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A47130 A Christian catechisme, for the instruction of youth, and others to whom it may be useful in the grounds of Christian religion, and practice of Christian piety wherein the twelve articles of the Christian creed, and the Godhead and manhood natures of Christ and his prophetical, priestly, and kingly office are briefly explained : and the true Christian doctrin, concerning Christ his being a sufficient saviour, as he is both God and man : and with respect to both the absolute necessity, and excellent consistencie of his outward coming in the flesh, and his inward coming, and spiritual appearance in our hearts, through faith in him, and love and obedience to him, in order to our eternal salvation, declared and demonstrated by testimonies of Holy Scripture : and the divine excellency of the light within, in distinction from humane reason, asserted and vindicated : and the question concerning its sufficiency to salvation, truly stated and resolved : where also many other Gospel doctrins, and practical Christian truths and duties are held forth / by George Keith. Keith, George, 1639?-1716. 1698 (1698) Wing K150; ESTC R19823 60,929 128

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Death of the Cross therefore God hath highly exalted him to be a Prince and a Saviour Philip. 2. 8. 9. Q. What made his Obedience of so great merit and worth A. Because he offered himself through the Eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. and that he was both God and Man his Godhead gave that great dignity worth and value to his obedience That as the disobedience of one Man to wit Adam brought sin and guilt upon all so the obedience of one Man to wit Jesus Christ the second Adam should make satisfaction to God for the Sins of all and as the Judgment was by one to Condemnation so the free gift is of many Offences unto Justification Rom. 5. 16. 18. Q. Why did not God forgive Men's Sins without a satisfaction to his Justice seeing Men can and do oft forgive a debt of mony without payment or the least satisfaction A. The case is not alike betwixt the debt of mony and the debt of Mens Sins a Man may forgive a debt of mony without requiring any satisfaction but the Sin of Murder no Man can forgive it without a satisfaction of life for life and God hath expresly required it by his Law which may help us to understand how the Justice and just Law of God required a satisfaction and if Christ would make that satisfaction for us he was to give his life for us the just suffering for the unjust that he might bring us unto God God having laid on him the Iniquities of us all who did bear our Sins on the Tree of the Cross by whose stripes we are healed that being dead unto Sin we might live unto Righteousness Isaiah 53. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 24. 1 Pet. 3. 18. By which satisfaction that Christ hath made to God for our Sins not only the justice of God is demonstrated but his Holiness and Purity for thereby he is made known to be a God that so loveth Righteousness and hateth Iniquity that the very Holiness and Purity of his Nature as well as the Righteousness of his Law required that satisfaction to be made that the Sins of Men might be pardoned and God and Men might be reconciled and thus both the Holiness of God's Nature is demonstrated and the due Honour of his holy Law is preserved Hab. 1. 13. Isaiah 42. 21. Q. Doth not Christ his making satisfaction to the Justice of God for our Sins hinder the free forgiveness of our sins How can a debt be fully paid and yet freely forgiven A. The forgiveness of our Sins Rom. 3. 24. is still a most free forgiveness to us because God freely gave us his dear Son Christ Jesus out of his abundant love to make that satisfaction for us and also that the Justice of God accepted that satisfaction from Christ which in strict instice might have been required of us Thus the wonderful Harmony of God's mercy and justice and also of his wisdom and power is demonstrated in the way of Mens Redemption Joh. 3. 16. Psal 85. 10. Q. Did not Christ also give himself for our Redemption A. Yea Gal. 1. 4. Titus 2. 14. Q. Doth it hinder God's free forgiveness that he forgiveth none their Sins without Faith Repentance and Conversion A. Nay which may help us to understand that as Repentance and Faith on our part doth not hinder the forgiveness of God to be free to us and of his rich free Grace so nor doth the satisfaction of Christ to God's justice on Christ's part hinder the same Q. But if Christ hath suffered Death being the Punishment of our Sin why should men dye should the same debt and payment be exacted both from us and our surety A. By Christ's dying for us the Death of the Body ceaseth to be a punishment strictly speaking though it is a consequence of Adam's Sin still remaining unto the Faithful the sting of Death which is Sin being removed Death is changed from being a Punishment to the Faithful to be a blessed and sanctified means to put an end to the Sorrows Tentations and Evils of this mortal life and to be unto them a passage and entrance into eternal life 1 Cor. 15. 55. 56. Q. Who were the chief acters that put Christ to Death A. The Jews who being filled with envy accused him of diverse things and particularly for saying he was the Son of God which they accounted Blasphemy and of his being the King of the Jews and the Messiah or Christ Matth. 27. 18. John 10. 36. John 19. 7. 12. Matth. 26. 63. 65. Q. Under whom did Christ suffer Death A. Under Pontius Pilate a Roman Governour John 19. 1. Q. Why under him A. Because the Jews at that time had their power taken away by the Romans so that they said to Pilate it was not lawful for them to put any Man to death John 18. 31. Q. Was there not a great hand of Providence in this A. Yea It having been foretold by some of the Prophets that the manner of Christ's Death should be by Crucifying and Hanging on a Tree therefore that manner of death was called in the Old Testament accursed Deut. 21. 23. to signifie before-hand that Christ should become a Curse for us and dye for us the accursed death of the Cross and also it was foretold by David in the second Psalm that both Jews and Gentiles should gather together and take counsel against the Lord and against his Anointed Q. How was it foretold by any of the Prophets that Christ should be Hanged or Crucified on a Tree A. David Prophecied that his Hands and Feet should be pierced which was accordingly fulfilled and was only used in that manner of death and Moses lifting up the Brazen Serpent on the Pole or Tree was a Figure of Christ his being lifted up on the Tree of the Cross as Christ himself deolared John 3. 14. Psal 22. 16. Q. Were not all other things concerning Christ of the chiefest moment recorded in the New Testament as his Doctrin Miracles manner of Birth Life Death Burial Resurrection and Ascension foretold by the Prophets and recorded in the Old Testament A. Yea Acts 26. 22. 23. Luke 24. 44. 45. 46. Q. Why was it so ordered by the Lord A. To give the greater Evidence that Jesus who was Born of the Virgin Mary was the Christ seeing to him only and to none else could all these things agree which were prophecied of him as also to shew the excellent Harmony of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament being all given forth by one and the same Spirit Q. What discovery of Christ's Death Resurrection and victory over Sin and the Devil and of Salvation from Sin by Christ had the Faithful from the beginning of the World A. By the first promise that God gave to our first Parents after the Fall Gen. 3. 15. That he would put enmity betwixt the Serpent and the Woman and between his Seed and her Seed and that the Womans Seed should bruise the head of the Serpent but he
