Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	believe_v	heart_n	word_n	5,244	5	4.1630	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64969	The principles of the doctrine of Christ, or, A catechism in which is contained the sum of the Christian religion, or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to salvation, the answers being but seventeen in number, and in very plain words easie to be understood : unto which is added A catechism for conscience, wherein the consciences of the ignorant, the grosly profane, the young, the meerely mortal, and the hypocrites are examined in order to their instruction and awakening, and the consciences of the sincere Christians are tried in order to their peace and comfort / by Nathanael Vincent.	Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697.; Vincent, Nathanael, 1639?-1697. A catechism for conscience.	1691 (1691)	Wing V418; ESTC R25704	37,318	113

will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. If thou wert in pain wouldst not thou be for present ease If thou wert in great danger wouldst not thou be for present security If sick of a death threatning malady wouldst thou not desire to be presently healed Why oh why shouldst thou not be willing to part with sin immediately which is the worst disease and which if not presently cured perhaps may never be cured but issue in eternal death A. Methinks I see that evil in sin I never saw and the bewitching pleasure of it is not so taking a thing as it was formerly Q. 18. Art thou willing to be directed to a Saviour who can deliver thee from Sin and Wrath A. I may die while I am young and when I come to die I shall prize a Saviour certainly I ought now to value him I am willing to be directed to him Q. 19. That thou may'st come to Christ wilt thou flee youthful lusts and pray that thy heart may be cleansed from them and that thou mayest possess thy vessel in sanctification and honour counting it an honour to thy body to have the members of it Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness A. I perceive my Lusts are hurtful and 't is a foolish thing to serve them to my own ruine Q. 20. When Sinners thy companions entice thee wilt thou refuse to consent and rather reprove them though they call thee fool and fanatick than have any longer fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness A. 'T is better to leave them and be laught at than in hell to weep and despair with them to Eternity Q. 21. Thy wanton and defiling and ensnaring books such as Plays and Romances wilt thou cast away and give thy self to search the Scripture Catechisms and other good books which may help thee in the understanding and practice of the Word of God A. I hope I shall become a student in the Holy Bible labour to be well grounded in the doctrine of the Catechism and add practice to knowledge Q. 22. Art thou sensible that the pleasures of sin are but for a season And are the vanities of the world fallen in thy esteem A. I hope I shall be no longer a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God nor prefer sports and pastimes before Prayer his word and service Q. 23. Dost thou perceive that thy happiness lies in God in being favoured by him in being like unto him in holiness and in enjoying him both here and for ever A. My naughty heart is unsuited to God and looks upon happiness in him with a strange eye but I desire my heart may be circumcised to love him and that I may chuse God himself above all Q. 24. Dost thou consent to receive Christ who is made known and offered to thee in the Gospel to justifie thee by his blood to sanctifie thee by his Spirit and to rule thee by his word and commandments A. I desire my heart may be opened to receive the Lord Jesus Q. 25. Dost thou rely on Christ alone to make thy peace with God as believing this truth there is but One God and One Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus A. I am perswaded that Christ alone is the Saviour of his Church and People and that there is not Salvation in any other Q. 26. Dost thou see thy inability to come to Christ except the Father who hath sent him draw thee A. The Lord make me willing in the day of his power and draw me to his Son Turn m● to himself that I may never return to my youthful vanity and folly or any wickedness more The meerly Moral Mans Conscience is thus to be Examined Q. 1. What are thy Apprehensions of thy Spiritual state A. I thank God I am not as other Men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers None can say black is my Eye I have the the good word and report of my Neighbours I do as I would be done unto I wrong I defraud no Man Q. 2. How dost thou perform thy duty towards God A. I pray and hear Sermons and come to the Communion Table and pay to the Church as well as to the Poor and therefore question not but all is and will be well with me Q. 3. Dost thou not believe that thou art descended from old Adam A. I have heard something of Adam I think he was the first Man but I do not well understand the meaning and intent of your question Q. 4. Dost thou not know that Adam was created innocent and upright but quickly fell from his integrity by believing Satan and eating the forbidden Fruit A. That was done several thousand years ago and I am not to concern my self about it Q. 5. Thinkest thou not that thou didst sin in Adam A. I cannot conceive how I should sin in Him so long a time before I was born Q. 6. Does not the Apostle expresly say that by one Mans disobedience many were made sinners This he speaks of Adam and does he not affirm that death passed upon all men because in Him all sinned Rom. 5. 