also hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life CHAP. II. QV There is indeed but one God but hath not that God declared himself to be as one in Essence so three in subsistence the Father the Word and the Spirit Answ Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me therefore hath the Lord anointed me Gen. 1.26 And God said let us make man in our Image chap. 3.22 And the Lord God said behold the man is become as one of us chap. 11.6.7 and the Lord God said let us go down 1 Ioh. 1.1.7 for there are three which bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and these three are one Mat. 28.16 Go therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Ioh. 15.26 but when the Comforter shall come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me Ioh. 14.26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things 2 Cor. 13.13 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Amen Titus 3.5 6. But when the bountifulness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared he saved us by the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Quest The Father indeed is God and also the Son is God and the Spirit is God of which in its proper place only here repeat one Scripture already named Answ 1 John 5.7 For there are three which bear record in heaven the father the Word and the Spirit and those three are one Quest When God is said to be in a certain place in Scripture as Psal 115.3 Our God is in the heavens and such like places is he so there as to be circumscribed comprehended as included or so there as are the Creatures there and not elsewhere then there how then is God infinite or is he infinite what saith the Scripture Answ 1 Kingt 8.27 ' But will God indeed dwell on the earth Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee how much less this house that I have builded Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or Whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I make my bed in hell behold thou art there If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me Isa 66.1 Thus saith the Lord The heaven is my Throne and the earth is my footstool where is the house that ye builded unto me or where is the place of my rest for all those things hath my hand made Isa 40.12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in Scales or the hills in a balance Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord Jer. 23 24. Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill heaven and earth sa th the Lord Quest When we read of the Image of God as Gen. 1 26 27. Let us make man in our Image after our likeness c. the similitude of God or the person of God in Scripture doth it prove that God is corporeal and visible as man is what is meant by the Image of God what say other Scriptures Answ Col. 3.10 Renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Ephes 4.24 And put on the new man which after God is renewed in righteousness and true holiness Joh. 6.46 Not that any man hath seen the Father Joh. 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time 1 John 4.12 No man hath seen God at any time Exod. 33.20 Moreover he said Thou canst not see my face 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality and dwelleth in the light that no man can attain unto whom never man saw nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen Quest When we read in Scripture of affections and passions as love hatred repentance anger c. attributed to God in Scripture as the anger of the Lord was kindled it repented the Lord c. may we think thereby that God is subject to change as is man or else speaks the Scripture in order to our capacity and apprehensions what saith the Scripture Answ 1 Joh. 1.5 God is light and in him there is no darkness Gen. 28.19 God is not as man that he should lye neither as the Son of man that he should repent hath he said and shall he not do it hath he spoken and shall he not accomplish it James 1.17 Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness nor shaddow of turning Psal 33.11 The counsel of the Lord shall stand for ever and the thoughts of his heart throughout all ages Isaiah 46.10 My counsel shall stand and I will do whatsoever I will as I have spoken so will I bring it to pass I have purposed I will do it Quest Touching expressions we meet with in Scripture of Gods tempting of Abraham and having tried him now he knew that he feared God Gen. 22.1 to the 10. that God proves his people to see whither they will walk in his way or no or repenting him of good and evil upon his peoples sins or return of trying them to know what was in their heart and such like places do they prove any such free actions of ours or that God knoweth not till they come to pass or rather speaks the Scripture after the manner of men would not such doctrine destroy the Omnisciency of God what saith the Scripture to this thing Answ Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature which in not manifest in his sight but all thinge are naked and open unto his eyes with whom we have to do Psal 139.2 6 7 11 13 16. Oh Lord thou understandest my thoughts afar off thy knowledge is too wonderfull for me It is so high that I cannot attain unto it If I say the darkness shall hide me even the night shall be light round about me yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and light are both alike My bones are not hid from thee though I was not made in a secret place thine eyes
