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A47130 A Christian catechisme, for the instruction of youth, and others to whom it may be useful in the grounds of Christian religion, and practice of Christian piety wherein the twelve articles of the Christian creed, and the Godhead and manhood natures of Christ and his prophetical, priestly, and kingly office are briefly explained : and the true Christian doctrin, concerning Christ his being a sufficient saviour, as he is both God and man : and with respect to both the absolute necessity, and excellent consistencie of his outward coming in the flesh, and his inward coming, and spiritual appearance in our hearts, through faith in him, and love and obedience to him, in order to our eternal salvation, declared and demonstrated by testimonies of Holy Scripture : and the divine excellency of the light within, in distinction from humane reason, asserted and vindicated : and the question concerning its sufficiency to salvation, truly stated and resolved : where also many other Gospel doctrins, and practical Christian truths and duties are held forth / by George Keith. Keith, George, 1639?-1716. 1698 (1698) Wing K150; ESTC R19823 60,929 128

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or Voice or Written Q. Why is Christ called the word A. Because as the Word or Speech of a Man makes known his Mind and Will to the Hearers and is the Interpreter of his Mind so Christ the Essential and Eternal Word makes known the Mind and Will of God to Angels and Men and is the Interpreter of his Mind and Counsel unto them Which as he did from the beginning by his Holy Inspirations in the Prophets so especially when that Word became Flesh and delivered the Mind and Will of God most fully and clearly by the words of his Mouth in his Body of Flesh upon Earth Q Doth the Scripture contain all things belonging to Faith and Practice A. Yea 2 Tim. 3. 15. SECT II. Q. WHat doth the Scripture teach us concerning God A. That he is a Spirit of Infinite Understanding Power and Goodness unchangeable without beginning or end Omniscient Omnipotent Omnipresent Merciful and Gracious and long Suffering Faithful Just and Holy that he is Light and in him is no Darkness at all the Fountain of living Waters the one only living and true God without Body Parts or Passions John 4. 24. Psal 147. 5. Psal 62. 11. 1 Chron. 29. 11. Gen. 17. 1. Rom. 1. 20. Rom. 2. 4. Psal 31. 19. Mal. 3. 6. Psal 33. 11. Psal 139. 1. to 12. Exod. 34. 6. 7. Deut. 32. 4. Deut. 7 9. 1 John 1. 5. Jerem. 2. 13. Deut. 4. 6. Jer. 10. 10. Numb 23. 19. Q What doth the Scripture further teach us concerning God A. That this one God is the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are one God one Essence and Being equal in Wisdom Goodness Power and Glory 1 John 5. 7. Q. How are these three distinguished A. By their relative Attributes and Properties Q. What is the relative Attribute and Property of the Father A. That he hath begot the Son from everlasting before all Ages and Times and before all Creatures but he himself is begot of none Prov. 8. 22. Psal 2. 7. Prov. 30. 4. Micah 5. 2. Q. What is the relative Attribute and Property of the Son A. That he was begot of the Father alone from all Eternity or before all Ages and Times and Creatures and therefore he is called his only begotten Son and the word that was in the beginning with God and that word was and is God John 1. 1 14. John 17. 5. John 8. 42. Q. What is the relative Attribute and Property of the Holy Ghost A. That he hath proceeded from the Father and from the Son from all Eternity and before all Ages and Times and Creatures and therefore he is called the Spirit of the Father and of the Son John 15 26. John 16. 8. Q. Is it not therefore a great Error in them who say these three are only distinct in Name and are only three Manifestations and Operations in Time A. Yea. Q Doth the Scripture call them three Persons A. Though the express Names of three Persons are not in the Scriptures yet the equivalent to these Names are in the Scriptures for Personal Acts and Properties are attributed to them distinctly in Scripture the Father is brought in saying Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Psal 2. 7. Here is I denoting the first Person who is the Father and thou and thee denoting the second Person who is the Son Again the Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thy enemies thy footstool Psal 110. 1. Here is I the first Person who is the Father speaking to the Son who is the second Person Again the Father is said in Scripture to know the Son and the Son is said to know the Father and the Father is said to love the Son and the Son is said to love the Father Matth. 11. 27. John 3. 35. John 14. 31. Now to know and love are personal Acts and Properties and can belong to none but distinct Persons also the Father is said to give the Son and to send the Son and the Son is said to be given and sent of the Father or to proceed or come from the Father and the Holy Ghost is said to hear and to speak and is sent both by the Father and the Son and the Spirit is said to search all things even the deep things of God all which are Personal Acts and Properties and plainly denote three Persons John 16. 13. 1 Cor. 2. 