even to the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 And offering himself a sacriffce for the propitiation of their sins as we are taught by S. Paul Rom. 3.25 And Ephes 1.7 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace And Rom. 5.19 That by the obedience of one many are made righteous Q. Do not mens Works contribute to their Justification A. No For S. Paul Phil. 3.9 desireth to be found in Christ Not having saith he mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnoss which is of God By faith And Rom. 3.24 being justified freely by the Grace of God through the Redemption of Jesus Christ excludes Justification by Works for Rom. 11.6 If by Grace then it is no more of Works And having established the Righteousness of God instead of the Righteousness of the Law he concludes Rom. 3.8 that A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law Q. It is answered that the Apostle excludes only the works of the Ceremonial Law and not those of the Moral Law A. He excludes also the works of the Moral Law for he speaketh of the Law by which we are made to know sin Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of sin Now it is the Moral Law by which we know Sin we shall not then be justified by the works of the Moral Law Q. It may be said likewise that S. Paul excludes only works done before Regeneration and not these that are done in the state of Grace A. He excludes also works done after Regeneration for he excludes the works of Abraham and David who were regenerated Rom. 4.3 6 7. Q. Why can we not be justified by works that are done by the Grace of the Holy Ghost A. Because they are yet imperfect for the Spirit of God doth not regenerate Believers so perfectly in this life but there rests something of the Old Man which obliges them to look after their Justification through the Remission of their Sins Q. Faith is imperfect yet S. Paul tells us that we are justified by it A. We are not justified by Faith as a Work nor because of the excellency and perfection of it but as it is an instrument by which we apply the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and therefore S. Paul calls it Kom 3.22 The righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ Q. How then do you agree that which S. Paul says that Man is justified by faith without the works of the Law And that which S. James saith that Man is justified by works and not by faith only James 2.24 A. St. Paul speaks of the Justification wherewith we are justified before God but S. James of that wherewith we justifie our selves God justifies us as a Judge who absolves us upon the account of the death of Jesus Christ and not at all upon the account of our works but we justifie our selves by our works as Witnesses by which we manifest and declare that we are justified and that our Faith is sincere and true as S. James explains it saying vers 18. Shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works And vers 17. that Faith without works is dead Q. Who are they that God justiifes A. They only who being converted to God by a serious Repentance believe in Jesus Christ our Lord according to that which St. Peter said to the Jews Acts 3.19 Repent ye and be converted that your sins may be blotted out and Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Q. These thing being so explained how do you define Justification A. A gracious sencence whereby God in his mercy declares such an one absolved from his sins and justified in his sight as Repents of his sins and believes in Jesus Christ in consideration of his Righteousness and Obedience and of his death which he hath suffered for sinners SECT XXIX Of Merits Quest CAn we Merit Salvation by our Works A. No For we are justifyed freely by the Grace of God through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3.24 And we are saveed not of works least any man should boast Eph. 2.9 The gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6.23 Now Grace and Works Gift and Merits are incompatible and the Scripture calls us Children to teach us that we obtain not Salvation as Buyers and Mercenaries but as Children and Heirs Rom. 8.17 Col. 3.24 Q. Why canaot Works done by the Grace of God Merit A. First Because they are imperfect Secondly Because they do proceed from the Grace of God for that which is given cannot merit from him who gave it Thirdly Because they are due and the payment of Debts is no Merit Luke 17.10 When you shall have done all these things which are commanded say you we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Fourthly Because they signifie nothing to God My goodness extendeth not to thee Psal 16.2 Job 22.2 3. and 35.7 and Fifthly Because they are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Q. Why then doth the Word of God speak so often of salvation as of a reward A. It is not a reward merited or given to a Mercenary as a thing due of which St. Paul speaks Rom. 4.4 To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt but Salvation is a free reward which is given as to a child of which David speaks 103.4 The Lord crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercy Q. What say you to that which is said of believers Revel 3.4 That they are clothed in White Robes for they are worthy and to this that St. Paul calls Life Eternal a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give him 2 Tim. 1.8 A. I answer Belivers are worthy of Life Eternal not because they have merited it but because God by his Grace hath made them worthy that is to say according to the stile of the Word of God capable of receiving it as John Baptist Matth. 3. says Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance he doth not understand that they merited Repentance but that they should be agreeable to Repentance And St. Paul exhorts the Philippians that their conversation be worthy of the Gospel that is to say becoming the Gospel also God is just in giving Life Eternal to those that believe not because they have merited it but because it is just with God to accomplish his free promise Nehem. 9.8 SECT XXX Of Predestination Quest WHat is it you call Predestination A. The absolute and free decree of God by which out of the corrupt mass of men he hath pleased to choose some to be Vessels
