1.15 Another Answer to the Question may be that Christ hath not made by his death full satisfaction to the justice of God for mens sins upon any such terms as either to indulge or harden any man in the practise of sin by securing him from the stroak of Gods displeasure when he offendeth nor yet to deprive God of his Liberty to govern the World or particularly his own house the houshold of Faith in wisdome righteousness and equity and consequently to judge and punish delinquents in either when he seeth just cause but the compleatness or fulness of this Satisfaction standeth in this that God may in consideration thereof without the least reflection upon or disparagement unto his justice or perfect hatred of sin forgive all men all their sins upon their unfeigned Faith and Repentance notwithstanding he may in some cases as in that of David 2 Sam. 12. ver 13 14. upon another account as viz. for the vindication of his righteousness and impartialitie in the Government of the world before the men thereof correct with temporal chastisements great and known Offenders the truth of their Faith and Repentance notwithstanding Quest 17. How long did Christ remain in the state of death Answ By the space of three daies and three nights Mat. 12.40 that is of one whole natural day in the middle and part of two other of these dayes Now a natural day consisting of 24 hours and so comprehending the night in it our Saviour by the figure Synecdoche expresseth two parts of two of these dayes and one intire one by three daies and three nights So that he reckoneth that part of the sixth day of the week on which he was crucified which we call Friday which remained after his being crucified dead and laid in the grave being between three and four of the clock in the afternoon unto the end of it this part I say of this natural day he reckoneth for the first of the three daies and three nights of which he speaketh The seventh day of the week called Saturday the whole time whereof he remained in the state of death and in the grave he accounteth for the second That part of the first day of the week by us called the Lords day or Sunday which was before his resurrection he computeth for the third and last of these three daies and three nights Quest 18. Why did Christ remain thus long viz. three daies and three nights in the sense declared in the hand or state of death Answ Because God judged this a sufficient time to evince and prove the truth and certainty of his death for the full satisfaction of those whom it concerned to believe it some having been thought to be dead for several hours together who yet were not dead but in a trance only Quest 19. Why did he remain no longer in the state of death but only for three daies and three nights Answ First because by this time as was even now said he had sufficiently confirmed the truth of his death by which he had wrought the great work of Redemption and made attonement for the World So that there was no further necessity or occasion of his remaining in the bonds of death And it was most contrary to his will and pleasure to cause or suffer his Holy one to suffer impertinently who taketh care that his ordinarie Saints be not in heaviness except it be when need requireth it 1 Pet. 1 6. Secondly it was the unchangeable will of God according as it was foretold by David long before Psal 16.10 compared with Acts 2.27 c. that his Holy one meaning Christ should not see corruption Now it hath been the observation of some and is I conceive the judgment of more that a dead body after three daies lying in the Grave begins to putrifie and corrupt which seemeth also by that saying of Martha concerning the interred body of her Brother Lazarus Lord by this time he stinketh for he hath been dead four daies Joh. 11.39 to have been received for truth among the Jewes So that God to keep his Holy one in the grave longer then three daies from seeing Corruption must have wrought a Miracle and not long after another Miracle greater then that viz. in raising him from the dead But God is not pleased to multiply miracles but only to accommodate great necessities or occasions Quest 20. But if the death of Christ was only temporal and of no longer Continuance then three dayes and three nights how can it be a reasonable compensation to the justice or just severitie of God against sin which required the eternal death of so many millions as should sin Answ To this Question Answer hath in part been given formerly where it was in effect said that the infinite dignity of the person considered it was altogether as high ah act or as high an expression of Gods just hatred and severity against sin not to absolve those or any of those that had sinned but only upon the account of the death yea be it but of the temporal death of Jesus Christ as it would have been to have punished all and every one of the said sinners with death eternal Unto which this may be added that it was not eternal death as such I mean as Eternal which the justice of God required of those that should sin or had sinned but death simply In that day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die or according to the Hebrew dying thou shalt die Gen. 2.17 This death indeed consequentially and as it were by accident would have been eternal viz. through the weakness and inability of the creature on whom it was to be inflicted being not able to deliver it self from it For if for argument sake it could be supposed that any creature on which God shall inflict death for sin be it that death which we call temporal could recover it self from under this death or restore it self unto life again it is not reasonable to think that God would punish this creature with another death or inflict death upon it the second time for that sin for which the first death was inflicted The Apostle Paul I conceive insinuates this notion where he saith though by way of allusion that he that is dead or that hath died 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is justified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from sin Rom. 6 7. meaning that a perfon having once suffered the sentence of the Law which is Death is not further responsible for his miscarriage but stands in the eye of this Law as innocent or righteous So that the death of Christ though but temporal yet is not only upon a geometrical or upon an equitable account but even upon an arithmetical strict or literal account a full compensation to the justice of God against sin uttering it self in that threatning In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death Quest 21. Was there then any occasion or necessity for the Resurrection of