10. Q. But as Peter James and John are not only three Persons but three distinct and separate Men why are not the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost if they be three Persons three Gods A. Because Peter James and John are three separate Persons having three distinct separate Beings and Essences and are in three distinct separate Places having three distinct separate Minds and Wills therefore they are three distinct Men but the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are not three distinct separate Persons having distinct Beings and Essences in distinct and separate Places and having distinct Minds and Wills but they have one Essence Mind and Will and where ever one is there is the other the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are in all things and over all and through all and their Operations and Effects in and over all the Creatures are the same the Father worketh all things by the Son and the Father and the Son work all things by the Holy Spirit Q. What is the true English of the word Trinity A. Three and one from the compounded Latin word tri unit as signifying God to be one in Essence and yet to be three not in Essence but in their Personal and Relative Attributes and Properties Q. Is there then any just occasion of Offence to say the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit is the Holy Trinity A. Nay Q. Whence then hath come so great Offence in some to find fault with those sound words as Trinity and three Persons A. It hath partly come in some from their not understanding the true signification of the words and it hath partly in others come from too great a scrupulosity because they are not express Scripture words whereas those very scrupulous Persons use many other words in giving the account of their Faith and Principles that are not express Scripture words and in others it hath come from a prejudice against the true Doctrine and Faith of the Mystery it self not only denying the three Persons but denying any distinction betwixt them other than three Names or three Manifestations and Operations in time and lastly in some it hath come from a Spirit of contradiction affecting singularity and to seem wiser than others whereof many other instances can be given in other Cases and particularly their finding fault with the word Humanity or Humane Nature of Christ which of late these very Persons have owned so that it may be expected that as they are become so tame and conformable to own the word Humanity and
in all Men and more specially in the Faithful it being generally acknowledg'd not only by Christians but by Heathen Poets Orators and Philosophers that God and his Word and Spirit is in all the Creatures and as it is said in the Book called Wisdom Gods incorruptible Spirit is in all things Wisdom 12. 1 So that there is no Goodness or Virtue or Excellency that is in either Stone Metal Vegetable or Animal but God is the Author and first Cause of it and that not as at a distance or without things only but as near yea so near that as God is in all things so all things are in him and in him we live and move and have our Being and therefore as God is Light essentially in and to himself so by an easie Metonymie God and Christ may be said to be a Light to and in all Men as the Cause and Author of all the Light that Men have universally and more especially he is in and to the Faithful their Light as David said The Lord is my Light and my Salvation Psal 27. 1. enlightning them with greater and more high and noble Illuminations and Lights than he doth other Men and so is a true Cause of their Salvation as their Light in them but not the only Cause as within them but also as in Christ God-man without them and together with him their great High Priest Mediator Advocate Head of divine Influence and spiritual Nourishment c. Q. But if God and Christ be a Light in Men then what need is there of any thing else without Men What need of Christ God-man without them to enlighten them seeing they have God and Christ in them A. The Presence and In-being of one Cause takes not away the Influence Virtue and Operation of another Cause as it were a false Argument to say God is in a Field of Earth as the great Cause of its fruitfulness and therefore that Field will produce Corn without Seed and without Dew and Rain from Heaven and without the Influence of the Sun all which are external second Causes even as false it is to argue God and Christ considered as the Word is in every Man and in the Saints and Operates in them therefore they need not Christ considered as God-man the Word made Flesh their High Priest Mediator Advocate and Propitiation in Heaven without them or any influence of heavenly Dow Rain or Warmth from him that Sun of Righteousness in whom the Fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily who is full of Grace and Truth and of whose Fulness as said John we all receive and Grace for Grace Q. I● it not therefore a great Error in them who blame that assertion that the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens is not sufficient to Salvation without something else that something else being understood to be the Man Christ who is both God and Man and the Sacrifice of himself by his Death on the Cross his Resurrection Ascension and Intercession for us in Heaven all which are something else than the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens A. Yea and 't is a downright setting Deism and Hethenism in opposition to Christianity and a subversion of it Q. But did not Christ say to Paul 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee and was not that Grace in Paul and if sufficient what need any thing else A. The Grace of Christ was in Paul but in measure and in Christ in all fulness and tho' the present measure of Grace that was in Paul was sufficient for that present time yet not without Christ as a Man's Hand is sufficient to handle a Pen and Write or do other Work but not without the Man himself nor was that measure sufficient for all time to come but Paul needed a daily supply of more Grace out of Christ's fulness as the Bread we received last Work and the Drink we then drank will not satisfie us now without a new supply of daily Bread and Drink so nor will the measure of Grace given the last