12 19. A. I do not understand how this can be Q. 7. Dost thou not perceive in thy self the effects of Adam's sin And that thou hast derived from Him a corrupt and depraved Heart and Nature A. I thank God my heart is very true and good I believe that few if any have a better Q. 8. How long has thy Heart been thus true and good A. Ever since I can remember Q. 9. What thinkest thou of that black character which the Heart-searching God gives of the heart of man that it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. A. I never perceived any such wickedness in mine Q. 10. Is it not because thy Heart deceives thee and hides its wickedness from thy Eyes But for thy conviction let me ask thee What kind of thoughts does thy heart entertain A. Thoughts are free and I let them take their course it would be an endless piece of business to observe my thoughts Q. 11. Does not the Scripture say that sinful thoughts as well as ways must be forsaken if we will obtain mercy Isa 55. 7. And does not the Apostle give advice to a man to pray that the thought of his heart may be forgiven Acts 8. 22. Do not these places plainly signifie that thoughts may be sins and need pardon A. I never understood so much before Q. 12. When thou are praying or hearing where are thy thoughts A. I am very reverent and devout in my gestures and behaviour but as for my thoughts I can give no account for I very little if at all mind them Q. 13. Does not God himself say that they worship him in vain who draw nigh to him with their Bodies and honour him with their Lips but their Hearts are removed far from him A. My heart I must confess does rove and wander while I am in

every imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually Q 5. What is Sin A. Sin is a transgression of the Law of God and the desert and wages of it is Death and Hell Sin is a transgression of the Law of God 1 John 3. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law The desert and wages of Sin is Death Rom. 5. 12. Death passed upon all men for that all have sinned The desert and wages of Sin is Hell Psal 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Q. 6. Who is the Saviour from Sin and Hell A. Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature and died upon the Cross that he might put away Sin and deliver Man from Wrath by the Sacrifice of himself and he arose from the dead and sat down at the Right Hand of God Jesus Christ the Son of God took Mans Nature John 1. 14. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Christ died upon the Cross Luke 23. 33. And they Crucified Him and the Malefactors one on the right Hand and the other on the left Christ by his Death puts away Sin Heb. 9. 26. But now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself Christ delivers from Hell and Wrath. Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from wrath through Him Christ arose from the Dead Luke 24. 34. The Lord is risen indeed Acts 13. 37. Rising the third day he saw no corruption Christ Ascended into Heaven and sat at God's Right Hand Heb. 1. 3. When he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High Q. 7. What are the Offices of Christ Jesus A. Christ has a threefold Office He is a Prophet to teach a Priest by his satisfaction and intercession to reconcile and a King to govern and defend his Church and People Christ is a Prophet to teach Acts 7. 37. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren Him shall you hear Luke 24. 45. Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures Christ is a Priest to reconcile Heb. 2. 17. It behoved him in all things to be made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the People Christ reconciles by his Death which was satisfactory to God who had been by sin offended and by his Intercession Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Christ is a King to govern his Church and People Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son Christ defends his Church against all Enemies Rom. 8. 37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through Him that loved us Q. 8. How is Christ made known A. Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture which is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Him but in the New Testament he is more fully revealed Christ is made known by the Word in the Holy Scripture Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory The Holy Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God The Old Testament gave a discovery of Christ John 5. 46. If ye had believed Moses you would have believed Me saith Christ for He wrote of Me. Acts 26. 22 23. Saying none other things than what Moses and all the Prophets did say should come that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and shew light to the People and to the Gentiles In the New Testament Christ is more fully revealed 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image Q. 9. How are we made partakers of Christ and interested in Him A. We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us whereby we receive Christ and rest upon him alone for Salvation unto which Faith Repentance is joined whereby we sorrow for sin and turn from it to God with the whole Heart We are drawn to Christ by the Spirit working Faith in us 2 Cor. 4. 13. We having the same Spirit of Faith Phil. 1. 30 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ to believe on him By Faith we receive Christ John 1. 12. To as many as received him he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name By Faith we rest upon Christ alone for Salvation Phil. 3. 8 9. I count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law Acts 4. 12. Neither is there Salvation in any other Unto Faith Repentance is joined Acts 20. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance is a sorrowing for Sin Jam. 4. 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Repentance is a turning from Sin to God with the whole Heart Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Joel 2. 12. Therefore now also saith the Lord turn ye even unto me with all your heart Q. 10. What is that Covenant which God hath made with them that repent and believe A. God hath made a New Covenant with penitent Believers wherein he hath promised to be their God to justifie them from and pardon all their Sins to renew and write his Laws in their Hearts and to give them Grace till they come to Glory God hath made a New Covenant commonly called the Covenant of Grace Heb. 8. 8. Behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and of Judah They that repent and believe are in Covenant An Heart to repent and believe is from God Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh The Lord in the Covenant promises to be his peoples God 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them and

the Communion of Saints an Article of the Creed Is not the love of every particular Member of Christ to be extended to the whole Body Were not the Ephesians commended for their Faith in the Lord Jesus and Love to all the Saints Eph. 1. 16. And if Believers of different perswasions that are sincere are received by Christ ought they not to receive one another A. I hate mixtures in Religion Q. 4. But shouldest thou not Love Grace wherever thou seest it And shouldest thou not take heed lest thy spirituality be mixed with uncharitableness A. I am a Member of a true and rightly constituted Church of Christ I can hardly look upon Assemblies that are of another constitution as true Churches their Ministry or the Ordinances administred to them to be valuable Q. 5. Is not this the right Antichristian Spirit Do not the Papists Damn all Christians in the World that are not of their way Instead of coming out farther from Babylon art thou not Baptized into the Spirit of Babylon e're art aware A. I am sure we ought to dislike corruptions wherever we see them Q. 6. And is it not as certain that true goodness where-ever 't is seen is to be approved Now dost thou not perceive that many who differ from thee in thy Church-way are sound in the Faith and of Exemplary Holiness in their Lives A. I cannot deny but upon Discourse with them and observation of them for I am a strict observer of other mens steps I have found them so Q. 7. Is not this an Argument that plainly proves Christ is in other Churches also and works effectually among them and in them by his Spirit But thou who talkest so much of a pure Church how is thy Family ordered A. I am not under so low a dispensation as to use forms of Catechising in my Family neither do I look upon Family worship to be of such absolute necessity Q. 8. A strict Church and a loose Family are they things at all suitable Wilt thou talk against Forms of Catechising when the Apostle commands Forms of sound words to be held fast And as for Family worship Is it not plain from that Petition in the Lords Prayer Give us this Day our Daily Bread That they who daily Eat together ought daily to Pray together And that not only for the Bread they Eat but also for the Hallowing of Gods Name the coming of his Kingdom the forgiveness of Sins and Grace to strengthen them against Temptation to Evil A. I am not utterly against Family worship but sometimes perform it Q. 9. What hinders thy constant performance Is it not if thou wilt confess the truth an estrangement of thy Heart from God An eagerness after the World And an over-industriousness in thy earthly business A. You little know whom you speak to I have a great Name and am highly esteemed for godliness by them that are acquainted with me Q. 10. Had not the Church of Sardis a Name that they lived and yet were really dead in sin many of them In others of them the good things that remained were they not ready to die And was not the Church of Laodicea confident she was rich and increased in good things and had need of nothing when indeed she was wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked A. These instances shake not my confidence Q. 11. VVhat is the ground of this thy confidence A. Being so very pure and strict in our Church way I hope we may have some grains of allowance to be more remiss in other respects But this is a secret not to be communicated to every one Q. 12. Is not this to resemble many ignorant carnal Protestants who because they are pretty exact in keeping some of the commands think they may make bold to live in the transgression of others But does not the Apostle say that if a man keep the whole Law and yet allow himself in offending in one point he is guilty of all Because he keeps no Commandment sincerely and out of love and reverence to God the Law-giver Jam. 2. 