the Flesh the World and the Devil from the revenging Justice of God and from everlasting Damnation giving us here a Union with Christ the Pardon of our Sins and Sanctifying Grace and hereafter everlasting heavenly Glory Q. 3. Is there any other Religion besides the Christian Religion A. There be many errours of Men which they call their Religion Q. 4. Is there any True Religion besides Christianity A. There be divers that have some part of the Truth mixt with Error 1. The Heathens acknowledge God and most of his Attributes and Perfections as we do But they have no knowledge of his Will but what meer Nature teacheth them and they worship many Idols if not Devils as an under sort of Gods 2. The Iews own only the Law of Nature and the Old Testament but believe not in Jesus Christ our Redeemer 3. The Sadduces and all Bruitists worship God as the Governour of Man in this World but they believe not a Life to come for Man 4. The Pythagorean Heathens look for no Reward or Punishment after Death but by the passing of the Soul into some other Body on Earth in which iâ— shall be Rewarded or Punished 5. The Mahometans acknowledge One God as we do but they believe not in Jesus Christ as Mans Redeemer but only take him for an excellent Holy Prophet and they Believe in Mahomet a Deceiver as a Prophet greater than he 6. The meer Dâ—ists believe in God but not in Jesus Christ and have only the Natural Knowledge of his Will as other Heathens but worship not Idols as they do Q. 5. Is there but One Christian Religion A. No True Christianity is one certain thing Q. 6. How then are Christians said to be of divers Religions A. Sound Christians hold to Christian Religion alone as Christ did institute it But many others corrupt it some by denying some parts of it while they own the rest and some by adding many corrupting Inventions of Man and making those a part of their Religion as the Papists do Q. 7. Where is the true Christian Religion Doctrinal to be found that we may certainly know which is it indeed A. The Christian Religion containeth I. The Light and Law of Nature and that is common to them with others and is to be found in the Nature of all things as the Significations of Gods Will II. Supernatural Revelation clearing the Law of Nature and giving us the Knowledge of the Redeemer and his Grace And this is contained I. Most fully in the Holy Bible II. Briefly and summarily in the Creed Lords Prayer and Commandments III. Most briefly of all in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Covenant made and sealed by them Q. 8. But are not the Articles of our Church and the Confessions of Churches their Religion A. Only Gods Word is ouâ— Religion as the Divine Rule But our Confessions and Books and Words and Lives shew how we understand it Q. 9. What is the Protestant Religion A. The Religion of Protestants is meer Christianity They are called Protestants but accidentally because they Protest for meer Scripture Christianity against the Corruptions of Popery Q. 10. What sorts of false Religion are there among Christians A. There are more Corruptions of Religion than can easily be named The chief of them are of these following sorts I. Some of them deny some Essential Article of Faith or Practice As the Immortality of the Soul the Godhead or Manhood or Offices of Christ or the Holy Ghost or the Scripture c. II. Some of them pretend new Revelations falsely and set their pretences of the Spirits Inspirations against the sealed Word of God III. Some of them set up an Usurped Power of their own against the Office Authority or sufficiency of the said Sealed Scriptures Pretending that they are Successours to the Apostles in the Power and Office of making Laws for the Universal Church and being the Judges of the sence of Scripture yea and what is to be taken for Gods Word and what not and Judges of all Controversies about it Of these the Papists pretenâ— that the Pope and a General Council are Supreaâ— visible Governours under Christ of all the Christiaâ— World and that none may appeal from them â—… God to Christ to the Scripture or to the Day oâ— Judgment Others pretend to such a Power iâ— every Patriarchal National or Provincial Church And all of them instead of a humble helping guiding Ministry set up a Church Leviathan a silencing Abaddon and Appollyon a destroying Office Setting up their Usurped power above â—â— equal in Effect with Gods Word Q. 11. How come the Scriptures to be Gods Worâ— when the Bishops Cannons are not And to be â—â— far above their Laws A. You must know that God hath two differenâ— sort of Works to do for the Government of hiâ— Church The first is Legislation or giving Neâ— Doctrines and Laws The other is the teachinâ— and guiding the Church by the Explication anâ— Application of these same Laws God is not stiâ— making New Laws for Man but he is still Teaching and Ruling them by his Laws Accordingly God hath had two sort of Ministers One sort for Legislation to Reveal neâ— Doctrines and Laws And such was Moses undeâ— the Old Administration and Christ and his Commissioned Apostles under the New These werâ— Eminent Prophets inspired by God infallibly â—â— record his Laws and God attested their Officâ— and Work by Multitudes of Evident uncontrolled Miracles But the Laws being Sealed the Second sort of Ministers are only to Teach and Apply these same Laws and Doctrines and not to reveal New ones And such were the Priests and Levites under Moses and all the succeeding Ministers and Bishops of the Churches under Christ and the Apostles who are the Foundation on which the Church is built And though all Church Guides may determine of the undetermined Circumstances of Holy things by the