Week or Day suffice to Day but we need daily to pray in respect of our spiritual Bread from Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread or as some think it better translated Give us this day the Bread of our Sustinence or Sustentation Q. Hath the Grace of God and of Christ then as it signifieth an inward Principle that he giveth to Men its several measures A. Yea it hath as Paul said to every of us ●s Grace given according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. Q. Hath the Spirit of God any measures or parts A. Properly speaking nay For the Spirit of God is one and the same Infinite Being with God and God has no Measures Parts nor Passions Q. Is then the Grace of God a distinct thing from the Spirit of God A. Yea though not divided or separated there-from Q. How then are we to understand that manner of Speech used by some that one hath a greater or lesser measure of the Spirit than another A. Not as with respect to himself but with respect to the Gifts and Graces thereof also when the Spirit is said to be quenched that cannot be understood of the Spirit himself but of his Operations Q. How is the Scripture to be understood that saith the Holy Ghost was sent down by Christ upon the Apostles for seeing the Holy Ghost is that Infinite Spirit and is every where present he is not capable of any local motion of Descent or Ascent A. That Descent is also to be understood not with respect to himself but his Gifts and Graces Q. What are the saving Graces and Gifts of Christ and of the Holy Spirit Are they not an inward Seed and Principle of a spiritual and holy Life the same that John calls the Seed of God 1 John 3. 9. and Peter the Incorruptible Seed of which the Children of God are Born 1 Pet. 1. 23. containing all the Virtues Graces and Fruits of the Spirit in it Seminally as Faith Hope Love Temperance Patience Humility Meekness c. Even as the several Parts and Fruits of a Tree are contained in the S●●d o● it which Seed is by Christ Jesus infused into the Souls of the Faithful to be in them a Principle of spiritual Life and of holy Living and Acting A. Yea. Q. But is not the Word and Doctrin of the Gospel outwardly Preached called the Seed by Christ himself Matth. 13. 19. A. It is so called partly Metaphorically and partly by a Metonymie where the Thing containing receives the Name of the thing contained the External Word and Doctrin being as it were the Conduit whereby the Seed of God's Grace is conveyed into the Soul and whereby that Seed doth Operate in the Souls of Men for their Regeneration who receive it with Faith and Love Q. How and whence have the Faithful the Holy Spirit given unto them of God Is it not by and through Christ considered
as for remission of Sin and Justification so for Regeneration and the new Birth A. Yea which sufficiently sheweth the great ignorance of some that teach how Paul laboured more to bring People to know or have Christ formed in them than to bring them to have a Belief in Christ without them as he was crucified c. For there is no other way to have Christ formed in us but by having a saving Faith in Christ crucified without us wrought in us by the Spirit of God therefore Paul called Christ crucified the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 23. 24 SECT XIV Q. DOth the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of Fire which Christ promised to his Disciples still remain in the Church A. In respect of the saving Operation and saving Gifts and Graces thereof it doth though not in respect of its miraculous and extraordinary visible Effects as the Gift of Tongues and the visible appearance of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire that sat upon each of them Acts 2. 3. Q With what Fire doth Christ Baptise them that believe in him A. With his Spirit of Judgment and Burning whereby according to God's Promise their silthiness is purged away and with his living internal Word that is as a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces and as a Sword cutteth down and slaveth the earthly Members of the Body of the Sins of the Flesh and as a Fire to burn them up together with the Hay Wood and Stubble the Briers and Thorns and all the combustible matter that cannot dwell with that devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings Isa 33. 14. 15. Q Is that the Fire whereof the Scripture mentioneth whereby a Man shall be Saved according to which God even the God of the Faithful is called a consuming Fire and Christ viz. with respect to his inward appearance and spiritual Operation in Believers was promised to be like a Refiner's Fire and like Fullers Sope and that he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levy and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness and that then the Offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years 1 Cor. 3. 15. A. Yea. Heb. 12. 29. Mal. 3. 2. 3. 4. Q. Why is the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of Christ in Believers compared to Fire and metaphorically so called A. Because of the resemblance and likeness of the natural and outward Fire to the inward and spiritual for as the outward Fire both enlightens and consumes what is combustible as Wood and Stubble but melts purifies and refines Gold and Silver so the inward and spiritual Fire both enlightens the Uunderstanding to see what Sins and Lusts are in the Heart that are to be destroyed and is as powerful and mighty to destroy them yet doth no hurt to the Creature but refineth purgeth and purifieth it as Gold and Silver is purged from the dross Again as the operation of the Fire upon the Flesh of any living Creature is sensibly painful and afflicting so is the operation of this inward and spiritual 〈◊〉 upon the fleshly Lusts of Men that have