Alms c. 4. Above all he is free and at liberty to sin Q. Hath not an unregenerate man Free Will to Actions freely good and pleasing unto God such as Faith Repentance and Love to God A. No for Jesus Christ teaches us that Whosoever committeth sâ—n is the servant of sin John 8.34 and Matth. 7.18 that A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruits And S. Paul Rom. 8.7 tells us that The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be And the same Apostle says that Men before they are savingly called are dead in their trespasses and sins Ephes 2.1 Q. What think you of the brave Actions of Pagans and the heroick Vertues which shined in them A. That they were brave and splendid Actions but that they could not be pleasing unto God because they were not moved by the consideration of his Glory but by their own Ambition and that these great men not being in Christ and being destitute of faith could not please God as the Apostle teacheth us that Without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Q. May not these civil Vertues which are in unregenerate men be saving dispositions to the Grace of God and merits of Congruity which may incline God to be merciful to them A. No For S. Paul says 2 Tim. 1.9 that God hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began And our Lord Jesus Christ doth not refer the Cause of his Disciples being called to the knowledge of God rather than the Pharisees to any thing but God's good pleasure Matth. 11.26 I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid those things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Q. What doth a man then contribute towards his heavenly Callong A. No more than one dead to his Resurrection or Adam to his Creation or a Child to his Conception and therefore Regeneration is called in the Word of God a Resurrection Col. 2.12 You are risen through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised Jesus Christ from the dead And a Creation Ephes 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works A Generation James 1.18 Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures SECT XXVII Of Man's Free Will in a State of Grace Quest BVT After God hath called a man from a state of Sin to a state of Grace hath be not Free Will to apply himself to that which is good A. Yes For Jesus Christ saith John 6.36 If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed even as when Jesus Christ had raised Lazarus from the dead he commanded that they should untie him and let him go So after God hath raised a man from the state of spiritual death and delivered him from the bonds of Sin he walketh freely in the paths of Righteousness and with gladness of heart willingly employs himself in his Service Rom. 7.22 Q. Do you think that after God hath called a man to Salvation he leaves him to himself and to his own conduct A. No For the same Grace of God which hath begun the work will accompany us Phil. 1.6 He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ And Chap. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure All the good motions of regenerate men proceed from the Grace of God 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Q. This being so a regenerate man is not at liberty since it is not he properly that acteth but God in him A. This doth not follow for God worketh so in the Will of Believers that he taketh not away their liberty but on the contrary maketh it more perfect making them incline to good not constrainedly but with a willing and filial Obedience Psal 119.32 35. Q. How do you understand this Divine Co-operation A. That God doth not deal with Believers as Stones or Stocks which are moved and drawn without feeling but as with Creatures endowed with Reason he conducts and moves them to good by enlightning their Understanding and sanctifying their Will and Affections So that whereas they were refractory he makes them become obedient and by the efficacy of Grace and a force without constraint he so draws them that he makes them follow his Will and Conduct freely and with delight as the Spouse says in Cant. 1.4 Draw me we shall run after thee And the Prophet Jeremy Lament 5.21 Turn us O Lord and we shall be turned And John 6.44 Our Saviour says No man can come to me except the Father draw him We go then to Christ when it pleases the Father to draw us Q. Doth not this Doctrine make men negligent in good Works A. No On the contrary S. Paul Phil. 2.12 exhorts us to work out our Salvation c. because It is God that worketh in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure Q. Is this Free Will to do good in Believers perfect A. No For their Regeneration is yet imperfect and there remains something of their Bondage to sin which is the cause that they do not the good that they would but the evil that they would not as S. Paul speaketh of himself Rom. 7.15 Q. When is it then that Man 's Free Will shall be perfect A. When the Soul delivered from this mortal Body shall enjoy the presence of God in Heaven for ther the Soul being made perfectly holy shall be also perfectly free as the Angels are and the Spirits of the Just SECT XXVIII Of Justification Quest WHat doth this word Justifie signifie in the Scripture A. To absolve the Just and therefore it is ordinarily opposed to the word Condemn Prov. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are abomination to the Lord. And Matth. 12.37 By thy words thou shalt be justiised and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Q. Who is it can justifie and absolve us A. God only Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is God that justifieth Q. Wherein consisteth that Justification A. In the free Remission and Pardon of Sin which he giveth us as David says Psal 32.1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sins are covered Rom. 4.6 7. Q. Vpon what consideration doth God justifie men and pardon their sin A. Upon the account of Christ's Righteousness and full Obedience he hath rendred unto his Father which he hath particularly testified in being obedient
of Grace and Mercy and to bring them to Salvation by Faith and Sanctification leaving the others in their corruption and misery Q. God hath not elected all men then to Salvation A. No for Jesus Christ says Matth. 20.16 and 22.14 That many are called but few chosen Q. Hath God chosen those that he hath Elected to Salvation upon the account of their excellency or of Faith foreseen in them A. No For so it would be men that should chuse God and not God that should have chosen men contrary to that which Jesus Christ says to his Disciples John 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you that you should bring forth fruits Faith is not the cause but the effect of Predestination as it is said Acts. 13.48 As many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed Q. What then is the Cause of Mens Election A. Onely the good pleasure of God Eph. 1.5 God having predestinated us unto the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will And therefore St. Paul Rom. 11.5 calls the Election of Believers an Election of Grace and Rom. 9. he tells us That the Children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth it was said The Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated vers 11.12.13 It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy vers 16. Q. Is the Election to Salvation irrevocable A. Yes for 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of the Lord standeth sure The Lord knoweth who are his Q. If it be so what ever Sins the Elect commit yea and though they should want Faith and Repentance they must of necessity be Saved A. You make the end combat the means for whom God hath elected to Salvation he hath elected to Sanctification as a means necessary to obtain it for without Faith Repentance and Sanctification none shall see God Heb. 12.14 and John 15.16 I have chosen you says Christ that you should bring forth fruits and that your fruit should remain and Epbes 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Jesus Christ unto Good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them see 2 Thes 2.13 Eph. 1.4 SECT XXXI Of Perseverance Quest MAy those that God hath predestinated to Salvation fall finally and totally from the Grace of God A. No For that Chain that St. Paul speaks of cannot be broken Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified The Decrees of God are irrevocable and his Covenant with his Elect is eternal Jerem. 32.39 I will give them one heart that they may fear me for ever vers 40. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them c. Q. Then the Faith of the Elect cannot be totally lost A. No because it is the Faith of the Elect Tit. 1.1 and Jesus Christ says John 5.24 He that believeth in him hath Everlasting Life and shall not come into condemnation And John 4.14 He promiseth to give water that whosoever shall drink thereof shall never thirst but it shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life And St. Peter 1 Epist 1.23 That the word of God by which we are regenerated liveth and abideth for ever and is not a corruptible seed but incorruptible Q. Yet the Scripture speaks of Stars fallen from heaven Rev. 6.13 and of them who have made shipwrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 A. We say of such that which S. John says 1 Ep. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us that is They conversed with us but they were not of our body for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us They were called and not chosen Q. From whence proceeds that perseverance A. Not from the power and nature of Faith considered in it self but from the continual assistance of God and from the certainty of his promises for Jesus Christ says John 6.39 This is the Father's will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing his Gifts and Calling is without Repentance Rom. 11.29 We are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last Time 1 Peter 1.5 Add the efficacy of the intercession of Jesus Christ For he prayed for us that our Faith fail not Luke 22.32 Joh. 17.20 SECT XXXII Of the Certainty of Perseverance and Salvation Quest ARE All obliged to believe that they shall be saved and persevere to the end A. No for those that continue in unbelief and impenitence ought not to have this persuasion but they that do seriously repent and believe in Jesus Christ their Saviour are obliged to believe this Evangelical Promise That whosoever believeth on the Son of God should not perish but have Everlasting Life 1 John 3.16 and are obliged to obey the Command of God Hebr. 4.16 to come boldly unto the Throne of Grace and Chap. 10.22 To draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith Q. We ought indeed to go to God with full assurance of Faith that he is merciful and will pardon our Sins if we have the repentance that is necessary but to be assured that we shall never fall from the Grace of God seems to be an inconsiderate Affirmation since we fall every day in divers manners and have every day need to implore the mercy of God and to renew our Reconciliation we may indeed be assured of the goodness of God but we ought to suspect our own infirmity A. It is true but also we ought to be assured that God will accomplish his power in our weakness and will be merciful to us in his Son and will not permit sin so to prevail as to make us wholly fall away from a State of Grace and so fall short of the Salvation which he hath promised And every Believer ought to say with S. Paul 2 Tim. 4.18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom And to accuse those who are assured of their Salvation and of Perseverance of rashness is to accuse David Asaph Jacob Job Paul and other Saints who were assured that they should not be greatly moved Psal 62.2 But that after God had guided them with his Counsel he would receive them into Glory Psal 73.24 That they should see God with their eyes Job 19.27 Who have waited for the Salvation of the Lord. Gen. 49.18 And who were persuaded that neither death nor life should separate them from the love of God Rom. 8.37 Q. You speak of some privileged Saints Prophets and Apostles which might have a Revelation