nothing Answ But this is more then order in setting it downe in the first place for I say it is required in the first place and the holy Ghost doth not require that first of us which it pleaseth him to worke last but requires that first which he pleaseth first to worke Quest VVhat is your next Reason Answ Because untill we have true Repentance wrought in us we have no right unto any speciall promise for the speciall promises of Grace and Mercy are made only to the Penitent and Broken-hearted and therefore before Repentance they cannot have faith in any of those speciall promises Esay 61.1 2 3. Acts 3.19 Quest VVhat is your next Reason Answ Because no man before he have Repentance truly wrought in him can receive the forgivenesse of his sinnes for Repentance is required that men may have their sinnes done away and therefore forgivenesse of sinnes doth follow Repentance and so consequently Faith doth follow Repentance Acts 2.38 and 3.19 Quest But doth it follow that because Remission of Sinnes doth follow Repentance that therefore Iustifying Faith doth follow Repentance Answ Yes it doth because whosoever is Justified by Faith his Sinnes are forgiven at the same instant but no mans Sinnes are forgiven untill he have true Repentance wrought in him therefore no Man is Justified by Faith before his heart be broken and true Repentance be wrought in him Rom. 5.1 Quest What other reason have you for to prove this point Answ Because whosoever is Justified by Faith is at peace with God Rom. 5.1 But no Man is at peace with God untill he have truly repented therefore no Man is Justified by Faith untill he have truly repented Quest But are not Men first at peace with God and assured of his love and afterwards come to true Repentance for their former Sins Answ No certainly it cannot be for the speciall thing that the party repenting doth seeke for is the pardon of Sinnes and peace with God and to be assured of his love and therefore it cannot be that he doth enjoy peace seeing it is that which above all other things he so earnestly seeketh and desireth Luke 15.18.19 Quest Doth not this seeking of peace with God and desire to be reconciled unto him argue that he doth enjoy peace and that he is reconciled unto God Answ No certainly for the desire of a thing doth argue the want of the thing desired and not the having of it and so this desire of peace doth plainly shew the want of it Quest What is Repentance Answ Repentance is a powerfull worke of Gods Spirit wrought in the hearts of such as shall be saved whereby the heart is broken and turned from the pleasing delights of Sinne into a great feare and sorrow for them and Confession of them unto God and into an exceeding desire of peace and reconcilliation with God Luke 15. Acts 11.18 2 Tim. 2.25 Ioel 2.12.13 Heb. 6.1 Proverbs 28.13 Quest Is this Repentance that you have here described of necessity to salvation Answ It is of absolute necessity as Christ himselfe testifieth where he saith except ye repent you shall all perish Luke 13.5 Quest But is it of necessity that all those parts described in the definition of Repentance should be effected before a Man can be capable of the promise Answ This is that constant order which God hath and ever will keepe in effecting this great worke of his to humble them for their Sinnes to cause them to see and to confesse and acknowledge their misery and also earnestly to long and desire after peace and reconcilliation with God which are indeed the very substance and severall parts of Repentance Quest But is not leaving of all knowne evill and doing of all knowne good the parts of Repentance Answ No it is not these are indeed the efects of fruits ever following Faith and commonly called by the names of mortification and vivification which is a dying unto Sinne and a rising to newnesse of life Quest What reason can you give to proove that this is not Repentance Answ Because Repentance must of necessity alwayes goe before Justifying Faith as is formerly proved but this leaving of all evill and doing of Good ever followes after Justifying Faith Quest But it may seeme that if that be repentance which you have described then Iudas had true repentance for he was both sorowfull and also confessed his Sin Answ No he never had that Repentance for then he should have been received to mercy for although he was sorrowfull and confest he had sinned he never attained that broken heart nor he never sought or desired pardon and reconciliation with God for hee knew it was in vaine for he had sinned against the holy Ghost Quest But is not Repentance and Faith wrought both at one and the same instant of time Answ No for Repentance is that worke of the Spirit which prepares the heart and makes it fit to receive the assurance of grace and peace which is by faith and therefore that which is a preparation to a thing must alwaies goe before the thing for which the preparation is made Quest But is there any distance of time betweene