been as their living fleshly Members even sensibly painful and afflicting with a spiritual sensible pain And as the Fire hath not this operation but as there is a due application and bringing near of the things that the Fire is to operate upon unto the Fire so there must be an inward application of the Heart and Soul of the Man that is to be thus purified and have his Sins and Lusts destroyed to this inward and spiritual Fire which is to be felt in his Heart and Soul and tho' for a season great inward pain and affliction and suffering is here felt as when a Cancer is cut out of a Man's Flesh yet it ought to be born with all possible quiet patience and stilness and even then there is a present inward spiritual Joy Ease and Refreshment felt in the Soul that accompanieth the pain as when a Person is Cut for the Stone the case of having the Stone taken away is greater then the pain of the Wound Q. As there is an inward Baptism which Christ and not Man giveth so is there not an inward Supper that Christ giveth and not Man o● both which the outward Baptism and Supper are Signe even as the Word outwardly Preached in the outward Ears of Men is a Sign of that inward Word Preached by Christ himself in the Heart and as the inward Word and Preaching of Christ in the Heart makes not the outward Word that is a Sign of the inward null and void or unprofitable but there is a good and excellent consistency betwixt them so is there not as good and excellent consistency betwixt the outward Baptism and Supper which are the Signs and the inward and spiritual A. Yea. Q. Who are they that partake of the inward Baptism and Supper A. None but true Believers in Christ as he was outwardly Crucified and who hear his Voice and open the Door to his knocking c. by has spiritual appearance at the door of their Hearts All such and none but such Sup with him and he with them Q. What is their Supping with him A. His giving them his Flesh to Eat and his Blood to Drink that is his teaching and enabling them by his Spirit to apply the Merit Virtue and Efficacy of his Flesh and Blood which together with his Soul he offered up to God a Sacrifice for our Sins by which application and union through Faith Believers receive remission of Sin and his holy Spirit with the gracious Influences thereof Q. What is his Supping with them A. Their Faith in him and Love to him together with the lively exercise of all their Graces which are acceptable to him as a Supper to a hungry Man Q. But Christ said it is the Spirit that quickens the Flesh profits nothing This is brought by some as an Argument against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered death in the Flesh by them who think that Faith is not necessary A. If their Argument had any weight it would prove that Faith not only not necessary but nothing profitable though some of them distinguish and say they confess it is profitable but not necessary But the Argument is built on a false supposition and perversion of our Saviour's words which was an answer to the carnal Jews their objecting How can this Man give us his Flesh to Eat which they meant of bodily Eating by the bodily Mouth but Christ meant it of a spiritual Eating by the spiritual Mouth of he Soul to wit by Faith which the Spirit giveth and their carnal understanding was that Flesh which did not profit as neither would on supposition their eating of his Flesh with their bodily Mouths if they could have done it Q. Another
Jacob's Prophecy Q. What other Prophecies in the Old Testament did foretel the time of Christ's coming A. Danicl's Prophecy of the 70 Weeks and the Prophecy of Haggai 2. 6 7 8 9. Where it was plainly foretold that Christ the desire of all Nations should come into the second Temple and that should make it's Glory greater than the Glory of the former Temple which was accordingly fulfilled the which Temple was together with the City of Jerusalem destroyed about forty years after Christ's Passion the Destruction of which he foretold all which confirms he was that true Prophet of whom Moses Prophesied and because the Generality of the Jews did not believe in him therefore according to Moses's Prophecy they were cut off from being owned to be the true Church of God Q. What other principal Things did Christ that great Prophet foretel A. That he should be put to Death and the third day should rise again that he should ascend into Heaven and that after some days his Disciples should receive the Holy Ghost and be endewed with power from on High all which was accordingly fulfilled Matth. 16. 21. John 3. 13. Acts 1. 5. That he should raise the Dead and judge the World at the last day John 11. 24 25. Matth. 26 64. Matth. 25. 40. Matth. 7. 23. Q. About what time of the World's Age from Adam's Creation did Christ suffer Death A. About the end of Four Thousand Years from thence by the best account of Time SECT VI. Q. HOW did Christ perform the Office of a Priest A. In his Offering up Himself by his Death a Sacrifice of a sweet smell unto God for our Sins and by his continual Mediation and Intercession for us in Heaven Eph. 5. 2. Heb. 9. 26. Heb. 7. 25. Q. Why was it necessary that Christ should Offer up Himself a Sacrifice to God by His Death for our Sins A. To reconcile us unto God and to make satisfaction to His Justice and to His just and holy Law which we had transgressed Eph. 2. 16. Coloss 1. 20. Q Why was the Justice of God to be satisfied for our Sins A. Because our Sins are a Debt and the Justice of God required that this Debt should be paid by us or some other for us as our Surety Heb. 7. 22. Q. Hath then Christ paid to the Justice of God the Debt of our Sins A. Yea. Q. How did he pay it A. By dying for us and giving his Life a Ransom for us Matth. 20. 28. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Q. What is a Ransom A. A Price that is paid for the Redemption of Captives Q. What was his Life that he gave for us A. The Life of his Manhood that he laid down when he dyed for us Q. Why was it necessary that He should dye for us A. Because Death was the Punishment that was due to us for our Sins as it is written The Soul that sinneth shall dye and Christ becoming Surety for us by his Death he redeems and delivers us from Death Q. Whereas the Scripture saith Christ has redeemed us by his Blood and hath Bought us with His Precious Blood as of a Lamb without spot hath purchased us with his Blood and that we are justified cleansed and sanctified by His Blood what Blood is meant there and in other such places of Scripture that mention remission of Sins by His Blood Rom. 3. 25. Rom. 5. 9. Eph. 1. 6. Luke 22. 20. Acts 20. 28. Heb. 13. 12. 1 John 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 2. A. The real Blood of his Body that was shed on the Tree of the Cross when his Hands and his Feet were nailed to the Cross and his Side pierced so that Water and Blood came out of his Side John 19. 34 Q. Was His Blood the only Sacrifice and Atonement for our Sins A. It was but a part of the Sacrifice and Atonement for he gave his Flesh as well as his Blood for the Life of the World and his Soul was made an Offering for Sin And indeed the Sufferings of his Soul were the greatest Sufferings My Soul said he is exceeding sorrowful unto death Matth. 28. 36. Coloss 1. 21 22. John 6. 51. Q. What signifies the Word Atonement Rom. 5. 11. A. Reconciling Uniting and making One by a firm and close Union as when the Boards or Pieces of a Vessel are united ' by Glew or Pitch that the Vessel Lake not from the Hebrew word Kopher that signifieth Pitch also Ransom Redemption Reconciliation Q. If his Blood was but a part why is our Redemption remission of our Sins Justification and Sanctification so much attributed to his Blood A. By an ordinary Figure or manner of Speech when a part is put for the whole and as the Blood of the Beast is called in Scripture the Life of the Beast so the Blood of the Man Christ was his Life to wit the Life of his Manhood which he gave a Ransom for our Sins Q. Is it not therefore a great Error in them who say the Blood whereby we are Redeemed Cleansed Justified is the Life which is the Light in every Man A. Yea. Q. Is the Life which is the Light even in the Saints that Blood of sprinkling whereby they are Redeemed Cleansed Justified A. Nay For any inward Gift or Grace of Light and Life in the Saints is but the Effect or Fruit purchased and procured by the Blood of Christ as the Cause but the Cause and the Effect should not be confounded but distinctly considered although by the Figure of Metonymie sometimes the Name of the Cause is given to the Effect as Exod. 21. 21. A Man's Servant is called his Money because his Money bought or purchas'd him Q. How did Christ Redeem Reconcile Justifie and Sanctifie Men by his Death and shedding of his Blood for them on the Tree of the Cross Are Men simply by what he then did and suffered for them Reconciled Justified and Sanctified before true Faith Repentance and Conversion is wrought in them A. Men are not either Reconciled Justified or Sanctified until true Faith Repentance and Conversion is wrought in them Rom. 4. 5 6. Acts 2. 38. Acts 3. 19. Acts 5. 30 31. But Christ by the merit of his Death and shedding of his Blood and by all that he did and suffered for us without us procured and purchased for us Redemption Remission Justification and the inward Grace of Sanctification yea Faith and Repentance together with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual Presence of Christ with all his saving Gifts and Graces all which in the time appointed of God are received and witnessed by all them who are or shall be saved Psal 6. 18. Eph. 4. 4. Acts 5. 31. Q. What is the chief thing that is to be considered in the Death and Sufferings of Christ A. His most perfect and most holy Obedience and Resignation unto the Will of his Father for because he thus humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the
Christ the Mediator of it the promise of the Spirit and the saving Graces and Gifts thereof for our Sanctification Regeneration and Renovation and for our mortifying and crucifying the Old Man and the body of the Sins of the Flesh the taking away the heart of Stone and giving us a heart of Flesh God's writing his Laws in those hearts of Flesh and giving us his special teachings and special Illuminations Operations and influences of his Holy Spirit working in us Faith Hope and Love and filial Fear and all other Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit and true Gospel Repentance all suited to the Gospel and new Covenant Dispensation and all this freely by and through and for Jesus Christ's sake together with the promise of Eternal Life and Salvation Jer. 31. 33. 34. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. 20. 36. 25. 26. 37. 26. 27. Gal. 4. 24. 26. 28. Heb. 12. 24. Isa 44. 3. 4. 59. 21. Q. But doth not the Covenant of Grace require any terms or conditions on our part as Faith and Repentance and new Obedience A. It requireth nothing of the true Subjects of it as terms and conditions but such as God promiseth freely to give the Faith and Repentance and Obedience that it requireth God has promised freely to give by virtue of his Covenant and no condition or terms that Men can perform are any the least moving cause to move God to enable us to perform those conditions Q. But is there not an Order in the way and manner of God's giving his many several Favours Gifts and Blessings to the Children of the New Covenant as remission of Sin Justification Adoption and Eternal Salvation A. Yea There is an excellent Order of some things to go before and other things to follow some of which go before and others follow only in order of Nature and others in order of time as plowing and sowing the Ground goes before Harvest and Reaping yet neither the plowing or sowing are the moving cause to move God to give the Fruit and Increase Q Doth then Faith and Repentance in order of Nature go before remission of Sin and Justification though they are together in time A. Yea. Q. How doth this appear from Scripture A. By many plain testimonies of Scripture as first concerning the necessity of Conversion and Faith in order both to forgiveness of Sin Justification and Salvation This was Paul's Commission given him by Christ unto both Jews and Gentiles Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 10. 6. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy heart c v. 7. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness c. Again Rom. 8. 29 30. In that excellent golden Chain containing several Links that follow one after another There is Predestination going before Calling and Calling before Justifying and Justifying before Glorifying The Calling that is not an outward Calling only but chiefly an inward Calling and inward Work of God's Holy Spirit enlightning the understanding and moving the Heart and Will to answer the Call is not the proper Cause of either Justification or Glorification but a necessary antecedent of it in order of Nature as the holding out of the Hand is antecedent in order of Nature to receive a free gift from him who freely gives for Faith has no causality in order to receive forgiveness of Sin and Justification more than the Hand has to receive a rich and free Gift which Faith is also the free Gift of God Again Acts 10. 43. Said Peter in his Preacing to Cornelius and his Friends To him viz. Christ Jesus even him whom they Slew and Hanged on a Tree gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins Secondly As to Repentance its being necessary in order to forgivness and blotting out of Sins Peter's words are plain Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out c. And Acts 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and forgivness of sins And Luke 24. 47. Christ after his Resurrection taught the Disciples the true Method and Order of Preaching That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus we see how though Repentance and Remission of Sins are joyned together in those places yet in order Repentance is put antecedent to Remission of Sins Q. But is not Repentance a proper effect of remission of Sin as the Soul has a lively sense of it wrought by the Spirit of God in the Soul as it was said of Mary Magdalen she loved much because much was forgiven her who was a deep and great Penitent A. As some degree of Repentance is antecedent to forgiveness not as its Cause so there are other degrees of it that are consequents thereof and may be called the effects of it Q. Are the Infant Children of believing Parents within the Covenant of Grace together with their Parents so that the Promise is to them and their Children A. Yea Act. 2. 39. Gal 4. 28. Gen. 17. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. What is the alone meritorious and material Cause of Mens Justification before God Is it not the Righteousness of Christ's most holy and perfect Obedience unto Death and the shedding of his most precious Blood done and performed by him without us freely of God imputed to us and received by Faith A. Yea. Q. What places of Scripture in the Old Testament hold forth the Justification of the Faithful and their eternal Salvation by Faith A. That in Genesis 15. 6. compared with Rom. 4. 2 3. Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for Righteousness from whence Paul inferred that Abraham was not justified by Works though he was a very holy Man but by Faith And though Abraham's Faith is not expresly said to have been in Christ as he was to come and suffer Death for our Sins in the Flesh yet it is certainly imply'd for the great Promise of God to Abraham was That in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed and therefore Abraham also was blessed in that seed which seed was Christ as he came in the Flesh out of Abraham's Loins and not the Light within or
as he is both God and Man our Elect High Priest Prophet and King Head and Mediator without us in Heaven and as our Faith is exercised on him thus as its Object flowing into us and imparting unto us both the Holy Spirit and his saving Gifts and Graces and the daily encrease of them A. Yea. Q. By what Figure or Type was this signified under the Law A. By the Oyl that was poured on Aaron's Head and did run down from his Head and Beard to the lower Skirts of his Garments Q. What Testimonies of Holy Scripture have we for this A. Many both in the Old and New Testament as Isa 32 ● 2. Isa 59 21. John 1. 14 16. John 7. 38 39 John 4. 14. John 15. 26. Acts 2. 33. Eph. 4. 7 8 15. Q. Can it then be supposed that they have the Holy Spirit or the saving Gifts and Graces thereof who have not Faith in Christ as he is both God and Man without them in Heaven seeing the Promises are only to them that believe in him as such A. Nay Q. Do not such who think they have all within them needful to Happiness and eternal Salvation make themselves equal with Christ and as near to God in way of Union and Communion as Christ And are not such guilty of great Idolatry and Blasphemy A. Yea. Q. Is Christ God-man without us the Head of all gracious Influences not only as the procurer and purchaser of them by the dignity and merits of his most holy Obedience unto Death but also as the real dispenser of them out of the fulness of all Grace and Truth that is in himself so as that he is the great Store-house of Grace out of whom God the Father who dwells in him in all Fulness supplyeth the Church and every true Member thereof A. Yea Eph. 4. 