should bruise his heel and also by the Sacrifices which God taught them to offer which were Types and Figures of Christ's Sacrifice that was to come Heb. 11. 4. Q. Who is here meant by the Serpent A. The Devil according to Revel 20. 2. Q. What is meant by his Seed A. That inward Principle of defilement and Seed of Sin that was then sown by the Devil in our first Parents and through their Loins transmitted to their Posterity and that which is born of it called in Scripture the Old Man and the Body of Sin and Death Q. What is meant by the Serpents bruising the heel of the Woman's Seed A. That by means of the Devil who instigated the Jews against him Christ should suffer Death in his Manhood Nature but his Head that is his Godhead neither did nor could suffer any thing Q. What is meant by the Woman's Seed his bruising the Head of the Serpent A. His Victory over the Devil by his Resurrection from the Dead and that by virtue of his Death and Resurrection the Power of Christ by his Spirit in all the Faithful should destroy the Devils Power and Kingdom of Sin flay the Old Man and Crucifie the Body of Sin in them and in due time wholly deliver them from Sin and all the effects an● 〈…〉 ●equences of it Heb. 2. 14. Coloss 2. 15. 1 〈…〉 Q. When are the ●●●●●ful to be fully and completely delivered from all the effects and consequences of Sin A. At the Resurrection of the Dead at which time that first promise shall have its full accomplishment 1 Cor. 15. ●4 Q. What places of Scripture prove that the Sacrifices under the Law were Types of Christ's Sacrifice and that the Blood of those Sacrifices signified the Blood of Christ by which remission of Sin is obtained A. There are divers as Colos 2. 16. 17. Heb. 8. 5. and 9. 9. 23. and 10. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 16 17. Q What is meant by that place in Zach. 9. 11. As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth the Prisoners out of the Pit wherein is no water Is not that Blood the Blood of Christ that was to be shed and was accordingly shed when he suffered on the Cross by virtue of which all the Faithful who once were Satan's Prisoners are translated out of his Kingdom of Darkness fitly signified by the Pit wherein no Water is and brought into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God where is Righteousness Peace and Joy Light Life Love and Liberty and where Springs of living Waters flow A. Yea Colos 1. 13. Rom. 14. 17. Isaiah 12. 3. Q. Was not the Passover a Type of Christ and as the Exod. 12. 7. Blood of the Slain Lamb being sprinkled on the Lintels and Posts of the Doors of the Israelites saved them from the destroying Angel so doth not the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God that was slain for us sprinkled on our Hearts and Consciences not by any visible or material application but by Faith applyed to us save us from the Wrath of God and destruction A. Yea 1 Cor. 5. 7. 8. Heb. 12. 24. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 10. 22. Q. As the Israelites were to eat the Flesh of the Passover so are not the Faithful not by a bodily eating but by Faith to eat the Flesh of Christ's slain Body that they may have Eternal Life A. Yea John 6 53. Q What places of Scripture prove that Christ was to be a Priest and that the Priesthood of the Law and first Covenant was to end and give way to Christ's Priesthood that is unchangable and to remain for ever A. Psal 110. 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck compared with Heb. 7. 11. 12. 24. Q. How is Christ a Priest for ever seeing the Sacrifice of himself he did offer but once when he suffered Death on the Cross and by one Offering once offered he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 7. 27. Heb. 9. 28. Heb. 10. 14. A. Because the virtue merit worth and efficacy of that one Offering once made was sufficient for the expiation and taking away the guilt of the Sins of the Faithful from the beginning of the World unto the end of it Heb. 9. 15. Q. How is Christ a Priest after the Order of Melchisedeck A. Because Melchisedeck which signifieth King of Righteousness was not only a King but a Priest also so Christ is both King of Righteousness and King of Salem which signifieth Peace and also a Priest and as Melchisedeck's Priesthood did far excel the Priesthood of Levi so doth the Priesthood of Christ far excel it Q. In what respects doth Christ's Priesthood excell that of Levi and differ from it A. In many respects as they are excellently set forth in the Epistle to the Hebrews Cap. 7. 8 9 10. As First Christ arose a High Priest out of the Tribe Judah 2. He was made by Oath 3. Not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life 4. These of the Levitical Priesthood offered many Sacrifices yearly for Sin but Christ our High Priest offered Himself a Sacrifice but once 5. They were sinners themselves and needed to offer for their own Sins as well as for the Sins of others but Christ was without all Sin and only offered the Sacrifice of Himself for the Sins of others not only for the Jews but for the whole World 6. By reason of death they were not suffered to continue but Christ continueth for ever having once dyed he dyeth no more 7. They offered the Bodies Fat and Blood of Beasts but Christ offered up his whole Body of Flesh and Blood together with his Soul an Offering for our Sins 8. Their Offerings were but the Figure Type and Shadow his was the Substance and thing signified 9. Christ by virtue of his Priesthood was made surety of a better Testament and of a better Covenant which was Established upon better Promises 10. None of all their Offerings could take away Sin or purge the Conscience from Sin but this his Offering once did to all that sincerely believe and repent of their Sins 11. The High Priest on the day of Atonement being the 10th day of the 7th Month every Year entred the Holy Place made with Hands but Christ our High Priest by his Atonement hath entred into Heaven it self and hath made open and manifest the way thereunto unto all true Believers and Followers of him 12. The Jews paid the Tythes or Tenths of their Increase to the Priests and Levites and they paid out of their Tenth a Tenth to the High Priest but the true Christians which are the true spiritual Jews give both themselves and their All to Christ their High Priest and are ready to serve Him and his Gospel with their All for the propagation and service of his Gospel and if need