General Laws which God hath given therein Yet to arrogate a power of making a new Word of God or a Law that shall suspend our Obedience to his Laws or any Law for the Universal Church whether it be by Pope or Council is treasonable Usurpation of a Government which none but Christ is capable of And as if one King or Council should claim the Civil Soveraignty of all the Earth which is most unknown to them Q. 12. But I pray you tell me how the CREED comes to be of so great Authority seeing I find it not in the Bible A. It is the very Summ and Kernel of the Doctrine of the New Testament and there you may find it all with much more But it is Older than the writting of the New Testament save that two or three words were added since I told you before 1. That Christ himself did make the Nature and Terms of Christianity Commissioning his Apostles to make all Nations his Disciples baptizing them into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy
and they driven hastily out they yearly continued the Eating of the Passover with unleavened Bread as in a hasting posture 3. Since the Law given in the Wilderness they constantly used the Sacrifices the Oblations the Tabernacle the Priesthood and Ceremonies as that Law prescribed them And the National constant use of these was an ascertaining Tradition of the matters of Fact which were their cause 4. Yea so tenacious were they of this Law that as they taught the very Syllables of it to their Children and kept in the Ark the very Tables of Stone that had the Ten Commandments so they were Enemies to Christianity because the Christians were against the Gentiles Observation of their Law and for its abrogation 4. Consider again that the Matter of Fact and the Divine Institution is since made certain to us by Christs Testimony Q. 11. But seeing this Law doth not bind us now nor the particular Messages of the Prophets were sent to us is it any of our Concern now to know or believe them It belonged to those that they were made for and sent to But what are they to us A. There is not the same necessity to know them and so to be such that they were all of God as there is to know and believe the Gospel But it is greatly our Duty and Concern to believe them 1. Because they were preparatory to the Gospel and bore an antecedent Testimony to it 2. Because the Gospel it self beareth witness of their Truth which therefore if we believe it we must believe 3. Because by the Holy Ghost's direction all now make up our Books of Sacred Records which is the certain Word of God though not all of the same Necessity and Evidence And here I must tell you a great and needful Truth which ignorant Christians fearing to confess by overdoing tempt Men to Infidelity The Scripture is like a Mans Body where some parts are but for the preservation of the rest and may be maimed without death The Sence is the Soul of the Scripture and the Letters but the Body or Vehicle The Doctrine of the Creed Lords Prayer and Decalogue and Baptism and Lords Supper is the Vital part and Christianity it self The Old Testament Letter written as we have it about Ezras's time is that Vehicle which is as imperfect as the Revelation of those times was But as after Christ's Incarnation and Ascension the Spirit was more abundantly given and the Revelation more perfect and Sealed so the Doctrine is more full and the Vehicle or Body that is the Words are less imperfect and more sure to us so that he that doubteth of the Truth of some Words in the Old Testament or of some small Circumstantials in the New hath no reason therefore to doubt of the Christian Religion of which these Writings are but the Vehicle or Body sufficient to ascertain us of the Truth of the History and Doctrine Be sure first that Christ is the very Son of God and it inferreth the certainty of all his Words and enforceth our whole Religion Q. 12. I perceive then that our main Question is both as to Necessity and Evidence How we are sure that the Gospel is true and the Records of it the very Word of God A. It is so And as it is this that must Rule and Judge the Church so we have to us fuller proof of this than of the Old Testament Because that the narrowness of the Iews Countrey in comparison of the Christian World and the many Thousand Years distance and a Language whose Phrase and Proverbial speeches and the very sence of the common words of it must needs make it more unknown to us than the Language that the Gospel is Recorded in And it is not the least proof of the Truth of the Old Testament that it is attested and confirmed by the New Q. 13. Will you first tell me How the Apostles and that first Age were sure that the Gospel of Christ was the very Word of God A. Here I must first tell you that the great Mystery of the Blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost being One God is made necessary to us to be believed not only as to the Eternal unsearchable Inexistence but specially for the Knowledge of Gods three great sorts of Works on Man That is As our Creator and the God of Nature as our Redeemer and the God of Governing and and reconciling Grace and as our Sanctifier and the Applyer and Perfecter of all to fit us for Glory And so the Son as Redeemer is the way to the Father to know him and his Love and be reconciled to him And the Holy Ghost is the Witness of the Son The proof therefore of the Gospel of Christ in one word is the Holy Ghost that is the certain Testimony of God's Spirit And this Testimony consisteth of these several parts I. The foregoing Testimony of the Spirit by all the Prophesies of the Old Testament and the Typical Prefigurations which became a fuller proof than before when they were seen all to be fulfilled in Christ Yet many were fulfilled before When Abraham had no Child he was promised the Multiplication of his Seed and that all Nations should be blessed therein Gen. 12. 