3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 Heb. 1.1 1 Thes 2.13 Apocrypha not Scripture 2. The Books called the Apocrypha are neither the Books of Moses nor the Psalms nor the Prophets therefore not Scriptures given by inspiration See Luke 24.4.27.44 nor were they committed to the Church or kept by it as the Oracles of God Rom. 3.1 The Scriptures are a perfect rule 3. The Scriptures are able to make a Man Wise to Salvation and to make the Man of God the Minister of God the New Testament Prophet perfect and throughly furnished to all good Ministerial Works therefore they are a perfect rule for Doctrine Worship and Manners 4. Unwritten Traditions of the Church are not of equal authority nor to be received with the same pious affection with the Holy Scriptures Those Doctrines which were delivered by one teacher to another or by Oral Teaching to the Church are now written 2 Tim. 2.2 2 Thes 2.15 As much as our Lord thought necessary John 20.30 and sufficient 2 Tim. 3.15.16 are writen Our faith is limited to things written Jo. 20.31 2 Pet. 1.19 These traditions pleaded for were not committed to faithful Men nor faithfully kept by Men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost We have enough and our Lord would not leave us too much Joh. 21.25 Had we been bound to believe more more had been written 5. The Holy Scriptures are plain in all things necessary to salvation clear as the Sun to those uses intended by our Lord Ps 19.8 Ps 119.105,131 They are a shining light 2 Pet. 1.19 If they were not clear how could Timothy know them as he did from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 How could the Bereans examine Doctrines by them Acts. 17.11 There are sufficient means to help the unlearned to understand so much as to make them wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Ephes 4.11 to 16. Acts 8.29 to 37. 6. The laity or common People ought to have the free use of the holy Scriptures God spake to all Exod. 20. Deut. 32.46 Chap. 6.1,2,6,7,8 Exod. 24.7 Deut. 31.11,12 The laity are to be saved by faith in Christ and his word and the Scriptures were written to direct and help them Joh. 20.31 All were wont or commanded to search them Joh. 5.39 All are blessed that meditate in them Ps 1.1,2 They are part of the spiritual armour for all Christians Ephes 6.17 Unless we should expect the Priests and the Learned would fight for the laity and save them the trouble of that warfare 7. The translation of the Scriptures is necessary approved of God and ordain'd by him except there should be but one language among Men or that none should believe and be saved but them who understood the Original God spake in a known Tongue so did the Prophets and Apostles and they who did not are reprov'd 1 Cor. 14.9,12,13 c. The Apostles sent to preach to all Nations had the gift of Tongues that every Nation might receive the Gospel in their own language The end of writing is the same with speaking 8. Scriptures translated and copied from the Originals or first writings under the hands of the Scripture-pen-men are the word of God the foundation and rule of Faith. The Scriptures read in the Synagogues and in common use among the Jews were but copies transcribed yet our Saviour refers the Jews to them John. 5.39 The Eunuch had no other Acts 8. nor the Bereans Act. 17.11 The Ephesians were Greeks and probably had the Greek translation and yet they were built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.20 God being the God of every one who believeth and shall be saved of every Nation as well as of the Jews hath taken care and doth to stir up and fit holy Men tho not infallible as the Prophets and Apostles were for this work and wherein some have failed others have help'd We give a secondary honour to Translations as such but an equal honour to the word of God translated which we give to it in the Original the change of the Language doth not alter the will of God. An Embassy delivered by an Interpreter is the Kings Embassy 9. The best interpreter of the Word is the Holy Spirit Knowledge in Original Languages is necessary to a translator and to Doctors or Teachers for their better teaching But he who hath most of the Holy Spirit doth best understand the mind of the Spirit All have these helps to understand them 1. The Grammar and plain literal sence the scope coherence and continual reading with prayer and comparing hard places with plain help us to understand the Scriptures 2. Universal reason and true with undeceived senses help us to understand many Doctrines See Acts 17.11 1 Cor. 1.13 Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.15,16 Luke 24.32 Ephes 1.17,18 10. There is no visible standing infallible Judge of controversies in Faith and Religion And there is no need of any because there is none constituted In a great controversy the Apostles themselves did search the Scriptures and inquire into the mind of the Holy Ghost and consented to it Acts 15.15,28 The Holy Ghost is the infallible Judge and he speaks in the word Acts 28.24,25 The Scriptures themselves judge as the Law doth in controversies among Men. There is a ministerial publick judgment for edification Ephes 4 6,7 Rom. 12.6 and a private judgment of discerning given by the holy Spirit to believers without which they could not discern truth from error nor believe nor try the Spirits nor judge of what is spoken to them 1 Cor. 2.15 Phil. 1.10 1 Joh. 4.1,2 1 Cor. 10.15 11. The Holy Scriptures are not mute and dumb Speech and voice are attributed to them and God speaks by them Rom. 3.19 It saith to them that are under the Law Isaias now dead crieth Rom. 9.27 see ver 17. 12. The Scriptures are not a dead letter the Law is so called in opposition to the Gospel 2 Cor. 3.6 yet it killeth and therefore is no dead letter void of power it is the Ministry of condemnation denouncing death against transgressors v. 7. and the Gospel is the power of God therefore no dead letter 13. There is a Divine efficacy and power in the Scriptures in their kind as the means and instruments of Salvation Rom. 1.16 They are able to make a Man wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 And the sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 14. The Scriptures are the word of God Ephes 6.17 by which we understand the written word and not Christ See also Mar. 7.13 compared with Mat. 15.6 15. The Holy Spirit is the principal cause of all the knowledge and wisdom to Salvation which any Man hath Ephes 1.17 What was given by the spirits inspiration is understood by his illumination a natural understanding cannot see 16. The promise of the spirit Joh. 16.13 doth not intimate such a dispensation as is above the Holy use of Scriptures They are given by inspiration and to continue in their use to the end of the World
Oeconomiae Dispensationis c. But if respect be had to that Dispensation in which the Father in the Son and both through the Holy Ghost hath perfected our Salvation admirabilis est dulcedinis c. it is of wonderful sweetness and doth produce most exuberant Fruits of Faith Hope and Charity Considence and Trust Fear and Obedience in the Hearts of the Faithful Dispur Publica Sexta Sect. 12. Oper. 4 p 192. But his Followers in other Opinions leave him here where they should follow him as the learned Professors of Leiden shew Censura in Confessionem c. 3. p. 56,57 where they shew the practical Vse of the Doctrine of the Trinity Nor do they shew the injustice of the Censure but plead for their Silence and Caution Exam. Censurae p. 51. The English Reader that can may consult reverend Dr. Cheynel of the Divine Trin-Vnity cap. 9. Mr. Baxter of the Knowledge of God p 8 c. 5. Much has been written about Baptism controversially and but little that I have seen about the practical Vse of it It is a great Duty and Grace to improve it to the Ends of it and much neglected Parents are generally importunate to have their Children baptized and as generally negligent to train them up as baptized Members in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and