hear and not understand c. In Acts its quoted well said the holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet go unto this people and say by hearing ye shall hear and not understand Heb. 9.14 The etternal Spirit 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 Know you not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in you therefore glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit for they are Gods 2 Cor. 6.16 And what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God Acts 5.3 4. Then said Peter Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lye unto the holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed unto man but unto God Esay 40.9 Say unto the Cities of Judah behold your God ver 10. behold the Lord God will come with power ver 13. who hath instructed the Spirit of the Lord or was his Councellour ver 15. Behold the Nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the dust of the ballance Behold he takes away the sles as a little dust vers 17. All Nations before him are as nothing less then nothing and vanity ver 18. To whom then will ye liken God Luke 1.3 And the Angel said the holy ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most high shall overshadow thee the Spirit of God hath made me 1 John 1.5 7. Three bear Record in heaven and these three are one Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the waters 1 Cor. 12.1 Now concerning gifts vers 4. There are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit vers 6. And there are diversities of operations but God is the same which worketh all in all ver 8 9. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit vers 11. All these things worketh the self-same Spirit distributing to every one severally as he will Mat 12.28 31.32 I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God therefore I say unto you every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy of the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men and whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shal not be forgiven him either in this world or the world to come Quest Are there not some workings of the Spirit in the hearts of men already regenerate that are extraordinary and miraculous such as in the Acts which is called receiving the holy Ghost the holy Ghost falling upon them c. in use for confirmation of the primitive Church some that are proper to such a state as the Spirit of Adoption Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son of Consolation so the Spirit is called the Comforter which Christ prays shall be sent of assurance and evidence after ye believed ye were fealed with the holy Spirit of promise if there be and that this is the meaning of such Scriptures do they then prove that Regeneration Conversion and the first beginnings of grace are in us without the working of the Spirit until after as our Catechist would insinuate or else do they prove only the further and gradual workings of the Spirit what say the Scriptures Answ 2 Cor. 3.8 The Gospel by which we are converted is called the Ministration of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Mat. 3.12 I baptize you with water unto amendment of life but he that cometh after me will baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Ioel 2.28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh 2 Cor. 6.11 18. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are purified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Ioh. 3.24 No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath freed me from the Law of sin and death CHAP. VI. QVest That Scripture Rom. 5.10 We shall be saved by his life is it so to be understood as Saints ought not to expect salvation by the death of Christ as Biddle insinuates What say other Scriptures to this thing Answ Rom. 8.3 God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh condemned sin in the flesh Heb. 2.9 14 15. that he by the grace of God should taste death for all men that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 2 Cor. 5.14 If one dyed for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which dyed for them and rose again 1 Tim. 2.6 who gave himself a ransom for all men Mat. 20.28 The Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and give his life a ransom for many Mat. 26.28 For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Heb. 9.28 Christ wat once offered to bear the sins of many Esay 53.11 By knowledge shall my righteous servant Justifie many for he shall bear their iniquities Eph. 5.25 Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it without blood there is no remission he dyed for us and gave himself for us Eph. 1.7 We have redemption through his blood Heb. 9.12 But by his own blood entred he once into the holy place and obtained redemption for us Heb. 13.13 Therefore even Jesus that he might sanctifie his own people by his own blood suffered without the gate 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Knowing ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ 1 Iohn 1.7 And the blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rev. 1.5 Who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood Rom. 4.25 Isa 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures he laid on him the iniquities of us all Quest But how is the other Question of Christ his being given raised and exalted by another to be a Saviour according to those Scriptures a name given exalted to be a Saviour raised unto Israel a Saviour to be understood Answ As are those Scriptures in the fourth Chapter of the humanity of Christ else the Scripture tels us 1 Tim. 2 6. He gave himself a ransom he gave himself for us CHAP. VIII QVest Whereas he
