and under the power of sin is cleansed from filth and under the dominion of grace sin mortified and the Soul quickned to newness of life thus in sanctification 2. He that was seperated from God and suffering the punishment of sin doth enjoy God in a blessed manner thus in glorification The Soul is matched and joyned to Christ in a holy marriage Covenant in vocation acquitted from Trespasses debts in Justification accepted into near relation to the King of Kings in Adoption cloathed with royal apparel the image of God in sanctification admitted to be in the gracious presence of God to enjoy him in glorification Quest What is Justification Answ Justification is that whereby the Righteousness of Christ being imputed to a believer and by Faith applyed God is reconciled to him and he is absolved from the guilt of sin and pronounced righteous and worthy of eternal life in and for the sake of Christ 1. By Justification the righteousness of Christ is imputed and applyed that is of God's part imputed to a believer reckoned to him to be his own Rom. 4. 5. and applyed to himself by faith Rom. 4. 2 3 4 5. hence a believer is justified by faith instrumentally hence not justified before faith hence not justified from all eternity for before faith the wrath of God abides upon him John 3. ult 2. Christs righteousness being imputed and applyed to a believer hence 1. God is reconciled to him so that he hath Peace with God Isai 27. 4 Peace with the creatures Job 5 23. And he is absolved from guilt and pronounced righteous and worthy of life in Christ Rom. 8. 33. 34. This Sentence of Justification is declared in the word of God whether the soul doth see it or not for his comfort John 3. ult Quest What is Adoption Answ Adoption is that whereby a believer is advanced to be a child of God and to the priviledges of a Son 1. He is advanced to be a child of God 1. Ioh 3. 1. 2. Hence advanced to the priviledges of a Son 1. Hence related to the Father who hath given him his Son and all other good things an interest in a child's portion Rom. 8. 32. 2. Hence related to the Son of God as a Brother Heb. 2. 11 12. hence a co-heir Rom. 8. 17. hence a King a Priest a Prophet Rev. 1. 6. And a right to the inheritance it self the Kingdome of glory and to creatures in this life and the ministration of Angels Heb. 1. 14. 3. Hence related to the Holy Ghost his assistance which as its immutable is called a Seal Eph. 1. 13 14. 2. As its a pledg of more it s called an Earnest of the inheritance 3. As it resembleth the Assistance of the Spirit which Christ hath so it s a kingly priestly and prophetical Spirit which a believer enjoyeth Rev. 1. 6. 4. As this Spirit doth dispose a Believer to act in a child-like and filial manner is called a spirit of Adoption Rom. 815. Quest What is Sanctification Answ Sanctification is that whereby a believer is fitted to live to God by Christs sanctifying his nature here in some degree by mortifying vicious dispositions which is the putting off the image of the first Adam and by ingenerating gracious principles which is the putting on the image of the second Adam and in the life to come wholly and perfectly sanctifyed 1. A believer is fitted to live unto God 2 Tim. 2. 21. called sanctification as it maketh holy a transformation as it changeth nature not in respect of the Essence of the Soul or Faculties for it remains the same Soul and Faculties otherwise not the same person but the change is in respect of qualities Rom. 12. 2. called the image of Christ 2 Cor. 3. ult a divine nature as it inclineth to imitate God 2 Pet. 1. 4. In this we may consider the parts and subject 1. The parts 1. A mortifying of vicious dispositions called the putting off the image of the first Adam 1 Cor. 15 49. and called mortification Col. 3. 5. 2. An ingenerating gracious dispositions called the putting on the image of the second Adam 1 Cor. 15. 49. is vivification Eph. 2. 1. in the first the virtue of Christs death is applyed in the second the virtue of his Resurrection and both these by Faith Rom. 6. 8. 2. The subject of this the whole man not wholly 1. The whole man 1. The understanding fitted to discern rules which lead unto God hence principles of spiritual wisdome and sanctifyed reason 2. Cor. 4 5 6. but yet this is only in part and imperfect 1 Cor. 13. 12. some abiding ignorance and Atheisme 2. The will fitted to chuse and close with God as the chiefest good Psal 73. 25. hence a principle of love and life and yet with some reluctancy not perfectly willing Joh. 21. 18 19. 3. The affections with the body and members of it fitted to obey the commands of sanctifyed Reason and will Rom. 6. 13. and yet not perfectly some affections yet remain to be crucified Gal. 5. 24. 1. Hence a perfection in parts 1 Thes 5. 23. that is in all parts and Faculties every sanctifying grace 1. Not a perfection in degrees hence 1. Sin and grace in the same Faculty Gal. 5. 17. Spirit and flesh 2. Hence the combate 1. The Flesh warreth against the Spirit guarded by Satan and the World 2 The Spirit warreth against the Flesh guarded 1. By the Father as he pitieth his infirm children Psal 103. 13. 2. By Christ Jesus as he is touched with the sense of infirmities of believers Heb. â— 15. 3. By the Spirit as he helpeth their infirmities Rom. 8. 26. causing believers dayly to repent and convert Math. 18. 3. and hence all the spiritual armour put on but above all to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Eph. 6. 11 12. Quest What is glorification Answ Glorification stands in the blessed vision and enjoyment of God himself and all things appertaining to a blessed life of the beginnings of which a believer partaketh in this life and the perfection of it when the Soul is departed out of the body and ascended into Heaven and Soul and body shall be reunited and glorified together at the last day In glorification we may consider 1. The Essence of it 2. The complement 1. The Essence of it stands in blessed visions and enjoyment of God himself Psal 73. 25. Psal 27. 4. Psal 116. 7. 2. The complement of it all good things belonging to a blessed life Psal 84. 11. it is called glorification as it maketh believers glorious Rom. 8. 30. The degrees of this Inchoation and Perfection 1. Inchoation here some beginnings of it 1. In direct actings upon God seeing him as in the glass of his word and Ordinances 1 Cor. 13. 12. 2. Reflect acts a believer hath discerning what God hath done for him in working in him repentance and saith hence an Assurance that he was elected and that he
due to them equal to thy self and not contemning thy inferiors 1 Pet. 2. 17. 1 Tim. 5. 1 2. Eph. 6. 1 2. Isai 3. 5. Phil. 2. 3. Luke 18. 9. Quest What doth the sixth Command require Answ The sixth Command requireth to preserve the life of thy Neighbour and therefore to behave thy self meekly patiently peaceably and merciful towards him Numb 12. 3. Luke 21. 19. Col. 3. 13. Rom. 15. 2. Rom. 12. 18 20 21. Quest What doth the seventh Command require Answ The seventh Command requireth Chastity that is purity in all things respecting the generating of mankind and therefore to behave thy self modestly and gravely observing all things becoming purity Eph. 5. 3 4. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Tim. 3. 11. Rom. 13. 13. Quest What doth the eighth Command require Answ The eighth Command requireth to preserve the goods of thy Neighbour and therefore to behave thy self justly and equally in seeking after keeping and using worldly goods Eph. 4. 28. Gol. 4. 1. Jer. 17. 11. Prov. 3. 27. 1 Cor. 7. 31. Quest What doth the ninth Command require Answ The ninth Command requireth to preserve the Name of thy Neighbour and therefore to have in your Assertions and Promises a respect truly and faithfully to the Truth Psal 15. 2 3 4. Quest What doth the tenth Command require Answ The tenth Command requireth to preserve the prosperity of thy Neighbour and therefore a contentation with thine own things and not envying another 3 Epist Joh. 2. Heb. 13. 5. Gal. 5. ult Hitherto of Obedience next concerning helps to Obedience Quest What are special helps to Obedience Answ Prayer and the Sacraments of the New-Testament Quest What is Prayer Answ Prayer is a Religious presenting of our desires before God by Confession Petition and Thanksgiving according to the will of God sometimes with others and sometimes alone as in secret and to Prayer belongeth Religious singing 1. Prayer is a religious presenting our desires before God called the pouring out of the heart before God Psal 62. 8. the shewing him our trouble Psal 142. 2. nextly and directly presented to God therefore a religious presenting our desires Psal 57. 1 2. 2. The parts of Prayer 1. Confession of our sinful unworthiness Dan. 9. 4. 2. Petitioning for mercy and grace in the Name of Christ Dan. 9. 3. Joh. 16. 24. 3. Thanksgiving for mercy received or that we hope to receive Phil. 4. 6. 3. The Rule of Prayer it is an asking according to the will of God revealed in his Word 1 Joh. 5. 14. 1. According to his commanding will 2. According to his promising will 2 Sam. 7. 27. And Prayer ought to be 1. Sometimes with others in publick 1 Cor. 14. 16. 2. In the Family Jer. 10. 25. and sometimes alone in secret Math. 6. 6. Zach. 12. 13 14. and to Prayer belongs religious singing of Psalms Col. 3. 16. Eph. 5. 19. Quest What are the Sacraments of the New-Testament Answ The Sacraments of the New-Testament are Baptisme and the Lords Supper Baptisme a Sacrament of entrance into Covenant with Christ and his Church and the Lords Supper a Sacrament of our continuance in Covenant and Communion with Christ and his Church The one cometh in the place of Circumcision and is a Gospel Circumcision Col. 2. 11 12. The other cometh in the place of the Passover and is our Gospel Passover Math. 26. 17 18 24 27. 1 Cor. 5. 7 8. Rom. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 12 13. 1 Cor. 20. 16 17. 1 Cor. 11. 26 27. Quest What followeth hence that Baptisme is a signe and Seal of entrance into Covenant with Christ and his Church Answ That all Church members ought to be baptized and therefore the Infants of Parents in Church state ought to be baptized for they are in Covenant with Christ and members of his body and therefore called his Disciples and a holy Seed 1. All Church members ought to be baptized because they are of the body therefore to be baptized 1 Cor. 12. 13. if Church members then the promises visibly belong to them and therefore the visible Seal of them Acts 2. 38. 39. the Covenant and the Seal are so closely conjoyned by God that the Seal is called the Covenant Gen. 17. 10. 2. The Infants of Parents in Church state are in Covenant with Christ for God hath promised to circumcise their hearts and the hearts of their Seed Deut. 30. 6. and the promises belong to them and to their Children Acts 2. 39. and an Infant whose Parents either both of them or one of them being in Church state that Infant is a Church member called therefore a Disciple of Christ Acts 15. 10. those are called Disciples upon whom the false Teachers would have imposed the yoke of Circumcision according to the Law of Moses but these were Infants and these are called a holy Seed 1 Cor. 7. 14. Quest What followeth hence in the second place Answ That Baptisme ought to be administred by pouring of water and so washing and not by dipping the body in the water because it is a Sacrament of entrance into Covenant in which Christ by his Spirit doth apply himself to us 1. That the Sacrament of Baptisme is a signe and Seal of entrance into Covenant is plain from the former Scriptures in the description of Baptisme 2. That Christ doth in the Covenant of grace first apply himself to the Soul is clear Phil. 3. 12. he is first in loving us and cometh to us before we can come to him 3. Hence that means of administring of Baptisme as iâ— most suitable to the thing signified ought to be attended but the applying of water to the baptized this signifieth Christ by his Spirit applying himself Acts 1. 5. baptized with water and baptized with the holy Ghost that is baptized by water and the holy Ghost poured out upon them Acts 2. 33. 4. Hence the body ought not to be dipped into the water for that would signifie that the baptized is first applyed to Christ and not Christ to him firstly Rom. 6. 3. buried with Christ in Baptisme In burying the body there is not a thrusting the body into the dust or earth but a casting of earth upon the body Quest What followeth hence that the Lords Supper is a Sacrament of continuance in covenant and communion with Christ Answ That those only ought to be admitted to partake of the Lords Supper who doe hold forth Repentance and Faith with an ability to examine themselves and discern the Lords body for he that partaketh before he doth partake of the Lords Supper he ought to examine himself and discern the Lords body 1 Cor. 15. 28. 29. Hence it followeth 1. He ought to have Faith and Repentance before he doth partake for the Lords Supper is instituted not for Regenaration but for nourishment and confirmation 2. Repentance and Faith are the matter concerning which the communicant ought to examine himself with a discerning into the Gospel sense and mistery of the Lords Supper 2. Hence he that partaketh must have this ability thus to examine himself otherwise he cannot perform these preparatory dutyes 2. He ought to hold these forth 1. To his own conscience that his own conscience may not condemn him for presumptuous partaking 1 Cor. 11. 29. Rom. 14. 23. 2. To hold these forth to the judgment of the charity 1. Of the Church Officers that so the Minister in the judgment of charity may say Take eat this is the Body of our Lord Jesus given for you 2. To the judgment of the charity of the Church for communicants do profess to have communion with Christ and one with another as one body in him 1 Cor. 10. 15 16 17. And it 's the duty of the Church and Officers to put the difference between the clean and the unclean the holy and the profane according to their respective capacityes Ezek. 44. 7 8 23. And although Faith be weak and obedience imperfect and prayers and preparations far short of the perfection of Sanctuary Institutions yet the Lord will pardon and confirm his favour by the Lords Supper to the humble believing Soul FINIS YOU doe take God the only true God to be your God the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour your Prophet Priest and King and the holy Spirit to be your Sanctifyer and Comforter Promising in his name and strength to cleave to him as your chiefest and only good and by the help of his Spirit and Grace to walk before him in a faithfull discharge of Covenant duties and in a regular subjection to and observation of all the holy Ordinances and Institutions of Christ of which at present you are capable as they shall be duly administred within this Church and Congregation and to refrain and what in you lyeth to reform all sin that is contrary hereto especially the provoking and growing sins of this time ERRATA The Authors absence from the Press and his Copy being difficult to read hath occasioned many mistakes which thâ— Reader is desired thus to correct P. 1 l. 16 r. a Doctrine P 2. l. 14. r. arts l. 30. r. by Faith p. 3. l 12 r. by Faith l. 22 r. unknown good p. 4 l. 17 r. Truths p. 5 l. 2 r. for us l. 13 r. manners p. 8 l. 2 r. Psal 99. l. 19 r. these are one l. 22 r. Psa 90. p. 12 l. 8 r. 2. Individual l. 16 r. spirants p. 14 l. 10 r. for his p. 15 l. 8 r. rational p. 19 l. 22 r. water p. 23. l. 33. r man p. 24 l. 22 r. 3. l. 25 r. 4. p 29 l. 32 r. act under p. 30 l. 27 r. to man p. 34 l. 16 r. John 3. 34. p. 45 l. 29 r. Act. 2. p. 4â— l. 4 r. 2 Cor. p. 51 l. 9 r. 2. p. 54. l. 25 r. as an Individual p. 54 l. 32 r. Keyes p. 55. l. 15 r. Act. 6. p. 56. l. 6 r. Psa 74 p. 57 l. 13 r. Eph. 4. p. 60 l. 5 r. Psal 119. 152. p. 61 l. 3 r. Soul being p. 62 l. 10 r. 2. Abomination p. 69 l. 12 â— seventh day l. 21 r. seventh day p. 70 l. 28 r. otheâ— means p. 73. l. 32 r. 1 Cor. 10. p. 75 l. 1. r. that manner l. 22 r. 1 Cor. 11. l. 34. r. 3. He ought
extant which of these is most elegible I shall leave unto others to determine I suppose there is no particular Catechism of v. Mr. Philip Nye Beams of former Light which it may be said it is the best for every Family or for every Congregation Nevertheless it must needs be acknowledged that those Models of Divinity whether Catechistically composed or otherwise wherein Scriptural Definitions and Distributions expressing the Sum of the only true Christian Religion are methodically disposed according to the golden Rules of Art have a peculiar excellency and usefulness attending them In this way that great and famous Martyr of France Peter Ramus held forth the light to others After him succeeded the profoundly learned and godly Alexander Richardson of whom Mr. Hooker was wont to say that the Lord would not suffer Richardson to live unto old age or to finish what was in his heart head to doe for the same reason that he would not permit more then three hundred Souldiers to goe with Gideon even lest the English Nation should glory too much in their own strength because such a mighty man was once theirs Mr. Yates his Model of Divinity Catechistically composed a very profitable Book is as to the method definitions distributions wholly Richardsons and a great part of his explications also so far as they are solid and demonstrative A judicious Reader may easily perceive which are Richardsons and which Yates his Notions though in the Book it is not mentioned About the same time the Lord raised up that great Champion Dr. Ames of whom one too truly complaineth that there might be written over his Grave as once over Scipio's Ingrata Patria ne ossa mea quidem habes Mr. Jeanes He in his Medulla Theologiae hath improved Richardsons method and Principles to great advantage And truly I concur with that worthy Divine who said that next to the Bible he esteemed Dr. Ames his Marrow of Divinity as D. Thom. Goodwin the best Book in the world These things considered the Reader may expect and will undoubtedly find that which will be well worth his serious perusal in the following Catechism As for the worthy Author although the Lord hath seen meet to fix his present station not only in a wilderness but in one of the obscurest places therein yet is his praise in the Gospel throughout all the Churches And by what is here presented as well as by other things formerly published it doth appear that the Author is a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed For here is not only Milk for Babes in respect of Principles with much solid dexterity asserted but strong Meat in respect of rational explications and Demonstrations of those Principles that the ablest men who have their senses exercised in discerning things of this nature may be edified Luther did profess himself to be Discipulus Catechismi a Learner of his Catechism all his dayes The work then of a Catechist is not unbecoming or unsuitable to the ablest Teachers And if endeavours of this sort were more diligently attended it would be one good means to prevent Degeneracy in the succeeding Generation Now the Lord bless this faithfull undertaking for that end and grant that the earth may be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Boston 4. m. 23. d. 1679. INCREASE MATHER Q. WHat is Religion A. Religion is a Doctrine of living unto God and consists of two parts Faith and Observance The thing defined is Religion it may be called Divinity as it cometh from God and leadeth to God and to a divine life and some have thought it is called Religion by occasion of mans fall man at first was bound to God but he by his sin loosened himself and by the Rule of Religion he is bound again Religion is a word compounded of re and ligo to bind again Jam. 1. 26. Religion is for if there were no Religion none could be irreligious if no Law then no transgression many seem to be Religious few are indeed Religious Jam. 1. 26 27. Definition it self 1. The general nature and Doctrine Religion may be called an Art as it consists of Precepts breathing the first and truest knowledge by which man is guided to his end but it 's called a Doctrine because none can learn it but those who are taught of God 1. None can learn it by the book of nature for there are some lessons in Religion which are not to be found in the book of Creation namely mans Apostacy and Anastasie how man at first did fall and how he is recovered by Christ and the book of nature is blurred by mans sin the curse is fallen upon the works of Creation and thus this book is darkened 2. This can not be learnt only by humane industry for man by nature is void of spiritual eye-sight Re. 3. 18. hence Religion is called a Doctrine as it is taught of God 1. By giving the Rule from Heaven Deut. 32. 2. 2. By the illumination of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2 13 14. The special nature of Religion appears in the end and proper object of it Of living unto God to live unto God is the most excellent kind of life hence it is an act of the most noble faculty upon the most excellent object in the most excellent manner and therefore hath religion which is the most excellent Rule to lead to this life It is not Reason nor speech nor quantity nor nature can be the proper object of Religion all these have their proper acts and Rules to guide them but it 's goodness it self which is the proper Object and end of Divinity 1. Man was made for God 2. Hence he ought to live unto God 3. Hence he ought to be fitted for this end 4. This is his goodness and to this Religion leads him 1. Tim. 6. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 6. The parts of Religion are Faith and Observance 1. They are parts for they have a common affection to the whole and are distinct one from another he that is Religious hath both these and yet Faith is not observance 2. They are integral parts give being to the whole as Soul and body make up the man so Faith and Observance do make a man truly and sufficiently Religious for to live unto God is the end of Religion and to this is necessary first a principle of life and this is Faith 2. The acting of that Principle in observance towards God 3. Hence Faith and Observance differ in their natures otherwise they could not be parts and in their precepts otherwise they could not differ in their natures and hence the Rule of Faith is not the Rule of observance and hence this Faith is not required in the Law Psal 37. 3. 2 Tim. 1. 13. but concerning this more fully in that which followeth Q. What is Faith A. Faith is the first part of Religion and is a trusting in God for life proceeding from a grounded knowledge