Humane Nature of Christ formerly blamed by them they may also as freely use the words three Persons or Trinity of Persons Q. Can the Holy Scriptures give to Men any saving Knowledge of God without his Divine Illumination and inward Teaching and Operation by his Spirit in their hearts A. Nay Psal 119. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 4. 6. Q. Is there not a Knowledge of God given to the Faithful by the Spirit that is beyond all report or demonstration of words by inward spiritual feeling and sense and by spiritual sight and taste and by inward hearing and learning of the Father and by a divine and spiritual savour A. Yea 1 Cor. 2. 9. Acts 17. 27. Ephes 4. 19. Psa ●8 Joh. 6. 45. Heb. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 3. Mat. 16. 23. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Cant. 1. 3. SECT III. Q. WHich are God's Works of Creation A. All things Visible and Invisible the Visible Heavens and Earth the Sea and Rivers and Fountains of Water and all Visible things contained in them Gen. 1. 1. Coloss 1. 16. Q Which are the Invisible Works of Creation A. Angels which are many and Souls or Spirits of Men which also are many Q. Are Devils and unclean Spirits works of God's Creation A. They were not originally created Devils or unclean Spirits but good and pure but they became so by their voluntary transgression 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude 6. Q Are the Works of God whither Visible or Invisible any part or parts of God A. Nay Q. Are they then distinct Beings though not separate from God A. Yea But such as have a most necessary dependance on God both for their preservation and action Q. Were they Created of any eternally pre-existent matter that did co-exist with him from all Eternity A. Nay Q. How are all things said to be of God A. As the Author and efficient cause of them but not as the material cause Rom. 11. 36. Q Doth not the Scripture sometimes distinguish betwixt things Created and Made A. Yea for things made are made out of a pre-existent matter or subject whereas things created had no pre-existent matter Q. Give some example in the Case A. The Grass Herbs and Trees were made out of the Earth on the third day the Fishes and Fowls were made out of the Waters on the fifth day and the four-footed Beasts and creeping things and Body of Man was made out of the Earth on the sixth day Gen. 1. Q. By whom did God create and make all things A. By his word his eternally begotten Son and Spirit Joh. 1. 2. Ephes 3. 9. Psal 33. 6. Q Was it any difficulty to God to create and make all things A. Nay for he spake and it was done he commanded and they were Created Psal 33. 9. Q. How is it then to be understood that God rested from all his Works which he had made and that on the seventh day A. His resting was his ceasing to Create and Finishing his Works of Creation which he had Created and made in six days Gen. 2. 2. Q. What other Works doth God Work since the Creation A. His Works of Providence whereby he sustaineth and upholdeth all his Creatures ordereth and disposeth and over ruleth them all according to his good pleasure for his own Glory and blesseth them with fruitfulness and increase and especially his gracious Providence throughout over his Church and People Joh. 5. 17. Heb. 1. 3. Pet. 3. 7. Psal 103. 19. 21 Psal 104. Gen. 1. 22. Matth. 10. 29. 30. 31. Deut. 11. 12. Heb. 13. 5. Ephes 1. 11. Rev. 4. 11. Q. What is to be understood by God's Eyes Ears Mouth Hands c. in Scripture A. Not any bodily Members or Parts but his glorious Attributes and Perfections of Wisdom Power and Goodness c. Q. Whence come all Men and Women of all Nations A. They are descended of Adam our Common Father and of Eve our Common Mother by ordinary Generation Acts 17. 26. Rom. 5. 12. Q. In what Estate did God make them A. In his Image and after his Likeness Holy Upright Wise and Good with Dominion over the Creatures Gen. 1. 26. 27. Coloss 3. 10. Ephes 4. 24. Eccles 7. 29. Q. Of what parts did they consist A. Of Soul and Body Matth. 10. 28. Q Was the Soul of the Earth as the Body was A. Nay for God breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Q. When God Created them Male and Female did he indue them with his Spirit and the Gifts and Graces thereof A. Yea. Q. Where did he place them A. In the Garden to labour in it and to keep it Q. Did he give him a Law of Obedience Gen. 2. 15. 16. A. Yea which was that of every Tree of the Garden he might or should eat but that he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Q. Why did God forbid him to eat of that Tree A. To try his Obedience as well as for other Causes known to him Deut 13. 3. Exod 20. 20. Q. What was the threatned Punishment if he did Transgress A. That in the Day he eat thereof he should surely Die Gen. 2. 17. Q. Did he Die in that Day wherein he did Transgress A. He Died a Spiritual Death and his Body became Mortal and subject to Sickness and Death John 5. 25. Ephes 2. 1. Q. What was the Spiritual Death A. That he Died unto Holiness and Righteousness lost Communion with God and sell under his Judgment and Wrath Isaiah 59. 2. Rom. 2. 8. Gen. 3. 19. Q. Had he died the bodily Death if he had not sinned A. Nay Q. Did Man need any Cloaths or Garments to cover him had he not Sinned A. Nay For his Body was so endued with Vigor Strength and Honor that as nothing could hurt him of Heat or Cold so there was nothing in him whereof he could be ashamed Psal 8. 5 6 7 8. Psal 49. 12 20. Q. What Effects brought his sin and fall into the World A. It not only brought a Curse upon the Earth but Guilt and Condemnation and a Sinful Defilement and Death both Spiritual and Temporal on all his Posterity Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 5. 12 18. Psal 51. 5. Gen. 8. 21. Rom. 6. 23. Q. Doth the Soul of Man die with the Body A. Nay Matth. 10. 28. 2 Pet. 14. SECT IV. Q. WHO is the Redeemer of lost Men A. The Lord Jesus Christ Job 19. 25. Q. Who is Jesus Christ A. He is the Son of God begotten of the Father and one God with the Father before all Time and Creatures and the Son of Man the Son of David and of Abraham Conceived by the Holy Ghost and Born of the Virgin Mary in the fulness of Time very and true God and very and true Man and yet one Jesus Christ the Word made Flesh Matth. 16. 16. John 3. 14. Matth. 1. 1 20 25. 1 Cor. 8. 6. John 1. 14. Q. How many Natures hath Christ
Jacob's Prophecy Q. What other Prophecies in the Old Testament did foretel the time of Christ's coming A. Danicl's Prophecy of the 70 Weeks and the Prophecy of Haggai 2. 6 7 8 9. Where it was plainly foretold that Christ the desire of all Nations should come into the second Temple and that should make it's Glory greater than the Glory of the former Temple which was accordingly fulfilled the which Temple was together with the City of Jerusalem destroyed about forty years after Christ's Passion the Destruction of which he foretold all which confirms he was that true Prophet of whom Moses Prophesied and because the Generality of the Jews did not believe in him therefore according to Moses's Prophecy they were cut off from being owned to be the true Church of God Q. What other principal Things did Christ that great Prophet foretel A. That he should be put to Death and the third day should rise again that he should ascend into Heaven and that after some days his Disciples should receive the Holy Ghost and be endewed with power from on High all which was accordingly fulfilled Matth. 16. 21. John 3. 13. Acts 1. 5. That he should raise the Dead and judge the World at the last day John 11. 24 25. Matth. 26 64. Matth. 25. 40. Matth. 7. 