Biddle Dispossest OR His Scripture perverting Catechism reformed by Scripture Wherein Those points of the Christian Religion blasphemed by Biddle by wresting the Scripture to answer his heresies Question-wise propounded are vindicated in several Anti-questions resolving themselves by pertinent answers taken word for word out of the Scripture without either consequents or comments And which Biddle could not say no more is concluded in the Question then what is really and plainly contained in the Answer Collected for their sakes who desire to be true Christians and not of this sect of Biddle inasmuch as that Sect not more or less but hath altogether departed from the simplicity and truth of the Scripture Quid dignum tanto tulit hic promissor 2 Pet. 3.17 Beware lest ye being led away with the Error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness London Printed for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleet street neer the Temple-Gate 1654. BIDDLES Mock-Preface I Have wondred that there was no Catechism yet extant that ever I could see or hear of in which one might find the whole system of heresie as the same is exactly contrary to the holy Scripture as in this of Biddles which is generally so stuffed which abuses wrestings and forcing the Scripture to answer his heretical spurious and lying Questions that the least part thereof is at all consonant to or derived from the Word of God For thus it is the Councels Convocations and Assemblies of Divines having been attending to lesser things not sufficiently watching this envious one now whilest they sleep endeavours to justle the sacred Scriptures out of their place in the Church framing Articles and Intruding them on our faith according to his own fancy and Interest which is to gain Disciples after him as who is there that hath not heard of Biddles Disciples And the Civil Magistrate notwithstanding his Authority conniving at the same we have at last a Catechism fitted to those Articles that Interest and design wherein the Scriptures are some of purpose omitted others wrested or brought in only for a shew not one quotation amongst all the things controverted being a whit to the purpose as will soon appear to any man of Judgement who taking into his hands the said Catechism shall examine the text alledged with other Scriptures and the ends they are alledged for for if he do this diligently and impartially he will find the Scripture and this Catechism to be at so wide a distance one from another that he will begin to question whither and proceed to believe that Biddle did not himself believe what himself wrote or if he did so will positively conclude that spiritual and Scriptural understanding he hath none notwithstanding all his pretence to rational and that he did believe proudly supposing all men blind as himself that his Readers had no more In how miserable a condition then as to spiritual things must the Disciples of Biddle needs be when thus trained up not as the Apostle adviseth in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but in the blind and crooked paths of ungodly men deceived or deceving or both and in the doctrine of Devils not having onely no assurance of the reality but the clearest Scripture-conviction of the non entity of their faith Into which sad condition many notwithstanding are fallen into being so unhappy as not to know or having known to forsake the way of Truth and quite abandon all piety and honesty having departed from the Truth the onely firm ground whereon to build the same to prevent which mischief for time to come by reducing such to their prisline faith I mean such of them as own the Divine authority of the Scripture and withal to satisfie the just and pious desire of some and of my self who delight to see the Scripture vindicate its self and maintain the Truth of our religion to the end that they and all good men especially such to whose hands this blasphemous piece hath come may consume themselves their children and families in that truth wherein they are already built up and are yet building up one another I have therefore not by the understanding I have gotten but that God hath given me not compiled but collected certain Scripâ—ures which may serve touching several wronged Truths of God for a Scripture Catechism wherein I have not nor cannot but the Spirit of God may bring the Reader to a sure and certain knowledge of the truth of our profession and the Error of Biddles touching great things both touching belief and practice whilst I myself assert nothing much less force the Scripture to answer my lyes as Biddle hath done before me but onely introduce the Scripture uttering its own assertions which all Christains confess to be of undoubted Truth Take heed therefore whosoever thou art of Biddles Sect or not that lightest on this book and there readest things quite contrary to the lyes propagated by Biddle and currantly received amongst his deluded without grace lost followers for I maintain not onely the things here displayed but the many Scriptures alledged both in the Letter and sense of them not onely to have such a tendency but a direct and flat opposition to those his abominations I say take heed whoever thou art that thou art not once or again entangled or ensnared with these his Hellish diabolical insinuations for if thou art fair with him thou canst not be so without falling foul upon the whole bulk of holy Scripture it self inasmuch as all the Questions and answers thorough Biddles Catechism are forced either to speak another Dialect then themselves know or at least then the current of other Scriptures know whereas the Scripture wars not against its self but is in sense reconcileable one place to anoother though in words perhaps may have another tendency for how can a Kindom divided against its self stand And for the Answers in this Anti-Catechism now before thee they are faithfully transcribed out of the holy book rightly applied to Question and made father no more in the Question then is really contained in the proof if thou shalt make a dilligent inspection into the several texts with all their Circumstances which besides his pretentions Biddle could not say To evince it that he could not say so Take onely one Instance for many in his Catechism In his 5. Chap. his first question is How many holy spirits of Christians are there He answers it by Eph. 4 4. One spirit Put the Question and answer together they make one entire proposition whither true or false judge Reader There is but one holy Spirit of Christians This he does to take off the power of the word which calls the holy Ghost the Spirit God But neither here nor elsewhere the Spirit of Christians which yet as an answer to this Question this Scripture is made to say ex ungue Leonem by this may you judge of many such and yet Mr. Biddle gives you express Scripture without consequent
