the Father Joh. 3. 6. Heb. 1. 3. Thirdly The Spirit the third Person proceeding from them both Joh. 15. 26. Q. Are these three Persons three distinct Gods A. No For they are that one pure Essence and therefore but one God Ioh. 1. 1. Rom. 9. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 16. 1 Cor. 2. 10. Q. If every Person be God how can they be distinct Persons and not distinct Gods A. Yes Because one and the same thing may have many Relative properties and respects of being which in the Godhead makes distinct Persons As one and the same man may be a Father in one respect a Master in another respect and a Scholar in aenother respect Q. If these three Persons be but one God what follows from hence A. That all the three Persons are Co-equal Coeternall subsisting in not separating from each other and therefore delighting in each â—…ther glorifying each other Prov. 8. 30. Thus much concerning God Now concerning the works of God Q. Thus much concerning Gods sufficiency What iâ—… his efficiency A. Whereby he worketh all things and all in all things Rom. 11. 36. Esa. 45. 7. Q. What of God shines forth and are you to behold in his Efficiency A. Two things First Gods Omnipotency in respect of his Essence Secondly the co-operation and distinct manner of working of the three Persons Rom. 1. 20. Iohn 5. 17. Q. What is Gods Omnipotency A. It is his Almighty power whereby he is able to bring to passe all that he doth will or what ever he can will or decree 2 Chron. 20. 6. Phil. 3. 21. Mat. 3. 9. Psal. â—…15 7. Q. What is Gods Decree A. It is his Eternall and determinate purpose concerning the effecting of all things by his mighty power according to his counsel Eph. 1. 11. Q. What attributes or glory of God appear in his Decree A. First His Constancy whereby his Decree remains unchangeable Num. â—…3 19. Secondly His Truth whereby he delivereth nothing but what he hath decreed Jer. 10. 10. Thirdly His Faithfullnesse whereby he effecteth what ever he decreeth according thereunto Esa. 46. 10. Q. What is Gods Counsell A His deliberation as it were for the best effecting of every thing according to his Wisdom Act. 4. 24. Psal. 40. 24. Q What is Gods Wisdom A. It is the Idaea or perfect platform of all things in the mind of God which either can be known or shall be done according to the good pleasure of his will Heb. â—…1 3. Prov. 8. 12 13. Q. What is the good pleasure of Gods will A. It is the most free Act of his Will whereby he willeth himself directly as the greatest good and all other things for himself according to his good pleasure Mat. 11. 25. Prov. 16. 4. Q. What learn you from hence A. That Gods good pleasure is the first and best cause of all things Psal. 115. 3. Psal. 33. 8 9 10 11. Q What is the Co-operations of the three Persons in Gods Efficiency A. Whereby they work the same thing together unseparably Joh. 5. 17 19. 16. 13 14. Q. If they work the same thing together How is it that some works are attributed to God the Father as Creation some to the Son as Redemption some to the holy Spirit as application A. This is not because the same work is not common to all the three Persons but because that work is principally attributed in Scripture to that person whose distinct manner of working appears chiefly in the work Q. What is God the Fathers distinct manner of working A. His working is from himself by the Son and to the holy Ghost Psal. 33. 6. Joh. 1. 3 and hence the beginning and so the Creation of all things is attributed to him Q. What is God the Sons manner of working A. His working is from the Father by the Holy Ghost Ioh. 14. 16. and hence the dispensation of all things and so Redemption is attributed unto him Q. What is the holy Gosts manner of working A. His working is from the Father and the Sonne Joh. 14. â—…6 and hence the consummation of all things and so application is attributed unto him Q. Wherein doth Gods efficiency or working appear A. In two things First In his creation of the world Secondly In his providence over the world Esa. 37. 16. Q. What is his creation A. It is Gods efficiency whereby he made the whole world of nothing originally exceeding good Psal. 33. 9. Gen. 1. 31. Q. Did the Lord make the world in an instant A. No but by parts in the space of six dayes described at large by Moses Gen. 1. Q. When did the Lord make the third heaven with the Angels their inhabitants A. In the first day in the first beginning of it Gen. 1. 