whom you percieve the Grace of God to shine Gal. 6.10 Q. How Fourthly A. If you have true love you will doe righteous things to your Brother But he that doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his brethren 1 Joh. 3.10 18. Vse Then it followeth that they which doe injury that to their Brethren 1 Cor 6.8 And they that do like their Children or Neighbours or Servants or acquaintance the worse for their goodness sake And lastly they that are Partiall in their love will embrace only such of the Godly as be of their own side opinion but can scorne abuse others every jot as Godly if they differ from them then I say it appeares they do not love them in the Name of a Disciple nor in the Name of a righteous man But they love themselves their owne ends and Fancies in them and not Christ in them nor the Image of God in them We must love where God loveth God loves all his Children of what side soever they be though not their sins and Failings so must we doe Luk. 9.49 50. Rom 14.3 6. Mark 9 38 39. The weake and the strong Christian they were both of them true fearers of God Wicked men that are yet in the flesh they hate dislike Godlinesse where ever they see it and he that is born after the spirit loveth godlinesse where ever he sees it Of Hungring and thirsting after Christ and His Grace Q. Shew a sixth marke of a child of God A. They are blessed that hunger and thirst after Christ 6. Mark and after the graces of his spirit Mat. 5.6 Es 55.1 Rev. 22.17 Q. What be the signes whereby spiriall desires after Christ may be discerned from naturall desires A. They be foure 1. If your soules do indeed hunger and thirst after Christ The trial and his righteousnesse then you will desire him for spirituall ends and uses as for Reconciliation with God for sanctification for spirituall Healing and cleansing of your soules as your spirituall Physitian Mat. 9.12 Mar. 1.10 Luk 18.41 Ps 51.1 2 9 10. Carnall people can desire mercy but not Grace they desire Happinesse but care not for Holinesse they can desire Christ as a Priest to save them not as a King to Rule in them Q. What is a second signe of spirituall desires or hungering after Christ A. If you doe indeed thirst after Christ you will be restlesse and unsatisfied till you find him Nothing but Christ can content the spirituall appetite and desires of the soule Nothing but Christ can still the crie and quiet the call of conscience Give a hungering soule Gold or preferment or Pleasures c. These things cannot satisfy a spirituall desire the soule must have Christ or nothing spirituall desires are restlesse desires till they can enjoy the things they want Ps 143.6 Can. 5.4 8. Ps 42.1 2. Q. What 's a third signe of spirituall desire after Christ A. Spirituall hunger and thirst is a conquering desire it makes the soule to prize Jesus Christ upon any terms the thirsty soul must have Christ what ere it cost As the Aegyptians said to Joseph Buy us and our land for Bread Gen. 47.19 and we will be servants unto Pharaoh so to the hungery soule every bitter thing is sweet Christ is welcome upon any terms Mat. 16.25 Mat. 13.44 46. Mat. 19.21 22. Q. Wha't 's a Fourth signe of spirituall desire after Christ A. Spirituall hunger and thirst is a labouring desire the Hungry soule will take any paines for the bread and water of life It doth not rest in wishing but it will strive and seek and knock True desire puts forth it selfe in endeavourings Can. 3.1 2 3 4. Psal 63.1.2 Spirituall desires are not lazy cold heartlesse wishes Then if you take little Paines to get Grace and the assurance of Christs love or if you prize any thing more then Christ and his Grace and favour or if your minds be quieted without Christ and cured by false Remedies as by worldly Counsels worldly Pleasures or by forgetting your sins c. Lastly if you desire Christ for naturall ends as for mercy not also for Grace and Holy Communion with him then I say you did never truly Hunger and Thirst after Christ and his righteousnesse you have had perhaps some light vanishing wishes for Heaven but never any sound and setled desires Luke 14.15 18. Mat. 19.21 22. Of Christ in us Q. What is a Seaventh Mark of one that is the Child of God A. If any one be Christs then Christ is in you and abideth in you Rom. 8.9 10. 