we receive erroneous teachers into our houses or must we avoid them A. 2 Joh. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed Q. What 's the cause of Error A. Matth. 22.29 Jesus answered and said unto them ye doe erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Chap. 3. Of the Holy Scriptures Q. BY What Rule must we judge of the Doctrines we heare we must we judge by the Scriptures A. Yes Isai 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye thinke ye have eternall life and they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 12. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so therefore many of them believed Q. Are we to believe God speaking to us in the Scriptures as if he spake to us audibly by a voice from heaven A. 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye doe well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a darke place untill the day-dawn the daystar arise in your hearts Q. Are we to believe even an Angel from heaven contrary to the Scriptures A. Galat. 1.8 But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Q. Ought we to believe the Scriptures rather than one who should come from the dead A. Luk. 16.27 28 29. I pray thee Father that thou wouldest send him to my Fathers house that he may testify unto them Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them Q. Would it be more effectuall to have our friends rise from the dead and warne us lest we come to the place of torment than to have the Scriptures read and applyed A. Luk. 16. last And he said unto him If they heare not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Q Did the Prophets of old speak and write the Holy Scriptures by any private motion or by the incitation or inspiration of the holy Ghost A. 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine c. 2 Pet. 1.20.21 Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Q. Did the Apostles of Christ preach the word of God or the word of man A. 1 The. 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Q. Did our Saviour Christ and the Apostles allow their Hearers no try their Doctrine by the Holy Scriptures A. Yea. Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readines of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Q. Did Christ and the Apostles who had the greatest measure and who were full of the Holy Ghost cite Scripture and prove by Scripture or appeal constantly to private Revelations or to a light or word within them or say alway Thus sayth the Spirit within us A. Luk. 10.26 What is written in the Law how readest thou Mar. 12.29 And as touching the dead that they rise have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spake unto him saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaack and the God of Jacob Q. Are the Scriptures and the Spirit joyned together and doth the Spirit of God goe along with the Scriptures A. Isai 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them sayth the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy feeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Joh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I spake unto you they are Spirit and they are life Q. But are the Scriptures able to make us perfect and wise unto Salvation without attending to visions and Revelations A. 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes Q. Are the Scriptures of the old Testament of use unto us now in the dayes of the Gospell A. Rom. 15.4 For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope 1 Cor. 10.1 to the 6th Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the Sea c. Now these things were our Examples to the intent we should not lust after evill things as they also lusted c. So. v. 11. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come Q. May the common people read the Scriptures A. Yea Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures for they are they which testify of me Act. 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Act. 8.30 And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the Prophet Esaias and said Understandest thou what thou readest 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures Isai 34.16 Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read Deut. 17.18 19. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to doe them Q. May the Scriptures be translated out of the Originall languages into those tongues
A SCRIPTVRE-Catechisme Towards the confutation OF Sundry ERROVRS Some of them of the present times By THOMAS HODGES B. D. Rector of Soulderne in Oxford-shire Mat. 22.29 Yee doe erre not kowing the Scriptures OXFORD Printed by H. HALL Printer to the University For T. ROBINSON 1658. To my very much Honoured Friend JOHN NORTON of Cotherstock in the County of Northampton Esq Sr A double account may possibly be expected from me namely of the following Treatise and of the present Application A threefold exception may perhaps be made to that that t is a Catechisme that t is an Elenchtical Catechism or a Catechetical confutation of Errors and that 't is such a Scripture Catechisme or the Answers to the Questions mostly the very letter of the Scripture If any blame me saying 't is below a Preacher to publish a Catechisme now in these dayes wherein even some of the people are got up above the highest Ordinances My Answer is that as I have not been ashamed to practise the despised duty of Catechizing at home in my own Congregation so I shall not blush to countenance and avouch it to the world I know and consider that our Lord and Master the great Shepheard and Bishop of soules gave in charge to the Apostle Peter to feed his Lambes as well as his sheep and that 't is the part of a faithfull Steward or dispencer in God's family not as the Papists say to dispense with but to dispense or administer the Ordinances of God and to provide for every one of the family his portion in due season to see that the Babes have Milk as well as Strong men Meat I doe not here set before Christ's little ones whole sheep or whole joints as is done in large Tracts or Volumes of such subjects but these dishes cut up and carv'd out and it may be minc'd too that very children or Babes in knowledge may feed themselves Besides I dare say that there is even in these times but need of Catechizing for want of laying this Foundation how many foolish Builders have fondly built Castles in the aire to no purpose for want of this Ballast how many have been tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine And now if we would Regulate mens foolish high-towring fancies one way sure is to lay not to raze Foundations If we would make an everlasting Separation 'twixt these fond lovers and their new-fangled Errours one way is to Reconcile and bring them home againe to and in love with their old first and best Principles For the second exception that 't is a Catecheticall confutation of Errours I say such an Enemy as Error is may lawfully be driven out any way and that 't is but reasonable to use the same method to confute error that others have done to confirme it I shall herein imitate the skillfull Physitian who endeavours to expell the poyson out of the body the same way by which it was first taken in And now if any be dissatisfied that 't is a Scripture-Catechisme I say the Enemy hath in a sort compelled us have they Scripture in their Catechismes seemingly for them so have we really for us have they appealed unto Scripture unto Scripture shall they goe They say the Scriptures are theirs and we say nay but the Scriptures are ours what then is the Scripture neither ours nor theirs but is it divided partly for us and partly for them or have we ten parts in it and they two I answer No in no wise ther 's no such matter It is all ours it is our owne and not Strangers not our enemies with us I confesse such hath been the Injustice and violence of erroneous Persons as to take away sundry Scriptures by force to put them upon the racke and torture them and lay to their charge things they know not to make them confesse against themselves and the truth and us But if this witnesse may be permitted to speak for it selfe to speak freely and fully to speak out to speak all it will say it will testify only to the truth and when the Scripture hath so spoken Errour must either stop it's eares or stop it's mouth For the Scriptures may then say as Paul we can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth or that may be the language of the written word which was of the Essentiall Word of God I came to beare witnesse of the Truth Now if it was an honourable atchievement in Abraham to rescue his Nephew Lot and in David to rescue the men of Ziklag out of the hands of them who had carried them captive I hope such an Attempt as this to rescue so many Scriptures out of the hands of them who have carried them captive and spoiled them and set them some of them in the front of the battell against the truth and us shall have the countenance good-will and good wishes of them that love the truth For my part whether the world smile or frown commend or condemne I resolve to goe out against set upon and grapple with this great Goliah of Errour I desire to goe out against him in the name of the Lord of Hosts endeavouring to sling these smooth stones chosen out of this christall brook the holy Scriptures so as to smite this Philistine in the forehead and cause him to fall And Sr if I may be a champion for truth and by the sword of the Spirit defend the crowne upon the head of it against that Arch Rebel and Traytor Error which would depose it from it's throne and Soveraignty I shall I hope therein rejoyce and triumph although the world should laugh at and trample upon the undertaking I doe not professe my selfe the first or only discoverer of these Monsters D. Owen D. Bailye nor that dared to fight with these beasts I have two eminent Captaines and Champions who have gone before and entred the lists one in a like and the other in the same quarrel to both which I acknowledge my selfe indebted and although I doe not pay the one in the same coine his Treatise being latine yet I hope in plaine English in part at least to satisfie my engagement to them both For as one well saith the Scriptures are a Mine where there will be ever found some oare so long as there is any to digge or like the Widdow's oyle which never ceased running so long as there was ever an empty vessell to receive it I dare not say I have found out any new truths yet perhaps have made some further hue and cry after new Errors And if 't is a commendable thing to discover a new Island or Continent let me not be censured if I point out other Rocks shelves or Sands togeither with a passage to avoid them I mean new found Errors so as to prevent my own others making shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience by them Now if in any place I have given in answer to an objection from Scripture another text
nature and yet in regard of his manhood and in respect of his office of Mediator about which he was sent into the world his Father was greater than he Q. Are not God the Father and God the Son said to send the Holy Ghost And is not he that sendeth greater than he that is sent A. M. Perk. One Equall may send another by consent Q. Doth not Christ say concerning the Holy Ghost Joh. 16.13 14 15. he shall not speak of himselfe and he shall receive of mine c A. The Holy Ghost hath his subsistence from the Father and the Son but this by nature and he imparts to every one of us as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 and the Church is commanded to hearken unto him Rev 2. Yet the mercy grace D. Ow. his Ans to Bid. light guidance direction comfort peace gifts that he should communicate were no other but what were procured and purchased for them by Christ himselfe according to that dispensation that the Trinity is pleased to proceed in to accomplish the work of our Salvation Q. May we give prayse and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost A. Is 6.1 2 3. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the Temple Above it stood the Seraphims And one cryed unto another and sayd Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory So vers 8.9 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying go and tell ye this people Heare ye indeed but understand not compared with Act. 28.25 26. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our Fathers saying Goe unto this people and say Hearing ye shall heare and shall not understand Rev. 7.9 10. After this I beheld and lo a great multitude And cryed with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lambe Q. May we lawfully pray to any particular Person of the Holy Trinity And may we give glory to a particular Person A. Luk. 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they doe Act. 7.59 60. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit and he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge 2 Cor. 13. last The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Rev. 5.13 And every creature heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Q. May we lawfully in a continued prayer wherein we have many petitions put up one to God the Father by name another to the Son and a 3d to the Holy Ghost A. 2 Cor. 13. last The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen 2 Thes 2.16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe God even our Father comfort your hearts c. Q. Which Person of the Trinity is most frequently named in the prayers of holy men recorded in Scripture A. Eph. 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 3.14 21. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages world without end Amen Cap. 5. Of God's Decrees Q. HOW prove you that nothing can come to passe in time but what God did most wisely and freely decree and ordaine unchangably from all eternity A. Eph. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his own will Rom. 11.33 34. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his waies past finding out For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counseller Heb. 6.17 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heires of promise the immutability of his Counsell confirmed it by an oath Rom. 9.15 18. For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Q. How prove you that for all this decree God is not the Author of sin A. Jam. 1.13 17. Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot betēpted with evill neither tempteth he any man Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning 1 Joh. 1.5 This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all Q. How prove you that God's Decrees or eternall predestination or foreordaining of all that comes to passe in time doth not take away man's liberty or offer violence to him and consequently free man from sinne A. Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsell and fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain So Chap. 4.27 28. For of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered togeither for to doe whatsoever thy hand and thy counsell determined before to be done Math. 17.10 11 12. Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of thē Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Joh. 19.11 Jesus answered thou could'st have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin The power of the Magistrate being from God therefore the Jewes sin'd grievously in making use of the Magistrate to condemne the innocent and the Son of God Beza Q. How prove you that God knowes all that comes to passe A. Act. 15.18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Q. How prove you he knowes what may or can come to passe upon such and such conditions A. 1. Sam. 23.11 12. Will Saul come down as thy Servant hath heard O Lord God of Israel I beseech thee tell thy Servant And the Lord said he will come down Then said David will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of
