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
truths before new Errors and old foundations before new fancies and that you delight rather to walke on a rock than to dance upon ropes and therefore that these old and great truths of this new and small piece will not be to your palate as dead drink nor in your eares as stale newes nor to your eyes as an old Diurnall or Almanack out of date And Sr since I had my Birth and Baptisme in Cotherstock let me not be condemned for making this confession of Faith or profession of my Principles to you there It remaines only that I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and powre out my soule for you your Religious Consort and deare Son at the throne of Grace that God would blesse you with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ and recompence into your bosome seven fold all the kindnesse that you have shewed to his Ministers and particularly to Sr Your very humble Servant in the Lord T. H. To the Reader READER IF thou art Learned and a Critick thou mayest perhaps accuse or censure this Catechisme as in some things defective in some redundant or superfluous in some without order and I shall not here goe about to answer the charge or traverse the inditement I rather choose to intreat thee if thou art as well as knowing so also Ingenuous Courteous charitable either to correct or pardon all the faults of this piece So far at least as to accept favour the Essay rather than to carp at the Errours whether they have proceeded from the Author the Transcriber or the Printer If thou art a Catechumen and one desirous to learne two things I intreat of thee the one is to read it if it may be with thy conveniency wholly so possibly thou mayest the better understand the severall parts of it The other is not to be offended because sometimes thou findest in thy way Yes or No in the Porch or Entrie of the Answer and sometimes not Where this Porter standes at the dore I would not you should take his bare word for answer and so passe along and goe your way but that he may open you the dore to goe in and view the places themselves to see whether it be indeed so or no as is pretended and that you may believe not because I told you but because you have heard the Scriptures themselves Where there is no such at the dore of the Answer to let you in I desire you now once for all not to stay there but without farther Ceremonie to walke in to goe round about the places to tell the towers thereof and to marke well her bulwarks I meane the strength of those texts of Scripture set there for the defence of the Truth VVhosoever thou art who shalt please to peruse this Catechisme I say to thee before hand I will not I dare not avouch it so far as 't is mine to be free from all errour I am but a man if thou wilt forgive me I will promise when opportunity serves to correct or retract such mistakes But this I dare say I doe not erre wilfully and maliciously out of mere opposition to any party or person I am a Christian and if I should so erre my selfe whilest I confute the errours of others I assure thee if I know my own heart without repentance and amendment I should not forgive my selfe And now to prevent mistakes and misconstructions concerning my selfe and others be pleased to take notice that I will not undertake to justify my selfe to have been in this Catechisme an exact or compleat Herauld and to have marshal'd the severall errours under their proper Commanders and colours and to have ranked them all in their right place and due order And if the Quakers renounce any of the following errours rang'd under the Head or Chapter which beares their name let them know I desire not to doe violence to erroneous persons or to accuse them falsely and therefore premise this that the Title of the Chapter may not be produced for a sufficient evidence to charge them with them I here allow them liberty provided they doe it truely to disowne them or to refuse to father them with a non obstante to any thing therein contained Reader if thou reapest benefit from this Catechisme if it shall please God by this meanes to shew thee his wayes and teach thee his pathes to lead thee in his truth teach thee in the way wherein thou shouldest goe blesse God who hath shewed us light pray with me for those who yet wander in dark and by-pathes of errour forsaking God's Ordinances and our solemne Assemblies O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead them let them bring them unto thy holy hill and to thy Tabernacles and for me that I may doe nothing against the truth but for the truth Thy servant in and for the Lord T. H. Books lately Printed for THO ROBINSON OF Communion with God the Father Son and Holy Ghost each Person distinctly by JO. OVVEN D. D. in 4o. The True nature of Schisme with a vindication of the Congregationall Churches in England from the imputation thereof in Ans to Mr Cawdry by JO. OVVEN D. D. in 8o. Of the Mortification of sin in Believers the second edition by JO. OVVEN D. D. 8o. A Treatise of Fruit-Trees shewing the manner of Grafting pruning and ordering of them in all respects according to the new and easy rules of Experience the 2d edition enlarged by RALPH AUSTEN in 4o. The Spirituall use of an Orchard or Garden in divers similitudes between naturall and spirituall Fruit-Trees according to Scripture and Experience by R. Austen in 4o. Observations one some part of Sr F. Bacon's Naturall History as it concernes Fruit-Trees Fruites and Flowers by R. Austen in 4o. The Young Divine's Apology for his Continuance in the University with his serious meditation on the sacred calling of the Ministry in 8o. Historicall Memoires on the Raignes of Q Elizabeth and King James in 12o. A Preface to those of the Church of Rome IT is the saying of a very learned ingenious Person D. Cudw Truth and Love are two the most powerfull things in the world and that the golden beames of Truth and the silken cords of Love twisted together will draw men on with a sweet violence whether they will or no. I desire for my part I may both in word deed conference conversation in preaching printing practising experiment the truth of this Testimony and in all to be so happy my selfe as to make others happy also in all undertakings to follow the practise and paterne of the blessed Apostle Paul viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to truth it in love so to inlighten men who sit in the region of darknes as not to inflame them so to convince thē of error that they may not say I am become their enemy when I tell them the truth that they may see
nature and yet in regard of his manhood and in respect of his office of Mediator about which he was sent into the world his Father was greater than he Q. Are not God the Father and God the Son said to send the Holy Ghost And is not he that sendeth greater than he that is sent A. M. Perk. One Equall may send another by consent Q. Doth not Christ say concerning the Holy Ghost Joh. 16.13 14 15. he shall not speak of himselfe and he shall receive of mine c A. The Holy Ghost hath his subsistence from the Father and the Son but this by nature and he imparts to every one of us as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 and the Church is commanded to hearken unto him Rev 2. Yet the mercy grace D. Ow. his Ans to Bid. light guidance direction comfort peace gifts that he should communicate were no other but what were procured and purchased for them by Christ himselfe according to that dispensation that the Trinity is pleased to proceed in to accomplish the work of our Salvation Q. May we give prayse and glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost A. Is 6.1 2 3. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the Temple Above it stood the Seraphims And one cryed unto another and sayd Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory So vers 8.9 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying go and tell ye this people Heare ye indeed but understand not compared with Act. 28.25 26. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the Prophet unto our Fathers saying Goe unto this people and say Hearing ye shall heare and shall not understand Rev. 7.9 10. After this I beheld and lo a great multitude And cryed with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lambe Q. May we lawfully pray to any particular Person of the Holy Trinity And may we give glory to a particular Person A. Luk. 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they doe Act. 7.59 60. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit and he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge 2 Cor. 13. last The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Rev. 5.13 And every creature heard I saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Q. May we lawfully in a continued prayer wherein we have many petitions put up one to God the Father by name another to the Son and a 3d to the Holy Ghost A. 2 Cor. 13. last The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen 2 Thes 2.16 17. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe God even our Father comfort your hearts c. Q. Which Person of the Trinity is most frequently named in the prayers of holy men recorded in Scripture A. Eph. 2.18 For through him we both have an accesse by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 3.14 21. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages world without end Amen Cap. 5. Of God's Decrees Q. HOW prove you that nothing can come to passe in time but what God did most wisely and freely decree and ordaine unchangably from all eternity A. Eph. 1.11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsell of his own will Rom. 11.33 34. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and his waies past finding out For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counseller Heb. 6.17 Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heires of promise the immutability of his Counsell confirmed it by an oath Rom. 9.15 18. For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Q. How prove you that for all this decree God is not the Author of sin A. Jam. 1.13 17. Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot betēpted with evill neither tempteth he any man Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse nor shadow of turning 1 Joh. 1.5 This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darknesse at all Q. How prove you that God's Decrees or eternall predestination or foreordaining of all that comes to passe in time doth not take away man's liberty or offer violence to him and consequently free man from sinne A. Act. 2.23 Him being delivered by the determinate counsell and fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain So Chap. 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 togeither for to doe whatsoever thy hand and thy counsell determined before to be done Math. 17.10 11 12. Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of thē Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Joh. 19.11 Jesus answered thou could'st have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin The power of the Magistrate being from God therefore the Jewes sin'd grievously in making use of the Magistrate to condemne the innocent and the Son of God Beza Q. How prove you that God knowes all that comes to passe A. Act. 15.18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Q. How prove you he knowes what may or can come to passe upon such and such conditions A. 1. Sam. 23.11 12. Will Saul come down as thy Servant hath heard O Lord God of Israel I beseech thee tell thy Servant And the Lord said he will come down Then said David will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of
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
that I aime at and endeavour their conversion and not their confusion I know the Apostles themselves had a zeale but not according to knowledge when they were so earnest to have called for fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans the Sons of Thunder would have been Sons of Lightning too but they had not so learned of Christ ye know not saith he of what spirit ye are of And afterwards when the Spirit of Christ came down upon the Apostles in the dayes of Pentecost though with a rushing mighty wind and sate upon each of them in the likenesse of fiery cloven tongues yet neither did that wind smite the corners of any house that it fell nor those fiery tongues singe a haire of their own or others heads Instead of calling for fire from heaven to consume you I pray and endeavour that I may shew you a light from heaven shining round about you above the light of the Sun at noon-day I mean cleare and evident Scriptures to inlighten convince and convert you If I desire to be sometimes a Boanerges indeed yet 't is in order to be a Barnabas If I heap coales of fire on your heads I seek to melt you not to burne you when I thunder against error I desire my speeches and actions may be like that lightning which breaks or melts the sword and doth not hurt the scabbard I desire to melt your soules but not doe the least hurt to your bodies the sheath of your soules That there is a God and this God is to be worshipped is I hope written in your hearts as with a pen of iron or point of a Diamond that is with a lasting or indelible and as with a Sun-beam that is with a legible character And if you say wherewithal shall I come before God and bow my selfe unto the most high shall I make an Image or likenes of him or shall I come to him by the Mediation of Saints and Angels I answer He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee and what thou shouldest believe and doe Thou needest not say who shall ascend up into heaven to bring Christ down from above But the word is nigh thee in thy mouth and in thy heart and this is the word which in this Treatise is made known unto you Since men therefore erre because they know not the Scriptures the manifestation of the Scriptures thus to every man's conscience may possibly prove a good way and meanes to reclaime them from errour God hath magnified his word above all his name and therefore 't is but reason that men should advance it above all humane Testimony and if you will plead the Testimony of men surely the Testimony of God is greater Yea if you would be but Reasonable if you would shew your selves men and act as Religious men and good Scholars men of the purest and highest Reason I might boldly plead with you thus and shew you what I have to say on God's behalfe I might desire you to heare God speak in the Scriptures and say whether it be fit to believe and obey God or man Judge ye If you plead Scripture pretending that your Church of Rome was once true I may justly alleadge Scriptures to shew from whence you are fallen and to prove that you have greatly erred Is the Scripture of force to prove that she was once a true Church and a chast Spouse of Christ and is it not to be pleaded in evidence that now she is become a Mother of Fornications and hath committed Adultery with stocks and stones For our parts we are willing to stand and fall by Scripture to be weighed in the same ballance of the Sanctuary with you to have our Gold tryed by the same touchstone of the word and to be measured by the same bushel or Epha by which we measure you or others If you appeale from a higher to a lower court from God to Man from Scriptures to Fathers besides that 't is against the mind of God against right reason and the Methods of wise men so 't is against the Desire and Doctrines of the Fathers I dare say if they should arise againe from the dead they would rather say we be