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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41788	St. Paul's catechism, or, A brief and plain explication of the six principles of the Christian religion, as recorded Heb. 6., 1,2 with some considerations of the principles of natural and universal religion, as previous, and yet subservient to the rules of revealed and positive relgion: containing also, the duties of children to their superiors, written chiefly for the instruction of young Christians, children and servants in all Christian families / by Tho. Grantham.	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1687 (1687)	Wing G1545; ESTC R39432	35,919	64

had the means to know the Mediator particularly and distinctly must yet have Salvation by him or else none of the Infant-race dying such could be saved 2. All that know the Lord to be such a God as do's exercise loving-Kindness Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth do know this Mediator virtually and believing on the Lord as such do know him savingly Jer. 9. 24. Psal 86. 5. 3. All the common Providences of God are given chiefly for this end to direct Men to seek the Lord because it appears from St. Paul they have a capacity to feel after him and to find him For he is not far from every one of them because in him they live move and have their being 4. And as to their ignorance in things which they had not particular and distinct means to know 't is expresly said The Lord winked at it that is he graciously passed by their weakness and would not exact the utmost Farthing Acts 17. 26 27 30. See and consider Job 37. 23 24. 5. But when Men grow presumptuous and unthankful and give the Honour of the incorruptible God to created things or things of their own devising they thus unmanning themselves and forgetting that they are the Off-spring of God then and not till then do's God withdraw his Love from them and suffers them to be filled with their own ways as is most clear Rom. 1 2 Chapters and also Dan. 5. 22 23 24. S. I see it is not good for us to pride up our selves against the Nations which have not the Gospel as we have But it seems to be an Argument that God loves us more than he loves them because he gives us greater means of Grace than he gives them F. 1. Behold God is mighty and despiseth not any Let this Truth take place in thy Heart Job 36. 5. And then admit the Love of God to be much more to some than to all yet it 's sufficient to all 2. Yet I must inform thee that when we consider Mankind as they are all the Off-spring of God and as he has appointed the bounds of their Habitations that you should seek the Lord. Then like as we may not conclude that a good Father do's therefore not love his youngest Son so well as he loves his eldest Son because he gives him but half so much of his Estate as he gives the eldest Son. So neither may we conlude that God loves England France or Italy better then he loves America because we have greater means of Gospel-Light than they He that improves one Talent well shall be accepted as well as he that improves five S. I am well satisfied in this enquiry I see that God expects the Duties of Religion of all Men according to what Light and Knowledg he hath given them in all Ages and Nations And that through the Mercy and justice of God whoever worships God and doth his Will according to the manifestation which he has given Men of his Will shall be accepted of God. I pray now inform me concerning the true way of God's Worship or the true Christian Religion according to the Gospel Lest whilst we seem concern'd for others we be found to neglect our own Salvation And first I defire to be instructed whether the Holy Spirit or the Holy Scripture or the Holy Church must be our guide in these Soul-concernments F. There is no doubt but these three agree in one Testimony For the Scriptures are the Testimony of the other two Being indeed the Inspirations of the Holy Spirit and the Prophets or Ministers of the Church of God receive those Inspirations and gave them forth in Writings which Writings are the Holy Scriptures S. Is this Church always to be receiving and giving forth Inspirations of this kind F. No in no wise for so every Age might Produce a new Bible Wherefore that our Rules might not be too burthensom it pleased God that but few of the things which Jesus himself did should be written and that we believing according to the Scripture might have Life John 20. 