AN EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION BY THO HOOKER LONDON Printed for R. DAWLMAN 1645. AN EXPOSITION OF THE Principles of Religion The first Principle There is one God Creator and Governour of all things distinguished into three Persons Father Son and holy Ghost Here we must consider three things 1. That there is a God 2. His Works 3. That he is distinct Quest WHat is the reason that there is a God Answ 1. Because in every thing there is a first cause that is infinitenesse and power which cannot not be attributed to any creature 2. Inregard that all things were made for man man for an end which end must needs be God Q. But can we conceive of God as he is A. No because of the great distance between him and us for when a man looketh upon the Sun he cannot possibly endure it because that is so glorious and his eyes so feeble Q. How may we conceive of God Ans 1. Cast downe thy selfe before him confessing thy unfitnesse to draw nigh him 2. Look how he is set forth in his Word as a gracious glorious eternall being without any mixture of infirmity or disability Man hath with power weaknesse with mercy cruelty God hath not so 3. Goe into the world and view the height of its glory and then conclude If the Creature be thus excellent what must the Creator be Q. What is God A. A Spirit that hath life and being of himselfe Q. What is a Spirit A. It is the finest and subtilest subsistence that can be Q. Why bad God rather be a Spirit then a Creature Ans 1. Because that is the most pure and excellent essence 2. There is a great difference between God and us wee have a fleshly part he is all spirituall we borrow our being but God hath life of himselfe and gives being to every thing 3. That he is an infinite and Almighty God the sole Creator and Governour of all things Q. What is it to create A. To make something of nothing Q. Wherein doe Mans works and Gods differ Ans 1. Man must have something to work upon God needeth not any thing a word of his mouth is sufficient 2. Man is subject to be weary but GOD cannot Q. What is meant by Government A. A seasonable succouring and guiding of the Creature Such is the weaknesse of poore mortals that as they were first made of nothing so unlesse God upholds them they will soon resolve to their first nothingnesse Q. What are the particulars of this Government A. Two First Sustentation Secondly Direction Q. What is Sustentation A. The good providence of God whereby he protects and provides for his people Q. What is Direction H. A power of the Lord whereby he orders every thing to its right end Q. How doth he direct the creature to its end Ans 1. God gives them direction wherby to work and puts forth their ability into action Q. What may we learn from hence Ans 1. Comfort to the Saints seeing God is so great a Creator and powerfull a Governour there is no people under heaven that worship any other God are so blessed as they are Among the Gods there is none like unto thee O Lord neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 86.8 2. This should teach us to mind Gods dealing with us in every passage of our lives and to stand in awe of his Majesty Q. How is God distinguished A. Into three Persons Q. What is meant by a Person A. A Person is a manner of Divine being Q. Why doe you say a being A. Because the Deity and the Person is all one Q. Why doe you say a manner A. Because there be divers turnings that the God-head puts upon it selfe Q. How A. The God-head is full of wisdome and understanding Now the Fathers understanding casts it back againe upon himselfe for if he had understanding before the world then there must needs be somewhat to be understood but there was none but himself therefore he casts it back upon himself 2. This being understood is the Son the wisdome of the Father and the third Person being willed is the Spirit who notwithstanding are all one As long as a man teacheth he is a Master but when he is taught he is a Scholar practice comes from teaching after a man is taught hee becomes a practicioner here now be divers behaviours yet all but one man As a Sun beame falling upon a wall casts back its heat so doth the Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son Quest What is that which is common to all the Persons A. The God-head is common to them all and whatever is proper to the God-head is proper to all the rest with this difference in regard of the particular relation that every one of them hath the Fathers property being to beget the Son to be begotten and the Spirit to proceed none of them exceeding the other in time but in order onely The second Principle Man wholly corrupted by Adams fall became a slave of Sathan and heire of Damnation Quest HOw must we conceive of Adams fall A. Look into the height of happinesse he once enjoyed and the depth of misery