10. A. Another ground of my Confidence is the falls of Saints that are upon Scripture record therefore I conclude that to be intemperate with Lot and Noah and to be unclean with David may very well consist with truth of grace Q. 13. VVherefore are their Falls recorded Is it that such sins may be allowed of No no. Is it not to keep Saints humble and that they may depend upon a strength beyond their own that they may be able to stand Is it not to make them sensible how bad the best men are when God does leave them a little to themselves A. I cannot in this contradict you Q. 14. VVere not these Falls of Saints recorded also to open a door of hope to faln Saints that they might rise again and cry for pardon and for hearts more clean and right and that they might be more strongly upheld for the future and be established by Gods free Spirit Now if thou securely allowest thy self in those sins which the Saints loathed themselves for and with shame and sorrow did forsake is not this a plain demonstration of thy Hypocrisie A. I have sometimes been encouraged to over-reach and defraud others that are not of our Way because Israel was allowed to spoil the Egyptians of their Jewels and Treasure Q. 15. Had not the most High God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth a greater right to the Egyptians Gold and Jewels than they had themselves and might not He dispose of their Treasure as well as punish themselves as he pleased and did he not thus dispose of it by a special command at that time But where is there such a particular command given to thee How plain is the Precept that which is altogether just shalt thou follow Does not the Apostle say Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger of all evil 1 Thes 4. 6. Has not our Lord plainly signified thou shouldest no more wrong another than thou wouldest be willing another should wrong thee Mat. 7. 12. Hath he not shewed thee O Man what is good And what does the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly as well as to love mercy And if these duties are neglected where is thy walking humbly with God A. I confess what you say comes with that evidence and conviction that the foundation of my confidence begins to look like a Sandy Foundation Yet I find great stupidness in my Spirit I can think of the sins I have allowed my self in without remorse and trouble Q. 16. Is there a greater and more inexcusable contemner of God than a Hypocrite who so often draws near to God and gives him so many good words and yet in heart despises his presence his power his goodness and his anger also A. Woe is me I wish I be not quite left unto my self I fear God may have

Assemblies Catechism is indeed above my commendation and will commend it self to them that are considerate whoever go about to disparage it But This which I have Composed being much more brief and having words somewhat easier to be understood I hope may not be unuseful I have added a Catechism for Conscience and have applied my self to the Consciences of several sorts of Persons And though in a special manner I design your Edification yet if these few Sheets shall through the blessing of that God who is and works all in all be made profitable to a great many more the greater will be the satisfaction and rejoicing of Your Affectionate Pastor and Servant for Jesus Sake Nathanael Vincent THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST OR A Catechism In which is contained the Sum of the Christian Religion or what is necessary to be believed and done in order to Salvation The Answers being but Seventeen in number and in very plain words easie to be understood By Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel 1691. Unto which is Added A Catechism for Conscience Wherein The Consciences of the Ignorant the grosly Profane the Young the meerly Moral and the Hypocrites are Examined in order to their Instruction and Awakening and the Consciences of the Sincere Christians are tried in order to their Peace and Comfort THE PRINCIPLES OF THE Doctrine of CHRIST IN A very Short And Plain Catechism By Nathaniel Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel Qu. 1. WHat do you believe concerning God Ans God is eternal every where present a Spirit most wise powerful righteous and merciful the whole Worlds Creator and Governour God is Eternal Psal 90 2. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God God is every where present Jer. 23. 24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord. God is a Spirit without bodily parts like Man Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Rom. 1. 22. 23. They became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man God is most Wise Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen God is most Powerful Psal 62. 11. God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God God is Righteous Psal 119. 137. Righteous art thou O Lord and upright are thy Judgments God is Merciful Psal 103 8 11. The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy As the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his Mercy towards them that fear him God is the whole Worlds Creator Rev. 4. 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created God is the Worlds Governour Psal 103. 