31. 2 Pet. 3. 2. That ye may be mindfull of the words which were spoken before by the Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour If any come unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house 2 John v. 10. S. Seeing some pretend to the infallible conduct of the Holy Spirit in whatsoever they Decree in Council and others think they preach by infallible Inspiration I desire to known how we may best make tryal of these Spirits to know the Spirit of Truth from the Spirit of Error F. We may know the Spirit of Truth by these Rules 1. The Holy Scriptures being long since confirmed all true Ministers of Christ who are led by the Spirit of Christ will always magnify the Authority of the Scripture above what themselves deliver as personal Ministers though it be never so true For so did Christ himself magnify the holy Scriptures John 5. 45 46 47. And so did St. Peter 2 Pet. 1. 16 to the end S. Is it clear that by the more sure Word of Prophesy is meant the Writings of the Prophets F. Yes it is very clear by the very reading of the Place 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18 19 20 21. S. What is this dark place which this word of Prophesy is said to shine in F. It may be well meant of the Jewish Church which understood not the voice of their own Prophets which are read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day Or it may be true of us by how much we are slow of heart to understand and believe all that the Prophets have spoken Luk. 24. 25. S. What is the Day-Star which is to arise in our Hearts F. By a diligent attending upon the Testimony of the Prophets God gives Light to those that sincerely seek for it ye shall know if ye follow on to know Hosea 8. 3. and God gives his Spirit to help our infirmity S. I am satisfied in this exposition of the place I pray proceed to further Rules by which the true Spirit may be known F. 2. The Spirit which is of God does not speak of it self John 16. 13. So as to contradict what Christ hath said but he takes of Christ's Words and shews them to his People It delivers no new Ordinances nor nulls nor changes Christ's old ones But magnifies Christ as the Law-giver that was to teach us all things John 4. 25. 3. The Apostles by this Spirit have left us the whole Council of God Act 20. 20 27. and by that Doctrine they knew that to be the Spirit of God which led to it and that to be the Spirit of Error which dissented from it 1 John. 4. 6. S. I see there is no safety in adhering to my self or any other under pretence of having the infallible Conduct or Inspiration of the Spirit I shall beg the influence of the Spirit of Grace to quicken my Judgment and

St. PAVL's CATECHISM OR A brief and plain Explication of the Six Principles of the Christian Religion as recorded Heb. 6. 1 2. WITH Some Considerations of the Principles of Natural and Universal Religion As previous and yet subservient to the Rules of Revealed and Positive Religion Containing also The Duties of Children to their Superiors Written chiefly for the Instruction of Young Christians Children and Servants in all Christian Families By THO. GRANTHAM 2 John v. 4. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in Truth as we have received a Commandment from the Father London Printed in the Year 1687. To all Parents and Masters of Christian Families Grace be multiplied c. Beloved in Christ AS you are expresly bound by Gospel-Rules to do that which is right unto your Servants and to bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord so I am very sensible that the capacity of many well-meaning Christians is very low to methodize their Instructions in this behalf And having a desire to serve you in what I may I have here presented you with some Brief Rules from the good Word of God which is able through Faith and Love to make our Children wise to Salvation which by the Blessing of God I have found to be useful in my own Family Be exhorted to tender the Salvation of all that are under your care above all other Considerations lest their Blood be required of you Teach them the Fear of God betimes with their Duties towards their Superiours in every state of Life for this shall be a means to preserve them from many dangerous Erros in these daies and also adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour to whose Grace I comit you and remain Your loving Brother T. GRANTHAM The INTRODUCTION To Children and Servants concerning the Knowledg of the True God. THE Question Whether there be any God is so wicked and absurd that none but Fools will admit the Debate For he that shall once say in his Heart there is no God the next thought in him may be that he himself is God seeing there is no Creature known to us above Man. The Heavens Earth and Seas do all serve Him. But seeing He made not himself nor any of these things it must be that He that made Man and all things that are made is above all and to be obeyed in Love above all Rev. 14. 