unregenerate persons all that be out of Christ be under the Law and must answer for themselves for all the world by the Law of their creation are bound to be holy and perfect as God made them at first and must be judged according to that Covenant unlesse they come to be in Christ Gal. 4.5 Rom. 3.9.19 Joh. 16.9 Rom. 2.12 Eph. 2.12 Q. Then all that have not Christ be in an ill case A. They be so they have nothing to plead for themselves before the judgement seat of God nothing to stand between the justice of God and their sins Eph. 2.12 Acts 17.30 CAP. II. Of the fall of man and his sinfull state Second head of Christian doctrine Q. HOw came sin into the World seeing God made man upright A. By the first sinne of Adam and Eve who being deceived by the Serpent did eat of the forbidden fruit 2 Cor. 11.3 Gen. 3.3 4. Rom. 5.12 19. Q. How did sin come upon all by that one mans sin A. Two manner of waies First by imputation the Lord in justice imputing the guilt of that first sinne to all his posterity Rom. 5.14 15 18 19. 1 Cor. 15.22 By one mans disobedience many were made sinners as soone as he sinned that first Covenant was broken and the state of Adam and all mankind in him was changed into a state of sin and misery In Adam all die i the sentence of death was passed on all in Adam when as yet there were no more men in the World 1 Cor. 15.45 47. There were two head men by whom all fall and rise Adam was the head of the Covenant of Nature if he had stood none of us had fallen And so Christ is the head of the Covenant of Grace if he were not risen we cānot rise we rise or fall with him vers 16 17. As the Righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to them that be of Christ by spirituall regeneration Esay 53.10 So is the sinne of Adam imputed to all that come of him by naturall generation For as all the Elect are justified first in Christ their Head as in a common person surety when he rose againe from death and thereby received as it were Gods acquittance in full discharge of our debts 1 Tim. 3.16 And 2ly the◠are justified in their own Persons when as they come by Faith actually to be members of Christ In like manner all mankind was condemned in Adam as a common person representing all mankind and as a radicall person containing all that Nature which was to be derived to all generations of men Act. 17.26 Every one of us would have done as Adam did if we had been in his place And we are in our own Persōs liable to that sentence of death so soon as we exsist and have our sowre sinfull being from that poysoned root Q. But doth it stand with the justice of God to impute unto us Adams sinne A. Yes because Adam was the head and root of all mankind we were in his loyns when we sinned we were part of Adam in him and of him As the Children of bondmen are bondmen the Children of a Traitor are tainted in blood till they be restored in bloud so it was with us our Father became a slave sold under sinne and such are we his children till Christ make us free Adams sinne was the sinne of mankind he stained and corrupted our Nature Rom. 5.12 Hos 2.2 If adulterous Brats complaine why they are cast out the Lord bids them plead with their mother so we must plead with Adam This is just in our Law Q. How secondly did sin enter upon all by that one sin A. By propagation the lump and root of mankind being corrupted so are the branches Rom. 11.16 Gen. 5.3 Job 14 4. with our nature Adam propagated sin and corruption God made Angels all at once and therefore the fall of some of them did not draw all into the same condemnation But God made all mankind in one man to be multiplied by generation and so that root dying and being poysoned all that come of him are likewise dead poysoned We were in Adam two manner of waies 1. Legally as Parties contracting with God in that first Covenant and so were to stand or fall with our Head 2. Naturally we were in his loynes so that whatsoever befell the humane Nature it is Common to us of which nature we are a part All the seed of man was in Adam and therefore all that seed being corrupted in Adam we that come of him must needs be corrupted also we are a generation of vipers Mat. 3.7 a seed of evill doers Es 1.4 and young Serpents are worthy to dye because of their kind and the poyson somnesse that is in them Who can bring a cleane thing out of an unclean Job 14.4 Q. What