2 Cor. 13.5 Eph. 3.17 Q. How will you know that Christ is in you A. Two manner of waies 1 The triall If Christ be in you you will be fashioned like unto Christ you will be Holy members of that holy Head and living members of that living Head Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the body of sin is dead and the spirit is life because of righteousnesse you cannot be dead members of a living head nor unholy members of an holy head A true Christian is the very Picture of Christ Christ is fashioned in him Gal. 4.19 Eph. 4.22 24. Joh. 2.6 Q. Say the same in other words A. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5 17. Q. How secondly will you know whether Christ be in you or not A. Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spiâ—â—t which he hath given us 1 Ioh 3.24 Vse Then it followes that if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 Also If you be not like unto Christ if you walk contrary unto him and his example in the Family Church or State it is because Christ is not in you of a Truth for he that saieth He abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke even as Christ walked 1 Ioh. 2.6 1 Pet. 1.15 Phil. 3.18 Of the spirit of Christ in us Q. Shew an Eight marke of a child of God 8. Mark A. Because you are sons God hath given the spirit of his son into your hearts whereby ye cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Rom 8.9 11. Q. But how will you know that you have the spirit of Christ in you The trial A. Three waies 1. Because it is unto me a spirit of illumination It begets in me spirituall senses and understanding by which I know him that is True it enableth me to discerne things that differ As the Eare trieth words and the Mouth tasteth meate Iob. 12.11 â—â— doth the spirit of Christ give us a discerning taste a discerning heart eare It makes us able to discerne light from darknes sweet from sower It makes us to Relish savour the things that be of God Iohn 10.4 5 27. with Ioh. 14.17 1 Iohn 2.19 20 26 27. 1 Cor. 2.14 Q. How secondly will you know it A. Because it is unto me a spirit of SanctificatioÌ„ for
Reprobation is the like eternall purpose of God whereby he leaveth others in their sinnes to perish for ever to the praise of his glorious justice Vocation signifieth that work of grace whereby God calleth his elect out of their sins to receive the Gospell that is unto faith and repentance Conversion signifieth Gods turning of a sinner from darknesse to light from sin to grace from love of the world to love of God from carelesnesse to conscience of pleasing God Justification signifieth Gods gracious act accepting of a sinner into his favour not imputing unto him his sinnes in and for the righteousnesse and death of Christ or it is Gods gracious act whereby he reconcileth an humbled sinner to himselfe forgiving his sins freeely fully for Christs sake Regeneration is the begetting of a spirituall life of grace in the soule by the seed of Gods word received into the heart and made effectuall by the holy Ghost whereby we are become new Creatures to bring forth fruit unto God the fruits of holynesse and righteousnesse Sanctification signifieth the clensing of our Natures it is the grace of God infused into our hearts whereby of unholy people we are made holy in our thoughts words and actions Adoption signifieth Gods making Sons of us that were not Sons before or it is the translation of Sinners from a servile condition under sinne and Satan to be the Sonnes of God in and with Christ to enjoy the priviledges and inheritance of Sonnes Glorification signifies the state of Gods children in heaven Redemtion signifies Christs delivering of our Soules from sin wrath by paying of a price even the price of his bloud for us Mediation signifieth that gracious work of Christ setting himselfe between God and us makeing peace procuring our acceptance with his father both of our persons and actions Propitiation signifieth the removing of wrath and making of God favourable to us in Christ Christs active obedience signifieth his perfect fulfilling of the Law for us Christs passive obedience is his suffering of death and undergoing of the punishment due to our sinnes by both which he satisfied the justice of God in our behalfe being put under the Law that he might save them that were under the Law By the Law is meant the covenant of Workes the way and offer of salvation to them that perfectly fulfill the Law of God in their own persons By the Gospel is meant the covenant