State of Sin and Misery and to bring them into an Estate of Salvation by a Redeemer 3. Plead that the Eternal Son of God became Man c. that he offered up himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice to reconcile us Sinners to God that that Satisfaction is accepted by the Father and that he maketh continual Intercession for all that come unto him heavy laden and weary 4. Seeing that God was graciously moved of his own good Pleasure to contrive the Redemption of Sinners by his Son Christ and seeing that Jesus Christ had given Satisfaction to the Divine Justice and finished his Work and seeing it is the Office of the Holy Spirit to apply the benefits of Redemption to miserable Sinners in the Work of Effectual Calling be instant with him that he would be pleased to convince thee of thy Sin and Misery and to enlighten thee in the Knowledge of Christ and renew thy Will and to perswade and enable thee to embrace Jesus Christ who is freely and as he is freely offered to thee in the Gospel Beg earnestly to be taken into the Covenant of Grace and to be taken into the number of Elect Children 5. Be not sparing to insist upon this that Jesus Christ with all the Benefits of Redemption is freely offered to thee as well as others being offered to all in the Gospel and therefore though thou art unworthy plead the Freeness of the Grace offered and urge that thou mayest have a Share and Portion in that free Grant and that thou dost come to declare thy Acceptance of it CHAP. III. Directions for the worthy Receiver to examine and prepare himself to receive the Lord's Supper section 1 IT followeth now that I direct and assist you to the worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper To this End you must keep in Memory and have in your Eye three Points of your Catechism 1. What a Sacrament is 2. What the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is 3. What is required of the worthy Receivers of it See those Answers section 2 Quest What do you understand by Worthy Receiving Answ Not that any of us can be worthy of it but that we must be fitted and prepared for it and so worthy for it when we come in a manner suitable to it and rightly disposed It doth not signifie Merit and Desert but Disposedness Fitness Suitableness and Preparation according to the Rule of the Gospel and the Institution of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.24 to ver 30. section 3 For your better Instruction three things must be resolved 1. What is to be done by worthy Receivers before they come 2. What in the time of Receiving and communicating 3. What is to be done afterwards For the first of these your Catechism shews you It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper that they examine themselves of their Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body c. Quest To examine your selves What 's that Answ To put your selves to it as the common Phrase is to demand and urge to know whether you have Knowledge to discern the Lords Body and Faith to feed upon him c. It is to enquire in general into your spiritual State what manner of Christians you are and in particular to know how you are disposed towards Christ in this Ordinance and to know this by Search and Trial not resting in Guesses and Presumption The Graces and Dispositions of Soul which you are to examine in order to your Eating and Drinking worthily are five 1. Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body 2. Faith. 3. Repentance 4. Love. 5. New Obedience section 1 I begin with Knowledge to discern the Lord's Body Quest What is it to discern the Lord's Body Answ For your understanding of this keep in your Mind the Notion of a Sacrament remember what this Sacrament is Yet to help you herein observe the Elements or outward Matter of the Sacrament and what they the Bread and Wine broken poured out given and received eaten and drunken signifie betoken or stand for You see plainly Bread and Wine but observe the Actions of the Minister 1. He blesseth that is he prayeth and setteth them a part according to Divine Appointment 2. He breaketh the Bread and poureth out the Wine which doth represent and bring to your Mind the Death of Jesus Christ as shedding his Blood even to Death to satisfie Divine Justice c. Col. 3.4 And know that he who gave his Life a Ransom for many for so doing he is the Life of them that believe 1 Joh. 5.12 and therefore he that hath the Son hath Life 3. Observe the Bread and Wine thus blessed broken and poured forth are given to you by the Hand of the appointed Officer denoting that God doth exhibit offer and give to every faithful Soul his crucified Son with all his Benefits for Life and Nourishment And Lastly As an hungry Man receiveth Food eateth and drinketh for the Maintenance of his Life which is maintained when the Food which he eateth is digested by him so also when you take eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ by Faith you are united to him spiritually which Union is signified by taking eating and drinking the Bread and Wine and receive spiritual Life Nourishment and Growth in Grace Now therefore if you discern the Lord's Body you do sensibly perceive that what is given and received eaten and drunken is not the same natural Body and Blood of Christ crucified and shed at Jerusalem and now in Glory You know by your Senses that it is truly and substantially Bread and Wine Yet Secondly you observe that though this Bread and Wine be the same for kind with other common Bread and Wine yet it is not common Bread and Wine in the Use and End of it but you see it broken blessed given taken and eaten as betokening the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which was offered as a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and is now offered and given to you of God with all the Benefits of the New Covenant which is confirmed by that precious Blood. So then you see the Bread and Wine but discern the Body and Blood of Christ signified and represented by them When you see the Bread and Wine so blessed to this blessed End you must believe and know that the Redeemer and all his Benefits are communicated to you Examine now your Knowledge 1. That it is Bread and Wine 2. The Actions Sacramental and what they signifie 3. The Use and End for which they are applied Say then Here are Bread and Wine the Signs of that blessed Body and Blood which were given for Sin. And because it is not common Bread and Wine they should not eat and drink it in a common manner but worthily i. e. in a manner befitting so great a Mystery 2. Trial of Faith. The second Grace about which you must examine your selves is Faith Search and enquire whether you have it in you
and brought over to my earnest Request to be constant Communicants but not ignorant unprepared and unreformed 1. I beseech you to consider the great and gracious Condescention of the most high and holy God to reveal to you the great Mystery of Redemption by his beloved Son and to make it plain and to confirm weak Faith to represent it by sensible Signs The Bread and Wine admonish you of the Necessity of Christ without whom you cannot live and of the Benefit of Christ whose Effect is spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace You have need of this plain way of Information by sensible Signs God stoops very low therein neglect it not What an Advantage is this to be doubly taught by the Word and by teaching Signs 2. Consider once again what is conveyed to your Souls by these visible Signs 1. Jesus Christ as dying yea as dead in our stead for our Sins to satisfie for them to reconcile us to God and to procure Forgiveness of Sins and that his Death was effectual for these great Purposes because we shew forth the Death of Christ by which all heavenly Blessings are become Legacies in the New Testament 2. Is it not profitable for you to see Jesus Christ and all the Benefits of Redemption set before you That God with-holds nothing from you if you will receive Christ but sets him and all things with him before your Eyes invites you to take him and all his Benefits He offers him yea gives yea seals the Gift of Righteousness and Life to make it sure to you for ever if you will but take and receive as he hath appointed you And what can be more to you than Jesus Christ and the Purchace of his most precious Blood Are the Forgiveness of Sins Reconciliation Adoption Supplies of all Grace the Promises which are exceeding great and precious such vile and common things that you will not have them though for coming for Have you no need of Christ or no need of receiving him in this Ordinance Surely if he enjoined it to them who had been trained up in his Doctrine known his Life seen his Miracles how gracious is God to us in appointing us such an Help who have more need of such repeated Confirmations of his Grace Can you do as well without Or what need you care to have your Graces strengthned or Forgiveness sealed Can you be so unthankful and cold in your Love as to neglect to remember him in a Way of his own Appointment Or would you be so careless to have the Act of Oblivion sealed by the Great Seal and to be sure of Life Or are you so rich that you can be without a