then is the state of every one that is borne into the world A. Very miserable in no wise to be rested in if ever we meane to be happy Eph. 4.18 Q. Why so A. By reason of sin and wrath whereunto from the birth we are all subjected That which is of nature is common to the whole kind if thou be a man it is so with thee Eph 2.3 Q. How long does a man continue in that sinfull and cursed estate A. Untill he be regenerate and borne againe and made a member of Christ Joh 3.3 Q. What is there in sinne that makes one thus miserable A. Two things First the stain of sin 2ly The guilt of sinne The one makes us ugly creatures 1. Sinne it selfe the other accursed Q. What mean you by the stain of sin A. It is that filthinesse whereby the pretious soule being turned from God is defiled and become uncleane Math. 15.20 2 Cor. 7.1.1 Jam. 1 21. Every sin leaves a spot upon the soule even those sinnes which men think they get credit by as the Pox or Leprosy doth upon the body therefore sinners are compared to Vipers to Dogs and Swine c. Q. Is it such a matter to be a sinner if there were no punishment to follow A. Yes for two reasons 1. Because the wretched soule hath lost his excellency being deprived of the favour of God and of supernaturall Graces Reason is mans excellency and Grace a Christians which is the greatest losse of all When the soule is become a filthy stye then God departs It 's worse to be a theese or a mad-man then to be in prison to be Nebuchadnezzar amōgst beasts then Daniel in the lions den the privation of supernaturall good is a supernaturall misery Esa 64.6 Levit. 26.30 Q. Why Secondly A. Because the sinner can doe nothing that is pleasing to God the best things he doth God abhors them all Esa 1.10 15. Hag. 2.13 14 Rom. 8.8 Esay 66.3 Prov. 15.8 Tit. 1.15 Every thing is marred and defiled by them being dead in sins Q. What is the guilt of sin A. It is that quality in sin 2. Guilt and punishment
Reprobation is the like eternall purpose of God whereby he leaveth others in their sinnes to perish for ever to the praise of his glorious justice Vocation signifieth that work of grace whereby God calleth his elect out of their sins to receive the Gospell that is unto faith and repentance Conversion signifieth Gods turning of a sinner from darknesse to light from sin to grace from love of the world to love of God from carelesnesse to conscience of pleasing God Justification signifieth Gods gracious act accepting of a sinner into his favour not imputing unto him his sinnes in and for the righteousnesse and death of Christ or it is Gods gracious act whereby he reconcileth an humbled sinner to himselfe forgiving his sins freeely fully for Christs sake Regeneration is the begetting of a spirituall life of grace in the soule by the seed of Gods word received into the heart and made effectuall by the holy Ghost whereby we are become new Creatures to bring forth fruit unto God the fruits of holynesse and righteousnesse Sanctification signifieth the clensing of our Natures it is the grace of God infused into our hearts whereby of unholy people we are made holy in our thoughts words and actions Adoption signifieth Gods making Sons of us that were not Sons before or it is the translation of Sinners from a servile condition under sinne and Satan to be the Sonnes of God in and with Christ to enjoy the priviledges and inheritance of Sonnes Glorification signifies the state of Gods children in heaven Redemtion signifies Christs delivering of our Soules from sin wrath by paying of a price even the price of his bloud for us Mediation signifieth that gracious work of Christ setting himselfe between God and us makeing peace procuring our acceptance with his father both of our persons and actions Propitiation signifieth the removing of wrath and making of God favourable to us in Christ Christs active obedience signifieth his perfect fulfilling of the Law for us Christs passive obedience is his suffering of death and undergoing of the punishment due to our sinnes by both which he satisfied the justice of God in our behalfe being put under the Law that he might save them that were under the Law By the Law is meant the covenant of Workes the way and offer of salvation to them that perfectly fulfill the Law of God in their own persons By the Gospel is meant the covenant of Grace that is Gods gracious purpose