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
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
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
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
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
find my observation to be true and certain that when men to express matters of religion wrest the words and phrases in Scripture contrary to the sense thereof as explained by the holy Ghost the Author of the whole Divine writ in other Scriptures they slyly under them couch false doctrines and obtrude them on us for without question the doctrines of the Scripture can be so aptly explained by no Spirit no Scripture being of private interpretation as by the spirit of the Scripture it self so that it s not always safe to stick to the Letter of every Scripture but onely as explained by other Scriptures nor is it alwayes unsafe to express matters of religion in words and phrases unfound in Scripture as to the Letter of them provided they be sufficiently warranted and allowed as to the sense of them This Liberty therefore has the Church unblameably taken to speak of the things God in the exact sense of Scripture in their own words And he that blasphemes any such sentence which in sense is the very language of Scripture though the very words are not found in Scripture blasphemes the Scripture its self and so doth he who not ignorantly but maliciously opposes the expressions of Gods being infinite and incomprehensible of his being a simple act subsisting in 3 persons a Divine Circumcession an eternal generation eternal procession incarnation hypostatical union communication of properties original sin Christs taking our nature upon him of Christ making satisfaction to God for our sins both past and present and to come of Christs fulfilling the Law for us being punished by God for us Christs merits or his meritorious obedience both active and passive of Christs purchasing the Kingdome of heaven for us of Christs enduring the wrath of God of Christs rising from the dead by his own power of apprehending and applying Christs righteousness to our selves by faith of Christs being our surety paying our debts of our sins imputed to Christ of his righteousness imputed to us of Christs dying to appease the wrath of God and reconcile him to us of infused grace of free grace of the world of the elect of Irresistible workings of the Spirit in bringing men to believe of carnal reason of spiritual desertion of spiritual incomes the out-goings of God of submitting to or taking up the ordinances c. some of which are in the same terms expressed in Scripture all of them so owned by the Scripture as that the things are expresly and fully contained in them which all men know that are any thing acquainted in that sacred book but for the terms the mother of God Transubstantiation Consubstantation and the ubiquity of Christs body we will add them to Biddles holy spirit of Christians and confess them neither to be owned by Scripture name nor thing Therefore excellent was Pauls advice to Timothy to hold fast the form of sound words which if we once let go we shall be in danger of corruption by new coined words of some and the new coined doctrines of others which is many mens sad case as woful experience teacheth us for wicked and ungodly men in succeeding ages from the Apostles have coined not onely words but doctrines to Hence it is that Arrius began wickedly to blaspheme oppose the Divinity of the second person who is coessential with the father for he is God blessed for ever Amen this opened a gap for other hereticks after him as at present Biddle like so many undershrubs taking life from the droppings of his heresie under pretence of returning to Truth to propagate that accursed heresie The like of others which though it could not vitiate the chastity and simplicity of our faith delivered in the Scriptures every point thereof yet remaining sound and entire yet did there or yet doth remain not any one point thereof uncontradicted and opposed And those heresies of whatsoever kind thus propagated from hand to hand are so far from being like Theseus his old ship new mended as that t was hard to say whither t was the old ship or new as that they are rather like the bird which was alterius ornata coloribus so that though they may perchance vary their words and new dress their arguments yet are they the same and but the same which were at first propounded by this or that Master Heretick and as often answered so that this Master-Builder himself does here Jurare in verba Magistri onely with this difference this o that Heretick at this or that time hath tacked this or that error to our Religion but this would subvert the whole Religion which Christ and his Apostles taught and put this body of heresie in the room thereof in this outstripping them that what they do scatteringly against this or that part of Religion he Rallies and applies to the ruin of Religion it self but thanks be to God through our Lord Iesus Christ who amidst the present Inundation of heresies hath preserved his written word intire for had men corrupted it they would have made it speak more favorably in behalf of their lyes and heresies then it doth wh ch word if we with prayer humility pry into resolving sincerely to imbrace the doctrine therein plainly delivered though all the world should set themselves against the Truth our minds being enlightned we shall easily discern it and be kept therein through the power of God unto salvation And thus much we shall see by experience that a weak instrument of none much less of no great abilities hath sufficiently detected his wicked errors in the Body of heresie by naturall and pertinent Questions and answers exactly transcribed out of the Word of God it having been already of much vantage to me and may I question not through the spirit be so to all whosoever shall search the Scripture alledged and make inquiry into the Oracles of God These Oracles which all men that have by the Spirit of Truth which can onely lead into all Truth studied the same be enamored with as breathing out the wisdom and Truth of God and as being the exactest rule of a holy life which the true Religion acknowledges the way unto happiness whose Divinity notwithstanding hath been is and will be Questioned by many to the worlds end who are unwilling to deny their wordly lusts and obey the pure and perfect precepts thereof which truly Biddle himself would not stick to do might it advantage him in his design against Truth as well as the Divinity of that Spirit which made them Divine But he judges it the most Politick way to stand on the foundation to batter down the house which is a stratagem so perfectly devillish as that in this life and in that to come t will without repentance make him equal to the Prince of evil Angels CHAP. I. QVest The Word of God is quick and powerful and more sharp then a two-edged sword but is to so of it self or with the spirits operation Asw 2 Cor. 3.6 Who
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
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
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