray with and for one another and to minister comfort one unto each other both in spirituall and temporall things as they are able and the necessity of their brethren require Heb. 10.25 Mat. 18. Iude 19.20 Heb. 13.16 Quest What speciall promise is made unto them being thus assembled in the name of Christ Answ A most excellent and comfortable promise of Christ his gracious presence to be in the middest of them to direct them that whatsoever they agree on on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask him shall be done for them of his Father which is in heaven Mat. 18.19 Quest Is not this promise belonging to generall assemblies that meet in publick congregations and may not they expect this promise to be performed unto them Answ If that the Saints in the publick congregations do meet together after this manner that we have declared then they may expect the fulfilling of this promise of Christ but none but onely the Saints have this promise made unto them Quest But we hope that there are Saints in every publick assembly doth not this promise of Christ therefore belong unto them Answ It cannot be denyed but must be acknowledged that Christ will be with his people in the publick assemblies where his true worship is performed and his word truly preached yea at all times but this promise of Christ his presence is a peculiar promise made to the Saints when they assemble together and agree upon any thing to ask that may be for the glory of God and the good of their brethren Math. 18. Quest Why will Christ be with this Church and with no other Answ Because there is a neare union and conjunction between Christ and his members even as between the head and the members of our bodies He having redeemed them with his bloud and hath taken upon him to provide for and to furnish this Church with all necessary graces being unto them a Priest a Prophet and a King Heb. 4.14 Acts 3.22 Esay 9.6 Quest How is Christ a Priest unto them Answ By offering up himselfe once for them unto God a living sacrifice for to make reconciliation between God and them and also by presenting of himselfe before God for them and by offering up and presenting their prayers and causing them to have acceptation at the hands of God through his presentation Heb. 2.17 Rom. 8.34 Heb. 9.14 Revel 8.3 4. Quest How is he a Prophet unto them Answ By making knowne unto them his Fathers will revealing unto them the way of life and peace making knowne unto them heavenly misteries teaching and instructing them by his Word and Spirit and also by sending his Ministers and enabling them for that great worke by all which they are built up and grow in grace and knowledge and all wisdome and heavenly understanding in the will and wayes of God Quest What are the continuall ministers that Christ hath left in his Church to teach and instruct it untill his second comming Answ He did at first give unto them Apostles Prophets and Evangelists whom hee vouchsafed to make the Pen-men of the Scriptures who were to be guides unto all the rest that were to succeed them he also hath ordained other Ministers in his Church as Pastors and Teachers to bee Expositors of the Scriptures and for the applying them to the consciences of the people For the gathering together of his Church and the edifying of the body of Christ which are knowne and distinguished from the rest of the Church not so much by any outward calling by man but by the excellency of gifts and graces bestowed on them and their faithfull employing their gifts and discharge of that office that they are called unto by Christ Ephes 4.11 Ephes 4.12 Quest How doth Christ manifest himselfe to be a King unto his Church Answ By giving unto them holy and just lawes precepts and ordinances to be observed of them and also by ruling and governing them by the Scepter of his Word and Spirit subjecting their hearts wills and affections unto him and to his truth to love desire and embrace the same and to yeeld all subjection unto him Qu. Wherein are the Saints chiefly to be exercised whilest they remaine here for their mutuall comfort and increase of grace in them Answ In the holy use of the word of God Prayer and the Sacraments Quest Wherein is that word of God contained Answ In those bookes of Scripture which we commonly call the old and new Testament in which are contained many holy directions and gracious promises and consolations able to sustaine them in the greatest miseries that can befall them Quest To whom is the word of God committed Answ To all the whole Church of God for their instruction and comfort Quest Who may dispence the word of God unto others Answ All they whom God hath given wisedome and understanding therein and hath showed the misteries thereof they are to minister unto the rest of the body according to their measure of grace received Quest What is prayer Answ It is a calling upon God with the heart in the name of Christ Iesus for all lawfull things that we stand in need of Psal 142.2 Iohn 16.23.24 Quest What things are necessarily required in our prayer unto God Answ There are these three things required in prayer First confession which is the acknowledgement of our sinne and miserie and unworthinesse to receive Psal 32.5 Secondly Petition which is the asking of things needfull Mat. 7.7 Thirdly thanksgiving which is the acknowledging of his power goodnesse and mercy and the returning him praise and thanks for his former mercies bestowed on us Quest Have we any example or patterne according to which we are to frame all our prayers Ans Yea a most absolute and perfect form given unto us by Christ Jesus himself in the 6. of Matthew commonly called the Lords prayer Quest Are we not bound therefore unto that prayer to use it and none but it Ans For the matter contained in it we are but not the form of words and although we may use the same words yet also we may by the example of the Apostles use another form of words and yet offend not against that most absolute rule so long as we desire nothing but what is therein contained Quest May we joyne in prayers with those that reade their prayers in a book Answ Yes doubtlesse if their prayers be good for the matter and performed with reverence and affection even as well as we may with those that use an ordinary form although they do not read it in a book or with those that conceive prayer for therein are we stinted as well as in joyning with them that pray out of a book and we may inlarge our desires in joyning with one and with the other Quest When are we to use prayer Ans At all times upon all occasions we are to lift up our hearts to God by holy requests even in every thing we
