Schism but that which is the cause of Separation now our Separation being upon a just account cannot be called Schism for the Errors and Superstitions of the Roman Church made our Separation necessary for God having discovered them to us by his Word we could not without bringing guilt upon our selves neglect that Commandment of God Revel 18.4 to come out of Babylon that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues besides it doth not become them to reproach us with our Separation and to accuse us of Schism since they first thrust us from amongst them by their Excommunications and all sorts of violence and we may much more justly call them Schismaticks they having so unworthily separated from Jesus Christ and his Apostles and from the purity of his Doctrine by so many Heresies which they teach Q. Yet could you not for peace sake have dissembled and contented your selves with distasting them in your heart A. No For God vomits out of his Mouth those that are luke warm Revel 3.16 and would have us to glorifie him as well in our bodies as in our spirits which are his 1 Cor. 6.20 and that as we believe with the Heart unto Righteousness we should with our own mouth make Confession unto Salvation Rom. 10.10 SECT X. Of the Head of the Church Quest WHo is the Head of the Church A. Jesus Christ only for St. Paul says Ephes 4.5 There is one Lord and one Faith and Chap. 1.22 he says that God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his Body Now as Jesus Christ hath but one mystical Body viz. his Church also this Body can have but one Head Q. But hath not Jesus Christ established under him one here upon Earth to be the visible Head of the Church A. No for the Word of God hath made no mention thereof and Ephes 4.11 St. Paul rekoning up the Offices in the Church says He gave some Apostles and some Pastors and Teachers but says nothing of this pretended Head which should have been the first And Jesus Christ forbids all Superiority of Authority amongst his Disciples Luke 22.25 26. The Kings of the earth exercise Lordship over them but ye shall not be so and Matth. 23.8 Be not ye called Rabby for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren Q. It would seem that Jesus Christ looked on St. Peter as a Head Ordinarily he is first named in the Gospel and Matth. 16.18 Jesus Christ says to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church A. His being named first doth not import any Superiority of Authority or Jurisdiction but of Honour and Order because of his Age or Gifts and when Jesus Christ says upon this Rock will I build my Church he had not regard to the person of St. Peter but to his Doctrine and the Confession he had made in the name of the other Apostles saying Thou art Christ the Son of the living God and on this consideration not only Peter but the rest of the Apostles are called the Foundation of the Church as we are taught by St. Paul Ephes 2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself beeing the chief corner stone Q. But Jesus Christ in the same place promises to give him the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and that whosoever he shall bind on Earth shall he bound in Heaven A. In those words he gives no Authority to St. Peter which he gives not to the other Apostles to whom also he hath given the Keys and the power of binding and loosing and of remitting and retaining sins John 20.21 As my Father hath sent me so send I you verse 23. Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted But supposing it were as true as it is false that Jesus Christ did in this passage Establish Peter Visible Head of the Church it would not follow that the Bishops of Rome are his Successors in that Office since we see no warrant for it in the Scripture neither hath the other Apostles had any Successors in their Offices as Apostles Q. But since the death of Jesus Christ and his Ascension did not the Apostles acknowledge St. Peter for their Head A. No on the contrary Acts 8.14 the Apostles send him with John to Preach the Gospel in Samaria and St. Paul says 2 Cor. 11.5 That he esteemeth not himself a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles and Gal. 2.9 Naming James before Peter he says James Peter and John gave him the right hand of Fellowship and proves at length in the same place that he was not called to be an Apostle by any but by Jesus Christ alone and 1 Cor. 1.12.13 He reproves those amongst the Corinthians that did choose to themselves any other Head or Patron but Jesus Christ every one of you says I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas and I of Christ Is Christ divided Was Paul Crucified for you Or were you Baptized in the name of Paul To acknowlege then another Head than Christ is to divide Christ Neither can we acknowlege any other Head but he who was Crucified for us and in whose Name we are Baptized St. Peter himself takes no other Title in his Epistles but that of Apostle and Elder and speaks to the Pastors of the Church not as having Authority over them but as their comparison in service 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders that are among you I exhort who am also an Elder SECT XI Of the Invocation of Saints Quest MVst we pray to Saints A. No Because we have neither Command nor Example in the Word of God for it and when the Apostles desired Jesus Christ to teach them to Pray he injoyns them to pray to God only Luke 11.2 When you Pray say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Now that which is without the Word of God is without Faith Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God It is then a sin to Pray unto Saints since it is to Pray without Faith which is required in Prayer James 1.6 Let him ask in Faith nothing wavering Q. But is not Praying to Saints expresly forbidden in the Word of God A. Yes For God hath commanded us to Adore and Serve him only Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve now praying is one of the chief and principal Acts of Religious Worship and Service and St. Paul teaches us that we cannot call on those we do not believe in Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed then we are not to Pray to Saints since it is not lawful to put our confidence in them for God declares them cursed that put their trust in man Jerem. 17.5 Cursed be the the man that trusteth in man Q. It is true we are to serve God
of Grace and Mercy and to bring them to Salvation by Faith and Sanctification leaving the others in their corruption and misery Q. God hath not elected all men then to Salvation A. No for Jesus Christ says Matth. 20.16 and 22.14 That many are called but few chosen Q. Hath God chosen those that he hath Elected to Salvation upon the account of their excellency or of Faith foreseen in them A. No For so it would be men that should chuse God and not God that should have chosen men contrary to that which Jesus Christ says to his Disciples John 15.16 Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you that you should bring forth fruits Faith is not the cause but the effect of Predestination as it is said Acts. 13.48 As many as were Ordained to Eternal Life believed Q. What then is the Cause of Mens Election A. Onely the good pleasure of God Eph. 1.5 God having predestinated us unto the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will And therefore St. Paul Rom. 11.5 calls the Election of Believers an Election of Grace and Rom. 9. he tells us That the Children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth it was said The Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated vers 11.12.13 It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy vers 16. Q. Is the Election to Salvation irrevocable A. Yes for 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of the Lord standeth sure The Lord knoweth who are his Q. If it be so what ever Sins the Elect commit yea and though they should want Faith and Repentance they must of necessity be Saved A. You make the end combat the means for whom God hath elected to Salvation he hath elected to Sanctification as a means necessary to obtain it for without Faith Repentance and Sanctification none shall see God Heb. 12.14 and John 15.16 I have chosen you says Christ that you should bring forth fruits and that your fruit should remain and Epbes 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Jesus Christ unto Good Works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them see 2 Thes 2.13 Eph. 1.4 SECT XXXI Of Perseverance Quest MAy those that God hath predestinated to Salvation fall finally and totally from the Grace of God A. No For that Chain that St. Paul speaks of cannot be broken Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them he also glorified The Decrees of God are irrevocable and his Covenant with his Elect is eternal Jerem. 32.39 I will give them one heart that they may fear me for ever vers 40. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them c. Q. Then the Faith of the Elect cannot be totally lost A. No because it is the Faith of the Elect Tit. 1.1 and Jesus Christ says John 5.24 He that believeth in him hath Everlasting Life and shall not come into condemnation And John 4.14 He promiseth to give water that whosoever shall drink thereof shall never thirst but it shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life And St. Peter 1 Epist 1.23 That the word of God by which we are regenerated liveth and abideth for ever and is not a corruptible seed but incorruptible Q. Yet the Scripture speaks of Stars fallen from heaven Rev. 6.13 and of them who have made shipwrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 A. We say of such that which S. John says 1 Ep. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us that is They conversed with us but they were not of our body for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us They were called and not chosen Q. From whence proceeds that perseverance A. Not from the power and nature of Faith considered in it self but from the continual assistance of God and from the certainty of his promises for Jesus Christ says John 6.39 This is the Father's will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing his Gifts and Calling is without Repentance Rom. 11.29 We are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last Time 1 Peter 1.5 Add the efficacy of the intercession of Jesus Christ For he prayed for us that our Faith fail not Luke 22.32 Joh. 17.20 SECT XXXII Of the Certainty of Perseverance and Salvation Quest ARE All obliged to believe that they shall be saved and persevere to the end A. No for those that continue in unbelief and impenitence ought not to have this persuasion but they that do seriously repent and believe in Jesus Christ their Saviour are obliged to believe this Evangelical Promise That whosoever believeth on the Son of God should not perish but have Everlasting Life 1 John 3.16 and are obliged to obey the Command of God Hebr. 4.16 to come boldly unto the Throne of Grace and Chap. 10.22 To draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of Faith Q. We ought indeed to go to God with full assurance of Faith that he is merciful and will pardon our Sins if we have the repentance that is necessary but to be assured that we shall never fall from the Grace of God seems to be an inconsiderate Affirmation since we fall every day in divers manners and have every day need to implore the mercy of God and to renew our Reconciliation we may indeed be assured of the goodness of God but we ought to suspect our own infirmity A. It is true but also we ought to be assured that God will accomplish his power in our weakness and will be merciful to us in his Son and will not permit sin so to prevail as to make us wholly fall away from a State of Grace and so fall short of the Salvation which he hath promised And every Believer ought to say with S. Paul 2 Tim. 4.18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom And to accuse those who are assured of their Salvation and of Perseverance of rashness is to accuse David Asaph Jacob Job Paul and other Saints who were assured that they should not be greatly moved Psal 62.2 But that after God had guided them with his Counsel he would receive them into Glory Psal 73.24 That they should see God with their eyes Job 19.27 Who have waited for the Salvation of the Lord. Gen. 49.18 And who were persuaded that neither death nor life should separate them from the love of God Rom. 8.37 Q. You speak of some privileged Saints Prophets and Apostles which might have a Revelation
of their Salvation but it follows not that other Believers must have such Assurance A. It doth follow since that these Saints had not this Assurance by an extraordinary Revelation of their Salvation but that it was built upon the goodness of God the stability of his Promises and upon the efficacy of the death and intercession of Jesus Christ which are Motives and Considerations common to all Believers Q. Have Believers always this Assurance A. No For Faith hath its weaknesses and distempers and according as Sin and the Flesh predominates Faith and Assurance diminishes but at last Faith becomes victorious Q. But may not one be deceived in this Assurance and take carnal Security for true Faith and Assurance A. I grant some may deceive themselves but from thence it follows not but that true Believers may know they have a true Faith otherwise S. Paul's Exhortation was in vain 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith if it cannot be known by Examination Q. By what marks do you certainly know true Faith A. By its effects as a Tree by its Fruits Matth. 7.16 If it worketh by love Gal. 5.6 If it produces in us the love of God and disesteem of the World Ardour and pleasure in praying to God and Zeal for his Glory And besides these Testimonies a Believer hath The spirit of God which beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God Rom. 8.16 Which sealeth us unto the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 and Who is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the praise of his Glory Ephes 1.14 Q. This Doctrine seems to incline men to be licentious for every one may say If I have assurance of Salvation what need I employ my self in good works A. This is the thought of a prophane person and not of a child of God for none can promise themselves Salvation without good works We know not our Election by Election but by the examination of our Consciences therefore S. Peter 2 Epist 1.10 compared with vers 5 6 7 8. would have us give diligence to make our Calling and Election sure by good works And the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of Adoption in the hearts of Believers is also the spirit of Holiness And in witnessing to them that they are the children of God he giveth to them also such holy Motions and Affections Q. Yet in the Scripture we are often exhorted to fear and trembling Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling And Phil. 2.12 S. Paul would have us to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling And 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall A. By these words we are not exhorted to distrust but to a reverend fear and to walk before God with an holy care and fear lest we should offend him And this fear of God is so far from being prejudicial to the Confidence we ought to have in the goodness of God and to the assurance of Salvation that on the contrary it is an effect of Faith and a most assured indication that our Assurance is not a carnal Security but sincere and right and in this fear Believers walk on to the Salvation that they wait for Jer. 32.40 Acts 9.31 SECT XXXIII Of Sin and if all Men are Sinners Quest WHat is Sin A. Whatsoever is contrary to the Law 1 Joh. 3.4 Q. Are all Men defiled therewith A. Yes except only Jesus Christ who is the Lamb without blemish 1 Pet. 1.19 For if we say we have no sin we are Lyers and the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1.8 In many things we offend all James 3.2 Q. Yet the Scripture gives testimony to many Believers that they have walked without reproach in the Commandments of God that they have been holy and righteous and have loved God with all their heart as David Job Zacharia and Elizabeth A. These things are not said of them because they were without sin for the Scripture it self gives us an account of great sins committed by them as of David's Adultery Zacharia's Distrust Job's Murmuring but because they walked in the integrity of Conscience and gave themselves with all their heart and power to serve God Q. In what sense then are Believers called just and holy A. They are called just and righteous because the Righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to them Rom. 1.17 and they are accepted of God as righteous themselves Secondly They are called righteous in opposition to the wicked which the Word of God calls Workers of iniquity Thirdly They are particularly called holy because God sanctifies them by his Spirit and consecrates them to his Service and calls them to be Saints Rom. 5.17 and 6.17 Q. Why doth David say then Psal 18.24 that God hath recompensed him according to his Righteousness and according to the cleanness of his hands A. He speaks so to maintain the innocence of his Carriage in respect of Saul and his other Enemies which persecuted him without cause but when he speaks of his Righteousness before God he prays that He would not enter into Judgment with his Servant for in thy sight says he shall no man living be justified Psal 143.2 and Psal 130.3 4. If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquity O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared Q. Notwithstanding S. Paul speaks of perfect men Phil. 3.15 Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded A. S. Paul calls not them perfect in respect of their fulfilling of the Law but in respect of the perfection of their growth and Advancement in the knowledge of God and therefore he opposed 1 Cor. 14.20 perfect men to children Be not childrin in understanding but be ye children in malice but in understanding be ye men in the Original be ye perfect And the Apostle Heb. 5.14 says that Strong meat that is to say Solid Doctrine belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of their use have their Senses exercised to discern both good and bad SECT XXXIV Of Venial and Mortal Sins Quest WHat doth Sin deserve A. Death The soul that sinneth shall die Ezek. 18.4 Q. Yes indeed for mortal sins but there are venial sins which are of so small importance that it would seem that they merited not to be punished with death A. The Word of God makes no such distinction it shews us indeed that some Sins are more grievous than others and that he who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes but it shews us likewise that all Sins without exception are by nature worthy of death Rom. 6.23 The wages of Sin is death And our Saviour tells us Matth. 12.36 That for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement and Matth. 5.22 That he who call'd his Brother Fool is