6 7. Remember therefore your Creator in the days of your Youth and dedicate the prime of your strength to his Service Content your selves with such a knowledg of God as is held forth to you in his Holy Word and Mighty Works and as shall be wrought in you by the Spirit of Grace as you adhere to Him. The sum of that Revelation which God hath made of Himself to us in his Holy Word may briefly be comprehended in these ensuing Particulars eac● 〈◊〉 which I have confirmed by some of the most clea● Testimonies as they relate to these Particulars respespectively I desire you to read and search the Scriptures to see whether these things be so I. That God is One or there is but one only true and living God. Deut. 6. 4. Exod. 20. 3. 1 Cor. 8. 4 5 6. John 17. 3. Who hath revealed himself in the Gospel by the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. And these three are one 1 John 5. 7. Isa 6. 3. II. That the Essence or Being of this God is revealed by Christ to be a Spirit God is a Spirit John 4. 24. 2 Cor. 3. 17. III. That this God is Eternal without Beginning and without End he abideth the same for ever Deut. 33. 27. Psal 90. 1 2. Isa 57. 15. Psal 93. 2. Isa 63. 16. Hab. 1. 12. IV. That God is Omnipotent he can do whatsoever he pleaseth there is no restraint to the Almighty Exod. 6. 3. Job Chap. 38 39 40 41. Psal 62. 11. 66. 3 5. Jer. 10. 12. V. That God is Omniscient or knoweth all things none of our Thoughts nor Actions can be hidden from his sight Psal 139. 1 to the end Isa 45. 21. 44. 7. Prov. 15. 11. Heb. 4. 12. VI. That God is Holy Righteous and True he will judg the World in Righteousness and there is no Unrighteousness in Him. Josh 24. 19. 2 Sam. 2. 2. Psal 5. 6. Dan. 9. 7. John 17. 25. Zeph. 3. 5. Rev. 16. 5. Acts 17. 31. VII That this God is very gracious and merciful no Cruelty is in him He delighteth in Mercy Exod. 34. 6. Psal 145. 9. 1 Pet. 3. 20. Isa 27. 4. Rom. 5. 20 21. Jam. 5. 11. Tit. 2. 11. VIII That God is perfect without any weakness having no dependance upon any He only is perfect Isa 40. 12 13 14 15 21 22 28. Deut. 32. 4. Jer. 2. 5. Psal 75. 3. James 1. 17. IX That the Place of God's Residence is in Heaven yet not confin'd to place but is present every where as he pleaseth Mat. 6. 9. Isa 66. ● Psal 123. 1. 1 King. 8. 39. Psal 139. 8 9 10. Isa 57. 15. Psal 68. 16. X. That nothing can be done without the permissive Providence of God yet many things are done contrary to his Will. Gen. 2. 17. 3. 6. Jer. 44. 2 3 4. Levit. 26. 23 24. John 19. 11. 1 Pet. 3. 17. Mat. 10. 29. XI It is unlawful to form any Shape Image or Representation of Almighty God no not so much as in our Minds or Imaginations Deut. 4. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19. Exod. 2. 4. Psal 106. 20 21. Acts 17. 29. Isa 40. 15 16 18. Rom. 1. 24. XII That the compleat knowledg and enjoyment of this God is not to be attained till after the glorious Resurrection of the People of God then and not till then shall they know him fully John 12. 26. 1 Cor. 13. 9 10 12 13. 1 John 3. 1 2. Mat. 13. 43. Job 11. 7 8 9. This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their Minds Having their Vnderstanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their Heart Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness witb greediness But ye have not so learned Christ if so be you have heard him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus The Lord give you understanding in all things St. PAUL's Catechism c. IT may be convenient that this Catechistical Discourse be formed between the Father as Teacher and the Son as the Learner and thus we proceed Son. Sir I desire to know the chief End for which I have a being in this World Father The chief End for which Man had his being was That he might bear the Image of his Creator to govern this World Gen. 1. 26 27. and to live in Obedience to his Creator Gen. 1.