covetous A. Math. 23.1 2 3. Then spake Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples saying The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their works for they say and do not Q. If Ministers have the spirit of God doth it follow therefore that they must know all things perfectly A. 1 Cor. 13.9 For we know in part and we prophesie in part Q. Were the Prophets and Apostles who had the spirit in an extraordinary māner beyond what ministers in these dayes pretend unto in every of their apprehensions and actions so guided that they were infallible and unblameable A. 1 Sam. 16.6 7. And it came to passe when they were come that he looked on Eliab and said surely the Lords anointed is before him But the Lord said unto Samuel Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature because I have refused him for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart Gal. 2.11 14. But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospell I said unto Peter before thē all If thou being a Jew livest after the manner of the Gentiles not as do the Jewes why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jewes Q. How may we prove that those motions which are contrary to the Doctrine of Christ are not from the holy spirit A. Joh. 16.13 14. Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himselfe He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you 1 Cor. 12.2 3. Q. How did Christ approve of Churches and Ministers their continuance after he was gone to heaven A. Rev. 1.4 5 20. John to the 7 Churches in Asia grace be unto you and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth The mystery of the 7 Stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the 7 golden Candlesticks The 7 Stars are the Angels of the 7 Churches and the 7 Candlesticks which thou sawest are the 7 Churches Q. How long are there to be Churches and Ministers and Ordinances A. Math. 28. last And loe I am with you alwaies even unto the end of the world 1 Cor. 11.22 despise ye the Church of God shall I praise you in this I praise you not v. 26. for as often as ye eate this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come Q. May men administer ordinances viz. Baptisme and the Lords supper who have not extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost A. Joh. 10.41 And many resorted unto him and said John did no miracle but all things that John spake of this man were true Q. Is the gift of tongues or miracles among the requisite qualifications of a Bishop or Minister A. No. 1 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5 6 7. A Bishop then must be blamelesse the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetous one that ruleth well his owne house having his children in subjection with all gravity not a novice lest c. moreover he must have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devill Tit. 1.6 7 8 9. If any be blamelesse the husband of one wife having faithfull children not accused of riot or unruly for a Bishop must be blamelesse as the steward of God not selfe-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithfull word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers Q. May a man receive the Sacraments who hath not the extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost in abundance Ans Yes Act. 8.14 15 16 17. When the Apostles heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen upon none of them only they were babtized in the name of the Lord Jesus Then laid they their hands on them and they received the H. Ghost Math. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the disciples c. compared with Act. 2.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Q. Is the word of God to be read in the Church A. Col. 4.16 And when this Epistle is read amongst you cause that it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans and that ye likewise read the Epistle from Laodicea Q. Is the Sacrament of the Lords supper yet to be administred in the Church A. 1 Cor 11.20 21 33 34. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eate the Lords supper for in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry another is drunken Wherefore my brethren when ye come together to eate tarry one for another And if any man hunger let him eate at home that ye come not together unto condemnation Q. May the Church meet for holy conference A. 1 Cor. 14.31 34 35. For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is a shame for women to speak in the Church Q. May the Church deny to have communion with brethren if they are scandalous persons A. 1 Cor. 5.11 12. But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eate do not ye judge them that are within Q. May particular congregations who ordinarily meet together for worship be called Churches A. Act. 14.23 And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord. 1 Cor. 4.17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who shall bring you into remembrance of my waies which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church ch 14.23 If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place and all speak with tongues c. Q. May the believers of
unto them Againe I say Christians must obey God rather than men the servants of God may serve the persons of men but must not serve mens lusts contrary to the Law of God Q. Must Mr and Servant sit down to meat together or may one sit and the other stand and serve A. Luk. 17.7 8. Which of you having a Servant will say to him goe and sit down to meat and not rather make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy selfe and serve me c. Q. Doth not the scripture condemne Respect of persons Deut. 16.19 Jam. 2.1 3 9. Prov. 24.23 and 28.21 A. It is written also in the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken Render honour to whom honour is due Rom. 13.7 And againe Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man I am the Lord Lev. 19.32 We must not so expound one place of Scripture as to make it clash with another The holy spirit of truth doth not crosse and contradict himselfe We must necessarily therefore distinguish of Respect of Persons and shew what manner of honour or respect is sinfull and condemned and what is warrantable and allowed we acknowledge that the Scripture forbids to respect persons in judgment whether rich or poor Lev. 19.15 The Judge must not pervert judgment for feare of the rich man or out of pitty to the poor man but must judge righteous judgment every man's cause not according to the person that mannages it and whom it concernes but according to the merit of it Againe Christians must not as in the administration of justice so neither of Ordinances admit rich men because they are rich however unbelieving unworthy and altogether unqualified and exclude or refuse the poor how rich soever in Faith prepared and fitted merely because they are poor It seemes when James wrote his Epistle there were some in the Church who were to be blamed because they did preferre and honour rich men though unbelievers and oppressros and in the mean time did contemne and despise poor believing Christians for their poverty Though we may honour men for those outward excellencies which God hath bestowed or put upon them yet we must never so honour the rich as to slight and despise the poor especially the poor Believer Q. May we take these words Respect and Honour the one for the other A. Lev. 19.15 Ye shall doe no unrighteousnesse in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in Righteousnesse shalt thou judge thy Neighbour To conclude this matter that it is absolutely necessary to distinguish of respect of persons will appeare by comparing amongst others these two places of Scripture Eph. 6.9 knowing that your Mr also is in heaven neither is there respect of persons with him with Gen. 4.4 5. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect To reconcile thē these Scriptures that seem thus to crosse one another I say God doth not regard men more for their beauty place estate or such outward things nor will he for any such by-respect goe a haires breadth from justice and in this sence there is no respect of persons with God And yet God doth righteously and holily accept the faces of his people that feare and serve and call upon him Lev. 26.9 For I will have respect unto you and make you fruitfull and multiply you and establish my Covenant with you Q. May Christians when they are asked where they dwell give any other answer than this they dwell in God A. Yes Joh. 1.38 39. They said unto him Rabbi where dwellest thou he sayth to them come and see They came and saw where he dwelt and abode with him that day Act. 28.30 And Paul dwelt two whole yeers in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him Q. May a Christian without sin call persons or things by the names which Heathens or Idolaters have given them especially if they have been the names of Idols A. Act. 28.11 we departed in a ship whose signe was Castor and Pollux Rom. 16.1 I commend unto you Phebe vers 14. Salute Hermas c. 1 Cor. 16.12 Brother Apollos Act. 17.1 When they had passed through Apollonia Q. Is it lawfull to call the dayes of the week and the months of the yeer by any other names then the 1st 2d 3d c. A. Est 9.17 On the 13th day of the moneth Adar c. Luk. 