Christ that we may be kept humble in working and withall thankful for what we obtain through believing Q. How ought we to exercise our Faith that we may become Saints or are we adopted without it A. No not without it John 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Heb. 11.6 but thus ought we to exercise our Faith First consider the Might Grace Wisdom and Faithfulness of God and hence conclude that you may well believe his words be all true Secondly consider the clearness of the Gospel held forth to sinners lost and helpless in themselves yet may scarcely rest upon the grace of God in Christ for grace to change the heart and life according to the promises made to such in the Gospel Isa 45.22 John 3.14 15 16 17. Heb. 7.25 with many like gracious promises in the Scripture and through the beholding the glory of the Lord in his Gospel thou shalt not only be adopted but also changed by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Q. When a person is a Child of God by Faith is there any thing more for him to do in order to his enjoying eternal happiness A. Yea it is his duty and that in order to his safety to live by Faith Hab. 2.4 Heb. 10.38 Q. Is there eminent danger of a Believers falling away A. There is danger if a man be careless and decline but no such eminent danger but that he who is in the Faith may very possibly and well continue therein John 15.9 10. Acts 13.43 1 Tim. 4.16 Q. How comes it to pass that any do or may fall away Doth the Lord leave them to temptation and danger or comes it to pass through some wilful disobedience of their own A. Their own ungodly turning aside must needs be the alone cause thereof for the Lord on his part never fails to do all that is meet for him to do or that can honourably be done by him to preserve them from falling 1 Thess 5.23 24. 1 Cor. 1.8 9. Q. Do you think then that the Lord doth not save some men by an omnipotent arm seeing 1 Pet. 1.5 saith That they are kept by the power of God to salvation A. Compare that Text with Rom. 1.16 and you may see he means no more but the Gospel faithfully believed is Gods power to save men and he that so continueth is safe enough 1 Cor. 15.1 2. Q. But if men do fall from the Faith may they not be recovered again to repentance A. Yea doubtless if they fall not into the blasphemy of the holy Spirit they may 1 Tim. 1.20 1 Kings 15.5 but it is a very dangerous sinful estate and a recovery out of it harder than the first conversion Prov. 14.14 Q. But how doth it appear that any that do in truth believe with such a Faith as if they had continued in would have saved them may finally fall away and perish A. It appeareth plainly from the express testimony of the holy Scripture Ezek. 18.24 26 and 33.12 13 18. John 15.6 1 Tim. 5.11 12. Q. Do you think that all that fall away are such as once truly believed and should have been saved if they had continued in their profession A. No by no means for when men do fall off from the profession of Godliness especially in great numbers it is like they were never sound John 6.60 66. 1 John 2.19 For I believe it is not easie nor ordinary for a true Believer to come to fall from the Faith especially so low as from the profession of it but contrarily many that are not sound may stand in their profession to the last Mat. 7.22 23. Q. But is it not possible for a true Believer to secure both himself and his fears from the danger of falling away A. Yea very well God affords rich supplies of grace for that end and he that takes the direction the Scripture giveth shall be sure he shall never fall from the Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. and 3.17 18. and he that persevereth in the Faith to the end shall never miss of eternal Life John 5.24 Coloss 1.22 23. Q. How comes a People to be a Church or what Ministry is necessary to put them in Order and make them meet to partake of Ordinances A. Christ and his holy Spirit by the infallible Ministry of his Apostles and Prophets Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. Q. You speak as if men might put themselves into a Church Order and Fellowship do you think they may or can do it warrantably A. No I know it is impossible for men to make themselves an acceptable or a holy Church neither do men go about it of themselves when they are directed by the holy Scriptures in this work but they are without doubt upon the Apostles and Prophets truly built and Christ is the true corner-stone of the Building and the holy Spirit the Builder But if any men should come and say they are Apostles and should also work Miracles yet ought we not to leave the holy Scriptures one hairs breadth to follow them the true Foundation is laid already and no man can lay any other 1 Cor. 3.11 and we have Christ and his Apostles indeed in the New Testament Ephes 2.20 21 22. and Moses and the Prophets in the Old Luke 16.29 31. all which are a full and perfect guide to every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Q. Hath not Christ appointed a continuing Ministry to feed and govern the Church A. Yea we are instructed what their work or office and their qualifications must be 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1.6 