and shutting the beams of the Sun reflecting and reflected these are not the hand nor the Sun but adjunct manners of the Being of these 2. Hence they differ from the Essence only in some respect not as divers Essences the same hand the same Sun so the same God-head reflecting and reflected 3. Hence the Subsistences are not divine Attributes which are one as they are in God but diversly appearing to us but these are divers whither we apprehend them so or not 4. They are not inherent qualities in the Essence for there are none such in the Essence as we heard in the description of the Essence 5. They are manners adhering and belonging to the Essence with it and by it Prov. 8. 30. 2. They are distinguisht one from another as Relates by their relative and individual properties as teaching and being taught reflecting and being reflected hence followeth 1. They are coexsistent as Relates for they are mutual causes therefore exsist together 1 Joh. 1. Prov. 8. 30 2. Coinexistent one in another for Being and existence is of and in the cause and they are Relates therefore mutual causes therefore one in another Joh 14. 10 3. They are coapparant for knowledge â—s of the causes and these are mutual causes hence he that knows the one knows the other Joh. 14. 9. 4. And yet one is not the other for Relates are mutual causes and differ as cause and effect 3. Hence they are not improperly called persons A person is a perfect and individual substance of a reasonable nature 1. A substance For meer Accidents or Adjuncts are no person as virtues are not called persons individual for mankind is not a person because it 's the genus but individual men are called persons 3. Perfect for the Soul alone is not a person because it 's but a part of man not a perfect man 4. A reasonable nature creatures without Reason are not persons and by way of eminency it 's attributed to men And the God-head with a relative and individual property is a divine person and is either persons breathing or breathed spirante or persons breathing as Father and Son Spirit or breathed as the Holy Ghost Quest Who is the Father Answ The Father is the first person who begets his Son God is happy in himself 2. Hence he knows himself 3. Hence he conceivs the Image of himself 4. Hence to conceive and beget and this may be called active Generation this properly belongeth to the Father and he is first in order 1 Ioh. 18. Quest Who is the Son Answ The Son is the second divine person begotten of the Father 1. God is happy in himself 2. Hence is known and conceived of himself 3. Hence to be conceived and begotten and this may be called passive generation this properly belongs to the Son Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 1. 18. and he is the second in order Quest Who is the Spirit Answ The Spirit is the third divine person proceeding from the Father and the Son 1. God is happy in himself 2. Hence knoweth and is known of himself 3. Hence is breathed after by himself and this may be called passive spiration and is the relative property of the Spirit Joh. 16. 14. And the Reason why active spiration doth not constitute a person is because it doth not nextly and immediately belong to the divine Essence but to the Father and the Son for it is God conceiving and having conceived the Image of himself doth breath after himself and thus active Spiration doth nextly proceed from the Relative properties of the Father and the Son 2. Active spiration belongs in common to the Father and the Son and is no individual property belonging only to one Quest What is the Efficiency of God Answ The Efficiency of God is that whereby he worketh all in all things according to the counsel of his will for his own glory by his Omnipotency in Creation and Providence and which honour of working belongs to the three persons who work the same according to their distinct manner and order of Subsistence 1. It is that whereby he worketh all in all things for he is the first Being hence the power of working is of him and hence he is the first mover in all other causes and worketh all in all Eph. 1. 11. 2. Hence appeareth his Omnipotency if he doth all then he can do all hence all powerfulness belongeth to him he can do a work of power 1. Not that which argueth weakness 1. Hence not that which is contrary to his nature 2 Tim. 2. 13. and 2. Hence not that which is contrary to the Rule of nature for the Rule of nature is a beam of his own wisdome 3. He can do all possible things as to raise Children out of stones which is not to produce an effect without a cause that would be contrary to the Rule of nature and his wisdome but he can supply the place of the cause immediately Math. 3. 9. Attribute Omnipotency to him eminently his power of acting and act is one in him otherwise a change in him which can not be but the creature is the Subject of the change not God the beams of the Sun are in power to warm or shine upon this or that thing which they do not in act until that thing comes under the beams of the Sun and yet no change in the beams of the Sun but in the thing warmed by the same so in respect of the power of God 3. According to the counsel of his will or his own glory here appears the decree of God whereby he determines what shall be done 1. He can do all things absolutely possible this is his absolute power 2. He will do that only which may stand with his wisdome and good will this is his ordinate power that he will do only that which is conditionally and respectively possible Eph. 1. 11. he could have made more then one woman for one man at first in respect of his absolute power it was possible Mal. 2. 15. but in respect of its inconsistency with his wisdome it was respectively and conditionally impossible 3. Hence a decree to determine what shall be done and what shall not be done and to this decree belongs that which is Complemental and Essential 1. Complemental 1. His truth his words agree with his mind Ier. 10. 10. 2. His faithfulness he doth what he hath said and that as he hath spoken 1 Cor. 10. 13. 3. His constancy his decree can not change Isa â—6 10. 2. That which is Essential to his decree 1. The final cause his own glory for if he intended ultimately any end besides himself he should deny himself Eph. 1. 6. 2. The Efficient causes of his decree his wisdome and good will 1. His wisdome Psal 104. 24. 1. He acts well 2. Hence according to Rule 3. This Rule is not of the creatures but of him 4. This Rule by which he acts is the idea or pattern of well acting 5. This
ceremonies 1. In Moses time and afterwards the Church was confined to the people of Israel Deut. 7. 6. in which we may consider their congregation their priviledge 1. Their congregation their great one Exod. 25. 8. Psal 40. 10. 2. Their inferiour Congregations their Synagogues Psal 79. 8. Acts 13. 5. The Rulers extraordinary ordinary 1. Extraordinary and were Prophets some of them wrote the old Testament Hos 8. 12. 2 Pet. 1. ult but the Apocrypha was not wrote by them and therefore is not canonical 2. Their ordinary Governours 1. Of their great congregation the high Priest inferiour as Priests Levites Numb 3. 3 4. 2. Of their lesser congregations the Rulers of the Synagogues Mar. 5. 22. 2 Chron. 19. 11. Numb 3. 6. 2. The priviledges of this Church Christ came of this Church concerning the flesh Rom. 9. 3 4 5. 2. He was promised to them by the Prophets 3. Typed out to them by diverse ceremonyes Heb. 10. 2. And this Church continued untill Christ the Messias was slain Zac 11. 10. Mat. 27. 50 51. Quest How is it with the Church since Christs coming Answ The visible church is not consined to any one People but is amongst many since Christs coming and in its primitive time had the Apostles Evangelists and Prophets to be extraordinary Rulers and some of these wrote the New-Testament and since that time it hath Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders and Deacons to be the ordinary Officers and hath Christ to be the exalted head the holy Scriptures being perfected Concerning the Church since Christs coming we may consider their Government and priviledges 1. Their Government Extraordinary Ordinary 1. Extraordinary Rulers 1. The Apostles who were to preach to all nations Mat. 28. ult And to plant churches 1 Cor. 3. 6. and to be witnesses of Christs Resurrection and Ascention Act. 1. 8. 2. Evangelists who were to assist the Apostles in preaching and in establishing the Churches according to their Doctrine 1 Tim. 1. 3 4. 2 Tim. 4. 5. 3. Prophets who had singular gifts to interpret the scriptures and to foretell things to come 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. Acts 21. 8 9 10. And some of these extraordinary Rulers wrote the New-Testament Joh. 20. 30. Rev. 1. 9. 