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
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
witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10. 43. Qu. Doth not Christ himself forgive sins What saith the Apostle Paul A. As Christ forgave you so also do ye Col. 3. 13. Qu. When Christ forgave sins on the earth did he forgive them as being God or as being a man impowered by God Likewise when he now forgiveth sins in heaven doth he forgive them as God or as one exalted by God to that end Cite the Scriptures pertinent hereunto A. Jesus seeing their faith saith to the sick of the palsey Son be of good chear thy sins be forgiven thee And behold certain of the Scribes said within themselves This man blasphemeth And Jesus knowing their thoughts said Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts For whether is easier to say Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say Arise and walk But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins then speaketh he to the sick of the palsey Arise take up thy bed and go unto thine house And he arose and departed to his house And when the multitude saw it they marvelled and glorified God which had given such power to men Matth. 9. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel Act. 5. 31. CHAP. X. Of Christs Kingly Office Qu. WAs not Christ Jesus to be a King what saith the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary concerning this A. 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 unto him the throne of David his father And he shall raign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1. 31 32 33. Qu. Is Christ Jesus already invested in his kingdom and did he after his ascension into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God exercise dominion and soveraignty over men and angels Rehearse some clear passages of the Scripture to this purpose A. That ye may know What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 18 19 20 21 22 23. By the resurrection of Jesus Christ Who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first-begotten of the dead and Prince of the kings of the earth Unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood And hath made us kings and priests unto God even his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 1. 5 6. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5. 30 31. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I overcame and am set with my Father in his throne Rev. 3. 21. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches Rev. 22. 16. Brother Saul the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightst receive thy sight and be filled with the holy Ghost Act. 9. 17. These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of lords and King of kings Rev. 17. 14. He was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood and his name is called The word of God And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of kings and Lord of lords Rev. 19. 13 16. All power is given unto me in heaven and earth Go ge 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 lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world Matth. 28. 18 19 20. So then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God And they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Mark 16. 19 20. Qu. For what cause and to what ends was Christ Jesus exalted to his kingdom A. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 8 9 10 11. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5. 31. Qu. How ought men to honour the Son of God Christ Jesus A. Even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 23. Qu. What danger is there in not honouring the Son A. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him Joh. 5. 23. Qu. Ought men to honour the Son as they honour the Father because he hath the same essence with the Father or because he hath the same judiciary power What is the decision of the Son himself concerning this point A. The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement unto the Son That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Qu. Did the Father give judiciary power to the Son because he had in him the divine nature personally united to the humane or because he was the Son of man What is the decision of the Son himself concerning this point also A. He hath given him authority to execute judgement because he is the Son of man Joh. 5. 27. Qu. Is it the will of God that Jesus Christ should be worshipped of angels and men A. When he bringeth the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name That at the name of Jesus every knee should
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
Christ imputed to him or is his own faith counted for righteousness A. To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Rom. 4. 5. Qu. Was Abraham the father of the faithful justified in this maner A. He believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness Gen. 15. 6. Qu. Was not this written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him for righteousness A. It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him But for us also Rom. 4. 23 24. Qu. On what terms if we apprehend and apply Christs righteousness to our selves A. If we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead Rom. 4. 24. Qu. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness Is it not sufficient for us if we believe as he did what saith Christ A. Ye believe in God believe also in me John 14. 1. Qu. What saith Peter A. Christ was manifested in these last times for you Who by or through him believe on God 1 Pet. 1. 20 21. Qu. Doth not God justifie men because of the full price that Christ paid to him in their stead so that he abated nothing of his right in that one drop of Christs blood was sufficient to satisfie for a thousand Worlds If not how are they saved A. Being justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Rom. 3. 24. Eph. 1. 7. Qu. Did not Christ merit eternal life and purchase the kingdom of heaven for us A. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6. 23. It is your Fathers good-pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12. 32. CHAP. XVI Of keeping the Commandments and having an eye to the reward of perfection in vertue and godliness to be attained and of departing from righteousness and faith Qu. ARe the commandments possible to be kept A. His commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. My yoke is easie and my burthen light Mat. 11. 30. Qu. But though it be possible to keep the commandments yet is it not enough if we desire and endeavour to keep them although we actually keep them not And doth not God here accept the will for the deed A. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand Mat. 7. 21 24 26. Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work shall be blessed in his doing Jam. 1. 25. Glory honor and peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2. 10. If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13. 17. Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Luke 11. 