Judges of no such matters or who made us a judge over the Scriptures yea being dead they yet speak in their writings against such positions and practises they make the Scriptures their Judges and make not themselves judges of the Scripture yea if the Fathers might be heard out testifying fully to the perfection and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures that one sentence of theirs will prove a condemnation of Popery of the body and soule of it the Fathers themselves being Judges Possibly it may be said by some of you that the Protestant Religion is but of yesterday and knows nothing of the Fathers nor the Fathers of it that such a novel faith as it may be pretēded to be dares not appeare at the Tribunall of the Fathers The truth is if there were no Scripture the Protestants durst adventure the Ordeal or tryall by Fathers and Councels saving alwaies the Honour of the Holy Scriptures and our just Liberty of appeale unto them the Protestants golden Faith doth not feare the silver haires of the Antient Fathers The truth is we would not be cheated or gulled with mouldy bread and old shooes a mere pretence of Religion that came to us from far from many ages agoe when as indeed in truth aske the Primitive Fathers and they will tell you another Story that we are the children of the Primitive and most antient Church If you will heare the Protestants judgment plea and evidence in this matter let me produce three or four to speak for the rest Mr Perkins reckoning up divers points of Popery as that the Pope or Bishop of Rome is the Vicar of Christ and the head of the Catholique Church that there is a fire of Purgatory after this life that Images of God and Saints are to be placed in Churches and worshiped that prayers are to be made to Saints departed and their intercession to be required that there is a propitiatory sacrifice daily offered in the masse for the sinnes of the quick and the dead observes that the Apostles creed hath not any of these points nor the expositions made thereof by the Antient Fathers nor any other creed or confession of faith made by any Council or Church for the space of many hundred yeers Mr Perkin's Advertisement to all favourers of the Romish Religion Yea the same Author undertakes to prove that for 1200 yeers no Father or Council held all the points of Doctrine of the Trent Faith Demon of the Probleme Sometimes saith Dr Ferne we meet with phrases in the Fathers favouring some Romish Doctrine but then we shew by Argument and Reason that those doe not speak indeed the Romish sense againe the Romanists have the shadow the shell the name
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
Saul and the Lord said they will deliver thee up Matth. 11.21 23. Woe unto thee Chorazin wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty workes which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven shalt be brought down unto hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodome it would have remained unto this day Q. How prove you that God did not decree such and such things because he foresaw they would come to passe or come to passe upon such conditions A. Rom. 9.11 13 18. For the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evill that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works but of him that calleth As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Chap. 6. Of the Creation and of the first estate of Man Q. VVAS the world Eternall or did God make heaven and earth and all things therein in the beginning A. Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which doe appeare Q. In what state did God make man at first did he make him after his own image in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse upright having the law written in his heart induing him with power to fulfill the Law with dominion over the creatures A. Gen. 1.27 31. So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God hath made man upright Rom. 2.14 15. These having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts Gen. 1.28 And God said unto them replenish the earth subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth Q. Did man continue in that state wherein God made him or did he hearken to the Divell that old Serpent and disobey God and so fell A. Gen. 3.6 13 23. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food she took of the fruit thereof did eate and gave also unto her husband with her and he did cate And the Lord God said unto the Woman what is this that thou hast done And the Woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken Eccl. 7.29 But they have sought out many inventions 2 Cor. 11.3 But I feare lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Q. Was Adam the first man or were there any before him or was he a common Father from whom all Persons descended A. 1. Cor. 15.45 47. The first man Adam was made a living soule The first man is of the earth earthy Chap. 7. Of sin and of the bitter fruits of it Q. VHAT is sinne A. 1 Joh. 3.4 Sin is the transgression of the Law Q. Did all mankind sinne in and fall by the sinne or transgression of our first Parents A. 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all dye c. Act. 17.26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth Rom. 5.12 18 19. Wherefore as by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation c. For as by one man's disobedience all were made sinners c. Q. Can the Act or deed of the Father be imputed to the children is this as 't is the manner of men is it also agreeable to the Scriptures A. Heb. 7.9 10. Levi also who received tithes payed tithes in Abraham For he was yet in the loines of his Father when Melchisedec met him Q. Did Adam after the fall beget children after the image and likenesse of God in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse or after his own likenesse A. Gen. 5.3 And Adam begat a Son in his own liknesse after his image and called his name Seth. Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Job 15.14 Joh. 3.5 6. Q. Is man since the fall born pure righteous or is he conceived and borne in sin A. Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my Mother conceive me Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one chap. 15 14. What is man that he should be cleane and he which is borne of a Woman that he should be righteous Joh. 3.6 That which is borne of the flesh is flesh and that which is borne of the Spirit is Spirit Q. Can a man by nature now since the fall savingly know God without being spiritually inlightened A. 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Joh. 5.20 And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true 2 Cor. 4.6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ Q. Can a man by the strength of nature now fulfill the Law of God A. Ro. 8.7 Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 7.18 For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing For to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not Joh. 15.5 For without me ye can doe nothing 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. Should our first Parents have dyed if they had never sinned did actuall death come in by sin A. Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death Rom. 5.12 As by one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Gen. 2.17
