upon them any speciall benefit tending that way Quest Wherefore doth God call and exhort all men to repent seeing all cannot attaine thereunto Answ Hee doth it for these Reasons First because his elect are mingled amongst others and therefore he doth send his Word and call upon all men to repent Secondly he doth it to manifest to all the freenesse of his grace that he is ready to receive all that come to him Thirdly to leave all men without excuse and that their condemnation might more manifestly appeare to be just seeing that grace and mercy was offered them and they willingly refused and rejected it and at that great day of Judgement every mouth shall bee stopped and every one appeare culpable before God Quest But seeing that God hath elected sonne and rejected others is it not therefore in vaine to heare or reade the word of God to pray unto him or to use any meanes to come to the knowledge of the way of life and salvation Answ No verily for seeing these things are required of all men all are bound to take knowledge thereof and to reject or refuse them is to reject and refuse God who offers his grace therein and doth by them worke grace in his elect now seeing some there are that reape benefit by the use of them and that no man can conclude of himselfe that God hath not elected him it is not in vaine to use the meanes but it is meere madnesse and folly to refuse and reject them Quest But by this meanes men may come to such a measure of knowledge and to bee so farre inlightned that they may be in danger to commit the sin against the holy Ghost and so make their condemnation the greater Answ This commeth not by the carefull use of the meanes but by the abuse thereof and light esteeme of the grace offered and therefore they are to take heed of those things that may be any occasion thereunto Quest Is it necessary that this doctrine concerning Gods Predestination should bee made knowne seeing that it may bee hurtfull to many making some secure and carelesse in using any meanes of salvation and also causing others to despaire Answ It is necessary to bee knowne and therefore hath the Lord beene pleased to reveale it and doubtlesse no hurt shall come thereby to any of the elect but exceeding much good for it serves greatly to humble them and to let them see that it is no defert of theirs but the free grace of God who might have chosen others and rejected them And as for the rest they will abuse every truth though it be never so good and profitable and therefore seeing God hath been pleased to reveale it the Elect are not to be deprived of this Benefit because of the abuse of them by the Reprobate Quest Wherefore is it that in Scripture our Justification is attributed unto Faith Answ We are said to be justified by Faith not that Faith justifieth of it selfe but because it is a gift of God whereby man believeth that which the Spirit declareth and evidenceth to the conscience namely the pardon of sinne and assurance of grace through the blood of Christ Secondly because all our owne workes are excluded in the matter of Justification before God and there is no cause of boasting for our salvation is onely of the Lord Hosea 13.9 Quest If good workes doe not justifie before God to what end are they so often required Answ They are required for divers ends First because by them we shall glorifie God and adorne our holy profession Math. 5.16 Secondly we shall by them be a means to win others to love our profession and give good examples to others to doe the like and to follow us 1 Pet. 2.12 Thirdly by this means we shall stop the mouthes of the adversaries 1 Pet. 2.15 Fourthly we shall have comfort if we be brought to suffer and be accused as evill doers wrongfully 1 Pet. 2.19 Fifthly we shall by them make tryall of the truth of our faith and of the graces that are in us by the exercise of them as occasion is offered Quest But doe not good workes deserve nothing at the hands of God Answ No certainly no workes that we can doe can possibly deserve any thing at the hands of God for when we have done all that we can we may truly say we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 Quest If good workes deserve nothing wherefore is it that so many promises are made in Scripture unto good workes Answ God hath thereby set forth his bounty to stir us up who are backward of our selves adding thereunto promises of reward But such is our weakenesse and great imperfections in our best workes that we haue cause rather to be humbled for our wants in the performance of them then to challenge any thing at the hands of God for the same yet certaine it is that the good workes of Gods Children shall be rewarded though not for the worthinesse of the worke yet for the truth of the promiser who hath promised to reward the gift of a cup of cold water to one of those that belong to him so that we have no cause to be backward in good workes but to be forward in