part in the Everlasting Covenant Is he a Child of God that never enquires for the Legacy bequeathed by Will What is this but the New Testament confirmed by the Death of the Testator section 5 2. You are invited nay required to come by one who must not be despised a great King. This Charge This do in remembrance of me was given by the Lord in the same Night wherein he was betrayed That which you are invited to is with greatest Earnestness to be desired You will certainly die for ever without Christ Come Soul take me and live saith Christ Whosoever will let him come And will you not come Can neither the Authority of God nor his Love nor the last Charge of a dying Saviour prevail with you Oh! will you not observe his Charge which was given in the same Night wherein he was betrayed When he was ready to sacrifice his Body and Blood for your Sins When he was ready to drink the bitter Cup of God's Wrath appointed to be drunk by Infinite Justice When he was ready to shed his Blood for the Remission of Sin and to make the Covenant of Grace of force by his Death So that thereby all the Children might come in for their Portions and Share because the Testator being dead the Legacies became due to all that claim them Will none of these things move you but rather let all be lost than you trouble your selves to examine your selves to repent of Sin and embrace Christ or to shake off your damning Security and spiritual Sloth The Lord rebuke you in Mercy that you may be saved section 6 3. Doth the offended God declare that he is well pleased with the Death of his Son Doth the Lord Jesus Christ shew forth his own Death for Sin to redeem your Souls Do not you hear him say Thus was my Body broken thus was my Blood shed thus my Hands and my Feet and my Sides were wounded Thus I gave up the Ghost for you And upon this that Christ died a Proclamation is made to all that have any thing to accuse the Soul of Rom. 8.33 Who can lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is Christ that died And to all Sinners that are cast in Law that cannot deny nor mitigate their Offences nor bear the Sentence much less endure Damnation by that Sentence I say to all Sinners notice is given 1 Joh. 1.2 If any Man sin there is an Advocate with the Father who is also the Propitiation for our Sin. O Sinner wilt not thou come to see this Death shewed forth Soul what hast thou to shew or plead wherefore the Sentence of Eternal Death should not be pronounced against thee but this Hast not thou sinned against the infinite God Doth not thy Conscience accuse judge and condemn thee according to the Law which thou hast transgressed What canst thou say for thy self If thou offer to plead any thing of thine own either good Intentions Desires Purposes Works or any Circumstances to extenuate and pare off the grossness of thy Sin thy Conscience except the Ignorant and Erroneous like an upright Judge well learned in the Law and Gospel must needs stop thy Mouth over-rule all thy Pleas and tell thee that without shedding of Blood there is no Remission of Sin and that no Blood but the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without Spot can cleanse thee from thy Sin. Wilt not thou therefore cast thy self upon the free Grace of God reconciled and satisfied with the Death of his dear Son And wilt thou not come to that Ordinance which he commanded his People to the End of the World to observe in which his Death is shewed forth and there shew him to God as the Death of thy Mediator who hath made Peace and taken away Sin And shew him also to all thy Adversaries and Accusers Lo all you that seek my Soul to destroy it This is he who gave his Life a Ransom for me He hath fulfilled the Law satisfied the Divine Justice What have you to say against me Against all your Accusations this I plead and alledge that Christ died and overcame Death and that he died for me And be it known to all Infidels and Blasphemers that the crucified Christ is my Lord and Saviour Into him I
lust and inticed V. 15. Then when lust hath conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Matth. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murthers adulteries fornications thefts false-witnesses blasphemies it 23. Q. What is the misery of that Estate whereinto Man fell A. All Mankind by their Fall lost Communion with (i) Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden V. 10. And he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self V. 24. So he drove out the man and he placed at the end of the garden of Eden Cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life God are under his Wrath and (k) Ephes 2.2,3 see before Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the work of the law are under the Curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the law to do them Curse and so made liable to all miseries in this Life to Death it self and to the pains of Hell for (l) Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth the living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Matth. 25.41 Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels V. 46. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal ever 24. But all Mankind were not left to perish in the state of Sin and Misery For 25. Q. Did God leave all Mankind to perish in the state of Sin and Misery A. God having out of his meer good pleasure from all Eternity elected some to everlasting (m) Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love Life did enter into a Covenant of Grace to deliver them out of the state of Sin and misery and to bring them into an estate of Salvation by a (n) Rom. 3.21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets V. 22. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference Gal. 3.21 Is the law then against the promises God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law V. 22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Redeemer 26. Q. Who is the Redeemer of God's Elect A. The only Redeemer of God's Elect is the Lord Jesus (o) 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus V. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time Christ who being the Eternal Son of God became (p) Joh. 1.14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth Gal. 4.4 But when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law. Man and so was and continueth to be God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for (q) Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Luke 1.35 And the Angel answered and said unto her The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore also the holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Col. 2 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Heb. 7.24 But this Man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood V. 25. Wherefore he is able to save them to the utmost that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them ever 27. Q. How did Christ being the Son of God become Man. A. Christ the Eternal Son of God became Man by taking to himself a true (r) Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the Devil V. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 10.5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me Body and a reasonable (Å¿) Matth. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death tarry you here and watch with me Soul being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mary and born of (t) Luke 1.31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus V. 35. see before V. 42. And she spake out with a loud voice and said Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Gal. 4.4 see before her yet without (u) Heb. 4.15 For we have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Heb. 7.26 For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens Sin. 28. Q. What Offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Offices (x) Acts 3.22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Compared with 2 Cor. 13.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you-ward is not weak but is mighty in you Luke 4.18 The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised of a Prophet (y) Heb. 5.5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that
