also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15. 24 28. I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man and the head of Christ is God 1 Cor. 11. 3. All are yours And ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 22 23. Qu. Howbeit is not Christ dignified as with the title of Lord so also with that of God in the Scripture A. Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God John 20. 28. Qu. Was he so the God of Thomas as that he himself in the mean time did not acknowledge another to be his God A. Jesus saith unto her Go to my brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Joh. 20. 17. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God Rev. 3. 12. Qu. Have you any passage of the Scripture where Christ at the same time that he hath the appellation of God given to him is said to have a God A. But unto the Son he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity wherefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Heb. 1. 8 9. CHAP. V. Of the Holy Ghost Qu. HOw many Holy Spirits of Christians are there A. One Spirit Eph. 4. 4. Qu. Wherein consists the prerogative of the Holy Spirit above other spirits A. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God For who of men knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth none save the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. Qu. Whence is the Holy Ghost sent A. Down from heaven 1 Pet. 1. 12. Qu. By whom A. God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Gal. 4. 6. Qu. Doth not Christ affirm that he also sends him how speaketh he A. If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him Joh. 16. 7. Qu. Had Jesus Christ always the power to send the Holy Ghost or did he obtain it at a certain time A. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Act. 2. 32 33. This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified Joh. 7. 39. Qu. What were the general benefits accruing to Christians by the Holy Ghost A. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 13. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8. 16 26 27. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5. 5. Your love in the Spirit Col. 1. 8. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him Eph. 1. 17. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied Acts 9. 31. The he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man Eph. 3. 16. Qu. What are the special benefits accruing to the apostles by the holy Ghost what saith Christ to them hereof A. The Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Joh. 15. 26. When he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth Joh. 16. 13. Qu. Should the holy Ghost lead them into all truth as speaking of himself and imparting of his own fulness What saith Christ concerning him A. He shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Joh. 16. 13 14. Qu. Do men receive the holy Ghost while they are of the world and in their natural condition to the end that they may become the children of God may receive the word may believe may repent may obey Christ or after they are become the children of God have received the word do believe do repent do obey Christ A. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Joh. 14. 16 17. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. When the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the holy Ghost For as yet he was fallen upon none of them onely they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Acts 8. 14 15 16. He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water But this he spake of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. The words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life Joh. 6. 63. Qu. But do the things recorded in the Word of God concern us A. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him to a wise man which built his house upon a rock Matth. 7. 24. Qu. Which are the most affectionate passages in all the Scripture flowing from the mouth of one enamoured on the Word of God A. I have rejoyced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times O how I love thy law it is my meditation all the day How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth I love thy commandments above gold yea above fine gold I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil Psal 119. 14 20 97 103 127 162. CHAP. II. Of God Qu. HOw many Gods of Christians are there A. One God Eph. 4. 6. Qu. Who is this one God A. The Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. What is this one God A. A spirit Joh. 4. 24. Qu. Have you more ample descriptions of God in the Scripture A. He is the blessed and onely Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion flow to anger and of great mercy The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 145. 8 9. Qu. Is not God according to the current of the Scripture in a certain place namely heaven A. Our God is in the heavens Psal 115. 3. The Lord looketh from heaven he beholdeth all the sons of men From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth Psal 33. 13 14. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hastie to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth Eccles 5. 2. Look down from thy habitation from heaven and bless thy people Israel Deut. 26. 15. Look down from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory Isa 63. 15. Hear thou from thy dwelling-place from heaven Hear thou from heaven Hear thou from the heavens Hear thou from heaven Hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place Hear thou from the heavens even from thy dwelling-place Hear thou from the heavens Hear thou from the heavens even from thy dwelling-place 2 Chron. 6. 21 23 25 27 30 33 35 39. Your Father which is in heaven Your Father which is in heaven Your Father which is in heaven Mat. 5. 16 45 48. Your Father which is in heaven Our Father which art in heaven Mat. 6. 2 9. Your Father which is in heaven My Father which is in heaven Mat. 7. 11 21. In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Matth. 18. 10. These words spake Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee I have glorified thee on the earth And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self Joh. 17. 1 4 5. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father Joh. 16. 28. Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father Joh. 13. 1. And he being full of the holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God And said Behold I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God Act. 7. 