of this holy Commaundement aboue that I am able to vnderstand This verily is the naturall disposition and estate of vs all euen from the wombe as may appeare not onely by particular testimonies of the holy Scriprures but also by many reasons drawne from the same and from common experience also so that when it is truly sayd in respect of all the Cōmandements we may wel vnderstand it spokē chiefly in regard of this Who knoweth the errours of this life clense me from secret faults Keepe thy seruant also from presumptuous sinnes let them not reigne ouer me c. Psal 19.12.13 And Ier. 17.9 Yea besides our errors infinite are our naturall rebellions the suggestions of the diuell to hinder the obedience of this Commandement If we be pressed very hard with conscience of our duty we are readie without the grace of God to cast of the yoake Perfect obedience for vs. and to say who is the Lord To walke by faith is in our iudgment follie and the next way to beggery The feare of God breedeth melancholy And may we not loue God the world too what neede we pray God knoweth what we need before we aske and Gods will shall take place whether we pray or no. But who can recken al the replyings and mutterings of our corrupt and prophane hearts this way Seeing then neither your selfe nor any other of vs haue obeyed and kept this Law neither do nor can keepe it as we ought it followeth that you together with vs all haue deserued the curses threatned in it Haue you not I must needs acknowledge that I haue We all must needs acknowledge it not mutually among our selues one to another but chiefly to God with godly sorrow and lamentation in our soules for the same if happily we will not deceiue our selues But is there no meanes to auoyd the curses Yes by faith in Iesus Christ vvho hath perfectly fulfilled it for vs and giuen himselfe to the death for our sinnes vve shall not onely escape euery curse but also be partaker of all the contrary blessings For this cause indeed was Christ made accursed for vs that we might be made the heires of blessing through him Galathians 3.13.14 Seeing therefore our deliuerance and comfort standeth in the obedience of our Sauiour Christ me thinke it should be to good purpose for vs to consider of some testimonies of holy Scriptures which shew that he hath obeyed this Law for vs. What proofe can you alledge for it In the 11. chapter of Isaiah from the beginning of the chapter to the 6. verse vve haue one very speciall proofe Rehearse that Scripture But there shal come a rod forth of the rocke of Ishai a graffe shal grow out of his roots And the spirit of the Lord shal rest vpō him the spirit of wisdom vnderstanding the spirit of coūsel strength the spirit of knowledge of the feare of the Lord. And it shall make mim prudent in the feare of the Lord. Our iustification only by Christ The same is euident also in many other places of the Scriptures Reade Isaiah 53.9.10.11.12 Luke 2.49.52 and chap. 3.21 with Math. 3.15 and Luke againe chap. 4.4.8.12 verse 16. c. and chap. 6.12 and chap. 22.42 Iohn 2.17 and chap. 4.34 and chap. 6.38 and chap. 11.42 and Math. 11.25 c. Heb. 12.2.3 c. 1. Peter 2.21.22.23 and Isa 53.7 But are you now discharged from obedience to this Commandement because Christ hath obeyed it for you I am onely discharged of the guiltinesse of my sinne and of the curse due to the same but as touching obedience I stand bound for my redemption sake to knovv and acknowledge the Lord to be my God and Sauiour in Christ and therefore also that I do more stedfastly beleeue in him more heartily loue him more dutifully serue him and finally that I be euery vvay more aboundantly thankefull and obedient vnto him It is very true and standeth with al good reason Here therefore vpon so iust an occasion let vs diligently obserue that howsoeuer there is an infinite difference betwixt the Law and the Gospell in respect of vs and as they are for the same cause opposed the one to the other specially in the point of iustification and saluation the same Law being the ministery of the curse of death and damnation through the discouery and conuiction of our sinne as hath bene shewed before the Gospell on the other side being the ministery of grace and blessing of life and saluation yet in Christ Iesus the Law and the Gospell are reconciled and the righteousnesse of the one is the righteousnesse of the other and the duties of this are the duties of that and the blessing of either is in substance and effect one and the same blessing But yet seeing you cannot attaine to the perfect obedience of it to what purpose is it that you should take any great care or indeuour with any great labour to increase in the obedience of it Our vnperfect obedience is for Christs sake