and Righteous he had not been fit for dominion 2. The Image of God was most upon Mans Soul which was breathed into his Body after his Body was created Gen. 2.7 and therefore the Soul is of a Nature and Substance different from the Body Spirits and Flesh are opposed therefore not the same Heb. 12.9 The Soul is Spiritual and Immortal 3. The Soul had not been the Soul of Man in the state of Creation if it had not been Wise and Holy therefore the Image of God which is supernatural to us now had been natural and was so by grace in that State. Man was then Holy as naturally as he was rational 4. Man was not Created in a state of meer indifferency to good and evil for he was Created after the Image of God which carried him towards God alone but he was not fixed and confirmed against all temptation to Sin. 5. Man was not Created a mortal dying Man. He knew nothing of Death till he was threatned and felt no signs of it till he had sinned His Life and Happiness were only forfeitable upon supposition of Sin therefore tho' his Body was made of Earth and so corruptible yet if he had not finned he had not died Death was not the condition of his nature but the punishment of his Sin Gen. 2.17 chap. 3.19 Rom. 5.12 chap. 6.23 chap. 8.10 SECT VI. God's Providence 1. VVIthout a preserving and governing Providence the World had fallen into ruine or confusion The wise and mighty of the World have cause to acknowledge the Soveraignty of it How often are their policies and methods broken and themselves cut off before their works are sinished 2. Nothing is too great and nothing too mean for Divine Providence for high and low great and small are his Creatures 3. It extends to all things Nothing is more free and secret than our thoughts yet Ps 139.2 Prov. 21.1 more contingent than a lot yet Prov. 16.33 or more voluntary than the works of Man yet Ps 33.13,14,15 nothing more inconsiderable than the lighting of a poor sparrow yet Mat. 10.29,30,31 Luke 12.6 What is Man yet Ps 8.4 Ps 144.4 There is a set time to be born and an appointed time upon Earth Job 7.1 chap. 5.26 Ps 91.16 Uncertain Life is shortned or prolong'd by means good means by Gods ordination evil by his just permission All men die in judgment or in mercy therefore as there is a providence in raising up one and putting down another so there is in the Life and Death of good and evil Men. SECT VII Of the Covenant of God with Adam 1. A Covenant is a solemn contract or agreement between parties The parties in this Covenant were God the soveraign and Man the subject bound to whatsoever God required 2. The substance of the Covenant is in Gen. 2.17 Adam's being in possession of happiness to be continued until he sinned was equivalent to a promise which is implied also in the threatning Adam's consent was enough to make it a Covenant on his part as it was on Israels part Exod. 19.8 He knew what he did and actually consented or else he had sinned before he did eat and he knew it would be for his good and being already so happy he was oblig'd to consent The Covenant was solemnized by a sign the Tree of Life and was known to Satan Gen. 3.1 and to the Woman ver 2,3 SECT VIII Of Adam's first Sin. THere was a declining of Heart from God before the fruit was eaten how else could the Woman be so senseless of the Serpents contradicting of Gods word how could Adam be so sleepy as to eat without reproof or reluctancy The Sin was unconceivably heinous Man believed Satan against God changed his highest end turned from God to the Creature that upon the Devils word he might abuse the Creature to become as God. He brake Covenant and all the Bonds of Duty Gratitude and Love he sinned against a known prohibition and despised both the threatning of Death and the promise of Life All mankind fell by Adam's Sin. Adam was in a condition to covenant with God for he had perfect knowledge of what he did It was not necessary that all mankind should be personally present which could not be because they were to be propagated by generation And if they had been present they had not been wiser than he nor more obliged to stand 2. All mankind were contained in him and represented by him as a common Person and Parent and as a Covenanter for himself and all his Posterity 3. All mankind were concluded by him as well as included in him Rom. 5.12 Death is a Punishment Punishment presupposeth Sin and Sin a Law. The Punishment is general so was the Law. When did all men Sin in Adam's Sin Rom. 5.19 Infants die who sinned not actually in their own Persons ver 14. therefore Death doth not pass upon all for actual personal Sin yet for Sin therefore for that Sin which was the Sin of all Men in effect as included in him 4. The Man Christ Jesus is only free from Sin for he was not Man by ordinary Generation nor included in that first Covenant but is the second Adam and head in another Covenant 5. The Blessed Virgin was not free from Original guilt and pollution None but Christ was If she had been she had been as Holy as he yea her Parents had been also without Sin and so it had been no privilege to her But they were unclean Job 14.1 and so was she because born of unclean Parents She confessed Christ her Saviour Luke 1.47 and died therefore she was a Sinner Rom. 5.12 SECT IX Of Original Sin why so called ORiginal Sin is so called because it was the first Sin derived from the beginning and because it is the spring and Original of actual Sin in us Wherein it consisteth Original Sin consisteth 1. in the guilt of Adam's first Sin. That Sin which brought Death upon Adam as a punishment brought it so also upon us Rom. 5.12 His other actual Sins are not imputed to us for he stood no longer in the publick capacity of a Head and Covenanter 2. In the want of Original righteousness Adam lost it for himself and for his Posterity also By entertaining the temptation to eat and the first motion to Sin he gave place to evil and so he lost what he had and coveting once what was forbidden he afterwards coveted more evil and Satan followed him with temptations to sin more The want of righteousness was his Sin and Punishment also And it is a Sin in mankind and Punishment upon us still The want of it is a Sin in us for we are bound to love God with all the heart which we cannot do for want of it And it is a Punishment upon us and God is not bound to restore the righteousness and take off the punishment 3. In the corruption of our whole nature All the powers of our Souls are corrupted as well as
What he was before he took the Nature of Man and who he was see before ver 9 c. 2. He took a true Body and reasonable Soul compleat humane Nature 1. A Body Heb. 10.5 The words inform us of a Covenant between the Father and the Son as two distinct Persons and what each one was to do As the Father was in Being before this Body was prepared so was the Son before he came to do his Will in that Body and so was the Holy Ghost by whom this Body was conceived The Father was to prepare a Body for his Son which was prepared by the Holy Ghost and assumed by the Son. 3. This Body was a true Body not a phantasm or a Celestial Body passing through the Body of the Virgin like lightning through the Air or Water through a Chanel but a substantial humane Body with Flesh and Blood for Sacrifice Heb. 10.10 Heb. 2.14 Luke 24.39 4. There was a reasonable Soul in this Body the Divine Nature was not instead of a Soul to him he had a true reasonable Soul Understanding Luke 2.4 Willing chap. 22.42 Sorrowing Mat. 26.38 and so he was a Man approved of God Acts 2.22 the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 He was conceived by the Holy Ghost 1. The Conception of the Holy thing was wonderful 1. In respect of the cause the Holy Ghost 2. In respect of the Mother a Virgin 3. In respect of the purity without Sin. 4. in respect of the ends of it both immediate and remote 2. The Operation of the Holy Ghost with the concurrence of the Father and the Son was his forming or creating the Body of Christ of her Blood or natural matter in her Womb. That which is conceived in Her Mat. 1.20 He was made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 The Operation of the Holy Ghost was not upon the Divine Nature or Person of the Son but altogether upon the Virgins Womb causing her to conceive a true substantial Body with a Soul created in it and both prepared for Union with the second Person who took the humane Nature so Conceived into personal Union with himself That which this nature received from the Son was personality or to be one Person with him The Holy Virgin was active and passive in this Conception Thou shalt Conceive in thy Womb c Luke 1.31 and that which is Conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Mat. 1.20 3. Yet the relation continued between the Father and the Son the Son was the Son of the Father and not of the Holy Ghost 4. The manner of this Conception is so express'd as to denote a mighty secret Operation of the Holy Ghost upon the Virgin. See Luke 1.35 like the influence of the Spirit in the first Creation Gen. 1.2 or alluding to Ruth 3.9 He was Born c. 1. After the Virgin had miraculously Conceived she grew with Child Luke 2.5 was found with Child Mat. 1.18 and at full time was Born of her Luke 1.35 chap. 2.7 Mat. 2.1 Certain signs of the reality of the humane Nature that Mary was a Natural Mother tho not in a natural way and not a Spiritual Mother by Faith that the Body came not down from Heaven or was made out of the Womb and not formed in her Womb of her Nature and Substance as some have imagined He is said to come down from Heaven as God condescending to be our Mediator and as Mediator in respect of his Mission and Authority And why Our Mediator is God and Man in one Person that he might be a middle person and so mediate between God and Man he was Man that he might obey and die that the promises made to Adam Abraham David might be fulfilled Gen. 3.15 Gal. 3.16 Acts 2.30 Rom. 1.4 and with respect to all the Children Heb. 2.14 He must be Born without Sin a Holy thing that he might be a Priest and Sacrifice He was God-Man that he might satisfy and merit by his obedience and sufferings SECT XIII Of the Prophetical Office of Christ 1. OUr Saviour declared the Father 1. as the Brightness of his Glory Heb. 1.3 Joh. 14.9 2. As a Prophet foretold Acts 3.24,25,26 2. This great Prophet teacheth outwardly by his word and Ministers and inwardly by his Spirit and this is effectual to Salvation Christ both preached and gave repentance which is Gods prerogative See Acts 3.26 2. Tim. 2.25 He at once opened the Heart and the Scriptures Luke 24.32,45 He so Preached as to heal the broken in Heart c. which are Works proper to God Luke 4.18 Ps 146.7 Ps 147.3 3. Christ as Mediator doth act in subordination to his Father yet not as if he were but Man only instructed by God and to that end taken up to Heaven in the space of the forty days temptation to receive Revelations from him nor as if he were but God only by deputation as they say He is a Prophet as God-Man Joh. 1.18 The only begotten Son hath declared him Even while he was upon Earth as Man he was in the Bosom of the Father as God as one essentially with him and intimate in all his thoughts He was greater than John Baptist who was greater than the Prophets he was full of grace therefore God Joh. 1.15 1 Pet. 5.10 4. He is a Prophet still for the Gospel is his Gospel Rom. 1.16 and ver 9. He by his Spirit enlightneth our Minds Ephes 1.17 and so the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim 3.15 5. Christ is not only the Mediator of the New Testament because he declares or makes the Covenant in the Name of God Heb. 8.6 He as a Prophet or an Apostle and Embassador doth deal with Men teaching and perswading them but so that he is also the High-Priest of our profession or Covenant-agreement with God and so he is a surety of the Covenant engaging himself to make good Gods promises to us and our obligations to God Heb. 7.22 He acteth between both for both 6. As a Prophet he was sent of God and was known by this Title or Periphrasis He that was to come Luke 7.19,20 And two things are to be noted of him 1. His quality as the Son of God Joh. 3.17,18 and as related to Man as the Son of Man and so he received the Spirit not by measure Joh. 3.34 It abode upon him 2. His Mission or Sending with command to honour him Joh. 3.17 chap. 5.24 As God he could not come nor descend but he who was God came His Original was from Heaven as God and he was in Heaven as God and his Commission and Authority to do the Office of a Mediator was from Heaven or from God Joh. 7.29 chap. 8.42 chap. 3.34 He could not be in Heaven as Man while he was upon Earth nor till he ascended His coming and descending denotes to us 1. The condescention 2. The Authority and Commission of Christ SECT XIV Of Christ's Priestly Office. 1. CHrist is truly and properly a
Priest and not Metaphorically as if he only did something like a Priest He answers the description of a Priest made Heb. 8.3 more fully chap. 5.1 We have him described in the fitness of his Person to be a Priest as holy harmless c Heb. 7.26 by the order of his Priesthood Heb. 6.20 and by his call to his Office Heb. 5.4,5,6 He had a true real Sacrifice to Offer for Men for the Sins of Men Heb. 8.3 He offer'd himself Heb. 9.14 Heb. 5.7 chap. 9.14 chap. 10.12 chap. 9.26 and entred into the Holy place of Heaven to make Intercession Heb. 7.25 He excelled all legal Priests and is as truly a Priest as ever any Priest was 2. The Sacrifice which he offered was a real proper Sacrifice See again Heb. 9.14 and Ephes 5.2 This Text is grossly perverted to this sence That the help and kindness shewed to Men by the Death of Christ was as pleasing to God as if it had been a Sacrifice acceptable to him But in the words observe 1. Christ had power to dispose of himself and accordingly he gave himself there was neither violence nor injury done him His Death was violent from Men but voluntary of himself Not my will but thy will be done 2. He gave himself for us as the Beasts were sacrificed for Men for their Sin under the Law. 3. The nature of his Gift he gave himself a Sacrifice and Offering to God. 4. He gave himself an Offering and Sacrifice to God who required it 5. He gave himself for a sweet smelling savour as Gen. 8.21 Levit. 1.9 It was offered to make atonement and God was satisfied and well pleased with it 3. The Excellency Essicacy and All-sufficiency of his Blood his Life his Death as a Sacrifice appears 1. It was but one Sacrifice for Sins Heb. 10.12 2. It was offer'd but once Heb. 9.25,26,28 This offering was suffering thereby to put away Sin in its Guilt and Obligation to Punishment Heb. 9.26 4. The end of this Sacrifice was 1. To satisfy Divine justice and 2. To reconcile us to God. To explain and prove this consider 1. God is essentially Holy and Just he hateth Sin and Sin deserveth it See Ps 11.7 Ps 45.8 Rom. 1.31 2 Thes 1.6 It is a righteous thing with God c. 2. As God may make a Law so he may threaten to punish and punish according to his threatning and righteous Law. 3. God did both and Man sinned and by Sin became liable to punishment 4. Such was the Wisdom of God in making a positive Law which might be relaxed and the punishment transferred upon another who might satisfy by bearing the punishment 5. Yet God stood upon this that his essential and governing Justice should be satissied and that the Satisfier should die So it was agreed in the Covenant of Redemption between the Father and the Son Is 53.10 See the place What God required the Mediator performed Mark 1. The Guilty Sinner could not satisfy by suffering Death 2. The Mediator must be God-Man that he might suffer satisfy merit and save the Sinner 3. Christ did voluntarily engage as a surety to die and satisfy 4. The Death he suffered was the punishment of Sin the curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 5. He was made a Curse for us in our stead and for our good to redeem us that were under the Law Gal. 3.13 6. God had respect to his justice in the Blood of his Son Rom. 3.25,26 that he might be just 7. This Blood and Death was the Price of our Redemption which was sufficient and a satisfaction it was given to God and accepted of him Ephes 5.2 8. The benesit follows which is Redemption in a proper sence 1 Tim. 2.6 Rom. 3.24 Ephes 1.7 And there are two great proofs of this perfect satisfaction 1. Because Christ rose from the Dead 2. They who believe in him are justified Rom. 4.25 Rom. 3.25,26 2. The other end of Christ's Priesthood and Sacrifice was to reconcile us to God. Christ died to atone or appease the Holy and just indignation of God. His Blood is the propitiation for our Sin Rom. 3.25 and when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Rom. 5.10 He is the propitiatory Sacrifice for Sin and propitiation was the effect of it 1 Joh. 2.2 The propitiatory or Mercy-Seat in the Temple did not reconcile Sinners to God but it was a type of Christ the true propitiatory and a sign that God was reconciled and propitious or gracious but Christ did reconcile Sinners by his Death as he intended Hee 2.17 and God hath so set him forth Rom. 3.25 and declares himself to be truly and properly reconciled 3. We are actually reconciled to God when we believe in Christ and are converted but our conversion is not our reconciliation Christ by making atonement made way for our conversion and reception upon repentance The reconciling of Sinners is the Work of Christ the conversion of Sinners is the Work of the Spirit There are two parts of the Priestly office of Christ 1. Satisfaction by Sacrifice 2. Intercession upon satisfaction or Redemption His Intercession is a part and but a part of his Priesthood Heb. 7.25 He had a Body and Soul for Sacrifice Heb. 10.9,10 He offered himself upon Earth Heb. 9.12,14 and purged away Sin by expiation Heb. 1.3 chap. 10,12 His Death was a Sacrifice for Sins and not a preparation for Sacrifice or a way to his Resurrection The suffering part he finished upon Earth and began his Intercession upon Earth John 17. and at other times and continueth it in Heaven and his Intercession doth presuppose his propitiation 1 Joh 2.1,2 The reason why he could not be a Priest upon Earth was not because he was not properly a Priest or had no Sacrifice upon Earth to offer but because he was not of the order of Aaron but of Melchisedeck Heb. 8.4 Upon what is said of the Priesthoodâ— Sacrifice and Satisfaction of Christ it follows 1. The Sacrifice of the Mass is false and sinful for 1. Because none ever did or could offer Christ but himself He is a Priest for ever and there is none of his order to succeed him or represent him Heb. 7.27 chap. 9.12 2. He was offer'd once and to be offered no more Heb. 9.12 ver 28 chap. 10,12,13,14 3. The Sacrifice of Christ was Bloody without Blood there is no remission of sin Heb. 9.22 there is no Blood-shed in the Mass therefore no remission of sin by it 4. To Sacrifice Christ is all one as to kill him and put him to suffer Heb. 9.22 Christ is in not the hands of the Priests to be kill'd 5. Christ profitteth none but the living through Faith the Mass is for the Living and Dead but to what purpose 2. The satisfaction of Christ is perfect his sufferings are meritorious there is therefore no place use or need of humane satisfactions 1 Joh. 1.7 1 Pet. 2.24 SECT XV. Christ is King. 1.
BEside his absolute and unchangeable dominion as God he hath a Royal Soveraignty as mediator He hath Royal Titles Rev. 1.5 Rev. 19.16 He hath Kingly power Ps 2.7,8,9 and a Kingdom yea Kingdoms belong unto him Rev. 17.14 2. His Kingly power is universal made Heir of all things Heb. 1.2 but not of this World like earthly Rings Joh. 18.36 3. He was decreed and foretold to be King before he was born Ps 110.1,2,3 and was born King Luke 1.31,32,33 4. He actually exercised his Kingly Power before but not so gloriously and fully as after his Resurrection and Ascension John 17.1,2 for he wrought Miracles raised the Dead cast out Devils and gave power to his Disciples to do so Therefore it is not true that he was not King before his Ascension and that his Resurrection and Ascension were only preparatory to his Kingly Office. 5. His Kingly Power is exercised towards his People 1. In subduing and converting them Ps 110.3 Acts 3.26 chap. 5.31 chap. 26.18 2. In governing them being subdued Heb. 1.8,9 Mat. 2.20 3. In succouring them when tempted Ephes 6.10 4. In keeping them to salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 John 10.28 Is 32.1,2 Towards his enemies as he pleaseth he restrains them breaks them and will overcome them Ps 2.9,10 Ps 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 Gen. 3.15 Rom. 16.20 And he shall judge the World Rom. 14.9,10,11 Phil. 2.10,11 Hence it followeth that it is sinful arrogance and usurpation to pretend to be Universal Head and Monarch over Christ's Church to extend power to the Living and Dead to bring out of Purgatory if there were any such Place to make Laws for Conscience to dispense with the Laws of God to dispose of Kingdoms to Pardon Sins or work Miracles or any part of Christ's Royal Power SECT XVI Of two Degrees of Christ's Humiliation 1. CHrist endured the Wrath of God. Wrath in God is not an infirmity or passion or inconsistent with his mercy and patience but it is his holy and righteous Will to punish or to take Vengeance upon Sinners See Rom. 1.18 Rom. 3.5 It is his Will and Power as Judge Heb. 10.30 It is set out in Scriptures terribly by Metaphors of fire and anger of the face c. Heb. 12.29 2 Thes 1.8,9 Ps 34.15 2. Our Saviour suffer'd it as our Surety and Sacrifice for Sin It was heavy upon his Soul and Body which had sunk under it if he had not been supported by the Omnipotency of his God-head yet he submitted to it because it was his Father's Will and his own This was the cause of his Agony it was this that made his Soul sorrowful to Death it was this which made him deprecate Father if it be possible Let this Cup pass from me it was this which made him cry out My God My God why hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 Where note 3. Christ suffered immediately from God Why hast Thou for saken Me But it was no separation of the God-head from the suffering Man-hood nor a casting him off for still he held his interest my God my God nor was it more than he looked for nor was it any breach of promise in God nor a complaint of wrong it was the interruption of the light of Gods Countenance and the heaviness of his punishing justice upon him suffering in the stead of Sinners The Cursed Death of the Cross 1. The Death of Christ was a Cursed Death Phil. 2.8 Gal. 3.13 therefore it was a penaâ— Death by a judicial Act of God in which Men and Devils were instruments He was Holy c. Heb. 7.26 He knew no Sin by commission or participation yet he suffered the Death of a Sinner therefore he died in our place and stead 1 Pet. 3.18 when he died for our good He suffered the same punishment for substance which was due to Sinners he could not die spiritually for then he had not been Holy nor a pure Sacrifice for Sin he could not die eternally for then he could not have satisfied for Sin nor risen from the Dead nor done many other Acts of a Saviour That which was necessary for Sinners to suffer and accidental to punishment was not necessary for Christ to suffer nor could it stand with the Excellency of his Person nor Nature and End of his Office as Mediator He suffered what was satisfactory and abundant and meritorious The same punishment for substance which God threatned to Man for Sin but not the same in every kind and circumstance was undergone by Christ SECT XVII Of three Degrees of Christ's Exaltation 1. Of Christ's Resurrection NOte carefully 1. Who rose Christ Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.4,12 to 20. Luk. 24.46 2. What rose or was risen or in what respect No more was raised up than what was buried namely his Body yet as the whole Man is said to rise or to be raised from the Dead when only the Body is raised so it is said of Christ 1 Cor. 15.20 Christ the first fruits of them that slept V. 23. Afterwards they that are Christ's V. 35. And with what bodies do they come Acts 24.15 There shall be a Resurrection of the just and unjust i.e. of just and unjust Persons and not Bodies only So Christ is said to rise when his Body only was raised 3. By what Power Christ rose or was raised There is a Concurrence of the three Persons in the Resurrection of Christ 1. The Father Rom. 6.4 Chap. 8.11 2. Of the Holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.18,19 Rom. 8.11 3. Of his own Power Joh. 2.19 Chap. 10.18 The Power is the same Power of God. The Resurrection of Christ is spoken of actively attributed to the Father Rom. 4.24 and to his own Power as his own Act Joh. 2.19 I will raise it up What the Father did he did the Father's Power and his being all one and the same producing one and the same individual Effect It is also spoken of passively Christ was raised from the Dead I will raise it up Joh. 2.19 is more than to say I shall rise again and more than was ever spoken of or by any Believer That place Luk. 17.33 speaks not of the Resurrection but of the Way to be saved eternally and of the Encouragement to suffer Death for Christ On Joh. 10.18 consider 1. Christ as Mediator received Commandment from the Father which none could execute but he who was God. 2. The Command given did presuppose Power in himself to execute it None but God can raise the Dead and it is more to raise himself than to raise another Those Men who raised the Dead by the miraculous Power of God did not raise their own Bodies but Christ saith I will raise it up and I have Power 3. Every true Believer may say When I am dead I shall be raised up But none can say I will raise it up The Temple of Christ's Body could not raise it self the Soul could not raise it but there was a Will and Power in Christ proper to God not lent him for that
ever 1 Thes 4.16 In confidence of which they commit their Souls to God Ps 31.6 Acts 7.59 2 Tim. 4.12 2 Cor. 5.1,4 2 Tim. 4.8 3. They do immediately pass into Glory Phil. 1.23 or else it had been more desireable to enjoy Christ in Bonds than be dissolved See Luke 23.43 Mark the words are not I say this day c. but I say unto thee This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise The Soul of Christ was that day in Paradise therefore the Soul of the penitent was to be with Christ in Paradise that day for he was promised to be with Christ 4. No Man can merit eternal Life or degrees of Glory by his good Works it comes by gift Rom. 6.21 2 Tim. 4.8 SECT XXII Christians are obliged to or by the Moral Law. 1. GOD is the Lord and God of believers therefore they are bound to observe these Commandments 2. They are bound to keep by the equity of that other part of the preface who brought thee out c. A redeemed People must serve their Redeemer 3. The Lord Jesus was the Redeemer out of Egypt and gave the Law to Moses Acts 7.30 to 34. Heb. 12.26 whose voice shook the Earth 4. They Love God therefore it is a Law to them which requires Love Mat. 22.38,39 2. If ye walk in the spirit ye are not under the Law Gal. 5.18 doth not contradict this for we are not under the ceremonial Law nor the moral for Righteousness nor under the coaction and servile obedience nor condemnation of it for it is the Law of the Lord our God who is so in the Covenant of Grace 3. The Law is as it alwaies was a perfect Law therefore our Saviour did not as a Prophet add new precepts to it He instituted new Sacraments and instanced in some duties not known to the Pharisces but they are all reducible to some precept of the ten 4. No Man ever did or can do more than is required in the Law. Our Saviour did the will of God and no more Heb. 10.7 Angels do no more Ps 103.20 Believers are unprofitable Servants Luke 17.10 5. Therefore 1. There are no works of supererogation 2. No Man can merit for himself or others 3. Therefore there is no treasure of merits to be dispensed to them that want Of Christs fulness there is a dispensation made by himself but he hath no Lord Treasurer of merits and indulgences in his Kingdom 4. There are no counsels of perfection The young Man in the Gospel Mat. 19. had more to part with and deny himself in than others but more than self denial was not required of him which is enjoined to all and was practised Acts 2.44,45 5. Vows of poverty make no Man perfect Obj. But as many as be perfect c Phil. 3.15 Answ Christianity is a comparative perfection as Heirs at Age Gal. 4.1,2,3 but absolute A sincere believer is Evangelically perfect in Christ and account of grace but not perfect according to the Law. Commandment I. 1. Prayer was alwaies a duty Ps 27.6,7,8 Our Saviour did not add the Lords Prayer as a new precept to the first Commandment 2. Christ added not the precept of Worshiping himself to the first Commandment for he was alwaies an object of Worship Compare Acts 7.30 Is 6.1,3 with Joh. 12.41 Is 45.23 with Rom. 14.11 Commandment II. 1. God is invisible therefore no Man can make an Image of him 1 Tim. 1.17 His People saw none therefore he forbad them to make any Deut. 4.15,16 Every Image made for God must be a real lye for none can be made like him Acts 17.29 All those representations of him in Scripture Visions are for understanding and not for sight 2. All signs of honour before Images are forbidden Exod. 20.5 Levit. 26.1 Is 2.8,9 chap. 44.13 to 20. 3. It is Heathenish to Worship the true God by Creatures or Images Rom. 1.22,23 4. The Israelites did not believe the golden Calf to be God but made it to be a visible sign of Gods presence The feast was to Jehovah and not to the Calf yet it was abhorred and punished Exod 3â— 5 c. 5. Images begâ—t carnal thoughts of the invisible God therefore are not sit to instruct the vulgar Deut 4.15,16 Jer. 10.8,14,15 Hab. 2.18 Ps 115.4 to 8. Rom. 1.22,23 The Worship of God. 1. God is the only Object of Divine Worship the Father through the Son by the Holy Ghost Ephes 2.18 and no Creature either Saint or Angel Matth 4.10 Deut. 6.13 chap. 10.20 Col. 2.18 Heb. 1.14 Act. 10.25,26 chap. 14 14,15 Rev. 19.20 chap. 22.8,9 2. The Socinians prove that Divine Honour is due to Christ from Luk. 17.5 Matth. 8.25 Act. 7.59,60 2 Cor. 12 7,8 1 Thess 3.11 That the first Commandment is not changed by giving him such honour for he is no strange but a subordinate God. From this Concession of theirs I argue for his Glory against their false Opinion of Christ 1. He who said Thou shalt have no other God but me saith of himself I am Jehovah thy God. We must have none for God but he who is Jehovah Thou shalt have no other God but me or before me Therefore if Christ ought to be worshipped by this Commandment as they confess he is God Jehovah the only true God. He ought to be worshipped with divine Honour by virtue of this Commandment But there is no God to be worshipped according to this Commandment but Jehovah thy God therefore he is Jehovah 2. There is no subordinate Jehovah Christ is Jehovah therefore not a subordinate God. 3. A subordinate God is a strange God Any God but me is a strange God therefore any God but Jehovah is a strange God for Me is a Relative to Jehovah and Me is the same as God Jehovah 4. The Object of our Worship in that Commandment is but one Jehovah thy God If Christ be not that one Jehovah he is not at all to be worshipped by this Commandment but he is to be worshipped as God therefore he is Jehovah 5. There is but one Cause of our Salvation Tit. 1.3,4 chap. 2.13 1 Tim. 2.3 chap. 4.10 therefore it cannot be that Christ is honoured as God by the first Commandment because he is the second Cause of our Salvation 6. If Christ be not God Jehovah and yet ought to be worshipped with divine Honour the Commandment must needs be changed for if there be a new Object of Worship there is a Change of the Commandment 3. The Worship of God is kept pure when it is not depraved with mixtures of false Objects with the true it is entire when the Ordinances are not more nor fewer than Christ hath enjoined nor any part taken from nor added to them 4. When God is worshipped with the Heart he is worshipped in Spirit and when he is worshipped plainly without Types and Shadows he is worshipped in Truth Joh. 4.24 5. The outward manner of God's Worship must be suitable to God and to the
and customs Rom. 13.6,7 Commandment IX 1. Equivocation because truth is darkned and 2. Breach of Faith even with hereticks are unlawful Ps 15.1 to 4. Ezek 17.15,16 Rom. 1.31 Rev. 21.8 Commandment X. 1. Concupiscence is sin 2. Thoughts are under Law for it is spiritual 3. Sin remains in the regenerate tho it reign not it is Sin Gal. 5.17,18 2. Every sin deserves Death therefore there are more than seven deadly sins Mat. 24.51 1 Cor. 6.10 Rev. 21.28 SECT XXIII What God requires of Man to escape wrath Faith. 1. FAith should not be defined by ignorance for it is the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 and cannot be without knowledge Joh. 17.3 Joh. 4.22 chap. 10.38 chap. 16.30 chap. 17.7,8 2. Faith is a certain firm assent not only to Doctrines because Christ is the object of it Joh. 1.12 chap. 3.16 Rom. 3.26 3. Unbelief is a disallowance therefore on the contrary faith is an approbation of and consent to the way of Salvation by Christ 1 Pet. 2.4 4. Faith goes further yet it is a trusting in Christ Ephes 1.13 A guilty lost penitent mourner must have a Saviour which he can trust 5. Faith may be abstracted in some consideration but can never be separated from good Works Ephes 2.8,9,10 Gal. 5.6 James 2.14,18,26 6. Faith answers to the offer of the Gospel and therefore receives Christ as a Prophet for Wisdom as a Priest for Righteousness as King for Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Mat. 11.28 Joh. 7.37 Mar. 9.7 Repentance 1. Repentance is to be Preached in Gospel times Acts 26.20 Luke 24.47 2. Christ repented not for us it is Gods gift and our duty Acts 11.18 chap. 17.30 3. It is not the sinner who grieves for Sin but the spirit who convinceth of it 4. The Law discovering sin and wrath is subordinate to the Gospel drawing the Soul to God by grace and mercy 5. In or by sin the Creatures heart is turned to Self and Creatures from God by repentance he returns from Self and Creatures to God. 6. An intention to repent once in a Mans Life is not repentance for it is an actual return to God with godly sorrow and with fruit 2 Cor. 7.9 7. Repentance takes in all known Sin the habits and Dominion of which are broken by it yet the in-dwelling of Sin doth hinder it to be a repentance to Life SECT XXIV Outward and ordinary means of Grace 1. THere is no such perfection of grace as to live above Ordinances They who had extraordinary measures of the spirit observ'd Ordinances and brought Converts under them Acts 2.41,42 chap. 6.4 chap. 12.5 chap. 22.7 2. The Administration of them and Preaching the word was and ought to be committed Authoritatively to Ministers and Pastors qualified ordained and called The Apostles went out by commission Mat. 28.19 See Heb. 5.4 Men must be competently able Tit. 1.9.2 Tim. 2.2 for the Office and Work 1 Thes 5.12,13 1 Tim. 4.6 and Ordained by Pastors Tit. 1.5,6,7 1 Tim. 5.22 chap. 4.14 and so he is distinct from brethren 1 Tim. 5.6 over whom he is an officer with authority 1 Thes 5.12,13 Heb. 13.7,17 1 Cor. 14.34,35 1 Tim. 2.12 A minister must give himself to his work 1 Tim. 4.13,14,15 must abide in his calling except necessity requires absence Acts 20.3,4 else how can he watch and be an example to them Believers have enough to do in their own places without taking upon them any part of the Ministers office Ephes 6.4 1 Thes 5.11 Rom. 15.14 and much good might be done if done with humility and judgment SECT XXV Of the Sacraments 1. OUr Lord sealed the New Testament with his Blood and added visible signs and seals as means of Grace Mat. 26.24 c Mat. 28.19 2. There are not seven but two Sacraments which are proper to Christianity and common to all Christians 3. Sacraments are not empty signs but effectual to their end See Rom. 6.3,4 Gal. 3.26 1 Cor. 10.16,17 and they are effectual after their kind for by them we are instructed as by a visible word and excited and sealed 4. They do not confer grace by the very doing or using them for there is no natural vertue of conveyance of grace It is not the outward washing 1 Pet. 3.20,21 nor doth the intention of the Minister make them effectual but the Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 11.28 1 Cor. 7.19 Ephes 5 25,26 5. The Minister of the New Testament 2 Cor. 3.6 Mat. 28.19 is the only Minister of the Seals 1 Cor. 11.23 Of Baptism 1. The Baptism of the spirit is the Work of the spirit and not the ordinance enjoined We have no Ordinance of Baptism but what is with Water which is necessary to Baptism as Bread and Wine to the Lords Supper 2. Baptism is a necessary duty but it is the unbelief that damneth Mat. 16.16 and not the meer want of Baptism 3. Of the form of Baptism see what is spoken of the Trinity before and of the improvement of Baptism after 4. Note carefully the ground or reason upon which the Apostles received the first converts to Baptism Acts 2.39 for the promise is to you c. 5. There is no particular command for Baptizing Infants by Name but seeing the ground of Baptizing the repenting believing Jews was because the promise was to them and their Children and not only to them but to the Gentiles that were far off and should believe in Christ the Infants of such Parents are included in the command of Baptizing because they are named in the promise or Covenant of grace They who deny their Baptism are obliged to produce by what word or Act of God they are excluded Of the Lords Supper 1. Where ever Christ was Bodily present he was visibly present and seen He is not seen in the Sacrament therefore though believers have Communion with his Body and Blood by Faith 1 Cor. 10.16 he is not present in Body He is in Heaven Acts 3.21 and when he will come he shall be seen Rev. 1.7 2. There is no Transubstantiation if there were any it were more likely that the Body and Blood of Christ should be turned into Bread and Wine because it is Bread and Wine as well after consecration as before than that the Bread and Wine should be turned into the Body and Blood of Christ as sure as it was Bread and Wine before it was blest it is as surely the same after it is blest when eaten and drunk Was there ever any change of one differing and unlike substance into another and the change not seen or sensibly perceived Moses's Rod was not a Rod when it was turned into a Serpent the water was not water but Wine when our Saviour turned it into Wine But here is no change at all perceiv'd when our Saviour spake to his Disciples This is my Body and was he not alive at the table Did they eat him alive or was he at the same time alive at the Table and Dead
To that End you must remember two things 1. What saving Faith is 2. Examine whether it be in you For the first see the Cat. Part 3. Answ 3. Remember that Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving Grace whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for Salvation as he is offered to us in the Gospel For your better proceeding in the second thing viz. your Examination whether you have this Saving Faith in Jesus Christ begin with the latter end of your Answer How is Jesus Christ offered in the Gospel To that End look back to Answ 23,24,25,26 Christ as our Redeemer executeth the Offices of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King both in his State of Humiliation and Exaltation See and observe the three other Answers distinctly Let us go on therefore How is Jesus Christ offered in the Gospel Answ As the only Redeemer of God's Elect as the only Saviour exercising a three fold Office of a Prophet of a Priest of a King c. Such as he is in such a way he is freely offered in the Gospel section 2 Now examine the Particulars 1. Do I receive Jesus Christ as my Prophet to teach me by his Word and Spirit the Will of God for my Salvation He is made a Prophet to his Church as he is the only Mediator so the only Prophet who teacheth by his Word and Spirit the Will of God for c. Do I believe that God hath revealed or made known his Will for my Salvation That Jesus Christ hath revealed that Will of God clearly and fully Am I sensible of my going astray from the Way to Happiness Am I sensible of my Ignorance of the Way to Life Is there any other Way or any other Prophet to direct me to Eternal Life Do I renounce all other that are contrary to this 2 Pet 1.19 Do I believe this to be the sure Word of Prophecy to which I do well to take heed 2 Tim. 3.16 that was given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for all things Do I know that I need both the Word and the Spirit of Christ Do I take Jesus Christ as my infallible Prophet to teach me by his Word and Spirit not cleaving to the Word without the Spirit nor pretending to the Spirit without the Word Who is my Prophet and Teacher What is the Rule of my inward and outward Man to direct my Heart and Conversation Do I keep to this Rule Can I rest upon this Teaching of Jesus Christ by his Word and Spirit as alone sufficient for my Salvation section 3 2. Examine Do I receive Jesus Christ in his Priestly Office Do I know and believe that I am a vile Sinner in the sight of the holy God Do I know that for Sin. I deserve the Eternal Wrath of God that I am guilty before him that he must be satisfied or I can never be pardoned Do not I know that I am void of all Self-Right consness and Merit that I cannot satisfie for my Sin nor reconcile God to me nor any other Creature for me Am I vile guilty wretched in mine own Eyes Do I believe that Jesus Christ hath once offered up himself Body and Soul as a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice to reconcile me to God Hath he fully and for ever satisfied Was his Satisfaction accepted in full Is the Father well pleased in him Is not he offered to me as Righteousness and Redemption Do I receive him alone renouncing all Self-Righteousness and Merit or the Merit and Intercession of Saints and Angels And do I rest upon him alone for my Salvation as my only Mediator and Intercessor section 4 3. Ask your own Souls whether you receive Jesus Christ in his Kingly Office Hath he by the mighty Working of his Holy Spirit by whom he rules his Church convincing humbling and converting me subdued me to himself What! Am I still a Rebel a Revolter a gain-saying Adversary as I was by Nature Are the high Thoughts and lofty Imaginations of my Soul subdued and brought into the Obedience of Christ Are my carnal Affections Passions and Lusts subdued To whom do I yield my self a Servant to obey Do I receive him and own his Power to rule in me and over me over my Thoughts Imaginations Purposes my Will and all my Faculties and Senses Am I willing that he should reign over me Do I take his Yoak upon me submit to be ruled by his Spirit and holy Laws Have I not many subtile spiteful cruel Adversaries that seek to destroy my Soul the Flesh within the Devil and the wicked World without me beside the last Enemy Death Oh how unable am I to go out against them Are they not more and mightier than I Can any but the Lord Jesus the only Potentate and King of Kings restrain and conquer them Can he do both not only restrain but also conquer them all Are they not his Enemies as well as mine Oh then do I receive him to subdue me wholly to his Obedience Do I own him as my Soveraign King And do I rest upon him that he will subdue my sinful Lusts though they are often too hard for me Do I rest upon his Power to protect me or to restrain his and mine Enemies Do I believe that he is able to bring me to Glory notwithstanding all Opposition from all mine Enemies How shall I withstand Temptations mortifie my Lusts and Passions overcome the World endure Persecutions and go forth to meet the last Enemy Then O my Soul rest upon him still In a word Examine if you receive him as a Prophet for Wisdom for Righteousness as a Priest for Sanctification and Redemption as a King See 1 Cor. 1.30 Do you rest upon Christ alone whole Christ and none but Christ What Answer doth thy Heart make to these Demands 3. Trial of Repentance That you try and examine your Repentance remember what it is See the Cat. Part 3. Answ 4. Repentance unto Life is a Saving Grace whereby a Sinner out of a true Sense of his Sin and Apprehension of the Mercy of God in Christ doth with Grief and Hatred of his Sin turn from it unto God with full Purpose of and Endeavour after new Obedience section 1 1. Have I any Sense of Sin Do I know that Sin is any Want of Conformity unto or Transgression of the Law of God who is infinite in Holiness Justice Truth Power and Goodness Oh what an Evil is that which is contrary and offensive to the Nature of this God! Do I perceive and feel verily in my Conscience my Sins to be very many and great Have I a sorrowful Sense of my Darling Bosom common Sins and of their several Aggravations Quest Here you may desire to know when a Sinner is duly sensible of his Sin Answ You may know by what accompanies it When he doth with Grief of Heart and Hatred of his Sin his old beloved secret Sin turn from it unto God with full Purpose of
and Endeavour after new Obedience No Man is sensible of Sin as highly offensive and contrary to God but doth grieve and sorrow for it No Man is sorry in a Godly sort that doth not turn from it unto God as hating it and endeavouring to please God. Men may hear of Sin and talk of it without these Effects but they were never sensible of what they speak section 2 2. Do I apprehend that it is Mercy meer Mercy tender Mercy and wonderful if ever I turn from Sin and escape Damnation Is this Mercy in and through and for the sake of Jesus Christ if ever I escape the Curse and Wrath due to me for Sin Doth the Apprehension of God's Mercy in Christ melt me win me overcome me and prevail upon me to forsake all my Sin and to turn to him 3. Do I grieve for Sin What is my Grief Is it deep and hearty arising in me from a clear Sight and Conviction of Sin Do I grieve that I ever sinned at all that I have dishonoured and displeased God though I should not go to Hell nor fear it Doth it break my Heart and make me mourn before God when I remember it 4. Do I hate it Do I hate all Sin in general for its corrupt base and devilish Nature and Qualities Do I hate mine own Sin in special Do I flee Occasions and watch against Temptations to it Do I pray against it to be delivered from it and enabled against it Do I die to it and mortifie it and cease to make provision for it These are the Signs of Hatred of Sin. 5. Have I turned from Sin Do I turn further and further from it Whose am I To whom do I belong Satan Or am I turned from him to God Am I really turned so that I yield those Members which were Instruments of Unrighteousness unto Sin to be Instruments of Righteousness unto God Do I turn to love fear and serve him as the Lord my God 6. How do I turn Feignedly weakly and in pretence or with a Purpose of Heart Is my Purpose full and fixed or but half perswaded Am I so turned that I resolve in the strength of Grace to return back no more but to go forward Do I so purpose that I will endeavour all Ways by all Means by the use of all Ordinances to walk in new Obedience as a new Man Do I turn to God as well as cease from Sin Whence do my Resolutions and Purposes arise Do they arise from that Saving Grace of the Spirit working in me a Sense of Sin as Sin and an Apprehension of the Mercy of God in Christ Or do spring from worldly Sorrow Fear or Shame Loss or Harm suddain Passion or serious Consideration 4. The Trial of Love. section 1 The fourth Grace to be examined is Love And though your Catechism tells you you must examine your Love yet it helps you not to try it as you are helped in the Trial of Faith and Repentance It will be necessary for me to open to you the Nature and Properties of this divine Grace and that by shewing you the Objects of it or towards whom this Grace of Love is exercised Examine your Love 1. To God. 2. To Man. 1. Concerning your Love to God you must observe that we are bound to love God in those three distinct Relations in the Godhead that is we must love the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost for in our Baptism we take these three glorious Persons in the God head for our God And what Duties we are engaged to in our Baptism we must exercise and engage our selves a-new to perform when we come to the Lord's Table for then and there we renew our Covenant with God. And as we are bound to believe in God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost so we are bound to love the Father the Son and Holy Ghost This being spoken on the way I shall describe this Grace of Love as near as I can as Faith and Repentance are described before and that by pointing out the Cause and Reasons and the Effects of it by which you may try the Truth of it Rom 5.8 Luk 7.37 Ps 116 1,2,3 to 10. Cant. 1.3 ch 5.9,10 1 Joh. 4.9,10,19 Ps 63 2,3 Deut. 30.20 c. 10.20 c. 11.22 Joh. 14.15 1 Joh. 5.3 chap. 3.1,6 chap. 4.10,11 Love to God is a Saving Grace whereby a Sinner out of the sense of his Sin Baseness Corruption and Misery and from an Apprehension of the infinite Perfections of God especially his Grace Goodness and All sufficiency he doth adore and admire him he doth desire him and cleave to him he laboureth to do the things that please him and to conform to him in all things section 2 Examine your selves 1. Doth your Love to God proceed from your Knowledge and Apprehension of his infinite Excellencies expressed in his Attributes Do you therefore acknowledge God and look upon him as infinite in Wisdom Holiness Power Righteousness Faithfulness and Truth as rich in Grace c. See Exod. 34.6,7 Dost thou believe the Love of God to thy Soul Is he thy God Hath he engaged his Attributes and Glory to thee to be on thy side and for thy good Dost thou believe thy self to be corrupted polluted guilty and helpless Dost thou look upon the Creatures as vain and unable to make thee happy that God is All-sufficient for thee in all Conditions at all Times Dost thou adore and praise him See Psal 103. from 1. to 19. Dost thou believe that God is infinitely better than all Creatures and to be loved above all And dost thou esteem and love him above all the World even with all thy Heart Strength Soul and Mind Matth. 22.37 Luk. 10.22 even above Father above Mother Wife House Lands yea Life it self Dost thou desire him prize him and prefer him before all Psal 16.5,6 and 4.6,7 and 144 15. Dost thou labour to be like him to imitate him to keep his Commandments 1 Joh. 4.10,11 1 Pet. 1.17 and still to give God the Precedence to chuse him above all to fear him more than Men or Devils and to obey him rather than Man This in general section 3 But to go on to Particulars Examine your Love to the three glorious Persons in the God-head distinctly And know this that he that loveth the Father loveth the Son and the Holy Ghost likewise and he that loveth Christ loveth the Father and the Holy Ghost also 1. Examine your Love to God the Father Say to thy Soul O my Soul What am I about to receive Bread and Wine But what is represented thereby The Body and Blood of thy dear Saviour the only begotten of the Father as crucified with all the Benefits of his Death But whence came this to pass How came he to be one of us in our Nature to be thus abased and crucified to become a Propitiation and a Ransom for Sin Oh behold and wonder Rom. 5.5,8,9 This is an Act of the