of Grace that is Gods gracious purpose and promise of bringing men to salvation by Jesus Christ The Old Testament is the doctrine of salvation through Christ taught by Moses and the Prophets and set forth under certain figures and ceremonies shadowing forth the death of Christ and the benefits of Christ who was then to come The New Testament is the same Doctrine of salvation by Christ taught nakedly without such figures shadowes shewing expresly the death and benefits of Christ already come and exhibited in the flesh Leveticall we meane any Ordinance about Gods publicke worship delivered by Moses till the Messias should come By Legall we understand that which the Law of Moses doth require as legall righteousnesse is such a compleat righteousnes in every circumstance as the Law doth require By Evangelicall we understand that which the Gospell doth require and accept as Evangelicall righteousnesse is the righteousnesse of the Mediator accepted on our behalfe Legall perfection is to be free from sin in every kinde and degree thereof Evangelicall perfection is to be free from guile and hypocrisie when in uprightnesse of heart we frame our selves to the whole will of God Legall repentance is a sorrow for sin arising from fear of wrath such a sorrow the Law can work Evangelicall repentance is such a sorrow for sin as ariseth from love of God and hatred of sin which the Spirit of Adoption begets in us because we displease our Father and dishonour our God By the Image of God in men is meant to be like God in holinesse and righteousnesse By the fall of man is meant the first sin of Adam and Eve whereby they fell from that state of holinesse and happinesse wherein they were at first created and plunged themselves and their posterity into sin and misery By Flesh in Scripture is meant the unregenerate heart of man and that remainder of corruption which is found even in regenerate persons whereby they are hindred from doing the good they would By Spirit is meant the new Man the renewed heâ—rt and soule of Man which opposeth it selfe against all sin When we speak of a naturall Man of the state of Nature we doe not mean Heathens or Fooles but all even the best wisest among Christians that be not regenerate effectually called forasmuch as they be in no better case then Heathens When we speak of a Spirituall Man we meane one that is regenerate led by the Spirit of God minding Spirituall things in the first place and temporall things in a spirituall manner When we speake of a Carnall Man we meane them that are led by Carnall and corrupt Principles and doe follow after Earthly things with greatest earnestnesse and delight and Spirituall things in a formall and carelesse manner A Sincere Christian is one that walketh with God and to God uprightly making conscience of every duty and of every sin according to that measure of knowledge which he hath received and doth not hide his eyes from any part of Gods will neither is willingly ignorant of any part of his duty An Hypocrite in Scripture is not one that doth professe Religion and separate himselfe from the sinnes of others but it is any one that knoweth Truth and doth not obey it sincerely and universally but is partiall and halting with God in points of obedience approving himselfe to man rather then to God By Civill honesty which we teach cannot bring men to heaven we doe not condemne justice and honesty in mens dealings But we mean meere civill honest men that is deluded formall Christians who being free from grosse sins and outwardly conformed to good orders do flatter themselves in a morall righteousnesse without faith or any assurance of their particular interest in Christ or any endeavour to attaine thereunto By Common Graces we mean such gifts of Gods spirit as be common to the elect and reprobate as gifts of Miracles of Prophesying and other abilities to spirituall duties By Saving Graces we mean the speciall worke and fruits of the renewing Spirit which whosoever hath received is undoubtedly saved By Restraining Grace we meane that power of Gods word on the conscience whereby men do outwardly forbeare evill though they doe not inwardly hate it Humiliation is the wounding and casting downe of the conscience with feare in a sense apprehension of the curse of God belonging to our sinfull state all former hopes of being in Gods favour in a good case being now discovered to be utterly false and unsound Self-deniall signifieth the
