of the law Rom. 3.20 4.11 2. They must also beleeve the Gospell that is consent in their opinion judgement that there is salvation to be had and that this is a truth of God that it is possible for men to get salvation and this is wrought by the Gospell Marke 1.15 Acts 4.4 3. They must heartily be sorry for their past sinnes and unfeinedly purpose to leave them which is Repentance begun in the roote Matth 21.32 4. They must hunger and earnestly desire to be saved Matth 5.6 Isay 55.1 5. They must consult what to doe and enquire further into and after the way and the meanes of salvation with a minde to follow those directions accordingly Act. 2.37 16.30 And these three last actions are wrought by the Law and Gospell whereby they are both drawne and driven to seeke and get salvation P What be the actions of men which give them title and interest unto salvation to claime and receive it of God M. Actions that gâ—ue title to claime and receiue saluation They are beleeving or trusting in Iesus Christ Rom 10 9. Eph. 1 13. whereby weary and heavy laden sinners come to Christ for salvation Math 11 28. Iohn 6 35 and rest onely upon the merits of the righteousnes of his life and death for salvation in all the severall degrees thereof For by this faith they get and lay hold upon the Saviour himselfe even the Lord Iesus Christ and are engrasfed and united to him Rom 11 19.20 for by faith Christ is in true beleevers 2 Cor 13 5. he liues in them Gal 2 20 and dwells in them Eph. 3.17 P. What reasons may be brought from the Scripture to prooue this which you say concerning the action of beleeving in Christ M. These 1 Beleeving in Christ is the action appointed by God to be performed by man for receiving salvation because it is requyred of him as the condition to obtaine forgivenes of sinnes Act 10 43. reconciliation and peace with God Rom 5 1. 3 25. justification Act 13 29. adoption Iohn 1.12 blessednes Gal. 3 9 eternall life Iohn 3 16. ease from the burden of sinne Matth 11 28. quenching all Satans fiery darts Eph 6 16. not being confounded of our sinnes Rom. 10.11 and of pleasing God Heb. 11.6 2 Beleeving in Christ is the action requyred by God to be performed on mans part for receiving salvation because by this meanes salvation comes to him by the free grace and mercy loue favour of God Rom 4 16. Eph 2 8. 3 Beleeving in Christ is the action and condition required on mans part for obtaining salvation because hereby the promise of salvation will be sure to the faithfull Rom 4.16 which by the action of obeying the Law it could not bee because hee could not performe it Acts 13.39 Rom 8.3 4. Beleeving in Christ is the action and condition required to be performed by man for the getting of salvation because it makes a man renounce his own righteousnesse and to goe out of himselfe to another for it namely to Iesus Christ to be saved by his righteousnesse Matth 11.28 Ioh 6.35 Phil 3.9 Gal 2.19 P. What are the actions which Christians must performe to make their salvation sure unto themselves M. They are divers Actions that assure saluation for they concerne either 1. God or 2. our brethren or 3. our selves P. What actions concerne God M. They are such as belong either 1. to God the Father or 2. to God the Sonne or 3. to God the holy Ghost P. What actions belong to God the Father M. They are three principally 1. Fearing to offend God and caring to please him 1 Pet. 1.17 1 Cor 7.32 For unto such and for their comfort is the word of salvation sent Acts 13.26 and such may worke out their salvation that is the assuming not the procuring of it unto themselves Phil 2.12 And no marvell seeing Gods mercy is on them that feare him for ever Luke 1.50 Such know that they are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ 1 Pet 1.17 18 and such are blessed Psal 128.1 2. Loving God and setting our hearts and delight upon him for such may know that they are of the truth and shall assure their hearts before him 1 Iohn 3.18 19 And that they may have boldnesse in the day of judgement 1 Iohn 4.16 17. And no marvell seeing their love to God will assure them that they are borne of God 1 Iohn 4.7 that they dwell in God and God in them 1 Iohn 4.19 that they are knowne and acknowledged and approoved of God The first to the Corinthians the 8 chapter 3 verse that all things shall worke to their good that is to the furtherance of their sanctification and salvation Rom. 8.28 And that the crowne of life eternall and the Inheritance of the kingdome of heaven is promised to such as love God Iam 1.12 2.5 3. Christians must hope in God that is assuredly expect looke for yea patiently abide and waite for the accomplishment of all Gods promises specially that of the resurrection of the body and of eternall life for they are saved by hope Rom. 8.24 And Hope is a helmet of salvation to them 1 Thess 5.8 And an anker to the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into heaven whither the forerunner is for us entred even Iesus Heb 6.19 20. And no marvell seeing their hope will not deceive nor make them ashamed Rom 5.5 Because into the hearts of such as hope in God the love of God is shed abroad by the holy Ghost Rom 5.5 And they rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God Rom 5.3 P. What actions of Christians concerne Iesus Christ that will assure them of their salvation M. They are these two principally 1. They must obey him in all his Evangelicall precepts and commandements which belong to the hearing and beleeving of the Gospell preached and to the administring and receiving the Sacraments in remembrance of him Matth 28.20 Marke 1.15 Luke 10.16 Matth. 26.26 27. 1 Cor 11.24 25. For unto such as obey him herein Iesus Christ is become author of eternall salvation Heb 5.9 no marvell seeing they are blessed of God Luk 11.28 Revel 1.3 they are of God that is chosen beloved of him Iohn 8 4.7 and they are the sheepe of Christ to whome hee will give eternall life Iohn 10 27.28 2 They must love long for looke and waite for the second appearing or coming of Christ For such beleeve that there is layd up for them a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous judge shall give them at that day 2 Tim. 4.8 Titus 2.13.14 Such the Lord Christ will deliver from the wrath to come 1 Thess 1.10 and to such he will appeare the second time unto salvation Hebr. 9.28 P. What actions of Christians concerne the holy Spirit that will assure them of salvation M. These Not to resist or vexe the holy Spirit Act 7
