calling is the first effect of our everlasting election 2 We have no actual interest in nor right unto Christ untill we are thus called act of Almighty God whereby in Jesus Christ he calleth and translateth us from the state of Nature Sin Wrath and Corruption into the State of Grace and Union with Christ by the mighty effectual working of his Spirit in the preaching of the Word Col. 1. 12 13. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Deut. 30. 6. Ezek. 36. 26. Matth. 11. 25 26. Joh. 1. 13. 3. 3. 8. Ephes. 1. 19. Col. 2. 12. 1 Cor. 4. 7. Jam. 1. 18. 2 Pet. 2. 20. Act. 16. 14. Q. 3. What do we our selves perform in this change or work of our conversion A. Nothing at all being meerly 3 They who so boast of the strength of free Will in the Work of our conversion are themselves an example what it is being given up to so vile an errour destitute of the Grace of God wrought upon by the free grace and Spirit of God when in our selves we have no Ability to any thing that is spiritually good Matth. 7. 18. 10. 20. Joh. 1. 13. 15. 5. 1 Cor. 12. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Ephes. 2. 1. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Phil. 1. 6. Q. 4. Doth God thus call all and every one A. All within the pale of the Church are outwardly called by the Word none effectually but the Elect. Mat. 22. 14. Rom. 8. 30. CHAP. XIX Of Justification Q. 1. Are we accounted righteous and saved for our Faith when we are thus freely called A. No but meerly by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ apprehended and applyed by Faith for which alone the Lord accepts us as holy and righteous Esa. 43. 25. Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. Rom. 4. 5. Q. 2. What then is our Justification or Righteousness before God A. The gracious free Act 1 Legal and Evangelical justification differ first on the part of the Persons to be justified the one requiring a Person legally and perfectly righteous the other a believing Sinner Secondly on the part of God who in the one is a severe righteous Judge in the other a merciful reconciled Father thirdly in the Sentence which in the one acquitteth as having done nothing amiss the other as having all amiss pardoned of God imputing the righteousness of Christ to a believing Sinner and for that speaking Peace unto his Conscience in the Pardon of his Sin pronouncing him to be just and accepted before him Gen. 15. 6. Act. 13. 38 39. Luk. 18. 14. Rom. 3. 24 26 28. Rom. 4. 4 5 6 7 8. Gal. 2. 16. Q. 3. Are we not then righteous before God by our own Works A. No for of themselves they can neither satisfie his Justice fulfil his Law nor indure his Tryal Psal. 130. 3 4. Psal. 143. 2. Esa. 64. 6. Luke 17. 10. CHAP. XX. Of Sanctification Q. 1. Is there nothing then required of us but Faith onely A. Yes a repentance and b holiness or new obedience a Act. 20. 21. Matth. 3. 2. Luk. 13. 3. b 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Thess. 4. 7. Heb. 12. 14. Q. 2. What is Repentance A. Godly a sorrow for every known 1 Repentance includeth first alteration of the mind into a hatred of sin before loved Secondly sorrow of the affections for sin committed thirdly change of the actions arising from both 2 Repentance is either legal servile and terrifying from the spirit of Bondage or Evangelical filial and comforting from the spirit of free Grace and Liberty which onely is available sin committed against God b with a firm purpose of heart to cleave unto him for the future c in the killing of sin the quickning of all graces to walk before him in newness of life a 2 Cor. 7. 9 10 11. Act. 2. 37. Psal. 51. 17. b Psal. 34. 14. Esa. 1. 16 17. Ezek. 18. 27 28. Act. 14. 15. c Ephes. 4. 21 22 23 24. Rom. 6. 12 13. 18 19. Rom. 8. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 6. 15. Q 3. Can we do this of our selves A. No it is a special gift and grace of God which he bestoweth on whom he pleaseth Levit. 20. 8. Deut. 30. 6. Ezek. 11. 19 20. 2 Tim. 2. 25. Act. 11. 18. Q. 4. Wherein doth the being of true Repentance consist without which it is not acceptable A. In its 3 Every part of popish Repentance viz. contrition confession and satisfaction was performed by Judas performance according to the Gospel rule with Faith and assured hope of divine mercy Psal. 51. 