his sin produced Q. Were any else in this estate A. No. Q. How then came all creatures to have their being A. The stamps of Gods Attributes were no farther upon them then to put vertues into every one Q. Where may we conceive this vertue consisteth A. In the soule and body of man Q. How in his soule Answ 1. In the understanding Adam by that was full of knowledge and capable of Gods will Secondly in the will consisting in holinesse and righteousnesse God putting an aptnesse into Adam to love him above all and his Neighbour as himselfe Q. How is Gods Image seen in the affections of men A. In regard of that sweet Harmony and agreement which the affection hath with the will Quest How is Gods Image seene in the parts of the body Answ When they are subject to the reasonable will and understanding in such things as God commands Quest What is the Covenant God made with Adam Ans That which was of works was Doe this and live by living is meant a promise which God made unto Adam that if hee kept Gods Commandements he would preserve him for ever Quest Had onely Adam this Answ It reacheth not to him onely but to the good of all his posterity Q. What are the signes of this Covenant A. 1. The Tree of life which was a sign and scale whereby God assured Adam as sure as he saw the Tree if he obeyed his command he should live for ever 2. The tree of knowledge which perswaded him that if he obeyed God hee should certainly know good and evill Qu. Did Adam fall from this estate A. Yes by the allurement of Satan in 3. respects 1. By propounding his temptations unto him 2. In pursuing of him 3. In obtaining his desire Q. How by propounding A.
must be Gods humbling hand Q. What doe you meane by sequestred Ans When a mans hearts desire and hungring is to get out of sinne though hee cannot saying with himselfe there is no reason why I should be thus ruled by base lusts Q. What is humiliation Answ When the heart of a poore sinner comes to despaire of all hope and helpe either in himselfe or any creature and is contented to bee at Gods disposing Q. How many things are to be considered in this definition Answ Hee despaireth of all hope in himselfe or in the creatures and is content to be at Gods disposing Q. When doth a man come to this despaire A. When he seeketh to the world for succour and findes none Q. When is a man content to bee at Gods dispose A. When he acknowledgeth he hath no good in himselfe and confesses if at any time God afflict him that it is just with God so to doe resolving what ever trouble lyes upon him still to trust and call upon God Contrition and humiliation are two graces which must be wrought in the soul before faith can enter in 1. Because every naturall man hath sinne to be his God now there cannot be two Gods in any mans heart 2. Because by faith we goe unto Christ to receive good at his hands now one cannot goe to Christ before he goe out of himselfe before we can get the pearle we must sell all that we have now Christ is the pearle wee must sell all our corruptions to enjoy him Q. What is faith A. A resting upon God grounded upon knowledge and assurance that God is my God in Christ Q. How many things are included in this knowledge A. A sight of sinne and a sense of it which will produce three things 1. A prizing and seeking for mercy 2. No content in any thing till we have obtained mercy 3. The testimony of Gods Spirit which assureth Gods children their sins are pardoned Q. What is meant by resting upon God A. It is discovered by two particulars 1. Casting our selves upon the Promise 2. A perswasion that they shall be fulfilled to us Q. What is Iustification A. When a beleeving sinner is accounted just in Gods sight through Christ according to the Law Q. Why say you accounted A. Because Justification puts nothing into us nor findes nothing in us Q. Doth God justifie wicked men as they are in themselves A. God provided another to be their surety for whose sake he accepts them Q. Can one mans wisedome understanding and holinesse be accounted to another A. Yes if one mans offence be imputed to another then may one mans righteousnesse but Adams sinne was imputed to us Rom. 5. therefore Christs Righteousnesse may be accounted ours If the Law be that the surety may be punished for the debt as well as the debtor then may the sureties satisfaction be accounted to the debtor both because the surety and the debtor tooke upon them the same thing and subjected themselves to the same condition Q. What doe we learn out of these words according to the Law A. No man can be just except he be in some measure answerable to the rule of justice Q. What did the Law require A. Two things 1. Dying for sinne 2. Doing that wee may live Q. Was our sinne made Christs by commission A. No onely by imputation for when Christ dyed to save us did we dye also no