transgression Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 14 15 16. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith working by love God 5. 6. The just shall live by faith For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 17 18. Qu. What answer then would you give to a man who wresting the words of Paul in certain places of his Epistles to the Romans and the Galatians should bear you in hand that all good works whatsoever are excluded from justification and salvation and that it is enough onely to believe A. Wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 20 22 23 24 25 26. Qu. What is the advice of Paul to Titus concerning the business of faith and works and the Law A. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vain Tit. 3. 8 9. Qu. You shewed even now out of Paul that the faith of him that will be saved must be accompanied with justice or righteousness I would therefore know of you who is a just or righteous man is it not such a one as apprehendeth and applyeth Christs righteousness to himself or at most desireth to do righteously Is not he accepted of God A. Let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous He that committeth sin is of the Divel for the Divel sinneth from the beginning In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Divel whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God 1 John 3. 7 8 10. If we know that he is righteous know ye that every one that doth righteousness is born of God 1 John 2. 29 God is no respecter of persons But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10. 34 35. If a man be just and and do that which is lawful and right Hath not eaten upon the mountains neither hath lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel neither hath defiled his neighbours wife neither hath come near to a menstruous woman And hath not oppressed any but hath restored to the debtor his pledge hath spoiled none by violence hath given his bread to the hungry and hath covered the naked with a garment He hath not given forth upon usury neither hath taken any increase hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity hath executed true judgement between man and man Hath walked in my Statutes and hath kept my judgements to deal truly HE IS JUST he shall not dye Ezek. 18. 5 6 7 8 9. Qu. May not righteous men depart from their righteousness and believers from their faith and so perish And is it not false that once in Christ and ever in Christ A. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall he live all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin that he hath sinned in them shall he dye Ezek. 18. 24. When I shall say unto the righteous that he shall surely live if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity all his righteousness shall not be remembred but for his iniquity that he hath committed he shall dye for it Ezek. 33. 13. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels 1 Tim. 4. 1. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy that thou war the good warfare Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. 18 19 20. The younger widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry Having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith 1 Tim. 5. 11 12. The love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6. 10. Their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus Who concerning the faith have erred saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 12 13. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief Heb. 4. 11. It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come If they fall away to renew them again to repentance Heb. 6. 4 5 6. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the maner of some is but exhorting one another For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Now the just shall live by faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them that
A. By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeved and he went out not knowing whither he went By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise For he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 8 9 10. By faith Moses when he was come to yeers refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter Chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward Heb. 11. 24 25 26. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God Heb. 12. 1 2. Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of Gods elect and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness In hope of eternal life Tit. 1. 1 2. Qu. Do not the Scriptures intimate that Christians may attain to perfection of vertue and godliness and that it is the intention of God and Christ and his ministers to bring them unto this pitch Rehearse the texts to this effect A. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and unblameable before him in love Eph. 1. 4. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matth. 5. 48. Finally brethren farewel be ye perfect 2 Cor. 13. 11. We preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. He gave some apostles some prophets some evangelists some pastors and teachers For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Epaphras who is one of you a servant of Christ saluteth you always labouring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Col. 4. 12. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints 1 Thess 3. 13. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work 2 Thess 2. 16 17. Qu. Have you any example of perfection before the Law A. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God Gen. 6. 9. The Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and an upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil Job 1. 8. Qu. Have you any example of perfection under the Law A. There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea a certain priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless Luk. 1. 1 2. Qu. Have you any examples under the Gospel A. Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2. 21 22. I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the mount Sion and with him an hundred fourty and four thousand having his Fathers name written on their foreheads These are they which were not defiled with women for they are virgins these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the throne of God Rev. 14. 1 4 5. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Rev. 3. 4. Ye are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe 1 Thess 2. 10. Qu. If works be so necessary to salvation as you have before shewn from the Scripture how cometh it to pass that Paul saith We are justified by faith without works Meant he to exclude all good works whatsoever or onely those of the Law How doth he explain himself A. We are justified by faith without the works of the Law Rom. 3. 28. Qu. Can you make it appear from elsewhere that Paul intended to exclude from justification onely the perfect works of the Law which leave no place for either grace or faith and not such works as include both and that by a justifying faith he meant a working faith and such a one as is accompanied with righteousness A. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Not of works lest any man should boast For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them Eph. 8. 9 10. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grase but of debt But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Rom. 3. 4 5. There is a remnant according to the election of grace And if by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace But if it be of works then it is no more grace otherwise work is no more work Rom. 11. 5 6. If they which are of the law be heirs faith is made void and the promise made of none effect Because the law worketh wrath for where no law is there is no
Christ imputed to him or is his own faith counted for righteousness A. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Rom. 4. 5. Qu. Was Abraham the father of the faithful justified in this maner A. He believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness Gen. 15. 6. Qu. Was not this written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him for righteousness A. It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him But for us also Rom. 4. 23 24. Qu. On what terms if we apprehend and apply Christs righteousness to our selves A. If we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4. 24. Qu. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Is it not sufficient for us if we believe as he did what saith Christ A. Ye believe in God believe also in me John 14. 1. Qu. What saith Peter A. Christ was manifested in these last times for you Who by or through him believe on God 1 Pet. 1. 20 21. Qu. Doth not God justifie men because of the full price that Christ paid to him in their stead so that he abated nothing of his right in that one drop of Christs blood was sufficient to satisfie for a thousand Worlds If not how are they saved A. Being justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Rom. 3. 24. Eph. 1. 7. Qu. Did not Christ merit eternal life and purchase the kingdom of heaven for us A. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. 23. It is your Fathers good-pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12. 32. CHAP. XVI Of keeping the Commandments and having an eye to the reward of perfection in vertue and godliness to be attained and of departing from righteousness and faith Qu. ARe the commandments possible to be kept A. His commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. My yoke is easie and my burthen light Mat. 11. 30. Qu. But though it be possible to keep the commandments yet is it not enough if we desire and endeavour to keep them although we actually keep them not And doth not God here accept the will for the deed A. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand Mat. 7. 21 24 26. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work shall be blessed in his doing Jam. 1. 25. Glory honor and peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2. 10. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13. 17. Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Luke 11. 27. We must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ that every man may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done whether it be good or evil 2 Cor. 5. 10. The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Mat. 16. 27. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments Mat. 19. 17. Qu. Which Mat. 19. 18. A. Thou shalt do no murther Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Honor thy father and thy mother and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 19. 18 19. Qu. Though it be not onely possible but also necessary to keep the commandments yet is it lawful so to do that we may have a right to eternal life and the heavenly inheritance may we seek for honor end glory and immortality by well doing is it the tenor of the Gospel that we should live uprightly in expectation of the hope hereafter and finally ought we to suffer for the kingdom of God and not as sume are pleased to mince the matter from the kingdom of God Cite the testimonies of the Scripture to this purpose A. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city Rev. 22. 14. The revelation of the righteous judgement of God Who will render to every man accorto his deeds To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality eternal life Rom. 2. 6 7 8. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 11 12 13. That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 2 Thess 1. 5. Qu. Have ye any Scripture that saith we must believe that God is a rewarder of them that seek him and that if we come not to him with such a faith it is impossible to please him A. Without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Qu. Have you any example of keeping the commandments under the law what saith David of himself A. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of mine hands hath he recompensed me For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God For all his judgments were before me I did not put away his statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity Therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight Psal 18. 20 21 22 23 24. Qu. Have you any example under the Gospel A. Whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1. Joh. 3. 22. Qu. Have you not examples of the choicest Saints who obeyed God in hope of the reward both before under and after the Law
draw back unto perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul Heb. 10. 24 25 26 28 29 35 38 39. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God Heb. 12. 15. Cursed children Which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness When they speak great swelling words of vanity they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in error For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb The dog is turned to his vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2. 14 15 18 20 21 22. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the er or of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 2 Pet. 3. 17. For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter had tempted you and our labour be in vain 1 Thess 3. 5. Because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by faith Be not highminded but fear For if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodness if thou continue in goodness otherwise thou also shalt be cut off Rom. 11. 20 21 22. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat now walkest thou not charitably Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died Rom. 14. 25. Through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8. 11. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 27. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered Joh. 15. 6. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away Joh. 15. 2. CHAP. XVII Of the duty of Subjects and Magistrates Wives and Husbands Children and Parents Servants and Masters Qu. WHat is the duty of all them that are under authority A. Let every foul be subject to the higher powers Rom. 13. 1. Q. Why must every soul be subject to them A. For there is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. Q. What doth he that resisteth the power and what shall they receive to themselves A. Whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Qu. Why shall they that resist receive damnation A. For rulers are not a terrour to good works but to evil Rom. 13. 3. Qu. How shall a man behave himself that he need not fear the power and whence cometh it so to pass A. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the minister of God to thee for good but if thou do that which is evil be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain for he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Rom. 13. 3 4. Q. Is not the fear of wrath or punishment the onely motive to subjection A. Ye must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. Qu. Must we not also pay to the higher powers tribute and custom A. Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom Rom. 13. 7. Q. Why should we pay tribute to them A. For this cause pay you tribute also for they are Gods ministers attending continually upon this very thing Rom. 13. 6. Qu. Though what you have cited out of the apostle Paul doth intimate the duty of the Magistrate yet have you not some passage of Scripture that doth expresly set it down A. He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23. 3. Q. What benefit shall accrue to him that ruleth so A. He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth even a morning without clouds as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain 2 Sam. 23. 4. Q. What is the duty of wives and husbands according to the doctrine of the two great apostles Paul and Peter Rehearse their words A. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the Saviour of the body Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ so let wives be to their own husbands in every thing Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he that loveth his wife loveth himself For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord doth the church For we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband Eph. 5. 22 23 c. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18 19. Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing gold or of putting on of apparel But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price For after this maner in the old time the
them that call upon him A. The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him Psal 145. 18. The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10. 12. Qu. Is he nigh unto all them that call upon him in whatsoever maner A. To all that call upon him in truth Psal 145. 18. The Lord is far from the wicked but he heareth the prayer of the righteous Prov. 15. 29. We know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth John 9. 31. Qu. Did not Christ himself prescribe a form of prayer to his disciples so that there remaineth no doubt touching the lawfulness of using a form A. It came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place when he ceased one of his disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples And he said unto them when ye pray say Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done as in heaven so on earth Give us day by day our daily bread And forgive us our sins for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Luke 11. 1 2 3 4. Qu. How must we make our addresses to the Father that we may receive whatsoever we pray for what saith Christ to his disciples A. Verily verily I say unto you Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you John 16. 23. Qu. Was it the custome during the time that Christ conversed on the earth much less before he came into the world to pray unto God in the name of Christ or through Christ or did it begin to be used after the resurrection and exaltation of Christ what saith Christ himself concerning this A. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full The time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in parables but I shall shew you plainly of the Father At that day ye shall ask in my name John 16. 24 25 26. Qu. Have ye any example of praying to God through Christ after his resurrection and exaltation A. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen Heb. 13. 20 21. CHAP. XX. Of the Church Qu. WHat is Christ in relation to the Church and the Church in relation to him A. He is the head of the body the Church Col. 1. 18. Qu. How many such bodyes hath Christ A. One body Eph. 4. 4. Qu. What kind of head is Christ A. From which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. Qu. Who are the Church A. They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. Qu. Upon what foundation is the Church built A. Upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone Eph. 2. 20. Qu. What other honourable titles doth the Scripture give unto the Church besides that of the body of Christ A. The bride the Lambs wife Rev. 22. 