wilt dash their children and rip up their women with child vers 15. And Hazael reigned Q. What Scriptures prove that God's Providence especially doth reach his Church and that he disposeth all things to the good thereof A. 1 Tim. 4.10 Who is the Saviour of all men especially of those that believe Amos. 9.9 I will sift the house of Israel among all nations c. Yet shall not the least graine fall upon the earth Is 43.3 4 5. I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour I gave Egypt for thy ransome Ethyopia and Seba for thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life Fear not for I am with thee I will bring thy seed from the East c. Chap. 11. Of Faith and Repentance a holy life and assurance of Salvation Q. IS faith in Christ required of those who shall be saved A. Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house Joh. 3.16 36. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life Q. What is that great truth to which the Father Son and Holy Ghost bear witnesse A. 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne Q. Is it necessary that we should repent of our sinnes and reforme or amend our lives and forsake our sinnes if we will have mercy A. Act. 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Q. Are any so predestinated or did our Lord Jesus Christ so lay down his life for any particular Persons that although they live and dye in impenitency and unbeliefe yet they shall surely be saved A. Rom. 8.1 13 30. There is therefore now no condemnation to thē which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit For if ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit doe mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified c. Q. Doth the Scriptures hold out any such preterition or Non-election or so hold forth the death of Christ that some persons although they believe with all their heart and repent and forsake all their sins yet shall not be saved A. Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life Act. 10.34 35 43. Of a truth I perceive God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him To him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sinnes Q. May we be sure if we believe that we were ordained to eternall life A. Act. 13.48 And as many as were ordained to eternall life believed 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks to God alway for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Q. What manner of Persons are those living and dying who were of old ordained unto condemnation A. Jude 4. For there are certaine men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Q. May our Election be known A. 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shall never fall 2 Thes 1.4 Knowing brethren beloved your election of God Q. Doth God elect or chuse men out of Grace and that they might he holy A. Rom. 11.4 5 6. There is a remnant according to the Election of Grace And if by Grace then is it no more of works otherwise grace is no more Grace Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth Q. Are we commanded to believe in the name of the Lord Christ A. 1 Joh. 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ Joh. 6.29 Jesus answered and said unto them This is the word of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent Q. Have we power of our selves to believe and to doe good works A. Eph. 2.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Phil. 1.29 For unto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake Q. Who is the Author and finisher of our Faith A. Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our Faith c. Mar. 9.24 Lord I believe help thou mine unbeliefe Q. Seeing we cannot believe and doe good works by our own power may we be exhorted to both A. Phil. 2.12 13. Wherefore my beloved as you have alwaies obeyed c. Worke out your own Salvation with feare and trembling For it is God which worketh in you both to will to doe of his good pleasure Q. Is there an Almighty power put forth to make us believe A. Eph. 1.19 And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Q. Is it our duty to convert and turne to God c. A. Isa 1.16 17. Wash ye make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe evill learne to doe well seek judgment relieve the opressed judg the fatherlesse plead for the widdow Act. 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sinnes may be blotted out Joel 2.12 Turne ye even to me saith the Lord with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning Q. Are we able of our selves to turne or must we pray unto God to turne us A. Psal 85.4 Turne us O God of our Salvation and cause thine anger towards us to cease Jer. 31.18 Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my 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. Is the word of God a means or instrument which God useth to convert men A. 1 Thes 1.5 6. For our Gospel came not unto you in word
and to make them have a chearfull countenance they took oile perhaps inwardly and they used it outwardly anointing their heads and perhaps their faces too for the purposes aforesaid it may be too to perfume themselves and this was the practise of men and of good men too 2 Sam. 12.20 Of David And we read that one powred out a box of precious ointment on our Saviour and was commended for it This use of oile was common to men but who ever heard of a man's face laid in oile colours of such a picture of a man you may have heard The Picts I suppose painted their whole bodyes see Camdē If of naturall surely of auxiliary beauty we may take up that saying favour is deceitfull and beauty is vaine c. Prov. 31.30 Q. Should Christians doe well to conforme themselves to the modest fashions of good people where they dwell A. See 1 Cor. 11.16 But if any man seem to be contentious we haue no such custome neither the Churches of God 1 Pe. 3.3 4 5. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparrell But let it be the hidden man of the heart For after this manner in old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves Q. Is it not fitting by any art to paint or counterfeit the fruit of repentance or to hide or hinder the evidence of it in our countenance Is it then expedient to paint our faces A. Ezrah 9.5 6. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heavinesse and having rent my garment and my mantle I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God and said O! my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God Jer. 6.15 and chap. 8.12 Q If a woman have no evill intention or designe in painting her face or in going with naked brests doth that certainly free her from all fault blame and punishment for her so doing in case this be an occasion of sin and fall to others that behold her A. 1 Cor. 8.13 If meat make my Brother to offend I will eate no flesh while the world standeth Exod. 21.33 Chap. 16. Of Children with respect to holy things Q. DID ever God make a Covenant with Parents and their children so as that the children being yet Infants were involved and interested in the covenant with their parents A. Gen. 17.7 8. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God Q. Did God ever ordaine any seales of his Covenant and that the children so in Covenant whilst Infants should be sealed with the seale of the Covenant A. Gen. 17.10 11 12. This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin and it shall be a token of the Covenant betwixt me and you And he that is 8 dayes old shall be circumcised among you every man-child in your generations c. Q. Is there by Christ's appointment any other new seale now to be administred in place of the old And is Baptisme now to be administred in the room of circumcision A. Gal. 5.2 Behold I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing 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 Col. 2.11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God Q. Are any now to be admitted to any seale of the Covenant who were formerly excluded A. Act. 8.12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Q. Hath Christ any where excluded Infants under the Gospell either from the Covenant or the signs and seales of it or hath our Lord expressed good will and Affections to them declaring his will to have little ones brought to him A. Mat. 19.13 14 15. Then there were brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them But Jesus said suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdome of heaven And he layd his hands on them and departed thence Mar. 10.16 And he took them up in his armes put his hands upon them and blessed them Q. Are believing Gentiles concerned in the Covenant and promises made to the Patriarks Abraham Isaack and Jacob and David A. Gal. 3.7 8 9 13 14. Know ye therefore that they which are of Faith the same are the children of Abraham And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations be blessed So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law c. that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through Faith Q. Doe Believers Jewes and Gentiles make up one Church and one body whereof Christ is Saviour and head A. Eph. 2.13 14. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition between us chap. 4.4 There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling Q. Are believing Gentiles ingrafted into the same olive out of which the unbelieving Jewes were cut off A. Rom. 11.17 18 24. And if some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild olive tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the root and fatnesse of the Olive tree Boast not against the branches For if thou wert cut out of the Olive tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good Olive tree how much more shall these which be the naturall branches be grafted into their own Olive tree Q. Were Infants with their Parents ever so much as figuratively baptized A. 1 Cor. 10.1 2. All our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the Sea And were all baptized unto Moses in the
the Common-wealth to the end of the world or with the Church A. Mat. 28.19 20. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you even unto the end of the world Q. May the supream Magistrate taxe the people at his pleasure A. Neh. 5.15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people and had taken of them bread and wine beside forty shekels of silver yea even their servants bare rule over the people but so did not I because of the feare of God Q. Is it possible for a wise Prince to overshoot himselfe in oppressing the people A. 2 Chr. 10.4 Thy Father made our yoke grievous now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy Father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we will serve thee Q. May good Governours suffer their servants officers or courtiers how great friends or favourites soever to Lord it over the people A. Neh. 5.15 Even their servants bare rule over the people but so did not I because of the feare of God Q. May not a good and wise King have some one of his servants or principall officers who may be esteemed his especiall friend A. 2 Sam. 15.37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city and Absalom came into Jerusalem 1 King 4.5 And Zabud the sonne of Nathan was principall officer and the King's friend Q. Ought not godly magistrates to take care that their servants and great and rich men doe not oppresse or devoure the poor and men of lower ranke A. Neh. 5.2 4 7 11. For there were that said we our sonnes and our daughters are many therefore we take up corne for them that we may eate and live There were also that said we have borrowed money for the Kings tribute and that upon our Lands and vineyards Then I consulted with my selfe and I rebuked the Nobles and the Rulers and said unto them you exact usury every one of his brother Restore I pray you to them even this day their lands their vineyards their olive-yards and their houses c. Q. May the civill Magistrate punish evill doers or evil workers without exception A. Ro. 13.34 For Rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evill wilt thou then not be afraid of the power doe 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 doe that which is evill be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vaine for he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evill Q. Are heretiques or seducers to error evill workers A. Philip. 3.2 Beware of dogs beware of evill workers beware of the concision Q. Is heresie reckoned amongst the workes of the flesh A. Galath 5.19 20. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Seditions heresies Q. What was God's law by Moses concerning Seducers to Idolatry and concerning Blasphemers A. Deut. 13.1 2 5 6 8 9. If there arise among you a Prophet or a dreamer of dreames and giveth thee a signe or a wonder And the signe or the wonder come to passe whereof he spake unto thee saying Let us goe after other God's which thou hast not known and let us serve them And the Prophet or dreamer of dreames shall be put to death so shalt thou put the evill away from the midst of thee If thy brother the Son of thy mother or thy Son or thy daughter or the wife of thy bosome or thy friend which is as thy own soul entice thee secretly saying Let us goe and serve other Gods Thou shalt not consent unto him nor hearken unto him neither shall thine eye pitty him neither shalt thou spare neither shalt thou conceale him But thou shalt surely kill him thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards the hand of all the People Q. Had the Jewes after the Captivity Urim and Thummim whereby to enquire of the Lord in all difficult matters and to have infallible resolution had they any other constant ordinary meanes to know and Judg of what was blasphemy then we have in these dayes namely the holy Seriptures had they Urim and Thummim to inquire by concerning blasphemy as perhaps at first they had Levit. 24.12 13. c. A. Ezrah 2.63 And the Tirshatha said unto them that they should not eate of the most holy things till there stood up a Priest with Urim and with Thummim Q. If it be once ill with the Church will it be alway or likely long well with the Common-wealth A. 2 Chron. 15.3 4 5. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God and without a teaching Priest and without Law But when they in their trouble did turne unto the Lord God of Israel and sought him he was found of them And in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countryes Q. Doe people say well that it was never well since there was so much preaching or that the olden time as they speak was better than these times A. Eccles 7.10 Say not thou what is the cause that the former dayes were better than these for thou doest not enquire wisely concerning this Q. If it should be granted that there was more peace and plenty in times of Popery than since the Reformation doth it therefore necessarily follow that God was pleased with that Religion or that that was the true way of worship A. Jer. 44.17 18 20 21. But we will certainly doe whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our mouth to burne incense unto the Queen of heaven and to poure out drink-offerings unto her as we have done For then had we plenty of victuals and were well and saw no evill But since we left off to burne incense to the Queen of heaven and to poure out drink-offerings unto her we have wanted all things and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine The incense that ye burnt in the cities of Judah did not the Lord remember them and came it not into his mind so that the Lord could noe longer beare because of the evill of your doings and because of the abominations which ye have committed therefore is your land a desolation and an astonishment and a curse without an inhabitant as at this day Chap. 27. Concerning Souldiers Q. IS the calling of a Souldier lawfull A. Luk. 3.14 And the Souldiers likewise demanded of him saying and what shall we doe And he said unto them doe violence to no man neither accuse any falsely and be content with your wages Q. Must Souldiers necessarily goe to war at their own charges A. No. 1 Cor.