would impudently apply that Scripture Joh. 3.13 No man hath ascended into heaven but he that came down from heaven the Son of man which is in heaven and what other Scriptures speak him coming down from heaven coming forth from God and such like to this erroneous doctrine that Christ as man first ascended into heaven was there and came down thence ere he shewed himself to the world is that according to truth or doth he this meerly to avoid the force these Scriptures have in them to prove the Deity of the Son what Scriptures have you that will sufficiently prove he did not so ascend as man ere he was discovered to the world Answ Mat. 1.8 The birth of Jesus was on this wise when as his Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the holy Ghost behold a Virgin shall be with child Luke 1 30,31 And the Angel said unto her Mary Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son Mat. 2.8 Search diligently for the young child ver 9. stood over where the young childe was vers 11. They saw the young child with Mary his Mother vers 13. Arise take the child and his Mother for Herod seeketh the child to destroy him vers 14 15. He arose and took the babe and his Mother and departed into Egypt and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying Out of Egypt have I called my son vers 19 20 21. And when Herod was dead behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Ioseph in Egypt saying Arise and take the babe and his Mother and go into the Land of Israel Then he rose up and took the babe and his Mother and came into the Land of Israel Vers 23. And went and dwelt in a City called Nazareth Luke 2.40 And the child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit 42. Now when he was twelve years old 43. The child Iesus remained in Jerusalem 51.52 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them and Iesus increased in wisdom and stature Joh. 20.17 Iesus said unto her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended unto my Father but I ascend unto my father and your father Quest These Scriptures prove indeed sufficiently that Jesus was conceived among us for she was with child born among us seen among us removing from place to place among us growing in years and stature and gifts among us and after all this his own testimony after his resurrection do sufficiently prove he ascended not as man before he descended what use then shall those Scriptures turn to which he abuses to that end Ioh. 3.13 No man hath ascended but he that hath descended the Son of man which is in heaven Iohn 8.42 I came from God Vers 29. I am from above Iohn 13.1.3 Jesus knowing that he came from God Ioh. 16.28 30. I came forth from the Father by this we believe that thou camest from God Answ Add them all to that Testimony afforded us by the Scripture Rom. 9.5 Who is God over all blessed for evermore Amen Quest Whereas our Catechist quotes several Scriptures importing that he that believes shall be saved if we hold fast our confidence to the end if a man purge himself if through the spirit we mortifie the deeds of the flesh we shall live if we repent our sins shall be blotted out if we do these things happy are we if we suffer with him we shall also raign and whereby he deducts that the promises of the Gospel are propounded conditionally to faith perseverance obedience doing and uttering which indeed is true but mean time conceals that Truth which ought to be considered herewith namely that we may perform these conditions we must have recourse to an absolute promise are there not therefore Scriptures that make all these first to be Gods gift ere they are our Act repeat some among many Answ Gal. 5.22 The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith c. Eph. 6.23 Peace be to the Brethren and love with faith from God the Father and from our Lord Iesus Christ Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Eph. 2.8 By grace are ye saved through faith in Iesus and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Acts 26.22 I obtained help of God and continue unto this day 2 Tim. 2.14 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom Heb. 13.20 21. The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepheard of the Sheep thorough the blood of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in all good works to do his will working in you what is pleasing in his sight thorough Jesus Christ to whom be praise for ever and ever Amen Eze. 11.19 And I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit in their bowels and will take their stony heart out of their bodies and I will give them a heart of flesh that they may walk in my statutes and keep my Judgements and execute them Hosea 14.9 The wayes of the Lord are just and the r ghteous shall walk in them Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Acts 5.31 Him hath God raised up with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel to give repentance and forgiveness of sins Acts. 11.17 18. Forasmuch then as God gave them a like gift as he did unto us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ who was I that I could let God when they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life Rom. 2.4 Or despisest thou the riches of his bounty and patience and long-suffering not knowing that the bountifulness of God leadeth thee to repentance 2 Tim. 2.24 25. But the Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle toward all men apt to teach suffering the evil men patiently instructing them with meekness that are contrary-minded proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may acknowledge the Truth and come to amendment out of the snare of the Devil of whom they are taken prisoners to do his will Phil. 1.19 Vnto you it is given for Christ that not onely you should believe in him but also suffer for his sake CHAP. IX QVest Though the many Scriptures cited do prove the Divinity of the Son and we do in the main refer all other by strokes thereat one whereof we have in this Chapter to that distinct head yet whereas here is quoted Mat. 9.2 3 4 importing that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins and that the multitude glorified God which had given
in my members warring against the Law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Quest In Truth this is an eminent experience in this eminent Apostle writ for our instruction but what more express Scriptures have you Answ Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 John 8.10 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us If we say we have not sinned we make him a lyar and the truth is not in us 2 Cor. 3.5 We are not sufficient to think any thing as of our selves Psal 14.3.2 Enter not into Judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Esay 64.6 We have all been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy rags Quest Indeed this makes little for the possibility of keeping the Law of God but yet more are not these laws broken by us ere we come unto act and if so there is yet further impossibility Answ Mat. 5.28 I say unto you whosoever looketh after a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Quest Here is sin proved effectually to be in all even the best men omitting good committing evil yea and against their endeavours and desires and sin in thought but what is this sin which the best men do and cannot but do is it not the breaking transgressing or not keeping the Commandments of God Answ 1 John 3. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Quest But suppose a man exactly observe and do all the Law some few points nay ore breach in his time onely excepted doth not that intitle him to the guilt of all so that he that keeps not all and every one keeps none of the Commandments Answ Iames 2.10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all Quest If this be our possibility to keep the Commandements the Lord be merciful to me a sinner but yet the Scriptures speak of keeping the Commandements of God doing the will of God hearing and doing to which blessedness is annexed is there not therefore a new obedience required of and practised by the Saints according to the tenour of such Scripture which though it be not perfection yet is accounted to them as perfection and hath blessedness intailed to it That obebience centring on these two Bases Sincerity and Faith Answ Walk before me and be perfect c. upright seat Psal 1.1 2. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but his delight is in Law of the Lord. Gal. 3.21 22. If there had been a Law given which could have given life surely righteousness should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ should be given to them which believe Quest But David said of himself he had keep the ways of the Lord did he mean perfectly How could that be since he is recorded a fit example alledged by Biddle both an Adulterer and a Murderer what can be then meant by his keeping but his sincerity is not that his righteousness cleaness of hands and his keeping the ways of God namely his not wickedly departing from God and his being upright before him quote the very words already by Biddle for which light we thank God not Biddle to the contrary end Psal 18.20 to 24. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompenced me for I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eysight Quest What saith Paul whom before we find could not keep the commandments yet in Gods sight was accounted perfect but how Answ Phil. 3.7 That I might be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is of the faith of Christ Quest That the Lord Jesus himself did respect and the Saints may the recompence of reward is not denyed by us which is warranted by those Scriptures that tell us by wel-doing we should seek for Honour Glory and Immortality we should look for the blessed hope But how is this to be looked on as due unto us ex debito vel ex congruo for our doing or for our suffering or rather to the grace of God which pleaseth so to reward us in short is the reward of merit or of grace Answ Luke 17.7 to the 10. but which of you having a servant plowing or feeding Cattle will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field go and sit down to meat and will not rather say unto him Make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy self and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink doth he thank that servant because he did those things that were commanded him I trow not so likewise you when you have done all those things commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Ephes 2 8.9 By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Quest The Scripture tels us we are chosen to be holy and unblameable That Christ gave himself for the Church to present to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 2. That the gifts of Christ were for the protecting of the Saints we are exhorted to be perfect prayed for that we may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God and that our whole spirit soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we have it recorded that Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation That Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless if these and such like be intended of perfection compleat is it not in respect to the imputation of Christs Righteousness and perfection to us not of our own righteousness or perfection in us Answ I desire to be found in him not having my own Righteousness Phil. 3.9 Quest But rather is not the scope of those