accepted of God God in Christ Iesus and for his sake forgiuing my sinnes and renewing me vnto himselfe by his holy Spirit hath of his most free and bounteous grace promised to accept of my vveake faith and vnperfect obedience yea and to blesse me for it more and more so long as I acknowledging him louing fearing and seruing him in any measure of truth Sins forbidden am hartily sorie that I can performe these spirituall duties no better and do labour vnfeinedly by prayer and by vsing all other holy meanes to increase more and more therein You are in a very good way and your perswasion hath sure ground for the Lord will not breake the brused reed nor quench the smoking flaxe Isaia 42.3 so long as we can say in truth Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and Lord thou knowest that I loue thee c. And the desire of our soule is to thy name Isaiah 26.8 The Lord will not cast vs away Iohn 6.37 The sacrifices of the Lord are a contrite spirit a contrite and a broken heart the Lord will not despise Psal 51.17 Reade Isa 66.2 I will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and which trembleth at my words And Song of songs chapter 4.9 and Math. 5.3 and chap. 13.12 Now blessed be the Lord our God who hath thus prepared vs so blessed a remedy and for that he hath giuen vs his holy Spirit and for that he hath made vs partakers of the beginnings of so vnspeakable consolation and comfort in Christ Iesus c. For he might iustly haue left vs to the common Atheisme and profanesse of our nature after the course of this wicked world c. Hitherto of the first Commaundement and therein of that spirituall worship which the Lord requireth which is such a kind of worship and seruice as hath his most proper seate in the inmost closet of the heart and reines and
and long since and may we receiue no vnwritten verities as they are called though differing from the written word of God vpon the credite of tradition from the pretended testimonies and warrant of auncient times from many former generations and ages as some would make vs to beleeue No in no case for seeing the Prophet Isaiah sayed in his time as we do reade Chapter 8. verse 20. To the Law and to the Testimony and if they speake not according to this vvord it is because there is no light in them Much rather are we to say so now seeing we haue not only the writings of all the holy Prophets beside the Law and testimonie thereof but the addition of the New Testament also wherein is the witnesse of our Sauiour Christ and of all his holy Euangelistes and Apostles as we haue seene before It is very true neither was there any time since that any part of the holy Scriptures were written wherein all the seruants of God haue not had a most religious respect vnto them the Prophets to the Law Christ to the Prophets the Apostles to Christ and all the faithfull Pastors and Doctors of the Christian Churches to the Apostles and to Christ and to the Prophets and to the Law of God giuen by Moses and to all the rest of Moses writings reade Luke 16.29.30.31 and Colos 2.18 c. and 1. Tim. 4.7 All antiquity not agreeing with the word of God is to be accounted no better then an old wiues fable Finally reade Gal. 1.8.9 Though that we or an Angell from heauen c. But after that we haue read the holy Scriptures meditated and conferred of them yea after that we haue heard them plainly opened and interpreted by the faithfull Ministers and Preachers thereof can we then by the light and sharpnesse of our owne naturall and mother wit as we call it sufficiently vnderstand the Scriptures to the glorifying of God and obtayning of our saluation We cannot vnlesse it please God together with his holy Scriptures or written word and the outward exercises thereof to giue vs also his holy Spirit whereby they may be inwardly written in our hearts as it were by the finger thereof For so our Sauiour Christ earnestly affirmeth in the third Chapter of Iohn Reading and hearing of the Scriptures insufficient without the Spirit speaking thus to Nicodemus Verily verily I say vnto thee except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God And againe Verily verily I say vnto thee except a man be borne againe of water and of the Spirite he cannot enter into the kingdome of God The same may be cōfirmed by many other authorities of holy Scripture But let vs proceed After that we are enlightened by the Spirit of God through the reading and hearing of the Scriptures preached vnto vs so that we do in some measure know the right way to saluation and how God is to be glorified haue we thenceforth any power good-will and affection of our selues to lay hold thereon to our owne comfort and to prouoke our selues to walke dutifully in the constant