Repentance and justifying faith Answ There is not any thing passeth betweene Repentance and Faith for they do not cease repenting and bewailing their lost condition nor seeking and desiring after Grace and mercy untill such time as they be satisfied But where God doth bestow this grace of faith he doth alwaies find them Repentant and repenting sinners Quest VVhat is Justifying faith Answ It is a gracious worke of Gods Spirit wrought in the hearts of such as are penitent whereby they are assured of the free pardon and remission of all their sinnes and of peace and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ Rom. 5.1.5 Quest VVhy doe you in your definition of Faith adde these words wrought in the hearts of such as are penitent seeing they are not of the definition of Faith Answ I adde those words to shew forth the only objects in whom it pleaseth the Lord to worke this excellent worke of Faith Quest Doth Iustifying faith give assurance to the Penitent and broken heart of peace with God Answ Yes it doth as St. Paul testifieth Romans the fift and the first verse being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ Quest But may not this Faith bee lost at no time after the receiving of it An. It cannot be lost but it may be greatly weakned through carelesnesse by falling into sinne as David did Psal 51. Quest But may they not be deprived of the Assurance of Gods love for a time Answ Yes they may want the comfortable assurance thereof but they have then a promise to rest upon which is That whom the Lord loveth he loveth to the end and therefore David in his extremity said hee remembred the Lords mercies of old Quest But is not the beleeving of a mans sins to be pardonable justifying faith Answ No it
How doe you know that the Apostle meanes this sinne in that place which hee would not have us pray for Answ Because all other sinnes are pardonable and therefore may be prayed for but this sinne is unpardonable and therefore not to be prayed for Mathew 12.32 Quest How comes it to passe that this sinne above all others should be unpardonable Answ Because the very way and meanes of salvation is despised and rejected after they have received the knowledge of the truth and therefore it is impossible to renew them againe by Repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 Quest How doe they crucifie to themselves the Sonne of God Answ Even like as the Jewes did reject Christ and crucifie him when hee was with them upon earth so these men doe now reject him and doe crucifie him by their wilfull contempt of him and his sacrifice And as the Jewes did so doe they put him to an open shame and so rejecting that sacrifice which was ordained of God from all eternity to take away sinnes it is impossible their sinnes should be pardoned for there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinne Heb. 10.29 Quest Doe men come on a sudden to commit this fearfull sinne Answ No but by degrees for first there is a light esteeme of the Gospell and of the grace offered therein Secondly a looking back to their pleasures past with some liking of them Thirdly a yeelding consent of the will and affections to the flesh for the embracing of them againe and so by little and little returne like the dog to his owne vomit againe and like the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2.22 Quest Doe all the Reprobate commit this sinne Answ No because many of them are never so farre inlightned by the holy Ghost to see and perceive those things which those doe that fall into that sinne Quest Is not their estate more miserable that commit this sinne then others that doe not commit that sinne and yet notwithstanding shall perish for ever Answ Yes certainly for although the estate of others be miserable yet the misery of these shall farre exceed for to whom much hath bin committed of him much shall be required and he that knoweth his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes 2 Pet. 2.21 Quest Doe not such as commit this sinne prove dangerous enemies to the Church of God Answ Yes assuredly none greater enemies to the truth and to the people of God then those that once have professed the truth and afterwards have turned from the holy Commandement delivered unto them and therefore they are carefully to be taken heed of and to be avoided 2 Pet. 2.21 Quest What differing effects doth the holy Ghost worke in those that shall be saved from those that commit this horrible sinne Answ The holy Ghost doth worke in them that shall bee saved a farre more excellent worke namely that great worke of regeneration consisting of these two principall effects of the Spirit Repentance and Faith Io. 3.5 Quest Are none partakers of these two effects of the Holy Ghost but such as shall be saved Answ Not any one and none that are partakers of those effects of the Spirit can possibly commit that sinne but all others that are onely inlightned by the holy Ghost to see and know the way of salvation are in danger of falling into that sinne Quest What is the best way for such to take to be free from committing that sinne Answ The best way is not to content themselves with that common grace of inlightning onely but to labour to find in themselves those two effects of the Spirit Repentance and Faith and to be earnest with the Lord by prayer that he by his Spirit would worke effectually for the breaking their hearts and humbling them that so he may raise them up againe according to his promise and never to give rest unto their soules untill the Lord by his Spirit assure their hearts of peace and reconciliation with him Quest But is not the prayer of all such as are unjustified abominable how can wee therefore hope that God will heare us or grant our requests Answ The prayers of all those that are unjustified are not abominable but only the prayers of such wicked as hate to be reformed and cast the word of God behind them but the prayers of such as desire to bee humbled for their sinnes and to have their hearts broken and brought in subjection to the will of God and earnestly desire to be reconciled and to be at peace with God are not abominable but are pleasing unto God and are many times heard and granted by him Quest But God heareth and granteth the requests of none but for Christs sake and all unjustified men are out of Christ therefore how can it be that God should heare them or that their prayer should be pleasing unto him Answ True it is that all unjustified persons are out of Christ that is are not ingrafted into him by faith And also God heareth and granteth no requests but for Christs sake But yet notwithstanding God doth heare the requests of such as are not actually in Christ for Christs sake for God is mercifull to all his Creatures onely in Christ and many thousands enjoy mercies from the Lord for Christs sake that shall never enjoy salvation by him And therefore though men be not actually justified yet they may pray for Christs sake for the things they stand in need of and bee heard of the Lord and their prayers pleasing and not sinne else would not the Apostle have advised Simon Magus being in the gall of bitternesse to pray that if it were possible the thought of his heart might be forgiven him Gen. 16.13 Chap. 21.16 Acts 8.22 Quest May any one of those that are made partakers of that new birth and ingrafted into Christ fall away and perish Answ No it is not possible for God is unchangeable in his love where hee once loves with that speciall love hee ever loves for the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance Rom. 11.20 Io. 12.1 Rom. 5.10 Quest But they fall into many sinnes after regeneration and therefore may not God justly cast them off Answ True it is they fall into sinnes after regeneration and if wee looke upon Gods Justice only we cannot say but hee might cast them oft But yet God wil be true in his promise and as he did manifest his mercy and love unto them in their new birth so will be manifest his mercy in preserving them so that although they doe sinne daily yet shall it not condemne them For God doth justifie them through Christs death and if God justifie who may condemne Rom. 8.33.34 Quest Then it seemes that the stedfastnesse of man in Grace consists not in his owne power and strength but in the unchangeable Decree and mercy of God Answ No assuredly
manifest unto them when God shall reveale them unto his Saints by making such a cleare evidence of his grace to appeare so that they may discerne the same worke of grace in others that is in themselves For it is impossible that true grace should alwayes lye hid but it will be manifested at one time or other to the comfort and rejoycing of the rest of the Saints Quest But by the parable of the Draw-net in the thirteenth of Mathew it doth appeare that there may be wicked men in the Church undiscovered and not knowne to be hypocrites untill the great day of the Lord Answ It is true there may bee such for I doe not say that all hypocrites may be discerned and knowne but that it is possible for the Saints to know one another even in this life Quest If all the Saints may be discerned and knowne then those that are not discerned to bee Saints are to be judged hipocrites Answ We cannot so conclude of them for though they bee nor as yet discerned and knowne yet afterwards they may be or they may be Saints and depart this life undiscerned through want of the fellowship of the Saints who onely are able to discern the truth of grace in the Saints Quest But how may we discern and know others to be Saints Answ It is very hard to set down any particular notes whereby they may be knowne because the graces that do demonstrate them to be Saints are inward and therefore are better conceived then can be expressed in word by us neverthelesse if we can upon good ground assure our selves that we are Saints let us see and observe wherein we go beyond an hypocrite in the injoying of any speciall and peculiar grace and then let us expect and look for the same grace in others and wheresoever we find that blessed worke of grace and fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ by a lively faith we may certainly conclude he is a good tree because he bringeth forth good fruit Quest But the most holy and righteous do daily sinne and do that which is evill and hypocrites may also do many good things even works which are very good in outward appearance Answ It is true indeed but yet notwithstanding the evill which the Saints do is none of their fruit nor the good that hypocrites do is none of their fruit It cannot properly be called their fruit for the fruit is that which doth discover the tree either to be good or evill Matth. 