Church by the Apostolical Power Preaching Writings and Miracles and in the Sanctifying and helping all true Believers Q. 7. By this it seems there are many wayes of denying the Holy Ghost A. Yes 1. They deny him who deny his Godhead as the Third Person in the Blessed Trinity 2. They deny him who deny that the Miracles oâ— Christ and his Apostles were God's Testimony to Christ being convinced of the Trueth of the Facts 3. They deny him who deny the extraordinary qualifications of the Apostles and suppose them to have had but the prudence of ordinary honest Men. 4. They deny the Holy Ghost who deny the sacred Scriptures to be indited by him and to be true 5. They deny him who deny him to be the Sanctifier of God's Elect and feign Holiness to be bâ—â— conceit deceit or common Virtue Q. 8. But are all these the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost A. The unpardonable sin is called The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Mat. 12. And it is when Men are convinced that those Miracles were done and those gifts given which are God's attestation to Christ and his Gospel but they fixedly believe and say That they were all done by the power of the Devil by Conjuration and not by God and therfore notwithstanding them Christ was but a Deceiver And this sin is unpardonable because it rejecteth the only remedy The Spirits witness to the truth of Christ He that will not believe this Witness shall have no other Q. 9. But how may we know that we are Sanctifyed by the Spirit A. By that Holiness which he causeth 1. When our Understandings so know and believe the Truth and Goodness of the Gospel and its Grace as that we Practically esteem and prefer the Love of the Father the Grace of the Son and the Communion of the Holy Ghost and the heavenly Glory before all the Pleasures Profits and Honours of this World that stand against them and before Life it self 2. When Our Wills do with habitual Inclination and Resolution Love and Choose the same before all the said things that stand in competition 3. When in the course of our Lives we seek them first and hold them fastest in a time of Tryal forsaking the Flesh the World and the Devil so far as they are against them and living in sincere though not perfect Obedience to God Q. 10. Is the Spirit or the Scripture higher and the Rule of Faith and Life A. The Spirit as the Author of the Scripture is greater than the Scripture and the Scripture as the Word of the Spirit is the Rule of our Faith and Lives and greater than our Spiritual gifts The Spirit in the Apostles was given them to write when they had preached that Doctrine which is our Rule But the Spirit is not given to us to make a new Law or Rule but to believe Love and Obey that already made As under the Law of Moses God that made the Law was greateâ— than the Law But when God had made that Law their Rule he did not after that teach good Men to make another Law but to understand and obey that Q. 11. There are many that boast of the Spirit and Revelations how shall we try such whether their Spirits â—â— of God A. 1. If they pretend to do that which is fully done by the Spirit already that is to preach or write another Gospel or make a new Law for the Universal Church seeing this was the Prophetical extraordinary Office of Christ and the Spirit in the Apostleâ— such imply an accusation of insufficiency on Christs aâ—â— the Spirits Law or Rule and arrogate a power never given them and so are false Prophets 2. If they contradict the written Word of God which is certainly Sealed by God's Spirit already â—â— must needs be by an evil Spirit For God's Spirit doth not contradict it self Q. 12. But had not the Priests under the Law tâ—â— Spirit of God as well as Moses that gave them tâ—â— Law A. Moses only and Aaron under him had God Revelation to make the Law And the Priests only to keep it teach it and rule by it And so it is as tâ— the Apostles of Christ and the succeeding Ministry Q. 13. But might not Kings then make Religioâ— Laws A. Yes to determine such circumstances as Goâ— had only given them a General Law for and left to be determined by them but not to make new Laws of the same kind with Gods nor to add to or alter them Q. 14. But were there not Prophets after Moses that had the Spirit A. Yes But they were not Legislators but sent with particular Mandates Reproofs or Consolations save only David and Solomon who had directions from God himself not to make a new Law of God but to order things about the Temple and its Worship So if any Man now pretend to a Prophetical Revelation it must not be Legislative to the Catholick Church nor against Scripture but about particular Persons Acts and Events and it must be proved by Miracle or by Success before another is bound to believe him Q. 15. Must I take every motion in me to be by the Holy Ghost which is agreeable to the Word of God or for doing what is there commanded A. Yes if it be according to that Word for the Matter End Manner Time and other circumstances But Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light and mind us of some Text or Truth to misapply it and put us on Meditation Prayer or other duty at an unseasonable Time when it would do more hurt than good or in an ill manner or to ill Ends He can move Men to be fervent Reprovers or Preachers or Rulers that were never called to it but are urged by him and the Passion and Pride of their own Hearts And good Men in some mistakes know not what manner of spirit they are of CHAP. XVIII The Holy Catholick Church Qu. 1. HOw is this Article joyned to the former A. This Article hath not been alwayes in the Creed in the same order and words as now But the belief of a Holy Church was long before it was called Catholick And it is joyned as part of our Belief of the Work of the Holy Ghost and the Redemption wrought by Christ Christ by his death purchaseth and the Holy Ghost gathereth the Holy Catholick Church It were defective to believe Christs Purchase and the Holy Ghost's Sanctification and not know for whom and on whom it is done To Sanctifie is to Sanctifie some Persons and so to make them the Holy Society or Christian Church Q. 2. What is a Church A. The Name is applied to many sorts of Assemblies which we need not name to you But here it signifieth The Christian Society Q. 3. Why is it called Catholick A. Catholick is a Greek word and signifieth Universal It is called Catholick because 1. It is not as the Iews Church confined to one Nation but comprehendeth all
Christ wrought his Miracles and rose again and that the Apostles by the Holy Spirit did work theirs and that Believers received the Spirit by their Ministry 2. They had not been made Christians but by these Miracles They all professed that it was the Gifts of the Spirit that Convinced and Converted them 3. All the forementioned Professions of their Christianity contained a Profession that they believed these Miracles As the use of the Lords day Baptism the Eucharist shewed their Belief of Christs Life Death and Resurrection 4. They suffered Persecution and Martyrdom in the Profession of that Belief 5. They pleaded these Miracles in all their Defences against their Adversaries 6. The Writings of their Adversaries commonly acknowledge this Plea yea and deny not the most of the Miracles themselves 7. But most fully their receiving the Sacred Scriptures as the Word of God as indited by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles sheweth that they believed the Miracles recorded in that Book Q. 25. You are come up to the last part of the Doubt in the History How are we sure that these Christians then commonly believed the Book as now we have it and that it is the very same A. We have for this full infallible historical Proof premising that some parcels of the Book the Revelations the Epistle of Iude the Second of Peter the Epistle to the Hebrews and that of Iames were longer unknown to some particular Churches than the rest 1. The constancy of Christian Assemblies and publick Worship is a full proof seeing that the Reading Expounding and applying of these Books was a great part of their publick work as all History of Friends and Enemies agree 2. The very Office of the Ministry is full proof which lay most in reading expounding and applying these same Books And therefore they were as much by Office concerned to keep them as Judges and Lawyers are to keep the Statute-book 3. These Ministers and Churches which so used this Book were dispersed over a great part of the World If therefore they had changed it by adding or diminishing they must have done it by Confederacy or by single mens errour or abuse It was impossible that all Countreys should agree in such a Confederacy but the meeting motives and treaties would have been known But no History of Friend or Foe hath any such thing but the clean contrary And that it should be done by all single Persons in the Christian World agreeing by chance in the same Changes is