7 8 9. Q. But how shall men come by a power orderly to make or to be made Ministers now since the apostacy seeing there is not a succession of that true Ministry to ordain as Christ left A. First it is Christ and not men that makes Ministers if we had now the Churches the Apostles planted and the Bishops they ordained they could give him no lawful power to minister the Gospel that Christ hath not fitted for that work by his Spirit neither see I any reason to doubt of the lawfulness of his exercise of a Ministry that Christ hath fitted for that work Gifts to men for the Ministry and gifts of Ministers to the Church are both from him Ephs 4.7 8 11 12. therefore his Ministers and his Churches must take heed to his Word which is a safe and sure guide to them in all cases It is beyond doubt that Churches may and ought to elect or choose their Ministers Acts 6. which plainly sheweth that they are competent Judges of their fitness for the service they are to undertake and as for laying on of the hands of the Presbytery I can see no more but these two ends of it One to seek the Lords blessing and further assistance of the Spirit upon their Ministry another end to manifest their approbation of what Christ hath done in fitting of them for that work and what they do seems to me to be done as Servants for the
Church and not by virtue of any power or authority that is placed in any Officer or company of Ministers whatsoever to give him lawful power to Officiate as a Minister of Christ that otherwise wanted a lawful authority so to do My Reasons are First I find hands laid on them that neither wanted an Office nor a sufficient Call to the exercise of it upon their setting forth from the Church to preach the Gospel abroad in the world Acts 12.3 Secondly I find that whose hath gifts to Preach may lawfully use them 1 Pet. 4.10 11. and yet this seems to be the greatest work of an Apostle of Christ Compare 1 Cor. 1.14 17. with 9.16 17. And I can find no warrant for Churches or Ministers to commit a Pastoral charge to any man but such an one as is a known apt and able Preacher 1 Tim. 3.2 Tit. 1.9 which cannot well be except he be frequently found in the work of Preaching and therefore my judgement is that the work of the Ministry is not bound to a Minister although a Minister be bound to his work Acts 20.28 Q. You said a little before that Baptism belonged to such as believe and repent Let us understand what that Ordinance is and wherein it will profit us A. It is a Burial in Water in the Name of the Father Son Holy Spirit to signifie Death Burial and Resurrection that as Christ died for us and rose from the Grave so we that believe shall rise by means of his Death to inherit eternal life and shall receive grace through his Death to kill sin and quicken us to walk in newness of life 1 Cor. 15.29 Rom. 6.3 4. Q. Since you say Believers shall rise to inherit eternal Life shall no others rise from the grave again A. Yea although all shall not rise to glory yet Christ having Redeemed them from the Curse of the Law it is impossible the Grave can detain them for ever but first or last both good and bad shall rise again John 5.28 29. 1 Cor. 15.21 22. Q. Do not all the dead good and bad rise at once A. No the faithful rise to enjoy a glorious Kingdom with Christ a thousand years before the wicked world shall rise again 1 Thes 4.16 Rev. 20.3 4 5 6. yet shall they at last rise to receive the sentence of condemnation Dan. 12.2 John 5.29 Q. What think you of the Spirit or Inward-man Doth that more excellent part die with the Body or what state is it in till the Resurrection A. What its injoyments are or in what place or places their Spirits remain I shall not say and I would no man would say more in the case than he can clearly prove to raise fruitless contention but this much is clear That the Spirits of men do live when the Body is dead and are capable of enjoying more communion with Christ than while they remained in the Body 2 Cor. 5.6 8 9. and 12.2 3 4. Phil. 1.21 22 23 24. Mat. 10.28 Luke 9.30 31. and what I have seen urged to the contrary wants strength and clearness but Controversie becomes not a Catechism Q. Is the Spirit taken out of the Body to the estate it shall for ever remain in as some think and the Body never rise out of the dust again A. Although the fore-named Texts be full of authority to prove that that very Body that dies and is laid in the dust shall rise again yet I for a further proof commend to consideration 1 Cor. 15. Job 19.25 26 27. These places can admit of no other Interpretation Q. Will you speak to the Ordinance of Laying on of Hands in what cases it is appointed A. It seems to me to be appointed in several cases First for the blessing of the Lord on Church Members for the gifts and increase of the Spirit that they may grow useful in and to the Body the Church Acts 8.15 16 17 18 19 20. and 19.2 6 7. 