7.16.20 Rom. 7.19 Quest What is then the fruit of the good tree that doth discover it self and prove him to be a good tree Answ The fruit of the good tree ingrafted into Christ is manifold but principally it is love which hath its first beginning from the apprehension of Gods love to them and is first returned to God again and to the Lord Jesus Christ next to their brethren the begotten of God to all men even to their very enemies doing good even to them that hate them Mat. 5.44 1 Joh. 4.19 Chap. 5.1 Quest What is the fruit of the evil tree Answ It is also manifold but principally it consists in the contrary to this fruit of the good tree as contempt of God and despising and hating of his truth and children Quest But hipocrites may dissemble a love unto God and to his truth and children Answ It is true but yet they cannot so dissemble to make the children of God believe and account them for Saints yet they will hope the best of them untill their dissimulation be made manifest and they discovered to be evill trees Quest But is it possible to know them to be Saints of a sudden assoon as they come to converse with them Answ No certainly especially in these times wherein we live for no doubt corruption doth beare great sway in many that no doubt are Saints and the power of Grace doth not manifest it self in many by reason of many discouragements that they meet with and for want of examples to go before them to incourage them and therefore it is very hard to discern them hence it comes to passe that it is held an impossible thing to know them in this life Quest How are the company of Saints called in the Scriptures Answ They are called by many honourable names and titles as the Church of Christ his body his spouse his habitation his Temple Sion Jerusalem the pillar and ground of truth and many such like Ephes 5.30 1 Cor. 12.27 Cant. 4.8.9.10 2 Cor. 6.16 Gal. 4.26 Quest When is this Church and company of Saints to be found Answ This Church is dispersed over the whole world even amongst the very heathen Quest How can it be that there should be any Saints in such places seeing they are ignorant of Christ and there is no name under Heaven whereby we may be saved but onely by the name of Iesus Christ Acts 4.12 Answ It is true neither are they saved by any other name under heaven but by Christ alone Quest How can they be saved by him who never came to know him either to come or come in the flesh Answ It may well be notwithstanding for there is left in man even since his fall a certaine knowledge of God and that he is to be feared and served and there is also a law written in their hearts condemning of them for disobeying the law of God whereby they come to see themselves miserable and to be lyable to the wrath of this just God though they know not how they came to be so at the first and also they see the goodnesse of God extended towards them manifested in his creatures God also working in them by his spirit perswading them that if they will seek mercy at his hands he will be mercifull to their souls as well as to their bodies and this mercy of God is extended unto them for Christ his sake though they know not by whose meanes and for whose sake they receive it Rom. 2.14 15.26 Acts 14.17 Rom. 1.19 20. Qu. Is there not a communion and fellowship amongst the Saints although they be thus dispersed Answ Yes verily they have a spirituall communion and fellowship all partaking of the same grace all being begotten by one father all born of water and spirit all partakers of one precious faith all ruled and governed by one and the same holy spirit who worketh in them a love to one another though they never beheld the faces one of another and do joy and rejoyce in the happinesse and prosperity one of another and for that end are dayly sutors to God in prayer one for another Ephes 2.14 Chap. 4.4.5.6 Quest What is the duty of the Saints being made known one to another Answ Their duty is to assemble themselves together in the name of Christ to worship God to pray unto him and to praise him to exhort comfort and build up one another and to rejoyce in the fellowship one of another