23. Q. About what time of the World's Age from Adam's Creation did Christ suffer Death A. About the end of Four Thousand Years from thence by the best account of Time SECT VI. Q. HOW did Christ perform the Office of a Priest A. In his Offering up Himself by his Death a Sacrifice of a sweet smell unto God for our Sins and by his continual Mediation and Intercession for us in Heaven Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 9. 26. Heb. 7. 25. Q. Why was it necessary that Christ should Offer up Himself a Sacrifice to God by His Death for our Sins A. To reconcile us unto God and to make satisfaction to His Justice and to His just and holy Law which we had transgressed Eph. 2. 16. Coloss 1. 20. Q Why was the Justice of God to be satisfied for our Sins A. Because our Sins are a Debt and the Justice of God required that this Debt should be paid by us or some other for us as our Surety Heb. 7. 22. Q. Hath then Christ paid to the Justice of God the Debt of our Sins A. Yea. Q. How did he pay it A. By dying for us and giving his Life a Ransom for us Matth. 20. 28. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Q. What is a Ransom A. A Price that is paid for the Redemption of Captives Q. What was his Life that he gave for us A. The Life of his Manhood that he laid down when he dyed for us Q. Why was it necessary that He should dye for us A. Because Death was the Punishment that was due to us for our Sins as it is written The Soul that sinneth shall dye and Christ becoming Surety for us by his Death he redeems and delivers us from Death Q. Whereas the Scripture saith Christ has redeemed us by his Blood and hath Bought us with His Precious Blood as of a Lamb without spot hath purchased us with his Blood and that we are justified cleansed and sanctified by His Blood what Blood is meant there and in other such places of Scripture that mention remission of Sins by His Blood Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 9. Eph. 1. 6. Luke 22. 20. Acts 20. 28. Heb. 13. 12. 1 John 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 2. A. The real Blood of his Body that was shed on the Tree of the Cross when his Hands and his Feet were nailed to the Cross and his Side pierced so that Water and Blood came out of his Side John 19. 34 Q. Was His Blood the only Sacrifice and Atonement for our Sins A. It was but a part of the Sacrifice and Atonement for he gave his Flesh as well as his Blood for the Life of the World and his Soul was made an Offering for Sin And indeed the Sufferings of his Soul were the greatest Sufferings My Soul said he is exceeding sorrowful unto death Matth. 28. 36. Coloss 1. 21 22. John 6. 51. Q. What signifies the Word Atonement Rom. 5. 11. A. Reconciling Uniting and making One by a firm and close Union as when the Boards or Pieces of a Vessel are united ' by Glew or Pitch that the Vessel Lake not from the Hebrew word Kopher that signifieth Pitch also Ransom Redemption Reconciliation Q. If his Blood was but a part why is our Redemption remission of our Sins Justification and Sanctification so much attributed to his Blood A. By an ordinary Figure or manner of Speech when a part is put for the whole and as the Blood of the Beast is called in Scripture the Life of the Beast so the Blood of the Man Christ was his Life to wit the Life of his Manhood which he gave a Ransom for our Sins Q. Is it not therefore a great Error in them who say the Blood whereby we are Redeemed Cleansed Justified is the Life which is the Light in every Man A. Yea. Q. Is the Life which is the Light even in the Saints that Blood of sprinkling whereby they are Redeemed Cleansed Justified A. Nay For any inward Gift or Grace of Light and Life in the Saints is but the Effect or Fruit purchased and procured by the Blood of Christ as the Cause but the Cause and the Effect should not be confounded but distinctly considered although by the Figure of Metonymie sometimes the Name of the Cause is given to the Effect as Exod. 21. 21. A Man's Servant is called his Money because his Money bought or purchas'd him Q. How did Christ Redeem Reconcile Justifie and Sanctifie Men by his Death and shedding of his Blood for them on the Tree of the Cross Are Men simply by what he then did and suffered for them Reconciled Justified and Sanctified before true Faith Repentance and Conversion is wrought in them A. Men are not either Reconciled Justified or Sanctified until true Faith Repentance and Conversion is wrought in them Rom. 4. 5 6. Acts 2. 38. Acts 3. 19. Acts 5. 30 31. But Christ by the merit of his Death and shedding of his Blood and by all that he did and suffered for us without us procured and purchased for us Redemption Remission Justification and the inward Grace of Sanctification yea Faith and Repentance together with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual Presence of Christ with all his saving Gifts and Graces all which in the time appointed of God are received and witnessed by all them who are or shall be saved Psal 6. 18. Eph. 4. 4. Acts 5. 31. Q. What is the chief thing that is to be considered in the Death and Sufferings of Christ A. His most perfect and most holy Obedience and Resignation unto the Will of his Father for because he thus humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the
be and occasion requireth freely to give more than the Jews gave for the service of the Gospel Q. What is signified by Christ's descent into Hell according to the words of the Creed commonly call'd the Apostolical Creed and the 10th Psalm Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell A. That he remained in the State and Condition of the Dead all that time betwixt his Death and Resurrection in which interval of time he did further Conquer and Overcome the Powers of Hell and Death and made a glorious Triumph over them both at his Death and after his Death being free among the Dead Psal 88. 5. And at his Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven having led Captivity Captive Psal 68. 18. Q. How or in what Sense did he lead Captivity Captive A. By his powerful and victorious Conquest over the Devil Death and Hell having loosed the pains of Death it being impossible he could be held or detained by them He overcame the Devil and all his Angels who had Captivated so many Souls and made a Captive of him by means of which many Thousands of many Nations by the Power of Christ through the Preaching of the Gospel soon after Christ's Ascension were rescued from the Devil's Bondage and from serving him by their abominable Idolatries and other vile Sins and Lusts and became Servants of God and of Christ and by the same Victory then obtained the Kingdom of Sin and Satan will be more and more weakned until it be utterly destroyed and the Kingdom of God and Christ in Truth and Righteousness and Holiness advanced until its perfect State Q. Was the Guilt of our Sins laid upon Christ and imputed to him when he suffered Death for our Sins A. As Guilt signifieth obligation to Punishment it was laid upon him and imputed to him but not strictly and properly speaking as it signifieth the blame or the culpableness of them As when that Grocian King with his free consent and desire suffered Punishment for his Son to lose one of his Eyes for his Sons Adultery another Eye being taken from his Son that the honour and justice of his own Law might be preserved yet who will say that the blame of his Son's Crime was his or that he was blame-worthy on that account Q. How is that place of Scripture to be understood Is 53. 9. With his Stripes we are healed Were not these Stripes his Sufferings both of Soul and Body as Man that he suffered without us A. Yea with or by which we are healed because they were of that merit and efficacy that by them he procured and purchased that inward Virtue and Grace to be given us by which the Wound and hurt that Sin had given us is healed and by means of which that pure healing Balsam and Oyl comes from him into our Souls for their healing Q. What Figure or Type of this was given in the Old Testament A. The beaten Oyl that by the beating and bruising of the Olive came out of it which was commanded together with the fine Flower that came out of the Wheat by its being ground to be offered with the daily Sacrifices and 〈◊〉 the Wine that was to be offered with the 〈…〉 ring which was the Blood of the Wine 〈◊〉 after it was pressed also the Water that 〈◊〉 out of the Rock being struck by Moses 〈…〉 that refreshed the Israelites when they were ready to dye for thirst hath the like 〈◊〉 ●…tion the beaten Oyl the fine Flower and the Wine in these Offerings did all of them signifie as well as the Water that came out of the Rock when struck by Moses's Rod the healing nourishing and refreshing Vertue of Christ's Grace which is given us by his Sufferings Exod. 29. 38 39 40 41. Q. Is it not therefore a gross perversion of that place of Scripture to understand by the Stripes of Christ wherewith we are healed as some have understood them the Stripes wherewith Men by their Sins stripe Christ in themselves wound and bruise him as some affirm or yet the stripes that he The Light Within giveth them in their Consciences when they sin A. Yea. Q. Did Christ's Body in the Grave see Corruption A. Nay Acts. 2. 31. Q. Did it really rise on the third day A. Yea. Q. Was it his real Body which appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection which spoke unto them and did Eat and Drink with them A. Yea. Q. What Sign or Figure of Christ's Restirrection in the third day did Christ himself give out of the Old Testament A. The Sign of Jonas Matth. 12. 39 40. That as Jonas was three days and three nights in the Whale's Belly so should the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie that Christ should rise from the dead on the first day of the Week being the next day after the Sabbath and be the first Fruits of the Resurrection A. The sneaf of the first Fruits of their Harvest Levit. 23. 10. 11. which they were to bring to the Priest and which he was to wave before the Lord on the morrow after the Sabbath that answers to the first day of the Week wherein Christ rose from the dead and became the first Fruits of them that sleep Q What signified the waving of the Sheaf A. The waving of it was the Priest's moving it Southward and Northward Eastward and Westward signifying the Redemption and Salvation of all the Elect by Christ Jesus from the South North East and West Parts of the World called the four Winds of Heaven Luke 13. 29. Q. What other Type in the Old Testament signified our Redemption by the Death of Christ our high Priest A. The Release of the Man-slayer out of the City of Refuge by the Death of the high Priest so that he had liberty to return to his ancient Inheritance Q. What did the year of Jubilee that was each fiftieth year signifie wherein they had their former Inheritances restored after they were sold A. Our Restoration by Christ who came in the fiftieth Generation from the Flood of Noah which was as a beginning of the new World for from Arphaxad who was the first that was born after the Flood to Abraham are eight Generations and from Abraham to Christ forty two Generations making in all fifty Generations Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. Beside what Mystery lyeth hid in the number Fifty Q. Is it not a great Error in them who say that Christ 's Body evanished or was changed in Substance and did not ascend but another Body in its place and stead A. Yea. Q. What is the hurt and evil Consequence of that Error A. It overturns not only all the Ground of the Hope of the Resurrection of our Bodies but of our whole Salvation for it Christ be not risen they that are sallen asleep in Christ are perished and all their Faith is vain and Preaching vain and all Men are yet
Christ the Mediator of it the promise of the Spirit and the saving Graces and Gifts thereof for our Sanctification Regeneration and Renovation and for our mortifying and crucifying the Old Man and the body of the Sins of the Flesh the taking away the heart of Stone and giving us a heart of Flesh God's writing his Laws in those hearts of Flesh and giving us his special teachings and special Illuminations Operations and influences of his Holy Spirit working in us Faith Hope and Love and filial Fear and all other Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit and true Gospel Repentance all suited to the Gospel and new Covenant Dispensation and all this freely by and through and for Jesus Christ's sake together with the promise of Eternal Life and Salvation Jer. 31. 33. 34. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. 20. 36. 25. 26. 37. 26. 27. Gal. 4. 24. 26. 28. Heb. 12. 24. Isa 44. 3. 4. 59. 21. Q. But doth not the Covenant of Grace require any terms or conditions on our part as Faith and Repentance and new Obedience A. It requireth nothing of the true Subjects of it as terms and conditions but such as God promiseth freely to give the Faith and Repentance and Obedience that it requireth God has promised freely to give by virtue of his Covenant and no condition or terms that Men can perform are any the least moving cause to move God to enable us to perform those conditions Q. But is there not an Order in the way and manner of God's giving his many several Favours Gifts and Blessings to the Children of the New Covenant as remission of Sin Justification Adoption and Eternal Salvation A. Yea There is an excellent Order of some things to go before and other things to follow some of which go before and others follow only in order of Nature and others in order of time as plowing and sowing the Ground goes before Harvest and Reaping yet neither the plowing or sowing are the moving cause to move God to give the Fruit and Increase Q Doth then Faith and Repentance in order of Nature go before remission of Sin and Justification though they are together in time A. Yea. Q. How doth this appear from Scripture A. By many plain testimonies of Scripture as first concerning the necessity of Conversion and Faith in order both to forgiveness of Sin Justification and Salvation This was Paul's Commission given him by Christ unto both Jews and Gentiles Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 10. 6. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy heart c v. 7. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness c. Again Rom. 8. 