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on Rev. 1.10 I was in the spirit on the Lord's day Deut. 16.1 1 King 6.37 38. 1 King 8.2 Ezr. 6.15 Neh. 1.1 and 2.1 6.15 Q. May we interpret the word of God A. Math. 1.23 They shall call his name Emanuel which being interpreted is God with us Q. May we not only translate but also give the sence or meaning A. Joh. 7.37 38. If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water this spake he of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive c. Neh. 8.8 Q. May one man be helpfull to another towards the understanding of the Scriptures or must we depend upon and waite for the immediate teachings of the Holy Ghost A. Act. 8.30 31. And Philip ran thither to him and heard him read the Prophet Esaias and said Understandest thou what thou readest And he sayd How can I except some man should guide me And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him Q. Is that said to be in the Scripture which is no where word for word now to be found but only in the sence and scope A. Jam. 4.5 Doe ye think that the scripture sayth in vaine the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Joh. 7.38 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Q. May that be said to be grounded on Scripture which is founded on Scripture consequences A. Mar. 12.26 27. And as touching the dead that they rise have ye not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spake unto him saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaack and the God of Jacob He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living Q. May those who have the Spirit and are guided by the Spirit yet attend unto the Scripture or the outward writing A. 1 Chr. 28.11 12 19. Then David gave to Solomon the son his patterne of the porch And the patterne of all that he had by the Spirit of the courts of the house of the Lord All this said David the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me even all the workes of this patterne Q. Did our Lord Christ give the Apostles any
not For what I would that doe I not but what I hate that doe I. He doth not willingly tug at the Divels oares Sinne remaines in him but doth not raign over him it may captivate him as a Tyrant he ownes it not as his lawfull King and Soveraigne Q. VVas it the practise of Christ the true Messiah and of his Apostles to teach publickly in usuall places of concourse and worship A. Joh. 18.20 Jesus answered him I spake openly to the world I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jewes alwaies resort and in secret have I said nothing Act. 18.4 And he reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath and perswaded the Jewes and the Greeks Q. Doe false Christs and false teachers draw people away from the publick worship of God into chambers corners and deserts A. Math. 24.26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert goe not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not Q. Doe Ministers prove by Scripture when they prove by deductions and consequences and comparing one place with another although they doe not bring what they say in so many words out of the Scriptures A. Act. 18.28 For he mightily convinced the Jewes and that publickly shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ Chap. 29. Of sundry Popish Errors Q. MAY we call those of the Church of Rome who subject themselves to the Pope and follow him Papists A. Rev. 2.15 So hast thou also them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate Q. Are we to believe the Scriptures because the Holy Ghost speaks in them or chiefly for the testimony and authority of the Church A. 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God c. 1 Joh. 5.9 If we receive the witnesse of men the witnesse of God is greater Q. Are the Scriptures so hard and obscure that none but Ministers may read them profitably or to edification A. Deut. 6.6 7. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures c. Psal 19.7 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the souls the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Q. Are all things necessary to salvation contained in the Scriptures or have wee need of unwritten traditions that the man of God may be perfect A. 2 Tim. 3.15 17. And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus c. that the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good workes Q. How prove you that the books commōly called Apocrypha are no part of the Canonicall Scripture is this an evidence because the Jewes did not receive them into the Canon A. Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew much every way chiefly because unto them were committed the Oracles of God Luk. 16.29 And Abraham saith unto him They have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them Luk. 24.44 And he said unto them These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes concerning me Q. Are the holy Scriptures to be lastly appealed unto as the Supreame Judge in controversies of Religion A. Is 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Q. Are we to believe them that sit in Moses chaire or the Apostles Successors when they teach contrary to Moses and the Prophets or to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles A. Act. 4.19 Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye Q. Ought people to try and examine by the holy Scriptures whether those things be so as the Church or Ministers thereof teach A. Act. 17.11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readinesse of mind and searched the Scriptures dayly whether those things were so Q. Where did our Lord Christ and the Apostles first preach the Gospel in Italy or Judea at Rome or at Jerusalem A. Luk. 23.5 He stirreth up the people teaching throughout all Jury beginning from Galilee to this place Act. 5.28 Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name and behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine and intend to bring this man's bloud upon us Q. VVhere at Antioch or at Rome were the Disciples first called Christians A. Act. 11.26 And it came to passe that a whole yeere they assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people and the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch Q. VVhat is that City which is called Mysticall Babylon in the Revelations A. Rev. 17.9 10 11 12 13 18. The 7 heads are 7 mountaines on which the woman sitteth and there are 7 Kings 5 are fallen one is the other is not yet come c. And the Beast that was and is not even he is the 8th is of the 7th goeth into perdition And the 10 hornes which thou sawest are 10 Kings which have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings one houre with the Beast These have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which raigneth over the Kings of the earth Q. If the Apostle Peter was at Rome when he wrote his Epistle doth he not call it Babylon A. Yes 1 Pet. 5.13 The church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you Q. Are there any prophecies in the new Testament of a great Apostacy or falling away from the Faith Or was it ever prophecyed or foretold that there should be a great defection or Apostacy in the Christian Church A. 2 Pe. 2.1 2. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies And many shall follow their pernicious waies Rev. 11.2 But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths 2 Thes 2.3 For that day shall not come except there come a falling away 1st and that man of sinne be revealed the Son of perdition c. 1 Tim. 4.1 3. Now the spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devills forbidding to marry and commanding to