2. Ordinary Officers are first Elders who are either only Ruling or not only so but Teaching as Pastors Teachers Eph. 11. 12. Rom. 12. 8. Or inferiour Officers the Deacons Rom. 12. 8. 1 Tim. 3. 8. 2. The Priviledges of this Church 1. They have Christ already exhibited the good things typed out are extant Luk. 1. 70. 2. Cor. 1. 20. 2. Hence the Members of this Church are evangelical believers 1. Confessing that Christ is the son of Mary and the son of the living God Mat. 16. 16 17 18 19. Acts 8. 34 35. 2. They doe receive Christ as their exalted head Act. 2. 35. Eph. 4. 9 10. 3. This Church is no longer confined to one people but amongst many hence universal and catholick as gathered out of all nations many Churches swarmed out of that one church and first church at Jerusalem Act. 9. 31. and are called churches the catholick visible church doth exist in these individual churches 4. This church hath the holy Scriptures perfectly Rev. 22. 19. Quest How doe you prove the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of God Answ The holy Scriptures are proved to be the word of God by the testimony of the godly in all ages and by divine testimony the miracles wrought and the testimony of the Spirit of God in the Saints and by many artificial arguments because they doe reveal divine wisdome holiness Justice mercy with most perfect harmony wonderfull efficacy containing a perfect rule of Faith and obedience The Scriptures are proved to be the word of God by Arguments inartificial artificial 1. Inartificial namely testimony humane divine 1. Humane the testimony of the godly in all ages first in the primitive times their preachers expounded these Act. 17. 2 11. 2. Christians converted by these 3. Many suffered for the defence of these 4. Their Opposers Romanes Jews Pharises Sadduces Heriticks could not deny but that such Doctrines were taught by the Apostles 2 Tim. 3. 15 16. 2. This Testimony is delivered down to us witness 1. The many ancient Records of many histories and councils 2. The ancient Records of many Countryes Nations East West North and South 3. The many Christians in the several Ages who have suffered for the defence of these and the Hereticks have pleaded these Scriptures although they have perverted them let us consider the validity of the former Testimony 1. It hath a moral certainty as certain as man can be that he was born of such Parents and hath a right to such an Inheritance which depends upon humane Testimony 2. In some respect this Testimony hath an infallible certainty 1. Otherwise these witnesses would have contradicted themselves they living at so great a distance one from another and in several Ages could not meet together to invent a delusion to deceive their Posterity 2. Otherwise Adversaries would have contradicted them as de facto and have said that no such doctrines were taught by the Apostles hence this humane Testimony as it is circumstanced is binding Exod. 10. 1 2. Psal 78. 1 2 3 4. Acts 1. 8. Acts 2. 32. 2. Divine Testimony external and internal 1. External by Miracles 2 Cor. 12. 12. called Gods witnesses Heb. 2. 4. 2. Inward Testimony the Spirit of God in a believer witnessing 1 Joh. 5. 10. 2. Artificial Arguments 1. They reveal wisdome above all the inventions of men or Angels the Mystery of the Trinity and mans Recovery and many other Mysteries 1 Joh. 5. 7. 1 Tim. 3. 16. 2. Most beautiful holiness shining in these Scriptures Rom. 1. 2. Psal 119. 140. 3. Justice giving to God and man his due Rom. 13. 9. Rom. 7. 12. 4. Most rich mercy Rom. 5. 20. 5. Most perfect harmony though wrote by diverse in diverse places and diverse languages full of predictions and Prophecies yet they all agree 6. Their duration 1. Were before other Writings 2. Do continue and shall to the end of the World Ier. 6. 16. Math. 28. ult 7. The Efficacy of them 1 Thes 1. 5. Isai 55. 11. 8. The perfection of them they contain a perfect Rule of Faith and observance 1 Joh. 4. 1 2. 2 Tim. 1. 13. Rom. 2. 16. Rev. 22. 19. Either these Scriptures were invented by God or by some creature not by some creature for if by some creature it was either by some good or evil creature not by some good creature for no good man or Angel would invent a thing and then say it was Gods invention not by some evil creature for the holy Scriptures are contrary to the wicked therefore it is apparent these Scriptures are invented by God himself Hitherto of Faith next concerning Observance Quest What is Observance Answ Observance is the second part of Religion and stands in performance of duty to