and to make them have a chearfull countenance they took oile perhaps inwardly and they used it outwardly anointing their heads and perhaps their faces too for the purposes aforesaid it may be too to perfume themselves and this was the practise of men and of good men too 2 Sam. 12.20 Of David And we read that one powred out a box of precious ointment on our Saviour and was commended for it This use of oile was common to men but who ever heard of a man's face laid in oile colours of such a picture of a man you may have heard The Picts I suppose painted their whole bodyes see Camdē If of naturall surely of auxiliary beauty we may take up that saying favour is deceitfull and beauty is vaine c. Prov. 31.30 Q. Should Christians doe well to conforme themselves to the modest fashions of good people where they dwell A. See 1 Cor. 11.16 But if any man seem to be contentious we haue no such custome neither the Churches of God 1 Pe. 3.3 4 5. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparrell But let it be the hidden man of the heart For after this manner in old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves Q. Is it not fitting by any art to paint or counterfeit the fruit of repentance or to hide or hinder the evidence of it in our countenance Is it then expedient to paint our faces A. Ezrah 9.5 6. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heavinesse and having rent my garment and my mantle I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God and said O! my God I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee my God Jer. 6.15 and chap. 8.12 Q If a woman have no evill intention or designe in painting her face or in going with naked brests doth that certainly free her from all fault blame and punishment for her so doing in case this be an occasion of sin and fall to others that behold her A. 1 Cor. 8.13 If meat make my Brother to offend I will eate no flesh while the world standeth Exod. 21.33 Chap. 16. Of Children with respect to holy things Q. DID ever God make a Covenant with Parents and their children so as that the children being yet Infants were involved and interested in the covenant with their parents A. Gen. 17.7 8. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God Q. Did God ever ordaine any seales of his Covenant and that the children so in Covenant whilst Infants should be sealed with the seale of the Covenant A. Gen. 17.10 11 12. This is my Covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin and it shall be a token of the Covenant betwixt me and you And he that is 8 dayes old shall be circumcised among you every man-child in your generations c. Q. Is there by Christ's appointment any other new seale now to be administred in place of the old And is Baptisme now to be administred in the room of circumcision A. Gal. 5.2 Behold I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing Mat. 28.19 Goe ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Col. 2.11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sinnes of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Buried with him in Baptisme wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God Q. Are any now to be admitted to any seale of the Covenant who were formerly excluded A. Act. 8.12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Q. Hath Christ any where excluded Infants under the Gospell either from the Covenant or the signs and seales of it or hath our Lord expressed good will and Affections to them declaring his will to have little ones brought to him A. Mat. 19.13 14 15. Then there were brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them But Jesus said suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdome of heaven And he layd his hands on them and departed thence Mar. 10.16 And he took them up in his armes put his hands upon them and blessed them Q. Are believing Gentiles concerned in the Covenant and promises made to the Patriarks Abraham Isaack and Jacob and David A. Gal. 3.7 8 9 13 14. Know ye therefore that they which are of Faith the same are the children of Abraham And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations be blessed So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law c. that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through Faith Q. Doe Believers Jewes and Gentiles make up one Church and one body whereof Christ is Saviour and head A. Eph. 2.13 14. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ For he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken downe the middle wall of partition between us chap. 4.4 There is one body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling Q. Are believing Gentiles ingrafted into the same olive out of which the unbelieving Jewes were cut off A. Rom. 11.17 18 24. And if some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild olive tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the root and fatnesse of the Olive tree Boast not against the branches For if thou wert cut out of the Olive tree which is wild by nature and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good Olive tree how much more shall these which be the naturall branches be grafted into their own Olive tree Q. Were Infants with their Parents ever so much as figuratively baptized A. 1 Cor. 10.1 2. All our Fathers were under the cloud and all passed thorow the Sea And were all baptized unto Moses in the
which the people understand A. 1 Cor. 14.18 19 27 28. I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue If any man speak in an unknown tongue let one interpret but if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speake to himselfe and to God Q. May we quote a translation of Scripture A. Heb. 10.5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not c then said I Lo I come to doe thy will O God Which is a passage taken out of the 40th Psal verses 6.7 8. secundum Interpret 70 c. Q. Are the Scriptures to be read in the Church A. Luk. 4.16 And he came to Nazareth and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Act. 15.21 For Moses of old time hath in every City them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Q. In which book that of the Creatures or that of the Scriptures may we learne to know God best A. Psal 138.2 I will worship towards thy Holy Temple and praise thy Name for thy loving kindnesse and for thy truth for thou hast magnifyed thy Word above all thy name Psal 19.1 7 11. The Heavens declare the glory of God the firmament sheweth his handy worke the Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Q. May Nations know any thing of God by his workes or Creatures A. Rom. 1.19 20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are cleerly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall power and God-head so that they are without excuse Q. Is it a speciall blessing to have the word of God A. Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them praise ye the Lord. Chap. 4. Of God and of the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead Q. ARE the Gentiles in an Errour who worship many Gods A. Yea. Deut. 6.4 Heave O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.4 5 6. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world that there is none other God but one for though there be that are called Gods whether in heaven or in earth as there be Gods many and Lords many but to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Q. How doth the Scripture set out converts from the worship of false Gods or dead Idols which the Gentiles worship A. 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King c. Q. Is it possible for us to know God comprehensively or perfectly to comprehend his infinite being and perfection A. Job 11.7 8 9. Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection It is as high as heaven what canst thou doe Deeper than hell what canst thou know The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader then the Sea So chap. 26.14 Lo these are parts of his waies but how little a portion is heard of him but the thunder of his power who can understand Q. To speak after the manner of men is God a Spirit A. Yea Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Q. What doth the Scripture teach us to conceive of the nature of a Spirit or how doth a Spirit differ from a body A. Luk. 24.39 Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Q. What Scripture have you to prove that God is invisible to corporeall eyes A. 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall immortall invisible the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Deut. 4.15 16 17. Take ye therefore good heed unto your selves for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fires lest ye corrupt your selves and make you a graven image the similitude of any figure the likenesse of male or female c. compared with Rom. 1.21 23. Because that when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God neither were thankfull but became vaine in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and foure-footed beasts and creeping things Q. What proofe doe you bring that God is without Passion A. Act. 14.11 15. When the people saw what Paul had done they lift up their voices saying the Gods are come down to us in the likenesse of men c. Sirs why doe ye these things we also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turne from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven and earth c. Q. Give us a text to shew the unchangeablenesse or Immutability of God A. Mal. 3.6 For I am the Lord I change not therefore the Sons of Jacob are not consumed Jam. 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh downe from the Father of Lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning Q. What text of Scripture is there to prove that God cannot be contained in any place or that he is Immense A. 1 King 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the heaven and the Heaven of heavens cannot containe thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand sayth the Lord and not a God a far off Can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Doe not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord Q. How doe you prove that he is Eternall A. Psal 90.2 Before the mountaines were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King eternall
ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest chap. 7.7 Aske and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Is 55.1 3. Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eate yea come buy wine and milke without money and without price Incline your eare and come unto me hear and your soule shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Deut. 4.29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thine heart and with all thy soul Rev. 22.17 and the Spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely Q. May we pore upon predestination and look to see our names written in the book of life before we set our faces and hearts to look after a Saviour the Lord Christ A. Deut. 29.29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever that we may doe all the words of this Law 1 Joh. 3.23 And this is his commandement that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ Q. Is there any ground to stay the soul upon if it seek after the true knowledge and feare of God that it shall find it A. Prov. 2.3 4.5 Yea if thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Q. If Judas had repented and believed should he have been saved A. Joh. 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Q. If Peter had never repented and believed should he have been saved A. Joh. 3.18 But he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God vers 36. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Q. What if a man had a revelation from heaven that he should be saved might we say that Except he believed and repented and walked holily he could not be saved what saith the Scripture A. Act. 27.31 Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved compared with vers 23 24. There stood by me this night the Angell of God saying fear not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar and lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee Q. What if a Prophet should come and tell thee yet 10 or 20 or 40 dayes and thou shouldest dye and be damned if thou shouldest thereupon turne unto the Lord with all thy heart and believe in the Lord Christ shouldest thou be saved A. Jer. 18.7 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdome to pluck up and pull down and to destroy it If that nation against whom I have pronounced turne from their evill I will repent of the evill that I thought to doe unto them Matth. 11.23 If the mighty workes that have been done in thee had been done in Sodome it would have remained untill this day Is 38.1 2 5. Thus saith the Lord Set thine house in order for thou shalt dye and not live Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed unto the Lord Goe and say to Hezekiah thus saith the Lord the God of David thy Father I have heard thy prayer I have seen thy teares Behold I will adde unto thy dayes 15 yeers Jonah 3.4 10. Q. Shall any man be condemned at the last day because he could not or because he would not come unto Christ but put the Gospel away from him A. Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not Joh. 5.40 And ye will not come to me that ye might have life Q. May a man be fully assured of his Salvation A. 2 Cor. 5.1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens Q. Will Assurance make Saints Libertines in their lives A. Luk. 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Q. Is Assurance inconsistent with a filiall reverentiall obedientiall feare of the divine majesty A. Phil. 2.12 Worke out your own salvation with feare and trembling Psal 2.11 Serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling Q. What is the true meaning of that place 1 Joh. 4.18 A. Either perfect love casteth out all slavish base feare or if we love Christ in sincerity and with all our soules we shall not through feare deny him but confesse him before men although they persecute us for his names sake Q. May true Faith consist with some doubting A. Mat. 14.31 O thou of little Faith wherefore did'st thou doubt Q. Ought not Christians so to rejoyce alwaies in God as yet to be sorry for their sinnes and to weep with them that weep Are these things inconsistent Sorrow and Joy A. 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowfull yet alway rejoycing So chap. 7.9 Now I rejoyce not that ye were made sorry but that ye sorrowed to Repentance for ye were made sorry after a godly manner Rom. 12.15 Rejoyce with them that doe rejoyce and weep with them that weep Q. Shall men who live in grosse sins without Repentance Reformation ever come to heaven A. 1 Cor. 6.9 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shal not inherit the Kingdome of God c. And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Q. Are we commanded to make us a new heart and a new Spirit A. Ezek. 18.31 32. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selves and live yee Q. Hath God any where promised that he will doe this for us A. Jer. 24.7 And I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord and they shall be my people and I will be their God For they shall returne unto me with their whole heart Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will