the doing of them Math. 10.42 Quest Are all men rewarded for their good workes Answ Yes certainly the righteous God rewardeth all either here in this life or after this life but he in a more especiall manner rewardeth the good workes of his Children even those workes of love and mercy extended towards the Saints their Brethren Math. 25. Quest Are there Saints now upon the earth Answ Yes verily there have been are and ever shall be Saints upon the earth Psal 16.3 Quest But seeing all men are corrupted and even after regeneration the remnants of Sinne still continue in them can the name of Saints be properly given unto them Answ Yes it may be well given unto them for God so accounts of them as being without Sinne beholding no iniquity in them Numbers 23.21 Canticles 4.7 Ephes 5.27 Quest If God behold all things and nothing be hid from his all-seeing eye how can it be but that he should see those Sinnes which his elect doe daily and continually fall into Answ It is true that God beholdeth all things and cannot be ignorant of those Sinnes which they fall into yet notwithstanding God doth looke upon them in Christ and beholds them all righteous and holy in him imputing the rigteousnesse of Christ unto them Rom. 4.6.7 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.21 Quest What is that righteousnesse of Christ which is imputed unto the Saints and for which they are accounted holy Answ All the righteousnesse of Christ whatsoever his active obedience performed to the law his passive obedience in suffering whatsoever was due unto them for Sinne and what the Justice of God could require at their hands yea all the holinesse that is in Christ either of his nature as hee was man or of his
done being decreed by him Rom. 4.17 Quest What great workes did he after he had taken upon him the nature of Man Answ He wrought many great miracles he raised the dead he made the blind to see and healed all manner of diseases and taught his Fathers will Io. 11.43.44 Luk. 7.15.22.4.40.43 Quest Was he obedient to the Law Answ Yea he was obedient to the Law and did fulfill it in every thing that it did command or require Psal 40.7.8 Quest Then he was free from Sinne Answ He did no Sinne at all neither did guile ever enter into his mouth 1 Peter 2.22 Quest Was it needfull he should fullfill the Law Answ Yes it was needfull for us to have such a Redeemer as could perfectly fullfill the Law for us who could not fullfill it our selves Gal. 4.4.5 Rom. 8.3.4 Quest Then it seemes that whatsoever Christ did doe was only for the Redemption of the elect Answ It was all for that end for he was wholly given unto them as the Prophet Esay saith unto us a Child is borne Esay 9. Quest Was he not bound to fullfill the Law for himselfe Answ The Law was never given unto him for to be a rule for him to walke by for he needed no Law being free from that Corruption of nature which all the posterity of Adam were tainted and corrupted with Quest If he were free from Corruption of nature wherefore was he Circumcised and Baptised Answ It was as himselfe saith to fullfill all righteousnesse not that there was any need in him of the Circumcision of the heart or that washing and purging signified by Baptime but he submitted himselfe to both to testifie his willing subjection to the will of his Father and to teach us by his example to doe the like Mathew 3.15 Quest Had he any enemyes seeing he was so innocent and blamelesse Answ Yes he had many enemyes especially the Scribes and Pharises that did persecute him and when that time appointed was come did also put him to death Math. 26.3.4 and Chap. 27. Quest Wherefore did they put him to death Answ There was no cause worthy of death found in him as the Judge himselfe confessed Luke 23.14 Math. 27.24 Quest Could he not have delivered himselfe nut of their hands seeing he was God and have confounded his enemies by his Almighty power and word Answ Yea he could have prayed to his Father as himselfe saith and he would have sent him more then twelve legions of Angells but he came into the World to suffer and to fullfill whatsoever was prefigured and prophened of him to be fullfilled by him Math. 26.53.56 Quest Was his death prefigured and foretold in the Scriptures Answ His death was shadowed out in the Paschall Lambe and in the sacrifices and foretold by the Prophets in very many places of Scripture and that in expresse words Esay 53. Daniell 9.26 Quest Was it needfull that he should dye for to worke the Redemption of Man Answ It was needfull for he did nothing in vaine and God would have him to suffer death to the end he might deliver man from death And the Justice of God did require that he should dye for God had threatned death to Adam upon his disobedience and therefore that God might manifest himselfe to be just and his wrath also against out sinnes and yet also notwithstanding manifest his mercy towards Man God would have him to suffer