1 Cor. 12.14 and 1.12 And being reckoned among the Principles Heb. 6.1 2. I cannot see but Principles of Religion must belong to all that are Religious Q. But those Texts in the Acts speak of the gift of Tongues given by this Ordinance Is it to be practised for that end A. Hands are to be laid on for what Gifts it pleaseth the Holy Spirit to give 1 Cor. 12.11 for however it pleased the Lord to give those gifts that were more than ordinary in the use of it sometime in that day yet it seems to be more the design of the Lord for the advancement of the Gospel in that day than the end of that Institution and the Gift might exceed the expectation of the Administrator or the Receiver its like if we consider 2 Tim. 1.6 7. 1 Cor. 12. and 14 Chapters It can no more be proved that it was appointed for such an end than it can be proved that Preaching the Gospel was appointed for that end yet it pleased the Lord to appear as far in the one of those Ordinances as in the other of them in that day Acts 10.46 But if there be any ground to expect those gifts that are more than ordinary in the use of any means or duties incumbant upon us it may rather be expected from Believing Repentance or Baptism than from Laying on of Hands Mark 16.17 18. Acts 2.38 Q. In what other cases is this Ordinance appointed A. In the setting apart Church Officers to their Ministry for the further assistance of the Holy Spirit to supply them with help for the discharge of their great work Acts 6.6 1 Tim. 4.14 as likewise for healing the sick Mark 16.18 Acts 28.8 9. Q. But is it not appointed for Children likewise that they may receive a blessing from Christ A. I cannot say there is any appointment by way of command for it to them if our Lords example Mat. 19.13 14 15. Mark 10.13 14 15 16. be not a sufficient warrant to his Ministers to bless in his Name as his Ministers of old did Deut. 10.8 Numb 6.23 to 27. There is no other warrant that I know of I shall therefore leave it to consideration Q. But is there not an Ordinance of Annointing appointed for the sick Members of the Church A. Yea and the manner directed and precious Promises annexed to the upright and faithful performance of that duty Jam. 5.14 15 16. Q. What is the right manner of receiving the Lords Supper A. The worst of men do acknowledge that the persons receiving must be qualified with Faith and Repentance thankfulness to God and charity to men I need not prove that Let not such men as confess that rise up in judgement against us But what I shall say is to the time which is plainly signified to be at night after our own supper is lovingly eaten together and therefore are they reprehended that are their own supper before their poor brethren came to eat with them 1 Cor. 11.21 22 23 24 25. and are commanded
for after-times not to do so but to tarry one for another vers 33. there is no warrant from Christ or his Apostles for any other season but it is easie for good men to learn of the Philistines to carry the Ark upon a Cart. Q. You seem to speak as if nothing might be done neither for matter nor manner but according to direction from the Lord. A. It is true it is my Faith we are not wise enough to guide our selves nor any men by humane wisdom fit to guide us and therefore we must not pin our Faith upon any of their sleeves nor follow them but as they follow Christ the written Word is the alone rule Mat. 15.9 Deut. 12.32 Q. But will this Rule hold good in all cases temporal as well as spiritual buying and selling governing and being governed A. I know not the case in which it will not hold for the holy Scriptures are able thorowly to furnish a man for every good work 2 Tim. 3.17 and a King is bound by the express Law of God to have a Copy of the Law of God by him so to direct him in his whole duty that he turn not from Gods Commandment neither to the right hand nor to the left Deut. 17.18 19 20. and so likewise must every inferiour person know how to discharge his duty by the direction of the same word Deut. 4.2 Josh 1.7 8. for a mans obedience where the Law of Nature most binds him is to be but in the Lord Ephes 6.1 the which duties can never be regularly performed but by the knowledge of the will of God which whosoever will attain must acquaint himself with the Word of Truth the holy Scriptures Psal 119.9 and 105.130 Q. What is the duty of Prayer A. First To ask according to the Will of God Secondly Take heed that you have no iniquity in your hands nor the love of it in your hearts but see that they be purged from all designe of serving it if you would be heard Thirdly Be sure to go with a merciful forgiving heart Fourthly Pray frequently and cease not till an answer comes Fifthly Believe or rest upon the Almighties grace and compassion through Christ for to hear and answer you 1 John 5.14 15. Isa 1.15 16 17 18. Psal 66.18 Mat. 6.12 14 15. 