so we have so many ignorant and ungodly in the visible Church I wish what is written upon the Subject were more common and more understood by the reverend Dr. S. Ford of the practical Vse of Infant Baptism Dr. Manton's Sermon of the Improvement of Baptism in the Supplement of the Morning-Exercise at Cripple gate Mr. Joseph Whiston his Essay to revive the primitive Practice of Infant Baptism And Mr. Daniel Rogers of the Sacraments speaks with Light and Life Though having room here to speak thus much in this place for these things I have said but little in that first Chapter because limited 2. In the second Chapter I have shewed the Vse which may be made of the Catechism to accommodate the sincere fervent Soul with Matter for Prayer It is a Temptation to neglect the Duty when there is want of Mattter to utter before God. If any will object that this will be to bring People to pray by rote as they say their Catechism by rote and to bring them to a Form I answer to the first this Objection may be set up to neglect Catechizing and Teaching and so is impious and erroneous Again As God hath blessed Catechizing to his Church so by often and serious Meditation upon the particular Points of Catechism their Knowledge increaseth and comes to be enlarged beyond the Words of the Catechism so it may work upon the Affections also and then they may also enlarge in Prayer beyond the Lines of this Prayer if they can and when need is But as what is necessary and profitable to be learnt and believed is comprehended in the Catechism so what is generally necessary to be asked is contained in the Prayer And they who are convinced and believe the Truth of the Doctrine taught according to the Scripture will pray with Vnderstanding and by Faith believing and knowing what they pray And if some are commended for turning Sermons into Prayer I see as much reason for turning a Catechism into Prayer Yea but this is to bring them to a Form. What then Take away Formality and senseless Customariness and running a Stage or a Round of Prayer without Preparation Attention or Care what Answers are made and what can be judiciously or charitably said against a Form of Prayer Whereas many holy and very able Ministers as well as private Christians have in Judgment chosen a Form at least ordinarily And a Form is necessary to others because of Weakness Do you who object against all use of Forms really think that whoever is regenerate and sanctified hath the Spirit for Extempore Prayer by which I mean a present Ability to vary Words and Matter upon all Occasions And that none have the Spirit of Christ or Adoption but such as can do or such as do so and that they who keep ordinarily to the same Matter and Words are destitute of the Spirit Or do you think that Professors in these Days have more of the Spirit than holy Men had in former times You will never be able to prove these things and you are confutable by Clouds of Examples of holy and able Men excellent for Gifts If you say the Spirit is limited in a Form of Prayer take heed you do not limit the Spirit to a sort of Men. The Spirit of Grace doth excite his own Graces in the Soul that prayeth and those Graces act according to the Capacity of them that pray and also brings many things to mind which were not thought of before and when God brings in Matter he doth help to utter it but not all alike I condemn lary heartless Formality mine own practice is known to many but I honour the Name and Memory of holy and eminent Men and Fathers who had the Spirit of Holiness in a great measure who used Forms on ordinary stated Times and Occasions And I would not discourage sincere weak ones from using a good Form lest I dis-hearten them from praying at all Let me add I do not teach any to be tied up to a Form the same number of Words and Petitions for all times but give Directions for Matter and Vse of Prayer with a Prayer that may be daily used with Acceptation if prayed with Vnderstanding and Faith and other Graces It hath been the Study of many and some of them able good Men much an Prayer to publish Prayers fitted to several Occasions But alas what can they do if the Hearts of them that use them are not fitted for them It is not Devotion that is printed in a Book but what is kindled in the Heart And he is poor indeed that hath not a Prayer for his Mouth except his Book be in his Pocket or before his Eyes There is great reason for these Exhortations Pray without ceasing and Continue in Prayer for we have continual cause to draw near to God. And we that are Ministers have to do with many Souls in various Conditions and general Praying is no more effectual than general Preaching In the one there are particular Applications of the Word to Men's Hearts from God in the other particular Applications to God on the behalf of Men according to particular Conditions And there is a more excellent way than making a Prayer of Patches taken out of Books of Devotion The holy Scripture is the Prayer-book it affords Matter for Prayer as well as Preaching And how can that Man preach that cannot pray And this of praying with and for particular Persons in private and also in publick if the Case require it according to their particular Cases is one of those Every good Work for which we should be furnished 2 Tim 3.16 Those Men whom God
honoured most in the Reformation and Edification and Comfort of his Church have been most like to Elijah for praying And we should study to shew our selves Men approved of God in this part of our Ministry with sound Judgment heavenly Wisdom and holy Affections Epaphras was wont to labour fervently in Prayer Col. 4.12 And the Apostle besought the Romans to strive together with him in Prayer Rom 15.30 But yet this striving though in some active Spirits it cannot be confined to a set Form of Words doth not require us to lay aside all Forms which many holy Men that I could name have used out of Judgment and Choice and have prevailed with God by Faith and Fervency And let those who speak much of praying and daily or frequently pray apart and together took well to the matter and to their Spirits and see that they do not offer the Sacrifice of Fools nor be rash to utter a Matter before God. And it were better with the Church of God if we did put on Charity if we were cloathed with Humility if we disputed less about Forms and prayed more with all manner of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit Ephes 6.18 Vnbelief and Hypocrisie are a dead Load upon the Heart and keep Prayer from ascending When a Man's Heart is God's and when the Prayers we make are our own Sense offered up in the Name of Christ by the Spirit of Adoption according to the Will of God we shall be heard Yet I would not be understood as if Prayer were not a Duty of Natural Religion or that only regenerate Persons should pray but they be sure pray acceptably Wrangle not your selves into Breaches of Communion and Dis-union of the Spirit and let all things be done in Peace And so I offer this Help to such as need it as God shall be pleased to make it serviceable Of Forms and Extempore Prayers you may see Bishop Downham of the Lord's Prayer p 137. And Mr. Baxter's Cases 3. The last Chapter of this Part contains Directions for Self-Examination and Preparation for the Table of the Lord Behaviour at it and after it Much hath been printed upon this Subject and yet Communicants are comparatively few and prepared ones we fear are fewer The low and distracted broken state of the Church of Christ is matter of Grief and Mourning How unlike are we to a Body animated by the same Spirit joined to the same Head How many live and die grown to Years that never tasted of the Supper How many but very seldom How many are ignorant prophane negligent stupid do we what we can Oh that Longing after and Love to Christ had more power with many than the Observation of Customs and Seasons and the Laws of Men Some are affected with the Duty and Privilege and seem earnestly to desire it who fall off again How many are afraid of it lest this Table of the Lord become a Snare How many break Communion upon distaste of a Form of Administration though very sound or some dis-liked Communicants against whom they do not proceed as they ought How many labour under great Desections Melancholy and Fear How many put themselves off and abide in Vnsettlement that separate from publick and do not join with other Assemblies What! Do they wait for some higher Dispensation Or do they seek for what is no where promised or keep in suspence as afraid to renew Covenant with God Or what other Reason But can they live without Communion with the Lord How can they think of dying How many incorporate with particular Churches that with hold Communion from all others for meer Accidents and Circumstances Oh take heed lest between this Way and that Way you do not keep out of the Way which the Lord himself hath commanded you to shew forth his Death I should rejoice to see Matters of just and rational Offence taken away and Access to the Lord's Table to be as free and open as the Way to Heaven is But hour or when shall it be as long as that which is an Offence to one is a Duty to another Oh let us remember our Covenant with God our being incorporate with the Body of Christ labour to grow together in him who is not a little Head of a Sect or Party but of all that call upon him in all places I look upon Breaches in and about and from this holy Ordinance next to breaking the Vnity of the Spirit to be of all Breaches the most deadly Let us not divide for meer Accidents but look to the main The substance of the Ordinance and what is left as perpetual to the Church is delivered us by the holy Apostle who received it from the Lord 1 Cor. 11.23 c. where there is no Rehearsal of the Circumstances of Place Gesture and other Accidents of the first Supper but the standing Ordinance and Institution And where the Institution is observed the Ordinance is pure The next necessary Injunction is Self-Examination Let us look more to our own Hearts and fit them for Communion with the Body and Blood of our Lord and we shall not be so given to divide as we are And as for Communicants pray for them admonish them proceed regularly make not their Sin yours and their Presence doth not pollute you 2. The Design of these three Chapters being to carry them further on who had been conversant in the forementioned Catechism hath given occasion to bring it forth once more to Light with some few Propositions to fill up some spaces between one Point and another and to explain them with Quotations of Scripture It is not hard to see how some will be offended at this for its first Name and Title But without detracting from the Church Catechism or any other Form of sound Words by which Christ hath edified his Church I cannot easily conceal nor express my due Admiration of this 1. For the Soundness of the divine Matter clearly and excellently expressed 2. For the Comprehensiveness of it 3. For the Method and Connexion of Parts 4. For its Consonance with the holy Scripture by which it is proved and upon which it is built Whereby it appears the Faith of the Learner is not made to stand upon the Word of Man Decrees of Councils or Synods but the Word of God. Every Answer is full and clear but that which raiseth up my Heart in praise of God for it is the rare Description of my glorious Redeemer and the Doctrines that belong unto it In them we have as much Truth as can be laid together and as many Heresies cast out from them as can be summed up in so few Words There is an Antidote against the Prison of Cerinthus Ebion Arrius Samosatenus Nestorius Eutyches the Socinians and other Hereticks which appeared with the Reformation and gave those blessed Souls who were the Lights of the World much trouble The Harmony of the whole with the Doctrine of our Church has been judiciously shewed by Mr. Thomas
the Persons There is but one Person and that is the Father They own the Son and Holy Gost but then make the Father and the Son not to be of the same Nature and Essence and deny the Holy Ghost to be God or a Person in the Godhead And so they make us who are created by one that is God to be but redeemed and saved by one that is not God and made new Creatures and sanctified by one who is not God save by Title They take away the glorious Crown of Essential Godhead from the Head of God my Saviour and lay that Honour in the Dust of Manhood though they acknowledge him more than a meer Man a Divine Man and only a Subordinate to God a meer Instrument a second Cause of Salvation an Helper but not a perfect Saviour a great Prophet an improper Priest and a little King. I am sure according to their Doctrine I must look for another Christ for such an one as they describe cannot do for my Salvation what my State requires But blessed be God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost for making himself known to me in the Glass of holy Scripture and in Honour Love and Thankfulness I have where ever Occasion is offered vindicated the Glory of God my Saviour and of God my Sanctifier And for their Subtilty in managing their Cause I verily think they have lost it by one Concession of theirs which you may see in the second and third Commandment where I have spoken but briefly yet I hope not obscurely I have mainly set my little Strength against them principally but I hope God's Power will be seen in my Weakness 2. As the reverend and judicious Josias Simder observes that out of the School of that impure Servetus went forth those egregious Disciples Gonaesius Gribuldus Blandrata Gentilis Paul Alciatus Gregorius Paulus Casanovius Menno and numerous Troops of Anabaptists who all differed in some things from one another Tractat de Aeterno Dei Filio so most of our differing Sects are corrupted with some Points or other of Socinianism and not only among them is this Infection spread but others also In the Asphaltes of Socinianism all flow together Gebal and Amon and Amalek Anabaptists Remonstrants Separatists and Quodlibetists said Dr. Prideaux Lect 19. De Satisfactione Christi The Convocation in the Year 1640. took notice of its Growth and took care to smother it And since all manner of Teachers took liberty to set out their Light they who are conversant in their Opinions know how strongly they savour of it And I desire them for whose Benefit in part I direct these Discourses to take warningâ— from Dr. Owen who hath taken great and learned pains against them in his Vindiciae Evangelicae and Comment on the Hebrews c against Socinianism who speaks of a choice Society of Christians who were divided and in no small part infected by some of their Arts Preface before his Confutation of Biddle 's Catechism And by the way take notice that the most abominable pernicious Errors may be imposed upon injudicious undiscerning People by a copious Rehearsal of Scripture as is to be seen in that Catechism of Mr. Biddle which he calls A Scripture Catechisin Such need is there of able Ministers well studied to sland upon the Watch-Towers and such need is there of Humility in People to know their Teachers And one Socinian Doctrine is of dargerous tendency to corrupt the Minds of Men who are for Liberty of Prophesying of gifted Men that they hold there is no necessity of a Calling Mission or Ordination of Ministers Capit. 