Christian shall be damned who knoweth not what a PERSON in the Trinity is as Eternally inexistent when all the Divines and School Wits as good as confess after tedious disputes with unintelligible words that they know not It is the Trinity as related to us and Operative and therein Notified that We must necessarily understand and believe even as Our Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier that the Love of God the Father and the Grace of the Son and the Communion of the Holy Ghost may be believed received and enjoyed As there are diversities of Gifts but the same Spirit and differences of Administrations but the same Lord and diversities of Operations but the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Even as it is not our understanding the Essence of the Sun but our Reception of it 's communicated Motion Light and Heat that our Nature liveth by Q. 11. But how can any Man love him above all of whom we can have no true Conception I cannot Conceive what GOD is A. It may be you think that you know nothing but what you see or feel by Sense For so Mens long use of Bodies and Sense is apt to abuse them Or you think you know nothing which you know not fully and so no Angel knoweth God by an adequate comprehensive Knowledge How far are we from knowing fully what Sun and Moon and Stars are and what is in them and how they are ordered and move And yet nothing is more easily and surely known than that there is a Sun and Stars and that they are substances that have the power of Motion Light and Heat Yea Philosophers cannot yet agree what Light and Heat are And yet we know enough of them for our necessary use And can it be expected then that Man give a proper Definition of the Infinite God And yet nothing is more certain than that there is a God and that he is such as I have before described And we may know as much of him as our Duty and Happinss requireth Q. 12. But what is the best Conception I can have of God A. I partly told you in the Third Chapter and the Second I now tell you further that we see God here but as in a Glass His Image on Mans Soul is the nearest Glass How do you conceive of your own Soul You cannot doubt but you have a Soul while you perceive its constant acts Yet you see it not You find clearly that It is a Spiritual substance that hath essentially the power of Vital-Activity Understanding and Will By this you perceive what a Spirit is And by this you have some perception what GOD is All the World is far less to God than a Body to its Soul And GOD is Infinitely more than a Soul to all the World But by the Similitude of a Soul you may most easily conceive of him CHAP. X. Of God's Almightiness and Creation Qu. 1. WHy is God here called The FATHER in whom we believe A. 1. As he is the first Person in the Eternal Trinity and so called The Father of the Eternal Word or Wisdom as his Son 2. As he is the Father of Jesus Christ as Incarnate 3. As he is the Maker of the whole Creation and as a Common Father giveth Being to all that is 4. As he is our Reconciled Father by Christ and hath adopted us as his Sons and bound us to Love and Trust and Obey him as our Father But the two first are the chief Sence Q. 2. What is God's ALMIGHTINESS A. His Infinite Power by which he can do all things which are works of Power He cannot Lie nor Die nor be the Cause of sin for these are no Effects of Power but of Impotencie Q. 3. Why is his Almightiness to be believed by us A. We do not else believe him to be GOD And we cannot else Reverence Admire Trust him and Obey him as we ought Q. 4. Why is his Almightiness only named and no other properties A. All the rest are supposed when we call him GOD. But this is named because he is first to be Believed in as the Creator and his Creation doth eminently manifest his Power And though the Son and the Holy Ghost are Almighty the Scripture eminently attributeth POWER to the FATHER WISDOM to the SON and LOVE and Perfective Operations to the Holy Ghost Q. 5. Is the Creation named to notifie to us God's Almightiness A. Yes and it is a great part of our Duty when we look up to the Heavens and daily see so far as our short sight can reach of this wondeful World to think with most reverend admiration O what a GOD have we to serve and trust Q. 6. HOw did God make all things A. He gave them all their Being Order and well-being by the Power of his Will and Word Q. 7. When did he make all things A. It is not yet Six thousand Years since he made this World even as much as belongs to us to know Q. 8. How long was God making this World A. It pleased him to make it the work of Six dayes and he consecrated the seventh day a Sabbath for the Commemoration of it and for the solemn Worshipping Him as our Creator Q. 9. For whom and for what use did God make the World A. God made all things for himself not as having need of them but to please his own will which is the Beginning and the End of all his Works and to shine in the Glory of the Greatness Order and Goodness of the World as in a glass to understanding Creatures and to communicate Goodness variously to his Works Q. 10. What did God with the World when he had made it A. By the same Power Wisdom and Will he still continueth it or else it would presently return into nothing Q. 11. What further must we learn from Godâ— CREATING us A. We certainly learn that he is our OWNER our RULER and our BENEFACTOR or FATHER and that we are his OWN and His SUBJECTS and his BENEFITED Children Q. 12. What mean you by the First that he is our OWNER A. He that maketh us of nothing must needs be our absolute Lord or Owner And therefore may do with all things what he Will and cannot possibly do any wrong however he useth us And we must needs be wholly his Own and therefore should wholly resign our selves to his disposing Will. Q. 13. What mean you by the Second that God is our Ruler A. He that by Creation is our absolute Owner and hath made us Reasonable and with Free-will must needs have the only right and fitness to be our Ruler by his Laws and Doctrine And we are bound as his Subjects to Obey him absolutely in all things Q. 14. How gather you that he is our Father or Benefactor A. If we have our very Being from him and all the Good that the whole Creation enjoyeth be his