19. His Kingdom ruleth over all Q. 2. Are there more Gods tha● One A. God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost who have the same Eternal Power and Godhead and concur in the work of Mans Salvation God is but One yet he is distinguished into Father Son and Holy Ghost 1 John 5. 7. There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Baptism that is in the Name of the true God is in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Mat. 28. 19. The Son has the same Godhead and Power with the Father Rom. 9. 5. Of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever The Holy Ghost is likewise God Acts 5. 3 4. Why hath Satan filled thy Heart to Lie unto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not Lied unto Man but unto God The Father concurs in the work of Mans Salvation John 3. 16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life The Son concurs in the Saving of Man Luke 2. 11. Vnto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. The Holy Ghost concurs in this work of Saving John 3. 5. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Q. 3. In what Estate did God at first Create Man A. God created Man after his own Image having true Knowledge and Holiness and Dominion over the Creatures and enter'd into a Covenant of Life with him upon condition of perfect obedience God created Man after his own Image Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them The Image of God did lye in Knowledge Col. 3. 10. And have put on that new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him The Image of God does lye in Holiness Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness The Image of God lyes also in Dominion over the Creatures Psal 8. 5 6. Thou madest him a little lower than the Angels and Crownedst him with Glory and Honour and madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands God enter'd into a Covenant of life with Man upon condition of perfect obedience Rom. 10. 5. The Man that doth those things shall live by them Q. 4. Did Man continue in this blessed state in which he was created A. The first Man Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit and all his Posterity sinn'd in him are Born the Children of wrath derive from Him a corrupted Nature being backward to good and prone to evil The first Man was Adam 1 Cor. 15. 45. The first Man Adam was made a living Soul Adam sinn'd in eating the forbidden Fruit. Gen. 3. 6. The Woman took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her Husband with her and he did eat All his Posterity being represented by him sinn'd in him Rom. 5. 19. By one Mans disobedience many were made sinners his Posterity though never so many All are Born the Children of wrath consider'd as Adam's Children Eph. 2. 3. And were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Rom. 5. 18. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation All derive from Adam a corrupted nature Eph. 4. 22. The old Man or Adam is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts All naturally are backward to good prone to evil Rom. 8. 7. The carnal man is enmity against God and is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be Gen. 6. 5. God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and that

the service of God I have many thoughts and contrivances about the World while I am in the Church worshipping Q. 14. When thou art about thy worldly business that brings in gain into thy purse are not thy thoughts intent and fixt A. I don't love to play the fool and do those things that bring in my livelihood and the maintenance of my family as if I did them not Q 15. Does not this shew the corruption of thy nature and the estrangement of thy heart from God that thou canst trifle with Him and in his Service and about the concernments of thy Soul and yet be so very serious about earthly matters A. I must confess in this respect my heart is not so good as it ought to be and as I did before imagine Q. 16. Didst thou ever see thy need of Christ of his Righteousness to cover thy sins and to render thy duties acceptable A. I have long time thought that my own righteousness and honest dealing did commend me to God Almighty and that I am too good to be damned I have not perceived any great need of Christ and know but little of him Q. 17. Art thou willing to be convinced of thy pride and ignorance which thy words plainly discover that ignorance and vain confidence may not be thy ruine A. Here is a charge that is severe such as I thought I never should have had from any man and I am ready to resolve to talk no more but still to place my confidence where I have done And yet withall I have no mind to perish therefore I am not against conviction upon good and sufficient grounds Q. 18. Thou trustest in thy Righteousness but does thine exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees And if it does not how canst thou hope against Christs plain words to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 20. A. I know not what the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was Q. 19. Thou art free from actual murther but is there not malice envy or revenge working in thy heart without controul Thou never wert guilty of actual fornication but dost thou not lust in thy heart after Women suffering evil concupiscence to burn within not caring to quench that