even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. The words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life Joh. 6. 63. Qu. But do the things recorded in the Word of God concern us A. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him to a wise man which built his house upon a rock Matth. 7. 24. Qu. Which are the most affectionate passages in all the Scripture flowing from the mouth of one enamoured on the Word of God A. I have rejoyced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgements at all times O how I love thy law it is my meditation all the day How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth I love thy commandments above gold yea above fine gold I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil Psal 119. 14 20 97 103 127 162. CHAP. II. Of God Qu. HOw many Gods of Christians are there A. One God Eph. 4. 6. Qu. Who is this one God A. The Father of whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. What is this one God A. A spirit Joh. 4. 24. Qu. Have you more ample descriptions of God in the Scripture A. He is the blessed and onely Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see 1 Tim. 6. 15 16. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion flow to anger and of great mercy The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works Psal 145. 8 9. Qu. Is not God according to the current of the Scripture in a certain place namely heaven A. Our God is in the heavens Psal 115. 3. The Lord looketh from heaven he beholdeth all the sons of men From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth Psal 33. 13 14. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hastie to utter any thing before God for God is in heaven and thou upon earth Eccles 5. 2. Look down from thy habitation from heaven and bless thy people Israel Deut. 26. 15. Look down from heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory Isa 63. 15. Hear thou from thy dwelling-place from heaven Hear thou from heaven Hear thou from the heavens Hear thou from heaven Hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place Hear thou from the heavens even from thy dwelling-place Hear thou from the heavens Hear thou from the heavens even from thy dwelling-place 2 Chron. 6. 21 23 25 27 30 33 35 39. Your Father which is in heaven Your Father which is in heaven Your Father which is in heaven Mat. 5. 16 45 48. Your Father which is in heaven Our Father which art in heaven Mat. 6. 2 9. Your Father which is in heaven My Father which is in heaven Mat. 7. 11 21. In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Matth. 18. 10. These words spake Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee I have glorified thee on the earth And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self Joh. 17. 1 4 5. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father Joh. 16. 28. Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father Joh. 13. 1. And he being full of the holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God And said Behold I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God Act. 7. 55 56. Qu. Is God in the Scripture said to have any likeness image similitude person and shape A. God said Let us make man in our image after our likeness So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him Gen. 1. 26 27. In the day that God created man in the likeness of God made he him Gen. 5. 1. Whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made he man Gen. 9. 6. My servant Moses is not so who is faithful in all my house With him will I speak mouth to mouth even apparently not in dark speeches and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold Num. 12. 7 8. Therewith bless we God even the Father and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God Jam. 3. 9. Will ye speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him Will ye accept his person Job 13. 7 8. The Father himself which hath sent me hath born witness of me Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape Joh. 5. 37. Qu. What passage of the Scripture intimates not onely that the Saints in the perfect state of the world to come shall see God face to face but also comprehend or fully know him A. When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known 1 Cor. 13. 10 12. Qu. Are there not according to the perpetual tenour of the Scripture affections or passions in God as anger fury zeal wrath love hatred mercy grace jealousie repentance grief joy fear A. Israel joyned himself to Baal-peor and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel And the Lord said unto Moses Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away Num. 25. 3 4. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and I will be comforted and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them Ezek. 5. 13. Moses besought the Lord his God and said Lord why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people Turn from thy fierce wrath Exod. 32. 11 12. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. The God of love and peace shall be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love God is love and he that dwelleth
the Lords body 1 Cor. 11. 27 29. Q. How shall a man behave himself that he may be a worthy communicant at the Lords table A. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Qu. What examination is it on which Christians should put themselves What saith the same Apostle concerning this point A. Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves 2 Cor. 13. 5. CHAP. XXIV Of the Resurrection of the dead and the last Judgement and what shall be the final condition of the righteous and the wicked thereupon Qu. WHat do you believe concerning the resurrection of the dead A. That there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust Acts 24. 15. Qu. By whom shall the dead be raised A. By Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. Q. Why are the dead raised by Christ rather then by God himself A. Since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 21. Qu. How came Christ by this power A. As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Joh. 5. 26. The last Adam was made a quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. Qu. By whom shall God judge mankinde A. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 16. He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead Acts 10. 42. Qu. What assurance hath God given that he will judge the world by this man A. In that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 31. Q. What shall be the different issue of the good from that of the bad at the resurrection A. All that are in the graves shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. Qu. Shall not the wicked and unbelieving live for ever though in torments as well as the godly and the faithful or is eternal life peculiar to the faithful A. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the warth of God abideth on him John 3. 36. Qu. Though this passage which you have cited seem clearly to prove that eternal life agreeth unto no other men but the faithful yet since the contrary opinion is generally held amongst Christians I would fain know farther of you whether you have any other places that directly affirm that the wicked dye and that a second death are destroyed and punished with everlasting destruction are corrupted burnt-up devoured slain pass away and perish A. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life Rom. 6. 23. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Rom. 8. 13. I will give unto him that is athrist of the fountain of the water of life freely But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 6 8. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2. 10 11. When they shall say Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thess 5. 3. The day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men 2 Pet. 3. 7. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thess 1. 7 8 9. He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 8. These as natural bruit beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of the things that they understand not and shall utterly perish in their corruption 2 Pet. 2. 12. If any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy Gr. corrupt 1 Cor. 3. 17. We are not of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the soul Heb. 10. 39. Which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. Whose fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation Gr. fervor of fire which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10. 26 27. But those mine enemies which would not that I should raign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luke 19. 27. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2. 17. We are unto God a sweet savor of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish To the one we are the savor of death unto death and to the other the savor of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. Qu. What is the use that our Saviour himself would have us make of this doctrine touching the destruction of men in hell-fire A. Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell Mat. 10. 28. Qu. In what maner shall Christ come and administer judgement at the last day A. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in Naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came unto me Then shall the righteous answer him saying Lord when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee thristy and gave thee drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the divel and his angels For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye clothed me not sick and in prison and ye visited me not Then shall they also answer him saying Lord when saw we thee an hungred or athirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee Then shall he answer them saying Verily I say unto you Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Mat. 25. 31 32 c. Qu. Is there not another resurrection and judgement that shall precede this last and general one and peculiarly belongeth unto the saints that have been slain for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God what saith John the Divine concerning this matter A. I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given to them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished This is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 4 5 6. FINIS
matters concerning God they are pressed with the plain words of the Scripture as that he would by so doing render us altogether uncapable of finding out his meaning whilst he spake one thing and understood the clean contrary Yea would he not have taken the direct course to make men substitute an Idol in his stead for the Adversaries hold that to conceive of God as having a shape or affections or being in a certain place is Idolatry if he described himself in the Scripture otherwise then indeed he is without telling us so much in plain terms that we might not conceive amiss of him Thus we see that when sleep which plainly argueth weakness and imperfection had been ascribed to God Psal 44. 23. the contrary is said of him Psal 121. 4. Again when weariness had been attributed to him Isa 1. 14. the same is expresly denied of him Isa 40. 28. And would not God think ye have done the like in those forementioned things were the case the same in them as in the others This consideration is so pressing that a certain Author otherwise a very learned and intelligent man perceiving the weight thereof and not knowing how to avoid the same took up though very unluckily one erroneous tenet to maintain another telling us in a late book of his intituled Conjectura Caballistica that for Moses by occasion of his writings to let the Jews entertain a conceit of God as in humane shape was not any more a way to bring them into Idolatry then by acknowledging man to be God as saith he our Religion does in Christ. How can this consist even with consonancy to his own Principles whilst he holds it to be false that God hath any shape but true that Christ is God For will a false opinion of God no sooner lead men into Idolatry then a true opinion of Christ But it is no marvel that this Author other learned men with him entertain such conceits of God and Christ as are repugnant to the current of the Scripture whilst they set so high a rate on the sublime indeed but uncertain notions of the Platonists and in the mean time slight the plain but certain letter of the sacred Writers as being far below the Divine Majesty and written only to comply with the rude apprehensions of the vulgar unless by a mystical Interpretation they be scrued up to Platonism This is the stone at which the Pride of learned men hath caused them continually to stumble namely to think that they can speak more wisely and worthily of God then he hath spoken of himself in his Word This hath brought that more-then-Babylonish confusion of language into the Christian Religion whilst men have framed those horrid and intricate expressions under the colour of detecting and excluding Heresies but in truth to put a baffle on the simplicity of the Scripture and usher-in Heresies that so they might the more easily carry on their worldly designes which could not be effected but through the ignorance of the people nor the people brought into ignorance but by wrapping up Religion in such monstrous terms as neither the people nor they themselves that invented them or at least took them from the invention of others did understand Wherefore there is no possibility to reduce the Christian Religion to its primitive integrity a thing though much pretended yea boasted-of in Reformed Churches yet never hitherto sincerely endeavoured much less effected in that men have by severe penalties been hindered to reform Religion beyond such a stint as that of Luther or at most that of Calvin but by cashiering those many intricate terms and devised forms of speaking imposed on our Religion and by wholly betaking our selvs to the plainness of the Scripture For I have long since observed and finde my observation to be true and certain that when to express matters of religion men make use of words and phrases unheard-of in the Scripture they slily under them couch false doctrines and obtrude them on us for without question the doctrines of the Scripture can be so aptly explained in no language as that of the Scripture it self Examine therefore the expressions of Gods being infinite and incomprehensible of his being a simple Act of his subsisting in three persons or after a threefold maner of a Divine Circumincession of an Eternal Generation of an Eternal Procession of an Incarnation of an Hypostatical Union of a Communication of Properties of the Mother of God of God dying of God made man of Transubstantiation of Consubstantiation of Original sin of Christs taking our nature on him of Christs making satisfaction to God for our sins both past present and to come of Christs fulfilling the Law for us of Christs being punished by God for us of Christs merits or his meritorious obedience both active and passive of Christs purchasing the kingdom of heaven for us of Christs enduring the wrath of God yea the pains of a damned man of Christs rising from the dead by his own power of the Ubiquity of Christs body of apprehending and applying Christs righteousness to our selves by faith of Christs being our Surety of Christs paying our debts of our sins imputed to Christ of Christs righteousness imputed to us of Christs dying to appease the wrath of God and reconcile him to us of infused grace of free grace of the the world of the elect of irresistable workings of the Spirit in bringing men to believe of carnal reason of spiritual desertions of spiritual incomes of the Outgoings of God of taking up the Ordinance c. and thou shalt finde that as these forms of speech are not owned by the Scripture so neither the things contained in them How excellent therefore was that advice of Paul to Timothy in his second Epistle to him chap. 1. 13. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus for if we once let go those forms of sound words learned from the Apostles and take up such as have been coined by others in succeeding Ages we shall together part with the Apostles doctrine as woful experience hath taught us For after Constantine the Great together with the Councel of Nice had once deviated from the language of the Scripture in the business touching the Son of God calling him coessential with the Father this opened a gap for others afterwards under a pretence of guarding the Truth from Hereticks to devise new terms at pleasure which did by degrees so vitiate the chastity and simplicity of our Faith delivered in the Scripture that there hardly remained so much as one point thereof sound and entire So that as it was wont to be disputed in the Schools whether the old ship of Theseus which had in a maner been wholly altered at sundry times by the accession of new pieces of timber upon the decay of the old were the same ship it had been at first and not rather another by degrees
commanded thee saying Thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eat the herb of the field In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return Gen. 3. 16 17 18 19. CHAP. IV. Of Christ Jesus Qu. HOw many Lords of Christians are there by way of distinction from that one God A. One Lord. Eph. 4. 5. Qu. Who is that one Lord A. Jesus Christ by whom are all things 1 Cor. 8. 6. Qu. How was Jesus Christ born A. The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with childe of the holy Ghost Matth. 1. 18. The angel said unto her Fear not Mary Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest Then said Mary to the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Luke 1. 30 31 32 34 35. Qu. How came Jesus Christ to be Lord according to the opinion of the apostle Paul A. To this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord of the dead and living Rom. 14. 9. Qu. What saith the apostle Peter also concerning the time and maner of his being made Lord A. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are all witnesses Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ Acts 2. 32 33 36. Qu. Did not Jesus approve himself to be God by his miracles and did he not those miracles by a Divine nature of his own and because he was God himself What is the determination of the Apostle Peter in this behalf A. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God by miracles wonders and signes which God did by him Acts 2. 22. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with him Acts 10. 38. Qu. Could not Christ do all things of himself and was it not an eternal Son of God that took flesh upon him and to whom the humane nature of Christ was personally united that wrought all his works Answer me to these things in the words of the Son himself A. Verily verily I say unto you The Son can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do for what things soever he doth these also doth the Son likewise For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth him all things that himself doth and he will shew him greater works then these that ye may marvel I can do nothing of my self Joh. 5. 19 20 30. The Father that dwelleth in me he doth the works Joh. 14. 10. Qu. What reason doth the Son render why the Father did not forsake him and cast him out of favour was it not because he was of the same essence with him so that it was impossible for the Father to forsake him or cease to love him A. He that hath sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please him Joh. 8. 28 29. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue in my love If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love Joh. 15. 9 10. Qu. Doth the Scripture avouch Christ to be the Son of God because he was eternally begotten out of the Divine essence or for other reasons agreeing to him onely as a man Rehearse the passages to this purpose A. The angel said unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David Then said Mary unto the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luke 1. 30 31 32 34 35. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God Joh. 10. 36. We declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Act. 13. 32 33. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first-begotten of the dead Rev. 1. 5. He is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first-born from the dead Col. 1. 18. Being made so much better then the angels As he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they For unto which of the angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son Heb. 1. 4 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Heb. 5. 5. Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren Rom. 8. 29. Qu. What saith the Son himself concerning the prerogative of God the Father above him A. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater then I. Joh. 14. 28. But of that day and that hour knoweth none no not the angels which are in heaven nor the Son but the Father Mark 13. 32. Of that day and hour knoweth none no not the angels of heaven but my Father onely Matth. 24. 36. Qu. What saith the Apostle Paul A. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son
witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10. 43. Qu. Doth not Christ himself forgive sins What saith the Apostle Paul A. As Christ forgave you so also do ye Col. 3. 13. Qu. When Christ forgave sins on the earth did he forgive them as being God or as being a man impowered by God Likewise when he now forgiveth sins in heaven doth he forgive them as God or as one exalted by God to that end Cite the Scriptures pertinent hereunto A. Jesus seeing their faith saith to the sick of the palsey Son be of good chear thy sins be forgiven thee And behold certain of the Scribes said within themselves This man blasphemeth And Jesus knowing their thoughts said Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts For whether is easier to say Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say Arise and walk But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins then speaketh he to the sick of the palsey Arise take up thy bed and go unto thine house And he arose and departed to his house And when the multitude saw it they marvelled and glorified God which had given such power to men Matth. 9. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins to Israel Act. 5. 31. CHAP. X. Of Christs Kingly Office Qu. WAs not Christ Jesus to be a King what saith the angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary concerning this A. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father And he shall raign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1. 31 32 33. Qu. Is Christ Jesus already invested in his kingdom and did he after his ascension into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God exercise dominion and soveraignty over men and angels Rehearse some clear passages of the Scripture to this purpose A. That ye may know What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 18 19 20 21 22 23. By the resurrection of Jesus Christ Who is gone into Heaven and is on the right hand of God angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first-begotten of the dead and Prince of the kings of the earth Unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood And hath made us kings and priests unto God even his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 1. 5 6. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5. 30 31. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I overcame and am set with my Father in his throne Rev. 3. 21. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches Rev. 22. 16. Brother Saul the Lord even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me that thou mightst receive thy sight and be filled with the holy Ghost Act. 9. 17. These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of lords and King of kings Rev. 17. 14. He was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood and his name is called The word of God And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written King of kings and Lord of lords Rev. 19. 13 16. All power is given unto me in heaven and earth Go ge therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world Matth. 28. 18 19 20. So then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sate on the right hand of God And they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Mark 16. 19 20. Qu. For what cause and to what ends was Christ Jesus exalted to his kingdom A. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 8 9 10 11. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins Acts 5. 31. Qu. How ought men to honour the Son of God Christ Jesus A. Even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 23. Qu. What danger is there in not honouring the Son A. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that sent him Joh. 5. 23. Qu. Ought men to honour the Son as they honour the Father because he hath the same essence with the Father or because he hath the same judiciary power What is the decision of the Son himself concerning this point A. The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement unto the Son That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Qu. Did the Father give judiciary power to the Son because he had in him the divine nature personally united to the humane or because he was the Son of man What is the decision of the Son himself concerning this point also A. He hath given him authority to execute judgement because he is the Son of man Joh. 5. 27. Qu. Is it the will of God that Jesus Christ should be worshipped of angels and men A. When he bringeth the first-begotten into the world he saith And let all the angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name That at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow of things in heaven and things in earth Phil. 2. 9 10. Qu. Did men worship Jesus Christ before his death and resurrection what examples thereof have you A. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him saying Of a truth thou art the Son of God Matth. 14. 33. Jesus said unto him Dost thou believe on the Son of God He answered and said Who is he Lord that I may believe on him And Jesus said unto him Thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee And he said Lord I believe and he worshipped him Joh. 9. 35 36. 37 38. Qu. Did men worship Christ after his resurrection and ascension And what example thereof have you A. It came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into heaven And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy Luke 24. 51 52. Qu. When men ascribe glory and dominion to Christ Jesus in the Scripture and withal intimate the ground thereof is it because they conceive him to be very God of very God and to have been eternally begotten out of the Divine essence or because he gave himself to death Let me hear how they explain themselves A. Unto him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Rev. 1. 5 6. Qu. Are the Angels of the same opinion with the Saints when they also ascribe glory and dominion to him let me hear how they also explain themselves A. I beheld and heard the voice of many angels saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5. 11 12. Qu. May men call upon the name of Jesus Christ and have you examples of such as have prayed to him A. Then Ananias answered Lord I have heard by many of this man how much evil he hath done to thy Saints at Jerusalem And here he hath authority from the chief priests to binde all that call upon thy name Acts 9. 13 13. With all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 1 Cor. 1. 2. And they stoned Stephen saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Acts 7. 59. Even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 20. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and a good hope through grace Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work 2 Thes 2. 16 17. Now God himself even our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you 1 Thess 3. 11. CHAP. XI Of Christs Priestly Office Qu. IS not Christ Jesus a Priest A. We have a great high-priest Jesus the Son of God Heb. 4. 14. Qu. Did not Christ take this honour to himself A. Christ glorified not himself to become an high-priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee Heb. 5. 5. Qu. What maner of high-priest is Christ A. Such an high-priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majestie in the heavens A minister of the sanctuary and of the tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 8. 1 2. Qu. Was not Christ a priest whilst he was on earth namely when he died on he cross A. If he were on earth he should not be a priest seeing that there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law Heb. 8. 4. And it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchisedeck there ariseth another priest Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment but after the power of an endless life Heb. 7. 15 16. Qu. What benefit happeneth by Christs priesthood A. He became the author of eternal salvation Called of God an high-priest after the order of Melchisedeck Heb. 5. 9 10. Qu. Unto whom is Christ as a Priest become the authour of eternal salvation A. Unto all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Qu. How can Christ save them by his priesthood A. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many Heb. 9. 28. Qu. Is not the sacrifice of Christ to be reiterated as that of the Levitical Priests if not what is the reason thereof A. Every priest standeth daily ministring and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can never take away sins But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down at the right hand of God from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 11 12 13 14. Qu. How did Christ enter into the holy place to offer himself A. By his own blood Heb. 9. 12. Qu. Why would God have Christ come to his priestly office by sufferings A. It became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings That he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 10 17 18. Q. What is the true and genuine use you would have us make of this doctrine A. Seeing that we have a great high-priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession For we have not an high-priest that cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and finde grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 15 16. CHAP. XII Of Christs Death Qu. WAs it the will and purpose of God that Christ should suffer the death of the cross What saith the apostle Peter to the Jews concerning this A. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain Act. 2. 22 23. Q. What say the disciples in general concerning the same They lift up their voice to God with one accord and said Of a truth against thy holy childe Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done Acts 4. 24 27 28. Q. Did Christ die to reconcile and bring God to