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. Act. 2. 38. Matth. 27. 4. Q. 5. What is that holiness which is required of us A. That a universal 4 All Faith profession without this holiness is vain and of no effect 5 True Faith can no more be without true holiness than true fire without heat sincere obedience to the whole will of God b in our hearts minds wills and actions c whereby we are in some measure made conformable to Christ our head a Psal. 119. 9. 1. Sam. 15. 22. Joh. 14. 15. Rom. 6. 9. Heb. 12. 14. T it 2. 12. 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6 7. Esa. 1. 16 17. b 1 Cron. 28. 9. Deut. 6. 5. Matth. 22. 37. c Rom. 8. 29. 1 Cor. 11. 1. Ephes. 2. 21. Col. 3. 1 2 3. 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Q. 6. Is this holiness or obedience in us perfect A. Yes a in respect 6 Merit of works in unprofitable servants no way able to do their Duty is a Popish Miracle of all the parts of it but b not in respect of the degrees wherein God requires it a 2 King 20. 3. Joh. 1. 1. Mat. 5. 48. Luk. 1. 6. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ephes. 4. 24. Tit. 2. 12. b Esa. 64. 6. Psal. 130. 3. Exod. 28. 38. Phil. 3. 8. Q. 7. Will God accept of that obedience which falls so short of what he requireth A. Yes from them 7 In Christ are our persons accepted freely and for him our obedience whose persons he accepteth and justifieth freely in Jesus Christ Rom. 12. 1. Phil. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 16. 1 Joh. 3. 22. Ephes. 1. 6. Q. 8. What are the parts of this holiness A. a Internal in the quickning of all Graces purging all Sins b and external in servent and frequent Prayers Almes and all manner of Righteousness a Heb. 9. 14. Ephes. 3. 16. 17. Rom. 2. 29. 6. 12. b Matth. 5. 20. Rom. 8. 1 2. Ephes. 4. 22 23. Tit. 2. 12. particular precepts are innumerable Q 8. May not others perform these Dunes acceptably as well as those that believe A. No 8 The best duties of unbelievers are but white Sins all their performances in this kind are but abominable sins before the Lord Prov. 15. 8. Joh. 9. 31. Tit. 1. 15. Heb. 11. 6. CHAP. XXI Of the Priviledges of Believers Q. 1. VVhat are the priviledges of those that thus believe and
Horeb but because written in the hearts of all by the finger of God at the first written with the finger of God in two Tables of Stone on Mount Horeb called the ten Commandements Rom. 2. 14 15. Q. 2. Is the observation of this Law still required of us A. Yes to the uttermost tittle Mat. 5. 17. 1 Joh. 3. 4. Rom. 3. 31. Jam. 2. 8. Gal. 3. Q. 3. Are we able of our selves to 2 After the fall the Law ceased to be a rule of Justification and became a rule for Sanctification only 3 It is of free Grace that God giveth power to yield any obedience and accepteth of any obedience that is not perfect perform it A. No in no wise the Law is spiritual but we are carnal 1 King 8. 46. Gen. 5. 6. Joh. 15. 5. Rom. 7. 11. and 8. 7. 1 Joh. 1. 8. Q. 4. Did then God give a Law which could not be kept A. No when God gave it we had power to keep it which since we have lost in Adam Gen. 1. 26. Ephes. 7. 29. Rom. 5. 12. Q. 5. Whereto then doth the Law now serve A. For two general ends first a to be a rule of our Duty or to discover to us the obedience of God required secondly b to drive us unto Christ. a Psal. 11. 9. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 8 9. b Gal. 3. 24 Q. 6. How doth the Law drive us unto Christ A. Divers ways as first a by laying open unto us the utter disability of our Nature to do any good secondly b by charging the wrath and curse of God due to Sin upon the Conscience thirdly c by bringing the whole Soul under bondage to Sin death Satan and Hell so making us long and seek for a Saviour a Rom. 7. 7 8 9. Gal. 3. 19. b Rom. 3 19 20. 4. 15. 5. 20. Gal. 3. 10. c Gal. 3. 22. Heb. 2. 