he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Eph. 1.5 Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himselfe according to the good pleasure of his will 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and beliefe of the truth Q. How prove you such shall be certainly kept and preserved unto Salvation A. 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time John 10.27 28 29. Chap. 10. Of God's Providence Q. HOW prove you that God's Providence reacheth over all things Creatures and their actions from the greatest to the least A. Dan. 4.35 And all the Inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the Inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and in earth in the seas and all deep places Act. 17.25 28. Seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things For in him we live and move and have our being Mat. 10.30 But the very haires of your head are all numbred Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Psal 94.11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity Q. How prove you that God orders the actions of men and the events of all their actions beyond whatever came into their hearts A. Deut. 19.5 compared with Exod. 21.13 And if a man lye not in waite but God deliver him into his hand c. As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree the head slippeth from the helve and lighteth upon his neighbour that he dye c. 1 Kin. 22.34 compared with vers 28. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the King of Israel between the joynts of the harnesse Isai 10.6 7. I will send him against an hypocriticall nation and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoyle and to take the prey and to tread them down like the mire of the streets Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few Q. Can you prove that God who is omnipotent and can worke without meanes that he useth meanes to bring about his purpose A. Act. 27.31 44. Paul said unto the Centurion and to the Souldiers Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved And the rest some on boards and some on broken pieces of the ship and so it came to passe that they escaped all safe to land Isa 55.11 For as the raine cometh down and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not returne unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it Hos 2.21 22. And it shall come to passe in that day I will heare saith the Lord I will heare the heavens and they shall heare the earth and the earth shall heare the corne and the wine and the oyle and they shall heare Jezreel Q. What Scriptures teach that God doth not only barely permit but most wisely and powerfully bound and order sinfull actions to his own holy ends and yet neither is nor can be the Author or approver of sin A. 1 King 22.22 23. And he said I will goe forth and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets And he saidt thou shalt perswade him and prevaile also goe forth and doe so Now therefore behold the Lord hath put a lying Spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets Psal 76.10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain Gen. 50.20 But as for you ye thought evill against me but God meant it unto good to bring to passe as it is this day to save much people alive Jam. 1.13 17. Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evill neither tempteth he any man Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and commeth down from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning 1 Joh. 2.16 The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the Father Psal 50.21 These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Q. What Scriptures prove that God blinds and hardens some mens hearts for former sins A. Rom. 11.8 God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not heare unto this day Ro. 1.28 And as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind to doe those things which are not convenient Q. How may God be said to harden mens hearts for former sinnes A. Rom. 1.24 Wherefore God gave them up unto uncleannesse through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonour their own bodies between themselves Ps 106.15 And he gave them their request but sent leannesse into their soul 2 Thes 2.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye Exod. 7.3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart compared with chap. 8.32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart c. Q. How is it proved that God doth blind and harden men by withholding his grace to enlighten their understandings and to worke upon their hearts A. Mat. 13.13 Therefore speake I to them in Parables because they seeing see not and hearing they heare not neither doe they understand Q. Doth God sometimes withdraw the gifts which men have had for their not using or abusing of them A. Math. 25.29 From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Q. Is it a meanes of blindnesse and hardnesse that sometimes they are exposed to such objects as their corruption will make occasion of Sinne A. 2 King 8.12 And Hazael said why weepeth my Lord and he answered because I know the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Israel their strong holds wilt thou set on fire and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword and
wilt dash their children and rip up their women with child vers 15. And Hazael reigned Q. What Scriptures prove that God's Providence especially doth reach his Church and that he disposeth all things to the good thereof A. 1 Tim. 4.10 Who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe Amos. 9.9 I will sift the house of Israel among all nations c. Yet shall not the least graine fall upon the earth Is 43.3 4 5. I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethyopia and Seba for thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life Fear not for I am with thee I will bring thy seed from the East c. Chap. 11. Of Faith and Repentance a holy life and assurance of Salvation Q. IS faith in Christ required of those who shall be saved A. Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house Joh. 3.16 36. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life Q. What is that great truth to which the Father Son and Holy Ghost bear witnesse A. 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Q. Is it necessary that we should repent of our sinnes and reforme or amend our lives and forsake our sinnes if we will have mercy A. Act. 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Q. Are any so predestinated or did our Lord Jesus Christ so lay down his life for any particular Persons that although they live and dye in impenitency and unbeliefe yet they shall surely be saved A. Rom. 8.1 13 30. There is therefore now no condemnation to thē which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit doe mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified c. Q. Doth the Scriptures hold out any such preterition or Non-election or so hold forth the death of Christ that some persons although they believe with all their heart and repent and forsake all their sins yet shall not be saved A. Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life Act. 10.34 35 43. Of a truth I perceive God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sinnes Q. May we be sure if we believe that we were ordained to eternall life A. Act. 13.48 And as many as were ordained to eternall life believed 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Q. What manner of Persons are those living and dying who were of old ordained unto condemnation A. Jude 4. For there are certaine men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Q. May our Election be known A. 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shall never fall 2 Thes 1.4 Knowing brethren beloved your election of God Q. Doth God elect or chuse men out of Grace and that they might he holy A. Rom. 11.4 5 6. There is a remnant according to the Election of Grace And if by Grace then is it no more of works otherwise grace is no more Grace Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth Q. Are we commanded to believe in the name of the Lord Christ A. 1 Joh. 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ Joh. 6.29 Jesus answered and said unto them This is the word of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent Q. Have we power of our selves to believe and to doe good works A. Eph. 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Phil. 1.29 For unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Q. Who is the Author and finisher of our Faith A. Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith c. Mar. 9.24 Lord I believe help thou mine unbeliefe Q. Seeing we cannot believe and doe good works by our own power may we be exhorted to both A. Phil. 2.12 13. Wherefore my beloved as you have alwaies obeyed c. Worke out your own Salvation with feare and trembling For it is God which worketh in you both to will to doe of his good pleasure Q. Is there an Almighty power put forth to make us believe A. Eph. 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Q. Is it our duty to convert and turne to God c. A. Isa 1.16 17. Wash ye make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe evill learne to doe well seek judgment relieve the opressed judg the fatherlesse plead for the widdow Act. 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out Joel 2.12 Turne ye even to me saith the Lord with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Q. Are we able of our selves to turne or must we pray unto God to turne us A. Psal 85.4 Turne us O God of our Salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Q. Is the word of God a means or instrument which God useth to convert men A. 1 Thes 1.5 6. For our Gospel came not unto you in word
multitude they chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the H. Ghost Act. 10.44 47 48. While Peter yet spake these words the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word Then answered Peter can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Q. What Answer shall we give to those Scriptures Heb. 8.10 11. 1 Joh. 2.27 2 Pet. 1.1 9 A. To that place in the Hebrewes I say 1 That it must not be interpreted to forbid the use of all ordinances and teaching by men for the Apostles themselves did notwithstanding this promise go on teaching and ordaining teachers in the Churches 2 That if this text of Scripture should be taken as it seems to sound in the expresse words and letter of it it will make void and needlesse not only publick teaching and by ministers or Church-officers but also private instruction and by private friends neighbours brethren not ministers 3ly I say that the sense and meaning may be that they shall have not only the outward teaching of men but the inward teaching of the spirit and this teaching of God by his spirit they shall have in such a manner and measure that the other outward shall be nothing or needlesse in comparison or 4thly They shall in Gospell times from the least to the greatest know God the Lord to be the Lord and they shall not teach them as if they were to teach a heathenish unknowing people but the ministers shall then teach a more knowing people as t is said the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea i. e. there shall be abundance of knowledge beyond what there is now generally To that in 1 Epistle of John the meaning is either this You are sufficiently already instructed in this that Jesus is the Christ you need not a farther proof in that matter the seducers Anti-Christs or false Christs shall not be able to draw you away from this great truth Or else ye that are the children of God have the gifts and graces of Gods spirit in such a measure that ye shall not be carried away from the Christian Religion or the truth as t is in Jesus but this Spirit shall teach you in all necessary saving truths And that notwithstanding this place this Apostle writes this Epistle to informe them to edify thē To that in 2 Ep. of Peter the sense and scope of the words may be this that you may find the knowledge of God and of his Christ if you will read and consider and compare the prophesies of the old Testament for those Scriptures testify of him The meaning is not that when you have got the knowledge of Christ you need not further to take heed to the Scriptures when the godly Ps 123.2 professe to look or waite on God untill he have mercy on them doe you think that they meant to look or waite on him just so long and no longer Q. May ministers presse Saints who live and dwell in God and who are taught of God to hearken to a word or commandement without them A. Yes 1 Thes 4.9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of of God to love one another compared with the 2d. For ye know what commandements we gave you by the Lord Jesus Eph. 6.1 2. Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Honour thy father mother which is the first commandement with promise compared with ch 1.1 Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithfull in Christ Jesus Jam. 2.8 11. If ye fulfill the royall Law according to the Scripture Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy selfe ye do well For he that said do not commit Adultery said also do not kill Now if thou commit no Adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the Law Q. May a believer that is in God come himselfe to any Church do we read of a church in God and the Lord Christ A. 2 Thes 1.1 Paul and Sylvanus and Timotheus unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Q. Is there a Catholick or Universall Church and may a man be said to be a teacher or ruler in that A. 1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly teachers c. Q. Had God a Church ordinances and ministers in the daies of Antichrist A. Rev. 13.11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two hornes like a lamb and he spake as a dragon c. compared with ch 14.1 3. And I looked and loe a lamb stood on the mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and foure thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads and they sung as it were a new song before the throne and before the four beasts and the Elders and no man could learne that song but the hundred forty and foure thousand which were redeemed from the earth Q. When the glorious times of the Church spoken of by Isaiah ch last come will there be use of Ministers and Ordinances A. Isa 66.21 23. And I will also take of them for Priests and for Levites saith the Lord. And it shall come to passe that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before me saith the Lord. Q. If a Minister intending to be short in a point say to conclude this in a word and after doth use more words then one or one or more sentences doth he lye A. Galat. 5.14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Q. May Ministers be bred up in Colledges under Tutors in order to the Ministry or are Colledges to be Nurseries only for the Common-wealth and Schools and not for the Church A. 1 Sam. 19.19 20. And it was told Saul saying David is at Naioth in Ramah And Saul sent messengers to take David and when they saw the company of the Prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them 1 Sam. 10.10 And when they came thither to the hill behold a company of Prophets met him the Spirit of God came upon him he prophesied among thē Q. Had the Apostle Paul Hebrew and Greek and did he ever make any use of it A. Acts 22.2 And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them they kept the more silence And Acts 21.37 And as Paul was to be led into the Castle he said unto the chiefe Captaine may I speak unto thee who said canst thou speak Greek Q. May we heare Ministers if they be as they are charged proud and
is my body Q. If the wine had been as really and truly turned or transubstantiated into blood as the water at the wedding was by Christ into wine is it not probable it would have tasted like blood A. Joh. 2.9 10. When the Ruler of the Feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was c. saith Every man at the begining doth set forth good wine and when men have well drunk then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine untill now Q. Is it the eating of or feeding on Christ by Faith in the Sacrament or is it the corporal eating or manducation of his very flesh which is available to feed the soule unto eternall life A. Joh. 6.63 It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speake unto you they are Spirit and they are life Q. May we lawfully say that the elements remaine untransubstantiated that they are really still and substantially bread and wine only changed as to the use after consecration because we see with our eyes handle them and tast them to be such A. Luk. 24.39 Behold my hands and my Feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have John 20.27 Then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not Faithlesse c. Q. Doth our Lord Christ use any other figurative expressions in the institution of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper A. Yes 1 Cor. 11.25 This Cup is the New Testament in my blood Q. But are unlearned people able to understand such figurative expressions A. Yes If a man was in a roome where are divers pictures or Images and should heare one say this is Peter and this is Paul he would understand his meaning to be this is the likenesse representation Picture or Image of Peter and Paul Q. Hath Christ given as much power to every true Church of God ordinarily to forgive sinnes as he did to Peter or the other Holy Apostles A. Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Q. Is it more evident by Scripture that the Apostle Peter was the Apostle of the Jewes or circumcision than of the Gentiles A. Gal. 2.7 8. When they saw that the Gospell of the uncircumcision was committed unto me as the Gospell of the Circumcision was unto Peter For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the Circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentiles Q. Suppose the Apostle Peter was Bishop of Rome doth that make it more impossible for the Church of Rome to erre or fall from the Faith once delivered to the Saints than for the Jewes A. Rom. 11.17 18 20 21. And if some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild olive tree wert graffed in amongst them boast not against the branches because of unbeliefe they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not high minded but feare Q. Did God promise his presence of old with the Church of the Jewes A. Rom. 9.4 Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law the service of God the Promises Q. May those who are God's children and people be unchurched A. Act. 13.46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turne to the Gentiles Q. Was the true Church of God amongst the Jewes alwaies a congregation of true worshippers visibly and notoriously distinct from Idolaters or were the true worshippers sometimes hid amongst Idolaters as wheat in a heap of chaffe A. 1 King 19.18 Yet I have left me 7000 in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every mouth which hath not kissed him Q. Is it possible that the Protestants should be of the true Religion if they grant that their Church was in spirituall Babylon or Egypt that is in the Romish Church before the Reformation A. Yes Rev. 18.4 Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her plagues 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the uncleane thing and I will receive you Q. Who is the chiefe rock and foundation upon whom the Church is built is not Christ A. 1 Cor. 10.4 For they drank of that spirituall rock that followed them and that rock was Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is layd which is Jesus Christ Q. Are any of the Apostles cal'd foundations or especially any besides Peter A. Yes Re. 21.14 And the wall of the City had 12 foundations and in them the names of the 12 Apostles of the Lambe Eph. 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the chief corner stone Q. Are any of the Apostles besides Peter accounted Pillars Columnes or supporters in the Christian Church that spirituall building A. Yes Gal. 2.9 And when James Cephas and John who seemed to be Pillars c. Q. May Soveraigne Princes with the Advice of the Ministers of the Gospel in the Churches within their dominions reforme abuses and errours crept into the Churches A. 2 Chr. 29.5 16. Heare me ye Levites sanctify now your selves and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your Fathers and carry forth the filthinesse out of the holy place And the Priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to clense it and brought out all the uncleannesse that they found in the Temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord and the Levites took it to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron 2 Chr. 34.30 31. And the King went up into the house of the Lord and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the Priests and the Levites and all the people great and small and he read in their eares all the words of the book of the Covenant that was found in the house of the Lord. And the King stood in his place and made a Covenant before the Lord to walke after the Lord and to keep his commandements and his Testimonies and his Statutes with all his heart and with all his soule c. Q. Is that a true Church where the word is truly and duely taught or is it the true marke of a sheep of Christ to heare the voice of him the great Shepheard A. Yes 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy selfe in the house of God which
is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of the truth Joh. 8.13 If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Joh. 10.27 My sheep heare my voice Q. Doe the Papists abstaining from flesh 40 dayes every Lent fast as Christ for 40 dayes in the wildernesse or did our Saviour fast from all manner of food during that time A. Mat. 4.2 And when he had fasted 40 dayes and 40 nights he was afterward an hungred Q Did our Saviour and his disciples keep any set weeks of fast yeerly or any set dayes of fasting weekly in remembrance of this all the while Christ was with them A. No. Mar. 2.18 Why doe the Disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast but thy Disciples fast not Q. Is it lawfull for Christians to fast upon extraordinary occasions A. Mar. 2.20 But the dayes will come when the Bridegroome shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those dayes 1 Corinth 7.5 that ye may give your selves to fasting and prayer c. Q. Is every Christian a vessell fit for his Masters use as to this duty of fasting are ordinary servants fit for extraordinary service A. Mar. 2.22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles else the new wine doth burst the bottles and the wine is spilled and the bottles will be marred But new wine must be put into new bottles Q. Is fish holier than flesh because these perished not by water when the old world was drowned A. Exod. 7.20 21. And he lift up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood And the fish that was in the river dyed and the river stunck and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river Q. Were fish or the beasts and fowles preserved in a more wonderfull manner in Noah's Arke at the floud A. Gen. 8.17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of of all flesh both of fowle and of cattell and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth that they may breed abundantly Q. Were there any kinds of fish reckoned uncleane according to the Law A. Yes Lev. 11.10 And all that have not finnes nor scales in the Seas and in the rivers of all that move in the waters and of any living thing which is in the waters they shall be an abomination unto you Q. Is it a duty then in imitation of Christ's 40 dayes fast to abstaine from flesh 40 dayes in a yeere A. No. Mat. 15.9 But in vaine they doe worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men Q. Is it a Doctrine of Apostates to command to abstaine from some sort of meats A. Yes 1 Tim. 4.1 3. Now the spirit speaketh expressely that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Q. Doe the Saints departed know our wants should we pray to them or to God for supply A. Is 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer Job 14.20 21. Thou changest his countenance and sendest him away his Sonnes come to honour and he knoweth it not and they are brought low but he perceiveth it not of them Q. Ought we to pray for the dead since we must not pray to them A. 2 Sam. 12.22 23. And he said while the child was yet alive I fasted and wept for I said who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live But now he is dead wherefore should I fast Can I bring him back againe I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to me Q. Are all damned who dye without Baptisme A. No. Luk. 23.42 43. And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Q. May Women without scruple or feare administer the Sacrament