Affection in the search of the Holy Scriptures the most infallible Records of God and his Church But yet I desire a little help How I may best satisfy my self or others that the Holy Scriptures are the undoubted Oracles of God F. To satisfy thy Soul in this enquiry thou hast God's own Testimony who every-where speaks to thee in them by Doctrine and by Miracles If any deny the truth of those Records they only deprive themselves of the Authority of all Records that are extant in the World of former Ages for the truth of the Divine Scripture has the highest Testimony of all other and if these fall all must fall with them 2. Thou hast the Testimony of all the Prophets and of the Apostles and above all the Testimony of Christ and his Angels that the Old Testament is the Scriptures of truth 3. Lay aside the New Testament and then no Man can preach any thing of the Gospel respecting the Birth Life Doctrine Miracles Death Resurrection Assension or second coming of Christ 4. We have the Testimony of the first Churches that these Books are the undoubted Oracles of God and if their Testimony be not of credit the Testimony of the present Church will signifie nothing 5. These Scriptures must either be of God or of the Devil But who dare say they are of Satan They are the most destructive of his Kingdom and Designs of any Books whatsoever S. These Considerations must needs be satisfactory to all that pretend to be of the Christian Faith. I desire therefore to be instructed in the true Christian Religion especially in such parts of it as are necessary to our walking with God in a Church-way that I may have fellowship with God and his People in the orderly profession of the Christian Religion F. In the Name of God then let us begin there where our Lord Christ began to preach and let us follow him whom our Heavenly Father hath given to be a Witness to the People for a Leader and for a Commander to the People Isa 50. 4. Of the First Principle of St. Paul's CATECHISM Or Repentance from dead Works Son. I Desire to know what were the first Things preached by Christ and his Apostles and to be learned by their Followers Father The first Things which Christ preached were Repentance and Faith as it is written Matth. 4. 17. Mark 1. 14. Whose Heavenly Doctrine is more fully set down and gathered into six Principles by St. Paul. Heb. 6. 1 2. and thus declared Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptisms and of laying on of Hands and of the Resurrection of the Dead and of eternal Judgment S. Seeing these are the Foundation-Principles how must I understand the Apostle when he saith learning the Principles F. They are words respecting the order of Discourse and bear this sence that St. Paul would leave at that time to speak further of these Principles and go on to more perfect or higher Mysteries and so he ●roceeds to discourse of the excellency of Christ's Priesthood above the Aaronical Priesthood Chap. 7 c. S. I confess if we should otherwise leave these Principles we should leave God himself for without Faith and Humiliation we cannot please God. But does not Faith go before Repentance F. We must distinguish of Faith. There is the Faith of Mankind who generally do believe there is a God that will punish the Wicked and reward the Just This Faith must go before Repentance Heb. 11. 6. But the Faith here spoken of is the Faith of actual Justification and this Faith must needs follow Repentance Rom. 3. 25. and 5. 1. thus God is the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus Impenitent Sinners are so far from Justification that Christ tells them Except they repent they shall all perish Luke 13. 2 3 4 5. S. I thank you for this distinction I see the necessity of Repentance Pray shew me the true Nature of Repentance and how I may obtain Repentance unto Life And whether it be the Gift of God F. That Repentance unto Life is the Gift God is very clear Acts 5. 31. 11. 18. It is a special Mercy flowing from the goodness of God to all Sinners Rom. 2. 3. for he might in justice have denied the Riches of his Grace to the Rebellious which yet he hath not Psalm 68. 18. Acts 17. 30. Thus God gives Repentance both graciously and preceptively S. But does not God also give Power with his gracious Precept to repent F. That God gives Repentance potentially is true Jer. 31. 18 19. Turn thou me and I shall be turned surely when I was turned I repented Yet this Power is not irresistible but it is sufficient either to effect Repentance or to leave the Sinner without excuse Ezek. 24. 13. Rom. 1. 32. compared with Rom. 2. 1. Christ was sent to turn every one of the Jews from their Iniquities and there was a sufficiency of Power in the means which he used to do it But yet they resisted the Holy Ghost and the Holy Jesus and were destroyed in their Iniquities Acts 3. 26. 7. 51. see Mat. 12. 41. S. I see plainly we may not look for in irresistibl● Power to convert us to God. F. The Gospel as it is the ministration of the Spirit is to us the Power of God to Salvation as well as it was to the Jews Rom. 1. 16 17. S. I desire to know what are the Parts of Repentance unto Life F. The Parts of Repentance unto Life were principally three 1. A thorow or due sense of Sin in the sinful Nature of it 2. A godly sorrow for our Sins chiefly because we have committed them against the Will and Commandment of that gracious God by whose Mercy and Goodness we live and enjoy all good Things 3. It consists in a holy resolution and endeavour to forsake all sinful ways S. Pray explain the first part of Repentance by shewing me what Sin is that I may have a due sense of it F. The Scripture tells us That St. Paul had not known Sin but by the Law Rom. 7. 7. And that by the Law is the knowledg of Sin Rom. 3. 20. and that Sin is the Transgression of the Law John 3. 4. And where no Law is there is no Transgression And that the substance and work of this Law is so far revealed to all the World that all the World is under it and that by the breach of God's Law every Mouth shall be stopped and all the World be found guilty before God Rom. 3. 19 20 23. S. I confess if all the World be not under some Law of God they could not be guilty of Sin against God. But my desire is to know what Law we are under who have the Holy Scriptures amongst us F. We are under the Law of God as it is given to Mankind universally being of the Gentile Race that is the Principles of Right Reason and the Instructions

of the Book of Creation Psal 19. 1 2 3. Rom. 1. 2. whereunto it has pleased God to add this great Blessing that we have the Divine Law as contained in the Holy Scriptures by which more excellent Things are made known which are also explain'd and confirm'd to us by Jesus Christ in the New Testament whom we are commanded to hear in all things And thus we are under the teachings of the Law both Natural Divine S. Where shall we find the Substance of the Law Natural and Divine recommended and explained to us F. In the Ten Commandments Exod. 20. which are explained in our Saviour's Sermons on the Mount c. Mat. Chap. 5 6 7. and comprised by him in the two great Evangelical Precepts that is To love God above all and our Neighbours as our selves Mat. 22. 37 38 39 40. Upon these two Commands hang all the Law and the Prophets S. How may a Man know that he is guilty of the breach of these Laws F. 1. By considering the quality of that Love which we owe to God and to our Neighbour respectively For our Love to God must be of the superlative or highest Degree less than this he will not accept 2. Our Love to our Neighbour must be of the Possitive Degree even as we love our selves and by how much we come short in these by so much we sin and come short of the Glory of God or of glorifying him as God. S. What are the true demonstrations of Love to God F. 1. When God is chiefly and most delightfully in our thoughts of all things whatsoever Psal 43. 4. Psal 25. 2. When his Word and chiefly his Commands are not grievous but delightful to us 1 John 2. 3 4 5. 3. When Sin is the Object of our hatred because it is contrary to the Nature and Will of God Psal 37. 10. Jude 23. Rev. 2. 6. 4. When we hunger and thirst for the gracious and for the glorious enjoyment of God Psal 42. 1 2. John 14. 8. S. What are the true Demonstrations of Love to my Neighbour F. They are many some are continual and some are occasional and they flow from this Spring A hearty desire of their good or constant Prayer to God for them for this keeps our Heart open in love towards them not only to avoid all things that may do them harm but also to pity and help them in their Necessities as we are able both in things Temporal and Spiritual This is that Charity without which the highest Pretences to Religion are nothing S. By these brief Rules I perceive how greatly Sin has prevailed against Men generally and against my self in particular whilst we have followed the desires of the Flesh and of the Mind neglecting both God and our Neighbour What manner of Repentance is that which you call the second Part F. It is a godly Sorrow or sorrowing for Sin after a godly sort 2 Cor. 7. 9. and arises in the Heart from this Consideration That whilst a gracious God hath been following us with Mercies from day to day we have consum'd these Days and Mercies in ignorance of God and in sinful Courses in the sight of God and against Heaven Luk. 15. 18. And the truly Penitent do often meet with David's experience Psal 51. 4. 77. 2 3 4. Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord my sore ran in the night and ceased not my Soul refused to be comforted I thought upon God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed I am so troubled I cannot speak And in this Conflict the Sinner will remember his sinful Original Psal 51. 5. S. Is Original Sin cause of Humiliation F. Yes undoubtedly For all Flesh was and is defiled by it Christ only excepted Heb. 4. 15. and should have perished under it had not Christ the Lamb of God been in God's Decree slain from the Foundation of the World to take away this Sin of the World in the condemning power of it John 1. 29. Rom. 5. 18. S. I would gladly know how to attain this Godly Sorrow which worketh Repentance unto Salvation F. 1. Consider in order thereunto That the Holy God hates those who presumptuously go on in their Trespasses Psal 7. 11 12 13. 68. 21. 2. But if any say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it profited me not he shall deliver his Soul from going to the Pit Job 33. 27 28. 3. Think often of the Judgments of God against obdurate Sinners and of his Mercy in sparing thee so long And let his Goodness and Forbearance lead thee to Repentance Rom. 2. 4. 4. Pray much to Almighty God to be thy help herein Jer. 31. 18. Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God. S. May these Directions be blessed to me I shall then have my desire But what mean you by the third part of Repentance F. I mean 1. a holy loathing and abhorring all Sin because it is of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. And because God hates it and because Christ died for it or because of it 2. Abstain from the act of Sin in Desire Word and Deed as much as possible Jonah 3. 10. God saw their Works that they turned from their evil ways Break off thy Sins by Righteousness Dan. 4. 27. Repent you therefore and be converted Acts 3. 19. This is to bring forth Fruit meet for Repentance S. Hath Man any liberty of Will and any measure of Power thus to hate and forsake Sin F. 1. By the Bounty of God Man hath some Liberty and Power this way he is not chained to his Sin of necessity Josh 24. 19. Chuse you this day whom you will serve To day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. Mary hath chosen the good part uk 10. 42. 2. Yet Man's Infirmity in the exercise of this Liberty and Power is so great that he is not to depend upon this Liberty and Power but upon the strength of God in the use of them Hos 14. 2. 2 Cor. 3. 5. S. I confess my self and all Men indispensably bound to repent and turn to God. But I desire to know whether this Repentance will justify the Sinner or how far it is available hereunto F. Though a Sinner humble himself and repent in Dust and Ashes as truly as Job did Job 42. 6. Yet is he not thereby justified but only prepared to justification for remission of Sin follows Repentance Luke 24. 47. and is made ours freely by the Grace of God through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission Heb. 9. 22. 10. 18. Rom. 5. 9. We must therefore in no wise place our Justification in our Repentance for that were to place our Justification from the guilt and condemning Power of Sin in our Duty and not in Christ

Jesus which God forbid S. I desire you therefore to shew me this great Mystery of the Gospel which guides poor Sinners to the true Cause of Justification from the guilt and condemning Nature of Sin. F. That I will endeavour to do in our con●ideration of the second Principle of Christ's Doctrine to wit Of Faith towards God or towards our Lord Jesu● Christ Heb. 6. 1. Acts 20. 21. The Second Principle of St. Paul's CATECHISM Or Of Faith towards God. Son. I de●ire first to have a true definition of Faith that is I desire to know what Faith is Father St. Paul defines Faith thus Heb. 11. 1. Now Faith is the substance of Things hoped for the evidence of things not seen It is also truly defined of a firm belief of the Truth of God as made known in the Scriptures and particula●ly concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord John 20. 31. 1 John 5. 10 11. S. I perceive that the main design of the Holy Scriptures is to direct us to Jesus Christ I do therefore desire to know what Record God hath given of his Son F. This is the Record which God hath given of his Son That God hath given to us eternal Life and that this Life is in his Son. 1 John 5. 11. with John 1. 4. and 6. 51. S. Was the Son of God ordained to procure the Light of saving Life to the whole World F. Yes God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life And the reason why many shall not see Eternal Life is because they believe not on the Name of the only begotten Son of God John 3. 