15. CHAP. VIII Of the state of corrupted Nature Q. 1. How came this weakness and disability upon us A. By the sin and 1 This is that which commonly is called Original sin which in general denoteth the whole misery and corruption of our Nature as first the guilt of Adams actual sin to us imputed secondly loss of Gods glorious Image Innocency and Holiness thirdly deriving by propagation a nature 1. defiled with the Pollution 2. laden with the Guilt 3. subdued to the Power of Sin 4. a being exposed to all temporal Miseries leading to and procuring Death 5. an Alienation from God with voluntary Obedience to Satan and lust 6. an utter disability to good or to labour for Mercy 7. eternal Damnation of Body and Soul in Hell shameful fall of our first Parents Rom. 5. 12. 14. Q. 2. Wherein did that hurt us their Posterity A. Divers wayes first a in that we were all guilty of the same breach of Covenant with Adam being all in him secondly b our Souls with his were deprived of that Holiness Innocency and righteousness wherein they were at first created thirdly c pollution and defilement of Nature came upon us with fourthly d an extream disability of doing any thing that is well-pleasing unto God e by all which we are made obnoxious to the curse a Joh. 3. 36. Rom. 5. 12. Ephes. 2. 3. b Gen. 3. 10. Ephes. 4. 23 24. Col. 3. 10. c Job 14. 4. Psal. 51. 7. Joh. 3. 6. Rom. 3. 13. d Gen. 6. 5. Ephes. 2. 1. Jer. 6. 16. 13. 23. Rom. 8. 7. e Gen. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 10. Q. 3. Wherein doth the curse of God consist A. In divers things first a in the 2 All that a natural Man hath on this side hell is free Mercy guilt of Death temporal and eternal secondly b the loss of the Grace and Favour of God thirdly c Guilt and Horror of Conscience despair and anguish here with fourthly eternal damnation hereafter a Gen. 2. 17. Rom. 1. 18. 5. 12. 17. Ephes. 2. 3. b Gen. 3. 24. Ezek. 16. 3 4 5. Ephes. 2. 13. c Gen. 3. 10. Esa. 48. 22. Rom. 3. 9 19. Gal. 3. 22. d Gen. 3. 10. 13. Joh. 3. 36. Q. 4. Are all men born in this estate A. Every one without exception Psal. 51. 7. Esa. 53. 5. Rom. 3. 9. 12. Ephes. 2. 3. Q. 5. And do they continue therein A. Of themselves 3 The end of this is Jesus Christ to all that flye for refuge to the hope set before them they cannot otherwise do being able neither to a know or b will nor c do any thing that is spiritually good and pleasing unto God a Act. 8. 31. 16. 14. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Ephes. 5. 8. Joh. 1. 5. b Jer. 6. 16. 13. 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. Rom. 6. 16. 8. 7. c Joh. 6. 44. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Q. 6. Have they then no way of themselves to escape the curse and wrath of God A. None at all they can neither satisfie his Justice nor fulfill his Law CHAP. IX Of the Incarnation of Christ. Q. 1. Shall all mankind then everlastingly perish A. No God of his free grace hath prepared a way to redeem and save his Elect. Joh. 3. 16. Esa 53. 6. Q. 2. What way was this A. By sending his own Son 1 This is that great Mystery of Godliness that the Angels themselves admire the most transcendent expression of Gods infinite love the laying forth of all the treasure of his Wisdom and Goodness Jesus Christ in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh Rom. 8. 3. Q. 3. Who is this you call his own Son A. The second Person of the Trinity co-eternal and of the same Deity with his Father Joh. 1. 14. Rom. 1. 3. Gal. 4. 4. 1 Joh. 1. 1. Q. 4. How did God send him A. By causing him to be made flesh of a pure Virgin and to dwell among us that he might be obedient unto death the death of the Cross Esa. 50. 6. Joh. 1. 14. Luk. 1. 35. Phil. 2. 8. 1 Tim. 6. 16. CHAP. X. Of the Person of Jesus Christ. Q. 1. What doth the Scripture teach us of Jesus Christ A. Chiefly two things first his 1, 2 Though our Saviour Christ be one God with his Father he is not one Person with him Jesus Christ is God and Man in one not a God and a Man God incarnate not a man Deified Person or what he is in himself secondly his Offices or what he is unto us Q. 2. What doth it teach of his Person A. That he is truely God and perfect man partaker of the natures of God and man in one Person between whom he is a Mediator Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 14 15. Ephe. 4 5. 1 Tim. 2. 5. 1 Joh. 1. 1. Q. 3. How prove you Jesus Christ to be truely God A. Divers wayes first by places 3 The effential properties of either Nature remain in his Person theirs still not communicated unto the other as of the Deity to be eternal every where of the