made Believers by grace or hath any man more than is freely wrought in him by the Spirit of God A. No man is more or can be better than the Spirit of grace maketh him yet doth it not follow hence that grace is conferred on any man partially or irresistably or that any unbelievers do want sufficient supplies of the Spirit of Grace to inable them to believe as hath before been proved Q. Who are Reprobated to destruction A. Such as turn the Grace of God into wantonness remaining in unbelief when the truth is made known to them resisting it for want of love to it not suffering Christ to dwell in their hearts by Faith but treading on him through the love of iniquity Jude 4. 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Heb. 10.26 27 28 29. John 3.18 19. These Texts with many others do declare that such men are reprobated and for such causes only Q. But where the Spirit of grace is extended it is able to cure the souls of men of these sins and corruptions is it not so that they shall not perish A. It is so and it will and doth cure them that receive him but he neither wil nor doth cure those that continue to resist him as Reprobates do to their own destruction Gen. 6.3 1 Pet. 3.19 20. Acts 7.51 Q. Is there any profit in the knowledge of the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation A. Yea great advantage for he that continueth in Christ by unfained believing is under the Promises of Election and Salvation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.15 16. Rom. 8.1 John 15.24 Secondly In a state of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel who ever is found is under the threatnings of Reprobation and condemnation and cannot possibly miss thereof John 3.18 19 36. Coloss 3.3 5 6. 2 Thess 1.8 9. Now the knowledge of this is a blessed means to encourage and quicken men to believing and holiness Q. Is not then the free grace of God the principal cause of Gods Election A. Yes unquestionably the free grace and love of God is the original cause of Redemption as well as of Election and likewise of all the mercy the Sons of men are made partakers of in one kind or other from first to last for there is nothing in the Creature that can be a cause to move God to be merciful if his own infinite compassions did not incline him to extend grace and favour to poor finners yet will he extend his mercies upon us by such means and upon such tearms as shall wholly agree with his own holy will and honour Tit. 3.4 5 6 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 10. Q. Is not the foundation of God sure the Lord knoweth them that be his and so consequently them that are not his A. Yea it is beyond all doubt that there is no counsel thing nor thought but it is perfectly fore-known to God yet will it by no means follow that his fore-knowledge of any thing is the cause wherefore it cometh to pass 1 Sam. 23.10 11 12 13. Deut. 31.21 Q. VVill the Lord give grace to save such men as he fore-knoweth will abuse it and perish A. Yea and that to so great a degree as might well prevent their destruction 2 Chron. 36.14 15 16. Isa 5.2 3 4. Ezek. 33.10 11. with many moe Texts of like import Q. VVherefore doth the all-wise God do so seeing he knoweth it will do them no good A. For many reasons but especially these two First his own rich mercy is and will by this means be exalted so high that they and all men shall one day know that his tender mercies would have prevented their ruine Psal 145.9 Ezek. 18.32 And secondly That when they do come to perish they may be altogether left without excuse Rom. 2.15 John 15.22 Q. Seeing these are the Counsels and VVayes of the most High what concerns me to believe and do that I may be found in a state of acceptation before him A. It eminently and in the first place concerns thee in all plainness of heart to search out the clear knowledge of his holy will in all things and firmly to believe the same for such a sincere Faith will interest thee into a state of acceptation with God 1 Chron. 28.8 9. Rom. 4.3 Secondly Live by Faith to bring forth the obedience thereof and in this path thou canst not miss of Glory 2 Cor. 5.7 8 9. Rom. 16.26 Q. Open this Life of Faith with clearness in some main and principal points for the safe direction of the soul in this path of peace and happiness A. Carry the Truths of God so upon thy heart that thy whole conversation may comport or agree with thy Faith as for example Consider God is in himself good and faithful and therefore all his words are so also however carnal sence may present them yet are they of a most divine quality Ps 119.127 128 138 140. All his Commandments are good and given for our good Deut. 10.13 Psal 119.165 And mind alwayes that every saying of his is most true Prov. 8.6 7 8. Therefore when he threatneth sinners he certainly intendeth their destruction unless they take warning and repent and upon such tearms as he hath promised to be gracious he will never disappoint the hopes of any man and when he directeth us to the use of any means he meaneth to bless that means if we use it for our saving good and when he calleth us to come unto him for any favour he intendeth the bestowing of it upon us if we come to him for it neither calleth he us at any time to any work but what he meaneth to assist us in the doing of no nor yet to suffer for Him or his Truth but with an intention to afford us grace and strength to bear us up under them as also to sanctifie them to us for good and to deliver us in the best season Therefore if thou wilt live by Faith lay up these and such like truths in thy heart to quicken thee to watch and pray to resist sin and fly snares And in all thy godly endeavours exercise Faith in and upon the rich Grace of God through the blood of Christ for those supplies of grace which are needful to mend thy heart and life daily And if thou run this race humbly faithfully and diligently thou mayest be as sure as thou art of thy being to arrive at last at that Haven of felicity and eternal peace where no sin temptation or sorrow shall ever come to molest or trouble thee more But if thou prize the pleasures of sin thy interest or credit with men thy ease or peace in the world so high as these things thou wilt not lose or hazard for Christ or his Kingdom and the righteousness thereof then know that that Lake of fire and brimstone will be thy portion at last from whence there is no redemption And from which the good Lord deliver us Amen FINIS
3.13 to himself as appears from the seventh and eighth Reasons going before and so hath brought us under the New Covenant Heb. 10.19 20 29. which is established upon better Promises Heb. 8.6 than the Old was Q. VVhat are the tearms conditions or promises pertaining to the Old Covenant A. These for substance are all the tearms of that first Covenant The man that doth these things shall live by them And Cursed is he that doth them not Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.10 12. Q. VVhat are the promises or tearms of the New Covenant A. First in brief these are the New Covenant tearms He that believes shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be condemned But secondly The whole revelation of the Lords divine pleasure exprest in the Promises and Threatnings of the Scriptures are the New Covenant Tearms those only excepted that before were named appertaining to the First Covenant Q. But what is the New Covenant it self or how may it be understood A. Christ himself is said to be given as the Covenant Isa 42.6 and 49.8 Secondly the Blood of Christ is called the Covenant or Testament Mat. 26.28 Mark 14.24 Luke 22.20 1 Cor. 11.25 Thirdly Teaching mercy pardoning mercy and renewing mercy are called the Covenant Jer. 31.33 34. Heb. 8.10 11 12. From all which this is evident That the New Covenant is Free Grace not only tendred but extended by the Father through the blood of the Son to all men sufficient to enable them to believe acceptably and they that believe have eternal life given them and all that tends to fit them for that blessed inheritance while the obstinate unbelievers for their disobedience to the Gospel of Grace perish Q. Is Faith of necessity to this New Covenant benefit A. Yea in all come up to years of discretion and capeable to attain it as appears Heb. 11.6 7. Gal. 3.22 26. John 3.15 16 18 36. Q. Have Children no Faith suppose you A. We have no reason to believe they have or can have any seeing Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.14 17. and there can be no reason to believe that Faith can possibly be raised in the soul without hearing or means equivolent to bearing sufficient to enlighten the understanding in the knowledge of the Truth Q. Do you believe Children are saved although they have no Faith seeing the Lord will not save persons of understanding without it A. Yea First because Christ tels us that Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 19.13 14. Luke 18.15 16 17. Secondly They being redeemed and so delivered from all danger of eternal ruine upon the Old Covenant account It is no way likely that the New Covenant which is better and more merciful will ever condemn such as never live to disobey it also the Scripture plainly manifesteth that the second Adam brought a Cure every way proportionable to the Disease the first Adam brought upon the world Rom. 5.12 c. and that the grace is much more abundant that comes by him which being true there is no place for a doubt concerning the estate of Infants but that it is well with them seeing they have no more disease but what hath originally befallen them if Children have no Faith Q. VVhat then is a visible Church of Christ or how may it be discerned from other Assemblies A. The visible Church of Christ is an Assembly of faithful Persons Saints by calling at least Q. VVho are Saints by calling A. Those that are won by the Gospel to believe and voluntarily give up themselves to the profession and practice of Religion and Godliness Ephes 1.1 Phil. 1.1 5 6 7. Col. 1.2 4 5 6 7 8. Q. VVhat Ordinances hath Christ appointed in his Church visible A. Prayer Preaching Baptism Laying on of Hands the Lords Supper with all Duties of Love in general and when necessity requireth Excommunication also 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 12.5 2 Tim. 4.1 2. Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.20 Heb. 13.16 2 Cor. 9.6 7. 1 Cor. 5. John 13.14 15. Mat. 18.15 16 17.18 Q. At what age ought persons to be Baptized and received into Church-Communion A. The Scriptures have not exprest any age but the time when persons do indeed repent and with all the heart believe the Gospel Acts 8.36 37 38. Mark 16.15 16. Acts 2.38 41 42. and so saith the Common-Prayer-Book also in its Catechisme and that according to truth Q. Be those that are Baptized and so Members of the visible Church Heirs of Salvation A. Yea if they do as they profess in truth believe John 3.15 16.36 Q. VVhat is true Faith let us understand and know it seeing it is so necessary to Salvation A. True Faith believes unfainedly all that God saith how unlikely soever it appears to sense Gen. 15.6 Gal. 3.6 7 9. Luke 1.45 Q. VVhat is the nature of true Faith or how may it be known when it is savingly wrought in the heart A. It will work men to a suitable obedience and deliver them from the love and service of sin and therfore if any do live in the service of known sin they cannot be in the Faith nor yet the Servants of Christ John 8.34 39. 1 John 3.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Acts 15.9 Q. VVill not that Faith then justifie men which is without good works A. No it cannot because it is fruitless and dead Jam. 2.14 c. Q. Are we justified by Faith or by VVorks or by both together A. Nay we are justified by Faith without Works Rom. 3.20 27 28. and 4.2 3 4 5 6. For however the Faith that is without Works will not justifie yet the Works themselves add nothing toward our justification Q. VVherefore then are good VVorks of necessity A. They are not at all of necessity to justifie us nevertheless if we be without them our Faith is not true nor living no more than he can be a living man that hath no breath in his nostrils Q. But are VVorks of no use but only to prove our Faith true and of a living nature A. Yes we may and must work diligently as well as believe in order to the attainment of our Sanctification which is as necessary to Salvation as Justification is and Holiness is not gotten without diligent working John 3.3 4. Heb. 12.14 2 Pet. 3.14 Heb. 6.11 12. Q. VVherefore must we work in order to our growth in Holiness and not in order to our Justification A. In the one works profit not but contrarily tend to rob the Lord of the honour of his grace who forgiveth freely iniquity Rom. 4.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. but in the other works are profitable for the attaining of holiness as was shewed before and they are profitable to men and honourable to God Tit. 3.8 14. Mat. 5.16 Heb. 12.14 Q. But then wherefore must we believe in order to Sanctification seeing it will not prevent working A. All Works are altogether vain without grace and blessing from God which must be fetched by Faith from him through
Christ that we may be kept humble in working and withall thankful for what we obtain through believing Q. How ought we to exercise our Faith that we may become Saints or are we adopted without it A. No not without it John 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Heb. 11.6 but thus ought we to exercise our Faith First consider the Might Grace Wisdom and Faithfulness of God and hence conclude that you may well believe his words be all true Secondly consider the clearness of the Gospel held forth to sinners lost and helpless in themselves yet may scarcely rest upon the grace of God in Christ for grace to change the heart and life according to the promises made to such in the Gospel Isa 45.22 John 3.14 15 16 17. Heb. 7.25 with many like gracious promises in the Scripture and through the beholding the glory of the Lord in his Gospel thou shalt not only be adopted but also changed by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Q. When a person is a Child of God by Faith is there any thing more for him to do in order to his enjoying eternal happiness A. Yea it is his duty and that in order to his safety to live by Faith Hab. 2.4 Heb. 10.38 Q. Is there eminent danger of a Believers falling away A. There is danger if a man be careless and decline but no such eminent danger but that he who is in the Faith may very possibly and well continue therein John 15.9 10. Acts 13.43 1 Tim. 4.16 Q. How comes it to pass that any do or may fall away Doth the Lord leave them to temptation and danger or comes it to pass through some wilful disobedience of their own A. Their own ungodly turning aside must needs be the alone cause thereof for the Lord on his part never fails to do all that is meet for him to do or that can honourably be done by him to preserve them from falling 1 Thess 5.23 24. 1 Cor. 1.8 9. Q. Do you think then that the Lord doth not save some men by an omnipotent arm seeing 1 Pet. 1.5 saith That they are kept by the power of God to salvation A. Compare that Text with Rom. 1.16 and you may see he means no more but the Gospel faithfully believed is Gods power to save men and he that so continueth is safe enough 1 Cor. 15.1 2. Q. But if men do fall from the Faith may they not be recovered again to repentance A. Yea doubtless if they fall not into the blasphemy of the holy Spirit they may 1 Tim. 1.20 1 Kings 15.5 but it is a very dangerous sinful estate and a recovery out of it harder than the first conversion Prov. 14.14 Q. But how doth it appear that any that do in truth believe with such a Faith as if they had continued in would have saved them may finally fall away and perish A. It appeareth plainly from the express testimony of the holy Scripture Ezek. 18.24 26 and 33.12 13 18. John 15.6 1 Tim. 5.11 12. Q. Do you think that all that fall away are such as once truly believed and should have been saved if they had continued in their profession A. No by no means for when men do fall off from the profession of Godliness especially in great numbers it is like they were never sound John 6.60 66. 