containe all truthes necessary to Gods service our salvation 2 Tim. 3.15.17 2. Reading searching and perusing them 1 Tim. 4.13 Ioh. 5.29 3. Praise and thanks to God for giving and keeping them vnto and in his Church Psal 147.19 20. 4. Desire and endeavour to vnderstand and make a right vse of them for our direction conversion consolation and satisfaction Acts. 8.34 Psal 119. P. What are the holy actions ordained by God for holy vses in the doing of which I must serve God M. Holy exercises They are certaine religious exercises ordeined and specially appointed by God for holy vses namely the honour of God edification of his Church and for Gods publike service and they are these foure specially 1. Hearing the word 2. receiving the Sacraments 3. praying to God 4. praising God We serve God in performing any or all these holy exercises for God hath commanded that they be done But besides the doing of them we are also to performe them in a manner prescribed by God and this manner of performing is service to God also and the duties that are to be done for this end are such as are either 1. common to all the four exercises or 2. peculiar to each of them P. What are the duties common to them all M. They are threefold for they concerne the time either 1. before wee come unto them or 2. when we are in doing them or 3. after wee haue done them P. What dutie is to be done before wee come to these religious exercises M. Wee must prepare our selves to them and not come hand over head Eccles 5.1 and this wee shall doe by considering 1. that we which performe them are but dust and ashes yea miserable sinners and vnworthy to performe them 2. that herein wee have to doe with the great God of heaven and earth Heb. 4.13 that we are in his speciall presence taking notice of vs and our behaviour Acts. 10.31 and that he will not hold vs guiltlesse if wee take his name in vaine Exod. 20.7 P. What dutie is to be done in the instant time we performe these religious exercises M. Generally wee must performe them as God hath commanded both for substance and circumstance Exod. 25.9 Hebr. 8.5 Specially we must performe them with worship and reverence to God 2 Chron. 29.29 P. What duties are to bee done after wee have beene at these religious exercises M. When wee have done and performed them we must endeavour to be bettered by them and remember to keepe our Covenant with God of serving him which wee professe to renew by our daily resorting vnto them and not returne to our former sinnes againe 1 Sam. 7.3 2 Pet. 2.20 21. Ezra 9.14 P. Oh Sir you tolde me even now that when I serve God in doing religious exercises to him that I must also worship God at the same time I would faine better vnderstand what it is to worship God M. What it is to worship God To worship God is to performe a religious exercise to God immediately with an humble affection of our soule and reverent gesture of the body Ioh. 4.24 Psal 95.6 Or to humble the soule and to bend the body immediately to God for his honour though we bee not in doing any such speciall religious exercise Gen. 24.52 Exod. 4.31 P. But I haue heard that to serve God and to worship God are all one are they not M. How it differs from the service of God In cōmon speech amongst many the service of God is taken for Gods worship but in propriety of speech and in the nature of the thing they are not for Gods service is a more generall duty and it is as much as obedience to God and it reacheth unto all things that are to bee done whether they be naturall and civill or holy and religious for in all these things wee must serve God But the worship of God is but a particular duty it is vsed onely in holy and religious actions and exercises and it is but obedience to one particular commandement 2. All worship commanded by God is service to him in as much as it is an obedience to God which hath commanded it But all service to God is not worship to God as will easily appeare by this Faithfulnesse in our civill calling is service to God because it is obedience to God who hath commanded it Mat. 25.21 but it is not worship to God because worship to God is performed in religious actions only unto God only that immediatly only but faithfulnes in our calling is performed in civill actions and mediately to men our selves or others P. I pray you good Sir make this a little more plaine unto me M. I will you may better vnderstand it by a familiar comparison taken from the service of men To serve a Master is to doe as he bids him Matth. 8.9 Eph. 6.5 But to worship or reverence him is to doe obeysance to him and to give him an humble and submissiue respect in looks words and gestures of putting off the hat making a leg or the like 1 Chron. 29.20 Dan. 2.46 Mat. 18.26 Luk. 14.10 P. Sir I thanke you I now perceive cleerely the difference betwixt Gods service and worship But now I pray you proceede to the duties of serving God which are peculiar to each of these foure religious exercises even now named and because the hearing of the word was the first therefore tell mee what is that exercise M. Duties in respect of hearing the word read and preached The hearing of the word is a part of Gods publike service wherein wee diligently hearken and attend vnto it whensoever it is read or preached and published that is expounded and applyed vnto vs Act. 16.14 P. What duties of service to God are we to performe at the hearing of the word M. They are of two kindes for they belong to the hearing of it either first both read and preached or preached onely P. What duties belong to the hearing of the word both read and preached too M. These sixe 1. Earnest heeding marking and minding of it Deut. 32.46 2. Beleeving or assenting to the truth of it Ioh. 5.47 3. Loving and delighting in it Psal 119.127.159 4. Laying it vp in our hearts Deut. 11.18 5. Keeping it in our hearts Luke 8.15 Luke 2.51 6. Calling of it againe to minde and memory and meditating vpon it Iam. 1.25 Iosh 1.8 P. And what duties belong to the hearing of the word preached onely M. They are of two kindes for they be either 1. common to all and every part of the word preached or 2. peculiar to some parts onely P. What duties are common to the hearing of any and every part of the word preached M. These two 1. receiving it not as the word of man but of God 1 Thess 2.13 2. Examining our selves how wee profit by it that is whether we be converted and saved by it and whether wee be guilty of the sins
be sanctified and seasoned to our reformation and consolation in Christ P. What was Christs action at his death whereby he merited our salvation M. He willingly laâ—d downe his life when by his divine power hee might have held it and none could have taken it from him Iohn 10.17 1 Iohn 3.16 Hereby Christ offered up himselfe a propitiatory sacrifice to God his Father for the ransome of mankind Gal 4.5 Heb 10.6 7 8 and hereby hee redeemed the Elect from the second death which is damnation and from the tyranny of the Divell Hebr 2.14 Iam 5.20 Acts 26.18 P. What was Christs resurrection and the merit of it for our salvation M. Christs resurrection was the freeing of himselfe from the power of death under which hee was held in the grave some part of three dayes and the uniting againe of his soule which was in heaven to his body which lay in the grave Christ merited hereby that the faithfull should rise againe from death to life as members of his mysticall body and be begotten to a lively hope of their owne resurrection by the power of his 1 Cor 15.19 20. 1 Pet 1.3 1 Thess 4.14 P. What was Christs Ascension and what did he merit thereby tending to our salvation M. Christs Ascension was his leaving to live any longer on the earth as man and his entring into heaven both in soule and body there to continue till the end of the world Acts 1.9 10 11. Hebr 4.14 By Christs Ascension into heaven he tooke possession of it for the faithfull that at the end of their lives he might receive their soules thither Acts 7.59 and at the end of the world he might receive into it both their soules and bodies Iohn 14.2 Heb 6.20 P. What was Christs sitting on the right hand of God the Father in heaven and what did hee merit thereby for our salvation M. Christs sitting on the right hand of the Father in heaven is his partaking as man of heavenly glory farre above all creatures Hebr. 1.3 The merit thereof is his Intercession for us Hebr. 7.24 25 for in heaven hee continually appeares in Gods presence for us Heb 9.24 to present all his merits unto God his Father for our benefit that God beholding the worth of them hee might continually apply the vertue and benefit of them to the conversion and salvation of his Elect successively to the worlds end P. Now you have shewed mec what were the act on s of God the Father and God the Sonne which they wrought for the effecting of mans salvation I pray you also tell mee what were the actions of the Holy Ghost for that end M. They were of two kindes The actions of the holy Spirit for effecting mans saluation 1. Such as he wrought in Christ that was to be the Saviour of the world and 2. such as hee wrought in them that are to bee saved by him P. What were the actions wrought in Iesus Christ by the Holy Ghost for the bringing to passe of mans salvation M. They were three 1. the sanctifying of the seede of the woman for the framing of his body thereof as hee was man Luke 1.35 2. The declaring of him to be the Saviour of the world by descending upon him like a dove Matth 3.16 Iohn 3.33 3. The filling of him with the gifts and graces of the Spirit above measure Iohn 3.34 and above his fellowes Hebr 1.9 P. What are the actions of the Holy Spirit which he workes in them that are to bee saved for the effecting thereof M. They are two 1. Regeneration or bringing them into the state of grace 2. Preservation or keeping them therein P. Sir I have heard much of Regeneration but I doe not well understand it I pray you therefore cause mee to understand better what it is M. Regeneration is an action of the holy Spirit The Regeneration of the holy Spirit whereby Christians are begotten again borne againe and renewed or made new againe 1 Pet 1.3 Iohn 3.5 Tit. 3.5 P. Wherein doth the holy Spirit regenerate Christians M. Not in making new the substance of their soules nor in enduing their soules with new parts powers and faculties But Regeneration consists in healing and recovering rectifying and amending purging and sanctifying with a new supply of grace the former parts powers and faculties that were wholly depraved and corrupted with sinne through Adams disobedience Ecclefiast 7.29 P. To what end doth the holy Spirit regenerate Christians by his grace M. For a twofold end in respect of themselves P. Which is the first M. To enable them to serve God sincerely and acceptably in this world Hebr 12.28 in newnesse of spirit Rom 7.6 and in newnesse of life Rom 6.4 For they are created anew in Christ Iesus unto good workes which God had before ordained that they should walke in Eph 2.10 This they could not doe as they were begotten of their parents for so they were begotten in sinne Psal 51.5 and borne of and after the flesh Iohn 3.3 Gal. 4.29 which cannot please God Rom 8.8 And therefore to the end they may bee fitly disposed and effectually enabled to doe the holy duties of Gods service they must be made new men and women for the image of God which through Adams sinne was defaced in them as touching right knowing willing and doing Gods will must againe be renewed in them Col 3.10 Eph. 4.24 P. What is the second end why the holy Spirit doth regenerate Christians M. It is to order them and to set them in the way to heaven which is to make them meete partakers of that inheritance Col 1.12 For without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Hebr. 12.14 Into the new Ierusalem of heaven shall in no wise enter any uncleane thing Revel 21.27 And flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 15.50 Now they can not goe to heaven as they are begotten of their naturall parents for so they are the children of disobedience Eph. 5.6 the children of wrath Eph 2.3 and the children of the Divell Iohn 8.44 And therefore to the end they may be made capable of salvation they must by the holy Spirit bee turned from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive an inheritance with them that are sanctified Acts 26.18 19. For holinesse is the way to happinesse and grace unto glory P. But by what meanes doth the holy Spirit regenerate Christians and make them new M. By the incorruptible seede of the word of truth Iam 1.18 which is the word of God 1. Pet. 1.23 which is the Gospell 1 Cor. 4.15 1 Pet. 1.23 which is the Preaching of Iesus Christ Rom. 16.25 and of salvation Act. 13.26 In whom they are begotten againe 1 Pet. 1.3 and created anew Eph. 2.10 And therefore you ought carefully to attend upon this ordinance which is the power of God to salvation to them that beleeve Rom. 1.16 P. I pray you Sir What
THE APPROBATION Libellum hunc à viro Anglo docto pio perlegendum curauimus eiusque iudicio probatum imprimendum duximus 25. Ianuarij 1599. Matthias ArchiepuÌ„s Mechliniensis THE SVMME OF ALL namely GODS service and Mans salvation And A Briefe of Mans dutie to God concerning both Which is seeking To serve God while hee lives And To be saved when hee dyes By WILLIAM CHIBALD Rector of S. Nic. Col. Abby in Old Fishstreete LONDON Printed for Robert Bostocke at the Signe of the Kings head in â—aules Churchyard 1630. TO MY DEARELY beloved Neighbours the Inhabitants of the Parish of S. Nic. Col. Abby in Old Fishstreet LONDON ALL divine truths and duties are therefore worthy to be knowne and practised by men because they have beene worthy to bee revealed and â—â—mmanded by God But of them all the heavenly truthes of Gods service and Mans salvation the holy duty of seeking after both are most worthy of their knowledge and practise For if those things be chiefly to be sought after that are best wo thy of our seeking If those things be best worthy of our seeking that doe most neerely concerne us And if Gods service and Mans salvation doe most neerely concerne us because the one most neerely concernes our dutie to God and the other our happinesse from God then ought Christians chiefly to seeke after Gods service and their owne salvation The rather Partly because all other Divinitie doth but serve to further Christians in seeking after these two and partly also because all other without these will never make them wise with that wisedome Psal 111. â—0 2 Tim 3 15. The beginning whereof is Gods feare and the end their owne salvation Vpon these and the like grounds my dearely beloved people and Parishioners I have endeavoured to instruct you in these two points and what I have taught you concerning them in my Sermons I have now put into a little booke with some additions to the end your eyes by reading as well as your eares by preaching may witnesse how unfeinedly I desire you should serve God Rom 10.1 and he saved The booke is but little it is the fitter to be carried in your pockets kept in your memories And it is framed in a Dialogue or familiar conference betwixt my selfe and one of you hoping to drawe you better to like of the matter therein contained by my friendlie manner of handling it Though the Dialogue and conference be betwixt but one of you and my selfe yet is it in the name and for the benefit of you all upon whom it is bestowed for a New-yeares gift by him who hath bestowed himselfe upon you these many yeares 2 Cor 12.15 who will yet hee spent upon you to Gods pleasure for the furthering of you in the service of God unto your salvation What remaines but that as I have made my labors yours by publishing them for you and dedicating them unto you so you would endeavour to make them your owne by perusing them and labouring to benefit your selves and families by reading them together by conference about them and prayer to God for his blessing upon them to your edification I have heretofore made and published other bookes besides this for your learning but how you have used and perused them to this end is better known to God your selves and Housholds than unto me If you have endeavoured to build up your selves in grace by them I shall be glad to see the fruites thereof But if you have