onely his death was imputed to us Q. What doth Christ receive from us A. Guilt and punishment Q. What doe we receive from Christ A. His merits and obedience Q. Doth faith it selfe justifie a man A. We are not justified by faith for it s but an instrument whereby we lay hold upon Christ and so are justified Q. Must justification be joyned to sanctification A. Yes for justification goeth before and sanctification followes after Q. Wherein lyeth the difference A. Iustification putteth nothing into a man nor findeth any thing in a man Sanctification puts a new frame of heart into us Q. But doth not God put grace into a justified sinner A. Yes but he doth it by sanctification not by justification We receive justification all at once and that neither admits of increase or decrease but holinesse is usually increased and decreaseth many times Q. What is sanctification A. It s the restoring of a justified man into the image of God wherein he was created Not a making new faculties in the soule but putting them into right order as when a clock falls in pieces the wheels being not broken the clock hath not new wheeles set into it but they are new made againe Q. How many things be there in sanctification A. Two Mortification and Vivification Q. What is mortification A. The first part of sanctification whereby sinne is killed in us by the power of Christs death applied unto us Q. Can sinne be wholly subdued in a man A. No but it may be lessened and filed away Q. Wherein lyes the difference between sin in a wicked and a godly man A. There is the neerest union that may be between sinne and the soule of a wicked man Sinne beareth greatest rule here and the soule yeelds greatest subjection unto it He hath a secret resolution to sinne in spight of God and his Ordinances But in a godly man the power of sinne is loosened and the union broken sinne is not in him as a King though it may be as a Tyrant Q. Can mortification and vivification bee severed A. No where God bestowes Mortification there hee likewise bestowes vivification Q. Which goeth first A. Mortification for before we can receive Christ we must make roome for him by casting out all wickednesse Q. What is meant by this word vivification A. It is that part of sanctification whereby wee are quickned to newnesse of life by Christ his Resurrection applyed unto us Q. How is this wrought by Christs Resurrection A. In sinne wee must conceive there is 1. The guilt 2. The punishment 3. The power of it the guilt and punishment Christ by his Death removed Q. But how did he take away the power of them A. We having sinned Christ dyed and rose again for us whereas sin and Satan would have kept him in still if they could but hee came out by force The fift Principle Faith commeth by hearing and is strengthned by the Word and Prayer Meanes to get and increase Faith Quest How may we get faith Answ By the hearing of the Word preached Q. Why is Faith wrought by the Word A. Because God hath promised a speciall blessing thereunto and the holy Spirit accompanies the same for this purpose Q. Why by the Word preached A. Because the Word preached doth evidently reveale truths to the soule and works more effectually upon a mans heart Q. How is Faith encreased A. By the Word Sacraments and Prayer The Word addeth fuell unto Faith provoking a man to come to Christ by shewing 1. the need we have of him by reason of
our daily wants and infirmities 2. The all-sufficiency of Christ to supply us 3. And his willingnesse to receive all commers Q. When is Faith strong Ans 1. When it grasps as it were a whole handfull of Christ a little child can grasp but a little of any thing 2. When it holdeth firmly that it catcheth hold upon Q. How doe the Sacraments strengthen faith A. 1. They present Christ neerly and visibly to the soule 2. They shew Christs merits obedience inflaming our hearts with love to him Q. What is Prayer A. It is a going out of our selves to God craving things answerable to his will Q. How a going to God A. Not a bodily going but the mind affection and understanding stirting up themselves to present their suit to him Q. Can a wicked man pray A. No 1. Because true Prayer is from the Spirit and a sanctified heart 2. These men oppose what they beg for Q. How many parts be there in Prayer A. Two Petition which is a craving of that we want and Thanksgiving which is a giving God thanks for that we have Q. What is the pattern of Prayer A. The Lords Prayer which Christ gave to his Disciples Q. Into how many parts is it divided A. Into three 1. A Preface 2. Six Petitions 3. A Thanksgiving Q. What doe you meane by Father A. The first Person in the Trinity who is the fountain from whence all we have floweth Q. How is God said to be a Father Ans 1. In regard of Christ 2. In regard of us Q. How is God the Father of Christ Ans 1. By naturall generation 2. By personall union Q. How is God a Father in regard of us Ans 1. In regard of Creation so the Angels are sons of God 2. In regard of Adoption which is the taking one in stead of a child Q. How may this word Father be a preparative to Prayer Ans 1. If God be a Father then he is bountifull and we may receive what ever we aske 2. If God be a Father he is mercifull ready to pardon all our sins 3. He will take in good part any service done in truth of heart though never so small Q. Why doe we say Our Father A. Our betokeneth a kind of propriety and interest As we say This is our house we have a speciall interest therein So here it sheweth a speciall interest that Gods people have in him 2. Community of God to all his servants as the light is common to all none can say it is My Sun 3. The fellow-feelingnesse that the godly have of one anothers misery Q. What preparations are there in this Word to Prayer A. It causeth Reverence A child commeth reverently to his Father so must we 2. It teacheth us confidence in God because he is our Father Q. Is God onely in heaven A. No he filleth every place Q. Why is God said to be in heaven Answ 1. That we may take notice of his power things above have advantage of things below 2. He is an holy God for he is in heaven where no uncleane thing is Q. What is the scope of the first Petition A. That Gods name might be honoured of all his creatures Q. What is meant by name A. That whereby God is made knowne Q. How is God made knowne to us Ans 1. By his titles and Attributes as when God is said to be holy gracious c. 2. By his Word and 3. by his works especially in the works of grace on the hearts of his children there is Gods name written as it were in great letters as the Apostle Peter saith They expresse the graces of him that hath called them so that when a man looketh upon a child of God he may say Surely God is an holy God because his children are so Q. When doe we honour Gods name A. When Gods name is to us as an holy thing when we see the worth of it and manifest it to others Q. What is the scope of the second Petition A. That God may rule over all especially over his Church Q. Why is it added to the former A. Because when God beareth rule then his name is honoured Q. What doth this word Kingdome signifie A. That rule which he exerciseth over his servants Q. How manifold is this Kingdome A. Twofold the Kingdome of grace and the Kingdome of glorie Q. How doth God rule in the Kingdome of grace A. By his Spirit in the Word he ruleth the hearts of his servants and aweth the hearts of hypocrites Q. How doth God rule in the Kingdome of glory A. Immediately by himself shining into their hearts and filling them with his grace Q. What doe we meane by Thy Kingdome come Ans 1. We desire that God would send his Gospel to such places Nations Countryes as have not had it 2. That God would spread inlarge his Gospel where it is 3. That God would confirm and stablish his Gospel and cause it to have better entertainment where it is spread Q. What is the scope of the third Petition A. That all humble subjection may be yeelded unto God Q. Why is this added unto the former A. Because then Gods Kingdome doth most of all come when his will is done Q. What is Gods will A. Gods good pleasure touching the performance or bringing to passe of any thing Q. What is Gods secret will A. That which God reserveth to himselfe in his own counsaile Q. What is Gods revealed will A. That which he hath made known unto us in his Word Q. How must we be like the Angels in obedience Ans 1. In readinesse they are they are said to have wings 2. In faithfulnesse they obey God in every thing so must we 3. Their obedience is constant so should ours Nothing should hinder our speedy and cheerfull obedience Q. What is the scope of the fourth Petition A. We desire a comfortable supply of all things concerning this life Q. Why is this put first A. A man must have a being before a well-being nature before grace Q. Why is bread put for all Ans 1. Because this is most necessary for subsistence All our endeavours ayme at this 2. We desire God would give us ability to use the means to attain it 3. That we may have a comfortable use thereof with a blessing attending it Q. What doe you meane by give A. First that God would give us what we want Secondly to continue and preserve still what we have Thirdly that God would give us an heart to make a right use thereof Q. Why doe you say us Ans Because we must have a fellow-feeling of the necessities of others we desire God to give us that we may help them Q. Why doe you say our daily bread A. Wee desire here a right and title to these outward things This title is two-fold 1. Divine in regard of God 2. Politicke in regard of men Q. Why do you say this day A. First it sheweth that wee must