obedience of the same to the honour and prayse of God No neither vnlesse it please the Lord vnto the enlightening of our minds to adde a second grace of the same his holy Spirit which is the renewing of the heart for as the Apostle Paul saith in the 2. Chapter to the Philippians It is God which worketh in vs both the vvill and the deed euen of his good pleasure Tell me now Are we in any danger so long as we remaine in the ignorance of the holy Scriptures of God albeit according to our owne opinion we haue a good meaning and do zealously serue God after our owne blind deuotion There is no doubt but we are in very great and certaine danger of the wrath of God so long time as we so abide specially if we despise wisedome and instruction as we reade in the first Chapter of the Prouerbs of King Salomon verse 22. c. And in the first Chapter of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians from the 6. verse I pray you let vs turne to these places and let vs consider of them Now for so much as it shall go so fearfully with those that be ignorant and for want of knowledge do not obey the Gospell What shall we say of those who hauing great knowledge so as they can discourse readily vpon all points of the Religion of God yet haue for all that no care nor conscience to obey his will but follow their owne wicked lustes Ignorance of the Scriptures damnable so is knowledge without obedience are not all such in a most fearfull estate Our Sauiour Christ sayth that he that knoweth his maisters will and prepareth not himselfe neither doth according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Luke Chapter 12. the 47. verse No excellency of knowledge is of any reckning before the Lord if obedience go not withall reade Matth. 7.21 c. and 1. Cor. 13.1 c. Yet one thing more Did God create mankind thus ignorant and sinfull and miserable also through sin in the beginning of the creation No nothing so but wise righteous holy and happy in a measure of perfection conuenient and meete for them as it is declared at large in the first and second Chapters of Genesis It is true for in that it is written that God made mankind according to his similitude and likenesse all which you haue answered is comprehended as we may further perceiue by that we reade Ephesians 4.23.24 and Coloss 3.10 How then came all vanitie and sinne with so great and lamentable confusion and miserie as it is now come into the world and is most wofully fallen vpon mankind aboue all earthly creatures here below It is fallen vpon vs all thorough the willing apostacy and falling away of our first parents Adam and Eue from that holie knowledge faith feare loue odedience and happinesse wherein the Lord of his infinite goodnesse had set and placed them they harkening to that lying enticement and most malicious and crafty temptation of the Diuell Who is this Diuell you speake of A wicked spirit who being created of God a good holy blessed Angel did not keepe that his first estate the glorious place of his abode but of his owne accord corrupted himselfe through sinne and many thousands of the Angels together with himselfe and so became an enemie to Gods glory and a most wretched deceiuer and murtherer of mankind What ground of these things haue yee in the holy Scriptures They are set foorth and declared at large in the vvhole third Chapter of Genesis Mans creation by God his fall of himselfe by the Diuell How should there be any proofe of these things specially touching that which ye answere concerning the Diuell in that Chapter seeing though you reade it throughout you shall find there no expresse mention at all made of the Diuell That vvhich is
vvritten of the Serpent is to be vnderstood of the Diuell vvhose instrument onely the Serpent vvas You answer truly as may euidently appeare by conference of other places of the holy Scriptures with this third of Genesis as 2. Cor. 11.3.14 and Reuela 12.3.4 7.8.9.10.11 and Rom. 16.20 reade also Iohn 8.44 and 1. Epistle 3.8.10.12 Act. 26.18 2. Cor. 4.4 Ephes 2.2.3 Chap. 6.12 and 2. Tim. 2.26 and. 1. Pet. 5.8 and finally 2. Pet. 2.4 c. And in the Epistle of Iude the 6. verse But though Adam and Eue the first man and woman fell away from the Lord lost their first estate and pulled miserie vpon themselues what proofe haue you that it is so likewise with all their posterity In the fift Chapter of the Epistle to the Romanes verses 12.13.14 in these vvords Wherefore saith the Apostle as by one man sinne entred into the vvorld and death by sinne and so death vvent ouer all men for asmuch as all haue sinned For vnto the time of the Lavv vvas sinne in the vvorld though sinne is not imputed or rather not regarded where there is no Lavv. Also death reigned from Adam to