without an Oath A. When we performe any part of Gods worship carelesly perfunctorily As when we pray without understanding and good sense or for fashion and ostentation when we preach without preparation and for civill complement or vaingloriously when we receive the Sacrament because it is the use at certain times in the year c. Now is Gods name taken in vain by us though we seem to honour him Jer 48.10 1 Cor. 14.11 See Eccl. 5.1 2. Mal 1.13 2 Tim. 2.15 Phil. 15.16 Luk. 8.18 Q. How lastly is Gods name taken in vaine without an Oath A. When we put Gods Name Cause Religion upon our own worldly carnall and base ends and enterprizes When Religion is made a cloak to carry on or to cover any vile and unjust actions then is Gods name taken in vain Jer. 7.9 10 11. Mic. 3.11 Mat. 23.14 2 Sam. 4.8 11. They put the name of God upon their wicked murther saying the Lord hath avenged thee of Saul with 1 Sam. 26.8 Q. Why must we be carefull of this Law A. Because God holdeth all prophaners of his name for most vile persons who though they escape punishment amongst men yet shall not escape Gods wrath They are under the Law in whomsoever any of these sins reigne God will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine CAP. XXXII Of the Sabbath day we consider the 1. Institution 2. Change and 2. Celebration of it Remember the Sabbath day Q. WHat is the purpose of God in this Commandment A. God will have every seventh day set apart and observed to his honour and worship in the duties of Religion and not spent to our pleasure or profit It must be separate from other daies Eze. 22.26 Esay 58.13 14. The Sabbath was instituted chiefly for the publique worship of God Exod 34.21 1. Q. Is this Law of keeping one day of seven for an holy â—est still in force A. Yes it hath been from the beginning and shall continue to the end of the world The Morality of the Sabbath it is not in the power of man to alter this proportion of time as to make the day of rest to be sooner or later as on every fift or on every eight day Gen. 2.2 3. Hel. 4.3 4. Exod. 16.22 25. Mat. 5.18 God created seven daies and no more and God rested from the beginning 2. Q. Touching the change of the day The observation of the Lords day for the Sabbath Is it from Heaven or of men A. It is of God who changed the day though not the number of the day to the first of the weeke called the Lords day Act. 20.6 7. 1 Cor. 16.2 Rev. 1.10 Joh 20.19 26. This is a rule looke what hath been continued down to us by the uninterrupted practice of the Churches in all ages from the Apostles times and the first linke of that chaine that is the example practice ground reason analogy thereof is found in Scripture that is to be acknowledged of divine authority and not meerly of man Now such is this of the Lords day and baptizing of Infants the Commandement limits out the quotient and God by particular designation hath pointed out the day from which none but God can againe alter it 3. For the celebration of the Lords day two sorts of duties are required of a Christian Some Before the day come When the day is come Q. What is required of us before the day come A. We must remember it that is we must be mindfull of it before hand so to contrive and order our affaires and affections that they may not hinder us in the Lords worke on the Lords day Ex. 16.5 23. Q. What followes hereof A. Therefore it is a sinne first to reserve some od choares or journies or merry meetings to that day secoÌ„dly to encumber our selves with more businesse then we can conveniently dispatch in six daies As to take in more worke more writing more Merchandize c. In this kinde Brewers Tailers Millers Treaders of Wine-fats and men of other occupations doe greatly offend as many as doe not order their businesse to end with the weeke that so their calling may stand still and their hearts be fitted to meet God in his Ordinances Q. When the day is come What is our duty A. It is two-fold First we must rest from all businesses of our callings in heart in act and in tongue both we and ours The law is spirituall and binds the inward man Neh. 13.15 16 17. Exo. 34 21. Exod. 31.15 16. Jer. 17.24 Q. What secondly A. This rest must be an holy and sanctified rest it must not be a brutish rest There is a difference between the rest of an Ox and of his Master Esa 58.13 Q. What duties are required to an holy rest A. Foure First we must prepare our selves for a publick worship in the morning by examination of our wants waies and by Prayer both by our selves alone and with our families for Gods blessing on the ordinances for the edification of our selves and others They that come without praying goe away usually without a blessing Exod 19.10 Q. What second duty is required A. We must be diligent to come to the publike assemblies timely reverently and with our company if we have any Act 15.21 Luk 4 16. Ezek 46.10 Act. 10.33 Psal 42.4 Heb. 10.25 Q. What thirdly A. I must religiously joyne with the Congregation in the duties there performed as in a Prayer b praising and singing c attending to the Word read or Preached and d participation of the Sacrament Eccl. 5.1 1 Cor. 14.26 27. a Act. 16.13 Mat 81.19 2 Chron 5.13 Col 3.16 c Act 13.15 16. Luk. 4.20 d 1 Cor. 11.21 Act 2.42 Act 20.7 It is a fault in the congregation to divert our selves from the exercise in hand to private reading or talking or gazing about we must make one in every exercise of Gods worship Q. VVhat fourth duty is required to the sanctifying of a Sabbath A. After the Assembly is dismissed I must spend the other time in meditation and reading of Gods word in prayer and conference of that we have heard to the edification of our selves and families Act. 17.11 12. 1 Cor. 14.35 Gen. 18.19 These be the duties of the day Q. Is all work simply unlawfull to be done on the Sabbath day Three sorts of workes lawfull on the Sabbath day A. No workes of mercy to a man or beast b workes about the worship of God and workes of true necessity may be done God will have mercy rather then sacrifice It is therefore lawfull to ring bels to call the people together to travell to a Sermon to dresse our Meat to Milk our Kine to set watch ward such things as belong to the meet comfort of mans life man is not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for man a Luk. 13.11 15. Luk. 14.1 5. Exod. 12.16 1 King 8.65 Mat. 12. 1 7 11. b Mat. 12.5
his holy Spirit draweth our hearts to embrace his gratious promises a Heb. 12.2 Eph. 2.8 b Luk. 24.25 Mar. 9.24 Num. 20.12 2 Chron. 16.7 9. Mat. 14.31 Luk. 18.9 c 1 Cor. 2.9 11. Joh. 6.44 45. Q. Why must we strive seeing it is Gods gift A. Yes because God hath appointed means whereby he will bestow all graces on us therefore if we seek him in those meanes we shall find him if we neglect those meanes it is a signe we have no grace nor can we ever hope to have any Mar. 4.24 1 Cor. 3.7 9. Rom. 10.14 15. Prov. 2.1 2 3. Mat. 13.44 Act. 16.14 1 Cor. 12.6 Q. Why secondly must we strive A. Because faith and all other graces be contrary to our corrupt nature and therefore we must give the more diligence to attaine the same at Gods hand As he that plants a graft contrary to nature must use the more care and because we cannot cure our selves we must seek and beg some one to put us into the pool when the waters be moved Phil. 2.12 13. Esay 26.12 Heb. 6.11 12. Rom. 11.24 2 Pet. 1.10 Q. By what meanes doth God usually worke faith in us A. By two Meanes 1. By the knowledge of the Law convincing us of sin Mat. 3.2 3. Ioh. 16.9 Rom. 4.15 Gal. 3.22 24. This is but preparative Hos 10.12 Q. But what is the chiefe meanes by which God doth worke faith in us A. By the preaching of the Gospell by which it is also encreased And therefore if we desire to have faith we must heare and obey the Gospell the Word of the Kingdome must be rooted in our hearts and affections 1 Pet. 1.23 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Rom. 1.16 Luk. 8.13 15 Gal. 3.2 Q. How doth the Doctrine of the Gospell bring about the heart from security and false confidences to believe on Christ for salvation A. Two waies especially To rest in any thing short of Christ is a false confidence 1. By inviting us to come unto Christ The Spirit doth convince us of sin and damnation and that we have need of the righteousnesse of another to save us Luk. 13.3 Joh. 16.9 Joh. 5.45 Joh. 8.24 Phil. 3 3 8.9 Matt. 9 13. By the law is the knowledge of sinne but to make us fly from the Law and to be dead to it and to seeke salvation by a righteousnesse without us this is the worke of the Gospell Rom. 7.4 The Gospell inviting commanding and calling us to Christs righteousnesse it doth cause us to renounce and forsake all hope of righteousnesse by works of the Law the Gospell puts a spirit into the letter of the Law The Gospell awaking us and bidding us to repent and goe to Christ for salvation doth make use of the Law to shew us our danger and our insufficiency to save our selves and consequenly a necessity of believing in Christ Q. How secondly doth the Gospell work the heart to believe A. 2. By shewing us such a fulnesse and al sufficiency in Christ that of him and in him we have all things needfull for salvation it shewes and assures the conscience that God is satisfied and well pleased with us in Christ Act. 13.32 33 34. John 1.16 17. Col. 1.13 14 19. Q. What followes thereof A. Therefore they that meddle not with the Scripture regard not the Ministry of it on the Lords day but slight it or scoffe at the preaching thereof shew plainly that they have no faith Rom. 15.4 Rom. 10.14 17. CAP. XXVII Of the second office worke of Faith viz. to purify the heart worke by love Here followes the life of a