impure flame Thou stealest not any part of thy neighbours Estate but hast thou not often covered what is His The Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was external only not in heart sinful workings within they made no matter of yet they rested on this Righteousness thought themselves whole and slighted Christ the great Physician of Souls And is not thy Righteousness which thou gloriest in just the same A. Christ says If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments and he names those of the second Table Q. 20. But does he not tell that young man who had kept these commandments from his youth without any gross violation of them that yet he lacked one thing love to Christ above his Possessions And art not thou thy self so far from loving Christ and believing in him that thou hast not cared to know him A. I have heard some talk of Christ that he is our Redeemer Q. 21. May he not well be called a Redeemer who redeemed believers from the curse of the Law from the wrath to come and from all their Iniquities Who gave his Life a ransom and shed his blood to be the price of his Churches Redemption A. I see you would perswade me that I do stand in need of Christ the Redeemer as well as others and that I am lost without him Q. 22. Did not Christ come to seek and to save that which was lost Is it not better to see thy self lost and come to Him while he calls thee than to think thou art safe enough till Hell too late convince thee that 't is quite contrary A. My Life has been led without blame I differ much from others who have run into all excess of riot Q. 23. Was not the Apostle Paul blameless touching the righteousness of the Law before his Conversion And yet was he not convinced of sin and saw himself lost And who ever express't an higher esteem of Christ than He A. Certainly the Apostle saw that in sin which yet I do not see Q. 24. Wilt thou study the purity and spirituality of the Law of God Wilt thou take notice how it requires thee to love the Lord with all thy heart to worship him in Spirit and in Truth and forbids all sinful motions thoughts passions and desires If the Law did thus come to thee would not sin presently revive would not thy iniquities appear innumerable wouldst thou not conclude thy self dead and condemn'd till justified by Faith in Jesus A. I begin to have other thoughts of Christ than ever yet I entertain'd Q. 25. Wilt thou now bewail thy misplaced confidence wilt thou pray for Faith and hear for Faith in Christ wilt thou be incessant in thy Supplications that it may be given thee to believe wilt thou come by the help of his Grace and Spirit unto God as thy Chiefest Good and come to him through Jesus the Mediator being sensible that He is the only Way unto the Father A. I desire to believe Lord help my unbelief Q. 26. Wilt thou in all thy duties look unto Jesus for assistance to perform them and for acceptance through Christ after they are performed A. I see this is necessary Q. 27. Wilt thou rely on Christ and his Righteousness i. e. his Obedience and Sufferings for pardon of all past iniquities especially thy minding the world and mocking of God in thy Devotions hitherto And wilt thou earnestly desire that thy Faith may not be counterfeit but of the right kind purifying thy heart overcoming the world and working by love A. Such a Faith I now perceive is more precious and will make me more truely rich than the greatest abundance of Gold that perishes Q. 28. VVilt thou take due notice of the reason why thou mavest safely trust in the Lord Jesus to save thee Does not his Godhead argue him able to save And did he not become Man that he might be in a capacity to suffer for mens sin VVas he not made like unto his Brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Heb. 2. 17. A. On Him alone I resolve to rest on whom whosoever believes he shall not be confounded The Hypocrites Conscience is thus to be searched Q. 1. Art thou willing to be tried and since there is no grace but has its counterfeit hast thou no fear of being deceived and mistaking shews for substance A. You make me half angry by asking such a question None that know me doubt of my uprightness Q. 2. Of what Church art thou A. I am of the purest Church and way I know I have separated my self from all that are not of my perswasion and I do not care to have communion with them Q. 3. Is not

pronounced concerning me Thou art filthy be filthy still thou art unjust be unjust still Q. 17. Art thou willing now at length to be thoroughly awaked out of thy sinful and carnal security A. I am surprized as 't is said Hypocrites shall be with an unusual fearfulness I desire to be deliver'd from the Spirit of slumber and Oh that my Eyes may be indeed enlightened that I may not fall asleep again and sleep the sleep of death Q. 18. Is the applause of men a poor thing with thee Dost thou value the favour and approbation of God and Fellowship with him And dost thou begin to abhor to seem religious only for carnal interest and to make a profession subservient to thy secular advantage A. Lord make me an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Q. 19. Dost thou consent to be sanctified throughout in Body Soul and Spirit and to be established unblameable in holiness to the end A. Names and Shews will signifie nothing at the day of Judgment I consent therefore to be a Saint indeed Q. 20. Wilt