of Baptisme A. 1 Tim. 2.12 But I suffer not a woman to teach but to be in silence compared with Math. 28.19 Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Q. Will full Assurance of life cause Christians to neglect the use of all good means A. Act. 23.11 16 17. Be of good cheer Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome And when Paul's Sisters Son heard of their laying in wait he went and entred into the Castle and told Paul Then Paul called one of the Centurions unto him and said Bring this young man unto the chiefe Captaine for he hath a certaine thing to tell him Act. 27.24 31. Feare not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar and loe God hath given thee all them that saile with thee Paul said to the Centurion and to the Souldiers except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved Q. Were any of the Apostles married especially was the Apostle Simon Peter ever married A. Yes 1 Cor. 9.5 Have we not power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and Cephas Mar. 1.30 But Simon 's Wives mother lay sick of a fever Q. Did our Saviour Christ command that the Apostles should forsake their VVives and that other Ministers their successours should not marry A. No. 1 Cor. 9.5 Have we not power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and as the brethren of the Lord Cephas 1 Tim. 3.2 4. A Bishop then must be blamelesse the husband of one wife one that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity Heb. 13.4 Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Q. Is it necessary that those who live a long time in their sins repent late and doe not suffer much in this world should suffer in purgatory after death to expiate their sinnes A. Lu. 23.43 And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Q. Is Heaven cal'd Paradise A. Yes 2 Cor. 12.2 3 4. I knew a man in Christ such a one caught up to the third Heaven and I knew such a man how that he was caught up into Paradise c. Q. Can any mere man by his own good workes merit heaven or eternall life A. Lu. 17.10 So likewise ye when ye shall have done all these things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable Servants Rom. 6. ult For the wages of Sinne is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
that he would come up and sit with him vers 38. And he commanded the charet to stand still and they went down both into the water Q. Might the Priests of old have any temporall estate in Lands of their owne A. Act. 4.36 37. And Joses a Levite and of the country of Cyprus having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles feet Q. What may be done with Scandalous Ministers if they will not reforme A. Mat. 5.13 Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot of men 1 Sam. 2.30 35. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel sayth I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy Father should walke before me for ever but now the Lord sayth be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed And I will raise me up a faithfull Priest that shall doe according to that which is in my heart and my mind and I will build him a sure house and he shall walke before mine anointed for ever 1 King 2.27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being Priest unto the Lord that he might fulfill the word of the Lord which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh Q. May we allow those who are deprived a fifth part to live on A. 2 King 23.9 Neverthelesse the Priests of the High places came not up to the Altar of the Lord in Jerusalem but they did eate of the unleavened bread among their brethren Q. May Another lawfully be put into the place of such as are lawfully thrust out A. 1 Kin. 2.35 And the King put Benaiah the Son of Jehojada in his room over the host and Zadok the Priest did the King put in the roome of Abiathar Act. 1.20 25. For it is written in the book of Psalmes Let his habitation be desolate and let no man dwell therein and his Bishoprick let another take That he may take part of this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell Q. Who did put in and put out under the old Testament A. 1 King 2.35 And the King put Zadok the Priest in the roome of Abiathar Chap. 23. Of publick worship Churches and Ordinances Q. HAD the Jewes Synagogues generally in their cities to worship God in and was there reading the Law in them constantly on the Sabbath day A. Act. 15.21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 13.14 15. Q. Was it the practise of Christ and his Disciples and followers the primitive Christians to worship God on the Sabbath daies at their owne home or in private houses or in the Synagogues A. Luk. 4.16 And he came to Nazareth and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read So Chap. 6.6 And it came to passe also on another Sabbath that he entred into the Synagogue and taught Joh. 18.20 Jesus answered I spake openly to the world I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jewes alwaies resort and in secret have I said nothing Act. 9.20 And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogue that he is the Son of God Act. 13.5 And when they were at Salamis they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jewes Q. Did the Apostles rob the Temples or Idols of the Heathens of their riches A. No Act. 19.37 For ye have brought hither these men which are neither robbers of Churches nor yet blasphemers of your Goddesse Q. Was it held lawfull in the Apostle's dayes to alienate that part of a man's estate which he had once vowed or dedicated unto God Ans No. Act. 5.3 But Peter sayd Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Q. May we meet and preach in places commonly called Churches A. Yes Mar. 1.21 And they went into Capernaum and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the Synagogue and taught Luk. 4.15 16. And he taught in their Synagogue being glorified of all And he came to Nazareth and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Joh. 18.20 I ever taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple whither the Jewes alwaies resort and in secret have I said nothing Act. 13.14 15. They came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and sate down and after the reading of the Law and the Prophets the Rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying ye men and brethren if ye have any word of Exhortation for the people say on Act. 18.4 And he reasoned in the Synagogue every Sabbath and perswaded the Jewes and the Greeks Act. 19.8 9. And he went into the Synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three moneths disputing and perswading the things concerning the Kingdome of God But when diverse were hardened c. he departed from them and separated the disciples disputing daily in the Schoole of one Tyrannus Q. Is it an evidence of right Zeale to pull down Churches A. No Psal 74.8 They said in their hearts Let us destroy them together they have burnt up all the Synagogues of God in the Land Luk. 7.5 For he loveth our nation and he hath built us a Synagogue Q. Have we any warrant for reading the Scriptures as it is used to be called first and second lesson before the minister begin his Sermon A. Act. 13.15 And after the reading of the Law the Prophets the Rulers of the Synagogue sent unto thē saying ye men and brethren if ye have any word of Exhortation for the people say on c. Q. Is the spirit given that we may live without or above Gods commandements and ordinances A. Ezek. 11.19 20. And I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them that they may walke in my statutes and keep mine Ordinances and do them Q. Are Gospell Ordinances and dispensations a ministration of the letter or of the Spirit A. 2 Cor. 3.6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the spirit Q. Is this ministry of the spirit to cōtinue Ans 2 Cor. 3.7 8 11. But if the ministration of death written and graven in stones was glorious which glory was to be done away how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious For if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious Q. What if a man have the spirit be filled with the spirit be a strong Christian is he to cast off ordinances and offices in the Church A. Act. 6.5 And the saying pleased the whole