believer and the first end and use of the Morall Law Fourth heal of Christian doctrine Q. WHat is the second office of Faith A. To purify the heart working it to an obedient walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord so that I shall not professe one thing and do another Jam 2.17 21 26. Act 15.9 it is ever purging out corruption Q. The rule of obedience in generall is the whole written word of God and more summarily the morall Law contained in the ten Commandements Tell me now Is the Law of the ten Commandements still in force A. Yes and whosoever doth or teacheth otherwise shall be least in the Kindome of Heaven that is none at all Mat 5.18 19. Rom 3.19 31. Rom 7.12 As touching the ceremoniall Law that which was a sin or duty then is not a sin or duty now under the Gospel and therefore the ceremoniall Law is not in force now as to our practice But as touching the morall Law that which was a sin then is a sin now as lying perjury c. which shewes that the morall Law is still in force now under the time of the Gospel Q. Is the Law given that we should looke for life and solvation by it A. No because by it all the world is guilty before God If we were without sin we should be saved by the Law but being all wretched sinners the Law curseth us and we must looke elsewhere for a worthinesse to answer Gods judgement Rom 7.4 6. Rom 3.20 23. Gal 3.17 Q. To what use then was the Law given The first use of the Morall Law A There is a twofold use of it 1. To convince us that we are under sin wrath that so we might be brought to seek salvation in Christ alone Gal. 3.19 24. Q. How doth the Law force a sinner unto Christ A. There be five effects or operations of the Law whereby it drives one to Christ The first is to make sin knowne in its true greatnesse and sinfulnesse both for the extent and danger of it By the Law we come to know our selves to be greater sinners and in worse case then we could imagine we find and feele that to be sinne which before we knew not and many things to be greater evils exposing us to greater wrath then heretofore we conceived as our naturall corruption the first motions unto sinne c. Rom 3.20 Rom. 7.7 8 9 13. Rom 5.13 Q. What is the second worke of the Law forcing us to seek Christ A. It shews us how farre short we come and how unable we are to doe any one thing that is good in any measure manner and degree as is required Many think they are holy and please God well enough because they know not the holynesse and rigour of the Law Rom. 7.11 13 18. Mat. 19.18 20. Q. How thirdly doth the Law shew us our need of Christ A. By it we finde and feele the emnity contrariety that is in our nature against God Tell a man of his sinne or duty O the heart is sad upon it the Law is a burthen to him the heart rebels against it and could even wish there were no such Law yea no God to take vengeance Sinne is a burthen to a regenerate person but Gods Law is not grievous to him 1 Joh. 5.3 On the other side to
renouncing of our own righteousnesse and worthinesse as also our own desires reasons wits wills and dearest contentments for Christs and the Gospells sake that so we may preserve faith a good conscience according to the rule of the words whatsoever crosse shall happen to us in so doing Spirituall Combat is the strugling between the flesh and the Spirit between Grace Corruption in the same faculties of the soul of a regenerate person our new nature inclining us to good and to please God our corruption inclining to carnall contentments By the World unto which we must be crucified we mean the sinfull courses opinions waies and fashions of the world Lust in any evill motion and inordinate desire of the soule after any thing as after riches honour revenge food preferment therefore covetousnesse is Lust and so is pride anger and other motions of the flesh Concupiscence signifies the habituall indisposition of the heart to that whâ—ch is good and its pronenesse to that which is evill as also every evill motion of the heart that swerves from the Law of God All this is called evill Concupiscence By Principles Principled we mean the rules and grounds wherewith men are seasoned guided in their course as carnall Principles are carnall grounds rules spirituall Principles are spirituall considerations moving and guiding in a businesse Heretick is one that departs from the true Faith obstinatly cleaves to error in Doctrine Shismatick is one that unnecessarily makes or causeth others to make a seperation from any true and found Church to the disturbance of the outward established peace thereof By Wil-worship we meane any thing that is brought into Religion and made matter of conscience by mans device or authority without warrant from the word of God By Superstition we meane the ascribing of Holynesse or any spirituall and supernaturall vertue to