not All such are blind and miserable and wretched and naked and think that they have need of Nothing when as indeed they have nothing of Grace or Heaven All such people are without knowledge and therefore without God in the world Rev. 3.17 Gal. 6.3 Jer. 6.15 Q. Whats 's a second marke of Gods children 2. Mark A. All Gods children are taught of God Ioh. 6.45 Esay 54.13 Q. How doe you know your selfe taught of God A. 1. The triall Because I am made to know things a above my Nature and to b love and imbrace things which be contrary to my Nature a Mat. 13.11 1 Cor. 1.21 with 1 Cor. 2.12 Eph. 1.17 18. b Mar. 8.34 35. Luck 14.26 27. Q. How secondly doe you know it Vse A. Because I have a new judgment of men and things I can look upon sinne and duty with such eies as Christ beholds them with that is I look upon sinne as upon a Toad or Serpent to avoid it And upon duty with a loving eye Ezek. 11.19 Heb. 8.10 11. Then it followeth that they who know no more then Nature can teach them and will believe no more then Reason can comprehend Also all such persons as doe erre in their hearts and say within themselves I desire not to know my sin or duty I love not to obey Heb. 3.10 Such as Hate to be reformed Ps 50.17 And love darkness rather then light Joh. 3. 19. Such as have not Gods LaW written in their hearts Heb. 8.10 Ier. 32 40. They that are pleased with sin and displeased with duty All such persons are not as yet Taught of God 1 Ioh. 5.3 Of the Love of God Q. What 's a third marke of Gods child 3. Mark A. All Gods children do love God with all their hearts if any man love God the same is loved and approved of God 1 Cor 8.3 Mat. 22.37 Q. How doe you know that you love God withall your heart The triall A. By foure things 1. When the heart is not divided between Two he hath not Two to please God hath the whole soule Esay 8.12 13. Luk 16 13. Num. 14.24 Q. How secondly may it be known that you love God with all your heart A. When I love God above all men all things All men and all things must be loved in God and for God but nothing against God nor above God Mat. 10.37 1 Sam. 2.29 Num 24.11 Exod. 32.32 Q How thirdly may it be known A When I strive to Honour and serve Him to the very utmost and best I can not as little as we can 1 Chron. 13.8 1 Chron. 29.17 Act. 20.24 2 Kings 23.25 Mar. 12.42 43 44. Q. How Fourthly may this be known A. This is the Love of God that we keep his Commandements and his Commandments are not grievous unto us 1 Joh. 5.3 Joh. 14.15 21. Joh 15.24 1 Joh. 3.4 5. Vse Then it followes that they doe not love God with all their hearts whose hears are divided between God Men betwen God and profit between God and credit or any other earthly thing Much lesse doe they love God aright who set up the love of men the love of themselves the love of riches Honour c. above the love of God above the will of God above the Glory of God or above the Commandements of God Lastly they doe not love God aright who serve him as little as they can something they will doe just so much as they think will serve the turne but their hearts are not lifted up in Gods service 2 Chron. 17.6 They doe not stirre up themselves nor lay on their Tallents to the honour of God whereas we must be zealous for Gods cause against sinne and wickednesse zealous for Gods Truth against error Iud. v. 3. Earnestly contend for the faith against Sects and Heresies whatsoever A Christian must love God for Himselfe for those excellencies and perfections of Goodnesse Mercy Grace Holiness Truth c. that be in God We must not love God only for his gifts or for our profits sake But as a child loves his Father though he be but poore and as a man loves his Wife better then her Portion so must we love God Ps 119.57 Psal 4.6 7. Psal 73.25 There is none in Heaven or Earth that I desire in comparison of thee Of Zeale for God Q. Shew a fourth mark of Gods child 4. Mark A. Gods child is zealous for God for his Truth and Glory Because thou art neither hot nor cold I will spew thee out of my mouth Be zealus therefore and repent Rev. 3.16 19. 2 Cor. 7.11 Act. 17.16 2 Pet. 2.8 Q. You have said that they that love God must be zealous for God Tell me what be properties of true zeale A. They be three 1. True zeale must be exercised alwaies in a good matter The triall and without respect to the eye of man Gal. 4. 18. 1 King 9.10 Iud v. 3. Luk. 13.15 Q. What secondly is the property of true zeale A. True zeale burnes inward our own sins and corruptions first and most Mat. 7.4 Q. What 's the third property of true zeale Vse A. True zeale is accompanied with meeknesse justice mercy and many other graces Jam. 3.16 Luk. 9.54 55 Luk. 13.15 Then it followes that all such persons as in their zeale do forget to shew mercy justice and Truth as Saul did 2 Sam. 21.2 and as Paul did Act. 26.9 11. And they which can be earnest against other mens sins and favourable towards their own as Rom. 2.1 22. And lastly they that be earnest and zealous in a Trifle or in a groundlesse cause as the false teachers at Galatia were Gal. 4.17 Such zeale does not commend them unto God Of love to a Christian for Gods sake Q. What is a fift Marke of Gods children 5. Mark A. By this shall all men know that yee are my Disciples if you have love one to another John 13.35 1 Joh. 3.14 1 Joh. 5.1 Q. How may it appeare that you love a Christian because he is borne of God or because he is a Disciple A. By foure signes 1. By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God The triall and keep his Commandements 1 Iohn 5.2 That is we love Gods children because we love God first Our love to them must proceed from our loving of God seeing we love them for Gods sake Q. How Secondly may Christian love be discerned A. When you love a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple and a righteous man in the Name of a righteous man that is because they belong to God and because of the Image of God in them Mat. 10.41 42. 2 Ioh. v. 1 2. Q. How thirdly is Christian love evidenced A. When you love a Christian more for the Image of God in him then for Kindreds or profits sake Among your children or Neighbours or Friends and acquaintance you will love them best and most in
Word and Spirit of God a 1 Ioh. 1 9 b Rom. 8.13 14. Eph. 2.2 Ier. 44.17.6 And if the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch a Blind rule is a blind guide Q. How thirdly may it be knowne A. Because they were never converted neither doe they see why or from what such as be borne and bred up in the true ReligioÌ„ should be converted such people are yet in their naturall state Ioh. 8.33 34.36 Ioh 3.4 7. Luk. 15.7 Act. 3.19 Q How fourthly may people be convinced to be under sinne and without grace A. Because sin is no burthen to to them they were never pricked in their hearts not soundly humbled under their naturall condition A man may finde many faults in himselfe by coÌ„mon grace but to feel and bewaile the rotteÌ„nesse sink of iniquity that is in our hearts the contrarieties that be in our nature against God and the workings of corruption this we cannot discover but by the sanctifying Spirit of God Rom. 7.7 9. Q. How fiftly doth it appeare that men want Grace A. Because they discerns not betweene pretious and vile as between the state of Nature the state of Grace between civill honesty saving Grace Let them tell what the differences be Num. 16.3 Eze. 22.26 Esa 5.20 Joh. 3.4 1 Cor. 2.13 14. Spirituall things must be spiritually discerned you must not heare a Sermon as you would heare a speech c. Q. How sixtly may this be proved A. Because they cannot bring you one promise out of the Scripture nor one mark of a saved one of which they can say this doth belong to me But the lesse they know of the Word of God the better they thinke of themselves and the lesse they search their owne hearts the greater is their assurance These are deluded ones Sound Christians can bring promises and evidences that they are in the state of Grace such as these Rom. 8.1 2 13. 1 Joh. 3.14 1 Joh. 5.1 2. 1 Thes 5.5 6. Q. How lastly may a carnall person be convinced to be under sin A. Because they are not in Christ this you must know that it is not enough for a man to doe his best and what he can but if he be not in Christ the Law layeth hold on him he is under the curse No body is safe by doing his best Eph. 2.12 1 Thes 1.10 the Law is a cruell Master it lookes not what we can doe it accepts not of repentings c. but unless we be in Christ Jesus it curseth all our imperfections Gal. 3.10 1 Joh. 5.11 12. Q. This is the case of man by nature and of all the sons of Adam What must we doe to escape wrath A. We must get into the Covenant of Grace made to us in Christ the promised seed Gal. 3.13 26. Rom. 10.4 Gal. 4.4 5. CAP. VI. Of the Covenant of Grace and our Redemption by Christ Third head of Christian doctrine Q WHat is the Covenant of Grace A. It is Gods free Charter and Grant wherein he bestoweth remission of sinnes and the Kingdome of Heaven in and for the death of Christ Jesus or it is a contract betweene God and man concerning reconciliation and life everlasting to be given and received by faith in Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 Gen. 17.4 7. There is Gospell in that Rom. 4.16 17. Gal. 3.8 Deu. 26.17 18. The matter covenanted is life and reconciliation the conveyance it is a gift by Christ the instrument and mean to receive it is faith all our right and title to Heaven comes this way from the love of the Father through the merit of the Son made ours by faith Eph. 15. Rom. 5.21 Rom. 3.22 24 Eph. 2.8 Q. What is the true difference between the Covenant of Workes and the Covenant of Grace A. The Law or Covenant of Workes offereth salvation to them that keepe it perfectly in their own persons that is to them that be without sinne and have a righteousnesse of their owne a personall perfect perpetuall Obedience Rom. 10.5 Luk. 10.28 Q. Explaine that farther A. The Law considers not what we can doe now neither doth it accept of sorrowes for doing amisse but it is satisfied only with a full and compleat obedience If thou say I doe my best c. that is no content to the Law the Law requires that all our works be holy without any touch of the flesh Rom. 7.14 2 Cor. 3.7 9. Gal. 3.10 It curseth every failing Q. How doth the Gospel offerus salvation A. By the righteousnesse of Christ thâ— Mediator so that the humbled soule resting on Christ by faith is justified and â— peace with God though we be not perfectly holy Rom. 3.25 26 27. Gal. 2.1 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 4.16 1 Tim. 1.15 This the priviledge of the Gospell that wheâ— we faile yet if we repent and turnet God God accepts our persons and thâ— greatest sin shall not condemne us thâ— Law knowes no such thing Gal. 3.12 Of justification by faith in Christ Jesus Q. 1. Then Christ doth not justify us â— giving grace and ability to keep the Law A. No for then Justification wereaâ— works and not of Grace besides there no such b ability given to any living Grace is given whereby we subdue or corruptions The Covenant with Adam was of workes though all he had was given him and strive to please God bâ— not to fulfill the Law perfectly a Eph. 7 8 9 10. b 1 Joh. 1.8 9. Act. 5.31 Acâ— 15.11 That which I fetch with my penâ—â— is not a gift but our righteousnesse is 〈◊〉 gift Rom. 5.17 Q. 2. Doth he save us by joyning 〈◊〉 merits to our workes as if we were justified partly by workes and partly by faiâ—â— in Christ A. No we are justified by faith without the deeds of the Law and Christ will not have any to bejoyned with him in that businesse Rom. 3.21 27 28. Rom. 11.6 Esa 64.6 Jer. 23.6 Esa 63.3 Rom. 4 5 6. Heb. 7.25 Heb. 9.26 Gal. 5.4 To a sinners justification Christ is all in all or none at all Q. 3. Doth the New Covenant save as by changing the condition of workes into faith and sincere obedience as if the act of believing and obeying should be in stead of perfect obedience to the Law A. By no meanes The righteousnesse by which we are justified is 1. The righteousnesse of a God 2. Imputed to us residing in the person of Christ 3. Every way able to answer the Law See Phil. 39 2 Cor. 5.21 Ro 3.21 22 26. But our faith and sincere obedience is 1. But the righteousnesse of a man 2. Inherent noâ— imputed 3. No way able to answer the Law The New Covenant doth not change workes into workes workes perfect incompleat iâ—to workes imperfect But it changeth workes of our own performing into workes performed for us by Christ for faith doth not justifie as it is a grace wrought in us working in us but as it is an
good things we aske against the giver of them c. Mat. 4. â— 9 10. Hab. 2.6 Hos 2. â— 1 Chron. 29.14 CAP. XLVI The 5th Petition And forgive us c. Q HEre we pray for the forgivenesse of our sinnes and transgression Why be our sinnes called debts Mat. 6. â—2 A. Because they make us debtors to the Law and â—ustice of God to make satisfaction for the offence done to him As â— Felon is a debtor til he have satisfied the Law Col. 2.14 Mat. 5.26 Q How are we freed and discharged of this debt A. By Gods free grace and pardon accepting us in Christ when we had nothing of our owne to pay When we had nothing to pay God provided a price out of his own store Luke 7.42 Mat. 18.25 27. Eph. 1.7 Christ hath cancelled our Bonds Col. 2.14 Q What is forgivenesse of sinne A. It is a free and full discharge of a sinner from guilt and punishment whereby a sinner is received into favour with God Forgivenesse of sin is not the abolishing of sinne and corruption by infusing anâ— habit of charity holinesse as Papists teach but it is the receiving of a sinner into favour not in puâ—ing unto him any blame Esa 43.25 Esa 44.22 Mich 7.18 Exod 34.7 Q Doth God forgive all men their sinnes A. No only such as believe and repent and walke by the rule of new obedience Marke 1.4 15. Gal. 6.16 Q. What then is the substance of that we begge in this Petition A. We begge that God would give to every one of us faith and repentance by which we may be accepted into his favour in for Christs sake having all our sins freely fully done away by him Ps 5â— 1 2 7 9. Dan. 9.17 18 19. The best have need every day to pray forgive us our sins As we forgive Q. Why iâ— that condition added A. Because no man can have assurance that God hath pardoned his sins unlesse he finde in himselfe a disposition to forgive his brother The love of God shed abroad in our hearts begets in us compassion towards our brother when he hath offended us No unmercifull cruell man can be assured of mercy Matth 6.14 15. Matth. 18.33 35. Col 3.13 Rom 12.19 Q How shall I know that I doe indeed forgive my Brother A. By two things First if I dare not wish him ill nor doe him hurt though it lay in my power no nor yet rejoyce when evill befals him though I had no hand in it Job 31.29 30. Prov. 24.17 18. Ps 35 13 14. Levit. 19 18. Q. How 2dly shall I know it A Because it is a trouble to me to think ill of another and I am glad to see any good thing in my enemy any cause to think better of him any ground or hope of reconciliation A Christian is gentle and easie to be entreated and though some be so perverse and spitefull that one dare not trust them yet we can be glad of any good thing in them 2 Thess 3.14 15. Jam. 3.17 Psal 120.6 7. Q. What doe we learn from these two words forgive our debts A. Two things First the dangerous nature of sinne our sinnes and our names are entred into Gods debt-booke together and we are every houre liable to be arrested and brought to an account before God What a case is he in that hath Bailies watching him in every place corner c. Matth. 5.25 Q. What else doe we learne A. It sheweth our inability to satisfie for the least sinne we have no price to pay we must be forgiven or else cast into prison for the last farthing Rom. 4.7 Mica 6.7 CAP. XLVII The 6th Petition Lead us not c. IN the former Petition we prayed to have our sinnes forgiven now we pray that we may be kept from sinne for time to come Q. What doe we learne from the order and connexion of these two Petitions A. All that pray aright to have their sinnes forgiven must be as earnest to be kept from sinne for time to come Ps 15.7 Rom. 7.24 Psal 19.13 Carnall people can pray for mercy but the Godly will pray for Grace as well as mercy Q. What is here meant by Temptation A. Any thing whereby a man is enticed and drawn into sin Jam. 1.14 2 Cor. 11.3 1 Thes 3.5 Iohn 13.2 Prov. 1.10 11. There lieth a Temptation in most things we have to deale withall as in Meats Drinks and Apparrel in Wealth in Poverty in Preferments in Examples in Counselles in fear of Men in love of life in our Pleasures yea in our very callings And unlesse the Lord do gratiously keep us we shall be enticed and drawn away Q. What is it to be 〈◊〉 Temptation A. To be tempted is to be assured provoked unto evil but to be led into temptation is when we are deceived and overcome of the evil When we yeeld to the evil motion the snare is laid and we are caught 2 Sam. 11.2 4. Mat. 16 35 69 70. 1 Tim. 6.9 Q. How doth God lead into Temptation A. When hee doth not support and strengthen us against the evil but leaveth us to our own wit strength or lusts or unto Satan 2 Chron. 32.31 2 Chr. 10.15 1 Kings 22.22 2 Th. 2.11 Ro. 1.24 Job 1.12 Q. How doth God enable us to resist temptation A. Three waies 1. By making us wise to discerne an evil motion 2 Cor. 2 1â— Mat. 16.13 Neh. 6.11 13. Q. How secondly A. By making us â—â—a â— full over our slippery hearts and 〈◊〉 câ—â—tions of faling Mâ— 26.1 Prov. â—8 1 Thes 5 22. Q How Thirdly doth the Lord enable us to resist Temptations A. By fortifying us with saith and courage whereby we cleaâ—e to God against all the world Mat. 4.7 it is written Eph. 6.11 Q. What do we pray for in this Petition A. That God would give us spiritual wisdome and strength to discerne and overcome all temptations unto sinne and if at any time he suffer us to be tempted yet that he would not leave us to our selves to be deceived and overcome of the evil We pray that God will hold us up and deliver us from the power of all spiritual enemies But deliver us from evil Q. What 's here meant by evill A. The evill one that is Sathan all his wiles and subtilties Iohn 17.11 12 15. 1 Iohn 5.18 Iob 2.6 Q. What doe we pray against in these words A. That seeing we desire to be kept from sinne we desire also to be kept from the power and wiles of the temptor That God would discover his wiles and help us against him Gen. 20.6 1 Sam 25.33 Zach. 3.2 Rev. 12.13 16. Psal 17.4 5. Q. What must they doe that pray to be kept from temptation A. In a due sense of our own weaknesse we must shun occasions of evil we must not cast our selves upon temptations For else we are not true to our owne prayers Iudg 16.15 17. Prov. 7.8 Gen. 34.1 Eccles 2.3 For
accidentall outward change of the Actions as of the Sow that is washed Pet. 2.22 But it is a change of the very frame and disposition of the heart the very nature is changed he is made a new Creatures Ezek. 36.25 26. A new heart will I give you c. A Swine that is washed is a swine still and his nature is to wallow in the mire But a sanctified person of a swine is made a sheep and he hates to wallow in the mire Q. Wherein Secondly doth sanctification excell morall honesty A. In the root or seed of graces The graces of sanctification have a root within us even the spirit of life which is in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.2 1 Pet. 1.23 24. 1 Ioh. 3.9 His seed remaineth in him and our graces are the fruits that spring up of that seed and root Ioh. 15.16 But the seeming graces of unregenerate and meerly civilized people they have no such root but they are like the Corne upon the House top which makes a faire shew yet it hath neither root by seed nor fruit in the eare Psa 129.6 7. Luk. 8.13 Q. Wherein thirdly does Sanctification excell morall Honesty A. The true convert does receive the word in power and in the Holy Ghost he gives the word a divine power and authority over his conscience and over his actings He receives the word with an honest heart even with patience though it crosse and cast downe his contentments and particular interests you will not dare to resist any Truth that you heare if you have true grace in you 1 Thes 1.5 Luk. 8.15 Ps 119.161 Q. Wherein fourtly doth Sanctification goe beyond morall Honesty A. In the motives to obedience The sanctified person whatsoever he does he doth it out of duty pressing the conscience out of love inclining the Affection This is the true ground and motive of sound obedience to doe a duty out of a pure Conscience of Love and faith unfained this is acceptable in Gods sigh 1 Tim. 1.5 Eph. 6.7 1 Ioh. 5.2 whereas the Hypocrite hath ever an eye to himselfe Self-ends and selfe respects doe usually keep up the course of his duties Vse Hereof it followes that they are not truly sanctified which cannot give the word a divine preheminence in their souls to reforme their hearts and lives Ezek. 33.30 32. Neither are they Truly converted that can Hate one sin and allow another Es 58.3 Rom. 2.22 Not they which outwardly are washed but are not inwardly changed renewed Nor lastly they which have some outward shews of goodnes without a seed of Grace in their hearts seeing all the good they doe and all the evill they forbeare does proceed from restraining Grace and outward respects moving and setting them on worke all this does not amount to saving Grace Observe this for a Truth such Christians as have no better Principles of acting and performances then morall Education can furnish them with Also such as content themselves with a Negative goodnesse as to say I am no Papist nor Thiefe nor Whoremonger c. Also they that can stay in such duties of the first and second Table as may preserve the credit and esteem of Moderate well bred civill honest men in the places where they live yet are not equally careful and conscionable of the duties of Piety and Religion but remaine all this while unacquainted with the grounds of Faith and pure worship of God and so the good things they doe they doe them without knowledge and conscience of or respect unto their injunction in the word of God All such persons are as yet but strangers to the life of Grace they have not as yet exceeded what a Pharisee or a Heathen may doe Of Restraining and Renewing Grace Q. Shew farther for conclusion some differences betweene Restraining Grace and Renewing Grace 15. Mar. for all Gods children are renewed in the spirit of their minds The triall Eph. 4.23 A. 1. Restraining grace if it be only restraining hath painfulnesse in it and an inward discontent as the Bridle that keeps them in Gods word is as Cords Bonds to them Ps 2.3 Mark 6.20 Herod feared Iohn c. But now the heart truly renewed desireth to be restrained Iob. 34.32 That which I see not Teach thou me Ps 19.13 Ps 119.32 Q. How Secondly may restraining Grace be known from Renewing Grace A. Men Meerly restrained will stretch their liberty as farre as they can and when Meanes of restraint be removed they will grow loose and licentious as Joash did when Jehoiada was dead 2 King 12.2 with the 2 Cron 24.17 18. But the heart that 's renewed and truely sanctified will not doe all that he may he will rather doe lesse he will deny himselfe some things which he might doe especially if it be not expedient for time place 1 Cor 10.23 1 Cor 6.12 Q. What 's a third difference between restraining and renewing grace A. Men meerly restrained doe abstaine from evill for feare of Wrath or feare of Laws and shame in the world or perhaps one sin keeps in another as the ambitious person will avoid Drunkennesse because men of a debaucht life are not fit for high places So the presence of a Godly grave man does stop the mouth of a vain swearer c. But the heart that is renewed eschews evill because it is displeasing unto God He will oppose and resist sin out of an inward Principle of Grace and hatred of sin the spirit of God in them lusteth against the flesh c. Gal. 5.17 Generall Rules of Holy life and Conversation 1. EVery Christian may and ought to be assured of his own Salvation 2 Pet. 1.5 7. 2 Cor. 13.5 2. No man can be assured thereof but by the word of God working spirituall and supernaturall effects and changes in the understanding in the Heart and affections By the which change our effectuall vocation future salvation is witnessed and sealed to our consciences Gal. 6.7 8 15. 1 Joh. 1.6 7. 3. It is not enough for a Christian to be Baptized to be bred up in the true Religion to come to Church to cry Lord Lord and to live civilly unlesse thou have a sound Faith which worketh by love unlesse thou be a New Creature Outward Profession will not serve the turne nor stead thee to salvation unlesse thou finde inwardly those effects which the word Sacraments expresse outwardly Rom. 2.25 28. Gal. 5.6 Jer. 9.26 4 Repentance doth not stand only in an outward forbearance of sin but there must be also an inward loathing hatred of sin together with a striving against the corruptions of our hearts there must be a new frame of heart and soul making us to doe all things 1. By new Principles of obedience viz. Faith and Love 2. By new Rules viz. the word of God 3d for new Ends namely how God may be honoured and our own finall and externall peace procured 5. A Christian must look to find in himselfe some