7. 8. 15. 16. Coloss 2. 19. Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. 2. 3. 9. Q. What are these divine Influences Gifts and Graces which the Faithful receive of God out of Christ and which come down from above from the Father of Lights and descend as the Rain upon the mown Grass A. It is far better to know and enjoy them by spiritual gust taste and feeling than by any nice and dry Speculation of them They are like the Manna from Heaven which though the Children of Israel fed on yet they knew not what it was Exod. 16. 15. Rev. 2. 17. Let it suffice us to know them by the Names which the Scripture calls them Streams of Life living Waters Rain and Dew from Heaven divine Powers Lights and Virtues like the Virtue that went out of Christ that healed the Woman of her Issue of Blood Gifts and Graces Milk Hony Bread Wine and Oyl a Feast of Fat things all which though borrowed and metaphorical Names yet signifie more excellent and precious things than all worldly Treasure for they are the true and incorruptible Substance and Riches which never fade away nor never take Wings to fly from them that love them and him of whom and by whom they have them Isa 12. 3. 55. 1. 25. 6. Psal 68. 9. Hos 14. 5. Psalm 81. 16. Prov. 8. 21. SECT X. Q. WHat are the Laws that God doth write in the Hearts of his People Jerem. 31. 33. Are they not the same that are writ in the holy Scriptures excepting the Ceremonial part that is abolished and some other Laws peculiar to the Jews A. Yea. Q. How doth he write them in their Hearts Is it without all use of outward means A. Nay Q. Then are not the Laws writ in the Hearts of the Faithful by the Spirit in the use of outward means as a Transcript or Copy from the holy Scriptures themselves A. Yea. Q What is the difference betwixt the Law writ in the Hearts of the Faithful and the Law writ in the Hearts of the Unfaithful A. There is a great difference the one hath the Law writ in Stony Hearts the other hath it in Hearts of Flesh that are made by the Lord soft and tender Q Of what service are the Promises contained in the Scripture to the Faithful A. Of exceeding great use and service for by them through the Operation of the Spirit we are made partakers of the divine Nature Q. What is the difference betwixt the manner of God and Christ their being in the Saints and true Believers and the manner of their being in Unbelievers and Unconverted Persons A. As to the essential Presence of God and the essential Word and Spirit that is the same every where and in all things but in respect of Manifestations and Operations the difference is great for the Faithful have peculiar and special Manifestations and Operations of God and Christ in them which none others have Again God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are in the Faithful by Union and Communion and Inhabitation or In-dwelling by Faith and Love but not so in unbelievers and unsanctified Persons Hence it is that unbelievers are said to be without God and Christ in the World without Hope Strangers and Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Q. How is Christ in the Saints their Hope of Glory Coloss 1. 27. A. It is not so to be understood as if Christ were only their Hope or the Object and Author of it only as within them and not as without them as he is God-man the great High Priest Mediator and Advocate and as their Head for he is the Saints Hope both ways considered for Paul gave thanks to God for the Hope laid up for the believing Colossians in Heaven 1 Coloss 3. 4. 5. And surely that was more or something else than what they enjoyed of Christ within them unless Men will say as some have said that there is no Heaven at all without Men but only within them nor any Hell but within them which is abominable Ranterism but we cannot have the saving knowledge of him nor that sweet and comfortable experience and enjoyment of him and of his Love and Life and spiritual Blessings but as the Mystery of him is inwardly revealed in us and his Love and Life inwardly felt by us for as Christ within the Saints and without them is but one Christ so it is but one great Mystery which yet may be distinguished into two parts the greater part being God manifest in the Flesh to wit in the Flesh of Christ as he outwardly suffered justified in the Spirit seen of Angels Preached to the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory which Paul said was without Controversie the great Mystery of Godliness and without all doubt is the greater part of the Mystery for the best of the Saints have not the Fulness in them it is only the glorified Man Christ Jesus without them who has that Fulness but every one of the Saints have a measure of the Gift of Grace out of that Fulness as the Water in the Cistern is but a sinall part of that which is in the River
Objection is oft made by some against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered in the Flesh that Paul said He knew Christ no more after the Flesh how is this Objection to be answered 2 Cor. 5. 16. A. The words after the Flesh do not refer to Christ's Flesh as if Paul had renounced and quite buried in oblivion all Knowledge Faith and Remembrance of Christ's Death and Sufferings in the Flesh and Resurrection the contrary of which is evident from many places throughout his Epistles and particularly from his words a little before in that same Chapter v. 14 15. but his carnal knowledge of Christ such as he had when a Pharisee which was but a knowledge of Christ after the Flesh he did justly reject Q But have not some felt an inward spiritual Fire and had experience of the good Effects of it who are so far from having had Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered Death in the Flesh that they are prejudiced against it and have openly before many Witnesses opposed it as unnecessary and unprofitable yea hurtful as drawing from the Gift of God within A. As the Law at Mount Sinai Exod. 19 1. 16. 12. 2. 6. was given in Fire on the 50th day after the Children of Israel came out of Egypt so the Holy Ghost was given in Fire on the 50th day from Christ's Resurrection Acts 2. 1. 2. 3. And as these two outward Fires differed so there are two inward Ministrations of Fire as it were two Fires the first Legal the second Evangelical and whatever good Effects the Legal Fire produceth it maketh none the Children of the New Covenant or bringeth to that Perfection and Purification and true and real Sanctification that the Gospel ministration bringeth unto the Effects of the last and first as much differing as Gold and Silver differs from Brass and Iron Q. What is the Everlasting Life A. It is the full enjoyment of God and Christ together with the holy Spirit by Vision Love and Delight together with the complete Glorification of the Souls and Bodies of all the Faithful eternally and without all end in the Kingdom of Heaven and where they shall enjoy the blessed Society of all the holy Angels and glorified Saints Matth. 5. 8. 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Rev. 22. 4. Philip 3. 21. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 12. 22. Q. Is there an Earnest or first Fruits of Eternal Life that the Faithful do enjoy here on Earth in the mortal Body A. Yea John 6. 47. 58. Rom. 8. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 14. Q. What is that Faith in Christ Jesus whereby the Faithful eat his Flesh and drink his Blood that they may have Eternal Life A. It is not only the assent of the understanding to the truth of Christ as he came in the Flesh and gave his Body of Flesh to be broken and his Blood to be sued for us but is a most chearful ready and free consent of the Heart and Will whereby every true Believer with great desire receiveth accepteth and relyeth upon Christ trusteth and consideth in him and in God the Father through him for remission of Sin Justification and Eternal Life and Salvation and all the Spiritual blessings promised in the Gospel and by which free act of the Will the Faithful chuse God to be their God and Father and Christ to be their Redeemer and Saviour Head and Husband King and Lord as well as Priest and Propitiation for Sin The Believer having thus acted Faith on him is as truly refreshed comforted strengthened fed and satisfied with him as a hungry Man is with Meat therefore by a Metaphor believing in Christ is called an eating of him both which assent of the Understanding and consent and choice of the Heart and Will is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of Christ by means of the Word and Doctrin delivered in the holy Scriptures and by the like Metaphor it is called a looking to him a coming to him a resting and abiding in him a being joyned to him as the Members are joyned to the Head a being grafted in him Rom. 11. 17. Joh. 15. 4. and built upon him as on a sure Foundation also a being married to him by which Faith as they abide and dwell in him so he abideth and dwelleth in them Heb. 12. 2. Isa 45. 21. 22. Matth. 11. 28. Isa 11. 10. John 15. 7. Eph. 2. 6. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 4. Yea not only his Spirit and Life dwelleth in them but he himself the Man Christ Jesus who dyed and rose again by Faith dwelleth in them not by his bodily Presence but by their having him in their constant thoughts and remembrance and in their love and affections as the loving Wife hath her loving Husband in her thoughts and affections when he is bodily absent and as Paul said to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7. 3. You are in our hearts to dye and to live with you Q. But it is objected by some that they find a difficulty if not an impossibility in it to believe in the Man Christ without them whom they have never at any time heard or seen they cannot frame a conception of him in the mind as the Wife can of the Husband whom she hath both heard and seen and immediately conversed with A. The account that the holy Scriptures give us of him and of his most holy Life and Virtues and wonderful Excellencies doth better help us to frame a Conception of him in our minds as the holy Spirit that we receive from him gives life to that Conception by his powerful Operation in us than if we had only seen him and heard him outwardly as the true and accurate description of a Man's Life and Virtues gives us a better account of him than the bodily sight and hearing of him therefore it was that our Lord said to Thomas Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed Joh. 20. 29. There is no Man who hath receiv'd some extraordinary favour from a Person that he hath not seen but by the favour which he hath receiv'd from him he will be helped to frame a very lovely Conception of him in his Heart and Soul And the faithful who had not seen Christ with their bodily Eyes more than we to whom Peter writ unto did both believe in Christ and love him whom they had not seen and rejoyced in him with great joy even joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 6. With what dearness of love and affection do we love the Saints whose holy Lives and Virtues are so lively set forth to us in the Scriptures and the holy Martyrs in Church History though we believe not in them But we could not love them unless we had some true Conception or Idea of them for love doth as much require a lively Conception of the Object beloved as Faith requireth a lively Conception of the Object believed Therefore if