is the Church of the living God the Pillar and ground of the truth Joh. 8.13 If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Joh. 10.27 My sheep heare my voice Q. Doe the Papists abstaining from flesh 40 dayes every Lent fast as Christ for 40 dayes in the wildernesse or did our Saviour fast from all manner of food during that time A. Mat. 4.2 And when he had fasted 40 dayes and 40 nights he was afterward an hungred Q Did our Saviour and his disciples keep any set weeks of fast yeerly or any set dayes of fasting weekly in remembrance of this all the while Christ was with them A. No. Mar. 2.18 Why doe the Disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast but thy Disciples fast not Q. Is it lawfull for Christians to fast upon extraordinary occasions A. Mar. 2.20 But the dayes will come when the Bridegroome shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those dayes 1 Corinth 7.5 that ye may give your selves to fasting and prayer c. Q. Is every Christian a vessell fit for his Masters use as to this duty of fasting are ordinary servants fit for extraordinary service A. Mar. 2.22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles else the new wine doth burst the bottles and the wine is spilled and the bottles will be marred But new wine must be put into new bottles Q. Is fish holier than flesh because these perished not by water when the old world was drowned A. Exod. 7.20 21. And he lift up the rod and smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood And the fish that was in the river dyed and the river stunck and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river Q. Were fish or the beasts and fowles preserved in a more wonderfull manner in Noah's Arke at the floud A. Gen. 8.17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of of all flesh both of fowle and of cattell and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth that they may breed abundantly Q. Were there any kinds of fish reckoned uncleane according to the Law A. Yes Lev. 11.10 And all that have not finnes nor scales in the Seas and in the rivers of all that move in the waters and of any living thing which is in the waters they shall be an abomination unto you Q. Is it a duty then in imitation of Christ's 40 dayes fast to abstaine from flesh 40 dayes in a yeere A. No. Mat. 15.9 But in vaine they doe worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men Q. Is it a Doctrine of Apostates to command to abstaine from some sort of meats A. Yes 1 Tim. 4.1 3. Now the spirit speaketh expressely that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith forbidding to marry and commanding to abstaine from meates which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Q. Doe the Saints departed know our wants should we pray to them or to God for supply A. Is 63.16 Doubtlesse thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer Job 14.20 21. Thou changest his countenance and sendest him away his Sonnes come to honour and he knoweth it not and they are brought low but he perceiveth it not of them Q. Ought we to pray for the dead since we must not pray to them A. 2 Sam. 12.22 23. And he said while the child was yet alive I fasted and wept for I said who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live But now he is dead wherefore should I fast Can I bring him back againe I shall goe to him but he shall not returne to me Q. Are all damned who dye without Baptisme A. No. Luk. 23.42 43. And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome And Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Q. May Women without scruple or feare administer the Sacrament of Baptisme A. 1 Tim. 2.12 But I suffer not a woman to teach but to be in silence compared with Math. 28.19 Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Q. Will full Assurance of life cause Christians to neglect the use of all good means A. Act. 23.11 16 17. Be of good cheer Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome And when Paul's Sisters Son heard of their laying in wait he went and entred into the Castle and told Paul Then Paul called one of the Centurions unto him and said Bring this young man unto the chiefe Captaine for he hath a certaine thing to tell him Act. 27.24 31. Feare not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar and loe God hath given thee all them that saile with thee Paul said to the Centurion and to the Souldiers except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved Q. Were any of the Apostles married especially was the Apostle Simon Peter ever married A. Yes 1 Cor. 9.5 Have we not power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and as the brethren of the Lord and Cephas Mar. 1.30 But Simon 's Wives mother lay sick of a fever Q. Did our Saviour Christ command that the Apostles should forsake their VVives and that other Ministers their successours should not marry A. No. 1 Cor. 9.5 Have we not power to lead about a Sister a Wife as well as other Apostles and as the brethren of the Lord Cephas 1 Tim. 3.2 4. A Bishop then must be blamelesse the husband of one wife one that ruleth well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity Heb. 13.4 Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Q. Is it necessary that those who live a long time in their sins repent late and doe not suffer much in this world should suffer in purgatory after death to expiate their sinnes A. Lu. 23.43 And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Q. Is Heaven cal'd Paradise A. Yes 2 Cor. 12.2 3 4. I knew a man in Christ such a one caught up to the third Heaven and I knew such a man how that he was caught up into Paradise c. Q. Can any mere man by his own good workes merit heaven or eternall life A. Lu. 17.10 So likewise ye when ye shall have done all these things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable Servants Rom. 6. ult For the wages of Sinne is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Q. Is the Church of Rome or the Pope infalible because of the promises made to Peter Mat. 16.18 Luk. 22.32 A. As Herod might and did erre in cutting off John Baptists head notwithstanding that he succeeded into the place of David and Solomon Kings of the Jewes and notwithstanding the saying that is written Prov. 16.10 A divine sentence is in the King's lips his mouth transgresseth not in judgment So the Bishop of Rome or the Church of Rome or any other particular Church or person may now erre notwithstanding what was once said to Peter Secondly Jesus Christ prayed that Peter might not fall from his Faith in Christ totally and finally or that the Divel might not prevaile over him notwithstanding he foresaw he would shake him and winnow him sore and this latter promise was made good to Peter in his own person for although through temptation he denyed Christ outwardly yet it came not from his heart and he repented of his denyal and professed and preached Christ afterward And if this promise should reach or belong to the Bishop of Rome as Peter's Successour it should only prove that the Bishop of Rome should not fall away utterly from the Faith although sometimes he should deny it outwardly For nothing can reasonably be thought to be obtained for Peter's pretended Successour which was not prayed for and obtained for Peter himselfe As for the former promise Mat. 16.18 Thou art Peter c. Understand it thus that thou Peter shalt lay the first notable foundation of the Christian Church amongst Jewes and Gentiles and this Christian Church thus founded by thee in a more especiall manner shall never be destroyed and we read Act. 2. that Peter did most eminently and successefully first preach to and convert the Jewes to Christianity and we read againe Act. 10. that he did most eminently and successefully first preach the Gospell to and convert the Gentiles to Christianity and accordingly there shall be a Christian Church thus and in this sense begun to be founded by him so long as the world endures nor shall the gates of hell be ever able wholly to root out Christianity but it is not promised that any particular Church whether amongst Jewes or Gentiles and whether that of Antioch or of Rome founded by him under Christ shall never wholly Apostatize from the Faith This we Protestants confesse that the Christian faith or Doctrine was built or founded upon the preaching of the twelve Apostles of Christ whereof Peter was one of the most eminent Pillars or subordinate Founders or Foundations and yet it must be remembred that the rest of the Apostles are called Foundations in Rev. 21. v. 14. And that our Lord Christ himselfe is the chiefe Foundation the Fundamentum fundamentorum and other such foundation can no man lay 1 Corinth 3.11 Q. Was Peter's Successour the Bishop or by any good consequence the Church of Rome the Foundation stone to which all must be joyned and cemented or else they will prove but loose stones or built on the sand or but foolish builders or to use the expression of Mr Baxter must Paul be damned because he was not one of Peter's subjects A. No. 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5 6. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gratious to whom comming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded Q. Did Christ make Peter King or Lord and Ruler over the rest of the Apostles A. Lu. 22.24 25 26. And there was also a strife amongst them which of them should be accounted the greatest And he said unto them the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve Joh. 21.21 22. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus Lord and what shall this man doe Jesus saith unto him If I will that he tarry 'till I come what is that to thee Follow thou me Gal. 2.6 9. But of these who seemed to be somewhat whatsoever they were it maketh no matter to me God accepteth no man's person for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me And when James Cephas and John who seemed to be Pillars c. Q. Did not Christ say to Peter feed my Lambes and feed my sheep Joh. 21.15 16. And doth not this give Peter the power and priviledge of Universall Pastor and consequently give the Pope power of Universall Bishop over the whole Church of God A. Mat. 28.16 19 20. Then the eleven Disciples went away into Galilee c. 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 whatever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway Act. 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood 1 Pet. 5.2 3. 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 mind neither as being Lords over God's heritage but being ensamples to the flock Q. Was the Church of Rome appointed the Head and Mistris of all Churches by Christ And did the Apostle John the last surviving Apostle apply himselfe to 〈◊〉 and write Epistles to her or to the 7 â—â—urches in Asia A. Rev. 1.4 John to the 7 Churches of Asia Grace be unto you c. Q. Should it scare a Protestant from his Religion because the Papists say it is heresy A. Act. 24.14 16. But this I confesse unto thee that after the way which they call heresy so worship I the God of my Fathers And herein doe I exercise my selfe to have alwaies a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men Q. Doth the Church of Rome at this day thwart the practise of the Primitive Church recorded in Scripture A. Yes In their service in an unknown tongue they contradict the Apostle 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 unknowne tongue let one interpret but if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speak to himselfe and to God In the
heathens or Infidels A. See 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your children unclean but now are they holy see Galath 2.15 See Rom. 11.16 Q. Hath God any praise or glory from babes and sucklings A. Psal 8.2 compared with Math. 21.15 16. Out of the mouth of Babes sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger And when the chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderfull things that he did and the children crying in the Temple and saying Hosanna to the Son of David they were sore displeased And said unto him Hearest thou what these say And Jesus sayth unto them yea have ye never read Out of the mouth of Babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise Q. Was it ever the custome of the Jewes according to Gods own command to present Infants to the Lord at his Temple or place of publique worship A. Luk. 2.22 23. And when the daye of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the Law of the Lord every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Chap. 18. Of time for publique worship Q. DID ever God require any set day weekly for his worship service A. Exod. 20.8 9 10. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God Q. Had our Lord Christ power to alter the weekly Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first A. Luk. 6.5 And he said unto them That the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Q. Was the first day of the week observed a day of meeting of Christians for the worship of God by the primitive Christians A. Joh. 20.19 26. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doores were shut where the disciples were assembled for feare of the Jewes came Jesus c. And after eight dayes again his disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus c. Act. 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them 1 Cor. 16.2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Q. VVhat day was it when the Apostle John was in the spirit A. Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet Q. VVere the Jewish Sabbaths shadowes of things to come and to end in Christ A. Col. 2.16 17. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new moon or of the Sabbath dayes which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ Q. Are the prayers and Administrations of the Elders of the Church more desirable than of others A. Jam. 5.14 Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with the oyle in the name of the Lord. Q. Is it lawfull for Christians delivered from the Jewish observation of dayes to have a set day or time appointed for any duty A. 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Q. Should Christians Assemble themselves together to worship God A. Heb. 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of our selves togeither as the manner of some is but exhorting one another c. 1 Cor. 11.20 33 34. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lord's supper Wherefore my brethren when ye come together to eate tarry one for another And if any man hunger let him eat at home that ye come not together unto condemnation Q. Is there to be teaching in the Church when the Church meets A. 1 Cor. 14.19 28. Yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also then ten thousand words in an unknown tongue But if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speak to himselfe and to God Q. Are women to be publique teachers in the Church A. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Let the women learne in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach but to be in silence 1 Cor. 14.34 35. Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak And if they will learne any thing let them aske their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the Church Q. Doth 1 Cor. 11.5 Philip. 4.2 3. Joel 2.28 Doe all these together authorize Women to be publique teachers in the Church of the Saints A. Prophesying may perhaps be found taken three wayes in Scripture first for foretelling things to come by an extraordinary spirit and so we read of Huldah a Prophetesse and Deborah in the Old Testament and of Anna in the New 2ly For singing or framing or both of Psalmes Hymnes or spirituall songs and so I suppose the word is taken 1 Chron. 25.1 2. And so both Miriam and Deborah prophecyed and perhaps Women did so too in the Church of Corinth whilst they had the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost 3ly For teaching and instructing by expounding and applying some part or portion of God's word and I dare not say because of those Scriptures above named that it was never lawfull for Women to teach in the Christian Church namely whilst those extraordinary gifts lasted and they were not prohibited by the Apostle Paul but I dare not embolden a Woman to be a publique teacher in the Church Q. Do we read of a Woman who pretēded her selfe a Prophetesse would have this preheminence to be a teacher of others in the Church who did really seduce Christians A. Revelat. 2.20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel which calleth herselfe a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication Q. May a Woman teach her children at home the Principles or mysteries of religion A. Prov. 31.1 c. The words of King Lemuel the prophecy that his mother taught him Prov. 1.8 My Son forsake not the law of thy Mother So chap. 6.20 Q. May not Women as well teach authoritatively in the Church as Governe in a Common-wealth A. See Isa 49.23 And Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and Queenes thy nursing Mothers c. Q. If a crown be her Patrimony descending to her
by inheritance in the want of sons querie why she may not inherit and whether the French Salique law forbidding women to inherit the Crown be contained in Scripture A. Jos 17.4 And they came neere before Eleazar the Priest and before Joshua the Son of Nun and before the Princes saying The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren therefore according to the commandement of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their Father Job 42.15 And their Father gave them an inheritance among their brethren Chap. 19. Of an Oath Q. MAY we sweare at all A. Heb. 6.16 For men verily sweare by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife 2 Cor. 1.23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth Q. Must we sweare by the Creator A. Is 65.16 He that sweareth in the earth shall sweare by the God of truth Jer. 4.2 And thou shalt sweare the Lord liveth in Truth in Judgment and in Righteousnesse Q. May we not sweare by our Lady our Faith or Troth and such like oathes A. Mat. 5.34 35 36. Swear not at all neither by heaven for it is God's throne nor by the earth for it is his footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the city of the great King Neither shalt thou swear by thy head because thou canst not make one haire white or black Jam. 5.12 But above all things my brethren swear not neither by heaven neither by the earth neither by any other oath Q. What think you of that expression As I live is it God's oath should wee sweare As we live or As the Lord liveth A. Ezek. 17.19 Thus sayth the Lord As I live surely mine oath that he hath despised and my Covenant that he hath broken even it will I recompense upon his own head Rom. 14.11 For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow downe and every tongue shall confesse to God Q. What ceremony is it fittest then to use in swearing Kissing the book or lifting the hand up to heaven A. Rev. 10.5 6. And the Angell which I saw stand upon the Sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to Heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven c. Q. Doth one maine end of an oath yet continue A. Yes Hebr. 6.16 For men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Q. If a man sweare to bind his soule under a curse to sinne against God either by omitting what is his duty to doe or by committing or doing what God forbids is he bound to keep that oath A. No. 1 Sam. 25.22 compared with 32. and 33. So and more also doe God unto the enemies of David If I leave of all that pertaine to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall And David said to Abigail Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me And blessed be thy Advice and blessed be thou which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging my selfe with mine own hand Q. Doth Math. 5.34 35 36 37. James 5.12 Forbid and condemne as utterly unlawfull all oathes though in weighty matters and before a lawfull Magistrate A. No those Scriptures condemne rash customary swearing particularly by the Creatures and imply the one that in ordinary speech we should content our selves with simple affirmations and negations and the other perhaps may imply farther that our affirmations and negations should be plain and sure grounded on a mere truth that with us there should not be yea and nay but that as there is yea in our promise so there should be yea in our performance we should be as good as our word Consider first that the third commandement forbids taking God's name in vaine and not simply the taking up of his name 2ly That an oath is the end of strife 3ly That the Apostle Paul calls God to witnesse 2 Cor. 1.23 Chap. 20. Of buriall of the dead Q. WHERE did the Lord's people of old use to bury their dead did they bury sometimes in a cave in a field sometimes in a garden and sometimes in the city A. Gen. 25.9 And his Sonnes Isaack and Ishmael buried him in the Cave Machpelah in the field of Ephron Joh. 19.41 42. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulchre wherein was never man yet laid There laid they Jesus c. 1 King 2.10 So David slept with his Fathers and was buried in the City of David Q. Have godly people taken care of their buriall and especially to be buried in the sepulchres of their Fathers A. Gen. 49.29 31. I am to be gathered unto my people bury me with my Fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife there they buried Isaack Rebeckah his wife and there I buried Leah Q. Was it a part of the Priest's office under the Law to bury the dead A. Num. 19.11 He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be uncleane seven dayes Lev. 21.1 2 10 11. Speak unto the Priests the Sons of Aaron say unto theÌ„ There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people But for his kinne that is neer unto him c. And he that is the High Priest among his brethren shall not uncover his head nor rent his cloathes neither shall he goe in to any dead body nor defile himselfe for his Father or for his Mother Q. Hath Christ laid his commands on the Ministers of the Gospel to bury the dead A. Luk. 9.60 Jesus said unto him Let the dead bury their dead but goe thou and preach the Kingdome of God Q. Is it lawfull for a minister to take occasion from Providence the opportunity of the peoples meeting to preach or give a word of Exhortation preaching to their eares as God doth thâ—â— to their eyes A Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine Luk. 14.15 16. And when one of them that sate at meat with him heard these things he said unto him Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdome of God Then said he unto him A certaine man made a great supper c. Q. Is it lawfull to make a funerall oration or Elegies for the dead A. 2 Sam. 1.71 19. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul over Jonathan his son The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places how are the mighty fallen c. So vers 23. Saul and Jonathan were lovely pleasant in their lives and in their death