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
Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists which were for the Planting and Propagating Christ's Religion 1. The gift of inspiration in Revelations This bestowed upon the Apostles These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures after which we are not to look for any others This Gift of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation necessary only in Apostles and Evangelists And design'd for the Infancy of the Church Other Rules whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion As try them by the Scriptures Call for their Miracles wherewith God still empower'd men when he sent them to reveal new Things No need of Miracles when men pretend only to revive old and acknowledged Revelations If they shew Miracles for things plainly against Scripture they must work more than were wrought to confirm the Scripture An account of Joel 2. 28 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points but also in Devotions And about Temporal matters Subservient to this Gift of Revelations was the Gift of discerning Spirits This done afterwards by ordinary Rules And the Gift of utterance and boldness Their minds not influenced by this constantly and at all Times But ordinarily they were and especially when they had most need of it 2. Of the Gift of Miracles Miraracles a Proof of Divine Revelation How discernible from Lying Wonders by the Doctrines built on them By their ends and usefulness and being wrought on needful Occasions Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases This sometimes by anointing with Oyl And Prayers Of casting out Devils and other Miracles Of delivering to Satan what it was and why so call'd Of Joy in Tribulations and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles To the working these Miracles there was always required Faith in him that wrought them And sometimes Faith in him that received them 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues The ends of this And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter The Sin against the Holy Ghost is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost Some of these Temporary others to continue through all Times the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces By these we may know he dwells in us Our care required towards these Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages and inward good motions Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces in six Particulars How God gives them though we are thus to acquire them The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments But they are withheld from none through his Arbitrary withdrawing which some count Spiritual Desertion Quest. WHat is the eighth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Quest. Is the Holy Ghost very God Answ. Yes For Lying to the Holy Ghost is call'd Lying to God Act. 5. 3 4. And because Christians are the Temple of the Holy Ghost they are said to be the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3. 16. And all the Properties of Divinity are ascribed to him as knowing all things ubiquity or Presence in all Places Eternity or duration through all Times Creating the World being joyned with God who will not impart his Glory to another as an Object of Faith and Worship in Baptism and the Apostolical Benediction and the like Quest. But if both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost be God are there not three Gods Answ. No because these three are One that is one in Nature or one Thing 1 Joh. 5. 7. There is a Trinity of Persons but these three are mysteriously united in Nature and dependance which makes but one God-head not three Gods. Quest. But why is he call'd Holy more than the Father or the Son Since Holiness was reckon'd one of the Divine Attributes are not all the three Persons who are equally God equal also in Holiness Answ. Yes But though they are equally Holy in Nature or Essence yet is he particularly styled so in respect of his Operations For as God the Father particularly undertook for the Creation of men and God the Son for the Redemption of them so did God the Holy Ghost for their Sanctification being always ready to work holiness in those who set themselves to fear God and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by the renewal of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5 6. And purified through the Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. Quest. Why do we profess Faith and trust in him Answ. Because we are to receive all our Graces and preparations for Eternal Glory from him For after Christ had Redeemed us with his Blood and ascended into Heaven the Rest which was to be done further for our Salvation here on Earth was left to the care of the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent down as his substitute to supply his absence and minister whatsoever he left wanting to his Body which is the Church to perfect it in Faith and Holiness Quest. By this I perceive a great part of Christian Knowledge lyes in understanding what the Holy Spirit has done and is still to do for us Pray what has he bestowed for the effecting of this great work Answ. Gifts of two sorts 1. Extraordinary bestowed upon the Apostles and Evangelists for the Planting and Establishing Christ's Church and Religion 2. Ordinary that are given in common to all oothers for every particular man's Salvation Quest. What are his extraordinary Gifts bestowed upon the Holy Apostles for the Planting and Establishing of Christ's Church and Religion Answ. They consist not only of Gifts but likewise of Offices which he is the Author of Quest. What are the Extraordinary Gifts he gave them to this end Answ. I shall reduce them to three The Gift of Inspiration which revealed Christianity to themselves of Miracles which enabled them to prove it undeniable unto others and of Tongues whereby they could publish it over all the World and be understood by men of every Language Quest. When were these extraordinary Gifts bestowed Answ. First at the Feast of Pentecost upon the Twelve when the Spirit descended on each of them in the shape of Cloven Tongues Act. 2. 3. And afterwards generally upon others at the imposition of their hands as abundantly appears from St. Luke's account of the Acts of the Holy Apostles Quest. And all these you say were to enable them to Plant and Propagate their Religion Answ. Yes for by these Gifts which are call'd the Promise of the Father Act. 1. 4. that is that Spirit which Christ had promised
supply its defects 5. His erecting an Universal Empire and appearing as a mighty King. This not a Secular but Spiritual Kingdom 6. His converting the Heathen World from their Idol-worship Jesus silenced the Oracles and cast the impure Spirits out of their Temples This an Argument for him not only as accomplishing a Prediction but also as 't is plainly a Divine thing The Prophecies of an Universal Probity and Peace under Messiah cleared up by an account both of their meaning and accomplishment The fore-cited Prophecies understood of Messiah by the Ancient Jews though denied by some later in hatred to our Jesus Question HOW doth it appear that Jesus who was born of Mary and suffered under Pontius Pilate is the Christ Ans. First From ancient Prophecies Secondly From undoubted Divine Testimonies other ways Quest. Doth this appear from ancient Prophecies Ans. Yes and by these S. Paul endeavour'd to convince the Jews at Rome persuading them concerning Jesus both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets Act. 28. 23. Quest. How do these Prophecies demonstrate him Ans. Two ways 1. By prescribing the exact time of his coming 2. By assigning many peculiar and most visible Notes whereby he may be demonstratively pointed out from all other Men. Quest. How do they prefix the exact time for Messiah's coming Ans. By sundry notable and publick turns and occurrences which would be remarked by all and in judging whereof they could not be mistaken Quest. I pray you name them Ans. 1. They say he shall come before the People of the Jews cease to be a Nation and a Body Politick which now they are ceased to be having no Country or Common-wealth which they can call their own but for above 1600 years ever since the destruction of Jerusalem living scatter'd and dispersed in every Country and Kingdom And this notable alteration which all the World must observe because thereby it lost a Nation that bore a great name and by using most appropriate and separate rites made a peculiar Figure among them is expresly set out by the Patriarch Jacob as a sign to follow the coming of Messiah The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet that is the Nation of the Jews denominated from Judah shall not cease to have Government among them as a Civil State and the Benefit of their own Laws till Shilâ— come Gen. 49. 10. Quest. What other notable sign do they give of this time Ans. Secondly They say his coming shall be whilst the second Temple is yet standing which has been ruinated and demolished ever since the City was destroyed by Titus Vespasian The Lord whom you seek the messenger of the covenant shall suddenly come to his temple saith God by Malachi Mal. 3. 1. And of the second Temple says he again by Haggai I will shake all nations and the desire of all Nations shall come and fill this house with glory that is with the Glory of his Presence Hag. 2. 7. This presence of Messiah in resorting to it was that which was to make the glory of this later house greater than the glory of the former house verse 9. It was much inferiour to it in respect of the Magnificence of Building Is it not in your eyes who have seen the glory of the former house says God in comparison of it as nothing verse 3. And when the Priests and Levites and Fathers that were ancient Men and had seen the first house saw the Foundation of it laid whilst others who had not seen the former shouted for joy they wept remembring the disproportion Ezra 3. 12. And under it Five noble priviledges viz. the Ark of the Covenant whence God gave Responses by audible Voices the Urim and Thummim that Oracle for the miraculous Instruction of the High-Priest when he consulted God on any State-concern the fire from heaven upon the altar to consume the Sacrifice the Schechinah or Divine Presence in the Holy of Holies by a visible Glory and appearance upon the mercy-seat and the Holy Ghost in the Spirit of Prophecy which though it did many under the former inspired none under this House as the Jewish Writers observe were all withdrawn But notwithstanding it â—â—d the disadvantage in all these eminent respects yet the presence of Messiah in it was to give such a lustre to it as in the Judgment of God himself would make it more Glorious Quest. Do they mention any other Sign that visibly marks out this time Ans. Yes Thirdly That it shall be shortly before the destruction of the Temple and of the City Jerusalem and the utter desolation of the Jewish Nation For so the Prophet Daniel declares that at the end of a set number of weeks Messiah shall be cut off and then the people of the prince that shall come that is the Romans who should invade them shall destroy the city and the sanctuary and the end thereof shall be with a flood viz. of Romans over powering them and unto the end of the war desolations are determined that is by that time this War ends the desolation of the miserable Jews shall be consummated Dan. 9. 26. Yea to this he adds another most conspicuous sign viz. that after Messiah was once come the Sacrifices of the Law should all cease among them Seventy weeks says the Angel are determined upon thy people to anoint the most holy and to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins that is in the usual Phrase of Scripture and of the Jows of sin-offerings or sacrifices for sins which were to pass off when once Messiah by the Sacrifice of himself had fulfilled all that was typified by them verse 24. And this has been most notoriously verified upon them For by their Law they were to have but one Altar and were to bring all their sacrifices from all places of the Land to the temple in Jerusalem and so were never to worship God with Sacrifice when they were out of their own Nation And accordingly they have never sacrificed at all since they were driven out of their own Country and both the Temple and City were laid waste by Titus Vespasian which happened within forty Years after the offering up of our Saviour Christ in his Crucifixion Quest. All these signs are so publick and conspicuous as must needs force themselves upon all Mens observation And being all near the time they sufficiently direct Men when about to look for this Great Person But are there no Predictions more punctual in point of Time still and that prefix the exact Year of his coming Ans. Yes the Prophet Daniel foretels the very Year both of his Manifestation and of his Death and Passion that the former should happen 483. and the latter 486 Years after the issuing out of the Decree to rebuild not the Temple but the city and the walls of Jerusalem Know therefore and understand saith the Angel that from the going forth
his Bosom And these if they are untruths cannot be fancies but downright Forgeries and Impostures they argue not so much an Enthusiastical as a false and designing Man since no Person in his wits as 't is most evident he was could fancy himself into such persuasions And thus it seems the Adversaries of Jesus themselves believed For they never once accused him as being a deluded Enthusiast but always as a false Impostor who crastily invented those pretensions which he sought to impose upon the world Matth. 27. 63. John 7. 12. Quest. Was he also as apparently honest and undesigning Ans. Yes for never Man sought so little for himself or did so much for others making it his meat and drink to bring Glory unto God and dispense Blessings to the World. Whatsoever he claimed or did was in pursuit of those publick ends not at all to greaten his own secular State and Power or to gratifie his own Will and Humour And on this score he calls upon all Men to believe him as one that visibly could have no temptation to deceive and plainly sought to serve no ends of his own upon them My judgment is just saith he because I seek not mine own will but the will of the Father which hath sent me John 5. 30. Quest. Two great things there are which Men may seek by such pretences Interest that ratifies the covetous and Honour that Idol of the ambitious and vain glorious And doth it plainly appear of Jesus that in pursuing his pretensions he sought neither of these Ans. Yes For as for Honour though by his miraculous Power he did every where the most stupendious things yet was he never tempted to do any one out of vanity to set on his own Praise but only as occasion was given him by the requests or needs of Men or as he saw they might serve to accomplish God's ends Yea after the miraculous Cures were done he several times imposed silence on those he cured or those who were privy to it to stifle the spreading of his own Fame He gave the Honour of all he did to God declaring That of himself he could do nothing but that his finger wrought all the works they so much admired and directing them to adore and laud him for them as accordingly they did And then as for worldly interest though he pretended to come as a Prince and Shepherd yet he declared that was not to serve himself of his People but to serve them and shed his Hearts Blood for them And all Men must needs say he seeks no private interest or self design who comes among Men only to have the opportunity to die for them And being thus apparently free from all designs or endeavours of seeking his own interest or applause upon this score he calls upon all reasonable Men to receive â—is Testimony The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep I am the good Shepherd for I lay down my life for them Jâ—â—n 10. 11 15. I honour my father says he again and seek not mine own glory He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory but he that seeketh his glory that sent him the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him John 8. 49 50. 7. 