and promise of bringing men to salvation by Jesus Christ The Old Testament is the doctrine of salvation through Christ taught by Moses and the Prophets and set forth under certain figures and ceremonies shadowing forth the death of Christ and the benefits of Christ who was then to come The New Testament is the same Doctrine of salvation by Christ taught nakedly without such figures shadowes shewing expresly the death and benefits of Christ already come and exhibited in the flesh Leveticall we meane any Ordinance about Gods publicke worship delivered by Moses till the Messias should come By Legall we understand that which the Law of Moses doth require as legall righteousnesse is such a compleat righteousnes in every circumstance as the Law doth require By Evangelicall we understand that which the Gospell doth require and accept as Evangelicall righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of the Mediator accepted on our behalfe Legall perfection is to be free from sin in every kinde and degree thereof Evangelicall perfection is to be free from guile and hypocrisie when in uprightnesse of heart we frame our selves to the whole will of God Legall repentance is a sorrow for sin arising from fear of wrath such a sorrow the Law can work Evangelicall repentance is such a sorrow for sin as ariseth from love of God and hatred of sin which the Spirit of Adoption begets in us because we displease our Father and dishonour our God By the Image of God in men is meant to be like God in holinesse and righteousnesse By the fall of man is meant the first sin of Adam and Eve whereby they fell from that state of holinesse and happinesse wherein they were at first created and plunged themselves and their posterity into sin and misery By Flesh in Scripture is meant the unregenerate heart of man and that remainder of corruption which is found even in regenerate persons whereby they are hindred from doing the good they would By Spirit is meant the new Man the renewed heâ—rt and soule of Man which opposeth it selfe against all sin When we speak of a naturall Man of the state of Nature we doe not mean Heathens or Fooles but all even the best wisest among Christians that be not regenerate effectually called forasmuch as they be in no better case then Heathens When we speak of a Spirituall Man we meane one that is regenerate led by the Spirit of God minding Spirituall things in the first place and temporall things in a spirituall manner When we speake of a Carnall Man we meane them that are led by Carnall and corrupt Principles and doe follow after Earthly things with greatest earnestnesse and delight and Spirituall things in a formall and carelesse manner A Sincere Christian is one that walketh with God and to God uprightly making conscience of every duty and of every sin according to that measure of knowledge which he hath received and doth not hide his eyes from any part of Gods will neither is willingly ignorant of any part of his duty An Hypocrite in Scripture is not one that doth professe Religion and separate himselfe from the sinnes of others but it is any one that knoweth Truth and doth not obey it sincerely and universally but is partiall and halting with God in points of obedience approving himselfe to man rather then to God By Civill honesty which we teach cannot bring men to heaven we doe not condemne justice and honesty in mens dealings But we mean meere civill honest men that is deluded formall Christians who being free from grosse sins and outwardly conformed to good orders do flatter themselves in a morall righteousnesse without faith or any assurance of their particular interest in Christ or any endeavour to attaine thereunto By Common Graces we mean such gifts of Gods spirit as be common to the elect and reprobate as gifts of Miracles of Prophesying and other abilities to spirituall duties By Saving Graces we mean the speciall worke and fruits of the renewing Spirit which whosoever hath received is undoubtedly saved By Restraining Grace we meane that power of Gods word on the conscience whereby men do outwardly forbeare evill though they doe not inwardly hate it Humiliation is the wounding and casting downe of the conscience with feare in a sense apprehension of the curse of God belonging to our sinfull state all former hopes of being in Gods favour in a good case being now discovered to be utterly false and unsound Self-deniall signifieth the