is not for so all men may believe their sinnes to be pardonable except they have sinned the Sin against the holy Ghost and many have this faith that shall not be saved but shall perish for ever Quest But is this Iustifying faith of necessity to be obtained of us in this life Answ It is of great necessity for it doth minister unto us the greatest comfort that can be desired assuring us of freedome from the greatest evill and giving unto us a lively hope of the greatest good making all the speciall promises to be ours whereby wee are upheld in the greatest afflictions that can befall us in this life Quest VVhat are the speciall effects that doe follow this faith Answ There are these foure inseparable companions which are the effects of faith namely Peace patience Hope and Love a dying unto sinne and a rising againe to newnesse and holinesse of life Rem 5 1 2 3 4 5. 1 John 4.19 Quest VVherein consisteth the death to sinne or mortification Answ In the exercise of the three first effects mentioned namely Peace Patience and Hope Quest That we may the better understand these things describe unto me what these three effects are somewhat distinctly and first what that peace is Answ The peace which here I meane is peace with God through Jesus Christ so that whereas before God had a controversie with them now is reconciled unto them so that now they are at rest fully perswaded God being with them nothing may prevaile against them as it is written If God justifie who may condemne Rom. 8 33.34 Quest VVhat is the second effect namely patience Answ It is a vertue wherewith they are armed against all assaults of their enemies to beare their injuries to suffer and indure their wrongs and though they be compassed with a body of sinne and many lusts doe assault them yet endure all in quietnesse sustained by the Word which saith In patience possesse ye your soules Luke 21.19 Quest What is Hope which is the third effect of Faith Answ Hope is the Anchor of the Soule whereby they are stayed and upheld expecting those eternall good things to come which God hath promised to his people and which by faith they believe shall bee performed and this is that hope that maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.5 Quest Wherein consisteth that newnesse and holinesse of life which is called vivification and the new resurrection Answ It consisteth in the fourth and last effect of Faith namely love which is the light and perfection of a Christian which is caused by the love of God shed in their hearts and doth extend it selfe first to God their Father and to the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer next to their Brethren the begotten children of God then to all men even their enemies doing good unto them for evill praying and mourning for them Mathew 5.44 Acts 7.60 1 Cor. 13. 1 John 4.19 20 21. Quest What is the outward meanes which the Lord hath appointed for the working of these graces in them whom he will save Answ The outward meanes is the preaching of his Word which is the Instrumentall meanes that doth beget the Lord adding thereunto the power of his Spirit and so it becomes powerfull and effectuall for the conversion of his elect being preached either by those that are allowed Preachers in publike or by private Christians exhorting in private Qu. May wicked and unregenerate Ministers convert soules unto God Answ No they cannot for this is a worke peculiar to such as are members of Christ who only have this power to worke this great work of conversion having the ministery of reconciliation committed unto them Ier. 1.23.24 Quest Why cannot they convert soules seeing they preach the same word of God that others doe Answ They cannot for these Reasons First though they preach the same Word yet is it not by them delivered in the power and evidence of the Spirit Secondly God hath not promised his presence with them to make his Word powerfull and effectuall in their mouthes for the conversion of others Jeremy 23.21 22 32. Thirdly none can be said to convert but only such as by the power of the Spirit in themselves doe worke upon the hearts and consciences of others the same grace that themselves are partakers of Fourthly they that convert soules shall shine as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 but no unregenerate man shall have that glory therefore they cannot convert soules unto God Quest Doth the law of the Decalogue or ten Commandements admit of Repentance Answ No it doth not but adjudgeth every transgressor to eternall condemnation Deut. 27.26 Gal. 3.10 Quest But the Apostle saith that the Law was our schoolemaster to bring us unto Christ Gal. 3. Answ The Apostle intends there the Ceremoniall law and not the law of the ten Commandements and indeed the Ceremoniall law did preach and teach us as a Schoolemaster to bring us unto Christ in every thing and wee may observe also that the Apostle saith that the Law was our Schoolmaster so that it appeares plainly the appostle intends there the Ceremoniall law and not the morall Quest But the Law sets forth our misery whereby we come to know our wretched condition Answ Yes indeed it doth but leaves us there without all hope or helpe of cure for it cannot afford us any helpe at all even like a man that wounds another and leaves him for dead but is not able to helpe him Quest What part of the word of God doth require and admit of repentance Answ It is the Gospell that admits and requires Repentance Mark. 1.1 2 3 4. Quest VVhat is the Gospell Answ It is a free declaration of Gods grace mercy and love for Christs sake Quest VVhen was this Gospell first preached Answ First it was preached to Adam in these words The seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head and afterwards to the Fathers and Prophets and by our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in a wonderfull great measure Quest If the law doe not admit of Repentance to what end serveth it Answ There is a double use of the Law It is set downe first for the unregenerate man that he may not deny the punishment denounced against him and also that it may take vengeance against him justly for his sinnes Secondly it is also set downe for a holy and regenerate man both that as often as he lookes upon it and alwayes he ought to looke into it he may so often bewaile his wickednesse and quake at it And as often as he calls it to mind and night and day hee ought to call it to remembrance so often he may thinke of the riches of the mercy and of the love of God by giving him thankes by Jesus Christ his Lord and Intercessor who so mercifully hath set him free from the wrath of this just and holy law Quest Are all the Rites and Ceremonies which God commanded the Iewes to observe utterly abolished Answ
more to manifest his Attributes of wisdome power goodnesse love and mercy then if he had saved man without the giving his Sonne to death for him Quest Who are they that have the speciall benefit by the death of Christ Answ All have benefit thereby but the elect only have the speciall benefit of Redemption and Justification by him And all the rest of the Sonnes of Adam have a common benefit enjoying for Christs sake the continuance of the world and the abundant blessings thereof Quest What difference is there betweene Redemption and Justification Answ There is this difference Redemption is a worke which Christ hath wrought for all the Elect even for them also which are yet unborne and Justification is the free declaration of Gods eternall love free grace and mercy which he worketh in his good time in the hearts of his Elect making knowne unto them that the Redemption which Christ hath wrought is for them and that they have part and portion therein Quest Wherein consisteth mans Iustification Answ It consisteth in the free remission and taking away of the guilt and punishment of Sin and in the imputation of Christs righteousnesse Acts 10.43 Psal 32.1 Rom. 4.6 Quest By what meanes doe they come to bee thus freed from the guilt and punishment of sin and also to have the righteousnesse of Christ imputed unto them Answ By the meere grace and favour of God for as there was nothing but his owne love to move him to elects them so there was nothing but his owne love to move him to justifie them Ephes 2.8 Quest How is this made knowne unto them Answ It is revealed unto them by the holy Ghost who assureth them of peace and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ and also worketh in them faith to lay hold and to apply unto themselves the speciall and peculiar promises of the Gospell Rom. 5.1 Ephes 8. Quest Are not all men set free from the guilt and punishment of sinne by the death of Christ Answ No certainly none but those whom God did make choyce of from all eternity to be vessels of mercy Quest Wherfore should God make choice of some and leave others seeing all had sinned alike in Adam and all alike corrupted Answ There was nothing in man at all in one more then in another but it was his good pleasure nothing moving him thereunto but his owne will Rom. 9. Quest Did the Lord then make some men of purpose to destroy them and to condemne them for ever Answ The Lord did decree from all eternity to save some and to leave others but yet notwithstanding hee did not create them of purpose to destroy them For the end of mans Creation was the glory of God and in their Creation he did not intend the destruction of the creature but his owne glory and he made man righteous but he brought destruction upon himselfe by rebelling against God Hosea 13.9 Eccle. 7.29 Quest Then the Lord is not the Author of mans condemnation Answ He is not the Author thereof but man himselfe for God at first did make man righteous and holy and gave him power to obey and serve him but hee willingly of himselfe fell to disobey the command of God and so made himselfe liable to eternall wrath and condemnation Hosea 13.9 Eccle. 