2. de Eccles Christi They can furnish them who are disposed to cavelling with Cavels and Objections enough suited to proud corrupt Nature and many Opinions grown too common And Men that are devoted to Reason but never felt the two-edged Sward of Conviction of Sin and Wrath and of their need of a Saviour enter into their Souls are apt to venerate them as the Oracles of Reason What I have done or can do is but little yet I trust Truth will be seen in its own Light and found to stand upon its own strong Foundation I was confined to Brevity and it is not easie to me who am used to expatiate to make things plain to every Capacity to be clear short and strong Had I fore-seen there had been so many Half-lines as I see there is I would have filled up my Sense in some places but now that cannot be Such as it is I do most humbly dedicate it to my God and Master in Heaven and for your Service my much and most honoured Brethren Friends and dearest Relations Accept of this as a Present a profitable Return for many Favours and Blessings received from you I beseech you continue your Care and Pains in instructing your Families Build up your selves and them in your holy Faith and as you were educated your selves go on to train up yours And the Grace of our Lord Jesus be with your Spirits To others I deliver with mine own hands the best Legacy I have to leave them charging you all and every one by that Covenant between God the Father Son and Holy Ghost and you that you do in your whole Lives live to God by Faith Renew Repentance and let the Love of God constrain you c. 2 Cor. 5.14 As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord walk in him Col. 2.6 And renounce whom and what you have renounced In every Condition live by Faith and in every thing by Prayer and Supplication make your Requests known to God. Phil. 4.5 In every State learn to be contented Phil. 4.11 In every thing give thanks 1 Thes 5.18 and always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 5.20 Study believe and live according to these things Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard of me c. 2 Tim. 1.13 I do not leave you Wood Hay Stubble but Gold Silver and precious Stones 1 Cor. 3.12 Therefore highly value them as Talents and a Treasure and know that I do rejoice more in leaving you these precious Legacies of the New Testament than if I had Thousands of Gold and Silver to leave you And let all that shall receive any Benefit by these Endeavours for Good to your immortal Souls bless the Lord for ever Brief Directions 1. You that teach others teach them their Baptismal Vow 2. Next inform them what they are by Nature and what they may and must be by Grace Acquaint them with Christ 3. After they can say the Creed the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments enter them into the Catechism and lead them as they are able 4. Make Application to their Hearts of what they learn. 5. When they have learnt the Catechism go on to the Proofs 6. When they grow in Judgment often repeat and study well the several Sections of the second Part as you go over those Points
in the Catechism to which they belong 7. As soon as you can give your selves to Prayer and be not disswaded by them who are against all Vse of Forms Think not that God will not be served but with New and New. Pray for the Matter of it what is pleasing to God and good for you with Vnderstanding spiritual Sense and Faith and as you can do more and better Thus do and the Lord help you by his Holy Spirit 8. Renew your Baptismal Covenant and as engaged by Covenant examine your selves and so eat c. And Lastly Having once preparedly joined your selves to the Lord and his Church in the Communion of his Body and Blood having drunk of that one Cup and being made one Bread take heed of Neglects and Apostasie Remember As often as you do it c. you shew forth the Lord's Death until he come And while you live continue so to do It will be a Benefit to you to lay up the short View of these Principles in your Memories and often repeat them to your selves ADVERTISEMENT THere is lately published the Second Edition of Mr. Pools Annotations on the Bible in which the whole Sacred Text is inserted in two Volumes in Folio Useful for Families and Closets Sold by Jo. Robinson in St. Paul's Church-yard A SHORT CATECHISM According to the DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND With Scripture Proofs at large Newly revised and corrected with more Scriptures and Propositions for Illustration annexed LONDON Printed in the Year 1688. A short View of Divinity or Summary of this CATECHISM SHewing 1. what is Mans chief End. 2. The way to it I. Mans chief End is either 1. The chief End of Intention what he ought to aim at above all things as the Scope of his Life and Actions that is to glorify God. Or 2. Mans chief End of Fruition his chiefest Good and Happiness and that is to enjoy God for ever II. The Way to attain this chief End is by the holy Scriptures The Scriptures principally teach 1. What Man is to believe 2. What God requires Man to do 3. What Man may and ought to ask of God and pray for The Scriptures are a Rule of Faith a Rule of Life and manners a Rule of Prayer I. The Scriptures teach what Man is bound to believe 1. Concerning God. 2. Concerning himself 1. Concerning God Man is to believe 1. What God is in his Essence or Being and Attributes 2. What he is in Relation to himself as the Essence subsisteth in three Persons the Father the Son the Holy Ghost 3. What God is in Relation to his Creatures in general and to Man in special of whom the Scriptures principally speak God is to be considered in reference to Man 1. As Creator 2. Preserver 3. Governor 4. Redeemer 5. Benefactor and gracious Rewarder 2. Man is to be considered as 1. a Creature 2. as a defective needy insufficient Creature and sinful 3. As under Government as a Subject governed by Law and Covenant 4. As redeemed under which consider 1. Mans Sin. 2. Mans Misery 3. Mans Inability to recover or restore himself Concerning our Redemption Note 1. The way by which by a Covenant of Grace 2. The Person by whom our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning this Redeemer observe 1. who and what he is 2. His Office in general a Mediator A Mediator in three Offices 1. A Prophet 2. a Priest 3. a King in a twofold State of Humiliation and Exaltation 3. The Application of Redemption by the Holy Spirit The Redemption is applied in effectual Calling They who are called are justified sanctified and adopted And these are partakers of great Benefits from Christ in this Life at Death after Death at the Resurrection and in Heaven for ever II. The Scriptures teach what Man is obliged to do to please and glorify God and that is Obedience to the moral Law which Law shews what we ought to do and what we ought not to do But Man hath transgressed this Law and is fallen under the Wrath and Curse of God. The Scriptures further teach what is to be done to escape the Wrath of God which is 1. Faith in Jesus Christ 2. Repentance to Life towards God. 3. A diligent Vse of means which are 1. The Word heard and read 2. The Sacraments Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 3. Prayer III. What Man ought to pray for taught generally in the Scriptures particularly in the Lord's Prayer The Sum of all is our highest End and the way to it the way to it is by Faith in Jesus Christ with its adjunct Repentance which we are taught in our Creed 2. By Love and Obedience the Sum of the Commandments 3. By Invocation taught by our Saviour A SHORT CATECHISM According to the DOCTRINE OF THE Church of England Quest 1. WHat is the chief End of Man Answ MAn's chief End for which he was made and redeemed and to which he should aim is to glorifie (a) 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God. Rom. 11.36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen God and to enjoy him for (b) Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee V. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever V. 27. For lo they that are far from thee shall perish thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee V. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works ever 2. Q. What Rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New (c) 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus V. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness Ephes 2 20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone Testament is the only Rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy (d) 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ V. 4. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glory Joh. 20.31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name him 3.
Q What do the Scriptures principally teach A. The holy Scriptures principally teach what Man is bound to believe concerning God and what Duty God requires of (e) 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.16 see before Man. 4. Q. What is God A. God is a (f) Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Spirit (g) Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection V. 8. It is as high as heaven what canst thou do Deeper than hell what canst thou know V. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea Infinite (h) Psal 90.2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God. Eternal and (i) James 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning Unchangeable in his (k) Exod. 3.14 And God said unto Moses I am that I am and he said Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel I AM hath sent me unto you Being (l) Psal 147.5 Great is our Lord and of great power his understanding is infinite Wisdom (m) Rev. 4.8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come Isa 6.3 And one cried unto another and said Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory Power (n) Rev. 15.5 Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Holiness (o) Deut. 32.4 He is the rock his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Justice (p) Exod. 34.6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth V. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the childrens children unto the third and fourth generation Goodness and Truth 5. Q. Are there more Gods than one A. This God is one and there is and there can be but one only the living and true * Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King at his breath the earth shall tremble and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation 1 Cor. 8.4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is none other God but one V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him God. 6. Q. How many Persons are there in the Godhead A. There are three Persons in the Godhead or Divine Being and Nature the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God the same in substance equal in (q) 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are one Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God. Compare Isa 6.3,5,8 with Joh. 12.41 and Acts 28.25 Acts 5.3,4 But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lye to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Whiles it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God. Power and Glory and all divine Perfections 7. This one God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost is the first efficient Cause or Creator the preserving and disposing and the final Cause of all things Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen 8. What soever God hath done and brought forth he did according to his Eternal Purpose and Decrees Ephes 1.11 Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. 9. Q. What are the Decrees of God A. The Decrees of God are his Eternal Purpose according to the Counsel of his Will whereby for his own Glory he hath fore-ordained whatever comes to (r) Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love V. 11. In whom also we obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Rom. 9 22. What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction V. 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory pass 10. Q. How doth God execute his Decrees A. God executeth his Decrees in the works of Creation and (Å¿) Ephes 1.11 Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. Providence 11. Q. What is the Work of Creation A. The Work of Creation is God's making all things of nothing by the Word of his Power in the space of six days and all very (t) Gen. chap. 1. throughout Heb. 11.13 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things that do appear good 12. Q. How did God create Man A. After all the rest of his Works God created Man Male and Female after his own Image in Knowledge Righteousness and Holiness with Dominion over the (u) Gen. 1.26 And God said Let us make Man in our own image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the rish of the sea and over the fowl of the
repentance unto life Saving Grace whereby a Sinner out of true sense of his (f) Act. 2.37 Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do V. 38. Then said Peter unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Sin and apprehension of the Mercy of God in (g) Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord Turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Jer. 3.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back slidings Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God. Christ doth with Grief and Hatred of his Sin turn from it unto (h) Jer. 31.18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock accustomed to the yoke Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God. V. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even consounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Ezek 36.31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways and your doings which were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations God with full purpose of and endeavour after new (i) 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things you have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Isa 1.16 Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings before mine eyes cease to do evil V. 17. Learn to do well seek judgment relieve the oppressed judge the fatherless plead for the widow Obedience 5. Q. What are the outward Means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption 3. A. The outward and ordinary Means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption are his Ordinances especially the Word Sacraments and Prayer all which are made effectual to the Elect for (k) Matth. 28.19 Go ye therefore teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost V. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Acts 2.42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers V. 46. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart V. 47. Praising God and having favour with all the people And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved Salvation 6. Q. How is the Word made effectual to salvation 1. A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading but especially the preaching of the Word an effectual means of convincing and converting Sinners and of building them up in Holiness and Comfort through Faith unto (l) Nehem. 8.8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sence and caused them to understand the reading 1 Cor. 14.24 But if all prophesie and there come in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all he is judged of all V. 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me Psal 19.8 The statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightning the eyes Act 20.32 And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus V. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction c. V. 17. That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto good works Rom. 10.14 How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher V. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent c. And V. 16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jews first and also to the Greeks Salvation Q. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to Salvation 2. A. That the Word may become effectual to Salvation we must attend thereunto with (m) Prov. 8.34 Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors Diligence (n) 1 Pet. 2.1 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings V. 2. as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Preparation and (o) Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law Prayer receive it with Faith and (p) Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it 2 Thess 2.10 With all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved Love lay it up in our (q) Psal 119 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee Hearts and practise it in our (r) Luk. 8.15 But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Jam. 1.25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word this man shall be blessed in his dealing Lives 7. Q. How do the Sacraments become effectual Means of Salvation 1. A. The
serve them for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy eattel nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the the LORD made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt not kill VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his man-servant nor his maid-servant nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is thy neighbour's The LORD'S Prayer MATTH VI. OVR Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this Day our daily Bread. And forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors And lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from Evil For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever Amen The CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his Only Son our Lord which was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into * i. e. Continued in the state of the Dead and under the power of Death till the third Day Hell the third Day he arose again from the Dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the Quick and the Dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen FINIS PART II. A sensible Demonstration of the existence of God. SECT I. God is I. ALL Religion and Righteousness is grounded upon this foundation That God is Besides the belief I have in God by revelation and Spiritual sense I am convinced that he is by these evident proofs laid all together 1. I am certain that I was come into the World before I knew of my coming 2. I am certain I made not my self I was before I knew my self to be what I am 3. I am certain my Parents and other Persons and Creatures were in being before me 4. I am certain that no Being is so likely to make himself and all other things as Man is because he is a rational Being of great invention and contrivance 5. No Men of this inquisitive and learned Age pretend to make or to be present at the making of the admirable frame of the Universe and if any Man or Men of former Ages had made the World we of this Age should have found them in it For 1. They who could make themselves could preserve themselves 2. They who could make themselves and the World must needs be great and happy 3. They who were once great and happy and always continued to be so For 1. if they did depose or divest themselves of their happiness freely and of choice they were defective in Wisdom to exchange a happy Being for a less happy or for nothing and by consequence were not wise enough to make the World. 2. If they grew weary of themselves they were not happy 3. If they were constrained to unmake themselves they were not superior but subject to other Powers Therefore I believe there were no such Men no such self-makers and makers of other things I conclude that I am made by another who made all things else and he is the first infinite Cause in which my thoughts and belief do rest who is infinitely Wise Great and Good to whom be glory for ever Again it is impossible to prove there is no God for all things are mediums to prove that he is and there is no medium to prove that he is not Lastly all Men Die they who are prepared and willing do believe in God they who are unwilling cannot refuse to Die therefore there is a Superior Power that is Lord of Life and Death and he is the living God. SECT II. Of the Holy Scriptures The Scriptures are of God. 1. NO Man can know the mind and will of the infinite God Creator and Governor of the World except he be pleased to make it known That his will should be known is necessary or else we could not worship nor please him by doing his Will. 2. Besides the light of Nature we have his will made know by revelation by which God who made the World is so revealed and declared that as sure as I am that God made the World so sure am I that God gave the Scriptures to direct us in the way of Duty and Happiness 3. I find the Book of God in the possession of his Church and People like a Royal Charter in a City by which the City is constituted and governed and enjoy their privileges When I peruse the Charter I know it to be the King 's and no private Mans invention or forg'd instrument I know the great Charter of the City of God to be his Word 1. By the matter of it For instance Who can describe or declare the infinite God by his Glorious Names and Titles and attributes but himself Who can declare his relation to himself as Father Son and Holy Ghost but himself Who can prescribe his Worship make Laws set down rewards and declare what shall be in the World to come but himself 2. I observe the Style and Manner of speaking the manner of revealing the admirable consent of the Old and New Testament tho given the one so long before the other the scope of the whole their perfection and efficacy as able to make a Man Wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 by the operation of the Holy Ghost Authority of the Scriptures 1. The Scriptures derive their Authority from God their Author The Church is not the Author of the Scriptures therefore they derive not their Authority from it The Testimony and Tradition of the Church is but Ministerial We are directed to place our faith in the Word as it is Gods who gave it by inspiration 2 Tim.
Mat. 5.18 The Spirit will not nullify his own work 17. The Scriptures are of the same use to us and all Ages to come which they were of to them that first received and believed them They are written that we should believe them that shall be saved Joh. 20.31 They are profitable for all things for all good works therefore we cannot be wise to Salvation without them 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17 1 Joh. 1.1,2,3,4 18. The authority of the Old Testament is equally Divine with the New. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 They mutually prove one another Luke 24.44 Acts 26.22,23 chap. 24.14 A proof from the Old Testament is as good as any from the New both make up one perfect Canon and Rule of Faith. 19. Consequences clearly or immediately drawn from Scripture or by clear natural light are Divine for they are contained in the Scriptures Those consequences drawn by our Saviour and Peter to prove the fundamental Article of the Resurrection are now part of Scripture Mat. 22.32 Acts 2.30,31 and were virtually contained in the Scriptures before If we can draw consequences from Scriptures by sound Mediums in imitation of them what we prove by such consequences is true and to be believed 20. The sence of Scripture is but one plain and simple to imform and fettle our understandings and faith and not ambiguous to confound us or keep us in doubts When the Scriptures speak plainly and properly the sence is proper when by metaphors and figures then it is plainly so If the sence were ambiguous how could they be understood how could they serve for Doctrine or for conviction of Error but they are profitable to those and other ends therefore plain 2 Tim. 3.16,17 21. There are no contradictions in Scripture for they are all given by inspiration of God who cannot contradict himself If any contradiction appears it is because our understandings cannot reach their coherence 22. Divine Revelation and right reason are different lights from the same father of light There is nothing therefore in Scripture contrary to right reason To bring matters revealed to be judged by reason is to bring the Spirit of God before the tribunal of Man who is both blind corrupt and partial and to make the Reason of Man now in a corrupted state to be more Divine and certain than Revelation Ephes 5.8 1 Thes 5.4 Ephes 4.17,18 1 Cor. 2.14 There is the greatest reason in the World to believe what God hath revealed Right reason and revelation agree where Scripture is contrary to reason the reason is not good 23. God hath taken care to preserve Canonical Scriptures from being lost The Scriptures are perfect 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17 If any were lost the rest would be imperfect If not one jot or tittle shall pass away from the Law till all be fulfilled the whole Law and Revelation is safe Mat. 5.18 SECT III. Of the Trinity THE Doctrine of the most glorious Trinity is fundamental and practical because we are baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Christian faith and hope is built upon them we receive Gifts and Blessings from them together and from each one distinctly and we glorify and worship them together and distinctly as being devoted Servants to God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost This mystery is known only by Revelation There is enough in nature to make it credible and the practical use of it is to be made known as well as the truth of it to be proved by the Holy Scriptures Concerning it observe 1. There are three Relatives or Persons in the God-head 2. What a Person in the God-head is 3. These three are one God in Being or Essence co-essential and co-equal for there can be no inequality in the same infinite God-head or Essence I. There are three This is acknowledged by the Socinians who pronounce them to be no Christians who do not believe it Racov-Catech c. 1. But they deny that there are three Persons in the God-head because a Person is Essentia individua intelligens an individual intelligent Being But this reason is not good It implies that because a Person in the God-head is not like a Person in Nature therefore there are no distinct Persons or Relatives in the God-head Concerning these three observe 1. They are nam'd together Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 and apart in many Scriptures by their several different Names These three are more than one They say there is but one Person in the God-head and that is the Father But the Father is not every one of these three there are two more distinctly named besides him The Father is not the Son nor the Son the Father nor is the Father nor the Son the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost is not the Father nor the Son. If the Father be a Person so is the Son and so is the Holy Ghost The Father and the Son are two and not one and the Holy Ghost is a third If the Father relate to the Son as Father and the Son relate to the Father as Son as they do then they are distinct Persons and then there are also more Persons than one and as the Father and the Son are two the Holy Ghost is a third Not a quality of God for there are no accidents in God and if he were a power or a quality there would be no need of naming him as distinct from the Father and the Son for he would be included in the Father as the power of God. 2. These three are distinctly named in our Baptism which is a covenanting action and solemnity Covenants are between Persons The God of Grace who takes a number of Persons into Covenant with himself doth declare himself to them that they may know to whom they are obliged and related in Covenant Our great duty is to believe in God to honour and serve him and to expect what he hath promised He reveals himself as our God in Covenant and that not only as God but as Father Son and Holy Ghost We are oblig'd in the same duties to the Son and Holy Ghost as to the Father and partake of Grace Love and Communion from each one together 2 Cor. 13.14 Ephes 1.2,3 As God hath made himself known to us in Covenant so we are to believe and order our conceptions of him 3. Persons are known by personal properties and actions These three are known and distinguished by distinct properties and actions in reference to one another and towards the Creatures We are bound to believe in the Son as the only begotten Son therefore as distinguished from the Father John 20.31 chap. 3.16,18 The property and action of the Father is to beget The Son is called the first begotten Heb. 1.6 The Divine nature is unchangeable and indivisible and not multiplicable therefore there is no proper action nor passion as in nature nor production of new Being in this eternal Generation the manner of which
BEside his absolute and unchangeable dominion as God he hath a Royal Soveraignty as mediator He hath Royal Titles Rev. 1.5 Rev. 19.16 He hath Kingly power Ps 2.7,8,9 and a Kingdom yea Kingdoms belong unto him Rev. 17.14 2. His Kingly power is universal made Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 but not of this World like earthly Rings Joh. 18.36 3. He was decreed and foretold to be King before he was born Ps 110.1,2,3 and was born King Luke 1.31,32,33 4. He actually exercised his Kingly Power before but not so gloriously and fully as after his Resurrection and Ascension John 17.1,2 for he wrought Miracles raised the Dead cast out Devils and gave power to his Disciples to do so Therefore it is not true that he was not King before his Ascension and that his Resurrection and Ascension were only preparatory to his Kingly Office. 5. His Kingly Power is exercised towards his People 1. In subduing and converting them Ps 110.3 Acts 3.26 chap. 5.31 chap. 26.18 2. In governing them being subdued Heb. 1.8,9 Mat. 2.20 3. In succouring them when tempted Ephes 6.10 4. In keeping them to salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 John 10.28 Is 32.1,2 Towards his enemies as he pleaseth he restrains them breaks them and will overcome them Ps 2.9,10 Ps 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 Gen. 3.15 Rom. 16.20 And he shall judge the World Rom. 14.9,10,11 Phil. 2.10,11 Hence it followeth that it is sinful arrogance and usurpation to pretend to be Universal Head and Monarch over Christ's Church to extend power to the Living and Dead to bring out of Purgatory if there were any such Place to make Laws for Conscience to dispense with the Laws of God to dispose of Kingdoms to Pardon Sins or work Miracles or any part of Christ's Royal Power SECT XVI Of two Degrees of Christ's Humiliation 1. CHrist endured the Wrath of God. Wrath in God is not an infirmity or passion or inconsistent with his mercy and patience but it is his holy and righteous Will to punish or to take Vengeance upon Sinners See Rom. 1.18 Rom. 3.5 It is his Will and Power as Judge Heb. 10.30 It is set out in Scriptures terribly by Metaphors of fire and anger of the face c. Heb. 12.29 2 Thes 1.8,9 Ps 34.15 2. Our Saviour suffer'd it as our Surety and Sacrifice for Sin It was heavy upon his Soul and Body which had sunk under it if he had not been supported by the Omnipotency of his God-head yet he submitted to it because it was his Father's Will and his own This was the cause of his Agony it was this that made his Soul sorrowful to Death it was this which made him deprecate Father if it be possible Let this Cup pass from me it was this which made him cry out My God My God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Where note 3. Christ suffered immediately from God Why hast Thou for saken Me But it was no separation of the God-head from the suffering Man-hood nor a casting him off for still he held his interest my God my God nor was it more than he looked for nor was it any breach of promise in God nor a complaint of wrong it was the interruption of the light of Gods Countenance and the heaviness of his punishing justice upon him suffering in the stead of Sinners The Cursed Death of the Cross 1. The Death of Christ was a Cursed Death Phil. 2.8 Gal. 3.13 therefore it was a penaâ— Death by a judicial Act of God in which Men and Devils were instruments He was Holy c. Heb. 7.26 He knew no Sin by commission or participation yet he suffered the Death of a Sinner therefore he died in our place and stead 1 Pet. 3.18 when he died for our good He suffered the same punishment for substance which was due to Sinners he could not die spiritually for then he had not been Holy nor a pure Sacrifice for Sin he could not die eternally for then he could not have satisfied for Sin nor risen from the Dead nor done many other Acts of a Saviour That which was necessary for Sinners to suffer and accidental to punishment was not necessary for Christ to suffer nor could it stand with the Excellency of his Person nor Nature and End of his Office as Mediator He suffered what was satisfactory and abundant and meritorious The same punishment for substance which God threatned to Man for Sin but not the same in every kind and circumstance was undergone by Christ SECT XVII Of three Degrees of Christ's Exaltation 1. Of Christ's Resurrection NOte carefully 1. Who rose Christ Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.4,12 to 20. Luk. 24.46 2. What rose or was risen or in what respect No more was raised up than what was buried namely his Body yet as the whole Man is said to rise or to be raised from the Dead when only the Body is raised so it is said of Christ 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ the first fruits of them that slept V. 23. Afterwards they that are Christ's V. 35. And with what bodies do they come Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the just and unjust i.e. of just and unjust Persons and not Bodies only So Christ is said to rise when his Body only was raised 3. By what Power Christ rose or was raised There is a Concurrence of the three Persons in the Resurrection of Christ 1. The Father Rom. 6.4 Chap. 8.11 2. Of the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.18,19 Rom. 8.11 3. Of his own Power Joh. 2.19 Chap. 10.18 The Power is the same Power of God. The Resurrection of Christ is spoken of actively attributed to the Father Rom. 4.24 and to his own Power as his own Act Joh. 2.19 I will raise it up What the Father did he did the Father's Power and his being all one and the same producing one and the same individual Effect It is also spoken of passively Christ was raised from the Dead I will raise it up Joh. 2.19 is more than to say I shall rise again and more than was ever spoken of or by any Believer That place Luk. 17.33 speaks not of the Resurrection but of the Way to be saved eternally and of the Encouragement to suffer Death for Christ On Joh. 10.18 consider 1. Christ as Mediator received Commandment from the Father which none could execute but he who was God. 2. The Command given did presuppose Power in himself to execute it None but God can raise the Dead and it is more to raise himself than to raise another Those Men who raised the Dead by the miraculous Power of God did not raise their own Bodies but Christ saith I will raise it up and I have Power 3. Every true Believer may say When I am dead I shall be raised up But none can say I will raise it up The Temple of Christ's Body could not raise it self the Soul could not raise it but there was a Will and Power in Christ proper to God not lent him for that
the Third and the Order of Acts and Operations follows according to the Order of Subsistence the Father doth all through the Son by the Spirit by the Spirit we come and believe in the Son and through him we come to the Father The Relation of the Three is double 1. To one another The Father is related to the Son as a Father and the Son to the Father as a Son and both to the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost to both as the Spirit of the Father and the Sun. 2. To us who are baptized He is a Father Son and Holy Ghost to us that take him for our God. From these Names of Father Son and Holy Ghost we come to have right Notions of God as God of Grace Love Authority and Power and of our own Relation and Obligation to him for all Grace and Mercy and our Dependance on him and Obedience to him as Children Lastly Here is the true Measure of our Faith concerning God Our Faith is defective and unsound if we do not believe in one God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost The Knowledge of this great Mystery is very necessary and of great use to us 1. In respect of our Faith and Life of Faith. 2. To direct us in our right worshipping of God. 3. In our universal new Obedience And indeed the Mystery of the Incarnation and the whole of our Redemption and Salvation doth spring from the Mystery of the Trinity 1. We must exercise Faith in God the Father Joh. 5.24 And believeth on him that sent me Joh. 14.1 as the Fountain of Grace Father of Mercies Eph. 1.2,3 2 Cor. 1.3 as teaching and drawing to Christ Joh. 6.44,45 loving us Joh. 16.27 as the Father of Christ and our Father Joh. 20.17 2. We must exercise Faith in Christ Joh. 14.1 Believe also in me as the only Begotten of the Father Joh. 20.31 as the Way to the Father Joh. 14.6 as having Eternal Life in him 1 Joh. 5.11,12 It is an Observation of great moment that the Mediatory Offices of Christ are grounded upon and have their Efficacy from the Sonship of the Second Person The Son took our Nature and was consecrated to be our High Priest Heb. 7.28 The Son is our all-wise and mighty Prophet Matth. 17.5 and our King Psal 2.6,7 Heb. 2.1,8 The Son hath all Power and Authority with the Father and therefore we may draw near to him with Faith and Confidence of Acceptation and Prevailing 3 We must believe in the Holy Ghost We cannot believe in the Father and the Son except we believe in the Holy Ghost His Wisdom and his Power is the Wisdom and Power of God 1 Cor. 2.4,5 We cannot believe the Scripture except we believe in him by whose Inspiration the Scriptures were spoken and written 2 Pet. 1.21 Our Faith doth depend upon his Testimony 1 Joh. 5.6 He is a Witness both in Heaven and Earth Ver. 7,8 We believe in him as a Witness a Teacher a Comforter Joh. 14.26 2. We cannot worship God In Spirit acceptably except we believe in the Father the Son and Holy Ghost That one Text is of singular use to Believers Ephes 2.18 For through him i. e. Christ the Mediator we have access by one Spirit i. e. the Holy Ghost unto the Father And thus we worship the Father Ephes 3.14 Joh. 4.24 the Son Heb. 1.6 Joh. 5.23 Phil. 2.6,11 and the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 Prayer is made to the Holy Ghost as well as to the Father and the Son Sometimes Prayer hath been made to one Ephes 3.14 sometimes to another Acts 7.59 sometimes to two 1 Thess 3.11,13 and sometimes the three are named 2 Cor. 13.14 But when one is only named the other are not excluded What need have we to be renewed in the Spirit of our Minds that we may have divine and spiritual Thoughts and Conceptions of God in our Approaches to him 3. Universal Obedience and Service is to be performed to the Father the Son and Holy Ghost Matth. 1.6 Compare 2 Cor 6.18 with 2 Cor. 7.1 Whosoever shall do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Matth. 12.50 The Son must be honoured and obeyed Joh. 5.23 Matth. 17.5 Heb. 5.9 2 Cor. 5.14,15 And the Holy Ghost is to be served and obeyed Rom. 8. from 9. to 15. We must obey his Motions Teachings Reproofs Convictions and Commands So much of the first Head Now of the second We are enabled by the Spirit accepted through the Son with the Father 2. The Improvement of our Baptism Consider two things 1. All Persons baptized are bound to improve their Baptism for their own Good and Glory of God. 2. Parents ought to improve it for their Children And then I shall shew in what Particulars and how this Improvement and Advantage of Baptism is to be made 1. Baptism is a Bond made between God and us As by Circumcision the Jews were bound to observe the whole Law though it was an Ordinance given before the Law Gal. 5.3 Gen. 12.7,10 to 13. so Christians are Debtors to Christ to observe all things commanded by him Matth. 28.20 Abraham was bound for himself to walk before God c. Gen. 17.1 And he was eminently faithful and sincere in performance of his Covenant-Bond and Duty towards his Household Gen. 18.19 as was David also 1 Chron. 28.9 yea all Israel were strictly commanded to teach their Children Deut. 6.7 and so are Christian-Parents Ephes 6.4 2. All Persons are bound for themselves when grown up to Years of Understanding to remember this Bond and Covenant solemnly entred with God. Though they have neglected the Duties required and have not humbly claimed the Privileges of a Covenant-People yet the Bond is a perpetual Bond and the Transgression of it will be charged upon them to their sorer Condemnation if they repent not I say all baptized Persons are obliged to God and must remember their Covenant whether they be 1. Unconverted Or 2. Converted and called 1. All unconverted Sinners are obliged to God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost and therefore to serve and honour God as a redeemed holy People and therefore to turn from the Service of Sin and their Enemies to serve the living and true God c. 1 Thess 1.9,10 Consider 1. You have the means of Grace and Salvation in some measure the design and end of all which is to bring â—ou to God. You are not in darkness as Pagans are Though all of you may not have the Light of the Gospel shining gloriously in an able zealous Ministery the want and scarcity of which is a great hindrance and loss to Souls yet you have the Scriptures which are able to make you wise to Salvation c. 2 Tim. 3.15,16 When the Teachers of the Jews were deeply corrupted it was a great benefit to have the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 And if Ministers are negligent yet Parents are bound to train up their Children Eph. 6.4 The very reading of the Scriptures is profitable