and they driven hastily out they yearly continued the Eating of the Passover with unleavened Bread as in a hasting posture 3. Since the Law given in the Wilderness they constantly used the Sacrifices the Oblations the Tabernacle the Priesthood and Ceremonies as that Law prescribed them And the National constant use of these was an ascertaining Tradition of the matters of Fact which were their cause 4. Yea so tenacious were they of this Law that as they taught the very Syllables of it to their Children and kept in the Ark the very Tables of Stone that had the Ten Commandments so they were Enemies to Christianity because the Christians were against the Gentiles Observation of their Law and for its abrogation 4. Consider again that the Matter of Fact and the Divine Institution is since made certain to us by Christs Testimony Q. 11. But seeing this Law doth not bind us now nor the particular Messages of the Prophets were sent to us is it any of our Concern now to know or believe them It belonged to those that they were made for and sent to But what are they to us A. There is not the same necessity to know them and so to be such that they were all of God as there is to know and believe the Gospel But it is greatly our Duty and Concern to believe them 1. Because they were preparatory to the Gospel and bore an antecedent Testimony to it 2. Because the Gospel it self beareth witness of their Truth which therefore if we believe it we must believe 3. Because by the Holy Ghost's direction all now make up our Books of Sacred Records which is the certain Word of God though not all of the same Necessity and Evidence And here I must tell you a great and needful Truth which ignorant Christians fearing to confess by overdoing tempt Men to Infidelity The Scripture is like a Mans Body where some parts are but for the preservation of the rest and may be maimed without death The Sence is the Soul of the Scripture and the Letters but the Body or Vehicle The Doctrine of the Creed Lords Prayer and Decalogue and Baptism and Lords Supper is the Vital part and Christianity it self The Old Testament Letter written as we have it about Ezras's time is that Vehicle which is as imperfect as the Revelation of those times was But as after Christ's Incarnation and Ascension the Spirit was more abundantly given and the Revelation more perfect and Sealed so the Doctrine is more full and the Vehicle or Body that is the Words are less imperfect and more sure to us so that he that doubteth of the Truth of some Words in the Old Testament or of some small Circumstantials in the New hath no reason therefore to doubt of the Christian Religion of which these Writings are but the Vehicle or Body sufficient to ascertain us of the Truth of the History and Doctrine Be sure first that Christ is the very Son of God and it inferreth the certainty of all his Words and enforceth our whole Religion Q. 12. I perceive then that our main Question is both as to Necessity and Evidence How we are sure that the Gospel is true and the Records of it the very Word of God A. It is so And as it is this that must Rule and Judge the Church so we have to us fuller proof of this than of the Old Testament Because that the narrowness of the Iews Countrey in comparison of the Christian World and the many Thousand Years distance and a Language whose Phrase and Proverbial speeches and the very sence of the common words of it must needs make it more unknown to us than the Language that the Gospel is Recorded in And it is not the least proof of the Truth of the Old Testament that it is attested and confirmed by the New Q. 13. Will you first tell me How the Apostles and that first Age were sure that the Gospel of Christ was the very Word of God A. Here I must first tell you that the great Mystery of the Blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost being One God is made necessary to us to be believed not only as to the Eternal unsearchable Inexistence but specially for the Knowledge of Gods three great sorts of Works on Man That is As our Creator and the God of Nature as our Redeemer and the God of Governing and and reconciling Grace and as our Sanctifier and the Applyer and Perfecter of all to fit us for Glory And so the Son as Redeemer is the way to the Father to know him and his Love and be reconciled to him And the Holy Ghost is the Witness of the Son The proof therefore of the Gospel of Christ in one word is the Holy Ghost that is the certain Testimony of God's Spirit And this Testimony consisteth of these several parts I. The foregoing Testimony of the Spirit by all the Prophesies of the Old Testament and the Typical Prefigurations which became a fuller proof than before when they were seen all to be fulfilled in Christ Yet many were fulfilled before When Abraham had no Child he was promised the Multiplication of his Seed and that all Nations should be blessed therein Gen. 12. 2. 13. 16. 15. 5. 17. 2. 18. 11 12. The 400 Years of their abode in Egypt and Canaan before were foretold and punctually fulfilled Gen. 15. 13 14. Ex. 12. 31 32. So was Iacob's Prophesie of Iudah's Scepter Gen. 42. 8 9 10. And Ioseph's dreams And verily Balaams last Prophesie was marvellous who when he had blessed Israel and foretold their Victories foretold also the Scepter of David and Christ and the success of the Assyrians and after that of Chittim against the Hebrews themselves Numb 24. And who seeth not the fulfilling of the terrible Prophesie of Moses against the Iews Deut. 31 Iosiah by Name and his Deeds were foretold 300 Years before he was Born 1 Kings 13. 2. 2 Kings 23. 15. Oft was the Captivity of the Iews foretold and the destruction of Babylon and the Iews return by Cyrus named long before he was Born and the very time foretold From the beginning Christ was promised and the circumstances of his coming foretold Gen. 3. 15. 26. 4. 49. 10. Deut. 18. 15. Psal. 2. 27. 89. 110. Isa. 53. 11. 1. Ier. 33. 15. Mic. 5. 2. That he should be Born of a Virgin Isa. 7. 14. in Bethlem Mic. 5. 2. and then the Infants killed Ier. 31. 15 that he should come into the Temple as the Angel of the Covenant whom they desired but they should not endure therein when he came because he came as a Refiner Mal. 3. 1. 3. That he should go into Egypt and return thence Isa. 19. 1. Hos. 11. 1. That One should go before him to prepare the way Mal. 3. 1. That he should do wonders for the People Isa. 35. 5. That a familiar should betray him and that for Thirty pieces of