any creature gesture place day words or actions which is not given to the said creature by Creation or divine institution When we commend Good workes we meane not onely the works of charity and outward pomp but the whole course of obedience in our thoughts words and actions as the word of God requires of us By Christian Liberty we meane not a liberty to sinne as if we might sin more frely and safely because of Christs death but we meane that liberty which Christ hath obtained to us against the bondage of the Law condemning all that doe not fulfill it And also our freedome from the ceremonies of Moses Law and from all human ordinances so that they doe not bind in conscience Perseverance signifies a constancy and cotinuance in faith and obedience to our end Apectacy is a totall and finall departure from the faith once professed Back-sliding is a falling again into our old sinnes for a time out of which we recover through Gods grace being renewed againe by repentance By Spirituall Desertions we meane that trouble of minde which ariseth from losse of assurance and feeling of Gods favour occasioned usually by our backsliding in to some sinne or great carelessenesse and unevennesse in our walking with God By Temptations we meane sometimes allurements to sinne and somtimes the exercise of our faith wherein Sathan laboureth to question our Son-ship and interest in Christ This kind of Temptation is usually called distresse of minde Dispaire is finally to doubt of Gods favour and mercy refusing to rest on it Presumption is a conceit that we are in good case when we have no solid grounds to thinke so it is also a venturing to practise this or that without warrant of Gods word Assurance is the well grounded peace of conscience awakened and enlightned and quieted upon good grounds that his sins be forgiven in Christ Jesus When we pray that God would Sanctifie any of his dealings to us as crosses afflictions preferments deliverances or any other outward mercy we pray that God would give grace with outward mercies holy wisdome and gracious hearts to make right use of them that in all things we may be brought nearer to God in the exercise of faith humility thankfulnesse and better obedience for time to come Laus Deo TO THE READER THe foregoing TREATISE Christian Reader intituled Principles of Faith and good Conscience is so called because it doth containe not only points of Faith and positive Truths touching the chiefe Heads of Religion but also the most materiall points of Practicall Divinity properly so called that is to shew the work of Grace in the Conversion of a sinner and in the hearts of them that be converted and how a Christian may judge of his spirituall estate to God-ward * As in cap 4. 5. 8. 13. 14. 18. c. I have had some thoughts of publishing a just Treatise touching the state of Nature and of Grace the Translation of a sinner from the state of Nature to the state of Grace from death to life together with the Causes Order and effects thererf And this may be done if God be pleased to give me Life Liberty and Peace to the Church In the mean time Accept and make use of this short Discourse intended for the good of the Ignorant and the comfort of weake Christians The markes of Gods Children Blessed are the Pure in heart Blessed is the man in whose spirit there is no Guile so saith the spirit Psal 32.2 and Mat. 5.8 Markes of Gods children drawn out of Gods word Of saving knowledge Q. WHat is the first Marke of a Child of God A. Saving knowledge is a marke whereby Gods Children may be known from all others Iohn 17.3 1. Mark This is life eternall to know thee the only true God and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Q. What be the properties of saving knowledge A. They be foure The triall of it 1. Saving knowledge makes us to see our own Ignorances and strayings Prov. 9.10 12. Eph. 5.8 13. Rom. 7.9 Psal 119.130 Pro. 20.27 Q. What is the second property of saving knowledge A. It makes a man ashamed to doe evill and vile in his own eyes Eph. 5.8 12. 1 Thes 5.5 6 7 8 9. Rom. 6.21 Ier. 31.19 Q. What 's the third property of saving knowlege A. It is a guiding light especially in those things that belong to our own Peace and duty Psal 119.105 Rom. 2.20 21. Mat. 7.5 Q. What 's the fourth signe of saving knowledge A. It is not an idle but a working knowledge making a man to abstaine from evill and exercise himselfe in that which is good 2 Pet. 2.20 Jer. 22.16 Ps 119.104 Job 28.28 Hos 8.1 2. Vse Then it seemes that they which know much and yet are not bettered by their knowledge in Holinesse Christian life Also they that by their knowledge can guide others and yet doe not take to heart the thing that belong to their own peace duty their knowledge is but vaine Rom. 2.20 21. Rom. 1.18 2 Tim. 3.5 Lastly all such persons as be in darknesse and perceive it