take in hand and also in the publick meetings of the Saints but there are other special times wherein every Christian hath liberty to make choice of the fittest time in his own wisdome and discretion as he hath need Quest What is a Sacrament Ans A Sacrament is an outward visible signe appointed by God to teach unto his people spirituall and heavenly misteries Quest Do the Sacraments teach any other thing then that which the word of God doth Ans Not any other thing is taught thereby but the very same thing is visibly preached and presented to our eyes by visible signes which we heare with our eares preached out of the word of God Quest How many Sacraments are there now apointed by God continually to teach and instruct his Church Answ Onely two Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Mat. 28.19 Chap. 26..27 c. Quest What is Baptisme Answ It is a teaching signe whereby is visibly preached unto us by the water and the outward washing Regeneration the new birth of water and the Spirit that is Repentance and faith required of all that will enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Io. 3. Quest Is Baptisme necessary to salvation Answ The things signified by the outward signes of water and washing which indeed is Baptisme is of necessity to salvation as our Lord testifieth Io. 3.5 Quest Are not the outward signes of necessity to salvation Answ No they are not of that necessity for many no doubt may be partakers of that new birth signified by the outward washing which never heard of the outward Baptisme Quest But what if any shall contemne and despise the outward Baptisme Answ It is not possible for any that know it to be an ordinance of God and despise it and will not be baptised it is impossible for such to be saved Quest Are all the elect regenerate when they are outwardly baptised An. No certainly for many of them live many yeares before that work be wrought in them but God doth work in them that great work of Regeneration at what time it pleaseth him Quest But doth the Lord require of us to submit to his own ordinance and will he not work that which is signified thereby Answ The Lord will have us obedient to his ordinance and it is his goodnesse to afford unto us such an excellent help to teach and instruct us to confirm unto us the truth of his promise by such an outward visible signe or seal but he hath not any where promised that he will work that work of grace in them at that instant in their outward Baptisme or by it Quest But there are promises made unto Baptisme of eternall life and such promises belong to none but the regenerate therefore they are also regenerate in Baptisme Answ It is true that in Scripture there are made promises of eternall life unto Baptisme but there are two Baptismes spoken of in Scripture the one men may be partakers of perish which is the outward washing and the other which is the inward washing whosoever are partakers of shall assuredly have eternall life which is indeed the Baptisme of the spirit which whosoever are partakers of have put on Christ and are buried with Christ and are baptised into his death and so shall also live with Christ in eternall glory Quest May Infants be baptised seeing they cannot understand what is done or meant by Baptisme Answ Yes doubtlesse they may as well as children might bee circumcised both Sacrament signifying one and the same thing and therefore they being as capable of the thing signified now as they were then may be baptised for the Lord would thereby shew unto us that we are all born polluted and defiled our nature being corrupted and that children have need of that inward washing of the spirit signified by outward Baptisme and al so to teach us that Infants may be saved as well as others seeing he would admit them to be partakers of that his ordinance Quest Whhat is the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Answ It is also an outward signe whereby is represented unto us by the breaking of the Bread and the pouring out of the Wine the Lords death the breaking of his body and the pouring out of his blood and by the receiving of those signes of Bread and Wine is set forth unto us the participation and communion of the faithfull in his death and in whatsoever he hath done for them and it is their thankfull remembrance thereof till he come 1 Cor. 11. Quest Who are to partake of this Sacrament Answ It was instituted onely for the Saints who are ingrafted into Jesus Christ by a true and lively faith and for their comfort a one Quest May not others bee admitted to this Sacrament Answ They ought not to be admitted if they be knowne to bee wicked and contemners of good things and indeed they ought not to presume to eat thereof considering the danger and damage that comes by unworthy eating and drinking thereof 1 Cor. 11.28.29 Quest What is the danger in unworthy eating and drinking thereof Answ They provoke the Lord to lay judgements upon them for abusing his ordinance which was ordained onely for the helpe and comfort of the faithfull and so eat and drinke damnation to themselves 1 Cor. 11. Quest What great things hath the Scriptures foretold us that are yet unfulfilled the performance whereof wee are to expect in these latter dayes Answ The destruction of Antichrist that man of Sinne The restoration of the truth from those errors abroad in the world the comming downe of the Turkes upon the Christians and the comming of the Lord unto Judgement 2 Thes 2.8 Revel 21.11 chap. 1.17.16 chap. 18. Rev. 20.8 9. Ezek. 38.2 and chapt 39.1 Quest Is the time of the destruction of Antichrist layd downe in the Scriptures Answ Yes certainly Quest But is it possible to find out the time of his destruction Answ Yes assuredly for the Lord hath caused it to bee written for that end that the Church of God might know it and might reape the greater comfort thereby in not onely knowing that he shall be destroyed but also in knowing the yeare of his destruction they may have their mindes setled and patiently wait and not doubt the fulfilling of that promise concerning his destruction Quest But is not times and seasons onely knowne unto the Lord Answ Times and seasons are known also to the Church when it pleaseth God to reveale them for the comfort of his people as we may see that the time of deliverance of Israel out of the captivity in Babilon was revealed and made known unto Daniel which he found out by books that were written Quest In what place of Scripture is the time of Antichrists destruction layd downe Answ In the booke of the Revelation and the eleventh chapter where hee is limited to raigne forty two moneths which is moneths of yeares which amounteth to 1260 yeares The end of which time shall bee in the