Q. What doe the Scriptures say concerning God's Omniscience or Knowledge of all things past present and to come how contingent soever they are in their own nature or wrought by Agents free in working A. Act. 4.27 28. For of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to doe whatsoever thy hand and thy counsell determined before to be done Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe Psal 139.2 3 4. Thou knowest my down sitting mine uprising thou understandest my thought afar off thou compassest my path my lying down art acquainted with all my wayes For there is not a word in my tongue but loe O Lord thou knowest it altogether Ps 147.5 Great is our Lord his understanding is infinite Is 40.28 There is no searching of his understanding Q. How are those Scriptures to be expounded which speake of God's proving and trying men that he may know what is in their hearts c. such as Deut. 8.2 and 13.3 2 Chr. 32.31 And what meanes that other place Philip. 4.6 Let your request be made known unto God A. These things are ascribed to God figuratively discovering the kind of his works dispensations not his own nature and properties so they must have a figurative interpretation D. Ow. God deales with men much like or proportionably to what we would doe when we would really find out what we doe not know Q. Doth the Scripture teach that there is but one only true God A. Deut. 6.4 Heare O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.5 6. For though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be Gods many Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things we in him c. Q. What saith the Scripture concerning the Trinity or the three Persons in the God-head A. 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bare record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one Matth. 28.29 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. Are we by the Word to understand Christ the Son of God A. Joh. 1.14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Q. Is Christ God A. Rom. 9.5 Of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Amen John 20.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him my Lord and my Ood Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Heb. 1.3 8. Who being the brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his Person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himselfe purged our sinnes sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high But unto the Son he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of Righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome 1 Tim. 3.16 Q. Is he equall with the Father A. Phil. 2.6 Who being in the forme of God thought it not robbery to be equall with God Q. Is he one with his Father A. Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are one Q. How doe you prove that the Holy Ghost is God A. Act. 5.3 4. But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land while it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine own power why hast thou conceived this thing in thy heart thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you So chap. 6.19 What know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own 2 Cor. 6.16 and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Is 6.1 9. In the yeer that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his traine filled the Temple And he said Goe and tell this people Heare ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not Compared with Acts 28.25 26. And when they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our Fathers saying Go unto this people and say Hearing ye shall heare and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive Q. Is the holy Ghost a distinct person or subsistence in the God-head A. Joh. 16.7 8. For if I goe not away the comforter will not come unto you c. And when he is come he will reprove the world of sinne and of righteousnesse and of Judgment Mat. 3.16 And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him Act. 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the worke whereunto I have called them Q. Are we baptized into the faith and worship of one God in three Persons A. Mat. 28.19 Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Amen Q. Is not God the Father cal'd the only true God in Joh. 17.3 How then is Christ God A. Christ and the Holy Ghost are one and the same God with the Father and some expound this text by 1 Joh. 5.20 where of Jesus Christ it is said D. Ch. Beza in loc D. Ch. This is the true God and Eternall life These termes one and only exclude all Idols not the Son and the Holy Ghost no more than in Jude v. 4. According to our Translation the word only Lord God being applyed to Christ doth exclude God the Father from being God Q. Doth not Christ say Joh. 14.28 My Father is greater than I. And again Joh. 10.29 My Father is greater than all A. Presently after Christ had said My Father is greater than all he addes I and my Father are one i.e. one in