2. 13. 16. 15. 5. 17. 2. 18. 11 12. The 400 Years of their abode in Egypt and Canaan before were foretold and punctually fulfilled Gen. 15. 13 14. Ex. 12. 31 32. So was Iacob's Prophesie of Iudah's Scepter Gen. 42. 8 9 10. And Ioseph's dreams And verily Balaams last Prophesie was marvellous who when he had blessed Israel and foretold their Victories foretold also the Scepter of David and Christ and the success of the Assyrians and after that of Chittim against the Hebrews themselves Numb 24. And who seeth not the fulfilling of the terrible Prophesie of Moses against the Iews Deut. 31 Iosiah by Name and his Deeds were foretold 300 Years before he was Born 1 Kings 13. 2. 2 Kings 23. 15. Oft was the Captivity of the Iews foretold and the destruction of Babylon and the Iews return by Cyrus named long before he was Born and the very time foretold From the beginning Christ was promised and the circumstances of his coming foretold Gen. 3. 15. 26. 4. 49. 10. Deut. 18. 15. Psal. 2. 27. 89. 110. Isa. 53. 11. 1. Ier. 33. 15. Mic. 5. 2. That he should be Born of a Virgin Isa. 7. 14. in Bethlem Mic. 5. 2. and then the Infants killed Ier. 31. 15 that he should come into the Temple as the Angel of the Covenant whom they desired but they should not endure therein when he came because he came as a Refiner Mal. 3. 1. 3. That he should go into Egypt and return thence Isa. 19. 1. Hos. 11. 1. That One should go before him to prepare the way Mal. 3. 1. That he should do wonders for the People Isa. 35. 5. That a familiar should betray him and that for Thirty pieces of
terrified them and told the Rulers what they saw And after all it was to Paul a Persecutor and partly to his company that Christ appeared Q. 6. Why must Christ rise from the Dead A. You may as well ask Why he must be our Savior 1. If he had not risen Death had conquered him and how could he have saved us that was overcome and lost himself 2. He could not have received his own promised Reward even his Kingdom and Glory It was for the Joy that was set before him that he enendured the Cross and despised the shame Therefore God gave him a Name above every Name to which every created Knee must bow 3. His Resurrection was to be the chief of all those Miracles by which God witnessed that he was his Soâ— and the chief Evidence by which the World was to be convinced of his Truth and so was used in their Preaching by the Apostles That Christ rose from the Dead is the chief Argument that makes us Christians 4. The great executive parts of Christs saving Office were to be performed in Heaven which a dead Man could not do How else should he have Inceded for us as our heavenly High-priest How should he have sent down the Holy Ghost to renew us How should he as King have governed and protected his Church on Earth unto the End How should he have come again in Glory to Judge the World and how should we have seen his Glory as the Mediator oâ— Fruition in the Heavenly Kingdom Q. 7. I perceive then that Christ's Resurrection is tâ— us an Article of the greatest use What use must â—â— make of it A. You may gather it by what is said 1. By this you may be sure that he is the Son of God and his Gospel True 2. By this you may be sure that his Sacrifice on the Cross was accepted as sufficient 3. By this you may be sure that Death is Conquered and we may boldly trust our Saviour who tasted and overcame Death with our departing Souls 4. By this you may be sure that we have a powerful High-priest and Intercessour in Heaven by whom we may come with reverend boldness unto God 5. By this we may know that we have a powerful King both to obey and to trust with the Churches Interest and our own 6. By this we may know that we have a Head still living who will send down his Spirit to gather his Chosen to help his Ministers to Sanctifie and Comfort his People and prepare them for Glory 7. By this we are assured of our own Resurrection and taught to hope for our final Justification and Glory 8. And by this we are taught that we must Rise to Holiness of Life CHAP. XV. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty Qu. 1. HOw long was it between Christ's Resurrection and his Ascension A. Forty dayes He rose on the day which we call Easter-day and he ascended on that which we call Ascension day or Holy Thursday Q. 2. Did Christ stay all that while among his Disciples visibly A. No but appeared to them at such seasons as he saw meet Q. 3. Where was he all the rest of the Forty Days A. God hath not told us and therefore it concerneth us not to know Q. 4. He shewed them that he had Flesh and Blood hoâ—â—â—en was he to them invisible the most part of the Forty dayes A. The Divine power that raised Christ could make those alterations on his Body which we are unacquainted with Q. 5. How was Christ taken up to Heaven A. While he was speaking to his Apostles of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and answering them that hoped it would presently be and had given their Commission and the Promise of the Holy Ghost and commanded them to wait for it at Ierusalem he was taken up as they gazed after him till a Cloud took him out of their sight And two Angels like two Men in white stood by them and askt them why they stood gazing up to Heaven telling them that Iesus who was taken up should so come again Q. 6. Had it not been better for us that he had staid on Earth A. No He is many wayes more useful to us in Heaven 1. He is now no more confined in presence to that small Countrey of Iudea above the