27. We must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ that every man may receive the things done in his body according to what he hath done whether it be good or evil 2 Cor. 5. 10. The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Mat. 16. 27. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments Mat. 19. 17. Qu. Which Mat. 19. 18. A. Thou shalt do no murther Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Honor thy father and thy mother and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 19. 18 19. Qu. Though it be not onely possible but also necessary to keep the commandments yet is it lawful so to do that we may have a right to eternal life and the heavenly inheritance may we seek for honor end glory and immortality by well doing is it the tenor of the Gospel that we should live uprightly in expectation of the hope hereafter and finally ought we to suffer for the kingdom of God and not as sume are pleased to mince the matter from the kingdom of God Cite the testimonies of the Scripture to this purpose A. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city Rev. 22. 14. The revelation of the righteous judgement of God Who will render to every man accorto his deeds To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality eternal life Rom. 2. 6 7 8. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 11 12 13. That ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which ye also suffer 2 Thess 1. 5. Qu. Have ye any Scripture that saith we must believe that God is a rewarder of them that seek him and that if we come not to him with such a faith it is impossible to please him A. Without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Qu. Have you any example of keeping the commandments under the law what saith David of himself A. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of mine hands hath he recompensed me For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God For all his judgments were before me I did not put away his statutes from me I was also upright before him and I kept my self from mine iniquity Therefore hath the Lord recompenced me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight Psal 18. 20 21 22 23 24. Qu. Have you any example under the Gospel A. Whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1. Joh. 3. 22. Qu. Have you not examples of the choicest Saints who obeyed God in hope of the reward both before under and after the Law
bow of things in heaven and things in earth Phil. 2. 9 10. Qu. Did men worship Jesus Christ before his death and resurrection what examples thereof have you A. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him saying Of a truth thou art the Son of God Matth. 14. 33. Jesus said unto him Dost thou believe on the Son of God He answered and said Who is he Lord that I may believe on him And Jesus said unto him Thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee And he said Lord I believe and he worshipped him Joh. 9. 35 36. 37 38. Qu. Did men worship Christ after his resurrection and ascension And what example thereof have you A. It came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy Luke 24. 51 52. Qu. When men ascribe glory and dominion to Christ Jesus in the Scripture and withal intimate the ground thereof is it because they conceive him to be very God of very God and to have been eternally begotten out of the Divine essence or because he gave himself to death Let me hear how they explain themselves A. Unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Rev. 1. 5 6. Qu. Are the Angels of the same opinion with the Saints when they also ascribe glory and dominion to him let me hear how they also explain themselves A. I beheld and heard the voice of many angels saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5. 11 12. Qu. May men call upon the name of Jesus Christ and have you examples of such as have prayed to him A. Then Ananias answered Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy Saints at Jerusalem And here he hath authority from the chief priests to binde all that call upon thy name Acts 9. 13 13. With all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 1 Cor. 1. 2. And they stoned Stephen saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Acts 7. 59. Even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 20. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and a good hope through grace Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work 2 Thes 2. 16 17. Now God himself even our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you 1 Thess 3. 11. CHAP. XI Of Christs Priestly Office Qu. IS not Christ Jesus a Priest A. We have a great high-priest Jesus the Son of God Heb. 4. 14. Qu. Did not Christ take this honour to himself A. Christ glorified not himself to become an high-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Heb. 5. 5. Qu. What maner of high-priest is Christ A. Such an high-priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majestie in the heavens A minister of the sanctuary and of the tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 8. 1 2. Qu. Was not Christ a priest whilst he was on earth namely when he died on he cross A. If he were on earth he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law Heb. 8. 4. And it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchisedeck there ariseth another priest Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life Heb. 7. 15 16. Qu. What benefit happeneth by Christs priesthood A. He became the author of eternal salvation Called of God an high-priest after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 5. 9 10. Qu. Unto whom is Christ as a Priest become the authour of eternal salvation A. Unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Qu. How can Christ save them by his priesthood A. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9. 28. Qu. Is not the sacrifice of Christ to be reiterated as that of the Levitical Priests if not what is the reason thereof A. Every priest standeth daily ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down at the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 11 12 13 14. Qu. How did Christ enter into the holy place to offer himself A. By his own blood Heb. 9. 12. Qu. Why would God have Christ come to his priestly office by sufferings A. It became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings That he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 10 17 18. Q. What is the true and genuine use you would have us make of this doctrine A. Seeing that we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession For we have not an high-priest that cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 15 16. CHAP. XII Of Christs Death Qu. WAs it the will and purpose of God that Christ should suffer the death of the cross What saith the apostle Peter to the Jews concerning this A. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Act. 2. 22 23. Q. What say the disciples in general concerning the same They lift up their voice to God with one accord and said Of a truth against thy holy childe Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done Acts 4. 24 27 28. Q. Did Christ die to reconcile and bring God to