thou make restitutio● of what has been gotten dishonestly either to the persons wronged by thy own self or by the hand of another if prudence so require or if the persons wronged cannot be found wilt thou make restitution to the Poor A. I am glad I have wherewithal and am in a capacity to do thus I am willing to give again what I have robbed and to walk in the Statutes of Life Q. 21. Dost thou know that though satisfaction is made to thy Neighbour by restitution for the wrong thou hast done him yet as that wrong is an offence against God satisfaction can be made alone by the Blood of Jesus the Mediator A. I dare rely on nothing but the Blood of Christ that through him I may receive the atonement though my Faith alas is weak and not without many doubts and fears Q. 22. As presumptuous confidence has been thy sin hitherto so dost thou not think that despair and despondency will be thy sin also if thou givest way to it Though many Woes are thundred out against Hypocrites yet if they are willing to be made sincere is the Door of Hope shut against them A. I am ready to run from one extream to another and to conclude because I find there has been no grace in me that there is no hope remaining Q. 23. Does not the Scripture say 'T is good that a man should hope Is not despair then evil A. Lord pity pardon and hold me up from sinking Q. Wilt thou now be low in thy own thoughts as thou hast but too much reason wilt thou be no longer censorious but charitable in honour preferring others before thy self wilt thou be exactly true in thy words and righteous in all thy future dealings wilt thou be very pure in Body and Spirit and keep a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man A. I have talked much of Grace buh have little understood it Oh that tet Grace of God which bringeth Salvation may teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world that it may be well with me in the world to come for ever The Conscience of the Sincere but Doubting Christian is thus to be tried in order to his Comfort and that he may Communicate at the Lords Table Q. 1. Why are thy looks so dejected and sad A. Alas my heart is full of doubts and fears and fears of Hell and Wrath must needs have much of torment Q. 2. What is the ground and reason of these fears A. My iniquities are increased over my head and as an heavy burthen are too heavy for me Q. 3. Does not Christ call the labouring and heavy laden to come to him for rest Mat. 11. 28. and since his call is general to all the heavy laden Souls why shouldst thou except and exclude thy self as if the invitation were not made to thee A. There are many things which are ready to kill my hop●s of ever being pardon'd and saved Q. 4. What are those things that have thus bowed thee down and brought thee to the brink of desperation A. None come to Christ but those that are Elected and given to Him of the Father and I fear I am not of that number Q. 5. Is that the first thing to be inquired into whether thou art Elected or no Art thou not first to make thy calling sure and by that to come to the knowledge of thy Election and if thou art effectually called from sin to holiness mayest thou not warrantably conclude thou hast been predestinated unto life A. I am much troubled about Gods decree concerning me Q. 6. If thou makest choice of God and hadst rather have him to be thy portion and inheritance than to have the largest portion of the things of this life mayest thou not from hence certainly infer that he has chosen thee in Christ before the foundation of the world was laid A. But is there not one sin that God will never pardon And I am afraid oftentimes that I have committed that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost Q 7. Is not the Blood of Christ which does away the guilt and filth of sin precious in thy Eyes and dost thou not highly value the priviledge of being justified and washed by this Blood and if so is it not plain that thou does not trample under-foot the Son of God nor count his Blood an unholy and common thing A. The Blood of Christ is truely precious to me and the benefits thereby purchased if I might partake of them Q. 8. Dost thou count the Miracles that Christ wrought for the confirmation of the Gospel by the power of the Holy Ghost to have been wrought by the power of the Devil A. No no I am satisfied that Satan could not do such wonders as to give sight to the Blind and born Blind and to raise the dead Q. 9. How canst thou think then that thou art guilty of Blasphemy against the Spirit But to put all out of doubt dost thou not desire the sanctifying grace of the Spirit and if so is not this a plain evidence thou hast not committed the unpardonable sin against the Spirit A. I would fain have this well proved that a desire after grace is an evidence I never was guilty of the unpardonable sin Q. 10. Is not this proved from Christs own words Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness Mat. 5. 6. If He that hungers and thirsts after righteousness i. e. desires to be truely holy and still to be more and more holy be indeed a blessed man and shall be filled have what he desires How can he have been guilty of a sin unpardonable and that unremoveably fixes a curse upon him A. But if I have not committed the sin that never is forgiven alas how many other sins have I been guilty of which I fear will be my Eternal