only contented your selves with this that they were made for you given unto you and that you have them lying on your shelves or in your chests I will rejoyce to heare of your amendment in using this booke better Ios 14.15 if now you and your houshold will seeke to serve the Lord and to be saved You shall doe this the better if you will observe these Directions 1. I would have you to reade it often because the subject matter of it is of such necessary ordinary and excellent use 2. I would have you as you reade it to examine consider how you have knowne the truthes and practised the duties taught therein concerning Gods service and mans salvation that so you may see cause either to repent of your ignorance and negligence herein for time past or to grow in your knowledge and diligence concerning those points in time to come 3. I would have you to call to minde and use the severall duties that are peculiar to Gods Attributes of greatnesse or goodnesse or to Gods workes of mercy or justice as by Gods providence they shall come into your thoughts or fall out in the world and specially that before you goe to any holy Ordinance of God appointed for his publike service you would looke into this booke for the particular duties which belong unto them severally to the end you may addresse your selves to performe those Ordinances with those duties accordingly The like direction I give for the reading over my booke of the Lords Supper before you goe to the Communion And this is the greatest recompence that I will require of you for my love and it is the least requitall you can make me for my labour 2 Chron. 30.18 The good Lord direct and encourage every one of you to set your hearts to seeke God the Lord God of your fathers that is to seeke to serve God while you live on earth that when you dye you may be saved in heaven by Iesus Christ in whom I am Yours all and all yours WILLIAM CHIBALD SEEKING to serve God while we live Parishioner VVIth your leave Sir if I should not be too troublesome to you I would faine speake a word with you in private Minister You are welcome I pray you come in and sit downe good neighbour P. Sir I humbly thank you for your kindnesse and pray you to pardon my boldnesse M. You are not so bolde as welcome I pray you be covered and tell mee what is your will with me P. Sir I haue lived in your parish vnder your publike Ministery a good while and yet I remaine very ignorant therefore am I come vnto you for some private instruction M. And I am as willing to instruct you as you are to learne if you come not as many doe to aske curious questions which tend not to godly edification but contention and vaine glory P. Surely Sir if I may be beleeved my comming is to no such end but to learne such things as are most chiefly and necessarily to be learned M. Your intent is good and I am as willing to instruct you as you are to be instructed but tell mee your mind yet more plainly and fully P. I will Sir it is this by your favour The whole Bible is large it containes many bookes chapters and verses and in each of them are comprehended many divine truthes All these are worthy of my learning if I had either time or wit to
which it reproves or doe the duties which it commands or be refreshed with the comforts it affords or bee terrified from sinne with the threatnings of it P. What are the severall parts of the word that we must performe duties vnto when they are preached M. They are foure chiesly 1. the commandements of the word 2. the promises 3. the threatnings 4. the good examples of the godly doings and sufferings of godly persons recorded in it P. What are the Commandements of the word M. The commandements of the word The commandements of God are those parts thereof which binde and enjoyn the doing of good actions and which forbid the committing of evill actions in thought word and deede P. And what duties of service to God doe properly concerne the commandements of the word preached M. These three 1. Obedience in doing the good actions commanded and in leaving undone and forbearing to doe the evill actions forbidden Rom. 2.13 Ioh. 13.17 Matth. 7.24 and that for conscience sake Genes 39.9 Iam. 2.11 and constantly Rom. 2.7 Gal. 3.10 2. Vsing al good means whereby wee may be furthered in our obedience Psal 119.10.11 3. Refraining all means occasions and opportunities whereby wee may be hindered in our obedience Psal 119.101 P. What are the promises of the word The promises of the word M. Gods promises are those parts of the word wherein God covenants with his people to bestow upon them upon their faith and repentance the things of this life that may be good for them and of the life to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Psal 34.10 P. And what duties doe properly belong to the promises of the word preached M. These foure 1. Faith whereby wee beleeve the truth of them and trust in Gods power goodnesse and faithfulnes for the performance of them 2 Tim. 1.12 2. Hope in God assuredly to looke for the performance of them Psal 119.81 42.5 3. Ioy or rejoycing in the good things promised and hoped for Psal 119.162 4. Patience to waite Gods leisure till we be made partakers of them without limiting God the time or meanes Heb. 10.36 6.12 Rom. 8.25 Psal 130.6 123.2 Isay 28.16 P. What are the threatnings of the word M. Gods threatnings are parts of his word The threatnings of the word wherein God denounceth to bring vpon sinners for their infidelity and impenitency temporall spirituall and eternall judgements P. And what duties of service to God doe properly concerne these threatnings M. These two 1. Trembling and astonishment at the very hearing of them Ier. 36.16.24 2. Feare to sinne against God lest the evills threatned in them doe come vpon vs Revel 18.4 P. What are the examples of the word M. Certaine presidents The examples of the word and particular patternes of the faith obedience and patience of Gods servants and children recorded in the Bible P. And what duties properly concerne these holy examples M. These two 1. An honourable memoriall of them and of their good name seeing God was glorified by them Matth. 