7.29 Quest Why did not God make man so absolute perfect in himselfe that he could not possibly have fallen but might have stood in his perfection of himselfe Answ It could not possibly be unlesse hee should have been God for it is proper only unto God to be so absolute perfect and immutable and cannot bee in any creature whatsoever Quest Doe not the good Angels stand in their state of perfection and glory by themselves Answ No verily it is through the free grace and goodnesse of God that they stand and not of their owne power and that they and we also might see our owne weaknesse and that we all stand through his grace he suffered both Angels and man to fall Quest Why did not God as well punish all the Angells as some of them seeing hee punished all mankind for Adam's sin Answ The case is not alike for we all sinned in Adam being in his loynes and are therefore polluted with corruption of nature and doe bring forth the evill fruit of sinne and rebellion against God But it was not so with Angels they did not proceed from one another by naturall generation and therefore not in the same manner corrupted but were all created glorious creatures And it was but some of the Angels that sinned and therefore none but them that sinned were punished And although he suffered all men to fall yet he provided a remedy to restore part of them againe through Jesus Christ and to make them heires of glory for ever Quest Is not the remedy sufficient to redeeme all mankind that had fallen through Adams transgression Answ It is sufficient doubtlesse being a price of an infinite value and all men are thereby set in a possibility of salvation and as we said before all men enjoy good by Christ yet notwithstanding God did not purpose nor intend to give his Sonne to death to redeeme all mankind and so to save them for ever but only for those whom he had elected and made choice of to be vessells of mercy in his wisdome from all eternity the Lords workes and doings are unchangeable Quest But the Lord exhorts all men to repent and to turne to him promising to pardon their sins if they do repent How then is it that God did not purpose to save all mankind by Christs death Answ It is true indeed that all men are exhorted to repent and the promises are made generally to all that doe repent but none doe repent but only the elect and chosen of God and therefore none but they enjoy the speciall promises of grace and mercy Quest But what is the reason that all doe not repent that so they might have right unto those speciall promises of grace and mercy through Christ Answ The fault is in man who through the corruption of his heart resists this grace and mercy offered and so hardens his heart in sinne choosing rather to enjoy his pleasure here then to humble himselfe to walke with God to enjoy his grace and mercy for ever Quest Have the Elect any more power in themselves then others to repent and turne to the Lord Answ No none at all but Repentance is the gift of God as we said before and it is he that by his Spirit doth effect this great worke in them 2 Tim. 2.25 Quest Why doth not God give repentance to all and so save all by Christ that so all men might for ever glorifie and praise his mercy Answ It was his purpose from all eternity as well to set forth the glory of his Justice as of his mercy and therefore as he did not intend nor purpose to save them by Christ so neither would he bestow
upon them any speciall benefit tending that way Quest Wherefore doth God call and exhort all men to repent seeing all cannot attaine thereunto Answ Hee doth it for these Reasons First because his elect are mingled amongst others and therefore he doth send his Word and call upon all men to repent Secondly he doth it to manifest to all the freenesse of his grace that he is ready to receive all that come to him Thirdly to leave all men without excuse and that their condemnation might more manifestly appeare to be just seeing that grace and mercy was offered them and they willingly refused and rejected it and at that great day of Judgement every mouth shall bee stopped and every one appeare culpable before God Quest But seeing that God hath elected sonne and rejected others is it not therefore in vaine to heare or reade the word of God to pray unto him or to use any meanes to come to the knowledge of the way of life and salvation Answ No verily for seeing these things are required of all men all are bound to take knowledge thereof and to reject or refuse them is to reject and refuse God who offers his grace therein and doth by them worke grace in his elect now seeing some there are that reape benefit by the use of them and that no man can conclude of himselfe that God hath not elected him it is not in vaine to use the meanes but it is meere madnesse and folly to refuse and reject them Quest But by this meanes men may come to such a measure of knowledge and to bee so farre inlightned that they may be in danger to commit the sin against the holy Ghost and so make their condemnation the greater Answ This commeth not by the carefull use of the meanes