Silver Psal. 41. 9. 55. 13 14. Zech. 11 12 13 and a Potters Field be bought with them all his Persecution and abuse and Sufferings are foretold Isa. 50. 6. 53. Psa. 69. 21. 22. 18. 118. 22. Isa. 6. 9. even â—o the Circumstances of giving him Vinegar casting Lots for his Garments suffering as a Malefactor Yea the very time is foretold Dan. 9. 25 26. And that then the second Temple should be destroyed II. The second part of the Spirits Testimony or the certain proof of Christian Truth is The Inherent constitutive Proof or Testimony in the unimitable Excellency of the Person and Gospel of Christ which is the Image and superscription of God The Person of Christ was of such excellency of Wisdom Goodness and power apparent in his Doctrine Works and Patience all sinless and full of Holy Love to God and Man as is not consistent with being the Deceiver of the World His Gospel in the very Constitution of it hath the impress of God He that hath the Spirit of God will find that in the Gospel which is so suitable to the Divine Nature as will make it the easier to him to believe it Angels preached the Summ of it Luke 2. 14. It is all but the fore-promised and prefigured Redemption of Man Historically delivered and the Doctrine Laws and Promises of saving Grace most fully promulgated It is the wonderful Revelation of the Power Wisdom and Goodness the Truth Justice and Holiness of God especially his Love to Man and of his marvellous design for the recovery Sanctifying and saving of Sinners and removing all the impediments of their Repentance and Salvation It is so wholly fitted to the Glorifying of God and the reparation of depraved Nature and the purifying and perfecting of Mans Soul to the guidance of Mens Lives in the wayes of true Wisdom Godliness Righteousness Soberness Mutual Love and Peace that Men may live profitably to others and live and die in the Sence of God's Love and in a safe and comfortable State that we may be sure so good a thing had a good Cause For had it been the device of Men they must have been very bad Men that would put Gods Name to it and tell so many Lies from Generation to Genration to deceive the World And it is not to be imagined that from Moses time to the writing of Iohn's Revelations there should arise a Succession of Men of such a strange self-contradicting Constitution as should be so good as to devise the the most Holy and Righteous and Self-denying Doctrines for the great good of Mankind and yet all of them so odiously wicked as to belye God and deceive Men and do all this good in so bad a manner with so bad a Heart And if any Blasphemer would Father it upon evil Spirits what a Contradiction would he speak As if Satan would promote the greatest good for the Honour of God and Benefit of Man while he is the greatest Hater of God and Man And as if he would devise a Doctrine to reproach himself and destroy his own Kingdom and bless Mankind and so were at once the best and the worst Indeed the Holy Scriptures do bear the very Image and Superscription of God in their Ends Matter and Manner and prove themselves to be his Word For God hath not given us external proofs that such a Book or Doctrine is his which is it self no better than humane Works and hath no intrinsick proof of its Divine Original But the intrinsick and extrinsick Evidences concurre What Book like the Sacred Scriptures hath taught the World the Knowledge of God the Creation of the World the End and Hope and Felicity of Man What the heavenly Glory is and how procured and how to be obtained and by whom How man became sinful and miserable And how he is recovered And what wonders of Love God hath shewn to Sinners to win their Hearts in Love to him What Book hath so taught Men to live by Faith and the hopes of Glory above all the Lusts of Sense and Flesh and to referr all things in this VVorld to Spiritual Holy and Heavenly Ends to Love others as our selves and to do good to all even to our Enemies to live in such Union and Communion and Peace as is caused by this Vital Grace of Love and not like a Heap of Sand that every spurn or blast of cross Interest will separate VVhat Book so teacheth Man to Love God above all and to pray to him praise him and absolutely obey him with constant pleasure and to trust him absolutely with Soul Body and Estate and cast all our care upon him and in a word to converse in Heaven while we are on Earth and to live as Saints that we may live as Angels Q. 14. But how few be there that do all this A. 1. I shall further answer that anon None do it in Perfection but all found Christians do it in Sincerity 2. But at present it is the perfection of the Doctrine of Christ and of the Sacred Scriptures that I am proving And it is not Mens breaking the Law that will prove that God made it not Q. 15. You have told me of the foregoing Testimony of the Spirit to Christ and the Gospel and of the Inherent Constitutive Testimony or Proof Is there any other A. Yes III. There is the Concomitant Testimony by the Works of Christ Nicodemus could say We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no Man can do the Works that thou dost except God were with him Joh. 3. 2. He cleansed the Lepers with his word he cast out Devils he healed the Lame the Deaf the Blind yea that were born Blind he healed Palsies Feavers and all manner of sicknesses with a touch or a word he turned Water into Wine he fed twice many Thousands by Miracle he walkt on the Sea and made Peter do the same the Winds and Sea obeyed his Command he raised the Dead This course of Miracles were the most evident Testimony of God And he was brought into the World by Miracle Born of a Virgin Foretold and Named Iesus by an Angel Preached to Shepherds by Angels from Heaven a Star conducting the Eastern Wise-men to the place Iohn his foregoer named by an Angel and Zacharias struck dumb for not believing it Prophesied of by Anna and Simeon owned at his Baptism by the visible descent of the Spirit in the shape of a Dove and by a Voice of God from Heaven and the like again at his Transfiguration when Moses and Elias appeared with him and he did shine in Glory And at his Death the Earth trembled the Sun was obscured and the Air darkened and the Vail of the Temple rent But the fullest Evidence was Christs own Resurrection from the Dead his oft appearing to his Disciples after and conversing with them at times for Forty Dayes and giving them their Commission and promising them the Spirit and ascending
meant in the Creed A. Yes 1. The Creed containeth the necessary Matter revealed by God which we must believe 2. And it mentioneth Him to whom we must Trust in our Assent Consent and Practice even God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Q. 7. But is this the Faith by which we are justifyed Are we justified by believing in God the Father and the Holy Ghost and the rest of the Articles Some say It is only by believing in Christs Righteousness as imputed to us A. Justification is to be spoken of hereafter But this one entire Christian Faith is it which God hath made the necessary qualification or Condition of such as he will justifie by and for the Merits of Christ's Righteousness Q. 8. Doth not I believe signifie that I believe that this God is my God my Saviour and my Sanctifier in particular A. It is an applying Faith It signifieth 1. That you Believe his Right to be your God 2. And his offer to be your God 3. And that you consent to this Right and Offer that he may be special Relation be yours 4. But it doth not signifie that every Believer is sure of the sincerity of his own Act of believing and so of his special Interest in God though this is very desirable and attainable CHAP. IX Of the first Article I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth Qu. 1. SEeing you before proved that there iâ— a God from the Light of Nature aâ—â— Heathens know it why is it made an Article â—â— Faith A. The understanding of Man is so darkened and corrupted now by sin that it doth but groâ—â— after God and knoweth him not as revealeâ— in his Works alone so clearly and surely as â—â— needful to bring home the Soul to God in Holâ— Love Obedience and Delight But he is morâ— fully revealed to us in the Sacred Scripture bâ— Christ and his Spirit which therefore must bâ— herein believed Q. 2. What of God doth the Scripture make knoâ—â— better than Nature A. That there is a God and what God is and what are his Relations to us and what aâ—â— his works and what are our Duty to him anâ— our Hopes from him Q. 3. That there is a God none but a mad Mâ—…sure can doubt But what of God is so clearly râ—…vealed in Scripture A. 1. His essential Attributes and 2. The Trâ—…nity in one Essence Q. 4. Which call you his Essential Aâ—tributes A. God is essentially LIFE UNDERSTANDING and WILL or VITAL-POWER WISDOM and GOODNESS or LOVE in one substance and this in absolute Perfection Q. 5. But are not all the rest of his Attributes Essential A. Yes But they are but these same Named variously from their various respects to the Creatures such are his Truth his Iustice and his Mercy as he is our Governour His Bounty as our Benefactor and his Self-sufficiency Eternity Immensity or Infiniteness his Immutability Immortality Invisibility and very many such respective Names are comprehended in his PERFECTION Q. 6. I have oft heard of Three Persons and One God and I could never understand what it meant How Three can be but One. A. It 's like that is because you take the word PERSON amiss as if it signified a distinct Substance as it doth of Men. Q. 7. If it do not so doth it not tend to deceive us that never heard of any other kind of Person A. The Scripture tells us that there are Three and yet but One God but it giveth us not a Name which may notifie clearly so great a Mystery for it is unsearchable and incomprehensible We are to be Baptized into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Matth. 28. 29. And there are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one 1 Ioh. 5. 7. But the custom of the Church having used the word PERSON having none that clearly expresseth the Mystery it is our part rather to labour to understand it how a Divine Person differâ— from a Humane than to quarrel with an impropeâ— word GOD is ONE Infinite undivided Spiritâ— and yet that he is FATHER SON and HOLY GHOST must be believed And God hath made so marvellous an impression on all the Natures of Active Beings of THREE in ONE as to me doth make this Mystery of oâ—â— Religion the more easie to be believed so far iâ— it from seeming a contradiction Q. 8. I pray shew me some such Instances A. I. The Sun and all true Fire is One Substancâ—â— having Three Essential Powers the Moving Poweâ— the Enlightning Power and the Heating Power Motion is not Light Light is not Heat and Heâ—â— is not Motion or Light Yet all are One Substancâ—â— and radically one Virtue or Power and yet Three as Operative II. Every Plant hath One Vegetative principlâ—â— which hath Essentially a Power Discretive aâ—… discerning its own Nutriment Appetitive deâ—…ring or drawing it in and Motive and so digestivâ— and assimilative III. Every Bruit hath One Sensitive Soul whicâ— Essentially hath a Power of Vital-sensitive Motioâ—â— Perception and Appetite IV. Every Man hath One Soul in Substance whicâ— hath the Powers of Vegetation Sense and Intellection â—â— Reasoning V. The Soul of Man as Intellective hath Essentially a Threefold Power or Virtue Mental Life for motion and execution Understanding and Will All Active Beings are Three Virtues in one substance Q. 9. But these do none of them make Three Persons A. 1. But if all these be undenyable in Nature and prove in GOD ACTIVE LIFE UNDERSTANDING and WILL it shews you that Three Essentials in One substantial Essence is no contradiction And why may not the same be as true of the Divine Persons 2. And in God who is an Infinite undivided Spirit little can we conceive what Personality Signifieth and how far those Schoolmen are right or wrong who say That Gods Essential SELF-LIVING SELF-KNOWING and SELF-LOING are the Trinity of the Persons as in Eternal Existence and that the Operations and Appearances in POWER WISDOM and LOVE in CREATION INCARNATION for REDEMPTION and Renovation in NATURE GRACE and Initial GLORY or Communion are the Three Persons in the Second Notion as outwardly Operative And how much more than this soever there is it is no wonder that we comprehend it not Yea I believe there is yet more in the Mystery of the Trinity because this much is so intelligible Q. 10. But is it not strange that God will lay our Salvation on the belief of that which we cannot understand Yea is it not on the bare saying of a Word whose meaning none can know A. The Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity is the very Summ of all the Christian Religion as the Baptismal Covenant assureth us And can we think that Christianity saveth Men as a Charm by words not understood No the belief of the Trinity is a Practical Belief far be it from us to think that every plain
