heart good Sir Evangelus Well Friend seeing then that Goâ— his Providence has bin pleased to â—ring us into one anothers Company â—ill you give me leave to ask you a â—w Questions Paulus Yea Sir and I shall thank you â—oo Evangelus What do you think then concerning Heaven Paulus It is a good place no doubt Evangelus Yea and how happy shall we be if we can but get thither Paulus Why do you question getting thither Evangelus Yea that I do Don't you Paulus No I did never question getting to Heaven since I have been born I thank God for it Evangelus I am apt to think you might haâ— had more cause to bless God for quâ—stioning your title to Heaven theâ— for not questioning it and I am 〈◊〉 opinion that you and others wâ— scarce get to Heaven except yoâ— come first to doubt of your righâ— thereto Paulus You are the strangest man that â— ever met with in all my life and indeed this is the fault which I findâ— to be in you Phanaticks viz. youâ— censuring Evangelus Friend you mistake us and I suppose you do not very well understand me for did you not say just now that you questioned not getting to Heaven Paulus Yea I did what of all that Evangelus I only then ask you the Grounds on which you build your hopes for Heaven so stedfastly without the least questioning assurance thereof Paulus The Mercy of God no better â—rounds can there be Evangelus The Mercy of God that 's true â—iend but Gods Mercy has bin â—rfeited long ago through our disoâ—dience in Adam have you now â—ined it if you have pray tell me â—w and by what means Paulus Nay if so the Lord look down â—on me for I never heard of this â—fore Evangelus It is very true my Friend and â—ce it is that we have brought 〈◊〉 with us into the World by â—ich we are made the Heires of â—ath Paulus Be you sure this is true Evangelus Do you believe all those Truths câ—â—tained in the Holy Bible Paulus Do I believe them yea certainâ—â— or else I should be a Papist or an Iâ—â—fidel Evangelus Then see this prov'd from these 〈◊〉 Places of Scripture Psal. 51.5 I 〈◊〉 shapen in iniquity and in sin did 〈◊〉 Mother conceive me And Eph. 2â— We are by nature the children wrath even as others So Rom. 5. lâ— By one man sin entred into the worâ—â— and death by him and so death 〈◊〉 over all men for that all haâ— sinned Paulus Nay here is Scripture enougâ— none can deny Evangelus Well then seeing 〈◊〉 it is as I say had I 〈◊〉 Grounds do you thinâ— for speaking what I diâ— and therefore I pray 〈◊〉 willing to give me some further saâ—â—â—faction touching the belief of your â—â—â—vation Paulus Nay you have so puzled me that â—â—w I know not what to do except it to tell you that I pray Morning â—â—d Evening Evangelus Well what of all that I hope you not expect to get to Heaven by your â—â—ayer do you Paulus Yes I do or else I know not how to 〈◊〉 to Heaven Evangelus Oh Friend had you been acquaintâ—â— with godly Ministers or any of â—â—ds People and desired their Instruâ—â—â—ons certainly you would have bin 〈◊〉 now acquainted with the way that 〈◊〉 to Heaven and eternal Happiâ—â—â—s for thou art grossly ignorant thinking to be saved by Prayers Paulus I don't say Prayers only 〈◊〉 take in Reading of good Books aâ— hearing of good Sermons Evangelus Nay it is all one for that 〈◊〉 if you take in all good Works whatâ—â—â— ever they will prove insignificantâ— merit salvation Paulus Say you so why I never heard 〈◊〉 from our Minister and he is a 〈◊〉 good Church-man Evangelus Nay as to that I know not but 〈◊〉 I 'le assure you that what I have heaâ—â— from you as yet does rather savour Popery then of true Christianity Paulus How a Papist Sir God forbiâ— for I am sure I am so far from beiâ—â— a Papist that if I do but meet 〈◊〉 one I go the other side of the 〈◊〉 because I will not see him I do hate him Evangelus Perhaps you walk more by custoâ— then by judgement for I 'le assure you it is as I say Paulus Pray Sir tell me then what must save me if good works cannot Thanks be to God I met with you or else I should have died in this mistake notwithstanding our Minister Evangelus Why thus you see Friend Gods dealings with us are various but to gratifie your desire let me ask you this Question Did you never hear of Iesus Christ Here has not bin so much as one word concerning him Paulus Nay hold you I have heard of Jesus what of him Evangelus What of him why it is he that must save you Paulus It s no marvel then why I have heard such a talk concerning Jesus Christ but I ever thought it was my good works that must save me Evangelus Nay Friend I will shew you an insuffiâ—iency in that and likâ—wise that salvation is only to be had in Christ and by him you must be saved if ever saved Receive these Scriptures for the truth of both Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of sin So the 28 th verse Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law Gal. 2.16 Paulus Why then by your Reckoning I have all my work to begin before I can get to Heaven Evangelus If you understand no more then this I must needs say you are far from being a new creature and if far from being a nâ—w creature then far you â—re from the Kingdom of Heaven Paulus How do you prove that Evangelus I prove it from these following Scriptures Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned So Luke 13.3 5. I tell ye nay except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Iohn 3.3 5. Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And what think you of thâ—se Scriptures Paulus Why I think they are very good but if I have all this to do as you say and am still to begin the Christians A B C then I had as good desist a little while seeing that as yet I am but young and so for a time take my pleasure and when I come to be old I 'le then take this way to serve God which you have prescribed for I am afraid lest I should not hold out in serving God another way in regard that I have taken so much pain in the other for indeed I am spent Evangelus Oh Friend give not way to the Devilâ— these are only his suggestions believe him not for can you serve God in a more acceptable time then in the
stood fast 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 do appear So Rom. 4.17 Paulus All this now is very clear unto me Evangelus I am glad of it and therefore bless God And now tell me I pray you what you what is your belief concerning the Incarnation of our Saviour Paulus I do believe that Jesus Christ did come into the World to save sinners Evangelus And that he was made Man Paulus No I cannot think so in regard that it is impossible for God to become man Evangelus Herein thou art grossly ignorant because thou doest believe Christ came into the World and yet cannot think he was made man Paulus No nor I shall not except you give me good Scripture for it Evangelus Nay you are to be commended for that because you are not to take any thing from me or any man without Scripture and therefore if Scripture will do the business Scripture you shall have enough See John 1.14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth So 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory Paulus I see Scripture does hold forth this truth but who would think that this should be so Evangelus It is so and that for these Reasons as I suppose 1. Gods Iustice by Man was offended therefore by Man it was to be satisfied 2. Christ was Man that he might die for had he not been Man he could not have died 3. He was Man that he might sympathize and condole with us in all our conditions and infirmities 4. He was Man that he might be dâ—â—ompleat Mediator 5. He was Man that he might make Man Partakers of the Divine Nature Paulus Then by this reckoning you must make Christ a sinner Evangelus So he is i.e. by Imputation Paulus This is strange doctrine methinks to make Christ a sinner 〈◊〉 if also he is man then consequentially he is not God Evangelus Your consequence is false my Friend for Christ is God-Man God that he might satisfie Man that he might die 2.5 Paulus Well these things are very deep and profound therefore I pray you ask me somthing else and I will meditate upon them when I come home Evangelus Very good the next Question then shall be this what think you then concerning the Resurrection Paulus Truly Sir this has been ever obscure to me I could wish you would inform my judgement concerning it Evangelus With all my heart for I like this enquiring mighty well Now that there shall be a Resurrection it is evident from these Places of Scripture Dan 12.2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting ' contempt Iohn 5.28 29. Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of damnation So see 1 Cor. 15. and Rev. 20.12 13. Paulus Well this truth I also believe for I see there are many Scriptures for the demonstration and proof of the same Evangelus What think you now concerning the last Iudgment do you believe it or not Paulus I do believe that Jesus Christ will come at the last day and judge the world Evangelus And are you willing friend that I should try your knowledg in this necessary truth Paulus Willing why do you think I should be unwilling pray don't question that for I am so willing as that I shall look upon you as my best friend if you take the pains to inform me in this Evangelus Well then seeing that I have such a free access unto you I shall ask you these several Questions in order to your better understanding of this great truth what then is the last Iudgment Paulus The last Judgement is a day as I suppose wherein Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour shall come down from Heaven with great Glory to judge the whole World and give unto every one according as his works shall be Evangelus Very well my friend for your Answer pleases me exceeding well but how manifold is the coming of Christ Paulus How manifold is the coming of Christ why is there more comings of Christ then one Evangelus Yes friend the Scriptures do hold forth unto us a threefold coming of Christ the first was in the flesh about sixteen hundred years ago when he came in the forme of a servant taking upon him our sins the second is his coming now with the Power of the Gospel in the hearts of sinners and the third is his future coming when he shall in the end of the World come in glorious Glory not to be exprest And this is called his second Appearance to Iudgement Acts 10 42. Christ is appointed by God the Father Iudge both of the quick and dead So Acts 17. Paulus These are wonderful things pray tell me now how Christ will judge the World Evangelus Visible in the clouds for even as he ascended so shall he descend but wherefore do you think my Friend Christ will judge the World Paulus That he may render eternal life with fulness of joy unto the godly and eternal punishment to the wicked Evangelus You answer right but what do you think will be the Order of this Iudgement Paulus Truly Sir I know not very well Evangelus My friend observe there are certain Transactions that do prâ—cede this day certain Transactions done in the day and certain Transactions that does ensue this day First some things there be that arâ— antecedent to or coming before this day which will be these 1. A Subversion of the Roman Empire and the Man of Sin revealed 2. The Rising of false Christs and false Prophets 3. Signeâ— that shall be in the Sun and Moon 4. The Gospel being preached throughâ— out all Nations 5. Obedience yielded unto the Gospel by Iews and Gentiles and all that do pertain unto the Election of Gods grace Secondly those Transactions done in this day are these 1. The Son of Man shall be seen in the Air. 2. The dead shall rise both righteous and unrighteous 3. Christ shall separate the bad from the good and denounce the last sentence Thirdly that which follows this day is the proportioning of a reward unto every Mans work and now tell me what thou thinkest of these things Paulus Truly they are things that I never knew till now Evangelus Bless God then for what you know and answer me this
question Is the Iudgement-Day known unto any or no Paulus None but unto God as I suppose Evangelus Thou sayst right for neither Men nor Angels know this day but God himself Matth. 4. And thus friend I have shewed you these Points of Divinity to be believed of all that seek after an eternal life of Felicity being these as follows 1. God or the Trinity 2. The Creation of the World 3. The hypostatical Vnion or Christs assuming the humane Nature 4 The Resurrection 5. Iudgement I come now to ask you how and by what means you may come to know God Paulus By the Holy Bible Evangelus It is true friend the Scriptures conteined in the Old and New Testament is the only Rule by which we may come to know God and serve him 〈◊〉 but tell me what thou doest understanâ— by the Old and New Testament Paulus By the Old Testament I understanâ— the Writings of Moses and the Prophets and by the New Testament thâ— Writings of the Evangelists and Apostles Evangelus Your Answer as you should do But are the Scriptures sufficient of themselves to work faith in us or no Paulus Truly I am not able to determine of that Evangelus Why then I will tell you the Scriâ—tures of themselves cannot work faith â—n us but by Gods Spirit cooperating â—ith them and hence it is that the â—ord is called a dead letter not but â—hat the Word is quickning but beâ—ause the Word of it self without the Spirit cannot so much as work any â—race in us Paulus This I do believe Evangelus Then I hope you do believe the Scriptures to he so Canonical as that â—t is Blasphemy to esteem of any other Writings to be of equal Authority with the same and so consequentially â—hose are to be blamed who annex the â—pocrypha to the Bible and do freâ—ently take out certain verses conteined therein as their texts whenas the Scriptures and only the Scriptures are for a standing Rule in Gods Church Paulus But is not the Apocrypha the Word of God Evangelus No for they were not written in the Hebrew Tongue nor acknowledged aâ— Canonical by the Iews of old to whom the keeping of the Oracles of God was committed Paulus I am now convinc'd of that which I thought I should never have been perswaded to the contrary Evangelus Again if you do grant the Scriptures to be infallible you must then grant that the Scriptures are not to be ruled by the Church but the Church by the Scriptures Paulus If so be the Scriptures do not depend upon the Church for the Truth and Authority thereof how then can we be assured that it is the Word of God Evangelus Friend herein you are grossly mistaken for we may be assured of the Scriptures being the Word of God which may be prov'd from several Testimonies and Arguments divine and humane from Testimonies Divine being two internal and â—xternal One is the Testimony of the Spirit who sometimes by special Râ—vâ—laâ—ion and Power do declare the 〈◊〉 thereof upon the Hearts and Câ—nscâ—enâ—es of Men and Women and thâ—â— is the divine internal Testimony The dâ—vine external Testimony is the Scriptures testifying of themselves and hence it is many times that they do run in this Order Thus saith the Lord Thus saith God Now the Arguments to prove the same are deduced and taken from 1. The efficient causes of the Scriptures viz. Men tâ—e Calling Missâ—â—â— and Insperation of whom was divine Secondly the Scope and End of the Scriptures being the glory of God and the eternal salvation of our souls Thirdly the subject-matter of the Scriptures which is so full of Majesty and Divâ—nity as that it is far beyond humane capacity to comprehend This is sufficient to shew the Authority of the Scriptures without depending upon the Church Thus is the truth of the Scriptures and the Authority of them evidenced without the help of the Church Paulus Is not the Testimony of the Church then of some use Evangelus Yes that I deny not but the thing which I aim at is to shew that the Authority and Truth of the Scriptures can be made apparent from Gods Spirit and from themselves without the help of the Church which assertion does contradict the Papist who does audaciously affirm that the Authority of the Scriptures do absolutely depend upon the Church the absurd consequences of which opinion are these 1. Of all to hold that the Scriptures has no more Authority but what the Vniversal consent of the Church gives unto it is to make the Scriptures no otherwise but a Nose of Wax yea it is to make the eternal and inviolable truth of God rest upon the pleasure of men verily the matter and scope of the Scriptures is to be denied and to be of no use at all if this opinion is right these and such like are the Absurdities that must of necessity be held by retaining opinions of this kind Paulus But did not Austin say that he would not believe the Gospel save that the Authority of the Church moved him thereto Evangelus The Papist do give a false interpretation upon his words if we do but consider the whole tenor of his writing For as Calvin well Observes Austin had then to do with the Manichees who arguing with them spoke thus I my self would not beleeve the Gospel save that the Authority of the Church moved me thereto Meaning that he himself when he was a stranger from the faith could not otherwise be brought to embrace the Gospel for the assured truth of God but by this that he was overcome with the Authority of the Church And what marvel is it if a man not yet knowing Christ have regard to men therefore Austin does not there teach that the faith of the godly is grounded upon the Authority of the Church Paulus I am very well pleased and satisfied in what has been said have you any more Questions to ask me Evangelus Yes friend I have many Questions to ask you still How do you prove that Salvation is only to be had through Christ Paulus How do I prove it I prove it from Acts 4.12 where it is thus written Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Evangelus Thou hast given the right Scripture but now if salvation is only to be had in and through Christ does it not do you think concern you to have an interest in this Christ Paulus Yea certainly that it does Evangelus Are you then interested in him Paulus Truly I question it but how may I come to have an interest in him Evangelus That must be by faith Paulus What is faith Evangelus Faith is a receiving of Iesus Christ into the Heart as he is Priest Prophet and King with a fiducial dependance upon him being fully satisfied that there is salvation in through and by none but him Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence