fit to come to a most holy God from the Hand of no other Mediator but him who has not only the acceptableness of his Person to prefer but the Merit of his Sacrifice too to atone for them Quest. By this it should seem that whensoever we pray for any thing to Almighty God we should not seek after other Mediators but apply by him And since he is so Powerful in Mediation this is not only our bounden Duty but our truest Wisdom Answ. So it is For he is our Advocate with the Father 1 John 2. 1. the one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 2. 5. Whatsoever says he you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 16. 23. We are sure he is now in the immediate Presence of God to prefer any Suit but we are not sure that Departed Saints are there who for ought we know may be kept till the last Day in some inferior Place of Comfort and Refreshment Good Souls as I shall note hereafter not receiving their Consummation before the last Judgment When we address by him we only take that way of Application God himself has prescribed and in all Justice and Reason we should allow God the Direction how we shall seek his Favours since he is the most Free and Soveraign Disposer of them Nay since the Prayers we put up are uttered by sinful Lips and mingled with our own Frailties and Defects they can come worthy and pure to God from him alone whose Blood as I said has Merit enough to purge as well as his Person Favour enough to prefer them Tho a perfect Prayer had not God otherwise order'd it might in it self be presented especially from a perfect Man by an acceptable Mediator yet a sinful Prayer from sinful Men doth plainly need such a Mediator as in the same Person is both Intercessor and Redeemer Thus the Altar of Incense among the Jews which stood without the Vail before the Mercy-seat daily to perfume and present the Peoples Prayers was once a year to be sprinkled with the Blood of Atonement plainly intimating that the Means of presenting Prayers must be endow'd withal with a Power of expiating them Exod. 30. 6 7 8 10. And accordingly the Apostle mentions Christ's Mediation as joyn'd to and founded on his Redemption One Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. And If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father who is also the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Quest. What other Design doth Christ carry on for us in Heaven Answ. 2. The Care of Governing his Church as a King. He is at the Right-hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. and all Authority in Heaven and Earth being put into his Hand Mat. 28. 18. This Power he purchased by his Death but was put in full Possession of it when he came to claim it by his Intercession Quest. Wherein doth he exercise this Plenitude of Power Answ. In Giving Laws to his Church For he is the one Law-giver that is able either to save or to destroy Jam. 4. 12. And since he is the Legislator in Religion 't is an Usurpation upon his Prerogative for any to form to themselves a new-fangled Worship and beat out other Paths to Heaven of their own devising In Protecting it from all both outward and intestine Enemies whether the World the Flesh or Men or Devils For he sits at God's Right-hand till his Enemies be made his Foot-stooll Psal. 110. 1. and Heb. 10. 12 13. and he must reign till he hath put all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. And lastly in judging all the World to their present Portion of the Eternal State when they leave the Body and to the full Consummation of it at the last Day For now the Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. 27. Which as it makes for the unspeakable Comfort of all his Faithful Servants since they are to be judg'd by their own Advocate who has preferr'd their Ease and Happiness to his own Life so will it be to the eternal Terrour of all those his Enemies who would not have him to reign over them Luk. 19. 27. And all this Power he exercises himself from Heaven besides what he doth by his Bishops and Pastors who are the Officers of his Kingdom and his Deputies and Substitutes here on Earth Quest. Has he any other Business to do for us at God's Right-hand as our King Answ. Yes to prepare a Place for us and allot us Royal Habitations with himself I go to prepare a Place for you and I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 2 3. The First Adam lost Paradise and the Second Adam was to restore us to it Who after he had merited it for us by his Cross ascended into Heaven to instal our Nature there and claim his Purchase And discharging the mighty Angel whose flaming Sword after the Fall was set to guard the Passage to it from our Intrusions open'd the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers Quest. What further Concern did he transact for us by going to Heaven Answ. 3. As a Prophet he sent down the Holy Ghost to instruct his Church in his Absence and to be with us in his stead It is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away the Comforter will not come to you but if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. Being by the Right-hand of God exalted he received the Promise of the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 33. and sent him on his Apostles to abide with them for ever Joh. 14. 16. Quest. How did the Holy-Spirit supply his Absence Answ. By endowing them with such miraculous Gifts as enabled them to propagate his Religion thro the World as effectually as if he had staid with them and with such inward Graces as would fit themselves for those Mansions he had provided for them Of both which I shall say more in their proper place Quest. And these Gifts you say he ascended to bestow upon his Church Answ. Yes the Holy-Ghost was not to be given till after Jesus was glorified Joh. 7. 39. but when he ascended up on high he received Gifts for Men that the Lord might dwell among them Psal. 68. 18. and Eph. 4. 8. Quest. Now our Saviour Christ is Ascended is not his Glorified Body to take up its Mansion and fixt Abode at God's Right-hand Answ. Yes as St. Peter told the Jews the Heavens must receive him unto the Times of Restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. And then as the Angel told his Apostles he shall so come again to judge the World from Heaven in like manner as they then saw him go into Heaven Act. 1. 1â— Quest. If his Bodily Presence and Local
Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists which were for the Planting and Propagating Christ's Religion 1. The gift of inspiration in Revelations This bestowed upon the Apostles These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures after which we are not to look for any others This Gift of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation necessary only in Apostles and Evangelists And design'd for the Infancy of the Church Other Rules whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion As try them by the Scriptures Call for their Miracles wherewith God still empower'd men when he sent them to reveal new Things No need of Miracles when men pretend only to revive old and acknowledged Revelations If they shew Miracles for things plainly against Scripture they must work more than were wrought to confirm the Scripture An account of Joel 2. 28 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points but also in Devotions And about Temporal matters Subservient to this Gift of Revelations was the Gift of discerning Spirits This done afterwards by ordinary Rules And the Gift of utterance and boldness Their minds not influenced by this constantly and at all Times But ordinarily they were and especially when they had most need of it 2. Of the Gift of Miracles Miraracles a Proof of Divine Revelation How discernible from Lying Wonders by the Doctrines built on them By their ends and usefulness and being wrought on needful Occasions Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases This sometimes by anointing with Oyl And Prayers Of casting out Devils and other Miracles Of delivering to Satan what it was and why so call'd Of Joy in Tribulations and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles To the working these Miracles there was always required Faith in him that wrought them And sometimes Faith in him that received them 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues The ends of this And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter The Sin against the Holy Ghost is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost Some of these Temporary others to continue through all Times the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces By these we may know he dwells in us Our care required towards these Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages and inward good motions Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces in six Particulars How God gives them though we are thus to acquire them The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments But they are withheld from none through his Arbitrary withdrawing which some count Spiritual Desertion Quest. WHat is the eighth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Quest. Is the Holy Ghost very God Answ. Yes For Lying to the Holy Ghost is call'd Lying to God Act. 5. 3 4. And because Christians are the Temple of the Holy Ghost they are said to be the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. And all the Properties of Divinity are ascribed to him as knowing all things ubiquity or Presence in all Places Eternity or duration through all Times Creating the World being joyned with God who will not impart his Glory to another as an Object of Faith and Worship in Baptism and the Apostolical Benediction and the like Quest. But if both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost be God are there not three Gods Answ. No because these three are One that is one in Nature or one Thing 1 Joh. 5. 7. There is a Trinity of Persons but these three are mysteriously united in Nature and dependance which makes but one God-head not three Gods. Quest. But why is he call'd Holy more than the Father or the Son Since Holiness was reckon'd one of the Divine Attributes are not all the three Persons who are equally God equal also in Holiness Answ. Yes But though they are equally Holy in Nature or Essence yet is he particularly styled so in respect of his Operations For as God the Father particularly undertook for the Creation of men and God the Son for the Redemption of them so did God the Holy Ghost for their Sanctification being always ready to work holiness in those who set themselves to fear God and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by the renewal of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5 6. And purified through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. Quest. Why do we profess Faith and trust in him Answ. Because we are to receive all our Graces and preparations for Eternal Glory from him For after Christ had Redeemed us with his Blood and ascended into Heaven the Rest which was to be done further for our Salvation here on Earth was left to the care of the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent down as his substitute to supply his absence and minister whatsoever he left wanting to his Body which is the Church to perfect it in Faith and Holiness Quest. By this I perceive a great part of Christian Knowledge lyes in understanding what the Holy Spirit has done and is still to do for us Pray what has he bestowed for the effecting of this great work Answ. Gifts of two sorts 1. Extraordinary bestowed upon the Apostles and Evangelists for the Planting and Establishing Christ's Church and Religion 2. Ordinary that are given in common to all oothers for every particular man's Salvation Quest. What are his extraordinary Gifts bestowed upon the Holy Apostles for the Planting and Establishing of Christ's Church and Religion Answ. They consist not only of Gifts but likewise of Offices which he is the Author of Quest. What are the Extraordinary Gifts he gave them to this end Answ. I shall reduce them to three The Gift of Inspiration which revealed Christianity to themselves of Miracles which enabled them to prove it undeniable unto others and of Tongues whereby they could publish it over all the World and be understood by men of every Language Quest. When were these extraordinary Gifts bestowed Answ. First at the Feast of Pentecost upon the Twelve when the Spirit descended on each of them in the shape of Cloven Tongues Act. 2. 3. And afterwards generally upon others at the imposition of their hands as abundantly appears from St. Luke's account of the Acts of the Holy Apostles Quest. And all these you say were to enable them to Plant and Propagate their Religion Answ. Yes for by these Gifts which are call'd the Promise of the Father Act. 1. 4. that is that Spirit which Christ had promised
therefore no Persons to whom God has given Estates must think them a priviledge for being idle and careless or for spending them wholly upon sports and pastimes as if wealthy Persons were made for no other business but diversions and much less for laying them out in ostentation of Pride and Vanity or in ministring to Vice and Luxury Health and Wit and Wealth and other Temporal advantages being only Loans of God are to be Faithfully stewarded and laid out not slothfully neglected wasted embezelled or abused Quest. Are we to learn from it any thing further Ans. Yes Fifthly to be humble and think modestly and soberly of our selves under any preeminence of Body or Parts Power or Possessions When these advantages puff Men up with pride and vain fondness and self-conceit they arrogate all the fancied honour and estimation of them to themselves as if they were Proprietors But when they own them as God's Gifts and Trusts and themselves as holding them only during Pleasure by uncertain Tenures they will ascribe all the Honour of them to him and learn Modesty Care Dependance and Thankfulness And withal never insult or deride the want of them in others remembring that he who mocketh the poor and the case is the same in all other Natural Defects or Calamities reproacheth his Maker who disposed of him in that condition as Solomon says Prov. 17. 5. Quest. By this I see God Almighty is an immensly Great Being How must the thoughts of such an irresistible Might and absolute Sovereignty affect us Ans. With the greatest submission of Humility and Reverence For such immense Greatness and Majesty should strike us with holy fear and submission in the highest degree every time we think or speak of this Great God especially in all acts of Adoration and Worship which we pay to him Thou must fear this glorious and fearful name the Lord thy God Deut. 28. 58. He is the excellency of Jacob Amos 8. 7. the most high over all the earth Psal. 83. 18. a great God a mighty and terrible Deut. 10. 17. glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Exod. 15. 11. Holy and reverend is his name Psalm 111. 9. Quest. By this Almighty Power 't is easie to believe God made the World. Ans. Yes thereby in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth Gen. 1. 1. And by the same Power he still Governs and Preserves it as I have before explained The End of the First Part. Imprimatur Liber cui Titulus The Practical Believer Part II. Guil. Needham R. R. in Christo P. ac D. D. Wilhelmo Archiep. Cant. á Sacr. Domest June 28. 1688. THE Practical Believer PART II. OR THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST By John Kettlewell Minister of Coles-Hill in Warwick-shire LONDON Printed for Robert Kettlewell and are to be sold by R. Clavell at the Peacock in St. Paul's Church-yard and W. Rogers at the Sun in Fleetstreet 1689. THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. OF the Office and Natures of Jesus Christ. In what Salvation by Christ consists Being Christ notes his being 1. A Prophet to teach his Church We must hear and learn of him in the Holy Scriptures and at the mouths of his Ministers 2. A Priest to Redeem and Intercede for it 3. A King to Govern it by his Laws And by his Officers whom we are to submit to in his place Also to Protect it against all visible and invisible Enemies Jesus Christ is the Son of God as having receiv'd from the Father the Nature of God. And the Power of God. On both these Accounts and others he is our Lord. And to be worshipped What we learn from his being our Lord. Of Christ's being Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost and Born of a Virgin. He was truly Man. And why he was so CHAP. II. OF the Sufferings of Christ. An Account of what Christ suffer'd and from whom Both he and God the Father were consenting to it What he suffer'd was for our sins to save us from suffering for them when we truly repent of them Pardon on Repentance the design of his Satisfaction and the Merit of his Death This is a free Grace which implies that it is not given in Recompence of our Deserts not that it requires no Conditions An Account why God would not grant this Grace of Pardon to Penitents without Christ's dying to satisfie for them And how his Death serv'd all the designs of God's Justice full as well as their own would have done Christ's Sacrifice but once offered but daily commemorated Several useful inferences from Christ's dying for us Christ's dead Body was Buried Of his descent into Hell. CHAP. III. OF the Resurrection of Christ and his sitting at God's Right-hand An Account how Christ may be said to have been three days in the Earth His Resurrection proved The necessity of it He ascended to Heaven What is meant by his sitting at the Right-Hand of God. There he 1. Intercedes for us as our Priest. This intercession not vocal by Words and formal Pleas but by presenting himself and his own meritorious Sacrifice He intercedes only for Covenant-Mercies and on Covenant-Terms He is an Intercessor of absolute Power with God and truest Affection for us One part of his intercession is to hand and present our Prayers to God. Therefore whensoever we pray for any thing 't is both our duty and wisdom to apply by him 2. Governs his Church as a King. In what Acts this consists 3. Instructs his Church as a Prophet by sending to it the Holy Ghost Christ's Body having now taken up its fixt abode at God's Right-Hand we are not in any Ordinances to expect his Bodily Presence but only a Presence by his Spirit which is more to be desired Some Inferences from Christ's sitting at God's Right-hand CHAP. IV. OF the Future Judgment The necessity of the Future Judgment All men are judged and made happy or miserable at their Deaths But not so fully then as they will be afterwards The Compleat and General Judgment is at the end of the World. In that Jesus Christ is to be the Judge Who are to be Judged In that Judgement no Condemnation but for breaking God's Laws So not for indifferent things Men shall be tryed and sentenced for all their sinful Actions with regard to their lasting Effects For their most secret ones And such ill deeds as were disguised under the fairest Pretences For their sinful Omissions And Neglecting to employ and improve their Talents For sinful Words And Thoughts and Desires For all these Men shall be judged impartially without respect of Persons But with Equity and Candor not in Rigor The Benign Judge will be very ready to observe what makes for us and make the best of our Performances And interpret the seemingly Rigorous Expressions of his own Laws with great condescension to Humane Measures He will allow for involuntary Failings And judge Candidly and Favourably of that involuntariness And for Natural Infirmities And for Providential disadvantages as Multiplicity of
Abode be at the Right-hand of God's Throne in Heaven then we are not to expect any thing of a Bodily Presence in any Ordinances here on Earth Answ. No as to his Bodily Presence it is expresly said that he parted from his Disciples Luk. 24. 51. that he left the World Joh. 16. 28. and is no more in the World Joh. 17. 11. and tho the Poor we should yet him we should not have always with us Mat. 26. 11. that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from him 2 Cor. 5. 6. and are not to be with him till we depart hence Phil. 1. 23. that his Bodily Abode is in Heaven where he is to remain till the Consummation Act. 3. 21. and without ascending to Heaven to fetch him there is no bringing him back to Earth again Rom. 10. 6. and when he comes to judge the World it shall be from thence by Change of Place and Local Motion call'd his Descending from Heaven 1 Thess. 4. 16. and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26. 64. and the Saints are to be call'd up from the Earth into the Air to meet him 1 Thess. 4. 17. All which plainly imply his Bodily Presence to be circumscribed and limited to God's Right-hand and no longer in this World. But the way of Christ's Presence with his Church is by his Spirit which works the same Effects and confers the same Graces that he himself would were he personally upon Earth His Spirit is his Advocate who was to succeed in his Place to maintain his Cause Joh. 15. 26. and to stay with us all the time of his absence he shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14. 16. And this Presence of his Spirit in all compleatness of Vertue and real Effects he himself judges preferable to all Ocular Manifestations of his Person or Sensible Presence which tho it might serve more to delight our Eyes and entertain our Fancies yet would signifie less to real and desirable Purposes 'T is expedient for you says he that I go away speaking to his Disciples of his Bodily Absence For if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him Joh. 16. 7. And It is the Spirit that quickneth but the Flesh profits nothing said he at another time to the gross Capernaites upon a like Competition of these two ways of his Presence with us Joh. 6. 63. Quest. What must we learn from Christ's being exalted to such Sovereign and Supereminent Authority at God's Right-hand Answ. To render him the Reverence and Obedience due to so High a Majesty For since God has thus highly exalted him at his Name every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Quest. What from his being so Compassionate and Powerful an Advocate Answ. To come to him in every Want or Distress with Confidence and Assurance of Faith being fully perswaded both of his Kindness for us and of his Interest with God to obtain whatsoever is necessary or convenient for us Having such an High-Priest let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 16. But particularly to come with sure Hope and Expectation of the Pardon of our Sins when we truly repent of them and of his Good Spirit and Grace when we are careful to make a Diligent and Right use of them If any Man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is a Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 3. 34. Quest. What learn we from his Power to Subdue all his Enemies Answ. To trust him as I noted above with the care of our selves and of his Church and not suffer our selves to be cast into any anxious Fears or forced upon the use of any unlawful means by any Streights But to believe let Dangers and Disorders be what they will that the Lord Reigns and that we and all his faithful People are safest whilst we are doing our Duty and are in his hands That indeed is the true way to yield present security but especially if thereby we happen to suffer to make sure a surpassing Recompence of Glory For this is a Faithful saying if we be dead with him that is to Sin we shall also live with him that is in Glory If we suffer and endure that is persevere in obeying chiefly when we obey with Loss and Difficulty we shall also Reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Quest. Since Christ is now in Heaven and we profess to fix all our Hopes in him Should not that make us think much of that Place where he is and of the way to come thither Answ. Without Question it should If ye be risen with Christ seek those Things which are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God Col. 3. 1. Here in the Body we sojourn from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. In this World we are strangers and Pilgrims 1 Pet. 2. 11. But God above is our Father and Jesus Christ at God's Right-Hand is our Lord and the Glorified Saints are our Fellow-Citizens Eph. 2. 19. And being thus Gods Family or Domesticks our Conversation should be where our Civil Relation and Society is that is in Heaven whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Phil. 3. 20. Since our Treasure is with him in Heaven there should our Hearts be also Mat. 6. 21. So that although in passing through this World we cannot quite neglect the things of it yet must we always heedfully mind and carefully seek the things above it CHAP. IV. Of the Future Judgment The Contents The necessity of the Future Judgment All men are judged and made happy or miserable at their Deaths But not so fully then as they will be afterwards The Compleat and General Judgment is at the end of the World. In that Jesus Christ is to be the Judge Who are to be judged In that Judgment no Condemnation but for breaking Gods Laws So not for indifferent things Men shall be tryed and sentenced for all their sinful Actions with regard to their lasting Effects For their most secret ones And such ill deeds as were disguised under the fairest Pretences For their sinful Omissions And Neglecting to Employ and improve their Talents For sinful Words And Thoughts and Desires For all these Men shall be judged impartially without Respect of Persons But with Equity and Candor not in Rigor The Benign Judge will be very ready to observe what makes for us and make the best of our Performances And interpret the seemingly Rigorous Expressions of his own Laws with great condescension to Humane Measures He will allow for involuntary Failings And judge Candidly and Favourably of that involuntariness And for Natural Infirmities
of the Prophets themselves who if they gave any hints and interpretations of what they delivered in their own days were most likely to gather up and understand such traditionary Explications The reason of this difference is pretty obvious For those ancient Jews living before Christ looked only to the Prophecies themselves and the general sense and expectation raised about them by the Prophets But among the Jews since Christ several look also at personal prejudices and had rather deny any thing than own Jesus to be Messiah which they cannot well avoid doing if those places are spoken of him CHAP. III. Proving Jesus to be the Christ from other Divine Testimonies The Contents Jesus proved to be the Christ 2. From the testimony of John the Baptist. John knew this by Revelation and had it confirmed by a sign He was an acknowledged Prophet and of most clear and currant fame And gave this testimony before he was personally acquainted with Jesus 3. From the testimony of Jesus himself several considerations shewing the validity of this testimony though it were in his own case This not impugned by Christ's words John 5. 31. nor gives any colour or advantage to Fanatical Enthusiasts 4. From his Miracles These no lying wonders as may appear because shewn in several instances not imitable by Demons As 1. Foretelling future Contingencies An account of Demon-Predictions among the Gentiles 2. Discerâ—ing Hearts and Thoughts 3. Raising the Dead 4. Casting out Devils of most stubborn ranks and in greatest numbers and combinations It may also appear from their iâ—â—ent and design and from their numbers and the manner of working them No opposing the Miracles of Moses against Christ's Miracles because they were wrought to set aside the Law of Moses That Law was given with a design to be altered An account how for all that several of its Precepts are justly called Statutes for ever 5. From the testimony of the Father who declared Jesus to be the Christ by audible voices And by raising him from the dead and shewing him in full possession of his pretences Question BUT besides this proof of Jesus being the Christ from ancient Prophecies you said the same would be evidently made out by several Divine Testimonies other ways Pray what are those Testimonies Ans. The Testimony of John the Baptist who was sent into the World to give Witness to it the Testimony of Jesus himself which very well deserves to be trusted the Testimony of his miraculous works which are an evidence drawn up by the Finger of God and to name no more the Testimony of God the Father who himself became a Voucher of it So that he must give the lye both to Heaven and Earth to God and Men who shall disbelieve or gainsay it Ans. Did John the Baptist testifie Jesus to be the Christ Ans. Yes and that upon a most publick occasion when the great Council of the Nation the Sanhedrim sent Priests and Levites to him on purpose to know whether he himself were the Christ John 1. 19. For then his answer was That he was not the Christ verse 20. but that the Christ was come and was then among them verse 26 27. Yea the next day seeing Jesus coming to him he points at him and declares to them all that he is the Person Behold saith he the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world This is he of whom I said after â—e comes a man which is preferred before me verse 29 30. which Testimony he repeats again the next day upon another occasion verse 35 36. And this Testimony Jesus alledged for himself when he reasoned with the Jews in vindication of his own Authority Ye sent unto John viz. in the message from Jerusalem and he bare witness unto the truth John 5. 33. Quest. But how came John to know it and why in this case must we take his word Ans. Because he was a Prophet all the Jews as the Scriptures testifie held John for a Prophet Matth. 21. 26. Nay as Christ says he was one of the greatest of Prophets for of all that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist Matth. 11. 9 11. And he declares that the Spirit revealed this to him nay that for his greater confirmation it gave him a visible and most illustrious sign saying unto him Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descend and remain on him that same is he And this Spirit John declares he did see descend in a bodily shape upon Jesus at his Baptism and at the same time as S. Matthew adds heard a voice from God calling him his beloved Son for his fuller conviction John 1. 32 33. Yea since as the Nazarene Gospel relates it upon this descent presently there shone a great light about the place and a fire was lighted in Jordan wherein John Baptized him as Justin the Martyr testifies what would still be a more assuring proof to John in this case this bodily descent of the Holy Ghost was in a body of Light and dazling Splendor the usual Glory wherein God himself was wont to appear which hovering over our Saviour as a Dove doth when it lights and darting forth its bright Beams round about him did plainly represent what the Jews call the Schechinah and proclaim him to be a Divine Person Thus did John know Jesus to be the Messiah by an evidence infallible and every way convincing And this he testifies of him not as a thing by the bye but says it was the very Errand whereon he was sent and for declaration whereof he was called out by God to be a Prophet That he should be made manifest to Israel says he therefore am I come John 1. 31. Quest. Indeed if John had such Revelations of this matter as he declares 't is plain he was not deceiv'd about it himself but spoke out of sober knowledge and certain grounds So that if there is no cause to question his honesty there is no getting off from his Testimony But what can you say to show him a true and honest Man who would not feign things to deceive others Ans. His Sanctity and Integrity were the honour and admiration of his own times He led a most mortified rigid Life neither caring how hard his Fare was nor how coarse his Habit. He neither eat Bread nor drank Wine whence in Scripture he is said to come neither eating nor drinking i. e. not living upon the usual Diet of other Men Matth. 11. 18. compared with Luke 7. 33. His meat was locusts and wild hony and all his rayment of camels hair girt about him with a leathern girdle Matth. 3. 4. And thus voluntarily abandoning I will not say the pleasures but even the ease and common conveniences of the Flesh he was not capable to be tempted by them He was eminently above all affectation of Power or Praise insomuch that when all were ready to receive him for Messiah he told them he
excellent Glory of God the Father we heard when we were with him in the Holy mount and were eye-witnesses of his Majesty 2 Pet. 1. 16 17 18. And the same he repeated again a third time before a Multitude when Andrew and Philip brought the Greeks to him For before them all Jesus Prayed Father Glorifie thy Name And thereupon came a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie it again John 12. 28. And this is a most sensible and satisfactory way of God's declaring himself not meerly by shows and resemblances of things which are impressed by Visions and Dreams upon Mens imaginations but by plain proper and significant words such as he used in conversing with Adam in paradise Genesis 3. 8 9. and with Moses at the bush Exodus 3. 4. when assuming a Glorious Light the usual way of shewing himself particularly present he spoke to Men out of it in an audible Voice as sensibly and intelligibly as a Man can talk and discourse with his Friend Quest. Did the Father also testifie Jesus to be the Christ by raising him from the Dead and shewing him openly in full possession of his pretences Ans. Yes on the third day he rose again as we profess in the Creed And Almighty God as S. Peter saith raised him up And hereby he did plainly testifie and vouch for him For after the Jews had done their worst condemning and cruelly executing him in raising him up again God visibly reversed their Sentence and undid what they had done and justified him as one that deserved not to continue under the Power of Death but to live again He was put to Death in the Flesh but justified in the Spirit viz. by that Divine Spirit which raised him from the Dead 1 Tim. 3. 16. He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. Nay after his Resurrection he set him in Heaven at his own right Hand surrounded with a Divine Glory the usual Symbol of God's Presence and Majesty In which august form he shewed him to Stephen to prepare him for his Martyrdom and to Saul at his Conversion Jesus appearing to them from God's right Hand in a Glory that surpassed the Brightness of the Sun. And having enthroned him there he intrusted him with the Holy Ghost to dispose of it as he pleased a plain Evidence of his having all Power in Heaven as well as on Earth as he pretended Which Power he visibly manifested to all Men not only by sending down the Holy Spirit in all variety of most stupendious Gifts upon his own Apostles but enabling them by imposition of Hands in his Name to confer the same upon innumerable Multitudes of his followers as appears from the Acts of the Holy Apostles and from other Scriptures Quest. I will not ask you for any more Evidence in this great point of Jesus being the Christ such demonstrations as you have insisted on being abundantly sufficient to gain belief from every honest mind that is careful to inquire and willing to be informed And as for others who are wantonly captious or wilfully blind and incredulous they are not to be convinced by Reason and Arguments But building on this now as most unquestionably sure That Jesus is the Christ doth not that undeniably prove the Divine Authority of the New Testament which is his Word Ans. Most certainly it doth For that contains only what he either spoke or acted himself in his Life or ordered his Apostles to do and teach in his Name after his Death The same Proofs and Testimonies which justifie him do authorize it since it only sets out to us all that Word in declaration whereof all the Evidences urged hitherto are to gain him credit Quest. I am fully satisfied of the certainty and have heard enough to convince me of the usefulness and efficacy of Faith in Christ. I would desire now to hear something more of the particular points of that Faith whereof we are to be thus firmly persuaded and whereby such admirable things are to be performed Ans. Those as I hinted at first are summed up in that short Creed into the profession whereof we are all Baptized And that I shall next endeavour to discourse on and explain to you THE Knowledge of GOD OR AN EXPLICATION OF THE Divine Attributes AND PROVIDENCE The Knowledge of God or an Explication of the Divine Attributes and Providence CHAP. I. Of the Being and Attributes of God. The Contents The World declares there is a God. He is an eternal Spirit on whom all things depend Of God's Holiness Several things explained which seem to infringe it as when God is said to harden Mens hearts To inflict Spiritual blindness and a reprobate sense To send a false Spirit to deceive Ahab and strong delusion God oft gives Men up to the delusion of evil Spirits Cautions to prevent this To give Men a Spirit of slumber An account how notwithstanding God's irreconcileable hatred of sin it is still suffered in the World. Of God's Goodness Several false Notions of it In what things it chiefly consists Of God's Justice or Righteousness This shown in giving Righteous Laws And passing Righteous Judgments according to them without respect of Persons His Punitive Justice cleared from misplacing punishments in punishing one for another's sins And from misproportioning them in allotting eternal punishments to momentany sins Some false aspersions on this just God wiped off Of God's Presence in all places The effect of this Of his Faithfulness This shown by inviolable performance of his Promises And interpreting them without evasion or secret reserve according to their plain meanings And by constant adherence to his Friends and Faithful Servants which is no encouragement for any to return to their former sins Of God's Wisdom This shown in setting a just rate and estimate on all things so that he is neither gained nor lost by worthless services In discerning the just power and force of all Means and success of all Methods which should beget the greatest Reverence for all his Ordinances In seeing the best times and seasons for every purpose so that we must never think any Deliverance too long delayed or Affliction too fast hastened No reason to pretend to the Love of God without loving and imitating these Divine Excellencies Question WHat are the Articles of Christian Faith or particular points which we Christians are to believe Answer They are all contained in this Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the
dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen Quest. Doth this Creed contain all points of Doctrine necessary to be believed by every Christian Ans. Yes for it was given for a Confession of Faith that should fit Men for Baptism and shew any Person to be a Christian and they had better have made no Rule or Confession of Faith at all than an imperfect one Quest. What do you make the first Article in this Creed Ans. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Quest. How doth it appear that there is a God Ans. From this vast World that he has made Even as we are unquestionably assured of the Being of a Skilful Architect where we see a stately and well contrived House erected or of a learned Author from an excellent and well-penned Book or of an Ingenious Artificer from a Watch of exact and various Movements or other elaborate and curious piece of Workmanship And this shows us not only that there is a God on whom we and all this created World depend but also that he is most Wise Powerful and Good because the greatest Power Wisdom and Goodness are every where apparent in the contrivance and formation of it For the invisible things of God even his eternal Power and Godhead are clearly seen from the Creation of the World being understood by the things that are made as S. Paul says Rom. â— 20. Quest. Indeed nothing in reason seems more obvious than that all this World must have an Architect and that we and all the things about us which every where spring up and perish could never make our selves and that things of such admirable Order Harmony and Usefulness could not any one and much less all of them be put together by blind and uncontriving chance And therefore methinks this proof of God's Being from the voice of his Works must needs convince all his reasonable Creatures Ans. Yes and ever since the World began so it has There is neither speech nor language where their voice is not heard their â—iâ—e is gone out through all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Psal. 19. 3 4. On this or other Arguments all People in every Age and Nation believed and acknowledged that there is a God and delivered down that Belief to those who followed them And therefore no Person can ever oppose this and pretend to reason since thereby he sets up himself against all People of every place and time and against what passed for the plainest and most uncontestable Principle of humane reason ever since there was any such thing So that if therein he has reason he has it to himself alone and all the present World besides yea and all Ages too that went before him had none Quest. What things are we to know and believe concerning God Ans. First His God-head and Divine Attributes Secondly His Providence Quest. There is nothing in all Religion more necessary or useful for us than to have a right apprehension of Almighty God. Is he like any thing which we behold with our Eyes or feel with our Hands or discern by any Bodily Senses Ans. No in Scripture indeed he is said to have Ears and Eyes and Hands and Feet But therein as the Jewish Rabbins say the Law speaks of God with the Tongue of the Children of Men. And we are to understand not that he has any such parts but only that he has as full perceptions and performs the same things as we do by them The invisible God whom no man hath seen or can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. is a Spirit says our Saviour John 4. 24. And this must teach us in all our Services which we pay to him never to think of putting him off with outward Shows Gifts and Ceremonies but to be inwardly affected in all we do or say and always to offer him our Hearts and Spirits For he being a Spirit must be worshipped as Christ said in spirit and in truth John 4. 24. And moreover never to make any Bodily Images and representations of him or fancy to give him Worship and Honour by them since a pure unbodied Spirit is not represented but belyed not honoured but debased by any such thing Ye saw no manner of similitude of God when he came and spake to you said Moses to the Jews therefore take good heed left ye corrupt your selves in making any of him Deut. 4. 15 16. And thou shalt not make to thee any likeness of any thing either in Heaven or Earth to bow down to them said the Law Exod. 20. 4 5. Quest. But although we cannot see him with our Eyes yet we may apprehend several things of him in our minds And one you say is his God-head what mean you by that Ans. His Sovereignty or being the Supreme Being that depends on none and that all other things depend upon Particularly Men who were at first made by him and still absolutely depend on him In him we live move and have our being Act. 17. 28. Quest. If he depends on none he must be an eternal Being which never had beginning Ans. Yes because there was nothing before him to give beginning to him So that if he had not been from all Eternity he could never have been at all Quest. And if all things else but especially all Men do absolutely depend on him that will make all careful to serve and please him and found Religion Ans. Undoubtedly so it should And where it is not only believed but seriously laid to heart so it will. Quest. What are the Divine Attributes or Properties of God which will show us how he stands affected and what will please him Ans. He is all Holiness Goodness Justice Faithfulness Wisdom Almighty every where present and can never change Quest. What is meant by God's Natural Purity and Holiness Ans. His absolute exemption from all sin in himself and his perfect aversation and immutable hatred of it in all others He can take no pleasure in wickedness he hates all workers of iniquity and therefore evil shall not dwell with him Psal. 5. 4 5. Quest. If this be his unalterable Nature he can never be reconciled to Mens sins nor take delight in any Man whilst he goes on to be a sinner Ans. No as soon may we hope to bring Light and Darkness Snow and Fire to dwell together So far is he from living with it that he cannot endure to look upon iniquity Habak 1. 13. Quest. Since God's Holiness bespeaks such absolute abhorrence of all vice and wickedness I see it implies something more than barely his affectation of External Decency or his hatred to be treated rudely and unmannerly Ans. Yes so it doth It implies that too For God's Holiness often notes his supereminent Power and Greatness And to use this peerless Majesty or any things
proportion is not a natural proportion on account of intrinsick weight and size but a moral proportion in respect of ends and uses which is to work on Mens wills and in their free choice to surmount all impediments and out-weigh all temptations to disobedience So that to proportion punishments to sins is not to equalize them in intrinsick weights and measures there being nothing in their Natures which can ground such comparisons but only to proportion punishments to temptations so as to make them out-weigh them in our choice and free-wills And thus eternal punishments are proportionate to our offences that is they are no more than are necessary to make us forego those pleasures or advantages which recommend them Nay alas with the greater part of Men they cannot do this who are so bewitched with sins present pleasures that they will enjoy them though for that they fall at last under these eternal torments as we see by sad experience Quest. Since God is thus exactly just and equal in all his ways it is great Blasphemy in any to represent him as tyrannical or imperious that doth good or hurt out of meer will or humour not in regard to the qualifications of his Creatures Ans. So it is Thus indeed the Indians thought of the Devils they worshipped And thus all superstitious Persons think of God who seek to appease him by vile flatteries slavish tremblings and forced submissions which are suited to such imperious and humoursome tempers But the true God is most just and reasonable in all his ways requiring to be served only in the wisest things and from willing hearts and recompencing by a most unbiassed and exact sentence All is highest reason and unblemished Justice nothing weak humour or passion which this Almighty Prince doth Quest. God's punitive Justice then is nothing like impotent Men's implacable revenge who cannot be at ease till their anger is sated with the smart of their Enemies Ans. No in no wise He doth not punish to gratifie private passions and resentments When he afflicts it is not willingly Lam. 3. 33. How shall I give thee up is his compassionate relenting when a sinner is almost past Mercy Hos. 11. 8. But it is for wise and publick ends to keep up Government to secure Goodness and discourage Offences God's Justice is a wise Resolution not a weak Passion and he takes pleasure in the pains inflicted by it as they are well and wisely done not at all as angry Men are wont to do because thereby they have wrecked their spite on those that vexed them Quest. Besides this Justice in allotting future recompences doth not God also show himself just in bestowing present and suitable events to actions Ans. Yes by him as Hannah acknowledged actions are weighed before they are accomplished to bestow events as well as after to make retributions according to Reason and Justice And this present Judicature God discharges in the Administration of his Providence Which must make all Men extreme wary what designs or attempts they ingage in never despairing of his Blessing in a good way nor presuming on it in an ill one as I shall note afterwards Quest. Is God present in all places to take notice of all the actions both of good and bad Men which he will thus justly reward or punish Ans. Yes for whither shall I flee from thy presence Psal. 139. 7. The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Prov. 15. 3. He fills heaven and earth so that no man may hide himself in secret places that he shall not see him Jer. 23. 24. And the sense of this as it will induce us every where to pray to him because though unseen he is every where present to hear our Prayers so would it be every where an effectual restraint and hinder us from venturing on any evil or misbecoming thing For what Man would presume to do a rude thing in his Sovereign's presence or an impertinent and trifling one before any wise and grave Persons or a base and filthy one before even a Child or Stranger and much more before those whose care 't is to rebuke and punish such misdoings So that in all Places and Companies we should demean our selves with decency and modesty with seriousness and gravity with circumspection and care purity and integrity if we bethought our selves that the Great and Holy God stands looking on and observes all our motions Quest. And will it not also quicken Mens diligence in good things and make them active in his Service Ans. Yes it would do so even with eye servants who put on a great shew of care and diligence in their Master's presence And besides it would incite Men to a great frequency in devout Ejaculations and solemn Addresses to Almighty God it being most unseemly to stand mute and regardless before him without suitable expressions of Adoration and Reverence Quest. And doth this Omnipresent God see even our hearts and secret thoughts Ans. Yes he is acquainted with all our ways he understands our thoughts afar off and there is not a word in our tongue but he knows it altogether Psal. 139. 2 3 4. Quest. By this it seems that God knows all that is done by us in this World and will be incorruptibly just in rewarding all that is good and in punishing all that is bad except repentance prevents it Ans. Yes Quest. What mean you by God's Faithfulness another of his Attributes Ans. I mean two things First his inviolable performance of his promises Secondly his constant adherence to his Friends and faithful Servants Quest. God has made most Gracious Promises to his Servants both for this Life and the next Will he be inviolably Faithful and keep his Word Ans. Yes for he is not as Man that can be overseen and afterwards see his folly and repent of it He is not as man that he should repent hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Num. 23. 19. Quest. But when he Promises or makes Gracious Invitations or Declarations to sinners as he often doth doth he deal plainly and mean as he says Ans. God forbid we should think otherwise For he is essential unmixt Truth as incapable of all insincere arts and double dealings as he is of down-right falshoods He never salves his Sincerity or Faithfulness by secret reserves or evasive interpretations being absolutely above all need of or temptation to such unworthy Artifices So that whatsoever we have reason to believe or expect from his Word is plain Truth and shall be most honestly and punctually made good Especially if as in these cases we have not only his Word but also his Oath which the Apostle calls two immutable things wherein 't is impossible for God to lye that is to delude our expectations Heb. 6. 18. And therefore when God calls and invites Men to accept of his Mercy and return to him let not any Person harbour the least thought as if he
were not in earnest or that his secret Will doth contradict his Word or that when he calls for their return he doth not desire it or has set some impregnable Decrees as a bar against them or will substract that aid which is necessary to them and without which it is impossible for them ever to return to him These and such like are ungodly and prophane suspicions which stain and blemish the spotless and absolute sincerity of the most true God with the faults and falshoods of wicked and deceitful Men. And where is Mens Reason or Reverence when they question whether God means as he says who yet are ready to resent it as a great affront if on their most serious assertions any Person shall make the same doubt and question of themselves Quest. And is he as able to make good his Word as he is sincere in passing it Ans. Yes he is the Almighty God that doth whatsoever he pleases both in heaven and earth the sea and in all deep places Psal. 135. 6. But as for the Explication and Remarques upon this Attribute I shall reserve them till it comes to be considered in its own place in the Creed Quest. But when God promises he oft-times drives long ere he accomplishes Ans. Though he delays yet he never forgets or alters Neither multitude of affairs nor length of time nor after-thoughts can either wear it out of his Memory or change his Purpose He will ever be mindful of his covenant Psal. 111. 5. He is the faithful God who keepeth covenant to a thousand generations Deut. 7. 9. who keepeth truth for ever Psal. 146. 6. And being sure of God's Promises at last we may well have patience in waiting for them as Abraham had who received not the Child of promise till he was very old and his seed after him who entred not into the promised land till above 400 Years after God had made him the promise of it Quest. But if in hopes of his promised rewards and dread of his just punishments we should take the pains to be Holy as he is Holy to make him our Friend is he never inconstant to his Friends and are we in no danger of losing him Ans. No. Quest. One thing we may be sure of that he will live as long as we shall do to stand in need of him Ans. Yes for he is Eternal from everlasting to everlasting he is God Psal. 90. 2. and when the heavens and the earth shall be changed he is the same and his years shall have no end Psal. 102. 25 26 27. Quest. And when once he loves and takes complacence in us will he be constant and not alter his affection Ans. Yes if we continue to love and serve him For he is the same yesterday and to day and for evermore Heb. 13. 8. with him is no variableness nor so much as shadow of turning Jam. 1. 17. Quest. But what if after we are the Friends of God we should return to live in sin Ans. Then we should lose his Love. For the constancy of his Affection lies not in loving and hating always the same Men but in loving and hating always for the same reason 'T is an immovable fixedness not upon the same Persons but upon the same carriage and qualities For if the wicked whom God hates turn from his wickedness he shall surely live and not die And if the righteous whom God loves turn from his righteousness and doth according to the ways of the wicked all his former righteousness shall be forgotten and in his sins that he hath since committed shall he die Ezek. 18. 21 22 24. Quest. Another Attribute above-mentioned is the Wisdom of God. What mean you by God's Wisdom Ans. His most absolute Understanding which clearly sees through all things and knows what means are most proper and what seasons best to move in to bring about every purpose Quest. Is it one part of God's Wisdom to set the justest rate and estimate on all things not only clearly apprehending the truth but proportionably valuing the worth of them never magnifying a little or undervaluing a great and weighty matter Ans. Yes to be fond of worthless things is no property of the Wise but of Children and simple Persons for such only are apt to be taken with Toys and Trifles Little things may greatly delight or disturb little Spirits but the Great and All-wise God is most Wise and Great in all his resentments never setting more by any things than is really in them or valuing them without or beyond just cause As all ill things he hates so all empty ones he slights proportioning all his resentments to the true weight and worth of Objects that they may be always wise and worthy of himself And therefore no Men must ever fancy to gain God or fear to lose him by such little things and trivial indifferencies as have little or nothing in them but are below the resentment of any intelligent and prudent Man. Quest. Indeed a small indifferent matter is not fit to bear a great resentment either on one side or other So that frequent Crossings or Sprinkling our selves with Holy Water or Visiting certain Shrines or putting on some Religious Habits or other empty and uncommanded Ceremonies are no more fit to gain the good presence and protection of God than the sight of a Surplice a Posture a Place or other unforbidden Ceremony are to forfeit and drive them from us Ans. Very right but what doth either the one or the other must always be things of weight and moment In particular his own Laws which are all about the most important matters contain the things he likes So that we gain and please him by obedience and offend and lose him by disobeying And therefore no Men must build on uncommanded abstinencies or severities or on any affected singularities nor in general must we ever seek the favour or shun the displeasure of Almighty God by arbitrary fancies and inventions of our own but always according to what is written Quest. If this All-wise God sees through all things he perfectly understands our Natures Ans. Yes he made our hearts and all our faculties and so thorowly understands them seeing clearly into all their turnings and windings tempers and inclinations what things will incite and draw them on and what again will effectually restrain and divert them from any purpose Quest. If he can tell how far every thing will work upon us he can foresee the issue and effect of all means and methods and in particular what force Preaching Persuasion Reproof Discipline Promises Threatnings or other means of Grace will have upon Mankind at large and what upon all particular Men of every genius interest and temptation Ans. Yes he knew assuredly that Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go no not for all his plagues Exod. 3. 19. And that the elders of Israel would hearken to the voice of Moses verse 18. And that Tyre and Sydon would have repented
disclaims all our follies which we must not ascribe to him but take to our selves As all Persons must do when they throw away themselves in foolish Marriages or throw away their Estates by extravagance and foolish projects or are any other ways the direct Authors of their own miseries which they bring upon themselves by going against his will either in such sins as he forbids or in such follies as he disapproves When our calamities are thus of our own seeking we must not remove the blame from off our selves by casting it on God and say they are of his sending Say not thou as the wise son of Sirach most piously and justly cautions it is through the Lord that I fell away for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth Say not thou he hath caused me to err for he hath no need of the sinful man Ecclus 15. 11 12. Quest. By this I perceive when any Persons have made a foolish Marriage or otherwise done foolishly for themselves you would not have them say as too ordinarily they do that such match was made in Heaven and is what God had decreed for them Ans. No by no means For that is only to make God accountable for their faults And is it fit when they are ashamed of a thing to lay it upon God to excuse themselves God bids no Man do foolishly or wickedly nor tempts him to it Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil neither doth he tempt any man James 1. 13. Quest. But doth God no way allot these for us Ans. Yes he allots the miseries as a punishment after we have been so faulty or foolish but he doth not allot that foolish miscarriage whereby we bring the misery upon our heads For God is not the Author either of the sins or follies of Men being in himself all Holiness and Wisdom What is well done by us we must ascribe to him but all that is ill we must take to our own selves Quest. But is he not sometimes concerned in sending Mens faults and follies too as well as the miseries in punishment of former provocations For when Men have been great sinners he is oft provoked as you noted above to withdraw his Grace in just Judgment and leave them to themselves whence they fall still into more folly and wickedness Ans. Yes by way of punishment God sometimes gives Men up thus to sin and folly Not that he tempts or inclines Men to be either foolish or wicked as I said but that when they are throughly prepared of themselves to be so in his just Judgment he withdraws his abused Grace the continuance whereof might help to prevent it and leaves them to themselves and the incitation of evil Spirits as I have before declared Quest. So that if any Persons would ascribe any share in their miscarriages to God it must only be in owning his Justice and taking shame to themselves confessing he Righteously gave them up to them in punishment of former sins Ans. Yes Quest. You have instanced in foolish Marriages and I see we must not impute them to Destiny and God's irresistible Decrees which is only a throwing the blame on God to clear our selves But do not you think that the Providence of God which numbers even the Hairs of our Heads is more than ordinarily concerned in making Marriages which are an affair of highest importance Ans. I make no doubt of it Houses and lands are the inheritance of fathers but a prudent wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 14. 18. 22. But when God's Providence orders and accomplishes Marriages it is not by fate and irresistible ways but only by affording such opportunities and inducements as though oft-times they may very potently induce yet leave a liberty in the Persons themselves I suppose especially ere they are suffered to proceed too far to refuse When God brings them about it is in a way agreeable to free Creatures who have a liberty to refuse and voluntarily of themselves take hold of these offers and facilitating turns of Providence to bring about their own Marriages whence being a matter of their own doing they are accountable for them and deserve Praise when they bestow themselves wisely and blame when they do foolishly Quest. As for all the actions which we do then I perceive we must believe that God observes them And as for all the good or ill events which we meet with we must believe he orders and allots them for us and be accordingly affected with them Ans. Yes and that is walking before God as Abraham was bid to do Gen. 17. 1. and owning Providence which is the ground of all Religion and the great Character through all the Scriptures of good Men and is not only the perfection of our affection and service to Almighty God but the only ground of solid comfort and tranquillity of mind under all the various accidents of this World. Quest. Is this Great and Good God that made and still preserves and carefully provides for us not only our Friend but also our Father Ans. Yes he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and for his sake he is our Father too And so he has taught us to call him and pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Quest. What must this teach us Ans. Not only to take the freedom of access and the confidence but withal to pay the Reverence and dutiful Obedience of Children If I be a father where is mine honour Mal. 1. 6. To imitate the ways and virtues of our Heavenly Father and turn followers of God as dear children Eph. 5. 1. this being a Natural Fruit of Spiritual as it usually is of Secular Relation It must engender noble thoughts and pursuits worthy of this high Alliance and not suffer us to debase our selves and dishonour our Race by sinking into sensuality or doting on and taking up with any vain and perishing goods of this life In summ it must cause us to depend on him with trust and affiance to receive what he sends with submission and cheerfulness and an opinion that it proceeds from kindness with other such like which are filial tempers Quest. And this God and Father the Creed says is Almighty and the maker of Heaven and Earth Ans. Yes that is added and is next in course to be explained CHAP. III. Of God's Almightiness The Contents God's Almightiness implies 1. God's Might and Strength to effect all things viz. all that are the object of any Power And that are not repugnant to his own Nature The exerting this Power creates God no labour He can do whatsoever any things of the World can do This an encouragement to all generous Enterprizes And to build on Providence especially where we have a Promise The value and acceptance of this trust in a seemingly most improbable case And whatsoever any things of the World are inclined or wont to do he can
on being under his Protection and going on lawful Errands Matth. 8. 24 25 26. God very commonly suffers good Mens dangers which at last he designs to remove to go on first to the greatest extremities that their Faith and Trust may pass through a more full trial and illustrious exercise Quest. Must it teach us any thing else Ans. Yes Secondly in no case to forsake God and fly to any Foreign and unlawful Aids For if we stick to him this over-ruling Power when things are at the worst can with a Word put all the evil by and rescue us And if we forsake him he can as easily turn that Power against us and make us fall by our own succours For as this Almighty Arm is able to bring all things about for us so when it pleases can it also bring them about against us in spite of all probabilities Quest. This is a stupendious height of Power how will God employ it Ans. In making good all his Promises and executing all his Threatnings heaping Favours on his Friends and faithful Servants and Judgments on his Enemies So that all Holy Men shall taste the sweetness of it in endearing Providences in this World as Jacob Joseph David and the Patriarchs and pious Men of old did and in Glorious and endless Rewards in the next And wicked Men shall feel the smart of it in all the crosses and penal inflictions of this Life and in the everlasting torments of the Life to come Quest. If this irresistible Power were not to be thus justly and kindly used though we should basely fear and dread yet should we not love and value him that has it Ans. No for nothing is so hateful as power in the hands of malice which makes us have such an utter hatred of the powers of darkness And this must teach all ambitious Men never to covet and all Potent Men never to employ their Power to oppress or tyrannize to accomplish unlawful Lusts or to work their wills on others But only to encourage Virtue and reward it to protect the innocent relieve the oppressed curb the vicious or some way or other to do good with it Quest. Another Branch of God's Almightiness you said is his Sovereignty and Power to command and order all things What mean you by God's Sovereignty Ans. His Supreme Authority being accountable to none but having Power to order and injoyn all things as seemeth fittest to his own Wisdom Quest. What doth this imply Ans. Two things both Empire that is a Power to injoyn and command as a Ruler and Dominion that is a Power to allot and dispose as a Proprietor God may give any Commands and exact them of any Persons as an absolute Governour and make any distributions of Things or allotment of States and Conditions as an absolute Lord and Proprietor And he is Sovereign in both these being bound to please none but only to order as seems best to himself Quest. Doth God exercise over the World a Sovereign Empire Ans. Yes all other Rulers as the Apostle says are but his ministers Rom. 13. 4. but he still keeps the controlling Power and the Reins of Government in his own Hands being the blessed and only Potentate King of kings and Lord of lords 1 Tim. 6. 15. He hath prepared his throne in heaven and his kingdom ruleth over all Psalm 103. 19. And this Empire he exercises in giving and exacting all Commands and guiding and directing all Actions and turns in the World as he pleases Quest Has God an absolute and unlimited Power to command all things Ans. Yes all that his Creatures by his Grace are capable of doing and all that his most Holy and Perfect Nature is capable of injoyning Quest. Why do you say all his Creatures by his Grace are capable of doing Ans. Because his most just and equitable Government cannot impose an impossible thing His Laws indeed might be impossible to us considered naked in our own strength but not as consider'd under those assistances and that strength which he is ready to afford us He doth not reap where he has not sown and whatsoever his Laws require his Spirit will assist Men to perform His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5. 3. and his yoke is easie and its burden light Matth. 11. 30. Quest. Why do you add also all that his most Holy and Perfect Nature is capable of injoyning Ans. To shew he doth not give Commands out of unlimited Will and Arbitrariness but doth all according to unalterable Principles of Goodness and Justice He may command whatsoever he will but then he cannot will all that we may fancy but only all that is like himself i. e. all that is Wise and Good. He never Wills against the Perfection of his Nature because he will do it Quest. I perceive then that God having commanded Holiness and Justice and Mercifulness and Truth and Faithfulness and the like which are his own Natural Perfections there is no possibility of his reversing these Commands to shew unlimitedness of Will and commanding their contraries Ans. No in commanding these Virtues he only commands us to be like himself to be holy as he is holy perfect in kindness as he is perfect as the Scripture says And being Transcripts of his own Perfections these Virtues are a limitation to his Will and whilst he is himself he can never will them to be otherwise Indeed it is his Command which makes them become duties to us and instances of our obedience but that which made him command them was the Goodness they had antecedent to his Command as being Draughts of his own Perfections He willed them because they were Good and like himself And he being unchangeable they must be always like him and upon that account he must always will them whence they are said to be duties of Essential and Eternal Goodness and Obligation Quest. Doth God exercise this Empire also in guiding and directing all Actions and Turns in the World as he pleases Ans. Yes he doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him What doest thou as Nebuchadnezzar most justly acknowledged when he returned to himself Dan. 4. 35. He presides in all Councils and directs and over-rules all Actions and Events I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Isaiah 45. 7. And this Administration of things is called his Providence which has already been discoursed of Quest. Has God also a Sovereign Dominion to dispose of all things and allot all their different states and conditions as a Supreme Proprietor Ans. Yes his Hand made all things bestowing upon them both the Workmanship and the Materials and his Power still preserves them and all this for what uses he pleases Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Rev. 4. 11. As the clay is in
the potters hand to form it into a Vessel either honourable or base so are ye in my hand saith the Lord Jer. 18. 6. The heaven is his and the heaven of heavens Deut. 10. 14. the earth and all the fulness thereof the world and they that dwell therein Psal. 24. 1. And being thus absolute and universal a Proprietor he places and alters grants and resumes all things at pleasure And when he takes away says Job who can hinder him or say unto him What dost thou Job 9. 12. Quest. I see that all the good and evil both of this World and of the next are in God's Hand to allot as he sees fit Doth he allot them according to any rules and in recompence of Mens predispositions or Arbitrarily out of Sovereign Will according as he pleases Ans. In allotting the principal things particularly the Eternal pains and pleasures of another life and in general all rewards and punishments he has graciously bounded his own unlimited Power by Laws and Compacts But as for all good and evil things which are not under Promises or Covenants he dispenses them Arbitrarily as he sees fit And as those allotments of good and evil which he makes in recompence to Mens Deeds and according to the direction of his own Laws and Promises may be called the Legal Distributions and Covenant-Justice so may those wherein he has not limited himself by any such Contracts be called the Prerogative Power and Arbitrary Will of this Almighty Potentate Quest. In what things doth God act with us out of his Power of Prerogative allotting good or evil things or states of life according to his own unlimited Will and not according to Mens qualities and predispositions Ans. I do not say he acts constantly so but oft-times he doth 1. In allotting Mens different state and worldly circumstances as that one should be born of Noble Parents to great Fortunes or honourable Employments with a well-shaped healthy Body or pregnant parts and another should be born mean or servile or sickly or mis-shaped or poor or foolish Thus when the Jews asked the reason of a man's being born blind whether for his parents sin or his own our Saviour told them there was no need for that to seek out for such precedent desert either in him or them but 't is enough to say it was that the works of God might be made manifest in him John 9. 2 3. 2. In allotting their different outward helps for Religion and Spiritual opportunities as that one should be born of Christian Parents trained up in an Orthodox Belief and pure Worship in the Eyes of good Examples and under the care of skilful Pastors and that another should be deprived of some or perhaps of all these Thus the difference both in Secular and Ecclesiastical Priviledges which God put between the Jews and Edomites the elder serving the younger not being intended or verified of Jacob and Esau's Persons Jacob rather serving Esau than Esau him Gen. 33. 3. but of their Posterities of whom God expresly speaks it when he first declared it to Rebekah Gen. 25. 23. and to whom Malachy from whom also S. Paul cites this passage doth apply it Mal. 1. 2 3. this difference says the Apostle was an allotment out of God's Sovereign Will and not out of their precedent deserts God declaring that to Rebekkah while the children were yet unborn and had neither done good nor ill to prepare them for this discrimination Rom. 9. 11 12 13. These different allotments of National Priviledges to Jews above Edomites and afterwards as he there notes to Gentiles above Jews when the Jews were cast off and the Gentiles taken into the Church in their place was no unrighteousness in God who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy verse 14 15. Lastly to name no more when he offers what is sufficient to all to enable them to do his will if they are not wanting to themselves which renders all without excuse yet allotting more eminent and efficacious degrees of Grace to some Persons and shewing more respite and forbearance towards some offenders than he doth to others whom he strikes with a swifter vengeance cutting them off it may be in their very first attempts Thus his sparing Pharaoh and still raising him up again to a new trial after numerous repulses S. Paul ascribes to God's Sovereignty who has mercy on whom he will have mercy Rom. 9. 17 18. In allotting these different worldly Circumstances and external Priviledges and Opportunities and more eminent degrees of inward Grace and shewing this different forbearance God uses the same Prerogative Power and absolute Sovereignty over his Creatures which the potter doth over the clay as S. Paul says forming one vessel to honour and another to dishonour not because of any different fineness of the matter but taking both out of the same lump out of his own will and pleasure Rom. 9. 21. Quest. But in these allotments where God dispenses Arbitrarily doth he not always dispense Wisely and Reasonably Ans. Yes most certainly Mans will is too oft a blind precipitate resolution But God's Will is never without Reason and the highest Counsel directs him where he seems most Arbitrary in acting He works all things according to the counsel of his own will Eph. 1. 11. So that he is said to act out of Will not as if he did not Will upon good Reason but because that Reason is not his being directed so by any of his Laws or Covenants or to recompence any pre dispositions of his Creatures 'T is Arbitrary because uncovenanted and left to himself But whatsoever is left to him is sure to be managed with the highest Equity Wisdom and Goodness as will appear to all when we shall be let in to behold the Counsel of God's actings Quest. Doth God use this Prerogative-Power in allotting Saving Grace so that one shall have the help of his Spirit in a good way and another shall be denied it though he seeks it earnestly and sincerely only because God pleases Ans. No this is under Promises and Compacts and is to be dispensed and measured out to Men according to their readiness to comply with and their care to seek and make use of it If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally Jam. 1. 5. God will give the holy spirit to those that ask him Luke 11. 13. and to every one that hath that is improves his talents shall be given Matth. 25. 29. These are the Covenant-Rules for allotting Saving Graces Quest. Or doth he use it in allotting Heaven and Hell and dispensing Eternal Rewards and Punishments Ans. No these are not given in way of Arbitrary Dispensations but of Legal Trials At the last day men must all appear before Christ to receive according to what they have done in the body whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. they must all be judged according to their works Rev. 20. 12 13. Quest.
that it shall never be destroyed by them The Promise is That the Gates of Hell that is the Powers of Satan and all his wicked instruments shall not prevail against the Church Matt. 16. 18. Quest. What must Christ's protecting his Church teach us Answ. To trust him with Religion and not sin to save it in the most perillous times He is more concern'd for his Church than any of us are or can be and he knows how to protect it without the help of our sins or our acting wickedly for it So that in all such times we are to practise Religion and do our duty and then recommend and trust the Preservation of it to his care Quest. If we would own Christ as our King then I perceive we must obey his Laws and Ministers and commit our selves to him in well-doing as the Protector of his Church Answ. Yes Quest. And will none partake of the Reconciliation of his Priesthood but they who thus believe him as their Prophet and obey him as their Lord Answ. No for Faith and Obedience are necessary to our Peace with God and there is no injoying the benefit of one without embracing him in all his Offices Quest. To believe in Christ then or to acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ is to own him for the Prophet of the Church by hearkning to his Word and Ministers for the Priest of God by hoping in him and applying to God by him for Reconciliation and all other mercies and for the King of his Church by obeying both his Laws and Officers and in a course of well-doing trusting both our selves and our Religion to his Protection here on Earth Answ. Yes Quest. What is meant by that which follows in the Creed his being God's only Son Answ. Our meaning is in respect of his Nature that God begat him as a Father doth a Son of like nature with himself so that he is God as well as Man. For he is equal with God Phil. 2. 6. The true God 1 Joh. 5. 20. and over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. Which last was the special Character and Title of the true God in the common stile and expression of the Jews Who from their Custom when the Priest in the Sanctuary rehearsed the Name of God of answering Blessed be his name for ever came in their common speech to call him The Blessed One which phrase the Scriptures often denote him as in Mar. 14. 61. 2 Cor. 11. 31. Rom. 1. 25. And agreeable to his having this Divine Nature we find the Divine Works as Creating and Sustaining and Divine Honours as Worship and Prayers and Baptism in the Name of the Son as well as of the Father ascribed to him in Holy Scripture Quest. Why was it requisite our Redeemer should be God Answ. 1. To give Merit to his Sacrifice which was infinitely advanced in regard his Blood was the Blood of God Act. 20. 28. How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Consciences who offered himself thro' the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. As its being committed against God was the extreme aggravation of our sin So must its being performed by God be equally an enhansement of his Reparation 2. To several other purposes as to his having Power enough to conquer Death and Hell and save us from all our Spiritual Enemies to fit him for a capable and competent Judge of all men seeing into their Hearts and Thoughts which is one of God's Prerogatives To recommend Vertue as much as was possible by an example since in him it appears that all the things required of us are worthy of the most excellent Natures yea are not below the practice of God himself Quest. What other meaning is there of it Answ. Another is in respect of his Power because he is invested with all the Authority and Power of God. For Son of God signifies sometimes the same as the Christ that is one whom God hath commissioned to act in his stead He shall be great and the Son of the Highest and God shall give him the Throne of his Father David Luk. 1. 32. And thus Jesus Christ is God's Son for he hath given him all Power both in Heaven and Earth Matt. 28. 18. and committed all Authority to the Son that all should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Quest. And being the Son of God in this sense that is having Soveraign Power from him he is our Lord Answ. Yes in respect of this derived Power and of his own Soveraign Divine Nature of his invaluable Merit and Purchace and of our voluntary Compacts and Submissions on all accounts that can found a just Dominion and Lordship over us God has given him a Name above every Name that every Tongue should confess Jesus Christ is Lord Phil. 2. 9 11. To us there is one Lord 1 Cor. 8. 6. Quest. And being God not only in Power but also in Nature must we not all worship him and pray to him and trust in him as God Answ. Yes for at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow Phil. 2. 10 and all must honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 23. This is done by all good Christians and Saints on Earth who are styled They that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 2. And also by those who are glorified in Heaven who sing their Hallelujah's as to God the Father so also to the Lamb Rev. 5. 11 12 13 14. Yea by the Angels too for when he bringeth his first-begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. And this Divine Honour if he were not a God in Nature as well as in Power he could never claim nor receive from them Quest. If Christ is our Rightful Sovereign Lord then we must give up our Wills to his and perform faithfully whatsoever he orders Answ. Yes Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luk. 6. 46. Nay since he is our Lord and we are his Houshold-Servants we must not as he says be the Servants of Men that is so wholly given up to their Service as that we cannot mind his or serve their pleasure when it interferes with his Laws or comply with their Meen and Customs when they are contrary unto his or sooth and flatter their weak Minds and feed their sickly Humours like timerous or mercenary Slaves No man says our Saviour can thus serve two Masters Matt. 6. 24. Ye are bought with a price saith St. Paul be not ye therefore the Servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. And if I yet pleased or soothed up men I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Quest. Since he is our Lord we should not think any thing too mean or ill for us which he thought not so for him but compose our selves to his Behaviour willingly following where he has gone before it
it is also free in the second so as not to require in us any Terms or Conditions Answ. No for the main instances of God's Grace that is of his gratuitous and undeserved Gifts are the forgiveness of sins the saving assistances of his Spirit and Eternal Life And all these are given tho' not for any of our Deserts yet upon Conditions Quest. Is forgiveness of sins one instance of God's Free Grace Answ. Yes we are justified that is acquitted in judgment or have our sins pardon'd freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. and we have forgiveness according to the riches of his Grace Eph. 1. 7. Quest. And this Grace of Forgiveness you say is granted to us on Conditions Answ. Yes on Condition of our true Repentance For we are to Repent that our sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. And Christ was exalted to be a Saviour to give Repentance and Remission of sins Act. 5. 31. And when he sends out his Apostles to publish this Grace he orders them to preach Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name to all Nations Luk 24. 47. Quest. The saving Assistance of God's holy Spirit is another eminent instance of Grace and is most commonly called so in common speech but is that given too upon Conditions Answ. Yes on condition of our own care and concurrent endeavours For tho' the first motions and suggestions of the Spirit which make the first step in our Conversion may prevent our endeavours yet the continuance of them on our Hearts and their encrease to a saving pitch that will govern our Lives and guard us against Temptations depends upon our own Concurrence To him that hath that is improves what God bestows shall more be given but from him that hath not i. e. doth not profit with it as the wicked Servant did not who went and hid his Talent shall be taken away even what he hath Mat. 25. 25 29. And when St. Paul tells us God works in us both to will and to do he tells us withal that we must be Fellow-workers and work out our own Salvation Phil 2. 12 13. Quest. Is Eternal Life another instance of Free-Grace Answ. Yes it is an instance of it and the Crown and consummation of all the rest It is called the Gift of God Rom. 6. 23. and the Free gift of God Rom. 5. 15 16 18. Quest. And is it also bestow'd upon Conditions Answ. Yes upon condition of our Obedience to the Laws of God. Being made perfect thro' Suffering Christ became the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. And blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22. 14. Quest. The Grace we have by the death of Christ then is free as you say only as that excludes all our Deserts but not as it excludes all Terms and Conditions Answ. Very right And this is plain by that way wherein God makes over all that Grace to us which is by the New Covenant For what is given by way of Covenant is given upon Terms because Covenants differ from absolute Grants and imply Articles on both sides And thus the Benefits of the Gospel are given to us For Christ's sake we shall receive Remission of sins the Assistance of the Spirit and Eternal Life tho' we never deserved them but we shall not receive them unless we Repent and obey in order to them Quest. By this I perceive the Grace of Christ is no encouragement to sin or slothfulness and that his dying for our sins will not save us from dying for them our selves unless we repent of them Answ. Undoubtedly it will not Quest. But as soon as ever we repent we may believe and trust that we shall be saved by it Answ. Yes and this is the true Faith in his Blood that is a Faith that our Life shall be spared and we reconciled to God for the sake of it God hath set forth Christ a Propitiation for the Remission of sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. But this Faith belongs not to any whilst they continue in sin and are wicked men but only when they begin to obey and serve him Quest. From what you have said it appears that Christ's great aim in dying for us was to reclaim us from our sins and make us holy and good men and that he purchased Reconciliation and the favour of God only to shew us it would not be in vain and to encourage us to become so Answ. Yes so it was For he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. And he bare our sins in his own Body upon the Tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. Quest. You say Christ died to atone and satisfie for sins that God might pardon us when we repent of them But why did he not think Repentance enough without a Ransom Why would he not pardon Penitents unless Christ would die to make satisfaction for them Answ. Because the requiring such a satisfaction shewed his perfect hatred of sin which is for the Honour of his Holiness and the strict care of his Laws which maintains the Reputation of his Justice and took off all hope of impunity if men shall go on still to transgress and so was the greatest discouragement to future offences All which would have been otherwise had he been easie in forgiving and admitted of a Reconciliation without a Ransom Quest. How doth the requiring such a satisfaction shew his perfect hatred of sin for the Honour of his Holiness Answ. Because he would not remit the Punishment of it but upon the highest Ransom and because when he undertook to answer for it he would not spare it in his own Son so that his hatred to it could not be overcome even by his love to him Nay moreover because when in consideration of his infinite Merits and their Repentance he returns into favour with them yet to shew his absolute detestation of their former sins he will not receive even the Prayers and Devotions of Penitent Sinners at their own Hands or treat with them in person but requires a Mediator to offer up and transact all for them And withal admitting no other either in Heaven or Earth for that Advocate but only his own eternal and most dearly beloved Son To shew that when they offered the greatest Consideration yet in indignation at their former Provocations he would have no deangs with them by any person less great and dear than him Quest. How doth it shew his strict care of his Laws for the Honour of his Justice Answ. Because he would not dispense with the threatnings of those Laws where he had no less a Reason than the Salvation of all men the greatest and most considerable part of the visible Creation without a valuable recompence Quest. How doth
Justification Rom. 4. 25. and who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again Rom. 8. 34. Quest. Was his Resurrection necessary on any other Accounts Answ. Yes for 2. In virtue of his death he was to be our Mediator to intercede with God for us and our Saviour and Deliverer to protect and rescue us from our Spiritual Enemies And these great works suppose a live man and are not to be performed by a dead person And being thus necessary to discharge his continual care of us it must be equally so to support our Faith and Trust in him When men are dead we expect no service or succour from them And therefore were he still in the Grave we should not fix our Hope and Trust in or make our Addresses to him Quest. Was it necessary to shew him to be the Messiah and to prove his Religion Answ. Yes for he had appealed to it as a sign of his being a true Prophet Mat. 12 38 39 40. And therefore by the way of tryal which God prescribed the Jews viz. the accomplishment of predictions he had appear'd to be a false Prophet had he failed in it So that if Christ be not risen saith St. Paul your Faith is vain 1 Cor. 15. 14. Quest. In his Death and Resurrection methinks we have a plain and palpable instance of the immortality of Humane Souls and of a future Life beyond the Grave where God may reward or punish us Answ. So we have For his Soul manifestly did exist apart from his Body during the time of their Separation till on the third day it was reunited again So that mens Souls can subsist without as well as in their Bodies and when they depart hence go into another place where they are capable of being called to account for all they have done in this life On which account as well as others St. Paul might well say That God hath given assurance of a future Life and Judgment by raising Christ from the dead Acts 17. 31. And St. Peter That God hath begotten us to the hope of an Eternal Inheritance thro' the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Quest. We read of several others that rose from the Dead as well as Christ had he any thing singular in his Resurrection above them Answ. Yes he raised himself by his own power but they were all raised by him he was not only the first that rose but as the First-Fruits and all the World besides rise as the ensuing Crop which depends upon him Destroy this Temple saith he and in three days I will raise it up Joh. 2. 19 21. I lay down my life and take it up again Joh. 10. 18. He is the first-born from the Dead Col. 1. 18. Rev. 1. 5. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every man in his own order Christ the First-fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming 1 Cor. 15. 22 23. Quest. But did not Lazarus rise before Christ John 11. 44. and Jairus's Daughter Luk. 8. 55. and the Widows Son of Nain Luk. 7. 12 14 15. and how then is he said to be the first of the Dead that returned Answ. They returned to die again but he was the first that rose to life everlasting He being raised dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Rom. 6. 9. Quest. By his Resurrection Christ got Glory and Happiness to himself even that Joy for which St. Paul says he endured the Cross Heb. 12. 2. But did he thereby acquire any Power over us Answ. Yes his Death purchased and his Resurrection invested him with an absolute Power and Dominion over us For this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living Rom. 14. 9. And after his Resurrection saith he All Power is given to me both in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28. 18. Quest. If so his Resurrection lays an obligation upon us to obey him Answ. Yes like as he rose from the dead so must we rise to newness of life Rom. 6. 4. Quest How long stay'd he upon Earth after he was risen again Answ. For the space of forty days discoursing and speaking of the things concerning the Kingdom of God Acts 1. 3. Quest. Whither went he when he left it Answ. To Heaven whither he was taken up in a bright Cloud all the Apostles looking up after him till he was taken up out of their sight Acts 1. 3 9. And now he is there he sitteth at the right hand of God. Quest. What mean you by his sitting at the right hand of God Answ. His advancement to the heighth of Dignity and Authority in the presence of God. The Right-hand of a Prince is the place of peculiar Favour and of highest Honour and Respect as Solomon when he would do Honour to his Mother Bathsheba set her at his Right-hand 1 King. 2. 19. To be placed at hand by the priviledge of nearness gives opportunity for Conference and Address And to be placed at the Right-hand the Hand of use and business is to be in the way both of presenting all Offers and receiving of Returns whence it is a known mark of special Favour and Honour with all Potentates And so by Christ's sitting at God's Right-Hand is expressed his Soveraign Honour and Power in the presence of God. Or perhaps moreover his sitting in his humane shape on the Right-hand of that Bright Throne or Resplendant Glory which visibly accompanies and manifests some extraordinary presence of God as he appeared to Stephen in his Vision who saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the Right-hand of God that is I suppose at the Right-hand of that visible Glory wherewith God appeared Acts 7. 55. And this probably is what the Scripture means by his sitting at the Right-hand of Power Mat. 26. 64. and on the Right hand of Majesty Heb. 1. 3. That is on the Right-hand of such Glory or bright Appearance which is the usual Symbol of God's Power and Majesty which at other times is expressed by his sitting on the Right-hand of the Throne of God Heb. 12. 2. or on the Right-hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Heb. 8. 1. Quest. It was most just that he should be exalted thither in recompence of his meritorious sufferings as the Apostle notes Phil. 2. 8 9. and Heb. 12. 2. But is he gone thither to carry on any Designs for us Answ. Yes and those of the greatest importance For there in the highest manner and to the fullest effect he exercises all his Offices in our behalf Quest. I pray you explain the Designs he carries on for us there Answ. First The work of Intercession as our Priest. For he stands before God to mediate on our behalf and to obtain for us whatsoever God has promised or he has purchased or we stand in need of He is enter'd into
at that Day are to be judged Answ. All Men that shall either be found alive at his coming or were dead before For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive for the things done in the Body 2 Cor. 5. 10. yea and the lost Angels too for know you not that we shall judge Angels i. e. sit with Christ and approve of his Sentence when he condemns them 1 Cor. 6. 3. Quest. What Proof will there be of Crimes and who shall be the Witnesses Answ. The Devils are the Accusers of the Brethren Rev. 12. 10. and they will call for Justice But there needs no Testimony at that Day from the Father of Lies for God in his Omniscience keeps a Register and Record of all Mens Actions and that Book shall be opened and the Dead shall be judged by that unerring Book of his Remembrance Rev. 20. 12. Nay indeed there is no need of any Witnesses at all because the Guilty shall confess their Crimes and bear witness against themselves Their Consciences shall bear witness and their own Thoughts accuse or excuse one another in the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2. 15 16. Quest. Shall all this be acted in great Solemnity with Pomp and Splendour Answ. Yes as much as may be For Christ will translate his Royal Court from Heaven to Earth and come at the Right-hand of that Glory by which he now sits in peerless Splendor and Majesty having all the Holy Angels glittering in their utmost Brightness to attend this Triumph He shall come in his own Glory and in his Fathers and of all the Holy Angels Luk. 9. 26. Mat. 25. 31. He shall descend from Heaven with a Shout with the Voice of the Archangel and the Trump of God 1 Thess. 4. 16. And when that sounds all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth Joh. 5. 28 29. and there shall be a Resurrection both of the Just and Unjust Acts 24. 15. All these shall stand before his Throne And after an exact Scrutiny and fair Trial of all Persons he will separate them one from another into two Companies as a Shepherd divides the Sheep from the Goats and as the Jews were wont to do in their Courts setting such as were to be Absolv'd together upon the Right and such as were to be Condemn'd upon the Left-hand of their Tribunals And then with great Solemnity pass Sentence bidding the Righteous Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you But saying to the Wicked Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire Mat. 25. 31 32 34 41. Quest. Where shall this Glorious Appearance be Answ. In the Air saith St. Paul 1 Thess. 4. 17. In the Clouds of Heaven says our Saviour Mat. 26. 64. Somewhere it will be near the Earth but in what particular Part it little concerns us to inquire or advantages us to understand Quest. When this Great Judge has passed Sentence shall all Parties concern'd acquiesce in it Answ. Yes he is the last Judge from whom there can be no Appeal And there will be no need of any For all shall acknowledge the Perfect and irreprehensible Justice of what he determines The Righteous being tried first and call'd up to surround him in Glorious Circles whilst he tries the rest shall approve and praise his Justice The Saints shall judge the World i. e. as his Assessors and the Comprobators of his Judgment 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. And the Mouth of all Wicked who suffer under it shall be stopped and they shall be convinced of it within themselves For he will then convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Quest. For what shall we be judged and condemned in this Judgment Answ. For all Transgressions of the Laws of his Gospel and for those only He will not judge Arbitrarily or condemn any for unforbidden Things or for no Cause but only because he pleases But the Laws of his Gospel are the Rule he will try and judge all Christians by God shall judge Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2. 16. and the Word that I have spoken the same shall judge Men at the last Day Joh. 12. 48. Quest. If we shall be condemn'd only by God's Laws then to be sure unforbidden Things which are not threatned in the Word of God and which there is no Law against will never condemn any Answ. Most certainly they will not and there is no Sin in them to be condemned For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. And whosoever commits Sin transgresses also the Law for Sin is the Transgression of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And Sin is not imputed when there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. So that it is a vain Fear either in Religion or in Common Life when Mens Consciences scruple Things which they confess to be Indifferent i. e. forbid by no Laws as using a Form of Prayers Kneeling Standing or other Rites and Ceremonies no where forbidden in the Worship of God. In the last Judgment they shall answer only for the Breach of Laws and therefore are sure not to endanger their Souls or become accountable for such as these since there is no Law against them Quest. You say Men shall be judged for all their Transgressions of Gods Laws then to be sure for all their Sinful Actions Answ. Yes For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive according to that he hath done in the Body whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. And the Dead are judged every Man according to their Works Rev. 20. 13. Quest. So that then we must answer for all the Actions of our Lives and receive Reward if they have been good or Punishment if they have been ill ones Answ. Yes Quest. The Actions of Men are quickly done and when they are over they are wont to think there is an end of them But do not the good or ill Effects of several survive and last long and make for a great while after as if the Action were still a doing Answ. Yes they do both in good and bad Actions So that Men may be sinning and serving God noâ— only whilst they live but when they are in their Graves Quest. I pray you instance to me how it is so in good Actions Answ. If a Man gains Proselytes to God this good Fruit will last and they will serve him when he is dead If he promotes Pious Truths or gives good Advice or shews an holy Example in this World the Truths may be remembred and the Advice followed and the Example copied out and imitated when he is gone out of it If he endows Churches or builds Hospitals or the like his Piety will
inequality of Gods present Distributions which lies upon Providence will then be cleared up by a full and Liberal Amends For then God's Righteousness in Judgment that in great part lay hid before will be fully Revealed and made manifest Rom. 2. 5. Quest. But when he deals thus graciously with all the good how will he proceed with ill Men Answ. In all the equity of a fair Tryal but yet to a just Condemnation When he bears with all Natural Infirmities and reasonably abates for outward Impediments and connives at involuntary Failings and forgives all the sins of the Penitents he will avenge the willful Sins of all impenitent Persons according to their Deserts For he will judge the World in Righteousness Act. 17. 31. To the wicked he will say Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Mat. 7. 23. And when they that have done Good come forth to the Resurrection of Life they that have done Evil shall come to the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 29. Quest. What Punishment shall these Miserable Men be condemned to Answ. All the Plagues of Hell where their Spirits shall always be gnawed and preyed upon by the Worm of Conscience and their Bodies scorched with Fire and Flames Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Yea they shall have all the smart of Fire where 't is the hottest being cast into a Furnace of Fire Mat. 13. 42. and into a Lake of Fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19. 20. And there as the Fire is not quenched so their Worm of Conscience Dyeth not Mar. 9. 44. Quest. And when shall all these Dreadful Miseries seize them Answ. So soon as this Terrible Sentence of Go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire is solemnly passed upon them For this way of Effecting things is by his Omnipotent Word When he said let there be Light or Earth immediately there was so at first Gen 1. 3 9. And when he shall say go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire in obedience to that all-powerful Word streight-way a Fire shall come forth from his Presence and shall seize on the whole Earth and Air where his Adversaries Abode is and set it all on fire about them turning all this lower World which probably thenceforwards is to serve for no other use into one intire Globe of Fire or Flaming Furnace The Fire that shall Torment and Scorch the Damned at the coming of our Lord shall burn up the Earth and melt the Elements and Crack the Heavens making them dissolve and pass away with a Great Noise says St. Peter 2 Pet. 3. 10 12. The Heavens and Earth that are now says he again are kept in store and reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men the Fire that shall break out from God upon the Ungodly being it seems to seize and dissolve them ver 7. And the Fire that comes down from God to devour and torment the Devil and all he has deceived Day and Night for ever shall make the Earth and Heaven that now is flee away as may seem from St. John and leave nothing but a devouring Hell or a World of never Dying Fire and Flame in its place Rev. 20. 9 10 11 14. and c. 21. 1. And when once this is kindled those forelorn Wretches may cry in vain to the Hills to fall on them and to the Rocks to cover them For every Cave is then a Furnace and every high Hill a Flaming Mountain a Fervent Heat has melted all the World and nothing is to be felt or seen but boyling Element and scorching Fire all about them Quest. Oh! the wonder of God's Mercy which shall then be displayed towards all his Saints and the Terror of his Judgments which shall then be inflicted on all incorrigible Offenders Must not this expectation of Christ's future Judgment of us for all our Actions make us very careful how we lead our Lives Answ. Yes it should do it above all things We must account for all our Thoughts Words and Actions And an Eternity of highest Bliss or Woe depends upon the account we make And therefore we had need to do all things here with such care that when we are taken to task at that Great Day we may give in a good and comfortable account of them Seeing God will be more terrible in punishing all ungodly Sinners what manner of Persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Quest. That day you say will surprize the World as a Thief in the Night and it is most uncertain to every Man when he shall be called to it Ought not that to make us every day secure our Peace with God and watch always to be in a readiness and preparation for that great Account Answ. Yes there is no room for preparation afterwards if we are unprepared when he calls as the Foolish Virgins experienced to their cost Watch therefore for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of Man cometh Mat. 25. 11 12 13. Quest. Since Christ has reserved the judgment of all Men to himself who best knows and who alone is able unerringly to judge of them Must not this make us wary not to judge and censure one another Answ. Yes by all means for this Judgment he esteems an usurpation upon his Office. Why doest thou judge thy Brother or why doest thou set at naught thy Brother We shall all stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ Rom. 14. 10. Who art thou that Judgest another Man's Servant To his own Master he stands or falls ver 4. Nay he tells us as we have no Authority to do it so we are unfit for it because we cannot see each others Hearts and so in many Censures we pass can have no true Judgment of Men and Actions as he has Judge nothing before the Time until the Lord come who will bring to Light the hidden things of Darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Hearts 1 Cor. 4. 5. Quest. And since God will clear the Innocent before Men and Angels and in his judgment set all right at last Is not this a support to us under all the unjust Slanders and wrongful Judgments we meet with here in this World Answ. Yes for it shews all will be fully wiped off if we can have a little patience Our Innocence shall shine the brighter for the Vail that was drawn before it as the Sun doth when he recovers from a Cloud For then God shall bring forth our Righteousness as the Light and our Judgment as the Noon-day Psal. 37. 6. So that in such Cases we may all say as St. Paul it is a very small thing with me that I should be judged of Mans Judgment because he that judgeth me iâ— the Lord who will shortly reverse all the Errors of Mens Censures and shew them Publickly to all the World 1 Cor. 4. 3 4. CHAP. VIII Of the Holy Ghost The Contents The
believe a Man inspired barely upon his own Word since they all say they are we should believe all of them So that to prevent being deceived we must not take a Man 's own Word for his being sent thus of God till he shews some Sign from him to attest it Quest. You say they are miraculously assisted when they are sent to reveal any New thing Is there not a like necessity of Signs and Miracles then when they only come to Remove Corruptions and revive such former acknowledged Revelations as had Miracles to confirm them Answ. No to Persons that own he spake it God's Word has as much Authority as his Work Whilst they have his clear Word to shew for themselves they are sufficiently qualified to use his Name to reprove and convince on the score and credit of ordinary Ministers without producing any new and extraordinary Credentials Besides for these things they may appeal to all the old Miracles wrought to testifie these Revelations And accordingly a great part of the old Prophets under the Jewesh State coming to reduce men to the obedience of Moses to reprove sins and to reform abuses wrought no Miracles it being enough for them to produce the Holy Scriptures who only sought to bring those back to them who had swerved from them And this also was the Case of our first Reformers They studied no new ways but only endeavour'd to restore Religion which was much depraved in these Parts of the world to that Form which was at first most miraculously confirmed by Christ and his Apostles And therefore their Proofs were not to be fetched from signs and wonders as Men that introduced new and unattested Tenets but from the Holy Scriptures Quest. But are we not told of False Prophets shewing Signs Mat. 24. 24 And what shall we say to them if they alledge Miracles for false Things Answ. If they teach things contrary to the Scriptures they must not only work Miracles for their contrary Opinions but more and greater than were wrought by Christ and his Apostles to confirm the Scriptures For here all the Miracles wrought for the Scripture are against them since their pretended Miracles are brought for a contrary Thing And when our Faith is sollicited by a competition of Miracles as the Faith of the Jews was between the Miracles of Moses and those of the Magicians Exod. 7. 11 22. and when any Seducer gave signs to draw them to Idolatry Deut. 13. 1 2. we must believe that side which has the greatest and the most of them And this will secure us against all the Errors and feign'd Miracles of new Lights and Pretenders For 't is certain they will never shew the tenth part of those Miracles to confute any Doctrine contain'd in Scripture that Christ and his Apostles have done to confirm it Quest. I confess 't is very clear from what you say that the Scripture is the only Revelation we must stick to and that in matters of Religion we must not hearken to any other Pretenders to new Light and inspiration But doth not the Prophet Joel say Revelations should be common things among Christians I will pour out my Spirit in those days upon all Flesh and your Sons and Daughters shall Prophesie your young men shall see Visions and your old men shall dream Dreams Joel 2. 28 29. Answ. Yes but by those days he means not all the days of Christianity but only the days of the Apostles when such Revelations were common Things For in those same days as it follows in Joel I will shew Wonders in Heaven and in Earth saith God Blood and Fire and Pillars of Smoak And the Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into Blood before the Great and Terrible day of the Lord come i. e. before the destruction of Jerusalem whereof our Saviour interprets this passage Mat. 24. 29. which destruction fell out in the Apostolical Age before the death of St. John Joel 2. 30 31. And St. Peter says these inspirations foretold by Joel were fulfilled when the Holy Ghost at Pentecost descended upon them This is that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel it shall come to pass in the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie c. Act. 2. 16 17 18. So that Joel's Prophecy of inspirations doth not remain now to be fulfilled but as Joel himself foretold and as St. Peter declared was long since accomplished Quest. But God gave these Revelations in the Apostles Age and is not he the same God still in ours Answ. Yes he is always the same God but he doth not always do the same things He came down before the Jews in Thunder and Fire upon Mount Sinai once but he did not do so in after-times He shed abroad the Gift of Tongues and Miracles upon the generality of Christians in the Apostles days but he has not done so in any others since He is the same God and has the same care and kindness for his Church in all Times but he doth not always work the same effects but only according to our occasions and necessities And immediate Revelation was necessary to the Apostles in their circumstances and as unnecessary to us in ours Quest. Were these inspirations meerly about Doctrinal Things and declaring the will of God only in points of Faith or manners Answ. No but sometimes in those days of Revelation they were inspired also in their Devotions with Prayers and Hymns which was a blessing they were more sensible of in that Age because as yet they had no formed and established Liturgies Thus St. Paul tells the Corinthians every one in their Assemblies had an inspired Psalm as well as an inspired Doctrine Praying and Praising as well as Preaching by Revelation 1. Cor. 14. 26. And when they spoke by the Gift of Tongues it was oft in inspired Hymns and Devotions for he that speaketh in an unknown Tongue saith he speaketh unto God v. 2. he Prays to God or Praises him in that strange Gift of the Spirit v. 14 15 16. And in the Enthusiasms of Tongues which fell on Cornelius and his Gentile Friends they magnified God Act. 10. 40. Quest. Besides these Revelations about Religion and the way to Happiness had they not also Prophesie or Revelation about other Things Answ. Yes they had Revelations of future events concerning either themselves their Friends or the whole Church Thus Agabus foretold the Famine Acts 11. 28. and St. Paul's imprisonment at Jerusalem Act. 21. 10 11. And Paul foretold to his Company in the Ship that they should all be saved and none of them perish in the Ship-wrack Act. 27. 22 23 24 c. And St. John foretold not only what was to befall particular Persons but the whole Church in succeeding Ages in his Book of the Revelations Quest. I remember you said we are not now to expect any more Revelations in Religion to shew us the way to
Resurrection of a Body which had been crumbled into Dust seemed an incredible thing when it was preach'd at first When the Philosophers heard of a Resurrection some mocked Act. 17. 32. What can make it credible or fit to be Believed Answ. The Omnipotent Power of God when that is ingaged for it For no one can think it impossible for God to raise up a Body out of dust that at first made it out of dust yea that raised all things out of nothing Ye err saith our Saviour to the Sadduces about the Resurrection not knowing the Power of God Mat. 22. 29. And this Power he has given us a sensible proof of by raising up Christ. If Christ be preached that he rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no Resurrection of the Dead i. e. in regard his Rising is such an irrefragable instance and example of it 1 Cor. 15. 12. Quest. Shall the Bodies of the Saints be raised up by the Power of the Holy Ghost Answ. Yes he that now makes them his Temples by displaying in them his Holiness shall at last display in them his Omnipotence breathing into their scatter'd dust the Breath of Life as at first he breathed Life into all things If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he shall at last also quicken your mortal Bodies as he quickned his Rom. 8. 11. Quest. The Rising of the Saints will no doubt be very Glorious But what Perfections shall their Bodies receive at the Resurrection Answ. First Immortality Nothing after that shall ever be able to pain decay or annoy them they shall not be liable to suffer nor to dye any more This corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15. 53. They cannot dye any more Luke 20. 36. Secondly Spirituality it is sown a Natural Body it is raised a Spiritual Body 1 Cor. 15. 44. Whereby is not meant that it shall be a Spirit in Substance but that it shall have those Perfections of Spirits wherein they excel Bodies As 1. being above the gross Pleasures of Sense such as Eating Drinking and carnal Injoyments In the Resurrection they neither Marry nor are given in Marriage but are as the Angels Mat. 22. 30. And Meats for the Belly and the Belly for Meats but God shall shortly destroy both it and them viz. in the Resurrection when men shall live without them 1 Cor. 6. 13. 2dly Vigor and Activity such as may answer and keep pace with the vehement Transports and quick Emotions of Glorified Souls and be capable to support their Joys bear their Raptures and express their Activities And 3dly Agility or Spriteliness in their motions moveing towards all Points upwards into the Air and Clouds as St. Paul notes of the Saints in their new Bodies as well as downwards And to Places at any distance with the quickness of Spirits whence they are able in a moment to appear or disappear as the Soul pleases as our Saviour's Body did after his Resurrestion and our raised Bodies must be like his being in this respect also equal to the Angels Luke 20. 36. Quest. Shall they receive any more Perfections Answ. Yes Thirdly not only a perfect Beauty instead of any Mishape or Deformity but also a marvellous Brightness or Glory It is sown in Dishonour but it is raised in Glory 1 Cor 15. 43. The Righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of the Father Mat. 13. 43. Christ shall change our vile Body that it may be like unto his Glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. And that was full of glittering Splendor Whilst he conversed with his Disciples after his Resurrection here on Earth he laid it aside because fleshly eyes were not able to behold it as appeared by its Striking Saul blind Acts 9. 3 9. But in Heaven he shines with a dazeling Lustre Thus he appeared from thence to Stephen Acts 7. 55. and to Paul who describes the light of his Presence to have been above the brightness of the Sun Acts 26. 13. And his head and his hairs were white like Wooll yea as white as Snow his Eyes as a Flame of Fire his Feet like fine Brass burning in a Furnace and his Countenance as the Sun shining in its strength in that Vision St. John had of him in the Revelations Rev. 1. 13 14 15 16. Quest. This will be a most happy Resurrection of the Just But what kind of Bodies shall the Wicked have shall theirs be immortal too Answ. Yes but to their cost and for no other end but that they may be immortally punished For when they always fry in Eternal Fire they shall never be consumed by it Quest. And shall their raised Bodies be sensible of Torment Answ. Yes far more than their Bodies are now and they shall always have the smartest and most terrible things in Nature to Torment them viz. Eternal Fire Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire Mat. 25. 41. There they shall be tormented in the Flames and not have so much as a drop of Water to cool their parched Tongue Luke 16. 23 24. Quest. If it be thus extream violent it will soon consume them or as extremity of pain sometimes causes dictraction so over-power their Souls that they shall not be able to mind or attend to it Answ. No as their sense of pains shall be most exquisite and insensible so shall their Bodies be indissoluble and their sense insuperable As an Almighty Vengeance shall ever inflict the most tormenting strokes upon them so at the same time an Almighty Power shall continue their strength to bear and an exquisite sense or feeling to be most piercingly affected with them Quest. Must not this Belief of the Resurrection of the Body comfort us upon the death of Friends when we lay their Bodies in the Graves Answ. Yes because those Bodies are not perished but only faln asleep and shall be infinitely more perfect and glorious and full of strength when they awake out of it I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them that are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope For if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess. 4. 13 14. Quest. And ought it not to arm us against the fear of our own death too Answ. Yes for since when our earthly House of this Tabernacle is dissolved we have a Building of God Eternal in the Heavens in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloath'd upon with our House which is from Heaven 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. Quest. What is the Twelfth and last Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe the Life Everlasting Quest. When good mens Souls leave their Bodies what becomes of them Answ. They are carried into a place of Bliss and Refreshment which Christ in his discourse to the Penitent Thief called Paradise and
by Disappointments nor made unfortunate by the Follies or Sufferings of those we dearly love is absolutely the most agreeable pleasant and satisfactory Employment in the World. And amidst all these Companions shall the Righteous be Perfect in this Love Answ. Yes most Perfect For God is Love and he that dwells in God dwells in Love 1 Joh. 4. 16. Quest. Will all that blessed Company entirely love us Answ. Yes as they do their own Souls they were full of Love while they lived here loving even their Enemies after Christ's Precept and Example but especially the servants of God in whom they discern'd his Image But in Heaven they shall love us in Perfection and be full Ripe and Compleat in this as they are in all other Graces Quest. And shall we entirely Love all them Answ. Yes they shall all be so absolute in all amiable excellencies and continually discover such a boundless Love for us and our Natures will be so wholly framed for Love and Kindness that we cannot chuse but love them and that with the greatest fervour and intenseness of Affection And this will be all Pleasure and no Pain because they are incapable of doing any thing that may either shame or disgust us God is all in all in them and therefore they can do nothing but what we who entirely love God and them may perfectly delight in Quest. If we shall have such entire Love for all the Saints in Bliss we shall as all true Friends do partake in all their Joys and all their Happiness will be ours Answ. It will be so for Love of Happy Persons multiplies Happiness as oft as it multiplies Objects Because when we entirely love them we esteem and are pleased with all their Happiness as with our own And this way every Saint will be as full as if they had a Monopoly of Bliss and draw all the Happiness of Heaven to themselves Quest. But amidst all these inward excellencies and happy Company and Blissful intercourse of kindness shall they live in Honour and be eminent in Place Answ. Yes as Kings and Princes They shall Sit on Thrones and wear Crowns and Scepters and be Sons of God and Brethren and Joint-heirs with Christ they shall inherit all things and not only have the Priviledge to stand about Christs Throne but what would surpass belief if Truth it self had not assured us of it sit down with him thereon To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Rev. 3. 21. And besides this glory of their State and eminence in Place their Bodies as I observed shall be cloathed with the most Radiant Light and surpass even the Sun it self in Brightness Quest. In what place must they live to wear these Glories and Feast on all this immense Happiness Answ. In the Heaven of Heavens a Place scituate on High †far above all visible things unspeakably vast in extent and magnificent in structure and illustrious in Glory the Presence Chamber of the great God and King where he lives incircled with Lustre and Light inaccessible which no mortal Eye can approach unto for no Man as he told Moses can see my Face and live Exod. 33. 20. Here shall all Righteous Persons with their immortal Eyes ever see God and shine in his Glory and feast on all the forecited joys and fulness of Pleasure which is at his Right hand for evermore Psal. 16. 11. Quest. But if this happy enjoyment last long will they not grow weary of it in the end since humane Appetites are wont to love change and loath the best things if held constant to them Answ. No as the enjoyments are so is the desire and relish of them always the same The Goods are pure having no ungrateful mixtures to be discover'd and tasted by time and the Appetite and Relish perfect subject to no ebbs or flows no weariness or alterations So that we shall still desire as well as enjoy these pleasant things and find an inexpressible sweetness and satisfaction in them Quest. And to Crown all and render us secure in this Blessed State shall the happiness of it be no fading transitory Thing as all worldly pleasure is but everlasting Answ. Yes it will be always in its Spring and look fresh and flourish thro' Eternal Ages The Pleasures at God's Right Hand are for evermore Ps. 16. 11. the weight of Glory is Eternal 2 Cor. 4. 17. the Kingdom cannot be moved Heb. 12. 28. the Crown is incorruptible 1 Cor. 9. 25. that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 4. 'T is not a limited happiness held only for a term of years or Ages but an Eternal Life 1 John. 5. 11. Quest. This is such a perfection of Bliss as is enough to make all Righteous men impatient of living here and long to dye as St. Paul did thereby to be possess'd of it Answ. It is so indeed if it contain'd no more than I have described But when they come to enjoy it they will find infinitely more than I have said yea than any Tongue can express or heart imagine and apprehend For Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive the Things God has prepared for those that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. Quest. I perceive how Blissful the Eternal Life of the Righteous is But the Wicked too shall be raised to an Eternal State and what shall their Life be Answ. The most perfect misery both of Body and Soul whence in Scripture when by Life is meant not only the continuance in being but the happiness of it their state is call'd everlasting death 2 Thes. 1. 8 9. Rev. 2. 11. Quest. What sorrow and torment shall the Wicked for ever endure in their Souls Answ. The torment of all vexatious Passions being continually wracked with Envy Anger Fruitless Cares and Boundless Fears utter despair of all relief and yet extream desires of it And the Sting of Conscience which shall pierce them thro' with bitter remorse and gnaw perpetually like a Worm upon their Hearts and Vitals their Worm dieth not Mark 9. 44. Quest. Indeed all these mention'd Passions when at the heighth are so many Furies especially distracting and amazing Fears and Horrors And shall wretched Souls be wholly seized by these Answ. Yes as much as we may imagine they can possibly who are surrounded on every side with the most mischievous and spiteful Enemies and are left among them in the Dark which were it possible would magnify their Fears by fancy and make them infinite To express which utter uncomfortableness and insecurity they are said to be cast into utter Darkness Mat. 22. 13. and reserved unto Blackness of Darkness for ever 2 Pet. 2. 17. Quest. What is implyed in the Worm of Conscience Answ. Bitter and cutting remorse for their own wretched folly which has call'd down upon