Christ from the dead save only for his own benefit and advancement Answ Yes The Apostle Paul expresly teacheth us that he was raised again viz. from death for our justification Rom. 4.25 which the Apostle Peter interprets at least in part where he saith that God raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your Faith and Hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 And the former Apostle elsewhere saith If Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain and your Faith is also vain 1 Cor. 15.14.17 If Christ had still remained or been deteyned by God in the prison of Death it would have argued that he had failed or fallen short in giving that satisfaction unto the justice of God for sin which was undertaken by him and consequently there could have been no sufficient ground for any man to believe in God for the forgivenesse of his sins upon the account of his death without which Faith there can be no justification Whereas his being discharged by God from his imprisonment in death effectually proveth that he had made full payment unto him of that debt which he had taken upon himself to discharge And upon this account there is firm footing for every man to expect by Faith the forgiveness of his sins at the hand of God Quest 22. By what or whose power was Christ raised from the dead Answ The Scripture ascribeth his raising or riseing again from the dead sometimes unto himself or his own power and sometimes and more frequently unto God the Father and his power See and compare Joh. 2.19 Rom. 1.4 Joh. 10.18 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 14.9 Act. 24.32 Act. 5.4.10 Act. 5. 30. 1 Cor. 15.15 Eph. 1.20 with many others Quest 23. Why is the resurrection of Christ attributed unto himself or his own power Answ For the confirmation of this great Article of our faith that he is truly and by nature God or the natural Son of God Rom. 1.4 inasmuch as none but God is able to raise the dead Ephe. 1.19 20. Quest 24. Why is his resurrection ascribed unto God the Father Answ Partly to make the belief of it more passable with men inasmuch as it is no waies incredible but that God should be able to raise the dead Act. 26.8 though such a thing exceed's the power of every created being partly to confirm and satisfie us in this so great a matter of concernment to us that he is fully satisfied with the death and sufferings of Christ for the sins of the world and upon this account hath as it were with his own hands brought him out of the prison of death wherein he had been detained for a season Quest 25. What doth the Apostle Paul mean by a mans knowing the power of Christs Resurrection as likewise the Fellowship of his sufferings Phil. 3.10 Answ By knowing the power of Christs resurrection he meaneth an inward and reall sense or apprehension how mighty and glorious an encouragement the resurrection of Christ is unto any man to believe in God for salvation Or else how powerful an influence the resurrection of Christ rightly apprehended hath upon the Consciences of men to forsake all their dead works and to walk in newnesse of Life Rom. 6. verse 4. Compared with verse 5. By Fellowship with Christ in his Sufferings he means a mans dying that is his declining in love and affection to this present World and to all vain and sinful Contentments ingageing and provoking himself hereunto by the Consideration of the Sufferings of Christ for him He saith Peter that hath suffered in the Flesh that is who hath conformed himself unto Christ who suffered in the flesh for him Hath ceased from Sin 1 Pet. 4.1 Quest 26. How long after Christ's Resurrection was it before his Ascension Answ The space of forty daies Act. 1.3 Quest 27. Why did he make his abode on Earth for so long a time after his Resurrection before he asscended Answ Because God judged this space of time necessarie and competent for him to give full assurance of the Truth and Certainty of his Resurrection unto his Apostles by exhibiting several enterviews of himself unto them and this at times somewhat distant for their better satisfaction as also to give instructions unto them about managing that great and weighty affair of preaching and publishing the Gospel throughout the World which they were now shortly to enter upon with such other things as related hereunto as the raising and ordering of Churches c. Quest 28. Whither did Christ ascend Answ Farre above all Heavens Eph. 4.10 that is farre above all visible Heavens For otherwise God himself is said to be in Heaven Mat. 6.9 and elsewhere yea and Heaven is said to be his dwelling place 1 King 8.49 Elsewhere he is said to be gone into Heaven simply as Act. 1.11 and 1 Pet. 3.22 So to have entered into Heaven Heb 9.24 Therefore it is like that the Apostles meaning is that he asscended into that Heaven which is called the Heaven of Heavens Deut. 10.14 where God converseth face to face with his Holy Angels revealing himself in all his glory unto them The scituation of which Heaven is farre above all those other globes or Spheres which in respect of their feat above the Earth are called Heavens Quest 29. Was the Ascension of Christ any waies necessary or conducing to the benefit of the world or the salvation of men Answ His Ascension as it includes or implies his inauguration or entrance into his great Dignity and Glory in which notion the Scripture commonly speaks of it was necessary to minister an opportunity unto the Father together with himself to send forth the holy Spirit into the World after another manner and upon farre more gracious and glorious termes then according to his being in it formerly The reason why the Holy Ghost was not thus given some-while before is said to be because Jesus was not yet glorified that is entred into his glory Joh. 7.39 So a little before his Death he tells his Disciples that it was expedient for them that he should goe away meaning that he should ascend into Heaven or go up unto his Father For saith he if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you But if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16.7 And Ephes 4.8 when he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive that is that his triumphant Ascension declared that he had conquered Sin Death and Hell and so had dissolved or turned that great and sad Captivity or Thrauldome wherein the World was detayned by Sathan as having been conquered by him and gave Gifts unto men and ver 10 it is said that he ascended up farre above all Heavens that he might fill all things that is that he might heal the emptinesse and vanity of the World by filling men with the sound and saving knowledg of God which he did by giving the gifts mentioned ver 11. And he gave some Apostles some Prophets
may lay hold on eternal Life which otherwise is it seems like to passe or slip by them unminded and unregarded 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. By another Apostle I find him taking notice of the waies and actings of such men as very wicked and abhominable in the sight of God and which unrepented of and unforsaken threaten the vengeance of eternal fire Do not ri h men oppresse you and draw you before the judgment Seats Do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by which ye are called Jam. 2.6 7. Go to now ye rich men weep and howl for your miseries Behold the hire of the Labourers which have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud crieth and the cries of them which have Reaped are entered onto the eares of the Lord of Sabbaoth Yee have lived in pleasure on the Earth and been wanton ye have c. Jam. 5.1.4 5. Now to pray unto God to bring us into such a state and condition in which it is next to an impossibility for any man to be saved yea and which is apt to render men utterly uncapable of Salvation but only by doing such things which are commonly very grievous and tormenting unto such men to do And lastly which hath this sad property in it also to make the lives and doings of those that come into it more generally vile and hateful before God to pray I say that God would be the Author of such a condition as this unto us is in effect to pray that he would lead us into temptation whereas Christ in the very next Petition but one as we heard and shortly God willing shall hear further teacheth us to pray the contrary viz. that he would not lead us into Temptation Besides if it be unlawful when Riches do encrease to set a mans heart upon them as David in that respect forbiddeth men to do Psal 62.10 Surely it is not expedient at least to set a mans heart upon the increasing them or to strive with God in Prayer for them He was as well a wise man as a Godly that prayed against them Give me neither Poverty nor Riches Prov. 30.8 Notwithstanding it is not I conceive the mind of Christ in the Petition in hand to impose it upon men as a duty to limit themselves strictly to pray for things of present necessity only for then they should be bound to pray not so much for the blessing of God upon their honest labours as for the confinement or scanter measure of this blessing For otherwise as the wiseman informeth us the blessing of God maketh Rich Prov. 10.22 and the hand of the diligent he saith doth the same ver 4. Yea and men ought to be provident and to have an eye to the future and in summer to lay up for winter and in health and strength to remember sicknesse and weaknesse yea if God hath given us Children to remember them also and if he shall please so farre to blesse us and give opportunity to lay up in a convenient measure for them The Scriptures are expresse and clear for these things See at your leisure Prov. 6.6 14.24 15.6 20.4 13. 27.23 24 c. 28.19 13.22 2 Cor. 12.14 with many others So that when Christ teacheth us to pray Give us this Day our Daily bread his meaning and intent seems to be to take men off from minding or looking after superfluities or the great things of the world and not to be importunate with God for them but to leave him to his own Liberty and Pleasure whether he will bestow or cast in unto us such things as these or no and to be earnest with him only for things of present necessity and convenience Besides the Prayer in hand being drawn up and formed by Christ for the use and direction of all Christians without exception it was not reasonable or meet that any thing should be found in it that should occasion or lead men to pray for Riches or any the great things of the world but only for things necessary and convenient because such things as these are commodious and beneficial unto all without exception whereas neither the heads nor the hearts of many are able to carrie a full cup without spilling nor to weild great riches honours or height of prosperity without imminent danger of being ruined and undone by them for ever Quest 56. What is the meaning of the fifth Petition and what are some of the chief particulars comprehended in it and which we are directed by it to ask in Prayer of God Answ This Petition leadeth us to the acknowledgment of our selves to be sinners against God and that whilest our sins remain unpardoned we are in a sad condition and obnoxious to the breaking out of his displeasure in one judgment or other if not in more upon us for in this respect our sins are here called our debts or trespasses which unlesse they be forgiven will be we know not how suddainly required at our hand And therefore we are further taught and admonished in this Petition to pray as constantly for the forgivenesse of them as we do for our Daily bread For to ask it in Prayer of God is a special means to obtain it according to what we read Mat. 18.32 I forgave thee all that debt BECAVSE thou desiredst me But we are withall admonished and directed to seek it of God upon such terms which if we do nor really and truly perform we pray not for the pardon or forgivenesse of them but for the retainment of them and for the vengeance due unto them to be inflicted on us For they that pray thus unto God Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us if they do not forgive them pray that themselves may be no otherwise forgiven that is not at all So that the great and signal favour and blessing which this Petition leadeth us to ask explicitly and directly of God is the forgivenesse of our sins and consequentially a gracious exemption from all those evills judgments and miseries which our sins have deserved together with a free and full injoyment of all those blessings and good things which the infinite goodnesse and bounty of God inclineth him to bestow upon such of his Creatures who by their love loyalty and obedience unto him have found favour in his sight The Petition yet further being so modelled as we have heard it is for the obtaining of the great blessing of the forgivenesse of our sins upon our asking it remindeth us to ask likewise a merciful loving and free spirit towards our enemies and those that have been injurious unto us in what kind or degree soever For unlesse we freely and from the heart forgive unto these all the injuries wrongs and unkindnesses dammages in some cases only excepted which they have done unto us we are not admitted more then the Devills to the favour of petitioning God for the forgivenesse of our own sins with