And for Providential disadvantages as Multiplicity of Business greatness of Temptations Bodily Indispositions For Pitiable Defects of Degrees in Duties Great Latitude on the side of Bliss and all not required to be of the same Size He will Reward Good Things tho' done with Difficulty and Reluctance yea when Pitiably stain'd with impure mixtures Our Judge will shew all this Candor and would have us expect it In Recompencing good Men he will consider the Difficulties and Oppositions And the hazard and cost of their Services And the hardships of Providence allotted to exercise good Men in this Life Of the Condemnation of ill Men. The Fire which is to torment them shall burn up and dissolve the Worldâ— Practical Inferences from the last judgment Quest. THE Seventh Article is That from Gods Right-Hand Jesus Christ shall come to judge both the quick and the dead Is there any Necessity of a Future Judgment Answ. Yes upon many Accounts As 1st For an exact Discrimination to distinguish Persons Numbers of ill Men are Hypocrites or Good only in outward appearance and these pass here for Saints But at the last Day God will make them manifest and put them into Separate Companies Dividing as Christ foretold the Sheep from the Goats Mal. 25. 32. 2. For the clearing of Gods Justice which seems in this World oftentimes to misplace Rewards and Punishments afflicting the Righteous and making Sinners Prosperous and therfore will surly be manifested in allotting more suitable Retributions visibly Rewarding the good and Punishing the wicked afterwards Thus St. Paul told the Thessalonians that their Present Sufferings who were Gods good Servants was a Token and Pledge of Gods Future Rewards on them and of his â—unishments upon their Persecutors The Persecutions and Tribulations you endure are â— manifest Token of the Righteous Judgment â—f God i. e. a token and ingagement that God will hereafter manifest his Righteous Judgment in their Punishment and â—our Reward Seeing it is a Righteous Thing â—ith God to recompence Tribulation to them â—hat trouble you and to you who are troubled â—est with us when the Lord Jesus shall be reâ—ealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels â— Thes. 1. 4 5 6 7. And that Day St. Paul â—alls the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment â—f God when however here they might â—eem connived at God will render to every Man according to his Deeds Rom. 2. 5 6. 3. For Reversing the Error of all Humane Judgments All Humane Courts are â—nder God who is the Supreme Dispenser of Justice and Protector of injured Innoâ—ence And therefore if Humane Courts who are his Substitutes through Corruption â—r Mistake Condemn the Innocent it may â—eseem him whose Care comprehends â—nd whose Justice will do Right to all â—o Reverse the Error and clear them again to all the World. 4. For the support of Religion which â—as no sufficient encouragement without Hope of future Rewards He that comes to God in Religion must believe he is a Rewarder of those that diligently seek him Heb. 11. â— Moses and the Patriarchs served God out of a Respect to the Recompence of a Reward v. 26. And this Reward was not present here but Future in another World. They dyed not having received the Promises but only having seen them afar off confessing themselves here to be Strangers and Pilgrims and to seek a Country in a better place v. 13 14 16. So that they were Religious from an eye to future Judgment and Retributions Quest. From these Reasons it may seem fit and necessary God should have a Future Judgment but are we sure he will have it Answ. Yes he hath given assurance unto all men that he will judge the World by Jesus Christ by raising him from the Dead Act. 17. 31. Quest. How doth this assure it Answ. Both as an Instance of it since thereby he most justly rewarded our Saviour Christ who had done and suffered so much for him in this World. And also as it was Gods owning and irrefragable Testimony to his Doctrine which declares the Future Judgment as a Principal Part of it Quest. When is this Judgment to be Answ. At the end of the World when there shall be no more Days of Labour and Tryal but all of Recompence in Punishment or Reward Quest. If it be so far off men will be the less afraid of it they being very apt to overlook Dangers that lye remote as indeed when any things are far distant to look upon Great ones as little and little ones as none at all And will none be judged till the end of the World Answ. Yes That is only for the General Judgment of all men But every particular Man is sentenced at his Death either to a State of Bliss or Misery Quest. But if a man be condemned in the First Judgment since there is so great a Distance betwixt it and the Second may he not have time to make his Peace and either by doing or suffering something himself or by the Care and Kindness of his Friends offering Sacrifices Prayers or Alms for him get the Sentence reversed and his State alter'd and come off clear at the last Judgment Answ. No Betwixt the Place of Rewards and Punishments in the other World there is an unpassable Gulph fixed so that they who would pass from you to us cannot as Abraham told the Rich Man in Torment There is neither Repentance nor Reconciliation in the Grave When once the Night is come says our Saviour no Man can Work Joh. 9. 4. Now in this Life saith St. Paul is the accepted Time now is the Day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. And at the last Day Men shall all be tryed not for what they have done or suffered since they were separate Spirits but for what they did when they were Cloathed with their Bodies giving account for every thing done in the Body 2 Cor. 5. 10. And those deeds are not what others have done for us but what through the Grace of God and the Benifit of their Prayers we have been enabled to do for our selves Every Man shall receive for things done in his Body according to what he hath done saith St. Paul. And every Mans cause of rejoycing must be in himself alone and not in another by passing over his Neighbours Prayers or Merits to him For every man shall bear his own Burden Gal. 6. 4 5. As a just God will not punish one for anothers Sin so neither will he accept one for anothers Well-doing Ezek. 18. 20. Quest. If Sentence is so quickly passed upon them the Souls of good men are not in a deep sleep and insensible State but enter upon Happiness as the Souls of ill men do upon misery as soon as they leave this world Answ. Yes they do so For this day says our Saviour to the Penitent Thief thou shalt be with me in Paradise i. e. in a place of Happiness Luk. 23. 43. And for me to dye is gain saith S. Paul whereas an
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
disclaims all our follies which we must not ascribe to him but take to our selves As all Persons must do when they throw away themselves in foolish Marriages or throw away their Estates by extravagance and foolish projects or are any other ways the direct Authors of their own miseries which they bring upon themselves by going against his will either in such sins as he forbids or in such follies as he disapproves When our calamities are thus of our own seeking we must not remove the blame from off our selves by casting it on God and say they are of his sending Say not thou as the wise son of Sirach most piously and justly cautions it is through the Lord that I fell away for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth Say not thou he hath caused me to err for he hath no need of the sinful man Ecclus 15. 11 12. Quest. By this I perceive when any Persons have made a foolish Marriage or otherwise done foolishly for themselves you would not have them say as too ordinarily they do that such match was made in Heaven and is what God had decreed for them Ans. No by no means For that is only to make God accountable for their faults And is it fit when they are ashamed of a thing to lay it upon God to excuse themselves God bids no Man do foolishly or wickedly nor tempts him to it Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted with evil neither doth he tempt any man James 1. 13. Quest. But doth God no way allot these for us Ans. Yes he allots the miseries as a punishment after we have been so faulty or foolish but he doth not allot that foolish miscarriage whereby we bring the misery upon our heads For God is not the Author either of the sins or follies of Men being in himself all Holiness and Wisdom What is well done by us we must ascribe to him but all that is ill we must take to our own selves Quest. But is he not sometimes concerned in sending Mens faults and follies too as well as the miseries in punishment of former provocations For when Men have been great sinners he is oft provoked as you noted above to withdraw his Grace in just Judgment and leave them to themselves whence they fall still into more folly and wickedness Ans. Yes by way of punishment God sometimes gives Men up thus to sin and folly Not that he tempts or inclines Men to be either foolish or wicked as I said but that when they are throughly prepared of themselves to be so in his just Judgment he withdraws his abused Grace the continuance whereof might help to prevent it and leaves them to themselves and the incitation of evil Spirits as I have before declared Quest. So that if any Persons would ascribe any share in their miscarriages to God it must only be in owning his Justice and taking shame to themselves confessing he Righteously gave them up to them in punishment of former sins Ans. Yes Quest. You have instanced in foolish Marriages and I see we must not impute them to Destiny and God's irresistible Decrees which is only a throwing the blame on God to clear our selves But do not you think that the Providence of God which numbers even the Hairs of our Heads is more than ordinarily concerned in making Marriages which are an affair of highest importance Ans. I make no doubt of it Houses and lands are the inheritance of fathers but a prudent wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 14. 18. 22. But when God's Providence orders and accomplishes Marriages it is not by fate and irresistible ways but only by affording such opportunities and inducements as though oft-times they may very potently induce yet leave a liberty in the Persons themselves I suppose especially ere they are suffered to proceed too far to refuse When God brings them about it is in a way agreeable to free Creatures who have a liberty to refuse and voluntarily of themselves take hold of these offers and facilitating turns of Providence to bring about their own Marriages whence being a matter of their own doing they are accountable for them and deserve Praise when they bestow themselves wisely and blame when they do foolishly Quest. As for all the actions which we do then I perceive we must believe that God observes them And as for all the good or ill events which we meet with we must believe he orders and allots them for us and be accordingly affected with them Ans. Yes and that is walking before God as Abraham was bid to do Gen. 17. 1. and owning Providence which is the ground of all Religion and the great Character through all the Scriptures of good Men and is not only the perfection of our affection and service to Almighty God but the only ground of solid comfort and tranquillity of mind under all the various accidents of this World. Quest. Is this Great and Good God that made and still preserves and carefully provides for us not only our Friend but also our Father Ans. Yes he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and for his sake he is our Father too And so he has taught us to call him and pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Quest. What must this teach us Ans. Not only to take the freedom of access and the confidence but withal to pay the Reverence and dutiful Obedience of Children If I be a father where is mine honour Mal. 1. 6. To imitate the ways and virtues of our Heavenly Father and turn followers of God as dear children Eph. 5. 1. this being a Natural Fruit of Spiritual as it usually is of Secular Relation It must engender noble thoughts and pursuits worthy of this high Alliance and not suffer us to debase our selves and dishonour our Race by sinking into sensuality or doting on and taking up with any vain and perishing goods of this life In summ it must cause us to depend on him with trust and affiance to receive what he sends with submission and cheerfulness and an opinion that it proceeds from kindness with other such like which are filial tempers Quest. And this God and Father the Creed says is Almighty and the maker of Heaven and Earth Ans. Yes that is added and is next in course to be explained CHAP. III. Of God's Almightiness The Contents God's Almightiness implies 1. God's Might and Strength to effect all things viz. all that are the object of any Power And that are not repugnant to his own Nature The exerting this Power creates God no labour He can do whatsoever any things of the World can do This an encouragement to all generous Enterprizes And to build on Providence especially where we have a Promise The value and acceptance of this trust in a seemingly most improbable case And whatsoever any things of the World are inclined or wont to do he can
that it shall never be destroyed by them The Promise is That the Gates of Hell that is the Powers of Satan and all his wicked instruments shall not prevail against the Church Matt. 16. 18. Quest. What must Christ's protecting his Church teach us Answ. To trust him with Religion and not sin to save it in the most perillous times He is more concern'd for his Church than any of us are or can be and he knows how to protect it without the help of our sins or our acting wickedly for it So that in all such times we are to practise Religion and do our duty and then recommend and trust the Preservation of it to his care Quest. If we would own Christ as our King then I perceive we must obey his Laws and Ministers and commit our selves to him in well-doing as the Protector of his Church Answ. Yes Quest. And will none partake of the Reconciliation of his Priesthood but they who thus believe him as their Prophet and obey him as their Lord Answ. No for Faith and Obedience are necessary to our Peace with God and there is no injoying the benefit of one without embracing him in all his Offices Quest. To believe in Christ then or to acknowledge Jesus to be the Christ is to own him for the Prophet of the Church by hearkning to his Word and Ministers for the Priest of God by hoping in him and applying to God by him for Reconciliation and all other mercies and for the King of his Church by obeying both his Laws and Officers and in a course of well-doing trusting both our selves and our Religion to his Protection here on Earth Answ. Yes Quest. What is meant by that which follows in the Creed his being God's only Son Answ. Our meaning is in respect of his Nature that God begat him as a Father doth a Son of like nature with himself so that he is God as well as Man. For he is equal with God Phil. 2. 6. The true God 1 Joh. 5. 20. and over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. Which last was the special Character and Title of the true God in the common stile and expression of the Jews Who from their Custom when the Priest in the Sanctuary rehearsed the Name of God of answering Blessed be his name for ever came in their common speech to call him The Blessed One which phrase the Scriptures often denote him as in Mar. 14. 61. 2 Cor. 11. 31. Rom. 1. 25. And agreeable to his having this Divine Nature we find the Divine Works as Creating and Sustaining and Divine Honours as Worship and Prayers and Baptism in the Name of the Son as well as of the Father ascribed to him in Holy Scripture Quest. Why was it requisite our Redeemer should be God Answ. 1. To give Merit to his Sacrifice which was infinitely advanced in regard his Blood was the Blood of God Act. 20. 28. How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Consciences who offered himself thro' the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. As its being committed against God was the extreme aggravation of our sin So must its being performed by God be equally an enhansement of his Reparation 2. To several other purposes as to his having Power enough to conquer Death and Hell and save us from all our Spiritual Enemies to fit him for a capable and competent Judge of all men seeing into their Hearts and Thoughts which is one of God's Prerogatives To recommend Vertue as much as was possible by an example since in him it appears that all the things required of us are worthy of the most excellent Natures yea are not below the practice of God himself Quest. What other meaning is there of it Answ. Another is in respect of his Power because he is invested with all the Authority and Power of God. For Son of God signifies sometimes the same as the Christ that is one whom God hath commissioned to act in his stead He shall be great and the Son of the Highest and God shall give him the Throne of his Father David Luk. 1. 32. And thus Jesus Christ is God's Son for he hath given him all Power both in Heaven and Earth Matt. 28. 18. and committed all Authority to the Son that all should honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 22 23. Quest. And being the Son of God in this sense that is having Soveraign Power from him he is our Lord Answ. Yes in respect of this derived Power and of his own Soveraign Divine Nature of his invaluable Merit and Purchace and of our voluntary Compacts and Submissions on all accounts that can found a just Dominion and Lordship over us God has given him a Name above every Name that every Tongue should confess Jesus Christ is Lord Phil. 2. 9 11. To us there is one Lord 1 Cor. 8. 6. Quest. And being God not only in Power but also in Nature must we not all worship him and pray to him and trust in him as God Answ. Yes for at the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow Phil. 2. 10 and all must honour the Son as they honour the Father Joh. 5. 23. This is done by all good Christians and Saints on Earth who are styled They that call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. 2. And also by those who are glorified in Heaven who sing their Hallelujah's as to God the Father so also to the Lamb Rev. 5. 11 12 13 14. Yea by the Angels too for when he bringeth his first-begotten into the world he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. And this Divine Honour if he were not a God in Nature as well as in Power he could never claim nor receive from them Quest. If Christ is our Rightful Sovereign Lord then we must give up our Wills to his and perform faithfully whatsoever he orders Answ. Yes Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Luk. 6. 46. Nay since he is our Lord and we are his Houshold-Servants we must not as he says be the Servants of Men that is so wholly given up to their Service as that we cannot mind his or serve their pleasure when it interferes with his Laws or comply with their Meen and Customs when they are contrary unto his or sooth and flatter their weak Minds and feed their sickly Humours like timerous or mercenary Slaves No man says our Saviour can thus serve two Masters Matt. 6. 24. Ye are bought with a price saith St. Paul be not ye therefore the Servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. And if I yet pleased or soothed up men I should not be the Servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. Quest. Since he is our Lord we should not think any thing too mean or ill for us which he thought not so for him but compose our selves to his Behaviour willingly following where he has gone before it
Abode be at the Right-hand of God's Throne in Heaven then we are not to expect any thing of a Bodily Presence in any Ordinances here on Earth Answ. No as to his Bodily Presence it is expresly said that he parted from his Disciples Luk. 24. 51. that he left the World Joh. 16. 28. and is no more in the World Joh. 17. 11. and tho the Poor we should yet him we should not have always with us Mat. 26. 11. that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from him 2 Cor. 5. 6. and are not to be with him till we depart hence Phil. 1. 23. that his Bodily Abode is in Heaven where he is to remain till the Consummation Act. 3. 21. and without ascending to Heaven to fetch him there is no bringing him back to Earth again Rom. 10. 6. and when he comes to judge the World it shall be from thence by Change of Place and Local Motion call'd his Descending from Heaven 1 Thess. 4. 16. and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26. 64. and the Saints are to be call'd up from the Earth into the Air to meet him 1 Thess. 4. 17. All which plainly imply his Bodily Presence to be circumscribed and limited to God's Right-hand and no longer in this World. But the way of Christ's Presence with his Church is by his Spirit which works the same Effects and confers the same Graces that he himself would were he personally upon Earth His Spirit is his Advocate who was to succeed in his Place to maintain his Cause Joh. 15. 26. and to stay with us all the time of his absence he shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14. 16. And this Presence of his Spirit in all compleatness of Vertue and real Effects he himself judges preferable to all Ocular Manifestations of his Person or Sensible Presence which tho it might serve more to delight our Eyes and entertain our Fancies yet would signifie less to real and desirable Purposes 'T is expedient for you says he that I go away speaking to his Disciples of his Bodily Absence For if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him Joh. 16. 7. And It is the Spirit that quickneth but the Flesh profits nothing said he at another time to the gross Capernaites upon a like Competition of these two ways of his Presence with us Joh. 6. 63. Quest. What must we learn from Christ's being exalted to such Sovereign and Supereminent Authority at God's Right-hand Answ. To render him the Reverence and Obedience due to so High a Majesty For since God has thus highly exalted him at his Name every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Quest. What from his being so Compassionate and Powerful an Advocate Answ. To come to him in every Want or Distress with Confidence and Assurance of Faith being fully perswaded both of his Kindness for us and of his Interest with God to obtain whatsoever is necessary or convenient for us Having such an High-Priest let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 16. But particularly to come with sure Hope and Expectation of the Pardon of our Sins when we truly repent of them and of his Good Spirit and Grace when we are careful to make a Diligent and Right use of them If any Man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is a Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 3. 34. Quest. What learn we from his Power to Subdue all his Enemies Answ. To trust him as I noted above with the care of our selves and of his Church and not suffer our selves to be cast into any anxious Fears or forced upon the use of any unlawful means by any Streights But to believe let Dangers and Disorders be what they will that the Lord Reigns and that we and all his faithful People are safest whilst we are doing our Duty and are in his hands That indeed is the true way to yield present security but especially if thereby we happen to suffer to make sure a surpassing Recompence of Glory For this is a Faithful saying if we be dead with him that is to Sin we shall also live with him that is in Glory If we suffer and endure that is persevere in obeying chiefly when we obey with Loss and Difficulty we shall also Reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Quest. Since Christ is now in Heaven and we profess to fix all our Hopes in him Should not that make us think much of that Place where he is and of the way to come thither Answ. Without Question it should If ye be risen with Christ seek those Things which are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God Col. 3. 1. Here in the Body we sojourn from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. In this World we are strangers and Pilgrims 1 Pet. 2. 11. But God above is our Father and Jesus Christ at God's Right-Hand is our Lord and the Glorified Saints are our Fellow-Citizens Eph. 2. 19. And being thus Gods Family or Domesticks our Conversation should be where our Civil Relation and Society is that is in Heaven whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Phil. 3. 20. Since our Treasure is with him in Heaven there should our Hearts be also Mat. 6. 21. So that although in passing through this World we cannot quite neglect the things of it yet must we always heedfully mind and carefully seek the things above it CHAP. IV. Of the Future Judgment The Contents The necessity of the Future Judgment All men are judged and made happy or miserable at their Deaths But not so fully then as they will be afterwards The Compleat and General Judgment is at the end of the World. In that Jesus Christ is to be the Judge Who are to be judged In that Judgment no Condemnation but for breaking Gods Laws So not for indifferent things Men shall be tryed and sentenced for all their sinful Actions with regard to their lasting Effects For their most secret ones And such ill deeds as were disguised under the fairest Pretences For their sinful Omissions And Neglecting to Employ and improve their Talents For sinful Words And Thoughts and Desires For all these Men shall be judged impartially without Respect of Persons But with Equity and Candor not in Rigor The Benign Judge will be very ready to observe what makes for us and make the best of our Performances And interpret the seemingly Rigorous Expressions of his own Laws with great condescension to Humane Measures He will allow for involuntary Failings And judge Candidly and Favourably of that involuntariness And for Natural Infirmities
was not worthy to unty his shoâ—s and was glad when he could fix that Honour on Jesus whose right it was declaring openly he must increase but I must decrease John. 3. 29 30 31. He was illustrious for Piety and most bold and zealous in reproving Vice as he fully manifested by his undaunted freedom in censuring the sins of all states and sorts of People as they came to him for Baptism Matth. 3. And as for his sincerity and plain-dealing till Jesus came they could not in all that Age show such a down-right honest Man. When Herod set his heart upon him and loved to hear him his growing great at Court did not make him swerve in the least from his Country simplicity or teach him how to flatter nor would he there so much as connive at his Prince's sin though he was to lose not only his Favour but his own Hearts Blood for his plain freedom in taxing and reproving it Matth. 14. 3 4. 10. Quest. These are signal proofs of an upright honest Man. But did the Jews who lived in those days see all this in him Ans. Yes and honour and admire it too He was as Christ says a burning and a shining light among them and for a while till he had disgusted them by testifying so fully for Jesus they were willing to rejoyce in him John 5. 35. They all held him for a Prophet and so if they would be true to themselves ought surely to rely upon his word Matth. 21. 26. They thought it not enough to Admire and Praise but thronged in to become his Disciples and Followers and those that did so were not only the ignorant vulgar but the most learned and best reputed Sects the Pharisees and Sadducees who came desiring to receive Baptism at his hands Matth. 3. 7. Nay they did not only repute him for a Prophet but fancied him the greatest of all Prophets the Christ whom all desired and expected And this was not barely the surmize of some private Men but the opinion of the Sanhedrim that Great Council and Representative of the Jewish Nation For they sent Deputies to him a select number of Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him this Question John 1. 19. Thus great and currant was John's Fame in the Jewish Nation as is declared also by Josephus a Jewish Historian which when they begun to value him less out of their hatred to Jesus to whom he bore witness was yet of such awful Authority and Account that they who would not receive durst not openly gainsay it as the Pharisees durst not who when Jesus pressed them with John's Testimony for his Authority pitifully sneaked and openly refused to give any Answer to it Matth. 21. 27. Quest. But was not Jesus John's Friend And though he was too mortified to be tempted and too honest to be gained by any thing else yet might not affection blind his Eyes and he fancy more and speak things greater than were true of Jesus out of Friendship Ans. No if he had been an old Friend the grounds John gives are so clear and full as could not in any reason be questioned But what is still a further circumstance in this Testimony he is careful to tell us that he declared this of Jesus before they were acquainted For when he gives his Testimony to him after he had seen the Holy Ghost descend upon him at his Baptism I knew him not says he but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him that same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost And this I saw by him and bare record John 1. 33 34. 'T is true when he came to him for Baptism which was before he had seen this sign or made this declaration S. Matthew says John knew him and thereupon would have put him by as having more need to be baptized of him Matth. 3. 14. But that was purely by Revelation the same Spirit then suggesting the presence of Messiah to John that made him leap for joy in the womb at the salutation of the blessed Virgin after She had conceived him Luc. â— 44. But till he gave this Testimony to him he knew him not as a Friend or Acquaintance nor had any former Conversation or correspondence passed between them Quest. No wonder this Testimony should over-awe the Jews when Jesus urged it for himself though it could not convince them But besides this Testimony of John the Baptist you mentioned also the Testimony of Jesus himself as deserving credit Pray clear up that Ans. This also Jesus alledges for himself and stands upon it I am one that bear witness of my self and my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go John 8. 14 18. Quest. But this is only his own word in his own case And Men are too apt to say great and undue things of themselves out of a desire of Honour or Advantage And if we believe all on their own sayings we must believe all deceivers for the rankest Impostors are true Men if we dare trust themselves Ans. True indeed it were as unreasonable to believe all as to believe none But in these cases we are to put a difference between Witnesses and not to trust the accounts given of themselves by all but only by credible Persons In particular if it appears of any Man that he is not fanciful false or designing we should be very inclinable to believe his account especially if God had set some extraordinary attesting marks upon him or shewed some Miracles about him or if he himself which was the Legal Test of Prophets should give some extraordinary sign to gain credit All which most eminently concur in this Testimony which Jesus gave of himself for his being the Christ. Quest. Doth it appear that Jesus was no fanciful Man apt to take up Opinions on slight grounds or presume things especially in favour of himself without reason Ans. Yes for in all his carriage as he appeared most humble and self-denying so did he clearly manifest not only a most quick and penetrating but also a most sober and considerate Wisdom In all his life he was never seen to be precipitate in any Counsels nor presumptuous in any Conceits nor mistaken in any Opinions and Resolutions but could solve clearly all Questions and shew the true weight and just validity of all Arguments Even they who would not receive his Wisdom could not but admire it and the very Officers sent to apprehend him returned saying Never man spake like this man John 7. 46. Besides the things whereon he builds his own Credit are not any conjectural Speculations or disputable Opinions but plain matters of Fact such as his living and conversing with God in Heaven long before he came into the world his coming out from him and speaking what he saw and heard him declare whilst he lay from Eternal Ages in
a sign Matth. 12. 40. And Judas's Treason he foretold to his Disciples before it happened that thereby saith he when it is come to pass you may believe that I am he John 13. 19. And this alone is a sufficient vindication of his Testimony if he could produce nothing else For in a Legal Trial at the Bar of Moses this would prove him a true Prophet And that being once made out his Testimony is no further to be questioned Quest. Indeed such personal endowments and so miraculous an entry are enough to gain credit to any Person and make the World believe what he says though he wrought no Miracles for confirmation Ans. Very true and so they did in John's case For John as the Scripture says wrought no miracle John. 10. 41. But yet he was universally held for a Prophet because of his eminent Integrity and Wisdom and because his Conception was by a Mother barren and past Child-bearing and was first revealed by the Message of an Angel and his unbelieving Father struck dumb and his Tongue as miraculously loosed again upon the Child's Birth to Prophesie concerning him by all which he was notoriously known to be a Child of Miracles though he wrought none And all these as I have noted were far more eminent in Jesus which therefore in all equity and reason should have gained him credit and make him pass for a Prophet as John did Besides that Jesus gave them Predictions the Legal proof of true Prophets which had been enough to authorize and justifie his Witness had it come backed with no other credentials Quest. You have shewn reason enough why Jesus's report of himself should be trusted since it came thus well fortified Ans. Yes this shows him a most creditable Witness whilst he appeared among us to testifie for himself here on Earth But besides that he has moreover showed himself several times since he went to Heaven particularly to Stephen and Saul giving them an ocular evidence by appearing in actual Possession of his Pretences And this exhibition of himself in Glorious Majesty at God's own Throne doth as convincingly speak him to be Christ the King as any Man 's Personal appearance and presentation of himself can prove him to be a live Person In doubt of a thing 's existing in any condition there is no such satisfactory proof as if the thing presents it self and shews its state by ocular demonstration Quest. But after all that you have said about the validity of this Testimony of Jesus in his own case doth not Jesus himself say the contrary when he tells the Jews If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true John 5. 31. Ans. By not true he means not that 't is no real Truth nor that it is no proof of Truth for in another place he says expresly though I bear record of my self my witness is true John 8. 14. But only that it will not pass in Law for a proof of Truth And that not for any defect in the kind but only in the tale and number of Evidence For their Law as he notes required two Witnesses So that although his own Testimony were one good proof yet being but one it was of it self alone no full proof but wanted the Testimony of his Father too to make it a Legal Evidence John 8. 17 18. And accordingly in the place objected when he says his own is no good Testimony in the next words he adds there is another that beareth witness of me which making up the Legal number if added to his own would make an undeniable Testimony John 5. 32. Quest. But after all will not this taking the word of Jesus in his own case give colour and credit to designing Impostors and Fanatical Enthusiasts Ans. It would if he or they were to be believ'd upon their bare sayings But there is do danger at all of that if to back them they must produce such Credentials as I have set off in his case For to be sure upon examination they will appear either not to be Persons of sober and solid reason or not exempt from all just suspicion of vanity and self-design or to want an extraordinary and miraculous introduction Not to mention moreover that they will have no acknowledged Prophet to bear Witness to them and that they will fail of giving a Sign and Prediction which according to the strictest Test of Moses was answered and made good by him Which great differences make their words in their own case to be only either a forged or a Fanatical bold Saying which was sober Truth and solid Evidence in him Quest. Besides these Testimonies for Jesus being the Messiah you mentioned a third viz. his miraculous works which you called an Evidence drawn up by the finger of God. I pray you declare that Ans. This Jesus often urges for himself and that too as of greater validity than either his own or John's Testimony I have greater witness than that of John for the works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 5. 36. And if I do the works of my Father though you believe not me believe the works John 10. 37 38. Quest. Indeed in pretence that any thing comes from God Signs and Miracles are a conviâ—cing argument For being a visible effect as our Saviour said of the finger of God they show evidently that God espouses the Person who is impowered to work them and will employ his Almighty Power to make his Sayings good But one great difficulty lies in the way of this Evidence and that is that Miracles or things seemingly as strange as they which we cannot distinguish from them are oft-times wrought by Satan and his Agents As they were by Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian Magicians in their contest with Moses and by false Christs and false Prophets who as our Saviour foretold should shew signs and wonders Matth. 24. 24. and by the great Antichrist and Man of sin whose coming S. Paul declares should be after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders 2 Thess. 2. 9. And if Satan works Miracles or which in effect is all one what we shall take for such to credit false Impostors as well as God doth to justifie true Prophets how shall we distinguish these and know of the Signs which Jesus gave us whether they are Divine Miracles that evidence a true Man or only Feats of Magick which are shewn by many false Men Ans. They are easily distinguished by the whole kind of some and by the intent and design of all of them Quest. I pray you instance to me in some where they are distinguished by the whole kind That is of some sorts of Miracles done by Jesus which are peculiar to God and which cannot be performed by any unclean Spirit Ans. One is foretelling future contingencies which Jesus did several times Particularly he foretold his
dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the Holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the Forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen Quest. Doth this Creed contain all points of Doctrine necessary to be believed by every Christian Ans. Yes for it was given for a Confession of Faith that should fit Men for Baptism and shew any Person to be a Christian and they had better have made no Rule or Confession of Faith at all than an imperfect one Quest. What do you make the first Article in this Creed Ans. I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Quest. How doth it appear that there is a God Ans. From this vast World that he has made Even as we are unquestionably assured of the Being of a Skilful Architect where we see a stately and well contrived House erected or of a learned Author from an excellent and well-penned Book or of an Ingenious Artificer from a Watch of exact and various Movements or other elaborate and curious piece of Workmanship And this shows us not only that there is a God on whom we and all this created World depend but also that he is most Wise Powerful and Good because the greatest Power Wisdom and Goodness are every where apparent in the contrivance and formation of it For the invisible things of God even his eternal Power and Godhead are clearly seen from the Creation of the World being understood by the things that are made as S. Paul says Rom. â— 20. Quest. Indeed nothing in reason seems more obvious than that all this World must have an Architect and that we and all the things about us which every where spring up and perish could never make our selves and that things of such admirable Order Harmony and Usefulness could not any one and much less all of them be put together by blind and uncontriving chance And therefore methinks this proof of God's Being from the voice of his Works must needs convince all his reasonable Creatures Ans. Yes and ever since the World began so it has There is neither speech nor language where their voice is not heard their â—iâ—e is gone out through all the earth and their words unto the end of the world Psal. 19. 3 4. On this or other Arguments all People in every Age and Nation believed and acknowledged that there is a God and delivered down that Belief to those who followed them And therefore no Person can ever oppose this and pretend to reason since thereby he sets up himself against all People of every place and time and against what passed for the plainest and most uncontestable Principle of humane reason ever since there was any such thing So that if therein he has reason he has it to himself alone and all the present World besides yea and all Ages too that went before him had none Quest. What things are we to know and believe concerning God Ans. First His God-head and Divine Attributes Secondly His Providence Quest. There is nothing in all Religion more necessary or useful for us than to have a right apprehension of Almighty God. Is he like any thing which we behold with our Eyes or feel with our Hands or discern by any Bodily Senses Ans. No in Scripture indeed he is said to have Ears and Eyes and Hands and Feet But therein as the Jewish Rabbins say the Law speaks of God with the Tongue of the Children of Men. And we are to understand not that he has any such parts but only that he has as full perceptions and performs the same things as we do by them The invisible God whom no man hath seen or can see 1 Tim. 6. 16. is a Spirit says our Saviour John 4. 24. And this must teach us in all our Services which we pay to him never to think of putting him off with outward Shows Gifts and Ceremonies but to be inwardly affected in all we do or say and always to offer him our Hearts and Spirits For he being a Spirit must be worshipped as Christ said in spirit and in truth John 4. 24. And moreover never to make any Bodily Images and representations of him or fancy to give him Worship and Honour by them since a pure unbodied Spirit is not represented but belyed not honoured but debased by any such thing Ye saw no manner of similitude of God when he came and spake to you said Moses to the Jews therefore take good heed left ye corrupt your selves in making any of him Deut. 4. 15 16. And thou shalt not make to thee any likeness of any thing either in Heaven or Earth to bow down to them said the Law Exod. 20. 4 5. Quest. But although we cannot see him with our Eyes yet we may apprehend several things of him in our minds And one you say is his God-head what mean you by that Ans. His Sovereignty or being the Supreme Being that depends on none and that all other things depend upon Particularly Men who were at first made by him and still absolutely depend on him In him we live move and have our being Act. 17. 28. Quest. If he depends on none he must be an eternal Being which never had beginning Ans. Yes because there was nothing before him to give beginning to him So that if he had not been from all Eternity he could never have been at all Quest. And if all things else but especially all Men do absolutely depend on him that will make all careful to serve and please him and found Religion Ans. Undoubtedly so it should And where it is not only believed but seriously laid to heart so it will. Quest. What are the Divine Attributes or Properties of God which will show us how he stands affected and what will please him Ans. He is all Holiness Goodness Justice Faithfulness Wisdom Almighty every where present and can never change Quest. What is meant by God's Natural Purity and Holiness Ans. His absolute exemption from all sin in himself and his perfect aversation and immutable hatred of it in all others He can take no pleasure in wickedness he hates all workers of iniquity and therefore evil shall not dwell with him Psal. 5. 4 5. Quest. If this be his unalterable Nature he can never be reconciled to Mens sins nor take delight in any Man whilst he goes on to be a sinner Ans. No as soon may we hope to bring Light and Darkness Snow and Fire to dwell together So far is he from living with it that he cannot endure to look upon iniquity Habak 1. 13. Quest. Since God's Holiness bespeaks such absolute abhorrence of all vice and wickedness I see it implies something more than barely his affectation of External Decency or his hatred to be treated rudely and unmannerly Ans. Yes so it doth It implies that too For God's Holiness often notes his supereminent Power and Greatness And to use this peerless Majesty or any things
proportion is not a natural proportion on account of intrinsick weight and size but a moral proportion in respect of ends and uses which is to work on Mens wills and in their free choice to surmount all impediments and out-weigh all temptations to disobedience So that to proportion punishments to sins is not to equalize them in intrinsick weights and measures there being nothing in their Natures which can ground such comparisons but only to proportion punishments to temptations so as to make them out-weigh them in our choice and free-wills And thus eternal punishments are proportionate to our offences that is they are no more than are necessary to make us forego those pleasures or advantages which recommend them Nay alas with the greater part of Men they cannot do this who are so bewitched with sins present pleasures that they will enjoy them though for that they fall at last under these eternal torments as we see by sad experience Quest. Since God is thus exactly just and equal in all his ways it is great Blasphemy in any to represent him as tyrannical or imperious that doth good or hurt out of meer will or humour not in regard to the qualifications of his Creatures Ans. So it is Thus indeed the Indians thought of the Devils they worshipped And thus all superstitious Persons think of God who seek to appease him by vile flatteries slavish tremblings and forced submissions which are suited to such imperious and humoursome tempers But the true God is most just and reasonable in all his ways requiring to be served only in the wisest things and from willing hearts and recompencing by a most unbiassed and exact sentence All is highest reason and unblemished Justice nothing weak humour or passion which this Almighty Prince doth Quest. God's punitive Justice then is nothing like impotent Men's implacable revenge who cannot be at ease till their anger is sated with the smart of their Enemies Ans. No in no wise He doth not punish to gratifie private passions and resentments When he afflicts it is not willingly Lam. 3. 33. How shall I give thee up is his compassionate relenting when a sinner is almost past Mercy Hos. 11. 8. But it is for wise and publick ends to keep up Government to secure Goodness and discourage Offences God's Justice is a wise Resolution not a weak Passion and he takes pleasure in the pains inflicted by it as they are well and wisely done not at all as angry Men are wont to do because thereby they have wrecked their spite on those that vexed them Quest. Besides this Justice in allotting future recompences doth not God also show himself just in bestowing present and suitable events to actions Ans. Yes by him as Hannah acknowledged actions are weighed before they are accomplished to bestow events as well as after to make retributions according to Reason and Justice And this present Judicature God discharges in the Administration of his Providence Which must make all Men extreme wary what designs or attempts they ingage in never despairing of his Blessing in a good way nor presuming on it in an ill one as I shall note afterwards Quest. Is God present in all places to take notice of all the actions both of good and bad Men which he will thus justly reward or punish Ans. Yes for whither shall I flee from thy presence Psal. 139. 7. The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Prov. 15. 3. He fills heaven and earth so that no man may hide himself in secret places that he shall not see him Jer. 23. 24. And the sense of this as it will induce us every where to pray to him because though unseen he is every where present to hear our Prayers so would it be every where an effectual restraint and hinder us from venturing on any evil or misbecoming thing For what Man would presume to do a rude thing in his Sovereign's presence or an impertinent and trifling one before any wise and grave Persons or a base and filthy one before even a Child or Stranger and much more before those whose care 't is to rebuke and punish such misdoings So that in all Places and Companies we should demean our selves with decency and modesty with seriousness and gravity with circumspection and care purity and integrity if we bethought our selves that the Great and Holy God stands looking on and observes all our motions Quest. And will it not also quicken Mens diligence in good things and make them active in his Service Ans. Yes it would do so even with eye servants who put on a great shew of care and diligence in their Master's presence And besides it would incite Men to a great frequency in devout Ejaculations and solemn Addresses to Almighty God it being most unseemly to stand mute and regardless before him without suitable expressions of Adoration and Reverence Quest. And doth this Omnipresent God see even our hearts and secret thoughts Ans. Yes he is acquainted with all our ways he understands our thoughts afar off and there is not a word in our tongue but he knows it altogether Psal. 139. 2 3 4. Quest. By this it seems that God knows all that is done by us in this World and will be incorruptibly just in rewarding all that is good and in punishing all that is bad except repentance prevents it Ans. Yes Quest. What mean you by God's Faithfulness another of his Attributes Ans. I mean two things First his inviolable performance of his promises Secondly his constant adherence to his Friends and faithful Servants Quest. God has made most Gracious Promises to his Servants both for this Life and the next Will he be inviolably Faithful and keep his Word Ans. Yes for he is not as Man that can be overseen and afterwards see his folly and repent of it He is not as man that he should repent hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Num. 23. 19. Quest. But when he Promises or makes Gracious Invitations or Declarations to sinners as he often doth doth he deal plainly and mean as he says Ans. God forbid we should think otherwise For he is essential unmixt Truth as incapable of all insincere arts and double dealings as he is of down-right falshoods He never salves his Sincerity or Faithfulness by secret reserves or evasive interpretations being absolutely above all need of or temptation to such unworthy Artifices So that whatsoever we have reason to believe or expect from his Word is plain Truth and shall be most honestly and punctually made good Especially if as in these cases we have not only his Word but also his Oath which the Apostle calls two immutable things wherein 't is impossible for God to lye that is to delude our expectations Heb. 6. 18. And therefore when God calls and invites Men to accept of his Mercy and return to him let not any Person harbour the least thought as if he
fit to come to a most holy God from the Hand of no other Mediator but him who has not only the acceptableness of his Person to prefer but the Merit of his Sacrifice too to atone for them Quest. By this it should seem that whensoever we pray for any thing to Almighty God we should not seek after other Mediators but apply by him And since he is so Powerful in Mediation this is not only our bounden Duty but our truest Wisdom Answ. So it is For he is our Advocate with the Father 1 John 2. 1. the one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 2. 5. Whatsoever says he you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 16. 23. We are sure he is now in the immediate Presence of God to prefer any Suit but we are not sure that Departed Saints are there who for ought we know may be kept till the last Day in some inferior Place of Comfort and Refreshment Good Souls as I shall note hereafter not receiving their Consummation before the last Judgment When we address by him we only take that way of Application God himself has prescribed and in all Justice and Reason we should allow God the Direction how we shall seek his Favours since he is the most Free and Soveraign Disposer of them Nay since the Prayers we put up are uttered by sinful Lips and mingled with our own Frailties and Defects they can come worthy and pure to God from him alone whose Blood as I said has Merit enough to purge as well as his Person Favour enough to prefer them Tho a perfect Prayer had not God otherwise order'd it might in it self be presented especially from a perfect Man by an acceptable Mediator yet a sinful Prayer from sinful Men doth plainly need such a Mediator as in the same Person is both Intercessor and Redeemer Thus the Altar of Incense among the Jews which stood without the Vail before the Mercy-seat daily to perfume and present the Peoples Prayers was once a year to be sprinkled with the Blood of Atonement plainly intimating that the Means of presenting Prayers must be endow'd withal with a Power of expiating them Exod. 30. 6 7 8 10. And accordingly the Apostle mentions Christ's Mediation as joyn'd to and founded on his Redemption One Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransom for all 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. And If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father who is also the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. Quest. What other Design doth Christ carry on for us in Heaven Answ. 2. The Care of Governing his Church as a King. He is at the Right-hand of God Angels and Authorities and Powers being subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. and all Authority in Heaven and Earth being put into his Hand Mat. 28. 18. This Power he purchased by his Death but was put in full Possession of it when he came to claim it by his Intercession Quest. Wherein doth he exercise this Plenitude of Power Answ. In Giving Laws to his Church For he is the one Law-giver that is able either to save or to destroy Jam. 4. 12. And since he is the Legislator in Religion 't is an Usurpation upon his Prerogative for any to form to themselves a new-fangled Worship and beat out other Paths to Heaven of their own devising In Protecting it from all both outward and intestine Enemies whether the World the Flesh or Men or Devils For he sits at God's Right-hand till his Enemies be made his Foot-stooll Psal. 110. 1. and Heb. 10. 12 13. and he must reign till he hath put all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. And lastly in judging all the World to their present Portion of the Eternal State when they leave the Body and to the full Consummation of it at the last Day For now the Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. 27. Which as it makes for the unspeakable Comfort of all his Faithful Servants since they are to be judg'd by their own Advocate who has preferr'd their Ease and Happiness to his own Life so will it be to the eternal Terrour of all those his Enemies who would not have him to reign over them Luk. 19. 27. And all this Power he exercises himself from Heaven besides what he doth by his Bishops and Pastors who are the Officers of his Kingdom and his Deputies and Substitutes here on Earth Quest. Has he any other Business to do for us at God's Right-hand as our King Answ. Yes to prepare a Place for us and allot us Royal Habitations with himself I go to prepare a Place for you and I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 2 3. The First Adam lost Paradise and the Second Adam was to restore us to it Who after he had merited it for us by his Cross ascended into Heaven to instal our Nature there and claim his Purchase And discharging the mighty Angel whose flaming Sword after the Fall was set to guard the Passage to it from our Intrusions open'd the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers Quest. What further Concern did he transact for us by going to Heaven Answ. 3. As a Prophet he sent down the Holy Ghost to instruct his Church in his Absence and to be with us in his stead It is expedient for you that I go away For if I go not away the Comforter will not come to you but if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. Being by the Right-hand of God exalted he received the Promise of the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 33. and sent him on his Apostles to abide with them for ever Joh. 14. 16. Quest. How did the Holy-Spirit supply his Absence Answ. By endowing them with such miraculous Gifts as enabled them to propagate his Religion thro the World as effectually as if he had staid with them and with such inward Graces as would fit themselves for those Mansions he had provided for them Of both which I shall say more in their proper place Quest. And these Gifts you say he ascended to bestow upon his Church Answ. Yes the Holy-Ghost was not to be given till after Jesus was glorified Joh. 7. 39. but when he ascended up on high he received Gifts for Men that the Lord might dwell among them Psal. 68. 18. and Eph. 4. 8. Quest. Now our Saviour Christ is Ascended is not his Glorified Body to take up its Mansion and fixt Abode at God's Right-hand Answ. Yes as St. Peter told the Jews the Heavens must receive him unto the Times of Restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. And then as the Angel told his Apostles he shall so come again to judge the World from Heaven in like manner as they then saw him go into Heaven Act. 1. 1â— Quest. If his Bodily Presence and Local
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