a mâ—d supposition 4. And it is the belief of all Christians that it â—s a damnable Sin to add or alter in this Book And the Book it self so concludeth Therefore if â—ome had agreed so to do the rest would have detected and decryed it 5. They took this Book â—o be the Charter for their Salvation And therefore would never agree to alter it when Men keep the Deeds Evidences Leases and Charters of their Estates and Worldly Priviledges unaltered 6. When a few Hereticks rose up that forged some new Books as Apostolical and rejected some that were such indeed the Christian Churches condemned and rejected them and appealed to the Churches that had received the Apostles own Epistles and kept them 7. The many Heresies that rose up did so divide Men and set them in cross Interests and Jealousies against each other that it was impossible for any one Sect to have altered the Scripture but the rest would have fallen upon them with the loudest Accusations But all sorts of Adversaries are agreed that these are the same Books And though the weakness and negligence of Scribes have made many little Words uncertain for God promised not infallibility to every Scribe or Printer yet these are not such as alter any Article of Faith or Practice but shew that no Corruption hath been designedly made but that the Book is the same For instance Let it be questioned Whether our Statute-Book contained really the same Statutes that are there pretended And you will see that the Historical certainty amounteth even to a natural certainty the contrary being a meer impossibility For 1. They are the Kings Laws and the King would not bear a fraudulent alteration 2. Parliaments would not bear it 3. Judges that successively judge by these Laws would soon discover it 4. So would all Justices and Magistrates 5. Mens Lives and Estates are held by them and therefore Multitudes would decry the Fraud 6. Enemies have daily Suits which are tryed by these Laws and each Party pleads them for himself and their Advocates and Lawyers plead them against each other and would soon detect the Forgery So that to suppose such a Change is 1. To suppose an Effect that hath no Cause in Nature 2. And that is against a stream of Causes Moral and Natural and so impossible And to â—eign such forgeries in the Book that all Christians have taken for Gods Laws is just such another Case and somewhat beyond it That is but Moral Evidence which dependeth only on Mens Honesty or any free unnecessary acts of Mans will But Mans will hath also of Natural Necessity such as the Love of our selves and our felicity c. And it is a Natural Impossibility that all Men or many should agree in a Lie which is against these Acts of Natural necessity But so they must do if all Men of cross Interests Principles and Dispositions should knowingly agree c. g. That all our Statutes are counterseit that there is no such place as Rome Paris or other such lâ—â—s And so the Gospel History hath such Testimony of necessary Truth Q. 26. You have made the Case plainer to me than I thought it had been But you yet seem to intimate that some Words yea some Books of Scripture have not the same Evidence aâ— the rest can a man be saved that Believeth not all the Scripture A. All Truth is equally True and so is all Gods Word But all is not equally Evident He that taketh any Word to be Gods Word and yet to be false believeth nothing as Gods Word For he hath not the â—ormal essentiating Act and Object of Faith If God could lie we had no certainty of Faith But he that erroneously thinketh that this or that word yea Epistle or Text or Book in the Bible is not Gods but came in by mistake may be saved if he believe that which containeth the Essentials of Christianity A lame Faith may be a saving Faith And he may see how Miracles sealed the Gospel that cannot see how they sealed every Book Text or Word in the Bible Q. 27. Though we have been long on this it is of so great importance to us living or dying to be sure of the Foundations of our Faith that I will yet ask you Have you any more Proof A. I have told you of four Proofs already I. The Antecedent Testimony of the Spirit in the Old Testament II. The Inherent Constitutive Testimony in Christ and the Gospel III. The concomitant Testimony
the Flesh the World and the Devil from the revenging Justice of God and from everlasting Damnation giving us here a Union with Christ the Pardon of our Sins and Sanctifying Grace and hereafter everlasting heavenly Glory Q. 3. Is there any other Religion besides the Christian Religion A. There be many errours of Men which they call their Religion Q. 4. Is there any True Religion besides Christianity A. There be divers that have some part of the Truth mixt with Error 1. The Heathens acknowledge God and most of his Attributes and Perfections as we do But they have no knowledge of his Will but what meer Nature teacheth them and they worship many Idols if not Devils as an under sort of Gods 2. The Iews own only the Law of Nature and the Old Testament but believe not in Jesus Christ our Redeemer 3. The Sadduces and all Bruitists worship God as the Governour of Man in this World but they believe not a Life to come for Man 4. The Pythagorean Heathens look for no Reward or Punishment after Death but by the passing of the Soul into some other Body on Earth in which iâ— shall be Rewarded or Punished 5. The Mahometans acknowledge One God as we do but they believe not in Jesus Christ as Mans Redeemer but only take him for an excellent Holy Prophet and they Believe in Mahomet a Deceiver as a Prophet greater than he 6. The meer Dâ—ists believe in God but not in Jesus Christ and have only the Natural Knowledge of his Will as other Heathens but worship not Idols as they do Q. 5. Is there but One Christian Religion A. No True Christianity is one certain thing Q. 6. How then are Christians said to be of divers Religions A. Sound Christians hold to Christian Religion alone as Christ did institute it But many others corrupt it some by denying some parts of it while they own the rest and some by adding many corrupting Inventions of Man and making those a part of their Religion as the Papists do Q. 7. Where is the true Christian Religion Doctrinal to be found that we may certainly know which is it indeed A. The Christian Religion containeth I. The Light and Law of Nature and that is common to them with others and is to be found in the Nature of all things as the Significations of Gods Will II. Supernatural Revelation clearing the Law of Nature and giving us the Knowledge of the Redeemer and his Grace And this is contained I. Most fully in the Holy Bible II. Briefly and summarily in the Creed Lords Prayer and Commandments III. Most briefly of all in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper and the Covenant made and sealed by them Q. 8. But are not the Articles of our Church and the Confessions of Churches their Religion A. Only Gods Word is ouâ— Religion as the Divine Rule But our Confessions and Books and Words and Lives shew how we understand it Q. 9. What is the Protestant Religion A. The Religion of Protestants is meer Christianity They are called Protestants but accidentally because they Protest for meer Scripture Christianity against the Corruptions of Popery Q. 10. What sorts of false Religion are there among Christians A. There are more Corruptions of Religion than can easily be named The chief of them are of these following sorts I. Some of them deny some Essential Article of Faith or Practice As the Immortality of the Soul the Godhead or Manhood or Offices of Christ or the Holy Ghost or the Scripture c. II. Some of them pretend new Revelations falsely and set their pretences of the Spirits Inspirations against the sealed Word of God III. Some of them set up an Usurped Power of their own against the Office Authority or sufficiency of the said Sealed Scriptures Pretending that they are Successours to the Apostles in the Power and Office of making Laws for the Universal Church and being the Judges of the sence of Scripture yea and what is to be taken for Gods Word and what not and Judges of all Controversies about it Of these the Papists pretenâ— that the Pope and a General Council are Supreaâ— visible Governours under Christ of all the Christiaâ— World and that none may appeal from them â—… God to Christ to the Scripture or to the Day oâ— Judgment Others pretend to such a Power iâ— every Patriarchal National or Provincial Church And all of them instead of a humble helping guiding Ministry set up a Church Leviathan a silencing Abaddon and Appollyon a destroying Office Setting up their Usurped power above â—â— equal in Effect with Gods Word Q. 11. How come the Scriptures to be Gods Worâ— when the Bishops Cannons are not And to be â—â— far above their Laws A. You must know that God hath two differenâ— sort of Works to do for the Government of hiâ— Church The first is Legislation or giving Neâ— Doctrines and Laws The