Gentiles were wont to set up candles to them so doe the Papists The Gentiles were wont to burne incense to them so doe the Papists So he and I doe not know that there is any one who hath answered this charge since extant See Dr Westfields Serm p. 64. 65. Such like 't is not improbable is the moderne practise of the common people under the Papacy I have heard to this effect that when the late King was in Spain reasoning against worshipping of Images with a Priest who denying the charg it was agreed betwixt them to take the next Person they found at devotions in their Churches for an experiment The Priest bespake the Person a woman to this purpose Good Woman you doe not pray to this Image or Saint but to God in it I but I doe saith the woman and will doe till you shew me a better Till the yeer 788. Images were never appointed publickly to be worshipped in the Churches and this was done in the second Council of Nice Charles the Great sent this Act of the Counciil to the Bishops of England to know how they liked it they said Alas for woe we find in those acts many things against Christian Religion especially this that the worshipping of Images is decreed which the Church of God curseth Dr Westfeild pag. 60. 61. If you say then where was our Church or Religion before Luther and call us to give a catalogue in all ages of men professing our Faith and way of worship and that the Fathers and all Antiquity were yours Heare I pray you the saying of Mr Du Moulin This reproach of novelty ill becomes the mouthes of those persons which hide the true Antiquity from the people which is the word of God and which maintain that yet at this day the Church may and can make new ordinances touching Faith and which by the Church understand no other than the Romish Church that in the first ages after the Apostles cannot produce one man that was of their Religion and which know that in all Antiquity there is no mention made of excluding the people from the cup of prohibiting them the reading of the Holy Scriptures of reading the Scriptures to the people in a language they understand not of painting the Trinity of worshipping Images of adoring the hoast with the worship of Latria of private Masses of the Bishop of Romes Court c. If you will have us tell more particularly who were of our Religion before Luther know that Christ and the holy Apostles were and as for other names of particular persons who held with us in the Doctrines above named or diverse other materiall Doctrines the Protestants referre you to Dr Field of the Church Birckbeck's Protestant's Evidence and let me send you also to the Martyrologies in England and France c. and I shall adde one more and that is a testimony of your own which I find cited formerly and lately And that is of Raynerus the Monke concerning the Waldenses c. 4. where he saith that they have continued say some from the time of Sylvester others from the time of the Apostles that there 's scarce any land where they are not that they live righteously before all men bene omnia de Deo credunt omnes Articulos qui in Symbolo continentur solummodo Romanam Ecclesiam blasphemant clerum i.e. they believe althings well concerning God all the Articles that are contained in the Creed only they blaspheme the Romane Church and the Clergy And what if there were some 1000â— of true Worshippers in the Church of Rome before the Reformation as there were 7000 in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal or what if we be the same Church now that we were before only then Apostaticall Idolatrous Leprous as white as snow but now professors of the true Faith without corrupt mixtures and of the pure worship and so cured of our Leprosy If you aske what Authority we had to reforme our selves I referre you to Dr Bramhal for satisfaction who shewes it was done in England by King and Priest and that the Popish Princes upon occasion claime a right and power to doe what indeed we have done i. e. to reforme the Churches under them or to the like effect See Bramhal of Schisme There was a Reformation desired before Luther and the Princes of Germany represented their hundred grievances to the Emperour But what mighty men could not God hath brought about by mean men nor needed Martin Luther and the rest any Commissions extraordinary sealed with the broad seales of new miracles to authorize his or their proclaiming the laws and edicts of the great God the King of Heaven We judge it lawfull for men to obey the commands of God doing the duties of their places without a license from men so to doe Besides seeing that the Reformers did preach the same Doctrine which Christ and his Apostles did and set up the same way of worship which they did all which was formerly confirmed by miracles it is not reasonable to demand that they should shew by new miracles that they had Authority to reforme the Church of God And herein Luther and the rest shewed themselves to be of the truth because they went not about to deceive meÌ„ with lying wounders or miracles to get credit to their persons or Doctrine such as the Romish Legends have for the honour of their Saints and confirmation of their new Articles of Faith In my opinion he must have a monstrous Faith who believes but one halfe or the moiety of their miracles if the whole dose be like that tast of them Mr Baxter gives us out of Dr White and he out of Baronius as that Francis turned a capon into a fish and water into wine made the rock send forth water and anchors to swim converted a Lambe by preaching to him that he caused Swallows Grashoppers and a wild Falcon to joyne with him in the praises of God That Bernard by blessing their ale and giving it some lewd persons to drinke caused God's grace to enter into them that he killed 〈◊〉 by excommunication c. Baxter out of Francis Whites defence of his Brother pag. 147 148. And again that their Nicolas while he lay in his cradle fasted Wednesday and Friday that Patrick caused a â—â—ollen sheep to bleat in the belly of him that had eaten him that Fryar Andrew to correct his appetite of eating birds at the Table by the signe of the Crosse commanded them to fly away after they were roasted Mr Baxter pag. 167. 168. from Dr â—â—eatly If you object against us our differences and divisions Protestants may returne Are there not divisions in opinion even amongst you also and with you more intollerable because you pretend you have an infallible visible judge of all controversies How have you differed about the conception of the blessed Virgin about the supremacy of the Pope or a generall Councill c. What adoe was there 'twixt