Lord Iesus Christ God is faithful 1 Cor. 10 13. God is faitful and will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able but will give with the temptation that ye may be able to bear it 1 Thes 5.23 24. Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soul and body may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it 2 Thes 3.3 The Lord is faithful which will stablish you and keep you from evil Phil. 1.6 And I am perswaof this thing that he that haeh begun this good work in you will perform it until the day of Iesus Christ 4 The Elect cannot fall 4. Mat. 24.24 For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders so that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. Rom. 8.29,30 For those whom he knew before those also he predestinated moreover whom he predestinated them also he called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Rom. 11.1 God hath not cast away his people whom he knew before vers 7. what then Israel hath not obtained that he sought but the election have obtained it and the rest have been hardned 5 Christ prays and is always heard 5. Luke 21.31 32. And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not John 17.15 20. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou keep them from evil I pray not for these alone but for them which shall believe in me through their word Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemn it is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen again who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ John 11.41 42. And Iesus lift up his eyes and said Father I thank thee because thou hast heard me I know that thou hearest me always 6 The Saints pray and shall obtaen 6. Mat. 6. 13. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil 1 John 5.14 And this is that assurance that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us 7 6 Saints are preserved in the faith 7. John 6.37.38 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I cast not away This is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day Chap. 10.27 28. My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand John 17.12 Those that thou gavest me have I kept and nore of them is lost chap. 13.1 Forasmuch as he loved his own which were in the world unto the end he loved them 8. 2 Cor. 1.21 And it is God which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath annointed us who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts Ephes 1.13 14. In whom also ye have trusted after that ye heard the word of truth even the Gospel of your Salvation wherein also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance Chap. 4.30 Grieve not the holy spirit of God by whom ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption Psal 9. Comparison of Believers in Scripture 1.3 For he shall be like a Tree planted by the Rivers of waters that will bring forth her fruit in her due season whose leaf shall not fade Mat. 7 24.25 I will liken him to a wise man which hath builded his house on a rock Luke 8.15 But that which fell on good ground are they which with an honest and good heart hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience 10. Rom. 6.2 8 10 Saints dead to sin 9 11. How shall we that are dead to sin live yet therein wherefore if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall live also with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominon over him likewise think ye also that ye are dead to sin but are alive to to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Iohn 3 9. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not for his seed remaineth in him neither can he sin because he is born of God Chap. 5,4 For all that is born of God overcometh this world Rom. 8.35.37 to the end Who shall separate us from the love of Christ in all these things we are more then Conquerours through him that loved us for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Quest Our Saviour tels his Disciples hitherto they had asked nothing in his name was it because they prayed God without a Mediator without the name of Christ nay sure but they had asked nothing that is nothing comparatively to what they might have asked and God would give was there at any time even before Christs Incarnation any acceptance with the Father without him was not Christ the Centre of all those types Surely yes the Scripture is full Let it suffice us here to hear one Scripture proving that Christ was to them before his coming in the flesh as to us since though more darkly one Scripture proving that they did then pray the Father through his name even before his incarnation One Scripture that there is but one Mediatour for all men whether them before or us since his manifestation in the flesh let us hear them faithfully recorded Answ 1 Cor. 10.4.3 Moreover Brethren I would not have you ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea and did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ Dan. 9.17 Now therefore oh our God hear the prayer of thy servant and his supplications and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that lieth waste for the Lords sake 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus CHAP. XX XXI QVest It s of great comfor to the Church indeed that Christ her head hath the Keys of hell and death But hath not the Lord Jesus committed to the Church the power of these keys that the publike regular and due use thereof may according