a shamefull death who was able being God and Man to beare that wrath and satisfie the Justice of God which could not have been satisfied unlesse that Christ himselfe had suffered death Quest What death did he suffer Answ They did Crucifie him upon the Crosse between two theeves Mathew 27.38 Quest Wherefore did they put him to so shamefull a death Answ It was so foretold that he should be so used by the Iewes for as his death was foretold so also the manner of his death Esay 55.12 Quest Then the Jewes did nothing unto him but that which God had decreed and foretold by his Prophets Answ Not any thing at all Io. 19.24.28.29 Acts 2.23 Quest Wherefore did God decree to put his onely Son to so shamefull death Answ To the end he might manifest his Iustice and wrath against Sinne and also his exceeding great mercy and love unto Man that notwithstanding his Iustice did require so shamefull a death yet did not spare his owne Sonne but gave him to death to redeeme us Io. 3.16 Qu. Seeing that all men as well the Elect as others are all borne the children of wrath and are lyable to the curse of God and Condemnation what is required of us that we may be free from that Curse and escape condemnation Answ A new Birth is required as our Saviour himselfe witnesseth except a man be borne againe he cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven Io. 3.3.5 Quest What is that new Birth Answ It is a most admirable and also a supernaturall worke of Gods Spirit whereby all the Elect are made of children of wrath heires of eternall Glory and happinesse Titus 3.5 6 7. Quest Whereof doth this new birth consist Answ It consisteth of these two parts namely of Water and the Spirit that is to say of Repentance and of Faith Jo. 3.5 Titus 3.5 Quest After what manner doth the Lord effect and worke this new Birth in the Elect Answ The Lord doth it two wayes inwardly by his Spirit and outwardly by his Word opening their eyes to see their misery and that there is mercy to be had if they doe repent Ezek. 36.24 25 26 27. Ephes 1.13 Rom. 10.14 Ezek. 33.11 Quest VVhat is the first peculiar worke that God vouchsafeth to worke in them whom he hath apurpose to save Answ The first speciall and peculiar worke that God doth worke in them is Repentance Quest But is not Faith wrought in men before Repentance and doth not repentance proceed from Faith as a fruit and effect thereof Answ No not that faith which is peculiar to the Elect that is never wrought before Repentance neither is Repentance a fruit or effect of Faith but an effect of the Spirit as faith also is Quest VVhat Faith is that which is wrought in men before Repentance Answ It is commonly called historicall faith the object whereof is the truth of the Scriptures and it is a gift of the Spirit common as well to those that shall perish as to those that shall be saved Quest VVhat Reasons have you to perswade you that Repentance is the first peculiar worke that God doth worke in them whom he hath a purpose to save Answ I have very many Reasons to perswade me thereunto Quest VVhat is the first Reason Answ My first Reason is the constant and unchangeable order that the holy Ghost hath observed throughout the Scriptures in requiring Repentance and Faith alwayes requiring Repentance in the first place Mark 1.15 Math. 3.2 Luk. 3.3 Acts 2.38 Acts 3.19 Quest But order in setting downe things in Scripture proves
quite and all things be made new for nothing that came in with the curse can abide there where Christ hath his Kingdome and throne of glory Quest But the Apostle Peter saith 2 Pet. 3.10 that the Earth and the works there shall be burnt up and all things here below shall be dissolved Answ True it is that whatsoever came in with the Curse shall bee dissolved and burnt up and all taken away and nothing thereof shall remain but onely what was created before the curse and all things shall be made new as in the first crearion of them and far more excellent and durable as the same Apostle saith we look for net heavers and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnes Quest Where is this promise made that the Apostle speaks of Answ In the 65. Chapter of Isaiah where the promise is made and set downe in plaine words Quest But shall not the happinesse of the Saints be for ever in heaven for the Apostle Peter saith that the inheritance of the Saints is reserved in heaven and Paul saith we have an house not made with hands but eternall in the heavens 1 Pet. 14. 