17. Rev. 19. 7 8. Rev. 21. 9. The temple of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. The house of God the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3. 15. Q. What special promise hath Christ made to the Church A. the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 16. 18. Qu. What doth Christ elsewhere say of himself that may give assurance to the Church that this promise shall be made good A. Behold I live for ever and ever amen and have the keys of hell and death Rev. 1. 18. CHAP. XXI Of the Government and Discipline of the Church Qu. WHen Christ was ascended up on high after his death and resurrection and so ceased to be personally present with his Church whom did he set apart for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of his body A. He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Qu. What is the advice of the two great Apostles Paul and Peter to the elders and governors of the Church A. Take heed unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made your overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood Acts 20. 28. The elders which are among you I exhort who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready minde Neither as being lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock 1 Pet. 5. 1 2 3. Q. What reward doth the apostle Peter tell them they shall have at the appearance of Christ if they do as he prescribeth A. When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 4. Qu. What is the duty of the yonger or private sort in relation to the elders or publike officers of the Church A. Likewise ye yongers submit your selves unto the elders 1 Pet. 5. 5. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Heb. 13. 17. We beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thess 5. 12 13. Q. What saith the Scripture concorning the maintenance of them that instruct and oversee the Church A. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6 6 7 8. If we have sown unto you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things Do ye
not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel 1 Cor. 9. 11 13 14. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine For the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. Qu. What saith the apostle Paul to Titus concerning the persons that are to be ordained Elders Bishops or Overseers of the Church A. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince gainsayers Tit. 1. 5 6 7 8 9. Qu. What saith he to Timothy concerning the same subject A. This is a true saying If any man desire the office of a bishop he desireth a good work A bishop then must be blameless the husband of one wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to hospitality apt to teach Not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but patient not a brawler not covetous One that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity For if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of the church of God Not a novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil 1 Tim. 3. 1 2 c. Q. How ought those to be qualified that are to be ordained Deacons for the keeping and distributing the common stock of the Church A. Likewise must the deacons be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience And let these also first be proved then let them use the office of a deacon being found blameless Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well 1 Tim. 3. 8 9 10 12. Q. How ought their wives to be qualified A. Even so must their wives be grave not slanderers sober faithful in all things 1 Tim. 3. 11. Qu. What direction doth the Apostle give touching the casting of unworthy members out of the Church A. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which ye received of us 1 Thess 5. 6. But now have I written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat For what have I to do to judge them also that are without do not ye judge them that are within But them that are without God judgeth Therefore put away from among your selves that wicked person 1 Cor. 5. 11 12 13. CHAP. XXII Of Baptism Qu. WHat is the judgement of John the Baptist of Christ Jesus and of the Apostle Peter touching the doctrine of Baptisms How speak they A. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Mat. 3. 11. Wait for the promise of the Father which ye have heard of me For John verily baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost not many dayes hence Acts 1. 4 5. As I began to speak the holy Ghost fell on them as on us at the beginning Then remembred I the word of the Lord how that he said John indeed baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost Acts 11. 15 16. Qu. Though the passages which you have alledged plainly intimate that the baptism of the Spirit was the baptism of Christ as that of water was Johns baptism yet did not the Apostles of Christ baptize with water what saith Paul of this also A. I baptized the house of Stephanas 1 Cor. 1. 16. Qu. But divers think the Apostles were sent to baptize as well as to preach What therefore saith the same Apostle concerning this also A. Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 1. 17. Qu. Howbeit when Paul himself and the believing Romans were baptized into what doth he say they were baptized and to what end A. So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father so we also should walk in newness of life Rom. 6. 3 4. Qu. Forasmuch as so great stress is put by some upon water-baptism what baptism is it even in the judgement of the Apostle Peter whereby we are saved the said baptism of water whereby the filth of the body is washed off or the baptism of the heart whereby it is cleansed from an evil conscience A. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God 1 Pet. 3. 21. CHAP. XXIII Of the Lords Supper Qu. WHen was the Lords supper instituted and to what end A. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betraid took bread And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me After the same maner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the new testament in my blood this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ye shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26. Q. What hurt happeneth to him that receiveth the Lords supper unworthily A. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning