How may we make use of this the Catechismel or the lesser to best profit of private families or others First the Master or some one in the Family may read the Question and then first every one in order declare their knowledge or shew their ignorance and inability to answer Secondly the Master or any other may Reade the Answer in the Booke and let every one in order render the Answer again not verbatim word by word but as hee or shee understands the Question Thirdly let this be practized untill every one is able to give the sence of the Answer onely upon Reading of the Question without Reading the Answer The like a Christian man or woman may do in their closets by Reading and Meditation and questioning themselves And if young Scholars in the Vniversities or elsewhere make use of it at times convenient onely Reading the Questions and Answers out of the English into Latine or Greek I conceive it might be helpefull to receive some light from Christ by which they may sooner be prepared to hold forth the light of Christ for the good of Christs Church Which for the benefit of the Vniversities Cities and Kingdomes is the dayly Prayers of Yours Theirs and the Churches Servant in Christ IMMANUEL BOURNE London Printed for John Wright in the Old Bayly at the signe of Kings Head 1646. FINIS A light from Christ leading unto Christ by the Star of his word and to a lively refreshing in and by Christ at the Lords-Table OR A Divine Help and Directory for preparation to a sweet Communion with Christ in the more comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper Divided into thirty three severall Classes or companies of Question the better to order practise and help the memory The first Classis or company of Questions 1 Question IS every man and woman who professe themselves Christians bound in conscience to make confession or profession of their Faith and Hope in Christ to whomsoever is fit to require it in a fit time and place to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church and Children Answer Yes verely the holy Spirit of Truth holdeth forth this in the Scripture of Truth Mat. 16.23 14 15 16. Luke 9.25 26. 1 Pet. 3.14 15 16. as a Christian duty not to be ashamed of Christs Word or afraid of men but to sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts and to be ready to give an Answer to every man that asketh a Reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and reverence Quest 2. But doth not the holy Apostle Paul require a man to examine himself and prove himself What then need any man or woman 1 Cor. 11.28 29. 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Pet. 3.14 15. Gal. 6.4.5 Gal. 2.8 Col. 3.20.22 He. 13.17 1 Tit. 14,26 1 Tit. 5.17 2 Tim. 2.24 c. or childe give an Answer to the Examination or Question of another Ans The Apostle Paul indeed doth strictly require self-examination but neither he nor any other in Scripture doth forbid or gainsay that which the same Spirit of God in St. Peter requireth as a duty namely give a reason of the hope that is in us especially to our Superiours in order of nature or office in the Church as to Parents or masters to Teaching or Ruling Elders especially when it is desired discreetly holily humbly as in Gods presence with meeknesse compassion and love for Gods glory our own Edification and the good of Gods Church Quest 3. Is Catechizing or Instruction of the ignorant Children and others of ancient practice and approved authority in the Church of God Ans Most certainly it is Gen. 18.18 Mat. 16.16 17. Heb. 5.12 13. Heb. 6.1 2 3. Eusebius l. 5. c. 9.10 Hicronim in catalo Eusebius l. 6. c. 56. Faithfull Abraham instructed his Family Christ Catechized his Disciples the Apostles gave both milk for Babes and meat for strong men laying down the principles of the Doctrine of Christ and Catechisme hath still been continued in the Church of Christ as Catechismes and Catechists witnesse at large and in particular Pantaenus a Catechist in the Primitive times succeeding the Apostles After him Clemens Alexandrinus Origen and others Quest 4. But may not all those who call themselves Christians and have been Baptized when they were Infants be admitted to the Sacrament when they come to riper years although they were never Catechized or be they never so ignorant And if so Then what need Catechismes or Catechizing or any Examination other then wha man can examine himself Ans All are not Israel that are of Israel nor are all true Christians that call themselves Christians Rom. 9.6 Rev. 3.9 as some said they were Iews and were not but were of the Synagogue of Satan so it is now there are many Christians in name or Baptized persons not only secret Hypocrites undiscerned of whom we cannot judge but open carelesse and notoriously ignorant of Christ and Christianity yea without the knowledge of God or of themselves or of Christ or of the Sacrament in any competent measure requisite to enable them to examine themselves as the Scripture 1 Cor. 11.28 and the Spirit of Christ in the Scriptures require and these I conceive though some men account them visible Christians and although neither their lives are so scandalous nor their ignorance such as for which they may be fitly Excommunicated from the preaching of the Gospel and all communion with the Saints they being willing to hear the Word Preached and not rejecting Christs ministers yet their very ignorance is such that in my judgement they are not fit to be admitted to the Sacrament 1 Example I will give you an Example or two of my own experience I did know one W.W. whom I found ignorant of Christ although he was above threescore years old and telling him that the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 and that he must know some one that had died for him or would die for him to satisfie Gods Justice for his sins or else being a sinner he could not be saved He Answered me That none had dyed for him and none should dye for him but he would stand between God and himself This man verely was unfit in my minde to be admitted to the Sacrament of the death of Christ who did neither know nor believe that Christ dyed for sinners Rom. 4.25 nor rose again for their Iustification And when he did presume thus ignorant to come to the Lords Table 1 Cor. ii 29 30. he sinned in so doing and did eat Iudgement to himself not discerning the Lord Body And yet I conceive he was not so scandalous in life or ignorant as to be Excommunicated from the Preaching of the Gospel For when after I did shew him his misery by sin Ioh. 3.16 and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving Christ to dye for poor sinners the tears ran down his cheeks for joy and he confessed he never understood so much before And yet
or division in the Body or Church of Christ as the Apostle St. Paul excellently holds forth unto us Quest 35. But may there not be a Separation from a true Church when corruptions and faults are found in it in Doctrine or practise of life and conversation Ans First I conceive there is a great deal of difference between the Errors or faults of a Church and of particular Members of a Church and also between failings of a Church in substantials and fundamentals which destroy the Essence and being of a Church and between failings and faults in circumstantials only If any Church or company of people should fall away the greater part of them in substantial truths and fundamental unto Error and Heresies which cannot stand with the foundation and being of a Church then I conceive such company may be rather said to have left the true Church though it be the lesser part in number then the lesser part to have left the Church The greater part Rom. 8.1 1 Tim. 1.19 20. as the seeming Church of Rome having left their first Faith and the truth of God in those Fundamental verities of Christ and his Offices and Graces without the holding and believing of which no company of people can be a Church of Christ Secondly If particular Members or a Church or company of professors fail in some particulars not Fundamentals but circumstantials only and such as it may yet be and is a true Church of Christ both in respect the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments Then I believe there ought not to be presently an unchurching or a Separation from this Church Eph. 4.1 c. but rather a labour and industry for a Reformation the preservation of unity and avoyding of Schisms and Rents and Divisions in the Church of Christ Quest 36. What do you call that company of people which fall away to Error and Heresies destroying the Foundation and in that respect separate from Saints Ans The name of Church cannot be given unto them but abusively and improperly only But these are a Heretical company rather then Church leaving the true Church of Christ 2 Ioh. 2.18 19. because they were never truly of the Church and so departing to their own destruction Quest 37. What do you call those who agree in the Fundamentals of Faith with the Orthodox and true Churches of Christ yet for some External Rites or things indifferent or some particular failings in manners or different Opinions in Dispensation of Ordinances or Discipline and these not Fundamental unchurch the Orthodox Reformed Churches of Christ and Separate themselves as if it were from Rome or Babylon Ans These are truly called Schismatical congregations who intentionally without cause do separate and unchurch the Churches of Christ and making Schismes 1 Cor. 3.3 11.18 so much complained against by the Apostle do divide themselves from the unity of the Churches condemning the true Churches as not Churches of Christ Quest 38. But whether is the Church of Christ subject to erre in fundamentals finally and totally or to perish for ever Ans Certainly no Mat. 16.18 Ioh. 10.27 c. Psa 125.1 2. howsoever particular Churches have erred in many particulars yet the universal Churches of Christ cannot erre in Fundamentals neither totally nor finally in any particular necessary to salvation nor can the Church of Christ perish it being built upon the Rock Christ but shall abide firm for ever Quest 39. Yet tell me I pray you what firm ground is there that the Church and Children of Christ shall be inabled to persevere and continue in grace unto Eternal glory and not fall from Christ and grace to perdition Ephes 1.4 14. 2 Thes 2.13 Matth. 24.24 2 Tim. 2.19 Acts 26.17 18. 2 Tim. 2.9 10. Rom. 8.28 Rom. 11.29 Isa 42.1 Luk. 17.5 Luke 22.32 Rom. 14.1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 15.10 Isa 53.11 Ier. 23.6 Acts 13.38 39. Rom. 5.1 2 3 4 5. Rom. 8.1 Col. 1.20 Answ We might hold forth unto you many grounds But you may observe these First The certainty and infallibility of our Election by God the Father in Jesus Christ both unto grace and glory Secondly The certainty of our vocation or calling from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world was Thirdly The certainty of our Faith being true though sometimes weak yet receiving relying and resting on Gods promise in Christ is sure to hold out not by our own power but by the grace of God in Christ Fourthly The certainty of our justification in and by Christs righteousnesse and merits by which we are freed from condemnation and have peace with God in Christ for ever Fifthly The certainty of our regeneration and new creation and glorification begun here and to be perfected in glory 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.17 and 3.18 Rom. 8.30 Phil. 1.6 Sixthly 2 Pet. 1.7 8 c. 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Our entrance already into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ endeavouring by the grace of God in Christ to make our calling and election sure Seventhly 1 Thes 5.23 â—4 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. Iohn 10.29 30. Iude 4. Our assurance of faithfulnesse and mighty power of God to keep his children through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last times Quest 40. But doth not this Doctrine of Assurance open a way to Libertinism and so to sin Answ Certainly Iohn 8.31 32 36. the children of God have an excellent liberty and true freedom in and by Christ 1. Rom. 8.1 Gal. 3.13 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.12 c. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Rom. 14.1 2 3 23. 1 Cor. 14.26 40. Rom. 6.1 15. From the condemning or damning power of the Law sin and curse due to sin having our pardon sealed in Christ 2. From the commanding power of sin and Satan unto both which by nature we were in bondage 3. From tyranny and rigid imposition of things indifferent to binde the conscience where Christ bindes not Christian charity and order guiding us to our comfort and the peace of the Church Yet there is no liberty for a childe of God to commit the least sin What shall we sin that grace may abound Rom. 6.11 12. 2 Pet. 2.19 20. Psal 19.13 God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin take any liberty to sin as the wicked do but rather pray continually by the power of Christ to be kept from sin Quest 41. What should the childe of God do that wants this assurance of perseverance in grace to glory Gal. 1.16 Gal. 2.20 Ioh. 13.1 2 Cor. 1.20 Iob 44.14 Iohn 17.24 Answ Waite on God in Christ in all good means of grace till the Lord be pleased to reveal Christ in you and his love and assurance of his free-love in
of their hands to receive the Bread from me and so the hand by which the hand of Faith is remembred was made of no use in the action which you will say ought not to be in this Sacrament For the hand of Faith receives Christ the Lord of our souls for the spiritual refreshing as the hand of the body receives the Bread and Wine Thirdly If you rightly observe the sacramenâ—al action or act or ministration you shâ—ll finde and see the Minister of Christ having broken the Bread according to the institution command and example of Christ to take the Bread in a Silver or other Charger or Dish in which it is broken and present and give it to all in general at the Table with Christs invitation take and eat and so the cup take and drink ye all of this which doth imply every particular man or woman at the Table So our taking the Bread all out of one dish doth sweetly hold forth reaching out of a living hand of Faith a Christian union and communion in Christ as the Apostle intimates 1 Cor. 10.17 And thus I hope I have satisfied your doubts so that you may come with comfort to the Lords Table Quest 9. But what if a tender conscience cannot be satisfied about circumstances may not Saints agree to meet Christ in the Sacrament and receive the outward Elements in divers gestures of the body some sitting some standing or the like as well as they agree daily to hear the Word preached as they please or can be fitted without any such asking question for conscience Ans These Ceremonies I conceive are not worth contending for 1 Cor. 11.16 if men cannot agree or a tender conscience not satified nor ought to be excommunicated or delivered over â—o Satan for these things yet it is good yea a duty for all to study to be all of one minde and in one manner to meet Christ if it were possible according to the Directory of that Church wherein they live Quest 10. But have you any antiquity of your opinion herein Dan. 7.8 Psa 122.6 Eph. 4.3 4 5 6. Eusebius l. 5. c. 26. Anselm Epi. 327. of Ireneus to Victor and others Ans Yes the ancient of dayes God himself holdeth forth this in the Scriptures That Gods people should endeavor unity and the Saints in former ages have been of the same judgement in that controversie between the Eâ—stern and Western Church about the celebration of Easter though they differed in opinion in circumstance yet they agreed in substance and received the Sacrament together and so in the d fferent manner of celebrating the Lords â—upper and the like when the unity of charity was observed in the substantial matters of Faith divers customes in circumstance did not nor ought to separare but Saints ought to unite in love as the reformed Churches do at this day The twentieth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have answered concerning the first grace in the Wedding Garment namely knowledge first of God secondly of our selves thirdly of Christ and fourthly of the Sacrament Now what light is there from Christ to manifest Faith the second grace to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Table Ans To know what Faith is we must understand that the Word is diversly held forth by Christ in holy Scriptures First Gal. 1.23 Rom. 10.6.8 1 Tim. 1.16 1 Tim. 3.9 1 Tim. 4.1 Iames 2.17 c. for the Doctrine or Word of Faith which is preached and believed by the Church of Christ Secondly Faith is taken for historical Faith only when assent is given to the truth of the Word without application or fruit it is a dead Faith Thirdly Faith is taken for a temporary Faith which hath not only assent to the truth of the Gospel but profession with a kinde of joy and delight for a time Mat. 13.20 21. Mat. 13.22 Mat. 17.19 20. 1 Cor. 13.2 till temptation and tribulation cometh because of the Word and then it dieth and withereth Fourthly Faith is taken for the Faith of working miracles a special Faith given in the Primitive times to the Saints for confirmation of the truth of the Gospel Rom. 3.3 Mat. 13.23 Fifthly Faith is taken for faithfulnesse truth and constancy in word and promises as the Faith and promise of God to his people and of men to men Rom. 5.1 Tit. 1.1 2 Pet. 1.1 Acts 13.48 Isai 53.1 2. Phil. 1.29 Rom. 13.6 c. Rom. 8.1.5.10 2 Cor 4.13 Mat. 13.11 Ioh. 17.3 Sixthly and lastly Faith is taken for a true lively justifying faith the proper and pretious Faith of Gods Elect. Quest 2. What is this pretious justifying Faith of Gods Elect Answ This Faith is an admirable peculiar and special Grace and free gift of God by which a man or woman rightly prepared by the power of the Word and Spirit of Christ First doth know assent unto and embrace and trust to God in Christ in the free promises of the Gospel or Covenant of Grace Secondly know desire earnestly single out and make choyce of Christ the rich treasure and pearl held forth in the Gospel and Gospel promises as his onely Surety Redeemer Advocate and Mediator between God and him Thirdly lively believe receive apprehend take and apply Christ to himself as his Saviour and acquiesce or rest on Christ and Christs merits and righteousnesse alone for salvation Ioh. 3.14 c. Romans 1.1 c. and. 4.16 Gal. 3.16 c. Ioh. 17.3 1 Cor. 2.2 Phil. 3.7 c. Heb. 1.22 and. 8.6 c. and. 12.14 Ioh. 3.36 and. 1.12 Phil. 3.12 Mat. 11.28 29. Gal. 2.20 and 3.14 2 Chr. 14.11 2 Tim. 1.12 Rev. 5.11 12 13 14. Act. 4.12 2 Thes 2.13 14. Act. 13.37 38 39. Quest 3. How or in what sence do you call this Faith a justifying Faith Ans Not vertually and meritoriously of it self 1 Tim. 1.9 10. Titus 3.4 c. as it is a work or act of our understanding to know and of our will sanctified to elect and embrace Christ but instrumentally as it doth apprehend and apply Christ to the soul It is not the act of our Faith receiving but the object of our Faith Christ and his merits and righteousnesse received which meritoriously justifieth poor sinners before God as not the hand which applieth but the plaister and vertue of that which cures the wound to which it is applied Quest 4. When is a man or woman rightly prepared or his heart by the power and spirit of Christ disposed to believe and thus to receive and embrace Christ for his salvation Ans When by the strength and mighty power of Christ and his spirit in the word a man or woman is in some measure First enlightened with the knowledge of God and Christ and himself by the good pleasure of God held forth in the Word of God in general and in the promises of the Gospel in particular And Rom. 8.15 Secondly Inabled by
from Babylon it self The force and falshood of their minor proposition will appear as it relates to our Congregations if we compare the Church of Corinth and our great mixed Congregations together we shall finde the Church of Corinth and other Churches as corrupt and mixt as ours and yet not un-churched by Christ or the Apostles You may observe these particulars 1 Cor. 1.10 c. 1 Cor. 3.3 4. First in the Church of Corinth there were contentions Schisms and Divisions For which the Apostle reproveth them and tells them they were carnal and carried themselves not Christian like and yet he did not un-church them for all this 1 Cor. 5.1 2 13. Secondly in the Church of Corinth were prophane persons the incestuous person and such as with whom they should not eat in their civil societies as professing themselves Brethren for such are intimated and warning given of them and such as should have been cast out of the Church and excommunicated or suspended from the Sacrament at least and were not and yet the Apostle doth not un-church them for all this but admonish to put from them wicked persons Thirdly 1 Cor. 6. 1 2 8 in the Church of Corinth there was quarrelling and going to Law one with another and that before unbelievers yea Brother with Brother yea doing wrong and defrauding one another and yet the Apostle doth not un-church them nor exhort to a separation for all this Fourthly in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 8.1 2 10. there were some puffed up with knowledge but had little charity they offended their weak Brethen by eating meat in the Idols Temple and yet no un-churching for all this Fifthly in the Church of Corinth there were such as did grudge at the maintenance of Christs Ministers 1 Cor. 9. 1 2 34. as if Christs Ministers had not power to eat and to drink and to receive and require maintenance for their labour in preaching the Gospel as some amongst us have not been ashamed to affirm For which the Apostle reproveth them and proveth by several Arguments 1 Cor. 9.13 14. the equity justice and duty of Ministers maintenance as being an Ordinance of Christ that those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel of duty not of meer alms at pleasure or not at pleasure as som◠think And yet the Apostle doth not unchurch them for all this or exhort or teach a separation by all this Sixthly in the Church of Corinth there were Idolaters those who did go to partake of the Lords Table and the Table of Devils and provoked God to jealousie 1 Cor. 10 14 c. as the Apostle intimates and yet he doth not un-church them for all this Seventhly In the Church of Corinth there were such as came to the Sacrament and Church-Communion not for the better 1 Cor. 11. but for the worse There were divisions amongst them they neglected the poor one was hungry another drunken for so the Greek signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one is hungry another is drunken The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ebrius est he is drunken is taken for drunkennesse in divers other places of Scripture Thus Acts 2. For these are not drunken as ye suppose The same Greek word is used in the Plural Number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are drunken or they are not drunken as ye suppose it implieth a distemper by wine or strong drink which the Apostle did affirm the Church was not at that time to whom God gave the gift of Tongues in such an excellent manner by the power of the holy Ghost The same word is used in 1 Cor. 6. Neither Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God not drunkards the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ebriosi drunken men distempered with drink I might name other places These are enough to shew the condition of the Corinthians some of them hungry others drunken that is distempered with drink It is not enough to say they were merry and cheerful with drink for it is evident they were so far distempered or drunken that the Apostle reproveth them for it as a sin some are hungry some are drunken and yet he doth not un-Church them nor move them to Separation for all this Quest 36. But do you approve of drunkennesse or these sinful corruptions in a Church Ans God forbid nay we reprove them as Saint Paul did and declare they ought to be informed against to the Church and Elders of the Church and if after Admonition and warning given they do not repent they are to be Excommunicated to be excluded the Sacrament and cast out of the Church But if there be failing in this and the like as Corinth did in not casting out the Incestuous person for a time yet the Apostle doth not un-Church them for all this or presse a Separation from Saints or from the Church though failing in this particular Eighthly They came to the Sacrament without due Examination of themselves 1 Cor. 28 c. they were guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ by unworthy receiving They did eat and drink judgement to themselves not discerning the Lords Body they were both ignorant and scandalous and God did punish them some with sicknesses some with death This the Apostle tells them of and reproveth them and exhorts to examine and judge themselves But yet he doth not un-Church them for all this or give any way to Separation from Church Ninthly 2 Cor 11.12 c. They had in the Church of Corinth false Teachers false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ as Satan changeth himself into an Angel of light whose Ministers these safe Apostles were labouring by fair shew to seduce the people of God in Corinth and yet the Apostle doth not un-Church Corinth nor presse or give way to a Separation for all this Tenthly and lastly In the Church of Corinth there were such as said there is no resurrection from the dead A notorious Atheistical Doctrine 1 Cor. 15.12 c. overthrowing the very foundation of Religion For as the Apostle argueth If there be no Resurrection then Christ is not risen then our Preaching is vain and our faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins But Christ is risen and there is certainly a Resurrection from the dead as the Apostle proveth at large in that Chapter Certainly too many in the Church of Corinth were seduced to that opinion and denied this truth of the Resurrection from the dead And yet the Apostle doth not un-Church them for all this nor give any way to a Separation from that Church Qest 37. And what the reason of this may some one demand Ans There might be many reasons given but this one amongst the rest Because although there were many corruptions in that Church both in life and Doctrine yet the Word and Sacrament were continued the prophane wicked men and Hypocrites
new builded there are onely some few rooms pull'd down where the Officers for execution of Discipline lodged and some such particulars But the main house stands still the preaching of the Gospel as glorious as ever the Word and Prayer and the Sacraments and admission and growth of grace in the Churches of Christ yea even in our mixed Congregations and so still true Churches for matter and form and visible Saints to be found to and with whom we may exercise this grace of christian love and charity Quest 48. This is enough I conceive to shew our lawful membership in and of the Church of Christ and to evidence our Church a true Church in respect of admission into the fellowship of the Saints and communion of the faithful both for matter and form But now wherein should a childe of God declare and shew forth his Christian love and charity to such visible Saints and members of Christs Church Ans In all lawful christian union and communion one with another in actions of piety and charity according to the rules of the Gospel edifying one another in the knowledge of Christ receiving the weak brethren in all wisdom humility and love to build them up in the necessary truth of the Gospel and that in all godly prudence to win them to a more high prizing of Christ and all the wayes of Grace and godlinesse but not receiving weak brethren or sisters to doubtful Disputations Rom. 14.1 2 c. so much as in things indifferent and so not in matters of higher nature they being not able to judge of the force of Arguments in dispute 1 Tim. 1.4.6 and vain jangling too common in the world and so may be drawn to Errors have their consciences remain lesse satisfied in the truth Acts 2. 5. but to exercise all love towards them especially Ministers to the flock satisfying tender consciences out of Gods Word and one christian communicating to another in outward things especially to the poor in the Churches of Christ not that there is such a community of goods Rev. 2. and of all things as the wicked Nicolaitans did Acts 2. and some of later times do imagine by wrong interpreting Scripture but that in christian charity the richer christians should be careful to relieve the necessities of their poor Brethren and do good to them especially as being of the houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 And this is enough to manifest the truth of members of particular Congregations that were baptized in Infancy and Catechized and professing Faith holinesse and renewing Covenant with God in Christ before their partaking of the Lords Supper as according to the true ancient order of the Church they have been in many Congregations Parochial in England where faithful Ministers have been and not onely in this respect but in respect of our Ministers Word and Sacraments and effects of grace wrought in the hearts of Gods children evidence our Churches true Churches whatsoever violent seducing Separatists whisper to their deceived Disciples to the contrary Thus you may see a communion of Saints in England to whom and with whom we may exercise our christian love and charity Ier. 15.19 which every day will shine more gloriously as Reformation separates the precious from the vile more fully which we hope and pray for daily The two and twentieth Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have in some good measure declared these four Graces in the Wedding garment Divine knowledge lively Faith Evangelical Repentance and Christian love and charity Now is there no more required but the habits of these Graces to fit us for the comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper and to fit us in our walking with Christ in the whole course of our lives What light is there for Christians for direction herein Ans Yes we ought to wait on Christ in all good means that these graces may be enlivened actuated awakened as a man from sleep yea strengthned and lively 2 Tim i. 6 Rev. 3.2 stirred up and quickned by the quickning vertue and power of Christ that we may more sweetly meet Christ and gain soul-cherishing vertue from Christ in that holy ordinance and walk with Christ to eternal glory As man may have an habit of sight yet except awakened he cannot see Eph. 5.14 so we in habits of Grace must be awakened and quickned by Christ Quest 2. What helps or meant are there to be used in which we should wait on Christ for the quickning of these Graces and our further preparation for the Lords Table and walking with Christ in our lives And what light have you from Christ to direct in this particular Ans These helps are chiefly of three sorts revealed by Christ unto us 2 Chron. 30.3 c. Lev. 23.27 c 1 Cor. 11.17 c. First Publike preparation in the Ministery of the Word Prayer Catechizing confession or profession of these graces of Knowledge Faith Repentance and love especially in a day set apart for preparation for the meeting of Christ in this Ordinance that a man or woman may be approved of by the Ministers and Elders of the Church as being not onely in some competent measure freed from ignorance and without scandal but also endued with truth of grace as far as may be discerned in judgment of charity and so such as are to be admitted to joyn in communion with the Saints and partake with comfort in this this holy communion at the Table of the Lord. Quest 3. But is it fit that men or women should willingly make profession of their graces and approve themselves to the Church as well as examine themselves in secret before they presume to come to the Lords Supper Ans Howsoever it is not necessary that every one should make this profession every time he or she comes to the Sacrament yet it is certain that every one ought to make this profession or be known to be such a one until he or she be approved of by the Church as fit members to be admitted as children baptized when they come to age of discretion ought to professe the Faith in Christ 2 Cor. 2.5 c. 1 Cor. 5.3 c. 2. And if any fall into open sin after profession and admission it is fit they should declare their Repentance before they presume to come or be re-admitted to this feast of the Lord. Quest 4. What ground have you for this in holy Scriptures or what light from Christ to discover this Truth Ans Because if we must be alwayes ready to give an Answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in us with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3.15 and 5.1 c. Iud. 20.21 c. as is noted in the first Classis much more to the Church or to the Ministers of Christ or Elders set over the Congregation desiring not as Lord to tyrannize over our consciences or to shame us for our
their dayes Constantine the Great and other Christian Princes in later Ages Yea Isa 49.23 to be as Nursing Fathers and Nursing Mothers to Christs Church In the Primitive times the Church was exceeding vigilant for this duty of Catechizing they had their Catechumens Noble Theophilus was Catechized in the way of the Lord Luk. 1.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the Greek importeth That thou maist know the truth of those things in which thou hast been Catechized Acts 18.25 And Apollos was Catechized and many Catechumens were after in the Church therefore they had their Catechists or Catechizers also after the Apostles times Cyprian Epist 24. Eusebius Eccl. hist lib. 3 c. 12 their Docto◠s audientium as St. Cyprian calls them Teachers of the Catechumens such a one was Pantenus such was Origen Clemens Alexandrinus and others And for this end divers holy and learned men have both in Ancient and Modern times composed Catechisms as helps and furtherances for this excellent work Heb. 5.12 6.1 2 3. The Apostle to the Hebrews sets down a brief Catechism containing the first Principles of the Oracles of God Learned Hierom tells us there was a Catechism written by Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem and another by John Bishop of the same place Betulaeus Com. ad Lact. lib. 2. cap. 11. which Betulaeus mentioneth in his Commentaries upon Lactantius I passe many other in after Ages our late learned Writers Mr. Calvin Musculus Peter Martyr Ursinus Bucanus Beza Danaeus Zanchius Alstedius Mr. Virel Our English Mr. Nowel Mr. Perkins Mr. Egerton Mr. Dod Mr. Baal Mr. Downame Mr. Allen Dr. Twisse Dr. Majer and many other laborious workmen in the Lords Vineyard What are their sums of Divinity but Catechisms some larger some lesse and all witnesse as their desire so their approbation of this most necessary work of Catechizing Now the great benefit that I have found by experience in this way of Catechizing excellent light somtimes communicated to poor aged people as well as Children And my experience of the present necessity of all that true light which is or may be afforded by any of the Lords Servants Labourers in his Vine-yard the better to prevent Ignorant and Scandalous persons from approaching the blessed Sacrament and to remove dark ignorance and give light to heal the diseases of poor wandring souls hath moved me to cast my Mite into Christs Treasury Luk. 21.1 c. and to hold forth in this Catechism following what Light I have received from Christ to lead unto Christ on whom waiting in use of all good means a fulness of light may be communicated in Gods good time to poor hungry souls and that to their joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 I most humbly present it to Your Honours not that I think any thing of mine in it is worthy of such an Honour but what is in it of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Spirit of Truth and Grace to whom all the Honour belongs Nor that I am not perswaded of Your Honorable and Religious care already for what is or may be fitting in this kinde Nor to prevent the learned and godly labours of any of my Reverend Brethren the Religious Assembly of Divines whose indefatigable endeavours I pray God to direct and blesse to his glory and the good of his Church but to be a light to those who stand in present need and want better directions And to conclude Luk. 2.32 Ioh. 1.9 that the true Light of Christ may more fully shine forth into darkned souls longing after Light Isa 8.20 and all false Lights daily and more duly be discovered that the true light Christ Jesus and his commands may be more fully followed Is 9.6 7. and all false light of Error or Heresie avoided that the light of the Sun of Righteousnesse may not only more richly enlighten Your Honours who are as so many glorious Stars in the firmament of the Common-wealth but may shine gloriously in all the dark corners of the Land Mat. 4.15 15. that as the glorious God hath so highly Honoured You already to begin and lay the foundation stone in the beautiful building of his House the blessed work of Reformation so he will Honour You further to lay the Top stone thereof Zac. 4.7 that all the Christian Princes and Churches in the world may with rejoycing cry Grace Grace unto it And all this by the strength of the great Jehovah For nor by might nor by power Zac. 4.6 but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts That Your Excellencies may be enabled in Gods due time to take particular notice of the Thousands of Churches or Congregations in the Kingdom which want not only learned able faithful and honorable Pastors and Teachers to Preach and Catechize and hold forth the light of Christ unto them but want honorable and comfortable maintenance or encouragement fit for so honorable and great a work of the Lord Christs Ambassadors the faithful Ministers of the most high and mighty Prince the Lord Jesus Christ In a word that if it be the will of God our Soveraign Lord King Charls may be truly enlightned by the light of Christ to see the false light of all evil counsels either from his own heart or any others and may return fully convinced in conscience and rest fully satisfied by his evident experience of the mighty works of Jehovah the great God of Battel in the most faithful Counsels of thi◠High Honorable and Highly Honoured Parliament that He and His Posterity may love and Honour You and Yours from Generation to Generation as those who have been His best and most faithful Counsellors that Gods blessing may be upon all the three Kingdoms that Truth Peace Unity and Unanimity in the true light of the Lord Jesus with the God of Truth and Peace of Love Unity and Unanimity may dwell amongst us in Grace until that great King Christ shall come in the Clouds of Heaven and translate us all with all his Saints unto Eternity in Glory All which is and shall be the most humble faithful sincere and hearty Prayer of Your Honours most unworthy most humble daily Orator at the Highest Throne of Grace IMMANUEL BOURN London from my Study in Sepulchres May 1. 1646. To the Right Honorable Thomas Adams Lord Mayor The Right Worshipful Sir Nicholas Rainton Knight Isaac Pennington Sir John Wollaston Knight Thomas Atkin Sir John Cordel Sir Thomas Soam Sir Iohn Gayer Sir Iacob Gerrard Knights Iohn Warner Abraham Reynardson Sir George Garret Sir George Clark Knights Iohn Langham Thomas Andrews Iohn Fowke Iames Bunce William Gibbe Richard Chambers Thomas Cullum Simon Edmons Samuel Avery Iohn Bide George Witham Aldermen Thomas Foot and Iohn Kendrick Aldermen and Sheriffs of the Honorable City of London With the several Families of and within the said City and the Lives of Communication and especially the Beloved Congregation and particular Families of
and within the Parish of Sepulchres a daily increase of Light from CHRIST Right Honorable and Beloved in the Lord Christ THe many burning and shining lights my Reverend Brethren the faithful Ministers of Christ in this Famous City most graciously holding forth the blessed Light of Christ in their constant Preaching the Gospel of your Salvation Eph. 1.13 with their glorious abilities and readinesse to Catechize and instruct both yong and old Acts 20.20 in publike and from house to house known to many of your selves by sweet experience and to my self by assured evidence might well seem to commend my silence rather then this seeming presumption to be a Remembrancer to you or a furtherance of the necessary Duty of Catechizing to this Illustrious and to this day wonderfully preserved City But love and duty on my part and hope of Christian acceptation on yours emboldens me to declare my desires and endeavors for a blessed increase of the true light of Christ amongst your dwellings and in your several Families Me thinks my heart is indicting of a good matter and I cannot but speak the things that pertain to Londons Peace Duo sunt Reipublicae Christianae firmameÌ„ta veritas pax praefat Synopsis purioris Theolog. c. Truth and Peace are said to be the stays and pillars of a Christian Common-wealth and so they must needs be of a Christian City yea of the Church of Christ the communion of Saints The Prophet Zachary prefers Truth in the first place and makes Peace to follow in order I may joyn a third as a concomitant or accompanying Grace this is Vnity and Vnanimity especially in the true light of Christ all to go hand in hand together a Brotherly walking in the light of Truth revealed by Christ in the sacred Scriptures Behold how good and joyful a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity Zac. 8.19 Ierusalem is builded as a City that is compact or at Vnity in it self So is London this glorious City Ps 133.1 122.3 Honorable and Honoured Christians and my daily Prayer is and shall be that as it is in your beautiful Habitations in many parts of it so it may be united and continue to be as one glorious building in your mindes hearts wills and affections and principally in that blessed light of Truth and true Religion I would to God there were not too many different lights glimmering like Glow-worms in dark corners leading aside sometimes some of your dearest Consorts your beloved Children Servants and Apprentices into wayes of different if not contrary walkings from the true light of Christ breeding Divisions even in Families the most Ancient Common wealths One chief Reason I am assured is want of Catechizing in the Principles of Religion and their duties in particular To recover sight and prevent the following of by lights in time to come I am bold to commemorate the excellent practise of Catechizing not only in publike Congregations but in private Families and to bring a light from Christ for this end hath been my desire and endeavour in this Iewel of Christian Divinity I commend it to your Lordship and to you Honoured Fathers of this precious and populous City and to you Religious Worthies Parents and Masters of Famâ—lies and to you the particular my beloved the great Congregation of Sepulchres to whom the Lord in his good Providence was pleased by your free Election to call me and this two years and upwards to continue me an Assistant Teacher If it be not so perfect for method or matter as might be expected besides that my intention at first was only to give light to a right preparation for the Lords Supper and not to enlarge my self so fully in the Principles of Divinity my constant Preaching these two years since I began this work beging for three parts of the year three times a week at least and the rest twice or more besides my attendance both on the publike Service and other special occasions may plead my excuse Now that the light of Christ may by the help of this or my lesser Catechism or any other Labours of the Lords faithful Servants shine forth more and more gloriously in all your souls and several Families that they may be enlightned as so many particular Churches of Saints that Christ may walk in the midst of them as of the seven golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 Eph. 2.19 that you may be found Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God that being truly lightned by the true light of Christ in the Church Militant you and yours with the whole Israel of God in all the Families of this City and Kingdom may shine as blessed lights for ever in the Church Triumphant is and shall be the daily Prayer of The most unworthy and humble Servant and Minister of the Lord Iesus Christ IMMANUEL BOURN From Sepulchres London May 2. 1646. To the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Worthley Kt. AND Dame ELIZABETH his Religious Lady The Right Worshipful Sir SAMUEL TRYON Baronet And Dame BRIDGET his Vertuous Lady The true Light of Christ here and true Light with Christ in Heaven for ever Right Worshipful THat Honorable respect I did receive above twenty years since as a Minister of Christ from your Religious Mother the Right Honorable the late Countesse of Devonshire and the more ancient relation I had unto your now Religious Lady as living divers years in house with her and her former Husband Sir Samuel Tryon my Honoured Patron with the due respects I owe to Sir Samuel Tryon their Son and his Vertuous Lady together with kindenesse from your self may command a publike acknowledgement of all your private favours And since the Lord hath now enabled me after two years study and labour at times extraordinary almost spared from my necessary sleep rising up early and late taking rest to finish this Light from Christ by way of Catechism which as it concerneth the general I have Dedicated to those Honoured Worthyes in more publike places And do humbly desire every of you also to accept of it as a Light from Christ a help for you and yours better acquaintance with God in your Families in private and your closets in secret that you and yours may be the better enabled to meet Christ with comfort in his Ordinances and to walk joyfully with Christ in every condition in the whole course of your lives And for this end I commend this excellent duty of Catechizing in and by your worthy Names to all the Gentry with their and all others Families in the Kingdom particularly in the County of Northampton my Native country Now Pastor of East-haddon where my Reverend Aged Father hath been a Preacher and Catechizer almost this fifty years and in the County of Derby and Parish of Ashover where by the free love of my Noble Patron aforesaid I was placed and did finde both the want and benefit of Catechizing by good experience that
unspeakable goodnes to the sons and daughters of men Exod. 18.11 2 King 5.14 2 Chron. 14.11 20.12 13. Luk. 19.6 c. Act. 2.22 and 9.1 c. 20 21. 1 Tim. 1.11 Eph. 1.17 c. 2 Cor. 6.9 10. Hebrews 11. the whole Chapter Quest 20. What Evidence is there from the light of glory Exo. 34.29 30. Isa 6.1 2 3 2 Cor. 12.3 4. 1 Cor. 13.9.10 Iohn 3.1 2 3. 1 Thes 4.17 Ans That beginning and part-light of glory which God hath caused to shine in or upon his Children in this life and the fulnesse of which the Lord assureth them they shall see and injoy in Heaven for ever Quest 21. What profit or comfort is this knowledge what God is and what a one he is to you Ans Great cause of rejoycing that Jehovah this Lord God Isa 43.1 2 3. Psa 52.1 2 10. Dan. 3.17 18 25. Ioh. 20.28 is my God in Christ infinite able and willing and wise and alwayes present to preserve protect and do me good in this life and that life to come even for ever and ever Amen The fourth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the word of God Or what ought a Christian to know concerning the word and will of God Ans The word of God in the manifestation of Gods will and pleasure 1. Gen. 1. 2. 3. 17.2 7 22.16 17. Exod. 19.20 Isa 8.20 Luke 11.28 Rom. 10.27 Ioh. 5.39 2 Pet. 1.19 c. Either immediatly by himself as his word of command concerning the Creation of the world in generall and man in particular before the fall and the manifestation of his good pleasure after the fall to Adam Abraham and other Saints and Sons of men Or mediatly in Scripture by holy men as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Quest 2. Where is this revealed will and word of God written to be found Ans In the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Testament Ps 40.7 Mat. 1.1 Mar. 12.26 Dā 10.21 Mat. 21.42 Rom. 1.2 Ioh. 5.39 commonly called the Bible and Book of God and the holy Scriptures Quest 3. What is there to be known in the holy Scriptures concerning the will and pleasure of God Ans That the holy Scriptures are the most perfect rule of Faith and life above all other writings whatsoever and that they hold forth the good will of God by way of Covenant both in the Covenant of works to our first Parents before the fall and in the Covenant of Gods Free-grace in Christ since to and for the people of God to the end of the world Isa 8.20 2 Tim. 3.15 c. 1 Cor. 15.3 Joh. 5.39 Gen. 2.9.16 17. 3.15 17.7 Jer. 31.33 34. Matth. 17.5 John 3.16 Acts 2.28 22. Quest 4. Are the Scriptures the ancient and first written truths of God to be believed Ans Certainly they are most ancient of all written Divine truths preserved wonderfully so many hundred yea thousand years as witnesse them Divine and of most Divine Authority indeed Quest 5. By what means may you be assured that these Books of the holy Scriptures are the infallible truth of the most true God and that holy men writ them as they were inspired by the holy Ghost Mat. 4.4 22.29 30 c. Luk. 24.25 c. Mat 7.12 Ioh 15.35 17.17 Act. 2.17 17.11 24 14.2 Ans Not only by the witnesse of Christ the chief Prophet and of the Saints and Church of God and by Promises and Prophecies fulfilled by miracles and martyrdoms whereby the Doctrine hath been confirmed but by the Divine harmony perfection powerfull efficacy of the Scriptures themselves and the testimony of Gods Spirit in the souls of believers Quest 6. What necessity was there of the holy Scriptures and word of God written Ans The Lord did see it needfull to have his word written Isa 8.20 Rom. 15.4 Isa 59.20 21. Rom. 1.20 21. 2 Tim. 3.16 because men did not learn by the Book of Nature and work of Creation and government to keep God in their mindes but did run into Errors and fell to worship Creatures and false Gods and false Religions Therefore God gave Scriptures as a guide and rule of life and Doctrine to his Church Quest 7. But is the Old Testament needfull for Gods Children in the time of the Gospel Ans Yea certainly it is of excellent use for the Old Testament holdeth forth Christ and directs to Christ who is yesterday and to day and the same for ever And the whole Scripture is to be searched as profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished to every good work Gen. 3.15 Isa 9.6 and 53.1 2 3 c. Zach. 13.1 Mal. 4.2 Heb. 13.8 Rev. 13.8 Joh. 5.39 and 8.5 6. Rom. 15.4 2 Tim. 2.16 17. Psal 119.105 Isa 8.20 Rom. 3.31 Matth. 5.17 18. Luk. 10.34 Heb. 8.10 11. Quest 8. In what languages were the holy Scriptures Originally written And whether may they be translated and read in our English and other tongues understood of the people Nehem. 8.8 1 Cor. 14.5 14.18 19 26 27. Ans The holy Scriptures of the Old Testament were chiefly written in the Hebrew tongue and the New Testament in the Greek as Originall copies evidence But they may be truly translated and read in other Languages and interpreted as the people of severall Nations may understand them for the perpetuall edification of the Church Quest 9. Are not the Scriptures subject to error Psa 19.7 8 c. Prov. 30.5 6. Ps 12.6 2 Pet 3.15 16. Ans No certainly the holy Scriptures are most true perfect and pure and free from error though some men not rightly understanding them have erred to their own destruction Quest 10. What rules may be observed for right understanding of the Scriptures Ans There are divers And first a competent knowledge in the Originall Languages and inspection into the fountains themselves Secondly Prayer for the assistance of Gods Spirit and to reveal truth Thirdly A deniall of self-opinion and Spirituall pride Quest 11. What is a fourth Rule Ans Fourthly a carefull observation of the chief scope of the holy Ghost Acts 8.20 Rom. 6.14 Eph. 1.16 c. 1 Cor. 12.10 Col. 3.6 1 Cor. 14.31 32. with the coherence and consequents of the Text and of proper and figurative speeches comparing of obscure and plain places together Fifthly a having respect to the Analogy of Faith and grounds of Divinity drawn out of Scripture Sixthly a humble submitting of the private Spirits to the Spirits of the Prophets Quest 12. What is a seventh Rule Ans To eye the chief Iudge of controversies namely the Spirit of God speaking in the Scriptures and by consent of plain places expounding the harder Quest 13. What is the principle knowledge to be learned out of the Scriptures Ans How to attain life Eternall by the true
knowledge of God Ioh. 5.39 17.3 Rom. 15.14 and of Iesus Christ whom he hath sent Quest 14. What is the sum of the Scriptures held forth since the fall of Adam to this end that we may be happy for ever Ans First the Gospel or promising part holding forth Christ and Salvation in Christ by Faith Gen. 3.15 17.1 Exo. 20. Mat. 5. Iam. 7.2 Secondly The Law or commanding part manifesting that life and Rule of life in thankfulnesse by obedience Quest 15. Whence hath the holy Scriptures its Authority to require belief and obedience unto it Ans From God himself who did write part of it with his own finger Exod. 31.18 32.16 35.1 Deut. 9.10 2 Pet. 1.20 21. or by himself and his own power and the Prophets Apostles and Pen-men were the Pen-men of God the holy Ghost writing the Word of the Lord and what was directed by his holy Spirit for Gods glory and the good of his Church Quest 16. But doth not the Scriptures Authority depend upon the Authority of the Church and doth not the Churches Testimony prove the holy Scriptures to be the Word of God Ans Certainly although the Scripture may be believed with some kinde of Faith to be the Word of God by the Testimony of the Church especially by men out of the Church moved by the Churches testimony to receive the Scripture as Gods Word as holy Augustine did yet the Authority of the Scriptures depends upon God himself and the Saints are moved to believe it as by the excellency of the Scripture it self so by the testimony of the spirit witnessing unto their consciences that it is indeed the very Word of God Quest 17. How may this be illustrated further to us Ans By that Example of the Samaritans Iohn 4. they first believed on Christ for the testimony of the woman who said Christ had told her all things that ever she did But when they had heard Christ Ibid. now say they to the woman We do not believe on Christ for thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know indeed that this is very Christ So likewise at the first Augustine was and others may be drawn to believe the scriptures by the testimony of the Church but when once the minde is enlightned by the holy Spirit to see the Scriptures excellency Heb. 4.12 and the power of God in the word how it is quick and alive yea mighty in operation sharper then a two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joynts and marrow of us and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and that the Spirit of God is in the word 2 Cor. 3.8 and the Gospel is the Ministration of the Spirit Now the soul doth not believe and rest upon the witnesse of the Church for the truth and Authority of the Scripture but by the power of the Spirit of truth it self The childe of God seeth and knoweth that the holy Scriptures are the Scriptures of truth Iohn 16.13 and the very word of God himself and so to be believed and obeyed of all that look for Salvation Quest 18. But is not the Scriptures obscure and difficult to be understood and so dangerous to be read especially of ignorant and weak people Ans The holy Scriptures in respect of that Doctrine the knowledge of which is absolutely necessary to Salvation is not obscure but plain and easie by the assistance of the Spirit for every regenerate soul to understand the eyes of whose minde is enlightned Psa 119.105 yea it is a light to our feet and a lanthern to our pathes unto which we ought to give heed 2 Pet. 1.19 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day star and glory of the Gospel arise in our hearts But it is true it is dark and offensive to blinde eyes 1 Cor. 1.18 and to all that perish as in whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes 2 Cor. 4.4 lâ—st the light of the glory of God should shine unto them and it is obscure and difficult to be understood in some parts even to Gods Children though not alwayes First that the Elect people of God might not trust to their own wisdom for understanding of the Scripture Eph. 1.18 19. but might be stirred up to pray for the help of the Spirit of Christ Luk. 24.45 Eph. 3.16 c and that Christ might dwell in their hearts by Faith and open their wills to understand that they may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the height and length and depth and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge that they may be filled with the fulnesse of God Secondly That the Saints may be stirred up to diligent reading meditation and study of the Scriptures that so they may better gain the right understanding of places difficult and obscure Thirdly That the Saints may see that sometimes they stand in need of an Interpreter Iob 33.23 Acts 8.30 31. one of a thousand to understand the Scriptures As the Eunuch did stand in need of Philip and therefore might be taught to see the necessity and excellency of the speciall office of Christs Ministers 1 Cor. 4.1 2. 1 Tim. 5.17 and esteem of them and honour them as the Ministers of Christ unto whom the Lord in a more speciall manner hath given and communicated by his Spirit the speciall gift of understanding and Interpreting of the Scriptures 1 Cor. 12.28 c. Mal. 2.7 Nehem. 8.7 8. 1 Tim. 4.13 2 Tim. 3.15 16. and of opening the true sense of the holy Scriptures to the glory of God and good of Gods Church and verely the Scriptures may and ought to be read and searched of all sorts whose hearts God moveth to desire the knowledge of Christ for it hath been observed of old the Scripture is a Sea wherein the Elephant may swim and the Lamb may go on foot the greatest Doctors may finde work to understand and the poorest Saint may see and feel and finde comfort Quest 19. What or how manifold is the sense and meaning to be sought out in the holy Scriptures for our instruction Ans Howsoever the Scriptures in many places may be applied to our use and instruction by Typicall Tropologicall Figurative Analogicall and Parabolicall Interpretations Yet notwithstanding there is but one immediate literall genuine certain sense of a place of Scripture which is the true scope and intent of the holy Ghost in that place and this is to be sought out with all diligence as being the Grammaticall Historicall or positive meaning of the Spirit of God to be rested in as the truth of God Quest 20. But from whence must we seek the true interpretation of the Soripture Ans From the Spirit of Christ speaking not in the breast of the Pope falsly challenging
and long for and to receive believe and gladly rest on him alone for Salvation Act. 2.38 39. Iohn 1.11 12. Acts 16.14 15. and 16.27 c. and 4.12 Heb. 5.9 Quest 12. What further doth this great Prophet work in the soul of a believer by his Word and Spirit Ans 2 Pet. 3.16 c. He perswades the soul First to grow more and more in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Mark 9.23 24. Lu 7.17.5 Secondly To believe more and more Thirdly To repent and be sanctified more and more Fourthly To become a new creature more and more Fifthly To be more and more fruitfull in good works And Sixthly By daily beholding First The glory of God in the face of Christ And secondly The glory of Christ in the glasse of the Gospel to be made more and more partaker of the Divine nature and changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord Phil. 3.9 c. Luke 17.5 Eph. 3.14 c. and 4.7 c. Rom. 12. and 13. Mat 5.16 Col. 1.7 c. and 1.21 c. 2 Pet. 1.7 c. 2 Cor. 5.17 and 3.17 18. Quest 13. Now you have shewed the Priestly and Propheticall office of Christ What are the acts or work of Christs Kingly office Ans Christ doth not only as a mighty Conquerour rescue and Redeem his Church and children out of the hands of all their enemies spirituall or temporall and call gather and unite them to himself as his own mysticall body But as a rich and bountifull Prince bestow upon them all needfull graces and protect preserve and govern them in this Kingdom of grace untill he bring them safe unto his Kingdom of glory Isa 63.2 c. and 54.5 c. Luke 1.74 75. Tit. 2.13 14. Heb. 2.14 15. Mat. 20.1 2. and 22.1 c. John 12.20 c. Eph. 3.8 and 4.7 Mat. 28.10 Rev. 2.1 2 Tim. 4 16 c. Quest 14. When and how did Christ make evident that as a mighty Conqueror he had rescued and redeemed his Church out of the hands of their enemies and by his active and passive obedience to his Fathers will satisfied the Justice of God and purchased for his Children remission of sins and life everlasting Psal 2.6 c. Mat. 28.1 c. Mark 16.9 c. Luk. 24.32 c. Ioh. 20.19 c. Acts 2.23 c. 1.9 c. 3.19 c. 17.31 Luk. 21.27 28. Mat. 25.34 c. Ans When as a powerfull Prince he did break the bars and loosed the cords and pains of death as being impossible to be holden of it and gloriously did rise from the dead First appearing to his Disciples after his Resurruction And secondly Ascending visibly into heaven Thirdly sitting at the right hand of God his Father And fourthly there to remain till he shall come at the Day of Iudgement in a triumphant manner for to Iudge both quick and dead to the evealasting confusion of all his enemies and the Eternall good of his Church Quest 15. When else did Christ openly make this evident to the world of his Church Ans When by the powerfvll Preaching of the Gospel Rom. 15.15 c. 16.25 c. and work of his Spirit he brought so many Kingdoms and Nations to the obedience of Faith Quest 16. When doth the Lord Christ make this evident inwardly to the soul and conscience of a man or woman Ans When by his Word and Spirit he enlightens the eye of Faith to see Gal. 2.19 20. 2 Tim. 4.7 8. finde and assuredly perceive and enableth the mouth and tongue of Faith to speak and by assured evidence of the Spirit to say to his or her own Soul as Paul did Christ loved me and gave himself for me and Christ hath laid up for me a Crown of Righteousnesse in heaven Quest 17. How and when doth the Lord Christ call gather and unite his Church or particular members thereof as one body unto himself Ans When the Lord Christ by his faithfull Servants Mat. 28.19 20. 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Act. 26.17 18. as Ambassadors for Christ rightly called to that great office by the power of his Word and Spirit draweth them out of the Kingdom of the world sin and Satan to receive him to be their Lord and only Mediator yea their Eternall High Priest Prophet and King for their Eternall salvation Quest 18. Are the Ministers of Christ ordained by Christ in a speciall calling above others to be Instruments or outward means of converting men and women unto Christ and to bring them out of the Kingdom of darknesse into this Kingdom of Christ Psal 68.17 c. Eph. 4.10 c. Act. 26.18 c. 1 Cor. 3.5 c. 4.15 Gal. 4.19 Ans Yes the Lord Christ ascended up on high and having led Captivity Captive he gave gifts unto men first some Apostles some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the work of Ministery and Gods Ministers as outward Instruments through Christ in their speciall calling do beget men again through the Gospel and travel in birth again untill Christ be formed in them and that they may be turned from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God and presented with joy to God their Father by Iesus Christ their Lord and King of his Church Quest 19. May not all Christians in generall undertake this work of this Ministery to convert Souls and build them up in the truth of Christ as well as those who are so specially called of God to it Ans Certainly howsoever in Primitive times Act. 8.1 2 3 4. 8.14 11.19 c. 1 Cor. 12.12 c. some Disciples extraordinarily endued with the Holy Ghost did Preach the Gospel in dayes of persecution to Pagans and Infidels that knew not Christ and although all Christians in generall are Members of the same body of Christ and ought in their places to have a care of the whole body neverthelesse every Member is not a head or an eye or a tongue or to exercise the office of them And howsoever all the Members of Christ as private Christians may communicate their gift of knowledge one to another Heb. 10.25 in times and places convenient not leaving off their attendance on Christ in the publike Ordinances exercised by the Ministers of Christ nor separating from the publike congregations of Saints yet the great office of the publike Ministration Heb. 5.4 5. belongeth to none but such as are specially called and appointed thereunto by their Lord and King Christ Iesus Quest 20. How doth Christ our heavenly King call his Servants and Ambassadors to this great work of the Ministery Ans First Mat 28.19 20. Ioh. 20.20 c. Acts 16.8 9 10. 1 Tim. 1.11 12. 3.1 c. inwardly furnishing them with grace and experimental knowledge of Christs power and grace in their own souls that they may reveal Christ and the way of
life and salvation in and by Christ better to others And secondly bestowing upon them gifts of grace to enable them for the work of the Ministery And thirdly 2 Tim. 2.1 c. Col. 1.25 c. Tit. 2.7 1 Pet. 5.1 c. Drawing their Spirits willingly to undertake this honorable calling not for by-ends or base respects of worldly profit pleasure or uncertain honour but for Gods glory conversion of souls and the good of Gods Church Quest 21. How else doth the Lord call them to the office of the Ministery Ans He calleth them outwardly by a due and right examination of their graces Acts 13.1 c. 1 Tim 4.12 c. 5.21 22. 6.11 12. Tit. 1.4 c. life and learning and Approbation of them by the Church and such Elder able servants of Christ Iesus as are appointed to that office of Examination and Approbation by good and lawfull Authority setting them apart for the Ministery according to the rule of Christ in his Word Quest 22. What hurt or danger can follow if the speciall calling of the Ministery were laid aside and every Christian according to the measure of his gifts did take upon him to Preach the Gospel and administer Sacraments to private meetings of people and neglect and separate from the publike Ministery of such as are called by Authority as aforesaid though the Gospel be truly Preached and no danger of frequenting the Congregations known and openly appointed for that end Ans It will throw down Gods Ordinances of the Ministeriall office so fully confirmed in holy Scripture and open a door to all Schismes and Divisions in the Church yea to all Errors and Heresies and in the end to Ignorance Atheisme and all prophanenesse Exod. 3.30 31. Numb 3.10 c and 4.15.20 and 16.3 c. 1 Sam. 3.29 1 King 2.19.16 Isa 6.6 7 8. Jer. 1.5 and 3.15 Ezek. 1.28 Gal. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 1.6 7 8. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. and 2.10 c. 1 Tim 1 18 c. and 6.8 9 10 2 Tim. 3.5 c. 3 Joh. 9.10 2 Tim. 4.3 4 and 3.13 Tit. 1.11 c. 1 Tim. 2.12 Quest 23. What profit is it to have such an able and faithfull Ministery called fitted and Authorized as aforesaid Isa 50.4 2 Tim. 4.1.2 3 4. Eph. 3.6 9 10. 1 Tim. 1.15 Heb. 12.2 Luke 4.18 19. Acts 6.10 Ans Certainly great profit and comfort to have able and faithfull Ministers for these can and will minister a word of comfort in due season to poor souls in distresse these can and will first Reprove and convince Errors Secondly Correct vice by Authority of Gods Word Thirdly Rightly exhort to all holinesse And Fourthly To all patience long-suffering and Doctrine holding forth Christ as the Author and finisher of our Faith 1. To the comfort of poor sinners 2. To the joy of Saints And 3. To the confusion of all gainsayers The thirteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have manifested the knowledge of Christ in his Natures Person and Offices Now what is to be known concerning those graces which God the Father and the Lord Christ with the holy Ghost gives and which are sealed to the Saints in the holy Sacraments Ans When Christ ascended up on high and had led Captivity Captive as he had procured many graces Eph. 4.8.16 gifts and benefits so he gave and communicated them from God the Father to poor sinners and they are sealed to the faithfull in the blessed Sacraments Quest 2. But what are these gifts and graces in particular Ans The first speciall gift benefit or blessing is the grace of Election which God hath bestowed upon his Church and Children in Christ and the assurance whereof is sealed in this Sacrament as other benefits of Christ to our souls Quest 3. What is the grace of Election Ans The grace of Election is that most free Act of God Rom. 8.22 30. Eph. 1.4 5 6. 2 Thes 2.13 by which he hath chosen some men and women before the foundation of the world in Christ to life Eternall having predestinated them to the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made them accepted in the beloved Quest 4. What should a Christian do concerning his Election Ans Labour to make his Election sure for his joy and comfort 2 Pet. 1.7 c. Luke 10.20 Quest 5. What is the second blessing and grace given from God the Father in and by Christ for the benefit of his Church Ans The unspeakable benefit of Redemption Eph. 2.14 c. Col. 1.12 13. and Reconciliation to God by Iesus Christ for the joy of his people Quest 6. What is this grace of Redemption and Reconciliation to God Ans Redemption is that vindication and freeing of men and women by Christ from the terrible bondage of sin Hos 1.13 14. Luke 1.74 75. 2 Cor. 5.19 Col. 1.12 c Heb. 9.12 Ioh. 3.16 Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.16 c. death the Devil and hell and making our peace with God by the payment of a just and full price to satisfie Gods Iustice not with silver and gold but with his precious blood as of a Lamb immaculate and without spot Quest 7. What is a third blessing or grace given in Christ and procured by Christ for the good of his Church Eph. 1.7 c. 3.1 2 c. 4.8 c. 2 Cor. 3.8 4 13. 1 Cor. 3.1 c. 2 Cor. 6.1 c. Ans The rich grace of the Gospel which brings salvation and the Ministers of the Gospel who are Ambassadors for Christ to beseech men to be reronciled and Instruments of our conversion and calling into the knowledge of the mystery of Christ Quest 8. What is a fourth grace or benefit which the Lord Christ hath procured and doth communicate to and for the profit and comfort of his Church Ans The holy Ghost or blessed Spirit of truth proceeding from the Father and the Son 2 Cor. 3.8 4.13 Eph. 1 â—6 c. and God equall with them both the Lord and giver of life and who makes the Gospel and all grace effectuall by Faith and power of applying Christ and all Christs benefits and graces to the soul of a Childe of God Ioh. 16.7 c. 1 Ioh. 4.13 Secondly Who worketh and increaseth graces in the hearts of Gods Children in the holy and right use of all Christs Ordinances for the joy and comfort of Gods Church Quest 9. What is the fifth blessing or grace Ans The inestimable grace and blessing of effectuall vocation unto God in Christ and the society of the faithfull Quest 10. What is this grace and benefit of effectuall vocation Ans The grace of effectuall vocation is that gracious act fruit and effect of Gods Free-grace and love in Christ manifested First upon us in Election Secondly
Rev. 2.10 2 Tim. 4.8 c. Mat. 16.16 c. an acceptation of our person and all our services in this life and an assurance of the crown of Righteousnesse and glory in heaven with perseverance in grace and protection from men and Devils here and preservation to that heavenly Kingdom and Salvation These and many more are the rich blessings Christ hath purchased and God the Father given to his Church in Christ Jesus Quest 25. But what is this Church and people for whom the Lord Christ hath procured and to whom he communicates so many excellent benefits both of grace and glory Ans * Eph 1.4 5 6 7. Act. 20.28 Mat. 1 21. Rom. 8.29 30. 1 Pet. 1.4 5. 2 Tim. 4.7 8 18. 2 Cor. 5.1 2 8. Phil 1.23 Rev. 14.13 1 Thes 4.16 17. The Church of God is that company of people who are Gods chosen ones whom Christ hath purchased with his own blood saved from their sins in time calleth justifieth sanctifieth and preserveth here in grace in a condition Militant and in the end translateth to glory in and to an estate Triumphant in the heavens for ever Quest 26. Is there a communion of Saints or of this Church and people of God 1 Cor. 12.12 c. 1 Ioh. 1.3 Eph 4.3 c. Gal. 3.27 c. Ans Yes certainly true believers are united as one Body in Christ their Head and have a sweet union and communion with God the Father and with the Lord Jesus Christ and one with another in Christ in all these rich benefits procured by Christ for their souls and bodies and their happinesse for ever Quest 27. Who is the Head of the Church Ans The Lord Christ himself who was exalted up on high Eph. 1.20 c. Phil. 2.9 10. Eph. 4.15 16. Mat. 28.18 when he was raised from the Dead by the working of Gods mighty power and set at Gods right hand far above all principalities and power and every name in heaven and earth and appointed him to be the Head over all things to the Church all power being given unto Christ in heaven and in earth Quest 28. Is there but one Head of the Church 1 Cor. 12.12 27. 1 Thes 2.3 4 Ans Certainly no as Christs Church is one mystical Body so it hath but one mystical Head Christ himself to have two Heads ascribed to the Church were to make it a Monster Therefore the Pope or whosoever taketh upon him to be Head of the Church is not a friend of Christ but Antichrist Quest 29. Rev. 17.14 1 Cor. 12.27 c. Eph. 4.12 Heb. 1.1 c. Eph. 1.22 23. Heb. 12.22 Re 19.10 Who are the Members of Christs Church Ans All who are truly called and chosen and faithful believers and children of believers Elected in Christ yea the Elect Angels themselves in some respect are the Members of this Church of Christ he being exalted to be Head both of Angels and Men. Quest 30. How manifold is the Church of Christ Ans The Church of Christ is one Body of which Christ is the Head Gal. 3.28 Eph. 4 4. Can 6.8 Ioh. 10.16 one Dove one Flock as there is one Shepheard the Lord Jesus But in divers respects it hath divers names ascribed unto it 1. It is called Catholike or Universal Gal. 3.28 Heb. 12.23 Rev. 2. 3. as it relates to the children of God in all Ages and places of the world yea in heaven as well as in earth 2. It is called Particular as it relates to particular Countreys and Congregations believing in Christ and professing the Gospel Act. 2.41 2 Tim. 2.19 Eph. 6.11 Mat. 25.34 3. It is called visible as it relates to the open professors of the Faith 4. It is called invisible as it respects the Elect chiefly known to God himself 5. It is called Militanâ— as it is warring on Earth And 6. Triumphant as they are conquerours in the Kingdom of Heaven Quest 31. What are the marks of the Church Mat. 28.19 20. Act. 2.42 1 Cor. 11.23 c. 2 Thes 2.13 Ans First the outward marks are two The pure Preaching of the Word of God and right Administration of the Sacraments Secondly the inward are Faith and holinesse as the way to happinesse Quest 32. How are the keys of Jurisdiction or Discipline to be ordered in the Church Mat. 16.19 Ioh. 20.23 Mat. 18.15 c. 1 Cor. 5.5 16.22 2 Cor. 2.7 8 Ans According as Christ hath set down in the Scriptures to Gods glory and good of his Church Quest 33. You have briefly spoken of the true Church and true Members of the Church Gods Elect known to God But doth every visible National or particular Congregation of men professing themselves to be a Church of Christ consist only of such true Members without Hypocrites or false Christians in name not in truth Ans Certainly we do not read of any National Church visible but had or might seem to have some Hypocrites in it some false Brethren some who after they were admitted or taken as Members in the judgement of the Church proved erroneous in judgement and fell to Errors and Heresies or scandalous in life and fell to prophanenesse until they were discovered and Excommunicated or Schismatically rent themselves from that true Church and Congregation wherein they were as the Churches of Corinth Rev. 2.12 c. 1 Ioh. 2.18 19. of Galatia Ephesus Pergamos and other Churches since the Apostles times and History of Churches witnesse at large Quest 34. Are there so many absolute independent Churches of Christ as there are particular Churches or Congregations truly professing Christ and enjoying the Word and Sacraments in truth throughout the Christian World Ans Verely the Church of Christ is but one as we proved before Eph. 4.2 3 4. 4.1 5 16. and this one Catholique or Universal Church is depending upon Christ the Head whose Body the Church is and every particular true Church called Congregational Classical Provincial or National or by any other name is a Member of this Universal Church or Mystical body of Christ the Head 1 Cor. 12.21 c. and as no Member of the Body of man or woman is absolute and independent of itself but all the Members stand in need one of another are to submit one to another in love and duty and to be helpful one to another for the good of the whole Body So I humbly conceive it is and ought to be with the Churches of Christ 1 Cor. 12.20 Eph. 5.25 26 Act. 20.28 who are many Members yet but one Church which he hath loved and given himself for and purchased with his own blood and as no Church ought to be tyrannical or have a tyrannical power over another so no particular Member Church is or ought to be so independent 1 Cor. 12.25 c. but that the Member Churches should have the same care one for another that there be no Schisme
Christ to your soul knowing that whom Christ loveth he loveth to the end And consider Gods promises and so live by faith in grace depending upon God until he bring you unto eternal glory The fifteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1. Question YOu have answered concerning the knowledge of God and the knowledge of our selves and the knowledge of Christ Now what is fit for a Communicant to know concerning the Sacrament that he or she may come with more comfort and profit to the Lords Table Answ There are divers things to be known concerning the Sacrament both in general and particular and first What a Sacrament is or what is meant by a Sacrament Quest 2. I pray you tell me then what you conceive a Sacrament to be Answ First Revel 2.17 Matth. 26.27 28. Matth. 28.19 A Sacrament is not a bare and naked substance single or compounded as Water Bread or Wine or the like but such a thing or substance instituted appointed and applied to a Mystery to hold forth Christ and the Mystery of Christ and spiritual things in a spiritual manner to the soul as Bread and Wine in the Sacraments do hold forth the Body and Blood of Christ spiritually to beleevers Quest 3. Is every secret or hidden Mystery in nature a Sacrament Answ No Every natural mystery or hidden thing as the secrets of nature the vertues of herbs to heal of the Load-stone to draw Iron to it and the like nor an artificial mystery or secret of Trades or the like is not a Sacrament But a Sacrament is a spiritual mystery a mystery of godlinesse 1 Tim. 3.16 as the Apostle calls the Mystery and History of Christ Quest 4. Thirdly But is every spiritual mystery or mystery of godlinesse a Sacrament Matth. 13.11 1 Tim. 3.9 Answ No every spiritual mystery is not a Sacrament But a spiritual mystery holding forth Christ as the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom or the mysteries of Faith are mysteries holding forth Christ Quest 5. Are these or every spiritual mystery holding forth Christ a Sacrament Levit. 16.21 22. Numb 21.9 Ephes 5.29 30 31 32. Ans No not properly neither these nor divers others of like nature for the Scape-Goats and the Brasen-Serpent were Mysteries holding forth Christ And marriage is a great mystery representing the spiritual union between Christ and his Church and yet none of these are properly Sacraments although they signifie and reveal excellent truths of Christ to beleevers Quest 6. But if none of these be properly Sacraments what then is a Sacrament Gen. 17.7 8 c. Answ A Sacrament is a sacred action or an outward symbole or badge signifying and sealing by way of Pledge or Bond or Covenant between two parties to assure performance of conditions on both sides Quest 7. Is every signifying or sealing Action by way of covenant a Sacrament Answ No Gen. 31.44 45 46. 1 Sam. 20.8 18. c. For that action of Jacob and Labans setting up stones as a witnesse was a signifying and sealing of peace between them as was Jonathans shooting Arrows according to agreement between him and David of Sauls intentions and as divers civil actions of like nature yet these are none of those Sacraments which Christ hath left to his Church Quest 8. What kinde of signifying and sealing action then is a Sacrament Answ A Sacrament is a sacred Ordinance or Action Gen. 17.11 c. Gen. 21.4 Exod. 12.48 Num. 9.13 Rom. 4.11 acted with a sacred minde or divinely instituted by a sacred person in which by outward visible signes and seals and pledges and instruments in outward elements words and actions the inward invisible freegraces of God in Christ is held forth signified sealed and assured from God in Christ to beleeving souls according to the Covenant of Grace and the mutual promise of love duty obedience faithfulnesse and thankfulnesse of beleevers is entered into or renewed and sealed to God again according to the same Covenant Quest 9. What in brief is the substance of this Covenant of Grace thus sealed in the Sacraments Exod. 19.4 5 c. Iere. 32.37 38. and 30.21 22. 2 Cor 6.17 18. Ans We have set forth the Covenant of Grace before But in brief the Sacrament Seals the Promise of God to take his Church to be his people his sons and daughters in Jesus Christ and of the Church to receive the Lord for their God and Father in the same Christ and to glorifie him accordingly Quest 10. How many such Sacraments hath Christ instituted and ordained to and for the benefit of his Church Matth. 28.19 Gal. 3.27 1 Cor. 11.26 27. and 10.16 Ans Onely two properly so called and no more ordinarily The first a Sacrament of our initiation enterance inrolling consecrating unto or ingrafting into Christ and his Church as visible Members thereof and of the Covenant to that end The second a Sacrament of confirmation and renewing of the same Covenant with God in and by Christ from God to his people and from Gods people to God again Quest 11. What was the first of these Sacraments ordained by God in Christ for this initiation enrolement entrance and ingrafting into Christ for the benefit of Christs Church and Children Ans In the Old Testament the first was the ordinary Sacrament of Circumcision the Seal of the Covenant of Grace and of the Righteousnesse of Faith in Christ the Messiah then to come into the world to be born for us Rom. 4.11 Gal. 5.1 2 3. But in the New Testament the Sacrament of Baptism instituted by Christ instead of Circumcision as a Seal of the Covenant of Grace and Righteousnesse of Faith in Christ the Messiah that is come already Quest 12. What was the second Sacrament appointed as a pledge of Christs love for comfort of Gods people as a Seal for confirmation and continuance of his Covenant and of Gods Grace with his Church Ans In the Old Testament the Sacrament of the Passeover or Paschall Lamb Exod. 12.43 c. hold forth Christ and his benefits to the Saints waiting for Christ the consolation of Israel 1 Cor. 11.26 c. in his first coming But in the New Testament the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that Love-token of Christ to be celebrated by such as are rightly prepared in remembrance of Christ who hath perfected the Work of Redemption to be communicated to all those who by Faith waite for his second coming at the last day Quest 13. Are not Sacraments of the Old Testament contrary to the Sacraments of the New and so different that there may rather be said to be four Sacraments then onely two Rom. 4.11 Col. 2.16 17. 1 Cor. 10.3 4. Heb. 13.18 Rev. 13.8 1 Cor. 10.2 3 4. Ans The Sacraments of the Old and New Testament they are both Sacraments of the Covenant of Grace not contrary one to another but agreeing in the matter and substance of them and although they differ in
outward signes and circumstances yet the internal Grace held forth signed and sealed in both is Christ and his Benefits who is yesterday and to day and the same for ever and so though there were divers figures and types yet here are not four properly in substance but two Sacraments in the Church ordinarily for the Baptizing in the Red Sea was extraordinary Quest 14. Who hath authority as the spiritual Efficient and Author to institute and ordain such a holy Sacrament Ans None but God Gen. 17.10 11. Exod. 12.1 29. Matth. 28.19 Mark 14.22 23. the whole Trinity in common and Christ God and man in particular who is the Angel of the Covenant and of whose last Will and Testament a Sacrament is a Seal to and for the good of the Church Quest 15. Who hath authority and power as an instrument to administer such a Sacrament Answ None but the Ministers of Christ lawfully Matth. 28.19 20. Heb. 5.4 Ephes 4.7 8 c. and rightly called and authorised thereto by Christ and his Church Quest 16. what is the external matter or material cause and outward signe in the first of these Sacraments the Sacrament of Baptism Ans The external signe Matth. 3.6 Acts 8.38 Mark 7.4 1 Cor. 10.4 and seal of Baptism is the Element of Water wherewith men of ripe yeers converted to the Faith of Christ and children of beleeving Parents within the Covenant of Grace have been are and may be Baptized or washed by diving under dipping or sprinkling Heb. 12.24 and washing with water sacramentally and according to the Ordinance of Christ Quest 17. What is the internal material thing signified in this Sacrament of Baptism Iohn 3.3 5. Heb. 12.24 1 Cor. 12.13 Rom. 6.4 5 6. Gal. 3.27 1 Ioh 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Acts 22.16 2 Cor. 5.17 Titus 3.5 6 7. Matth. 28.19 Acts 14.3 4 5. Ans Christ himself and his spirit and the vertue of Christ his blood the blood of sprinkling applyed by the Spirit washing and clearsing us from our sins makeing the baptized partakers of the vertue of Christs death and Resurrection and of the Grace of Regeneration and new Creation of union and engrafting whom God the Father pleaseth into Christ in this Sacrament of Baptism Quest 18. What is the outward form of this Sacrament of Baptism Ans The outward form of Baptism on Gods part and ours is the word of Promise in the institution of the Sacrament and action and profession of Faith and manner of baptizing by dipping or sprinkling or baptizing in or into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Quest 19. What is the inward form of this Sacrament of Baptism Answ That mystical and sacramental union that is between the outward signes of the Sacrament Gen. 17.10 Rom. 2.29 Col. 2.11 12. Tit. 3 5. Acts 2.38 39. and 10. 47 48. and 22.16 and inward Graces of the Covenant set forth and sealed in the Sacrament by vertue of which union as the signes are attributed to the things signified and these agree with the signes so the things signified and sealed are really communicated not by vertue of the work done and to every person baptized as the Papists dream but when God seeth good to those persons that are Gods elect children and have right unto and rightly partake of this Sacrament it sealeth their Iustification Regeneration and Salvation in Christ Quest 20. What kinde of union is this between the outward signe and the thing signified in the Sacrament Ans Not a Corporall Physical or Local nor yet an imaginary union onely but a true and real union yet so as the inward Grace is not communicated to all by vertue of the work done but to Saints in Covenant by vertue of the Covenant to whom and when God pleaseth Simon Magus he wanted Acts 8.13 20. and 8.36 39. and the Eunuch enjoyed spiritual Grace and joy in beleeving when he received Baptism as the outward signe and seal of inward Regeneration of the heart so that the outward signe and inward grace are not always united together but when and to whom God please he giveth grace and sealeth it to the joy of the soul The sixteenth Classis or Company Questions 1 Question VVHo are the subjects or persons to be made partakers of this Sacrament of Baptism Matt. 28.19 29. Mark 16.16 Acts 2.38 and 8.38 Answ All that are within the Covenant of Grace are first men or women of ripe yeers embracing the Gospel and converted to beleeve in Christ repent of their sins and be new Creatures yea able and willing to make profession of the faith and graces of God in them And secondly the custome of the Church for many hundred yeers hath practised Baptizing of Infants especially of beleevers in the Church Quest 2. What grounds or proof of this do you finde that have or may be produced from Scripture that children of beleevers should be admitted to Baptism Ans Divers Reasons have been observed by Divines But first this Rule is noted by Divines That whatsoever is or may be found a command or Institution of Christ in the Old Testament or in the New either in expresse words and terms or by good and necessary consequence not upon supposition onely but true foundation in the Book of God either for moral or for positive Duty It hath sufficient authority to be commended as a Truth of Christ for the benefit of Christs Church and may hold good for substance in the New Testament as well as in the Old although in a different manner of dispensation And therefore those who cast off a Truth of Christ plainly set forth in the Old Testament because it is not in so many words held forth or expressed in the New I conceive do much derogate from Christ who was the glorious Prophet of his Church as truly in the Old Testament as in the New The same Spirit of Christ preaching to 1 Pet. 3.19 20. and in the Patriarks and by the Prophets in the Old Testament as in the New and both Moses the Prophets and Apostles being all the Amanuenses and Pen-men of the Holy Ghost The whole Scripture being written by the Inspiration the Holy Ghost not by any private Interpretation and so the whole Scripture or any part of it in the Old Testament or in the New 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. either in expresse words or evident consequence is a sufficient ground to prove Infants Baptism or any Truth of God whatsoever Quest 3. Although this be granted yet vvhat Arguments do you finde dravvn either from the Old Testament or the Nevv for Pedobaptism or the practise of Infants Baptism in the Church Ans First you may take notice of this which followeth Whatsoever was a positive rule and institution of Christ to a beleever as a beleever either concerning himself or his children as children of a beleever for assurance of salvation by Faith in Christ and inward Circumcision of the heart according to