2 Cor. 5.1 Answ True it is that the inheritance of the Saints is reserved in heaven and it is eternall but this that is reserved in heaven shall come down from heaven Christ himselfe will bring with him that new Ierusalem and cloath his saints with that house which is from heaven which was so desired by the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 5.2 the beauty and glory of that estate is set forth in the 21 chapter of the Revelation which shall be so great that the heart of man can desire no more for there shall be a fulnesse of all things Quest But what places of Scripture do prove that the Saints shall have their glory and happinesse upon this earth Answ There are many places of Scripture to this purpose and I will instance some of them and first I will begin with the promise of God made unto Abraham concerning the land of Canaan it was promised to him and to his seed for ever Gen. 13.15 Chap. 15.17 But Abraham never yet enjoyed the fulfilling of that promise therefore at that great day of the Lord it shall be made good unto him and his seed for ever for it was given unto him for an everlasting possession Gen. 7.18 Quest But Abraham seed after four hundred yeares did possesse that land was not then the promise fulfilled to Abraham Answ No assuredly there was a further extent in that promise then was performed unto his naturall seed and that was but a type of the great possession that should be given to him and his spirituall seed for ever Gen. 17.8 Quest What is the next Scripture that proves the Saints eternall happines to be on this earth An. The next is Matth. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth and Psal 37.11 But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Which promises must needs be understood of the life to come and not of this life for they are promises for the time to come and not of the time present for we know by experience that the meek do not now in this life inherit the earth but this promise shall be performed unto them at that great day of the restauration of all things Quest What is the next Scripture to prove this Answ The next is Revelation the 5. and the 10. ver the sweet song of thanksgiving of the 24 Elders the latter part whereof is their acknowledgement in these words and hast made unto us our God Kings and priests and we shall raign on the earth which is spoken of the time to come and not of the time present for now is not their time of reigning but of suffering Quest What other Scripture is there to prove this point Answ Out of the 11 chap. of the Revelation ver the 15. where after the sounding of the seventh trumpet there were great voyces heard in heaven saying The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever and ever as also Dan. 7.14.27 So that then Christ shall reigne as King upon this earth and all powers shall serve and obey him for evermore Quest But if the Saints glory and happines shall be upon this earth it will be conceived that it cannot be so great glorious and excellent as is expected to be and as the Scripture sets it forth to be and for the most part of our preachers they do tell us that it shall be in the highest heavens Answ For the happinesse and felicity of the Saints which they enjoy it shall be so great so glorious so excellent although upon this earth as possible may be no heart can desire more nor no tongue can expresse it for that place must be very full of joy comfort blessednesse and happinesse where Christ dwells and is their King what can be wanting unto them there is fulnesse of joy at his right hand and pleasures for evermore O what sweetnesse of comfort shall they find in his presence yea unspeakable the Scriptures are plentifull in expressing these things for the comfort of the faithfull even whilest they live here in this naturall life who do live by faith expecting those good things to come and whatsoever our Preachers do tell us of the happines of the saints to be for ever in the highest heavens if they did well consider the Scriptures they would speake according therereunto Quest But what is the reason they conceive so that the glory and happinesse of the Saints shall be in the highest heavens Answ I know no Scripture that tends there unto besides those I have already answered or some such it may be like them but their error and misunderstanding of the Scripture lies in this that they take and expound those places of Scripture that intend and set forth the happinesse of the Saints for ever to be intended and meant of a great conversion of the naturall Jewes to be brought into the land of Canaan againe before the coming of Christ to Judgement which opinion turnes them from the truth and hereby the Saints are deprived of many sweet promises that are made unto them for their comfort here in this life in the expectation of that glory and happinesse therein set forth and promised unto them then which a greater wrong cannot be done to the people of God Quest You said the Scriptures are plentifull in expressing the happines of the Saints for ever upon this earth I pray you give me those places of Scriptures and set down the severall texts that we may examine them and rejoyce in the expectation of them and so I shall conclude for this time and cease from demanding any more questions of you Answ I shall willingly do it according to my abi ity but yet it is not possible for