creature for religious use no testimony of reverence to be given to them of Will-worship of the parts of Gods worship and the right manner of performing the same Cap. 31. Of taking Gods name in vaine in or without an oath of conditions of a lawfull Vow and Oath Cap. 32. Of the Sabbath day the institution change and celebration the duties for sanctifying of the Rest Cap. 33. Duties of Parents and Children Cap. 34. Duties of Masters and Servants of rulers and Subjects Cap. 35. Duties of husband and Wife Cap. 36. Of Murther in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 37. Of Adultery in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 38. Of Theft Oppression Restitution Cap. 39 Of Truth Falshood in our words kinds of lying dissimulation of defending ones good name Cap. 40. Of concupiscence and first motions to evill how evill thoughts not consented unto be sinfull How it may be discovered whether evill thoughts doe arise from our owne corrupt hearts or from Satan Cap. 41. Of the meanes of working and increasing Grace How to hear the Word of God to our comfort and salvation Cap. 42. Of Prayer what it is to whom and for whom to be made Of Prayer in the Spirit and other conditions required in an acceptable prayer Cap. 43. Of the Lords Prayer of sanctifying Gods Name Cap. 44. Of Christs Spirituall Kingdome and doing Gods will Cap. 45. Of our daily bread what it is and how given Cap. 46. Of forgivenesse of sinnes what it is to whom granted signes that we forgive others Cap. 47. Of Temptations how God is said to lead into temptation of the right manner of giving praise to God Cp. 48. Of the right use abuse of the Lords Prayer of stinted Prayer of the Spirit of Prayer how to judge whether our Prayers be heard Cap. 49. Of the seales of the Covenant How the Spirit doth seale and witnesse with our spirits Of the nature Author and efficacy of the Sacraments in generall Cap. 50. Of Baptisme what it is to be baptized in the Name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Of Baptizing of Infants and the benefit of Baptisme to them Cap. 51 Of the Lords Supper Of Transubstantiation and the Reall Presence Of the sacrifice of the Masse and of the true use and end of the Lords Supper Cap. 52. Of right participation of the Lords Supper what we must doe before we come when we be there and after we have received how to find that we have received aright of receiving in a mixt cōgregation An Appendix 1. Vnfolding certaine termes used in sermons and English Bookes 2. Shewing the markes of Gods Children 3. Containing some generall Rules and Principles of Holy Life CAP. I. Of the state of Man by Creation and of the Covenant of Nature WHat should be the first and great care of every man in this World Ans To a know God betimes to serve him aright and to b provide for the eternall salvation of our poore soules a Eccl. 12.1 1 Chron 28.9 b Luc. 10.42 John 6.27 Esa 55.2 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Q. What is mans chiefest happinesse in this world A. It is to enjoy God by faith to walk with him to know our selves to be in his favour here and that we shall for ever live with him after death Without this we are as miserable as the Beasts Gen. 15. 1. Lam. 3.24 Eccl. 2.1 11 13. No earthly thing can make one happy Jer. 9.23 24. Eccl. 12.13 Math. 16 26. 1 Cor. 15.19 Eph. 2.12 Q. How shall a man attain to this true Happinesse A. Only by the Scriptures which are able to make us wise to Salvation Ioh. 5.39 46. Luke 16.29 31 Iohn 14.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. How are we assured that the Scripture is Gods-Word A. Not onely by the Testimony of the Church which cannot universally deceive but especially by the Testimony of the Spirit working strange and supernaturall effects in us by the Word giving us such joy contentment and satisfaction touching spirituall and eternall things by way of tast and feeling as is not possible for humane reason to doe Ioh. 4.42 Ioh. 6.68 69. 1 Thes 1.5 2 Pet. 1.18 21. 