Passeover and may partake of that Ordinance being rightly prepared although not named in the institution Quest 11. You have answered concerning the spiritual Seed of Abraham the elect children of beleevers that they may be Disciples by way of Covenant and by right of Election and so may have a right and interest to Baptism the seal of the Covenant which is not denied by some chief adversaries of Pedobaptism if they could be known to be such But now what say you for other children of beleevers which it may be are none of Gods elect nor disciples by way of that internal Covenant of Grace nor inward sanctification of the Spirit What right or title can such Infants have to baptism in infancy or until they be discipled by publike Teaching and Declaration or profession of themselves to be beleevers and converted to the Faith of Christ and such to be admitted by vertue of Christs Institution Go Disciple all Nations and Baptize as is opened before Ans I answer for all children of beleeving Parents though they be none of Gods Elect yet I conceive they may have as good a priviledge now and be under outward Administrations as Ishmael and Esau had if these were not elected or as any of the beleevers children before Christ had not being elected by way of priviledge as children of beleevers to partake of outward Ordinances and priviledges as children of the faithful especially when as it is not known of us who are elected and who are not Why may it not be that Esau was made partaker of this outward priviledge for Jacob and Abrahams sake And for the elect childrens sake all in general who are children of beleevers in the Church of God might and may have this outward badge of Christianity as a note of distinction between children of Iews Turks and Pagans who deny and reject Christ and children of such faithful who beleeve and embrace Christ and the Gospel in truth and sincerity And thus you have one ground of Scripture opened and applyed for Pedobaptism which may evidence That it is not a meer humane invention and absolute will-worship as some have affirmed whom I dare not for this one opinion against Infants baptism utterly condemn excommunicate and cast out of the Churches of Christ as enemies to Christ and the Gospel but rather look upon some of them as weak Brethren to be drawn in by bands of Love and cords of Amity by all means seeking to inform them and reveal that light the Lord hath opened in the Cannonical Books of the Old and New Testament praying God that every Saint may joyn in love and humility in prayer to God every day more and more to reveal and settle Truth in his Churches that God may be glorified and truth and peace established in Christ Jesus Quest 12. I am of your minde not to condemn all as utter enemies to Christ who are adversaries to childrens baptism But yet their Divisions and Separations they have made in the Church their unchurching of the Churches of Christ their contempt of Christs Ministers for difference of Opinion in things of lesser importance with divers such like cannot be answered or justified I think before God or men as being contrary to that Christian love and unity required by Christ in and amongst all that professe the Name of the Lord Jesus But tell me I pray you what other grounds of Scripture have you to prove the lawfulnesse of childrens Baptism Ans There are divers Grounds of Scripture discussed and handled at large by several learned men I will onely name a few and leave the more full opening of them to those who have undertaken the controversie in their larger Treatises And first That encouragement which the Apostle giveth to those Converts Acts 2.38 39. to repent and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of sins because the Promise is to them and to their children and not to them onely and their children but to as many as are afar off even as many as the Lord our God should call that is to the faith of Christ or to be beleevers in Christ and why not to their children also as being children of beleevers as well as to the former whether they were far off of the Iews or far off of the Gentiles who should be or are since brought in to beleeve on Christ and so their children have an encouragement to be baptized as well as other If you ask what the promise here spoken of was I cannot see why it should not be that promise made to Abraham and to beleevers in him as being in some respect the Father of the Faithful I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed and then as circumcision was especially the seal of that spiritual Covenant to Abraham and his spiritual Seed so virtually to beleevers and their spiritual children is there a signe and seal belonging And this is not circumcision which is vertually forbidden in that Institution of Baptism by Christ in the Gospel as Baptism is Matth. 28.19 20. and may be vertually commanded to children of beleevers though not expressed by Name in that Institution of Baptism aforesaid In like manner as women are not expressed by Name in the Institution of the Lords Supper and yet are vertually by Christs Ordinance to be admitted and made partakers of that holy Sacrament Quest 13. But may not there be the same Arguments for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be given to children of beleevers now as for the Sacrament of Baptism since the children of the Israelites are conceived to eat the Passeover Exod. 12. as well as they were circumcised Ans I conceive there is not the same Reason of Baptism and the Lords Supper For in the Act of Baptism both men of ripe yeers and children are meer patients suffering themselves to be baptized which a childe is capable of and may suffer as well as a man of ripe yeers But in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there is action not onely of eating and drinking for that a childe may do But of eating and drinking in remembrance of Christ of shewing the Lords death until he come of offering up an Eucharistical Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for the death and passion and Resurrection and Assention of Christ and all benefits thereby and an Act of renewing our Covenant with God in Christ at the Sacrament which an Infant cannot do Nâ—â—â— 10 2â— as not being of knowledge and understanding and so an Infant may not he be capable of the Lords Supper though he be capable of Baptism or inchoate admission into the Church of Christ But this is discussed at large by others therefore I passe to the next Quest 14. What is that third ground you finde produced for childrens Baptism Ans That priviledge of the children of beleevers in Christ above the children of Turks Pagans and Infidels unto whom I perceive there are divers priviledges and
prerogatives may be found in Scriptures and besides that they are in the bosome of the Church in godly Families bred up under the means of Grace partakers of their Parents instruction in the knowledge of Christ and in many respects more happy then the children of Pagans and Infidels in regard of outward privileges even in spiritual things There is as the Apostle intimates a special kinde of holinesse belongeth to them which pertains not to children of unbeleevers This seemeth to me held forth by the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 1 Cor. 7.14 The unbeleeving Husband is sanctified by the Wife i. e. by or in the beleeving wise and so on the contrary part for I conceive these are opposed one to the other and the conclusion or inference followeth else were your children unholy but noâ— they are holy And this for what 〈◊〉 yet finde may and must be meant of more then Matrimonial holinesse for that may be amongst unbeleevers And if it should be no more the conclusion would be but this else were your children Bastards as some have expounded it But I do not beleeve that all the children of unbeleeving persons in the married estate are Bastards Heb. 13.4 since marriage is honourable amongst all whether beleevers or unbeleevers And although neither of the Parents be a beleever yet if they be lawfully married their children are not Bastards nor so to be esteemed And if there be more meant and to be understood then a Matrimonial holinesse Then what reason is there why this holinesse should not be a Covenant holinesse Ben. Aret in 1 Cor. 7. Sumit Argumentum naturâ fidei melioris personae singulis fidelibus dicitur Ero Deus tuus seminis tui Ad sanctificationem filiorum satis est si alter parens sit fidelis 1 Cor. 7.14 15. intitling children of beleevers to covenant priviledges for in this I subscribe to the judgement of Bendictus Aretius upon that place That the Apostle takes an Argument from the nature of the Faith of the better party namely of the beleever to prove the sanctification of the worser party that is of the unbeleever And so the priviledge of this holinesse of the children ariseth not from a bare Matrimonial or Conjugal union of the married parties but from the excellency and priviledge of Faith and so of that Covenant union and Covenant holinesse of the Covenant to beleevers I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed And a Covenant priviledge may be to have a signe and seal of the Covenant belong to these holy children of beleevers as the Apostle calls them And if so then why not Baptism as is held forth in the Reason before and for that iâ— is objected by some that divers Divines hâ—ve been of other mindes and given other Inâ—erpretations of the place it is no satisfactory ground against Poedobaptism to another Christian who cannot underwrite to their opinions Quest 15. Is there no more Reasons given or held forth by Divines for this Infant Baptism Ans There are divers Reasons drawn from other places of Scripture Col. 2.11 c. that Col. 2. where the Apostle makes mention of inward circumsion made without hands and after of Baptism â—s coming in place of circumcision for so some argue from that place and from other the like Scriptures But because the Controversie grown to be great in these present times many Books written pro and con for and against Infant Baptism and for that the opening and handling of this Controversie at large is too great for this little Body of Divinity and beyond my intention in this work I will leave the deciding of the Question to those I hope holy and learned men that are engaged in the Controversie for I dare not but think there may be Saints on both sides and onely hold forth a few Questions for clearing of some objections at least in part as I conceive and desire that the Lord Christ will so discover truth by his light that whatsoever hath been practised amisse may be reformed and the Church of Christ be glorious in Truth and Unity Qâ—â—st 16. Is not Baptism 〈◊〉 badge of Christianity and sign to put difference between the Church of Christ and the world and if so then doth not Baptizing Children though of Believers destroy that difference and confound the World and Church together sometimes receiving them for Saints which are not and so frustrate one end of Baptism to different Believers from the world Ans It is true outward Baptism is one outward sign or badge of difference in men and women of riper years between the world and the Church and yet all that are baptized in Infancy or amongst men and women of ripe years and who have made an outward confession of Faith and Repentance and have been baptized after Profession are not by their outward Baptism truly separated from the world and made Members of Christ by vertue of that work done as Papists have taught Acts 8. For Simon Magus was outwardly Baptized and made a profession and shew of believing yet was he in truth still one of the world 1 Tim. 1. and Hymeneus and Alexander no doubt were outwardly Baptized and yet they and many others after made ship-wrack of Faith and were not truly separated from the world But there is more required then this Quest 17. What then is that which doth thus truly separate and make this true difference Ans It is Gods Election effectual calling Justification Regeneration and inward Baptism and true ingrafting into Christ and to be born of the Spirit that truly separates from the world in respect of inward separation And this Children may have as Jeremy John Baptist might and many Children of Believers Luke 1.15 and such as died before outward Circumcision and all elect children whatsoever before the Eight day and therefore by right of foederal holinesse may Children of Believers have this priviledge to be outwardly entred into the Church by an Infant Solemn admission and being Baptized to be as true outward Members of the visible Church and compleat in respect of truth and perfection of true visible Infant-Membership and so may partake of outward Administrations according to their capacity although they be incompleat in respect of perfection of degrees of visibility and declarative admission to the Lords Supper and other acts of Church-fellowship agreeing to Professors of the true Faith of the Gospel and subjection thereunto in holinesse as well as Isaac Ishmael Iacob and Esau when they were Children being Circumcised and so Children now since they cannot be discerned to be otherwise then Elect of God and of Gods Kingdom no more then Esau could till he was discovered and therefore children may be accepted as outward true Members and inward in judgement of charity and partake of Baptism otherwise what chief holinesse or priviledge have they above the Children of Infidels for to say they have none is directly contrary to the Apostles
Doctrine in that 1 Cor. 7.14 15 16. noted already Quest 19. But what outward means is there then to separate and distinguish these truly from the world when these come to years of discretion Ans I have answered this Question in part too already I now adde Not to be Baptized again as some are in these dayes as if that had power of it self to convey an inward Grace or communicate the holy Ghost or to make and evidence them to be true Disciples as some dream For certainly men may be outwardly Baptized and made outside Disciples and have outward common gifts of knowledge utterance to professe the Faith of Christ and be Rebaptized and yet be but Hypocrites and no true Disciples nor Teachers Rom. 2.28 29. as were many in the Primitive times and too many amongst our selves Quest 20. What outward means then will suffice Children Baptized when they come to years of discretion to evidence them without Rebaptizing as far as any outward badge can do to be true Christians separated from the world and approved of as Members of the Church of Christ and of the Congregation of Saints Ans first a professiō of total resigning thēselves to Christ with a right preparation in themselves with gifts of Grace from Christ outward and inward evidencing the truth of their knowledge Faith and Regeneration or new conversion unto God in Christ so far as can be discerned by the Church in Christian charity Secondly a right Examination of them and their knowledge Faith and other Graces to this end with admission of them by the Church or Ministers and Elders of the Church to the Lords Supper after Examination and sufficient proof and approbation aforesaid Thirdly their joyning with the Church in that Sacrament of Establishment and confirmation of their Faith in Christ and communion with the Saints of the most high in Profession of Faith and holinesse Fourthly and lastly their Religious walking in all holinesse and good works according to their callings manifesting their Christian thankfulnesse to God for his Free-grace in Christ to Gods glory the good of Gods Church and joy of their own souls in Christ Iesus These may suffice to evidence and approve them Christians without Rebaptization or separation of themselves from the publike Preaching of the Gospel Heb. 10.22 c. and communion of Saints as the manner of some is Quest 21. What profit or comfort can there come by Baptizing of Infants Ans First It may be a comfort to the Parents in this assurance that their Children are within the Covenant of Promise when as Infidel can have no such assurance of their Children that they might praise God for such goodnes And Secondly Great profit to their Children themselves for their Instruction when they come to years of discretion what Covenant they are ingaged in by Baptism to be Gods Children and have as Children in Covenant with God in Christ right to many Prerogatives which Infidels have not no nor their Children Quest 22. What is the end and use of this Sacrament of Baptism Ans To set forth and seal First Our ingrafting into Christ as Rom. 11.17 18. 6.4 c. Secondly And our union and communion with Christ and his Church 1 Cor. 12.12 13 27. Thirdly Our putting on of Christ and Righteousnesse in graces Gal. 3.27 Fourthly To hold forth our inward washing in Christ blood partaking in the vertue of Christs death and Resurrection Rom. 6.3 4 c. Fifthly Our assurance of Repentance and remission of sins Acts 22.16 Sixthly Our Adoption to be Gods children Gal. 3.24 4.4 5. Seventhly Assurance of Eternal life when this life is ended 1 Pet. 1.9 Gal. 3.20.29 Rom. 4.11 Quest 23. But should not children be Dipped over head and ears the whole body in the Water as some thinks Iohn Baptized in Iordan and as Papists did use to Baptize their children Ans It is not the outward dipping or washing that clenseth away sin but the vertue of the blood of Christ And we read no absolute command of Baptizing in a River or washing the whole body in water nor do we believe the Iaylor and his houshold Baptized at midnight went forth to a River to be dipped all over It is sufficient to Baptize or wash part as Christ said to Peter in washing the Disciples feet He that is washed needs not have to wash his feet but is clean every whit For if Christ wash any part of the soul or body with his blood he washeth the whole man Ioh. i. 7 Rev. 5.6 Ioh. 13.8 9 10. Heb. 12.24 it needs then save to Baptize or wash the head or face of a man woman or childe with water in Baptism That may suffice to seal our Spiritual washing with the blood of Sprinkling which speaks better things then did the blood of Abel Quest 24. What say you of the Popish custom of Dipping the whole body of the childe all over in water three times First in the Name of the Father Secondly in the Name of the Son Thirdly in the Name of the holy Ghost Ans It is evident to me that they rested too much in the work done and outward action Christ giving no command for such a threefold baptizing of the body and I conceive the like of baptism of some Adversarie to Poedobaptism in a River too much magnifying the manner of the outward action of their Baptizing of their whole body of their Rebaptized Disciples For which kinde of Baptizing the whole Body or Baptizing in a River Mat. 28.19 Christ gives no word of command that we finde in Scripture in the Institution of Baptism Quest 25. You have held forth divers grounds from the Word of God to shew the lawfulnesse of Baptizing the chil-of Believing Parents But I desire the resolution of another doubt Do you believe I pray you that there is such a necessity of Baptizing children that if they die without Baptism they are damned or go to Limbo as the Papists dream and too many Popishly affected amongst us Ans I answer I believe Baptism is not a thing indifferent to be used or not used at pleasure but it is necessary to be used of Christians according to the Institution of Christ Mat. 28.20 And if it cannot be obtained by men of ripe years converted or for children of Believers yet it is to be sought for and desired in a right and due manner with the Word adjoyned unto it not resting on Baptism but on Christ for Salvation And yet I do not believe that outward baptism makes a Christians soul Gal. 6.15 or Baptism to be so absolutly necessary to Salvation or the Grace of God in Christ to be so tied unto the Sacrament that those who desire it and die without it cannot be saved or that they go into some Limbo and not into Heaven as Papists and ignorant people have dreamed Or that believing Parents should be so troubled for their children dying without Baptism as if they were
with this in the New and so all this is to no purpose which is spoken Ans For mens opinions no assertion is therefore true because some men affirm it but it must have ground in the Word of God Now for circumcision it is evident by the Apostle that it is not a seal of the Covenant of works but of Faith and the righteousnesse of Faith Rom. 4.11 Rom. 11.6 and therefore not of works For Faith and works in respect of the Covenâ—nâ— and justification of life are opposite and contrary the one to the other if of works then not of grace And Mr. Ainsworth well observes upon that place that the word Covenant is thirteen times named in that Chapter Gen. 17.21 and hereby is meant the promise of Christ â—nd salvation in him and that the promise was not onely of corporal but of spiritual and heavenly things As Saint Luke testifieth Luk. 1.72 73 c. Chapter the first To perform this mercy promised to our fore-Fathers and to remember his holy Covenant the Oath which he swear unto our Father Abraham which was an Oath and Covenant of spiritual things as you may reade at large And so circumcision a seal of that Covenant must needs be not a seal of the Covenant of works but of grace Not of Mount Sinai gendring to bondage but of Mount Sion and of Jerusalem which is free the Mother of us all of all the free born children of faithful Abraham free born not by a natural but by a spiritual new birth Ioh. 1.12 not of the will of the flesh or of man but of God Quest 24. Gal. 5. But what say you to that place of the Apostle he that is circumcised is bound to keep the whole Law doth not this evidence that circumcision did bind a man to legal obedience and then how could it be a seal of the Covenant of Grace Ans I Answer the Apostle in this Chapter concludeth his disputation concerning justification by the merit of Christ and not by the observation of the works of the Law or of circumcision appointed to Abraham before the holding forth of the Law of Moses Gal. 2.3 c. or by any of Moses his Ceremonies Iustification before God being onely by Christ received by Faith and Christs righteousnesse as he had proved by divers Arguments in the former Chapters For the Iewish Doctors which came to the Galathians had preached a false Doctrine Act. 15.1 2 c. that except they were circumcised they could not be saved As those did at Antioch against which the Councel at Jerusalem made a Decree that no such burden as circumcision should be laid upon the Church Acts. i5 24 28. and this Doctrine of justification by circumcision the Apostle vehemently opposeth Not as if circumcision indeed had been ordained by Moses or was any Sacrament or seal of the Covenant of works or so esteemed by the Apostle For it was appointed by God Himself to Abraham a believer in Christ Ioh. 8.56 Gal. 3.17 four hundred yeers before that dispensation of the Law by Moses or matter of the Covenant of works by Moses and the same Apostle himself had held it forth not as a seal of the Covenant of works but of the righteousnesse of Faith in Christ Rom. 4.11 12. as is noted before Therefore the Apostle doth not speak against circumcision as it was an Ordinance of God to Abraham continued until Christ or as if it ever was a seal of the Covenant of works but as it was falsly abused by the false glosses of the Pharisees and Iewish legal Doctors who came and disturbed the pure Doctrine of the Gospel amongst the believing Galatians contrary to the Apostle and Churches Decree at Jerusalem and truth of Christ taught the Galathians by the Apostle Saint Paul himself for otherwise he speaketh of Circumcision as indifferent in the times of the Churches respect to the Jews whom they desired to convert as he made it evident in his own circumcising of Timothy which he would not have done if Circumcision had been a Seal of the Covenant of Works B. Arce in Gal. 5. Observa de circumcisione hic agi respectu abusus quem in ducebant falsi Doctores Alibi Circumcisionem tulit ut rem mediam in Timotheo alibi ut figillum justitiae commendavit in Abrahamo c. or subjected Timothy to perform the whole Law or could have caused that Timothy should have received no profit by Christ as here he speaketh of Circumcision to the Galathians when the false Doctors taught Justification by Circumcision which Errour the Apostle here so strongly contradicts as most contrary to Christ and the Doctrine of Faith in Jesus And to this effect both blessed Luther Benedictus Aretius and others expound that place And so it is a most clear truth that Circumcision was never a Seal to Abraham or to any other of the Covenant of Works of onely of temporal Benefits or that there is any such difference between Circumcision and Baptism as between Hagar and Sarah or between Mount Sina in Arabia gendering to bondage and Mount Sion or Jerusalem between Law and Gospel as some Antipoedobaptists have affirmed And therefore it is not unprofitable to hold forth the manner of entrance into the Church declared and appointed by God to Abraham for his posterity for Proselytes converted and the Church untill Christ as is noted before Quest 25. You have satisfied me in this trouble now I pray you what was or is the manner of outward admission into the Church since Christ in the time of the Gospel Answ For outward admission into the visible Church of Christ since Christs Ascention This was and is by way of Covenant also though in a different manner of dispensation as it respects divers persons and times of admission or at least of approbations of persons admission as visible compleat members of the Church and fellowship of the Saints fit to partake and communicate in al Ordinances and Acts of fellowship especially in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper And this in several ages and practises of the Church Quest 26. What was the first way or practice of the Church in the new Testament according to the Ordinance of Christ Ans First Inwardly men of ripe yeers Jews or Gentiles converted or professing themselves to be converted by the preaching of the Gospel to beleeve in Christ were admitted as members of the Church and into or for this admission there was First As there was or should have been a beleeving or faith in Christ true and sincere or at least temporary in which the soul did close or seem to close with Christ and Covenant and agree to receive Christ for a Saviour Act 8.13 and 8 37 Psa 27.8 according to the promise and tender of the Gospel And this was a kinde of union agreement and secret covenanting with Christ 1. The Lord Christ speaking inwardly to the soul in kindnesse O poor
if Christ do not un-Church for this fault nor for personal corruptions of particular members then what say you of those particular persons men or women who will and do not onely Separate from but un-Church those Churches and Congregations where they cannot deny but the Gospel hath been comfortably preached and Sacraments administred so as they have been converted conceived in the Womb born again and received Isai 66. suck from the Brests of consolation for nourishment of the life of Grace in them Matth. 18.20 in which Churches they have often met Christ in his Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments in prayers and praises to their comfort And yet now for particular failings it may be for want of full power in the Congregation to exercise Reformation as they desire do brand the Churches and Congregations of Christ with the name of Antichrists Synagogues and the faithful painful Ministers of Christ Baals Priests Lims of Antichrist no true but false and counterfeit Churches and not Ministers of Christ indeed as they judge but of Antichrist himself Ans Truely howsoever some weak Christians may be seduced by deceivers and led into this errour yet it appears divers of these spirits have either none or but little of Christ or true Christianity in them for a man to call his mother whore it would be very uncivil and unchristian although she be sick and weak and faln into divers noysome diseases it is his duty rather to seek first to God and secondly to the Physitians and use all good means for the recovery of her health not separate from and leave her to death and desolation without respect Simile Is it a Christian course when two or three are sick or faln lame in a Family to forsake the house without taking care or affording help and assistance for recovery of a brother sister or fellow servants How will the father or master of the family take this certainly if a murderer must be destroyed when the great King Christ shall come to judgement These that kill in not endeavouring to save life shall not escape unpunished except in time God open their eyes and in and by Christ Acts 5.32 give them repentance let such then repent and return and assist in Reformation not go on in Separation from the Church Quest 31. But what if men be forbidden by Law and men of power to use those means which might by Gods blessing reform such corrupted persons or heal such sick Congregations Ans Howsoever any new course of Discipline or that great censure of excommunication may be forbidden by some acts except they be repelled and so in some course directed by authority of Parliament yet no Law forbids brotherly and neighbourly Exhortations Admonitions Reprehensions Counsels Instructions out of Gods Word Prayers and Supplications and such like and all these should be used for Reformation and not fall to a rash and offensive Separation to grieve the souls of weak Brethren and harden wicked men which it may be by good means and Gods blessing might be reformed and reclaimed as I have shewed in former Classes of this Diologue But God giveth us good hope of authority sufficient in a Christian humble way to reform our Congregations and if some blemishes be not reformed yet a Church may be a true Church if it hold forth the substantial and necessary truth of the Gospel and professed subjection thereunto though many failings and corruptions be botn in particular members and the Church in general 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 1. Revel 2. Revel 3. witnesse the Churches of Corinth of Galatia Ephesus Pergamos Sardis and Philadelphia and many other ancient and modern Churches of Iesus Christ and yet esteemed true Churches as the Church of England Scotland France Bohemia Belgia Geneva the Churches of Holland yea the Churches of London and our particular Congregations though they be too full of corruptions may and ought to be esteemed true Churches at least where true Saints are joyned together in the enjoyment of Ordinances although in mixed Congregations Quest 35. You have given me good satisfaction thus far what is a true visible Church of Christ or the matter of a Church and who are visible Members and of the houshold of faith to and with whom we may exercise our Christian love and charity But how can Infant-children of beleevers baptized in their infancy which can neither professe the Faith of Christ or their Faith in Christ nor shew any subjection to the Gospâ—l agree to your description of a visible Church or how and when and in what manner can these be accounted Members of the visible Church of Christ Ans This is the next manner of admission to Church-membership to be held forth unto you to shew who are Saints and of the houshold of Faith and who is our neighbour and fellow Saint to and with whom I ought to exercise this Christian love and charity even children according to their capacity as well as men of riper yeers Quest 33. But how or in what manner have children of beleevers been admitted and esteemed or reputed members of the visible Church Ans How the children of faithful Abraham and professors of Faith were admitted in the Old Testament Gen. 17. First in infancy to the Sacrament of Circumcision and after to the Sacrament of the Passeover Exod. 12. especially when they were come to yeers of discretion so far as to be able to enquire of their parents the reason of that service Neh. 10. And so to covenant solemnly with God when they were of knowledge and understanding I have shewed before Now for children of beleevers in the New Testament there are two things to be considered First their admission unto Baptism as the children of Abraham in the Old Testament were to Circumcision in infancy and so they were used to be admitted to a true Infant-membership of and in the Church and were and are to be reputed as true visible Infant-members of and in the Church of Christ and visible Infant-saints in judgement of charity Mark 10. and such as of which is the Kingdom of God as our Saviour speaks And this is a true and compleat admission in respect of truth to outward membership though I cannot call it a compleat and perfect membership in respect of perfect visibility and declarative subjection to the faith and profession of the Gospel which they are to declare themselves when they come to yeers of discretion as before in part I observed Quest 34. What reason is for this Ans The cause of those four particulars in Baptism we declared in the example of the Eunuchs baptizing 1. A desire of Baptism 2. A profession of Faith in Christ and subjection unto it 3. An intimation of Covenant and an embracing of Christ and Faith and Covenant union with Christ the head of his Church and in him with members of his mystical body 4. And last of all the receiving of the seal as a patient and
so sealing promise of performance of Covenant with Christ and his Church accordingly Of these I say 1. The first is not acted by the childe for that cannot desire Baptism Mark 10. But it is acted by the parents who do present the childe as those in the Gospel and dedicate and consecrate it to God in Christ and in the behalf of the childe according to Gods Covenant with the faithful and their seed desire Baptism for it That in and by Baptism it may be admitted to outward visible Infant-membership in the Church See the Ancient Forms of Baptism in the Church of Christ Reformed c. 2. Again for the second profession of the Faith that neither is nor can be done by the Infant when it usually baptâ—zâ—d at a week old or thereabouts or it may be sooner That profession of Faith therefore hath usually been made by the parents at least in a declaration of their assent and consent to the Articles of the Faith of Christ and cheif sum of the Gospel Thirdly for the intimation of a Covenant and Covenant-union with Christ and his Church in the profession of the Gospel this the child in infancy cannot perform nor promise Therefore it hath been the Churches practise that the Parents whose duty properly it is or the pro-parents have according to their duty promised and engaged themselves to do their best endeavour by the power of Christ First To Catechize and instruct their children in the knowledge of God and Iesus Christ as he is held forth in the Word of God our Saviour and to instruct them in that promise they did make when they did present them to be baptized to bring them up in the knowledge Faith and profession of the Gospel according to the power and means God in his good providence should afford them Secondly to inform them how they have likewise promised to do their best endeavour to instruct them in their duty when that they come to years and have gain'd knowledge and Faith by Gods Grace in the Gospel to make profession of that Faith and declare their subjection in their own persons unto the Gospel of Christ Thirdly and to renew the Covenant of which passively they received the seal when they were baptized in infancy and to declare their renewing of that Covenant with God in Christ when upon approbation of the Church and Ministers and Elders of the Church or those in Authority from Christ they were admitted to the Lords Table Fourthly and lastly to instruct them that they were baptized and engaged in Baptism to this end amongst others in this or the like manner to enjoy a more full Communion in and with the Church of Christ And thus I have endeavoured to set forth the manner and nature of Infants outward entrance and solemn admission with the Church by Baptism Secondly there is another thing to be considered in and concerning the children of believers when they are come to years of understanding and knowledge and that God hath given them Faith and holinesse in some measure and ability to professe their Faith and to declare their desire of holinesse and willingnesse to manifest their professed subjection to the Gospel in Faith and obedience This is their performance of this duty by means whereof they are admitted by the Church in general or those who have Authority from Christ unto a full Church communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and other acts of Church-fellowship according unto the rule and direction of Christ held forth in the Gospel And thus I conceive they are formally compleat members as in respect of truth of membership-infant in their infant Baptism so in respect of visibility and ripe years membership in the Lords Supper and thus they all are visible members and matter of the Church of Christ and have a true formal admission into the Church without any other special Covenant amongst Christians as necessarily and absolutely necessary to the formal constitution of a visible Church and without any rebaptization or renouncing of their former Baptism as some have and do pretend And thus I have shewed you who are our neighbours and what is the Church of Christ visible and the Communion of Saints to and with whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and charity And so the true matter of a Church or material cause both in respect of infants and men of ripe years Quest 35. But sir there are divers Separatists amongst us who are seducing people dayly from our Church and affirm our Churches have neither matter nor form of a Church or at least are so corrupt in both that our congregation are no Churches of Christ but Babylon and members of Antichrist and so to be departed from Rev. 41. They do indeed abuse that place of Scripture and falsly apply that to us which belongs to Rome Ans But I have given an Answer to this Objection before in part Yet to clere the point more fully in brief First for the matter of the Church they cannot deny but we have in our Church and Congregations visible Saints true matter of a Church and members of Christ yea some as great Saints as most we know or reade of in the Christian world This I my self have known in some Country Parochial Congregations by experience and this I do know in some great City Congregations although there be too many hypocrites too many formalists and too many prophane People mixed and not yet purged out from our Congregation nor cast out as they ought to have been And I say further if for these failings and corruptions in a Church They will as they would un-church our Churches they may and do by the same Argument unchurch the Church of Corinth and others which Christ and his Apostles approve and acknowledge true Churches of God in Christ Iesus If for this cause of different matter of or in our Churches or because we have mixed Congregations and not consisting of all visible Saints but some erroneous in judgement and some erring in life and conversation their Argument I conceive must be to this or the like effect as full against the Church of Corinth as our great mixed Congregations No visible Church which is a mingled Congregation consisting of some visible Saints and some visible prophane people in life and erroneous in judgement ignorant and scandalous and not cast out but suffered in the Church is a true visible Church of Christ and to be communicated with But the Church of Corinth was such a Church as well as our mixed Congregations as may easily be proved And therefore the Church of Corinth was no true visible Church of Christ and to have beep separated from as from Babylon And this I hope they dare not but confesse is a most false and scandalous conclusion and so their Argument false against our Churches and their opinion a false opinion that our mixed Congregations are no true Churches of Christ or to be separated from as
are ignorant and know not God Ans The Lord Iesus shall come from heaven in flaming fire 1 Thes 1.7 1. and render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ Quest 24. What is the condition of ignorant men then whether simple ignorant or carelesly ignorant or wilfully ignorant of God And what counsel is to be given to these ignorant and sinful souls Ans Their condition is miserable and damnable therefore they should wait on Christ in his Ordinances for Power to lament their ignorance Acts 5.31 1 Cor. 4. Ps 9.10 Iohn 3.16 and not rest until Christ give them remission of their sin that in the end they may know God in Christ and trust on him and be saved Quest 25. You have satisfied me in the first particular duty and sin forbidden Now what is a second duty required Ans As it is my duty to know God so it is my duty to believe Gen. 15.6 2 Chron. 20.20 Ps 9.10 Ioh. 14.1 Heb. 11.6 Pro. 3.5 and repose my trust and confidence in God my God in Iesus Christ as my God in Christ that so I may rightly glorifie God in every condition by believing and depending upon God in all estates for things corporal spiritual and eternal Quest 26. What are the contrary sins to this faith trust and confidence in God Psal 78.21 22. Num. 20 12 1 Sam. 27.1 Ans First unbelief and distrust of God or his goodnesse manifested in Gods Word and faithful promises for the good of his Church and children Quest 27. What is a second sin Deut 1.29 c. Ier. 49.16 Psal 118.8 9. Ans Presumption against Gods threatnings and carnal confidēce in mens riches and honours or any thing but on the Lord and his goodnesse and truth in his promises Quest 28. What is the punishment and misery of unbelievers and such presumptuous persons Ans They are cursed in this life Ier. 17.5 Rev. 21.8 Mar. 16.16 Acts 5.31 and to be separated from God and cursed and tormented for ever hereafter except God in time give faith and repentance in Christ Iesus Quest 29. What is a third particular duty required in this first Command Ans Hope Rom. 5.1 c. Ps 5.6 7 33.22 Tit. 1.2 1 Pet. 1.3 by which we expect and wait for those blessings spiritual temporal or eternal which God hath promised in Christ and which we believe God will in his due time give according to his promise Quest 30. What is the contrary sin Ans Despair 2 Kings 6.33 Mat. 27.4 5. Heb. 10.38 39. and impatiently casting off hope and refusing to wait upon God any longer casting away confidence in God Quest 31. What is fourth particular duty required in this first Command Ans If we must have the Lord Iehovah for our God as God commands then as I must know and acknowledge the Lord to be my God Deu. 6.5 and believe in him and trust in him and hope and depend upon him Mat. 22.27 19. 17. Iam. 1.17 1 Ioh. 1.14 so it is my duty to love him with all my heart and soul above all and for himself as the chiefest good and the Author and Fountain of good unto all and to love Gods Word and children for God with all the Ordinances and means of grace Quest 32. What is the contrary sin Mat. 10.37 Ioh. 12.43 1 tim 3.2 Ro. 1.30 Ans Love of any thing above God and hatred of God his Word Ordinances and children or any thing that is near and dear to the great God Quest 33 What is a fifth particular duty commanded Gen. 31.42 De. 6.13 13.12 Mat. 10.28 1 Pet. 1.16 17. Gen. 28. Ans An holy childe-like fear of sinning against so great and good a God with a holy reverence of his Majesty at all times and in all places whatsoever Quest 34. What are the contrary particular sins forbidden in this Commandment Ps 30.1 2 Ro. 3 18. Luk. 23.30 Eccl. 8.12 13. Rom. 2.5 Ans First carnal security or want of the fear of God or of offending God presumption to sin in Gods presence without reverence of Gods Majesty and a hardnesse of heart or seared conscience without fear of God 1 Tim. 4.2 Secondly servile slavish fear of Gods judgements Dan. 5.6 Acts 24.25 Thirdly base fear of the creature without consideration of Gods greatnesse and goodnesse over all 1 Sam. 15.24 Mat. 10.28 Quest 35. What is a sixth particular duty in this first Commandment Ans Inward spiritual Deu. 13.4 Isa 1.29 and son-like obedience in a gratitude or thankful acknowledgement of Gods free gifts of grace upon us far above our deservings Gen. 32.10 1 Cor. 1◠31 Num. 14.14 that in all we may seek to glorifie this great and good God not with outward onely but with sincere and hearty obedence as our God and heavenly Father in Iesus Christ Quest 36. What are the contrary sins forbidden Ans Disobedience rebellion 1 Sam. 15 22 23. Isa 1.2 Ier. 44.17 Hab. 1.16 ingratitude sacrificing to our own nets or to any creature in our hearts and not to God Quest 27. What other particular duties are required or sins forbidden in this first Commandment Ans There are divers other concerning our inward obedience which may be found in several places of Scripture and to be referred hither I will touch but one more Quek 38. What is that duty required Phil. 4.4 Gē 17.1 Neh. 8.10 Hab. 3.17 18. Ioh. 16.21 22. Ans This is joy delight and content in God as the chiefest good in which the heart of a childe of God can delight in or rest contented or satisfied in either in this world or the world to come Quest 39. What are the sins contrary to this joy in the Lord Gen. 30.1 2. 1 Kings 21.4 5. Psal 42.5.11 Ans First sinful sadnesse and discontented heavinesse when men are so sorrowful for want of the creature comforts or satisfaction of their delight in the creature or their own wills that they forget that all-sufficient fulnesse of joy Eph. 3.18 19. or cause of rejoycing is in God the Lord and Saviour of his Church and people Gen. 6.1 2 3. 1 Kin. 11.1 2 3. Eccl. 2.8 c. Ionah 4.6 7. Quest 40. What is a second sin Ans To joy and delight in any creature or creature delight in husband Wife children friends or whatsoever earthly thing above God or to draw our hearts from God This is a sin and sometimes God seeth it best to take these temporal joyes from his children or turns them to sorrows Ioh. 16.21 22. that we may seek to and rest in him for joy eternal which none can take from us Quest 41. What use I pray you can you make of this knowledge of these many duties required and sins forbidden in this Commandment Ans First I may see in this light 2 Cor. 2.10 Who is sufficient
discover and learn to flye from all that false Antichristian light of superstitious Will-Worship of God by mens inventions contrary to the light of Christ in the light of his Word aqd this Law or commanding part of his will and word in particular Mat. 15.9 By this true light of Christ you may finde out the falshood of those blinding lights who set up the false light of natural reason corrupted since Adams fall without the enlightning of the spirit of Christ Rationis lumen quo Deus ns donavit ostendit non debere nec posso paenam corporalem quam unus debea ab alio persolvi Sociuus Tract de Salvatore above the light of Christ in the scripture as if it were no further to be believed then the sense can agree with the right reason as they call it of their darkned understanding by which as the wicked Arrians they question the Divinity of the Son of God and the All-sufficient satisfaction of Christ for poor sinners Isa 53.5 6. Ioh. 1.12 1 Cor. 2.14 a most abominable error odious to every true Christian whatsoever and most contrary to the light of Christ revealed in Scripture which is sometimes above not contrary to right Reason enlightned by the spirit of Christ By this light of Christ you may see evidently that odious hateful false light of the Mahometan Alcaron upheld by Turkish Tyranny to the miserable slavery and destruction of many thousands I may say the same of those false lights of the Councel of Trent Conc. Trident Decret 1. Sess 4. de Tradit Conc. Trid. de Interpret Script Decret â— Sess 4. making unwritten Traditions of equal Authority with the written Word of God and the Church of Rome the Judge of all Interpretations of Scripture as Cardinal Bellarmine maketh the Pope chief Iudge as being the Church vertual and having infallibility of spirit as he vainly pretends when as in truth his light is darknesse a blinde leader of the blinde to error and destruction I might name the Arminian false light that gilded Popery the Antinomian false light I mean not such Orthodox men who Preach Christ clearly a justifier and sanctifier and love the Law of God the commanding part of the will and word of God as Christ by his light holdeth it forth in Scripture But Antinomian enemies to the Law of God indeed their light is a false light easily discovered by the true light of Christ Others there are not worth the naming who go about like Guido Fauks with the dark Lanthern of Errors A Memento of Nov. 5. 1605. to blow up the Parliament house of the true light of Christ from the Saints if the Lord did not hold forth the light of Christ in grace to quicken them by his Spirit of truth unto glory I say no more of any these false lights but desire the true light Christ if it be his blessed will may bring them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26.18 reconciled in Christ Iesus Again if Christ be such a light the true light Then how should every Christian soul highly prize this true light Christ above all false wandring uncertain dangerous light whaâ—soever new or old for this light Lux vera et sincara nil ficti habeus Christ and his light is true light without any counterfeit at all and who will not prise truth above fallehoodjts not a true precious Diamond far more valued then a counterfeite Is not pure Gold far more excellent then guilded Lead or Copper what woman will not prise a rich chaine of precious Pearle above any counterfeit Beads or Glasse or the like what hungry man will value a painted banquet above a solid feast was not the Land of Goshen where was light far more sweet and comfortable then Egypt where was darknesse that might be felt Exod. 10.23 even so is Chrâ—st and his light excelling the darknesse of all false lights in the world look upon the light of Christ it is pure cleare and Genuine as it hath not falsehood so it hath no obscurity in it It is Christs owne proper light as the light of the Sun not borrowed as the light of the Moone if it seem dark to men at any time it is because some Cloud or mist of ignorance or unbeliefe cometh between a soule and Christ Yea Christ is a full and perfect light the light of Christ it self admitteth no lessening no decrease the Moon the more it draweth from the Sun the more her light decreaseth But Christs light doth not diminish at all if any darknesse seem to be it is the weaknesse of our eyes not able to behold the glorious light of Christ as sick eyes cannot look upon the Sun in his glory If Iohn Baptist was a burning Iohn 5.35 Iohn 1.8 and a shining light who was not that true light how much more Christ who is the true light it self by whose brightnesse we may see the glory of a reconciled God 2 Cor. 4.6 as in the Face of Christ The light of Christ is full of vertue to drive away all darknesse from a soule The Land that sate in darknesse Mat. 4.13 c. and in the shâ—ddow of death unto them hath the light shined and then darknesse flieth away Christ shineth in the midle of darknesse He is truly a light to lighten the hearts and the glory or Gods people Israel Luke 2.31 32. He driveth away the darknesse of ignorance out of the minde and understanding and causeth light of Divine and heavenly knowledge to shine into the Soule as it is with the light of a candle brought into a dark Dungeon it expelleth darknesse and light shineth in the place So it is with the light of Christ when he cometh into a darkned soul he driveth out the darknesse of error and light of truth shineth in the place thereof He driveth out the darknesse of unbelief when a soul walketh in darknesse and seeth no light yet when the light of Christ cometh shining into a soul and revealing the light of Divine truth inclosed in the promises the sparks of faith which were as it were raked up in the Embers they are kindled and the flame of faith shineth as a light with joy and peace in believing yea Christ brings the light of joy to a troubled conscience Phil. 4.7 and peace of God which passeth all understanding And how then is the light of Christ precious How is it to be rested in as satisfactory above all other lights whatsoever And how should every soul that liveth and walketh in darknesse draw nigh to Christ for light for he lightneth every man that cometh into the world all that receive light they do and must receive it in and through Christ whether light of Justification or light of Sanctification or light of glory O then my soul come into Christ for increase of light come near to Christ and meet him often in his