which the people understand A. 1 Cor. 14.18 19 27 28. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue If any man speak in an unknown tongue let one interpret but if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speake to himselfe and to God Q. May we quote a translation of Scripture A. Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not c then said I Lo I come to doe thy will O God Which is a passage taken out of the 40th Psal verses 6.7 8. secundum Interpret 70 c. Q. Are the Scriptures to be read in the Church A. Luk. 4.16 And he came to Nazareth and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Act. 15.21 For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Q. In which book that of the Creatures or that of the Scriptures may we learne to know God best A. Psal 138.2 I will worship towards thy Holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnifyed thy Word above all thy name Psal 19.1 7 11. The Heavens declare the glory of God the firmament sheweth his handy worke the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Q. May Nations know any thing of God by his workes or Creatures A. Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall power and God-head so that they are without excuse Q. Is it a speciall blessing to have the word of God A. Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them praise ye the Lord. Chap. 4. Of God and of the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead Q. ARE the Gentiles in an Errour who worship many Gods A. Yea. Deut. 6.4 Heave O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world that there is none other God but one for though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be Gods many and Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Q. How doth the Scripture set out converts from the worship of false Gods or dead Idols which the Gentiles worship A. 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King c. Q. Is it possible for us to know God comprehensively or perfectly to comprehend his infinite being and perfection A. Job 11.7 8 9. Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection It is as high as heaven what canst thou doe Deeper than hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader then the Sea So chap. 26.14 Lo these are parts of his waies but how little a portion is heard of him but the thunder of his power who can understand Q. To speak after the manner of men is God a Spirit A. Yea Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Q. What doth the Scripture teach us to conceive of the nature of a Spirit or how doth a Spirit differ from a body A. Luk. 24.39 Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Q. What Scripture have you to prove that God is invisible to corporeall eyes A. 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall immortall invisible the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Deut. 4.15 16 17. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fires lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likenesse of male or female c. compared with Rom. 1.21 23. Because that when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and foure-footed beasts and creeping things Q. What proofe doe you bring that God is without Passion A. Act. 14.11 15. When the people saw what Paul had done they lift up their voices saying the Gods are come down to us in the likenesse of men c. Sirs why doe ye these things we also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turne from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven and earth c. Q. Give us a text to shew the unchangeablenesse or Immutability of God A. Mal. 3.6 For I am the Lord I change not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed Jam. 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh downe from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning Q. What text of Scripture is there to prove that God cannot be contained in any place or that he is Immense A. 1 King 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the heaven and the Heaven of heavens cannot containe thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand sayth the Lord and not a God a far off Can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Doe not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord Q. How doe you prove that he is Eternall A. Psal 90.2 Before the mountaines were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall
the phrase many times but we carry the substance shew the thing the sense the judgment the Deeds of Antiquity Against some high expressions magnifying the Church of Rome we bring deeds and those upon contestation as the standing out of Polycrates and all the Asian Bishops against the sentence of Pope Victor Also in the contestation betwixt Cyprian and Pope Stephen Also in the contestation between the Romane See and the African Bishops amongst whom Austin was one in the businesse of Appeales see Dr Ferne p. 229. 230. The infallibility of the Pope or the Roman Church was never acknowledged by the Antient Churches or Fathers for 600 yeers after Christ therefore it is not now to be received Baxter against Pop. p. 277. There are as it were three principall parts in Religion namely points of Belief of Ceremony and of Discipline we shall run them over lightly all three that so we may let the world see that in every one of these three parts they have both abolished and established many things expresly against the Authority of the Antients Mons Daillè of the Fathers lib. 2. pag. 143 when he hath instanced in particulars he addes pag. 177. Certainely should we but speak the truth it is the plainest mocking of the world that can be to cry out as these men doe continually The Fathers the Fathers and to write so many whole volumes as they have done upon this subject after they have so dealt with them as you have seen And pag. 141. nd 142. Doe but read their Commentaries their Disputations and their other discourses and you will find them almost in every page either rejecting or correcting the Fathers And further he addes as followeth But I must not passe by the Testimony of Cornelius Mussus Bishop of Bitonto viz. for my own part that I may speak my mind freely in things that belong to the testimony of Faith I had rather believe one single Pope than a thousand Augustines Hieromes or Gregories If you will appeale from the holy Scriptures and from the Authority of the Catholick Church to the Roman or Church of one denomination from the Primitive to the Present or from the antient to the moderne and dare not or will not be judged by any body but by your selves besides that you are guilty of high presumption thus to advance your selves into the chaire above all so is it a strong presumption of guilt in you that you dare not abide the tryall of the most impartiall and unbyassed Judges and hereby you declare that the Authority of the Fathers is not supream in your account and why then should you expect it should be authoritative with us and if you appeale from the Fathers here to the present Church why may we not rather to the Scriptures I shall adde also that when you appeale to Churches or Fathers or Councels from Scripture you doe shew your selves more subtle than the Pharisees who to all Christ's allegations of Scripture never put in such an answer that there is but one true Church we are the true Church we are the Interpreters of Scripture Yea I shall go a step farther with you and tell you that if you appeale from Scripture testimony to your present Church or to some visible and infallible judge of all controversies you doe therein out-goe that old Sophister the Devill who when he disputed with our Saviour and Scripture was urged against him had not the Jewish Churches Authority the Interpretations of Scribes and Pharisees no never a such reserve or castle to fly unto There are two great Errors mother-errors of you the children of the Church of Rome concerning the holy Scriptures the one is that you will not goe to it as to your last judge on earth and the other that you endeavour to bring this to you to speak for you what it never thought And here in two things you greatly erre The promises in Scripture made to the Church in generall you apply to a particular Church or to a part of the Catholique Church namely to the Romane Not sufficiently considering what became of Jerusalem where our Lord preached and where the Apostle Peter preached and founded a Christian Church before ever if ever he saw Rome notwithstanding all the promises made either to the Church in generall to the Jewish Church or to the Apostle Peter or to the Church founded by him in particular The promises made to Peter and that 't is said before he was Pope you apply in part at least to the Bishops of Rome yea will have them reach the Apostle Peter's Successors and stand them in steed and in some things too wherein they did not secure Peter himselfe to keep him from falling namely for their making alwaies an outward confession of the Faith for ye know Peter did in word deny his master The truth is diverse Popish Doctrines such as the Communion in one kind prayers and service in an unknown tongue making Images of the Trinity worshipping of them c. are so plainly contrary to the Scriptures that 't is your carnall interest if you will maintaine those Doctrins to deny or at least to undervalue the Authority of these in comparison of the present Church As for us as we highly and above all extoll the testimony of Scripture so neither doe we think our selves obliged to suppresse or silence the Fathers of the 1st three or four hundred yeers only we would not admit supposititious writings or testimonies the base brats of latter times for the true children of the antient Fathers nor would we have the present Church of Rome by her expurgatory Index's corrupt glosses c. to teach the Fathers to speak now and that what they never meant And as you dishonour the Fathers in laying bastard-works at their doores so have you wronged the Canon of the Scriptures by advancing the Apocrypha books into the same chaire and throne with them and in this how you have forsaken the Ancient Fathers and Councels D.C. a late Author hath shewed very well And yet this is remarkable that the pretended Councel of Trent have made a rod for their own backs I mean they have added the book of Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah in the 6th of Baruch to the Canon and there as in a glasse they may see what a whores fore-head the Church of Rome hath to commit Idolatry with stocks stones doing diverse the same things to their Images that the Heathens the old Babylonians did to their Idols or Images Heare Dr Westfield The Gentiles were wont to bow down to their Images so doe the Papists the Gentiles were wont to pray to them so doe the Papists the Gentiles were wont to render thanks to them so doe the Papists the Gentiles were wont to dedicate themselves and all that they had to their Idols so doe the Papists the Gentiles nuncupated vowes to them so do the Papists the Gentiles were wont to sweare by them so doe the Papists the
their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night who worship the Beast and his image c. Mr Baxter saith if a Papist be saved it must be as a Christian and not as a Papist as if a lyar might be saved it must not be by lying but by Faith and Repentance he thinks it not impossible for some one or more to be saved as 't is possible for here and there one to escape of a raging pestilence but if so it is not by his disease or plague of Popery but by the wholsome remedy of Faith and Repentance Vid. Baxt. Oh that God would perswade your hearts to come to hast out of Romish Babylon that ye partake not of her sins and of her plagues at the last Depart depart from the tents of these men come over I beseech you unto us and be safe if you believe and obey Be not deceived be not blindfolded search and try whether the holy Scriptures whether the Lord Christ the Apostle Paul to the Romans or the Apostle Peter in his Epistles to the Hebrewes ever made the Church of Rome the mother and mistresse of all Churches and to whom we must come and whom we must believe even without the word or we cannot possibly be saved See whether it be expresly laid down in Scripture that ever Peter was at Rome but judge in your selves if he sate Bishop there 25 yeers whether or no it was not very probable that Paul would in some of his Epistles which he wrote thence have made mention of him and what did the Apostle Peter forsake Paul when he was at Rome and stood for the defence of the Gospell if Peter was there at that time for Paul complaines saying All men forsook me 1 Tim. 4.16 Or if Peter was Bishop of Rome what then could none be saved for 3 or 4 or 600 yeers after Christ because the Pope was not 'till then owned as the Universall Pastor of the Church no nor did 'till then claime the title of Oecumenicall Bishop Were there not three Popes at a time and all three deposed by the Council of Constance yea 't is a commonly cited saying of Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome that he that had that title was praecursor Antichristi or forerunner of Antichrist Yea how came the Bishop of Rome to claime a power over other Bishops more than Peter did over the other Apostles or how come Peter's successors suppose the Bishop of Rome be so to succeed Peter in his power priviledges not other Bishops who succeeded the other Apostles in their Churches to have the power and priviledges which those Apostles had whom they succeeded yea how came the Church at Jerusalem where Christ himselfe preached in person where Peter had a speciall hand in laying as it were the foundation or planting of the Christian Church after Christ was ascended Act. 2.37 38 41. how comes that Church to erre to fall away and yet the Church of Rome to be infallible Shew us if you can either plain Scripture or Father or Council for 4 or 500 yeers that interpreted Scripture so that Rome was infallible and all were for ever to receive their faith from her mouth under paine of a curse and damnation and that too when she commands contrary to the Institutions of Christ and to the Doctrine contained in the Scriptures as she doth in her denying the cup to the people in latine service where the people doe not understand it in forbidding Priests marriage c. Oh that ye would lay aside prejudice and disaffection and apply your selves to the study of the holy Scriptures think never the better of Mahumetanisme because it must not be questioned nor of Popery because 't is death in Italy or Spaine without recantation to read a Spanish or Italian Bible without a license how absurd are these men to hinder children from looking into their Fathers Testament or to forbid men to obey God except they have first got mens leave so to doe Let not your Priests perswade you to lay out of your hands the holy Scripture and to fill them with Legends and Fables to put out the Sun in the firmament that you may see with their candles or glow-wormes Oh! doe not throw away the light of the Word nor put out your own Reason that candle of the Lord to follow your blind guides in the darknesse of error as ye would not fall into the ditch and into the pit Oh! that you would not despise the day of small things that you would please to read and consider this plain Catechisticall confutation of your errors I hope by pat and pertinent Scriptures I have read how a plain country-man with one text of Scripture convinced an erroneous Person when great Schollars and much disputing and reasoning could not doe My desire and prayer is that this Treatise may have the like effect that the Scriptures here cited may convince those who have erred from the truth and may turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan and of Error unto God Oh! how glad should I be if I could but undeceive and save some of you by this meanes if I could pluck you as fire-brands out of the fire Truly my desire and prayer is and shall be if the will of God be so that ye may be in God's way i. e. read his word believe and obey it that ye may be saved And one thing let me say think to be saved by your own Faith and not meerly by believing as the Church believes doe not trust in God for salvation by an Atturney as ye would not be contented to be saved only by a Proxey And be not amused with a great noise and great names of Fathers and Councils which they that boast doe it saith one because they know you cannot or have not leisure either to read or understand and so cannot disprove them see Moulin but to the Law and to the Testimony and the word is neer thee and of the Bible I am sure I may say Blessed is he that readeth and that understandeth the sayings of this Book I seek not yours but you and oh that you could or would away with your dungie and drossy errors and that you might keep your gold and silver and on condition you would part with two parts of your errors I hope I should not envy you your whole estates Yet say not that our Religion is cruel and that you are Martyrs for yours because 't is the cause not the punishment or suffering makes a Martyr and you suffer in your purses for the Error of your Consciences I hope we Protestants shall never be put to try yet we could have no such bargaine if the law was in your hands although the truth is you pay too deare for a false Religion for I may say of Religion as of the Prophet Jeremys figs the good is very good and the bad very bad if it be true
cloud and in the Sea compared with Exod. 10.24 Let your little ones also goe with you Num. 14.31 But your little ones which ye said should be a prey them will I bring in c. Q. Did God enter into a Covenant not only with grown men and women but with little ones also A. Deut. 29.10 11 12. Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God your captaines of your tribes your Elders and your officers with all the men of Israell your little ones your wives c. That thou shouldest enter into Covenant with the Lord thy God and into his oath which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day Q. May we lawfully ingage children with us in holy duties A. Joel 2.16 Gather the people sanctify the congregation assemble the Elders gather the children and those that suck the brests c. Q. May we teach or instruct children in the meaning of holy ordinances or Institutions A. Exod. 12.26 27. When your children shall say unto you what mean you by this service ye shall say It is the sacrifice of the Lord 's Passeover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt c. Josh 4.6 7. That when your children aske their Fathers in time to come saying what mean you by these stones Then ye shall answer them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan the waters of Jordan were cut off Q. Did our Lord Christ ever make use of any significant rite or ceremony to or upon children and accompany the same with Prayer A Mark 10.13 16. And they brought young children to him that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them And he took them up in his Armes put his hands upon them and blessed them Q. Were ever any children dedicated or consecrated unto God from the womb A. 1 Sam. 1.27 28. For this child I prayed and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him Therefore also have I lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. Chap. 3.1 And the child Samuel ministred unto the Lord before Eli. Judg. 13.5 For lo thou shalt conceive and bear a Son and no rasour shall come on his head for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb Q. Did the Holy Ghost ever sanctify any child from the womb or did ever any Infant receive the Holy Ghost A. Luk. 1.15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his Mothers womb Chap. 17. Of Baptisme Q. IS Baptisme with water to be used as an ordinary meanes of Salvation A. Matth. 28.19 20. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And loe I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Tit. 3.5 According to his mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even Baptisme doth also now save us c. Act. 2.38 41. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Then they that gladly received his word were baptized the same day there were added unto thē about 3000 soules Act. 22.16 And now why tarriest thou arise and be baptized and wash away thy sinnes calling on the name of the Lord. Q. What if a man believe and have the spirit is it to any end to baptize him A. Act. 8.36 37 38. And the Eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I believe that Jesus is the Son of God And they went down both into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him Act. 10.47 48. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Q. May those whom Christ sends forth to preach also Baptize A. Math. 28.19 20. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Q. Did John Baptist baptize of his own head or the baptisme of John was it from heaven did God send him to baptize with water A. Joh. 1.33 And I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost Q. Did John baptize in his own name or in the name of Christ the Messiah A. Act. 19.4 Then said Paul John verily baptized with the baptisme of repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Q. Is preaching or baptizing the chief worke to be attended A. 1 Cor. 1.14 17. I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospell Q. Is Baptisme a way and mean of admitting disciples or schollars to Christ A. Math. 28.19 Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Act. 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto thē about 3000 souls Joh. 4.1 2. When the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made baptized mo disciples than John though Jesus himselfe baptized not but his disciples Act. 19.4 John verily baptized with the baptisme of Repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus Q. Is it a Scripture argument or motive to be Baptized because the promise belongs to us A. Act. 2.39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Q. Doth the promise belong to the children of believing parents A. Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham his seed were the promises made He saith not And to seeds as of many but as of one And to thy seed which is Christ Q. Are those who have received the Holy Ghost capable of Baptisme A. See Act. 10.47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we Q. Is there any difference 'twixt the children of believing parents and of
Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed For before that certaine came from James he did eate with the Gentiles but when they were come he withdrew and separated himselfe fearing them which were of the circumcision But when I saw that they walked not uprightly I said unto Peter before them all If thou being a Jew livest after the manner of the Gentiles c. Q. Did the Apostle Peter quote and commend the Apostle Paul's Epistles notwithstanding he speakes nothing in them at all of Peter's supremacy or of his pretended Successor the Bishop of Rome A. 2 Pet. 3.15 16. And account that the long-suffering of the Lord is Salvation even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdome given unto him hath written unto you As also in all his Epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they doe also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Q. Ought prayers for the congregation to be made in a knowne tongue in the Congregation A. Yea. 1 Cor. 14.9 14. Except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood how shall it be known what is spoken For if I pray in an unknowne tongue my spirit prayeth but mine understanding is unfruitfull Q. Is it good to have Images in Churches as Lay-mens bookes A. Exod. 20.4 5. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image nor any likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them 2 Cor. 6.16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Q. May we pray to Images A. Hab. 2.18 19. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it the molten image and a teacher of lyes that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb Idols Woe to him that saith to the wood Awake to the dumbe stone Arise it shall teach behold it is layd over with gold and silver and there is no breath at all in the middest of it Q. May we make an Image of God and worship God in at or before such Images using these as helpes or meanes to worship him the better A. Is 40.18 To whom then will ye liken God or what likenesse will ye compare unto him Act. 17.29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God we ought not to thinke that the God-head is like unto Gold or Silver or stone graven by Art and man's device Deut. 4.15 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the mid'st of the fire Lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likenesse of male or female c. Q. May Christians worship Images A. Exod. 20.5 Thou shalt not bow down thy selfe to them nor serve them Psal 97.7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images that boast themselves of Idols 1 Joh. 5.21 Little children keep your selves from Idols Q. Were ever any so stupid as to worship Images or Idols A. Hab. 2.18 19. What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it the molten image and a teacher of lyes that the maker of his work trusteth therein to make dumb Idols Woe unto him that sayth to the wood Awake to the dumb stone Arise it shall teach there 's no breath at all in the middest of it Is 44.15 17 19. For he will take thereof and warme himselfe yea he kindleth it and baketh bread yea he maketh a God and worshippeth it he maketh it a graven image and falleth downe thereto And the residue thereof he maketh a God even his graven image he falleth down unto it and worshippeth it and prayeth unto it and sayth Deliver me for thou art my God And none considereth in his heart neither is there knowledge or understanding to say I have burnt part of it in the fire c. And shall I make the residue thereof an abomination Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree Q. Is Christ corporally present in the sacrament especially is the bread wine transubstantiated into the very body and bloud of Christ A. No. Act. 3.21 Whom the heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of all things Joh. 16.28 Againe I leave the world goe to the Father Q. Doe those words Mat. 26.26 this is my body prove that the bread is transubstantiated into the very body of Christ so that 't is no longer bread but that very same body which suffered upon the crosse and as truly really and substantially changed into his body as the water was into wine Joh. 2.9 A. No. Either as in 1 Cor. 10.4 That Rock was Christ that is did represent Christ or was a figure of Christ so This is my body that is this doth signify or represent my body or as circumcision which was a signe and seale of the Covenant is cal'd the Covenant Act. 7.8 Gen. 17.10 11. So these words This is my body signify that this bread doth seale the benefits of my broken body or of my death unto you Q. Is the body of Christ so in one place that it is not in another at the same time A. Math. 28.6 He is not here for he is risen as he said come see the place where the Lord lay Heb. 2.14 17. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himselfe took part of the same c. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren c. Q. Ought not all the people as well as the Minister to drink of the cup at the Lord's table A. Yea. Mar. 14.23 And he took the cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it Math. 26.27 drink ye all of it Q. If we have not the body of Christ corporally in the Sacrament have we then any spirituall communion with his body and blood in that Sacrament A. Yes 1 Cor. 10.16 17. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread Q. Did the Apostles receive the Sacrament Fasting or after Supper A. Mat. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples and said Take eate this is my body Q. Did they receive the Sacrament in a table gesture or did they kneel A. Mar. 14.18 And as they sate and did eate c. vers 22. Jesus took bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and said Take eate this