the spirit of Adoption whereby we call God Father is alwaies in us and to us a spirit of sanctification It is a spirit of Burning to consume Lusts and a spirit of Quikning to newnesse of life 1 Cor 6.11 Gal 5.24 Rom 8.10 13. Q. How thirdly will you know it A. By the Fruits of the spirit which are these Love Joy Peace Long suffering Gentlnesse Goodnesse Faithfulnesse Meeknesse Temperance c. Gal 5.22 23. Eph 5.9 Then it followes that all such persons as walk in the flesh and shew forth the fruits of it which are these Adultery fornication uncleannesse laciviousnesse Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation Wrath seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revilings c. Also all such persons as have not received the spirit of Christ to enlighten their Minds make them wise to discerne precious from vile And to purify their â—earts and lives All such persons as doe â—ot shew forth the fruits of the spirit in â—heir conversation they are all of them without Christ because they be void of â—is spirit and the fruits thereof Of Christ Ruling in us Q Shew a Ninth marks of one that is the child of God 6. Mark A. All that have Christ for their Saviour must take him also for their Lord and King to rule in their hearts Christ is the King of Saints Luk. 19.27 Rev. 15.3 Q. How doe you know your self to be a Subject of Christs Kingdome A. 1. Every Subject of Christs Kingdome is a child of light and he is carefull to walke in the light 1 Joh 1.6 7. 1 Joh. 2.6 Satans Kingdome is a Kingdom of darknesse Christs Kingdome is a Kingdome of light Q. How secondly may it be known A. Every Subject of Christs Kingdom will yeeld obedience to the Laws Mind of Christ Job 15.14 Mal 1.6 8. Q. How Thirdly may it be known A. I know that Christ is my King and I his Subject by the Victory I have over my own sins I also am made a spirituall King I dare not hold up any spirituall weapon against Christ nor against his word nor on the behalfe of any sin whatsoever and in whomsoever 2 Cor. 10.5 Rom. 6.17 18. Vse Then they that be yet under the Power of darknesse and under the command of sin and they that doe not yeeld universall obedience and subjection to the Laws and will of Christ all such persons doe not belong to Christs Kingdome of Grace and therefore shall never reigne with him in glory Of Being led by the Spirit of Christ Q Give a tenth marke of a child of God A. As Many as are led by the spirit of God 10. Mar. they are the sons of God Rom. 8.14 Q. How will you know that you be led by the spirit of God A. Three waies 1. Because I am under the command of the spirit The triall I will not grieve the spirit of God but cherish it and suffer my selfe to be guided by it as Souldiers are by their Captain and Commanders who say to one doe this and he doth it to another doe that and he does it so is the Christian under the Conduct and command of the spirit to follow it even against Nature and Carnall reason as for example to love ones enemy to pray for them that dispightfully use us to blesse them that curse us c. Eph. 4.30 Rom. 8.13 Q. How secondly will you know it A. Because the Considerations and Motives which sway my judgement and choyce in any businesse are spirituall As If I were to give my voice in the election of a Minister if I cast about how I may pleasure a friend or kinsman or what I shall get or loose by this or that way then it is cleer you are led by a carnall spirit because the considerationâ— which sway and prevaile with me are meerly polytick and worldly But if you consider who is most likely to win soules to God to advance his Truth and Gospell c. then are you in that businesse led by the spirt because the considerations moving you are spirituall When there is a conflict between Nature Grace the spirit of God will sway you for gracious purposes against the pleadings of flesh and bloud Gal. 1.16 Eph. 4.16 Heb. 11.24 25. Q. How thirdly will you know it A. Because I am led by a True * Gods spirit does not lead us blindfold but it shewes us and leads us in the waies of God light a straight rule Gods spirit does never lead one blindly nor by a false Rule Gods spirit is not like to an Ignis fatuus to lead into by-pathes of error and mischiefe Gods spirit it guides us in the path of Gods word Gods spirit and Gods word are ever joyned together Es 29.18 Ps 25.5 9. Ps 27.11 Ps 119.35 Ioh. 16.13 Esa 59.21 Prov. â— 23 Vse Then they that wander in by-paths of error and in the broad paths of destruction unpapinesse following the waies of unrighteousnesse Pride Covetousnesse Envy Murther Lying Covenant-breakers perjured persons without naturall affection implacable unmercifull murtherers of Fathers Lawlesse disobedient c. and yet say that they are led by the spirit of God This is the spirit of your Father the divell and not the spirit of God 1 Tim. 1.9 10 Rom. 1.30 31. 