18. Quest. Indeed such manifestations of sober Wisdom and undesigning Integrity are enough to gain great regard to any Man's account But as you said it would be of more force still if God by extraordinary Providences and miraculous Events brought to pass for or about a Person should prepossess the World with a great Opinion and raise in all Men some extraordinary expectations from him And was this done for Jesus when he came Ans. Yes for besides that a confessed Prophet was sent in God's Name as I shewed on purpose to declare him a Train of Revelations and Miracles was laid by Almighty God to prepare his way and usher him in One Angel is sent to his Mother then and afterwards a Virgin with the news of his Miraculous Conception another to clear her Honour and satisfie her jealous Husband and a whole Host of them are heard to sing Anthems of Joy and Praise at his Birth declaring to the Shepherds that he was Christ the Lord. A prodigious Star of an irregular place and motion is created to lead some great Men of the East to the place where he was Who coming by its guidance to Jerusalem in search of him put King Herod and all the Jews into an anxious fear and consternation And being led on farther by it to Bethlehem to the very House where he lay they most solemnly paid their Homage and Devotion offering him Gifts Gold Frankincense and Myrrh And to heighten the observation and perpetuate the memory of these things a strange instance of most lamentable and unheard of cruelty accompanied them For at the Wise Mens report Herod growing jealous of this new King and not being able to learn where he was that under pretence of going to Worship he might seize and devour him they failing to bring him word according to their promise through God's warning them to the contrary in a Dream in his Bloody Rage he slew all the Children under two years old in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof assuredly concluding he should cut off him among them Besides all which at the accomplishment of his Mothers days of Purification when he was brought into the Temple Simeon Son as is supposed to the Great Hillel and Father to Gamaliel and * Hannah two Persons eminent for Piety and Holiness and known though not in ordinary course yet at some times to be acted by a Prophetick Spirit which having ceased among the Jews for four hundred Years ever since Zechary and Malachy begun then to revive again did own him for the Christ of God and spoke of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem All these with a number of other great Signs shewed about him were most publickly known among the Jews and were the wonder and discourse of that time and must needs raise in Mens minds strange expectations from him And seeing him thus visibly sent of God they would be the more prepared when he declared himself to give him credit Especially when they knew him still more Gloriously set out and all the foregoing Signs advanced and confirmed by the visible descent of the Holy Ghost upon him and the voice from Heaven accompanying it at his Baptism when he begun his Preaching Quest. And to all this did he also himself give them a Sign for his own justification Ans. Yes and the very same too that Moses prescribed for a proof of any Man 's being sent of God as a Prophet viz. his fore telling things to come Deut. 18. 22. For this Jesus did among them and that too on this very score according to the rule of Moses to justifie his Mission His own Resurrection under the Type of Jonas he gives to the Jews for
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
at that Day are to be judged Answ. All Men that shall either be found alive at his coming or were dead before For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive for the things done in the Body 2 Cor. 5. 10. yea and the lost Angels too for know you not that we shall judge Angels i. e. sit with Christ and approve of his Sentence when he condemns them 1 Cor. 6. 3. Quest. What Proof will there be of Crimes and who shall be the Witnesses Answ. The Devils are the Accusers of the Brethren Rev. 12. 10. and they will call for Justice But there needs no Testimony at that Day from the Father of Lies for God in his Omniscience keeps a Register and Record of all Mens Actions and that Book shall be opened and the Dead shall be judged by that unerring Book of his Remembrance Rev. 20. 12. Nay indeed there is no need of any Witnesses at all because the Guilty shall confess their Crimes and bear witness against themselves Their Consciences shall bear witness and their own Thoughts accuse or excuse one another in the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2. 15 16. Quest. Shall all this be acted in great Solemnity with Pomp and Splendour Answ. Yes as much as may be For Christ will translate his Royal Court from Heaven to Earth and come at the Right-hand of that Glory by which he now sits in peerless Splendor and Majesty having all the Holy Angels glittering in their utmost Brightness to attend this Triumph He shall come in his own Glory and in his Fathers and of all the Holy Angels Luk. 9. 26. Mat. 25. 31. He shall descend from Heaven with a Shout with the Voice of the Archangel and the Trump of God 1 Thess. 4. 16. And when that sounds all that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth Joh. 5. 28 29. and there shall be a Resurrection both of the Just and Unjust Acts 24. 15. All these shall stand before his Throne And after an exact Scrutiny and fair Trial of all Persons he will separate them one from another into two Companies as a Shepherd divides the Sheep from the Goats and as the Jews were wont to do in their Courts setting such as were to be Absolv'd together upon the Right and such as were to be Condemn'd upon the Left-hand of their Tribunals And then with great Solemnity pass Sentence bidding the Righteous Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you But saying to the Wicked Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire Mat. 25. 31 32 34 41. Quest. Where shall this Glorious Appearance be Answ. In the Air saith St. Paul 1 Thess. 4. 17. In the Clouds of Heaven says our Saviour Mat. 26. 64. Somewhere it will be near the Earth but in what particular Part it little concerns us to inquire or advantages us to understand Quest. When this Great Judge has passed Sentence shall all Parties concern'd acquiesce in it Answ. Yes he is the last Judge from whom there can be no Appeal And there will be no need of any For all shall acknowledge the Perfect and irreprehensible Justice of what he determines The Righteous being tried first and call'd up to surround him in Glorious Circles whilst he tries the rest shall approve and praise his Justice The Saints shall judge the World i. e. as his Assessors and the Comprobators of his Judgment 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. And the Mouth of all Wicked who suffer under it shall be stopped and they shall be convinced of it within themselves For he will then convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly Deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Quest. For what shall we be judged and condemned in this Judgment Answ. For all Transgressions of the Laws of his Gospel and for those only He will not judge Arbitrarily or condemn any for unforbidden Things or for no Cause but only because he pleases But the Laws of his Gospel are the Rule he will try and judge all Christians by God shall judge Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Rom. 2. 16. and the Word that I have spoken the same shall judge Men at the last Day Joh. 12. 48. Quest. If we shall be condemn'd only by God's Laws then to be sure unforbidden Things which are not threatned in the Word of God and which there is no Law against will never condemn any Answ. Most certainly they will not and there is no Sin in them to be condemned For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. And whosoever commits Sin transgresses also the Law for Sin is the Transgression of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And Sin is not imputed when there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. So that it is a vain Fear either in Religion or in Common Life when Mens Consciences scruple Things which they confess to be Indifferent i. e. forbid by no Laws as using a Form of Prayers Kneeling Standing or other Rites and Ceremonies no where forbidden in the Worship of God. In the last Judgment they shall answer only for the Breach of Laws and therefore are sure not to endanger their Souls or become accountable for such as these since there is no Law against them Quest. You say Men shall be judged for all their Transgressions of Gods Laws then to be sure for all their Sinful Actions Answ. Yes For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive according to that he hath done in the Body whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. And the Dead are judged every Man according to their Works Rev. 20. 13. Quest. So that then we must answer for all the Actions of our Lives and receive Reward if they have been good or Punishment if they have been ill ones Answ. Yes Quest. The Actions of Men are quickly done and when they are over they are wont to think there is an end of them But do not the good or ill Effects of several survive and last long and make for a great while after as if the Action were still a doing Answ. Yes they do both in good and bad Actions So that Men may be sinning and serving God noâ— only whilst they live but when they are in their Graves Quest. I pray you instance to me how it is so in good Actions Answ. If a Man gains Proselytes to God this good Fruit will last and they will serve him when he is dead If he promotes Pious Truths or gives good Advice or shews an holy Example in this World the Truths may be remembred and the Advice followed and the Example copied out and imitated when he is gone out of it If he endows Churches or builds Hospitals or the like his Piety will
please God and go to Heaven But do you suppose that some may still be Prophets and have Revelations about other things Answ. Perhaps they may about Particular accidents to particular Persons or Families or about great Revolutions to States or Empires As to these Matters it is not for me to stint the kindness and care of God or to determine what intimations he may sometimes vouchsafe from the other World. And if any wise sober and good men by the forcibleness of the impression on their minds after the Prophetick way which convinces and satisfies themselves and by the correspondence of events which may satisfie others find they have any such thing I shall not withstand them and so long as they do not offer these to innovate in Religion the Revelations of the Scripture are no bar against them Quest. You have fully explained this first miraculous Gift of the Holy Ghost the Gift of inspirations Were there any other miraculous Gifts subservient to it which you would explain to me under this Head Answ. Yes First the Gift of discerning Spirits i. e. among all the Pretenders to inspiration who spoke true inspirations and who meer pretences of it or Satanical delusions We have received the Spirit of God saith St. Paul which reveals to us the Things of God. And he that is Spiritual judgeth all Things that are pretended by others yet he himself is judged of no man i. e. they who want his Spirit cannot judge of him For who i. e. of those who want this Spirit hath known the mind of the Lord to discern when another meerly pretends to it 1 Cor. 10. 12 15 16. And this Gift of Discerning Spirits was very necessary in that Age to warn the Church against False Prophets For when there was such a commonness of true Revelations it gave the greatest opportunity to Diabolical Enthusiasts or wicked Impostors to obtrude their inventions or delusions upon the Church hoping they should pass for inspirations among the crowd of others Now are there many False Phrophets gone out into the World saith St. John which makes it necessary not to believe every Spirit 1 Joh. 4. 1. Quest. This Gift indeed was necessary to discover them before the Scriptures were written but when once they had them could not any Christians thereby detect Impostors without the Gift of discerning Spirits Answ. Yes and so St. John and the other Apostles in their Epistles gave ordinary Rules for this purpose One of these Rules was confessing Christ to be come in the Flesh. Try the Spirits says he whether they be of God and hereby know ye the Spirit of God every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh is of God and every one that denys it is not of God 1 Joh. 4. 1 2 3. and 2 Joh. 7. Another Rule was their submission to the Apostles and Governours of the Church since God would inspire no man to break Unity and make needless Schisms We are of God. He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Errour 1 Joh. 4. 6. But the most comprehensive Rule of all was their agreement or dissonancy with the Holy Scriptures as I noted before and the Revelations of the undoubted Apostles If any man think himself to be a Prophet or Spiritual let him acknowledge that the Things which I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord 1 Cor. 14. 37. But if any Man or Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that you have received already let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. Quest. What other miraculous Gifts besides this of Discerning Spirits were subservlent to this Gift of inspirations Answ. Secondly the Gift of utterance i. e. of assurance fluency and volubility of speech whereby they were enabled to declare and make known their Revelations to advantage This St. Paul desired the Colossians to beg of God for him Praying for us that God would open to us a Door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak Col. 4. 3 4. Under which is comprehended that miraculous boldness which these poor men shew'd to admiration in asserting undauntedly a most exploded Cause in the face of their numerous and potent Adversaries That utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Eph. 6. 19 20. Quest. Was this miraculous Boldness a Gift bestowed upon the Old Prophets Answ. Yes it was a part of that Spirit of Fortitude the Jewish Writers speak of wherewith God armed a Prophet before he sent him with a difficult and perillous Message in which he might foresee the greatest terrour and dread of men to stop his Mouth Thus God told Ezekiel when he sent him to the impudent and hard-hearted Israelites Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces and thy forehead strong against their foreheads As an Adamant harder than Flint have I made thy Fore-head Fear them not neither be dismayed at their Looks though they be a Rebellious House Ezek. 3. 8 9. Thus also he bid Jeremiah speak and not be dismayed at their Faces for he had that Day made him a defenced City an Iron Pillar and Brazen Walls against the whole Land against the Kings of Judah the Princes the Priests and the People thereof Jer. 1. 8 17 18 19. Quest. And did the Holy Ghost give this miraculous Boldness to the Apostles Answ. Yes in a wonderful measure They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with Boldness Act. 4. 31. And when the Jewish Rulers saw the Boldness of Peter and John asserting freely the Power and Authority of Jesus and taxing them openly as his wicked Murderers to their very Faces they marvelled ver 10 11 12 13. Quest. Had they this boldness of Spirit at all times Answ. No. For at Corinth St. Paul says of himself that he was with them in Weakness and Fear and much Trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3. In some great Dangers and pressing Necessities their Natural Fears would return upon them to trouble them for some time Thus it sometimes happen'd to St. Paul where he expected the most perillous opposition for after the hardships and hazards he had run through at Philippi and at Thessalonica expecting the like at Corinth too he was with them as he says in much trembling and so discouraged that he needed a Revelation to embolden him Act. 18. 1 9 10. And thus it did especially if at such time he were alone and had not his Companions with him When he came into Macedonia whilst he was by himself his Flesh had no Rest but he was troubled on every side without were fightings and within were fears But as soon as his Coadjutor Titus came to him he took heart and God who
Quest. I see the Holy Ghost endowed the Apostles with strange Gifts of Miracles But could they work these Miracles at any instant of time when they would or were some Preparations required to them Answ. There was required to them 1. Always Faith in him that wrought them And 2. sometimes particularly in miraculous Cures Faith in the Person that received them or whom they were wrought upon Quest. What was the Faith required in him that wrought them Answ. A Perswasion that God's Power would assist him and perform the Miracle by him For that they might never offer at this in vain which would have exposed both themselves and their Religion whensoever God would enable them to work a Miracle he first possessed their minds with a firm Belief and Assurance of it And this is the Faith so oft required of Wonder-workers in the Scriptures Though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains 1 Cor. 13. 2. And if ye have Faith as a Grane of Mustard-Seed ye shall say to this Mountain Remove hence to yonder Place and it shall Remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you Mat. 17. 20. And this Faith is reckon'd as one of the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit To another Faith by the same Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 9. Quest. What was the Faith that sometimes but more especially in the cure of Diseases was required on him that received a Miracle or the Person it was to be wrought upon Answ. A Perswasion that God would enable the Wonder-worker to do the cure for or shew the Miracle upon him This also was another Requisite For Paul stedfastly beholding the Creeple and perceiving he had faith to be healed said to him stand upright Act. 14. 9 10. Believe ye that I am able to do this said Christ to the blind Men according to your Faith so be it unto you Mat. 9. 28 29. If thou canst do any thing said the Father of the Demoniack have Compassion on us and help us Jesus said unto him if thou canst believe I can all miraculous Things are possible to be done to him that believeth Mar. 9. 22 23. And in his own Country 't is said Christ did not many Miracles because of their unbelief Mat. 13. 58. or as St. Mark he could not do them God it seems suspending this miraculous aid in the case of such whose unbelief rendred them unworthy of it Mark 6. 4 5. Quest. What is the third and last of those extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles Answ. The Gift of strange Tongues whereby they who were all Jews were able in an instant to Publish that Religion God had revealed to them over all the world and be understood by men of every Language Quest. Was this given to the Apostles Answ. Yes visibly at the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost descended upon each of them in the shape of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire and they spake with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance and talked to Parthians and Romans Cretes and Arabians and to the devout men from every Nation under Heaven at that time gathered together to Jerusalem to every man in the Tongue wherein he was born Acts. 2. 1. to 12. And at the imposition of the Apostles hands it was generally bestowed on others afterwards As on the Disciples at Ephesus at the imposition of Paul's hands Acts 19. 2 6. on Cornelius and his Gentile Friends at Peter's Preaching for while he yet spake to them the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word and they spake with Tongues and magnified God Acts 10. 44 45 46. And so on others in great numbers particularly in the Church of Corinth Quest. To what end were they thus endowed with all Languages Answ. To enable them to Preach to all Nations for they were Commission'd to teach all Nations Mat. 28. 19. And they could not teach them without speaking to every man in his own Language And therefore wheresoever they came the Spirit immediately made them as perfect in the Language of the Place as they were in their own Mother Tongue Quest. Had not some the Gift of Tongues who were not sent out to men of another Language Answ. Yes as particularly in the Church of Corinth for there many would speak in the Assemblies where all or most were Greeks in Strange Tongues which because the Church did not understand St. Paul directs such gifted Linguists to Pray for another Gift of interpreting Tongues to make such enthusiasms intelligible to their Hearers 1 Cor. 14. 2 5 13. In these strange Tongues they Preached v. 6. and Prayed to God v. 14. And this being an offering up both inspired Prayers and in inspired Tongues which are both his extraordinary Gifts is called Praying and Singing by or with the Spirit v. 14 15. Quest. To what end then served these strange Tongues in such Churches all of one Tongue Answ. Not to make known Religion indeed because the hearers did not understand them But they serv'd to express the Speakers Devotion and so edified himself 1 Cor. 14. 4. and as a Sign to confirm our Religion and so were an argument as all other Miracles were to prove it true to Infidels Tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not v. 22. Quest. Was there any Guilt subservient to this of speaking with strange Tongues Answ. Yes the Gift of interpreting those strange Tongues when spoken either by themselves or others Quest. But I pray you what need of that did not they that spoke these strange Tongues understand themselves Answ. Yes he that spoke in an unknown Tongue edified himself 1 Cor. 14. 4. and he that gave Thanks in it gave Thanks well as St. Paul says v. 17. But in this exercise of strange Tongues the heat of Enthusiasm and Divine Rapture was sometimes so great that the Speaker could not interpret himself as he spoke nor remember it after that heat was over so as to give an explication to those that heard it And this defect the Gift of interpreting Tongues supplyed which Gift St Paul directs those who had the other of speaking with strange Tongues to beg of God in order to their greater usefulness Let him that speaketh in an unknown Tongue pray also that he may interpret i. e. do it with such consistency and moderation of mind as to be able afterwards to give the same in other more intelligible words v. 13. and orders that when any spoke with Tongues who were not thus qualified to explain themselves they should speak not all at a time as they sometimes did but by course and have one still to second them to interpret their strange speech v. 27. Quest. By this I see what are the extraordinary Gifts which the Holy Ghost bestowed upon the Apostles viz. the Gift of inspiration whereby they should be infallibly instructed in their Religion of Tongues and utterance whereby they should intelligibly and undauntedly
the Tenor of Christ's own Laws For then they only speak the Language of Christ's own Rules and as Tertullian says are a true anticipation or Fore-hand Draught of the great Judgment And when his Officers only pronounce and say after him there is no doubt but he will confirm what they have pronounced in his Name Quest. But from what you have formerly discoursed I perceive that some things in Religon being against the Prime and Fundamental Doctrines are so Damnable in themselves as not to be capable of any Favour or Allowances And that others being only against inferior Truths are Damnable only as accompanied with an Evil Mind but capable withal of being incurred under Pardonable circumstances Now in these last Points many Persons that mean well and serve Christ sincerely in the main and essentials of a Christian may yet be unhappily mislead into wrong Opinions or Practices And if for their fixedness and obstinacy in these they happen to be cast out of any Church do you think they are always cut off from Christ too and that he will Finally Anathematise and condemn them in his Sentence Answ. No. For the Church as all humane Judges being unable to see into Mens Hearts give sentence in these cases according to outward Actions But Christ in his judgment of them looks also at the mind and heart of the Actors Rateing exactly not only the Punishableness of the Offences but also the Degrees of voluntary and involuntary which makes a Pardonableness or Punishableness of the Offenders And making these Allowances on such scores as fall not under their Notice 't is reasonable to believe he will still own and receive several compassionably mislead who are cast out on these accounts by the Churches Censures Quest. This validity and effect of Church-Censures you say is when they proceed according to Christ's own Rules and upon just cause But if they bind where the Gospel says they should loose and Excommunicate against Reason I suppose those Censures are meer Scare-crows that may serve to make a show but bring no hurt with them Answ. Very true Blessed are ye says our Saviour when Men shall separate you from their Company and expunge or cast out your Name as evil for the Son of Mans sake for so persecuted their Fathers the Prophets Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for your Reward is great in Heaven Luk. 6. 22 23. If good Christians are Excommunicated in any Church for not going against the Scriptures and complying with it in ill things as poor Protestants are by the Romish Church they lose nothing thereby with God who will not ratifie a wrong sentence but will increase their Reward for having bravely suffer'd in his Cause Quest. By what you have said I see how God forgives Sins But when they are committed against us we are bid to forgive them too and that as we our selves hope to be forgiven I pray you what doth that imply Answ. Not our remitting Future punishments which lye at God's mercy not in ours Nor always that we sit still without offering to defend our selves when we are assaulted or to seek redress when we are injured But only that we bear no malice to them in our hearts and if the case require Redress that we seek it not in Spiteful ways and that beside the Reparation of our own Wrong we aim not at our Adversary's Prejudice nor seek his hurt afterwards nor Pray to God or to the Magistrate for vengeance as the Jews might to ease an angry mind when we are able to do no more against him our selves Quest. What use must we make of this Belief of the Forgiveness of Sins Answ. Admire the mercy of God who can forgive such Profligate and Provoking Offenders And the wonderful love of Jesus Christ who could dye to procure this Forgiveness for his utter Enemies And not despair of mercy but stedfastly hope there is place of Pardon after any of our sins And above all to shew true Repentance and forgive others and perform all those things which are the condition and Terms of Forgiveness thereby to secure it to our selves Quest. And when we are once forgiven may we embolden our selves from God's readiness to forgive to Repeat our sins Answ. No by no means Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound in pardoning God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2. Now thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee said our Saviour Joh. 5. 14. Such ingratitude and abuse of Grace is not only most provoking to the Spirit and tempts him to withdraw from us and calls down from God heavier and surer Punishments But also it brings in force against us all the old scores which were all struck off as I said only on presumption of our Perseverance in repenting of them CHAP. XI Of the Resurrection of the Body and the Life everlasting The Contents The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin but of our Bodies from the Grave This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies viz. Immortality Spirituality and Glory The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal And exquisitely sensible Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies Good Souls carried straight-way into a Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherin 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 Quest. WHat is the Eleventh Article of the Creed Answ. I believe the Resurrection of the Body Quest. May not the Resurrection be interpreted only of a Spiritual Resurrection from sin Answ. So some taught of old as St. Paul testifies saying the Resurrection is passed already i. e. when Men rose from a State of sin to the fear of God and these says he get credit and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. But the Resurrection we expect is a Resurrection of the Body Our Bodies after we have laid them down by Death shall at the Day of Judgment be quickned and raised up again Then all that are in the Graves shall hear Christ's voice and come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. This mortal Body must put on immortality and this corruptible must put on Incorruption that so all that being revived which Death destroyed Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. Quest. The