Moses euen ouer them that sinned not after the like manner of the transgression of Adam vvho vvas a figure of him that vvas to come This place doth plainly confirme it indeed And it is iust with the Lord that it should be so no lesse then the attainder of the children of a traytour is accounted iust with men vntill the Prince of his clemency mercy shall pardon restore them The issue therefore of all is this that we haue very iust and also exceeding great cause in godly sorrow to lament and bewaile our sinne and to turne to the Lord by true repentance vtterly denying our owne wisedome which is nothing but folly and our owne righteousnesse which is meere iniustice c. if happily we might find fauour with God c. But haue we of our selues due conscience and remorse of sinne so to do Mans recouery not of himselfe We haue it not neither can vve possibly attaine vnto it vnlesse God of his free grace and mercy vouchsafe to giue it that is vnlesse he do by his word and Spirit mightily quicken and awaken our dead and drousie consciences and also mollifie our hard and stony hearts Nay rather vve blesse and thinke our selues happie in putting farre away the consideration of these things from vs euery one excusing and iustifying himselfe against God though we go on in neuer so vvicked and godlesse a course Shew some proofe of this that you say In the 17. Chapt. of Ieremie the 9. verse The heart is deciptfull and vvicked aboue all things vvho can know it I the Lord search the heart And againe Prouerbs 16.2 All the vvayes of a man are cleane in his owne eyes but the Lord pondereth the Spirits Thus therefore it is plaine and manifest euery way that naturally we neither know God nor our selues aright and that our corruption vanitie sinne and miserie is aboue all that we can conceiue so that infinite cause haue we to renounce our selues and all opinion of our owne wisdome and goodnesse so submit our selues to seeke our wisdom from the instruction of the word of God and that our hearts may be renewed by the grace of his holy Spirit and that we should pray vnto him earnestly and continually and vse all good and holy meanes appointed of God himselfe to the same end that so happily we may be blessed of him And so come we now after all former questions premised to the parts of Christian Catechisme and instruction mentioned in the beginning of this our exercise whereunto as was sayd all that hath hitherto bene discoursed hath as it were paued the way Rehearse the Law or ten Commaundements of Almighty God God spake all these vvords and sayd I am the Lord thy God c. We begin with the Law that is with the ten Commandements of Almighty God because they are that portion of Scripture which God hath specially sanctified to discouer vnto vs The Law of God detecteth sinne c. and to cause vs in and by his wisedome to see our owne folly by his holinesse our prophanesse by his righteousnesse our sinne and by our sinne our owne most iustly deserued death and damnation but not that we should peremptorily and without all bayle and maineprise as we may say be condemned but rather that we might be led to Christ Iesus thereby and so in him find wisedome holinesse righteousnesse redemption repentance and godlinesse of life here in this world and life euerlasting with all glory and happinesse hereafter in the kingdome of heauen To the which end and purpose let vs now in the feare of God trusting in his grace and in the blessed direction and comfort of his holy Spirit enter vpon the interpretation of the same the most wise holy and righteous Law of the Lord our God And yet because these words Law sinne curse repentance vertue or righteousnesse and blessing will be of often and necessary vse in this part of our exercise and therefore also necessary to be well vnderstood of all it shall be good for vs in few words to set downe the meaning of them before we come to the particular interpretation of the Commandements I aske therefore what this word Law meaneth The Lavv of God is a deuine rule or doctrine vvhich teacheth and commandeth the perfect righteousnesse of vvorkes That it is so we may perceiue by that we reade Leuit. 18.5 and Rom. 10.5 What is sinne It is the transgression of the Lavv either in deed vvord or thought neuer so litle swaruing from it So doth Saint Iohn define sin 1. Epistle chap. 3. vers 4. And Rom. 7.7 Lust is sinne And Marke 7.21 our Sauiour Christ telleth vs that wicked thoughts defile a man What is the curse of the Law which is the reward of sinne It containeth all the heauy and vvofull effects of Gods wrath that is to say all the plagues and punishments both of soule and body in this life and the euerlasting torment of hell fire in the vvorld to come This is plainly layd forth Leuit. 26. from the 14. verse and Deut. 28. from the 15. verse What sinne curse blessing c. do meane c. And Chap. 29.18.19 c. and chap. 32.22.23.24.25 and Isaiah 30.33 and Matth. 25.41 What is repentance whereby if it be of faith the curse may be auoyded It is an vtter forsaking of all sinne proceeding of hearty sorrovv for it vvith vnfeined hatred and strife against it and a zealous following of all true godlinesse and vertue vvith constant ioy and delight therein That this is the nature of repentance reade Isaiah 1.16.17 Amos 5.15 Rom. 12.9 2. Cor. 7.1.10.11 and Prouerbs chap. 21.15 It is ioy to the iust to do iudgement What is vertue or righteousnesse which is the chiefe fruit or part of repentance It is perfect
minde of man will alwayes be restlesse and so without restraint would put the Reader to much causlesse and frutelesse wearinesse ye will at the first viewe require a reason both of this booke and also of the title of it Of the booke why it should be published after so many excellent books alreadie set forth of the same argument wherby it may seeme to be a superfluous attempt Of the title how it may beseeme the modesty of him who offereth it to examination seeing albeit he cannot but confesse of him selfe that he is in truth a verie poore man yet may be suspected to make boast of great wealth and thereby to fall vnder the rebuke of that holy Prouerbe which saith There is that maketh himselfe rich and hath nothing VVhich surely were a foule fault specially in the Church of Christ and concerning the holy matters of God and the same also in a time of great learning in the cleare light of the Gospell wherein vaine boasting and beggery cannot possibly be concealed and hid To either of these demaunds or secret and sudden conceipts of the mind seeing by the Law of God concerning the ordinarie gift of prophesie and interpretation of the Scriptures The spirites of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets I thinke it my dutie to bewray and vtter vnto you the secrets of my thoughts so farre as your wisedomes and the cause it selfe may seeme to require at my hands that so the honour of the iudgement may in a lawfull course of proceeding be committed vnto you Touching the first therefore what may better beseeme me for answere then that being my selfe intreated first by some such whose request could not but thus farre preuaile with me that I should humbly referre the present booke to the examination of you who beside the gift of spirituall discerning haue a speciall power and authority to determine whether it befit that it should be published or no. To you therefore I referre it not desiring the publishing of it vnlesse it may be found meete to haue entertainment and allowance among the bookes of the same argument as that which hauing receiued great helpe from the former may yeeld at the least some litle helpe to such as answerable to the greater measure of their gifts shall write yet more exactly of the same most excellent points at any time hereafter As touching my selfe it shall suffice me that I haue offered it to your godly considerations tendring herein the best dutie I could both to you and those that so desired and incouraged me in the behalfe of Gods glory and the benefite of his Church as they were in their owne heartes perswaded And now cōcerning the title although peraduenture it may seem to be prefixed with a mind to make some vaine boast of an imagined excellency to be in this booke aboue others I do likewise humbly desire that it may not so be misconstrued but first according to that common vse of titles whereby each booke is distinguished from others and specially from those of the same argument and then in respect of the doctrine it selfe rather then of the maner and forme of the deliuerie and contriuing or digesting of it according to that which the Spirit of God saith of the most excellent Law of God and doctrine thereof that it is more to be desired then gold yea then much fine gold and more earnestly to be sought and searched after then any other iewell or treasure whatsoeuer beside In hope therefore that it shall be so interpreted of you and nothing doubting of your ingenuous and incorrupt iudgement of the whole booke I do willingly offer it to be read tried and examined of you heartily praying God by you to giue that iudgement and successe which he himselfe in his most excellent wisedome shall best approue of To whose most gracious direction and blessing in all things I do both hartily and dutifully commend you Yours in the Lord vnfeinedly desirous to learne of all that so happily he might be fit to teach some ROBERT ALLEN a Minister of the word of God A TREASVRIE OF CATECHISME The first part WHat is Catechisme I meane as touching the Christian exercise and practise thereof The Christian exercise of Catechisme is a familiar plaine and orderly teaching of the grounds and principles of Christian religion by word of mouth from the holy Scriptures of God with requiring an account of that which hath bene taught by questioning and conferring with the hearers from point to point To Catechise is according to the signification of the Greek word Catechaeoo to teach by sound of voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the later part of the which Greeke word commeth the word eccho familiar in our English tong which signifieth a resoūding of the voice This word of Catechising is vsed generally for all kind of information by heare-say as we vse to speake Act. 21.21.24 It is vsed for preaching of the word whether by continued oration or by this breaking off or diuision of speech by question and answer Gal. 6.6 Let him saith the holy Apostle who is taught in the word make him that hath taught him partaker of all his goods The Greeke word there vsed is this of Catechising as though we should reade it thus Let him that is Catechised c. So likewise Act. 18.25 and Rom. 2.18 and 1. Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake fiue words that I might be vnderstood and instruct or as the Greeke word is catechise others then ten thousand words in a strange tongue Reade also Luke 1.4 For as much as many haue taken in hand c. It seemed good also to me most noble Theophilus c. to write vnto thee thereof from point to point What Catechisme is That thou mightest acknowledge the certaintie of those things whereof thou hast bene instructed The Greeke word is here also Catechised Answerable to this is the Hebrew word chanac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which noteth the teaching of the principles of religion according to that we reade Pro. 26.6 Teach a child in the trade of his way c. And hereof did Henoch beare his name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chanoc as one taught from his youth or dedicated vnto God Gen. 5.18 Such an order and forme of doctrine by preaching and Catechising which wee speake of is pointed at by the Apostle Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forme of doctrine Rom. 6.17 expressed by a word borowed from the making of an impression by a stampe or seale And chap. 2.20 by other words signifying an information or method and way of informing the minde with knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an information of knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a preparation of wholesome words or doctrine by representing as it were the forme and fashion of it in a cleare glasse And 2. Tim. 1.13 he compareth it to a patterne the worke of a skilfull and expert painter or drawer which setteth out that
answere that God is to be acknowledged wholly and in all his essentiall diuine properties most wise most iust c. Reade Exod. 34.6.7 and Deut. 32.3.4 Now I would know of you wherein the spirituall worship and seruice of this onely true God the eternall and almightie Lord of heauen and earth doth stand It standeth in the holy meditation of God his vvord works both of Creation and gouernement specially concerning his Church it standeth in faith or trust belief in hope in loue in zeale in feare or reuerence in humblenesse and sobrietie of mind rightly to vse all good gifts and blessings of God in patience and meekenesse of spirit to endure all vvants and afflictions hovvsoeuer it shall please God to exercise and try our faith it standeth in prayer ioyned vvith thankesgiuing in all things finally it standeth in the dedicating of our selues soules and bodies and al that vve haue and vvhatsoeuer God shall blesse vs vvithall to the honour and prayse of his name and that in a most sacred and secret couenant oath and vowe betwixt him alone and our owne consciences in stead of a thousand vvitnesses Here we may not vnfitly call to mind that the beginning of our Catechisme is confirmed by the Lord himselfe in the beginning of his most wise holy and righteous Law he setting that in the first place which is principally most worthie and most necessarie aboue all the rest And for the same cause this commandement is most diligently to be considered and weighed of vs because it is as the foundation light and life of al the rest of the commandements not onely of the second Table but also euen of the first Let vs therefore I pray you in the name of God without all preiudiciall conceit of vnnecessarie tediousnesse continue still in a further inquirie more large haÌ„dling of this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t And first of all What is that meditation of God and of his word and workes which you speake of It is a staying of the mind in the serious thought and consideration of them vvith a holy delight and admiration at that most perfect and diuine excellencie vvhich shineth in them and which casteth forth the comfortable beames thereof vpon the soule of him that so thinketh vpon them Reade Ps 1.2 and Ps 8. and Ps 104. and Micah 7.18.19.20 Now what is faith and trust or beliefe in God It is an assured and comfortable perswasion of Gods loue fauour and blessing in all things and specially concerning the euerlasting happinesse and saluation of our soules vvhileâ— vve vvalke in his vvayes and stay our selues vpon the gracious promises of his vvord Reade Psalme 27.13 and Psalme 116.10 and the same againe 2. Corinth 4.13.14 Reade also Psal 56.3.4 and verses 10.11 and Ps .. 46. Ps 125. Read also Rom. 8.31 to the 〈◊〉 of the Chapter Thus faith hath ioy and comfort in the peâ—sâ—â—sion of Gods fauour c. yet vpon condition that we wâ—â—â—â—â— his wayes for so soone as we decline from the Lord we â—â—â—â—ken our faith and going on in such a course it should be presumption and not faith to incourage our selues to thinke that God would blesse vs we should therein tempt God c. reade Psalme 30.6.7 What is hope in God It is as the anchor of faith or as a proppe to vndershore and vphold it quietly expecting and vvaiting for the performance of saluation and all other blessings from the bountifull hand of God in due season vvhatsoeuer faith for the present assureth Reade Lament chapter 3.24 c. The Lord is my portion saith my soule therefore I will hope him c. Reade also Romanes 5.5 and chapter 8.24 and chap. 15.4 verse 13. Note also that manie times God is called our hope Psal 62.8 and 65.5 and Ieremie 14.8 and chap. 17.13 and Act. 24.14.15 and chapter 26.6.7 Reade also 1. Thessal 5.8 and Ephes 6.17 and Hebr. 6.19 Christ also is called our hope because by him our hope is established in God 1. Tim. 1.1 Coloss 1.27 the hope of glorie Finally it is the note of an heathen and vnbeleeuer to be without hope 1. Thess 4.13 For hope comforteth and establisheth the heart against all present cause of sorrow and griefe Psalme 27.14 VVhat is the loue of God It is a most precious and honorable esteeming and affecting of him vvith a chiefe delight in him aboue all things besides Reade Deut. 6 5. and Matth. 10.37 yea Luke chap. 14.26 Zeale followeth what is that It is a special fruit of loue or the earnestnes of loue longing after the glorie of God vvhich vttereth it self in a wise discreet holy coÌ„teÌ„ding for the aduancemeÌ„t of it infinitly aboue al things else Read Ps 69.9 read also 2. Sam. 6.16.21.22 The nature of that zeale which is in loue is notably described Cant. chap. 8.6.7 What is the feare or reuerence of God It is a holy childlike avvfulnesse vvhereby the faithfull and zealous seruaÌ„ts of God are made loth to displease offend him considering his fatherly loue vvherby he is loth to plague punish them Hereby also they are made very carefull desirous to please God in all things By this that you say it appeareth that the feare of God is in the harts of his children both as a bridle to restrain theÌ„ from sin and also as a spurre in their sides to pricke them forward to good duties And that it is so Reade Prou. 3.7 and chapter 8.13 and chapter 1.14.16 and verse 27. and chap. 16.6 and Nehem. 5.9 and verse 15. and 2. Cor. 7.1 and 1. Pet. 1.17 Read also Psal 2.10.11 and Psal 4.4 The want of this feare is as the breaking open of the dore to all wickednesse Rom. 3.18 and Gen. 20.11 Now what is humblenesse of mind It is an vtter denying and abasing of our selues in the sight of God through conscience of our ovvne vnvvorthinesse of the least of his mercies yea vvith acknovvledgement that vve haue most iustly deserued and do dayly deserue his greatest plagues and punishments if he should enter into iudgement vvith vs. Reade Genesis 32.10 and 2. Sam. 6.21.22 and chap. 7.18 and Psalme 8. What is man that thou shouldest be mindfull of him c. and 1. Tim. 1.15 and Isaiah 6.5 and Dan. 9.7 c. Reade also Micah 6.8 It is a dutie verie acceptable to God When do we soberly vse the good gifts and blessings of God When vve are in the enioying and vse of them carefull to procure his glorie and not our ovvne prayse and vvhen vve seeke therein spiritually to please him and not carnally and voluptuously or couetously to delight pleasure or profite our selues Reade Rom. 12.3 and 1. Cor. 4.6.7 and Tit. 2.11.12 the Apostle Iohn 1. Epistle chap. 2.15.16.17 and Peter 1. Epist 4.7 and chap. 5.8 and our Sauiour Christ Luke 21. ver 34. c. contrarie to the disposition of vngodly men who seeke praise one of another and make their belly their God louing pleasures