2. Cor. 4.6 Foure heads of Christian doctrine Q. What be those Parts or heads of Christian Doctrine delivered in Scripture the knowledge whereof maketh us happy A. There be foure generall heads of it 1. The Doctrine of mans creation and state of innocency 2ly Of the fall and misery of man 3ly Of mans deliverance and redemption by Jesus Christ and of the means to partake of Christ 4. How the redeemed ought to live These Truthes bring us to Humiliation Justification and Sanctification Act. 20.20 Q. God in the beginning created Adam and Eve in what state did he make them at first A. God made them upright after his own likenesse Of the state of Man by Creation i.e. in an holy and happy estate free from sin and misery Gen. 1.27 Col. 3.10 Eccles 7.29 Q. Wherein consisted the Image of God in which man was created A. It stood in two things First in that Dominion Honour and Excellency which Adam had over the creatures Gen. 1.26 Gen. 2.20 Gen. 9.6 This was externall Joh. 10.34 God is the great King and Lord of all things and all in Authority doe beare his Image 1 Cor. 11.7 Rom. 13.4 Q. Wherein chiefely did that Image of God consist A. In Holinesse and Righteousnesse wherein man was like unto God himselfe their whole soules and bodies being filled with the fulnesse of Grace Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 Q. If Adam had not sinned should he have died A. No For death came in by sinne as the wages of it Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Q. Also if he had continued upwright he should have been saved without the help of a Mediatour Of the first Covenant made with Adam A. It is true for so God Covenanted with him and in token thereof Gave him to eat of the tree of Life Gen. 2.9 16. Gen. 3.22 24. Rev. 2.7 Q. Declare more plainly the Covenant made with Adam before he fell A. It was a Covenant of Workes wherein life was promised upon condition of his continuing without sin in perfect obedience Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.12 Rev. 22.14 Doe this and live Q. But could Adam at that time have been saved by his own inherent righteousnesse was he able to keepe that Covenant A. Yes For Adam was the Sonne of God perfect in holinesse righteousnesse and Heire of Heaven even as the holy Angels are Luk 3.38 Gen. 1.27 31. Adam had a whole will no ignorance no corruption to strive against the Spirit Q. Can any man since the fall be saved by that Covenant A. No Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and therefore must look for salvation by another that is by Christ Jesus Rom. 3.22 23. Rom. 8.3 Heb. 8.8 Gal. 3.10 Q. Must any be judged that is stand or fall by that Covenant of Workes A. Yes all
â—f sin by which we are bound over to answer Gods justice for offeÌ„ding his Law Though the act of murther or theft be past yet the offender is liable to justice twenty or thirty yeares after so doth sin it lies at the dore it calls for vengeance as for its wages c. Gen. 3.9 10. Iam. 1.15 Gen. 18.20 Every sinner is a vile and filthy person But that is not all He is also a guilty person under the curse and wrath of God Gal. 3.10 Q. What be the punishments every sin makes one liable unto A. They be three 1. The sinner is in bondage and subject unto wrath and feare all his life long Cursed in his basket and store all the sorrowes of this life are parts and steps to the greater death his sins are treasured up Ps 7.11 Joh. 3.36 Joh. 27.7 14. Job 15.20 21. Job 20.5 11 14. Heb 2.15 Deut. 28.15 16 17. Mal. 2.2 Zach. 5.2 Rom. 2.5 Q. What 2ly A. At his death he is stript off all his comforts the wretched soule is brought naked and singly to the barre of Gods justice The sinner while he lived and flourished was deceived and befooled now death unbefooles thee and makes thee see what a foole thou wert Heb. 9.27 Q. What lastly is the punishment and misery that sin brings A. After death to be tormented with the Devill and his Angels for evermore Rev. 21.8 2 Thes 1.9 10. 1 Pet. 3.19 This is the wofulnesse of a sinner once come to his place and this misery is everlasting unabatable c. 1 Thes 1.10 hath delivered us from wrath to come CAP. Of the kinds and degrees of sin WHat is sin A. It is any transgression or swerving from Gods holy Law and will it is any declining from that Holinesse and uprightnesse wherein God at first did make man Rom. 4.15 1 Joh. 3.4 Sin is either Originall or Actuall Q. What is originall or birth-sin Of Originall sin A. It is that hereditary corruption of our nature wherewith through the disobedience of Adam all his posterity August Confes Art 2. naturally descending from him are infected and are subject to the wrath of God and