but by the abuse thereof and light esteeme of the grace offered and therefore they are to take heed of those things that may be any occasion thereunto Quest Is it necessary that this doctrine concerning Gods Predestination should bee made knowne seeing that it may bee hurtfull to many making some secure and carelesse in using any meanes of salvation and also causing others to despaire Answ It is necessary to bee knowne and therefore hath the Lord beene pleased to reveale it and doubtlesse no hurt shall come thereby to any of the elect but exceeding much good for it serves greatly to humble them and to let them see that it is no defert of theirs but the free grace of God who might have chosen others and rejected them And as for the rest they will abuse every truth though it be never so good and profitable and therefore seeing God hath been pleased to reveale it the Elect are not to be deprived of this Benefit because of the abuse of them by the Reprobate Quest Wherefore is it that in Scripture our Justification is attributed unto Faith Answ We are said to be justified by Faith not that Faith justifieth of it selfe but because it is a gift of God whereby man believeth that which the Spirit declareth and evidenceth to the conscience namely the pardon of sinne and assurance of grace through the blood of Christ Secondly because all our owne workes are excluded in the matter of Justification before God and there is no cause of boasting for our salvation is onely of the Lord Hosea 13.9 Quest If good workes doe not justifie before God to what end are they so often required Answ They are required for divers ends First because by them we shall glorifie God and adorne our holy profession Math. 5.16 Secondly we shall by them be a means to win others to love our profession and give good examples to others to doe the like and to follow us 1 Pet. 2.12 Thirdly by this means we shall stop the mouthes of the adversaries 1 Pet. 2.15 Fourthly we shall have comfort if we be brought to suffer and be accused as evill doers wrongfully 1 Pet. 2.19 Fifthly we shall by them make tryall of the truth of our faith and of the graces that are in us by the exercise of them as occasion is offered Quest But doe not good workes deserve nothing at the hands of God Answ No certainly no workes that we can doe can possibly deserve any thing at the hands of God for when we have done all that we can we may truly say we are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 Quest If good workes deserve nothing wherefore is it that so many promises are made in Scripture unto good workes Answ God hath thereby set forth his bounty to stir us up who are backward of our selves adding thereunto promises of reward But such is our weakenesse and great imperfections in our best workes that we haue cause rather to be humbled for our wants in the performance of them then to challenge any thing at the hands of God for the same yet certaine it is that the good workes of Gods Children shall be rewarded though not for the worthinesse of the worke yet for the truth of the promiser who hath promised to reward the gift of a cup of cold water to one of those that belong to him so that we have no cause to be backward in good workes but to be forward in the doing of them Math. 10.42 Quest Are all men rewarded for their good workes Answ Yes certainly the righteous God rewardeth all either here in this life or after this life but he in a more especiall manner rewardeth the good workes of his Children even those workes of love and mercy extended towards the Saints their Brethren Math. 25. Quest Are there Saints now upon the earth Answ Yes verily there have been are and ever shall be Saints upon the earth Psal 16.3 Quest But seeing all men are corrupted and even after regeneration the remnants of Sinne still continue in them can the name of Saints be properly given unto them Answ Yes it may be well given unto them for God so accounts of them as being without Sinne beholding no iniquity in them Numbers 23.21 Canticles 4.7 Ephes 5.27 Quest If God behold all things and nothing be hid from his all-seeing eye how can it be but that he should see those Sinnes which his elect doe daily and continually fall into Answ It is true that God beholdeth all things and cannot be ignorant of those Sinnes which they fall into yet notwithstanding God doth looke upon them in Christ and beholds them all righteous and holy in him imputing the rigteousnesse of Christ unto them Rom. 4.6.7 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.21 Quest What is that righteousnesse of Christ which is imputed unto the Saints and for which they are accounted holy Answ All the righteousnesse of Christ whatsoever his active obedience performed to the law his passive obedience in suffering whatsoever was due unto them for Sinne and what the Justice of God could require at their hands yea all the holinesse that is in Christ either of his nature as hee was man or of his