29 30. In that excellent golden Chain containing several Links that follow one after another There is Predestination going before Calling and Calling before Justifying and Justifying before Glorifying The Calling that is not an outward Calling only but chiefly an inward Calling and inward Work of God's Holy Spirit enlightning the understanding and moving the Heart and Will to answer the Call is not the proper Cause of either Justification or Glorification but a necessary antecedent of it in order of Nature as the holding out of the Hand is antecedent in order of Nature to receive a free gift from him who freely gives for Faith has no causality in order to receive forgiveness of Sin and Justification more than the Hand has to receive a rich and free Gift which Faith is also the free Gift of God Again Acts 10. 43. Said Peter in his Preacing to Cornelius and his Friends To him viz. Christ Jesus even him whom they Slew and Hanged on a Tree gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins Secondly As to Repentance its being necessary in order to forgivness and blotting out of Sins Peter's words are plain Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out c. And Acts 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and forgivness of sins And Luke 24. 47. Christ after his Resurrection taught the Disciples the true Method and Order of Preaching That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus we see how though Repentance and Remission of Sins are joyned together in those places yet in order Repentance is put antecedent to Remission of Sins Q. But is not Repentance a proper effect of remission of Sin as the Soul has a lively sense of it wrought by the Spirit of God in the Soul as it was said of Mary Magdalen she loved much because much was forgiven her who was a deep and great Penitent A. As some degree of Repentance is antecedent to forgiveness not as its Cause so there are other degrees of it that are consequents thereof and may be called the effects of it Q. Are the Infant Children of believing Parents within the Covenant of Grace together with their Parents so that the Promise is to them and their Children A. Yea Act. 2. 39. Gal 4. 28. Gen. 17. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. What is the alone meritorious and material Cause of Mens Justification before God Is it not the Righteousness of Christ's most holy and perfect Obedience unto Death and the shedding of his most precious Blood done and performed by him without us freely of God imputed to us and received by Faith A. Yea. Q. What places of Scripture in the Old Testament hold forth the Justification of the Faithful and their eternal Salvation by Faith A. That in Genesis 15. 6. compared with Rom. 4. 2 3. Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for Righteousness from whence Paul inferred that Abraham was not justified by Works though he was a very holy Man but by Faith And though Abraham's Faith is not expresly said to have been in Christ as he was to come and suffer Death for our Sins in the Flesh yet it is certainly imply'd for the great Promise of God to Abraham was That in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed and therefore Abraham also was blessed in that seed which seed was Christ as he came in the Flesh out of Abraham's Loins and not the Light within or
as for remission of Sin and Justification so for Regeneration and the new Birth A. Yea which sufficiently sheweth the great ignorance of some that teach how Paul laboured more to bring People to know or have Christ formed in them than to bring them to have a Belief in Christ without them as he was crucified c. For there is no other way to have Christ formed in us but by having a saving Faith in Christ crucified without us wrought in us by the Spirit of God therefore Paul called Christ crucified the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 23. 24 SECT XIV Q. DOth the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of Fire which Christ promised to his Disciples still remain in the Church A. In respect of the saving Operation and saving Gifts and Graces thereof it doth though not in respect of its miraculous and extraordinary visible Effects as the Gift of Tongues and the visible appearance of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire that sat upon each of them Acts 2. 3. Q With what Fire doth Christ Baptise them that believe in him A. With his Spirit of Judgment and Burning whereby according to God's Promise their silthiness is purged away and with his living internal Word that is as a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces and as a Sword cutteth down and slaveth the earthly Members of the Body of the Sins of the Flesh and as a Fire to burn them up together with the Hay Wood and Stubble the Briers and Thorns and all the combustible matter that cannot dwell with that devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings Isa 33. 14. 15. Q Is that the Fire whereof the Scripture mentioneth whereby a Man shall be Saved according to which God even the God of the Faithful is called a consuming Fire and Christ viz. with respect to his inward appearance and spiritual Operation in Believers was promised to be like a Refiner's Fire and like Fullers Sope and that he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levy and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness and that then the Offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years 1 Cor. 3. 15. A. Yea. Heb. 12. 29. Mal. 3. 2. 3. 4. Q. Why is the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of Christ in Believers compared to Fire and metaphorically so called A. Because of the resemblance and likeness of the natural and outward Fire to the inward and spiritual for as the outward Fire both enlightens and consumes what is combustible as Wood and Stubble but melts purifies and refines Gold and Silver so the inward and spiritual Fire both enlightens the Uunderstanding to see what Sins and Lusts are in the Heart that are to be destroyed and is as powerful and mighty to destroy them yet doth no hurt to the Creature but refineth purgeth and purifieth it as Gold and Silver is purged from the dross Again as the operation of the Fire upon the Flesh of any living Creature is sensibly painful and afflicting so is the operation of this inward and spiritual 〈◊〉 upon the fleshly Lusts of Men that have been as their living fleshly Members even sensibly painful and afflicting with a spiritual sensible pain And as the Fire hath not this operation but as there is a due application and bringing near of the things that the Fire is to operate upon unto the Fire so there must be an inward application of the Heart and Soul of the Man that is to be thus purified and have his Sins and Lusts destroyed to this inward and spiritual Fire which is to be felt in his Heart and Soul and tho' for a season great inward pain and affliction and suffering is here felt as when a Cancer is cut out of a Man's Flesh yet it ought to be born with all possible quiet patience and stilness and even then there is a present inward spiritual Joy Ease and Refreshment felt in the Soul that accompanieth the pain as when a Person is Cut for the Stone the case of having the Stone taken away is greater then the pain of the Wound Q. As there is an inward Baptism which Christ and not Man giveth so is there not an inward Supper that Christ giveth and not Man o● both which the outward Baptism and Supper are Signe even as the Word outwardly Preached in the outward Ears of Men is a Sign of that inward Word Preached by Christ himself in the Heart and as the inward Word and Preaching of Christ in the Heart makes not the outward Word that is a Sign of the inward null and void or unprofitable but there is a good and excellent consistency betwixt them so is there not as good and excellent consistency betwixt the outward Baptism and Supper which are the Signs and the inward and spiritual A. Yea. Q. Who are they that partake of the inward Baptism and Supper A. None but true Believers in Christ as he was outwardly Crucified and who hear his Voice and open the Door to his knocking c. by has spiritual appearance at the door of their Hearts All such and none but such Sup with him and he with them Q. What is their Supping with him A. His giving them his Flesh to Eat and his Blood to Drink that is his teaching and enabling them by his Spirit to apply the Merit Virtue and Efficacy of his Flesh and Blood which together with his Soul he offered up to God a Sacrifice for our Sins by which application and union through Faith Believers receive remission of Sin and his holy Spirit with the gracious Influences thereof Q. What is his Supping with them A. Their Faith in him and Love to him together with the lively exercise of all their Graces which are acceptable to him as a Supper to a hungry Man Q. But Christ said it is the Spirit that quickens the Flesh profits nothing This is brought by some as an Argument against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered death in the Flesh by them who think that Faith is not necessary A. If their Argument had any weight it would prove that Faith not only not necessary but nothing profitable though some of them distinguish and say they confess it is profitable but not necessary But the Argument is built on a false supposition and perversion of our Saviour's words which was an answer to the carnal Jews their objecting How can this Man give us his Flesh to Eat which they meant of bodily Eating by the bodily Mouth but Christ meant it of a spiritual Eating by the spiritual Mouth of he Soul to wit by Faith which the Spirit giveth and their carnal understanding was that Flesh which did not profit as neither would on supposition their eating of his Flesh with their bodily Mouths if they could have done it Q. Another
the Man Christ can be loved without having outwardly seen him or heard him by the same reason he can be believed and trusted in without the outward sight and hearing of him For further Information concerning Baptism and the Supper I refer to my Book called The Arguments c. against Baptism and the Supper Examined and Refuted Printed 1698. The CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quich and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen The Ten Commandments XX. Chap. Exodus I. GOD spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have none other Gods but me II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy Son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattle nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt do no murder VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his servant nor his maid nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is his The Lord's Prayer OUR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS POST-SCRIPT BEcause I know there are many who will not allow that there is any Light generally in Men but that of meer Humane Reason and esteem any who think otherwise to be Fanatick and Enthusiastical I shall here insert some words out of a Printed Sermon of D. South on Luke 11. 35. vol. 3. which I judge worthy to be noticed well agreeing with what I have delivered in my fore-going Catechism on that Subject Pag. 47. 63. 64. 65. Other Protestant Authors I could cite asserting the same Pag. 68. Vol. 3. Some of the ablest of the Peripatetick School not without countenance from Aristotle himself in the 5th Chapter of his 3d Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hold That besides the Native Inherent Light of the Intellect which is essential to it as it is a Faculty made to apprehend and take in its Object after a spiritual way there is also another Light in the Nature of a Medium bearning in upon it by a continual efflux and emanation from the Great Fountain of Light and irradiating this intellectual Faculty together with Species and Representations of things imprinted thereupon According to which Doctrin it seems with great reason to follow That whatsoever interposes between the Mind and those irradiations from God as all Sin more or less certainly does must needs hinder the entrance and admission of them into the Mind and then darkness must by necessary consequence ensue as being nothing else but the absence or privation of Light For the further illustration of which Notion we may observe that the Understanding the Mind or Conscience of Man which we shall here take for the same thing seem to bear much the same respect to God which Glass or Christial does to the Light or Sun which appears indeed to the Eye a bright and shining thing nevertheless this shining is not so much from any essential Light or Brightness existing in the Glass it self supposing that that there be any such in it as it is from the Porousness of its Body rendring it Diaphanous and thereby fit to receive and transmit those Rayes of Light which falling upon it and passing through it represent it to common view as a Luminous Body But now let any thing of dirt or foulness fully this Glass and so much of the Shine of Brightness of it is presently gone because so much of the Light is thereby hindred from entering into it and making its way through it In like manner every act of Sin every degree of Guilt does in its proportion cast a kind of soil and foulness upon the intellectual part of the Soul and thereby intercepts those blessed irradiations which the Divine Nature is continually darting in upon it a little after I will not affirm this to be a perfect exemplification of the Case before us but I am sure it is a lively illustration of it and may be of no small use to such as shall throughly consider it And concerning the donation of a certain determinate number of Persons made to Christ to be his People by an Eternal Compact or Transaction between the Father and the Son by virtue of which Agreement or Transaction he was in the Fulness of Time to suffer for them and to accomplish the whole Work of their Redemption from first to last See pag. 415. of his Sermon on Isa 53. 8. where he hath these following words greatly worthy of notice For to affirm that Christ dyed only to verisie a Proposition That whosoever Believed should be Saved but in the mean time to leave the whole issue of things in reference to Persons so loose and undetermined That it was a question whether ever any should actually Believe and very possible that none ever might and consequently that after Christ had suffered had been striken and dyed for Transgression yet for any thing he had done in all this he might never have had a People this certainly is a strange and new Gospel and such as the Doctrine of our Church seems utterly unacquainted with See pag. 51. 56. of the fore-going Catechisme well agreeing to this ERRATA PAge 14. Line 8. r. invissible p. 16. l. 10. r. Serpent's Head p. 42. l. 27. after Heb. 11. 19. r. A. Yea p. 60. l. 31. r. Isaiah 28. p. 61. sor sy r. say p. 88. l. ult after the begin the Parenthesis p. 7. l. 24. sor is r. are p. 89. l. 16. r. 1 Mac. 4.