28.13 5.16 2. A sincere purpose and endeavor to imitate and follow their patternes in the practise of the like duties Luke 10.37 Heb. 6.12 P. Sir I thanke you for your labours touching my service to God in respect of the first religious exercise and part of Gods publike service I pray you goe on now with the second which is the receiving of the Sacraments and first tell me what the receiving of the Sacraments is M. Receiving the Sacraments Duties in respect of receiving the Sacraments is a part of Gods worship wherein by taking certaine creatures and using certaine actions about them appointed by God and by setting them apart by the word and prayer from common and civill use to a sacred use there is thereby signified and remembred Christ his death and also the benefits and merits thereof are sealed and assured to all true beleevers 1 Cor. 11.28 Rom. 4.11 6.2 3. P. How many be there of these Sacraments that are to be received M. Two 1. Baptisme 2. the Lords Supper P. What duties of obedience and service to God belong to the receiving of these Sacraments M. They be of two sorts 1. Some which be common to the receiving of both the Sacraments Some that bee proper to each of them P. What be the duties that be common to the receiving of both the Sacraments M. These two 1. In respect of our bodies wee must looke vpon the creatures and actions about them appointed by God to be used in the administring of them for the remembring of Christ and for the setting forth of his death and wee must permit the Minister to administer vnto us those creatures and actions to this end and also receive them from him when they are administred to vs by him Act. 8.38 Mark 16.16 Ezra 6.21 2. In respect of our soules 1. wee must meditate on the nature and parts use and end benefit and comfort of the Sacraments 2. We must remember with thankfulnesse the death and blood-shedding of Christ shewed and set forth therein 3. Wee must by faith apply to our selves the merits of Christs bloody death to the washing away of our sinnes and to the nourishing of our souls in the life of grace to the life of glory 1 Cor. 10.16 P. What duties to God are proper to the receiving of the Sacrament of Baptisme M. These two 1. Duties in respect of praying to God Desire and endeavour by prayer and examination to finde in our selves the efficacie and benefit thereof to the cleansing of vs from the power and punishment of our sins Rom. 6.3 4.2 Conscience to doe what wee have professed and to performe what wee have promised when wee were baptized namely to renounce the service of sinne and to continue Gods faithfull servants For hereby we shall manifest to our selves and others that our soules are inwardly and spiritually baptized with Christs blood and Spirit as well as our bodies are outwardly by the water and Minister Ioh. 3.5 1 Pet. 3.20 21. P. And what duties are proper to the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper M. The duties proper to that Sacrament have beene as you know plainely and largely delivered by me in a Booke called Spirituall exercise to procure a good appetite unto and a good digestion of the Lords Supper to which I referre you for more particular instruction P. Sir I blesse God for these your directions touching the receiving of the Sacraments which is the second religious exercise of Gods publike service I pray you proceede to the third which is Prayer and therein first tell mee what it is M. Praying to God is a part of his publike service wherein we call vpon him and beg of him either the bestowing of good things upon us or the removing of hurtfull things from us Psal 50.15 P. What duties of service concerne prayer to God M. They are of three kindes for they belong either 1. to the matter of
faithfulnes of God in performing the promise of salvation to them to whom it belongs and is intended Rom 4.21 Heb 11.19 1 Iohn 1.9 P. Oh good Sir it may bee that salvation may in it selfe and in the event be sure to the faithfull but may they themselves be sure of it M. Yea they they may being truely faithfull at one time or other before they dye in one measure or other of assurance namely such as shall be sutable to their trialls and sufficient to comfort them in their afflictions 2 Cor 1.5 but all have not like assurance of salvation neither hath any one the like assurance alwayes nor in the same degree free from doubting P. How may it be proved M. By these two reasons 1. Because it is witnessed to their spirit by Gods Spirit who shedds Gods love abroad in their hearts Rom 5.5 that they are Gods children and consequently that they shall be saved for none are saved but onely Gods children Romans 8.16 And they may bee sure of that which Gods Spirit doth witnesse unto them because he is the Spirit of truth 1 Ioh 5.6 2. Because true beleevers in Christ are sealed with the Spirit of promise and receive an earnest of their inheritance Eph 1.13 14. Now an earnest penny it gives assurance of the bargain and a seale confirmes assures a writing to which it is put 3. Because the Apostles were assured of it for Paul was perswaded assured that nothing should separate them from the love of God in Christ Rom 8 38. Iohn knew the love of God to him 1 Ioh 4.16 5.19 Now the Apostles had not this perswasioÌ„ knowledge or assurance as they were Apostles but as they were Christians because they were not saved as Apostles but as Christians P. Oh but how can they be sure to be saved when they caÌ„not be sure to persevere to the end for they onely are saved that persevere to the end M. They that onely professe to have grace and faith in Christ but have it not indeed can never be sure to bee saved because they cannot bee sure to persevere for they cannot persevere in that which they have not But for all this they that have grace indeed and are truely regenerate may be sure to persevere 1. because God loves theÌ„ to whom hee gives saving grace 2 Cor 13.13 And whom hee loves once hee loves to the end Iohn 13.1 And therefore they persevere in grace to the end that they may be loved in the end and therefore are they loved to the end that they may persevere to the end Iohn 13.1 2 They may bee sure to persevere because the Lord hath promised that the peace of God shall keepe their hearts and mindes in Iesus Christ Phil 4.7 3 They may be sure to persevere because the Spirit of God so assists them that by the motion and efficacy thereof they that are truely indeed borne of God and begotten of him and not Sacramentally onely they doe keepe themselves and that wicked one toucheth them not 1 Iohn 5.18 For they building up themselves in their most holy faith and praying in the holy Ghost for continuall assistance they keepe themselves in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternall life Iude v 20.21 4 They may bee sure to persevere in grace if the Annoynting which they have received abide in them and if his seede remaine in them and this hath God promised to the truly regenerate 1 Iohn 2.27 3.9 For though in respect of some things in themselves whereof you have heard in the point of Preservation by the Spirit and as of themselves they could not persevere nor be sure to persevere but fall away yet in other respects they doe as hath beene shewed P. Sir I am much beholden to you for your great paines in the teaching me the second point of seeking to be saved and â—n all the branches thereof I pray you now in the last place shew me the last point which is seeking to get salvation M. You must get salvation Seeking to get saluation by performing some actions which God requires on your part to be performed for the attaining thereof P. Me thinks it seemes strange to mee how man can get and attaine salvation by any action of his which he doth himselfe M. When I speake of some actions of men whereby they attaine unto salvation I would have you to consider two things 1. That I doe not meane that man doth these actions by any absolute activity or efficiency that is in and of himselfe or the power and dominion hee hath over his owne will for he doth them by Gods will and by his effectuall grace disposing and enabling him thereunto who workes in him to will and to doe of his owne good pleasure Phil 2.13 But I meane that these actions are done by their own understanding and will for they are not ignorant of what they doe nor are they compelled to the doing of them Mans supernaturall and godly actions are Gods as hee moves him thereunto by his grace and procures him actually to consent to the motion of grace but they are mans owne actions as hee is the next and immediate doer of them and as they proceede from him as a vitall and reasonable creature And therefore it is said that the just shall live by faith Hab 2.4 And therefore the actions of beleeving are applyed to men in all the three persons I beleeve Acts 8.37 Thou beleevest Rom 10.9 Hee beleeves Marke 16.16 2. When I say man gets and attaines unto salvation by some actions of his owne I doe not meane that there is any merit or worth in these his actions to procure or deserve salvation in the least measure or degree as they come from man But that God hath appointed such actions of men to bee conditions to bee performed on their part to make their persons capable of salvation and that these actions have this efficacy to this end not as they be done by them but as they are appointed by God for them and as he enables them to doe them according to his appointment P. Sir I am fully satisfied But I pray you what bee those actions of men appointed by God as conditions on their part to bee performed for the attaining of salvation M. They bee of three kindes whereof the first prepare them to get it the second give them title and interest to claime it and receive it and the third give them assurance of it P. What be the actions that prepare them to get salvation M. They are these First they must know and acknowledg their sinne and misery they must beleeve and feele the guilt and punishment of their sins Acts 2.37 For this will make them to feele their neede of salvation and their unability to save themselves Mat 9.13 and that they neede to repent and cry God mercy Luke 15.9 And this is wrought by the preaching
1 Ioh. 5.7 4. that the God of Israel is this God Deut. 5.6 2. The having of a God and the taking choosing and acknowledging of the God of Israel onely for our God Exod. 20.3 Iosh 24.22 P. And what are the speciall duties which concerne GOD immediately M. They be such as concerne his Nature being and essence P. What is God in his Nature M. God is a Spirit infinite in all perfections Ioh. 4.24 2 Cor. 3.17 Psal 147.5 1 Tim. 1.17 P. What are the perfections in God M. Certaine divine Attributes whereby as it were a part of his divine nature or some holy quality of God is shadowed out vnto vs and they are of two kindes for they betoken either 1. his greatnesse or 2. his goodnesse P. What are the Attributes of God Gods Attributes of Greatnesse which set forth his Greatnesse M. They are faculties whereby he is able to worke and doe what hee knowes is to bee done and what he wills shall be done and they are these sixe 1. Simplenesse or absolutenesse 2. Infinitenesse 3. Eternity 4. Immensity 5. Wisedome 6. Almightinesse or All-sufficiency P. What is the Absolutenesse or Simplenesse of God M. Simplenesse is a faculty in God which removeth from him all composition of parts as soule and body c and whereby he is God of himselfe and every thing in God is God himselfe Exod. 3.14 1 Ioh. 4.16 P. What is the Infinitenesse of God M. Infinitenesse is a faculty in God which denieth vnto him all limitation and whereby the perfections that are in God are in him without all measure Ioâ—â— 11.7 Psal 147.5 P. What is the Eternity of God M. Eternity is a facultie in God whereby he is vncapable of beginning succession or ending Psal 90.2.4 1 Tim. 1.17 P. What is the Immensity of God M. Immensity is a faculty in God whereby he is every where and cannot be comprehended in any one place 1 Kings 8.27 Psal 139.7 P. What is the Wisedome of God M. Wisedome is a faculty in God whereby he perfectly knoweth himselfe and in himselfe all things that have any kinde of being Iob 9.3 4. Acts. 15.18 P. What is the All-mightinesse or All-sufficiency of God M. Almightinesse is a faculty in God wherby hee is All-sufficient to doe whatsoever hee can will Psal 113.3 135.6 Gen. 17.1 P. O Sir I humbly confesse to Gods glory and mine owne shame that I was ignorant of most of these points and I blesse God for the knowledge of them thus farre by your meanes but proceede I pray you to teach me also what are the Attributes of God which betoken his Goodnesse M. I will Gods Attributes of Goodnesse Neighbor they are vertues whereby hee is willing and ready to doe and worke well and they are these foure 1. Holinesse 2. Mercy 3. Iustice 4. Love P. What is the Holinesse of God M. Holinesse is a vertue in God whereby hee is pure from all evill and sinne in himselfe and vtterly dislikes it in all others Psa 99.5 Habac. 1.13 P. What is the Mercy of God M. Mercie is a vertue in God whereby hee pittieth his children in all their miseries and is ready to deliver them out of the same Psal 103.8 Eph. 2.4 5. P. What is the Iustice of God M. Iustice or righteousnesse is a vertue in God whereby he rendreth to all according to his promise for the good of the godly and according to his threatning for the punishment of the wicked Dan. 9.13 1 Iohn 1.9 P. What is the Love of God M. Love is a vertue in God whereby he is infinitely delighted in himselfe and is so farre affected to his creatures as he is pleased to impart any goodnesse unto them Revel 3.9.19 P. Good Sir I thanke you for making me know God better than I did by teaching mee his Attributes but now also I pray you teach me to serve God in respect of them and therefore tell me what duties I am to performe to God in respect of these divine faculties and powers holy vertues and qualities in God M. The duties of service which you owe to God in respect of these Attributes of his Nature are of two kindes 1. Generall which concerne them all 2. Speciall which belong to the severall kindes of them P. I pray you what duties of service must I performe to God in respect of his Attributes both of Greatnesse and Goodnesse M. They are two 1. Admiring and adoring all these perfections and excellencies that are so infinitely in God Psal 139.5 2. Praising and extolling commending and magnifying God in and for them Psal 150.2 Revel 5.11 P. What speciall duties of service to God belong vnto him in respect of his Attributes of Greatnesse severally M. They are two 1. an awefull reverence of the Majesty and glorious presence of God wheresoever wee bee Psal 89.7 2. Feare and trembling to offend this great God by sinne in any time or place Psal 4.4 Genes 39.9 1 Cor. 10.22 P. And I pray you what speciall duties of service to God must I doe vnto him in respect of his Attributes of Goodnesse M. They are two principally 1. Faith whereby wee beleeve whatsoever he speakes or writes and also wee put trust confidence in him for all good things which hee hath promised in his word Ioh. 20.31 2. Love whereby our hearts are so knit vnto and our affections so set vpon God that we desire nothing more than him nor delight in nothing equall vnto him Psal 116.1 2. 97.10.12 P. Sir I heartily thank you for these savoury lessons the Lord bend my heart to practise these duties of service which concerne God immediately in respect of some things in himselfe Duties to God immediately in respect of some things that come from him as his Ordinances you tolde me also of some other duties that I am to doe in respect of some things that proceede and come from him what are these things I pray you and what meane you by them M. They are either 1. his Ordinances or 2. his Workes P. What meane you by an Ordinance of God M. I meane not a civill ordinance as foode and physicke appointed by God for civill and bodily vses and ends but an holy ordinance or meanes appointed by God for spirituall and religious uses and ends namely to beget and begin to increase and confirme grace and holinesse in vs. P. Then I pray you what bee these holy and religious Ordinances of God M. They bee either 1. holy things or 2. holy actions P. What are the holy things which God hath ordained for holy vses M. The holy Scriptures The holy Scriptures or the holy writings of the Prophets and Apostles P. What duties of service to God must I performe to him in respect of the holy Scriptures M. These foure 1. Beleeving that the 39 Bookes of the Olde Testament and the 28 of the New were endited by Gods Spirit 2 Tim. 3.15 2 Pet. 1.21 and that they