55 56. Qu. Is God in the Scripture said to have any likeness image similitude person and shape A. God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him Gen. 1. 26 27. In the day that God created man in the likeness of God made he him Gen. 5. 1. Whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made he man Gen. 9. 6. My servant Moses is not so who is faithful in all my house With him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold Num. 12. 7 8. Therewith bless we God even the Father and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God Jam. 3. 9. Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him Will ye accept his person Job 13. 7 8. The Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape Joh. 5. 37. Qu. What passage of the Scripture intimates not onely that the Saints in the perfect state of the world to come shall see God face to face but also comprehend or fully know him A. When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. Qu. Are there not according to the perpetual tenour of the Scripture affections or passions in God as anger fury zeal wrath love hatred mercy grace jealousie repentance grief joy fear A. Israel joyned himself to Baal-peor and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel And the Lord said unto Moses Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away Num. 25. 3 4. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them Ezek. 5. 13. Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people Turn from thy fierce wrath Exod. 32. 11 12. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. The God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love God is love and he that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God and God in him 1 Joh. 4. 8 16. Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity Psal 5. 4 5. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. God who is rich in mercy Eph. 2. 4. The God of all grace 1 Pet. 5. 10. The Lord God merciful and gracious Exod. 34. 6. I the Lord thy God am ajealous God Exod. 20. 5. They have moved me to jealousie with that which is not God Deut. 32. 21. The Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people Exod. 32. 14. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them Gen. 6. 6 7. And they put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel Judg. 10. 16. The Lord will again rejoyce over thee for good as he rejoyced over thy fathers Deut. 30. 9. I said I would scatter them into corners I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely and lest they should say Our hand is high and the Lord hath not done all this Deut. 32. 26 27. Qu. Doth not God know all our thoughts words and actions A. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising thou understandest my thought afar off Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways For there is not a word in my tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Psal 139. 2 3 4. Qu. As for our free actions which are neither past nor present but may afterwards either be or not be what are the chief passages of the Scripture from whence it is wont to be gathered that God knoweth not such actions till they come to pass yea that there are such actions A. Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them Gen. 2. 19. The Lord God said Behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evil and now lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live for ever Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden Gen. 3. 22 23. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually And it repented the Lord that he had made man and it grieved him at his heart And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them Gen. 6. 5 6 7. And it came to pass that God did tempt Abraham and said unto him Take now thy son thine onely son Isaac and offer him for a burnt-offering And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son And the angel of the Lord called unto him and said Lay not thine hand upon the lad neither do thou any thing unto him for now I know that thou fearest God seeing thou hast not withheld thy son thine onely son from me Gen. 22. 1 2 10 11 12. And God said unto Moses Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say unto them The Lord God of your fathers appeared unto me And they shall hearken to thy voice And Moses answered and said But behold they will not believe me nor hearken to my voice And the Lord said unto him What is that in thy hand And he said A rod. And he said Cast it on the ground And he cast it on the ground and it became a serpent And the Lord said to Moses Put forth thine hand and take it by the tail And he put forth his hand and caught it and it became a rod in his hand That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers hath appeared to thee And the Lord said furthermore unto him Put now thine hand into thy bosome And he put his hand into his bosome and when he took it out behold his hand was leprous as snow And he said Put thine hand into thy bosome again And he put his hand into his bosome again and plucked it out of his bosome and behold it was turned again as his other flesh And it shall come to pass if they will not believe thee nor hearken to the voice of the first signe that they will believe the voice of the latter signe And it shall come to pass if they will not believe also these two signes neither hearken to thy voice that thou shalt take of the water of the river and pour it upon the dry-land and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry-land Exod. 3. 15 16 18. Exod. 4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go God led them not thorow the way of the land of the Philistims although that was neer for God said Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war and they return to Egypt Exod. 13. 17. Then said the Lord unto Moses Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day that I may prove them whether they will walk in my law or no. Exod. 16. 4. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people Exod. 32. 14. I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against me Doubtless ye shall not come into the land concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein Num. 14. 27 30. Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these fourty yeers in the wilderness to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thy heart whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no. Deut. 8. 2. The Lord your God proveth you to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul Deut. 13. 3. I said I would scatter them into corners I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely lest they should say Our hand is high and the Lord hath not done all this Deut. 32. 26 27. Now these are the nations
commanded thee saying Thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herb of the field In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return Gen. 3. 16 17 18 19. CHAP. IV. Of Christ Jesus Qu. HOw many Lords of Christians are there by way of distinction from that one God A. One Lord. Eph. 4. 5. Qu. Who is that one Lord A. Jesus Christ by whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. How was Jesus Christ born A. The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with childe of the holy Ghost Matth. 1. 18. The angel said unto her Fear not Mary Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest Then said Mary to the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Luke 1. 30 31 32 34 35. Qu. How came Jesus Christ to be Lord according to the opinion of the apostle Paul A. To this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord of the dead and living Rom. 14. 9. Qu. What saith the apostle Peter also concerning the time and maner of his being made Lord A. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 32 33 36. Qu. Did not Jesus approve himself to be God by his miracles and did he not those miracles by a Divine nature of his own and because he was God himself What is the determination of the Apostle Peter in this behalf A. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by miracles wonders and signes which God did by him Acts 2. 22. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him Acts 10. 38. Qu. Could not Christ do all things of himself and was it not an eternal Son of God that took flesh upon him and to whom the humane nature of Christ was personally united that wrought all his works Answer me to these things in the words of the Son himself A. Verily verily I say unto you The Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do for what things soever he doth these also doth the Son likewise For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doth and he will shew him greater works then these that ye may marvel I can do nothing of my self Joh. 5. 19 20 30. The Father that dwelleth in me he doth the works Joh. 14. 10. Qu. What reason doth the Son render why the Father did not forsake him and cast him out of favour was it not because he was of the same essence with him so that it was impossible for the Father to forsake him or cease to love him A. He that hath sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please him Joh. 8. 28 29. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue in my love If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love Joh. 15. 9 10. Qu. Doth the Scripture avouch Christ to be the Son of God because he was eternally begotten out of the Divine essence or for other reasons agreeing to him onely as a man Rehearse the passages to this purpose A. The angel said unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David Then said Mary unto the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luke 1. 30 31 32 34 35. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God Joh. 10. 36. We declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Act. 13. 32 33. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first-begotten of the dead Rev. 1. 5. He is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead Col. 1. 18. Being made so much better then the angels As he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they For unto which of the angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son Heb. 1. 4 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Heb. 5. 5. Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren Rom. 8. 29. Qu. What saith the Son himself concerning the prerogative of God the Father above him A. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater then I. Joh. 14. 28. But of that day and that hour knoweth none no not the angels which are in heaven nor the Son but the Father Mark 13. 32. Of that day and hour knoweth none no not the angels of heaven but my Father onely Matth. 24. 36. Qu. What saith the Apostle Paul A. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son
glorified Joh. 7. 38 39. Paul having passed thorow the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples He said unto them Have ye received the holy Ghost since ye believed and they said unto him We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost Act. 19. 1 2. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1. 13. That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Gal. 3. 14. God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe And God which knoweth the hearts bare them witness giving them the holy Ghost even as he did unto us Acts 15. 7 8. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost Acts 2. 38. And we are his witnesses of these things and so is also the holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him Acts 5. 32. CHAP. VI. Of Salvation by Christ Qu. IS not Christ in Scripture called a Saviour A. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. Q. Is Christ our Saviour originally and of himself or because he was given exalted and raised up by another to be a Saviour A. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Act. 4. 12. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour Acts 5. 31. Of this mans seed hath God accorcording to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour Jesus Acts 13. 23. Q. How do the Saints expect to be saved by Christ A. We shall be saved by his life Rom. 5. 10. We look for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Phil. 3. 20 21. CHAP. VII Of Christs Mediation Q. IS not Christ called the Mediator between God and men A. There is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. Q. Is not Christ also called the Mediator of the New Covenant or of a better Covenant A. Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant Heb. 12. 24. He is the Mediator of a better covenant Heb. 8. 6. CHAP. VIII Of Christs Prophetick Office Q. IS not Christ dignified as with the title of Mediator so also with that of Prophet A. He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me Acts 3. 20 22. Q. Forasmuch as Christ was to be a Prophet like unto Moses and Moses had this priviledge above other Prophets that God made not himself known to him in a vision nor spake to him in a dream but face to face as a man speaketh to a friend and shewed to him the similitude of the Lord Exod. 33. 