1 John 2.19 For I believe it is not easie nor ordinary for a true Believer to come to fall from the Faith especially so low as from the profession of it but contrarily many that are not sound may stand in their profession to the last Mat. 7.22 23. Q. But is it not possible for a true Believer to secure both himself and his fears from the danger of falling away A. Yea very well God affords rich supplies of grace for that end and he that takes the direction the Scripture giveth shall be sure he shall never fall from the Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. and 3.17 18. and he that persevereth in the Faith to the end shall never miss of eternal Life John 5.24 Coloss 1.22 23. Q. How comes a People to be a Church or what Ministry is necessary to put them in Order and make them meet to partake of Ordinances A. Christ and his holy Spirit by the infallible Ministry of his Apostles and Prophets Ephes 2.19 20 21 22. Q. You speak as if men might put themselves into a Church Order and Fellowship do you think they may or can do it warrantably A. No I know it is impossible for men to make themselves an acceptable or a holy Church neither do men go about it of themselves when they are directed by the holy Scriptures in this work but they are without doubt upon the Apostles and Prophets truly built and Christ is the true corner-stone of the Building and the holy Spirit the Builder But if any men should come and say they are Apostles and should also work Miracles yet ought we not to leave the holy Scriptures one hairs breadth to follow them the true Foundation is laid already and no man can lay any other 1 Cor. 3.11 and we have Christ and his Apostles indeed in the New Testament Ephes 2.20 21 22. and Moses and the Prophets in the Old Luke 16.29 31. all which are a full and perfect guide to every good work 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Q. Hath not Christ appointed a continuing Ministry to feed and govern the Church A. Yea we are instructed what their work or office and their qualifications must be 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1.6 7 8 9. Q. But how shall men come by a power orderly to make or to be made Ministers now since the apostacy seeing there is not a succession of that true Ministry to ordain as Christ left A. First it is Christ and not men that makes Ministers if we had now the Churches the Apostles planted and the Bishops they ordained they could give him no lawful power to minister the Gospel that Christ hath not fitted for that work by his Spirit neither see I any reason to doubt of the lawfulness of his exercise of a Ministry that Christ hath fitted for that work Gifts to men for the Ministry and gifts of Ministers to the Church are both from him Ephs 4.7 8 11 12. therefore his Ministers and his Churches must take heed to his Word which is a safe and sure guide to them in all cases It is beyond doubt that Churches may and ought to elect or choose their Ministers Acts 6. which plainly sheweth that they are competent Judges of their fitness for the service they are to undertake and as for laying on of the hands of the Presbytery I can see no more but these two ends of it One to seek the Lords blessing and further assistance of the Spirit upon their Ministry another end to manifest their approbation of what Christ hath done in fitting of them for that work and what they do seems to me to be done as Servants for the
not then have they more need of pity than reproof and if they meet with such as have wit enough to do it will soon tell them so and say How know you that I am redeemed and if not which way is it possible for me to be better is there any grace or strength but what is in Christ And if I have no share in his Blood I can never mend Your preaching nor my hearing without Christ's Blood can never change my heart This Objection can never be answered or removed But the only way both to resolve doubts and convince men of their evil ways is to prove that Christ died for all without exception 5. The Gospel exprest in the holy Scriptures is in it self a truth whoever doth or doth not believe it Now the Gospel likewise is to be preached unto all considered as men and as sinners without exception Mark 16.15 Col. 1.23 28. 