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A47130 A Christian catechisme, for the instruction of youth, and others to whom it may be useful in the grounds of Christian religion, and practice of Christian piety wherein the twelve articles of the Christian creed, and the Godhead and manhood natures of Christ and his prophetical, priestly, and kingly office are briefly explained : and the true Christian doctrin, concerning Christ his being a sufficient saviour, as he is both God and man : and with respect to both the absolute necessity, and excellent consistencie of his outward coming in the flesh, and his inward coming, and spiritual appearance in our hearts, through faith in him, and love and obedience to him, in order to our eternal salvation, declared and demonstrated by testimonies of Holy Scripture : and the divine excellency of the light within, in distinction from humane reason, asserted and vindicated : and the question concerning its sufficiency to salvation, truly stated and resolved : where also many other Gospel doctrins, and practical Christian truths and duties are held forth / by George Keith. Keith, George, 1639?-1716. 1698 (1698) Wing K150; ESTC R19823 60,929 128

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Christ the Mediator of it the promise of the Spirit and the saving Graces and Gifts thereof for our Sanctification Regeneration and Renovation and for our mortifying and crucifying the Old Man and the body of the Sins of the Flesh the taking away the heart of Stone and giving us a heart of Flesh God's writing his Laws in those hearts of Flesh and giving us his special teachings and special Illuminations Operations and influences of his Holy Spirit working in us Faith Hope and Love and filial Fear and all other Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit and true Gospel Repentance all suited to the Gospel and new Covenant Dispensation and all this freely by and through and for Jesus Christ's sake together with the promise of Eternal Life and Salvation Jer. 31. 33. 34. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. 20. 36. 25. 26. 37. 26. 27. Gal. 4. 24. 26. 28. Heb. 12. 24. Isa 44. 3. 4. 59. 21. Q. But doth not the Covenant of Grace require any terms or conditions on our part as Faith and Repentance and new Obedience A. It requireth nothing of the true Subjects of it as terms and conditions but such as God promiseth freely to give the Faith and Repentance and Obedience that it requireth God has promised freely to give by virtue of his Covenant and no condition or terms that Men can perform are any the least moving cause to move God to enable us to perform those conditions Q. But is there not an Order in the way and manner of God's giving his many several Favours Gifts and Blessings to the Children of the New Covenant as remission of Sin Justification Adoption and Eternal Salvation A. Yea There is an excellent Order of some things to go before and other things to follow some of which go before and others follow only in order of Nature and others in order of time as plowing and sowing the Ground goes before Harvest and Reaping yet neither the plowing or sowing are the moving cause to move God to give the Fruit and Increase Q Doth then Faith and Repentance in order of Nature go before remission of Sin and Justification though they are together in time A. Yea. Q. How doth this appear from Scripture A. By many plain testimonies of Scripture as first concerning the necessity of Conversion and Faith in order both to forgiveness of Sin Justification and Salvation This was Paul's Commission given him by Christ unto both Jews and Gentiles Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 10. 6. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy heart c v. 7. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness c. Again Rom. 8. 29 30. In that excellent golden Chain containing several Links that follow one after another There is Predestination going before Calling and Calling before Justifying and Justifying before Glorifying The Calling that is not an outward Calling only but chiefly an inward Calling and inward Work of God's Holy Spirit enlightning the understanding and moving the Heart and Will to answer the Call is not the proper Cause of either Justification or Glorification but a necessary antecedent of it in order of Nature as the holding out of the Hand is antecedent in order of Nature to receive a free gift from him who freely gives for Faith has no causality in order to receive forgiveness of Sin and Justification more than the Hand has to receive a rich and free Gift which Faith is also the free Gift of God Again Acts 10. 43. Said Peter in his Preacing to Cornelius and his Friends To him viz. Christ Jesus even him whom they Slew and Hanged on a Tree gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins Secondly As to Repentance its being necessary in order to forgivness and blotting out of Sins Peter's words are plain Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out c. And Acts 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and forgivness of sins And Luke 24. 47. Christ after his Resurrection taught the Disciples the true Method and Order of Preaching That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus we see how though Repentance and Remission of Sins are joyned together in those places yet in order Repentance is put antecedent to Remission of Sins Q. But is not Repentance a proper effect of remission of Sin as the Soul has a lively sense of it wrought by the Spirit of God in the Soul as it was said of Mary Magdalen she loved much because much was forgiven her who was a deep and great Penitent A. As some degree of Repentance is antecedent to forgiveness not as its Cause so there are other degrees of it that are consequents thereof and may be called the effects of it Q. Are the Infant Children of believing Parents within the Covenant of Grace together with their Parents so that the Promise is to them and their Children A. Yea Act. 2. 39. Gal 4. 28. Gen. 17. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. What is the alone meritorious and material Cause of Mens Justification before God Is it not the Righteousness of Christ's most holy and perfect Obedience unto Death and the shedding of his most precious Blood done and performed by him without us freely of God imputed to us and received by Faith A. Yea. Q. What places of Scripture in the Old Testament hold forth the Justification of the Faithful and their eternal Salvation by Faith A. That in Genesis 15. 6. compared with Rom. 4. 2 3. Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for Righteousness from whence Paul inferred that Abraham was not justified by Works though he was a very holy Man but by Faith And though Abraham's Faith is not expresly said to have been in Christ as he was to come and suffer Death for our Sins in the Flesh yet it is certainly imply'd for the great Promise of God to Abraham was That in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed and therefore Abraham also was blessed in that seed which seed was Christ as he came in the Flesh out of Abraham's Loins and not the Light within or
inward Principle and Seed of God in Mens Hearts as some have most perversly construed a great part of which Blessing was forgiveness of Sins and Justification through the Righteousness of Christ without us freely imputed to us for that Abraham believed in Christ as he was to come and suffer death in the Flesh and rise again is clear Abraham saw my day and rejoyced said Christ yea he received Isaac after he had laid him on the Altar in a Figure that signified his Faith that Christ should not only suffer Death but be rais●d from the Dead And for Justification by Faith in Christ given to the holy Ancients Paul Cites that place of the Old Testament in Habukkuk 2. 4. The just shall live by his faith And Peter qu●●es a place in Isaiah 2. 8 16. 1 Pet. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Zion a chief Corner Stone Elect Precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded And that Cloud of Witnesses mentioned Heb. 11. Who are all said to have dyed in Faith their Faith did certainly respect Christ Jesus as he was to suffer death and rise again because he was and is the sure Foundation to whom all the Prophets gave witness that whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of Sins Q. How then is James to be understood who saith Abraham was justified by Works and Rachab A. Not in the sight of God but as an evidence both to themselves and others that they were justified Q. Are they not very fallacious who Teach Justification by the Righteousness of Christ imputed to the Faithful and mean thereby the inward Work of Righteousness or Sanctification wrought in them A. Yea. Q. And is it not Popish and contrary to Scripture to Teach that the Works which Christ works in us or which we work by the help of his Spirit are meritorious of Justification seeing Abraham whose Works were such was not justified by his Works A. Yea. Q. And is not the ground of their so Teaching false and proceeding from great Ignorance whereas they ●y the Works that Christ or the Spirit works in us are not ours but Christ's for though Christ by his Spirit is the efficient Cause of them yet he is not the only efficient for we also work with him and we are the only formal Cause of them it is not Christ in us that Repents Believes Obeys but we by his help and assistance and therefore tho' Christ is a perfect Agent yet while we are not perfect the Work is not perfect for the nature of the Effect followeth the imperfect Cause especially the formal Cause An Effect altogether good must have all its Causes perfectly good otherwise if there be a defect but in one of them the Effect is imperfect A. Yea. SECT IX Q. WHat use hath that inward Law of Righteousness or Illumination in all Men given them by Christ if no Man can be eternally Saved by it without Faith in Christ Crucified A. It is of great use as it is a preparatory Ministration of the Spirit in a lower degree and kind of Operation for convincing of Sin and giving the knowledge of Sin and working in the Soul a sense of God's Wrath and Judgment for Sin that is of that service to Men as when Men are Condemned to dye for their Crimes and afterwards hear of the King 's gracious and free Pardon their former Condemnation makes the Pardon the more precious and acceptable to them That was it that Paul calls the Ministration of Death and Condemnation 2 Cor. 3. 7 9. that was glorious in its Season that is antecedent and preparatory to the Ministration of Justification that followeth and is much more glorious For as God led Israel of old by Sin●●i where the Law was given with terror to Sion and Jerusalem that signifieth the Vision of Peace and where the Temple was built without the noise of a Hammer 1 Kings 6. 7. So God now leads his Israel through the inward Ministration of the Law to the inward Ministration of the Gospel and New Covenant of Grace of Life and Peace Q. What other use hath it especially to the Faithful who are come under the New Covenant A. So far as the dictates and teaching Light and Knowledge of it extends it serves for a Rule of Life together with the Scriptures in things of moral Honesty Justice and Temperance for if our Reason as Men be still of great use to us in things of Reason certainly that Law or Light in us and in all Men that is greater and more excellent than Humane Reason is of great use and service to the most Faithful And Obedience to it as a Rule of moral Life is so necessary that no Man can be saved without sincere Obedience to it Q. But doth not the more special Light and Illumination of Faith given to the Faithful under the New Covenant make the other void and useless and as it were extinguish it as the Light of the Day seems to extinguish the Light of the Night A. Nay For as Christ said he came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfil them so he is not come either Outwardly or Inwardly to destroy either our Reason as Men or any former Light or Illumination that he had given nor doth the Light of the Day extinguish the Light of the Night strictly speaking though it may seem so to do but doth rather strengthen it and better it And why should the more excellent Light of Faith extinguish this other Light of Moral Justice more than it doth extinguish our Reason as Men which by experience is not so found but the contrary that the more we are enlightned by or with the Light of Faith our Reason is the more refined pure and clear strong and vigorous Q. What ground of Scripture is there for Two Lights or more than one Is there not rather one only Light which is God and the Word Christ which is one with him that inwardly shineth in the hearts of all Men A. The Light originally is but one and that is God and Christ the Eternal Word the Fountain of all Light Wisdom Grace and Goodness yet this one Fountain sendeth forth its various Streams according to his good Pleasure and though there is but one God yet there is diversity of Operations and but one Christ yet diversity of Ministrations and but one Spirit yet diversity of Gifts as the Scripture plainly declareth hence we find in Scripture that God is called the Father of Lights and the God of all Grace also we read both of the manifold Wisdom of God and his manifold Grace and of the seven Spirits of God answering to the seven Lamps or Lights in the Sanctuary which Solomon according to the Wisdom given him of God increased the number of unto Ten. Q. But can God or Christ as he is the Word be said to be a Light in Men either universally in all Men or specially in faithful Men A. Yea both universally
in their Sins and the Apostles are false Witnesses and Christ 's Prophecy who foretold his Resurrection on the third Day hath failed 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15. Q. But may not his Resurrection be owned and not his Ascension into Heaven with the same Body A. The one cannot be owned without the other for if Christ 's Body did not ascend it did evanish or return to Dust and Christ Dyed again and his Body suffered Corruption which could not be for the Scripture witnesseth that Christ having once dyed dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion over him Q What Scriptures in the Old Testament foretold Christ 's Ascension A. Diverse places such as Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. Psal 47. 5. Psal 68. 18. Isaiah 52. 13. Gen. 49 9. Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie Christ 's Ascension A. The burnt Offering the Smoke of which ascended straight upwards whence it has its name in the Hebrew from a word that signifieth to ascend Q Was not Isaack's being said on the Altar and afterwards being raised alive a Figure of Christ 's Death and Resurrection according to Heb. 11. 19. Q. Is there a real place above the Earth called Heaven into which Christ hath entred with his Body and whole glorified Manhood of Soul and Body A. Yea. Q How doth this agree with Scripture that saith Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. A. It is the same Body in Substance though changed greatly in Manner and Qualities from Natural or Animal Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. to Spiritual from Mortal to Immortal such as the Bodies of the Saints shall be at the Resurrection Q. Why do we not see that Heavens with our bodily Eyes into which Christ 's Body is entered A. Because of the Weakness and Grossness of our Flesh and of our fleshly Sight which can scarce see the Body of the Air that we breath in nor behold the brightness of the Sun but when our Bodies shall be changed and made Spiritual at the Resurrection we shall see the glorious Heavens and also the glorious Body of Christ and the glorified Bodies of all the Saints in Heaven Q. Is there also a real place called Hell into which the Wicked both Soul and Body shall be cast at the Day of Judgment A. Yea which is that called Tophet Isaiah 30. 33. Which hath been ordained of old he hath made it deep and large the Pile thereof is Fire and much Wood the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it Q. What signifieth Tophet and why is it so called A. Tophet signifieth the beating of a Drum and was the place where the Idolatrous Israelites burned their Children and Sacrificed them alive to their Idol Molech where they used to beat Drums to hinder them from hearing the pitiful Cry of their Children therefore by a Metaphor Hell is called Tophet and by the like Metaphor Hell is called by Christ in the N. Testament Gehenna i. e. the Land or Field of Hinnon where all the Filth of the City of Jerúsalem was cast into that piece of Ground having formerly belonged to a Man called Hinnon Q. Why hath God so ordered it that as the place of Reward to the Saints and of Punishment to the Wicked should not be seen by us in this Life nor apprehended by any of our outward Senses so that none should come from the Dead to tell us of these things A. That thereby we might have the greater occasion for the Exercise of our Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. We have not only Moses and the Prophets Testimony concerning future Rewards and Punishments but the Testimony of Christ himself who rose from the Dead and hath given us in the Records of the holy Evangelists and Apostles in the New Testament full and sufficient Ground of Faith to believe these things to which the Spirit of Truth doth bear an inward Witness and who will not believe on such great Evidences nor would they believe if any should rise from the Dead to tell them Luke 16 31. Q. How is Christ the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sin and Justification is it as his Blood is shed in us and as he offers up himself a Sacrifice in us as some say to appease the Wrath of God A. Nay for all such Notion of Christ 's blood being shed in us and his offering up himself in us a Sacrifice for Sin to appease the Wrath of God is false and contrary to Scripture c. Q Is then Jesus Christ considered as he died for us without us and rose again and as he was the Sacrifice for our Sins by his Death and Blood that was outwardly shed the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sins and Justification A. Yea Rom. 10. 9 10. Coloss 1. 20. Heb 12. 2. Acts 10. 41. SECT VII Q. HOW doth Christ perform his Kingly Office A. By his various Administrations of it in the several Parts thereof Q. Which are the several Parts of it A. First Such as respect Angels both good and bad and the whole Creation Secondly Such as respect the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church Thirdly Such as belong to his Church Q. Hath Christ a Kingly Power and Government over all the good and holy Angels A. Yea Heb. 1. 6 7. Col. 2. 10. Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 10. Mark 1. 25 9 25. Luke 4. 35 9 42. Q. Hath he also a Power and Government over the evil Angels and all evil and unclean Spirits and the Devil the Prince of them A. Yea as plainly appeared by the Power and Authority he used to cast forth the unclean Spirits out of the Bodies of many that were Possessed Q. Hath Christ also a Kingly Power and Government over Heaven and Earth and the whole Creation A. Yea as is evident from his own words that all Power in Heaven and Earth was his being given him of the Father Matth. 28. 18. Matth. 8. 26 27. Mark 2. 27 28. Acts 10. 36. And which he shewed by his commanding the Winds and the Seas and the great Miracles which he wrought who as he was Lord of the Sabbath so he was Lord of all Creatures Q. How doth Christ put forth his Kingly Power and Government over Devils and wicked Men seeing they are Disobedient to him A. By restraining and limiting their Power over-ruling their evil Designs and Actions and causing them to turn to his Glory and the Glory of his Father and to the good of his chosen and lastly by Judging and Punishing them at the last day Psal 76. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Acts 17. 31. Matth. 8. 29. Q. How doth Christ perform his Kingly Office over the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church and neither are nor shall become Members of it but remain Impenitent to the last A. By giving them a righteous Law universally in their
Consciences for the Transgression of which they are liable to his Judgment Rom. 2. 12. As well as they who have transgressed against the outward written Law or Gospel Q. What places of Scripture prove that the Gentiles or that part of Mankind which have not the outward written Law nor Gospel have a righteous Law placed by God and Christ in their Hearts and Consciences according to which they are liable to be Judged A. There are many such as Gen. 6. 3. Psal 94. 10. Job 28. 28. Micah 6. 8. John 1. 4 5 9. Rom. 1. 18 19 20 21. Rom. 2. 14 15. Q. Is that Law in Men's Consciences universally any other than the meer Reason of Man commonly called human Reason and the Use or Improvement of it by its meer natural Actings A. Yea for it is really Divine being given them of God to Rule and Govern all the natural Faculties of Man's Soul even his Reason it self which is out Corrupted and dictateth false and corrupt things to Man in his corrupt State but this Law of Righteousness writ by God's Finger in his Heart neither is nor can be Corrupted it is a Light given to enlighten his Reason and as a Lamp to him in his night State or as the Light of the Moon and Stars in the night Season Rom. 1. 13 12. 1 Thess 5. Q. If any Men should be found who have Obeyed this Law or Light in their Consciences universally should they be saved not having Faith in Christ Crucified A. First it is an improper and unfit Supposition because never any have universally Obeyed it in all Points for according to the Scriptures Testimony all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and the Scripture hath concluded all under Sin for he who Transgresseth in one Point is guilty of the whole Law and whatsoever the Law saith whether outwardly or inwardly written it saith to them that are under it that every mouth may be stopp'd and the whole world become guilty before God Rom. 3. 9. 10. 19. 23. Jam. 2. 10. Secondly upon that supposition Men could not be saved with Eternal Life and Salvation by their best works and most perfect obedience to any Law or Light in them because Eternal Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and not the wages of Mens obedience nay not of the Saints in a strict sense for as saith Paul the Scripture hath concluded all under Sin that the promise to wit of Eternal Life and Salvation by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Gal. 3. 22. Q. But did not Paul say that the doers of the Law are justified and that some of the Gentiles who had not the outward Law were doers of the Law or did by Nature the things contained in the Law and that their thoughts accused or excused one another Rom. 2. 13. 14. 15. A. Though they did some things contained in the Law yet they did not all things but failed in divers respects as oft even the Faithful do and that their thoughts excused them at some times as well as at other times accused them this proveth they did nor perfectly fulfil the Law wherein they were excused it was but in part and in comparison of greater Sinners as Christ said concerning Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah that should rise up in judgment against the Jews yea excusing in the largest sense is far short of justification before God which none but Believers in Christ Jesus have Q. How then are Peter's words to be understood that God is no respecter of Persons But in every Nation he that f●areth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him A. There is a twofold acceptance the one of a Servant the other of a Son Cornelius and his Houshold being pious Gentiles who did fear God and work Righteousness were accepted in that State as Servants but this was short of the justification and acceptance of Sons and of being in a State of Salvation which none have but through Faith in Christ Jesus and that Cornelius before Peter Preached Christ to him as he dyed and rose again was not in the State of Salvation with respect to Eternal Life is evident from the Angels words to him how that Peter should Preach words to him whereby he and all his House should be saved Moreover that through faith in Christ as he dyed and rose again Peter Preached remission of Sins to Cornelius and not through his Obedience in respect of what he did formerly is clear from Acts 10. 43. To him said Peter gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Q. Doth it from hence follow that all the Heathens however so virtuous and all others of Mankind who have not had Christ and the Gospel outwardly Preached to them and have not outwardly heard it are perished and shall be damned A. Nay it no wise followeth for tho' Gods ordinary way of Salvation is by the outward means of the Word outwardly preached or read yet this hinders not but that others may be and shall be saved who have not outwardly heard God working by his Spirit when where and how he pleaseth Q. Doth not this therefore lay a foundation of a judgment of Charity for such upright and virtuous Gentiles as Cornelius was before Peter Preached Christ to him of whom we read in the New Testament and as Abimelech was of whom and of his uprightness we read in the Old Testament Gen. 20. 5. 6. who have not had the Scriptures and other outward means of Salvation afforded unto them that Christendom hath that they are not without a possibility of Salvation though not on the account of their Works through Faith in Christ Jesus seeing God who is Light and in a true sense may be said to be the Light in them as being the Author and Fountain of all true Light or illumination whether common or special is abundantly sufficient to give them what degree of Faith in Christ Jesus either implicit or explicit for Eternal Salvation he thinks needful to them A. Yea. Q. But it is one thing what God can do or is sufficient and able to do and another what he doth or is pleased to do Have any such a degree of Faith either explicit or implicit given them of God by his inward teaching and illummation without the Scriptures as doth suffice to their Eternal Salvation A. Abraham Job and divers others have so bad it and all the Heirs of Salvation wheresoever scatter'd shall have it when and how God pleaseth whose ways are above our ways as the Heavens are above the Earth for as there is no Name under Heaven whereby Men must be saved but the Name of Jesus even him that dyed and rose again neither as Peter said is there Salvation in any other Acts 4. 12. so nor is there any promise of Salvation to any but through Faith in that same Jesus for it is one God
A Christian Catechisme For the Instruction of Youth And others to whom it may be Useful In the Grounds of Christian Religion and Practice of Christian Piety Wherein the Twelve Articles of the Christian Creed and the Godhead and Manhood Natures of Christ and His Prophetical Priestly and Kingly Office are briefly explained And the true Christian Doctrin Concerning CHRIST His being a SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR as he is both God and Man and with respect to both the absolute Necessity and excellent Consistencie of His Outward Coming in the Flesh and of His Inward Coming and Spiritual Appearance in our Hearts through Faith in Him and Love and Obedience to Him in Order to our Eternal Salvation Declared and Demonstrated by Testimonies of Holy Scripture And the Divine Excellency of the LIGHT WITHIN in distinction from Humane Reason Asserted and Vindicated and the Question concerning its Sufficiency to Salvation truly stated and resolved Where also many other Gospel Doctrins and Practical Christian Truths and Duties are held forth By George Keith London Printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeous in Cornhill over-against the Royal Exchange 1698. To The READER Friendly Reader THere are a few things of which I thought fit to give thee notice in relation to the following Treatise First If thou happen to find some few things in it asserted which touch not any of the great Doctrins of the Christian Faith that do not seem well to consist with some passages in some of my former Books I desire thee to reckon them among the things since Retracted by me in my late Book of Explications and Retractations Printed in the Year 1697. which I have done with a sincere Conscience God having been graciously pleased of late times further to enlighten me I know not one thing here delivered in this Treatise that may seem to have any inconsistency with any of my former Books but is contained within those Retractations as to Matter and Substance As to the Doctrin of the holy Trinity namely the Oneness of the Essence of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and their true distinction by their Relative Attributes I thank God I have always had the sound Faith thereof wherein I have fully agreed with all Orthodox Christians in opposition to either Arianum or Sabellianism or any other Heretical Opinion but I acknowledge my weakness in being too scrupulous to own the manner of expressing that distinction by calling them three Persons as other sound Christians upon good ground have called them the which scruple upon good consideration and advisement I have now laid aside and have found freedom to use those terms with all other Orthodox Professors of Christianity for reasons sufficient as I judge I have given on that Head in my following Treatise but this doth not argue in me any change of my Faith seeing as my former Books sufficiently testifie I had the same Faith formerly as touching that great and glorious Mystery that I now have And providing that any do own the truth of the Mystery though they scruple to use the terms of Three Persons I agree with many other charitable Christians not to impose those terms upon them or to charge them with Heresie simply for their scrupling the terms though a needless and singular scrupulosity without any just ground is no wise commendable in any but such who seek to cloak their gross Error by only pretending a scrupulosity to use the terms as the Arguments that stand on Record in Print to this day never Retracted by them evidently prove who have argued not only against the Names or Terms Three Persons but against their being Three and against any distinction betwixt them other than Nominal or in Manifestations and Operations in time are no wise excusable until they retract their former Error For thus they have argu'd as it stands in some of their Printed Books Either they are three nothings or three somethings if three somethings they are three Gods And why should they scruple the word Persons more than the word Trinity since after great Cavillation against Trinity as well as Persons for their not being express Scripture Words some of chief Note among them have said in Print they own the Scripture Trinity and surely they were never desired to own any other nor blamed for not owning any other It is most certain that all the other parts of Christian Doctrin are built on this great Fundamental that the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are one God having one Essence and yet truly distinct in their relative Attributes and Properties and to deny their true distinction is fully as great an Error as to deny the Oneness of their Essence and Godhead nor can the true Christian Faith be ever truly taught or understood without that Doctrin therefore it was that Christ commanded his Apostles to Baptise all who should become his Disciples in the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost which to be sure they would not do before they did in some measure instruct them in the knowledge of this great Mystery From which it is evident that the Doctrin it self is a main Fundamental of the Christian Religion the denyal of which is a plain overthrowing of the Christian Faith as is likewise the denyal of the Twofold Nature of Christ the one of his Godhead the other of his Manhood by a personal Union constituting one Christ which I have always sincerely believed whereof my former Books are a sufficient witness without those Doctrins it is impossible that the way and manner of Mans Redemption by Christ and how he is given and sent of the Father unto us and how by and through him the Faithful receive remission of Sin and the holy Spirit with his saving Gifts and Graces both from the Father and the Son can ever be truly understood and the denyal of those Doctrins directly tend to establish Deism and Heathenism and subvert totally the Christian Religion Another thing I desire the Reader to notice That whereas I have not so particularly and fully treated of the Moral Part of Christianity as of the other Part respecting matters of Faith I request the Reader not to construe that he had any occasion thereby to judge of me that I laid not as great weight upon the necessary practice of the one viz. the moral Part in the careful observation of all God's Commands as upon the necessary Faith and Knowledge of the other in order to our attaining Eternal Life and Happiness for indeed I hold them both equally necessary to that end All true Christian Morality is built on the true Christian Faith and draweth its greatest motives and obligations to virtuous Living from thence whereby as great a distinction is made betwixt the Christians Virtues and these of the Heathen Virtues as betwixt Silver and Iron or Gold and Brass The great reason therefore of my not treating at present so particularly and fully on the Moral Part is because the necessity
should bruise his heel and also by the Sacrifices which God taught them to offer which were Types and Figures of Christ's Sacrifice that was to come Heb. 11. 4. Q. Who is here meant by the Serpent A. The Devil according to Revel 20. 2. Q. What is meant by his Seed A. That inward Principle of defilement and Seed of Sin that was then sown by the Devil in our first Parents and through their Loins transmitted to their Posterity and that which is born of it called in Scripture the Old Man and the Body of Sin and Death Q. What is meant by the Serpents bruising the heel of the Woman's Seed A. That by means of the Devil who instigated the Jews against him Christ should suffer Death in his Manhood Nature but his Head that is his Godhead neither did nor could suffer any thing Q. What is meant by the Woman's Seed his bruising the Head of the Serpent A. His Victory over the Devil by his Resurrection from the Dead and that by virtue of his Death and Resurrection the Power of Christ by his Spirit in all the Faithful should destroy the Devils Power and Kingdom of Sin flay the Old Man and Crucifie the Body of Sin in them and in due time wholly deliver them from Sin and all the effects an● 〈…〉 ●equences of it Heb. 2. 14. Coloss 2. 15. 1 〈…〉 Q. When are the ●●●●●ful to be fully and completely delivered from all the effects and consequences of Sin A. At the Resurrection of the Dead at which time that first promise shall have its full accomplishment 1 Cor. 15. ●4 Q. What places of Scripture prove that the Sacrifices under the Law were Types of Christ's Sacrifice and that the Blood of those Sacrifices signified the Blood of Christ by which remission of Sin is obtained A. There are divers as Colos 2. 16. 17. Heb. 8. 5. and 9. 9. 23. and 10. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 16 17. Q What is meant by that place in Zach. 9. 11. As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth the Prisoners out of the Pit wherein is no water Is not that Blood the Blood of Christ that was to be shed and was accordingly shed when he suffered on the Cross by virtue of which all the Faithful who once were Satan's Prisoners are translated out of his Kingdom of Darkness fitly signified by the Pit wherein no Water is and brought into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God where is Righteousness Peace and Joy Light Life Love and Liberty and where Springs of living Waters flow A. Yea Colos 1. 13. Rom. 14. 17. Isaiah 12. 3. Q. Was not the Passover a Type of Christ and as the Exod. 12. 7. Blood of the Slain Lamb being sprinkled on the Lintels and Posts of the Doors of the Israelites saved them from the destroying Angel so doth not the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God that was slain for us sprinkled on our Hearts and Consciences not by any visible or material application but by Faith applyed to us save us from the Wrath of God and destruction A. Yea 1 Cor. 5. 7. 8. Heb. 12. 24. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 10. 22. Q. As the Israelites were to eat the Flesh of the Passover so are not the Faithful not by a bodily eating but by Faith to eat the Flesh of Christ's slain Body that they may have Eternal Life A. Yea John 6 53. Q What places of Scripture prove that Christ was to be a Priest and that the Priesthood of the Law and first Covenant was to end and give way to Christ's Priesthood that is unchangable and to remain for ever A. Psal 110. 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck compared with Heb. 7. 11. 12. 24. Q. How is Christ a Priest for ever seeing the Sacrifice of himself he did offer but once when he suffered Death on the Cross and by one Offering once offered he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 7. 27. Heb. 9. 28. Heb. 10. 14. A. Because the virtue merit worth and efficacy of that one Offering once made was sufficient for the expiation and taking away the guilt of the Sins of the Faithful from the beginning of the World unto the end of it Heb. 9. 15. Q. How is Christ a Priest after the Order of Melchisedeck A. Because Melchisedeck which signifieth King of Righteousness was not only a King but a Priest also so Christ is both King of Righteousness and King of Salem which signifieth Peace and also a Priest and as Melchisedeck's Priesthood did far excel the Priesthood of Levi so doth the Priesthood of Christ far excel it Q. In what respects doth Christ's Priesthood excell that of Levi and differ from it A. In many respects as they are excellently set forth in the Epistle to the Hebrews Cap. 7. 8 9 10. As First Christ arose a High Priest out of the Tribe Judah 2. He was made by Oath 3. Not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life 4. These of the Levitical Priesthood offered many Sacrifices yearly for Sin but Christ our High Priest offered Himself a Sacrifice but once 5. They were sinners themselves and needed to offer for their own Sins as well as for the Sins of others but Christ was without all Sin and only offered the Sacrifice of Himself for the Sins of others not only for the Jews but for the whole World 6. By reason of death they were not suffered to continue but Christ continueth for ever having once dyed he dyeth no more 7. They offered the Bodies Fat and Blood of Beasts but Christ offered up his whole Body of Flesh and Blood together with his Soul an Offering for our Sins 8. Their Offerings were but the Figure Type and Shadow his was the Substance and thing signified 9. Christ by virtue of his Priesthood was made surety of a better Testament and of a better Covenant which was Established upon better Promises 10. None of all their Offerings could take away Sin or purge the Conscience from Sin but this his Offering once did to all that sincerely believe and repent of their Sins 11. The High Priest on the day of Atonement being the 10th day of the 7th Month every Year entred the Holy Place made with Hands but Christ our High Priest by his Atonement hath entred into Heaven it self and hath made open and manifest the way thereunto unto all true Believers and Followers of him 12. The Jews paid the Tythes or Tenths of their Increase to the Priests and Levites and they paid out of their Tenth a Tenth to the High Priest but the true Christians which are the true spiritual Jews give both themselves and their All to Christ their High Priest and are ready to serve Him and his Gospel with their All for the propagation and service of his Gospel and if need
and hearing of the Word and Prayer and Thanksgiving A. Baptism with Water in the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and the celebration of the Supper in the use of the external Elements of Bread and Wine with Prayer and Thanksgiving to remember and shew forth the Lord's Death till he come both which are not only proper means to preserve the Doctrin of the Christian Faith being duly practised but are means of Grace Seals of God's Govenant of Grace and Signs of our Union and Communion with Christ and one with another in him Matth. 28. 19. Matth. 26. 27. 28. 29. 1. Cor. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 23. Q. To whom is Baptism to be administred A. To none but such as in the judgment of Charity may be reckoned Members of Christ and of his Church Q. Is it to be administred to any more than once A. Nay but once to the same Person Q. Why but once A. Because that signifieth our ingrafting into Christ and our entrance into the Church as into a new World or Kingdom which is but once Q. Is the Supper to be frequently administred to the Faithful A. Yea as frequently as with possible convenience it can be done Q. Why is it to be administred frequently A. Because we need to be but once Regenerated or born again whereof Baptism with Water is a Sign but being once Regenerated we need to be frequently nourished of which the Supper is a Sign that frequently ought to be used as appears both by the Command of Christ As often as ye eat c. and the example of the Faithful in the Acts of the Apostles Q. Doth not Baptism signifie remission of Sin and our Justification by Christ and his precious Blood shed for us as well as our Regeneration and the mortification and crucifying the Old Man with his Deeds A. Yea. Q. And doth not the Supper signifie remission of Sin and our Justification by Christ as well as our spiritual Nourishment by Christ's Body and Blood and holy Spirit with the saving Gifts and Graces thereof A. Yea. Q. Is the participation of the Body and Blood of Christ together with the holy Spirit and his saving Gifts and Graces so tyed and confin'd to the use of the external Elements that none can have the things signified without these outward Signs A. Nay Q. What need is there then to use them A. Because of Christ's Command and the great Spiritual profit that the Faithful have by the due use of them where they can be duly had even as in the Case of hearing the Word Preached by word of Mouth the ordinary means of Faith yet such hearing i● not of such absolute necessity so as none can have Faith without hearing a Minister Preach for many have had Faith wrought in them by the Word or Doctrin read by them or by others read to them who perhaps never heard the Word duly Preached by any Man Q. How are the words of Christ to be understood this Cup is the New Testament in my Blood shed for the remission of the Sins of many How is the Cup the New Testament A. By the Cup is meant the Wine in the Cup by an ordinary Figure in Speech call'd a Metonymie where the Name of the thing containing is given to the thing contained Q. How is the Wine in the Cup the New Testament in Christ's Blood A. By another Metonymie as Circumcision was called God's Covenant under the Law being the Seal of it so the Wine as well as the Bread in the Supper is called by Christ the New Testament as being the outward Seal of it Q. But what is the need or use of an external Seal of the New Testament or Covenant seeing the Faithful have the inward Seal of the Spirit A. The inward doth no more take away the use and benefit of the outward to the Faithful now than the inward Seal of the Spirit to Faithful Abraham did take away the use of the outward Seal of Circumcision from him which was given him of God to be a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Q. What is meant by Christ's New Testament and whether it is one and the same with the New Covenant A. It is the same for Matter and Substance but that it further denotes Christ's Legacy left us in his Will and Testament and confirmed by those outward Seals appointed by himself that being the Nature of all Wills and Testaments to be in force by the Death of the Testator Q. How doth it appear that these outward things as Water in Baptism and the Bread and Wine in the Supper are Seals of the New Testament or Covenant of Grace A. Because the nature and manner of all Covenants require some external Signs or Seals for their stronger confirmation and as it is the usual manner of Nations to confirm their Covenants by or with outward Signs or Seals so it hath been always God's way in all his Covenanting with Men or with any People to confirm it by some outward Signs or Seals as the Sacrifices before the Law and Circumcision and the Passover and the Sacrifices under the Law Psalm 50 5. Q Is it not therefore a great Sin and highly provoking to God Almighty and doing contempt to our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not only to reject the Seals of his Covenant and Testament from practising them so that they can be duly had but to deny and vilifie them with the reproachful Names of beggarly Elements and worldly Rudiments yea if God be not very merciful to them to provoke him to deprive them of the spiritual Blessings of his Covenant for their so great contempt through their great Ignorance God grant that it may not be wilful in some And do they not act as foolishly in the Case as if one that had a rich Legacy left him by the Will of his elder Brother should in his folly tear away the Seal of it which in Law renders it null and void A. Yea. Q. How do the faithful the eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of Christ A. Not by the bodily Mouth but by a true Faith and sincere and servent Love and Devotion Q. But may not Persons feed upon the inward Life and Spirit of Christ without feeding by Faith on the Flesh and Blood of Christ A. Nay according to Christ's plain and express words Joh. 6. 53. Unless ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you the Flesh and Blood of the Son of Man together with the Fat and Marrow of the inward Life and Spirit of Christ even whole Christ God man is the Food of the Faithful by him if an e●●er in the true door he shall go in and out and find Pastore without in his Flesh and Manhood within in his Spirit and Godhead as Augustin and other spiritual Writers have applyed those words John 10. 9. Q. Doth not this hold forth the necessity of Faith in Christ as he was outwardly crucified
as for remission of Sin and Justification so for Regeneration and the new Birth A. Yea which sufficiently sheweth the great ignorance of some that teach how Paul laboured more to bring People to know or have Christ formed in them than to bring them to have a Belief in Christ without them as he was crucified c. For there is no other way to have Christ formed in us but by having a saving Faith in Christ crucified without us wrought in us by the Spirit of God therefore Paul called Christ crucified the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 23. 24 SECT XIV Q. DOth the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of Fire which Christ promised to his Disciples still remain in the Church A. In respect of the saving Operation and saving Gifts and Graces thereof it doth though not in respect of its miraculous and extraordinary visible Effects as the Gift of Tongues and the visible appearance of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire that sat upon each of them Acts 2. 3. Q With what Fire doth Christ Baptise them that believe in him A. With his Spirit of Judgment and Burning whereby according to God's Promise their silthiness is purged away and with his living internal Word that is as a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces and as a Sword cutteth down and slaveth the earthly Members of the Body of the Sins of the Flesh and as a Fire to burn them up together with the Hay Wood and Stubble the Briers and Thorns and all the combustible matter that cannot dwell with that devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings Isa 33. 14. 15. Q Is that the Fire whereof the Scripture mentioneth whereby a Man shall be Saved according to which God even the God of the Faithful is called a consuming Fire and Christ viz. with respect to his inward appearance and spiritual Operation in Believers was promised to be like a Refiner's Fire and like Fullers Sope and that he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levy and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness and that then the Offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years 1 Cor. 3. 15. A. Yea. Heb. 12. 29. Mal. 3. 2. 3. 4. Q. Why is the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of Christ in Believers compared to Fire and metaphorically so called A. Because of the resemblance and likeness of the natural and outward Fire to the inward and spiritual for as the outward Fire both enlightens and consumes what is combustible as Wood and Stubble but melts purifies and refines Gold and Silver so the inward and spiritual Fire both enlightens the Uunderstanding to see what Sins and Lusts are in the Heart that are to be destroyed and is as powerful and mighty to destroy them yet doth no hurt to the Creature but refineth purgeth and purifieth it as Gold and Silver is purged from the dross Again as the operation of the Fire upon the Flesh of any living Creature is sensibly painful and afflicting so is the operation of this inward and spiritual 〈◊〉 upon the fleshly Lusts of Men that have been as their living fleshly Members even sensibly painful and afflicting with a spiritual sensible pain And as the Fire hath not this operation but as there is a due application and bringing near of the things that the Fire is to operate upon unto the Fire so there must be an inward application of the Heart and Soul of the Man that is to be thus purified and have his Sins and Lusts destroyed to this inward and spiritual Fire which is to be felt in his Heart and Soul and tho' for a season great inward pain and affliction and suffering is here felt as when a Cancer is cut out of a Man's Flesh yet it ought to be born with all possible quiet patience and stilness and even then there is a present inward spiritual Joy Ease and Refreshment felt in the Soul that accompanieth the pain as when a Person is Cut for the Stone the case of having the Stone taken away is greater then the pain of the Wound Q. As there is an inward Baptism which Christ and not Man giveth so is there not an inward Supper that Christ giveth and not Man o● both which the outward Baptism and Supper are Signe even as the Word outwardly Preached in the outward Ears of Men is a Sign of that inward Word Preached by Christ himself in the Heart and as the inward Word and Preaching of Christ in the Heart makes not the outward Word that is a Sign of the inward null and void or unprofitable but there is a good and excellent consistency betwixt them so is there not as good and excellent consistency betwixt the outward Baptism and Supper which are the Signs and the inward and spiritual A. Yea. Q. Who are they that partake of the inward Baptism and Supper A. None but true Believers in Christ as he was outwardly Crucified and who hear his Voice and open the Door to his knocking c. by has spiritual appearance at the door of their Hearts All such and none but such Sup with him and he with them Q. What is their Supping with him A. His giving them his Flesh to Eat and his Blood to Drink that is his teaching and enabling them by his Spirit to apply the Merit Virtue and Efficacy of his Flesh and Blood which together with his Soul he offered up to God a Sacrifice for our Sins by which application and union through Faith Believers receive remission of Sin and his holy Spirit with the gracious Influences thereof Q. What is his Supping with them A. Their Faith in him and Love to him together with the lively exercise of all their Graces which are acceptable to him as a Supper to a hungry Man Q. But Christ said it is the Spirit that quickens the Flesh profits nothing This is brought by some as an Argument against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered death in the Flesh by them who think that Faith is not necessary A. If their Argument had any weight it would prove that Faith not only not necessary but nothing profitable though some of them distinguish and say they confess it is profitable but not necessary But the Argument is built on a false supposition and perversion of our Saviour's words which was an answer to the carnal Jews their objecting How can this Man give us his Flesh to Eat which they meant of bodily Eating by the bodily Mouth but Christ meant it of a spiritual Eating by the spiritual Mouth of he Soul to wit by Faith which the Spirit giveth and their carnal understanding was that Flesh which did not profit as neither would on supposition their eating of his Flesh with their bodily Mouths if they could have done it Q. Another
the Man Christ can be loved without having outwardly seen him or heard him by the same reason he can be believed and trusted in without the outward sight and hearing of him For further Information concerning Baptism and the Supper I refer to my Book called The Arguments c. against Baptism and the Supper Examined and Refuted Printed 1698. The CREED I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into Hell The third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right Hand of God the Father Almighty from thence he shall come to judge the quich and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the holy Catholick Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of Sins the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting Amen The Ten Commandments XX. Chap. Exodus I. GOD spake all these words saying I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have none other Gods but me II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worship them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the sins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain IV. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy Son nor thy daughter thy man-servant nor thy maid-servant nor thy cattle nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee VI. Thou shalt do no murder VII Thou shalt not commit adultery VIII Thou shalt not steal IX Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor his servant nor his maid nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is his The Lord's Prayer OUR Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS POST-SCRIPT BEcause I know there are many who will not allow that there is any Light generally in Men but that of meer Humane Reason and esteem any who think otherwise to be Fanatick and Enthusiastical I shall here insert some words out of a Printed Sermon of D. South on Luke 11. 35. vol. 3. which I judge worthy to be noticed well agreeing with what I have delivered in my fore-going Catechism on that Subject Pag. 47. 63. 64. 65. Other Protestant Authors I could cite asserting the same Pag. 68. Vol. 3. Some of the ablest of the Peripatetick School not without countenance from Aristotle himself in the 5th Chapter of his 3d Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hold That besides the Native Inherent Light of the Intellect which is essential to it as it is a Faculty made to apprehend and take in its Object after a spiritual way there is also another Light in the Nature of a Medium bearning in upon it by a continual efflux and emanation from the Great Fountain of Light and irradiating this intellectual Faculty together with Species and Representations of things imprinted thereupon According to which Doctrin it seems with great reason to follow That whatsoever interposes between the Mind and those irradiations from God as all Sin more or less certainly does must needs hinder the entrance and admission of them into the Mind and then darkness must by necessary consequence ensue as being nothing else but the absence or privation of Light For the further illustration of which Notion we may observe that the Understanding the Mind or Conscience of Man which we shall here take for the same thing seem to bear much the same respect to God which Glass or Christial does to the Light or Sun which appears indeed to the Eye a bright and shining thing nevertheless this shining is not so much from any essential Light or Brightness existing in the Glass it self supposing that that there be any such in it as it is from the Porousness of its Body rendring it Diaphanous and thereby fit to receive and transmit those Rayes of Light which falling upon it and passing through it represent it to common view as a Luminous Body But now let any thing of dirt or foulness fully this Glass and so much of the Shine of Brightness of it is presently gone because so much of the Light is thereby hindred from entering into it and making its way through it In like manner every act of Sin every degree of Guilt does in its proportion cast a kind of soil and foulness upon the intellectual part of the Soul and thereby intercepts those blessed irradiations which the Divine Nature is continually darting in upon it a little after I will not affirm this to be a perfect exemplification of the Case before us but I am sure it is a lively illustration of it and may be of no small use to such as shall throughly consider it And concerning the donation of a certain determinate number of Persons made to Christ to be his People by an Eternal Compact or Transaction between the Father and the Son by virtue of which Agreement or Transaction he was in the Fulness of Time to suffer for them and to accomplish the whole Work of their Redemption from first to last See pag. 415. of his Sermon on Isa 53. 8. where he hath these following words greatly worthy of notice For to affirm that Christ dyed only to verisie a Proposition That whosoever Believed should be Saved but in the mean time to leave the whole issue of things in reference to Persons so loose and undetermined That it was a question whether ever any should actually Believe and very possible that none ever might and consequently that after Christ had suffered had been striken and dyed for Transgression yet for any thing he had done in all this he might never have had a People this certainly is a strange and new Gospel and such as the Doctrine of our Church seems utterly unacquainted with See pag. 51. 56. of the fore-going Catechisme well agreeing to this ERRATA PAge 14. Line 8. r. invissible p. 16. l. 10. r. Serpent's Head p. 42. l. 27. after Heb. 11. 19. r. A. Yea p. 60. l. 31. r. Isaiah 28. p. 61. sor sy r. say p. 88. l. ult after the begin the Parenthesis p. 7. l. 24. sor is r. are p. 89. l. 16. r. 1 Mac. 4.