1. Job 38. 6 7. Q. What is the creation of the third heaven A. Whereby he made it to be the heaven of heaveas a most glorious place replenished with all pleasure which belongs to eternall happinesse wherein his Majesty is seen face to face and therefore called the habitation of God 2 Chr. 2. 5 6. Psal. â—…6 11. Psal. 63. 15. Q. VVhat is the creation of the Angels A. Whereby he created an innumerable number of them in holiness to be ministring spirits with most accutenesse of understanding liberty of will great strength and speedy in motion to celebrate his praises and execute his commands specially to the heirs of salvation Heb. 11. 22. Joh. 8. 44. Heb. 1. 14. 2 Sam. 14. 20. Jude 6. 2 Pet. 2. 11. Esa. 6. 2. Psal. 130. 20. Q. When did God create man A. The sixt day Gen. 1. 27. Q. How did God create man A. He made him a reasonable creature consisting of body and an immortall Soul in the Image of God Gen. 2. 7. Gen. 1. 28. Q. What is the Image of God wherein he was made A. That hability of man to resemble God and wherein he was like unto God in wisdom holiness righteousnesse both in his nature and in his government of himselfe and all creatures Col. 3. 10. Ephes. 4. 24. Gen. 1. 26. Q. What became of man being thus made A. He was placed in the Garden of Eden as in his Princely Court to live unto God together with the womâ—…n which God gave him Gen. 2. 15. Thus much of Gods Creation Q. What is his Providence A. Whereby he provideth for his creatures being made even to the least circumstance Psal. 145. 16. Proverbs 16. 33. Q. How is Gods Providence distinguished A. It is either first Ordinary and mediate whereby he provideth for his creatures by ordinary and usual means Hos. 2. 22. Secondly Extraordinary and immediate whereby he provides for his creatures by miracles or immediately by himself Psal. â—…6 4 Dan. 3. 17. Q. Wherein is his Providence seen A. First in Conversation whereby he upholdeth things in their being and power of working Act. 17. 28. Psal. 104. 29 30. Nehem. 9. 6. Secondly in Gubernation whereby he guides directs and brings all creatures to their
the power of his Holy Spirit working in us by Faith according to the Will of God Eph. 6. 6 7. Psal. 139. 24. Rom. 6. 1. Luk. 1. 74. Q. Wherein consists our observance of God A. It is either Moral or Ceremonial Q. Wherein consists our Moral observance of God A. In two things 1. In suffering his will whereby a Believer for the sake of Christ chooseth rather to suffer any misery than to commit the least sin Heb. 11. 26. Acts 21. 13. 2. In doing his will whereby a Believer in sense of Christs love performeth universall obedience to the Law of God Rom. 7. 22. 1 John 5. 3. Luke 1. 6. Phil. 3. 12. Q. Is there any use of the Law to a Christian A. Although it be abolished to a Christian in Christ as a Covenant of life for so Adam and his posterity are still under it yet it remains as a rule of life when he is in Christ and to prepare the heart for Christ Rom. 6. 14 15. Maâ—… â—… 17 18 19 20. Ezech. 10. 11. Rom. 9. Q. Why is not a Christian so under the Law as a Covenant of life so as if he breaks it by the least sin he shall die for it A. Because Iesus Christ hath kept it perfectly for him Rom. 8. 3 4. Rom. 5. 20 21. Q. Can any man keep the Law perfectly in this life A. No for the unregenerate wanting the Spirit of Life cannot perfect an act of life in obedience to it The regenerate having the Spirit but in part perform it only imperfectly Rom. 8. 7. Rom 7. 21. Q. What befalâ—… the unregenerate upon their disobedience unto it A. The eternal curse of God for the least sin and the increase of Gods fierce and fearful secret wrath as they increase in sin Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 2 5. Q. What befals the regenerate after their breach of the Law and imperfect obedience unto it A. The Lord may threaten and correct them but his loving kindness in covering their sins in their best duties by Christ and accepting their meanest services so far as they are quickned by his Spirit is never taken from them Psal 89. 31 32 33. Zach. 3 1. to 8. Isa. 56. 7. Rom. 7. 