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4. Ioh. 8.44 Also they that are swayed by worldly considerations by selfe-ends and interests they that walke by cruked rules and dark lights and are not afraid to quench the spirit of God and to check good motions of of the spirit to follow their own Imaginations c. Such persons are not led by the spirit of God they are not under the command conduct of the holy spirit Of the spirit of Truth and Error Q. Shew an eleventh marke of Gods children A. Gods children are led by his spirit into all saving Truth 11. Mar. so that they cannot damnably erre or be deceived Joh. 16.18 Mat. 24.24 2 Tim. 2.19 1 Joh. 2.27 Q. How shall we know the spirit of Truth from the spirit of error The triall A. By three things 1. He that is of God Heareth us He that is not of God heareth us not hereby know we the spirit of Truth and the spirit of error 1 Ioh. 4.6 with Iohn 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods words delivered by the mouth of his Ambassadors hence it is cleare that it is a false spirit that saies ye need not heare us for my sheep heare my voice speaking in my servants to the end of the world Joh. 10.27 with Luk. 10.16 He that despiseth you despiseth me The Spirit of God never perswades any man to forsake the publicke ordinances Mat. 10.41 but to receive honour a Prophet in the name of a Prophet 1 Thes 5.12 13. Q. How Secondly may the spirit of errour or a false Prophet be knowne A. You shall know them by their fruits that is by the Fruite of their doctrine for if their doctrines tend
creature for religious use no testimony of reverence to be given to them of Will-worship of the parts of Gods worship and the right manner of performing the same Cap. 31. Of taking Gods name in vaine in or without an oath of conditions of a lawfull Vow and Oath Cap. 32. Of the Sabbath day the institution change and celebration the duties for sanctifying of the Rest Cap. 33. Duties of Parents and Children Cap. 34. Duties of Masters and Servants of rulers and Subjects Cap. 35. Duties of husband and Wife Cap. 36. Of Murther in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 37. Of Adultery in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 38. Of Theft Oppression Restitution Cap. 39 Of Truth Falshood in our words kinds of lying dissimulation of defending ones good name Cap. 40. Of concupiscence and first motions to evill how evill thoughts not consented unto be sinfull How it may be discovered whether evill thoughts doe arise from our owne corrupt hearts or from Satan Cap. 41. Of the meanes of working and increasing Grace How to hear the Word of God to our comfort and salvation Cap. 42. Of Prayer what it is to whom and for whom to be made Of Prayer in the Spirit and other conditions required in an acceptable prayer Cap. 43. Of the Lords Prayer of sanctifying Gods Name Cap. 44. Of Christs Spirituall Kingdome and doing Gods will Cap. 45. Of our daily bread what it is and how given Cap. 46. Of forgivenesse of sinnes what it is to whom granted signes that we forgive others Cap. 47. Of Temptations how God is said to lead into temptation of the right manner of giving praise to God Cp. 48. Of the right use abuse of the Lords Prayer of stinted Prayer of the Spirit of Prayer how to judge whether our Prayers be heard Cap. 49. Of the seales of the Covenant How the Spirit doth seale and witnesse with our spirits Of the nature Author and efficacy of the Sacraments in generall Cap. 50. Of Baptisme what it is to be baptized in the Name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Of Baptizing of Infants and the benefit of Baptisme to them Cap. 51 Of the Lords Supper Of Transubstantiation and the Reall Presence Of the sacrifice of the Masse and of the true use and end of the Lords Supper Cap. 52. Of right participation of the Lords Supper what we must doe