Scandalous Prophanations of the Lords Supper were sickly and weak and fell asleep at present 1 Cor. 11. 30 32. And the Man of God from Judah being pitiably seduced by a Dissembling Prophet without any thing that appears of an Evil intent and having first faithfully and boldly declared God's Message against Jeroboam's Altar we may reasonably hope was mercifully spared as to the other World. But yet here God met him by the way and devoured him by a Lion for yielding to a Seducer to eat Bread against the Word of the Lord 1 King. 13. And this ought mightily to restrain us all from acting any great dishonour to God or crying Offences for which God may judge us in our Persons Estates or Families in this World when upon our true Repentance he acquits us in the next Penitence is not so good a Preservative against the sting of these as innocence is For such Offences do always justly expose us to Temporal Calamities and sometimes make it necessary for us that we should be severely corrected in this World. Which consideration ought to restrain all that regard either their own or their Families welfare in this World from ever being guilty of them Quest. When are these punishments relaxed and what is the time of Pardon Answ. The solemn full and irreversible declaration of it is at the Day of judgement But before that God pardons the sins of good Men in this life giving them a general pardon of all sins in Baptism and of all particular Failures afterwards as they repent of them So on David's repentance for the matter of Uriah Nathan told him God had put away his Sin 2 Sam. 12. 13. Quest. Is this forgiveness in this World perfect and irreversible so that when once any sins are struck off they are never more placed to account Answ. No but limited and suspended on Terms viz. mens perseverance in repentance for if after their pardon they fall off and relapse into the same wickedness they shall be unpardon'd all again and stand accountable for all former Transgressions If the Righteous man turn from his Righteousness to iniquity saith God in Ezekiel all the Righteousness he hath done shall not be mention'd to him but in his Sins that he hath sinn'd shall he dye Ezek. 18. 24. 33. 12 13. And when the Debtor to whom his Lord had pardon'd all his great Sums had render'd himself unworthy of that grace by his merciless usage of a small Debtor among his fellow Servants his incensed Lord cancel'd the Pardon and exacted all the dispunged Accounts And so says Christ will my Heavenly Father do with you in like case Mat. 18. 24 27 30 34 35. Quest. Do we believe the forgiveness of all Sins Answ. Yes except the Sin against the Holy Ghost and willful Apostacy from the Faith of Christ for which there is no forgiveness Quest. I have seen already that there is no Pardon for Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost But is there none also for willful Apostacy from Christianity Answ. No for if we sin willfully i. e. by willful Apostacy after we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin i. e. Christ's Sacrifice is not designed to expiate such offence Heb. 10. 26. Quest. Is that Sinning willfully willful Apostacy from Christianity Answ. Yes For these Sinners saith the Apostle tread under foot the Son of God i. e. affirm Christ to be still in the Grave not risen from the Dead and count the blood of the Covenant or Christ's Blood an unholy Thing i. e. as the Blood of a Malefactor and say it was justly shed and do despite to the Spirit of Grace i. e. despite the Holy Ghost which confirm'd Christianity and reject all his Miracles as Satanical delusions v. 29. So that these Sinners were plainly Apostates who ceased to own and had begun to accuse Christ as the Jews and Heathens did And the same Apostacy St. Paul speaks of in another place when he tells us if Christians fall away i. e. from their Christianity whereby they Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh or joyn in Condemning him with his Crucifiers it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance Heb. 6. 4 5 6. Quest. But all other Sins you say we may believe and trust to have the pardon of Answ. Yes thro' the merits of Christ and the mercy of God. So Christ Commissions his Apostles to Preach Repentance and Remission of Sins to all Nations Luk. 24. 47. And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father and he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And all manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but that against the Holy Ghost which shall never be forgiven Mat. 12. 31. Quest. You would have no Sinners then to despair of Mercy or think their Sins greater than Christ's merits or God's grace and too big to be forgiven Answ. No by no means For Christ by his most precious death has gain'd a full Pardon for the greatest Sins and sends out his Apostles to Proclaim it to the greatest Sinners David was guilty of Adultery and Murder Paul was a cruel and bloody Persecutor and Blasphemer Peter was perjuriously false and denyed his Master But all these were forgiven and none need or must despair as if when they Repent God had not pardon enough in store Quest. These indeed are instances of the greatest sins But is there forgiveness for them when they are committed with the most aggravating Circumstances Answ. Yes For David's Murder and Adultery was with much deliberation and contrivance and against so many struglings and reluctances that thereby he became almost quite hardned and of a seared Conscience And Peter's denyal was repeated several times and those considerably distant to allow space enough for remorse and that too with false Oaths and bitter imprecations But both these obtain'd mercy on their true repentance Quest. You say on true Repentance Is all this forgiveness then upon some Terms and Conditions Answ. Yes for God's grants of grace are as in consideration of Christs Sacrifice so also of our Faith and Repentance And therefore neither to Infidels nor impenitent Persons Quest. Upon what terms must we believe God will forgive us any willful Sins Answ. When we repent of them and forgive others Quest. Will he not pardon them 'till we repent and amend them Answ. No for to all the willful Sinners of the World the Apostles were to Preach Repentance and Remission of Sins And of these 't is said he that confesses and forsakes his Sins shall find mercy Prov. 28. 13. Quest. But when we have repented and left these Sins will he not forgive us still unless we forgive others that have trespass'd against us Answ. No there is no forgiveness neither for impenitent nor uncharitable Persons For if ye forgive men their Trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men
at his mouth for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2. 7. And so are the Ministers of Christ among us Christians Loe I am with you teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded and that always even to the end of the World. That is with you during your own lives and the Pastors and Teachers your Successors for ever after your deaths Mat. 28. 20. So that if we would give ear to Christ and own him for the Prophet of the Church we must seek the mind of God from the Holy Scriptures and from the mouths of our Bishops and Pastors who are his established Ministers to inculcate and explain those Scriptures Quest. Another Office you say he was design'd and anointed to was the Office of a Priest. Wherein doth that consist Answ. In two things 1. The payment of a Price to make Reconciliation and expiate mens sins with God. And 2. Interceding for ever after that they should have the benefit and blessing of it A Prophet is employ'd from God to men to declare his will and pleasure to them But a Priest is employ'd from men to God ordain'd as St. Paul says for men in things pertaining to God Heb. 5. 1. So that a Priest stands for the Church to make Reconciliation and intercede for it Quest. And did Christ act the part of a Priest for the Church paying a Price to make Reconciliation with God and in virtue of that to intercede for it Answ. Yes he reconciled us to God by dying in our stead We are reconciled to God by the death of his Son Rom. 5. 10. And being now raised from the Dead he is entred into Heaven where he ever lives to make intercession for us Heb. 7. 25. Quest. Doth he intercede that men may have this Reconciliation whilst they go on in sin Answ. No but only when they forsake it and Repent that their sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. So that till they amend they must never expect that he should move for them Quest. What doth the consideration of Christ's Priesthood teach us Answ. To hope for the Mercy of God for our sins upon our true Repentance If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is the Propitiation for our sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And having him our High-Priest we may draw near with full assurance of Faith if once our Hearts are sprinkled and cleansed from an evil Conscience Heb. 10. 21 22. And in general it teaches us whensoever we want any Mercy or Favour from God to apply to him by Jesus Christ who is anointed to be the sole Intercessor or Great Master of Requests from whom he will receive our Prayers Quest. You said thirdly that Christ was invested with the Office of a King to his Church what doth that imply Answ. Two things 1. That he govern it by his Laws and Officers the Bishops and Pastors 2. That he protect it from all visible and invisible Enemies by his Spirit and Providence And both these Parts of Regal Power Christ exercises over his Church He is our Lord to command the Head over all things to his Body which is the Church Eph. 1. 22 23. and sits now as a Protector at God's Right-hand till his Enemies be made his Foot-stool Psal. 110. 1. Quest. 'T is plain he exercises his Kingly Power of Governing us by his Laws which are contain'd in the holy Scriptures But doth he also govern his Church by his Officers viz. the Bishops and Ministers making them his Deputies here on Earth Answ. Yes for they are called his Pastors Eph. 4. 8 11. which is the Scriptural word for Governours to feed and to rule being used promiscuously in the holy Language That saith of Cyrus he is my Shepherd that is my Deputy in Power or Substitute in Government Isa 44. 28. And God brought David to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance that is to Rule them So he fed them according to the Integrity of his Heart and guided them according to the skilfulness of his Hand Psal 78. 71 72. His Ministers are his Substitutes in Government whom we are to hearken to and obey in his place Know them that are over you in the Lord and admonish you 1 Thess. 5. 12 13. and obey those that have the rule you for they watch for your Souls Heb. 13. 17. Quest. What must this teach us Answ. To submit to our own Bishops and Ministers acting for and under him as we would to Christ himself if we would own him to be King over us For they are his Deputies to Rule the Church in his place And whilst they act according to his Commission he Decrees and Sentences Binds and Looses Speaks and Acts by them as every Royal Prince doth by his Representatives and Ministers in all Authoritative Acts whereto they are commission'd by him which when done by them have the same Authority and Force as if performed by himself in Person And therefore if we reject them in such cases we shew that we will not have him to Reign over us He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luk. 10. 16. And accordingly St Paul both in binding and loosing declares he acted in the person of Christ 2 Cor. 2. 10. and commends the Galatians for receiving him as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 14. Quest. And wherein must we shew this Submission Answ. In uniting with them in Prayers and Sacraments they having the charge of ministring in his Worship and Service and what he solemnly and openly receives in his Princely Dependancies being from the Mouths and Mediation of his own Stewards and Officers In hearkening to their Godly Admonitions because he has left them to instruct and rebuke Sinners In meekly undergoing their deserved Censures and seeking again the Peace of the Church by true Repentance And lastly in chearfully conforming to all their Church-Laws and Constitutions when they do not thwart or oppose his Christ himself our Soveraign Lord and King has given Laws for all necessary things but has left them to regulate Rites and Ceremonies which are variable matters and to take care of the Order and Decency of Worship in the publick Assemblies Let every thing be done decently and in order in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 40 is a Precept given to Church-Governours for they have the care of God's Publick Service And when they make any innocent or useful Appointments in these things we must cheerfully obey and conform our selves Obey them that have the Rule or Guidance over you for they watch for your Souls Heb. 13. 17. Quest. Is it another part of his Kingly Power to protect his Church from all visible and invisible Enemies Answ. Yes he guards it against all inward and invisible Enemies by his Spirit and from all outward and visible Enemies by his Providence But the security he gives against these is not that it shall never be eclipsed and persecuted but only
Abode be at the Right-hand of God's Throne in Heaven then we are not to expect any thing of a Bodily Presence in any Ordinances here on Earth Answ. No as to his Bodily Presence it is expresly said that he parted from his Disciples Luk. 24. 51. that he left the World Joh. 16. 28. and is no more in the World Joh. 17. 11. and tho the Poor we should yet him we should not have always with us Mat. 26. 11. that whilst we are in the Body we are absent from him 2 Cor. 5. 6. and are not to be with him till we depart hence Phil. 1. 23. that his Bodily Abode is in Heaven where he is to remain till the Consummation Act. 3. 21. and without ascending to Heaven to fetch him there is no bringing him back to Earth again Rom. 10. 6. and when he comes to judge the World it shall be from thence by Change of Place and Local Motion call'd his Descending from Heaven 1 Thess. 4. 16. and coming in the Clouds of Heaven Mat. 26. 64. and the Saints are to be call'd up from the Earth into the Air to meet him 1 Thess. 4. 17. All which plainly imply his Bodily Presence to be circumscribed and limited to God's Right-hand and no longer in this World. But the way of Christ's Presence with his Church is by his Spirit which works the same Effects and confers the same Graces that he himself would were he personally upon Earth His Spirit is his Advocate who was to succeed in his Place to maintain his Cause Joh. 15. 26. and to stay with us all the time of his absence he shall abide with you for ever Joh. 14. 16. And this Presence of his Spirit in all compleatness of Vertue and real Effects he himself judges preferable to all Ocular Manifestations of his Person or Sensible Presence which tho it might serve more to delight our Eyes and entertain our Fancies yet would signifie less to real and desirable Purposes 'T is expedient for you says he that I go away speaking to his Disciples of his Bodily Absence For if I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him Joh. 16. 7. And It is the Spirit that quickneth but the Flesh profits nothing said he at another time to the gross Capernaites upon a like Competition of these two ways of his Presence with us Joh. 6. 63. Quest. What must we learn from Christ's being exalted to such Sovereign and Supereminent Authority at God's Right-hand Answ. To render him the Reverence and Obedience due to so High a Majesty For since God has thus highly exalted him at his Name every Knee must bow and every Tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 9 10 11. Quest. What from his being so Compassionate and Powerful an Advocate Answ. To come to him in every Want or Distress with Confidence and Assurance of Faith being fully perswaded both of his Kindness for us and of his Interest with God to obtain whatsoever is necessary or convenient for us Having such an High-Priest let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14 16. But particularly to come with sure Hope and Expectation of the Pardon of our Sins when we truly repent of them and of his Good Spirit and Grace when we are careful to make a Diligent and Right use of them If any Man Sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is a Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 3. 34. Quest. What learn we from his Power to Subdue all his Enemies Answ. To trust him as I noted above with the care of our selves and of his Church and not suffer our selves to be cast into any anxious Fears or forced upon the use of any unlawful means by any Streights But to believe let Dangers and Disorders be what they will that the Lord Reigns and that we and all his faithful People are safest whilst we are doing our Duty and are in his hands That indeed is the true way to yield present security but especially if thereby we happen to suffer to make sure a surpassing Recompence of Glory For this is a Faithful saying if we be dead with him that is to Sin we shall also live with him that is in Glory If we suffer and endure that is persevere in obeying chiefly when we obey with Loss and Difficulty we shall also Reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 11 12. Quest. Since Christ is now in Heaven and we profess to fix all our Hopes in him Should not that make us think much of that Place where he is and of the way to come thither Answ. Without Question it should If ye be risen with Christ seek those Things which are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God Col. 3. 1. Here in the Body we sojourn from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. In this World we are strangers and Pilgrims 1 Pet. 2. 11. But God above is our Father and Jesus Christ at God's Right-Hand is our Lord and the Glorified Saints are our Fellow-Citizens Eph. 2. 19. And being thus Gods Family or Domesticks our Conversation should be where our Civil Relation and Society is that is in Heaven whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Phil. 3. 20. Since our Treasure is with him in Heaven there should our Hearts be also Mat. 6. 21. So that although in passing through this World we cannot quite neglect the things of it yet must we always heedfully mind and carefully seek the things above it CHAP. IV. Of the Future Judgment The Contents The necessity of the Future Judgment All men are judged and made happy or miserable at their Deaths But not so fully then as they will be afterwards The Compleat and General Judgment is at the end of the World. In that Jesus Christ is to be the Judge Who are to be judged In that Judgment no Condemnation but for breaking Gods Laws So not for indifferent things Men shall be tryed and sentenced for all their sinful Actions with regard to their lasting Effects For their most secret ones And such ill deeds as were disguised under the fairest Pretences For their sinful Omissions And Neglecting to Employ and improve their Talents For sinful Words And Thoughts and Desires For all these Men shall be judged impartially without Respect of Persons But with Equity and Candor not in Rigor The Benign Judge will be very ready to observe what makes for us and make the best of our Performances And interpret the seemingly Rigorous Expressions of his own Laws with great condescension to Humane Measures He will allow for involuntary Failings And judge Candidly and Favourably of that involuntariness And for Natural Infirmities
must be in following our Callings with Prudent Care and Diligence And in like sort when we seek to him for any Virtues it must be in the use of such Probable and Discreet ways as are like to make us Masters of them Quest. Would you add any thing further about the use of these means Answ. Yes Fourthly that it be with a Faith in God's Power and Spirit and a confidence of success through that Assistance God has promised his Grace and Spirit to make us Good as well as his Mercy to Pardon us when we are so And we must eye this Promise of his Powerful assistance when we set about any Vertue and Goodness A Faith in his Power is as necessary to make us Good as Faith in his Mercy towards all good Men is to make us desirous of being Good. And to this Faith the Scripture Directs us in working out our Obedience Work out your own Salvation for it is God that worketh in you and so strengthen your Hands in that expectation Phil. 2. 12 13. And we are kept by the Power of God through Faith viz. in that Power unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Quest. Is there any other Rule to be observed in seeking these Graces of the Holy Spirit Answ. Yes Fifthly that in all the Time we are endeavouring after them we do nothing to Grieve or annoy him 'T is with him as 't is with every ingenious Person he grows weary of staying where he finds he is not welcome and where men are still taking occasion to displease and pass Affronts upon him And therefore when we are warn'd against several sins to conclude all we are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God which is to restrain us from them Eph. 4. 30. Quest. What things will grieve him Answ. The Apostle there particularly mentions obscene Talk and corrupt Communication ver 29. But he is grieved by our consenting to all sorts of Sin for he is a declared Enemy to all of them Especially if we commit any against many of his suggestions and checks of Conscience As David did in the Murder of Uriah after which he was sore afraid lest God should take his Holy Spirit from him Ps. 51. 11. or if we have sinned our selves up to a Custom or take delight in sinning Quest. Doth it offend him knowingly to Neglect and Slight his good suggestions Answ. Yes for he is concerned to have them take Place since he suggests nothing to us but what is most agreable to his own most Holy Inclinations the Honour of God and our Eternal Happiness Let us have that is use Grace that we may serve God acceptably Heb. 12. 28. And therefore let this pass for a Sixth Rule of obtaining his saving Graces to cherish the Good Suggestions he inspires and always improve the Grace he has already given to bring down more from him For to him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance Mat. 25. 29. In things of Trust this is the way of all Discreet Persons and so 't is his Quest. If we idely neglect and fail to cultivate our Present Grace then he will withhold such further Measures as he Designed us Answ. Yes and after long Patience at last withdraw the former too For from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Mat. 25. 29. Thus Felix when he trembled at St. Paul's Sermon not fomenting that Fear nor proceeding to improve and penitently resolve upon it fell back and as we have cause to think heard no more of it Act. 24. 25. Quest. These seem Good and plain Rules for the attainment of these Graces of the Spirit And when we are careful to use them may we be confident of his Gift and promise our selves that he will bestow them Answ. Yes for therein he fulfâ—ls the Design of Christ that sent him and gratifies his own inclination And this God has promised and ordered us to expect from him Bidding us seek and we shall find Mat. 7. 7. and declaring how to him that hath shall be given and God will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him Quest. You have shewed me how we are to attain the Graces of the Spirit But if they are thus to be our own Attainment how are they God's Gift And if as you said before God gives them what need we take all this care and Pains to acquire them Answ. If they were an absolute Gift indeed we should not need to do it For when a Gift is absolute no Conditions are required on our part And then no defects in us can hinder nor any dispositions of ours further and make way for it It depends not on any thing in us but is purely God's Act So that nothing is left for us to do towards it But these Graces are not an absolute but conditional Grant before the Spirit gives them he requires something towards them and works them not in all Men but only in those who are prepared for them Some things hinder them and they are to be carefully avoided Others further them and they are to be diligently pursued So that we are not to expect them from God's Grace and Spirit alone unless we our selves also in such sort as I have described concur and joyn with him Quest. By what you have said I perceive how careful the Holy Ghost is to fill our Souls with gracious dispositions Doth he not also refresh them with such Spiritual Joy and Comforts as are apt to result from them Answ. Yes For St. Paul reckons joy and Peace as well as Meekness and Temperaâ—ce for Fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22 23. and Prays that the God of Hope would fill them with all Joy and Peace in Believing and that they may abound in Hope through the Power of the Holy Ghost Rom. 15. 13. And St Luke says the Churches walked in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost Act. 9. 31. And St. Peter of the Dispersed Strangers that in believing they rejoyced with Joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1. 8. And therefore good Christians must not affect Scruples or think it any sign of Spirituality to be of a Down-looked and Melancholy Religion Since Joy and Peace a Filial Hope and ingenious chearfulness are Fruits that he loves to produce in them Quest. But doth the Holy Ghost inspire these comforts into all minds wherein he displays his saving Graces which are the Ground of them Answ. He is inclined to do it in all And doth it in one degree or other not always producing Raptures and Transports of Mind indeed but ease and quietness an inward complacency and comfortable Hope if they themselves do not put a Bar against him But some minds he sanctifies are of a Melancholly Temper that is prone to sadness and suspicions especially of themselves Or are frighted by undue-thoughts of God as if he were Stern and Rigorous soon offended but very difficult to be reconciled Or mistake the Gospel Terms as if they were over-rigid
all sin be in the World God's Holiness and I may add his Goodness too are not to be charged as if they had not abundantly done their part but only the obstinacy of Mens own perverse wills which are not to be forced and will not be dissuaded from it by all that can be fitly and reasonably offered to them And therefore it may still be most justly said of God as the Scripture doth What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it Isaiah 5. 4. The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but had rather that the wicked man would turn from his way and live Ezek. 33. 11. Quest. Another of God's Attributes you mentioned is his Goodness Is God's Goodness an undistinguishing Indulgence that lights promiscuously on all Persons Ans. No 't is a Wise and Holy Goodness that respects qualifications 'T is the Goodness of a just God not of a fond Man and so is prone to all tenderness that is consistent with Wise and Holy Ends and Governing Justice But tenderness and indulgence to ill things and for ill purposes and effects is not goodness but dotage Quest. So that God's Goodness doth not bespeak such tenderness as relents at the very sight of all miserable objects Ans. No when Love and Kindness have been finally abused by them affronted Goodness gives way to inflamed Justice and can see Men smart and suffer without being grieved for them Quest. Then we must not fancy God's Mercy is such an effeminate softness and fond pity as starts at the thoughts of any severity though most wholesome and necessary Ans. No it is Mercy to the Penitent and Pitiable but can well bear to see tormenting Cures wrought on diseased and straying offenders or Vengeance executed on obdurate Criminals Quest. Neither is his Goodness such easiness as will be won or wearied out purely by the confidence in requests and meer importunity of obdurate sinners Ans. No this good and easie God can be inflexible to any impious or unreasonable request And if they have been deaf to him in his time of calling he will shew himself Just as well as Good and requite them in their own kind and be deaf to them in theirs yea when the extremity of their distress makes them cry to him with utmost importunity and loudness When their fear comes says he as desolation to lay all waste and destruction as a whirlwind to sweep all before it then though they call and seek me early will I instead of relenting laugh and mock at their calamity Prov. 1. 26 27 c. Quest. But when this Goodness puts such difference between Objects is it as some fancy a blind and partial benevolence that fixes by chance or humour on some and when once it is fixed heaps all favours and sees no faults in them Ans. No by no means God's Goodness is not guided as fond Man 's often is by blind fancy but always by highest discretion He is infinite in Goodness but yet so as at the same time to be equal in Justice and Wisdom too So that he will do good to all that have not incapacitated themselves by their own fault but to none against just and wise reason Quest. By this it seems this good God has not more love of any Persons as they are his Creatures or Favorites than as they are endowed with certain qualifications And that his hatred is stronger against sin than his Love is for any Favorite or created Being Ans. Yes he never loves an evil work out of favour to the workers but as the Scripture often tells us he hates the workers for the sake of their evil works So that no Persons must ever fancy they are such Favorites of God that he will tolerate them in any wickedness Or that having once fixed his Love upon them or made Decrees in their favour he will not see sin in them nor impute it to them nor hate them for such things as are most hateful to him in others Quest. If it is none of these things what is it we are to understand by God's Goodness Ans. His perfect delight in doing good Which I shall note especially in two things viz. his forwardness in rewarding good Services and his great Patience and Easiness in passing over offences Quest. Is he mindful of his Servants and careful to reward all their good Services Ans. Yes and that he would have all Men undoubtedly to think by him that so they may be encouraged to serve him For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Quest. Is he also Patient and Merciful upon their Offences as well as Bountiful upon their good Services Ans. Yes when they repent and turn from them For he proclaims himself long-suffering keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Exod. 34. 6 7. He shows wonderful Patience in bearing with the sins of Men and Mercy in pardoning when they truly repent of them Quest. And is not this Mercy some incouragement to those who go on in their sins Ans. No because as I said he will have Mercy on those only who repent of them His long-suffering with sinners is only to give them time and lead them to repentance Rom. 2. 4. And his forgiving them is only when they do repent For even there where he proclaims his Mercy he declares he will by no means clear the guilty Exod. 34. 7. If we are impenitent to the last there is no expectation of Mercy to forgive but of Justice to punish us Quest. You say God shows this Goodness in bountifully rewarding good Services Doth he not also show the same in estimating what Services are good and fit to be rewarded by him Ans. Yes as far as is consistent with truth and reason He is by no means captious or exceptious like one that studied to find faults and make the worst of our performances Nor stiff and rigid in standing upon the extremities of things but is ready to make all fair abatements and allowances which are reasonably and justly pleadable in our case as I shall have occasion to observe afterwards Quest. What mean you by God's Justice or Righteousness Ans. His doing Right and Equity both first in giving Righteous Laws and secondly in passing Righteous Judgments according to them without respect of Persons Quest. Is God Righteous as a Law-giver in imposing only just and Righteous Laws Ans. Yes The Gods of the Gentiles indeed which S. Paul says were Devils injoyned their Worshippers the most sinful foul and cruel things They served Bacchus in the Idol-Feasts called the Bacchanals and other of their Deities with Revellings and Drunkenness and Profligate Uncleanness and so S. Peter says whilst they wrought the will of the
their Trespasses neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you Mat. 6. 14 15. And therefore when we pray for forgiveness our Lord allows us to do it only upon these terms Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us Quest. What if we have wronged any Persons is it not enough towards forgiveness to do so no more Answ. No it is not but withal we must make Restitution and amends for the wrong we have done already If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. Quest. I see we must hope to have forgiveness of our Sins of willfulness and also of our Sins of Passion which you shew'd to be of like guilt with them only upon our true Repentance and amendment of them But upon what terms shall our slips of ignorance and inadvertence be pardon'd since they are never perfectly amended but hang about us more or less as long as we are in this World Answ. Upon our great Charity to other men especially to their Souls in endeavouring their Conversion and Salvation And therefore that St. Peter recommends above all other Virtues and for this Reason Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. And if any of you err and one convert him let him know that he who converts a Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Quest. For whose sake doth Almighty God allow us all this Benefit of Forgiveness Answ. For Jesus Christ's who as you have seen dyed for our Sins and gave his blood a Ransom to purchase for us all this Pardon of them He is set forth a propitiation for the remission of Sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. And then for his sake we shall receive all this mercy when with the dispositions before express'd in his Name we devoutly pray to God for it Quest. By the promises of the Gospel I see this forgiveness is assured to all Christians upon the terms you have described But is it in any Signs and Tokens outwardly dispensed to them Answ. Yes both in the Holy Sacraments and in Sacerdotal Absolution Which ways of ministring this forgiveness as well as the forgiveness it self are noted in some Ancient Creeds This Article being thus profess'd in St. Cyprian's Form at Baptism I believe the Remission of Sins by the Church Quest. Is this forgiveness dispensed to us in the Sacrament of Baptism Answ. Yes and that most amply the water of Baptism washing off the stain of all former Sins Be Baptized and wash away thy Sins said Ananias to Saul Acts 22. 16. Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins said St. Peter to the Jews Acts 2. 38. And he hath saved us by the Laver of Regeneration i. e. the water of Baptism and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3 5. So that whateve pollutions men had before upon them if they come to Baptism with true Faith and Repentance they are thereby made clean again Quest. Is it also dispensed in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Answ. Yes if after the Baptismal cleansing they relapse and contract new guilt in that they are admitted to renew the same Covenant of Grace again and seal the Pardon of it For therein Christ gives us his own Blood which as he says particularly was shed for the Remission of Sins Mat. 26. 28. He entertains us there at his own Table which is an open profession to all worthy comers that he is reconciled to them and receives them again as Friends And therefore when any Baptized Christians are startled and terrified with the Conscience of their Sins let them repair to that Holy Sacrament to seal and assure the forgiveness of them But let them come with Faith and Repentance and Reconciliation to their Brethren which as I said are the Terms of our being Forgiven For the Holy Sacraments dispense this forgiveness to none but such as worthily receive them and those they do cleanse from all former Pollutions Quest. Is there also a dispensation of this Pardon in Priestly Absolution Answ. Yes for therein Christ has authoriz'd his Ministers that act in his place and stead to pronounce the Sentence of Pardon upon all true Penitents and bid them expect that what they regularly thus declare on Earth in his Soveraign Court in Heaven he will make good He breathed on them and said receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Joh. 20. 22 23. And therefore when a true Penitent hears his Pardon solemnly pronounced by an Officer whom God has deputed and Commission'd for it he may quiet his heart as one whose case is judged and firmly hope God will pronounce the same at the last Judgment But this I say he must do only after true Repentance For 't is only the Ministry of Reconciliation saith St. Paul which God hath committed unto us 2 Cor. 5. 18. but the direction and ratification of it he has reserved to himself and then only ratifies what his Ministers do when they pronounce according to his own Rules and Orders So that if the Priest pronounce by mistake and absolve the impenitent God will judge right tho' he judge wrong and Condemn at last whom he had before erroneously absolved in his Judgment Quest. Christ says what they retain shall be retained as well as what they remit shall be remitted Ought not that to beget in all Christians a great dread of Excommunication and Reverence for Church-Censures Answ. Yes questionless when they proceed upon just Cause for then Christ will maintain the Honour of his Deputies and make good their sentence He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. If any Offender will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican Mat. 18. 17. In these Acts what his Ministers do Regularly and according to his Direction they do it as representing him by vertue of his Commission and Authority which having given to be sure he will stand by And accordingly St. Paul and the Church-Governours at Corinth under him exercising their Power by virtue of Christ's Commission Declares that both in binding and relaxing or forgiving he acted with the Power and in the Person or place of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. and 2 Cor. 2. 10. Quest. Do all Censures of the Church then where the Truth is on its side cut men off as from the Church which is his Body so from Jesus Christ who is the Head of it Answ. All those do which are passed for such sins or errors as are Damnable by
the Tenor of Christ's own Laws For then they only speak the Language of Christ's own Rules and as Tertullian says are a true anticipation or Fore-hand Draught of the great Judgment And when his Officers only pronounce and say after him there is no doubt but he will confirm what they have pronounced in his Name Quest. But from what you have formerly discoursed I perceive that some things in Religon being against the Prime and Fundamental Doctrines are so Damnable in themselves as not to be capable of any Favour or Allowances And that others being only against inferior Truths are Damnable only as accompanied with an Evil Mind but capable withal of being incurred under Pardonable circumstances Now in these last Points many Persons that mean well and serve Christ sincerely in the main and essentials of a Christian may yet be unhappily mislead into wrong Opinions or Practices And if for their fixedness and obstinacy in these they happen to be cast out of any Church do you think they are always cut off from Christ too and that he will Finally Anathematise and condemn them in his Sentence Answ. No. For the Church as all humane Judges being unable to see into Mens Hearts give sentence in these cases according to outward Actions But Christ in his judgment of them looks also at the mind and heart of the Actors Rateing exactly not only the Punishableness of the Offences but also the Degrees of voluntary and involuntary which makes a Pardonableness or Punishableness of the Offenders And making these Allowances on such scores as fall not under their Notice 't is reasonable to believe he will still own and receive several compassionably mislead who are cast out on these accounts by the Churches Censures Quest. This validity and effect of Church-Censures you say is when they proceed according to Christ's own Rules and upon just cause But if they bind where the Gospel says they should loose and Excommunicate against Reason I suppose those Censures are meer Scare-crows that may serve to make a show but bring no hurt with them Answ. Very true Blessed are ye says our Saviour when Men shall separate you from their Company and expunge or cast out your Name as evil for the Son of Mans sake for so persecuted their Fathers the Prophets Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for your Reward is great in Heaven Luk. 6. 22 23. If good Christians are Excommunicated in any Church for not going against the Scriptures and complying with it in ill things as poor Protestants are by the Romish Church they lose nothing thereby with God who will not ratifie a wrong sentence but will increase their Reward for having bravely suffer'd in his Cause Quest. By what you have said I see how God forgives Sins But when they are committed against us we are bid to forgive them too and that as we our selves hope to be forgiven I pray you what doth that imply Answ. Not our remitting Future punishments which lye at God's mercy not in ours Nor always that we sit still without offering to defend our selves when we are assaulted or to seek redress when we are injured But only that we bear no malice to them in our hearts and if the case require Redress that we seek it not in Spiteful ways and that beside the Reparation of our own Wrong we aim not at our Adversary's Prejudice nor seek his hurt afterwards nor Pray to God or to the Magistrate for vengeance as the Jews might to ease an angry mind when we are able to do no more against him our selves Quest. What use must we make of this Belief of the Forgiveness of Sins Answ. Admire the mercy of God who can forgive such Profligate and Provoking Offenders And the wonderful love of Jesus Christ who could dye to procure this Forgiveness for his utter Enemies And not despair of mercy but stedfastly hope there is place of Pardon after any of our sins And above all to shew true Repentance and forgive others and perform all those things which are the condition and Terms of Forgiveness thereby to secure it to our selves Quest. And when we are once forgiven may we embolden our selves from God's readiness to forgive to Repeat our sins Answ. No by no means Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound in pardoning God forbid Rom. 6. 1 2. Now thou art made whole sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee said our Saviour Joh. 5. 14. Such ingratitude and abuse of Grace is not only most provoking to the Spirit and tempts him to withdraw from us and calls down from God heavier and surer Punishments But also it brings in force against us all the old scores which were all struck off as I said only on presumption of our Perseverance in repenting of them CHAP. XI Of the Resurrection of the Body and the Life everlasting The Contents The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin but of our Bodies from the Grave This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies viz. Immortality Spirituality and Glory The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal And exquisitely sensible Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies Good Souls carried straight-way into a Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherin there is Full and unmixed Happiness Of the satisfaction of their Senses Their clear and distinct Knowledge Perfect Holiness And without Reluctance Blissful Companions Perfection of Love and Kindness Honour and Eminence of Place All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens without satiety or weariness For evermore Of the miseries of the Damned in Tormenting Passions The worm of Conscience Fire and Flames Disgrace Under all which no favour of God. No company but of Tormenting Devils and damned Spirits None to condole when they cannot relieve No rest and sleep for Recruit of Spirits No end of their miseries The Use of this Quest. WHat is the Eleventh Article of the Creed Answ. I believe the Resurrection of the Body Quest. May not the Resurrection be interpreted only of a Spiritual Resurrection from sin Answ. So some taught of old as St. Paul testifies saying the Resurrection is passed already i. e. when Men rose from a State of sin to the fear of God and these says he get credit and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 18. But the Resurrection we expect is a Resurrection of the Body Our Bodies after we have laid them down by Death shall at the Day of Judgment be quickned and raised up again Then all that are in the Graves shall hear Christ's voice and come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. This mortal Body must put on immortality and this corruptible must put on Incorruption that so all that being revived which Death destroyed Death may be swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. Quest. The