in their Sins and the Apostles are false Witnesses and Christ 's Prophecy who foretold his Resurrection on the third Day hath failed 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15. Q. But may not his Resurrection be owned and not his Ascension into Heaven with the same Body A. The one cannot be owned without the other for if Christ 's Body did not ascend it did evanish or return to Dust and Christ Dyed again and his Body suffered Corruption which could not be for the Scripture witnesseth that Christ having once dyed dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion over him Q What Scriptures in the Old Testament foretold Christ 's Ascension A. Diverse places such as Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. Psal 47. 5. Psal 68. 18. Isaiah 52. 13. Gen. 49 9. Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie Christ 's Ascension A. The burnt Offering the Smoke of which ascended straight upwards whence it has its name in the Hebrew from a word that signifieth to ascend Q Was not Isaack's being said on the Altar and afterwards being raised alive a Figure of Christ 's Death and Resurrection according to Heb. 11. 19. Q. Is there a real place above the Earth called Heaven into which Christ hath entred with his Body and whole glorified Manhood of Soul and Body A. Yea. Q How doth this agree with Scripture that saith Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. A. It is the same Body in Substance though changed greatly in Manner and Qualities from Natural or Animal Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. to Spiritual from Mortal to Immortal such as the Bodies of the Saints shall be at the Resurrection Q. Why do we not see that Heavens with our bodily Eyes into which Christ 's Body is entered A. Because of the Weakness and Grossness of our Flesh and of our fleshly Sight which can scarce see the Body of the Air that we breath in nor behold the brightness of the Sun but when our Bodies shall be changed and made Spiritual at the Resurrection we shall see the glorious Heavens and also the glorious Body of Christ and the glorified Bodies of all the Saints in Heaven Q. Is there also a real place called Hell into which the Wicked both Soul and Body shall be cast at the Day of Judgment A. Yea which is that called Tophet Isaiah 30. 33. Which hath been ordained of old he hath made it deep and large the Pile thereof is Fire and much Wood the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it Q. What signifieth Tophet and why is it so called A. Tophet signifieth the beating of a Drum and was the place where the Idolatrous Israelites burned their Children and Sacrificed them alive to their Idol Molech where they used to beat Drums to hinder them from hearing the pitiful Cry of their Children therefore by a Metaphor Hell is called Tophet and by the like Metaphor Hell is called by Christ in the N. Testament Gehenna i. e. the Land or Field of Hinnon where all the Filth of the City of Jerúsalem was cast into that piece of Ground having formerly belonged to a Man called Hinnon Q. Why hath God so ordered it that as the place of Reward to the Saints and of Punishment to the Wicked should not be seen by us in this Life nor apprehended by any of our outward Senses so that none should come from the Dead to tell us of these things A. That thereby we might have the greater occasion for the Exercise of our Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. We have not only Moses and the Prophets Testimony concerning future Rewards and Punishments but the Testimony of Christ himself who rose from the Dead and hath given us in the Records of the holy Evangelists and Apostles in the New Testament full and sufficient Ground of Faith to believe these things to which the Spirit of Truth doth bear an inward Witness and who will not believe on such great Evidences nor would they believe if any should rise from the Dead to tell them Luke 16 31. Q. How is Christ the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sin and Justification is it as his Blood is shed in us and as he offers up himself a Sacrifice in us as some say to appease the Wrath of God A. Nay for all such Notion of Christ 's blood being shed in us and his offering up himself in us a Sacrifice for Sin to appease the Wrath of God is false and contrary to Scripture c. Q Is then Jesus Christ considered as he died for us without us and rose again and as he was the Sacrifice for our Sins by his Death and Blood that was outwardly shed the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sins and Justification A. Yea Rom. 10. 9 10. Coloss 1. 20. Heb 12. 2. Acts 10. 41. SECT VII Q. HOW doth Christ perform his Kingly Office A. By his various Administrations of it in the several Parts thereof Q. Which are the several Parts of it A. First Such as respect Angels both good and bad and the whole Creation Secondly Such as respect the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church Thirdly Such as belong to his Church Q. Hath Christ a Kingly Power and Government over all the good and holy Angels A. Yea Heb. 1. 6 7. Col. 2. 10. Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 10. Mark 1. 25 9 25. Luke 4. 35 9 42. Q. Hath he also a Power and Government over the evil Angels and all evil and unclean Spirits and the Devil the Prince of them A. Yea as plainly appeared by the Power and Authority he used to cast forth the unclean Spirits out of the Bodies of many that were Possessed Q. Hath Christ also a Kingly Power and Government over Heaven and Earth and the whole Creation A. Yea as is evident from his own words that all Power in Heaven and Earth was his being given him of the Father Matth. 28. 18. Matth. 8. 26 27. Mark 2. 27 28. Acts 10. 36. And which he shewed by his commanding the Winds and the Seas and the great Miracles which he wrought who as he was Lord of the Sabbath so he was Lord of all Creatures Q. How doth Christ put forth his Kingly Power and Government over Devils and wicked Men seeing they are Disobedient to him A. By restraining and limiting their Power over-ruling their evil Designs and Actions and causing them to turn to his Glory and the Glory of his Father and to the good of his chosen and lastly by Judging and Punishing them at the last day Psal 76. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Acts 17. 31. Matth. 8. 29. Q. How doth Christ perform his Kingly Office over the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church and neither are nor shall become Members of it but remain Impenitent to the last A. By giving them a righteous Law universally in their