to the institution of Christ and Apostolical direction be had to the proper ends thereof in each particular Church and congregation of Christ under the Gospel Answ Iohn 16.19 And I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shal be loosed in heaven Iohn 20.23 Then Iesus said unto them Peace be unto you as my Father sent me even so send I you and when he said this he breathed on them and saith to them Receive ye the holy ghost Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained Mat. 18.15 16 17 18. If thy brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault betwixt him and thee alone if he hear thee thou hast won thy brother but if he hear thee not take yet with thee one or two that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed and if he wil not vouchsafe to hear them tell it to the Church and if he refuse to hear the Church also let him be unto thee as an Heathen-man and a Publican verily I say unto you whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 1 Cor. 1.4 5. I verily as absent in body but present in spirit have determined already as though I were present that he that hath done this thing when ye are gathered together and my spirit in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that such one I say by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Iesus ver 13. With such a one eat not put away therefore from your selves that wicked person Quest Touching Baptism this is the end of this Chapter to destroy and overthrow the Ordinance and Institution of water-Baptism agreeing in this with such as of late have appeared to that and other such good ends for its a body of heresie we have to do with no wonder therefore if he takes every brother by the hand But how is this done first by bringing before us such Scriptures as tell us That John indeed baptized with water but he that came after him with the holy Ghost do those prove that water-baptism ceased with John or that Christ did that which John could not do namely wash us with his blood and Spirit doth not the Scripture therefore call Baptism the washing of the new birth and the forgiveness of sins Answ Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Acts 2.2.16 Arise and be baptised and wash away thy sins Quest No wonder indeed then that John could not baptize as did Jesus whose shoe latchet he was not worthy to unloose since it is not the outward baptism of water but the blood of Christ that cleanseth us from all sin since it is true also we are baptized into Christs death and it is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God that saves us these all proving baptism indeed to be a Sacrament and no more effectual then the Spirit makes it effectual which it hath made instrumental we confess it is not otherwise the thing signified but must affirm it to be the sign what testimony therefore have you for the use of that sign namely the use of water in Scripture Answ Mat. 18.19 Go and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Mark 16.16 He that shall believe and be baptized shall be saved Acts 2.38.4.1 Then Peter said Amend your lives and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ then they that gladly received his word were baptized the same day were added to the Church 3000. souls Mat. 3.11 I baptize you with water to amendment of life Ioh. 1.31 33. Therefore am I come baptizing with water he that sent me to baptize with water Quest This indeed is our sufficient warrant from the significancy of the word baptizing and also from the express addition of water wherewith Iohn was sent expresly to baptize only the efficacy of that ordinance was then and is now acknowledged to be the work of Christ by his Spirit but if they should thus say This was indeed the baptism of Iohn but the Apostles did not baptize or if they did not so what testimony therefore have you that the Apostles did baptize and with the element of water according to the first institution of baptism and first give the example of Paul who though he make it a great work to which as an Apostle he was chiefly called to preach the Gospel and that he might clear himself of vain glory he rejoyceth he baptizeth not many yet he acknowledgeth that he baptized some 1 Cor. 13. to the 17. Were ye baptized into the name of Paul I thank God I baptised none of you but Crispus and Gaius lest any should say I had baptized into mine own name I baptized also the house of Stephanus furthermore I know not wither I baptized any other for Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel Mat 8.36 to the end And as they went on the way they came unto a certain water and the Eunuch said See here is water what doth let me to be baptized and they went down into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him and assoon as they were come up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip. Quest There needs indeed no more au hority yet to put it out of all controversie have ye no president of some baptized with the element of water even after they had been baptized with the holy Ghost Answ Acts 10.44 to the end While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word so they of the Circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost for they heard them speak with tongues and magnifie God then answered Peter Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we so he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Quest One word more and then we shall leave it to whomsoever reads to judge whither we or our Master of Arts will more need to fly from plain Scripture to consequence or comment have ye therefore no example that the Lord Jesus Christ himself who did himself baptize with the holy Ghost yet for the honour of his own Institution and to confirm us in the truth that he might fulfill all obedience submitted to this