He came to Eve changing himselfe into a Serpent Satan being now falne from God grudged the happy estate that Adam was in and thought much that he should not be in the same condition with himselfe whereupon he tempted him Q. What was Eves answer A. Of any tree of the Garden we may cate but not of this lest peradventure we dye now he took advantage of this when she began to doubt of Gods providence Q. How else did they fall A. By their owne free will attending to and parlying with Satan in two respects 1. In a light esteeme of Gods command 2. In their delusion 1. Saying the fruit was good when God said the contrary 2. Hearkning to Satan who told them it would be the cause of their good and not evill when as God told them when they eate thereof they should dye the death Q. What is the third cause of their fall A. The holy and blessed Law of God may after a measure be said to have some influence therein Q. What came to Adam after this A. He was made guilty and lyable unto the Law and Curse Q. What followeth upon this guiltinesse A. Punishment Q. What was that A. Originall and actuall sinne Q. What is originall sinne A. A naturall depravation of the whole man Q. What is actuall sinne A. A transgression of the Law in the least particular Q. Why did God punish them so severely Ans 1. Because they sinned against an extraordinary Majesty loving Satan more then God 2. Because they broke all the Commandements at once which were included in these two Love the Lord with all thy heart and thy Neighbour as thy selfe Q. Did Adam this onely to himselfe A. No but to his posterity Q. How commeth it so A. We did then what ever hee did for we were in his loynes it was equall with God to appoint it so because that if he had done well we should have been saved now consequently it must follow that because he sinned we must also be punished Q. How did Adams sinne become ours A. By imputation Q. What is imputation A. That whereby the fault of one man is put upon another Q. How came we to have originall sinne A. By propagation in regard that Adam sent his nature into us and we become like him The third Principle Concerning redemption by Christ Quest WAs our Redemption necessary A. Yes because God determined an end of his Creation now man because fallen if he should be destroyed the end would be frustrate Secondly God had ordained the glorification of his mercy in man now had there been no Redemption where would the glory of his mercy appeare Thirdly the Elect fallen without this could have had no comfort Q. Who is this Redeemer A. Jesus Christ the second Person in the Trinity hee onely can subdue our enemies and satisfie his Fathers wrath Q. Wherefore was Christ the fittest person in the Trinity Ans 1. Because hee could most prevaile with God being his Son Secondly God being he who was fully offended it was not justice that he should pay himselfe Q. Why did Christ take the nature of man upon him A. 1. Because it was man that sinned Secondly there must be a suffering as well as a satisfaction Q. Did Christ take upon him the person or nature of man A. The nature onely for else there should have been two persons which cannot be Q. How did Christ take mans nature upon him A. The Holy Ghost sanctified it and then Christ took the same Q. What are those things observable in this nature A. His union and the manner of his conception Q. How is his union A. Inseparable for our nature could not be separated from him the eternall Sonne of God so tooke the nature of man that when it met with him it was not changed but remained the same forever Q. How was Christ conceived A. By the Holy Ghost who at this time and in this thing imitated the nature of man Q. Of whom was Christ conceived A. Of the Virgin Mary Q. Why had not Christ a Father as well as a Mother A. Then had he been lyable to sinne which was principally imputed to man Q. How did Christ suffer A. By his Death which was two-fold corporall and spirituall corporall whereby his body was separated from his soule and spirituall whereby hee was separated from God Q. What things are to be observed in the death of the soule Ans 1. The wrath of God and his anger against a man of which Christ tasted Secondly the consequences which are desperation and continuall punishments from which Christ was most free The fourth Principle A sinner of an humble and contrite spirit apprehends Christ by faith and so is justified and sanctified Here are two things 1. A preparation 2. The Benefit Quest WHat is contrition A. When a sinner is brought to such a sight of sinne that being enforced to feele the burthen thereof hee comes to bee sequestred from it Q. How many things are here considerable A. Three 1. A sinner must be brought to a sight of his sinne 2. Hee must bee enforced to feele it 3. He must come to be sequestred from it Q. Why doe you say Brought to a sight of his sinne A. Because of himselfe he neither will nor can see his sinne Q. What doe you meane by sight A. A cleare and convicting sight of sinne Q. What is it to have cleare sight of sinne A. When a man sees sinne as it is in its colours Q. What is it to see sinne convictingly A. When a sinner is perswaded in his conscience that that sinne which the Minister and the Word of God speakes of is his own sinne Q. What is meant by sinne A. In sinne there are two branches the evill of it and the punishment of it Q. Which is worse of these two A. The evill of sinne for 1. that which deprives a man of the chiefest good must needs be the greatest evill but sinne deprives the soule of God the chiefest good 2. We see Christ could suffer punishment but not be sinfull 3. And God is oft the Author of punishment but not of sinne Q. What is the second thing in the definition Answ Hee is inforced to feele it men would bee flying off from the meditation of this sinne Q. How may a man feele his sinne as he should doe Ans By meditation and application Q. How by meditation Answ 1. By considering what a GOD hee hath offended how great mercy abused and justice provoked not onely in time of ignorance but since wee knew him Secondly A serious meditation of the vile and filthy nature of sinne Q. How doth the vilenesse of sin appeare A. It separates us from Gods presence and procureth eternall misery Q. How by application Answ 1. By convincing the heart of its loathsome conditon 2. By dogging the heart when there is any occasion of sinne and still telling it of Gods judgement Q. Can any man of himselfe doe this A. No it
AN EXPOSITION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION BY THO HOOKER LONDON Printed for R. DAWLMAN 1645. AN EXPOSITION OF THE Principles of Religion The first Principle There is one God Creator and Governour of all things distinguished into three Persons Father Son and holy Ghost Here we must consider three things 1. That there is a God 2. His Works 3. That he is distinct Quest WHat is the reason that there is a God Answ 1. Because in every thing there is a first cause that is infinitenesse and power which cannot not be attributed to any creature 2. Inregard that all things were made for man man for an end which end must needs be God Q. But can we conceive of God as he is A. No because of the great distance between him and us for when a man looketh upon the Sun he cannot possibly endure it because that is so glorious and his eyes so feeble Q. How may we conceive of God Ans 1. Cast downe thy selfe before him confessing thy unfitnesse to draw nigh him 2. Look how he is set forth in his Word as a gracious glorious eternall being without any mixture of infirmity or disability Man hath with power weaknesse with mercy cruelty God hath not so 3. Goe into the world and view the height of its glory and then conclude If the Creature be thus excellent what must the Creator be Q. What is God A. A Spirit that hath life and being of himselfe Q. What is a Spirit A. It is the finest and subtilest subsistence that can be Q. Why bad God rather be a Spirit then a Creature Ans 1. Because that is the most pure and excellent essence 2. There is a great difference between God and us wee have a fleshly part he is all spirituall we borrow our being but God hath life of himselfe and gives being to every thing 3. That he is an infinite and Almighty God the sole Creator and Governour of all things Q. What is it to create A. To make something of nothing Q. Wherein doe Mans works and Gods differ Ans 1. Man must have something to work upon God needeth not any thing a word of his mouth is sufficient 2. Man is subject to be weary but GOD cannot Q. What is meant by Government A. A seasonable succouring and guiding of the Creature Such is the weaknesse of poore mortals that as they were first made of nothing so unlesse God upholds them they will soon resolve to their first nothingnesse Q. What are the particulars of this Government A. Two First Sustentation Secondly Direction Q. What is Sustentation A. The good providence of God whereby he protects and provides for his people Q. What is Direction H. A power of the Lord whereby he orders every thing to its right end Q. How doth he direct the creature to its end Ans 1. God gives them direction wherby to work and puts forth their ability into action Q. What may we learn from hence Ans 1. Comfort to the Saints seeing God is so great a Creator and powerfull a Governour there is no people under heaven that worship any other God are so blessed as they are Among the Gods there is none like unto thee O Lord neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 86.8 2. This should teach us to mind Gods dealing with us in every passage of our lives and to stand in awe of his Majesty Q. How is God distinguished A. Into three Persons Q. What is meant by a Person A. A Person is a manner of Divine being Q. Why doe you say a being A. Because the Deity and the Person is all one Q. Why doe you say a manner A. Because there be divers turnings that the God-head puts upon it selfe Q. How A. The God-head is full of wisdome and understanding Now the Fathers understanding casts it back againe upon himselfe for if he had understanding before the world then there must needs be somewhat to be understood but there was none but himself therefore he casts it back upon himself 2. This being understood is the Son the wisdome of the Father and the third Person being willed is the Spirit who notwithstanding are all one As long as a man teacheth he is a Master but when he is taught he is a Scholar practice comes from teaching after a man is taught hee becomes a practicioner here now be divers behaviours yet all but one man As a Sun beame falling upon a wall casts back its heat so doth the Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son Quest What is that which is common to all the Persons A. The God-head is common to them all and whatever is proper to the God-head is proper to all the rest with this difference in regard of the particular relation that every one of them hath the Fathers property being to beget the Son to be begotten and the Spirit to proceed none of them exceeding the other in time but in order onely The second Principle Man wholly corrupted by Adams fall became a slave of Sathan and heire of Damnation Quest HOw must we conceive of Adams fall A. Look into the height of happinesse he once enjoyed and the depth of misery his sin produced Q. Were any else in this estate A. No. Q. How then came all creatures to have their being A. The stamps of Gods Attributes were no farther upon them then to put vertues into every one Q. Where may we conceive this vertue consisteth A. In the soule and body of man Q. How in his soule Answ 1. In the understanding Adam by that was full of knowledge and capable of Gods will Secondly in the will consisting in holinesse and righteousnesse God putting an aptnesse into Adam to love him above all and his Neighbour as himselfe Q. How is Gods Image seen in the affections of men A. In regard of that sweet Harmony and agreement which the affection hath with the will Quest How is Gods Image seene in the parts of the body Answ When they are subject to the reasonable will and understanding in such things as God commands Quest What is the Covenant God made with Adam Ans That which was of works was Doe this and live by living is meant a promise which God made unto Adam that if hee kept Gods Commandements he would preserve him for ever Quest Had onely Adam this Answ It reacheth not to him onely but to the good of all his posterity Q. What are the signes of this Covenant A. 1. The Tree of life which was a sign and scale whereby God assured Adam as sure as he saw the Tree if he obeyed his command he should live for ever 2. The tree of knowledge which perswaded him that if he obeyed God hee should certainly know good and evill Qu. Did Adam fall from this estate A. Yes by the allurement of Satan in 3. respects 1. By propounding his temptations unto him 2. In pursuing of him 3. In obtaining his desire Q. How by propounding A.
them out of the dust for it is lesser to repaire a thing of the matter that it is made of then to make a thing of nothing Q. But is there no change in regard of substance A. Onely this The qualities conditions of the body shall be altered the body shall be incorruptible immortall whereas here we are subject to death and diseases Secondly the body shall bee spirituall that is there shall be no dependance upon any outward comforts Here we must use meat and drink for preservation of our lives but there shall be no need of them The Sadduces told Christ Such an one had seven brethren and they all married one woman one after another now say they In the Resurrection whose shall this wise be and Christ said to them Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures for in heaven they neither cate nor drinke marrie nor give in marriage but are as the Angels they need no meat nor apparel So the godly shall be there 3. All imperfections and weaknesses shall then be taken away If a man dyes sick he shall be whole when he rises againe If a man be lame or if he were born blind or if one dyed being a child all these shall be taken away then Object But it seemes it shall not be the same body for if a man shall have every limbe and be perfect in every part how can these things stand together Ans There is nothing added to the substance of the body but only changed and increased it is in the nature of many things to increase when as nothing is added unto them As may be observed in an Onyon take a great Onyon and hang it up in the house and it will grow bigger and bigger what is the cause of it not because any thing is added but because it spreads it selfe further so then there shall be no new body but the same substance enlarged and increased Q. But how comes it to passe that there shall be a change A. By the immediate and immutuable assistance of Gods upholding and supporting the body Q. What change shall there be of the soule A. The wicked shall be changed frō evil to worse there is sin in thē here but there is some restraining grace either feare or profit prevails with them now and keeps them from sin but there shall be no restraining grace at all but al sin then 2. There Gods wrath shall be powred in a fuller measure then now 1. But the godly soules shall be freed from all finne and corruption that is now in them 2. They shall have eternall life and possesse God himselfe as it were fully Vse How should this stirre us up to thirst after the day of our resurrection I here we have sin and cannot doe good but there all sinne shall be taken away It should comfort Gods servants though it fare ill with them in this life yet they shall be freed from all afflictions and miseries one day Paul saith If a Christians hope were in this life onely he were of all men most miserable for who are pursued who are hated more then they Now come we to speake of the last judgement wherein observe 1. There must be a day of judgment 2. The persons that must come to judgement 3. The manner of judgement 4. Who shall proceed therein 1. It is called the day of judgement as the time of the Gospell is the day of salvation and the time of affliction the day of visitation So here the particular time God hath appointed to judge all men is called the day of judgement It is called also the last day because it shall be the last and all others prepare to this It is also called the Generall judgement then all shall be judged even those that judge others here Q. Why is it necessary there must be a judgement it seems there need not be a judgement for the godly are now acquitted and wicked men are condemned already in their own consciences that flie in their faces why therefore must there be a judgment A. God doth it for these two reasons 1. That his glory might he more manifest even the glory of his justice for what a great glory is it which all shall confesse even the devils and damned that God is just in all his proceedings against them 2. That Christs glory might be made manifest here he was judged but then hee shall be Judge Q. When shall the day of judgement come what shall be the time of it A. For the particular time no man knowes onely we must conceive thus much 1. That Antichrist must bee destroyed before 2. The Jewes must imbrace the truth and both Iewes and Gentiles must professe the truth after this there must be an universall declining as Christ saith As it was in the daies of Noah so now at Christs comming there shall be a wonderfull and fearefull declining then it will be time for God to come Q. What use may we make of this A. It is a ground of patience to the godly let the wicked judge as they will there will be another judgement saith Paul I passe not to be judged of you So we when wee are wronged and trod upon should lift up our eyes and call to mind the last judgement then our causes shall be heard and we shall be righted Q. Who must be judged A. Every man high and low rich or poore all are lyable 1. God that created every man and hath given them severall talents may justly call them to an account for the same 2. God is only wise knowing how to do it and able to bring all men to judgement how should this awe us from sin as God saith Rejoice and take thy pleasure but remember for all these things thou shalt come to judgement Q. But for what shall we be called to an account A. The Apostle Paul saith for what ever is done in the flesh Those that dishonour God hee will punish and those which honor him he will recompence Q. By what rule must every one be judged A. By the Law not by the Gospel because all men have the Law given them Rom. 1. 24. the Law is engraven in our hearts that wee may be without excuse but every one hath not heard the Gospel many Nations and people have not heard of Christ therefore they can make their plea when God shal say Why did you not belceve in Christ and the Gospel Why Lord say they we never heard of Christ 2. This judgement will be cleare and open When as wicked men shall be condemned by their works God can then say Have you not done thus and thus committed these and these sinnes Have I not seen you As Elisha said to his servant Gehasi Hath not my heart gone with thee So God may say Did not I see you do such a thing Then will hypocrites be made known Gods justice will much appeare when the ungodly shall see their own wayes have ruined them Object If this be so then