and Iudgement to come These evidence plainly an immortality of the soul whatsoever foolish vain man can think or imagine to the contrary Quest 21. What is a last Reason you please to produce from Scripture to prove the souls immortality Ans The longings of the Saints to be dissolved and to be with Christ as blessed Paul did Phil. 1.23 I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is far better This certainly the Apostle did intend of this being with Christ in his soul when his body was dead and therefore did verily believe the immortality of the soul and a hope of happinesse when this life is ended Rev. 14.13 1 Cor. 15.19 otherwise Gods people were of all men most miserable when as the holy Ghost pronounceth them blessed that die in the Lord Therefore without doubt our souls are immortall Quest 22. What use is to be made of all this Ans To teach all men to prize their immortall souls above all the world Mat. 16.26 For what is a man profited if he shall win the whole world and lose his own soul Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul And who will not most willingly wait upon Christ in the Gospel that he may be drawn in to receive Christ for the Eternall salvation of his soul The sixth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the work of Gods Providence as of the world in generall so of Angels and men in particular Ans That excellent government by which God doth wisely justly and graciously preserve rule and order the world provides for all and disposeth of all things therein even the afflictions of his own people for his own glory and the good of his Children Gen. 22.8.13 45.5 1 King 17.1 c. Iob 48.41 Psal 36.6 7. Prov. 15.3 Mat. 10.29 30 31. 1 Tim. 4.10 Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 71. Heb. 12.6 7 8. Quest 2. What is the work of Gods Providence concerning Angels or their service in respect to his Children or to the wicked Ps 104.4 Heb. 1.14 Ps 34.8 91.10 11. 2 Kings 6.16 17 19.35 Ans They are all ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes that are heires of Salvation yea for preservation of Saints destruction of the wicked both in this life and at the day of Iudgement Luk. 24.23 Mat. 13.41 42. 25.30.31 Quest 3. What else is the office of the Elect Angels Ans They are glorious attendants on Gods Majesty in heaven Dan. 7.9 Luk. 2.13 14. Rev. 5.11 12. Psa 103.20 2 Pet 2.11 Isa 6.23 delightfully singing forth his praises and readily waiting at all times to do his pleasure Quest 4. How long have the Angels been provided to do God service Or when did God make them for his ministration Ans The certain day of their Creation is not expressed in the holy Scriptures Gen. 1.2 3. Iob 38.4 5 6 7. Mat. 24.30 But it is most likely they were Created the first day when the Heavens were made wherein they dwell the Angels being witnesses at the Creation of the earth and rejoycing at the excellency of Gods works at the beginning Quest 5. How many Angels did God make for this service in the beginning Ans The certain number is not revealed in Scriptures Dan. 7.10 Mat. 26.53 Heb. 12.22 but it is evidently held forth that God hath Thousand thousands of Angels and Ten thousand times ten thousand legions and miriades yea an innumerable company to attend upon his Majesty and do him service Quest 6. In what state and condition did God create the Angels Ans They were all very good Gen. 1.31 perfect in holinesse and righteousnesse Lu. 9.26 Iob 1.8 Act. 6.15 2 Cor. 11.14 Iob 39 7. Heb. 12.9 pure and glorious Spirits Angels of light after the likenesse of God their Father Quest 7. Are the Angels all alike in nature Ans In respect of their nature they are all alike holy Spirits Mar 4.11 Iude v. 9. Isa 6.2 Ezek. 10.1 2. Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Mal. 3.1 2 3. but in respect of their offices objects and services about which they are conversant they are held forth in Scripture by divers names titles and degrees as Angels Archangels Seraphins Cherubims and the like but the head of all is Christ the Angel of the Covenant Quest 8. How is the Lord Christ the head of the Angels Hâ— 8.12.22 c. Iohn 1.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 8.6 Col. 1.16 c. Eph. 1.20 c. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 5.21 Heb. 1.2 c. Ans Not as a head as Mediator of or by Redemption as he is to men for the Elect Angels never fell But as head or supreme by Creation Conservation and Confirmation in that state of happinesse and purity in which they were first Created Christ the Eternall Son of God upholding all things and being highly exâ—lted above all things as head of the Church and of all the Sons of God Angels and men Quest 9. Have the Angels any care of or respect unto men in particular Ans They are ready at Gods charge for preservation of Saints they desire their good and rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner and delightfully look into the mystery of mans Redemption being ready to oppose the Devils and all enemies and to carry the souls of Saints departing into Abrahams bosome that Paradise of heaven to be with Christ for ever Psal 91.11 12. Dan. 10.13 21. Zach. 1.12 13. Joh. 5.4 Luke 15.10 1 Pet. 1.10 c. Eph. 3.8 9 10. Zach. 3.1.2 Acts 12.7 8. Rev. 12.7 c. Gen. 32.2 Mat. 18.10 Luke 26.22 and 23.43 Quest 10. Are Angels to be worshipped or prayed unto Ans No by no means Iudg. 13.16 Zac. 13.7 Rev. 19.20 22.1 9. Heb. 1.4 c. It is a sacrifice and service which belongeth to God himself and to that God-man Christ the Angel of the Covenant who is Gods fellow and this worship is an honour which the Angels themselves have refused to accept Quest 11. Mat. 33.1 2 3. Gen. 19.1.20 31 11 c. 34.24 c. 48.15 16. But did not the Patriarchs bow and pray to Angels and Iacob in particular Gen. 48.16 Ans That was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Christ the second Person in Trinity who appeared to Jacob and other Patriarchs Heb. 11.18 Isa 41.8 Col. 2.18 and so worship was and is due to him but not to any Created Angel whatsoever Quest 12. What profit is this knowledge of Angels to the Saints and Servants of God Gen. 31.2 2 King 6.16 19.35 Mat. 26.53 44. Psal 68.17 Ans Of great profit and comfort that we may know the greatnesse of Gods love and care for his Church that if all the wicked men and Devils in the world do conspire against Gods Children yet besides Gods own infinite power God hath created Armies of mighty Angels to preserve his Saints and to destroy the wicked
seeing to be exercised in this holy Sacrament Ans The spiritual sense which answereth bodily sight is a spiritual sight and eye of the soul or rather eye of faith and the spiritual object of the eye of faith is the Body and Blood of Christ or whole Christ my Saviour presented to the eye of my soul as preprared from all Eternity by God the Father as a perfect Saviour and a full banquet Ioh. 6.27 c. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. by his vertue and merits to nourish and enliven my soul and body to life eternal and the life of grace in me to the life of glory for which himself exhorts me to labour and wait for him in this Sacrament Quest 11. What is to be acted or done by you when you thus see the Bread and Wine prepared for you on the Lords Table Answ I ought by the power of Christ 1. To observe diligently the Sacramental Elements of Bread and Wine first what they are 2. To meditate and see how fitly they represent the Body and Blood of Christ And 3. By the eye and hand of faith to apply all to my own soul Heb. 10.5 6 7. Ioh. 6.27 that as I see the Bread and Wine is prepared by the Minister of Christ and Gods goednesse for my bodily nourishment so to see how the Lord Iesus Christ is prepared from all Eternity for nourishment of my soul to life everlasting Quest 12. What is the third Sacramental object of senses corporal and spiritual to be exercised in this feast of the Lord Mat. 26.6 27. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 c. Ans The action of blessing Elements in which both the sences of seeing and hearing bodily are to be exercised when the Minister of Christ by solemn prayer doth Blesse Consecrate and Sanctifie 1. The Bread to be the Sacramental Body of Christ 2. The Wine to be his Sacramental Blood according to the Lords Institution seeing and hearing of them both sanctified and separated from common Bread and Wine to this holy use and end by prayer thanksgiving and blessing according to the command example and institution of Christ Quest 13. What is the object of your spiritual sences of seeing and hearing in this action represented by consecration of Sacramentdl Bread Ioh. 6.27 Ans By the ear and eye of faith I am to hear and see God the Father sealing and consecrating Christ the Lord for the everlasting nourishment of my soul and body spirirually to life eternal Quest 14. What is to be acted and done when you thus hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed and consecrated by the Minister of Christ with the ears and eyes of your body and hear and see the Lord Christ so represented consecrated and sealed by God the Father with the ears and eyes of faith the spiritual senses of the life of grace in your soul 1 Cor. 10.18 Rom. 10.7 c. Ans First Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 Iohn 16.26 Isa 63.4 c. Heb. 10.14 observation by the power and assistance of Christs spirit and his quickning power in my soul Secondly to observe diligently by the power of God this blessing consecrating and sanctifying of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine by Christs Minister and by the ear and eye of the soul this consecrating and sealing of Christ by the holy blessed God as my full perfect and sufficient Saviour Quest 15. What is the second meditation Ans Secondly by the power of the spirit of Christ 2 Sam. 1.26 Psal 42.1 2. by Divine meditation of this unspeakable love of God consecrating his onely begotten Son from all Eternity to be my Redeemer and All-sufficient Saviour so to be affected as to admire this wonderful free love of God in giving his Son and having my soul filled with spiritual longings to enjoy and partake of so rich a gift of grace held forth to my soul in this Sacrament above that wonderful love of Jonathan to David passing love of women Quest 16. What is a third particular act to be done Ans Thirdly Application by the power of the same spirit through the grace of faith so to apply Christ thus consecrated of God the Father to be my Saviour as the Bread and Wine by the Minister to represent this sacramentally to my soul that I may finde I am united by faith and the same spirit of Christ unto God the Father Ioh. 20.17 as to my most tender Father in Christ Iesus for ever Quest 17. What is the fourth Sacramental action or object in the celebration of this blessed Sacrament about which your corprral and spiritual sences should be exercised Luk. 22.19 20. Mat. 26.26 c. 1 Cor. 11.24 c. Isa 53.4 c. Luk. 24.15 c. Ans The sacramental representation or the breaking of Christs body with torments and the shedding of his blood for my sins as Christ our Lords intimates in his institution of this holy sacrament and as foretold before by Prophets Quest 18. What bodily or spiritual sences or organs and instruments of body and soul are to be exercised by you in this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine in the Sacraments by the Minister of Christ Ans First the sence of bodily seeing when by the eyes of the body I behold the Minister of Christ breaking the Bread the sacramental body and powring out of the Wine the sacramental blood of Christ prepared and blessed consecrated sanctified by the Word and prayer for this holy use and powred forth for my refreshing as 1 Tim. 4 4 5. common bread and drink so much more this by Christs institution and ordinance Mark 14.22 c. Quest 19. What spiritual sences are to be exercised Ans I ought to exercise the sences of spiritual sight Isa 53. Zach 12.11 13.6 7. Mat. 26.31 ult 27. c. Luk. 22.23 and by faith the spiritual eye of the soul to behold and see the natural body of Christ crucified and broken with torments for my sins though a bone of him was not broken but his soul broken with grief and sorrow in sense of the wrath of God and his body with sense of pains buffetings with fists whippings with scourges crowned with thorns crucifying with tormenting nails mixing of Gall and Vinegar to drink and above all his Agony in the Garden sweating drops of blood and not onely denying forsaking and betraying but sense of his Fathers wrath and forsaking at least in sense to him for a time I say the eye of my faith is to see all this Mat. 27.46 and what more the scripture revealeth in the bitter passion of Christ held forth to my soul in the breaking of the bread and powring out of the wine for me to partake of at the Lords Table Quest 20. What is to be acted or done by you upon the beholding of this Sacramental action of breaking Bread and powring out of the Wine with the eyes and
You have explained and held forth the Author Matter and Form of the Sacrament now what is your knowledge concerning the Vse Benefit and End of the Sacrament to faithful and right Communicants Ans The Ends Use and Benefits of this Sacrament are divers for the unspeakable benefit of faithful receivers Quest 11. What is a first End Ans First to seal and confirm the Covenant and promise of Gods free Grace in Christ Mat. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. to our souls with Christs vertue and merits and all the benefits which Christ hath procured for us in his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention yea his whole active and passive obedience to his Fathers will as our Surety with his whole Humiliation and Glorification as mediator between God and us all sealed in this Sacrament Quest 12. What is a second End Ans On our part to renew and seal our mutual Covenant of thankfulnesse Rom. 12.1.2 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Psal 116.12 Psal 119.105 and obedience to our God and Father again in and by the vertue and power of Christ to be manifested in our lives according to that light of his will revealed by his Word and Spirit to our souls from Christ our chief Prophet and director in the way to happinesse Quest 13. What is a third End of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Ans To hold forth Christ by remembring and shewing the Lords death until he come for the strengthening of our Faith and refreshing of our souls in the lively representation of Christs love to us Ioh. 15.13 1 Cor. 11.24 c. giving his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for our sins evidently held forth in the sacramental breaking of the Bread powring out of the Wine seen by the eye of the body as the inward graces are by the faithful eye of the soul in every Communicant Quest 14. What is the fourth End and Benefit of this Sacrament Ans It is a sealing and confirming 2 Cor. 8.9 Eph. 3.8 Ioh. 6.56 1 Cor. 1.9 Ioh. 17.20 Eph. 3.8 16 c. 1 Cor. 6.15 Col. 3.2 3. 1 Cor. 12.12 13. First of our union and communion with God in Christ and of our right and title to all the riches and treasures of Christs Kingdom of Grace and glory And secondly of our union and communion one with another in Christ and with the whole Church of God as fellow members of the same mystical body of which Christ our Lord and Saviour is the head for the comfort and benefit of his Church Quest 15. Are there no other Ends of this Sacrament Ans Yes their are divers other ends and uses As Acts 2.46 47. First the profession of our Faith that we are Christians not Iews Turks or Infidels Secondly the profession of our love unity Acts 2.46 47. and charity one towards and with one another Thirdly 1 Cor. 11.17 18. Ephes 9.3 4 5. the conservation of our fellowship and communion with Saints Fourthly Our strengthening of all graces in us by participation and meditation of Christ held forth in this Ordinance in all times of temptations and divers other ends and uses but the former are principle in this Sacrament John 6.32 33 34 35 50 51. The ninteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have declared your knowledge concerning the Author matter form and end of this Sacrament now what do you know concerning the outward circumstances of partaking of this Sacrament time place and gestures What light have you from Christ for these Answ I do not finde that the Lord Christ hath directly and expresly commanded any set time place or gesture when where and in what manner of gesture sitting or kneeling or standing we should receive the Sacrament But the Spirit of Christ in his holy Apostle Paul hath held forth two general Rules 1 Cor. 14.40 and 11.34 Col. 2.5 Rom. 14.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 10.23 and 14.25 Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2. First That all things should be done according to decency and order And secondly That all be done to edification Quest 2. But may not the consciences of Gods children be ordered and bound up to particulars in these things Ans I am perswaded that no Law or Rule ought to be made to binde the tender conscience of any man or woman where the Lord Christ the chief teacher doth not binde nor ought any liberty of conscience be given where the Lord Iesus Christ giveth no liberty But all Churches ought to be content if they cannot agree in circumstance and ceremony yet lovingly to agree in matters of substance which Christ hath plainly holden forth unto his Church in the holy Scriptures Quest 3. But may not Christian liberty be used in these things which are onely circumstantial in this Sacrament Ans Yes Christian liberty may be used in these things Rom. 14.1 2 c. and 15.1 2 3. Gal. 6.1 2 3. and the stronger ought not to tyrannize over the conscience of the weaker brother or sister but to bear one anothers burden and so fulfil the Law of Christ yea the stronger brethren and the Elders of the Church ought in all love and tendernesse to endevour the instruction of the weaker and to inform the judgement rather then by force upon the outward man to compel the conscience Quest 4. But may not the weak Christians absolutely and peremptorily use what circumstances they please Ans The weak ought in all humility to seek information of judgement and satisfaction in scrupulous or tender doubtful cases of conscience that if it be possible he or she may conform to the Directory of that particular Church Eph. 4.1 2 3. Psal 133.1 c. of which he or she is a member or if not to behave themselves humbly peaceably and Christian like rather then to break or endanger the breaking of the bond of unity amity and uniformity in that Church wherein God in his providence calls them to partake in this holy Ordinance Quest 5. Verily I do desire to conform my self to the Order and Directory of that Church and Congregation where I live and I long often to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance But I have some doubts trouble me in the present Directory for giving and receiving the bread and wine at the Lords Table And first I am not satisfied upon what ground the gesture of kneeling so much pressed formerly as if it had been a matter of absolute necessity is now changed into a Table gesture of sitting about or at the Lords Table Ans To satisfie you in this I desire you first to consider that the gesture of kneeling at the Sacrament hath no example much lesse any command either in Old or New Testament Search the Scriptures and you can finde none and so no binding necessity can presse the continuance of it The real presence bodily advanced by Pope Innocent about 1215. Secondly If you read all the History of the Church
weaknesse in knowledge Faith and other Grace But as Ministers of Christ Fathers or Brethren in all love humility and tendernesse of compassion to help and further our preparation to meet Christ with comfort in this blessed Sacrament Quest 5. What is a second help for the quickning of these graces to the glory of God in our lives and specially before we draw near to the Lords Table and what light from Christ for this to your soul Ans There may be a private lawful day or time of preparation in our Families or with some Christian friends joyning in conference and prayer and reading of the Scriptures so there be no neglect of publike places and times of worship nor disquiet of the state nor contempt of the lawful and good orders of the Church the better to fit us to meet Christ not resting on the thing done or the duty performed but waiting in these or the like duties until Christ be pleased to reveal Himself Zach. 12.10 c. Luk. 15.5 6 9. Act. 12.5.12 1 Pet. 3.7 Ier. 10.15 and communicate his vertue to our souls for our more comfortable enjoying of Christ in his holy Ordinance As we may call in neighbours to rejoyce and praise God with us So to pray with us Quest 6. What is the third help or means in which we should wait on Christ for his quickening vertue to honour God in his Ordinances and in our whole life what light from Christ for this end Ans This is a waiting on Christ in secret duties between God and our own souls And for this I conceive I may wait on Christ in six severall helps Quest 7. What are these several helps in particular Ans First I may set some time a part from all other imployments onely to attend Christ in secret for the obtaining of this grace as Isaac did Gen. 24.28 2. As day a of Atonement of old Lev. 23.27 28. 3. Or as Christ himself and Peter and other Saints Mat. 14.23 Acts 10.9 have set times apart for secret communion with God in Christ Iesus And so I may wait on Christ in a time convenient for this work Quest 8. What is a second help Ans To chuse a convenient place where I may be quiet in the sweet and secret soliloquies Mat. 6.6 14.23 Acts 10.9 or soul-conferences with God and my own heart and conscience Quest 9 What is a third Ans Examination of my self 1 Cor. ii 28 2 Cor. 13.5 and of the Graces before mentioned Knowledge Faith Repentance and Love Quest 10. What is a fourth help to this enlivening of Graces and preparation for the Sacrament by the vertue of Christ Ans Meditation both of God Luke 2.19 Psal 4.4 and my self and of Christ and the Sacrament and all these graces that they may be quickned to my own soul by the mighty power of Jesus Christ Quest 11. What is a fifth help in Christ for this renewing of grace Ans Application of all rightly to my self Ioh. 20.28 Iob. 10.25 26. Gal. â—2 20 Psal 110.1 by vertue of the life of Christ in my soul that all graces may be more enlivened in me and I may meet Christ with more cheerfulnesse and be enlivened by him for my more profitable enjoyment of Christ in the Ordinances Quest 12. What is a sixth help or means And what light further from Christ to strengthen and direct our souls in this particular Gen. 32.10 c. Ezek. 46.37 Luke 17.5 Rom. 8.26 27. Mark 9.24 Eph. 3.16 c. Acts 4.31 Ans Prayer to God in the name of Christ in which I may wait on God in Christ for the enlivening of the graces of God in me and right preparation to meet Christ in this Sacrament till God give a return of my prayer to my great joy in Christ Jesus as Jacob till an answer be given to my soul Quest 13. What is the first of these graces by these or the like helps to be enlivened by Christ and our spirit to our souls Ans Divine knowledge of God and of our selves and of Christ and of the Sacrament Quest 14. In what manner should we wait on Christ to enliven in us our knowledge of God Ans First Having set a fit time apart And Secondly Gen. 24.63 Gen. 32 2â— c. Dan 6.10 Mat. 14.23 Acts 1â— 9 2 Cor. 13.5 Mat. 13.51 16.13.15 Acts 8.30 1 Pet. 3.15 Made choice of a fit place to be separated from all worldly thoughts and to be devoted wholly to this work by the spirit of Christ that my soul may be in love with God Thirdly To Catechize and examine and question my self concerning my knowledge of God according as he is held forth unto me in this Catechism before or as far as I am enlightned with the knowledge of God what God is in himself in his excellent Nature Divine being and Essential properties perfections word and works especially the great work of mans salvation and I may examine my knowledge and see how able I am in Gods presence or before the Saints if need were to make a solemn profession of this my knowledge to the comfort of my self and edification of others Quest 14. How else should a Christian or you in particular wait on Christ to enliven this knowledge or have it enlivened by Christs spirit in his or her soul or in soul be fit to meet Christ Ans Fourthly As a Christian man or woman so I may meditate think ruminate and ponder of my knowledge of God in my heart Gen. 24.63 Psal 104.33 34. Luke 2.19 Psal 42.1 2 3 4. and endeavour to fix the eye of faith in my soul upon God in all these respects by the power of Christ until my soul be ravished with a glorious delight in God in his excellency fulnesse and all-sufficiency until that my soul and spirits by the spirit of Christ be drawn up into a holy and admirable union and communion of life with this blessed God now at one with me in Iesus Christ Quest 15. What or how thirdly may this be done Isa 64.7 2 Tim. 1.6 7. 2 Pet. 1.13 Ans Thirdly I may labour by the power of the spirit of Christ to improve my interest in this great and good God by stirring up and exercising the grace of Faith in the special application of God and his goodnesse as my God in Christ with joy and gladnesse to my own soul in particular So it is meet we stir up our selves and Graces in us Quest 16. What or in what manner lastly may you enliven this knowledge of God in your soul Ans In powring out of my soul by the strength of Christs spirit unto God in prayer to blesse this my seeking out of union and communion with God in Knowledge Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26 27. Phi. 30.8 9. Exo. 34.29 30. 2 Cor. 4.6 7. 1 Pet. 1.7 8. waiting on Christ till I finde the enlivening vertue of Christs spirit quickening and making alive my
life of grace witn joy and hope in believing and 2. what quickning vertue of Christ held forth in the Word of life there is in my soule 3. What strengthning with might in inner man what abilities of spirituall senses seeing hearing tasting with eyes and ears and mouth of faith to discerne the Lords body and blood from the outward element of bread and wine and to partake of Christ in the act of receiving that so I may feed on Christ with joy rejoycing at the Lords Table Quest 7. But what light have you from Christ to know whether you have life of grace and spirituall senses in your soule nor not without which it is impossible to discerne the Lords body or to receive or seed on Christ or draw near with any comfort to the Lords Table Answ This is a great question and often hath filled my soule with fears and doubting but by the grace of God in Christ I shall render a reason of the hope that is in me and shew you what grounds I have to believe and hope that I have found life of grace in me and so spirituall senses â—o discern the Lords body so that I may come with comfort to the Lords Supper Quest What are your grounds of your life of grace given in you in Christ Answ I praise God I was born of religious parents my Father like faithfull Abraham carefull to pray with and to instruct his family Gen. 18 19. Iosh 24.15 1 Sam. 1.15 1 Pet. 3.7 and catechize them in the first principles of the Oracles of God and as Joshua who resolved himself and his house to serve the Lord. And my Mother like Hanna a woman pouring out of her soul to God in secret prayer for me or as Monica did for her sonne Augustine and both my parents living together as heirs of the grace of life so that their prayers might not be hindred and with endeavouring to bring up their children in the knowledge of Christ and fear of God and so I conceive it is more difficult to declare the first quickning or birth of the life of grace my soul but yet I beleeve I have felt and found divers evidences of this life in me Quest 9. You answer right its difficult in such to manifest the beginnings of grace in the heart but what was a first evidence of life of grace in you that you can discerne or remember Answ Truly in my childehood I was taught and had some knowledge of the Scripture and of my estate both by creation and the fall of Adam and of the way of salvation in Christ the second Adam and I had an outward form at least of Religion and I was carefull to sanctifie the Lords day and to spend it in holy duties Prov. 22.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Gen. 24.63 Rev. 1.10 Psal 119.136 Rom. 9.1 2 3. both publick private though with many failings And I remember on a Lords day after Supper I went into a Garden as Isaac into the field to meditate of what I had heard Preached and I hearing a great noise of children and youths playing in the streets and so prophaning the Lords day I was so grieved that I shed tears for them as David for his enemies conceiving their estate was fearful being senslesse of their own misery and adding sin to sin and this I thought might be some work of Gods Spirit and sign of true grace then beginning in my soul when I was about ten or twelve years of age Quest 10. I do conceive there might be much wrought in you by the power of education moving you to dislike that open prophanation of the Lords day of Parents suffering their Children to play in the streets when they should rather be catechizing them in their families as it is a common fault still yet there is good hope that affection and grief for sin was a work wrought in you by the Spirit of Christ and so a an evidence of true grace in your soul But what further evidence have you found Ans After I was grown to riper years Gen. 42.16 Rom. 2.14 15. 2 Cor. 12 7 c. Rom. 7.22 c. in my youthful time when I left my Parents I was too subject to conform to that company and family with whom I lived where was an outward common form of Religion and saying of some prayers sometimes but I saw no power of Religion no conscience of ordinary swearing especially lesser Oathes as common blinde people call them as by their Faith and Troth and by our Lady c. no conscience of immoderate abuse of the creatures eating and drinking to ryot no care of any strict observation of the Lords day but a dislike of too much precisenesse as they called it and inveighing against Puritans as they called them sn those dayes as some such do against Roundheads in these times of which so called I did know some to be religious and good people and sometimes would defend and speak for them whether out of a principle of graca from Christ or by the power of my education I have since called in question but this I am sure that amongst this formal or civil yea sometimes uncivil company I had many buffetings of Satans messengers sometimes as a captive prisoner I had many falls into sin and failin my walking to the great trouble of my conscience enlightned whether by the light of nature accusing or excusing as the Apostle speaks or whether by the common light of the spirit in my education Rom. 2.15 and word Preached or thirdly whether by the light of grace and spirit of Christ I conceived a great question and was often filled with fears and terrors in my soul that though I seemed a Saint in comparison of divers open prophane persons about me yet having such falls and corruptions I was either still unregenerate or a formal hypocriâ—e at best as Mr. Bolton upon the first Psalm the beginning describes him and so could seldom gain or keep any quiet in my conscience or true peace as I was perswaded in my soul onely some comforts I had hope of in Christ Iesus Quest 11. Truly your state I believe might well be questionable especially if you were drawn away with the error of the wicked Rev. 2.5 to approve of their wayes or to dislike strictnesse in Religion and precise walking with God at the best it is certain that if truth of grace was ever in you yet you had lost your first love and though formerly you might have had a name to live 2 Pet. 3.17 Rev. 2.4 3.1 2. yet in this condition you were either dead or taken captive indeed or graces ready to dye in you your works and walking being found so imperfect before God But tell me I pray you how or by what means did you get any peace or quiet in your conscience in those times Ans I do not remember that I did approve of the evil wayes of that company with
in my soul 5. I long more then ever to meet with Christ in the Sacrament to feed spiritually on Christ there to strengthen the life of grace in me 6. I long more and more to keep a secret acquaintance with God in secret meditation and prayer that I may suck the breasts of the promises and draw water of life out of the wells of salvation and so strengthen the life of grace in my soul 7. In brief I now love Christ more and more in himself and prize Christs righteousnesse and his presence with me and in me above all the world as Phil. 3.7 8. 8. I love Christ more and more in his Word in all sweet and sacred truths more and more revealed to my soul 9. I love Christ in all his Saints 1 Ioh. 3.14 Christs brethren and mine 10. And daily I wait on Christ to grow in grace in faith in holinesse 2 Pet. 3. â— 1.8 9. in every good work of grace adding to faith vertue and so grace to grace that I may more and more be assured of Gods love to me And 1. Have my calling and Election be made more sure to my soul And 20 10. 2. That I may submit to my Fathers will with content Luk. 22.41 42. till he bring me to glory and all this not by any strength or power of my own but by the strength and living vertue of Christ and Christs spirit dwelling in me and this assureth me that I have from Christ the life of grace in my soul and may safely come with comfort to meet Christ at the Lords Table who loved me and gave himself for me Quest These and such like are comfortable evidence of the life of grace But tell me do you not still finde corruptions in you and fears and cares and sorrows for sins as you felt before Ans I do acknowledge that I finde 1. Failings in my best performances but presse forwards towards perfection 2. I sometimes meet with a messenger of Satan sent to buffet me And Phil. 3.13 14. 2 Cor. 12.7 Rom. 7.23 24. 3. I finde a law in my members sometimes rebelling against the law of my minde and seeeking at least to take me captive to the Law of sin But yet with a great deal of difference from what was before I came to see Christ more clearly For first Though Satans messengers be sent to buffet me yet I know the grace of God in Christ is sufficient for me and his strength shall be made manifest in my weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.9 10. And although rebels within me rise up against me and against the lâ—fe of grace in my soul Rom. 7.23 24. yet I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord. Secondly And for my fears and cares and sorrow for sin now I fear not Hell and Damnation as before I did fear because I know there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 2. endeavouring by the strength of Christ to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit as Rom. 8.1 And the law and power of the spirit of life which is in Christ hath in comfortable manner made me free from the law and power of sin and death as Rom. 8.1 2. So that as Rom. 7.12 14 22. it is not I but sin that dwelleth in me Thirdly I do indeed feel the least sin as a mote in my eye very troublesome and I finde my heart smitten within me for it yet I fear sin and fear to offend my God by sin not with a servile slavish sin as before but with a son like fear of offending so good a God and my so gracious a Father in Iesus Christ as David 1 Sam. 24.5 Romans 8.15 and 6.1 Fourthly I do grieve and sorrow for my sins and failings but yet as with a childe-like sorrow that I have any way or at any time grieved the spirit of my Father who hath sealed me to the day of Redemption in Iesus Christ my Saviour Eph. 4.30 Fifthly But still with this confidence that he which hath begun a good work in me will perfect it to the day of Christ Phil. 1.6 Sixthly So that although my enemies Spiritual or Temporal be never so many and the Tribulations never so great yet they cannot separate me from the love of Christ but when I have finished my course and kept the saith he will give to me the crown of Righteousnesse and preserve me assuredly to his heavenly Kingdom Romans 8.35 c. 2 Timothy 4.8 18. Quest 16. You have witnessed a good confession and given comfortable evidence of the life of grace in your soul and I believe the Lord Christ will bid you welcom to his Table But do you believe that the Lord doth work in the same manner with every Christian that is and may be admitted to this feast of the Lord What light hath Christ revealed to you in this particular Ans No verily I do not believe that the Lord is pleased to work in all alike I have heard a good woman say That she was born of Parents very ignorant who had little shew of Religion in them nor did they bring her up in a Religious way living then in a place of much ignorance and prophanenesse having no prayer in Family nor repeating of Sermons not so much as an out-form of Religion and the first time that ever she began to consider her wayes and the misery of her natural condition Exod. 9â— 16 c. Psa 29 8 Acts 24.25 Eph. 5.14 it pleased God to strike her with fear and terror of the shaking voyce of Thunder which made her tremble and being awakened to think of a God and to joyn her self to a few who went out to hear Gods word by which means she became a wonder to prophane people but in the end was converted and found Christ to be the comfort of her soul and many fears and cares was she pressed with in the travel of the new birth Gal. 4.19 before Christ was formed in her and she found Christ and his sweetnesse of peace to her comfort yea since that though the Lord hath several wayes tryed her faith and patience by conversion and affliction to teach her to see the emptinesse of the creature and the fulnesse of God reconciled to her in Christ yet she liveth by faith in God who hath promised never to fail her Heb. 13.5 nor forsake his sons and daughters in Christ who depend upon him in the Lord Iesus Quest 17. Have you known any other drawn by such like means to seek out after God in Christ 2 Chron. 33.12 c. Ans 1. Some have been drawn by outward losses and miseries as Manasses was by great affliction to consider of their wayes and repent of their sins so that he might say as one did I had perished unlesse I had perished if I had not lost my estate in all outward appearance I had lost my soul 2. I have have
use of the means without carking care for this life or dismal despair for the life to come Thirdly as a life of certainly 2 Tim. 2.19 2 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 4.21 1 Thes 5.23 2 as depending not upon our own changeable strength but upon the foundations of the sure decree promises power faithfulnesse and Oath of an unchangeable God Fourthly as a life of necessity 2 Chron. 20.12 Gen. 42.2 3 4. Col. 3.3 4. 2 Cor. 3.4 5. Gal. 9.5 2 Tim 2.7 8. a poor soul not having life or power of life in and of it self and therefore must needs go out of it self by faith to serch life and strength from God in Christ and so of necessity must live the life of faith both for grace and glory and assurace of both Quest 17. What other helps are there Ans Observe secondly thy present condition estate danger or temptation whereby thou art troubled for the Church of God in general and for thy self 2 Pet 1.12 or any other in particular for the want of assurance of Iustification or Sanctification or for want of particular graces or strength and growth of grace of knowledge of faith or repentance of confidence on God in time of prosperity and not on uncertain riches or friends or husband wife children parents or any creature-comfort whatsoever or for want or losse of any of these or of their help and comfort in time of adversity or for want of assurance of glory Quest 18. What is a third help Isa 43.2 3 4. Heb. 13.5 Ans Thirdly search the Scriptures and look out some promise general or particular for comfort of thy soul to depend upon God even as a ground of thy confidence to live by faith and that God will not fail thee Quest 19. What is a fourth help Ans To wait on Christ in the use of all good means 2 Pet. 1.19 and so live by faith taking heed to the sure word of promise until the day dawn and the day star Christ arise in thy soul And thus the life of faith upholds a poor soul in greatest doubts and fears whatsoever Quest 20. Now let me ask you one Question before I conclude this part of Catechism What is a sixth immediate preparatory grace or gracious act of the soul to be enlivened or acted and exercised immediatly before you draw near to the Lords Table Ans To attend the invitation of Christ by his Ministers and to draw near and come to the Lords Table as with all humility and reverence so as becomes my presence at so great an Ordinance to meet my Lord and Saviour so with joyful confidence holy hunger and faith yea with spiritual cars and eyes and mouth of faith to hear and see and receive and feed on Christ in my soul as well as with ears and eyes and hands and mouth of body 1. To hear and see the Bread and Wine blessed consecrated and set apart to this holy Sacramental use Matthew 26.26 27. 2. To see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out 3. To hear the Sacramental welcom Take ye and eat ye and Take ye and drink ye Mat. 26.27 4. And all this with a thankful remembrance of Christs death and passion who loved me and gave himself for me Luke 22.19 1 Corinthians 11.24 25. Gal. 2.20 Conclus Thus Sir I have made my profession of what I have learned concerning a right preparative the wedding garment to meet Christ at the Lords Table that I may walk more comfortably with Christ all the dayes of my life Quest 20. But do you think it is necessary that every one be thus prepared with Knowledge Faith Repentance and Love and the habits of graces so examined enlivened and quickned before he or she come to the Lords Table What light hath Christ left for resolution of this doubt Ans It is certain a competent measure of true knowledge true faith true repentance and true love is of necessity required and howsoever it may be the good Lord God may be gracious to any of his children whose hearts are up right towards God and who have life of grace in them and hunger after Christ though he or she be not so fully prepared according to the preparation of the Sanctuary as 2 Chron. 30.18 19 20. yet assuredly that soul that cometh lesse prepared and the life of grace and living graces lesse enlivened in the soul doth ordinarily receive lesse comfort at the Lords Table when as that soul that is more carful to wait upon Christ in all good wayes and means of preparation not resting upon performances or preparation but with a self-denying and humble heart and soul of faith waiting on Gods goodnesse in Christ and Christs righteousnesse and merits may with a much more glorious assurance of comfort hear that gracious voyce of Christ speaking to his or her soul as to his welbeloved Spouse in the Canticles I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse I have gathered my mirrhe with my spice I have eaten my hoay-comb with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milk eat O friend drink ye abundantly O Beloved not drink abundantly of the outward Bread or Wine but feed on Christ by faith abundantly for thy spiritual refreshing to the eternal joy and rejoycing of thy soul yea a joy unspeakable and full of glory as Cant. 5.1 1 Pet. 1.8 The twenty seventh Classis or company of Questions 1 Question YOu have made profession of your preparation and enjoyment of the wedding garment in respect of the Antecedent graces and immediate enlivening of the preparative graces and gracious actions and quickning of them Now what are the third sort the present concomitant or accompanying graces and gracious affections and spiritual senses actions and operations of the soul and body which do accompany and are to be exercised and quickned in these Sacramental acts or actions of receiving as of the Elements outwardly so of Christ and his quickning and soul-refreshing vertue inwardly for the spiritual strengthning of your soul and life of grace to life of glory Ans There is a twofold nourishment which we receive and feed on in the Sacrament at the Lords Table The first outward and corporal the Elements of Bread and Wine which nourish and refresh the body The second inward and spiritual Christ himself and his Body and Blood or the living vertue and merits of Christ his Life and Death and Passion and Resurrection and Ascention and Intercession which feeds strenghneth and nourisheth our souls and the life of grace in our souls to life Eternal And so there are two sorts of sences as I may so call them to be exercised 1. Of the body 2. Of the soul or inward man and two sorts of actions to be acted in this Sacrament Quest 2. What are these two sorts of actions in the Sacrament Ans First the actions of the body and organical parts or by the instruments of the body The bodily eyes must see Mark
sence of seeing both bodily by eyes of your body and spiritually by eyes of faith Ans I must still by the power of Christ exercise these three spiritual acts or actions of my soul to be exercised in every particular sacramental action 1. Diligent observation 2. Divine meditation 3. Faithful application and appropriation of all to my own soul Quest 21. How must observation be exercised by you What light shineth from Christ for your direction Ans I ought diligently by the spirit of Christ to observe the sacramental action of breaking bread Luk. 22.17 c. or powring out or giving of the wine according to the institution of Christ as it is a sacramentâ—l actâ—on for the end for which Christ appointed it Qâ— st 22. How ought you to exercise medi ation Ans By help of Christ I ought so to meditate and think of the breaking bread and powring out of the wine as to meditate of Christ crucified his body broken with torments as before noted and his blood shed for my sins Gal. 3.1 Qâ—est 23. How ought you to exercise spiritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your self Ans By the strength of Christ and Christs spirit strengthning and communicating strength of life from Christ to my soul I ought to apply by faith and appropriate all this that Christ hath done or suffered as done and suffered by Christ for me and my Redemption and as loving me and giving himself for me his soul to be made an offering for my sin his body to be broken with torments and his blood to be shed to the death for my eternal Redemption and salvation Isaiah 53.10 Galathians 2.20 Heb. 9.12 The twenty eighth Classis or company of Questions 1 Question VVHat is the fifth Sacramental action or objâ—ct of your sences corporal or spiritual Or upon which your sences or acts of life in your soul and body are to be exercised when you are at this holy Sacrament Ans Sacramental commemoration of the death and passsion of the Lord Iesus Christ Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. and of his Institucion of this blessed Sacrament the same night in whâ—ch he was betrayed his passion crucifying and death so lively set before my eyes in the celebration of this Sacrament and by Christs command to be commemorated and remembred as it is shewed forth until he come Quest 2. What are you to do in this act of commemoration Ans To exercise those three acts before specified 1. Diligently to observe how this Sacrament doth remember me of that sacrifice of the death of Christ of his inestimable love in dying for me and of the most glorious benefits that I am made partaker of in a right meeting of Christ at the Lords Table Quest. 3. What is the second 1 Ioan 4. Divine meditation I ought by the power of Christs spirit 19. Ioh. 17.20 21. to think of this memorial of Christs Death Passion and Resurrection and benefits till I be so affected with it as to rejoyce with it and never to forget this love of Christ but to be delighted with his love as to love Christ again until I come to glory with Christ Quest 4. What is the third Ans By the power of the spirit of Christ and by faith to apply the memorial of this action and passion of Christ unto my soul that it may be engraven upon my heart to be recorded and set before my eyes for ever that evening and morning and mid-day I may remember what Christ hath done for my soul and Christs love may for ever be in my heart and I may say as the Apostle Gal. 2.20 Christ loved me and gave himself for me Qâ—est 5. What is a sixth Sacramental action object or act on Christs part or on yours which is the object of your senses corporal or spiritual or in which these senses operations or actions of the soul and body are to be exercised in this holy Ordinance of Christ Ans Christs congratulation or Sacramental welcom he gives to his faithful prepared guests Take eat Take drink yea all of this and thus bidding them welcom 1. As in the Institution of Christ is evidently set forth unto us Mat. 26.26 27 28. Luke 22.19 20. 2. As Christ invited his Spouse his Church and children Canticles 5.1 Eat friends and drink abundantly O beloved that is eat abundantly not of the outward bread and drink abundantly not of the outward Wine but eat spiritually of the body of Christ by faith and the merits of Christ crucified for me and drink abundantly of the vertue of Christs blood which was shed for me For Christs flesh is meat indeed and Christs blood is drink indeed Ioh. 6.51 c. If I thus eat of Christs flesh and drink of Christs blood I shall live for ever Quest 6. What is to be acted by you And how are your corporal and spiritual sences to be exercised in this congratulation or heavenly welcom which Christ gives your soul at this Table Ans First a diligent observation of this welcom when I hear it with the ears of my body from the voyce of Christs Minister speaking comfortably cheerfully to me from Christ as to a prepared believing penitent humble hungry communicant Take and eat Take and drink in the Name of Christ bidding me welcom to Christs Table as Mat. 26. Luke 22. Quest 7. What is a second thing to be acted Answ A Divine meditation as if by the ears of my soul I did at the same time hear the voyce of Christ as once he spake to his Disciples at his last Supper so now speaking to my soul from heaven and bidding me welcom Eat my friend and drink my beloved I have loved thee I have given my self for thee I have given thee my body crucified my bloodshed for thee and for many for remission of sins feast and refresh thy soul with abundance of assurance of my love to thee at my Table O poor believing hungry and humble soul thou art welcom here in and amongst my congregation of Saints at my Table of grace and thou shalt one day be welcom and eat and drink heavenly and gloriously with me at my Table of glory in the Kingdom of heaven for ever Matthew 22. Luke 22.19 Quest 8. What is the third Ioh. 4.14 15. 6.33 c. Answ A sweet and short ejaculation or ejaculatory and darting prayer to this or this like in effect Even so Lord Iesus I blesse thy name for this sweet assurance of being welcom to thy Table strengthen my faith enliven mine eyes and hand and mouth of faith that I may see and discern thy body and thy blood I may so receive and feed on thy body and blood that I may finde and feel and enjoy such an everlasting vertue and sap and juyce of life from thee my Saviour which may enliven and strengthen thy life of grace in me here in this life to life everlasting in the
vertue of the same promise of Christ who hath performed and sealed now in the Sacrament what he promised Receive assurance that Christ hath given his body to be crucified and given his blood to be shed for my sins And thirdly by the same Sacramental promise I am now assured that I shall receive all the vertue merits and efficacy of the body and blood of Christ necessary for assurance of my Justification sanctification and salvation as assuredly as if I had been present when Christ spake those words or made that promise to his Disciples or that I did now hear the bodily voyce of Christ now speaking unto me from heaven by the ear of my body as he speaks to the ear of my body by his Minister and now speaks to the ears of my believing soul by the voyce of his spirit perswading and enabling me to believe the truth of these Sacramental promises Fourthly Therefore I conclude that I may eat and drink at this Table to my joy and comfort Now I may be assured that Christ gave his body to be crucified and his blood to be shed for my sins or that he loved me and gave himself for me Quest 15. What now is to be acted by you when you hear and see the Sacramental promises held forth unto you Ans I may follow the former Directory in a threefold respect 1. Diligent observation of the promisory words This is my body given for you broken for you This is my blood shed for you and for many for remission of sins Take and eat Take and drink 2. A divine meditation of this promise the same or like effect as before is declared in the Paraphrase of it in answer of the former Question 3. A sweet and rejoycing Application by faith of this promise to my own soul Mark 14.22 23. for my comfortable emboldning and encouragement to take and eat take and drink and feed on Christ to my souls cherishing comfort and the refreshing of life of grace in my heart Quest 16. What is the eighth Sacramental action object or subject in this Ordinance of Christ in and about which your senses acts or actions corporal or spiritual may be exercised when you are at the Lords Table Ans Sacramental participation 1. In taking and eating of that Bread the Sacramental body of Christ and taking and drinking that Wine the Sacramental blood of Christ with the hand and mouth of the body Matthew 26.26 27. 2. In taking and feeding on Christs body crucified 1 Cor. 10.16 and taking and drinking of Christs blood shed for me and of the vertue power and merits of Christ and all the benefits of Christs Passion Death and Resurrection not corporally or carnally with hand or mouth of my body but spiritually by a true and lively feeling apprehending and applying faith which is the hand and mouth of my soul to strengthen and nourish my soul and body my life of grace in me to life Eternal Quest 17. What may be done for better quickning your soul in this participation of Christ and this blessed feast at Christs Table Ans 1. I may and ought to observe diligently this rich feast upon which I feed Isa 25.6 as a feast of fat things which the Lord promised his people a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined Yea not onely Bread and Wine for my body but Christ himself and all his rich benefits to feed my soul Iohn 6.27 c. to strengthen my life of faith by the living vertue of Christ ingrace till I get possession of glory Quest 18. What is the second Ans A divine meditation of Christ as of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God Gen 2.9 3.22 Re. 22.2 22.17 Ioh. 4.14 Phil. 4.11 c. of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever as a Tree of Life yea a Tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits and yield fruit every moneth and oftner if I meet Christ oftner in his Ordinances yea living fruit which hath a living vertue to revive and quicken a dying fainting soul to strengthen a weak and almost decaying grace as of Knowledge Faith Repentance Love Joy Peace contentment in my heart yea the very leaves of this Tree Christ are good to heal all diseases and infirmities in a soul every taste of Christ in this feast is restaurative filling my dead heart with cheerful and soul-rejoycing spirits of life vital spirits indeed as from Christ himself that everliving fountain of water of life springing up in me to life eternal so that I may and can do all things and glorifie God with sweet contentment and rejoycing delight in every condition through Christ that strengthneth me Quest 19. What is the thing in exercise whereof your soul may be more fully revived and strengthned in the participation of Christ at the Lords Table Ans 3. A lively faithful application Psa 27.8 Cant. 5.1 Psal 19.10 Iohn 6.57 58. in feeding by faith upon Christ and the assurance of Christs love unto me a sweet spiritual eccho answering of Christs welcom as if thou shouldst say Lord thou bidst me eat and drink and welcom yea eat thy flesh and drink thy blood in and by believing that thou gavest thy body to be crucified and thy blood to be shed for my sins Now by faith I do eat by faith I do drink I do feed on thee I do rejoyce in thee I finde sweetness in thee above all the sweetness in the world sweeter then the hony and the hony-comb still feed thou my soul and shew me thy gracious and thy glorious refreshings more and more until I come to feast with thee in glory Quest 20. What is the ninth Sacramental object act action fruit or benefit in this feast of the Lord in and about which you should exercise your senses acts and operations of body or soul in or at this blessed Sacrament Ans That Sacramental union or communion with Christ and the Saints of God fellow-members of Christ and those most refreshings from Christ in the enjoyment of Christ and his spiritual and most joyful presence to my soul held forth in these Sacramental promises which Christ the God-man hath spoken in his holinesse and which makes my soul rejoyce within me and having the present possession of Christ in feeding on Christ spiritually eating his flesh and drinking his blood and so having an admirable union communion with Christs Iohn 6.56 Psal 16.12 in enjoyment of all his benefits Christ now dwelling in me and I in him as one day I shall in his presence have fulnesse of joy and pleasures for ever more Quest 21. What may you now do by vertue of Christ Or What acts of your soul may you exercise Or in what may you wait on Christ for your greater profit and comfort in this most gracious union and communion with Christ and the Saints Rom. 8.17 the heirs
and fellow-heirs with you and with Christ of Eternal glory Ans I may follow the former direction and wait on Christ First in observation of this union and communion that is between Christ and my soul in this Sacrament as in part is set forth before this Catechism and so observe and consider what an union there is between the ouward signs of Bread and Wine and the inward thing signified and sealed the body and blood of Christ namely a mutual union and relation and this according to the nature of the signs and the thing signified is spiritual and invisible now it cannot be seen with bodily eyes and so there is a spiritual and secret union and yet a speedy present union and as there is a secret spiritual union and relation between the bread and wine and the body and blood of Christ represented to my soul to the eye of faith in me and conveyed to the hand and mouth of faith in me So there is a spiritual and speedy present union between the body and the blood of Christ and my believing soul and a speedy and present communion and union of vertue and spiritual refreshment unto my soul partaking by faith of this refreshing for as the word is no sooner spoken and is united to the outward ear but the thing signified thereby is present and united to the understanding and ear of my minde so it is here and so I do observe a divine and spiritual union and communion betwixt Christ and my soul Mat. 28.20 Rev. 2.1.17 for my more full refreshing at this sweet spiritual and reviving banquet hidden Manna of grace in this holy Ordinance Quest 22. What is a second act or operation of your soul to be exercised for your more full comfort in this sweet and spiritual union and communion with Christ at the Lords Supper Ans Divine meditation when I think and seriously ruminate and meditate again and again How I do exercise two kinde of eyes and two kinde of hands and two kinde of mouthes in this Sacrament and how and in what manner Christ is present as with the signs by relation and representation so with me by present enjoyment how as soon as by the eye of my body I behold the consecrated Elements of bread and wine and these are present to the eye of my body so speedily do I see the body of Christ crucified and the blood of Christ shed for my sins with the eyes of faith and they are present to the eyes of my soul and so I have a union and communion with them immediatly Secondly 1 Cor. 10.16 so speedily as I do with the hands of my body take the bread and the wine prepared and presented upon the Table for me to take but presently with faith the hand of my soul I do apprehend and take the body and blood of Christ presented to be taken and received spiritually and by faith at the Lords Table Thirdly I may meditate That so speedily as with the mouth of my body I do eat and feed on the bread 1 Kin. 19.7 8. Psal 63.1 c. and drink the wine in the Sacrament at the same instant with the mouth of faith or my believing soul I do feed on Christs body and blood and the vertue and merits of Christ are present with me and I have a sweet communion with them and in these or like meditations my soul is fatted with heavenly Manna as with marrow and fatnesse nourishing me in the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of heaven Quest 23. What is the third principal thing to be exercised concerning this union and communion with Christ and his soul-reviving comforts and benefits in this Sacrament Wherein hath light of Christ appeared unto you for duty in this Iohn 6.56 Gal. 2.20 Ans Spiritual and faithful application of Christ and his benefits to my soul that now as verily as the bread and wine which I have eaten and drunken in this feast are mine and the vertue of them is united to me and I to it so verily the body and blood of Christ is mine and the vertue and benefits of Christs body and blood is become mine and I am united to Christ and Christ to me to my joy everlasting so that I may say with confidence and rejoycing Christ loved me and gave himself for me Quest 24. What is the tenth principal Sacramental act or action which is or may be the object of your corporal or spiritual senses or operations of soul or hody in the right observation meditation and application of which you may wait on Christ the Lord Prince with more full rejoycing in or after your meeting of Christ at the Table of the Lord Ans Sacramental obsignation or sealing in communication of this spiritual union and communion with Christ and enjoyment of Christ and all the benefits of his Death Passion Resurrection Ascention and Intercession yea of his Priestly Prophetical and Kingly Office and of the assurance of all these benefits of Election Redemption Vocation Justification Sanctification Freedom from the condemning and commanding power of sin from Death and Hell with all graces needful in this life and immortal glory when this Mortal life is ended all which are sealed and grounds of assurance of all communicated to Saints in this seal and Sacrament of the Covenant of grace the Lords Supper as Rom. 4.1 Quest 25. In what acts or operations of your soul may you wait on Christ for improvement of this Sacramental obsignation and sealing of this union and communion with Christ and the Saints of God and the assurance of all graces and benefits of Christ to his Church and children in this holy Ordinance Ans In those three before mentioned First In a serious consideration of this sealing by the word of promise and work of Christs spirit and Sacrament or this seal of confirmation of my faith and of all Gods promises of this sealing Ordinance the Sacrament of this body and blood of Christ and of Christs Death held forth unto me in the Lords Supper that as verily as I do partake of the outward Elements of bread and wine so verily the Lord Christ hath and doth communicate unto me the vertue and merits of his body and blood and all the benefits he hath procured to and for the benefits of his Church and children and for my soul in particular Gal. 2.20 for I know he loved me and give himself for me as he did for blessed Paul Quâ—st 26. What is a second operation or act of the soul enlightned and sanctified by the spirit of Christ in and by which you may wait on Christ for improvement of this obsignation or sealing of the Covenant of Grace and all those fruits and benefits Christ doth assure his Church and his Children in his Sacrament Ans Divine meditation by the help and power of Christs spirit to think meditate and ruminate or as it were chew the cud again and again in
Sacrament Ans First I am to joyn with the Minister of Christ 2 Cor. 2.14 Col. 1.12 13. and the congregation of Saints in solemn thanksgiving unto God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for the inestimable gift of the Lord Iesus Christ for his taking our humane Nature upon him that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and my soul to reconcile me to God for his Passion Death Resurrection Ascention and Intercession and all his rich merits and benefits of my Redemption Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Glorification so gloriously set forth and sealed and so graciously communicated in this Sacrament to my soul and to all Saints with me at the Lords Table Secondly Humbly and faithfully to joyn in Petition for assurance that all failings and infirmities in my performances are pardoned in Christ my pardon sealed my person whole service accepted with the sweet merits and incense of Christs righteousness upon the golden Altar with a continual influence of power and vertue from Christ that all the congregation of Saints may keep covenant with the Lord and declare our thankfulnesse by our fruitfulnesse in all good works as becometh the people of God who have received so great ahd assuring plesges of the love of God to us in Christ and of our eternal salvation in and by the Lord Iesus Quest 21. What is the fourth and last thing to be acted or joyned in with the Congregation Ans Divers particulars 1. After the example of Christ to glorifie God in a holy Hymn or Psalm if it be thought fit praising the Lord for his goodnesse to his Church in Christ Iesus and to his congregation present in his Ordinance And secondly waiting for the blessing giving in and with which the congregation is dismissed according to the practise of Christ the Apostles and Churches of Christ as of old to leave the people of God with a blessing as Numb 6.22 c. 2 Sam. 6.17,18 1 Kings 8.55 c. Luke 22.50 51. And the blessing which the Apostle gave when they took leave of the Church in several Epistles as Rom 16.24 c. 2 Corinthians 3.15 And thirdly I should return home with rejoycing as the Eunuch did after he was baptized or the two Disciples who met with Christ as they went to Emmaus and take notice my self and tell others how my heart burned within me and how my souls was affected 1. With grief for my sins And 2. With joy in my Saviour while I heard Christ talking with me 1. Outwardly by the voyce of his Minister 2. Inwardly by the voyce of his spirit at his Table and how it was declared out of the Scriptures that Christ ought to suffer that his most bitter Passion and cursed Death for my sins and to rise again for my Iustification and so to enter into his glory And 3. How Christ was known to me in the breaking of the Bread in the powring out of the Wine and in Christs giving and my receiving of those soul-reviving and soul-cherishing refreshing which I enjoyed at his Table And 4. And lastly by the strength of Christ and this refreshing from Christ I am resolved with the assistance of the spirit of God the Father and God the Son and of God the holy Ghost daily to keep in memory that feast of the Lord with that sweet welcom I had at the Lords Table and in this or the like manner to bespeak my soul every morning O my soul thou hast this night received a sweet refreshing from the Lord for thy body praised be the Name of thy God and Father in Christ who is the keeper of Israel who never slumbreth not sleepeth who hath kept thee from the dangers of this night past and brought thee to the light of this day who hath awakened thee out of sleep and given thee a kinde of Resurrection from the dead Quest 22. How may I stir my soul to this Ans In this or the like manner Now O my soul be thou awakened and break thy fast with Christ and call to minde the sweet refreshing the Lord did give thee the last Sacrament at his Table and in what thou didst see and hear 1. His invitation to draw near and partake of the feast that he hath prepared 2. Didst thou not see Bread and Wine set upon the Table and with the eye of faith didst thou not behold Christ himself prepared for thy spiritual refreshing 3. Didst thou not hear the Minister of Christ consecrate those Elements to that holy use and with the ear of faith hear how God the Father had consecrated and sealed his beloved Son Iesus for thy Redemption 4. Didst thou not see the Bread broken and Wine powred out and by the eye of faith see Christs body broken with torments and his blood shed to the death for thy sins to Redeem thee from Hell and death eternal 5. Didst thou not hear Christ bidding thee welcom Take eat this is my body Drink this is my blood which is shed for thee and for many for remission of sins Mat. 26.26 27 c. 6. Didst thou not observe and believe those Sacramental promises assuring that Christ loved thee and gave himself for thee and as verily as Christs Minister having blessed and broken the Sacramental Bread and blessed and powred out the Sacramental Wine did present and give them unto thee to eat and to drink so verily hath Christ given and did Christ present and give and reach out himself for a spiritual and heavenly refreshing to thee to nourish thee to life eternal according the the Govenant of Grace 7. O my soul didst thou not take and eat the Bread and take and drink the Wine and so spiritually feed on the body and blood of Christ that in strenght thereof thou mightest walk thy great journey of this life not as Elijah fourty dayes and fourty nights to Horeb the Mount of God but to Heaven Gods Kingdom of glory 8. O my soul didst thou not actually renew thy Covenant with the Lord as God in giâ—ing and thou in actual receiving and partaking of these seals and pledges of his love consider thy self what hast thou now to do any more with sin and Satan with the World the Flesh or the Devil with any sin of omission or commission that may grieve the spirit of life Remember thy Covenant thy Promises thy Vow thy Protestations to thy God and be conscientious by the power of Christ to keep them all the dayes of thy life 9. O my soul was there not a soul-satisfying feast set before thee at that time never to let thee to return to the feast of sin again 10. And was it not the command of Christ to celebrate that Sacrament in remembrance of him Acts 8.39 Luk. 14.13 Phil. 4.11 c. 2 Tim. 4.7,8 and what he hath done for thee O then remember that holy feast every morning when thou awakest every evening when thou goest to bed Thus thou maist feed daily on
Ordinances that thou mayst be more and more enlightned by Christs presence power and grace And shall not a poor soul fall in love with this true light of the Lord Iesus O be it far from thee my soul to hate this light Iohn 3.19 20. as those who love it not because their deeds are evil Light is comfortable to sinners and so is Christ to a live pure-seeing soul who by a lively faith can look on Christ though the eye of Faith be never so weak sighted Christs light is a healing light which fills the soul wich life in the end enabling a poor Saint to follow this light of grace until it brings the soul to life ana light eternal And thus by light from Christ we may see the use of the second Commandment and the many errors of wandring false light leading to false worship and the true light of Christ direcing to serve God in spirit and in truth O my soul let this lighc of Christ be a light to thy feet Psa 119.105 and lanthern to thy paths in all Ordinances of Word Sacraments Prayer and life to life everlasting And my soul Christ ac Scripturarum lucifuga lament those Christ and Scripture-light-flyers who cannot away with the light of Christ and of the Scriptures but love darknesse rather then lights because their deeds are evil Iohn 3.19 20. The light of Christ in this or other Commandments might teach them how to finde not their many sins against God against his true spiritual worship against the honour of his Name his Sabbath his Sacrament the seals of the Covenant of Grace which so many multitudes in the world do prophane by coming blindly unto them never examining whether they have any light or authority from Christ to come to that sacred Banquet or whether they be drawn by the light of custom or formality only 2 Tim. 3.5 to do as their Neighbours do and their fore-fathers have done never considering whether their desire after the Sacrament be a holy hunger after Christ spiritually Iohn 6.56 57. to eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood that Christ may dwell in them and they in Christ that they may live by Christ the life of grace here and glory hereafter They never look to this light of Christ 1 Cor. 11.28 29. whether they have light of knowledge and be able to examine themselves or whether they walk in darknesse and are ignorant and blinde not able to discern the Lords body and so eat and drink unworthily are guilty of the body and blood of Christ and eat and drink their own Judgement or Damnation 1 Cor. 11.28 c. if the Lord deal in judgement with them They never examine by any true and impartial light from Christ whether they be prophane and scandalous in their lives common swearers c. To conclude they never question their own souls whether they have found by any light from Christ that they have the life of grace spiritual eyes to see and hands to receive and mouth to feed on Christ that they may finde refreshing indeed at the Lords Table and spiritual feet and affections of their souls to walk with Christ in their lives But O my soul do thou with the Saints of God most high daily look after this true light of Christ that thou lose not Christs presence but travel with Christ and in his light held forth in this Commandment and all other commanding parts of Gods word by faith in all the promises of Grace through the wildernesse of this word to the Canaan of Heaven Quest 40. You have given the use of the Commandement in generally but now what doe you conceive of the Reason of the Commandement which followeth in particular in the next words For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate we and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandements Answ I conceive the Lord holdeth forth in this Reason principally two things First Ex. 34.6 7 Deut. 6.13 14 15 Deut. 7.4 Deut. 29.19 20 21 Ezekel 18 13 14 15 16 17. Canticles 8.6 a threatening of severe punishment to wicked Idolaters and all others who corrupt the service of God to them and to their posterity if they go on to hate the Lord and continue in their Fathers sins and to terrifie men the more from this sinne The Lord declares himselfe to be a jealous God and one that will not hold the wicked innocent Quest 41. What is the second that the Lord holds forth to perswade to obedience and what light from Christ herein Ans Eccl. 8.13 Isaias 3.11 Jer. 32.18 A gratious promise of his owne free mercy and goodnesse though man can merit nothing but when hee hath done be can he may and must say he is an unprofitable servant Luk. 17.10 yet the Lord of his own free love wil manifest his goodnesse to them that low him and keepe his Commandements Gen. 17.7 Prov. 20.7 Psal 112.1 2. and to their Posterity to thousands of Generations so abundant is the Lord in his goodnesse to his children in Christ Jesus Quest 42. What should the meditation of this threatning and promise by Christ spirit worke in the hearts of men what light from Christ to direct in this duty Answ First sinners should take notice of their misery Ezek. 18.21 22 23. and as they tender their owne happinesse or the happinesse of their poore children waite in the meanes of Grace on Christ till Christ convert them 2 Tim 2.25 26. Ezek. 18.14 Num. 16.31 32. Gen. 9.25 and direct them to repentance that they and their children after them repenting may enjoy sweet freedome from Gods Terrible Visitation which is sure to fall upon the wicked and impenitent and their children Secondly for Saints to instruct them to waite on Christ for power to glorifie God Gen. 18.19 Joshua 24.11 and to teach their children also to serve him in a right manner in Spirit and Truth Deut. 3.29 knowing this that in and for Christ it shall goe well with them and with their children for ever The third Section of the thirteth Classis The third Commandment Quest 1. YOu have now unfolded the second Commandement J pray you which is the third Ans Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Quest 2. What is considerable in this command Ans Theve are two things considerable First the prohibition Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine Secondly the reason For the Lord wil not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Quest 3. What do you understand is meant by the Name of God Ans Whatsoever the Lord hath manifested himself to be known by Deut. 12.5 as men are
appointed us to labour six dayes Secondly the Lords own example in Resting also from worke the seventh day and Rested the seventh day Thirdly the Lords institution and appointment of the seventh day to be a holy Rest for his service wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Quest 6. But is there no worke to be done upon the Sabbath day nor by any manner of persons Answ I answer yes first workes of piety may be done by all in their severall places and in particular by the Ministers of Christ as of old time the Priests did performe their workes upon the Sabbath day Mat. 12.5 and were blamelesse and as men went a Sabbath dayes jorney to the Prophets Acts 1.12 2 Kings 4 22 23. and places appointed for Gods publike worship Secondly workes of Mercy and Charity may be done upon the Sabbath day without blame as being acceptable to God at all times in Christ Jesus Acts 20.9 1 Cor. 16.2 Luke 14.5 and not condemned on that day but appointed Thirdly workes of necessity which require present helpe and could not have been done the day before nor stay untill the day following Mark 2.23 24 25 26 27. Mat. 12.11 12. Luke 13.15 15 16. these workes may also bee done upon the Sabbath day as necessary provision of meate for man or beast the necessary worke of the Phisitian or others for a sick or disseased person or of a Chyrurgeon for the wounded or a Midwife or others for Women in travell all such workes of necessity in truth and without hypocrisie may be done upon the Sabbath day But other Workes which are neither workes of piety of Charity nor of true necessity I believe ought not to be done upon that day Quest But is not the Sabbath day ceremoniall and so to be abolished Colos 2.16 17. or at least to be left at liberty now in the time of the Gospell since the Apostle seemeth to hold forth a Sabbath as a ceremony in that Epistle to the Collossians and before to the Galatians he blameth them for observing dayes and moneths and yeares Gala. 4.10 Is not the Sabbath day then abolished by the Comming of Christ Ans First I answer it is certaine there were diverse Sabbaths which the Jewes were required to sanctifie Levit. 23.38 39 c. Ezek. 20.21 and not to prophane or pollute as is evident by that of the Prophet Ezekiel they polluted my Sabbaths then I said I will poure out my fury upon them Thus in this sence the name Sabbath was applied to all those Ceremoniall Levit. 23.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Feastivalls yea and daies of Fastings which were to be kept without doing any worke on those dayes as a Sabbath or Rest of the Lord. Levit. 23.15 16. Levit. 25.2 3. Lâ—vit 25.8 9. Againe there was a Sabbath of Sabbaths and a Sabbath of yeares when was the yeare of Jubile and these were Ceremoniall Types indeed and Shadowes with the Sacrifices and services herein And of these I conceive the Apostle speakes as abolished and in which the children of God in the Gospell are not to be condemned Colos 2.17 because Christ who is the body figured by all these is come But he doth not speake of this Sabbath which the Lord commanded to be sanctified in the Decalogue or Ten Commandements at least in no wise of the substance of the Commandement that a Seventh day is to be sanctified as holy to the Lord. Quest 8. But wherefore then is not the Seventh day from the Creation kept as a Sabbath day or by what authority is this Seventh day now sanctified and kept as a Sabbath called in Scripture the Lords Day Ans First Isai 56.2 3 4 5. the keeping of a seventh day for a Sabbath is absolutely morall and perpetuall instituted in Paradise before the fall and in the Decalogue or Ten Commandements given on Mount Sinai and that Commandement bindes to a seventh day for ever Secondly although there be not an absolute command in the New Testament to change the day evidently held forth unto us yet there is Divine Authority sufficient in the constant practize of the Apostles and Saints to meete on this seventh day Acts 2.46 Acts 20.7 8 c 1 Cor. 16.1 2. being then called the first day of the weeke to performe the duties of the Sabbath on this day in Preaching and Hearing of the word and receiving of the Sacrament called breaking of bread and in Prayer and giving Almes and the like as being the Lords owne day as the day of the Lords Resurrection and to be sanctified as the Lords day to meet Christ in all his Ordinances of the Sabbath Revel 1.10 as John the 〈◊〉 Divine was ravished in the spirit and met Christ on that day for the great comfort of himselfe and the Churches of Christ that day then called and esteemed and reckoned to be the Lords own day and so to be kept as the Lords day by the Churches of Christ Quest 9. What is the generall duty required in this fourth Commandement and what light from Christ for this duty Ans To be mindefull of and remember the Sabbath Isai 58.13 Heb. 4.9.10 Mark 1.35 39. or Lords day to keep it as a day of Rest from our own works and bodily labour and as a spirituall rest from the sinfull workes of our soules and bodies and to sanctifie it as a holy Rest in the performance of the Lords Workes of holinesse and his holy service to glorifie the Lord of Sabbath in a speciall manner on that Day Quest 10. What is the generall sinne forbidden in this Commandement Ans All prophanation of the Sabbath or Lords day Isaia 58.13 by ommission of Gods workes or performing of our owne workes or worldly businesse of this life outward in our bodies except in case of true extraordinary necessity or performing of any our owne workes of sinne in bodies or soules as all other dayes so especially onâ— the Lords day or the day of Gods Rest Heb. 4.9.10 and Sabbath Day Quest 11. What are the particular duties required for the sanctification of the Christian Sabbath or Lords day what light from Christ for these Ans They are diverse wee may remember these especiall First a preparation for the right sanctification of this day by minding of it before it come that we may be more fit to serve the Lord in it when it is come and by rising early in the morning as bodily health will suffer that wee may have time to exercise preparative duties before wee come to the publike Ordinances Quest 12. What is the sinne contrary unto this Ans To forget the Lords Day or be so unmindfull of it as either in our own persons or by compelling or suffering our children or servants so long to labour Ex. 12.3.6 Exo. 3.5 Ex. 19.10.15 Deut. 33.3 Mat 27.62 As Amos 4.12 so here and over-wearie our bodies or spirits on
and Infidels and unbeleevers to convert them but for Beleevers to confirme them in the faith as by the Institution of this Sacrament may appeare Exod. 12.47 48. Rom. 2.28 29. and as the Passeover was not to be eaten of the uncircumcised but of the circumcised and those who were circumcised in heart at least in outward appearance as the Apostle holds forth true Iews and so true Christians now in the Church of Christ at least in appearance ought to be admitted to the Sacrament Quest 14. This is an Answer sufficient Iudges 6.31 But what further may be said to such as plead for Baal and seem to set open a door for all prophane ignorant unbelieving impenitent persons to come to this holy Sacrament Ans That the Word hath and may be Preached to all creatures men and women of all sorts Drunkards Mar. 16.15 Matth. 9.10 13. 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. Mat. 10. 14 15. Adulterers whores except such as reject the Gospell and maliciously persecute the Ministers of Christ against whom they may shake off the dust of their feet But to admit all sorts to the Sacrament all ignorant and scandalous impenitent persons Act. 13.44 c. Act. 18.5 6. Mat. 18.15 16. Levit. 19.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5. this ought not to be suffered But those in Authority in the Church ought rather to suspend or deliver up such to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Quest 15. It seemeth evident to me then that every man and woman who may come to the Preaching of the Word may not come to the Sacrament if they be either notoriouly ignorant or scandalous and therefore Catechisme is very necessary Ans You are in the right for if legall impurity Exod. 12.48 Exek 44.7 8.9 Lev. 7.20 21. 15. Num. 2.10 11. yea but the touching of a dead body made them unclean and unfit for the Passeover Then much more spirituall uncleannesse and uncircumcision of the heart and life defileth the soul and maketh unfit for the holy Sacrament And if those who have only a form of godlinesse without the power of Religion 2 Tim. 3.5 must be turned away from as those with whom the Saints ought as much as is possible to have no communion Then certainly those prophane ones who have not so much as an outward form of Religion but are notoriously ignorant and notoriously scandalous who live Atheistically without God in the world Eph. 2.12 they must needs be unfit to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance of the Lords Supper or for the Saints willingly to communicate with at the Lords Table Quest 16. But who hath Authority to Excommunicate or suspend these ignorant and scandalous persons and to keep them from the Sacrament Ans I do not say that every particular Minister Mat. 18.17 c. 1 Cor. 5.3 4 5. Act. 14.23 Tit. 1.5 1 Tim. 1.19 20. or Member of a congregation hath this power But the whole congregation or the Presbytery and Elders ordained as Rulers in the Church or at least such as are lawfully Authorised from Gods Word and from the Church of Christ to perform this duty Quest 17. But what if the Church or the Elders of the Church or any other in Authority Ier. 15.19 do not perform their duties in taking order and care as much as is in their power that the precious may be wholly separated from the vile But that for want of their care and diligence or faithfulnesse such a man who in the judgement of the Minister or any one or more of the Congregation so it be not of the greatest part is ignorant or scandalous do presse into the Sacrament though he be admonished in private and publike to forbear and not to indanger his own soul of becoming guilty of the Body and the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 11.27 c. Is the Minister or any such of the Congregation doing their best to hinder such Communicating guilty of such a mans sin who comes wilfully unprepared as being ignorant or scandalous in their judgments and without the wedding garment As for Example Example if a man live in the wilsull breach of a lawfull Covenant Rom. 1.28 c. a sin it may be not named or reckoned as scandalous by those in Authority and yet a sin in the conscience of a minister or a member of the Church for which a man impenitent for it should be suspended the Sacrament If those in Authority or the greater part of the congregation do neglect their duty and suffer or approve of this mans unlawfull Communicating is the minister or such a member guil-of this mans sin As 1 Cor. 5.11 c. 2 Thes 3.6.14 2 Joh. 9.10 1 Tim. 1.22 Ans Certainly if the Minister or any such Member or Members of the congregation do not use all lawful means to put from them such a person to hinder this sinfull communicating of such a scandalous person they cannot but partake of this mans sin and so be found guilty But if they do their best endeavor in their places and callings to hinder such ignorant or scandalous persons declaring a just dislike of such a mans presumption not countenancing but disallowing and disavowing the boldnesse of such a guest Mat. 22.10 1 Cor. 11.27 c. Gen 4.7 Rev. 2.14 c. to come without the wedding garmenâ— I conceive they are not guilty of this mans unworthy receiving and the sin shal lie at their doors who have Au hority and power to prevent or use means of preventing this sin and do not Quest 18. Yet before I leave this I demand once again whether can the company of such a wicked Communicant stop the flowing streams of Gods grace in Christ from the Saints in the Sacrament or keep the life cherishing vertue of Christ from them who come rightly prepared or secondly Whether should the Saints refuse the Sacrament or unchurch themselves and separate from the Congregation for such a scandalous Communicants presence or for such a failing of the Church or the greater part of the Congregation in such a particular Ans 1 Tim. 8.22 Rev. i8 4 Luk. 22.19 I believe if a Saint discover the scandalous and do the best to hinder â—his sin of the unworthy receiver it cannoâ— hinder Christs grace from a faithful receiver as Judas presence did not hinder the Apostles nor the incestuous person the Saints while he continued with them nor are the Saints bound to refuse the Sacrament or unchurch themselves and separate from that Congregation for this failing of the Church these Saints having performed their duties in their several places as is noted before But these particular members should rather wait on Christ in the use of all lawful and good means to have this fault of the Church reformed continue their fellowship with manifestation of their dislike in this particular And this I conceive they may
Wisd 5.1 2 c. But one day they shall confesse their folly and that they have erred from the way of truth But whatsoever the Atheists or prophane or blinde men of the world think both Saints and wicked shall one day finde that the soul dieth not with the body but liveth for ever in endlesse joy or woe And there are many Arguments to prove the immortality of our souls Quest 13. What is a first Reason or ground to prove the souls immortality Ans Truly first if we consider even the naturall Reasons found out by naturall men and their opinions who knew not the Scriptures or the Gospel of Christ at least yet they evidence the immortality of the soul the judgement of Tully and others in every thing saith Cicero Lex naturae putanda est the consent of all Nations is to be accounted the Law of nature and a consent amongst all good men ought to be valued as much as a thousand demonstrations Vox Dei in natura for it is the very voyce of God in Nature as Learned Zanchius speaks Now no Nation that have had any learning or knowledge worth the name of knowledge Cicero Tusculan Quest Quis sapiens sinc spe immortali talis se offeret ad mortem quid enim imprudentius quam sine ullo â—remto se vita virtute proprie privare but witnesse the souls immortality Thus Plato Cicero Cato Vticensis Caesar and many Philosophers in their works and men dying for their Countreys good yea amongst the heathen Infidels I have read of those costly Funeralls amongst the Idolatrous Pagans in Meaco a chief City of Japon in which amongst other ceremonies they brandish a flaming Torch over their heads intimating the souls immortality as a flaming spark living for ever And certainly even these shall rise up in Iudgement at the last day against those who deny the immortality of the soul Quest 14. Thus I conceive a good Argument naturall or prophane men but what is a second Ans Even the very nature of the soul it self may witnesse the souls immortality in that the nature of the soul is to aspire after and to desire immortality to use all means to preserve a name to live for ever after them Gen. 41.4 2 Sam. 18.18 Solinus de miraâ—â—ulis â—â—â—â—â—â—i as the builders of Babell and Absolon by his Pillar and when Xerxes had fired the Asian Temple all but Diana's Erostratus set that on fire and being asked wherefore he did so he Answered that he might be remembred and his name be immortall or to that effect This may Argue an immortality in the soul that desireth and so longeth after immortality Quest 15. What is a third Reason to evidence this truth Ans Truly the very Acts of the soul themselves and operations of it not waxing old as the body doth which appears in men especially of temperate life Though the body be blinde the eye of the soul can see wonderfully Historia Tâ—ipartita we read of blinde men admirable in learning A youth not twenty years old learned the liberall Arts well skilled in the Scriptures Dictated severall Books to be written And if an old man had a yong mans eye he would see as perfectly as the best we see men in years who cannot see a letter in the Book yet with Spectacles can read plainly Isaac was dimme sighted Gen. 27.1.27 28 48.14 15. and Jacob was blinde before their deaths but the blessing they gave to their Children did witnesse their souls waxed not blinde with old age And even this may witnesse the immortality of the soul Quest 16. Here are sufficient Arguments of this nature Now what Evidence of the souls immortality may be drawn from the holy Scriptures Ans The Scriptures are full of Evidence to manifest this truth And first Divine testimonies the Preacher tells us That when the Body dieth and returneth to the dust the soul vanisheth not but returneth to God that gave it Eccles 12.7 And Christ himself witnesseth that the soul cannot be killed by all the Tyrants in the world Mat. 10.28 Mark 8.44 though they kill the body But God can cast both body and soul into Hell fire where the worm never dieth and the fire never goeth out so the soul tormented in Hell fire for evermore must needs be immortall and never dye Quest 17. Is there no other Argument in Scripture but bare testimonies Ans If there were no other the witnesse of the holy Spirit of truth is sufficient to witnesse this truth of the souls immortality but it is evident by other Arguments also for the Lord is said to be the God of Abraham Mat. 22.31 32 33. and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob not the God of the dead but of the living Now their bodies were dead many hundred years before Christ spake this therefore it must needs follow that the souls were alive and so they had not mortall but never dying and immortall souls Quest 18. This I conceive is a good Argument What is a second that you find in the holy Scriptures Ans The witnesse of Christ concerning the penitent Thief upon the Crosse Luk. 23.43 that he should be with him that day in Paradise Now this could not be in respect of his body for neither the body of the penitent nor the body of Christ were that day in Paradise for Christs body was taken down from the Crosse Mat. 27.60 and laid in a new Sepulchre and no doubt the body of the penitent also was buried And therefore it must needs be that Christ and the penitent should be and were in Paradise in their souls after the death of their bodies And hence it is evident that the soul is immortall and dieth not with the body as some wicked men dream Quest 19. Have you any more Arguments in Scripture to prove this Ans Yes there might be many more but I will note but a few and this you may take for another Even the practice of Christ at the time of death to commend in souls into the hands of God his heavenly Father Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit And that of blessed Stephen the holy Martyr of Christ commending his soul into the hands of Christ Acts 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit These confirm this truth of the immortality of the soul Quest 20. What is the next Argument which you observe in Scriptures Ans That fear and trembling and terror of conscience which falleth and hath fallen upon men for their sins against God or men and especially the fear of Iudgement to come as that of Belshazzer Dan. 5.1.5 when he saw the Hand writing upon the wall which made his kneeâ— to smite one against another and the thoughts of his heart to trouble him Acts 24.25 And that fear and trembling of Festus when he heard Paul to reason of Righteousnesse Temperance
life and salvation in and by Christ better to others And secondly bestowing upon them gifts of grace to enable them for the work of the Ministery And thirdly 2 Tim. 2.1 c. Col. 1.25 c. Tit. 2.7 1 Pet. 5.1 c. Drawing their Spirits willingly to undertake this honorable calling not for by-ends or base respects of worldly profit pleasure or uncertain honour but for Gods glory conversion of souls and the good of Gods Church Quest 21. How else doth the Lord call them to the office of the Ministery Ans He calleth them outwardly by a due and right examination of their graces Acts 13.1 c. 1 Tim 4.12 c. 5.21 22. 6.11 12. Tit. 1.4 c. life and learning and Approbation of them by the Church and such Elder able servants of Christ Iesus as are appointed to that office of Examination and Approbation by good and lawfull Authority setting them apart for the Ministery according to the rule of Christ in his Word Quest 22. What hurt or danger can follow if the speciall calling of the Ministery were laid aside and every Christian according to the measure of his gifts did take upon him to Preach the Gospel and administer Sacraments to private meetings of people and neglect and separate from the publike Ministery of such as are called by Authority as aforesaid though the Gospel be truly Preached and no danger of frequenting the Congregations known and openly appointed for that end Ans It will throw down Gods Ordinances of the Ministeriall office so fully confirmed in holy Scripture and open a door to all Schismes and Divisions in the Church yea to all Errors and Heresies and in the end to Ignorance Atheisme and all prophanenesse Exod. 3.30 31. Numb 3.10 c and 4.15.20 and 16.3 c. 1 Sam. 3.29 1 King 2.19.16 Isa 6.6 7 8. Jer. 1.5 and 3.15 Ezek. 1.28 Gal. 1.6 7. 1 Tim. 1.6 7 8. 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. and 2.10 c. 1 Tim 1 18 c. and 6.8 9 10 2 Tim. 3.5 c. 3 Joh. 9.10 2 Tim. 4.3 4 and 3.13 Tit. 1.11 c. 1 Tim. 2.12 Quest 23. What profit is it to have such an able and faithfull Ministery called fitted and Authorized as aforesaid Isa 50.4 2 Tim. 4.1.2 3 4. Eph. 3.6 9 10. 1 Tim. 1.15 Heb. 12.2 Luke 4.18 19. Acts 6.10 Ans Certainly great profit and comfort to have able and faithfull Ministers for these can and will minister a word of comfort in due season to poor souls in distresse these can and will first Reprove and convince Errors Secondly Correct vice by Authority of Gods Word Thirdly Rightly exhort to all holinesse And Fourthly To all patience long-suffering and Doctrine holding forth Christ as the Author and finisher of our Faith 1. To the comfort of poor sinners 2. To the joy of Saints And 3. To the confusion of all gainsayers The thirteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question YOu have manifested the knowledge of Christ in his Natures Person and Offices Now what is to be known concerning those graces which God the Father and the Lord Christ with the holy Ghost gives and which are sealed to the Saints in the holy Sacraments Ans When Christ ascended up on high and had led Captivity Captive as he had procured many graces Eph. 4.8.16 gifts and benefits so he gave and communicated them from God the Father to poor sinners and they are sealed to the faithfull in the blessed Sacraments Quest 2. But what are these gifts and graces in particular Ans The first speciall gift benefit or blessing is the grace of Election which God hath bestowed upon his Church and Children in Christ and the assurance whereof is sealed in this Sacrament as other benefits of Christ to our souls Quest 3. What is the grace of Election Ans The grace of Election is that most free Act of God Rom. 8.22 30. Eph. 1.4 5 6. 2 Thes 2.13 by which he hath chosen some men and women before the foundation of the world in Christ to life Eternall having predestinated them to the Adoption of Children by Iesus Christ unto himself according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made them accepted in the beloved Quest 4. What should a Christian do concerning his Election Ans Labour to make his Election sure for his joy and comfort 2 Pet. 1.7 c. Luke 10.20 Quest 5. What is the second blessing and grace given from God the Father in and by Christ for the benefit of his Church Ans The unspeakable benefit of Redemption Eph. 2.14 c. Col. 1.12 13. and Reconciliation to God by Iesus Christ for the joy of his people Quest 6. What is this grace of Redemption and Reconciliation to God Ans Redemption is that vindication and freeing of men and women by Christ from the terrible bondage of sin Hos 1.13 14. Luke 1.74 75. 2 Cor. 5.19 Col. 1.12 c Heb. 9.12 Ioh. 3.16 Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.16 c. death the Devil and hell and making our peace with God by the payment of a just and full price to satisfie Gods Iustice not with silver and gold but with his precious blood as of a Lamb immaculate and without spot Quest 7. What is a third blessing or grace given in Christ and procured by Christ for the good of his Church Eph. 1.7 c. 3.1 2 c. 4.8 c. 2 Cor. 3.8 4 13. 1 Cor. 3.1 c. 2 Cor. 6.1 c. Ans The rich grace of the Gospel which brings salvation and the Ministers of the Gospel who are Ambassadors for Christ to beseech men to be reronciled and Instruments of our conversion and calling into the knowledge of the mystery of Christ Quest 8. What is a fourth grace or benefit which the Lord Christ hath procured and doth communicate to and for the profit and comfort of his Church Ans The holy Ghost or blessed Spirit of truth proceeding from the Father and the Son 2 Cor. 3.8 4.13 Eph. 1 â—6 c. and God equall with them both the Lord and giver of life and who makes the Gospel and all grace effectuall by Faith and power of applying Christ and all Christs benefits and graces to the soul of a Childe of God Ioh. 16.7 c. 1 Ioh. 4.13 Secondly Who worketh and increaseth graces in the hearts of Gods Children in the holy and right use of all Christs Ordinances for the joy and comfort of Gods Church Quest 9. What is the fifth blessing or grace Ans The inestimable grace and blessing of effectuall vocation unto God in Christ and the society of the faithfull Quest 10. What is this grace and benefit of effectuall vocation Ans The grace of effectuall vocation is that gracious act fruit and effect of Gods Free-grace and love in Christ manifested First upon us in Election Secondly
evidence of Adoption Ans The Spirit of Prayer whereby the Childe of God is enabled to cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 26 27 and to seek to the Lord upon all occasions as to a Father Quest 4. What is a chief Prerogative and Priviledge of an Adopted Son and Daughter of God Ans Not only this new Name of Son and Daughter of God and the excellency thereof which no man knoweth but he that hath it but also the right Title and Dignity of an Heir Rev. 2.17 Rom. 8.17 yea a fellow-Heir with Christ of Eternal glory Quest 5. How may a man or woman know that he or she is the Son or Daughter of God Rom. 8.16 Mat. 5.44 c. Prov. 4.18 2 Cor. 3.17 18. 6.16 c. 2 Pet. 14.4 Ans First by the testimony of the Spirit witnessing with our Spirits Secondly by our daily growing more and more into the likenesse of God our Father in all holinesse and perfection of Divine Nature Quest 6. But what is the ninth blessing and benefit procured and commmunicated by Christ to his Elect and chosen Ion. 1.11 12. 2 Cor. 5.7 Ans The glorious grace of new creation or new birth Quest 7. What is this new creation or birth Eph. 4.22 c. Ioh. 3.3 5. Col. 3.10 1 Cor. 6.9 c. 1 Thes 2.13 5.23 Rom. 12.12 Ans It is a Sanctification of and real communication or change of our Nature our understanding will memory and whole man by the Spirit of Sanctification from impurity and sin to the pure Image of God pressing more and more to perfection and to be like God our Father in Christ not like or conformed to the world as the children of this world desire to be Quest 8. What are the two chief acts or works wrought in the soul by the Spirit of Christ in the grace of new creation Col. 3.5 c. Rom. 6.6 c. 7.22 c. Ans First the Mortification weakning and killing or crucifying of the old man or Natural corruption or Law in our members and rebelling power of sin in us as dregs of the old Adam to be purged out Secondly the Vivification Col. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.16 5.14 15. 3.17 18. Gal. 2.20 or quickning and enlivening of the new man or inward man in our souls according to the Image of God and living power of Christ now living in us Quest 9. What is the chief end of this new creation and holinesse thus wrought in us by the holy Ghost Isa 61.3 Heb. 12.14 2 Thes 13. Ioh. 17.17 24. Ans That we may be trees of righteousnesse that God may be glorified 2. That we may see God and be saved Quest 10. How may a man or woman know they are new Creatures Ans First by the help of the Spirit of Christ Eph. i. 17 c. Secondly by the light of their own consciences reflecting upon themselves in self Examination so here to finde out Rom. 9.1 1. What changes is wrought in their hearts and will and affections Psa 51.9 10 11. as David prays for Psal 15.1 2 3. Ezek. 36.31 Psal 16.2 3. Psal 119.97 2. In their lives and conversations from sin and wickednesse to Grace and goodnesse 3. What loathing of evil and loving of God goodnesse and good people according to godlinesse in their Souls and Spirits 1 Tim. 1.12 c. 1. This change Paul found in himself 1 Cor. 6.9 c. 2. This he found in his Christian Corinthians 3. And this a man or woman may finde in themselves Ioh. 9.25 if a true change or new creation be wrought in them Quest 11. What is the tenth blessing and benefit procured by Christ and given in and by Christ from God the Father to his Church and Children Ioh. 14 i6 c. Ezek. 36.27 Zach. 12.10 Rom. 8.9 Gal. 4.5 6. 1 Cor. 12.3 c. 1 Ioh. 2.27 Ans The great and special and daily gift of the blessed Spirits presence the holy Ghost God equal with the Father and the Son not only as a worker of all these graces in us at first as we noted before but also as continually present a counsellor and comforter yea a perpetual preserver of his graces in the souls of Gods children meeting them in the Word Preached in the Sacraments in Prayer and in all other duties and Ordinances secret private and publike for their Eternal good in Christ Jesus Quest 12. How shall a man or woman know he or she hath the Spirit of Christ Ans If he or she be led or guided by the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8 i 2 12 14 Quest 13. What respect is to be had to the Spirit Ans A special care is to be taken Eph. 4.30 Psal 52.11 12. that we grieve not the Spirit by whom we are sealed to the day of Redemption but to prize his presence above all earthly treasure Quest 14. Are there any more blessings which Christ hath procured and God in Christ giveth to his Church Ans Yes there are multitudes in particular both for this present life and the life to come I will name but these that follow Quest 15. What is the first Isa 61.10 Rom. 14.17 Ans First the cloathing upon with Christs righteousnesse Quest 16. What is the second Ans Peace with God with and in our own consciences and with all good Angels and men Rom. 5.1 Phil. 4.7 Hos 2.18 Luke 2.14 Isa 11.5 c. Heb. 1.14 2 Pet. 1.11 12. Rev 22.9 Quest 17. What is the third Ans Thirdly joy and rejoycing in hope of the glory of God rejoycing in Christ with joy unspeakable and full of glory Rom. 5.2 14.17 1 Pet. 1.8 Quest 18. What is the fourth 1 Pet. 1.3 Ans Fourthly a lively hope of Heaven which no wicked man can have Quest 19. What is a fifth Rom. 5.3 Act. 5.41 Heb. 11.24 c. Ans Fifthly a joyful willingnesse to suffer for Christ Quest 20. What is the sixth Rom. 8.28 Psa 119.71 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Ans Sixthly an ordering of all things whatsoever for good of Gods children yea a working of all for good a blessing unspeakable Quest 21. What is the seventh Ans Seventhly an assurance we are Gods children by the Spirits witnesse and the fruits and graces of Christ in my soul Quest 22. What it the eighth Isa 11.10 Phil 4.11 c. Ans Eighthly a sweet rest and contentment in Christ in every state and condition both for soul and body for this life and the life to come Quest 23. What is the ninth Gal. 2.20 Ans Ninthly an enlivening vertue from Christ to cherish life and grace in the soul Ioh. 15.15 Phil. 4.12 and enable us for every duty and performance to Gods glory and good of our selves and others Quest 24. What is the tenth Ans Tenthly Gen. 4 4. Mat. 17.5 Heb. 11.4 Isa 1.5 6 7. 1 Pet. 1.3 c.
Baptism that as you have said even now although it had been abolished as circumcision was which it was not yet it might be continued untill mens mindes were enlightned as circumcision was continued for a time and much more now be practised in the Church since it cannot be proved to be any where forbidden by Christ but rather approved and since there are such different and doubtful opinions of it in such as profess to be Saints how should Saints behave themselves one to another in the Church of Christ Ans Truly this may be a light from Christ to lead us unto Christ and learn from Christ and his Apostles not to un-Church the Churches of Christ Reformed and yet reforming for this difference of Poedobaptism and such like as some virulent and unchristianlike Adversaries to Infant-baptism have done and yet endeavour to do But to labour for Reformation rather then unlawful Schism and Separation from the Church Thus shall we declare our selves to be Christians indeed not seeking division but in a Christian Brotherly way endeavouring Union and Unity and Peace in the Church each one labouring for a true and pure Reformation 1 Cor. 13.11 rather then a separation one from another in the profession of the Gospel of peace that peace and the God of peace may dwell amongst us The seventeenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VErily I like well of your Christian conclusion for Peace and Vnity amongst Saints though there be some differences in opinion in lesser matters when as we all hold the Head Christ And since you have declared your knowledge and faith concerning the Sacrament of Baptism Now what do you know and believe concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and by whom and when was that instituted and what light is there from Christ to lead us to Christ therein 1 Cor. 10.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14. Luke 22. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. Ans This Sacrament of the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ himself in the same night that he endured his bitter Agony and also sweat drops of blood before he was betrayed by Judas and apprehended by the Officers of the High Priests and Elders to be condemned and put to death that cursed death of the Crosse which he suffered for our Redemption Quest 2. What is the outward visible sign seal or external material thing of the Lords Supper or of that Sacrament of the confirmation of our Faith and renewing of our Covenant again with God in Christ Ans The external or outward thing Mat. 26.27 c. 14.22 c. Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. sign seal badge or pledge in a Sacrament is that which being sanctified holdeth forth another thing to the inward ear or eye or hand or mouth of the soul which is Faith then it doth to the outward ear or eye or hand or mouth of the body and seals and assures another thing to the soul then that which the body partakes of and in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper this outward sign seal pledge and Symbol is the bread and wine consecrated or blessed and the bread broken and wine powred out the bread and wine given and received eaten and drunk of the faithful together with the whole Sacramental action according to the institution of Christ Quest 3. What is the inwrrd or internal grace and material thing in this Sacrament so signified sealed and communicated by Christ to every true and faithful receiver of these holy mysteries in this holy Ordinance Mat. 26.26 t. Iohn 6.55 c. 10.15 c. 1 cor 10.16 Eph. 5.25 c. Rom. 4.24 c. Heb. 9.25 c. 10.12 c. 1 Thes 1.10 Rom. 6.23 Ans The inward grace or inward material thing is Christ himself given for his Church with his body and blood spiritually received by Faith and all Christs merits with the graces procured by Christ in his death passion and Resurrection Ascention and all he hath done for our good both for this and a better life all which are lively represented sealed and communicated to the faithful in their souls according to the Covenant of grace held forth and confirmed in this communion of the body and blood of Christ Quest 4. But since Christ saith of the bread in the Sacrament This is my Body and of the wine This is my Blood do not the faithful receive corporally and carnally the Body and Blood of Christ in this Sacrament Ans No verily the Body and Blood of Christ cannot be received corporally and carnally with the hand and mouth of our bodies wratsoever the Capernaites of old or the Papists or any other since have imagined Quest 5. How then is the Body and Blood of Christ received in the Lords Supper Ans To understand this we must know that a body is divers wayes ascribed to Christ or Christ may be said to have a body in a fourfold respect or a fourfold body and spiritually and by faith the children of God do receive and partake of union and communion with Christ and Christs body in all these kindes Quest 6. What is the first kinde of body and how do the faithful receive and partake of that body of Christ in this Sacrament Ans The first was the Natural body of Christ Luke 1.15 Iohn 1.14 Mat. 27.21 c. 25.31.32 28.6 Acts 3.20 21. which was conceived and born of the blessed Virgin Mary crucified dead and buried and rose again for us and our salvation and ascended into Heaven and there is glorified and sits at the right hand of God the Father in power and glory where he shall remain making intercession for his Church till the day of Iudgement when he shall come with his glorious Angels in power to judge both the quick and the dead Quest 7. But how do we who are the Saints receive and partake of this Natural crucified and glorified body of Christ Ans We may be said to receive and partake of this natural body of Christ really and truly though not corporally and carnally by eating or receiving it by the hand or mouth of the body But 1 cor 10.16 First Spiritually and by Faith believing on Christ as our Lord and Saviour who gave his Natural body to be crucified and his Blood to be shed for our sins Gal. 2.20 Secondly Applying Christ and all his merits by Faith to our souls Iohn 6.5 6. Thirdly Receiving Christ to dwell in us and so having an union and communion with Christ as with our Lord and Head into whom we are ingrafted by Faith Fourthly To partake of Christ even the Divine Nature by our union and communion with Christ which is sealed in the Sacrament John 6.63 6.33 c. 10.18 Eph. 1.17 c. 3.16 c. 1 Cor. 12.12 c. 10.16 c. 2 Pet. 1.3 Quest 8. What is the second kinde of body which
heavenly bread Christ for our everlasting comfort The eighteenth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question VVHat analogy resemblance or similitude and fitnesse of agreement is there between the wine and the blood of Christ in the Sacrament Ans First Gen. 49.11 Deut. 32.14 Isa 63.2 c. Iohn 15.1 5. Luke 22.42 c. Mat. 27.24 c. as the wine is made of the blood of Grapes pressed and strained in the winepresse for the benefit of men and women so the blood of Christ was pressed out in the winepresse of the wrath of God which Christ did endure in his most bitter agony and passion for our Redemption Quest 2. What is a second resemblance and analogy between Wine and the Blood of Christ Ans As wine when it is drunken doth â—â—rm the stomack Psal 104.15 Prov. 3.6 Psal 119.13 Ier. 16.7 Mat. 26.27 c. Acts 10.28 Col. 1.10 Heb. 12.24 Iohn 1.7 Rev. 1.5 6. 5.8 c. chear up the spirits and make glad the hearts of men and women in times of sorrow as a cup of consolation of old time yea doth quicken and strengthen to labour and duty so likewise the blood of Christ received and drunken by faith doth by Christs vertue and merits warm the life of grace in the soul in assuring remission of sins purchased with his blood cherish comfort and quiet the soul and make it able and ready to every good work to the glory of God in Christ good of his Church and joy of our own hearts Quest 3. What is a third analogy or simulitude between Wine and the Blood of Christ 1. Cor. 10.3 Mat. 26.27 1 Cor. 12.4 Gal. 3.27 28. Eph. 4.3 c. Ans As many Grapes pressed together make but one wine and all that receive the Sacrament drink of one and the same blood and juice of the Grape as of the cup so all the vertue of the passion of Christ his active and passive obedience to his Fathers will for us makes one cup of precious blood for the faithful to drink and all the faithful drink of the same blood of Christ as of one cup of love to signifie and seal our union and communion with Christ and one with another in love as all made one in Christ Iesus Quest 4. Now what kinde of union and presence is this between the signes and the things signified if it be not a corporal and local union and presence Ans First for the union between the signes and the things signified though there he not a corporal or local or place union yet it is not an imaginary but a true Spiritual relation and union by vertue of which and of the Covenant of Grace in Christ the things signified are really and truly communicated to all them that lawfully and rightly partake of the outward signes in this Sacrament 1 Cor. 10.16 Quest 5. How is there a presence of the thing signified with the signes if there be not a local presence or that the things signified be not present in place with the outward signes either by way of Transubstantiation the Bread and Wine turned into the Natural Body of Christ as Papists or of Consubstantiation or of the Natural body in or under Bread and Wine as some others have imagined Ans There is a fourfold manner of presence in and by which one thing may be said to be present with another which being rightly observed a man may easily see how Christ and things signified are and may be said to be united and present to the outward signes in the Sacrament and to Believers that partake of them Quest 6. What is the first of these Heb. 2.14 Luke 24.38 c. Mat. 28.6 Acts 3.20 21. 1 Cor. 8.17 12.13 27. Ans The first a local or place-presence a bodily presence in a place as a man is present in a house as Christ was in the Temple or the Sun in the Firmament or the like and with this presence Christ may be said to be present not bodily but in respect of his Divine Person and Spirit by which he is alwayes present with his to the end of the world yet not by the presence of his Natural body either by Transubstantiation or turning the bread and wine by vertue of the Priests words of consecration into the Natural body and blood of Christ as the Papists or by Consubstantiation as if in or under the bread and wine the Natural body and blood of Christ were contained as some Lutherans have affirmed Christs Natural body though glorified being finite like ours and cannot be in multitudes of places and persons at the same moment of time But indeed is in heaven and there to continue till the day of Iudgement yet present by spiritual union with us as we are Members of his Body Quest 7. What is the second manner in which one thing may be said to be present in or with another Ans By a Sacramental sâ—mbolical Gal. 13.1 1 Cor. â—0 16 or figurative presence when a thing is represented to the minde of a man by some outward signe as a thing is represented by a word or a voyce or a man to the sight by a Picture And thus Sacramentally Christs true natural body and bloud are present as represented to the eye of the soul the minde of a believer by the outward signe of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Quest 8. What is the third manner of presence Ans The third is a spiritual presence Heb 11 i 1 Cor. 10.3 4 5. Ioh. 8.56 when we represent a spiritual thing not present as present to and with us by Faith as faithful Abraham by the eye of Faith did see Christ day many hundred yeers before Christ was born or as by a prospective Glasse we do bring the body of the Sun or Moon or of a Star far off to be neer and as it were present to the eies of our bodies and thus Christs natural Body and Blood his passion death resurrection ascension and all his benefits are present to our souls and bodies by Faith to our joy and comfort Quest 9. What is the fourth kinde of presence in and by which one thing may be said to be present in or with another Ans This is a virtual presence when that which is distant and far off in place Mat. 28.20 Mat. 18.20 1 Cor. 10.16 is by the virtue power and efficacie present to and with us for our comfort and nourishment as the Sun in the firmament is far off in place and yet the vertue the light and warm'th of the Sun is present with us here on the earth to direct revive quicken nourish and cherish the creatures yea men and women whom experience teacheth to be refreshed by it And thus vertually Christ is present yea his natural Body and Blood whole Christ and his vertue present for the nourishment of true believers and their assurance of eternal salvation by Christ sealed in this Sacrament Quest 10.
the spirit of Christ to know believe and feel and be affected in his heart and conscience with his own self guiltinesse of sin original and actual and of bondage under sin and misery due to sin yea of his subjection to the wrath of God to death and damnation eternal for sin Thirdly with the sence of his utter inability to save himself Fourthly of his extreme need of Christ in some sence Eph. i. 16 c. Heb. 4.12 13. 1 Thes 1.4 5 6. 2 Tim. 3.15 c. Ier. 31.34 2 Cor. 5.16 Ps 57 i.2 3. Rom. 3.20 and 7.17 Eph. 16.28 c. Gen. 30. 1 Mar. 5.25 c. Phi. 1.29 Act. 16.14 and 13.48 2 Pet. 1.1 2 3. Eph. 1 i6 17 c. Rom. 10.17 Gen. 18.18 19. Mat. 16.13 c. Eph. 1.19 2 Cor. 3.8 and 4.5 Gal. 4.15 6. and 5.4 5 6. Luk. 24.25 c. Prov. 30.5 Isai 5.20 Ioh. 5.39 Rom. 15.4 act 17.11 12. and 24.14 c. and 2.19 Eph. 1.13 1 Tim. 1.5 c. act 20.24 Rom. 10.10 2 Tim. 1.12 act 15.9 Gal. 5.6 as Rachel did of children give me Christ or else I die then is the soul fit and ready to receive Christ with his precious justifying living Faith Quest 5. Who and what is the principal worker or efficient cause of our Faith Ans The principal efficient cause is God himself the Father Son and blessed Spirit or God the Father in the Son by the Spirit which great God by his Grace and in his free love hath elected and doth call his children to Faith and Glory in the Gospel and worketh Faith in them by the spirit of Faith and working of his mighty power in the world Quest 6. What is the instrumental efficient or working cause of Faith the means by which or by whom we believe Ans This is two fold outward and inward and the outward is ordinarily the Word of God in the preaching of the Gospel and catechizing inwardly the spirit of Christ called the spirit of Faith Quest 7. What is the material cause ground or object of Faith Ans The whole Word of God in general and the rich promises of Grace and Covenant of Gods free love or Gospel of the Grace of God in particular Quest 8. What is the form or nature of this Faith this precious Faith of Gods Elect Ans The form of this Faith First is not onely a light of knowledge in the understanding and assent to the truth of the Word of God as an historical Faith is Secondly Nor some temporary joy in the word as in temporal Faith Thirdly but it is this knowledge and assent joyned with a firm confidence and affiancy in the heart and will to rest on Christ and Christ his merits and righteousnesse and to trust in Christ alone for salvation As the vegetative or growing life and the sensitive or life of sence is joyned with the reasonable faculty or reasonable life in the soul in man which distinguisheth men and women from all brute creatures even so is this confidence and assured rest on Christ in this Faith joyned with knowledge and assent and sweet fruits in Faith which distinguisheth it from all false faith whatsoever Quest 9. But hath this true Faith allwayes joyned with it this confidence and assured rest on Christ Ans This Faith when it is a stronge well grown Faith 1 Cor. 7.5 Mat. 8.26 and 14.31 Isai 42.3 Psal 1.6 Heb. 12.2 it hath this blessed confidence and assured rest on Christ though not alwayes free from temptations to doubt But a weak Faith though it be a true Faith is often subject to fears and doubtings yet so as God in Christ inables the soul to stand and adhere to Christ and preserved from final despaire in greatest times of tryal for the comfort of weak Christians Quest 10. What are the effects and fruits of this true lively Faith Ans The effects of this true lively Faith in a believer or of Christ in the soul Christ thus truely apprehended and rested on by Faith in apprehending of Christs righteousnesse are divers And First justification by Christs righteousnesse and merits Rom. 5.1 act 13.39 Secondly sanctification and purity of heart 1 Cor. 1.1 2 3. Thirdly Christian liberty from the condemning and commanding power of sin Rom. 8.12 Rom. 5.1 Fourthly peace of conscience which passeth all understanding 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 8.35 36 37 38. Iohn 8. 5 6. Rom. 5.4.5 and 15.13 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 6. 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Heb. 11.1 1 Pet. 1.8 Fifthly Love of Christ and a longing desire to walk in the wayes of Grace inseparable against all persecution Sixthly Joy in the love and sight of Christ and in the comfortable assurance of perseverance in grace and lively hope of Heaven Seventhly A kinde of entrance into eternal glory Faith making that as present to the eye of our souls which is not seen or present to the eyes of our bodies and yet affecting a beleevers heart with joy unspeakable and full of glory Qâ—est 11. What is the end of this true lively justifying faith this precious faith of Saints Ans The end of this faith or Christs benefits received and enjoyed by Faith is Ephes 1.5 6 7. 2 Thes 1.10 Eph. 3.16 c. 1 Thes 5.23 24. 1 Pet. 1.9 Rom. 8.30 First and principally the glory of God in Christ Secondly the preservation comforting and strengthning of our souls in the Kingdom of Grace with our everlasting salvation in the Kingdom of glory for evermore The twenty one Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have made profession of your knowledge concerning the Grace of Faith Now what is you knowledge concerning the Third Grace the Grace of Evangelical Repentance to be examined renewed and enlivened of every Communicant men and women before the approach to the Lords Table What light have we from Christ concerning this Grace Ans By what I have learned from Christ I conceive Evangelical Repentance Renovation Regeneration new Creation and Conversion unto God is a Grace of God reconciled to us in Christ by which a poor soul enlightned by the Spirits working in or by the Word of God First With a true knowledge sight Rom. 3.20 and 7.7 Luke 15.17 and sence of sin original and actual Secondly Of the misery and bondage under sin Thirdly Terrour of the wrath of God due to sin Fourthly With tidings of Christ a Saviour Acts 5.31 Exalted to give Repentance and Remission of sin Iere. 31.18 Acts 2.36 37. Gen. 4.13 1 Sam. 31.4 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.4 5. Acts 2.37 38. and 16.28 29 30. Iere. 31.19 First Is troubled stinged pricked and wounded in conscience sorrowful broken-hearted and humbled under Gods hand bemoaning himself for sin as Ephraim of old Secondly Brought to a kinde of despair though not final or a despair of Gods mercy in Christ as Cain Saul Achitophel and Judas yet with a despair of themselves or of any power in themselves to save themselves
from hell and damnation Thirdly A being affected by the power of Christ with recipiscence or beginning to be wise again with a shame and confusion of soul for sins past Hos 14.1 2 c. Fourthly with a renewing of spirit and change of minde and judgement of heart will affections desires and whole man and all by the powerful vertue of Christ and the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son Ezek. 36.31 Fifthly A dislike and loathing of sin and former evil courses as contrary to the nature of God and new nature of grace in the soul Sixthly Acts 11.18 2 Cor. 7.10 Rom. 12.2 Ioh. 3.5 2 Cor. 5.17 Psal 51.14 Luke 22.32 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Rom. 8.15 Psal 51.1 2 3 c. Luke 22.61 62. 2 Cor. 7. as 2 Kin. 23.2 3. It is inabled by Christ unto an aversion and turning from all sin and Satans Kingdom in thought word and deed and a conversion unto God and all goodnesse with a love unto and a delight in righteousnesse and true holinesse And this not onely in our first conversion or repentance as a work of grace begun in us But all the dayes of our lives perfecting holinesse by the vertue of our Saviour to the glory of God good of our neighbours and comfort of our own souls in Christ Jesus especially in the renewing of our Covenant when we meet Christ in the holy Sacrament Quest 2. You have given a large discription of Repentance to give in the substance of what repentance is in fewer words as you understand and conceive of it in your minde Ans Repentance is a grace Act. 5.31 Iere. 31.19 1 Sam. 7.2 Iob 34.32 Hos 14.8 and free gift of God in Christ by which a poor sinner upon sight and sence of sin and misery and bondage revealed by the spirit is affected with true sorrow and shame for his original and actual transgression and though he despair in himself yet by faith resting on Gods free love in Christ Zach. 12.10 11. Prov. 28.13 2 Thes 2.13 Eph. 4.20 c. 1 Thes 5.23 is drawn to a hatred of sin that crucified Christ and is converted by Christs vertue from all sin to God forsaking of all sin daily more and more and the Image of God daily renewed in him more and more that he may glorifie God in grace on earth till Christ bring him to glory in Heaven Quest 3. Who is the author and efficient cause of this Evangelical Repentance Regeneration Renovation and Conversion from sin to God in Christ Rom. 1.7 and 1.4 1 Thes 5 23. 2 Thes 2 13 14. 2 Cor. 5.10 Ans The whole Trinity in common and in special the Holy Spirit that Spirit of sanctification sent of God the Father and the Son with the Word into the mindes and hearts of poor sinners to this end that they may repent be born again converted and changed from glory to glory by the vertue of Christ Quest 4. What is the internal moving cause of this Repentance and Regeneration and Conversion of poor sinners unto God Titus 3.4 5. Iohn 1.12 13. Ephes 2.4 5 c. Ans The free-grace and good will of God in Christ giving and working this grace of his own goodnesse in the hearts of his children Quest 5. What is the internal principle meritorious vvorking cause by vertue vvhereof this change is vvrought in our souls Ans This is Christ himself Eph. 5.25 26 27. Revel 1.5 6. and his merits and blood by which we are cleansed sanctified and changed that we may be presented blamelesse before God Quest 6. What is the instrumental outvvard cause of this Repentance Regeneration and Conversion or turning unto God in Christ Ans Ordinarily the Word of God Exod. 19.18 20. Acts 2.36 37 38 39. Luke 3.9 10. Rom. 3.20 Acts 9.1 2 c. 1 Pet. 1.23 Acts 16.25 c. both Law Gospel brought home to the soul in the powerful preaching of it by the work of Christs spirit and sometimes extraordinary means as thunders lightnings judgements of God afflictions fears terrors and such like with which God worketh as he pleaseth to this end Quest 7. What is the subject matter of this Repentance and nevv birth and sanctification and turning unto God or that vvhich is thus converted to God in Christ Ans The whole man all the powers and faculties of the soul understanding will memory affections conscience and all the parts 1 Thes 5.23 24 Rom. 6.19 20 21. Rom. 12.1 2. Acts 15.9 1 Cor. 10.32 and 6.15 c. Rom. 6.3 4 c. Ephes 2.1 2 c. Isai 1.16 17 c. Eph. 4.21 c. Isai 5.7 Col. 3.9 10. Gal. 2.20 and members of the body eyes ears hands feet heart all purified and sanctified to glorifie God by Christ Iesus Quest 8. What is the form or manner of this Repentance Regeneration and Renovation unto nevvnesse of life or vvherein doth this form consist Ans In the mortification of the old man and the vivification or quickning of the new man the old man or old Adam being crucified and the body of sin destroyed and the new man created and enlived by Christ living in the soul and so an aversion from all evil and a turning or conversion unto good by the vertue of Christ Quest 9. What is the end of this grace of Repentance Renovation and Conversion to God in Christ Ans The cheif end is the glory of God the edification of our neighbour and the assurance and enjoynment of our own eternal salvation 2 Tim. 2.21 2 Thes 1.11 12. Matth. 5.16 Gal. 1.22 23 24. 2 Pet. 7.8 9 10 11. 2 Thes 2.13 Quest 10. You have made profession of your knowledge and of the grace of Faith and concerning Evangelical repentance now what light hath Christ revealed to you concerning the fourth and last Grace we noted in the wedding Garment to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Supper Ans The grace of Christian love and charity is a necessary Garment to be worn as at all times so especially when we meet Christ in the Ordinance of the Lords Table Quest 11. What is this grace or affection of love and charity as you have learned from Christ Ans First in general love is an affection of the soul moving in the heart of a man or woman to embrace some known good thing First with a desire of union with it Secondly a Sympathy or good will of beneficence or well doing to it Thirdly an acquiescence 1 Sam. 17. 1 Sam. 18.1 2 3. or rest in the fruition or enjoyment of it as under God the chief present joy and satisfying delight of the soul as the love of Ionathan to David of husband and wife parents and children or the like First Ionathan observed David and knew him to be a valiant good man 1 Sam. 19.4 1 Sam. 20.4 2 Sam. 9.1 2 c. Secondly in his heart desiredd union and was knit to Davids heart
after the Lord 1 Sam. 7.1 2. Quest 9. What is the fifth help Answ Application of the Sacrament to my self as a seal of the covenant of grace 1 Cor. 10 16 17. Rom. 4.11 Gal. 2.20 Rom. 9.23 24. and of my confirmation in the faith and love of God to me as my God and Father reconciled to me in Christ untill I prize it as a rich treasure and part of the riches of Christs kingdome of grace for my preparing to glory Quest 10. What is the sixth and last help Answ Prayer to God with faith in the name of Christ zeal and constancy and humble waiting untill I can understand by the help of Christs Spirit Ios 16.23 Iam. 1.6 Iam. 5.16 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 Cant. 5.8 Gâ—n 30.1 Esther 5.13 Luke 22.20 1 Cor. 11 25. the excellency of this ordinance and that glorious union and communion which a prepared humble faithfull soul enjoyes with Christ feeding on Christ spiâ—itually and feasting with him at the Lords Table and untill my soul be so far sick of love for Christ that I can truly say as Rachel did of children O my God give me the holy Sacrament and to feast with Christ in it or else I dye Or as Haman did of all his riches and honours and of Hesters banquet in another kinde what is all this so long as I enjoy not Christ and banquet not with Christ at the Supper of my Lord. Quest 11. You have declared how you conceive the grace of knowledge both of God and of our selves and of Christ and of the Sacrament may be enlivened waiting on Christ in these or the like helps now how do you conceive the grace of faith may be enlivened by the power of Christ so as you may come with greater comfort to the Lords Table What light from Christ to enlighten in this work of grace Answ First time and secondly place being observed as before Thirdly I conceive I may wait on Christ in a serious examination of my faith as it is held forth before in this catechisme First distinguishing this lively faith from all other kindes Secondly examining and trying my faith 1. In the nature of it an entertaining receiving applying faith 2. In the means disposing my heart to believe 3. In the heavenly author or efficient and instrumentall causes of faith the word of promise and spirit of Christ 2 Cor. 4.13 4. In the matter and object of faith 5. In the form and life of faith 6. In the effects and fruits of faith all proved and set forth already Fourthly I may enliven my faith by waiting upon Christ in self-application of all those rules of tryall to my own heart to see how the truth of this grace is in my soul Fifthly I may wait on Christ in a solid and devout meditation of the grace of saith in my heart of the promises of Free-grace in Christ and especially the sacramentall promises now to be looked upon in the Sacrament This is my body Mat. 26.26 27. this is my blood which is given which is shed for you untill my soul findes and feeleth that it believes more firmely receiveth and rests on Christ for salvation more fully Sixthly wait on Christ in prayer to God the Father in the name of Christ Isa 11.10 Isa 66.11 1 Cor. 10 21. That I may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation and feed with joy at the Lords Table Quest 12. How or in what manner may you wait on Christ to quicken and renew your Evangelical Repentance or daily turning more and more from sin to God in minde will affection and conversation that you may with more comfort come to the Lords Supper What light is there from Christ to lead you to Christ in this grace and duty Ans First Time Secondly Place observed as before Thirdly I am to set my self as in Gods presence and examine Ier. 31.18 19. First My first conversion to God to finde evidence of the truth of that by considering 1. The meritorious cause Christ 2. The Nature 3. Author And 4. Means of working this grace in my soul as far as I can discern 5. The matter of it the whole man soul and body 6. The manner And 7. The end and effects of this conversion and repentance as in this Catechism is held forth or a I finde in other Catethisms or word from Christ Ezek. 36.31 Psal 51.10 Mat. 26.57 Secondly To examine the progresse and growth of it daily in my soule not only loathing but turning from sinne to God and lamenting my fâ—â—ling with sorrow if I have fallen as David Peter or other Saints of God and ungratefully forgotten the love of my Saviouâ— Fourthly meditating of my sinnes and vile ingratitude against so good a God to me in Christ Fifthly a right application all to my own soul in particular Psa 51.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Isa 2.1 2 3. Psal 122 1 2 3 4. Cant. 1.7 8. And lastly prayer to God in the name of Christ untill I finde an increase of power over my sinfull corruptions and a more ful assurance of my pardon new heart and spirit-restored joy which that it may better be communicated from Christ to my soule I long to meet Christ in his ordinances Quest 13. But what help and light from Christ have you to finde out not only your originall sin and sinfull nature in generall before your repentance and conversion to God but you daily actuall sals an A failings by which you do dishonour God grieve the Spirit of Christ and wound your own conscience and make your self more unfit to come to the holy Sacrament Answ I conceive I may wait on Christ and his Spirit looking for light from Christ into a threefold glasse or book which reveils sins to my soul by the power and light of Christs Spirit Quest 14. What is the first Answ The first is the book of the law or commanding part of Gods will or Word revealed by Christ held forth in the ten Commandements in particular Isa 8.21 and in the whole Scriptures of God in generall Quest 15. What is the second glasse Ioh. 3.17 18 19 20. Ioh. 16 8 9. Hebr. 2.2 3. Mat. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6. 9 10 11 12. Mat. 25.19 c. Answ Secondly the book ot the Gospel or gracious promising part of Gods Word against which I have sinned by unbelief too little regard of the tender of grace to improve my talent of faith other graces communicated to Saints and to my soul in and by Christ Iesus Quest 16. What is the third glasse or light from Christ to see this truth Answ The book of my own conscience enlightned which as Register recordeth my sins and will upon search by the help of Christs Spirit and light from Christ set my sins before my face with the circumstances Rom. 2.14 15. Rom. 9.1 2. Gen.
whom I lived Rom. 7.14 c. Psal 66.18 19. 2 Cor. 7.5 Gen. 25.22 or of any sailings in my self either in judgement or affection but was rather sorry for sin in others though by occasion and temptation I have faln but in those things which the world and some of my acquaintance counted but peccadilloes little sins yet I could not rest until for the quieting of my conscience I went into a secret place and confessed my sins to God yea sometimes with many tears and begging pardon and power over them but still my life was without comfort I sinned and prayed and seemed to repent and confessing my sins and sinned again and thought by my repentance I pacified Gods wrath or might please him by amendment yet I got not power over my sins and the corruptions of my nature nor any true peace or assurance that I was Gods childe and therefore lived in fear of Hell and sense of bondage Rom 7.14 15. Gen. 25 22. and fear sometimes that I had neither true faith nor repentance in me or did know either Christ or the Gospel of grace as I should if I had any life of grace in me and so it was as if I had twins in my soul as Rebecca had Quest 12. It s a good sign you had truth of grace in that you were not drawn to allow of sin in your self or others and that indeed there were twins in your soul Flesh and Spirit but your course in seeking to pacifie your conscience Gen. 25.23 Gal. 5.17 in some humiliation and confessions and sorrow for your sins with resolution of amendment if they did arise from any legal fears or accusations of natural conscience and not from Christs Spirit or if you rested in these or any acts or works of your own or in any religious duty or performances of duty of piety or mercy as many do although your conscience might be quieted for the present as a Papists conscience by his Confession to a Priest or performance of Penances enjoyned yet this way was not the way to get any true or sound peace to your soul or to get any true power over your sins or sinful corruptions in you but to look to Christ Acts 5.3 whom God hath exalted as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins and to wait on Christ in the Gospel till you by the Spirit of Christ be made so sensible of sin and misery that you see your extreme need of Christ and be drawn by the same Spirit to receive and rest on Christ as a sufficient Saviour and one in whom God the Father is well pleased This is the way to true peace in your soul Mat. 17 5. as the treasure of Christs Kingdom set up in your heart Rom. 14.17 Ioh. 1.12 Mat. 11.28 c. Ans I do acknowledge you say well Ioh. 6.37 44. Isa 11.10 26.3 4 Mat. 16.24 Phil. 3.6 c. Rom. 15.13 8.16 though I might have some weak faith in Christ and some beginning of grace in my soul yet the way I went was not a right way as now I believe to gain true peace because I did not begin my peace and assurance of peace from Christ and Gods Free-grace and love in Christ and faith in him but from my endeavour of repentance and acts of amendment both which I finde imperfect to this day and so can have no perfect and full peace that way but now I praise God since it pleased God of his goodnesse to let me see a more clear light of the Gospel and to reveal his Son in me as Saint Paul speaks Gal. 1.16 I have found and felt that there is a glorious rest and peace in Christ for poor sinners Isa 11.10 Ioh. 6.44 Ioh. 6.37 whom God the Father giveth and draweth into Christ and whom Christ will in no wise cast out from him and now the Lord hath enabled me to deny my self-righteousnesse and all self-confidence and by faith in Christ held forth in the promise of the Gospel to adhere to Christ to rest on Christ and trust to his merits and righteousnesse for my Justification before God and my eternal salvation in heaven and thus I have joy and peace in believing and am assured by the spirit of God Rom. 8.16 Gal. 2.20 witnessing with my spirit that I am the childe of God and have life of grace in me that Christ liveth in me and so I may come with comfort to meet Christ for nourishment of this life of grace at the Lords Table Quest But have you now other signs or symptomes of the life of grace in you save your faith and resting on Christ for salvation Ans Truly by that light I have from Christ I must acknowledge Christ rested truly on by faith and that assurance arising from the truth of the promises of God in the Gospel in general and special Gal. 2.20 2 Cor. 1.20 5.19 20 2 Tim. 1.12 Eph. 3.16 c. Iohn 6.5 6. Rom. 6.11 and the perswasion of Gods spirit in my soul in particular that Christ loved me and gave himself for me and so that God is my God reconciled in Christ to me and the eye of the soul by a reflect act of faith seeing that I do belive and by a living hand of faith lay hold and rest on Christ for salvation this lively faith I say is a prime evidence that Christ is mine and that Christ dwelleth in me and that I am his and that he hath truly communicated the life of grace to my soul but besides this I finde other signs of the spirit of life in me evidencing I hope the life of grace in my soul Quest 14. I do confesse a true lively faith is and may be a principal evidence of the life of grace in the heart Now what other evidence have you Ans First by light from Christ I have found that this assurance by faith in Christ Rom 5.4 5. and Christs spirit of Christs love to me and the shedding abroad of this love of God in my soul hath affected my heart 1. With love to Christ again yea such a love as draweth me after Christ more and more Rom 5.4 5. 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Cant. 1.2 3 4. 2 Cor. 5.17 2 Pet. 1. â— 4. 1 Pet. 2.2 3. 1 Cor. 11.16 Iohn 6.33 c. Iob 22.21 Gen. 24.63 Isa 66.11 12.3 1 Cor. 16.22 1 Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 20.27 and after a more full union and communion with Christ And 2. Constrains me with a holy spiritual loving affection to live henceforth not to my self but to him who lived and died for me and rose again So that now 3. I am made partaker of a new creation and of the Divine nature 4. I hunger more vehemently after the word of grace as having tasted that the Lord is gracious I long to meet with Christ here to receive spiritual nourishment from Christ to nourish this life of grace
heard one acknowledge That the Lord did strike him with a terrible sicknesse and fear of death and hell for his sins which terrified him and when he did recover God did draw him to attend more diligently to the Preaching of the Word by which he became so convinced of his former evil life and of the damnable danger of his former wicked companions and of the vanity of this present evil world 1. Christs spirit by the law or commanding part of the Word revealing even the vain thoughts Ier 4.14 Rom. 7. and speculative sinful imaginations odious to God yea the lusts of the heart to be damnable and as Christ interprets the Law He that is angry with his Brother rashly or calls his Brother Raca or gives him evil names shall be in danger of Iudgement and he that saith thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire or he that but looks upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5.28 Gal. 3.24 that Law was his School-master to bring him unto Christ and the Law so expounded by Christ convincing his conscience and so accusing him of sin that he could finde no rest or peace in his soul 2. The spirit of Christ by the promising part of the Word the Gospel of grace drawing him unto Christ Acts 13.48 Mat. 11.28 29. wrought faith in his soul enabled him to believe and imbrace Christ to receive and rest on Christ as he is All-sufficient and alone Redeemer and then he found rest in the arms of his Saviour and did know that Christ had communicated life of grace to his soul Quest 18. Sir have you known none in a different manner converted unto Christ Ans Yes truly to answer your relation I remember one acquainted me with the manner of his life and told me of his conversation I was saith he Mr. M. of London first a Souldier beyond Sea and got money and outward riches but I had gotten no life of grace in my soul Then I came into England and was a Courtier and encreased my riches but I gained no grace at Court nor life of grace to my soul Then I turned Merchant in the city and gained a place in custome for a great Merchandize and increased my gold and silver by trading but I gained no life of grace for my soul till in the time of the great Plague I fled the city for fear of infection and in the country though I took great store of gold and silver with me yet I was in danger to perish for want of provision no one would come near me for fear of the Plague nor suffer me to stir out of doors so that in a straight I began to think there was a great God who could starve me in the midst of gold Gen. 42.16 Iam. 4.16 2 King 7.19 20. Acts 16.29 5.42 Phil. â—3 7 c. of heaps or bags or take my life in a night and what was my gold and silver to me and I went back to London like the affrighted Iaylor not knowing what to do and I heard a Minister of the Gospel Preach Christ and the Doctrine of Gods Free-grace in Christ so sweetly that the spirit of God wrought faith in my soul drew me in to imbrace Christ to count all but dung for Christ and so I gained the life of grace more of value then all the gold and silver in the world And thus you may see how God is pleased to work divers wayes in the conversion of sinners Acts 2.36 c. 9.4 5. 16.14 Ioh. 3.1 and communicating the life of grace to their souls as we finde evidence in the Scriptures in Peters tears the Eunuch Paul Lydia and the Iaylor and others some wrought upon by the spirit of Christ in one way some in another but which way soever it pleaseth God to give grace that soul that findes and feels this life of grace to be nourished may assuredly approach with boldnesse and comfort to the Table of the Lord. Quest 19. But Sir Psal 116.11 Isa 50.10 Psal 51.8 c. Isa 63.17 Psal 77.7 c. I have heard a friend of mine complain that although in time past she thought she had the life of grace in her soul and she found divers evidences of her conversion felt joy and comfort in Christ with hungring desire and rejoycing to meet Christ in his Word Sacrament and other Ordinances and although she felt sweet refreshment from Christ in them yet now she walks in darknesse and seeth no light she findes hardnesse of heart and deadnesse of spirit to prayer or any spiritual duty she is forgetful of good cannot remember Gods Word full of fears and doubtings that she is none of Gods Elect she is subject to fearful temptations against God and Christ and the Gospel and Ministers as if false Preachers yea to speak against Gods Government or think strange thoughts of God and that God hath hardned her heart and his mercy is gone from her for ever And because she seeth so many divisions even amongst those whom she hath esteemed to be Saints she is ready to cast off all and to think it is in vain for her to meet Christ in the Word or in the Sacraments judging her case desperate and in a sad condition she findes such decay of grace in her soul What counsel I pray you is to be given to her Or what comfort or means of comfort in Christ that she may be revived and the life of grace revived in her and she filled again with longings after Christ that so she may meet Christ again with comfort at the Lords Table Ans I have satisfied this doubt and answered these cases of conscience at large out of Gods Word in a Sermon which I Preached at Pauls Crosse London Printed by G. Fayrbead 1617. called The true way of a Christian to the new Jerusalem but I believe it is difficult to be gotten in print therefore I will acquaint you with the brief resolutions of these and such like cases of conscience by which some christians in the like temptations have found comfort and it may be with Gods blessing they may be profitable for your friend The twenty sixth Classis or Company of Questions 1 Question I Shall be right glad to hear of any comfort for my friends Now what I pray you are the causes wherefore the Lord somtimes suffers these doubtings and these temptations to disquiet his children Ans There are divers occasions why the Lord withdraweth the beams of his graces from his own people and leaveth them as it were to themselves for a time of many take a few which follow 1. Isa 57.16 c. Psal 31.1 c. It may be for some sin for which the soul is not humbled so God doth it for humiliation that the soul may see more need of Christ both for Iustification and Sanctification Psal 77.2 c. 1 Pet. 5.8
9. Psa 119.17 75. 2. It may be it is to keep a childe of God from security to awaken us and help us to walk more watchfully with God as David was troubled for very faithfulnesse for good 2 Cor. 1.7 c. 12 7 c. 3. To prevent spiritual pride and self-confidence that our whole dependency may be on Gods Free-grace which is sufficient for us Cant. 3.1 2 3. 5.5 c. 4. Or because he would try our faith or wisdom or patience or obedience constancy or such other graces 5. To cause his sons or daughters to esteem better of the sense of Gods love Iob 1 2 3 4 c. or Christs presence in time to come Psal 51.7 c. Luke 22.32 2 Cor. 1.3 c Eph 4.30 6. Because we should be watchful not to grieve Gods spirit by our failings or any way dishonour God but at return of spirit be stablished to walk constantly with God in Christ for ever 7. Or that in greatest darknesse we may wait upon the Lord till he cause his Sun to shine and his beams of love to appear again to the soul Isa 50 10. For these and such like ends God suffers doubtings therefore your friend ought not to dispair because she is troubled with fears and doubtings Quest 2. But can such temptations and weaknesses befull Gods children Psal 73.12 c Ier. 20.2 Rom. 7.22 c. Ans Your friend must know that these temptations and corruptions or weaknesses may sometime be found in the best of Gods Saints who are very dear and precious jewels in the eyes of Christ bought with the price of his own most precious blood and upon whom he hath bestowed an excellent measure of grace as David Jeremiah Paul and others these weaknesses arising either from the first corruptions of nature not yet fully purged in which are the seeds of all sin Atheism Infidelity or the like Gen. 6 5. Rom. 7.18 8.7 2 Cor. 17.7 Mat. 26.74 Gen. 9.21 c. 20.2 Psal 51. Luke 22.31 Secondly or else from Satans temptations from which we cannot expect to be wholly free in this life for Paul was often buffetted with these temptations Peter was tempted and fell fearfully Noah Lot Abraham had their Resurrections from sin and David was constrained to pray Create in me a clean heart O God and therefore none of Gods Saints in this life must think to be free from assaults of spiritual Enemies and winowings lesse or more Quest 3. What more is to be considered Ans Thirdly to satisfie further let her consider she is yet a member of the Church Militant Gen. 3.1 c. Eph. 6.10 c. and must expect as a Souldier of Christ many skirmishes before she passeth the wildernesse of this world to the Canaan of Heaven temptation is one sign of the life of grace which the Devil cannot abide in any soul therefore seeks by temptations to destroy it and the Saints which enjoy it as he sought to destroy Christ Mat. 4.3 c. Fourthly You know Satan tempted the Son of God to grievous sins to Idolatry to distrust of Gods Providence to doubt whether he were the Son of God or not as your friend doth whether she be Gods childe yea to pride to vainglory nay which is more to lay violent hands upon himself and destroy his own life by casting himself down headlong from a Pinacle of the Temple and when the Devil left him it was but for a season Luke 4.13 And if Christ was tempted she must not despair in temptation because she is tempted but resist Satan by the word as Christ did 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Rom. 8.35 c. and so in time she shall be more then a conquerour through Christ that hath loved her Quest 4. But what if my friend fear she shall one day fall by the hand of Satan as David once feared he should fall by the hand of Saul 1 Sam. 27.1 Ans Fifthly In time of temptation put her in minde that God hath the Devil in chains and can bridle him as he doth the roaring waves of the Sea at his pleasure Iob 38.8 And if at any time she be ready to sink by the waves of temptation as Peter in the waves of the Sea then let her pray to Christ for strength to imitate Peter to call out to Christ for his right hand of power to preserve her soul as Peter was saved and he is ready and will be ready according to his promise to save her from drowning according to that gracious promise made to his Church when thou art in the water I will be with thee it shall not drown thee Isa 43.2 as he saved Peter Mat. 14.30 31. so will he save his servants that put their trust in him Psal 18.27 34.6 Quest 5. You have given a good direction how to seek to Christ in times of temptations But what shall she do in her doubtings concerning her Election that she may be sure that she is one of Gods Elect and chosen ones and hath life of grace in her soul as called of God in Christ to glory Ans I answer as she that would finde the Sea must take the River by the hand and follow that so she that would finde out Election must get the golden chain of Predestination and lay hold on those links first which are nearest unto her she must by the power and direction of Christ in his Word and by his Spirit first finde our the effects and fruits of Election before she can finde Election it self first finde out the consequents of Election before she can finde out the antecedents and know Gods Free-love the cause of all As the Sun rising is known by the light approaching the fire by the heat and the tree by the fruits so Election that prime grace by the effects or subsequent graces that follow the Apostle holds this forth Rom. 8.29 30. whom God did foreknow with the knowledge of approbation them he did Predestinate whom he did Predestinate them he calleth whom he calleth them he justifieth whom he justifieth them he glorifieth Now begin at Calling the first link we can take hold on and if she be inabled by the power Christ to see her effectual calling from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto Christ Phil. 3.6 c. Acts 26.18 19. and from sin and her self-righteousnesse unto his perfect righteousnesse and merits which was the end why the Lord sent Paul to Preach the Gospel Then she may be assured of her Election And therefore let her examine her calling Iohn 1.10 c. 1. Whether the Lord hath drawn her soul into Christ to receive Christ as her Eternal High-Priest Prophet and King a before 2. Cant. 3.1 2 3. Hos 2.12 20. Whether he hath affected her heart with a longing desire to be married to Christ to have union and communion with Christ as her Lord and Saviour and
to love Christ with her soul 3. Ezek. 36.3 Hos 14.8 And whether he hath made her willing and desirous to loath and dislike sin and to forsake her natural and sinful communion with sin the world the flesh and the Devil 4. Whether she be willing to take the Lord Christ for her Lord and Father 2 Cor. 6.17 18. and Heavenly husband and then no doubt she is one of the Elect of God the Lord is her Father and she is his daughter who is the Lord Almighty Quest 6. But what if she doubt still Ans Give her this one rule that she seek with an impartial eye First as not to flatter her self that she hath grace when she hath none So 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Cor. 10.11 c. 2 Tim. 1.12 4.7 8. Secondly on the other side not to deny that grace which the Lord of his Free-grace and love in Christ hath bestowed upon her soul as any measure or true knowledge of true faith of true repentance of true love of true hunger after the Word desire of assurance of the like graces Thus may she in Gods due time finde her self a dear Elect daughter in Christ and so in Christ an heir and fellow-heir of Eternall glory and in the end assurance may come Quest 7. This may be a means by the power of Christ to stay her soul from despair in that temptation But what do you say to her decay in grace What light have you from Christ to reveal any comfort to her soul in this respect Ans I say the Apostle gives a caveat to his Christian Thessalonians 1 Thes 5.19 to take heed of quenching the spirit and yet no doubt they had the spirit of grace in them but they must be careful not to quench the spirit Gods dear children may be in danger to quench the spirit for a time and may lose the acts and vigor of grace for a time as Peter did when he denied Christ Mat. 26. though not finally and totally therefore if your friend finde some decay of grace in her soul or want of holinesse she ought not to conclude presently she is none of Gods childe or exclude the favour of God in Christ from her For First as there is no wheat but there is some chaff groweth with it so the best of Gods children have some imperfections Phil. 3.12 13. Secondly In this life we are not like the Sun perfect in brightnesse and light but like the Moon receiving our light of grace from Christ as the Moon doth her light from the Sun and like the Moon 1 Iohn 1.8 we are subject to have some changes some decrease as well as increase some spots of darknesse in the center of our hearts And Thirdly take this for a certain rule as sight and sense of weaknesse of body is a sign of bodily life for a dead man feels nothing so a sight and sense of spiritual weaknesse Rom. 14.15 c. is an evident argument of spiritual life of grace in her soul as it was in blessed Paul Eph. 2.1 1 Tim. 5.9 Rev. 3.2 3. Isa 40.30 31. Fourthly A dead man cannot see nor feel his own weaknesse at all a dead man complains not of sicknesse and therefore your friend ought not to despair because of sight and sence of failings which is an evidence of the life of grace but wait on Christ for more light and life till the soul recover strength and what is ready to dye be quickned and she finde peace in the end Quest 8. But I have heard my friend complain that sometimes she neither feels any signes of life of grace nor doth she feel any want of life of grace she is dead â—nd senslesse no hunger after the Word or Sacraments or Prayer or to meet Christ in any good duty she is sometimes so far from resting in a duty or setting it up in stead of Christ that she is carelesse of any duty at all as if all were in vain as to her her faith is dead and without life her soul and life is dead in respect of grace or any sense of want of grace in her soul like those Isaiah 64.6 7. no stirring of life in her And what comfort can be given to one in such a condition Ans Your friend hath no cause to despair but to live by faith For First did she ever finde or feel any signes or sense of life of grace in her soul any sight and sense of her sin and misery by natural corruption any sweetnesse or delight in meeting Christ in the Word or Sacraments or Prayer any combating or stirring in her soul between the flesh and the spirit Then although now she be as dead to all these let her know that the state of the childe of God in this life and the life of grace may be sometimes 1. Like a childe in the Mothers Simile 1 womb alive though not felt to stir or to have any motions of life at all 2. Or like a man in a trance wherein Simile 2 his own sense being as it were without sence or understanding yea and in the judgement of others may seem to be dead and yet after revive and come to himself again and so may a dear childe of God in respect of the life of grace Assuredly David after his fall until Example 1 Nathan came to him he had little sense of life of grace little remorse for his sin especially while after his sin of Adultery with Bathsheba he went on to plot and procure the making of Vriah drunk and after to take away his life so addes sin to sin Exam ∣ ple 2 The like may be said of Peter between his first and third time of denying Christ until the Cock did crow and Christ cast a look of mercy 2 Sam. 11 12 c. Mat. 26.69 75. Psal 51.1 c. and pity and love upon his poor soul then indeed he went out and wept bitterly as David repented and bewayled his folly and sinful fall in the end and prayed earnestly to the Lord to restore unto him the joy of his salvation and to stablish him with his free spirit Quest 9. What other around of comfort Ans Let her consider that Gods childe doth not sin as the wicked do with full heart consent and freedom because his seed of grace remaineth in him 1 Iohn 3.8 9. but like a man in a crowd or throng sometimes carried forwards and sometimes backward 1. Carried forwards in grace willingly the will regenerate and sanctified striving together with one consent with the grace given and good motions of Gods spirit assisting as in Christ Iesus to presse on to perfection And 2. Sometimes carried backward by corruptions and the violence of Satans temptations as it were against our will Simile to an ebbing in grace as in the Tide the water runneth back as the Moon decreasing Rom. 7.23 c. as Peter sinking in the water of presumption senslesnesse or despair as
Paul despairing Quest 10. What is the third comfort Ans Thirdly that though the faith of Gods childe be asleep for a time like Christ in the ship and the life of grace be covered as fire in the Embers not to be seen though like a tree in winter the faithful soul seem dead or as a sick man doth lose his taste of soul-refreshing-meat for a time or a childe of God like the Moon be Ecclipsed and all darknesse who can see no light ready to complain with the Psalmist Isa 50. lo Rom. 70.22 13. Mat. 8.24 Psal 77.7 8 9. Is his mercy clean gone for ever and will he be no more entreated hath God forgotten to be gracious and hath he shut up his loving kindnesse in displeasure Yet when Christ is pleased to cast a good look of grace upon their souls then life grace and sense of sin and sorrow for unthankfulnesse and for losse of first love will return as ni Peter noted before and as Christ looks for Rev. 2.4 5. Quest 11. What is a fourth consolation Ans That when the Lord Christ is pleased to draw near with his bright beams of light and love Mal. 4.2 then the soul will be enlightned and be enlivened with longings after Christ and a re-union with him in love and renewed acquaintance as in times past Quest 12. What is a fifth consolation for such a poor Saint Ans That when the spring time of grace returns and showers of Divine love and dews of spiritual refreshments from Christ fall upon the soul then will childe and declare he hath loved her freely that he will be as the dew to his daughter Hos 14.4 c. Isa 61.3 and that she shall grow in grace as the Lilly and the root of grace shall be fastned as the Trees of Lebanon and their beauty shall be as the Olive tree and she shall bring forth fruits as a tree of righteousnesse that the Lord hath planted that God may be glorified Yea she shall greatly rejoyce in the Lord and be joyful in her God she shall finde that he hath clothed her with the garments of salvation and covers her with the robes of his righteousnesse Isa 61.10 Psal 45.13 14. as a Bridegroom decketh himself with his Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewels Quest 13. These are comfortable and good encouragements if it please the Lord by the power of his spirit to apply and give strength to apply them to her soul But what if still she finde her faith weak and her holinesse so feeble that she yet is doubtful and fearful to meet Christ in his Ordinances or to come at the invitation to feast with him at his Table Ans Let her know that its not her act of believing or strength of holinesse doth justifie before God or maketh her acceptable in his sight but it is the object of her faith Christ Jesus and his righteousnesse and merits for which God is well-pleased with her Mat. 17.5 As it is not the hand that receiveth the Plaister and apply eth it to the sore Simile but the Plaister it self and the vertue of that with Gods blessing that healeth the wound So though faith be an instrument or hand to receive Christ and so an instrumental cause of Justification yet it is Christ and his merits and righteousnesse that is the meritorious cause and that which giveth true and full peace to the soul And this rest on Christ will prove a glorious rest in the end Isa 11.10 And therefore if your friend do but see the day light or renewing and requickning grace begin to dawn in the soul if but a wishing for the day as Pauls company in that long and sad night on the Sea of danger Acts 27.29 let her wait on Christ in his Ordinances and take her to the sure word of Gods gracious promises until the day light of grace dawn and the day star of joy appear in her heart 2 Pet. 1.19 If she finde any hunger though but a weak stomack like a man or woman new recovered or recovering from some long and tedious sicknesse yet let her weak soul almost fainting for lack of Christ as sorrowful for her former failings yet hungring after Christ and rejoycing at Christs invitation draw near to Christs Ordinances the Word Preached and Sacraments administred waiting to see the face of her beloved the Lord Iesus Christ Cant. 5.8 that she may tell him she is sick of love and be revived with the light of his countenaunce that she may sit down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit may be sweet to her taste Conclus And thus I have endeavored to satisfie your doubts to heal and help a tender conscience or comfort a drooping soul in time of a spiritual desertion that such a soul may not Excommunicate her self from Christs Ordinance but rather come and finde soul-refreshings of unutterable value 2 Tim. 1.1.2 1 Pet. 1.8 and believing on Christ and trusting Christ with her soul she may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory Quest 14. I will propound but one doubt more What shall a poor soul do if in use of all these helps for comfort he or she still walk in darknesse and can see no light of comfort or peace to their souls What light from Christ to such a poor disconso-spirit late Ans Although the childe of God walk in darknesse Isa 50.10 Hab. 2.3 4. Heb. 10.35 36. Isa 40.29 c. and can see no light of comfort no light of sense of the favour of God in the soul yet the poor weak soul must not despair but labour by the power of Christ to live by faith and dependent upon God in Christ until the Lord Christ Iesus that Sun of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings Gal. 2.20 Mal. 5.4 1 Pet. 1.9 and peace and joy be communicated through believing unto the soul to life and salvation the end of faith Quest 15. But how or by what means may a poor weak soul gain strength from Christ to live this life of faith when it walketh in darknesse Is there any light from Christ for this Ans By waiting upon Christ in the means of faith and endeavouring by strength from Christ to make use of those helps and furtherances which are held forth in Scripture Phil. 4.13 2 Cor. 5.7 to stregthen the foul and enable it to live this life of faith when evident sight and sense is absent Qued 16. What are these helps Ans There are divers but you may observe these that follow First to consider the nature of this life of faith First as a life of excellency by which the creature is enabled to glorifie the Creator as Abraham being strong in faith gave glory to God Rom. 4.20 Secondly as a life of suavity delightful and pleasant Mat. 6.25 c to live by dependence upon God in Christ 1 Pet. 5.7 Gal. 2.20 in the
22.30 and more inabled to powre out my soul in prayer more assured that although I may passe through many aafflictions yet I shall one day feast with Christ in the Kingdom of glory Quest 7. What further may you stir up in your soul Ans To observe how I am delighted and fully satisfied with this heavenly and joyful feast yea that I am so satisfied as never any more to feast at Satans Table or to have the least communion with the Devil the World or the Flesh or any sinful feast of sinful profits or pleasures whatsoever Isa 55.3 Iohn 6.34 35. as being now fully contented with Christs presence in this life and with assurance of Christs presence in that life eternal which is to come Quest 8. How may you wait on Christ in the second of these Divine meditations Gantâ— 2.3 c. Ans In fixing the eye of my soul so fully upon Christ in this feast I may meditate by the power of Christs spirit so exactly upon every particular dainty which my soul meeteth with at the Lords Table Quest 9. What else mayyou meditate upon Ans Upon those glorious refreshings and strengthnings of my soul in grace by the lively holding forth of Christ and my so near union and communion with Christ and with all the Saints until my soul say Cant. 2.1 c. It is enough Lord I desire no more but still to enjoy thee the delight of my soul and most thankfully to remember thy love above all the delights and loves of the world for ever Quest 10. How may you wait on Christ in the third and last faithful application of all to your own soul in particular Ans By the power of Christs spirit and faith I now by secret medication in faith may and do apply Christ and the love of Christ in all this rich feast to my own soul Quest 11. What benefits do you enjoy by this Ans First now by the eye of faith I see evidently that God my Father so loved me that he gave his Son for me that I now believing shall not perish Iohn 3.16 but have everlasting life Quest 12. What is a second Ans Secondly I now see by the eye of faith that my Lord Christ loved me and gave himself for me thar he is now become the Author and finisher of my faith yea Gal. 2.20 Heb. 12.2 the Author of eternal life to and for me to whom he hath given power to obey him in and by believing Quest 13. What is a third Ans Thirdly I now see by the eye of faith that all this great feast was prepared for me and lor my refreshing and souls contentment and is a sure and infallible sign Mat. 22.1 c. Iob 19.25 26. and seal and pledge of God my Fathers love to me in the Lord Christ who is my strength and my Redeemer Quest 14. What is a fourth Acts 3.20 21. Psa 24.7 Can. 5 1. Luk. 22.23 c Ans Fourthly I now see that although my Lord and Saviour my great King of glory who hath entred into the everlasting door of my soul keep his residence in his most glorious Court of heaven yet he hath been present with my soul in this rich feast of grace he hath fed me with his delicates he hath cheered up my spirits with his wines of joyes O the sweet meats of comforts that have made my soul fat this day I am filled with the loves of my Lord my heavenly husband who hath married me to himself for ever and made me sit with him at his Table Quest 15. What may I consider further Ans Fifthly How great was my unworthinesse and how invaluable was his love and Free-grace to my soul when he saw me in my blood and said live yea when I was in my blood dead in my sinful blood he gave me life when I was an Infant new born Exek 16.3 4. cast out to the loathing my person when my Father an Amorice and my Mother was an Hittite could not relieve me then my Christ my Lord did graciously succour me he cherished me he bred me up while I was grown in grace he cast his skirt of love over me and I became his and he made me glorious in grace through the comelinesse that he hath put upon me Quest 16. what is the sixth grace or benefit Ans Surely as I may so I will greatly rejoyce in my Lord and my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation Isa 61.10 and he hath covered me with the robes of righteousnesse as a Bridegroom decketh himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with Jewels Quest 17. What is the seventh benefit Answ Seventhly when I was in danger of my life through the plots and conspiracies of bloody enemies the World the Flesh and the Devil I drew near into the presence of my Lord with a true heart in full assurance of faith Est 5.2 Heb. 10.22 Can. 4.6 having my heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water my Lord held forth his golden Scepter of grace and revived my spirits which formerly hid been fainting for want of his gracious presence Quest 18. What may you conclade from these Ans Now I may truly and assuredly conclude I am my Beloveds and my Beloved is mine I will hold fast the profession of my faith without wavering Can. 6.4 Heb. 10.23 c. 1 Thes 4.16 c. Luk. 22.36 Ioh. 17.24 for he is faithful that promised I will consider my brethren and sisters in Christ to provoke unto love and to good works and I will not forsake the assembling of our selves together to meet our Lord at his Table as the manner of some is but exhort one another while it is called to day because the day approacheth when our Lord and King Jesus will call us all by his last Trumpet to feast at his Table in heaven where we shall be with him and see his glory for ever and ever Amen Quest 19. What is a second grace or gracious action to be put in present execution before your departure from the congregation and communion of Saints in this sacred feast Ans A present manifestation of my thankfulnesse and love to Christ my Lord and Saviour again in the work of charity Neh. 8.8 Acts 20.7 2.46 1 Cor. 16.1 2 3. 2. Tim. 1.16 3. Ioh. 5 6 7 8. 2 Cor. 9.4 c. Ioh. 2.34 c. according to my ability to the poor Saints my fellow-members of the same body of which Christ my Lord is the Head that I may refresh their hungry bodies as the Lord Christ hath refreshed my hungry soul with plentiful refreshings at his Table Quest 21. What is the third grace or gracious action to be acted and exercised by the power of Christ to Gods glory and your own comfort before the Congregation be dismissed after partaking this
sighs and groans of the spirit unto God at least in our desires Iam. 5.10 Rom. 8.26 27. 9. By way of Covenant Ier. 50.4 5. or renewing of our Covenant and performing our Vows to the Lord. 10. With perseverance giving the Lord no rest until according to his promise 1 Thes 5.17 Gen. 32.10 11. Isa 62.6 7. he grant the lawful desires of our souls so far as they may be for Gods glory and the good of his Church or that he make Ierusalem a praise in the earth Quest 24. What are the particular sins contrary to these particular duties in Prayer Answ There are divers particular sins opposite to these duties relating to the manner of prayer and especially these that follow First it is a sin to pray ignorantly not understanding to whom Mar. 10.35 c. in whose Name or for what we pray Heb. 11.6 Iam. 1.6 7. Secondly to pray without faith or any eye to a promise that we may have ground to hope for obtaining of that we desire Gen. 4.5 Isa 1.15 Pro. 28.9 Iudg. 10.10 c. Thirdly to pray without repentance so as God will not accept our persons or prayers but both are abominable in his sight Ier. 14.10 c. 4.14 Mat. 15.9 Fourthly to pray without reverence and devotion with wandring imaginations or vain distractions in this holy service Isa 15.1 c. Fifthly to pray formally without sincerity Luk. 18.11 12. Iam. 4.6 Sixthly to pray without humility ot sense of our own unworthinesse or submission to the holy will of the most blessed God August Confes lib. O Lord give me chastity but do not give it yet Seventhly to pray without spiritual fortitude or any wrestling with God or to pray faintly as Augustine before his conversion for chastity as desiring and not caring whether his petition was granted or not Eighthly Psal 77.1 2. to pray without zeal or fervency without sight or sense of the want or what we pray for Mark 2.19 29. or of the misery under which we lie without sorrow of affliction of spirits for the absence of Christ in respect of that present distresse in which we are Ninthly Gen. 35.1 to pray without renewing our Covenant or paying our Vows unto our God Tenthly Iohn 15.4 1 Sam. 12.23 to pray without perseverance to surcease or leave off prayer to this great God for our felves or for the Church and people God Quest 25. What should the meditation of these sins evein in our prayers work upon the souls of men Ans First to the wicked men out of Christ Pro. 28.9 21.4 it may be a Schoolmaster to ead them to Christ teaching them that even their prayers and much more their plowing is sin and therefore they should not eat nor sleep in quiet until they come into Christ and finde pardon Quest 26. But what may it teach Gods Children Ans First to see that when we have done all thtt we can we are unprofitable servants we can do no duty so well as we should and therefore stand in need of Christ and Justification by Christ without whom there is no salvation Acts 4.12 Secondly to call to minde that our Sanctification is imperfect and therefore we had need of Christs vertue daily to nourish the life of grace in our souls that we may be more able to call upon God and do him service Rom. 8.26 27. wich joy and comfort in and by Christs spirit Quest 27. You have opened the duties commanded and particular sins forbidden as they relate to Prayer ordinary Now what are the duties commanded and forbidden in respect of Prayer and fasting extraordinary practised by the Church of God Lev. 23.17 c. Iosh 7.7 c. Iudg. 10.28 1 Sā 7.6 Acts 14.23 Ionah 3.6.7 Mal. 2.2 Neh. 1.4 c. Ans Prayer extraordinary and fasting used by the Church as an outward help and furtherance to fit for Prayer is Prayer joyned with fasting or abstinence from ordinary labours and corporal refreshments so far as strength and fitnesse will suffer in sense of our unworthinesse Ot any creature-comforts and of our worthinesse that all temporal blessings should be cursed unto us for our sins that being truly humbled with sigh and sense of our sins Mark 2.20 Ps 85.8 Rev. 8. 4 5 6. and subjection to miscry by Christs absence or seeming absence from our selves or any other Saint in particular or from the Church of God in general either in respect of spiritual graces or want of the manifestation of Christs power and presence to help in any distresse we may seek the face of God in Christ with greater earnestnesse and finde a return of our Prayers with more joy in the Lord who is the hearer of Prayer in and through the mediation and merit of Jesus Christ Quest 28. What are the sins contrary to this duty of extraordinary Fasting and Prayer Ans To refuse or neglect Humiliation with Fasting and Prayer Isa 22.12 c. 58. 3 c. when the Lord calls for it or to perform the duty formally or by halfs not fully as the Lord requireth Quest 29. You have declared the duties required and sins contrary in Prayer Now what are the duties commanded and sins forbidden in respect of praises and thanksgiving unto the Lord and first in general Psal 50.15 23. 103.2 3. Ans It is the duty of every childe of God in Christ to glorifie God in all thankfulnesse for all deliverances from danger Rom. 12.1 or any other mercies received either spiritual or temporal Quest 30. What ia the contrary sin forbidden Deu. 32. 5 6 7. Luk. 27.17 Hab. 1.16 Isa 42.8 Ps 110.12 Ans To be ingrateful by sinning against God or to neglect to glorifie God for his favours bestowed or to sacrifice to our own nets or give the praise to any other which is due to God Quest 31. What are the particular duties required in Thanksgiving Ans There are divers you may observe these four First An acknowledgement of the blessings and graces which the Lord hath given us Gen 32.10 Neh. 9.5 to be far above all that we can do and above and beyond all thanksgiuing and praise that can come from us Gen. 28.20 21. Psal 16.5 6 7. Secondly A contentment in the lot and condition the Lord is pleased to order for us in his good Providence Acts 17.26 Ps 66.4 Thirdly A Declaration of Gods mercies bestowed upon us to others to Gods glory Ps 118.5 95.1 2 107. 8 c. Fourthly An Exhortation and stirring up of others to glorifie God with us for the Lords mercies Quest 32. What are the contraries of these duties Ans They are all sins As 2 Chron. 35.25 Ion. 4.8 9. First not to acknowledge Gods mercies and give the Lord thanks for them Secondly 2 Kin. 6.33 to be discontented at the Lords disposing of us either in prosperity
matter of our Worship And therefore 1. Men may see their extreme need of Christ for salvation Iohn 5.40 Mat. 17.5 and come in to Christ for Iustification and life eternal and to rest not upon our best services or performances of holy duties Rev. 8.4 Mat. 17.5 or any our graces but upon Christ for our acceptance with the Lord. Iohn 15.5 Phil. 4.13 2. Even Saints themselves may learn to wait daily on Christ in his Ordinances for true light strength and vâ—rtue from Christ wisely faithfully spiritually and truly to perform our holy services in publike and private Mark 5.30 to Gods glory and our own comfort in Christ Iesus And to direct and help you further for a more comfortable walking with God in Christ by true light from Christ Gen. 5.24 in your duties general as a Christian and particular in your calling and so all Christians in theirs not onely as they respect this second but all other Commandments of the first or second Table yea and as they relate to what is to be received by Faith and believed in the Gospel take these meditations and directions following First consider that the Lord Iesus Christ Ioh. 1.9 he is that true Light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Light that true that is that true Light with an Emphasis that surpassing excellent Light that increated Light that Essential Light all one with the Fathers Ioh. 10.30 1 Ioh. 1.5 Heb. 1.2 3. Iam. 1.17 Isa 45.7 and so that Light in whom there is no darknesse at all who is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the expresse Image of his person That Original Light as God the Father is the Father of Light with whom is no Variablenesse nor shadow of turning so is God the Son the Father and Creator of Light for all things were made by him Iohn 1.3 and without him was made nothing that was made and so he created the light also not as he was God and man but as he was the eternal and onely begotten Son of God As Jehovah is a Name attributed to God Acts 17.28 because he hath his being of himself and giveth being to all Creatures so light is attributed to Christ because he is light in himself and giveth light unto all He enlightneth every man or woman tht cometh into and is enlightned in the world all that receive any true light of nature grace or glory they receive it in or by the Eternal Son of God That external created light made in the beginning when God said Let there be light he was one person of that Elohim Gen. 1.13 Elohim Barah c. the strong Ones Father Son and holy Ghost of whom Moses saith Gen. 1.1 2 Cor. 4.6 Ioh. 1.2 He Created Heaven and Earth and who commanded that light to shine out of darknesse and that as he was with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the beginning and was God with the Father And that internal light of natural reason and understanding created with Adams soul and communicated to the understanding of our first Parents before their fall that was created and communicated by this Son of God together with the Father and the blessed spirit Gen. 1.26 Luk. 10.30 Eph. 4.18 5.8 he was one of that Counsel who made man in the Image of God and give that light of reason unto man which was so wounded and the purity and rectitude lost by the fall our understanding being darkned and we being by nature darknesse not light And for the light of grace Ioh. 9.5 whosoever receiveth that light they received it from Christ this eternal Son of God not only as he is God Isa 7.14 but as he is Immanuel God-Man Theanthropos Ioh. 1.14 God and Man the Word made flesh in whom dwells the fulnesse of the God-head bodily yea all fulnesse Col. 1 19. 2.9 2.3 in whom are hid all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God he being not only the co-essential wisdom of the Father Prov. 8.1 22 c. Heb. 12.24 Acts 20.28 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Cor. 1.30 but the Mediator of the New Testament the eternal High-Priest Prophet and King of his Church who hath purchased us and light of grace and true heavenly wisdom for us and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel yea is made unto us of God wisdom and righteousnesse sanctification and Redemption communicating light unto us As the Moon receiveth her light from the Sun so the Church of Christ and every true Christian soul receiveth the light of grace from Christ Ioh. 1.16 As of Christs fulnesse of grace we receive grace for grace so of Christs fulnesse of light we receive light of grace to prepare us for light of glory 2 Cor. 4.6 light to see the glory of a reconciled God in the face of Christ Ioh. 17.1 2 24. And whosoever have or shall receive the light of glory and life eternal they have and do and shall receive and enjoy that light of glory and life in and by Christ Col. 1.12 God the Father maketh us meet to be made partakers of that inheritance with the Saints in light 2 Cor. 5.19 but is in and by his Son Christ in whom God was reconciling the World unto himself Christ is the true light the fountain Rev. 22.16 Luke 1.78 79. the well-spring the day-star of light who hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darknesse and shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Now if you meditate and consider rightly and truly how Christ is thus the true Light and communicates true light of grace to sinners and to Saints and that all that are enlightned have and do and must receive their light of grace from Christ and every encrease of the light of grace in the soul is from Christ Then you may see a ground wherefore I call this Catechism A light from Christ leading unto Christ because whatsoever light is in it of God or grace it is from Christ And whatsoever light a poor soul stands in need of it is in and by and from God in Christ to be received And all light new or old which is contrary to the light ot Christ it is but a a false light leading out of the true way of life and light toward darknesse yea it is but error ignorance and darknesse it self and so not to be followed but by the light of Christ to be discovered and avoided yea and the publishers of such false lights to be rejected not entertained If there come any unto you and bring not this true Doctrine and light from Christ saith Saint John receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed 1 Iohn 10 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds By this true light of Christ you may
praise or neglect to blesse his Name when God requires Leviticus 24.15 Job 2.9 Mark 5.24 Secondly to curse or Blaspheame the sacred Name of God or of Christ our Lord in himselfe Word Ordinances or Works Thirdly to abuse the fearefull Name of God to conjuration charmes exorcismes or the like wicked abomination Fourthly to dishonour his Name Title Exodus 21.17 Mat. 5.44 James 3.9 10. Word or Workes of Judgement or mercy in using and abusing it in cursing Father or Mother or others by any wicked imprecation as a plague of God and Pockes on you or the like most odious and prophane termes wicked men practise against themselves or others as God damme me or them Quest 16. What other sinne is there contrary to this duty of glorifying Gods Name in blessing in and by Gods Name Ans To blesse or curse any in the Name of the Devill whether it be by wicked devilish imprecations upon a mans selfe as those cursed wishes and devilish prayers of Athesticall prophane men in these dayes Job 2.9 10 The Devill take me the Devill confound me body and soule and the like damnable wickednesse or the like worse then Paganish imprecation upon any others all being high provocations of the most mighty God who is able to cast both body and soule into Hell fire in a moment Mat. 20.28 as he made the earth to open her mouth and to swallow up Dathan and to cover the congregation of Abiram Numbers 16.32 33. 1 Sam. 28.7 2 Kings 1.1 or to blesse in the devils name or by the devil as those whom ignorant people use to cal good Witches abominable to God Quest 17. What is the first particular duty required in this third Commandement for honoring of Gods Name Ans Deut. 6.13 To glorifie God in calling him to witnesse and judge of the Truth of our words and actions Jer. 4.2 Jer. 12.16 Heb. 6.16 whensoever we are called to sweare in his Name in Truth Judgement and Righteousnesse and to testifie the Truth lawfully concerning our selves or others upon Oath or whensoever wee bind our selves by Oath Promise 2 Cron. 11.12 13.14 Psalme 15.4 Covenant or Protestation in Gods Name for the performance of any thing lawfull possible acknowledging the Lord to be the Revenger of all false Oathes or falsification of Oathes and Promises and subjecting our selves to his judgement if we swear falsely or performe not our just and lawfull Oathes and Protestations so prophan and take the name of our God in vain Quest 18. What are the particular sinnes contrary to this duty of honouring God in swearing the Lord liveth in Truth Iudgemmt and Righteousnesse Ans First Not to sweare and witnesse the Truth in judgement and righteousnesse Ierem. 4.2 in the name of God when we are called lawfully and rightly to sweare to Gods glory and the good of Gods Church As those who affirme all swearing unlawfull and utterly refuse to take any Oath before a lawfull Magistrate upon misunderstanding of those places of Scripture which seeme to forbid swearing at all Mâ—t. 5.14 Iames. 4.12 when as indeed they only forbid all unlawful swearing and all swearing in our ordinary communication by which the name of God is taken in vaine Quest 19. WVhat is a second sinne contrary to this duty Isaiah 48.1 Levit. 19.12 Ans All perjury or false swearing when men sweare by the name of the Lord but not in truth nor righteousnesse and so take the name of the Lord God in vaine Deut. 3.11 Zach. 5.23 4. contrary to Gods strict commandement Quest 20. What is a third sinne forbidden contrary to the duty of glorifying Gods name what light from Christ in this duty for our direction Ans Ier. 5.7 All swearing by the creatures and that which is not God calling that to witnesse truth which cannot search the heart nor try the reines nor know whether the Oath be true or false As when men sweare by Heavens Mat. 5.34 35 36 37. or by the Earth or by our Lady or by the Masse or by themselves or any thing in them or of mans devising setting them up for the tryers of Truth in stead of God whether they be Saints or Angels or any creature whatsoever or any thing but God himselfe Quest 21. What is a fourth sinne 1 Sam. 14.24 40 45. 1 Sam. 25.22 Ans The performing of any unlawfull rash oathes vowes or promises which are sinfull and a dishonour to the holy name of God and to the hurt of the soules or bodies of our selves or others Acts. 23.12 and contrary to the true honour of God or love of our neighbour Prov. 16.33 Prov. 18.18 Numb 26.25 Ioshu 14.2 Quest 22. What is a sixt duty in particular for the honouring of Gods name Ans The lawfull and right use of a lot for dividing of lands or goods when necessity requireth and God calleth for it to end some such controversie which otherwise cannot be decided Acts. 1.24 Psal 16.6 and this with prayer to God to direct the lot and resting satisfied with the lot when God hath ordered it Quest 23. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of seeking the honour of Gods name in a lot Ans All unlawfull common and ordinary abuse of lots in games or otherwise in a wrong manner or to a wrong end Hester 3.7 to the prophanation of Gods name and dishonour of the Gospell of Christ Quest 24. What is a seventh particular duty what light from Christ herein Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.10 Mat. 5.16 Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.16 Iude. 4. Ans The confession and glorifying of Gods name in our lives and conversations to Gods honour the good example of others and comfort of our owne soules in Christ Jesus Quest 25. What is the sinne contrary to this confession and profession to the glorifying of Gods name Ans To deny or be ashamed of Christ Mat. 26.74 Iohn 12.42 43 Rom. 2.24 or the Gospel or to dishonour God in our lives or cause the Gospel of Christ and name of God to be Blasphemed Quest 26. You have given me good satisfaction concerning the command it selfe now what doe you believe concerning the reason annexed in the words following For the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Ans I understand in this command as in the former there is expressed a terrible threatning against all such as prophane Gods name 2. Chron. 36.13 either by prophane swearing or forswearing or by abuse of Ordinances or any other way that God will not hold them guiltlesse but guilty Deut. 27.26 and so subject to Gods curse and eternall condemnation for this sinne Quest 27. What is further implyed in this threatning that God will not hold such guiltlesse who prophane his name Ans A gracious promise of blessing to such as by the power of Christ carefully endeavour by all good meanes to glorifie the sacred name of
the Stranger that is within thy Gates That is thou and all that are in thy power without exception Quest 39. But wherefore doth the Lord give this speciall command and direction to his people not onely for themselves but for all under their command Ans That Gods children being carefull and dutifull themselves and diligently performing their duties to all that are under their charge they might not be partakers of other Mens sins Quest 40. But how may one man be guilty of another mans sinne what light have you from Christ to reveile this Ans One may be guilty of another mans sin divers wayes First when a superior commands an inferior to commit a sinne and the sinne be committed of this the superior is guilty as Saul was of killing the Lords Priests 1 Sam. 22.18 2 Sam. 11.15 when hee commanded Doeg to do it and wicked Doeg did it accordingly David kild Vrias by Joab and the sword of the children of AmmoÌ„ And so Iezabell was guilty of that sin of the sons of Belial 1 Kings 21 10. who did beare false witns against Naboth for his Vineyard and thus Magistrates or masters or parents are guilty when they command their subjects or children or servants to prophane the Lords Sabbath Quest 41. What is a second way of being guilty Answ When superiors have power and doe not hinder but suffer inferiors to commit sinne 1 Sam. 3.13 as old Eli suffered his sonnes and did not punish them nor restraine them as hee ought and so when Parents suffer their children or Masters their servants to prophane the Lords Day They are guilty of their childrens sinne and servants sinne Quest 42. What is a third manner how one man may be guilty of another mans sinnes have you any light from Christ for this Ans Wen one man giveth another wicked councell to commit sinne as when Ahitophet counselled Absolom to commit wickednesse with his Fathers concubines 2 Sam. 16 21. or Herodias counselled her Daughter to aske the head of John Baptists Mark 6.24 or when a Master or Father adviseth or counselleth his sonne or servants or any under his charge to prophane the Sabbath Quest 43. What is a fourth manner Ans When Minister or people man or woman doth consent to sinne in others Acts 8.1 Eze. 3.18 or not reprove sin as Saul before his conversion consented to the death of blessed Stephen the Martyr of Christ and for Prophets not to warn the wicked Levit. 19.17 so when Parents or Masters consent to their childrens and servants prophanation of the Lords Day when as they should not suffer sin to lie upon them but reprove them rather So when unworthy Receivers are suffered without any admonition or reproofe Quest 44. What is a fift manner of being guilty Ans When one Man or Woman provokes and stirreth up another to sinne 1 Kings 21 25. as Jezabell provoked Ahab to commit wickednesse and Jobs Wife her Husband to curse God and die Job 2.9 And so when Parents or Masters provoke and stirre up their children or servants by Labour or Pastimes to prophane the Sabbath Quest 45. What is a sixt manner of becomming guilty of other mens sins Ans When men grow to such a height of impudency as to defend other mens sinnes Who call good evill and evill good Isai 5.20 1 Kings 22 6.11.24 1 Sam. 15.22 as wicked Zedechiah defended wicked Ahab in his sinfull course and Saul defended the peoples sin as Lawers plead in unjust causes or when Parents or Masters or any other will plead for Baal and defend the sinnes of their children or servants or Neighbours when they prophane the Lords Day all these ways at least may men be guilty of other mens sins Quest 46. Most certaine the Lord is a most holy God and is Law a most holy Law and perfect rule of holinesse which holdeth forth to us so many duties and so many sinnes in one Commandement of the Sabbath day and sanctification of the rest what use therefore my the knowledged of this truth be of unto the sons of men Ans First concerning wicked men out of Christ the many duties commanded Jer. 17.27 Gâ—lat 3.24 Acts 8.21 22. and sinns forbidden may cause them to tremble for feare of the curse and wrath of God due to them for their prophanation of the Lords day and so be a Schoolemaster to bring them to Christ to see if they may finde pardon and escape the curse and damnation Acts 13.38 39 1 Thess 10 Secondly concerning saints in Christ the Meditation of these things may likewise minde them of Christ First Christ as a justifyer without whose Righteousnesse and Merits they could not be saved 1 Cor. 1.30 and in whom salvation is their portion 2 Cor. 5.17 Secondly Christ as a sanctifyer in whom there is holinesse and power to sanctifie this holy rest this blessed Sabbath as the Lords day in all holinesse and righteousnesse to Gods glory and good of our own soules Quest 47. What benefit is this to the Church that the Lord hath ordained Mat. 28.6 9.17 18. and by his Resurrection and appearing to his Disciples so often one that day consecrated this holy Sabbath Mark 1â— 12 Luk. 24.13 as a day to and for himselfe and for his speciall service and ordinances wherein he now appeareth to his Church Ans A speciall cause of joy that the Saints may once a weeke be as it were in Heaven with Christ meeting Christ in his glorious Ordinances Luke 24.33 34.36 1 Cor. 16.1.2 Mat. 18.20 Ex. 25.21 22. Isai 66.11 John 15.4 5 6. Heb. 4.9 Revel 14.13 and sucking the brests of consolation in all his gracious promises so receiving the sweet juyce and sappe of the life of grace to nourish us in this time of trouble to that Kingdom of glory that eternall Sabbath of rest and peace for ever Quest 48. What is the principall motive or moving cause to stir up and draw the heart of a child of God and your soule in particular to desire and labour in all sincerity and faithfullnesse to glorifie God in a full obedience to every duty commanded and in a full avoyding of every sinne forbidden in these foure Commandemmts or first Table of the Law of God Ans The free love of God in Christ to my soule John 3.16 in the free gift of his onely begotten Sonne and the free love of God the Sonne John 10.15 the Lord Christ himselfe in giving himself and laying down his Life for mee 1 Cor. 5.14 15. to reconcile mee to God and to procure for mee grace and glory this doth constraine mee with a kind of holy and sweet violence or rather powerfull attractive or loadstone of love to love my God againe and to declare my love in a loving Isai 16.9 Psal 119.6 ready willing faithfull and cheerfull obedience yea sincere desire and endevour to fullfill every one of the
Commandements of my Heavenly Father and so these foure first Commandements or first Table of the Law of God Psal 119.101.128 and to refrain from every sinwhatsoever Quest 49. What is the finall cause or chiefe ends at which your soule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience Ans The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 5.10 11 12. my God and Father in Christ And the next the Declaration of my love and thankfulnesse to the Lord my God and to shew forth his praises who called me out of darknesse to light and hath freely given me life eternall and everlasting salvation in Christ Jesus The Thirty two Classis or company of Questions Question 1. YOu have profitably and plainely endevoured to declare the duties commaded and the sinnes forbidden in the first Table of the Law of God and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the spirit of Christ And in the performance of our Duties and Declaration of our more immediate love unto our God in Christ Now what I pray you do you call the second Table of the Law of God and what are the Commandemtnts comprehended in this second Table what light from Christ to teach this Ans This second Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manifestation of our love to our Neighbour Mat. â—2 38 39 40. in and for God as our selves and these Rules are comprehended in the six last Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people Ex. 34.28 Quest 2. What then you doe conceive to be the generall duties of this second Taeble of the Law Ans That which the Lord Christ and the spirit of Christ in the Prophets Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18 Rom. 13.8 9. and Apostles holdeth forth unto us namely to love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 3. What is the sinne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our selves Ans Not to do as we would be done be done by Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17 18. Isai 58.7 or instead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our selves from our own flesh Quest 4. You say the Lord requireth that we should love our Neighbours as our selves Therefore it seemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love himselfe Now what is this love of a mans selfe according to which hee ought to love his Neighhour Ans Certainly the Lord doth require that a man should in a right manner love himselfe Mâ—t. 22 37 38 39. Phâ—l 2.12 Eph. 5.29 and this love of a man towards himselfe is that love wherewith a Believer should in and for and after God love his owne soule and body in seeking the temporall and eternall good of both for Gods glory and his owne eternall happinesse and salvation Quest 5. What are sinnes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans selfe Ans There are diverse sins contrary to a right and true love of a mans self first a perverse and wicked hatred of Mans selfe Acts 18.6 either of a Mans soule and body by an obstinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace or willfull Rebellion against God or hatred of his body and life by a Mans desperate rejecting and refusing the meanes of preserving the body and health and life of it or by a desparate destroying of the body and life by any meanes whatsoever An example of this I have seen in divers who in strength and violence of Satans temptations or a kinde of frensie and braine distemper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort some for the soule some for the body some for both as Francis Spira did in Germany after his fall from the Gospell History of Francis Spirra to subscribe to Popery continuing in that sad condition to the day of his death I say nothing of Ahitophel and Iudas 2 Sam. 17.23 Mat. 27.5 who wickedly destroyed themselves contrary to the sixt Commandement of which I shall speak in its place Quest 6. What is a second sinne contrary to the true love of a mans selfe Ans Philauty or corrupt and inordinate love of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either above God which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans selfe and setting up an Idoll in his heart and preferring that above God 2 Tim. 3.2 Or to be so inebriated and drunk with selfe love as to admire onely himselfe and turne his affections of love wholy into himselfe as that Misanthropâ—s who hated every man but himselfe â— Cor. 4.14 Thirdly to love a mans selfe from and for himselfe not from and for God in Christ or from Christ Quest 7. But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans selfe Ans We must distinguish of a mans selfe there is a threeford selfe First a mans soule and body or person consisting of both considered in themselves as Gods creatures 1 Thess 5.23 Secondly the old Adam in a mans selfe or the corruption of soule and body by sinne Rom. 6.6 either originall or actuall that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling against the Law of our minds or Thirdly a mans spirituall selfe or the new Adam and image of Christ in the soule the regenerate part Galat. 5.14 the spirit that fighteth against the flesh Now to hate the first of these selfe our soule or body or person is against nature Ephes 5.29 no man ought to hate himselfe though he may loose himselfe for Christ which is love and no hatred And to hate the third the selfe of grace or grace of Christ in a mans selfe The life of grace in us this is against grace this self must be loved and cherished by all means in and through Christ But for the second selfe spoken of namely our corrupt old Adam in us our body of sinne Coloss 3.5 This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of soule and bodie for ever Job 42.6 as Iob abhorred himself and Paul chastised his body and the converted People of God loathed themselves as they were loathsome to God in their sinnefull corruption Ezek. 36.31 Quest 8. You have satisfied mee in this question how a man ought to love and not to love himselfe now what say you in generall of the love of our Neighbour before we come to the Commandements in particular Ans I have described that in generall before That we must love our neighbour in God and for God as our selves Quest 9. Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exercise our Christian love and Charity Ans All that stand in neede of our helpe or love whether they be our own kindred or strangers Luk. 10.36 37. 1 Tim. 5.8 Mat. 5.48 Prov. 25.21 Galat. 6.10 yea our very enemies and especially the household of faith but
and being grieved when they do evill as an affliction of God upon themselves correcting them in time and especially taking care to prevent sin in them and Gods Judgement for sin upon them Secondly to declare their love to their Children in nourishing them and bringing them up with fit education Prov. 4.3.4.5 according to their calling Thirdly in taking care to place them in some honest calling for which they are fit by naturall inclination and gifts or with which their minde upon true information is affected as convenient and hopefully profitable for soules and bodies Gen. 49.8 9 10. c. and a comfortable lively-hood when they come to mens estate as Iacob gave his Sonnes callings in his blessing and care for them Fourthly in taking care for them Gen. 28. Gen. 24.1 2 3 4 c 1 Cor. 7.36 if God give ability and fitnesse to direct them in matters of moment for their comfortable life especially in the Married estate providing for them as Abraham for his Son Eccles 7.25 Gen. 14.57 58. and the wise man for his daughter not without her liking and consent Fifthly laying up and providing comfortably for their children 2 Cor. 12.14 Deut. 21.17 Gen. 49.3.4 1 Chron. 5 1.2 Gen. 17.23 Exod. 4.25 26. Mark 10.13.14 Luke 1.59.60 Ephes 6.4 as God giveth ability unto them in estate respecting the Eldest according to the right of the first born if there be no just cause held forth in Scripture to the contrary Sixthly as to procure for them as children of beleevers born in the Church the Sacrament of Baptisme that seale of the Covenant as their priviledge if God afford it in a right manner so to bring them up in the knowledge of Christ that they may walke according to the Covenant Gen. 49.15.16 Heb. 13.20.21 Monica prayes for her Sonne Augustine c. Seventhly to pray to the Lord for his blessing upon them as the Patriarks and Saints did of old and the Children of God of later Times in the Church Quest 16. You have held forth the particular duties of Parents to their Children now what are the particular sinnes contrary unto these duties Answ Whatsoever is contrary to the duties before mentioned as in briefe First not to love their Children Mat. 7.9 and take care to provide for them Secondly to hate them Ephes 5.29 Eccles 16.1.2 3. Thirdly to love their bodies or to take care for their outward temporall Estates and not to take care for their soules and Eternall Estate Fourthly to neglect Catechizing Deut. 11.19 or Instructing of them Fifthly 1 Kings 1.6 Prov. 10.1 Prov. 29.15.17 to be too Indulgent towards them Cockering of them which often proves the undoing of Children and griefe of Parents the Child left to himselfe bringeth his Mother to shame Sixthly to be too cruell Eph. 6.4 and bitter in correction or otherwise towards their Children Coloss 3.21 provoking them to take those evill courses which a wise and right Fatherly carriage towards them might have prevented which is contrary to that Rule Fathers provoke not your Children lest they be discouraged Seventhly in cursing Rom. 12.14 or not praying for their children and not desiring Gods blessing upon them for if the Magistrate or prophet of God the Civill and spirituall Father may sinne in not praying for their civill and spirituall 1 Sam. 12.23 children then it must needs be a sinne also in naturall Parents Gen. 9.25 For howsoever Noah prophetically cursed Canaan yea some others have in a propheticall manner pronounced curses to come upon the wicked yet to curses as commonly wicked Parents and others too often use Matt. 5.44.45 is a grievous sinne and God many times brings the Parents curses upon their Children Quest 17. You have manifested the duties of Parents towards their Children now what light have you from Christ to hold forth in Scripture the duty of Children towards their Parents Answ These duties of children may be branched forth into divers particulars Ruth 4.15 John 14.31 Gen. 31.35 Gen. 46.29 Gen. 47.7 Malach 1.6 Gen. 45.8.9 Gen. 45.23 Gen. 44.30 31. First the childrens duty is to love honour and highly esteem of and reverence their naturall Parents although they themselves be highly exalted and their Parents be but of mean Estate and to declare their honourable esteeme of their Parents in all Words and Actions of reverence and respect both in their presence and absence Secondly childrens duty is to fear offending of their Parents or grieving them by word or deed in their presence or by any Actions Leviticus 19.3 or behaviour in their absence thou shall feare thy Mother and thy Father I am the Lord the Mother is named before the Father because children are most apt to disrespect their Mother therefore the wise man he expresseth both together Prov. 23 2â— hearken to thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Let children not forget their duty herein Thirdly Ephes 6.1.2 2. Coloss 3.20 Prov. 1.8 children are not onely to love and honour and feare offending but also to obey their Parents in the Lord the Apostle presseth this duty with the motive of a promised blessing which is the first Commandement with promise saith he that it may goe well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth Luke 2â— 11 and Christ himselfe giveth an Example when he was subject unto his Parents Fourthly the duty of children Prov. 1.8 is to accept off and subject unto the instruction and correction of Parents Heb. 12.7.9 as that which is most profitable for their good being discreetly and in right manner performed Fifthly the duty of children is to be directed Gen. 28. â— 2 Gen. 28.6.7 and advised by their Parents with much respect for undertaking Matters of great concernment especially for their undertaking of marriage good children will not be rash in this without consent of Parents especially religious Parents who take care both of their soules and bodies and the like respect ought Foster children to have of their Guardians Hester 2.7.20 and Foster Parents who religiously and carefully take care for their good Prov. 4.1.3 c. Matt 15.4.5 6. 1 Tim. 5.4 Gen. 47.12 John 19 2â— 27. Gen. 27.34 Gen 48.12 13. Gen. 14.12 13 14.15 c. Prov. 31.28 Prov. 17.17 Rom. 12.10 Sixthly childrens duty is to follow Parents good Example and to declare themselves thankfull to their Parents seeking their good and taking care for them if at any time they stand in need of cherishing or provision for their comfortable lively-hood in this life especially for the good of their soules Christ tooke care for his Mother even at his death Seventhly children are to desire and esteeme the Prayers and blessing of their Parents to love Parents Friends and especially naturall Brethren and Sisters as most neer ein relation Quest 18. You have held forth the dutâ—es now what
the servants and apprentices Titus 2.9 is to be well pleasing to seek to please their Masters and Mistresses Gen. 13.8 and fellow servants in all lawfull and good things as Brethren and Sisters Gen. 24.33 34 35. Gen. 24.37 41. and keep quietnesse in the Family and to performe their Covenants to and with their Masters and Mistresss es when they are with them and to Respect them as their Fathers and late Antient a Masters when they are freemen and departed from them yet then to have an honourable respect of them as is comely in the Lord. Question 24. You have manifested the duties of Servants and Apprentices towards their Masters and Mistresses now declare I pray you what light the Lord Christ hath held forth in Scripture to discover the sinnes of servants and Apprentices contrary to these duties Answ The Scripture and Christ in the Scripture revealeth divers sins of servants and Apprentices as First the Servants and Apprentices doe sinne in not loving and honouring their Masters and Mistresses 1 Tim. 6.1 2 3 4 5. Rom. 13.7 or in any way hating of them despising dishonouring or discrediting of them especially refusing or not receiving Instruction Pro. 13.18 Psal 50.17 but hating it from Masters and Mistresses or in not submitting to be Catechized by them in the truth of Christ and their duties Prov. 15.32 according to the word of God and that light their Masters and Mistresses have received from Christ Jesus If Abrahams duty be to Catechize his Family and command them to know the Lord and his will Gen. 18.18 19. Matt. 8.8 9. Job 19.16 Mâ—tt 24.48 49.50 c. Ephes 6. With good wâ—ll doe service as to the Lord not men 1 Cor. 15.33 Judg. 5 9 Titus 2 9. 2 Cor. 9 7. Matt. 25.26 Rom. 11.12 Prov. 10.4 Prov. 12.24 Prov. 18 9 Prov. 6.6 Prov. 10.26 Jerem. 23.24 Titus 2.10 Luke 16.1.2 8. Zacâ—ar 5.4 Ephes 4.28 Ephes 6.5.6 John 8.44 Psal 101.7 Levit. 19.11 Coloss 3.9 2 Sam. 16.3 2 Sam. 19 27. Jere. 17.9 Revel 2.23 Revel 21.8 Revel 22.15 Acts 5.31 then the servants and apprentices duty is to learn and submit to be Catechized and Instructed by them and the contrary is sinne in any whosoever Secondly it is a sinne in servants and apprentices to be rebellious or disobedient to the just commands of their Masters or Mistresses or to do their commands and directions unwillingly and grudgingly or with murmurings and repining with denyings or evill words which câ—rrupt good manners and manifeâ—â— their disobedience which is sinne as contrary to the Rule of Christ by the Apostle God cannot abide unwilling or grudging service Thirdly servants and apprentices sinne in being idle carelesse sluggards negligent or sloathfull to do service or to performe the will direction and lawâ—ull orders of their Masters and Mistresses without diligence and faithfull endevotr in absence as well as presence of Superiors Fourthly servants and apprentices sinne in doing their service unfaithfully and unâ—ustly when they purloine rob and steale from their Masters or Mistresses when they waste or mispend their Masters goods or embezell them any manner of way Fifthly the servants and apprentices sinne in not serving their Masters in sincerity and truth in word or deed but with lying fraud and deceit a servant must not tell his Master an untruth he must not lie for or against his Masters profit but speake truth as knowing that the Lord knoweth the heart least with lying Gehezi hee get the curse of a Leprosie to his shame and hell for his portion except God give graces of faith and Repentance in Christ Jesus Sixthly Malac. 1.6 the servants sinne in not keeping all their Masters counsells and secrets which ought not to be revealed or in dishonouring or seeking the discredit of their Masters or Mistresses 1 Pet. 2.18 19. or their disprofit contrary to the true and lawfull trust reposed in them and not subjecting to fit correction if they faile in duty Seventhly Titus 2.9 Ch istian example Rom. 15.1 2 3. Rom. 1.30 31. Hester 2.7.20 Hester 8.1 the servants and apprentices sinne in not endevouring to please but wilfully or carelessely displeasing them nor performing their covenants with their Masters while they are with them not honouring them when they are departed from them as good servants ought to honour those who have nourished taught and respected them as good and wise Masters ought to respect servants and apprentices and as children their foster Parents to honour them when they are from them as Queene Hester did to Mordecai Quest 25. You have given a light for servants and apprentices to see their duties and their sinnes and failings now what light have you from Christ to reveale how servants and apprentices may get not onely assurance of pardon for their sinnes but wisdome and power to performe these duties and avoid these sinnes and failings that so they may walke comfortably with Christ in their callings and course of their lives Ans Onely in and by Christ who is made unto us of God Wisedome 1 Cor. 1.30 and Righteousnesse and sanctification and Redemption Therefore Servants and apprentices must seeke unto and waite upon Christ in the Gospell as to the fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne Zâ—ch 13.1 1 Iohn 1.7 and for uncleannesse that by his Bloud they may be cleansed from all sinne Secondly they must seeke to Christ as to the Tree of life in the middest of the Paradise of God that beareth fruit every month Revel 2.22 and the leaves are good to heal the nations with Seek to Christ for health of soule and life power to strengthen and quicken them with wisdome and strength of grace to performe their duties Thirdly Gen. 24.12 26.27 servants and apprentices they must imitate that Religious practize of Abrahams faithfull servant John 16.23 pray to God to blesse their endeavours as he did O Lord God of my Master Abraham I pray thee send me good speed this day thus seeking in the name of Christ they shall finde a blessing to their comfort Quest 26. But what if in all these meanes and performances of duties on each part Husbands cannot find good Wives nor Wives finde good Husbands Parents not finde good children or children good Parents Masters not finde good servants nor servants although they performe their duties cannot find good masters what is the duty of each one in such condition Ans The Husband is to pray for his Wife and the Wife for her Husband the Parents are to seeke the Lord for their children and the children for their Parents the Masters for their servants and the servants for their Masters and to use all good meanes that in and by Christ their hearts may be changed their corruptions mortified Luke 9.23 and their infirmities healed and to beare their crosse Heb. 12.2 and endure the affliction with patience looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of
in Jesus Christ who is our peace-maker and whose rest is glorious 1 Cor. 1.30 Secondly as a sanctifyer and nourisher in grace by his spirit of faith and preserver to glory that receiving dayly refreshing nourishment from Christ by meeting Christ in his Ordinances Mat. 18.20 John 15.5 2 Pet. 3.18 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5. wee may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and by his power be kept through Faith unto salvation The Thirty three Classis or company of Questions The second Section Question 1. YOu have opened the fift Commandement at large both in the duties commanded and the sinnes forbidden with the use and application as by a light from Christ to leade us unto Christ both as a justifyer and a sanctifyer to enable us to walke comfortably with Christ in the course of our lives Now I pray you tell mee in briefe what are the duties commanded and the sinnes forbidden in the sixt commandement Thou shalt not kill Ans This Commandement is negative as are the rest that follow Gen. 9.6 and this sixt Commandement God gave for preservation of the life of man as being Gods owne Image as hee did the seventh commandement for preservation of a holy seed Malac. 2.15 The eight coÌ„mandement for preservation of mens estated and that propriety which God hath given to men in their owne children or any thing else as goods Deut. 22.1 2 3. Psal 15.3 and the ninth Commandement was given for preservation of a man or womans good name and the Tenth to keepe the very heart and desires of the soule in a right order to the glory of God and the good of our Neighbour But in every one of these negative commandements the affirmative duties are required and a walking according to that rule of righteousnesse which God planted at first in man and woman when hee created them in his owne Image I will therefore first hold forth the duty and then the sinnes forbidden and some use of them In this sixt Commandement Thou shalt not kill or Thâ—u shalt doe no murther Prov. 4.23 In the affimaitive part the Lord requireth of every man woman or child to be carefull to preserve his or her owne life of soule and body Gen. 1.27 Mat. 4.6 7 Prov. 24.11 Job 29.12 and the life of his or her Father Mother Husband Wife Brother Sister Neighbour or of any Man Woman Job 29.13 Acts 19.30 31. Deut. 20.19 20. 2 Pet. 1.7 1 Sam. 15.2 3. 1 Pet. 3.8 9. Coloss 3.3 1 John 3.15 Eph. 4.27 Deur 30.35 Mat. 10.28 Rom. 3.15 16 17. or Child in the world by all lawfull and good meanes in heart word and deed in love meekenesse long-suffering and to avoide all occasion of murder lying in waite to destroy or the unlawfull destroying the life of any of whatsoever degree or condition they or any of them may be all malice hatred envy rash anger disdaine evill words or actions especially old grudges and drunkennesse all occasion of murders and forgtefulnesse of Gods presence or want of feare of offending the great God and sinning against Christ Jesus Quest 2. You havâ— held forth the duties in generall with divers particular meanes to preserve life and occasions of taking life away to be avoyded Now what are the contrary sinnes to bee avoided in generall or particular as briefe as you can Ans All selfe-murder of soule Gens 4.6 7 c. or body or any unlawfull killing of any of mankind much more of Husband Prov. 18.19 Wife Father Mother Brother Sister Neighbour or any other and all means and occasion of soule killing or unlawfull taking away the life of any Levit. 19.17 is a sinne Mat. 5.22 Prov. 17.19 James 1.20 Mat. 5.21 c. Acts 5.31 as all hatred malice rash anger envie contempt emulation strife contentions and heartrisings wrath especially amongst brethren want of brotherly love or uncharitablenesse in any respect in thought word or deed especially evill reviling words giving the lie or any other provocations of quarrells all unlawfull duells or other occasions whatsoever all being a degree of murder Therefore is necessity to seek to Christ for Repentance and Remission of sins Quest 3. Now wee have heard the duties of the sixt what are the duties of the seventh Commandement Thou shalt not commit Adultery 2 Tim. 2.22 Heb. 13.4 Mat. 5.28 Job 31.1 1 Thess 4.2 3 4. Ephes 5.3 4. 5. Eph. 5.25 to 33. Answ The Lord requireth all true chastity both in the married and single estate both in minde and in body both inward holinesse and chastity of the heart and affections and outward holinesse and chastity of the Eyes Eares Tongue and whole man every one walking as Christians and as knowing how to possesse his vessell in holinesse and honour And waiting on Christ in use of all good meanes to prevent sinne in this as in other temptations the husband resting satisfyed with the love of his own Wife Prov. 5.18.19 and the Wife of her own Husband delighting in each others love constantly in the Lord. Quest 4. Now you have shewed the duty declare what are the sinnes contrary to this duly both in the single and in the Married estate and first in the single estate Ans All unchaste corrupt lusts of the heart Gen. 6.2 1 John 2.16 1 Pet. 2.11 Jam. 1.14.15 Gens 38.18 Gen. 39.9 2 Sam. 11.2 3 4. Jer. 5.7 Prov. 7.22 c. Isai 5.11 12. 1 Cor. 7.9 Levit. 20. â—0 Malac. 2.14 15 16. or lust of the eyes and all selfe pollution by speculative wantonnesse or wicked imaginations defiling the soule and all fornication or adultery in act or any meanes or occasions thereunto in heart word or deeds active or passive provoking God to anger and all keeping company with Harlots or mispending time in idlenesse drunkennesse or any manner of sin whatsoever Quest 5. What are the sins in the maried estate Answ Besides that all those sinnes noted in the single estate are sinnes likewise in the married all breach of wedlock or conjugall fidelity and promise made betweene man and wife either in thought Lev. 18.18 Mat. 19.9 Heb. 13.4 1 Cor 5.1 Mark 6.17 18. 1 Cor. 7.2 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Levit. 18.19 20. Levit. 20.18 Ezek. 18.6 Ezek. 16.49 Rom. 13.13 14. Eph. 5.5 6. Levit. 19.29 Deut. 23.17 18. Gens 34.25.31 Heb. 13.4 Reve. 21.8 word or deede and all Polygamy and also all unlawfull divorce or separation all whoredome adultery incest or any such wickednesse whatsoever all denyall of due benevolence which may occasion breach or decay of love or sinne otherwise all effeminatenesse and immodest immoderate or unseasonable use of the marriage-bed in times prohibited by the Law of nature of God or of lawfull consent betweene themselves all pampering of the flesh or surfeting and drunkennesse to nourish unlawful lusts and all force and rashnes all impudent behaviour or prostitution of
themselves or others Wives or Daughters unto filthinesse all wicked whoredome and all Baudes or keepers of brotherly houses for meeting base whores abhorminable and odious to God and good men occasions of theft murther and Gods judgement curse and hell in the end Quest 6. Since there are so many duties required in Husbands Wives and others concerning chastity in the married and single estate and so many sinnes forbidden deserving Gods wrath and curse temporall spirituall and eternall what use should all make of this holy Law of God and what light from Christ to lead us unto Christ for profit hereby Ans Truly this light from Christ and his spirit should leade unto Christ Heb. 13.4 to see the sinfulnesse of all impurity and uncleannesse both in the married and single estate and to see and be sensible of the wrath of God due to this sinne and every branch of it 1 Cor. 30 so to finde and and feele an extreame need of Chirst both as a justifyer and as a sanctifyer 2 Pet. 1.10 11. And to fly dayly to Christ as for a more full assurance of pardon and peace Eph. 5.1 2 so for power to walke in all chastity and holy purity of soule and body before God Rom. 12.1 2. offering up our selves our soules and bodies a living sacrifice acceptable to God in Jesus Christ walking holily before God John 15.5 Phil. 4.13 not like the World but like Saints And this not by our own vertue and strength but by the vertue of Christ Quest 7. Now you have declared duties commanded and the sinnes forbidden in the seventh Commandement and so far how to walke comfortably with Christ by the power of Christ according to the Rule and light of Christ and his spirit in the light of this Law or commanding part of Gods word Psal 119.105 which I pray you are the Duties commanded and the sinnes forbidden in the eight Commandement which is the next in order Thou shalt not steale Ans The Lord requireth that every man woman and child according to capacity of instruction now and ever shall study and endevour by all lawfull and good meanes Mat. 5.43 44 45 c. Acts 7.60 Ex. 23.4 5 justly and with equity and right to preserve his owne Galat. 6.10 and his Neighbours yea his enemies goods Ex. 23.6 7. children servants or estate from all wrong and all injustice whatsoever their owne alwayes and their Neighbours when God puts it into the power of their hands to do it Luk. 10.33 34 35 c. by word or by deede to manifest we love our Neighbour as our selves Quest 8. What are the sinnes contrary to this duty required in the sixt Cmmandement Ans To do unjustly any manner of way to the wrong of himslfe or his neighbour Prov. 20.25 Malac. 3.8 9. to commit sacriledge or rob God in robbing or stealing of that which is religiously and rightly appointed by God or given to Gods worship or the maintenance of Gods Ministers or any that pertaine to his sanctuary Deut. 19.14 Prov. 22.28 Ex. 21.16 1 Tim. 1.10 Eph. 4.6 7. Thess 4.2.8.1 Ezek. 22.13 Prov. 19.26 Prov. 28.24 Exod. 22. Levit. 19.13 2 Thess 3.6.10 11 c. John 6.12 to remove the ancient land markes or to steale either persons children or servants ot any goods or chatells or the like either by fraud and cozenage or by force either secretly or openly under pretence of Law or unlawfully or other wayes either from stranges or from Parents or Masters and Mistresses is sin all dishonest gain and all unrighteousnesse in contracts bargaines buying selling in any manner of Covenant whatsoever all oppression extortion detaining of goods lent or lost is sinfull theft and all wicked walking disorderly and mispending or wasting of a mans owne estate or others especially Parents or Masters in drunkennesse idlenesse Prov. 23.21 whoring or the like wickednesse yea by rash and desperate entring into suretiship to the undoing of himselfe wife Prov. 23.29 Deut. 15.7 8 to 16. children or any other is sin and not to do our selves or to others for the good of our own estate or theirs poor brother or servant as wee would they should in justice mercy Mat. 7.12 and equity according to Gods word doe unto us is a sin and a breach of this eight Commandement of Jehova our God Quest 9. Certainly here are many duties required and many sinnes forbidden in a few words in this Commandement wherein doth the light of grace from Christ direct us to make a right use of this light and rule of life in this Commandement Ans This may still preach unto a poore soule an extreme neede of Christ both as a justifyer and a sanctifyer 1 Cor 1.30 and teach iis to waite dayly on Christ in his ordinances Iohn 1.9 Iohn 12.5 Iohn 15.5 and seeke dayly to Christ for light and direction and for vertue and power from Christ to glorifie God in walking justly and righteously in our callings and cariages to God and men Zach. 5.3 4. least we sin against God and procure a curse upon our labours instead of a blessing Quest 10. Now you have thus briefly givtn a light from Christ for direction and helpe if the eight Commandement what I pray you are the duties commanded and the sinnes forbidden in the ninth Commandement Thou shalt not be are false witnesse against thy Neighbour Ans The Lord requireth and commandeth faithfull Testimony Prov. 14.5 25. Psal 15.2 Prov. 12.19 Epla 4.15 when men are called to witnesse truth and upon all occasions to speake the truth as it is in the heart that the heart and tongue should agree to declare the truth when it is to Gods glory and good of our neighbour Deut. 1.16 17. Exod. 23.2.6 when rightly and lawfully wee are called to it for Judges and Magistrates to give righteous judgement Ministers to Preach truth Rom. 9.11 Zach. 8.16 17. for Lawyers to speake truth in pleading the causes of poore or rich not to hinder but to further justice and equity Prov. 22.1 Mat. 10.16 1 Cor. 10.31 Prov. 23. to preserve the good name of a mans selfe or neighbour in truth and righteousnesse with the right ordering of our tongues in wisdome and truth upon all occasions to Gods glory and good of our selves and others superiors or inferiors or equalls Psal 119.128 with love of truth and hate of falshood and deceit Quest 11. What are the sinnes forhidden in this Commandement Deut. 5.20 Mat. 19.18 Mat. 26.5 Psal 52.3 4 5. Psal 5.3 1 Sam. 22.9 10. Ans All false witnesse bearing upon Oath or otherwise all procuring of false witnesses and all vaine lying or uncharitable speaking to the diffamation or hurt of our owne good name or the good of any other Levit. 5.1 2. 2 Sam. 10.1 2. Mat. 7.1 2. Ezek. 22.28 John 7.24.51 Ex. 23.2 Deut. 16.18 19. Prov. 17.23 Ex.
world to come Quest 9. What it the seventh Sacramental act or object held forth as from Christ by his Ministers on which your corporal and spiritual sences acts and operations of soul and body are to be exercised by the power of Christ Ans Sacramental Foederation or Covenant-promises held forth by Christ to his Disciples the night before his Passion 1 Cor. 11.23 c. when he did Institute this Sacrament and held forth now to my soul in this Sacrament of the Lords Supper Quest 10. Wherein doth this Sacramental Foederation or Covenant consist Ans In those promising words of Christ to his Disciples the same night he was betrayed First when he took bread and brake it and said This is my Body which is given for you as is recorded Luke 22.22 or which is broken for you as blessed Paul expressed 1 Cor. 11.24 that is this Bread which I thus take in my hand and give to you is my Sacramental body by which another thing is meant for this Bread thus broken and given signifieth and sealeth and communicateth to you and assureth you of this my natural body which is now with you which you now see with your bodily eyes as well as you do this Bread which I break and give unto you Matthew 26.26 27. Quest 11. Wherein further doth this promise appear Ans And secondly in that it is as much as if the Lord had said further as verily as I do now give you this Bread broken as my Sacramental Body so verily I do now promise to give you this my natural body to be crucified and broken with torments for you and for many and this my promise and Covenant I do seal to you in giving you this Sacramental body of mine this Bread so blessed and broken yea behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table this night will Judas betray me with a kisse and the servants of the High-Priest shall take me and shall lead me to be accused and condemned and crucified not for any sins of my own but for your sins Ioh. 10.15 I say and not for yours only but for all my sheep for whom I do willingly lay down my life and do by this Sacramental Covenant and Promises engage my self to lay down my life for yours and their salvation and I do appoint this Sacrament that you may never forget my love thus witnessed by my death and thus held forth and sealed to you And this is my promise which you shall see performed after few dayes read Matthew 26 and 27 Chapters and Luke 22 and 23 Chapters 1 Cor. 11.23 24. Quest 12. But doth not the words of Christ in blessing and giving of the Wine hold forth the same Sacramental promise Ans Yes verily for at the same time he took the cup and gave thanks and gave to them saying Drink ye all of this and then he giveth them the same promises as a reason why they should drink of that cup for saith he This is my blood of the New Testament which is sealed for you and for many for remission of sins as Mat. 26.27 21. and in Luke 22.22 compared may appear this is my blood of the New Testament or of the New Covenant the Covenant of Grace to your souls not that the Bread broken is my natural body which shall be crucified for you or that the Wine in the cup which I now give unto you is my natural blood which shall be shed for you But these are my Sacramental body blood signifying and sealing this promise for as verily as I do now give you this cup this Wine to drink which I call my blood of the New Covenant because it is a seal and pledge and earnest of my blood which I do now this night promise shall be shed for you within few dayes and as sure as I now give you my Disciples this Wine to drink so verily do I now give you my blood to be shed for you Mat. 26.27 28. and for many for remission of sins and this my promise shall be speedily verified and fulfilled For that as if Christ had said this night when as anon we shall go out to the Mount of Olives according to our trust 1. Some of you shall see that my Agony and bitter Passion will begin Ioh. 1.19 when in sense of the heavy burden of sins which the Lord my Father hath laid upon me and which as a Lamb of God I take away even the sins of the world and which I have most willingly undertaken to bear for you and for all my people whom I will save from all their sins Mat. 1.21 the burden of which are so great that I shall desire if it were my Fathers will this cup of wrath so bitter might passe from me 2. You shall see my Agony will be so vehement and grievous that I shall sweat even great drops of blood 3. And you shall see it more when being crowned with thorns and crucified with Nails in my hands and feet and my side pierced with a spear my blood my hearts blood shall flow in abundance for your sakes This I promise Isa 53. Mat. 26.27 Luk. 22.23 Mat. 1.21 1 Cor. 11.24 c. and this you shall see performed even with your own eyes and that within three dayes this I conceive humbly to hold forth plainly the Sacramental promises of Christ in this Sacrament as by comparing the Prophets and Evangelists and the Apostle Paul you may finde evident Quest 13. This indeed may hold forth that promise that Christ made at his last Supper and the institution of this Sacrament before his Passion and which he did promise and fulfil when he died for us But how can the same words be a Sacramental pnomise to you who desire to come to the Lords Table Ans Yea verily the same promise of Christ continueth in force in respect of the vertue truth power and efficacy of it to my believing soul and to all Believers to the end of the world Quest 14. How can this appear and upon what grounds Heb. 13.8 Ans First Christ Jesus is the same yesterday for the benefit of his Church yesterday and to day 1 Cor. 10.2 3. and for ever And as the Patriarks before Christ did all eat of the same spiritual meat drink the same spiritual drink and drunk of the spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ believing the promises they fed on Christ the Messiah then to come by vertue of the promise Secondly As the Apostles in the first Institution and participation of the Sacrament did by faith feed on Christs body 1 Cor. 12.24 c. which was then promised to be given to be crucified for them and drink of his blood which was then promised to be shed for them and of which they were assured by that word of Christs promise even so likewise I now being a believing humbled hungry soul do now by