to the power of sin being void of all righteousnesse untoward and unable to doe any thing that is truly good and prone to all manner of evill Or thus Originall sin is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendred of the of-spring of Adam whereby man is very faire from originall righteousnesse and is inclined to evill and therefore in every person born into the World it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation Rom 5.12,16 Rom. 3.23 See 39. Art of Ch. of Engl. Art 9. By that first sinne our first parents fell from their originall righteousnesse and so became dead in sin and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of their soule and body and were the objects of Gods wrath Now those sad effects of Adams first sin did not rest and stay in their own persons onely but are conveyed to all their posterity so that from the birth we are defiled with sin void of goodnesse prone to evill and deserve Gods wrath And this pravity and nautinesse of our corrupt Nature because we bring it into the World with us is called Originall sin See this opened in the severall Branches Q. 1. Are all that be borne into the World guilty of sin and subject to Gods wrath A. Yes by reason of Adams fall in whom and with whom we all sinned 1 Cor. 15.22 49. Rom. 5. 12. 14 15 16. Q. 2. Are all likewise from the birth corrupted and defiled in their soules bodies A. Yes we are all as an unclean thing Ephes 2.1 2 3. Psal 51.5 Job 14.14 Rom. 7.24 Q. 3. Are we all borne into the world void of all goodnesse A. Yes and till we be regenerated we cannot doe any thing that 's truly good Being meere morall and naturall men Rom. 7.18 23 24. John 3.6 Eph. 4.18 Math. 7.17 Q. 4. Is this the condition of all that come of Adam A. Yes of all except Christ and Christ is excepted because he was conceived by the Holy Ghost Luk. 1.35 Q. 5. Why is this guilt and corruption called hereditary A. Because we have it by nature before we know how to doe good or evill Esa 1.14 Math. 3.7 and not by imitation Q. You see what Originall sin is What is Actuall sinne A. It is any thought word Actuall sinne or deed in our own persons against any part of Gods Law together with any evill motion of our hearts before or after the consent of our will Rom. 7.19 Jam. 1.14 Actuall sinnes be either of Omission or Commission Q. What is a sinne of Omission A. It is to leave undone any duty which we are bound unto by Gods word or when we faile in the manner of doing the same Mat 25.35 40. 2 Cron 30.18 1 Cron. 15.13 Esa 1.15 Esa 58 3. We must take heed how we heare Lu. 8.18 How we pray Jam. 4 3. How we receive the Lords Supper 1 Cor. 11.28 How we give Almes Mat. 6.8 Q. What 's the danger of sinnes of Omission A. The servant that doth not his Masters will shall be beaten Besides sins of Omission make way for sins of Commission they harden and estrange the heart froÌ„ God Luk. 12.48 Jam. 4.17 Mal. 1.8 Q. What is sin of Commission A. It is to doe any thing which we should not doe To doe contrary to that which is commanded or forbidden 1 Tim. 1.9 10. Levit. 26.23 Ezek. 18.24 Again sins be either of Ignorance or Knowledge Q. What is sin of Ignorance A. When a body doth evill and knowes it not 1 Tim. 1.13 Gen. 20.6 John 16.2 Acts 3.17 Q. Is that a sin A. Yes a ignorance is it selfe a sin it is a b cause of other sins c and sins committed through ignorance are not thereby excusable a Hos 4.1 14. 2 Thes 1.8 Luk. 12.48 b Eph. 4.18 Jer. 5.4 Psal 14.4 c Psal 19.12 2 Pet. 3.5 Luk. 23.34 Levit. 5.17 18. Q. What is sin against Knowledge A. It is when we goe against our owne knowledge in any thing when we know to doe well and doe it not Rom. 1.18 21 23 32. Rom. 2.21 1 Kings 15.5 Luk. 12.47 Jam. 4.17 Jer. 44.16 17. Q. What 's the danger of sinning against knowledge A. God usually gives up such persons to impenitency hardnesse of heart and to a reprobate sense Rom. 1.21 24. a Tender Conscience is a sweet Blessing CAP. IV. Of the differences and degrees of sin A Gain sins be either Voluntary or Against ones will Q. What is voluntary sin A. When we sin of our own accord i.e. when sin proceeds from the disposition and inclination of our hearts without force of temptation Heb. 10.26 Joh. 8.44 he sinneth of his own Rom. 6.12 Q. What is sin involuntary or against ones will A. When contrary to the bent and disposition of our hearts we be overtaken