one city or country although they have many severall Pastors or teachers over them be called a Church A. Act. 20.17 28. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the H. Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Q. Do all the Churches or believers in them make up one Church of Christ A. Col. 1.18 And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead Q. May the Elders and brethren of severall churches meet and conferre together about questions or matters of difference which may arise amongst them or any of them A. Act. 15.1 2 6 7. And certaine men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certaine others of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this Question And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter And when there had been much disputing Peter rose up and said unto them c. Q. Are the multitude of believers to be satisfied if it may be in those matters in question Ans Act. 15.30 31. So when they were dismissed they came to Antioch and when they had gathered the multitude together they delivered the Epistle which when they had read they rejoyced for the consolation Q. May the multitude have a hand or voice in the choice of church officers A. Act. 6.2 3 5. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said c. wherefore brethren look ye out among you 7 men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdome whom we may appoint over this businesse And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost c. CHAP. 24. Of Singing of Psalmes Q. ARE we to sing with the voice or are we only to make melody in our hearts to the Lord A. Acts 16.25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang prayses unto God and the prisoners heard them Q. Is it lawfull to sing a psalme which containes a history of others and whose case was not every way as mine is at this present or may Psalmes be sung as the Scriptures are read for instruction and comfort A. Colos 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spirituall songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 2 Chron. 29.30 Moreover Hezekiah the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer and they sang praises with gladnesse Psal 22. Compare title and Psalme So Psal 51 52 54. titles and Psalmes compared 2 Chron. 35.25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day and made them an ordinance in Israel and behold they are written in the Lamentations Q. Were women allowed to sing A. Exod. 15.20 21. And Miriam the Prophetesse the sister of Aaron took a timbrell in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels with dances And Miriam answered them sing ye to the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously c. 2 Chr. 35.25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day Q. May an Unregenerate man sing a Psalme A. Exod. 15.1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord and spake saying I will sing unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the Sea Q. May many joine to sing a Psalme together and may a Godly man or woman joine with those who are not truly Godly in singing of a Psalme A. Exod. 15.1 20 21. Then sang Moses the children of Israel this song unto the Lord. And Miriam the Prophetesse the Sister of Aaron took a timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels c. Q. May we sing on a day of Humiliation or in a time of sadnesse Is it not said Jam. 5.13 If any be merry let him sing Psalmes A. See the title to the 102. Psal A prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. Besides as we may pray when we are not afflicted so we may sing although we have no present extraordinary cause of mirth but whereas others ungodly men when they are filled with wine and carnall mirth burst out into singing vaine and oft times wild songs Christians when they are filled with the spirit with joy unspeakable and glorious may expresse their joy seasonably in Psalmes hymnes spirituall songs Eph. 5.18 19. Times of mirth are fit and seasonable times for this duty but not the only times Paul and Silas sang in prison and so our Saviour and his Apostles immediately after his last supper not long before he was betrayed into the hands of sinners as times of affliction are speciall times of prayer but not the only times Christ himselfe being in an Agony prayed the more earnestly so times of mirth or rejoicing are speciall but not the only seasons of singing of Psalms Q. Is singing of Psalms to be allowed in the Church A. 1 Cor. 14.26 How is it then brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a Psalme hath a Doctrine hath a tongue hath a revelation hath an Interpretation let all things be done unto edifying Psal 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noise to the rock of our Salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyfull noise unto him with Psalms Mar. 14.26 And when they had sung an hymne they went out into the mount of Olives CHAP. 25. Of Church Discipline Q. OUght men first to be admonished once twice or thrice before they be cast out of the Church or that men are bound to separate from their society A. Math. 18.15 16 17. Moreover if thy brother shall trespasse against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone but if he will not heare thee then take with thee one or two more and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the Church but if he neglect to heare the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathē man a Publican Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first second admonition reject Q. If a man that hath given offence professe true repentance may not he be
Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed For before that certaine came from James he did eate with the Gentiles but when they were come he withdrew and separated himselfe fearing them which were of the circumcision But when I saw that they walked not uprightly I said unto Peter before them all If thou being a Jew livest after the manner of the Gentiles c. Q. Did the Apostle Peter quote and commend the Apostle Paul's Epistles notwithstanding he speakes nothing in them at all of Peter's supremacy or of his pretended Successor the Bishop of Rome A. 2 Pet. 3.15 16. And account that the long-suffering of the Lord is Salvation even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdome given unto him hath written unto you As also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Q. Ought prayers for the congregation to be made in a knowne tongue in the Congregation A. Yea. 1 Cor. 14.9 14. Except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken For if I pray in an unknowne tongue my spirit prayeth but mine understanding is unfruitfull Q. Is it good to have Images in Churches as Lay-mens bookes A. Exod. 20.4 5. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image nor any likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them 2 Cor. 6.16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Q. May we pray to Images A. Hab. 2.18 19. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it the molten image and a teacher of lyes that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb Idols Woe to him that saith to the wood Awake to the dumbe stone Arise it shall teach behold it is layd over with gold and silver and there is no breath at all in the middest of it Q. May we make an Image of God and worship God in at or before such Images using these as helpes or meanes to worship him the better A. Is 40.18 To whom then will ye liken God or what likenesse will ye compare unto him Act. 17.29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God we ought not to thinke that the God-head is like unto Gold or Silver or stone graven by Art and man's device Deut. 4.15 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the mid'st of the fire Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likenesse of male or female c. Q. May Christians worship Images A. Exod. 20.5 Thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them Psal 97.7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of Idols 1 Joh. 5.21 Little children keep your selves from Idols Q. Were ever any so stupid as to worship Images or Idols A. Hab. 2.18 19. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it the molten image and a teacher of lyes that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb Idols Woe unto him that sayth to the wood Awake to the dumb stone Arise it shall teach there 's no breath at all in the middest of it Is 44.15 17 19. For he will take thereof and warme himselfe yea he kindleth it and baketh bread yea he maketh a God and worshippeth it he maketh it a graven image and falleth downe thereto And the residue thereof he maketh a God even his graven image he falleth down unto it and worshippeth it and prayeth unto it and sayth Deliver me for thou art my God And none considereth in his heart neither is there knowledge or understanding to say I have burnt part of it in the fire c. And shall I make the residue thereof an abomination Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree Q. Is Christ corporally present in the sacrament especially is the bread wine transubstantiated into the very body and bloud of Christ A. No. Act. 3.21 Whom the heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of all things Joh. 16.28 Againe I leave the world goe to the Father Q. Doe those words Mat. 26.26 this is my body prove that the bread is transubstantiated into the very body of Christ so that 't is no longer bread but that very same body which suffered upon the crosse and as truly really and substantially changed into his body as the water was into wine Joh. 2.9 A. No. Either as in 1 Cor. 10.4 That Rock was Christ that is did represent Christ or was a figure of Christ so This is my body that is this doth signify or represent my body or as circumcision which was a signe and seale of the Covenant is cal'd the Covenant Act. 7.8 Gen. 17.10 11. So these words This is my body signify that this bread doth seale the benefits of my broken body or of my death unto you Q. Is the body of Christ so in one place that it is not in another at the same time A. Math. 28.6 He is not here for he is risen as he said come see the place where the Lord lay Heb. 2.14 17. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe took part of the same c. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren c. Q. Ought not all the people as well as the Minister to drink of the cup at the Lord's table A. Yea. Mar. 14.23 And he took the cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it Math. 26.27 drink ye all of it Q. If we have not the body of Christ corporally in the Sacrament have we then any spirituall communion with his body and blood in that Sacrament A. Yes 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Q. Did the Apostles receive the Sacrament Fasting or after Supper A. Mat. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eate this is my body Q. Did they receive the Sacrament in a table gesture or did they kneel A. Mar. 14.18 And as they sate and did eate c. vers 22. Jesus took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and said Take eate this
Saul and the Lord said they will deliver thee up Matth. 11.21 23. Woe unto thee Chorazin wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty workes which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven shalt be brought down unto hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodome it would have remained unto this day Q. How prove you that God did not decree such and such things because he foresaw they would come to passe or come to passe upon such conditions A. Rom. 9.11 13 18. For the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evill that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Chap. 6. Of the Creation and of the first estate of Man Q. VVAS the world Eternall or did God make heaven and earth and all things therein in the beginning A. Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which doe appeare Q. In what state did God make man at first did he make him after his own image in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse upright having the law written in his heart induing him with power to fulfill the Law with dominion over the creatures A. Gen. 1.27 31. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God hath made man upright Rom. 2.14 15. These having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts Gen. 1.28 And God said unto them replenish the earth subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth Q. Did man continue in that state wherein God made him or did he hearken to the Divell that old Serpent and disobey God and so fell A. Gen. 3.6 13 23. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food she took of the fruit thereof did eate and gave also unto her husband with her and he did cate And the Lord God said unto the Woman what is this that thou hast done And the Woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken Eccl. 7.29 But they have sought out many inventions 2 Cor. 11.3 But I feare lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Q. Was Adam the first man or were there any before him or was he a common Father from whom all Persons descended A. 1. Cor. 15.45 47. The first man Adam was made a living soule The first man is of the earth earthy Chap. 7. Of sin and of the bitter fruits of it Q. VHAT is sinne A. 1 Joh. 3.4 Sin is the transgression of the Law Q. Did all mankind sinne in and fall by the sinne or transgression of our first Parents A. 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all dye c. Act. 17.26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth Rom. 5.12 18 19. Wherefore as by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation c. For as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners c. Q. Can the Act or deed of the Father be imputed to the children is this as 't is the manner of men is it also agreeable to the Scriptures A. Heb. 7.9 10. Levi also who received tithes payed tithes in Abraham For he was yet in the loines of his Father when Melchisedec met him Q. Did Adam after the fall beget children after the image and likenesse of God in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse or after his own likenesse A. Gen. 5.3 And Adam begat a Son in his own liknesse after his image and called his name Seth. Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Job 15.14 Joh. 3.5 6. Q. Is man since the fall born pure righteous or is he conceived and borne in sin A. Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my Mother conceive me Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one chap. 15 14. What is man that he should be cleane and he which is borne of a Woman that he should be righteous Joh. 3.6 That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the Spirit is Spirit Q. Can a man by nature now since the fall savingly know God without being spiritually inlightened A. 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Joh. 5.20 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Q. Can a man by the strength of nature now fulfill the Law of God A. Ro. 8.7 Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 7.18 For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not Joh. 15.5 For without me ye can doe nothing 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. Should our first Parents have dyed if they had never sinned did actuall death come in by sin A. Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death Rom. 5.12 As by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Gen. 2.17
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