1 Tim. 2.8 Jam. 5.16 Luke 18.1 to 9. John 16.23 24. Jam. 1.5 6 7. Q. Who are to be cast out of the Church A. Obstinate and scandalous sinners Mat. 18.15 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 5.4 5. Q. Are such to be received into the Church again or not A. Yes they are to be received again with all love and tenderness if they repent 2 Cor. 2.5 6 7 8. Q. What is Repentance A. It is an unfained turning from all ungodliness and unrighteousness in all things to please the Lord. Q. Doth not Repentance consist in great sorrow and humblings A. So much sorrow and humiliation is necessary as will bring our hearts to search out the Will of God and do it for that is the great end and use of godly sorrow to work the heart to that hatred of sin and that watchfulness care and sence of the evil of it and danger of falling into it that we may be preserved from it for time to come and have our hearts and wayes brought into a sincere obedience and conformity to the will of God Q. Will you now before you conclude give your sence of God and of his wayes how we are to judge of him and them according as was hinted in the beginning Make those things plain for in those general tearms all men will subscribe to what you say A. My meaning is That whatsoever the Scriptures do attribute to God which holdeth forth excellency and glory as these Power Justice Holiness Wisdom Knowledge Truth or Faithfulness Soveraignty Eternity Infiniteness Omnipresence Omnisciencie or the like they are to be understood to be so perfectly the nature and being of God or which is all one they bear so perfect an accord with his matchless being and goodness that he can neither decree nor act at any time contrary unto them but what ever he decreeth or doth bears a perfect accord with these glorious Attributes altogether But when any thing is spoken of him which argueth frailty or imperfection these must be understood with great caution and restriction as namely Wrath Hatred Repentance or any passage that implieth want of Knowledge these cannot be properly attributed to God at any time but do or must refer or be referred to some works that God doth that have some circumstances at least in them either for matter or manner which if done by man would argue evil weakness or imperfection in him but impossible it is that they can proceed from imperfection in God Q. Do you call Repentance imperfection is it not a fruit of grace and a good work to Repent A. Although it be good and necessary for man to repent yet it argueth imperfection in him for if he had done nothing amiss he need not nor ought not to repent but for the Lord he can do nothing that is evil and therefore need not nor cannot repent Gen. 18.25 Psal 5.4 Numb 23.19 and any word implying any such weakness in God is spoken for our sakes the Lord stooping down to our infirmity that we may the better understand him Q. What think you of Gods Decrees A. First I believe them to be in Gods purpose determined according to his infinite Wisdom and Counsel before the world began Ephes 1.4 5 9 11. 2 Thess 2.13 And secondly I believe them to be as unalterable as God himself Psal 33.11 Mal. 3.6 Q. Think you we may not go too far in searching into the Decrees of God A. Yea doubtless if we go farther than the Scriptures have revealed his mind Deut. 29.29 But for his Decrees or Purposes which are all one of Election Reprobation Salvation and Condemnation these are parts of his Revealed Counsel and may be looked into and must if we must look into the Mysteries of the Gospel for certain it is that he doth nothing in time nor saith any thing in his Word but what beareth a perfect accord with his eternal and unchangable Decrees The Promises of the Gospel do tell us who are Elected to Salvation and the Threatnings do likewise tell us who are Reprobated to Destruction for God doth not Reprobate one sort of men and Threaten another nor Threaten one sort and Punish another Q. Who are elected to Salvation A. Those that in truth believe and are truly sanctified by the Spirit 2 Thess 2.13 Q. Are persons chosen and made Believers because they were chosen first or being found in a state of believing are they as such chosen to Salvation A. I know no Text of Scripture that saith that any are chosen any other wayes than they are in Christ Believers Saints or Godly or fore-seen so to be 1 Pet. 1.2 Ephes 1.4 Psal 4.3 Q. But are not persons
made Believers by grace or hath any man more than is freely wrought in him by the Spirit of God A. No man is more or can be better than the Spirit of grace maketh him yet doth it not follow hence that grace is conferred on any man partially or irresistably or that any unbelievers do want sufficient supplies of the Spirit of Grace to inable them to believe as hath before been proved Q. Who are Reprobated to destruction A. Such as turn the Grace of God into wantonness remaining in unbelief when the truth is made known to them resisting it for want of love to it not suffering Christ to dwell in their hearts by Faith but treading on him through the love of iniquity Jude 4. 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Heb. 10.26 27 28 29. John 3.18 19. These Texts with many others do declare that such men are reprobated and for such causes only Q. But where the Spirit of grace is extended it is able to cure the souls of men of these sins and corruptions is it not so that they shall not perish A. It is so and it will and doth cure them that receive him but he neither wil nor doth cure those that continue to resist him as Reprobates do to their own destruction Gen. 6.3 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Acts 7.51 Q. Is there any profit in the knowledge of the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation A. Yea great advantage for he that continueth in Christ by unfained believing is under the Promises of Election and Salvation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.15 16. Rom. 8.1 John 15.24 Secondly In a state of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel who ever is found is under the threatnings of Reprobation and condemnation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.18 19 36. Coloss 3.3 5 6. 