rest of the World as a Candle to one room but as the Sun in his Glory shineth to all his Church on Earth 2. He is possessed of his full Power and Glory by which he is fit to protect and Glorifie us 3. He intercedeth for us where our highest Concerns and Interest are 4. He sendeth his Spirit on Earth to do his work on all believers Souls Q. 7. What is meant by his sitting on the right Hand of God A. Not that God hath Hands or is confined to a place as Man is But it signifieth that the Glorified Man Iesus is next to God in Dignity Power and Glory and as the Lieutenant under a King is now the Universal Administrator or Governour of all the World under God the Father Almighty Q. 8. I Thought he had been only the Lord of his Church A. He is Head over all things to his Church All Power and things in Heaven and Earth are given him Even the frame of Nature dependeth on him He is Lord of all But it is his Church that he Sanctifieth by his Spirit and will Glorifie Q. 9. If Christ have all power why doth he let Satan and Sin still reign over the far greatest part of the Earth A. 1. Satan reigneth but over Volunteers that wilfully and obstinately choose that Condition And he reigneth but as the Jailor in the Prison as Gods Executioner on the wilfull refusers of his Grace And his reign is far from absolute he crosseth none of the Decrees of God nor overcometh his power but doth what God seeth meet to permit him to do He shall destroy none of Gods Elect nor any that are truly willing of Saving Grace And as for the fewness of the Elect I shall speak of it after about the Catholick Church Q. 10. But is not Christs Body present on Earth and in the Sacrament A. We are sure he is in Heaven and we are sure that their Doctrine is a fiction contrary to Sense Reason and Scripture that say the Consecrated Bread and Wine are substantially turned into the very Body and Blood of Christ and are no longer Bread and Wine Buâ—… how far the presence of Christs Soul and Body extendeth is a question unfit for Mans determination unleâ—… we better knew what Glorified Souls and Bodies are â—… We see that the Sun is eminently in the Heaven Anâ—… yet whether its lucid Beams be a real part of its substance which are here on Earth or how far they extend we know not nor know we how the Sun differeth in Greatness or Glory from
though Hypocrites are the Church-visible and his professed Subjects 3. Subjects by sincere Heart-consent And so all such are his Subjects as make up the Church-mystical and shall be saved So that the Kingdom of God is a word which is sometime of a larger signification than the Church and sometime in a narrower sence is the same Eph. 1. 23. Christ is Head over all things to the Church Q. 7. What are the Acts of Christs Kingly Government A. Law-making Judging according to that Law and executing that Judgment Q. 8. What Laws hath Christ made and what doth â—e rule by A. First He taketh the Law of Nature now as his own as far as it belongeth to sinful Mankind And 2. He expoundeth the darker passages of that Law And 3. He maketh new Laws proper to the Church â—ince his Incarnation Q. 9. Are there any new Laws of Nature since the Fall A. There are new Obligations and Duties arising from our changed State It was no duty to the Innocent to repent of Sin and seek out for Recovery and â—eg Forgiveness But Nature bindeth Sinners not yet â—nder the final Sentence to all this Q. 10. What new Laws hath Christ made A. Some proper to Church Officers and some â—ommon to all Q. 11. What are his Laws about Church-Officers A. First He chose himself the first chief Officers â—nd he gave them their Commission describing their Work and Office and he Authorized them to gather â—nd form particular Churches and their fixed Officers â—t Pastors and necessary Orders and gave them the â—xtraordinary Conduct and Seal of his Spirit that their determinations might be the infallible significations of his Will and his recorded Law to his Universal Church to the end of the World His Spirit being the Perfecter of his Laws and Government Q. 12. How shall we be sure that his Apostles by the Spirit were Authorized to give Laws to all future Generations A. Because he gave them such Commission to teach Men all that he Commanded 2. And promised them his Spirit to lead them into all Truth and bring all things to their Remembrance and to tell them what to say and do And 3. Because he performed this Promise in sending them that extraordinary measure of the Spirit And 4. They spake as from Christ and in his Name and as by his Spirit And 5. They sealed all by the manifestation of that Spirit in its Holy and Miraculous manifold Operation Q. 13. Have not Bishops and Councils the same Power now A. No To be the Instruments of Divine Legislation and make Laws which God will call His Laws is a special Prophetical Power and Office such aâ— Moses had in making the Iewish Laws which noâ—… had that came after him But when Prophetical Revelation hath made the Law the following Officeâ—… have nothing to do But 1. To preserve that Law 2. And to expound it and apply it and guide thâ— People by it and themselves obey it 3. And to determine undetermined mutable Circumstances As the Iewish Priests and Levites were not to make another Law but to preserve expound and Rule by Moses Law so the ordinary Ministers Bishops or Councils are to do as to the Laws of God sufficiently made by Christ and the Spirit in his Apostles Q. 14. What are the New Laws which he hath made for all A. The Covenant of Grace in the last Edition is his Law by which he obligeth Men to Repent and Believe in him as Incarnate Crucified and Ascended and Interceding and Reigning in Heaven and as one that will Judge the World at the Resurrection As one that pardoneth Sin by his Sacrifice and Merit and Sanctifieth Believers by his Spirit And to believe in God as thus reconciled by Him and in the Holy Ghost as thus given by him And he promiseth Pardon Grace and Glory to all true Believers and threatneth Damnation to impenitent Unbelievers And he commandeth all Believers to devote themselves thus to God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost by a solemn Vow in Baptism and live in the Communion of Saints in his Church and Holy Worship and the frequent Celebration of the Memorial of his Death in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood especially on the first Day of the Week which he hath separated to that Holy Comemoration and Communion by his Resurrection and the sending of his Spirit and by his Apostles And he hath commanded all his Disciples to live in Unity Love and Beneficence taking up the Cross and following him in Holiness and Patience in hope of Everlasting Life Q. 15. But some say that Christ was only a Teacher and not a Law-giver A. His Name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given him and all things put into his Hands the Government is laid on his Shoulders and the Father without him judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son For this end he died rose and revived that he might be Lord of the Dead and of the Living He is at God's right Hand above aâ—â— Principalities and Powers and every Name being Head over all things to the Church Q. 16. May not this signifie only his Kingdom as â—â— is God or that which he shall have hereafter only at the Resurrection A. 1. It expresly speaketh of his Power as God and Man the Redeemer 2. And he made his Law iâ— this Life though the Chief and Glorious part of hâ—â— Judgment and Execution be hereafter How elsâ— should Men here keep his Law and hereafter â—â— judged according to it He that denieth Christ to be the Lawgiver denied him to be King and he that denieth him to be King denieth him to be Christ and is no Christian. Q. 17. Hath Christ any Vicegerent or Universal Governour under him on Earth A. No It is his Prerogative to be the Universal Governour for no mortal Man is capable of it As no one Monarch is capable of the Civil Government of all the Earth nor was ever so mad as to pretend to it much less is any one capable of being an Universal Church-Teacher Priest and Governour over all the Earth when he cannot so much as know it or send to all or have access into the contending Kingdoms of the World To pretend to this is mad Usurpation Q. 18. But had not Peter the Monarchical Government of all the Church on Earth in his Time A. No He was Governour of none of the Eleven Apostles nor of Paul nor ever exercised any such Government no nor it seems so much as presided at their meeting Act. 15. Q. 19. But is not a General Council the Universal Governour A. No 1. Else the Church would be no Church when there is no General Council for want of its Unifying Government And 2. There indeed never was a general Council of all the Christian World But they were called by the Roman Emperours and were called General as
I. I am under no Obligation to inform a Robber or an usurping Persecutor as such But to others I may be obliged to open the Truth II. I may deceive a Patient or Child to profit him when I may not do it to hurt him III. I may deceive such as I am not bound to inform by my silence or my looks or gestures which I suppose he will misunderstand when I may not deceive him by a Lie Q. 10. Is it not all one to deceive one way or another A. No 1. I am not bound to open my Mind to all men What right hath a Thief to know my Goods or Heart or a Persecutor to know where I hide my self 2. But I have before largely shewed you that Lying is so great an evil against common Trust and Society in the World as is not to be used for personal Commodity or Safety 3. And other Signs Looks and gestures being not appointed for the natural and common Indications of the Mind are more left to humane Liberty and Prudence to use for Lawful ends As Christ Luk. 24. made by his motion as if he would have gone further And even by words about Caesars Tribute and other Cases concealed his Mind and oft denyed the Pharisees a resolution of Questions which they put to him Stratagems in a Lawful War are lawful when by actual shews and seemings an Enemy is deceived Q. 11. But the Scriptures mention many Instances of Equivocation and flat Lying in the Egyptian Midwives in Rahab in David and many others without blame and some of them with great commendation and reward Heb. 11 A. 1. It is Gods Law that tells us what 's Sin and Duty when the History oft tells us but what was done and not how far it was well or ill done 2. It is not the Lie that is commended in the Midwives and Rahab but their Faith and Charity 3. That which God pardoneth as he did Polygamy and rash Divorce to Godly men that are upright in the main and specially such as knew it not to be sin is not thereby justified nor will it be so easily pardoned to us who live in the clearer Gospel light Q. 12. But when the Scripture saith that All men are Lyars and sad Experience seemeth to confirm it what credit do we owe to Men and what certainty is there of any History A. History by Writing or Verbal Tradition is of so great use to the World that Satan maketh it a chief part of his work as he is the Deceiver and Enemy of Mankind to corrupt it And false History is a most hainous sin and dangerous Sâ—are by which the great Deceiver keeps up his Kingdom in the World Heathenism Mahometanism Popery Heresie and Malignity and Persecution are all maintained by false