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
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
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
a sign Matth. 12. 40. And Judas's Treason he foretold to his Disciples before it happened that thereby saith he when it is come to pass you may believe that I am he John 13. 19. And this alone is a sufficient vindication of his Testimony if he could produce nothing else For in a Legal Trial at the Bar of Moses this would prove him a true Prophet And that being once made out his Testimony is no further to be questioned Quest. Indeed such personal endowments and so miraculous an entry are enough to gain credit to any Person and make the World believe what he says though he wrought no Miracles for confirmation Ans. Very true and so they did in John's case For John as the Scripture says wrought no miracle John. 10. 41. But yet he was universally held for a Prophet because of his eminent Integrity and Wisdom and because his Conception was by a Mother barren and past Child-bearing and was first revealed by the Message of an Angel and his unbelieving Father struck dumb and his Tongue as miraculously loosed again upon the Child's Birth to Prophesie concerning him by all which he was notoriously known to be a Child of Miracles though he wrought none And all these as I have noted were far more eminent in Jesus which therefore in all equity and reason should have gained him credit and make him pass for a Prophet as John did Besides that Jesus gave them Predictions the Legal proof of true Prophets which had been enough to authorize and justifie his Witness had it come backed with no other credentials Quest. You have shewn reason enough why Jesus's report of himself should be trusted since it came thus well fortified Ans. Yes this shows him a most creditable Witness whilst he appeared among us to testifie for himself here on Earth But besides that he has moreover showed himself several times since he went to Heaven particularly to Stephen and Saul giving them an ocular evidence by appearing in actual Possession of his Pretences And this exhibition of himself in Glorious Majesty at God's own Throne doth as convincingly speak him to be Christ the King as any Man 's Personal appearance and presentation of himself can prove him to be a live Person In doubt of a thing 's existing in any condition there is no such satisfactory proof as if the thing presents it self and shews its state by ocular demonstration Quest. But after all that you have said about the validity of this Testimony of Jesus in his own case doth not Jesus himself say the contrary when he tells the Jews If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true John 5. 31. Ans. By not true he means not that 't is no real Truth nor that it is no proof of Truth for in another place he says expresly though I bear record of my self my witness is true John 8. 14. But only that it will not pass in Law for a proof of Truth And that not for any defect in the kind but only in the tale and number of Evidence For their Law as he notes required two Witnesses So that although his own Testimony were one good proof yet being but one it was of it self alone no full proof but wanted the Testimony of his Father too to make it a Legal Evidence John 8. 17 18. And accordingly in the place objected when he says his own is no good Testimony in the next words he adds there is another that beareth witness of me which making up the Legal number if added to his own would make an undeniable Testimony John 5. 32. Quest. But after all will not this taking the word of Jesus in his own case give colour and credit to designing Impostors and Fanatical Enthusiasts Ans. It would if he or they were to be believ'd upon their bare sayings But there is do danger at all of that if to back them they must produce such Credentials as I have set off in his case For to be sure upon examination they will appear either not to be Persons of sober and solid reason or not exempt from all just suspicion of vanity and self-design or to want an extraordinary and miraculous introduction Not to mention moreover that they will have no acknowledged Prophet to bear Witness to them and that they will fail of giving a Sign and Prediction which according to the strictest Test of Moses was answered and made good by him Which great differences make their words in their own case to be only either a forged or a Fanatical bold Saying which was sober Truth and solid Evidence in him Quest. Besides these Testimonies for Jesus being the Messiah you mentioned a third viz. his miraculous works which you called an Evidence drawn up by the finger of God. I pray you declare that Ans. This Jesus often urges for himself and that too as of greater validity than either his own or John's Testimony I have greater witness than that of John for the works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 5. 36. And if I do the works of my Father though you believe not me believe the works John 10. 37 38. Quest. Indeed in pretence that any thing comes from God Signs and Miracles are a conviâ—cing argument For being a visible effect as our Saviour said of the finger of God they show evidently that God espouses the Person who is impowered to work them and will employ his Almighty Power to make his Sayings good But one great difficulty lies in the way of this Evidence and that is that Miracles or things seemingly as strange as they which we cannot distinguish from them are oft-times wrought by Satan and his Agents As they were by Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian Magicians in their contest with Moses and by false Christs and false Prophets who as our Saviour foretold should shew signs and wonders Matth. 24. 24. and by the great Antichrist and Man of sin whose coming S. Paul declares should be after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders 2 Thess. 2. 9. And if Satan works Miracles or which in effect is all one what we shall take for such to credit false Impostors as well as God doth to justifie true Prophets how shall we distinguish these and know of the Signs which Jesus gave us whether they are Divine Miracles that evidence a true Man or only Feats of Magick which are shewn by many false Men Ans. They are easily distinguished by the whole kind of some and by the intent and design of all of them Quest. I pray you instance to me in some where they are distinguished by the whole kind That is of some sorts of Miracles done by Jesus which are peculiar to God and which cannot be performed by any unclean Spirit Ans. One is foretelling future contingencies which Jesus did several times Particularly he foretold his
that the Law of Moses was designedly subject unto change in Messiah's days And if Jesus abrogates it as they foretold he should 't is evident he ought not to be looked upon as opposing the Old Prophets for accomplishing their own Predictions Ans. Most certainly but is therein owned and vouched by them as he was in the event too by God himself when by the confusion of Tribes and destruction of the Temple and Commonwealth by Vespasian he plainly set aside those Laws by rendring them impossible and leaving no more place for them Their Civil or Judicial Laws about Buying and Selling Succession into Estates Reparation of Dammages Punishments of Offences and other things are plainly now of no force having never since then had any standing Polity or live-Power to put them in Execution The Laws fixing the Priesthood in Aaron's line and directing their Ministration have been evidently superseded ever since that Line was utterly undistinguishable and irrecoverably unknown The Laws and Ceremonies about Sacrifices which were all determined to the Temple at Jerusalem have been apparently out of doors ever since the Temple was brought to ruine And those many other Laws observed by learned Men to be made with a limited Obligation to the Land of Canaan are manifestly taken off since God has irreversibly banished them from thence and scattered them abroad in every Nation So that all these Laws are visibly abrogated by God himself and fallen on course with the loss of their Country and of the distinction of Tribes and with the fall of the Civil State and Temple which were their Foundation Quest. But do not some places speak the perpetuiâ—y of some of those Laws as when the Passover and the Precept of First fruits and several others are called a Statute for ever And how can these admit of such change Ans. Just as the Priesthood did which was said to minister to God for ever Deut. 18. 5. 1 Chron. 15. 2. And as the Temple wherein God says he will take up his rest for ever which yet we all know for above Sixteen hundred Years has been utterly destroyed Psalm 132. 14. Perpetual Statutes and unalterable are two things Those are perpetual which are made without an express limitation of time and which must last till the same Power repeals that enacted them And thus some Statutes in Moses's Law are stiled perpetual not to exclude all Power of Abrogation but in opposition to some other Pendent Statutes that were not to oblige till after a certain time as the Law of driving out the Canaanites which was not to be of force till they came among them Or to some that obliged only in some certain state and condition as the Statute for going without the Camp which related to their State of Peregâ—ination and the Statutes about the Tabernacle which was to last only till God chose out a place where they should build him a Temple But among them those things especially were said to be for ever which were to continue to the end of any thing or last out the whole course of any period of time and till a new Revolution Thus it is said of Samuel that he was brought to abide before the Lord for ever that is all his life time as in the form of our Law an Estate is said to be granted and bequeathed to a Man for ever when it is given him for his life and a Servant was said in the Law to be for ever who was to serve only till the next Jubilee which was a time of general Release and begun a new reckoning And thus the Law of Moses did last for ever that is it lasted to the end of that State whereto it was adapted continuing till Christ came whose time was the beginning of a new Age commonly known and expressed in the Jewish Phrase by the last days and the last time and the world to come Besides all the Typical part of that Law being only in the Nature of an obscure Prophecy which was a School-master to bring us to Christ by shadowing out the good things to come by him it was superseded of course by his fulfilling of them as all Predictions are by their Accomplishment and Consummation Quest. By this I perceive there is no clashing in designs between our Jesus and Moses and the Prophets And when he set aside that Law it was only as they hoped and foretold he should by consummating and fulfilling whatsoever it prefigured and clearing up what it obscured and supplying what it omitted and by substituting a better Law in its place Ans. Very right And therefore all the Old Testament Miracles do not in the least oppose but fortifie and confirm his So that as he told the Jews if they really believed Moses that would lead them to believe him but if they rejected him that very Moses in whom they trusted would accuse them John 5. 45 46. Quest. By what you have said 't is plainly evident that the Miracles which Jesus wrought were done by the finger of God and then that naturally follows which he thereupon infers therefore no doubt the kingdom of God is come unto you Matth. 12. 28 29. But one Divine Testimony you mentioned besides all these for proving Jesus to be the Christ and that was the Testimony of the Father pray make that clear Ans. This Testimony Jesus alledges in his own behalf as an additional evidence to the former Testimony of his works The same works that I do bear witness of me And the Father also himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me John 5. 36 37. chap. 8. 17 18. Quest. But since we are upon Earth and the Father in Heaven and he doth not visibly appear to converse among Men how did he give Testimony to him Ans. I shall mention two ways First by audible voices ye have not at any time heard his voice says Jesus to the Jews when he mentions his Father's Witness John 5. 37. Secondly By raising him from the Dead and showing him openly in full possession of his pretences Quest. Was God the Father ever heard to say Jesus is the Christ and declare for him by audible Voices Ans. Yes several times He appeared cloathed with Light and Brightness the usual visible Symbol of his presence as he did of old to Moses at the Bush and thence gave a vocal Testimony to Jesus in as plain and intelligible words as before he had used to Moses or as we can use in giving Testimony to one another This he did first at his Baptism before John the Baptist saying This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Matth. 3. 17. And again at his Transâ—â—guration before three of his Apostles Peter James and John when out of the bright cloud a voice came saying This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Matth. 17. 1 5. Which Voice saith S. Peter from the
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
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
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.
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
Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherein there is Full and unmixed Happiness Of the satisfaction of their Senses Their clear and distinct Knowledge Perfect Holiness And without Reluctance Blissful Companions Perfection of Love and Kindness Honour and Eminence of Place All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens without satiety or weariness For evermore Of the miseries of the Damned in Tormenting Passions The worm of Conscience Fire and Flames Disgrace Under all which no favour of God. No company but of Tormenting Devils and damned Spirits None to condole when they cannot relieve No rest and sleep for Recruit of Spirits No end of their miseries The Use of this The Practical Believer PART II. Of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. CHAP. I. Of the Office and Natures of Jesus Christ. The Contents 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 Quest. WHat is the Second Article of the Creed Answ. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Quest. Jesus signifies a Saviour from what doth Christ save us Answ. From two things 1. Our sins 2. Those eternal Torments which are the Punishment of them Quest. If he prove a Saviour to us must he Reform and save us from our sins Answ. Yes for this is the main Reason why that Name was given him Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. Quest. Will he save none from the Punishment but whom he saves from the sins first Answ. No for except ye Repent ye shall all perish Luke 13. 3. and at last he will say Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Mat. 7. 23. Quest. But when once they are delivered from their sins they may make sure of being freed by him from Eternal Death too Answ. Yes for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. Quest. Christ signifies anointed among the Greeks as Messiah doth among the Hebrews Messiah if interpreted being the Christ or anointed as St. Andrew said John 1. 41. But what mean you when you call Jesus the Messiah or Christ that is the anointed Answ. His being invested with the Office of a Prophet to teach his Church of a Priest to make Reconciliation and intercede for it and of a King to Govern and Protect it Quest. Why do you call such Investiture his Anointing Answ. Because anciently Investitures into these Offices were according to the Eastern Custom by pouring Oyl upon them as in the case of the Arch-Prophet Elisha 1 Kings 19. 16. and High-Priest Aaron Lev. 8. 12. And in Kings as the Jewish Doctors note when they received not their Office and Authority by Succession but by extraordinary Designation as in the case of King Saul 1 Sam. 9. 16. 10. 1. and King David 1 Sam. 16. 13. Answerable to which Messiah's Designation to his Office which was to include all these is call'd his being Anointed Isa. 61. 1 2 3. Quest. Was Christ invested in these Offices by pouring Oyl upon him Answ. No but by pouring a nobler thing the miraculous Powers and Gifts of the Holy Ghost which install'd him and answer'd to their anointing God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with Power Acts 10. 38. Quest. Was Christ in the Office and Quality of a Prophet to teach his Church Answ. Yes he was a Teacher sent from God John 3. 2. What he said he spake not of himself but as the Father gave him Commandment so he spake John 12. 49 50. So that the People spoke a great truth when they said This is of a truth that Prophet who was to come into the World John 6. 14. Nay he was not in the rank of an ordinary Prophet but in a pitch of Eminence far above all others For he not only had a Prophetick Spirit resting always on him which the best of them enjoy'd but on certain times and occasions but he knew the will of God by Personal Acquaintance and immediate intuition not barely at second hand by the Message of an Angel or by a Vision or a Dream as they all did The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1. 18. And on this account among others of all Prophets and Interpreters of God's mind he alone is call'd the Word because lying in God's Bosom he had his mind without any thing intervening as immediately as a word expresses ones meaning Quest. What must this teach us Answ. Whensoever we would know the mind of God to seek only unto him and never to hearken to any other New Lights or Enthusiastical Pretenders In all times both in the Apostles days and ours several Impostors and false Prophets have come with pretended Messages to shew men the will of God and the way to Happiness But we are to give ear to none of these this work of communicating God's mind to men not being left at random but peculiarly intrusted with Jesus Christ that great Prophet of the Church who is especially constituted by God and anointed for this purpose This is my beloved Son said God in the voice from the bright Cloud in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. Quest. But how shall we do to learn of him since now he is no more among us here on Earth but is gone to Heaven Answ. Two ways he exercises his Prophetick Office to communicate the mind of God to us 1. By the Scriptures What God told him he first by Personal Converse and afterwards by his Spirit leading them into all truth told the Apostles and Evangelists and they put it in writing in the Book call'd the Holy Scriptures to be preached and published to all others thro' all times So that when we hear them read we must think we hear Christ our great Prophet speaking to us And to be debarr'd or debar our selves of the use of them what is it but to be debarr'd of this great Prophet's free Communication 2. By his Ministers whom he has left and appointed to declare God's mind to the People in his place Thus the Priests were appointed among the Jews The Priests lips should preserve Knowledge and the People should seek the Law
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
liveth and shall not see death and shall he deliver his Soul from the hand of Hell Psal. 89. 48. And as Jacob talked of going down to Hell to Joseph when he thought some evil Beast had devoured him Gen. 37. 33 35. In both which places the word translated Grave in our Bibles in the Greek is Hades the very word that stands for Hell here in the Creed Oft-times indeed especially in the New Testament Hell fignifies not in general the state of the Dead but particularly the state of the Wicked and the place of Torment In which sense it is not likely that Christ descended into Hell after his death because in his dying hour he told the Penitent Thief This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 43. CHAP. III. Of the Resurrection of Christ and his sitting at God's Right-Hand The Contents 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 Quest. How long did Jesus Christ abide in the state of the Dead till his Body was corrupted Answ. No he staid not so long God did not suffer his Holy one to see Corruption Acts 13. 35 36 37. but reunited his Soul and Body and raised him from the dead on the third day before the time Corruption usually seizes the Bodies of dead men Quest. Christ said of himself as the Jews told Pilate That after three days he would rise again Mat. 27. 63. And as Jonas was three days and three nights in the Whales Belly so says he shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the Earth Mat. 12. 40. But if he died as we commemorate his death upon Good-Friday and rose early on Easter-day in the morning there were only part of two days and one entire day between Answ. That is three days according to common computation of days both Ancient and Modern and particularly in Scripture reckoning Thus Lazarus is said four days dead though the fourth day whereon Jesus raised him up was one of them Joh. 11. 39. And eight days are said to be accomplished for Christ's Circumcision but the day of his Birth and Circumcision too went both in to that Reckoning Luk. 2. 21. And the Priests in their courses were appointed and reputed to Minister before the Lord eight days though the time of Entrance and Release was every Sabbath day morning And accordingly what in the currant way of expression is thus sometimes termed three days our Saviour speaking more exactly at other times expresses by on the third or within three days Jesus shewed his Disciples he should rise again the third day Mat. 16. 21. and 17. 23. and 20. 19. And destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up Joh. 2. 19. or within three days as the Jews who otherwhere call it after three days related it Mark 14. 58. Quest. How doth it appear that Christ was raised again from the dead Answ. It might appear to any who had the curiosity to look into the Sepulchre for they would see he was gone Quest. What said the Watch who stood to guard him Answ. They knew it full well for when the Angel with a Countenance like Lightning descended in an Earth-quake to roll back the Stone the Keepers saw it and shaked and became as dead men Mat. 28. 2 3 4. But the Jewish Rulers bribed them to say his Disciples came by night and stole him away while they slept v. 11 12 13 14. which was a foolish lie and bore along with it its own Confutation Quest. How so Answ. Because if they were asleep how could they tell any one stole him If they had any thoughts of what others did then it could be only in a Dream unless they would pretend to sleep with their Senses awake and their Eyes open Quest. But this saying saith St. Matthew is commonly reported among the Jews and passes for a Truth with them Mat. 28. 15. And by what other ways can you convince them that Christ is risen Answ. By those that saw him and conversed with him after his Resurrection For he appeared for the space of forty days to his Apostles and to satisfie them he had a real Body eat and drank with them after he was risen Acts 10. 41. Luk. 24. 43. He appeared to Thomas who searched the holes the Nails had made in his Hands and thrust his Finger into his Side where the Spear had pierced it before he would believe him Joh. 20. 27 28. To five hundred Brethren all at one time 1 Cor. 15. 6. To Stephen in a bright Glory from Heaven at his Martyrdom Acts 7. 56. and to Saul at his Conversion Acts 9. 3 4. Yea after he was risen and gone to Heaven he sent down the Holy Ghost upon his Apostles and followers which shewed not only that he is alive again but also that he lives in Power Quest. The Apostles seem extraordinary careful to confirm the Resurrection of Christ and call the ordaining one to be an Apostle ordaining him to be a witness of it Acts 1. 22. Was it necessary that Christ should rise from the dead Answ. Yes to shew the debt he died for was discharged and that his satisfaction was accepted He died as a Sacrifice to satisfie for our sins and till God raised him up again it did not appear that he was satisfied with what Christ had done for us If Christ be not risen ye are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15. 17. Quest. But was not his death a full payment and on the Cross did he not relate to that when he said it is finished Joh. 19. 30 Answ. It was so indeed the price of Redemption then was fully paid But till he raised him up again God had given no publick Acquitrance nor done any open Act to shew we were discharged by it So that by his Resurrection we are said to be justified that is declared to be so He died for our sins and rose again for our
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
Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. Quest. Doth he then plead with God and move and Petition him for all the things we gain from him Answ. His Intercession is not by Words and formal Pleas and Supplications but by Actions that is by presenting of himself and shewing his own Sacrificed Body before God. He intercedes by shewing of himself and therefore St. Paul calls his Intercession his appearance in the presence of God for us Heb. 9. 24. Quest. And is this way as effectual as by forming Vocal Pleas Answ. Yes undoubtedly The Blood of his Sacrifice as St. Paul says speaks Heb. 12. 24. It doth not only breathe out Prayers but prefers Claims and Demands and those too not only in virtue of Gods Promise but also of his own Merits and dear-bought Purchase which is a way of moving with Power and Prevalence beyond all expressions Quest. Did the High-Priest among the Jews intercede thus Answ. Yes when he went in to intercede with God in the Holy of Holies after he had slain the Sacrifice he was not directed to make any set Speeches and vocal Supplications but only to carry in the Blood of Expiation and present it to God by sprinkling it upon and before the Mercy-seat Lev. 16. 14 15. which real exhibition of the thing it self that was to plead for them was more moving and effectual than any Verbal Speech or Vocal Prayer he could have put up for them Quest. And will Christ continue thus to intercede for us that is to shew himself and exhibit his Sacrifice before God in our behalf always Answ. Yes he ever lives to make intercession for us which renders him able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him Heb. 7. 25. And therefore the Heavens must receive him till the restitution of all things Acts 3. 21. It was enough for the Sacrificing part of his Priest-hood which made the Purchase to be once done But the Interceding part which brings down the purchased Blessings to all men in all times and places must still be a doing And therefore he continues in the presence of God to shew himself and intercede to the end of the World which will be so long as he will exercise his Mediatory Power or we shall stand in need of his Intercession Quest. What things will he move and intercede with God for which therefore we may make sure to speed in Answ. For all the Benefits he has purchased and God has promised which are all contain'd in the New-Covenant His intercession in virtue of his Blood is only to apply the Merits and Purchase of it So that as at first he shed it so now he shews his Blood for Covenant-Mercies and on Covenant-Terms but he never moves that any Person should obtain them otherwise Quest. Then he will never move for wicked and obdurate Sinners that God would relax the severity of his Laws for their sakes Nor for slothful and careless ones that by an over-powering and irresistible Grace he would do all for them and work his Will in them and so save all their Pains Since the New Covenant offers no Pardon but to the Penitent nor saving Grace but to the Sincere and Industrious Answ. Very Right Quest. By this I see we must by no means look upon Christ at God's Right-Hand as a Byassed Partial Advocate that seeks to wring what he can from God and gain all for our side But as an Equal and Impartial Mediator who has a just Regard to both sides and will shew himself as careful of God's Authority and Honour by securing him of our Duty as of our wellfare by obtaining for us his Mercy Answ. Most certainly For this cause saith St. Paul of purging our Consciences from dead Works to God's Service as well as that they who are called may receive the Promise of the Eternal Inheritance he is the Mediator of the New Testament Heb. 9. 14 15. In discharging this Trust we may be sure in the heighth of all his care for us he will be just to God. Nay being God's own Son and both intimately nearer Related to and better pleased with him than he is with us were he any ways capable of being byassed we cannot imagine it should be on ours but on his side So that in all the Part he acts as our Intercessor we must not imagine that he will in the least dishonour God to oblige us or ever once aim or attempt to make us secure in any undutifulness and contempt of his and our Heavenly Father Quest. Surely being the most dearly Beloved Son of God he must needs be an Intercessor of Great Power Answ. Yes of Absolute Power and infallibly sure to gain whatsoever he moves for For besides his Relation and Filial nearness he continually Represents his own infinite Merits which can claim any Favours Nay for the sake of those Merits on this Appearance to plead them before God he is made a Royal Priest and has all Power given unto him as a King so that he can grant what he pleases Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask any thing in my Name I will do it Joh. 14. 13 14. Quest. This shews how able he is to Succeed but is he willing and ready to use all his Interest and move for us Answ. No doubt of that For his Love has made him shed for us his own Hearts-Blood and therefore it can never stick at any other Service or procuring for us any Blessings from Almighty God. He is a Merciful and Faithful High-Priest both true to our Interests and tender of our Infirmities having felt them in himself Heb. 2. 17. and 4. 15. and therefore is as willing and ready as he is able to intercede for us Quest. Is it particularly any part of his Intercession to hand and present our Prayers Answ. Yes This was the Business of the Jewish Priests One part of their Priesthood was to burn Incense which was to perfume the Peoples Prayers who as St. Luke notes prayed without in the time of Incense Luk. 1. 10. presenting their Prayers to God in these sweet Smells whence the Psalmist begs his Prayers may be set forth before God as the Incense Plal. 141. 2. And the Vials of Odors or Incense in the Revelations St. John says are the Prayers of the Saints Rev. 5. 8. And this accordingly Christ our Intercessor in Heaven doth for us for he is the Angel in the Revelations who on the golden Altar before the Throne offers the Incense with the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8. 3. By him it is we must present all our Prayers whence we are said thro' him to have access to the Father Eph. 2. 18. and in him to have boldness and access with confidence Eph. 3. 12. Nay since the Prayers we put up have many sinful Defects adhering to them they are
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
The Church is Catholick as containing all Places and Persons but it is not universal as to some Acts which being done any where are valid and equally bind every where Answ. Yes it is Catholick in the Admission into its Baptism which being duly administred in one Church makes a man free of the whole Christian Society and gives him a Right to all Christian Priviledges in all other Churches So that go where he will every Church shall own him for a Christian and admit him to Communion without requiring him to be Baptised over again Quest. So that a true member of Christ who is allow'd to Pray and receive the Sacrament in one Church ought to be allowed the same in every Church Answ. Yes and so they were in ancient times when upon producing their Certificates and Commendatory Letters from their own Churches Strangers and Travellers were owned as Brethren and admitted to Communion in the remotest Places Quest. And is it not fit they should seek this Communion wheresoever they pass Answ. Yes very fit to shew themselves true Catholicks and that they own the Christians of all other places as Brethren and Fellow-members But this must be only where they may be admitted to Communion upon lawful terms For when Churches will suffer none to Pray or Communicate with them without professing some Errors or joyning in some forbidden Practice there is no seeking to associate with such Assemblies Quest. Can you shew this Catholick efficacy in other Acts Answ. Yes not to insist on others secondly in excluding Persons out of the Church by Excommunication For if a man is justly excommunicated in one Place the Church as I shall shew being but one that is valid and ought to stand till he is duly loosed and reconciled again in all places He is cast out by Christ who for any unchristian Practices is regularly and justly bound or excommunicated by the Church of Christ for whatsoever you bind or retain on Earth saith he shall be bound and retain'd in Heaven Joh. 20. 23. and Mat. 18. 18. And whilst Christ himself rejects 't is not for any other Church of Christ to receive him And thus it was in the Ancient Church where if any for Heretical stubbornness or lewd Lives were cut off from Christ by their own Church no other Churches would admit them 'till they had made their peace again And to prevent any over-sight and unwary Communion with an Excommunicate Person when any Strangers and Travellers especially whom they had ground to suspect came to them from Foreign parts they would not admit them to joyn in their Church-Offices till they produced their Communicatory Letters to certifie their being in Communion with their own Churches And this must make all good Christians extreamly careful by all innocent ways to keep the peace of their own Church and never contumaciously provoke or proudly slight it presuming if it casts them out they may do as well by being let in and harboured by others Which if all Christ's Members really believed Church Discipline would not be so precarious a thing nor would any think as I fear too many do that a Church is beholding to them for sticking to her and keeping in her Communion Quest. What is it to Believe the Holy Catholick Church Answ. Not only to believe there is such a Church but also agreeable to that belief in all those Acts which declare our Union with it to adhere to it as its Members against all Factious Innovators and Dividers Quest. Is this Church but one Body Answ. No. For we are call'd to peace in one Body Col. 3. 15. and there is but one Body as one Spirit one Lord one Baptism Eph 4. 4 5. Quest. And is it to be one by an External Visible Unity Answ. Yes for an external Union in the common Offices and Advantages of the Society must shew it to be what the Sripture calls it one Body It must have such an Union as may be taken notice of by Men and from whence they will say Christians are all of one Religion I pray not for these alone but for all that shall believe on me through their word That they may all be one and that so visibly that the World may see it and thereby know and believe that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Joh. 17. 20 21 22 23. And this visible union is their maintaining one Communion and Church-Fellowship i. e. their readiness to Pray and Communicate together and join in all Acts of Christian Worship Faith and Charity with each other By this shall all Men know that you are my Disciples if ye love one another If ye Love one another i. e. if ye love so as to unite not only in Faith and Affection but in Worship too and pray and communicate together For a readiness to worship God together must shew as much as any thing their unity in Discipleship and that they are all Servants of one and the same Lord and Master Joh. 13. 35. And accordingly Prayers and Sacraments are set down among the Bonds of Union which compact together the Members of this one Church Of the Eucharist says St. Paul we being many are made one Body by being all partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10. 17. And of Baptism we are all Baptized into one Body 1 Cor. 12. 13. and as many as have been Baptized into Christ are all one in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. 27 28. And among those various ways whereby the Church becomes one Body he lays down as one Faith which they all Profess So one Baptism whereof they all partake one God and Father of all whom they all invocate with one Hope and one Lord whom they all serve and worship Eph. 4. 4 5 6. Quest. Doth this visible union imply a profest subjection of the whole Church to one visible Head the Bishop of Rome Answ. No that is a Title too haughty to be assumed and a Power too extensive to be managed by any one Person Besides in Scripture there is not the least mention of this universal Headship No not in the Lists of Church-Powers and Ministrations where this which is the highest of all others could not be left out Nor in Silencing any Heresies or deciding any Controversies and Disputes of which there was great number then in the Church and for determination whereof as it ought to have been used so 't is not conceivable had it then been owned but the Apostles would have directed and sent men to it or the Litigants themselves would have appeal'd to its sentence Among the Apostles our Blessed Lord precludes all pretence to such Power telling the Twelve when they were at Strife who should be highest in Empire and Lordship that one of them should not bear Rule and exercise Authority over the rest Luke 22. 24 25 26. And as for St. Peter in particular he set up no claim of Power over the other Apostles but bore
their Trespasses neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you Mat. 6. 14 15. And therefore when we pray for forgiveness our Lord allows us to do it only upon these terms Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us Quest. What if we have wronged any Persons is it not enough towards forgiveness to do so no more Answ. No it is not but withal we must make Restitution and amends for the wrong we have done already If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. Quest. I see we must hope to have forgiveness of our Sins of willfulness and also of our Sins of Passion which you shew'd to be of like guilt with them only upon our true Repentance and amendment of them But upon what terms shall our slips of ignorance and inadvertence be pardon'd since they are never perfectly amended but hang about us more or less as long as we are in this World Answ. Upon our great Charity to other men especially to their Souls in endeavouring their Conversion and Salvation And therefore that St. Peter recommends above all other Virtues and for this Reason Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. And if any of you err and one convert him let him know that he who converts a Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Quest. For whose sake doth Almighty God allow us all this Benefit of Forgiveness Answ. For Jesus Christ's who as you have seen dyed for our Sins and gave his blood a Ransom to purchase for us all this Pardon of them He is set forth a propitiation for the remission of Sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. And then for his sake we shall receive all this mercy when with the dispositions before express'd in his Name we devoutly pray to God for it Quest. By the promises of the Gospel I see this forgiveness is assured to all Christians upon the terms you have described But is it in any Signs and Tokens outwardly dispensed to them Answ. Yes both in the Holy Sacraments and in Sacerdotal Absolution Which ways of ministring this forgiveness as well as the forgiveness it self are noted in some Ancient Creeds This Article being thus profess'd in St. Cyprian's Form at Baptism I believe the Remission of Sins by the Church Quest. Is this forgiveness dispensed to us in the Sacrament of Baptism Answ. Yes and that most amply the water of Baptism washing off the stain of all former Sins Be Baptized and wash away thy Sins said Ananias to Saul Acts 22. 16. Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins said St. Peter to the Jews Acts 2. 38. And he hath saved us by the Laver of Regeneration i. e. the water of Baptism and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3 5. So that whateve pollutions men had before upon them if they come to Baptism with true Faith and Repentance they are thereby made clean again Quest. Is it also dispensed in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Answ. Yes if after the Baptismal cleansing they relapse and contract new guilt in that they are admitted to renew the same Covenant of Grace again and seal the Pardon of it For therein Christ gives us his own Blood which as he says particularly was shed for the Remission of Sins Mat. 26. 28. He entertains us there at his own Table which is an open profession to all worthy comers that he is reconciled to them and receives them again as Friends And therefore when any Baptized Christians are startled and terrified with the Conscience of their Sins let them repair to that Holy Sacrament to seal and assure the forgiveness of them But let them come with Faith and Repentance and Reconciliation to their Brethren which as I said are the Terms of our being Forgiven For the Holy Sacraments dispense this forgiveness to none but such as worthily receive them and those they do cleanse from all former Pollutions Quest. Is there also a dispensation of this Pardon in Priestly Absolution Answ. Yes for therein Christ has authoriz'd his Ministers that act in his place and stead to pronounce the Sentence of Pardon upon all true Penitents and bid them expect that what they regularly thus declare on Earth in his Soveraign Court in Heaven he will make good He breathed on them and said receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Joh. 20. 22 23. And therefore when a true Penitent hears his Pardon solemnly pronounced by an Officer whom God has deputed and Commission'd for it he may quiet his heart as one whose case is judged and firmly hope God will pronounce the same at the last Judgment But this I say he must do only after true Repentance For 't is only the Ministry of Reconciliation saith St. Paul which God hath committed unto us 2 Cor. 5. 18. but the direction and ratification of it he has reserved to himself and then only ratifies what his Ministers do when they pronounce according to his own Rules and Orders So that if the Priest pronounce by mistake and absolve the impenitent God will judge right tho' he judge wrong and Condemn at last whom he had before erroneously absolved in his Judgment Quest. Christ says what they retain shall be retained as well as what they remit shall be remitted Ought not that to beget in all Christians a great dread of Excommunication and Reverence for Church-Censures Answ. Yes questionless when they proceed upon just Cause for then Christ will maintain the Honour of his Deputies and make good their sentence He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. If any Offender will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican Mat. 18. 17. In these Acts what his Ministers do Regularly and according to his Direction they do it as representing him by vertue of his Commission and Authority which having given to be sure he will stand by And accordingly St. Paul and the Church-Governours at Corinth under him exercising their Power by virtue of Christ's Commission Declares that both in binding and relaxing or forgiving he acted with the Power and in the Person or place of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. and 2 Cor. 2. 10. Quest. Do all Censures of the Church then where the Truth is on its side cut men off as from the Church which is his Body so from Jesus Christ who is the Head of it Answ. All those do which are passed for such sins or errors as are Damnable by
20. †Matth. 9. 8 15. 31. Luke 7. 16. 18. 43. * Luke 2. Matth. 2. * Luke 2. 22. †Ver. 25 26 c. Ver. 36 37 38 c * â— Tim. 3. 8. * Matth. 16. 21. †Matth. 20. 19. * Matth. 24 9 10. †Matth. 24. 11 12. * Matth. 28. 20. 16. 18. * De Divinat l. 2. * Suet. in Jul. c. 81. * 1 King. 22. 22. †Job 1. 12 15 1â— * Luke 22. 3. * Apol. c. 22. †Gen. 15. 13. â— * Jer. 25. 12. c. 29. 10. * 1 King. 13. 2. Isa. 44. 28. * Eclog. 4. †De Divin l. 2. * Num. 24. †Hag. 2. 7. * Apol. c. 22. * Luke 6. 8 9. Matth. 9. 4. †Mar. 5. 42. * Luke 7. 12 13 14 15. †John 11 39 44. * Matth. 17. 18 21. †Exod. 28. 1. 1 Chron. 23. 13. * Deut. 12. 11 13 14. John 4. 20. * Gen. 49. â—0 * Exod. 12. 17. †Lev. 23. 14. †Exod. 23 31. Num. 33. 52. * Deut. 23. 12. †Exod. 40. * 1 Sam. 1. 22. †Exod. 21. 6. * Lev. 25. 40 41. †Mic. 4. 1. * 1 Pet. 1. 20. †Heb. 2. 5. * Gal. 3. 24. * Act. 2. 24 32. * Act. 7. 55. †Act. 26. 13 14 16. * Rom. 1. 23 25. Is. 44. 20. †Is. 40. 18. †Psal. 89. 18. Isa. 6. 3. Habak 1. 12. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Dr. Hammond's Annot on Rom. 9. 18. * Joh. 13. 27. †Matth. 8. 32. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as the Syriack Version reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * De Spectac c. 26. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Dr. Lightsoot's Hor. Heb. in Joh. 12. 31. * Matth. 18. 17. * Psal. 5. 5. Prov. 21. 27. chap. 28. 9. * 1 Cor. 10. 20. * 1 Sam. 2. 23 24 29. chap. 3. 13. * 1 Sam. 2. 3. * 1 Tim. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Ezek. 33. 11. †Ezek. 33. 11. * Gen. 13. 13. Exod. 12. 41. * 1 Pet 4. 10. * Matth. 6. 25. * Gen. 39. 22 23. †Gen. 27. * Psal. 66. 3 7. †Chap. 12. * 1 Chron. 21. 1. * Act. 17. 28. †Dan. 3. 27. * Dan. 6. 22. * Act. 28. 5. †Exod. 12. 13 23. * Psal. 91. 1 6 7 8. †John 7. 30. * Job 1. 12. 2. 6. * 1 Pet. 1. 16. Matth. 5. 48. * Ver. 23 24 25 26 30. * Jer. 18. 6. Rom. 9. 21. †Joh. 16. 13. †Jo. 1. 3. * Heb. 1. 3. †Heb. 1. 6. * 1 Cor. 1. 2. †Mat. 28. 16. †Mat. 27. 26. 30 31. * ver 29. †Luk. 23. 33. †Antiqu. l. 18. 5. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Mar. 16. 1 2. †Joseph Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. †2 King. 11. 5 7. 2 Chron. 23. 4. †Act. 1. 3. †Deut. 18. 18 21 22. †Exod. 24. 16 17. Ezek. 1. 27 28. * Luk. 16. 26. †1 Cor. 15. 6 8 20 51. 1 Thes. 3. 13 14 15. * Luk. 16. 25. †Luk. 14. 14. 2 Thess. 1. 6 7. †1 Kings 15. 29 30 34. †Rom. 4. 7 8. * Heb. 8. 12. †Deut. 6. 5. Mat. 22. 37. †2 Chron. 16. ver 1 10 13. 1 Sam. 21 1 2. 2 Sam. 19. 29. 2 Chron. 35 21 22 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Act. 23. 2 3 5. †Luk. 10. 27. †Dan. 12. 3. †1 Cor. 15 41 4◠†Joh. 14. 2. †Mat. 25. 15. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Rev. 1. 7. †Rev. 6. 15 16. †1 Cor. 2. 10 11. * Ps. 139. 7. †Heb. 9. 14. * Gen. 1. 2. Job 26. 13. †Isa. 42. 8. and 48. 11. * Mat. 28. 19. †2 Cor. 13 14. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †John 16. 12 13. * Acts 10. Ch. 11. †Dan. 9. 24. †1 John 2. 20. †John 14. 26. * John 16. 13. * John 2. 20. 17. Rev. 13. 13 14. 16. 14. †Exod. 19. 16 18. †Act. 16. 12 22 23 24. †Act. 17. 5 6 10. †Part. 1. c. 3. †See Part 1. Ch. 2. †Jo. 16. 7. and c. 14. 16 18. †Canon Apost 10. 12. 32. Et Concil Nicen prim Cap. 5. Ep. Cler. Rom. ad Cypr. Ep. 30. ed. Oxon. * Canon Apost 12. vid. Zonar in loc Cap. 33. †1 Cor. 12. 28. Eph. 4. 11. †ver 14. †ver 19. * Act. 24. 5. 14. †Col. 3. 12 Tit. 1. 1. * Act. 9. 30 14. 2. †Act. 11. 26. * Rom. 1. 7. 1 Cor. 14. 33. Jude 3. †Exod. 30 7 8. * Luke 1. 10. * Gen. 20. 7. †Rom. 12. 18. * 1 Joh. 4. 15. c. 5. 1. †Not the Purgatory Fire of the Church of Rome which is only for Sinners whose Sins not fully purged before are to be purged there either by the Fire it self or by the Application of others merits in Indulgences or by the help of Masses Prayers or Alms done for them by their Friends on Earth And all this before the Day of judgement they themselves after that is once pass'd owning only Eternal Punishments Whereas the Fire here spoken of besides its liableness to metaphorical interpretations if it be litteral is at the Day of judgment The Day viz. That great signal Day which tryes and manifests all Actions and which shall be revealed by Fire the proper Character and Description of the Day of judgement in Scriptute 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. shall declare it v. 13. as several of the Fathers talk of a Purging Fire viz. The great Fire at the end of the World which they fancy'd might prove all things else when it refines the Earth and Heavens And this Fire is further said to be for the Tryal of every Man and of every Work Gold and Silver as well as Wood and Stubble not only for the punishment of evil Works and unpurged evil Workers as theirs is v. 12 13 14 15. †Gal 5. 2 4. Ch. 1. 6 7. * 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 16 17 18. c. 1 Cor. 3. 12. †1 Cor. 5. * 1 Cor. 8. †v. 4. Ch. 10. 19. †Cambd. Eliz. ad An. 1570. Chap. 3. †Mat. 13. 47. * ver 24 25 30. * Rom. 12 13. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Heb. 13. 2. Rom. 6. 23. †2 Sam. 12 13. 1 Tim. 1. 13 16. Mat. 26. 70. †2 Sam. 11. * Ps. 51. 10 11. †Luk. 22. 56 58 59. †Ep. ad Januar. c. Ep. ad Magnum Ep. 69 70. Ed. Oxon. †Apolog. c. 39. †1 Thess. 4. 17. †Phil. 3. 21 †Luke 23. 43. * Luke 16. 22. †Eph 2. 2. †Rev. 3. 21. * 1 Pet. 5. 4. †1 Jo. 3. 1 * Rom. 8. 17. †Rev. 21. 7. * Eph. 4. 10. †1 Tim. 6. 16. †Phil. 1. 21 23.