11. Num. 12. 6 7 8. can you cite any passage of the Scripture which intimateth that Christ did see God before the discharge of his Prophetick Office A. Every man that hath heard and learned from the Father cometh to me Not that any man hath seen the Father save he which is from God he hath seen the Father Joh. 6. 45 46. Qu. From whence doth it appear that Christ like to Moses heard from God the things that he spake A. Ye seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard from God Joh. 8. 40. He that hath sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I have heard from him As my Father hath taught me I speak these things Joh. 8. 26 28. All things that I have heard from my Father have I made known unto you Joh. 15. 15. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them Joh. 17. 8. Qu. Can you further cite any passages to prove that Christ as a man ascended into heaven and was there and came from God out of heaven before he shewed himself to the world and discharged his Prophetick Office so that the talking of Moses with God in the person of an angel bearing the name of God was but a shadow of Christs talking with God A. No man hath ascended into heaven but he that came down from heaven the Son of man which is or rather was in heaven Joh. 3. 13. What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascending up where he was before Joh. 6. 62. I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me Joh. 6. 38. I am the living bread which came down from heaven Joh. 6. 51. Moses gave you not that bread from heaven but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world The Jews then murmured at him because he said I am the bread which came down from heaven And they said Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know how is it then that he saith I came down from heaven Joh. 6. 32 33 41 42. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me shall live by me This is that bread which came down from heaven Joh. 6. 57 58. I proceeded forth and came from God Ioh. 8. 42. Ye are from beneath I am from above ye are of this world I am not of this world Ioh. 8. 29. Jesus knowing that he was come from God and goeth to God Ioh. 13. 1 3. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father His disciples said unto him Lo now thou speakest plainly and speakest no parable Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man should ask thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Ioh. 16. 28 29 30. I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and known surely that I came out from thee Ioh. 17. 8. Qu. Of what consequence was it in the judgement of Christ himself that his disciples had believed that he came out from God what saith he A. The Father himself loveth you because ye have believed that I came out from God Ioh. 16. 27. Qu. Doth not Iohn the Baptist affirm that Christ surpassed all others because he came down from heaven above what saith he A. He that cometh from above is above all he that is of the earth or rather was from the earth is earthly or rather is of the earth and speaketh of the earth He that cometh from heaven is above all And what he hath seen and heard that he speaketh Ioh. 3. 30 31
the Lords body 1 Cor. 11. 27 29. Q. How shall a man behave himself that he may be a worthy communicant at the Lords table A. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Qu. What examination is it on which Christians should put themselves What saith the same Apostle concerning this point A. Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13. 5. CHAP. XXIV Of the Resurrection of the dead and the last Judgement and what shall be the final condition of the righteous and the wicked thereupon Qu. WHat do you believe concerning the resurrection of the dead A. That there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24. 15. Qu. By whom shall the dead be raised A. By Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. Q. Why are the dead raised by Christ rather then by God himself A. Since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 21. Qu. How came Christ by this power A. As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Joh. 5. 26. The last Adam was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. Qu. By whom shall God judge mankinde A. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 16. He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Acts 10. 42. Qu. What assurance hath God given that he will judge the world by this man A. In that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 31. Q. What shall be the different issue of the good from that of the bad at the resurrection A. All that are in the graves shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. Qu. Shall not the wicked and unbelieving live for ever though in torments as well as the godly and the faithful or is eternal life peculiar to the faithful A. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the warth of God abideth on him John 3. 36. Qu. Though this passage which you have cited seem clearly to prove that eternal life agreeth unto no other men but the faithful yet since the contrary opinion is generally held amongst Christians I would fain know farther of you whether you have any other places that directly affirm that the wicked dye and that a second death are destroyed and punished with everlasting destruction are corrupted burnt-up devoured slain pass away and perish A. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6. 23. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8. 13. I will give unto him that is athrist of the fountain of the water of life freely But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 6 8. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 10 11. When they shall say Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thess 5. 3. The day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men 2 Pet. 3. 7. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess 1. 7 8 9. He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 8. These as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things that they understand not and shall utterly perish in their corruption 2 Pet. 2. 12. If any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy Gr. corrupt 1 Cor. 3. 17. We are not of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul Heb. 10. 39. Which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Whose fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation Gr. fervor of fire which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10. 26 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should raign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luke 19. 27. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2. 17. We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish To the one we are the savor of death unto death and to the other the savor of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. Qu. What is the use that our Saviour himself would have us make of this doctrine touching the destruction of men in hell-fire A. Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell Mat. 10. 28. Qu. In what maner shall Christ come and administer judgement at the last day A. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in Naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me Then shall the righteous answer him saying Lord when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee thristy and gave thee drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the divel and his angels For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also answer him saying Lord when saw we thee an hungred or athirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee Then shall he answer them saying Verily I say unto you Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Mat. 25. 31 32 c. Qu. Is there not another resurrection and judgement that shall precede this last and general one and peculiarly belongeth unto the saints that have been slain for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God what saith John the Divine concerning this matter A. I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given to them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished This is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 4 5 6. FINIS
which the Lord left to prove Israel by them and they were to prove Israel by them to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord. Judg. 3. 1 4. The Lord God of Israel saith I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever but now the Lord saith Be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2. 30. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel saying It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king for he is turned back from following me and hath not performed my commandments 1 Sam. 15. 10 11. Hezekiah prospered in all his works Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land God left him to try him that he might know what was in his heart 2 Chron. 32. 31. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wilde grapes Isa 5. 4. Thus saith the Lord Stand in the court of the Lords house and speak unto all the cities of Judah If so be they will hearken and turn every man from his evil way that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do unto them Jer. 26. 2 3. This word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord saying Take thee a roll of a book and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel and against Judah It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them that they may return every man from his evil way that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin Jer. 36. 1 2 3. The word of the Lord came to me saying Prepare thee stuff for removing and remove by day in their sight it may be they will consider though they be a rebellious house Ezek. 12. 1 3. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God Phil. 4. 6. As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel so we speak not as pleasing men but God which tryeth our hearts 1 Thess 2. 4. Qu. How must we worship God A. They that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Joh. 4. 24. Qu. How must one love him A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might Deut. 6. 5. Qu. Could we love him with all the heart if he were three or is his oneness the cause hinted by Moses why we should love him thus How sound the words according to the * See Ainsworth's Translation truth of the Hebrew text A. Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one Deut. 6. 4. Qu. Wherein consisteth the love of God A. This is the love of God that we keep his commandments 1 Joh. 5. 3. Whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected 1 Joh. 2. 5. Qu. What if a man say he loveth God and in the mean time hateth his brother A. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyer for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 Joh. 4. 20. Qu. What advantage will it be to you to know the Father the onely true God How speaketh Christ in his prayer to the Father concerning this thing A. This is life eternal that they may know thee the onely true God Joh. 17. 3. CHAP. III. Of the Creation Qu. WEre the heaven and earth from all eternity or created at a certain time and by whom A. In the beginning God created heaven and earth Gen. 1. 1. Qu. How long was God a making them A. In six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is Exod. 20. 11. Qu. How did God create man A. The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul Gen. 2. 7. Qu. How did he create woman A. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in stead thereof And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her unto the man Gen. 2. 21 22. Qu. Why was she called woman A. Because she was taken out of man Gen. 2. 23. Qu. What doth Moses infer from her being made a woman and brought unto the man A. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh Gen. 2. 24. Qu. Where did God put man after he was created A. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed Gen. 2. 8. Qu. What commandment gave he to the man when he put him into the garden A. The Lord God commanded the man saying Of every tree of the garden thou maist freely eat But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Gen. 2. 16 17. Qu. Was the man deceived to eat of the forbidden fruit A. Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression 1 Tim. 2. 14. Qu. By whom was the woman deceived A. The serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty 2 Cor. 11. 3. Qu. How was the woman induced to eat of the forbidden fruit and how the man A. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat Gen. 3. 6. Qu. What effect followed upon their eating A. The eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons Gen. 3. 7. Qu. Did the sin of our first parents in eating of the forbidden fruit bring both upon them and their posterity the guilt of hell-fire deface the image of God in them darken their understanding enslave their will deprive them of power to do good and cause mortality If not what are the true penalties that God denounced against them for the said offence A. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children and thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee Unto Adam he said Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I
us or on the contrary to reconcile and bring us to God A. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Rom. 5. 10. He is our peace who hath made both one That he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby Eph. 2. 14 16. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. Christ hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. Qu. For whom did Christ die A. We thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. There is one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus Who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. We see Jesus who was made a little lower then the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man Heb. 2. 9. I am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Joh. 6. 51. Q. What was the procuring cause of Christs death A. He was delivered for our offences Rom. 4. 25. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities Isai 53. 5. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3. Qu. What are the ends of Christs suffering and death intimated by the Scripture A. He learned obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 8. Christ suffered for you leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Christ hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. This is my blood of the New Testament or New Covenant that is shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26. 28. That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject unto bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. That he might sanctifie the people with his own blood Heb. 13. 12. That whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him 1 Thess 4. 10. That they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him which died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world Gal. 1. 4. Ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us Having abolished in his flesh the law of commandments in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby Eph. 2. 13 14 15 16. It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell And having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things to himself or rather for him by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death Col. 1. 20 21 22. CHAP. XIII Of the Universality of Gods love Qu. THose Scriptures which you have already alleadged when I enquired for whom Christ died intimate the universality of Gods love to men yet sorasmuch as this is a point of the greatest importance without the knowledge and belief whereof we cannot have any true and solid ground of coming unto God because if he from all eternity intended good onely to a few and those few are not set down in the Scriptures which were written that we through comfort of them might have hope Rom. 15. 4. no man can certainly yea probably infer that he is in the number of those few the contrary being ten thousand to one more likely what other clear tassages of Scripture have you which shew that God in sending Christ and proposing the Gospel aimed not at the salvation of a certain elect number but of men in general A. God so loved the world that he gave his onely-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved Joh. 3. 16 17. The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world Joh. 6. 33. Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Joh. 4. 42. We have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness And if any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not for I came not to judge the world but to save the world Joh. 12. 46 47. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be condemned Mark 16. 15 16. If ye continue in the faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I Paul am made a minister Col. 1. 22. We preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. I exhort that supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND TO COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH 1 Tim. 2. 1 3 4. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE 2 Pet. 3. 9. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5. 19. We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Qu. These texts which you have now cited are all taken out of the New Testament
is there not a like manifestation of the universality of Gods love in the Old How speaketh the prophet Ezekiel A. Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye die O house of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O house of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 31 32. Qu. What saith Jeremiah A. He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men Lam. 3. 33. Qu. What saith David A. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 145. 8 9. CHAP. XIV Of Christs Resurrection Qu. Ought Christ as to suffer so also to rise from the dead the third day A. Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day Luke 24. 46. He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 4. Qu. Was there so great power and consequence in Christs resurrection How speaketh Paul A. I count all things but loss for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection Phil. 3. 8 10. If Christ be not risen your faith is vain ye are yet in your sins Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished 1 Cor. 15. 17 18. It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Rom. 8. 34. Qu. How speaketh Peter A. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1. 3. Qu. Did Christ rise by his own power yea did he raise himself at all or was he raised by the power of another and did another raise him What is the perpetual tenour of the Scripture to this purpose A. Though he was crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the power of God 2 Cor. 13. 4. Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father Rom. 6. 4. By Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1. 1. If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8. 11. He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus 2 Cor. 4. 14. Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God And to wait for his Son from heaven whom he raised from the dead even Jesus which delivereth us from the wrath to come 1 Thess 1. 9 10. Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole Acts 4. 10. The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Heb. 13. 20. But God raised him from the dead God hath fulfilled the same unto us in that he hath raised up Jesus again And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead He whom God raised again saw no corruption Acts 13. 30 33 34 37. Him God raised up the third day Act. 10. 40. God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his own power 1 Cor. 6. 14. Who by him believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory 1 Pet. 1. 21. Qu. Were the Apostles and the Holy Spirit himself sent to bear witness that Christ raised himself or that God raised him How speaketh the Scripture A. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses Acts 2. 32. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus whom ye delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate And killed the Prince of life whom God hath raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Acts 3. 13 15. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour And we are his witnesses of these things and so is also the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to all them that obey him Acts 5. 30 31 32. We have testified of God that he raised up Christ 1 Cor. 15. 15. Qu. Of what consequence is it to believe that Christ was thus raised A. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was impured to him But for us to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4. 3 23 24. Qu. What is the prayer of the Apostle Paul to this purpose How speaketh be to the Ephesians A. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know What is the exceeding greatness of his power to â—s-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Eph. 1. 17 18 19 20. CHAP. XV. Of Justification and Faith Qu. HOw many sorts of justification or righteousness are there A. The righteousness which is of the Law Rom. 10. 5. The righteousness which is of God by Faith Phil. 3. 9. Qu. How is the righteousness which is of the Law described A. Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall live by them Rom. 10. 5. Qu. How speaketh the righteousness which is of Faith A. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above Or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead Rom. 10. 6 7. Qu. But what saith it Rom. 10. 8. A. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Qu. In the justification of a believer is the righteousness of
transgression Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 14 15 16. In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but faith working by love God 5. 6. The just shall live by faith For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 17 18. Qu. What answer then would you give to a man who wresting the words of Paul in certain places of his Epistles to the Romans and the Galatians should bear you in hand that all good works whatsoever are excluded from justification and salvation and that it is enough onely to believe A. Wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 20 22 23 24 25 26. Qu. What is the advice of Paul to Titus concerning the business of faith and works and the Law A. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works these things are good and profitable unto men But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vain Tit. 3. 8 9. Qu. You shewed even now out of Paul that the faith of him that will be saved must be accompanied with justice or righteousness I would therefore know of you who is a just or righteous man is it not such a one as apprehendeth and applyeth Christs righteousness to himself or at most desireth to do righteously Is not he accepted of God A. Let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous He that committeth sin is of the Divel for the Divel sinneth from the beginning In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the Divel whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God 1 John 3. 7 8 10. If we know that he is righteous know ye that every one that doth righteousness is born of God 1 John 2. 29 God is no respecter of persons But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted of him Acts 10. 34 35. If a man be just and and do that which is lawful and right Hath not eaten upon the mountains neither hath lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel neither hath defiled his neighbours wife neither hath come near to a menstruous woman And hath not oppressed any but hath restored to the debtor his pledge hath spoiled none by violence hath given his bread to the hungry and hath covered the naked with a garment He hath not given forth upon usury neither hath taken any increase hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity hath executed true judgement between man and man Hath walked in my Statutes and hath kept my judgements to deal truly HE IS JUST he shall not dye Ezek. 18. 5 6 7 8 9. Qu. May not righteous men depart from their righteousness and believers from their faith and so perish And is it not false that once in Christ and ever in Christ A. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doth shall he live all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespass that he hath trespassed and in his sin that he hath sinned in them shall he dye Ezek. 18. 24. When I shall say unto the righteous that he shall surely live if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity all his righteousness shall not be remembred but for his iniquity that he hath committed he shall dye for it Ezek. 33. 13. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Divels 1 Tim. 4. 1. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy that thou war the good warfare Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. 18 19 20. The younger widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry Having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith 1 Tim. 5. 11 12. The love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows 1 Tim. 6. 10. Their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus Who concerning the faith have erred saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 12 13. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief Heb. 4. 11. It is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come If they fall away to renew them again to repentance Heb. 6. 4 5 6. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the maner of some is but exhorting one another For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Now the just shall live by faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of them that