Tradition and History Therefore we must not be too hasty or confident in Believing Man And yet denying just Belief will be our sin and great loss Q. 13. How then shall we know what and whom to believe A. 1. We must believe no men that speak against God or his Word For we are sure that God cannot lie And the Scripture is his infallibly Sealed Word 2. We must believe none that speak against the Light of Nature and common Notices of all Mankind for that were to renounce Humanity And the Law of Nature is Gods first Law But it is not the Sentiments of Nature as depraved which is this Law 3. We must believe no men against the common Senses of Mankind exercised on their duely qualified Objects Faith contradicteth not common Sense though it goe above it We are Men before we are Christians and Sense and Reason are presupposed to Faith The Doctrine which saith There is no Bread nor Wine after Consecration in the Sacrament doth give the lie to the Eyes Taste and Feeling and intellectual Perception of all sound men and therefore not to be believed For if Sense be not to be trusted we know not that there is a Church or a Man or a Bible or any thing in the World and so nothing can be believed Whether all sound Senses may be deceived or not God hath given us no surer way of certainty 4. Nothing is to be believed against the certain Interest of all Mankind and tending to their destruction That which would damn Souls or deny their Immortality and future Hope or ruine the Christian World or Nations is not to be believed to be duty or lawfull For Truth is for Good and Faith is for Felicity and no man is bound to such destructive things 5. Nothing is to be believed as absolutely certain which depends on the meer honesty of the Speakers For all men are liable to mistake or lie 6. The more Ignorant malicious unconscionable factious siding any man is the less credible he is And the wiser and nearer to the action any man is and the more conscionable peaceable and impartial he is the more credible he is An Enemy speaking well of a man is so far more credible than a Friend Multitudes as capable and honest are more credible than one 7. As that Certainty which is called Morall as depending on mens Free-will is never absolute but hath many degrees as the witness is more or less credible so there is a Certainty by mens Report Tradition or History which is Physical and wholly infallible As that there is such a place as Rome Paris c. and that the Statutes of the Land were made by such Kings and Parliaments to whom they are ascribed and that there have been such Kings c. For proof of which know 1. That besides the free acts the Will hath some acts as necessary as it is to the Fire to burn viz. To Love our selves and Felicity and more such 2. That when all men of contrary Interest Friends and Foes agree in a matter that hath sensible Evidence it is the Effect of such a Necessitating Cause 3. And there is no Cause in Nature that can make them so agree in a lie Therefore it is a Natural Certainty Look back â—o the sixth Chapter Q. 13. Why is false Witness in Iudgement so great a sin A. Because it containeth in it all these odious Crimes conjunct 1. A deliberate lie 2. The wrongfull hurting of another contrary to the two great Principles of Converse Justice and Love â— It depriveth the World of the benefit of Government and Judicatures 4. It turneth them into the â—â—ague and ruine of the innocent 5. It blaspheâ—eth or dishonoureth God by whose Authority Rulers judge as if he set up Officers to destroy us by false Witness or knew it not or would not reâ—enge Injustice 6. It overthroweth humane Conâ—erse and Safety when Witnesses may destroy whom they please if they can but craftily agree Q. 14. Is there no way to prevent this danger to Mankind A. God can do it If he give wise and righteous Rulers to the World they may do much towards â—t But wicked Rulers use false Witness as
Such as only enjoyn the obeying of Christs own Laws 2. And such as only determine of such meer Accidents of Doctrine Worship and Discipline as Christ hath commanded in General and virtually and left the particular sort to humane determination of Governours as Time Place Utensils c. 3. Such as are not extended beyond the Churches of which they are Pastors to others of whom they are no Rulers 4. Such as being Indifferent are not made more necessary than their Nature and Use requireth Nor used to the Churches Destruction or hurt but to it's Edification 5. Such as being mutable in the Reason or Cause of them are not fixed And continued when the reason of them ceaseth Christ calleth us Minsters that we may not think we are Lords of his Heritage Our Work is to expound and apply his Laws and perswade men to obey them and not to make Laws of our own of the same kind as if we were his Equals and Lords of his Church It 's true he hath bid us determine of Circumstances to the Churches Edification and the Pastor is Judge for the present Time and Place what Chapter he shall read what Text he shall preach on and in what Method what Psalm shall be Sung and in what Tune and such like But who made him Lord of other Churches to impose the like on them Or how can he prove that the very same circumstances are necessary to all when a day may alter the case with himself which depends on mutable causes If all the World or Land be commanded on such a day to read the same Psalm and Chapter and occurrents make any Subject far more suitable who hath power to deprive the present Pastor of his Choice and to suppose Ministers unable to know what Subject to read or preach on unless it be they that make such men Ministers that they may so rule them Q. 10. Why must there be stated Worshipping Congregations A. 1. For the Honour of God and our Redeemer who is best honoured in united solemn Assemblies magnifying him with one Mind and Heart and Mouth 2. For the preservation of Religion which is so best exercised honoured and kept up 3. For the Benefit and Joy of Christians who in such concordant Societies receive Encouragement Strength and Comfort 4. For the due Order and Honour of the particular Churches and the whole Q. 11. Is every worshipping Congregation a Church A. The Name is not much worthy of a debate There are divers sorts of Christian Assemblies which may be called Churches 1. There are occasional accidental Assemblies that are not stated 2. There are stated Assemblies like Chappels which have only Curates and are but Parts of the lowest political Governing Churches 3. Christians statedly associated under such Pastors as have the Power of the Church Keyes for personal Communion in Holy Doctrine Worship and Conversation are the lowest sort of Political Governed Churches 4. Synods consisting of the Pastors and Delegates of these may be called Churches in a laxe sence 5. And so may a Christian Nation under one King 6. And all the Christian World is one Catholick Church as Headed by Jesus Christ. 7. And the Roman Sect is a spurious Church as it is headed by a humane uncapable Soveraign claiming the Power of Legislation and Judgment over all the Church on earth Q. 12. But how shall I know which is the true Church when so many claim the Title the Papists say it is only theirs A. I have fully answered such doubts on the Article of the Holy Catholick Church and Communion of Saints in the Creed Either you speak of the Whole Church or of a Particular Church which is but a Part. If of the whole Church it is a foolish question How I shall know which is the true Church when there is but one If of a Particular Church every true Christian Society Pastors and Flocks is a true Church that is a True Society as a part of the Whole Q. 13. But when there are divers contending Churches how shall I know which of them I should joyn with A. 1 If they are all true Churches having the same God and Christ and Faith and Hope and Love You must separate from none of them as Churches though you may separate from their sins But must communicate with them in all lawful Exercises as occasion requireth 2. But your fixed Relation to a particular Pastor and Church peculiarly must be chosen as your own Case and Benefit all things considered doth require When you can have free choice the Nearest and Ablest and Holyest Pastor and Society should be chosen When Violence interposeth a Rulers will may do much to turn the scales for a tolerable Pastor and Society if it make it most for the common good and your Edification Q. 14. May men adde any thing to the prescribed Worship of God A. Worship is a doubtful Word If you will call meer mutable Accidents and Circumstances by the Name of Worship Man may adde to them such as is putting off the Hatt the Meetre and tune of Psalms and such like But men may do nothing which implyeth a defect in the Laws of Christ and therefore may make no new Articles of Faith or Religion or any thing necessary to Salvation nor any Sacraments or Ordinances of Worship of the same kind with Christs much less Contrary thereto Q. 15. May we hold Communion with a faulty Church and Worship A. Or else we must have Communion with none on Earth All our personal Worship is faulty we joyn with them for Christian Faith and Worship If the Minister say or do any thing contrary it is his sin and our presence maketh it not ours Else we must separate from all the World But we may not by false Professions Subscribing Swearing or Practice commit any sin our selves for the Communion of any Church on Earth CHAP. XLV Of Baptism Qu. 1. WHat is Baptism A. It is a Sacred action or Sacrament instituted by Christ for the Solemnizing of the Covenant of Christianity between God and Man and the solemn investing us in the State of Christianity obliging us to Christ and for his delivering to us our Relation and right to him as our Head and to the gifts of his Covenant Q. 2. Why did Christ institute such a Ceremony as Washing in so great and weighty a Work as our-Christening A. 1. A Soul in flesh is apt to use sense and needs some help of it 2. Idolaters had filled the World with Images and outward Ceremonies and the Jews had been long used to abundance of Typical Rites And Christ being to deliver the World from these and teach them to Worship in Spirit and Truth would not run into the extream of avoiding all sensible signs and helps but hath made his Sacraments few and fitted to their use to be instead of Images and mens vain Inventions and the Jewish burdens as meet and sufficient helps of that kind to his Church
which two General Councils have condemned his Body being a Spiritual Body now 4. They feign either himself to have eaten his own Flesh and Drunk his own Blood or at lest his Disciples to have done it while he was alive 5. They feign him to have been the Breaker of his own Flesh and Shedder of his own Blood and make him to do that which was done only by the Iews 6. They contradict the express words of the Scripture which three times together call it Bread after the Consecration in 1 Cor. 11. When yet they say It is not Bread 7. They condemn the belief of the soundest senses of all men in the World as if it were heresie All our Eyes Touch Tast c. tells us that there is Bread and Wine and they say there is none 8. Hereby they deny all certainty of Faith and all other certainty For if a man may not be certain of what he Seeth Feeleth and Tasteth he can be certain of no sensible thing For we have no Faculties but sence to perceive things sensible as such Nor any way to transmit them to the Intellect but by sense And we can no otherwise know that there is a Bible a Church a Council a Pope a Man or any thing in the World and therefore much less can believe any of them So that all Humane and Divine Faith are thus destroyed yea man is set below a Beast that hath the Benefit of sense 9. Hereby they feign God to be the grand deceiver of the World For things sensible are his Works and so is Sense And he makes us know no supernatural Revelation but by the intromission of some Sence And if God may deceive all men by the way of sense we can never be sure but he may do it otherwise 10. They set up Men who confess their own senses are not to be credited to be more credible than all our senses and to be the Lords of the understandings of all Princes and People in despight of sense And he that is to be believed before our senses is an absolute Lord. 11. They deny it to be a Sacrament For if there be no sign there is no Sacrament 12. They feign every ignorant drunken Priest every time he consecrateth to work greater Miracles than ever Christ wrought and so to make Miracles common and at the Wills of thousands of wicked men I must not here stay to handle all this But in a small Book call'd Full and Easie Satisfaction which is the true Religin I have shewed thirty one Miracles with twenty Aggravations which all Priests are feigned to work at every Sacrament Q. 10. What is it that is called the Mass which the Papists say that All the Fathers and Church used in every age and we renounce A. In the first Ages the Churches were gathered among Heathens and men were long Instructed and Catechized hearers before they were baptized Christians And the first part of the day was spent in publick in such Common Teaching and Prayer as belonged to all and then the Deacon cryed Missa â—est that is Dismist the unbaptized hearers and the rest that were Christians spent the rest of the time in such duties as are proper to themselves especially the Lords Supper and the Praises of God Hereupon all the Worship following the Dimission of the unchristened and suspended came to be called barbarously the Mass or Dismission And this Worship hath been quite changed from what it was in the beginning and the Papists by keeping the Name Mass or Dismission make the ignorant believe that the Worship it self is the same as of old Q. 11. What be the changes that have been made A. More than I may now stay to number Iustin Martyr and Tertullian describe it in their Time to be just such as the Scripture mentioneth and we now commonly perform that is In Reading the Scripture opening and applying it Praying as the Minister was able Praising God Baptizing and administring the Lords Supper After this Ministers grew less able and trusty and they decreed that they should pray and Officiate in set forms yet so that every Bishop might choose his own and every Presbyter must shew it to the Bishops and have their approbation The Creed Lords Prayer and Commandements and the Words of Baptism and Delivery of the Lords Supper were alwayes used in forms before After this they grew to use the same forms called a Liturgie in whole Provinces some Ceremonies were so Ancient that we cannot find their Original that is The Anointing of the baptized the giving them Milk and Honey to taste dipping them thrice cloathing them in a white Garment after to Worship with their faces toward the East and not to kneel in Prayer or Adoration any Lords day in the year nor any Week day between Easter and Whitsuntide and specially to observe those two yearly Festivals and Good Frydaies fast And quickly after the encouraging of persecuted Christians to suffer drew them to keep a yearly day at the place where a Martyr was kill'd or buryed to honour their memories and give God thanks for them After this they built Altars over them And they built their Churches where their graves or â—ome of their bones were laid and in honour of their memory called the Churches by their Names Next they brought their Names daily into the Church Liturgies And next they added to them the Names of such Bishops of those particular Churches as had left an honourable memorial behind them And the Lords Supper was celebrated much like as it is in our English Liturgy save these Names And thus far the changes were then accounted laudable and were not indeed such as should discourage any Christians from Communion Nor do we read of any that were against them Besides which they overvalued the use of Crossing But quickly though by degrees a Flood of Ceremonies came in and Popes and Prelates added at their Pleasure till Gods publick Worship was made quite another thing I. God who is a Spirit and will be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth is by Mass-Priests and Papists Worshipped by such a mass of Ceremonies as makes it like a Stage-play and representeth God so like the Heathens Idols delighted in Mummeries and toyish actions as is greatly to the dishonour of Religion and God II. They have brought in the Worshipping of God in a Language which the People understand not and praying for they know not what III. They have lockt up the very Scriptures from the people and forbid all to use it in their known Tongue translated but those that get a special License for it IV. They abolish all substantial Signs in the Sacrament as is aforesaid and say There is no Bread or Wine and so make it no Sacament V. They give the Laity the Bread only without the Cup. VI. They call the Consecrated Bread by the Name of their Lord God and taking it to be no Bread but Christs Body worship it with Divine