Humane Nature of Christ formerly blamed by them they may also as freely use the words three Persons or Trinity of Persons Q. Can the Holy Scriptures give to Men any saving Knowledge of God without his Divine Illumination and inward Teaching and Operation by his Spirit in their hearts A. Nay Psal 119. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 4. 4. 6. Q. Is there not a Knowledge of God given to the Faithful by the Spirit that is beyond all report or demonstration of words by inward spiritual feeling and sense and by spiritual sight and taste and by inward hearing and learning of the Father and by a divine and spiritual savour A. Yea 1 Cor. 2. 9. Acts 17. 27. Ephes 4. 19. Psa â—8 Joh. 6. 45. Heb. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 3. Mat. 16. 23. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Cant. 1. 3. SECT III. Q. WHich are God's Works of Creation A. All things Visible and Invisible the Visible Heavens and Earth the Sea and Rivers and Fountains of Water and all Visible things contained in them Gen. 1. 1. Coloss 1. 16. Q Which are the Invisible Works of Creation A. Angels which are many and Souls or Spirits of Men which also are many Q. Are Devils and unclean Spirits works of God's Creation A. They were not originally created Devils or unclean Spirits but good and pure but they became so by their voluntary transgression 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude 6. Q Are the Works of God whither Visible or Invisible any part or parts of God A. Nay Q. Are they then distinct Beings though not separate from God A. Yea But such as have a most necessary dependance on God both for their preservation and action Q. Were they Created of any eternally pre-existent matter that did co-exist with him from all Eternity A. Nay Q. How are all things said to be of God A. As the Author and efficient cause of them but not as the material cause Rom. 11. 36. Q Doth not the Scripture sometimes distinguish betwixt things Created and Made A. Yea for things made are made out of a pre-existent matter or subject whereas things created had no pre-existent matter Q. Give some example in the Case A. The Grass Herbs and Trees were made out of the Earth on the third day the Fishes and Fowls were made out of the Waters on the fifth day and the four-footed Beasts and creeping things and Body of Man was made out of the Earth on the sixth day Gen. 1. Q. By whom did God create and make all things A. By his word his eternally begotten Son and Spirit Joh. 1. 2. Ephes 3. 9. Psal 33. 6. Q Was it any difficulty to God to create and make all things A. Nay for he spake and it was done he commanded and they were Created Psal 33. 9. Q. How is it then to be understood that God rested from all his Works which he had made and that on the seventh day A. His resting was his ceasing to Create and Finishing his Works of Creation which he had Created and made in six days Gen. 2. 2. Q. What other Works doth God Work since the Creation A. His Works of Providence whereby he sustaineth and upholdeth all his Creatures ordereth and disposeth and over ruleth them all according to his good pleasure for his own Glory and blesseth them with fruitfulness and increase and especially his gracious Providence throughout over his Church and People Joh. 5. 17. Heb. 1. 3. Pet. 3. 7. Psal 103. 19. 21 Psal 104. Gen. 1. 22. Matth. 10. 29. 30. 31. Deut. 11. 12. Heb. 13. 5. Ephes 1. 11. Rev. 4. 11. Q. What is to be understood by God's Eyes Ears Mouth Hands c. in Scripture A. Not any bodily Members or Parts but his glorious Attributes and Perfections of Wisdom Power and Goodness c. Q. Whence come all Men and Women of all Nations A. They are descended of Adam our Common Father and of Eve our Common Mother by ordinary Generation Acts 17. 26. Rom. 5. 12. Q. In what Estate did God make them A. In his Image and after his Likeness Holy Upright Wise and Good with Dominion over the Creatures Gen. 1. 26. 27. Coloss 3. 10. Ephes 4. 24. Eccles 7. 29. Q. Of what parts did they consist A. Of Soul and Body Matth. 10. 28. Q Was the Soul of the Earth as the Body was A. Nay for God breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul Gen. 2. 7. Q. When God Created them Male and Female did he indue them with his Spirit and the Gifts and Graces thereof A. Yea. Q. Where did he place them A. In the Garden to labour in it and to keep it Q. Did he give him a Law of Obedience Gen. 2. 15. 16. A. Yea which was that of every Tree of the Garden he might or should eat but that he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Q. Why did God forbid him to eat of that Tree A. To try his Obedience as well as for other Causes known to him Deut 13. 3. Exod 20. 20. Q. What was the threatned Punishment if he did Transgress A. That in the Day he eat thereof he should surely Die Gen. 2. 17. Q. Did he Die in that Day wherein he did Transgress A. He Died a Spiritual Death and his Body became Mortal and subject to Sickness and Death John 5. 25. Ephes 2. 1. Q. What was the Spiritual Death A. That he Died unto Holiness and Righteousness lost Communion with God and sell under his Judgment and Wrath Isaiah 59. 2. Rom. 2. 8. Gen. 3. 19. Q. Had he died the bodily Death if he had not sinned A. Nay Q. Did Man need any Cloaths or Garments to cover him had he not Sinned A. Nay For his Body was so endued with Vigor Strength and Honor that as nothing could hurt him of Heat or Cold so there was nothing in him whereof he could be ashamed Psal 8. 5 6 7 8. Psal 49. 12 20. Q. What Effects brought his sin and fall into the World A. It not only brought a Curse upon the Earth but Guilt and Condemnation and a Sinful Defilement and Death both Spiritual and Temporal on all his Posterity Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 5. 12 18. Psal 51. 5. Gen. 8. 21. Rom. 6. 23. Q. Doth the Soul of Man die with the Body A. Nay Matth. 10. 28. 2 Pet. 14. SECT IV. Q. WHO is the Redeemer of lost Men A. The Lord Jesus Christ Job 19. 25. Q. Who is Jesus Christ A. He is the Son of God begotten of the Father and one God with the Father before all Time and Creatures and the Son of Man the Son of David and of Abraham Conceived by the Holy Ghost and Born of the Virgin Mary in the fulness of Time very and true God and very and true Man and yet one Jesus Christ the Word made Flesh Matth. 16. 16. John 3. 14. Matth. 1. 1 20 25. 1 Cor. 8. 6. John 1. 14. Q. How many Natures hath Christ
Jesus A. Two his Godhead Nature and his Manhood-Nature Q. How are these Natures distinguished A. His Godhead nature is the same with the Godhead nature of the Father and of the Holy Ghost which was before all Time and before all Creatures having all Infinitie Perfections of Power Wisdom and Goodness c. His Manhood Nature was Created in time and of the same kind with the Nature of other Men. Q. How can two such differing Natures Constitute one Christ A. By the Personal or Hypostatical Union of the two Natures which is a great Mystery yet no wise Contradictory to true Reason as neither is the Mystery of the Holy Trinity nor any other Mystery of the Christian Faith Q. Have we any weak or obscure Resemblance of it in our selves A. Yea Every Man is Constituted so to speak of two Natures the one of the Body which is Visible Material and Mortal the other of the Soul which is Visible Intellectual and Immortal and yet these two by a Personal Union are but one Man Q. Hath the manhood-Manhood-nature of Christ a Created Soul and a Created Body as other Men A. Yea. Q. Was the Father or the Holy Ghost Personally United to the manhood-Manhood-nature of Christ or only the Son or Word A. Only the Son or Word as the Scripture testifieth the Word was made Flesh and did Tabernacle among us John 1. 14. Q. Had the Man Christ any Sinful Defilement or Guilt of Adam's Sin at his Conception or Birth in the Flesh A. Nay Heb. 4. 15. Q. Why was Christ Born of a Virgin A. That by his extraordinary manner of Generation it might be manifest that he was without all Guilt or Defilement of Adam's Sin and also that he might have no immediate Father but God Q. How was he then the Son of David and Abraham A. Because the Virgin Mary of whom he was Born was Descended of David and Abraham Q. Did Christ really partake of Mary's Substance A. Yea. Q. Is it not therefore a great Error in them who say that Christ's Body which was Born of the Virgin was altogether from Heaven having nothing of her bodily Substance in it A. Yea. Q. Is it not also another great Error in them who say because Christ was Conceived by the Holy Ghost that therefore as Man he was not Created or that his Manhood was not any created Being or Nature A. Yea. Q. Is it not another great Error in them that say Christ is only a Man and had no Being or Existence before all Time and Creatures A. Yea. Q. Is it not also a great Error in them who say Christ is only God and that neither his Flesh nor Soul was any part of him but only as a Garment as a Man's Garment is no part of him A. Yea. Q. Is it not also a great Error for any to say Christ is nothing else but the Light within every Man or the Word within A. Yea. Q. Is it not also a great Error to say Christ is the Holy Ghost or the Holy Ghost is Christ A. Yea. Q. How is Christ called the everlasting Father in Scripture Isaiah 9. 6. A. With respect to Men he is the Father of all Faithful Men and of his Church but not that he is his own Father Q. Was it foretold by any of the Prophets that Christ should be Born of a Virgin A. Yea by the Prophet Isaiah 7. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his Name Immanuel i. e. God with us And also by Jeremiah 31. 22. The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth a woman shall compass a man Q. Was it not foretold by God himself to our first Parents after the Fall in these words That the seed of the woman should bruise the serpents seed Gen. 3. 15. A. Yea For because he was called the Seed of the Woman it did intimate that he was to be made or born of a Woman without her knowledge of a Man Q. How can it be proved from Scripture that he who was Born of the Virgin was not a meer Man but God as well as Man A. By the Names given him in Scripture the Testimonies concerning him his Miracles and the Worship given him by Angels and Men. Q. What Names given him prove that he is God A. His Name shall be called to wit of the Child born Wonderful Councellor the mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9. 6. and Jer. 23. 5 6. I will raise unto Davida righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper And this is the Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness and the Name Emmanuel is in English God with us Q. What are the Testimonies of Scripture that prove him to be God A. Such as Rom. 9. 5. Of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came who is over all God Blessed for ever John 1. 1. The word was God and verse 14. And that word was made flesh Heb. 1. 1 2. God hath in these last Days spoke to us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things by whom also he made the Worlds or Ages verse 8. Unto the Son he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever Q. How do his Miracles prove that he is God seeing Moses and others of the Prophets wrought Miracles A. They wrought Miracles only as Servants and did not work them in their own Name but Christ wrought his Miracles in his own Name and as the Lord of and over all the Creatures he commanded the Winds and the Seas and they obeyed him he rebuked the Diseases and the unclean Spirits and so Cured the Diseased and Possessed Heb. 3. 5 Matth. 8. 26 27. Mark 1. 25. Luke 4. 39. Q. What places of Scripture do prove that the Angels do Worship him A. Heb. 1. 6. And let all the Angels of God worship him Phil. 2. 10. God hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things on earth This sheweth that as he is Worshipped by Angels so he ought to be Worshipped by all Men. And 1 Cor. 1. 2. The believing Corinthians and all the Saints every where called upon the name of Jesus Christ both their Lord and ours SECT V. Q HOW many Offices hath Christ A. Three the Office of a Prophet of a Priest and of a King Q Hath he not many other Offices as of a Head Husband Mediator Advocate Bishop Shepherd Captain Physician c. A. They are all contained under these three and reducible to them Q. How doth he perform the Office of a Prophet A. Teaching us by his Doctrin outwardly delivered to us in the Holy Scriptures either as Read or as Opened and Expounded unto us in Preaching by Men well and duly gifted and qualified with Ability of true Knowledge and who are good Examples in Life and Conversation and also by his inward Teaching
should bruise his heel and also by the Sacrifices which God taught them to offer which were Types and Figures of Christ's Sacrifice that was to come Heb. 11. 4. Q. Who is here meant by the Serpent A. The Devil according to Revel 20. 2. Q. What is meant by his Seed A. That inward Principle of defilement and Seed of Sin that was then sown by the Devil in our first Parents and through their Loins transmitted to their Posterity and that which is born of it called in Scripture the Old Man and the Body of Sin and Death Q. What is meant by the Serpents bruising the heel of the Woman's Seed A. That by means of the Devil who instigated the Jews against him Christ should suffer Death in his Manhood Nature but his Head that is his Godhead neither did nor could suffer any thing Q. What is meant by the Woman's Seed his bruising the Head of the Serpent A. His Victory over the Devil by his Resurrection from the Dead and that by virtue of his Death and Resurrection the Power of Christ by his Spirit in all the Faithful should destroy the Devils Power and Kingdom of Sin flay the Old Man and Crucifie the Body of Sin in them and in due time wholly deliver them from Sin and all the effects an◠〈…〉 â—equences of it Heb. 2. 14. Coloss 2. 15. 1 〈…〉 Q. When are the â—â—â—â—â—ful to be fully and completely delivered from all the effects and consequences of Sin A. At the Resurrection of the Dead at which time that first promise shall have its full accomplishment 1 Cor. 15. â—4 Q. What places of Scripture prove that the Sacrifices under the Law were Types of Christ's Sacrifice and that the Blood of those Sacrifices signified the Blood of Christ by which remission of Sin is obtained A. There are divers as Colos 2. 16. 17. Heb. 8. 5. and 9. 9. 23. and 10. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 16 17. Q What is meant by that place in Zach. 9. 11. As for thee also by the blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth the Prisoners out of the Pit wherein is no water Is not that Blood the Blood of Christ that was to be shed and was accordingly shed when he suffered on the Cross by virtue of which all the Faithful who once were Satan's Prisoners are translated out of his Kingdom of Darkness fitly signified by the Pit wherein no Water is and brought into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God where is Righteousness Peace and Joy Light Life Love and Liberty and where Springs of living Waters flow A. Yea Colos 1. 13. Rom. 14. 17. Isaiah 12. 3. Q. Was not the Passover a Type of Christ and as the Exod. 12. 7. Blood of the Slain Lamb being sprinkled on the Lintels and Posts of the Doors of the Israelites saved them from the destroying Angel so doth not the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God that was slain for us sprinkled on our Hearts and Consciences not by any visible or material application but by Faith applyed to us save us from the Wrath of God and destruction A. Yea 1 Cor. 5. 7. 8. Heb. 12. 24. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 10. 22. Q. As the Israelites were to eat the Flesh of the Passover so are not the Faithful not by a bodily eating but by Faith to eat the Flesh of Christ's slain Body that they may have Eternal Life A. Yea John 6 53. Q What places of Scripture prove that Christ was to be a Priest and that the Priesthood of the Law and first Covenant was to end and give way to Christ's Priesthood that is unchangable and to remain for ever A. Psal 110. 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck compared with Heb. 7. 11. 12. 24. Q. How is Christ a Priest for ever seeing the Sacrifice of himself he did offer but once when he suffered Death on the Cross and by one Offering once offered he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified Heb. 7. 27. Heb. 9. 28. Heb. 10. 14. A. Because the virtue merit worth and efficacy of that one Offering once made was sufficient for the expiation and taking away the guilt of the Sins of the Faithful from the beginning of the World unto the end of it Heb. 9. 15. Q. How is Christ a Priest after the Order of Melchisedeck A. Because Melchisedeck which signifieth King of Righteousness was not only a King but a Priest also so Christ is both King of Righteousness and King of Salem which signifieth Peace and also a Priest and as Melchisedeck's Priesthood did far excel the Priesthood of Levi so doth the Priesthood of Christ far excel it Q. In what respects doth Christ's Priesthood excell that of Levi and differ from it A. In many respects as they are excellently set forth in the Epistle to the Hebrews Cap. 7. 8 9 10. As First Christ arose a High Priest out of the Tribe Judah 2. He was made by Oath 3. Not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life 4. These of the Levitical Priesthood offered many Sacrifices yearly for Sin but Christ our High Priest offered Himself a Sacrifice but once 5. They were sinners themselves and needed to offer for their own Sins as well as for the Sins of others but Christ was without all Sin and only offered the Sacrifice of Himself for the Sins of others not only for the Jews but for the whole World 6. By reason of death they were not suffered to continue but Christ continueth for ever having once dyed he dyeth no more 7. They offered the Bodies Fat and Blood of Beasts but Christ offered up his whole Body of Flesh and Blood together with his Soul an Offering for our Sins 8. Their Offerings were but the Figure Type and Shadow his was the Substance and thing signified 9. Christ by virtue of his Priesthood was made surety of a better Testament and of a better Covenant which was Established upon better Promises 10. None of all their Offerings could take away Sin or purge the Conscience from Sin but this his Offering once did to all that sincerely believe and repent of their Sins 11. The High Priest on the day of Atonement being the 10th day of the 7th Month every Year entred the Holy Place made with Hands but Christ our High Priest by his Atonement hath entred into Heaven it self and hath made open and manifest the way thereunto unto all true Believers and Followers of him 12. The Jews paid the Tythes or Tenths of their Increase to the Priests and Levites and they paid out of their Tenth a Tenth to the High Priest but the true Christians which are the true spiritual Jews give both themselves and their All to Christ their High Priest and are ready to serve Him and his Gospel with their All for the propagation and service of his Gospel and if need
in their Sins and the Apostles are false Witnesses and Christ 's Prophecy who foretold his Resurrection on the third Day hath failed 1 Cor. 15. 13 14 15. Q. But may not his Resurrection be owned and not his Ascension into Heaven with the same Body A. The one cannot be owned without the other for if Christ 's Body did not ascend it did evanish or return to Dust and Christ Dyed again and his Body suffered Corruption which could not be for the Scripture witnesseth that Christ having once dyed dyeth no more Death hath no more dominion over him Q What Scriptures in the Old Testament foretold Christ 's Ascension A. Diverse places such as Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. Psal 47. 5. Psal 68. 18. Isaiah 52. 13. Gen. 49 9. Q. What Figure in the Old Testament did signifie Christ 's Ascension A. The burnt Offering the Smoke of which ascended straight upwards whence it has its name in the Hebrew from a word that signifieth to ascend Q Was not Isaack's being said on the Altar and afterwards being raised alive a Figure of Christ 's Death and Resurrection according to Heb. 11. 19. Q. Is there a real place above the Earth called Heaven into which Christ hath entred with his Body and whole glorified Manhood of Soul and Body A. Yea. Q How doth this agree with Scripture that saith Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. 50. A. It is the same Body in Substance though changed greatly in Manner and Qualities from Natural or Animal Gen. 11. 12. Matth. 1. 17. to Spiritual from Mortal to Immortal such as the Bodies of the Saints shall be at the Resurrection Q. Why do we not see that Heavens with our bodily Eyes into which Christ 's Body is entered A. Because of the Weakness and Grossness of our Flesh and of our fleshly Sight which can scarce see the Body of the Air that we breath in nor behold the brightness of the Sun but when our Bodies shall be changed and made Spiritual at the Resurrection we shall see the glorious Heavens and also the glorious Body of Christ and the glorified Bodies of all the Saints in Heaven Q. Is there also a real place called Hell into which the Wicked both Soul and Body shall be cast at the Day of Judgment A. Yea which is that called Tophet Isaiah 30. 33. Which hath been ordained of old he hath made it deep and large the Pile thereof is Fire and much Wood the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it Q. What signifieth Tophet and why is it so called A. Tophet signifieth the beating of a Drum and was the place where the Idolatrous Israelites burned their Children and Sacrificed them alive to their Idol Molech where they used to beat Drums to hinder them from hearing the pitiful Cry of their Children therefore by a Metaphor Hell is called Tophet and by the like Metaphor Hell is called by Christ in the N. Testament Gehenna i. e. the Land or Field of Hinnon where all the Filth of the City of Jerúsalem was cast into that piece of Ground having formerly belonged to a Man called Hinnon Q. Why hath God so ordered it that as the place of Reward to the Saints and of Punishment to the Wicked should not be seen by us in this Life nor apprehended by any of our outward Senses so that none should come from the Dead to tell us of these things A. That thereby we might have the greater occasion for the Exercise of our Faith which is the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. We have not only Moses and the Prophets Testimony concerning future Rewards and Punishments but the Testimony of Christ himself who rose from the Dead and hath given us in the Records of the holy Evangelists and Apostles in the New Testament full and sufficient Ground of Faith to believe these things to which the Spirit of Truth doth bear an inward Witness and who will not believe on such great Evidences nor would they believe if any should rise from the Dead to tell them Luke 16 31. Q. How is Christ the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sin and Justification is it as his Blood is shed in us and as he offers up himself a Sacrifice in us as some say to appease the Wrath of God A. Nay for all such Notion of Christ 's blood being shed in us and his offering up himself in us a Sacrifice for Sin to appease the Wrath of God is false and contrary to Scripture c. Q Is then Jesus Christ considered as he died for us without us and rose again and as he was the Sacrifice for our Sins by his Death and Blood that was outwardly shed the Object of our Faith for Remission of Sins and Justification A. Yea Rom. 10. 9 10. Coloss 1. 20. Heb 12. 2. Acts 10. 41. SECT VII Q. HOW doth Christ perform his Kingly Office A. By his various Administrations of it in the several Parts thereof Q. Which are the several Parts of it A. First Such as respect Angels both good and bad and the whole Creation Secondly Such as respect the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church Thirdly Such as belong to his Church Q. Hath Christ a Kingly Power and Government over all the good and holy Angels A. Yea Heb. 1. 6 7. Col. 2. 10. Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 10. Mark 1. 25 9 25. Luke 4. 35 9 42. Q. Hath he also a Power and Government over the evil Angels and all evil and unclean Spirits and the Devil the Prince of them A. Yea as plainly appeared by the Power and Authority he used to cast forth the unclean Spirits out of the Bodies of many that were Possessed Q. Hath Christ also a Kingly Power and Government over Heaven and Earth and the whole Creation A. Yea as is evident from his own words that all Power in Heaven and Earth was his being given him of the Father Matth. 28. 18. Matth. 8. 26 27. Mark 2. 27 28. Acts 10. 36. And which he shewed by his commanding the Winds and the Seas and the great Miracles which he wrought who as he was Lord of the Sabbath so he was Lord of all Creatures Q. How doth Christ put forth his Kingly Power and Government over Devils and wicked Men seeing they are Disobedient to him A. By restraining and limiting their Power over-ruling their evil Designs and Actions and causing them to turn to his Glory and the Glory of his Father and to the good of his chosen and lastly by Judging and Punishing them at the last day Psal 76. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Acts 17. 31. Matth. 8. 29. Q. How doth Christ perform his Kingly Office over the World or that part of Mankind that do not belong to his Church and neither are nor shall become Members of it but remain Impenitent to the last A. By giving them a righteous Law universally in their
Christ the Mediator of it the promise of the Spirit and the saving Graces and Gifts thereof for our Sanctification Regeneration and Renovation and for our mortifying and crucifying the Old Man and the body of the Sins of the Flesh the taking away the heart of Stone and giving us a heart of Flesh God's writing his Laws in those hearts of Flesh and giving us his special teachings and special Illuminations Operations and influences of his Holy Spirit working in us Faith Hope and Love and filial Fear and all other Virtues and Fruits of the Spirit and true Gospel Repentance all suited to the Gospel and new Covenant Dispensation and all this freely by and through and for Jesus Christ's sake together with the promise of Eternal Life and Salvation Jer. 31. 33. 34. Jer. 32. 39. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. 20. 36. 25. 26. 37. 26. 27. Gal. 4. 24. 26. 28. Heb. 12. 24. Isa 44. 3. 4. 59. 21. Q. But doth not the Covenant of Grace require any terms or conditions on our part as Faith and Repentance and new Obedience A. It requireth nothing of the true Subjects of it as terms and conditions but such as God promiseth freely to give the Faith and Repentance and Obedience that it requireth God has promised freely to give by virtue of his Covenant and no condition or terms that Men can perform are any the least moving cause to move God to enable us to perform those conditions Q. But is there not an Order in the way and manner of God's giving his many several Favours Gifts and Blessings to the Children of the New Covenant as remission of Sin Justification Adoption and Eternal Salvation A. Yea There is an excellent Order of some things to go before and other things to follow some of which go before and others follow only in order of Nature and others in order of time as plowing and sowing the Ground goes before Harvest and Reaping yet neither the plowing or sowing are the moving cause to move God to give the Fruit and Increase Q Doth then Faith and Repentance in order of Nature go before remission of Sin and Justification though they are together in time A. Yea. Q. How doth this appear from Scripture A. By many plain testimonies of Scripture as first concerning the necessity of Conversion and Faith in order both to forgiveness of Sin Justification and Salvation This was Paul's Commission given him by Christ unto both Jews and Gentiles Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified through faith that is in Christ Jesus and Rom. 10. 6. The righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thy heart c v. 7. but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness c. Again Rom. 8. 29 30. In that excellent golden Chain containing several Links that follow one after another There is Predestination going before Calling and Calling before Justifying and Justifying before Glorifying The Calling that is not an outward Calling only but chiefly an inward Calling and inward Work of God's Holy Spirit enlightning the understanding and moving the Heart and Will to answer the Call is not the proper Cause of either Justification or Glorification but a necessary antecedent of it in order of Nature as the holding out of the Hand is antecedent in order of Nature to receive a free gift from him who freely gives for Faith has no causality in order to receive forgiveness of Sin and Justification more than the Hand has to receive a rich and free Gift which Faith is also the free Gift of God Again Acts 10. 43. Said Peter in his Preacing to Cornelius and his Friends To him viz. Christ Jesus even him whom they Slew and Hanged on a Tree gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins Secondly As to Repentance its being necessary in order to forgivness and blotting out of Sins Peter's words are plain Acts 3. 19. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out c. And Acts 5. 30 31. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a tree him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance unto Israel and forgivness of sins And Luke 24. 47. Christ after his Resurrection taught the Disciples the true Method and Order of Preaching That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Thus we see how though Repentance and Remission of Sins are joyned together in those places yet in order Repentance is put antecedent to Remission of Sins Q. But is not Repentance a proper effect of remission of Sin as the Soul has a lively sense of it wrought by the Spirit of God in the Soul as it was said of Mary Magdalen she loved much because much was forgiven her who was a deep and great Penitent A. As some degree of Repentance is antecedent to forgiveness not as its Cause so there are other degrees of it that are consequents thereof and may be called the effects of it Q. Are the Infant Children of believing Parents within the Covenant of Grace together with their Parents so that the Promise is to them and their Children A. Yea Act. 2. 39. Gal 4. 28. Gen. 17. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Q. What is the alone meritorious and material Cause of Mens Justification before God Is it not the Righteousness of Christ's most holy and perfect Obedience unto Death and the shedding of his most precious Blood done and performed by him without us freely of God imputed to us and received by Faith A. Yea. Q. What places of Scripture in the Old Testament hold forth the Justification of the Faithful and their eternal Salvation by Faith A. That in Genesis 15. 6. compared with Rom. 4. 2 3. Abraham believed in the Lord and it was counted to him for Righteousness from whence Paul inferred that Abraham was not justified by Works though he was a very holy Man but by Faith And though Abraham's Faith is not expresly said to have been in Christ as he was to come and suffer Death for our Sins in the Flesh yet it is certainly imply'd for the great Promise of God to Abraham was That in his seed all nations of the earth should be blessed and therefore Abraham also was blessed in that seed which seed was Christ as he came in the Flesh out of Abraham's Loins and not the Light within or
in all Men and more specially in the Faithful it being generally acknowledg'd not only by Christians but by Heathen Poets Orators and Philosophers that God and his Word and Spirit is in all the Creatures and as it is said in the Book called Wisdom Gods incorruptible Spirit is in all things Wisdom 12. 1 So that there is no Goodness or Virtue or Excellency that is in either Stone Metal Vegetable or Animal but God is the Author and first Cause of it and that not as at a distance or without things only but as near yea so near that as God is in all things so all things are in him and in him we live and move and have our Being and therefore as God is Light essentially in and to himself so by an easie Metonymie God and Christ may be said to be a Light to and in all Men as the Cause and Author of all the Light that Men have universally and more especially he is in and to the Faithful their Light as David said The Lord is my Light and my Salvation Psal 27. 1. enlightning them with greater and more high and noble Illuminations and Lights than he doth other Men and so is a true Cause of their Salvation as their Light in them but not the only Cause as within them but also as in Christ God-man without them and together with him their great High Priest Mediator Advocate Head of divine Influence and spiritual Nourishment c. Q. But if God and Christ be a Light in Men then what need is there of any thing else without Men What need of Christ God-man without them to enlighten them seeing they have God and Christ in them A. The Presence and In-being of one Cause takes not away the Influence Virtue and Operation of another Cause as it were a false Argument to say God is in a Field of Earth as the great Cause of its fruitfulness and therefore that Field will produce Corn without Seed and without Dew and Rain from Heaven and without the Influence of the Sun all which are external second Causes even as false it is to argue God and Christ considered as the Word is in every Man and in the Saints and Operates in them therefore they need not Christ considered as God-man the Word made Flesh their High Priest Mediator Advocate and Propitiation in Heaven without them or any influence of heavenly Dow Rain or Warmth from him that Sun of Righteousness in whom the Fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily who is full of Grace and Truth and of whose Fulness as said John we all receive and Grace for Grace Q. Iâ— it not therefore a great Error in them who blame that assertion that the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens is not sufficient to Salvation without something else that something else being understood to be the Man Christ who is both God and Man and the Sacrifice of himself by his Death on the Cross his Resurrection Ascension and Intercession for us in Heaven all which are something else than the Light Within whether in Saints or Heathens A. Yea and 't is a downright setting Deism and Hethenism in opposition to Christianity and a subversion of it Q. But did not Christ say to Paul 2 Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee and was not that Grace in Paul and if sufficient what need any thing else A. The Grace of Christ was in Paul but in measure and in Christ in all fulness and tho' the present measure of Grace that was in Paul was sufficient for that present time yet not without Christ as a Man's Hand is sufficient to handle a Pen and Write or do other Work but not without the Man himself nor was that measure sufficient for all time to come but Paul needed a daily supply of more Grace out of Christ's fulness as the Bread we received last Work and the Drink we then drank will not satisfie us now without a new supply of daily Bread and Drink so nor will the measure of Grace given the last Week or Day suffice to Day but we need daily to pray in respect of our spiritual Bread from Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread or as some think it better translated Give us this day the Bread of our Sustinence or Sustentation Q. Hath the Grace of God and of Christ then as it signifieth an inward Principle that he giveth to Men its several measures A. Yea it hath as Paul said to every of us â—s Grace given according to the measure of the Gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7. Q. Hath the Spirit of God any measures or parts A. Properly speaking nay For the Spirit of God is one and the same Infinite Being with God and God has no Measures Parts nor Passions Q. Is then the Grace of God a distinct thing from the Spirit of God A. Yea though not divided or separated there-from Q. How then are we to understand that manner of Speech used by some that one hath a greater or lesser measure of the Spirit than another A. Not as with respect to himself but with respect to the Gifts and Graces thereof also when the Spirit is said to be quenched that cannot be understood of the Spirit himself but of his Operations Q. How is the Scripture to be understood that saith the Holy Ghost was sent down by Christ upon the Apostles for seeing the Holy Ghost is that Infinite Spirit and is every where present he is not capable of any local motion of Descent or Ascent A. That Descent is also to be understood not with respect to himself but his Gifts and Graces Q. What are the saving Graces and Gifts of Christ and of the Holy Spirit Are they not an inward Seed and Principle of a spiritual and holy Life the same that John calls the Seed of God 1 John 3. 9. and Peter the Incorruptible Seed of which the Children of God are Born 1 Pet. 1. 23. containing all the Virtues Graces and Fruits of the Spirit in it Seminally as Faith Hope Love Temperance Patience Humility Meekness c. Even as the several Parts and Fruits of a Tree are contained in the Sâ—â—d oâ— it which Seed is by Christ Jesus infused into the Souls of the Faithful to be in them a Principle of spiritual Life and of holy Living and Acting A. Yea. Q. But is not the Word and Doctrin of the Gospel outwardly Preached called the Seed by Christ himself Matth. 13. 19. A. It is so called partly Metaphorically and partly by a Metonymie where the Thing containing receives the Name of the thing contained the External Word and Doctrin being as it were the Conduit whereby the Seed of God's Grace is conveyed into the Soul and whereby that Seed doth Operate in the Souls of Men for their Regeneration who receive it with Faith and Love Q. How and whence have the Faithful the Holy Spirit given unto them of God Is it not by and through Christ considered
and though there be ever so much good Water in the River without me yet if I drink not of it and have not some of it within me I cannot be refreshed nor satisfied nor can I live by all the Water that is in the River or Fountain without me unless I receive of it within me to refresh me But if there were no Water in the River without me I could have none to drink and receive within me but behoved to perish for thirst SECT XI Q. WHen we feel a great thirst and want of the Water of Life within us how are we to receive a supply to refresh and satisfie our thirsty Souls A. By asking it of God through Christ and praying to God in the Name of Christ with true Faith Q. How are we to pray to God and Christ whether as God and Christ are within us or without us or as both within us and without us A. We are to pray to God as he is Omnipresent who is above All and through All and in All as well as that he is Omniscient i. e. knowing all things and Omnipotent i. e. able to do all things and as the Saints Recorded in Scripture prayed to God in Heaven because that is the most glorious Place where he reveals his greatest Glory and is his Throne so they prayed to him who is the Great and Holy One in the midst of them And Christ promised to be in the midst of them that should meet together in his Name according to his spiritual Presence with them and in them Eph. 4. 6. 1 Kings 8. 23. 30. 39. 43. 49. 2 Chron. 6. 14. 21. 23. 25. Psal 46. 5. Psa 12. 6. Zeph. 3. 5. 17. Joel 2. 27. Ezek. 43. 7. Zech. 2. 10. 11. Matth. 18. 20. Q. Ought we not in all our Prayers Adorations and Thanksgivings to direct the Eyes of our Minds by Faith to God especially as dwelling in the glorified Manhood-nature of Christ without us in Heaven and also to Christ God-man in Heaven who in respect of his Bodily Presence is only in Heaven and is in us by his Spiritual Presence and gracious Influences A. Yea. Q. What Type was there of this in the Old Testament A. The Children of Israel when-ever they prayed being remote from it were to direct their Faces towards the Temple of Jerusalem 1 Kings 8. 29. 30. 38. 42. 48. Which Temple was a Type of our Lord's Body and Manhood-nature in Heaven to which our Minds by Faith and Love should be turned when we pray to God and Christ which yet doth not hinder but that we should and ought to pray to God and Christ spiritually Present with us and in us whose Presence filleth Heavens and Earth and who is not a God afar off only but a God nigh at hand a present and ready help to help and relieve us at all times Q. What Type was there in the Old Testament of Christ's Intercession for us in Heaven A. Moses's Intercession for the Children of Israel in the Mount who prevailed against Amaleck their great Adversary below while Moses in the Mount held up his Hands Exod. 17. 11. 12. making Intercession for them even so by Christ's continual Intercession for us in Heaven we have not only acceptance of God but receive power to overcome our Sins and Lusts and the Devil and all his Tentations that assault us here on Earth which were it not for Christ's continual Intercession for us in Heaven we could never do Q. Doth the Man Christ now in Heaven hear our Prayers whether uttered in Words or conceived in our Minds and knoweth all our afflictions tryals and exercises A. Yea certainly and his tender Heart and Soul is touched therewith for we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities Heb. 4. 15. And seeing we have this great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens let us hold fast our Profession and let us come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 14. 16. Q. Are Saints or Angels to be prayed unto A. Nay Rev. 22. 9. Q. Seeing we cannot pray acceptably to God nor profitably to our selves without the present Aid and Assistance of the Spirit of God ought we not at all times to wait with inward attention to that Assistance to help us to pray and in our praying A. Yea Eph. 6. 18. Q. Is that Aid and Assistance of the Spirit perceptible to the Souls of the Faithful so as to be felt and discerned by them A. Yea when the Mind is in a right frame Q. Seeing it is possible that a Man may take that for an inward assistance of the Spirit of God which is not really such but some deception of Satan or strong imagination and on that mistake may have a false joy and counterfeit refreshment how is he to be helped in that Case A. Though the use of outward means is good in their place as Reading Conference Advice from others of greater Spiritual Experience and Attainments and examining both the Case and a Man 's own Sincerity by the outward help of the holy Scriptures yet a Spiritual discerning given of God is most necessary for his help 〈…〉 prevent a Man's being deceived and â—â—â—…ceived to discover the deception to him Heb. 5. 14. Q. Can it be supposed that any of the Faithful will want that assistance of the Spirit either to pray or give thanks or perform any religious Service that is their Duty to perform to God upon all occasions that their state and condition requires of them whether in private or publick in some measure or degree that God will accept A. Nay Q. Is it not therefore a great Error and Sin in them who omit Prayer and Thanksgiving and other religious Exercises upon that pretence and excuse that they want the motion and assistance of the Spirit thereunto A. Yea Jerem. 10. 25. Q. But ought we not to take great Care to have our Hearts and Minds in some prepared frame in order to Prayer or any other religious Exercise A. Yea. Q. How is that Preparation obtained A. Partly by internal Silence and partly by Meditation Q. How by internal Silence A. By suppressing and silencing not only all worldly Thoughts but all Self-thinking Self-willing and Self-acting whatsoever Note by Self-thinking Self-willing and Self-acting here is understood whatever a Man Thinks Wills or Acts by his meer natural strength of Mind without the gracious Aids and Assistances of the Holy Spirit all which do but Cloud and Vail the understanding and weaken and hinder the exercise of our Graces and the more Noble Faculties and Powers of our Souls and quench the Motions and Operations of the Holy Spirit Q. Is such an internal Silence possible and have any attained to it A. It is not only possible but many have attained to it and it is very necessary to attain to it which is gradually obtained and
the difficulty comes gradually to be removed and such an attainment becomes exceeding delightful and sweet as well as profitable to the Soul surely David had attained it when he said Truly my Soul is silent on God Psal 62. 1. as the best translation is and Unto thee O Lord silence praise in Zion Psal 65. 1. As intimating that as God is praised in silence so praise cannot be truly performed unto God while the Mind is unsettled disquieted and discomposed which it will needs be until it come to true Silence as also when he said My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed Psal 57. 7. and then it follows I will Sing and give Praise and divers places of Scripture hold forth not only the duty of inward Silence or ceasing from all Self-actings whether of the Understanding or Will but also the great profit and benefit of it Lam. 3. 27 28. Psal 4. 4. 46. 10. Isa 30. 7. 19. Q. How by Meditation A. After the Mind is cleared and disburdened of all Self-disquieting thoughts and actings then as a fruitful Soil having good Seed sown in it and being watered with Rain from above and warmed with the Sun's heat brings forth plenty of sweet smelling Herbs and Flowers both pleasant to the Sight and profitable for Use which it could not do while it was loaded with Rubbish being helped with the Rain and Warmth of God's Holy Spirit it bringeth forth with ease and pleasure precious and wholsom Meditations and Thoughts most sutable and proper to its present state upon variety of objects all which do greatly conduce to dispose the Soul for Prayer and Thanksgiving and any other religious Duty Q. Doth the holy Spirit help us in Meditation without all use of outward means of Instruction as Reading in the holy Scriptures Hearing Conference A. Nay but by using frequently these outward means the Holy Spirit by his holy Inspirations and Motions brings seasonably to our remembrance what we have formerly heard or read and have been taught out of the holy Scriptures of divine Truth and also brings to our frequent remembrance the great Love and the many Mercies of God to us both Spiritual and Temporal and his great and manifold Deliverances Preservations and gracious Providences which afford us matter of Praise and Thanksgiving unto God which ought to be offered up with our Prayers Q. What things more particularly are the proper and necessary matter and subject of our Meditation A. The Works of Creation and Providence both in general and particular and more especially the Psal 77. 10. 11. Psal 143. 5. Eccles 12. 1. great Work of our Redemption and the great Glory of God that is wonderfully demonstrated therein in his great Attributes of Mercy and Justice Wisdom and Power in most excellent Harmony and how the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are all concerned in that great Work the Father did not dye for us but he so loved us that he spared not his dear Son but gave him freely to dye for us and Christ so loved us that he freely gave himself for us to suffer the cursed Death of the Cross in our stead and the Holy Ghost so loved us that he is come to be a true and faithful 〈◊〉 so us in our hearts to assure us that Christ dyed for us and to apply to us the great Worth Essicacy and Merit of what Christ hath done and suffered for us who is the free gift both of the Father and the Son to us and also freely giveth himself to us by whom God through Christ doth work the true convincement in us of our sin and misery and the true Conversion from it begotting in us true Faith Hope and Charity and all other Evangelical Virtues and Fruits which are therefore called the Fruits of the Spirit all which ought to be the most frequent matter and subject of our most serious and devout Meditation together with the exceeding great obligation of duty that lyeth upon us of Love and Obedience as the reasonable return of such exceeding great and rich favour love and mercy freely bestowed upon us which are the great motives to Christian Obedience also the Laws and Commandments of God and Christ to the end we may obey them ought to be our daily study and meditation in the doing of which we may expect the Blessedness and Promises of God to be fulfilled to us Psal 1. throughout and likewise the precious Promises of God recorded in Scripture ought to be frequently in our Meditations that by them we may be encouraged to pray to God for the performance of them And we ought not only to have continually before the eyes of our Minds the great Love of Christ in his dying for us but his most holy Example in his most perfect Obedience Resignation Patience Humility Self-denyal Love to his Enemies that we may follow his Steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Moreover the frequent consideration of our State past present and future with the most diligent and impartial examination of our selves and of our daily conversation both exteriour and interiour is most necessary for us that wherein we have failed in our duty either to God to our selves or our neighbours we may be humbled and sorry for it confess our sins to God and ask forgiveness of God for Christ's sake and wherein we have been helped by his Spirit and Grace to advance in the ways of Holiness to bless and praise God through Christ Jesus for the same also the frequent meditation of Death and Judgment the vanity of the World with all its Prouts Pleasures Honours and Preferments and the exceeding great advantage of Godliness which hath both the Promises of this Life and of the life to come is exceeding both profitable and necessary to us in all which or whatever is necessary to be remembred by us Cant. 1. 4. Psal 8. 3. 4. Psal 63. 5. 6. Psal 119. 23. 48. 148. 1 Tim. 4. 15. 2 Tim. 2. 8. Psal 104. 34. and made the subject of our frequent meditation the faithful may expect the assistance of God's blessed Spirit in the diligent use of the means and helps that God hath offered to us Q. To whom are we to pray and give thanks as the one intire object of Divine Worship Prayer and Thanksgiving A. To God the Father the Son Jesus Christ God Man and the Holy Spirit and who is also the one intire object of our Faith 1 Cor. 1. 2. 3. Revel 1. 4 5. 6. Q. Are we to make use of any Images in Divine Worship A. Nay Exod. 20. 4. 5. Acts 17. 25. 29. 30. Q. How are we to pray and give thanks so as to be accepted A. In Spirit and Truth in sincerity of heart in Faith without doubting in humility in holy fear with understanding with love and fervency of heart with frequency and constancy to all which we need the continual help of God's Spirit and Grace to aid and assist us John 4. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 8.
as for remission of Sin and Justification so for Regeneration and the new Birth A. Yea which sufficiently sheweth the great ignorance of some that teach how Paul laboured more to bring People to know or have Christ formed in them than to bring them to have a Belief in Christ without them as he was crucified c. For there is no other way to have Christ formed in us but by having a saving Faith in Christ crucified without us wrought in us by the Spirit of God therefore Paul called Christ crucified the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 23. 24 SECT XIV Q. DOth the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and of Fire which Christ promised to his Disciples still remain in the Church A. In respect of the saving Operation and saving Gifts and Graces thereof it doth though not in respect of its miraculous and extraordinary visible Effects as the Gift of Tongues and the visible appearance of Cloven Tongues like as of Fire that sat upon each of them Acts 2. 3. Q With what Fire doth Christ Baptise them that believe in him A. With his Spirit of Judgment and Burning whereby according to God's Promise their silthiness is purged away and with his living internal Word that is as a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in pieces and as a Sword cutteth down and slaveth the earthly Members of the Body of the Sins of the Flesh and as a Fire to burn them up together with the Hay Wood and Stubble the Briers and Thorns and all the combustible matter that cannot dwell with that devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings Isa 33. 14. 15. Q Is that the Fire whereof the Scripture mentioneth whereby a Man shall be Saved according to which God even the God of the Faithful is called a consuming Fire and Christ viz. with respect to his inward appearance and spiritual Operation in Believers was promised to be like a Refiner's Fire and like Fullers Sope and that he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levy and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness and that then the Offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years 1 Cor. 3. 15. A. Yea. Heb. 12. 29. Mal. 3. 2. 3. 4. Q. Why is the Spiritual Appearance and Operation of Christ in Believers compared to Fire and metaphorically so called A. Because of the resemblance and likeness of the natural and outward Fire to the inward and spiritual for as the outward Fire both enlightens and consumes what is combustible as Wood and Stubble but melts purifies and refines Gold and Silver so the inward and spiritual Fire both enlightens the Uunderstanding to see what Sins and Lusts are in the Heart that are to be destroyed and is as powerful and mighty to destroy them yet doth no hurt to the Creature but refineth purgeth and purifieth it as Gold and Silver is purged from the dross Again as the operation of the Fire upon the Flesh of any living Creature is sensibly painful and afflicting so is the operation of this inward and spiritual 〈◊〉 upon the fleshly Lusts of Men that have been as their living fleshly Members even sensibly painful and afflicting with a spiritual sensible pain And as the Fire hath not this operation but as there is a due application and bringing near of the things that the Fire is to operate upon unto the Fire so there must be an inward application of the Heart and Soul of the Man that is to be thus purified and have his Sins and Lusts destroyed to this inward and spiritual Fire which is to be felt in his Heart and Soul and tho' for a season great inward pain and affliction and suffering is here felt as when a Cancer is cut out of a Man's Flesh yet it ought to be born with all possible quiet patience and stilness and even then there is a present inward spiritual Joy Ease and Refreshment felt in the Soul that accompanieth the pain as when a Person is Cut for the Stone the case of having the Stone taken away is greater then the pain of the Wound Q. As there is an inward Baptism which Christ and not Man giveth so is there not an inward Supper that Christ giveth and not Man o◠both which the outward Baptism and Supper are Signe even as the Word outwardly Preached in the outward Ears of Men is a Sign of that inward Word Preached by Christ himself in the Heart and as the inward Word and Preaching of Christ in the Heart makes not the outward Word that is a Sign of the inward null and void or unprofitable but there is a good and excellent consistency betwixt them so is there not as good and excellent consistency betwixt the outward Baptism and Supper which are the Signs and the inward and spiritual A. Yea. Q. Who are they that partake of the inward Baptism and Supper A. None but true Believers in Christ as he was outwardly Crucified and who hear his Voice and open the Door to his knocking c. by has spiritual appearance at the door of their Hearts All such and none but such Sup with him and he with them Q. What is their Supping with him A. His giving them his Flesh to Eat and his Blood to Drink that is his teaching and enabling them by his Spirit to apply the Merit Virtue and Efficacy of his Flesh and Blood which together with his Soul he offered up to God a Sacrifice for our Sins by which application and union through Faith Believers receive remission of Sin and his holy Spirit with the gracious Influences thereof Q. What is his Supping with them A. Their Faith in him and Love to him together with the lively exercise of all their Graces which are acceptable to him as a Supper to a hungry Man Q. But Christ said it is the Spirit that quickens the Flesh profits nothing This is brought by some as an Argument against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered death in the Flesh by them who think that Faith is not necessary A. If their Argument had any weight it would prove that Faith not only not necessary but nothing profitable though some of them distinguish and say they confess it is profitable but not necessary But the Argument is built on a false supposition and perversion of our Saviour's words which was an answer to the carnal Jews their objecting How can this Man give us his Flesh to Eat which they meant of bodily Eating by the bodily Mouth but Christ meant it of a spiritual Eating by the spiritual Mouth of he Soul to wit by Faith which the Spirit giveth and their carnal understanding was that Flesh which did not profit as neither would on supposition their eating of his Flesh with their bodily Mouths if they could have done it Q. Another
Objection is oft made by some against the necessity of Faith in Christ as he suffered in the Flesh that Paul said He knew Christ no more after the Flesh how is this Objection to be answered 2 Cor. 5. 16. A. The words after the Flesh do not refer to Christ's Flesh as if Paul had renounced and quite buried in oblivion all Knowledge Faith and Remembrance of Christ's Death and Sufferings in the Flesh and Resurrection the contrary of which is evident from many places throughout his Epistles and particularly from his words a little before in that same Chapter v. 14 15. but his carnal knowledge of Christ such as he had when a Pharisee which was but a knowledge of Christ after the Flesh he did justly reject Q But have not some felt an inward spiritual Fire and had experience of the good Effects of it who are so far from having had Faith in Christ as he outwardly suffered Death in the Flesh that they are prejudiced against it and have openly before many Witnesses opposed it as unnecessary and unprofitable yea hurtful as drawing from the Gift of God within A. As the Law at Mount Sinai Exod. 19 1. 16. 12. 2. 6. was given in Fire on the 50th day after the Children of Israel came out of Egypt so the Holy Ghost was given in Fire on the 50th day from Christ's Resurrection Acts 2. 1. 2. 3. And as these two outward Fires differed so there are two inward Ministrations of Fire as it were two Fires the first Legal the second Evangelical and whatever good Effects the Legal Fire produceth it maketh none the Children of the New Covenant or bringeth to that Perfection and Purification and true and real Sanctification that the Gospel ministration bringeth unto the Effects of the last and first as much differing as Gold and Silver differs from Brass and Iron Q. What is the Everlasting Life A. It is the full enjoyment of God and Christ together with the holy Spirit by Vision Love and Delight together with the complete Glorification of the Souls and Bodies of all the Faithful eternally and without all end in the Kingdom of Heaven and where they shall enjoy the blessed Society of all the holy Angels and glorified Saints Matth. 5. 8. 1 Cor. 13. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Rev. 22. 4. Philip 3. 21. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 12. 22. Q. Is there an Earnest or first Fruits of Eternal Life that the Faithful do enjoy here on Earth in the mortal Body A. Yea John 6. 47. 58. Rom. 8. 23. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 14. Q. What is that Faith in Christ Jesus whereby the Faithful eat his Flesh and drink his Blood that they may have Eternal Life A. It is not only the assent of the understanding to the truth of Christ as he came in the Flesh and gave his Body of Flesh to be broken and his Blood to be sued for us but is a most chearful ready and free consent of the Heart and Will whereby every true Believer with great desire receiveth accepteth and relyeth upon Christ trusteth and consideth in him and in God the Father through him for remission of Sin Justification and Eternal Life and Salvation and all the Spiritual blessings promised in the Gospel and by which free act of the Will the Faithful chuse God to be their God and Father and Christ to be their Redeemer and Saviour Head and Husband King and Lord as well as Priest and Propitiation for Sin The Believer having thus acted Faith on him is as truly refreshed comforted strengthened fed and satisfied with him as a hungry Man is with Meat therefore by a Metaphor believing in Christ is called an eating of him both which assent of the Understanding and consent and choice of the Heart and Will is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of Christ by means of the Word and Doctrin delivered in the holy Scriptures and by the like Metaphor it is called a looking to him a coming to him a resting and abiding in him a being joyned to him as the Members are joyned to the Head a being grafted in him Rom. 11. 17. Joh. 15. 4. and built upon him as on a sure Foundation also a being married to him by which Faith as they abide and dwell in him so he abideth and dwelleth in them Heb. 12. 2. Isa 45. 21. 22. Matth. 11. 28. Isa 11. 10. John 15. 7. Eph. 2. 6. 3. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 4. Yea not only his Spirit and Life dwelleth in them but he himself the Man Christ Jesus who dyed and rose again by Faith dwelleth in them not by his bodily Presence but by their having him in their constant thoughts and remembrance and in their love and affections as the loving Wife hath her loving Husband in her thoughts and affections when he is bodily absent and as Paul said to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7. 3. You are in our hearts to dye and to live with you Q. But it is objected by some that they find a difficulty if not an impossibility in it to believe in the Man Christ without them whom they have never at any time heard or seen they cannot frame a conception of him in the mind as the Wife can of the Husband whom she hath both heard and seen and immediately conversed with A. The account that the holy Scriptures give us of him and of his most holy Life and Virtues and wonderful Excellencies doth better help us to frame a Conception of him in our minds as the holy Spirit that we receive from him gives life to that Conception by his powerful Operation in us than if we had only seen him and heard him outwardly as the true and accurate description of a Man's Life and Virtues gives us a better account of him than the bodily sight and hearing of him therefore it was that our Lord said to Thomas Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed Joh. 20. 29. There is no Man who hath receiv'd some extraordinary favour from a Person that he hath not seen but by the favour which he hath receiv'd from him he will be helped to frame a very lovely Conception of him in his Heart and Soul And the faithful who had not seen Christ with their bodily Eyes more than we to whom Peter writ unto did both believe in Christ and love him whom they had not seen and rejoyced in him with great joy even joy unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1. 6. With what dearness of love and affection do we love the Saints whose holy Lives and Virtues are so lively set forth to us in the Scriptures and the holy Martyrs in Church History though we believe not in them But we could not love them unless we had some true Conception or Idea of them for love doth as much require a lively Conception of the Object beloved as Faith requireth a lively Conception of the Object believed Therefore if