16 17 18. S. But how can they be saved by Christ who never heard of him F. Christ is the Lamb of God slain in the design of God to take away the Sin of the World John 1. 29. In whom God hath offered such means of Light as to him seemed convenient Act. 17. 26 27. that all might seek him and be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 14 18 19. And according to the due use or wilful abuse of his Mercy so offered you shall all be acquitted or condemned in the day when God shall judg the Secrets of Men according to the Gospel Rom. 2. 14 15 16. Now the Gospel shews that God is not an hard Master he only expects improvement of what he gives he will not reap where he hath not Sown 2 Cor. 8. 12. Dying Infants never heard of Christ yet they shall be saved Mat. 19. 14. S. By this I perceive all Men are under the Mercy of God as well as under his Justice and that none shall therefore perish for want of Mercy but because they turn the Grace of God into wantonness Shew me therefore what we who have the holy Scriptures are bound to believe concerning God and Jesus Christ whom he hath Sent. F. We are firmly to believe that God is Heb. 11. 6. and that there 's no other God but one Mark 12. 32 34. This one God is made known to us by three Denominations especially The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. 1 John 5. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 16. John 1. 14. And that thou mayest know how this Great Mystery was understood by the Ancient Church about 1400 Years ago I will here shew thee their Confession of Faith published by a very great Council of the Christians in those daies wherein were 318 Pastors of the Church who thus profess their Faith. The Nicene Creed I Believe in one God the Almighty Father maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God Begotten of the Father before all Worlds God of God Light of Light Very God of very God begotten not made of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made Who for us Men and for our Salvation descended from the Heavens and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became Man. Crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate Suffered and was buried And rose again the third day according to the Scriptures And ascended into Heaven and sits at the right Hand of God. And is to come again with Glory to judg the Living and the Dead and of whose Kingdom there shall be no end And in the holy Spirit the quickening Lord who proceeds from the Father and the Son and in like manner is adored and g●●rifyed with the Fathe● and the Son and who spake by the Prophets And I believe one holy Catholick and Apostolical Church I confess one Baptism f●r remission of Sins And I look for the Resurr●ction of the Dead And the Life in the World to come S. I much reverence this ancient Confession of Faith for it 's excellent Brevity and especially for the solidity of the Matter But I desire you to shew me what Scripture-Evidence we have for some things contained in the second Article where it says The Son of God was begotten before all Worlds F. In Heb. 1. 5. the Son of God is called the First-Begotten and vers 2. 't is said The Worlds that is all Worlds were made by him and vers 10. Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the Works of thy Hands John 1. 1 2 3. is full evidence of the same thing And Colos 1. 17. He is before all things and by him all things consist S. But how is it said the Son is God of God Light of Light c. F. 1. The same Testimonies which prove He was God and that he was before all things proves that he was God of God because there was but one God nor as yet any other Essence but God. The Son w●s therefore begotten not made because all things were made by him which was made and sure he that made all things was not made himself 2. In 1 John. 5. 20. The Son is expresly called Very God and seeing there is but one God he must needs be very God of very God. 3. And for the same reason he is Light of Light for God is that Light in whom is no Darkness 1 ●ohn 1. ● and so is Christ John 1. 5 7 8 9. See also Rev. 21. 2● Heb. 1. 3. S. It seems the great Council did not want Scri●ture-evidence to confirm this great Article o●●he pr●existence of the Son of God. I pray explain the thi●d Article where the Son of God is said to be incarnate of of the Virgin Mary by the Holy ●●ost and became Man. F. It pleased the Father Almighty that his Son who being in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God should take upon him the form of a Servant and be found in the habit of Man Col. 2. 6 7. And in this state He that was above all Angels Heb. 1. 5. was now made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering