or adversity Thirdly to conceal the Lords favour 2 Kings 7 9. and not to tell others what the Lord hath done for our souls that we may praise the Lord together Fourthly Isa 64.7 not like the woman Lu. 15.9 not to stir up others to to praise the Lord for his goodnesse Quest 33. These are the duties required and sins forbidden for private or ordinary praises But what is the duty of extraordinary praising God with feasting and joyfulnesse Ans Extraordinary praise is when the Church of God for some great and extraordinary mercy received 1 Chron. 16.8 c. 2 Chron. 20.26 27 Neh. 8.9 10. doth celebrate a day of praise solemnly glorifying of the Lord and rejoycing in God in the comfortable sober use of the creatures remembring our friends and especially giving gifts to the poor that they may rejoyce with us and praise the Lord. Quest 34. You have answered concerning the three first parts of Gods solemn worship Now What I pray yon are the duties required in the fourth and last you named to wit Covenants and renewing of our Vows and Covenants before the Lord Answ To understand this we must distinguish of Covenants Vows and Promises they are of two sorts First that general Covenant and Promise or Vow which Gods people make with God in Christ in Baptism and renew again and again in tha Lords Supper Gen. 17.7 8 2. This is an absolute duty and part of Gods worship required in this Command Exo. 19.4 c. 20.1 c. Deut. 5.23 c. 26.17 Iosh 24.19 c. Gen. 28.20 c. That at the Lord doth give himself to be our God and Christ as a reconciled God and Father and take his Church and children to be his people So Gods people are bound and it is tneir duty again not onely to take the Lord for their God but to Covenant Vow and Promise and binde themselves mutually by Vow and Covenant to be Gods people and to give up themselves wholly to be the Lords servants and by all wayes and means to glorifie God and keep his Commandments Quest 35. But is this renewing of this Covenant Vow and general Promise and binding of our selves to God by Vow and Covenant a duty when the Lord calls for it by an extraordinary occasion either of his tryals of us by dangers and adversity or by mercies in deliverances from dangers and Enemies in time of danger Ans Yes certainly Gen. 35.1 1. Sam. 7 2 c. 2 Chron. 15.10 c. Ier. 50.4 5. it is no more but a duty for a man or woman in particular or a Church ard Nation in general upon extraordinaty occasions of Gods providence in adversity or prosperity to seek the Lord by way of Covenant and renewing of our Vows and Covenants with our God in Christ Quest 36. You have answered concerning the general Covenant Vow and Promise in Baptism and the renewing of that Promise Vow or Protestation of a Childe of God in particular or the Church and people of God in general as upon special occasions What are special Vows Ans Special Vows and Protestations Gen. 28.21 22. Psal 66.14 c. 76.42 or Promises to God for some special causes are to be made by fit persons of things lawful and in our own power in a right manner Num. 30.1 c. Psa 116.12 13. Ier. 35.6 7 8. Deut. 7.2 c. Num. 16.3 33. 1 Sam. 6.19 20. 6.7 Eph. 5.15 Ier. 51.45 Rev. 18. Iob. 22.21 1 Cor. 9.27 Psa 132.1 2 3. 1 Cor. 9.11 16.1 3. Rom. 14.23 Iohn 4.24 2 Cor. 5.19 20. and to a right end to glorifie God and as furtherance for avoiding of sin or occasion of sin or of performance of some duty or of declaration of our thankfulnesse for some special mercy received As First not to drink wine or strong drink to avoid drunken company and all occasion of familiarity of such as may entice to any sin as not to have familiarity with Atheists or Papists or any who may draw us to prophanenesse or from our precise and strict walking with the precise God of Heaven and Earth or bring us in danger of Gods judgements by their company or to spend some time daily in secret acquaintance with God And secondly to do some special good as to give some part of our estate for maintenance of the Preaching of the Gospel where it is wanting or so much yearly out of our encrease and gain to the Ministers of Christ or to the poor of Christ in thankfulnesse to God for his mercies in deliverance from special dangers or communicating to us some special favours and all this in faith spirit and in truth as unto God our God reconciled unto us in Christ Iesus Quest 37. What are the sins contrary to the duty of Vows and Covenants and Protestations thus made or renewed in a right manner unto God Ans First all rash inconsiderate unlawful Vows Secondly all breaking of our Vows Ecc. 5.2 5.4 Deut. 23.21 Prov. 20 2◠Promises or Protestations lawful made to God in a true manner and to a right end Thirdly all Vows Promises of Covenants made with the Devil Lev. 20.27 Deu. 18.10 c. or service done unto the Devil immediatly as Witches Wisards Conjurers or such like use to do Or service done to the Devil mediatly 1 Sam. 28.7 c. Acts 16.19 Ezek. 21.21 22. Is◠1.19 by feeking unto consulting with Witches Wisards Conjurers Fortune-tellerss or any of the Devil children of that nature for help in distresse or attaining whatsoever we desire Quest 38. Are there any other sins forbidden in this second Commandment Ans I will not stand to set down every particular sin nor is it easie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 2.20 c. But besides all false worship and Ethelo-threskeia or Will-Worship framed in mans brain Exo. 4 5. 12.3.6 19.10 2 Kin. 21.3 4 5. 1 Cor. 10.17 c. 2 Chron. 19.1 2 3 Deu. 13.6 c. 7.2 3. Eph. 5.11 and all neglect of Gods true Worship and of any preparation means help or furtherance thereunto all rest or confidence in Worship or in any duty and not on Christ in duty all help or approbation of Idolatrous false Worship or Will Worship or inward familiarity with Idolaters favouring or sparing of any such as the Word of God holdeth forth to be shunned or punished is a sin and contrary to the second Commandment and so to be avoided 1 Cor. 14.26 11.13 14.40 Lastly all failing in circumstances when what is done is contrary to edification to decency or to order Quest 39. You have thus manifested the duties required and the sins forbidden in the second Commandment Now what may be further learned from hence Psa 119.12 13. Acts 4.12 Ans That the sins and failings in out holy services are or may be exceeding many in the manner as well as in the
assistance of the spirit of Prayer and this rightly Rom. 8.26 in a right manner in the name of Christ and to a right end otherwise our Prayers are not right nor acceptable before God nor can we expect to be heard at Gods hand when we call upon him in Prayer Quest 21. J see then that a bare forme of Prayer is not sufficient to rest in but I must have the spirit of God inabling of mee to pray with the spirit or inner man as well as with the mouth and my soule must bee disposed in a right manner in Prayer and enabled by the Spirit of Christ but what graces are requisite in this dutie Ans Faith Repentance Humility Devotion See Classis 30. 2 Sect. in 2 Commandement pag. 502. 503 504. Zeale Fervency Perseverance and such like Graces and all in the name of Christ else all is nothing And therefore hee or shee prayeth best who hath the spirit of Prayer and can powre out his or her heart and soule to God in Prayer as Jacob and Hannab and other Saints of God have done and have beene heard in their Prayers with a gratious returne 1 Cor. 14.15 Iames 1.6 Isa 1.15 16. Acts. 10.2 Hosea 12.4 James 5.16 Psal 51.17 Iere. 50.4 5. 1 Thess 5.17 John 16.23 Quest 22. But how shall a man get the spirit of Prayer and ability to powre out his soule to God Ans I answer you must not rest in your Prayers nor in any duty you performe to God as if that did satisfie the Lord for your sins or meritoriously procured your peace with God but you must rest on Christ both for your acceptation of your selfe and your prayers upon the Golden Altar with the incense of Christs merits Revel 8.3.4 Quest 23. In what else must J wait for the spirit Ans Secondly you must waite upon God in Christ in all the meanes of grace till hee powre out the spirit of Prayer into your heart and soule that you may cry Abba Father and be heard as a child of God in Christ Gal. 4.6 Quest 24. What further direction can you give Ans Thirdly and lastly for your better enablement to expresse the desires and groans of your soule to the Lord aske your soule but these or the like foure questions to this or the like effect as speaking to your selfe Quest 25. What is the first Ans First Oh my soule to whom or to what glorious Majesty oughtest thou to direct thy Prayers at Morning or Evening or Noone day or whensoever in publike or private or secret thou desirest to gaine a blessing from the highest Heavens Psal 55.17 Quest 26. What shall I answer to this demand Ans Let thy soule answer and it will tell thee it is to the most high God the Possessor of Heaven and Earth the searcher of all hearts and the hearer of Prayer presented to him in the name and by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ Ps 38.13 Psal 65.2 Psal 77.1 Iohn 16.23 Quest 27. What directions Ans Endeavour in all fear and humility to begin thy Prayer with the best expressions of the most glorious Name Nature Persons Properties of this great and glorious Lord God with the acknowledgement of his Truth Power and Majesty in his Words and Workes held forth in Scripture and of thy unworthinesse which may affect thy heart by the helpe of Christs Spirit with a right temper to powre out thy soule to God in Prayer 1 Chron. 29.11 2 Chron. 30.18.19 Ezra 9.6 Nehe. 9.32 and this in the best words thou canst but chiefly have regard to thy heart which the Lord hath a speciall eye unto And so begin thy Prayer as Exod. 15.11 12.13 Exodus 34.6 7. 1 Kings 8.23.27 or in the like manner Quest 28. What is second question Answ Secondly aske thy soule a second question to this or the like effect Oh! my soule Ezra 9.5 6 7. Prov. 28.13 Dan. 9.4.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. wherein hast thou offended this great God to whom thou desirest to lift up thy selfe in Prayer that thou mayst acknowledge thine offences and seeke for further assurance of pardon before thou beg any other favour at the Lords hand as 2 Chron. 6.36 Quest 29. What direction here Ans Let thy soule first looke into the glasse of thy owne conscience Rom. 2.14 15. Acts 24.16 Rom. 3.20 Iohn 3.19 20.36 1 Iohn 3.23 Rom. 7.18 19 20. and secondly into the glasse of the Word of God both the commanding and promising part both Law and Gospell and finde out thy sinnes and accuse and condemne thy selfe for thy ingratitude for so many former mercies yea confesse and labour to be humble for thy fall in Adam for thy originall and actuall transgressions in state of nature but especially thy unthankefulnesse in dayes of grace Ephes 4.30 either in thought word or deede wereby thou hast grieved the spirit of God by whom thou art sealed to the day of Redemption and this in as good words as God makes thee able As Hannah 1 Sam. 1.17 and with the exercise of all those graces the Lord hath given thee to this end thou hast here a large field to powre out thy soule to God in if thou canst finde out thy manifold sinnes against God or the sinnes of others which thou desirest to confesse and bewaile before God thy Lord as Daniel and other Saints have done Daniel 9.7 8 9 10 11. Quest 30. What is the third question Ans Thirdly aske thy soule a third question to this or the like effect Oh my soule what dost thou want or what is thy request and the desire of thy heart to obtaine at the hands of thy God and loving Father in Christ Quest 31. And what wants may I expresse Ans Thy soule will tell thee thou wantest in the first place the assurance or more full assurance of the forgivenesse of all thy sinnes and of Gods free grace and love unto thee in the Lord Jesus thou wantest many favours from God for thy body for thy soule for this for a better life for thy wife thy husband for Parents children servants kindred accquaintance thy Neighbours thy friends thy enemies for the Kings Majesty for the Parliament the Kingdom the City and Country for Peace and Truth and a happy union and communion one with another and with the whole Church of Christ and here expresse thy minde as well as thou canst by the power of Christ the Lord careth not so much for fine words as for an honest sincere contrite heart sanctifyed by the spirit of Christ Isai 66.2 Quest 32 What is the fourth question Ans Lastly aske thy soule a fourth question to this or the like effect Oh my soule what hast thou received from this great and good God for which thou art bond to render him thankes and praise in the Name of the Lord Jesus Quest 33. What rule is there to finde this out Ans Let thy soule call to minde all or as many as thou canst of those unspeakable favours the Lord hath bestowed upon thee reckon them up imparticular out of the catalogue of Gods mercies both upon thy owne soule in particular and the Church in generall to thy selfe to thine to the people of God and what a sea of mercy mayst thou swim in and enlarge thy thankfulnesse above all for Gods free love in the Lord Jesus as Psalme 116.12 13. Quest 34. But did you ever know any man thus learne to pray Ans Yes did I know a Christian who could reade never a word upon the Booke and yet after hee had received these directions puting them carefully and constantly in practise in a secret place before God the onely searcher of hearts and the Teacher of the ignorant hee did in a short time attaine an excellent habit in Prayer and was inabled to pray dayly in his Family in a sweet comfortable manner and assuredly the Lord is the same God still to all his children in Christ and will be so to all who diligently waite on him in the use of the meanes I conclude with the Apostle now to him that is able to keepe you from falling and to present you blamelesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Jude 24.25 to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen FINIS COurteous Reader there are some few Errata which the ingenuous may easily find and amend with their Pen.
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
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
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
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