it is also free in the second so as not to require in us any Terms or Conditions Answ. No for the main instances of God's Grace that is of his gratuitous and undeserved Gifts are the forgiveness of sins the saving assistances of his Spirit and Eternal Life And all these are given tho' not for any of our Deserts yet upon Conditions Quest. Is forgiveness of sins one instance of God's Free Grace Answ. Yes we are justified that is acquitted in judgment or have our sins pardon'd freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. and we have forgiveness according to the riches of his Grace Eph. 1. 7. Quest. And this Grace of Forgiveness you say is granted to us on Conditions Answ. Yes on Condition of our true Repentance For we are to Repent that our sins may be blotted out Act. 3. 19. And Christ was exalted to be a Saviour to give Repentance and Remission of sins Act. 5. 31. And when he sends out his Apostles to publish this Grace he orders them to preach Repentance and Remission of sins in his Name to all Nations Luk 24. 47. Quest. The saving Assistance of God's holy Spirit is another eminent instance of Grace and is most commonly called so in common speech but is that given too upon Conditions Answ. Yes on condition of our own care and concurrent endeavours For tho' the first motions and suggestions of the Spirit which make the first step in our Conversion may prevent our endeavours yet the continuance of them on our Hearts and their encrease to a saving pitch that will govern our Lives and guard us against Temptations depends upon our own Concurrence To him that hath that is improves what God bestows shall more be given but from him that hath not i. e. doth not profit with it as the wicked Servant did not who went and hid his Talent shall be taken away even what he hath Mat. 25. 25 29. And when St. Paul tells us God works in us both to will and to do he tells us withal that we must be Fellow-workers and work out our own Salvation Phil 2. 12 13. Quest. Is Eternal Life another instance of Free-Grace Answ. Yes it is an instance of it and the Crown and consummation of all the rest It is called the Gift of God Rom. 6. 23. and the Free gift of God Rom. 5. 15 16 18. Quest. And is it also bestow'd upon Conditions Answ. Yes upon condition of our Obedience to the Laws of God. Being made perfect thro' Suffering Christ became the Author of Eternal Salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. And blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life Rev. 22. 14. Quest. The Grace we have by the death of Christ then is free as you say only as that excludes all our Deserts but not as it excludes all Terms and Conditions Answ. Very right And this is plain by that way wherein God makes over all that Grace to us which is by the New Covenant For what is given by way of Covenant is given upon Terms because Covenants differ from absolute Grants and imply Articles on both sides And thus the Benefits of the Gospel are given to us For Christ's sake we shall receive Remission of sins the Assistance of the Spirit and Eternal Life tho' we never deserved them but we shall not receive them unless we Repent and obey in order to them Quest. By this I perceive the Grace of Christ is no encouragement to sin or slothfulness and that his dying for our sins will not save us from dying for them our selves unless we repent of them Answ. Undoubtedly it will not Quest. But as soon as ever we repent we may believe and trust that we shall be saved by it Answ. Yes and this is the true Faith in his Blood that is a Faith that our Life shall be spared and we reconciled to God for the sake of it God hath set forth Christ a Propitiation for the Remission of sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. But this Faith belongs not to any whilst they continue in sin and are wicked men but only when they begin to obey and serve him Quest. From what you have said it appears that Christ's great aim in dying for us was to reclaim us from our sins and make us holy and good men and that he purchased Reconciliation and the favour of God only to shew us it would not be in vain and to encourage us to become so Answ. Yes so it was For he gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. And he bare our sins in his own Body upon the Tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness 1 Pet. 2. 24. Quest. You say Christ died to atone and satisfie for sins that God might pardon us when we repent of them But why did he not think Repentance enough without a Ransom Why would he not pardon Penitents unless Christ would die to make satisfaction for them Answ. Because the requiring such a satisfaction shewed his perfect hatred of sin which is for the Honour of his Holiness and the strict care of his Laws which maintains the Reputation of his Justice and took off all hope of impunity if men shall go on still to transgress and so was the greatest discouragement to future offences All which would have been otherwise had he been easie in forgiving and admitted of a Reconciliation without a Ransom Quest. How doth the requiring such a satisfaction shew his perfect hatred of sin for the Honour of his Holiness Answ. Because he would not remit the Punishment of it but upon the highest Ransom and because when he undertook to answer for it he would not spare it in his own Son so that his hatred to it could not be overcome even by his love to him Nay moreover because when in consideration of his infinite Merits and their Repentance he returns into favour with them yet to shew his absolute detestation of their former sins he will not receive even the Prayers and Devotions of Penitent Sinners at their own Hands or treat with them in person but requires a Mediator to offer up and transact all for them And withal admitting no other either in Heaven or Earth for that Advocate but only his own eternal and most dearly beloved Son To shew that when they offered the greatest Consideration yet in indignation at their former Provocations he would have no deangs with them by any person less great and dear than him Quest. How doth it shew his strict care of his Laws for the Honour of his Justice Answ. Because he would not dispense with the threatnings of those Laws where he had no less a Reason than the Salvation of all men the greatest and most considerable part of the visible Creation without a valuable recompence Quest. How doth
Scandalous Prophanations of the Lords Supper were sickly and weak and fell asleep at present 1 Cor. 11. 30 32. And the Man of God from Judah being pitiably seduced by a Dissembling Prophet without any thing that appears of an Evil intent and having first faithfully and boldly declared God's Message against Jeroboam's Altar we may reasonably hope was mercifully spared as to the other World. But yet here God met him by the way and devoured him by a Lion for yielding to a Seducer to eat Bread against the Word of the Lord 1 King. 13. And this ought mightily to restrain us all from acting any great dishonour to God or crying Offences for which God may judge us in our Persons Estates or Families in this World when upon our true Repentance he acquits us in the next Penitence is not so good a Preservative against the sting of these as innocence is For such Offences do always justly expose us to Temporal Calamities and sometimes make it necessary for us that we should be severely corrected in this World. Which consideration ought to restrain all that regard either their own or their Families welfare in this World from ever being guilty of them Quest. When are these punishments relaxed and what is the time of Pardon Answ. The solemn full and irreversible declaration of it is at the Day of judgement But before that God pardons the sins of good Men in this life giving them a general pardon of all sins in Baptism and of all particular Failures afterwards as they repent of them So on David's repentance for the matter of Uriah Nathan told him God had put away his Sin 2 Sam. 12. 13. Quest. Is this forgiveness in this World perfect and irreversible so that when once any sins are struck off they are never more placed to account Answ. No but limited and suspended on Terms viz. mens perseverance in repentance for if after their pardon they fall off and relapse into the same wickedness they shall be unpardon'd all again and stand accountable for all former Transgressions If the Righteous man turn from his Righteousness to iniquity saith God in Ezekiel all the Righteousness he hath done shall not be mention'd to him but in his Sins that he hath sinn'd shall he dye Ezek. 18. 24. 33. 12 13. And when the Debtor to whom his Lord had pardon'd all his great Sums had render'd himself unworthy of that grace by his merciless usage of a small Debtor among his fellow Servants his incensed Lord cancel'd the Pardon and exacted all the dispunged Accounts And so says Christ will my Heavenly Father do with you in like case Mat. 18. 24 27 30 34 35. Quest. Do we believe the forgiveness of all Sins Answ. Yes except the Sin against the Holy Ghost and willful Apostacy from the Faith of Christ for which there is no forgiveness Quest. I have seen already that there is no Pardon for Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost But is there none also for willful Apostacy from Christianity Answ. No for if we sin willfully i. e. by willful Apostacy after we have received the knowledge of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin i. e. Christ's Sacrifice is not designed to expiate such offence Heb. 10. 26. Quest. Is that Sinning willfully willful Apostacy from Christianity Answ. Yes For these Sinners saith the Apostle tread under foot the Son of God i. e. affirm Christ to be still in the Grave not risen from the Dead and count the blood of the Covenant or Christ's Blood an unholy Thing i. e. as the Blood of a Malefactor and say it was justly shed and do despite to the Spirit of Grace i. e. despite the Holy Ghost which confirm'd Christianity and reject all his Miracles as Satanical delusions v. 29. So that these Sinners were plainly Apostates who ceased to own and had begun to accuse Christ as the Jews and Heathens did And the same Apostacy St. Paul speaks of in another place when he tells us if Christians fall away i. e. from their Christianity whereby they Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh or joyn in Condemning him with his Crucifiers it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance Heb. 6. 4 5 6. Quest. But all other Sins you say we may believe and trust to have the pardon of Answ. Yes thro' the merits of Christ and the mercy of God. So Christ Commissions his Apostles to Preach Repentance and Remission of Sins to all Nations Luk. 24. 47. And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father and he is the Propitiation for our Sins 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. And all manner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but that against the Holy Ghost which shall never be forgiven Mat. 12. 31. Quest. You would have no Sinners then to despair of Mercy or think their Sins greater than Christ's merits or God's grace and too big to be forgiven Answ. No by no means For Christ by his most precious death has gain'd a full Pardon for the greatest Sins and sends out his Apostles to Proclaim it to the greatest Sinners David was guilty of Adultery and Murder Paul was a cruel and bloody Persecutor and Blasphemer Peter was perjuriously false and denyed his Master But all these were forgiven and none need or must despair as if when they Repent God had not pardon enough in store Quest. These indeed are instances of the greatest sins But is there forgiveness for them when they are committed with the most aggravating Circumstances Answ. Yes For David's Murder and Adultery was with much deliberation and contrivance and against so many struglings and reluctances that thereby he became almost quite hardned and of a seared Conscience And Peter's denyal was repeated several times and those considerably distant to allow space enough for remorse and that too with false Oaths and bitter imprecations But both these obtain'd mercy on their true repentance Quest. You say on true Repentance Is all this forgiveness then upon some Terms and Conditions Answ. Yes for God's grants of grace are as in consideration of Christs Sacrifice so also of our Faith and Repentance And therefore neither to Infidels nor impenitent Persons Quest. Upon what terms must we believe God will forgive us any willful Sins Answ. When we repent of them and forgive others Quest. Will he not pardon them 'till we repent and amend them Answ. No for to all the willful Sinners of the World the Apostles were to Preach Repentance and Remission of Sins And of these 't is said he that confesses and forsakes his Sins shall find mercy Prov. 28. 13. Quest. But when we have repented and left these Sins will he not forgive us still unless we forgive others that have trespass'd against us Answ. No there is no forgiveness neither for impenitent nor uncharitable Persons For if ye forgive men their Trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men
Business greatness of Temptations Bodily Indispositions For Pitiable Defects of Degrees in Duties Great Latitude on the side of Bliss and all not required to be of the same Size He will Reward Good Things tho' done with Difficulty and Reluctance yea when Pitiably stain'd with impure mixtures Our Judge will shew all this Candor and would have us expect it In Recompencing good Men he will consider the Difficulties and Oppositions And the hazard and cost of their Services And the hardships of Providence allotted to exercise good Men in this Life Of the Condemnation of ill Men. The Fire which is to torment them shall burn up and dissolve the World. Practical Inferences from the last judgment ☞ Through a Mistake there is neither 5th 6th nor 7th Chapters But tho' in the numbering of the Chapters there is this mistake yet there is no omission of matter CHAP. VIII OF the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost is God. What he hath done for our Salvation Of his extraordinary Gifts bestowed on Apostles and Evangelists which were for the Planting and Propagating Christ's Religion 1. The gift of inspiration in Revelations This bestowed upon the Apostles These Revelations they have fully set down in the Holy Scriptures after which we are not to look for any others This Gift of knowing Religion by immediate Revelation necessary only in Apostles and Evangelists And design'd for the Infancy of the Church Other Rules whereby to examine new Lights and Revelations in Religion As try them by the Scriptures Call for their Miracles wherewith God still empower'd men when he sent them to reveal new Things No need of Miracles when men pretend only to revive old and acknowledged Revelations If they shew Miracles for things plainly against Scripture they must work more than were wrought to confirm the Scripture An account of Joel 2. 28 29. Which seems to foretell the commonness of Revelations among Christians The first Inspirations were not only in Doctrinal Points but also in Devotions And about Temporal matters Subservient to this Gift of Revelations was the Gift of discerning Spirits This done afterwards by ordinary Rules And the Gift of utterance and boldness Their minds not influenced by this constantly and at all Times But ordinarily they were and especially when they had most need of it 2. Of the Gift of Miracles Miracles a Proof of Divine Revelation How discernible from Lying Wonders by the Doctrines built on them By their ends and usefulness and being wrought on needful Occasions Of the miraculous Gift of healing Diseases This sometimes by annointing with Oyl And Prayers Of casting out Devils and other Miracles Of delivering to Satan what it was and why so call'd Of Joy in Tribulations and what was extraordinary in that of the Apostles To the working these Miracles there was always required Faith in him that wrought them And sometimes Faith in him that received them 3. of the Gift of Strange Tongues The ends of this And of the Gift of Interpreting such Strange Tongues What is meant by the Holy Ghost being a Comforter The Sin against the Holy Ghost is a Sin against these extraordinary Gifts Why Blasphemy against him more irremisable than against the Father or the Son. Extraordinary Gifts no mark of a justified State. Of Offices appointed by the Holy Ghost Some of these Temporary others to continue through all Times the present Officers ordaining Successors of the Holy Ghost's ordinary Graces By these we may know he dwells in us Our care required towards these Of Preventing Grace in outward advantages and inward good motions Directions how we are to endeavour after saving Graces in six Particulars How God gives them though we are thus to acquire them The Holy Ghost works also in us Spiritual Joys and Comforts This he doth not in all the minds he sanctifies because some are unfit for them through intrinsick impediments But they are with-held from none through his Arbitrary withdrawing which some count Spiritual Desertion CHAP. IX OF the Holy Catholick Church and the Communion of Saints No assurance of Salvation by Christ but in his Church This Church Holy. And Catholick Admission into it by Baptism when regularly perform'd in any one valid in all Churches Excommunication is so too This Church is one Body by external visible unity Of the Communion of Saints in this Church Of their visible Union in Faith or Doctrine And in Prayers and Devotion Of communicating in Publick Prayers A Sin to separate without just cause Imposing Sins or Errours as Conditions of Communion is a just cause Not Lawful to separate for Things indifferent Nor for better means of edification Just to separate from a Church that doth not impose her Corruptions when her Errors in Faith overthrow the Foundation That is when she ceases to own the one true God. Or denys Jesus to be the Christ or Salvation by his Merits and Mediation Owning Jesus to be the Christ implies owning the Articles of the Apostles Creed which contains all Fundamentals Whilst any Churches hold to this Creed which is the Foundation Errors in other things do not unchurch them But such Erroneous are in a worse state than Orthodox Christians Nor is her Communion to be deserted meerly for such Errors tho' very gross if she doth not impose them Just to separate from a Church of a corrupt Worship when sinful things pollute her Publick Offices Or when good Devotions are put up in a strange Language not for Rites and Customs about indifferent matters Nor just to separate for scandalous Members where a Churches constitution is faultless Nor tho' it neglect Discipline which should reform them Of keeping Fellowship with the Apostles by submitting to our lawful Bishops their Successors Christians to communicate in Affections in Alms and Temporal good Things CHAP. X. OF the Forgiveness of Sins What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all Sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of Sins CHAP. XI OF the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting The Resurrection not meerly of our Spirits from sin but of our Bodies from the Grave This to be brought about by the Almighty Power of God. The Perfections of Glorified Bodies viz. Immortality Spirituality and Glory The Bodies of the Wicked Immortal And exquisitely sensible Some Inferences from the Resurrection of our Bodies Good Souls carried straight-way into a
Place of Bliss Of Eternal Life wherein there is Full and unmixed Happiness Of the satisfaction of their Senses Their clear and distinct Knowledge Perfect Holiness And without Reluctance Blissful Companions Perfection of Love and Kindness Honour and Eminence of Place All these to be injoy'd in the Highest Heavens without satiety or weariness For evermore Of the miseries of the Damned in Tormenting Passions The worm of Conscience Fire and Flames Disgrace Under all which no favour of God. No company but of Tormenting Devils and damned Spirits None to condole when they cannot relieve No rest and sleep for Recruit of Spirits No end of their miseries The Use of this The Practical Believer PART II. Of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. CHAP. I. Of the Office and Natures of Jesus Christ. The Contents In what Salvation by Christ consists Being Christ notes his being 1. A Prophet to teach his Church We must hear and learn of him in the Holy Scriptures and at the mouths of his Ministers 2. A Priest to Redeem and Intercede for it 3. A King to Govern it by his Laws And by his Officers whom we are to submit to in his place Also to Protect it against all visible and invisible Enemies Jesus Christ is the Son of God as having receiv'd from the Father the Nature of God. And the Power of God. On both these Accounts and others he is our Lord. And to be worshipped What we learn from his being our Lord. Of Christ's being Conceiv'd of the Holy Ghost and Born of a Virgin. He was truly Man. And why he was so Quest. WHat is the Second Article of the Creed Answ. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Quest. Jesus signifies a Saviour from what doth Christ save us Answ. From two things 1. Our sins 2. Those eternal Torments which are the Punishment of them Quest. If he prove a Saviour to us must he Reform and save us from our sins Answ. Yes for this is the main Reason why that Name was given him Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his People from their sins Mat. 1. 21. Quest. Will he save none from the Punishment but whom he saves from the sins first Answ. No for except ye Repent ye shall all perish Luke 13. 3. and at last he will say Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Mat. 7. 23. Quest. But when once they are delivered from their sins they may make sure of being freed by him from Eternal Death too Answ. Yes for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. Quest. Christ signifies anointed among the Greeks as Messiah doth among the Hebrews Messiah if interpreted being the Christ or anointed as St. Andrew said John 1. 41. But what mean you when you call Jesus the Messiah or Christ that is the anointed Answ. His being invested with the Office of a Prophet to teach his Church of a Priest to make Reconciliation and intercede for it and of a King to Govern and Protect it Quest. Why do you call such Investiture his Anointing Answ. Because anciently Investitures into these Offices were according to the Eastern Custom by pouring Oyl upon them as in the case of the Arch-Prophet Elisha 1 Kings 19. 16. and High-Priest Aaron Lev. 8. 12. And in Kings as the Jewish Doctors note when they received not their Office and Authority by Succession but by extraordinary Designation as in the case of King Saul 1 Sam. 9. 16. 10. 1. and King David 1 Sam. 16. 13. Answerable to which Messiah's Designation to his Office which was to include all these is call'd his being Anointed Isa. 61. 1 2 3. Quest. Was Christ invested in these Offices by pouring Oyl upon him Answ. No but by pouring a nobler thing the miraculous Powers and Gifts of the Holy Ghost which install'd him and answer'd to their anointing God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with Power Acts 10. 38. Quest. Was Christ in the Office and Quality of a Prophet to teach his Church Answ. Yes he was a Teacher sent from God John 3. 2. What he said he spake not of himself but as the Father gave him Commandment so he spake John 12. 49 50. So that the People spoke a great truth when they said This is of a truth that Prophet who was to come into the World John 6. 14. Nay he was not in the rank of an ordinary Prophet but in a pitch of Eminence far above all others For he not only had a Prophetick Spirit resting always on him which the best of them enjoy'd but on certain times and occasions but he knew the will of God by Personal Acquaintance and immediate intuition not barely at second hand by the Message of an Angel or by a Vision or a Dream as they all did The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1. 18. And on this account among others of all Prophets and Interpreters of God's mind he alone is call'd the Word because lying in God's Bosom he had his mind without any thing intervening as immediately as a word expresses ones meaning Quest. What must this teach us Answ. Whensoever we would know the mind of God to seek only unto him and never to hearken to any other New Lights or Enthusiastical Pretenders In all times both in the Apostles days and ours several Impostors and false Prophets have come with pretended Messages to shew men the will of God and the way to Happiness But we are to give ear to none of these this work of communicating God's mind to men not being left at random but peculiarly intrusted with Jesus Christ that great Prophet of the Church who is especially constituted by God and anointed for this purpose This is my beloved Son said God in the voice from the bright Cloud in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 5. Quest. But how shall we do to learn of him since now he is no more among us here on Earth but is gone to Heaven Answ. Two ways he exercises his Prophetick Office to communicate the mind of God to us 1. By the Scriptures What God told him he first by Personal Converse and afterwards by his Spirit leading them into all truth told the Apostles and Evangelists and they put it in writing in the Book call'd the Holy Scriptures to be preached and published to all others thro' all times So that when we hear them read we must think we hear Christ our great Prophet speaking to us And to be debarr'd or debar our selves of the use of them what is it but to be debarr'd of this great Prophet's free Communication 2. By his Ministers whom he has left and appointed to declare God's mind to the People in his place Thus the Priests were appointed among the Jews The Priests lips should preserve Knowledge and the People should seek the Law
their Unction that is I suppose their investiture in their Office For 't is well known the common way of investing Men in Offices especially in the Priesthood and Prophetick Office was by anointing And St. Paul infers his Authority in the Apostolical Office from his inspiration because his Gospel was not after Man but he was sent out by God and had it immediately Revealed to him by him Gal. 1. 11 12 15 16 17. And the Promise that the Holy Ghost should teach them all things and guide them into all Truth was not made to any Christian of succeeding Times but particularly to the Holy Apostles with whom it is our Blessed Lord there Discourses And the Unction among them whereby they knew all things that St. John speaks of was whilst he himself was alive and other Evangelists not to add moreover that his Epistle seems writ among the latest of the Books of the New Testament So that then probably they had among them the inspirations of almost all the other Apostles Quest. So that inspiration of Religion was design'd only for the Infancy of the Church whilst it was a Planting and Religion a Publishing but was to cease when that was done Answ. Yes it was so Knowledge i. e. inspired Knowledge Prophesie and Tongues were fitted as St. Paul notes only for the Child-hood of the Church for that is the Similitude he uses in expressing the transitoriness of these Gifts 1 Cor. 13. 9. whilst I was a Child I spake as a Child I understood as a Child c. But these Helps of the Infant State were to vanish as it took Root and grew up to Manhood When I became a Man I put away Childish Things v. 11. We know says he again in part and we prophesie in part i. e. at present this inspiration is imperfect this Epistle being one of the earliest Writ and the Scripture-Canon at that Time not being finished and generally come abroad But when that which is perfect is come i. e. as I conceive not only the Perfection of the other World but a more Perfect State of the present Church when the Canon shall be consummated and commonly given out then that which is in part shall be superseded and Done away v. 9 10. As for Charity that bright Gem among saving Graces it indeed never fails But whether there be Prophesies they shall fail whether there be Tongues they shall cease whether there be Knowledge i. e. inspired Knowledge it shall vanish away v. 8. Quest. In Christianity then I see we must take up with the Holy Scriptures and not look for new Revelations except we would look also for a new Religion and new Apostles Answ. Very right Quest. This is enough against any man who pretends to new Lights and Revelations in Religion But since there are many such in the World can you give me any further Direction how to try them Answ. Yes examine them First by the Scriptures bringing those New Revelations to the Old and then be sure they are either inventions of Men or Delusions of Satan if they contradict it Tho we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have already preached unto you and which is set forth in Scripture let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any pretending never so much Revelation preach any other Gospel unto you than that you have received let him be accursed Gal. 1. 8 9. Quest. What other way would you direct me to for the Tryal of such Pretenders Answ. Secondly call for their signs or Miracles as God's Token to manifest that he speaks by them For when God sends Men on new Messages and Revelations to testifie they come from him and gain them credit he empowers them to work Miracles or give Signs because else they would go upon vain Errands Thus when God sent Moses to the Israelites and he objected that they would disbelieve him and say God had not appeared unto him Exod. 4. 1. God owns the reasonableness of the Objection and impowers him to turn his Rod into a Serpent and work other Signs from him to gain Credit with them Which he did as he himself told Moses that they may believe that the Lord God of their Fathers hath appeared unto thee And it shall come to pass if they will not believe thee after the first sign that they will believe thee after the latter sign Or if they disbelieve after that too thou shalt work another Sign ver 5. to ver 10. Quest. Have you any further Evidence of this Answ. Yes in Christ himself For without Miracles he did not require all Men to believe him when he came in God's name and then sure without them they are not bound to believe any other pretender to new Revelation If I had nâ—â— done among them the Works which no other Man did they had not had sin in disbelieving John 15. 24. Quest. And this was still the way of Prophets when God sent them Answ. Yes when he sent them to reveal any New Thing Indeed when Prophets came only to press old Revelations that stood confirmed by former Miracles they needed not always to come with a New Sign And this was the case of many Ordinary Prophets among the Jews whom God specially sent and stirred up to inforce some neglected Precepts and chiefly the Moral and Spiritual Parts of the Law of Moses But when any pretended to any extraordinary Commission for reversing of some Old or setting up some New Rule or Doctrine as it was resonable to expect they should they were always empowred to give a Sign or work a Miracle in Confirmation And this is the Test God himself gives whereby to know when he had sent any one If thou say in thine Heart how shall we know the Word which the Lord hath not spoken When a Prophet speaketh in the Name of the Lord if the thing follow not nor come to pass that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken but the Prophet hath spoken presumptuously thou shalt not be afraid of him Deut. 18. 21 22. Quest. So that no Prophet pretending to New Revelation was to be believed barely on his own word till some sign from God gave witness to it Answ. No the great Prophet of the Church Jesus Christ himself did not expect it If I bear Witness of my self my Witness is not true i. e. ought not to pass for true But there is another that beareth Witness of me for the Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same Works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 5. 31 32 36. And this is necessary to prevent our being deceived For many false Prophets are gone out into the World 1 John 4. 1. And these come all in God's Name though what they declare is not his Revelation but their own invention or some Satanical Delusion And if we were to
lasted and Prayer was added to it Is any Sick among you says St. James let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them Pray over him anointing him with Oyl in the Name of the Lord for in Christ's Name all their Miracles were wrought And the Prayer of Faith i. e. put up in Faith of the miraculous cure shal save the sick viz. from his Disease and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed Sins i. e. if any Sins brought this sickness they shall be forgiven him in the cure of it Jam. 5. 14 15. Quest. By saving of the Sick here indeed may seem to be meant saving of him from his Disease because it follows and the Lord shall raise him up But the Prayer of Faith and forgiveness of Sins seem to note something else Answ. As for the Prayer of Faith that Agrees very well for a Faith or belief that God will enable him to do it is necessary in every one that works a Miracle And as for the Forgiving of his Sins you must know that the Punishment of Sin is not only eternal Death but Present Diseases and therefore that the sin is forgiven at least in part when either of these is taken off And thus the Scripture speaks of it For when any sickness or infirmities come for sin our Saviour makes it the same thing to say thy sins are forgiven as to say arise and walk and accordingly when he design'd to work a Cure he would say thy sins are pardoned Mat. 9. 2 5. Quest. What other Miracles had they the gift of Answ. Of casting out Devils as the Apostles did out of Multitudes Act. 5. 16. Of Raising the Dead as Peter raised Dorcas Act. 9. 39 40. and Paul Eutichus Act. 20. 9 10 12. Of inflicting Bodily Diseases and Torments as well as Spiritual Horrors and Supernatural Agonies on contumacious sinners as Paul did on Elymas the Sorcerer striking him with blindness Act. 13. 8 9 11. and on the incestuous Corinthian whom he thus punished for the destruction of the Flesh 1 Cor. 5. 5. Which Corporal inflictions he seems plainly to threaten the Back-sliders at Corinth withal when he tells them of coming to them with a Rod 1 Cor. 4. 21. Of using sharpness 2 Cor. 13. 10. Of Revenging all Disobedience 2 Cor. 10. 6. Yea of such sharpness as would over-awe and humble the most carnal minds and contemptuous Opposers of Church Authority and Censures bringing down the Flesh as he said of the Incestuous Persons and making them afraid to Blaspheme as he said of Hymeneus and Alexander who were most contemptuous and stubborn in their Heretical Opinion 1 Tim. 19. 20. And this infliction of smart and Bodily Diseases upon obstinate Sinners is called Delivering over unto Satan as the Apostle says he had done in these last mentioned Cases Quest. Why was this infliction of Bodily smart and punishment upon them called Delivering over to Satan Answ. Because these Pains were to be the Effect of God's immediate Justice and Satan should be the Tormentor and Executioner of God's Vengeance And therefore when these Offenders were given up to God's Justice they were said to be delivered into his Hands When God in a more immediate and extraordinary way sends present heavy Plagues upon Men especially as a Punishment for sin Satan is often said to inflict them Saul's Melancholly is called an Evil Spirit from the Lord upon him 1 Sam. 18. 10. God's Plagueing the Egyptians sending evil Angels among them Ps. 78. 49. The Woman who had been bowed together eighteen years one whom Satan had bound Luk. 13. 11 16. The Lunatick a Demoniack or one vexed with an unclean Spirit Mat. 17. 15 18. and Luk. 9. 39 42. And thus when the Apostles gave up offenders to God to punish them because the Devil executes the Punishment which God decrees it is called Delivering them over unto Satan Quest. This delivering to Satan then was an Act of Divine Justice upon these Criminals and God commanded Satan thus to afflict them as formerly he afflicted Job at the instance of the Apostles Answ. Yes and therefore as 't is not improbable it was done with Prayer to God to take vengeance For so the Apostle may seem to express himself on his Delivering up Alexander Alexander the Copper-Smith did me much Evil the Lord reward him according to his Works 2 Tim. 4. 14. In this he Acted as a Spiritual Judge delivering up to Justice and Prayed God to exact the Penalty according to his Sentence Quest. Had they the Gift of any other Miracles Answ. Yes for such I reckon was their Joy in Tribulations and Glorying even in the very Hour of their sufferings When the Council had beaten them they departed from their Presence rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's Name Acts 5. 40 41. Whilst their Stripes were yet sore and they were pinched in the Stocks in the Dark Dungeon Paul and Silas sang Praises to God and triumphed rejoycing Act. 16. 23 24 25. And upon their Persecution at Antioch the Disciples were filled with Joy and with the Holy Ghost Act. 13. 50 52. Thus as if they were not of the same Mold nor had Bodies like other Men did they Glory in their Shame for Christ and rejoice in Tribulation Quest. But is not Joy an ordinary Fruit of the Spirit And why then do you think this rejoicing of theirs had something Miraculous in it Answ. A secret Joy in the sense of God's Love is common among Good Men and an ordinary Fruit of the Spirit and so 't is reckon'd Gal. 5. 22. Yea and Joy in Tribulation after the Tribulation is past for afterwards it yields the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness to those that are exercised with it Heb. 12. 11. But to rejoice in the very midst of it and under the Stroke as they did I think has an extraordinary Gift and miraculous Aid in it For under the ordinary Assistance of the Spirit the Bodily Pain hinders rejoycing at the very instant For the Present no chastening seemeth to be joyous but grievous Heb. 12. 11. Quest. What say you then to the Words of Christ Rejoice and be exceeding glad when you are Persecuted for my sake Mat. 5. 11 12. Answ. I think they do not so much express a Duty that he strictly exacts as a Gift and Priviledge which he sometimes bestows upon his Martyrs and Confessors As was visible in the Apostles days and among the Primitive Martyrs For their minds were sometimes so ravished and transported with Spiritual Consolations as to seize all the Powers of their Souls and not suffer them to attend to the most Exquisite Bodily Tortures So as they could smile upon Racks and sing under their Executioners and be so far intranced in Spiritual Comforts as to declare under the most Bloody Butcheries that they were not sensible of any Pain And the same stupendious supports God has sometimes vouchsafed in later and modern Persecutions
owning the Authority of our own Bishops who are their Successors and rule the Church in their stead Christ told the Apostles he would be Present with them to the end of the World Mat. 28. 20. Being present with their Successors he calls being Present with them And in like sort keeping Fellowship with our Lawful Bishops who are their Successors is keeping Fellowship with them He that one sends saith the Jews is as himself And accordingly when Christ had sent out his Apostles he tells them he that receiveth you receiveth me Mat. 10. 40. and he that receives whomsoever I send receiveth me Joh. 13. 20. And the Apostle commends the Galatians that that they received him not only as an Angel of God but as Christ Jesus Gal. 4. 14. And St. Ignatius that Blessed Martyr and contemporary of the Apostles applauds the Trallians that they were subject to their Bishop as to Jesus Christ and to the Presbytery as to the Apostles In Scripture Account and Legal estimate that is done to any Persons which is done to their Substitutes and Representatives And thus keeping Fellowship and Subjection to the Bishops of the Church in all Ages who were at first sent and commissioned by the Apostles and empowered to send and ordain others at all times is holding Fellowship and paying subjection to the Apostles themselves and by them to Christ Jesus Quest. This then is one Part of the Communion of Saints to live subject to our own Bishops not suffering our selves to be drawn away by such as would seduce us but adhering to them against all Schismatical Opposers Answ. Yes Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves Heb. 13. 17. And mark those that cause Divisions and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Be their Pretences and Appearance what they will if they lead us into Schism and an unnecessary Rejecting of our Lawful Governours God hath not sent nor doth his Spirit go along with them That cannot lead to Schism it is the Author of Peace not of Confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. It will not put us upon a needless rejecting of our Spiritual Governours since Adherance to them in the Apostles Days as I noted before was made a Test of discerning True Spirits from False ones We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4. 6. Quest. But if a Man is careful to Believe and Practise Christ's own Laws and Doctrines is not that enough to make him a good Christian except he likewise submit to Church-Rulers and peaceably conform to their innocent Constitutions and Rules of Discipline Answ. No. For this is one of his Laws to obey those that have the Rule over us and watch for our Souls and to submit our selves Heb. 13. 17. He orders them to take care that all things in his Worship be done decently and to Edification 1 Cor. 14. 26 40. And he requires us to obey and submit to their ordering A good Christian is not only one that believes and professes the Christian Religion but is also a Member of the Christian Church And they cannot be good Church-members who will not submit so far as conscionably they may to Church-Governours nor Communicate in Church-Offices Quest. I see the Communion of Saints implies their Communion in Christian Doctrine Worship and Government But doth it not also imply Communicating not only in Affections but in all Good Offices in Alms and outward Things Answ. Yes to do Good and to Communicate forget not Heb. 13. 16. And the Receiving their charitable Contributions St. Paul calls taking upon him the Gift and Fellowship or Communion of Ministring to the Saints 2 Cor. 8. 4. In the extream distress of the Jerusalem Christians at first this communication of Alms was wonderful For all that were Rich sold their Pessessions and put them into a Common Stock to be distributed by the Apostles as every one had need Act. 2. 44 45. and c. 4. 33 34. And in other places where they did not take this course yet was Communicating as in all good Offices so particularly in outward Things with their poorer Brethren the Profession of all Christians Their Rule was as they had opportunity to do Good unto all but especially to those of the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. And to do good to these more particularly when they travelled about as Strangers and fled from place to place for the Faith of Christ which is the Charity and Hospitality of the Scriptures so much magnified Quest. When any Saints then of Foreign Countries are forced to fly and come among us for Christ's sake to entertain them in our Houses and communicate to them of our Substance which is here professed is of Great Account with God Answ. Yes of high Account For it is one of those Good Deeds which Christ will expresly mention in our behalf at the last Judgment Come ye Blessed inherit the Kingdom for I was a Stranger and ye took me in Mat. 25. 34 35. And therefore St. Paul when he tells us of distributing to the necessities of Saints reminds us particularly of being given to Hospitality Rom. 12. 13. CHAP. X. Of the Forgiveness of Sins The Contents What Sin is Of wilful sins Of sins of Ignorance Surreption Passion Forgiveness of sin is the Release of its Punishment When Eternal Punishments are remitted Present and Temporal are often exacted What is the Time of Relaxing these Punishments Remission of all sins but Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost And wilful Apostacy from Christianity Wilful sins forgiven when we Repent and forgive others Sins of Ignorance and inadvertence upon our Charity to others This forgiveness outwardly dispensed in Baptism The Eucharist And Sacerdotal Absolution The Power of the Keys lies in Retaining as well as Absolving which ought to beget a just dread of Excommunication What is meant by our Forgiving sins What use we are to make of the Forgiveness of sins Quest. WHat is the Tenth Article of the Creed Answ. I Believe the Forgiveness of Sins Quest. What is Sin Answ. The Breach of a Commandment or a Transgression of some Law of God committing what his Law forbids or omitting what it injoins us Sin is the Transgession of the Law 1 Joh. 3. 4. And all the Laws of God which we transgress in sinning against him are contain'd in Holy Scripture Quest. Then we never offend God nor shall suffer for any thing but what the Scripture has forbid and against which we can produce some Law out of it Answ. No for Sin is not imputed where there is no Law Rom. 5. 13. And it must always be a Law that worketh Wrath i. e. makes us liable to suffer it For where there is no Law there is no Transgression Rom. 4. 15. The strength of sin is the Law saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the Law enter'd e're sin did abound Rom. 5. 20. Quest.
their Trespasses neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you Mat. 6. 14 15. And therefore when we pray for forgiveness our Lord allows us to do it only upon these terms Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us Quest. What if we have wronged any Persons is it not enough towards forgiveness to do so no more Answ. No it is not but withal we must make Restitution and amends for the wrong we have done already If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. Quest. I see we must hope to have forgiveness of our Sins of willfulness and also of our Sins of Passion which you shew'd to be of like guilt with them only upon our true Repentance and amendment of them But upon what terms shall our slips of ignorance and inadvertence be pardon'd since they are never perfectly amended but hang about us more or less as long as we are in this World Answ. Upon our great Charity to other men especially to their Souls in endeavouring their Conversion and Salvation And therefore that St. Peter recommends above all other Virtues and for this Reason Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves for Charity shall cover the multitude of Sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. And if any of you err and one convert him let him know that he who converts a Sinner from the Error of his way shall save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Quest. For whose sake doth Almighty God allow us all this Benefit of Forgiveness Answ. For Jesus Christ's who as you have seen dyed for our Sins and gave his blood a Ransom to purchase for us all this Pardon of them He is set forth a propitiation for the remission of Sins that are pass'd thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3. 25. And then for his sake we shall receive all this mercy when with the dispositions before express'd in his Name we devoutly pray to God for it Quest. By the promises of the Gospel I see this forgiveness is assured to all Christians upon the terms you have described But is it in any Signs and Tokens outwardly dispensed to them Answ. Yes both in the Holy Sacraments and in Sacerdotal Absolution Which ways of ministring this forgiveness as well as the forgiveness it self are noted in some Ancient Creeds This Article being thus profess'd in St. Cyprian's Form at Baptism I believe the Remission of Sins by the Church Quest. Is this forgiveness dispensed to us in the Sacrament of Baptism Answ. Yes and that most amply the water of Baptism washing off the stain of all former Sins Be Baptized and wash away thy Sins said Ananias to Saul Acts 22. 16. Repent and be Baptized for the Remission of Sins said St. Peter to the Jews Acts 2. 38. And he hath saved us by the Laver of Regeneration i. e. the water of Baptism and the renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3 5. So that whateve pollutions men had before upon them if they come to Baptism with true Faith and Repentance they are thereby made clean again Quest. Is it also dispensed in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Answ. Yes if after the Baptismal cleansing they relapse and contract new guilt in that they are admitted to renew the same Covenant of Grace again and seal the Pardon of it For therein Christ gives us his own Blood which as he says particularly was shed for the Remission of Sins Mat. 26. 28. He entertains us there at his own Table which is an open profession to all worthy comers that he is reconciled to them and receives them again as Friends And therefore when any Baptized Christians are startled and terrified with the Conscience of their Sins let them repair to that Holy Sacrament to seal and assure the forgiveness of them But let them come with Faith and Repentance and Reconciliation to their Brethren which as I said are the Terms of our being Forgiven For the Holy Sacraments dispense this forgiveness to none but such as worthily receive them and those they do cleanse from all former Pollutions Quest. Is there also a dispensation of this Pardon in Priestly Absolution Answ. Yes for therein Christ has authoriz'd his Ministers that act in his place and stead to pronounce the Sentence of Pardon upon all true Penitents and bid them expect that what they regularly thus declare on Earth in his Soveraign Court in Heaven he will make good He breathed on them and said receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose soever Sins ye remit they are remitted and whose soever Sins ye retain they are retained Joh. 20. 22 23. And therefore when a true Penitent hears his Pardon solemnly pronounced by an Officer whom God has deputed and Commission'd for it he may quiet his heart as one whose case is judged and firmly hope God will pronounce the same at the last Judgment But this I say he must do only after true Repentance For 't is only the Ministry of Reconciliation saith St. Paul which God hath committed unto us 2 Cor. 5. 18. but the direction and ratification of it he has reserved to himself and then only ratifies what his Ministers do when they pronounce according to his own Rules and Orders So that if the Priest pronounce by mistake and absolve the impenitent God will judge right tho' he judge wrong and Condemn at last whom he had before erroneously absolved in his Judgment Quest. Christ says what they retain shall be retained as well as what they remit shall be remitted Ought not that to beget in all Christians a great dread of Excommunication and Reverence for Church-Censures Answ. Yes questionless when they proceed upon just Cause for then Christ will maintain the Honour of his Deputies and make good their sentence He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. If any Offender will not hear the Church let him be unto thee as an Heathen man and a Publican Mat. 18. 17. In these Acts what his Ministers do Regularly and according to his Direction they do it as representing him by vertue of his Commission and Authority which having given to be sure he will stand by And accordingly St. Paul and the Church-Governours at Corinth under him exercising their Power by virtue of Christ's Commission Declares that both in binding and relaxing or forgiving he acted with the Power and in the Person or place of Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. and 2 Cor. 2. 10. Quest. Do all Censures of the Church then where the Truth is on its side cut men off as from the Church which is his Body so from Jesus Christ who is the Head of it Answ. All those do which are passed for such sins or errors as are Damnable by