2 Thess 1.8 9. Now the knowledge of this is a blessed means to encourage and quicken men to believing and holiness Q. Is not then the free grace of God the principal cause of Gods Election A. Yes unquestionably the free grace and love of God is the original cause of Redemption as well as of Election and likewise of all the mercy the Sons of men are made partakers of in one kind or other from first to last for there is nothing in the Creature that can be a cause to move God to be merciful if his own infinite compassions did not incline him to extend grace and favour to poor finners yet will he extend his mercies upon us by such means and upon such tearms as shall wholly agree with his own holy will and honour Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Q. Is not the foundation of God sure the Lord knoweth them that be his and so consequently them that are not his A. Yea it is beyond all doubt that there is no counsel thing nor thought but it is perfectly fore-known to God yet will it by no means follow that his fore-knowledge of any thing is the cause wherefore it cometh to pass 1 Sam. 23.10 11 12 13. Deut. 31.21 Q. VVill the Lord give grace to save such men as he fore-knoweth will abuse it and perish A. Yea and that to so great a degree as might well prevent their destruction 2 Chron. 36.14 15 16. Isa 5.2 3 4. Ezek. 33.10 11. with many moe Texts of like import Q. VVherefore doth the all-wise God do so seeing he knoweth it will do them no good A. For many reasons but especially these two First his own rich mercy is and will by this means be exalted so high that they and all men shall one day know that his tender mercies would have prevented their ruine Psal 145.9 Ezek. 18.32 And secondly That when they do come to perish they may be altogether left without excuse Rom. 2.15 John 15.22 Q. Seeing these are the Counsels and VVayes of the most High what concerns me to believe and do that I may be found in a state of acceptation before him A. It eminently and in the first place concerns thee in all plainness of heart to search out the clear knowledge of his holy will in all things and firmly to believe the same for such a sincere Faith will interest thee into a state of acceptation with God 1 Chron. 28.8 9. Rom. 4.3 Secondly Live by Faith to bring forth the obedience thereof and in this path thou canst not miss of Glory 2 Cor. 5.7 8 9. Rom. 16.26 Q. Open this Life of Faith with clearness in some main and principal points for the safe direction of the soul in this path of peace and happiness A. Carry the Truths of God so upon thy heart that thy whole conversation may comport or agree with thy Faith as for example Consider God is in himself good and faithful and therefore all his words are so also however carnal sence may present them yet are they of a most divine quality Ps 119.127 128 138 140. All his Commandments are good and given for our good Deut. 10.13 Psal 119.165 And mind alwayes that every saying of his is most true Prov. 8.6 7 8. Therefore when he threatneth sinners he certainly intendeth their destruction unless they take warning and repent and upon such tearms as he hath promised to be gracious he will never disappoint the hopes of any man and when he directeth us to the use of any means he meaneth to bless that means if we use it for our saving good and when he calleth us to come unto him for any favour he intendeth the bestowing of it upon us if we come to him for it neither calleth he us at any time to any work but what he meaneth to assist us in the doing of no nor yet to suffer for Him or his Truth but with an intention to afford us grace and strength to bear us up under them as also to sanctifie them to us for good and to deliver us in the best season Therefore if thou wilt live by Faith lay up these and such like truths in thy heart to quicken thee to watch and pray to resist sin and fly snares And in all thy godly endeavours exercise Faith in and upon the rich Grace of God through the blood of Christ for those supplies of grace which are needful to mend thy heart and life daily And if thou run this race humbly faithfully and diligently thou mayest be as sure as thou art of thy being to arrive at last at that Haven of felicity and eternal peace where no sin temptation or sorrow shall ever come to molest or trouble thee more But if thou prize the pleasures of sin thy interest or credit with men thy ease or peace in the world so high as these things thou wilt not lose or hazard for Christ or his Kingdom and the righteousness thereof then know that that Lake of fire and brimstone will be thy portion at last from whence there is no redemption And from which the good Lord deliver us Amen FINIS