before we come when we be there and after we have received how to find that we have received aright of receiving in a mixt cōgregation An Appendix 1. Vnfolding certaine termes used in sermons and English Bookes 2. Shewing the markes of Gods Children 3. Containing some generall Rules and Principles of Holy Life CAP. I. Of the state of Man by Creation and of the Covenant of Nature WHat should be the first and great care of every man in this World Ans To a know God betimes to serve him aright and to b provide for the eternall salvation of our poore soules a Eccl. 12.1 1 Chron 28.9 b Luc. 10.42 John 6.27 Esa 55.2 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Q. What is mans chiefest happinesse in this world A. It is to enjoy God by faith to walk with him to know our selves to be in his favour here and that we shall for ever live with him after death Without this we are as miserable as the Beasts Gen. 15. 1. Lam. 3.24 Eccl. 2.1 11 13. No earthly thing can make one happy Jer. 9.23 24. Eccl. 12.13 Math. 16 26. 1 Cor. 15.19 Eph. 2.12 Q. How shall a man attain to this true Happinesse A. Only by the Scriptures which are able to make us wise to Salvation Ioh. 5.39 46. Luke 16.29 31 Iohn 14.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. How are we assured that the Scripture is Gods-Word A. Not onely by the Testimony of the Church which cannot universally deceive but especially by the Testimony of the Spirit working strange and supernaturall effects in us by the Word giving us such joy contentment and satisfaction touching spirituall and eternall things by way of tast and feeling as is not possible for humane reason to doe Ioh. 4.42 Ioh. 6.68 69. 1 Thes 1.5 2 Pet. 1.18 21. 2. Cor. 4.6 Foure heads of Christian doctrine Q. What be those Parts or heads of Christian Doctrine delivered in Scripture the knowledge whereof maketh us happy A. There be foure generall heads of it 1. The Doctrine of mans creation and state of innocency 2ly Of the fall and misery of man 3ly Of mans deliverance and redemption by Jesus Christ and of the means to partake of Christ 4. How the redeemed ought to live These Truthes bring us to Humiliation Justification and Sanctification Act. 20.20 Q. God in the beginning created Adam and Eve in what state did he make them at first A. God made them upright after his own likenesse Of the state of Man by Creation i.e. in an holy and happy estate free from sin and misery Gen. 1.27 Col. 3.10 Eccles 7.29 Q. Wherein consisted the Image of God in which man was created A. It stood in two things First in that Dominion Honour and Excellency which Adam had over the creatures Gen. 1.26 Gen. 2.20 Gen. 9.6 This was externall Joh. 10.34 God is the great King and Lord of all things and all in Authority doe beare his Image 1 Cor. 11.7 Rom. 13.4 Q. Wherein chiefely did that Image of God consist A. In Holinesse and Righteousnesse wherein man was like unto God himselfe their whole soules and bodies being filled with the fulnesse of Grace Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 Q. If Adam had not sinned should he have died A. No For death came in by sinne as the wages of it Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Q. Also if he had continued upwright he should have been saved without the help of a Mediatour Of the first Covenant made with Adam A. It is true for so God Covenanted with him and in token thereof Gave him to eat of the tree of Life Gen. 2.9 16. Gen. 3.22 24. Rev. 2.7 Q. Declare more plainly the Covenant made with Adam before he fell A. It was a Covenant of Workes wherein life was promised upon condition of his continuing without sin in perfect obedience Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.12 Rev. 22.14 Doe this and live Q. But could Adam at that time have been saved by his own inherent righteousnesse was he able to keepe that Covenant A. Yes For Adam was the Sonne of God perfect in holinesse righteousnesse and Heire of Heaven even as the holy Angels are Luk 3.38 Gen. 1.27 31. Adam had a whole will no ignorance no corruption to strive against the Spirit Q. Can any man since the fall be saved by that Covenant A. No Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and therefore must look for salvation by another that is by Christ Jesus Rom. 3.22 23. Rom. 8.3 Heb. 8.8 Gal. 3.10 Q. Must any be judged that is stand or fall by that Covenant of Workes A. Yes all