20. Q. What is that imperfect obedience of Believers which is accepted A. When they observe the will of Christ as that therein 1. They confesse and lament their sins 1 John 1. 9. Rom. 7. 24. 2. They desire mercy in the blood of Christ and more of his Spirit Phil. 39 10 11. 3. They return him the praise of the least ability to do his will Psal. 50. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Q. How is the Law or ten Commandments divided A. Into two Tables The first shewing our duty to God immediately in the four first Commandments The second our duty to man in the six last Commandments Q. What rules are you to observe to understand the Moral Law A. These 1. That in whatsoever Commandment any duty is enjoyned there the contrary sin is forbidden and where any sin is forbidden there the contrary duty is commanded 2. That the Law is spiritual and hence requires not onely outward but inward and spirituall obedience 3. Where any grosse sin is forbidden there all the signs degrees means and provocations to that sin are forbidden also and are in Gods account that sin And so where any duty is commanded there all the signs means and provocations to that duty are commanded also 4. That the Law is perfect and therefore there is no sin in all the Scripture but is forbidden in it nor no duty required if moral but it is commanded in it Thus much of our morall observance of God Q. What is our ceremoniall observance A. The celebration of the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper Q What is a Sacrament A. It is an holy ceremony wherein external sensible things by the appointment of Christ are separate from common use to signifie exhibite and seal to us that assurance of eternall life by Christ Iesus according to the covenant of his grace Gen. 17. 9 10. Q. Which are the Sacraments A. They are two Baptism and the Lord Supper Q. What is the externall sensible part of Baptism A. Water John 3. 23. Q. What is the inward and spirituall part of Baptism signified exhibited and sealed thereby A. Christs Righteousnesse and his Spirit 1. Washing away our sin and so delivering us spom death 2. Presenting us clear before the Father and so restoring us again to life Rom. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Mat. 3. 11. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is a Sacrament of our new birth and ingrafting into Christ John 3. 5. 2. That as we are perfectly justified at once and being new-born once shall never dye again Hence this Seal is to be Administred but once Q. What is the externall and sensible part of the Lords Supper A. Bread and Wine with the Sacramentall actions about the same Q What is the inward and spiritual part of it signified sealed and exhibited thereby A. The body and bloud of Christ crucified offered and given to nourish and strengthen beleevers renewing their faith unto eternal life 1 Cor. 11. 24. John 6. 54 55. Q. What follows from hence A. 1. That it is the Sacrament of our growth in Christ being new-born because it is food given to nourish us having received life 2. That therefore it is to be administred and received often that we may grow 3. That children and fools and wicked ought not to partake of the Sacrament because they cannot examin themselves and so renew their Faith 1 Cor. 11. 28. Q. Ought not the Sacrament to be administred to carnal people if they have been baptized A. No because such as are not within the Covenant have no right to the seal of the Covenant Q. Where are Believers who have right unto this Sacrament to seek fruition from it A. Because it ought not to be administred privately as the Papists would hence Gods people are to seek to enjoy their right to it in some particular visible Church in joyning with them as fellow-members of the same body 1 Cor. 11. 20 22. 1 Chron. 10. 17. Acts 2. 42. Q What Members ought every particular visible Church to consist of A. Christ being head of every particular Church and it his body hence none are to be members of the Church but such as are members of Christ by faith 1 Cor. 1. 2. 1 Thes. 1. Q. But do not Hypocrites and no true Members of Christ creep in A. Yes but if they could have been known to be such they ought to be kept out and when they are known they are orderly to be cast out Mat. 25. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Rev. 2. 20. Tit. 3. 20. Q. Are these Members bound only to cleave to Christ their head by Faith A. Yes and to one another also by brotherly love which they are bound to strengthen and confirm as well as their faith by a solemn Covenant Eph. 4. 15 16. Col. 1. 4. Jer. 50. 4. Isa. 56. 45. Zach. 11. 14. Zeph. 3. 9. Psal. 119. 106. Q. What benefits are there by joyning thus to a particular Church A 1. Hereby they come to be under the special Governmenâ—… of Chrâ—…st in his Church and the Officers thereof Isa. 30. 20. 2. Hereby they have the promise of special blessâ—…ng and on their children also Psal. 133. 3. Exod. 20. 6. 3. Herein they have the promise of Gods special presence 1. Reveuling unto them his Will Psal. 27. 4. Psal. 63. 2 3. 2. Protecting them Isa. 44. 6. 3. Heaâ—…ing all their Prayers Deut. 4. 7. Mat. 18. 19. Q. Are there not some who never find these benefits A. Yes Because many knowing not how to make use of Gods Ordinances not feeling a need of Gods presence only in them their sin also bâ—…inding partly hardning their hearts and polluting Gods hâ—…se they then become worse when they have best means Mat. 11. 23. ser. 17. 5 6. Heb. 6. 8. 1 Sam. 5. 8 9. Eze. 14. 4. 1 King 8. 21. Q. What are the miseries of those who carelesly and wilfully despise and so refuse to joyn to Gods Church A. Besides the losse of Gods presence in the fellowship of his people it is a fearful sign continuing so God never intends to save their soals Acts 2. 47. Isa. 60. 12. Rev. 2. 23 24. Q. What therefore ought people chiefly to labour for and to hold forth unto the Church that so they may be joyned to it A. A three-fold work 1. Of Humiliation under their misery death and sin as their greatest evil Act. 2. 37. Mat. 3. 6. 2. Of Vocation or their drawing to Christ out of this misery as to their greatest and only good Actsâ—… 38 41. 3. Of new Obedience how they have walked in Christ since called Act. 9. 26 27. Mat. 3. 8. FINIS Mr. Thomas Shepheard of New-England 2 Tim. 1. 13. Heb. 5. 12. Mat. 13. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1 Cor. 2. 10. Tit. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15. Joh. 5. 39. Act. 6. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 8. Act. 20. 32.
The First PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD Collected by THOMAS SHEPHARD Sometimes of Emanuel College in Cambridge Now Preacher of Gods Word in New-England HEB. 5. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be Teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God and are be come such as have need of milk and not of strong meat LONDON Printed for Iohn Rothwel 1655. IMPRIMATUR Ioseph Caryl Imprimatur Iames Cranford TO THE CHRISTIAN READER IT is no disparagement at all for this wise Master-Builder to labour sometimes by the Hammer of the VVord to fasten these nailes of Truth in a sure place even in the heads and hearts of Infant-Christians Neither is it below the highest Scholar in Christs School to hold fast the form of wholesome words The great Apostle himselfe who was wrapt up into the third Heaven although he had received a Commission of Christ his Master to make Disciples yet he was a Disciple still for he not only Catechised others but learned and that again and again The first Principles of the Oracles of God which are called The Mysteries of the Kingdome of Heaven and the depths of God that is in plain English those Doctrinall Truths which are truly fundamentall and absolutely necessary unto salvation that wee may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gain-sayers and be ready alwaies to give an answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us Thus heartily beseeching thee in the name of Christ to search the Scriptures and to give thy self continually to prayer and the Ministery of the Word that you may grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I now commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are Sanctified So be it Friend I am thine if thou doest love the Truth and our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity VVILLIAM ADDERLEY Dated From Charter-house in London February 1. 1647. Christian Reader BEing desired to peruse and give our opinion of â—…e resolâ—…tions in thiâ—… Letter now presented to â—…y view VVe must confesse they appeared tâ—…â—…ery precious For we have seldome seen acutenesse profoundnesse and godliness so eminently equâ—…lly and happilly matched There are in Christ School divers forms elementaries and men of exerciseâ—… wits The Scholar proposing these cases was no Puny and he was happy in meeting with a teacher so able for resolution Therefore who ever reads and â—…eeds will not reâ—…ent of his labour But the moâ—…e knâ—…wing the Reader is and the more experienced in the VVaies of Châ—…ist the more delight may â—…e take in and the more pâ—…fit may he reap by these pious and profound resolutions So we are Thâ—…e in Christ Jesus Iohn Geree and Will Greenhill March 27. 1648. THE SUM OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION In way of Question and Answer Delivered by Mr. Tho. Shephard in N. E. Quest WHat is the best and last end of Man A. To live to God Rom. 6. 10 11. Gal. 3. 19. 2 Cor. 5. 3. 15. Q. How is man to live unto God A. Two waies First by Faith in God Psal. 37. 3. Secondly By observance of God Eccles. 12. 13. Q. What is faith in God A. It is the first act of our Spirituall life whereby thâ—… soul believing God believeth in God and there testeth as in the only Author and Principle of Life Heb. 10. 38. Joh. 3. 33. 36. Rom. 4. 3. Heb. 11. 13. Heb. 4. 3. Deut. 30. â—…0 Q. What is God A. God only knoweth himself no man can so know him and live Yet he hath manifested himself unto us in his back-parts according to our manner or measure of knowing things and we need know no more than these that we may live 1 Tim. 6. â—…6 Exod. 33. 19. 23. Q. What are Gods back-parts A. They are two First His sufficiency Psal. 36. 9. Secondly His Efficiency Rom. 4. 21 Q. What is Gods sufficiency A. It is his perfect fulness of all good whereby he is all-sufficient for us in himself Psal 16. 1â—… Gen 17. 1. Q. Wherein stands and appears Gods sufficiency A. First In his Essence Psal. 68. 19. Secondly In his subsistence or persons 2 Sam. 7. 20 25. Q. What is Gods Essence A. Whereby he is that absolute first being Rev. 1. 8. Isa. 44. 6. Exod. 3. 14. Q. Can you sufficiently conceive of the Glory of this one most pure Essence by one act of Faith A. No and therefore the Lord hath manifested it unto us by divers attributes Deut. 29. 29. Exod. 34. 6 7. Q. What are Gods attributes A. That one most pure Essence diversly apprehended of us as it is diversly made known unto us 1 Joh. 4. 16. Isa. 43. 25. Q. How many kinds of attributes are there A. There are two sorts of them First Some shewing what God is Secondly Some shewing who God is Q. By what attrâ—…butes know you what God is A. By these God is a Spirit living of himself Joh. 4. 24. Joh. 5. 26. Q. By what attributes do you understand who God is A. By his Essentiall properties which shew to us First How great a God he is Psal. 77. 13. Secondly What a manner of God he is Mat. 6. 17. Q. What attributes shew how great a God he is A. First His infiniteness whereby he is without all limits of Essence 2. Chr. 2. 5 6. Secondly His Eternity whereby he is without all limits of beginning succession or end of Time Psal. 102. 25 26 27. 1 Tim. 1. 17. Q. What are those attributes which shew what a manner of God he is A. His qualities whereby he acteth with are of two sorts First His Faculties whereby he is able to act Esa. 60. 16. 63. 1. Secondly His Vertues of those Faculties whereby he is prompt and ready to act Psal. 86. 5. Q. What are his faculties A. First His Understanding whereby he understandeth together and at once all truth Heb 4. 13. Act. 15 â—…8 Secondly His Will whereby he purely willeth all good Psal. 119. 68. Q. What are the vertues of those Faculties A. First They aâ—…e Intellectuall the vertues of his understanding as Wisdom knowledge and the rest Secondly 〈◊〉 the vertue of his Wilâ—… as Love Holiness Mercy In the acting oâ—… both which consists Gods happiness Thus much have you seen of Gods sufficiency in regard of his Essence Now follows his subsistence Q. What are his subsistences or persons A. That one most pure Essence with its Relative properties Q. What are those Relative properties A. They are three First To beget Secondly To be begotten Thirdly To proceed from both Q. How many persons learn you from hence to be in God A. Three First the first is the Father the first Person in order begetting the Son Psal. 2. 7. Secondly The Son the second Person begotten of