1 Cor. 15.3 And the Gospel allowed of God to be preached to the world is good tydings great joy to all people peace and good things Luke 2.10 Rom. 10.15 But nothing of all this Gospel-grace can have sincerity and truth in it with respect to any of those men for whom Christ died not 6. The Scriptures declare that of them Christ hath bought some will perish 2 Pet. 2.1 and if so there is no reason to think that any are left without Redemption 7. The Scripture chargeth the guilt of sin upon the world for their unbelief and makes it the true cause of their condemnation John 16.9 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. A charge never to be made good but upon the account that they are Redeemed for without it they cannot be under the New Covenant nor the duties of it which requireth faith in the Lord Jesus but must needs still remain under the Old Covenant which requireth not that duty at any mans hand neither condemneth any man for the want of Faith in him 8. The holy Scriptures manifest that Christ hath obtained by his death Lordship and Dominion over all men and right of receiving honour from all men and power of Judging them for disobedience to his Gospel 2 Thes 1.8 Rom. 14.9 Now to have a just Title and Authority over the men by means of his death that he never died for is in all reason an utter impossibility 9. The Scriptures are most express in this Doctrine that God is no respecter of persons 2 Chron. 19.7 Acts 10.34 and yet doth he require faith repentance and obedience at all mens hands and yet without Christ all duties are impossible John 15.5 and also unprofitable Heb. 9.22 23. and therefore if Christ have not died for all men God must needs be of all others the greatest respecter of persons which he so earnestly professeth against in himself and condemneth in others 2 Chron. 19.6 7. Deut. 1.17 10. Unless Christ hath died for all men and by his blood opened a door for the renewing and saving of them it is impossible for a multitude of Texts to have any manner of truth in them at all namely such as do testifie his Love to all his Word and Oath that he would have men repent and believe and be saved and not die nor perish he saith he hath no pleasure in it no not in the death of the wicked no not of him that doth die saying VVhy will you die telling men they destroy themselves and put away eternal life and turn the grace of God into wantonness tread upon Christ and his blood and that he would have gathered them and they would not and oh that thou hadst known with many bowel-like expressions not to be numbred See some of them Psal 145.9 Ezek. 18.31 32. and 33.11 Hos 13.9 2 Pet. 3.9 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6 7. Acts 13.46 Jude 4. Heb. 10.29 Psal 81.11 12 13. Mat. 23.37 and many more speak the s ame language But it is impossible for them to have either truth or savour in them if Christ have not died for all men for there is no means whatsoever that God doth use or that man can use that can do him any good to work him to repentance or believing that Christ did not die for or that will save him if he could do both 11. Both the Scripture and works of God declare him to be gracious in himself and in his nature and disposition enclined to mercy Exod. 34.6 Jonah 4.2 Psal 19.1 Psal 86.15 with much more if need were But now if the world generally perish for want of Redemption except that little remnant of chosen ones it is altogether impossible that he can be according to this description Gracious But whereas James 2.13 saith Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment it would have been much more proper to have said Judgment rejoyceth against Mercy for nothing is more evident than this that God saveth no man but upon such tearms as do most abundantly maintain the honour of his Justice and if in condemning men he have not the same respect to the honour of his Mercy which cannot be without Redemption how is it possible that his Mercy should be commensurable to his Severity much less can it rejoyce against it therefore it is evident all are Redeemed 12. Seeing it is plain 1 Cor. 15.21 22. that by virtue of Christs coming all men rise from the dead he certainly hath redeemed them or else he came purposely to bring upon them that eternal misery which without him could never have befallen them Therefore they that deny Universal Redemption render Christ more a Destroyer of mankind than a Saviour of them contrary to the Scriptures Luke 9.56 John 12.47 13. The innocency and profitableness of this Doctrine speaks for the truth of it for as it agrees with the Atributes of God in general so it doth not degrade him of his power but it tendeth to shew that he will not use it unwisely nor cruelly and as it tendeth to encourage Faith and so Godliness in all so it no way ministreth any occasion or temptation to sin but rather it tells men that if they go on to sin and perish it is their own fault altogether 14. The contrary Doctrine manifestly tends to work doubts in mens minds whether they be Redeemed or no and so reckoneth their Faith and so their Godliness the fruit of Faith Q. Hath not Christ by Redemption purchased eternal life for all the Redeemed A. Yea in such a sence as God gave David Sauls House and his Wives for if he had liked to ahve had them nothing stood in the way to hinder him but in no other sense for Redemption is not Salvation although it be a sufficient means to effect it yet doth it not put any man into an absolute right thereof but a man without any dishonour to the work of Redemption may miss thereof Q. What is Redemption then and how may it be understood A. It is an absolute purchasing of us by the price of his own blood from under the curse of the Law Gal.