other is the teachinâ— and guiding the Church by the Explication anâ— Application of these same Laws God is not stiâ— making New Laws for Man but he is still Teaching and Ruling them by his Laws Accordingly God hath had two sort of Ministers One sort for Legislation to Reveal neâ— Doctrines and Laws And such was Moses undeâ— the Old Administration and Christ and his Commissioned Apostles under the New These werâ— Eminent Prophets inspired by God infallibly â—â— record his Laws and God attested their Officâ— and Work by Multitudes of Evident uncontrolled Miracles But the Laws being Sealed the Second sort of Ministers are only to Teach and Apply these same Laws and Doctrines and not to reveal New ones And such were the Priests and Levites under Moses and all the succeeding Ministers and Bishops of the Churches under Christ and the Apostles who are the Foundation on which the Church is built And though all Church Guides may determine of the undetermined Circumstances of Holy things by the General Laws which God hath given therein Yet to arrogate a power of making a new Word of God or a Law that shall suspend our Obedience to his Laws or any Law for the Universal Church whether it be by Pope or Council is treasonable Usurpation of a Government which none but Christ is capable of And as if one King or Council should claim the Civil Soveraignty of all the Earth which is most unknown to them Q. 12. But I pray you tell me how the CREED comes to be of so great Authority seeing I find it not in the Bible A. It is the very Summ and Kernel of the Doctrine of the New Testament and there you may find it all with much more But it is Older than the writting of the New Testament save that two or three words were added since I told you before 1. That Christ himself did make the Nature and Terms of Christianity Commissioning his Apostles to make all Nations his Disciples baptizing them into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy
For 1. The difference between Heaven and Hell is so great that there must needs be a great difference between them that shall go to each And therefore it may be known Christ's Spirit is not an undiscernable Mark and Pledge to them that have it 2. And we are commanded to search and try our selves and many Marks of difference are told us and the Persons plainly described that shall be Justified and Condemned And they are already here Justified and Condemned by that Law by which they shall be judged 3. And what comfort could we have in all the Redemption and Grace of Christ and all the Promises of Salvation if we could not come to know our Title by them Q. 13. Who be they that Christ will then justifie or condemn A. I must not here answer that Question because its proper place is afterward under some of the following Articles Q. 14. But I find some Scriptures saying That we are not justified by works but by Faith in Christ and yet in Mat. 25. Christ passeth the Sentence upon Mens Works as the Cause and it 's said We shall be judged according to our works A. By works Paul meaneth All works that are conceived to make the reward to be not of Grace but of Debt All works which are set in competition or opposition to Justification by Faith in Christ The Question between him and the Iews was Whether the Divine excellency of Moses's Law was such as that it was given to justifie the doers of it as such Or whether it was but an Index to point them to Christ the end of the Law by whom they must be justified But it is not Believing in Christ nor begging his Grace nor thankfully accepting it that Paul meaneth by Works in his exclusion It is this that he sets against these works And as we are here made Justified Persons by meer Grace giving us Repentance and Faith in Christ that is making us Christians so this obligeth us to live and die as Christians if we will be saved And therefore the final justifying Sentence at Judgment doth pass on us according to such works only as are the performance of our Covenant with Christ without which we shall not be saved and therefore not then justified our Justification then being the justifying of our Title to Salvation and therefore hath the same conditions Q. 15. What may we further learn by this Article of Christ's coming A. 1. We must learn to Fear and Obey him that must judge us And to live as we would then hear of it and to make it all the work of Our lives to prepare for that day and final doom And diligently to try our Hearts and Lives that we may be sure to be then justified 2. We must not be discouraged that we see not Christ but remember that we shall shortly see him in his Glory In the Sacrament and all his worship let us do it as expectants of his coming 3. We have no cause to be dismayed at the Prosperity of the Wicked nor at our Prosecutions or any sufferings while we foresee by Faith that glorious Day 4. We should live in the joyful Hopes of that Day when he that died for us and Sanctified us shall be our Judge and justifie us and finally judge us to endless Life And we must love and long and pray for this Glorious coming of Christ. Come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen CHAP. XVII III. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Qu. 1. WHat is meant by believing in the Holy Ghost A. It meaneth our Believing what he is and what he Doth and our Trusting to Himself and to his Works Q. 2. What must we believe of Himself A. That he is God the Third Person in the Trinity One in Essence with the Father and the Son Q. 3. What must we believe of his Works A. We must believe 1. That the Holy Ghost is the great Agent and Advocate of Jesus Christ on Earth by his works to be his Witness and to plead his Cause and communicate his Grace 2. That the Holy Ghost was the Author of those many uncontrolled Miracles by which the Gospel of Christ was Sealed to the World And therefore that those Miracles were the certain attestation of God 3. That the Holy Ghost was given by Christ to his Apostles and Evangelists to enable them to perform the extraordinary Office to which they were Commissioned to teach the Nations to observe all things that Christ had commanded and to lead them into all Truth and bring all things to their remembrance 4. That therefore the Doctrine of the said Apostles and Evangelists first preached by them and after Recorded in the Sacred Scriptures for the use of the Church to the end of the World as the full Doctrine and Law of Christ is to be received as the Word of God indited by the Spirit 5. That it is the work of the Holy Ghost to Sanctifie all Gods Elect that is to illuminate their understandings to convert their Wills to God and to strengthen and quicken them to do their duty and conquer Sin and save them from the Devil the World and the Flesh And to be in them a Spirit of Power and Love and a sound mind And so that the Holy Ghost is an Intercessor within us to communicate LIFE LIGHT and LOVE from the Father and the Son and excite in us those Holy Desires Thanks and Praise which are meet for Gods acceptance All this is contained in our Believing in the Holy Ghost Q. 4. If all this be in it it seemeth a most necessary part of Faith A. The Perfective works of God are used to be ascribed to the Holy Ghost This is so weighty and necessary a part of Faith that all the rest are insufficient without it Millions perish that God created and that Christ in a general sort as aforesaid dyed for but those that are Sanctifyed by the Holy Ghost are saved It is the work of the Holy Ghost to Communicate to us the Grace of Christ that the work of Creation and Redemption may attain their Ends. Q. 5. How is it proved that the Holy Ghost is God A. In that we are Baptized into the Belief of him as of the Father and the Son And in that he doth the works proper to God and hath the Attributes of God in Scripture Which also expresly saith There are Three which bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are One 1 Joh. 5. 7. Q. 6. I have oft marvelled that the Creed left out 1. The Authority of the Apostles 2. And their Miracles and Christs 3. And the Authority of the Scriptures and now I perceive that all these are contained in our believing in the Holy Ghost A. No doubt but it is a Practical Article of Faith in which we profess to believe in the Holy Ghost in his Relation and Works on Man and therefore â—â— Christ's Agent in gathering his
Silver Psal. 41. 9. 55. 13 14. Zech. 11 12 13 and a Potters Field be bought with them all his Persecution and abuse and Sufferings are foretold Isa. 50. 6. 53. Psa. 69. 21. 22. 18. 118. 22. Isa. 6. 9. even â—o the Circumstances of giving him Vinegar casting Lots for his Garments suffering as a Malefactor Yea the very time is foretold Dan. 9. 25 26. And that then the second Temple should be destroyed II. The second part of the Spirits Testimony or the certain proof of Christian Truth is The Inherent constitutive Proof or Testimony in the unimitable Excellency of the Person and Gospel of Christ which is the Image and superscription of God The Person of Christ was of such excellency of Wisdom Goodness and power apparent in his Doctrine Works and Patience all sinless and full of Holy Love to God and Man as is not consistent with being the Deceiver of the World His Gospel in the very Constitution of it hath the impress of God He that hath the Spirit of God will find that in the Gospel which is so suitable to the Divine Nature as will make it the easier to him to believe it Angels preached the Summ of it Luke 2. 14. It is all but the fore-promised and prefigured Redemption of Man Historically delivered and the Doctrine Laws and Promises of saving Grace most fully promulgated It is the wonderful Revelation of the Power Wisdom and Goodness the Truth Justice and Holiness of God especially his Love to Man and of his marvellous design for the recovery Sanctifying and saving of Sinners and removing all the impediments of their Repentance and Salvation It is so wholly fitted to the Glorifying of God and the reparation of depraved Nature and the purifying and perfecting of Mans Soul to the guidance of Mens Lives in the wayes of true Wisdom Godliness Righteousness Soberness Mutual Love and Peace that Men may live profitably to others and live and die in the Sence of God's Love and in a safe and comfortable State that we may be sure so good a thing had a good Cause For had it been the device of Men they must have been very bad Men that would put Gods Name to it and tell so many Lies from Generation to Genration to deceive the World And it is not to be imagined that from Moses time to the writing of Iohn's Revelations there should arise a Succession of Men of such a strange self-contradicting Constitution as should be so good as to devise the the most Holy and Righteous and Self-denying Doctrines for the great good of Mankind and yet all of them so odiously wicked as to belye God and deceive Men and do all this good in so bad a manner with so bad a Heart And if any Blasphemer would Father it upon evil Spirits what a Contradiction would he speak As if Satan would promote the greatest good for the Honour of God and Benefit of Man while he is the greatest Hater of God and Man And as if he would devise a Doctrine to reproach himself and destroy his own Kingdom and bless Mankind and so were at once the best and the worst Indeed the Holy Scriptures do bear the very Image and Superscription of God in their Ends Matter and Manner and prove themselves to be his Word For God hath not given us external proofs that such a Book or Doctrine is his which is it self no better than humane Works and hath no intrinsick proof of its Divine Original But the intrinsick and extrinsick Evidences concurre What Book like the Sacred Scriptures hath taught the World the Knowledge of God the Creation of the World the End and Hope and Felicity of Man What the heavenly Glory is and how procured and how to be obtained and by whom How man became sinful and miserable And how he is recovered And what wonders of Love God hath shewn to Sinners to win their Hearts in Love to him What Book hath so taught Men to live by Faith and the hopes of Glory above all the Lusts of Sense and Flesh and to referr all things in this VVorld to Spiritual Holy and Heavenly Ends to Love others as our selves and to do good to all even to our Enemies to live in such Union and Communion and Peace as is caused by this Vital Grace of Love and not like a Heap of Sand that every spurn or blast of cross Interest will separate VVhat Book so teacheth Man to Love God above all and to pray to him praise him and absolutely obey him with constant pleasure and to trust him absolutely with Soul Body and Estate and cast all our care upon him and in a word to converse in Heaven while we are on Earth and to live as Saints that we may live as Angels Q. 14. But how few be there that do all this A. 1. I shall further answer that anon None do it in Perfection but all found Christians do it in Sincerity 2. But at present it is the perfection of the Doctrine of Christ and of the Sacred Scriptures that I am proving And it is not Mens breaking the Law that will prove that God made it not Q. 15. You have told me of the foregoing Testimony of the Spirit to Christ and the Gospel and of the Inherent Constitutive Testimony or Proof Is there any other A. Yes III. There is the Concomitant Testimony by the Works of Christ Nicodemus could say We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no Man can do the Works that thou dost except God were with him Joh. 3. 2. He cleansed the Lepers with his word he cast out Devils he healed the Lame the Deaf the Blind yea that were born Blind he healed Palsies Feavers and all manner of sicknesses with a touch or a word he turned Water into Wine he fed twice many Thousands by Miracle he walkt on the Sea and made Peter do the same the Winds and Sea obeyed his Command he raised the Dead This course of Miracles were the most evident Testimony of God And he was brought into the World by Miracle Born of a Virgin Foretold and Named Iesus by an Angel Preached to Shepherds by Angels from Heaven a Star conducting the Eastern Wise-men to the place Iohn his foregoer named by an Angel and Zacharias struck dumb for not believing it Prophesied of by Anna and Simeon owned at his Baptism by the visible descent of the Spirit in the shape of a Dove and by a Voice of God from Heaven and the like again at his Transfiguration when Moses and Elias appeared with him and he did shine in Glory And at his Death the Earth trembled the Sun was obscured and the Air darkened and the Vail of the Temple rent But the fullest Evidence was Christs own Resurrection from the Dead his oft appearing to his Disciples after and conversing with them at times for Forty Dayes and giving them their Commission and promising them the Spirit and ascending
free Gift then as he is LOVE it self so he is the Great Benefactor of the World but specially to his chosen faithful People And no Man or Angel hath any thing that is good by way of merited exchange from God but all is of free Gift And we owe him our superlative Love and and Thanks and Praise Q. 15. Why are Heaven and Earth named as the parts of his Creation A. They are all that we are concerned to know We partly see the difference between them and Gods Word tells us of more than we see Earth is the place of our present abode in our Life of Tryals in Corruptible Flesh Heaven is the place where God doth manifest his Glory and from whence he sendeth down those Influences which maintaiâ— Nature and which communicate his Grace and prepare us for the Glory which we shall enjoy in Heaven By Heaven and Earth is meant all Creatures both Spirits and Corporeal Q. 16. Were there no more Worlds made and dissolved before this It seems unlikely that God from all Eternity should make nothing till less than Six Thousand Years ago when he is a communicative Good and delighteth to do good in his Works A. It is dangerous presumption so much as to put such a Question with our Thought or Tongue and to pry into Gods Secrets of which we are utterly uncapable unless it be to shame it or suppress it God hath by Christ and the Holy Ghost in Scripture set up a Ladder by which you may ascend to the Heaven that you are made for But if you will climb above the top of the Ladder you may fall down to Hell CHAP. XI Of the Person of Iesus Christ the only Son of God Qu. 1. VVHo is Iesus Christ A. He is God and Man and the Mediator between GOD and Man Q. 2. When did he begin to be God A. He is the Eternal God that had no Tempoporal beginning Q. 3. When did he begin to be a Man A. About One thousand six hundred eighty one Years ago Q. 4. If he be GOD why is he called the Son of God Are there more Gods than One And how doth God beget a Son A. There is but One God I before opened to you the Mystery of the Trinity in Unity to which you must look back Begetting is a word that we must not take carnally and a Son in the Deity signifieth not another substance If the Sun be said to Beget its own Light that maketh it not another Substance But Christ is also as Man begotten of God in a Virgins Womb. Q. 5. Was Christ GOD in his low condition on Earth A. Yes but the GODHEAD appeared not as in heavenly Glory Q. 6. Is Christ a Man now he is in Heaven A. Yes He is still God and Man But his Glorified Manhood is not like our corruptible Flesh and narrow Souls Q. 7. Hath Christ a Soul besides his Godhead A. Yes for he is a perfect Man which he could not be without a Soul Q. 8. Then Christ hath two Parts One part iâ— God and the other Man A. The name of PART or WHOLE is not fâ—… for God God is no PART of any thing no noâ— of the Universe of Being For to be a PART iâ— to be less than the whole and so to be imperfect And every WHOLE consisteth of PARTS but so doth not God Q. 9. Is Iesus Christ one Person or two viz. A Divine and Humane A. It 's dangerous laying too great a stress on words that are either not in Scripture or are applyed to God as borrowed from similitude in Man As the word PERSON signifieth the Eternal Word the Second in the Trinity Christ is but One Person And though his humane Soul and Body assumed be Substances they are not another Person but another Nature united to his Eternal Person yet noâ— as a Part of it but by a Union which we have no proper Words to express Christ hath two Natures and but one Person But if you take the word PERSON only for a Relation as of a King a Judge c. so Christ as MEDIATOR is a PERSON distinct from the same Christ as the Eternal Second Person in the Trinity Q. 10. It seems then Christ had three Natures a Divine a Soul and a Body A. This is a Question about meer Names He hath only the Nature of GOD and of Man But if you go to anatomize Man you may find in him on Earth perhaps more Natures than two Spirit Fire Air VVater and Earth But this is a frivolous dispute Q. 11. In what Nature did Christ appear of Old before his Incarnation A. If it were not by an Angel as his Agent it must be by some Body Light or Voice made or assumed for that present time Q. 12. I hear some say That Christ is not One God with the Father but a kind of under-God his first Creature above Angels A. The Scriptures fully prove Christ to be God and one God with the Father The form of Baptism proveth it There be some Learned Men that to reconcile this Controversie say That Christ hath Three Natures 1. The Divine 2. A Super-angelical 3. A Humane And that God the Eternal Word did first of all produce the most perfect of all his Creatures above Angels like an Universal Soul and the God-Head uniting it self to this did by this produce all other Creatures and at least did in and by this Unite it self hypostatically to the humane Nature of Christ. They think divers Texts do favour this threefold Nature and that the Arrians erred only by noting the Superangelical Nature and not noting the Divine united to it But I dare not own so great a point which I find not that the Universal Church ever owned nor do I see any cogent Proof of it in the Scripture Q. 13. But God doth all his Works in Order And he made Angels far Nobler than Man And is it like then that he setteth a Man so far aboâ—â— all Angels as Personal Union doth import A. It is not like if we might judge by the coâ—jectures of our Reason But Gods lower Works aâ—â— none of them perfectly known here to us Muâ—â— less the most Mysterious even the Glorious Persoâ— of the Son of God If God will thus glorifie hâ—â— Mercy to Man by setting him above all the Aâ—gels who shall say to him What dost thou Aâ— if there be in Jesus Christ a first created Super angelical Nature besides the Divine and Humanâ— we shall know it when we see as Face to Face â—â— the mean time he will save those that truly believâ— in him as GOD and Man Q. 14. Why is Christ called Our Lord A. Because he is God and also as Mediator Aâ—â— Power in Heaven and Earth is given him and â—â— is made Head over all things to his Church Mâ—â— 28. 28. Eph. 1. 22 23. Q. 15. What do his Names Jesus Christ siâ—nifie A. Iesus
us preach and pray c. and yet to quench a Fire or save mens Lives we may and must at that time forbear Preaching or Sacraments or other publick Worship Q. 7. But what if as many will be scandalized or tempted to sin on the other side if I do it not A. No duty being a duty at all times much less a thing indifferent though commanded everâ— Christian must prudently use the Scales and by aâ— the helps of wise men that he can get must discern which way is like to do most good or hurâ— considering the persons for number for quality and probability of the effect God binds us to Charity and Mercy and no man can disoblige us from that And he that sincerely desireth to do the greatest good and avoid the greatest hurt and useth the best means he can to know it shall be accepted of God though men condemn him Q. 8. But is nothing here forbidden but symbolizing with Idolaters in seeming to mean as they by doing as they A. That 's it that is directly forbidden But by consequence it is implyed that all Doctrines are forbidden that falsely represent God and all Worship â—or acts pretended to be Religious which are unâ—â—itable to Gods holy Nature Attributes Will or Word as being prophanation and an offering to God that which is unclean Q. 9. What is the Command which is here imâ—lyed A. That we keep our Souls chast from all outward and seeming Idolatry and that we worship â—im who is the Infinite Almighty Holy Spirit with Reverence Holiness in Spirit and Truth according to his Blessed perfect Nature and his holy Will and Word Q. 10. Hath God given us a Law for all things â— his Worship A. The Law of Nature is Gods Law and obâ—…geth man to that devotion to God and worship â—f him which is called Natural And the sacred Scripture prescribeth both that and also all those positive means or Ordinances of Gods Worship which are made necessary to the universal Church on Earth And as for the meer Accidents of worship which are no proper parts as Time Place Words Methods Gesture Vesture c. Gods Laws give us gèneral Precepts only telling us how to order them leaving it to humane Prudence and Church Guides to order them according to those general Rules Q. 11. Is à ll use of Images unlawful A. God did so much hate Idolatry and the Neighbourhood of the Idolaters made it so dangerous to the Israelites that he did not only forbid the Worshipping of Images but all such making or using of them as might become a snarâ— or temptation to any So that though it be lawful to make Images for Civil uses and when they are made to fetch holy Thoughts or Meditationâ— from them as from all other Creatures or thingâ— in the World yet in any case when they becomâ— a snare or danger being not necessary things â—… they become a sin to those that so use them as snare to others or themselves Q. 12. Is it lawful to make any Picture of God A. No for Pictures are the signs of Corporeal things and it is Blasphemy to think God likâ— a bodily Substance But it is Lawful to make sucâ— Pictures as of a Glorious Light from which oâ—casion may be taken of good thoughts concerniâ— God Q. 13. Is it lawful to make the Picture of Christ as Man or as Crucified A. The doing it as such is not forbidden nor the right use of it when done But the abuse i. e. the worshipping of it or of Christ by it is forbidden and the making or using such when it tendeth to such abuse and hath more of snare than profit Q. 14. Why is Gods Iealousie here mentioned A. To make us know that God doth so strictly require the great duty of worshipping him as the true God and hate the sin of Idolatry or giving his Glory to another or blaspheming him as if he were like to painted things that he would have us accordingly affected Q. 15. Why doth God threaten to visit the iniquities of the Fathers on the Children in this Command rather than in the rest A. God hath Blessings and Curses for Societies as well as for individual persons And societies are constituted and known by the Symbols of publick profession And as Gods publick Worship is the Symbol of his Church which he will bless so Idolatrous Worship is the Symbol of the societies which he will Curse and Punish And it was Specially needful that the Israelites should know this who could never else have been excused from the guilt of Murdering Man Woman and Child of all the Nations which they conquered had not God taken it on himself as judging â—hem to death for their Idolatry and other Crimes â—nd making the Israelites his Executioners Q. 16. But doth not God disclaim punishing the Children for the Fathers sins and say the Soul that sinneth shall die A. Yes when the Children are either wholly innocent of that sin or else are pardoned through Christ upon their true repentance and hating and renouncing their Fathers sins But not else Q. 17. Are any Children guilty of their Parents sins A. Yes all Children are guilty of the sins which their Parents Committed before their birth while they were in their loins Not with the same degree and sort of Guilt as the Parents are but yet with so much as exposeth them to just penalties Q. 18. How prove you that A. First by the Nature of the Case For though we were not Personally existent in them when they sinned we were seminally existent in them which is more than Causally or Virtually And it was thaâ— semen which was guilty in them that was after made a person and so that person must have the same guiltâ— 2. From the whole History of the Scripture which tells us of the Children of Cain the old World Sodoâ— Cham the Canaanites Saul David as an Adulterer Achan Gehazi and others punished for theiâ— Parents sins And the Jews cast off and Cursed oâ— that account to this day 3. And our common Original sin from Adam proveth it Q. 19. But our Original sin from Adam had anâ— ther cause God decreeing that Adam should stanâ— or fall for all his posterity A. We must not adde to Gods Word much leâ—… blaspheme him as if it were God himself that bâ—… a Decree or Covenant made all the world sinneâ—… save Adam and Eve If Adam had not sinned it would not have saved all or any of his Posterity unless they also had continued innocent themselves Nor did God make any promise to continue and keep innocent all Adams posterity in case he sinned not We sinned in Adam because we were seminally in him and so are our Children in us And who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean if it was essentially in it Q. 20. If we are guilty of all neerer parents sin will not our guilt increase to the end of the World and the
the Sun is as much as to say If this be not true then I have no Faith Truth Honesty there is no Temple Altar Fire Sun or let me be taken for one that denyeth that I have any Faith that there is any Sun Fire c. or it is as true as that this is Fire Sun c. so to Swear by God is to say It is as true as that there is a God or as God liveth c. or If I Lye take me for one that denyeth God to be God and consequently it is an Appeal to him as the Avenger so By the Life of Pharaoh was As true as Pharaoh liveth or else take me for one that denyeth the life of Pharaoh So that there is somewhat of an Imprecation or Self-reproach as the penalty of a Lye in every Oath but more dreadfully of Divine Revenge when we Swear by God and of Idolatry when men Swear by an Idol as if it were a God Q. 6. Which be the chief wayes of taking Gods Name in vain A. 1. Fathering on him false Doctrine Revelations or Laws saying as false Prophets God sent me and Thus saith the Lord when it is false saying This Doctrine or this Prophecy Gods Spirit revealed to me when it is not so therefore all Christians must be very fearful of false Revelations and Prophecies and see that they believe not every Spirit nor pretend to Revelations and to take heed of taking the Suggestions of Satan or their crazed melancholy Fancies for the Revelations of God 2. So also Gathering false Doctrines out of Scripture by false Expositions and fathering these on God And therefore all men should in dark and doubtful cases rather suspend their judgments till they have overcome their doubts by solid Evidence than rashly to conclude and confidently and fiercely dispute for Errour It 's a great prophanation to father Lies on God who is the Hater of them when Lying is the Devils work and character 3. The same I may say of a rash and false Interpretation of Gods Providences 4. And also of fathering false Laws on God and saying that he either commandeth or forbiddeth what he doth not To make Sins and Duties which God never made and say he made them is to father falshood on him and corrupt his Government 5. Another way is by false Worship 1. If men say that God commanded such Worship which he commanded not it is the sin last mentioned 2. If they worship him with their own Inventions without his Command Particular or General they prophane his Name by offering him that which is unholy common and unclean 6. Another way is by false pretending that God gave them that Authority which he never gave them Like counterfeiting a Commission from the King â—…f Princes should pretend that God gave them Authority to oppose his Truth to persecute Godliness â—…njustly to silence faithful Ministers of Christ to â—…aise unnecessary Warres to oppress the Innocent This were a heinous taking of God's Name in vain â—…f Priests shall pretend that God gave them Authority to make themselves Pastors of the Flocks that are unwilling of them without a just Call or to make Laws for any that are not rightfully their Subjects and to impose their Dictates Words and Forms and unnecessary Inventions as Conditions of Ministration or Communion without true right and to make themselves the Rule of other mens words and actions by usurpation this is all taking Gods Name in vain And so it is if they Preach false Doctrine in his Name and if they pronounce false Excommunications and Absolutions and justifie the wicked and condemn reproach and slander the Just and brand unjustly the Servants of Christ as Hypocrites Schismaticks or Hereticks and this as by Ministerial Power from Christ especially if they silence Christs Ministers impose Wolves or incompetent men scatter the Flocks and suppress serious Godliness and all this in the Name of Christ. Much more if any pretend as the Pope or his pretended general Councils to be Christs Vicar General or Head or Supream unifying Governour over all the Church on Earth and to make Lawes for the whole Church Or if they corrupt Gods Worship with imposed Superstitions Falshoods or Prophanations and say God hath Authorized them to do this It is hainous Prophaning God's Name by a Lie such doing brought up the Proverb In nomine Domini incipit omne malum When all their Abuses began with In the Name of God Amen And they that make new Church-forms which God made not either Papal Universal Aristocracy Patriarchal and such like and either pretend that God made them or gave them or such other power to make them must prove what they say lest they prophane Gods Name by falshood But the highest Prophanation is when they preâ—end that God hath made them Absolute Governours and set them so far above his own Laws and Judgment and himself as that whatever they say is the Word of God or the Sence of the Scripture though never so falsly must be taken for such by all and whatever they command or forbid they must be obeyed though Gods Word command or forbid the contrary And that God hath given power to Popes or Councils to forbid men the Worship which God commandeth yea to Interdict whole Kingdoms and excommunicate and depose Kings and that from these as a Supream Power no man must appeal to the Scripture or to God and his final Judgment This is by prophane Lying to use God's Name to the destroying of Souls the Church and the Laws and Government of God himself 7. Another way of taking God's Name in vain is by Heresies that is embodying in separated Parties or Churches against the Church and Truth of God for the propagating of some dangerous false Doctrine which they father on God and so militate in his Name against his Church If men as aforesaid do but promote false Doctrine in the Church without Separation it is bad But to gather an Army against the Truth and Church and feign Christ to be the Leader of it is worse 8. Another way is by Perjury appealing to God or abusing his name as the Witness and owner of a Lye 9. Another way is by false Vows made to God himself When men either Vow to God to do that which he abhorreth or hath forbidden Or when they Vow that which is good with a false deceitful Heart and as Ananias and Sapphira with false reserves or when they Vow and pay not but wilfully break the Vows which they have made The breach of Covenants between Princes or between them and Subjects or between Husband and Wife confirmed by appeal to God is a dreadful sin But the violation of the great Baptismal Vow in which we are all solemnly devoted and obliged to God is one of the hainousest sins in the World When it is not about a lesser duty but even our Oath of Allegiance to God by solemn Vow taking him for our God our Saviour and
I. I am under no Obligation to inform a Robber or an usurping Persecutor as such But to others I may be obliged to open the Truth II. I may deceive a Patient or Child to profit him when I may not do it to hurt him III. I may deceive such as I am not bound to inform by my silence or my looks or gestures which I suppose he will misunderstand when I may not deceive him by a Lie Q. 10. Is it not all one to deceive one way or another A. No 1. I am not bound to open my Mind to all men What right hath a Thief to know my Goods or Heart or a Persecutor to know where I hide my self 2. But I have before largely shewed you that Lying is so great an evil against common Trust and Society in the World as is not to be used for personal Commodity or Safety 3. And other Signs Looks and gestures being not appointed for the natural and common Indications of the Mind are more left to humane Liberty and Prudence to use for Lawful ends As Christ Luk. 24. made by his motion as if he would have gone further And even by words about Caesars Tribute and other Cases concealed his Mind and oft denyed the Pharisees a resolution of Questions which they put to him Stratagems in a Lawful War are lawful when by actual shews and seemings an Enemy is deceived Q. 11. But the Scriptures mention many Instances of Equivocation and flat Lying in the Egyptian Midwives in Rahab in David and many others without blame and some of them with great commendation and reward Heb. 11 A. 1. It is Gods Law that tells us what 's Sin and Duty when the History oft tells us but what was done and not how far it was well or ill done 2. It is not the Lie that is commended in the Midwives and Rahab but their Faith and Charity 3. That which God pardoneth as he did Polygamy and rash Divorce to Godly men that are upright in the main and specially such as knew it not to be sin is not thereby justified nor will it be so easily pardoned to us who live in the clearer Gospel light Q. 12. But when the Scripture saith that All men are Lyars and sad Experience seemeth to confirm it what credit do we owe to Men and what certainty is there of any History A. History by Writing or Verbal Tradition is of so great use to the World that Satan maketh it a chief part of his work as he is the Deceiver and Enemy of Mankind to corrupt it And false History is a most hainous sin and dangerous Sâ—are by which the great Deceiver keeps up his Kingdom in the World Heathenism Mahometanism Popery Heresie and Malignity and Persecution are all maintained by false Tradition and History Therefore we must not be too hasty or confident in Believing Man And yet denying just Belief will be our sin and great loss Q. 13. How then shall we know what and whom to believe A. 1. We must believe no men that speak against God or his Word For we are sure that God cannot lie And the Scripture is his infallibly Sealed Word 2. We must believe none that speak against the Light of Nature and common Notices of all Mankind for that were to renounce Humanity And the Law of Nature is Gods first Law But it is not the Sentiments of Nature as depraved which is this Law 3. We must believe no men against the common Senses of Mankind exercised on their duely qualified Objects Faith contradicteth not common Sense though it goe above it We are Men before we are Christians and Sense and Reason are presupposed to Faith The Doctrine which saith There is no Bread nor Wine after Consecration in the Sacrament doth give the lie to the Eyes Taste and Feeling and intellectual Perception of all sound men and therefore not to be believed For if Sense be not to be trusted we know not that there is a Church or a Man or a Bible or any thing in the World and so nothing can be believed Whether all sound Senses may be deceived or not God hath given us no surer way of certainty 4. Nothing is to be believed against the certain Interest of all Mankind and tending to their destruction That which would damn Souls or deny their Immortality and future Hope or ruine the Christian World or Nations is not to be believed to be duty or lawfull For Truth is for Good and Faith is for Felicity and no man is bound to such destructive things 5. Nothing is to be believed as absolutely certain which depends on the meer honesty of the Speakers For all men are liable to mistake or lie 6. The more Ignorant malicious unconscionable factious siding any man is the less credible he is And the wiser and nearer to the action any man is and the more conscionable peaceable and impartial he is the more credible he is An Enemy speaking well of a man is so far more credible than a Friend Multitudes as capable and honest are more credible than one 7. As that Certainty which is called Morall as depending on mens Free-will is never absolute but hath many degrees as the witness is more or less credible so there is a Certainty by mens Report Tradition or History which is Physical and wholly infallible As that there is such a place as Rome Paris c. and that the Statutes of the Land were made by such Kings and Parliaments to whom they are ascribed and that there have been such Kings c. For proof of which know 1. That besides the free acts the Will hath some acts as necessary as it is to the Fire to burn viz. To Love our selves and Felicity and more such 2. That when all men of contrary Interest Friends and Foes agree in a matter that hath sensible Evidence it is the Effect of such a Necessitating Cause 3. And there is no Cause in Nature that can make them so agree in a lie Therefore it is a Natural Certainty Look back â—o the sixth Chapter Q. 13. Why is false Witness in Iudgement so great a sin A. Because it containeth in it all these odious Crimes conjunct 1. A deliberate lie 2. The wrongfull hurting of another contrary to the two great Principles of Converse Justice and Love â— It depriveth the World of the benefit of Government and Judicatures 4. It turneth them into the â—â—ague and ruine of the innocent 5. It blaspheâ—eth or dishonoureth God by whose Authority Rulers judge as if he set up Officers to destroy us by false Witness or knew it not or would not reâ—enge Injustice 6. It overthroweth humane Conâ—erse and Safety when Witnesses may destroy whom they please if they can but craftily agree Q. 14. Is there no way to prevent this danger to Mankind A. God can do it If he give wise and righteous Rulers to the World they may do much towards â—t But wicked Rulers use false Witness as
Infants of all professed Christians and Hypocrites or only the Infants of sincere Christians who have the Promise of Pardon and Salvation delivered and sealed by Baptism A. As the Church is to receive all the adult who make a credible profession so are they to receive all their Infants For God only knoweth the Heart But it is with the Heart that man believeth to righteousness Rom. 10. And as adult Hypocrites are not pardoned by God who knoweth the Heart so neither is there any promise of pardon to their Seed No text of Scripture giveth any pardon but to sincere Believers and their Seed And the Child is in the Covenant as the Child of a believer devoted to God And that Faith which qualifieth not the Parent for pardon cannot qualifie the Child for it I know no more promise of Pardon and Life to an Hypocrites than to a Heathens Child Q. 30. But what if the Godfather or Grandfather be a true Christian or the Ancestors and the Parents both Infidels may not the Child be baptized and pardoned A. The further you go from the Parent the darker is the Gase We are all the offspring of Righteous Noe and yet that maketh not the Infants of Heathens baptizable or pardoned But the case of Abrahams Covenant maketh it probable that whoever is the true owner of the Child by Nature Purchase or Adoption may devote it acceptably to God in baptism Because the Infant having no choosing power the Will of his Owner goeth for his own in accepting the Mercies of the Covenant and obliging him to such conditions as are for his good which if he like them not he may renounce when he comes to age But if the Grandfather or Godfather be no Owner of the Child I know no proof that their causing him to be baptized helps him to Pardon and Salvation If we dream that Baptism giveth pardon to all Infidels and Heathens Children whose owners were not in the Covenant themselves we make a Gospel which as far as I can find Christ never made Q. 31. May not any man take an Infant out of the Street and give him food and rayment much more offer him to Baptism which is an Act of greater Charity A. The first God alloweth But Pardon and Salvation is none of ours to give but Gods and we can ministerially deliver the investing signs to none that have no title to which God hath promised the gift If as some think bare Redemption hath given a right to all the World then all Infidels and Heathens shall be saved if baptized If they say it is to all Infants in the World then whether they have Godfathers or no they may be baptized And if all that are baptized are saved it 's irrational to think that want of Baptism without their fault shall hinder their Salvation But though God offer to all men Pardon and Life for themselves and their Infants yet no Scripture giveth it to either without Acceptance and Conâ—ent of the adult we must not make a Gospel of our own Q. 32. Some say that so much Faith will serve for a Title to Baptism as taketh Christ for a Teacher and maketh us Disciples that we may after attain to saving Holiness but that it is not special saving Faith that must needs be then professed A. This is to make a new Baptism and Christianity to vie with that which alone Christ made No adult person is a Christian in Scripture sence who believeth not in Christ as Christ. Which is as Saviour as Prophet Priest and King The essentials of Christs Office and gifts as offered are essential to that accepting Faith which makes us Christians A Disciple and a Christian were words of the same importance Act. 11. Christ made no Baptism but for the remission of Sin and giving men a Relationright to Father Son and Holy Ghost Baptism saveth by the answer of a good conscience to God Arise and wash away thy sins was the word to Saul We are Sacramentally buryed and risen with Christ as dead to Sin and made new Creatures when we are baptized Rom. 6. Therefore it is called The Laver of Regeneration Tit. 3. 5. All the Church of Christ from the Apostles taught that Baptism put away the guilt of Sin to all that were truly qualified for that Sacrament And they required the profession of a Saving Faith and Repentance And all the form of Baptism used in England and the whole Christian World so happily agreeth in expressing this that whoever will bring in the Opinion That the Profession of a Faith short of that which hath the promise of Pardon and Life entitleth to Baptism must make a new Baptismal form Q. 33. But many Divines say that Baptism is not administred to Infants on the title of a present Faith nor to give present pardon but on a promise that they shall believe at age and so have the Benâ—fits of Baptism at age A. None dare say so of the adult If they say we repent not nor believe now but we promise to do it hereafter no wise man will baptize them It is present Believing and not a meer promise to believe that is their Title And Infants title is the Parents Faith and dedication By this Doctrine Infants of Christians are not in the same Covenant or Baptism as their Parents nor are any more pardoned than Heathens Q. 34. What use are we to make of our Baptism ever after A. It is of great and manifold use 1. We must live under the humble sence of that miserable state of Sin from which Christianity doth deliver us 2. We must live in the thankful sence of that Grace of God in Christ which did deliver us and in the Exercise of our belief of that Truth and Love which was then Sealed to us 3. We must live in the faithful remembrance of that Covenant which we Sealed and that Obedience which we promised and in that War against the Devil the World and the Flesh in which we then engaged our selves 4. It is the Knowledge of the Baptismal Covenant which tells us what Christianity is and who we must take and Love as Christians while Sects and Dividers by narrow false measure do limit their Christian Love and Communion and hate or cast off the Disciples of Christ. 5. Accordingly it is the baptismal Covenant that must tells us what true Faith is viz. Such a Belief as causeth us truly to consent to that Covenant and what true Conversion is viz. Such a change as containeth a true consent to that Covenant And so it tells us how to judge of our sincerity of Grace viz. When we unfeignedly consent to that Covenant And tells us what sin is mortal that is inconsistent with true Grace and Title to Salvation viz. All sin which is not consistent with an unfeigned consent to the Covenant of Grace 6. It tells what the Catholick Church is viz. Visibly all that profess consent to the baptismal Covenant and
Worship which seemeth to me flat Idolatry VII They reserve it as their God long after the Sacrament to adore and to work pretended Miracles by VIII They solemnly celebrate a Sacrament before the Congregation where none communicate but the Priests and the People look on IX They say these Masses by number to deliver Souls out of the Flames of Purgatory X. They have many Prayers for the Dead as in Purgatory for their ease and deliverance XI They Pray to the Dead Saints to intercede for them and help them and to the Virgin Mary for that which is proper to Christ. XII They worship God by Images and adore the Images as the representations of Saints and Angels Yea and of God and some profess that the Cross and the Images of the Father Son and Holy Ghost are to be worshipped with honour participatively Divine These with abundance more and many false Doctrines on which they depend are brought into Gods publick Worship and called The Mass and are added by degrees to that sounder Worship which was called the Mass at first Q. 12. You have spoken much about the Consecration in the Sacrament What is it which you call the Commemoration A. It containeth the signal representation of the Sacrificing of Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the World Where the Signs are 1. The Materials the Bread and Wine 2. The Ministers Breaking the Bread and Pouring out the Wine 3. The Presenting them to God as the Commemoration of that Sacrifice in which we trust and declaring to the people that this is done to this Commemoration The things signified are 1. Christs Flesh and Blood when he was on Earth 2. The Crucifying of Christ the piercing of his Flesh and shedding his Blood 3. Christs Offering this to God as a Sacrifice for mans Sin And this Commemoration is a great part of the Sacrament Q. 13 What think you of the name Sacrifice Altar and Priest here A. The Ancient Churches used them all without exception from any Christian that ever I read of I. As the Bread is justly called Christs Body as Signifying it so the Action described was of old called a Sacrifice as representing and commemorating it And it 's no more improper than calling our Bodies and our Alms and our Prayers Sacrifices Rom. 12. 1. Eph. 5. 2. Phil. 2. 17. 4. 18. Heb. 13. 15 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5. II. And the naming of the Table an Altar as related to this representative Sacrifice is no more improper than that other Heb. 13. 10. We have an Altar whereof they have no right to eat seems plainly to mean the Sacramental Communion And the Rev. 6. 9. 8. 3. 5. 16. 7. and oft useth that word III. And the word Priest being used of all Christians that offer praise to God 1 Pet. 2. 5. 9. Rev. 1. 6. 5. 10. 20. 6. It may sure as well be used of those whose Office is to be Subintercessors between the People and God and their mouth to God in Subordination to Christs Priesthood Causless scruples harden the Papists We are not offended that the Lords day is called the Sabbath though the Scripture doth never so call it and a Sabbath in Scripture sence was a day of Ceremonial rest and the ancient Church called it the Christian Sabbath but by such allusion as it more commonly used the word Sacrifice and Altar Q. 14. But we shall too much countenance the Papists Sacrifice by using the same Names A. We can sufficiently disclaim their turning a Commemoration of Christs Sacrifice into the feigned real Sacrificing of his Flesh and Blood without renouncing the names Else we must for mens abuse renounce the name of a Sabbath too and a Temple c. if not also of a Church and Bishop Q. 15. You have spoken of the Sacramental Consecration and Commemoration What is it which you call the Covenanting part and Communication A. It containeth the Signs and the things signified as Communicated The Signs are 1. The Actual delivering of the consecrated Bread and Wine first Broken and poured out to the Communicants with the Naming what it is that is given them 2. Bidding them Take Eat and Drink 3. Telling them the Benefits and Blessings given thereby And all this by a Minister of Christ authorized thus to act in his Name as Covenanting promising and giving what is offered And on the Receivers part the Signs are 1. Freely taking what is offered the Bread and Wine 2. Eating and Drinking 3. Vocal Praise and Thanksgiving to God and Professed Consent to the Covenant Q. 16. What are the things signified and given A. I. 1. On Gods part the renewed giving of a Sacrificed Saviour to the penitent Believer 2. The Will and Command of Christ that as Sacrificers feasted on the Sacrifice so the Soul by Faith should thankfully and joyfully feast on Christ by hearty Acceptance of the free Gift 3. The actual Applicatory Gift of the Benefits of Christs Sacrifice which are 1. Our confirmed Relation to Christ as our Head and Saviour and to God as our Father reconciled by him and to the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier and to the Church as his Kingdom or Body 2. The Pardon of our Sins by his Blood 3. Our right confirmed to Everlasting Life 4. The strengthening of our Faith Hope Love Joy Patience and all Grace 4. Christs Promise and Covenant for all this Sealed to us II. On the Receivers part is signified 1. That in the sence of his own Sin Misery and Need he humbly and thankfully receiveth his part in Christ as Sacrificed 2. That he endeavoureth by Faith to feast on him 3. And that he thankfully receiveth the Blessings purchased to wit his Relation to Christ as his Head to God as his Father and to the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier and Comforter with the Pardon of Sin the Sealed Promise and Right to Heaven and all the helps of his Faith and other Graces 4. That he resolvedly reneweth the Dedication of himself to God the Father Son and holy Ghost as thus related to these ends Covenanting Fidelity in these relations and renouncing the contraries 5. Doing all this as in Communion with all the Church of Christ as being united to them in the same Head the same Faith and Hope and Love 6. Thankfully praising God and our Redeemer for this Grace Q. 17. Should not one prepare for the Lords Supper by Fasting and Humiliation before or how should we prepare A. We must alwayes live in habitual Preparation and special Fasts are not ordinarily necessary thereto the Primitive Church did communicate not only every Lords day but on other dayes when they met to worship God and therefore used not every Week to spend a day in Fasting for Preparation But as Christians must use Fasting on just occasions so must they do before this Sacrament in case that any hainous Sin or heavy Judgment or danger call for it and preparing