signifieth a Saviour and Christ tâ—â— Anointed of God He being Anointed by God â—â— the Office of a Mediator as the Great Propheâ— Priest and King of the Church CHAP. XII How Christ was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and Born of the Virgin Mary Qu. 1. DOth it not seem Impossible that Christ should be begotten on a Virgin without a Man A. There is no Contradiction in it And what is impossible to him that made all the World of nothing Q. 2. But it seems incredible that God should be made Man A. God was not at all changed by Christ's Incarnation The Godhead was not turned into Flesh or Soul but united it self thereto Q. 3. But it seemeth an incredible Condâ—scension in God to unite the Nature of Man to himself in Personal Union A. When you understand what it is it will not seem incredible to you though wonderful Consider 1. That it doth not turn the humane Nature into Divine 2. Nor doth it give it any of that part or work which was proper to the Divine Nature and Second Person in the Trinity from Eternity 3. The Divine Nature is united to the Humane only to advance this to the excellent Office of Mediation and that Christ in it may be Head over all things to the Church 4. And it will abate your wonder if you consider that God is as near to every Creature as the Soul is to the Body In Him we live move and have our being And he is more to us than our Souls are to our Bodies Q. 4. You now make me think that God is one with every Man and Creature as well as with Christ. I pray you wherein is the difference A. Gods Essence is every where alike but he doth not appear or work every where alike As he is more in Heaven than on Earth because he there operateth and appeareth in Glory and as he is more in Saints than in the Ungodly because in them he Operateth his Grace so he is in Jesus Christ otherwise than he is in any other Creature 1. In that he by the Divine Power qualified him as he never did any other Creature 2. And designeth him to that work which he never did any other Creature 3. And fixeeth him in the honourable Relation to that work 4. And communicateth to him by an uniting act the Glory which he doth not to any other Creature And though it 's like there is yet more unknown and incomprehensible to us yet these singular Operations express a singular Operative Union The Sun by shining on a Wall becomes not one with it But by its influence on Plants it becometh one with them and is their Generical Life Q. 5. But how is the Second Person in the Trinity more United to the humane Nature than the Father and the Holy Ghost are they divided A. You may as well ask Why God is said to make the World by his WORD and by his SON Tho the Persons are undivided in their works on the Creature yet Creation is eminently ascribed to the Father Incarnation and Redemption to the Son and Sanctification to the Holy Ghost The Suns power of Motion Light and Heat are inseparable And yet it is the Light as such that with our Eye doth cause the same act of sight as united to it But the perfect Answer to this doubt is reserved for Heaven Q. 6. But how was he conceived by the Holy Ghost the Second Person by the third when it is only the Second that was incarnate A. The Holy Ghost is not said to operate on the Second Person in the Trinity or the Godhead for Christs Conception but on the Virgins Body and by miraculous causing a humane Soul and Body and their union with the Eternal Word Gods perfecting Operations are usually ascribed to the Holy Ghost But the Father and Son are still supposed Operating by the Holy Spirit Q. 7. Was Christ's Flesh made of the substance of his Mother A. Yes Else how had he been the Son of Man Q. 8. Was Christ's Soul begotten by his Mother A. It is certain that Man begetteth Man But how Souls are generated is not fully known by Man Some say They are not Generated but Created Some say That they are not Created but Generated And I think that there is such a concurrence of God's act and Mans as may be called a Conjunction of Creation and Generation that is that as the Sun-beams by a Burning-Glass may light a Candle and that Candle light another and another yet so that the Light and Heat that doth it is only from the Suns continual communication But will not Light another but as contracted and made forcible by the Burning-glass or the Candle So all the Substance of new Souls is from the Divine Efflux or communication of it which yet will not ordinarily beget a Soul but as it is first received in the Generative natural faculty and so operateth by it as it s appointed Natural means Thus it seems all humane Souls are caused Pardon the defects of the Similitude But the Soul of Christ miraculously not without all Operation of the Mothers for then he had not been the Son of Man but without a humane Father the Holy Ghost more than supplying that defect Q. 9. If Christ was Mary's Son how escaped he Original guilt A. By being conceived by the Holy Ghost and so in his humane Nature made the Son of God and not generated as other Men are Q. 10. Had Mary any Children after Iesus Christ A. It goes for a Tradition with most that she had none But it is uncertain and concerneth not our Faith or Salvation Q. 11. Why was Christ Born of a Jew A. God had made a special Promise to Abraham first that Christ should be his Seed in whom all Nations should be blessed and to David after that he should be his Off-spring an everlasting King Q. 12. Why was not Christ Born till about Four thousand Years after the Fall A. It 's dangerous asking Reasons of God's Councils which he hath not revealed But this much we may know that Christ was Mans Redeemer by undertaking what he after did before his Incarnation And that he revealed the Grace of Redemption by Promises Types and Prophesies and so saved the Faithful And that Gods works are usually progressive to Perfection and ripeâ—t at last And therefore when he had first sent his Prophets he lastly sent his Son to perform his undertaking and bring Life and Immortality more fully to light and bring in a better Covenant and gather a more excellent Universal Church Q. 13. Were any savâ—d by Christ before he was made Man A. Yes They had the Love of the Father the Grace of Christ and the necessary communion of the Holy Ghost and the Promise And in every Age and Nation he that feared God and work't Righteousness was accepted of him CHAP. XIII Suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified Dead and Buried he descended into Hell
For 1. The difference between Heaven and Hell is so great that there must needs be a great difference between them that shall go to each And therefore it may be known Christ's Spirit is not an undiscernable Mark and Pledge to them that have it 2. And we are commanded to search and try our selves and many Marks of difference are told us and the Persons plainly described that shall be Justified and Condemned And they are already here Justified and Condemned by that Law by which they shall be judged 3. And what comfort could we have in all the Redemption and Grace of Christ and all the Promises of Salvation if we could not come to know our Title by them Q. 13. Who be they that Christ will then justifie or condemn A. I must not here answer that Question because its proper place is afterward under some of the following Articles Q. 14. But I find some Scriptures saying That we are not justified by works but by Faith in Christ and yet in Mat. 25. Christ passeth the Sentence upon Mens Works as the Cause and it 's said We shall be judged according to our works A. By works Paul meaneth All works that are conceived to make the reward to be not of Grace but of Debt All works which are set in competition or opposition to Justification by Faith in Christ The Question between him and the Iews was Whether the Divine excellency of Moses's Law was such as that it was given to justifie the doers of it as such Or whether it was but an Index to point them to Christ the end of the Law by whom they must be justified But it is not Believing in Christ nor begging his Grace nor thankfully accepting it that Paul meaneth by Works in his exclusion It is this that he sets against these works And as we are here made Justified Persons by meer Grace giving us Repentance and Faith in Christ that is making us Christians so this obligeth us to live and die as Christians if we will be saved And therefore the final justifying Sentence at Judgment doth pass on us according to such works only as are the performance of our Covenant with Christ without which we shall not be saved and therefore not then justified our Justification then being the justifying of our Title to Salvation and therefore hath the same conditions Q. 15. What may we further learn by this Article of Christ's coming A. 1. We must learn to Fear and Obey him that must judge us And to live as we would then hear of it and to make it all the work of Our lives to prepare for that day and final doom And diligently to try our Hearts and Lives that we may be sure to be then justified 2. We must not be discouraged that we see not Christ but remember that we shall shortly see him in his Glory In the Sacrament and all his worship let us do it as expectants of his coming 3. We have no cause to be dismayed at the Prosperity of the Wicked nor at our Prosecutions or any sufferings while we foresee by Faith that glorious Day 4. We should live in the joyful Hopes of that Day when he that died for us and Sanctified us shall be our Judge and justifie us and finally judge us to endless Life And we must love and long and pray for this Glorious coming of Christ. Come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen CHAP. XVII III. I Believe in the Holy Ghost Qu. 1. WHat is meant by believing in the Holy Ghost A. It meaneth our Believing what he is and what he Doth and our Trusting to Himself and to his Works Q. 2. What must we believe of Himself A. That he is God the Third Person in the Trinity One in Essence with the Father and the Son Q. 3. What must we believe of his Works A. We must believe 1. That the Holy Ghost is the great Agent and Advocate of Jesus Christ on Earth by his works to be his Witness and to plead his Cause and communicate his Grace 2. That the Holy Ghost was the Author of those many uncontrolled Miracles by which the Gospel of Christ was Sealed to the World And therefore that those Miracles were the certain attestation of God 3. That the Holy Ghost was given by Christ to his Apostles and Evangelists to enable them to perform the extraordinary Office to which they were Commissioned to teach the Nations to observe all things that Christ had commanded and to lead them into all Truth and bring all things to their remembrance 4. That therefore the Doctrine of the said Apostles and Evangelists first preached by them and after Recorded in the Sacred Scriptures for the use of the Church to the end of the World as the full Doctrine and Law of Christ is to be received as the Word of God indited by the Spirit 5. That it is the work of the Holy Ghost to Sanctifie all Gods Elect that is to illuminate their understandings to convert their Wills to God and to strengthen and quicken them to do their duty and conquer Sin and save them from the Devil the World and the Flesh And to be in them a Spirit of Power and Love and a sound mind And so that the Holy Ghost is an Intercessor within us to communicate LIFE LIGHT and LOVE from the Father and the Son and excite in us those Holy Desires Thanks and Praise which are meet for Gods acceptance All this is contained in our Believing in the Holy Ghost Q. 4. If all this be in it it seemeth a most necessary part of Faith A. The Perfective works of God are used to be ascribed to the Holy Ghost This is so weighty and necessary a part of Faith that all the rest are insufficient without it Millions perish that God created and that Christ in a general sort as aforesaid dyed for but those that are Sanctifyed by the Holy Ghost are saved It is the work of the Holy Ghost to Communicate to us the Grace of Christ that the work of Creation and Redemption may attain their Ends. Q. 5. How is it proved that the Holy Ghost is God A. In that we are Baptized into the Belief of him as of the Father and the Son And in that he doth the works proper to God and hath the Attributes of God in Scripture Which also expresly saith There are Three which bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are One 1 Joh. 5. 7. Q. 6. I have oft marvelled that the Creed left out 1. The Authority of the Apostles 2. And their Miracles and Christs 3. And the Authority of the Scriptures and now I perceive that all these are contained in our believing in the Holy Ghost A. No doubt but it is a Practical Article of Faith in which we profess to believe in the Holy Ghost in his Relation and Works on Man and therefore â—â— Christ's Agent in gathering his
true Christians in the World And 2. Because it consisteth of Persons that have every where in the World the same Essentiating qualifications summed up Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. One Body one Spirit one hope of our Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all though iâ— various Measures of Grace And so the Concordanâ— Churches of Christ through the World were called The Catholick Church as distinct from the Sects and Heresies that broke from it Q. 4. How comes the Pope of Rome to call only his Subjects Catholicks A. The greatest part of the Church on Earth by far was long in the Roman Empire and when Emperors turned Christians they gave the Churches Power for the Honour of Christianity to form the Churches much like the Civil State And so a General Council of all the Churches in that Empire was their Supream Church Power And three Patriarchs first and five after were in their several Provinces over all the rest of the Archbishops and Bishops And so the Orthodox Party at First were called The Catholicks because they were the greater Concordant part But quickly the Arrians became far greater and carryed it in Councils and then they called themselves The Catholicks After that the Orthodox under wiser Emperors got up again and then they were the greater part called Catholicks Then the Nostorians a little while and the Eutychians after and the Monothelites after them got the Major Vote in Councils and called themselves the Catholick Church And so since then they that had the greatest countenance from Princes and the greatest number of Bishops in Councils claimed the Name of the Catholick Church And the Pope that was the first Patriarch in the Empire first called himself the Head of the Catholick Church in that Empire and when the Empire was broke extended his claim to the whole Christian World partly by the abuse of the word Catholick Church and partly by abuse of the Name General Councils falsly pretending to Men that what was called Catholick and General as to the Empire had been so called as to all the World And thus His Church was called Catholick Q. 5. Why is the Catholick Church called Holy A. 1. To notifie the work of our Saviour who came to save us from our sins and gather a peculiar People a holy Society who are separated from the unbelieving ungodly World 2. To notifie the Work of the Holy Ghost who is given to make such an Holy People 3. Yea to notifie the Holiness of God the Father who will be Sanctified in all that draw near him and hateth the impure and unholy and will have all his Children Holy as he is Holy 4. And to tell us the fitness of all Gods Children for his favour and Salvation Q. 6. Wherein consisteth the Holiness of the Church A. 1. Christ their Head is perfectly Holy 2. The Gospel and Law of Christ which is our objective Faith and Rule are Holy 3. The Founders of the Church were eminently Holy 4. All sincere Christians are truly Holy and marked out as such for Salvation 5. The common Ministers have an Holy Office 6. The Church Worship as Gods Ordinances are Holy works 7. All that are Baptized and profess Christianity are Holy as to Profession and so far separated from the Infidel World though not sincerely to Salvation Q. 7. What is it now that you call The Holy Catholick Church A. It is The Universality of Christians Headed by Iesus Christ. Or It is a Holy Kingdom consisting of Iesus Christ the Head and all sincere Christians the sincere Members and all professed Christians the professing Members first founded and gathered by the Holy Ghost eminently working in the Apostles and Evangelists Recording the Doctrine and Laws of Christ for their Government to the End and guided by his Ministers and Sanctifying Spirit according to those Laws and Doctrine in various degrees of Grace and Gifts Q. 8. What is it that makes all Churches to be One A. 1. Materially their concord in the same qualifications which is called Eph. 4. 3. The Unity of the Spirit They are all that are sincere Sanctified by the same Spirit and have the same Essentials of Faith Hope Baptismal Covenant and Love And the Hypocrites profess the same 2. Formally their common Union with and Relation to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost that is to Iesus Christ their Head bringing them home to God the Father by the Spirit Q. 9. Is there no one Ministerial Head of all the Church on Earth A. No neither One Man nor one Council or Collection of Men For 1. None are naturally capable of being One Supream Pastor Teacher Priest and Ruler over all the Nations of the Earth nor can so much as know them or have humâ—ne converse with them And a Council gathered equally out of all the World as One such Supream is a more gross Fiction of impossibles than that of a Pope 2. And Christ that never so qualified any never gave any such power But all Pastors are like the Judges Justices and Mayors that rule subordinately under one King in their several Precincts and not like an Universal Viceroy Lieutenant or Aristocracy or Parliament Q. 10. But is not Monarchy the best Form of Government and should not the Church have the best A. 1. Yes and therefore Christ is its Monarch who is capable of it 2. But a Humane Universal Monarchy of all the World is not best nor was ever an Alexander a Caesar or any Man so mad as soberly to pretend to it or plead for it Who is the Man that you would have to be King at the Antipodes and over all the Kings on Earth 3. Yea the case of the Church is liker that of Schools and Colledges that rule Volunteers in order to Teaching them And did ever Papist think that all the Schools on Earth of Grammarians Philosophers Physicians c. should have one humane Supream Schoolmaster or a Council or Colledge of such to Rule them Q. 11. But Christ is not a Visible Head and the Church is Visible A. We deny not the Visibility of the Church but we must not feign it to be more visible than it is 1. It consisteth of visible Subjects 2. Their Profession is visible and their Worship 3. They have visible Pastors in all the particular Churches as every School hath its Schoolmaster 4. Christ was visible in the Flesh on Earth 5. He was after seen of Stephen and Paul 6. He is now visible in Heaven â—â— the King is in his Court 7. And he will come in glorious Visibility shortly to judge the World 8. And his Laws are visible by which he ruleth us and will judg us If all this Visibility will not satisfie Men Christ will not approve of Usurpation for more Visibility Q. 12. Of what use is this Article to us A. 1. To tell us that Christ dyed not in vain but will certainly have a Holy Church which he will save
enlarged and Seldom put up the whole matter of Prayer all at once 3. They formed their Desires according to the Method of this Prayer though they expressed those deres as various occasions did require Q. 9. Is every Christian bound to say the Words of the Lords Prayer A. The same answer may serve as to the last Every Christian is bound to make it the Rule of his Desires and Hopes both for Matter and Oâ—der But not to express them all in every Prayer But the Words themselves are apt and must have their due reverence and are very fit to summ up our scattered less ordered Requests Q. 10. But few Persons can understand what such generals comprehend A. 1. Generals are useful to those that cannot distinctly comprehend all the particulars in them As the General knowledg that we shall be happy in Holy and Heavenly Joy with Christ may comfort them that know not all in Heaven that makes up that happiness so a General desire may be effectual to our receiving many particulars 2. And it is not so General as God be merciful to me a Sinner an accepted Prayer of the Publican by Christs own Testimony There are six particular Heads there plainly expressed CHAP. XXIV Our Father which art in Heaven Expounded Qu. 1. WHo is it that we pray to whom we call Our Father A. GOD himself Q. 2. May we not pray to Creatures A. Yes for that which it belongeth to those Creatures to give us upon our request supposing they hear us But not for that which is Gods and not their own to give nor yet in a manner unsuitable to the Creatures Capacity or Place A Child may Petition his Father and a Subject his Prince and all Men one another Q. 3. May we not pray to the Son and the Holy Ghost as well as to the Father A. As the word Father signifieth God aâ— God it comprehendeth the Son and the Holy Ghost and as it signifieth the first Person in the Trinity it excludeth not but implyeth the second and the third Q. 4. What doth the word Father signifie A. That as a Father by Generation is the Owner the Ruler and the Loving Benefactor to his Child so is God eminently and transcendently to us Q. 5. To whom is God a Father and on what Fundamental account A. 1. He is a Father to all Men by Creation to all lapsed Mandkind by the Price of a sufficient Redemption But only to the Regenerate by Regeneration and Adoption and that effective Redemption which actually delivereth Men from Guilt Wrath Sin and Hell and Justifieth and Sanctifieth them and makeâ— them Heirs of Glory Q. 6. What is included then in our Child-like relation to this Father A. That we are his own to be absolutely at his dispose his Subjects to be absolutely Ruled by him and his Beloved to depend on his Bounty and to love him above all and be happy in his Love Q. 7. What is meant by the words which art iâ— Heaven A. They signifie I. God's real Substantiality He is existent II. God's incomprehensible Perfection in Power Knowledge and Goodness and so his absolute sufficiency and fitness to hear and help us 1. The vastness Sublimity and Glory of the Heavens tell us that He who Reigneth there over all the World must needs be Omnipotent and want no power to do his will and help us in our need 2. The Glory and Sublimity tell us that he that is there above the Sun which shineth upon all the Earth doth behold all Creatures and see all the wayes of the Sons of Men and therefore knoweth all our Sins Wants and Dangers and heareth all our Prayers 3. Heaven is that most perfect Region whence alâ— good floweth down to Earth Our Life is thence our Light is thence all our Good and foretast of Felicity and Joy is thence And therefore the Lord oâ—… Heaven must needs be the Best the Fountain of aâ—… Good and the most amiable End of all just Desire and Love Yet Heaven is above our Sight and comprehension and so much more is God III. And the word Art signifieth God's Etemity in that Heavenly Glory It is not who wa st or who wilt be Eternity is indivisible Q. 8. Is not God every where Is he more in Heaven than any where else A. All Place and All things are in God He is absent from none Nor is his Essence divisible or Commensurate by Place or limited or more here than there But to us God is known by his Works and Appearances and therefore said to be most where he worketh most And so we say that God dwelleth in him who dwelleth in Love That he walketh in his Church that we are his Habitation by the Spirit that Christ and the Holy Spirit dwell in Believers Because they operate extraordinarily in them And so God is said to be in Heaven because he there manifesteth his Glory to the Felicity of all the Blessed and hath made Heaven that Throne of his Majesty from whence all Light and Life and Goodness all Mercy â—nd all Justice are communicated to and exercised on Men. And so we that cannot see God himself must â—ook up to the Throne of the Heavenly Glory in our Prayers Hopes and Joyes Even as a Mans Soul is undivided in all his Body and yet it worketh not alike â—â— all its parts but it is in the Head that it useth Reason Sight c. and doth most notably appear to â—thers in the Face and is almost visible in the Eye â—nd therefore when you talk to a Man you look him â—â— the Face and as you talk not to his Flesh but to his â—ensitive and intellectual Soul so you look to that art where it most apparently sheweth its sence and â—â—tellection Q. 9. Is there no other Reason for the naming of Heaâ—en here A. Yes It teacheth us whither to direct our own desires and whence to expect all good and where our own Hope and Felicity is It is in Heaven that God is to be seen and enjoyed in Glory and in perfect Love and Joy Though God be on Earth he will not be our Felicity here on Earth every Prayer therefore should be the Souls aspiring and ascending towards Heaven and the believing exercise of a heavenly Mind and Desire For a Man of true Prayer to be unwilling to come to Heaven and to love Earth better is a contradiction Q. 10. But do we not pray that on Earth he may use us as a Father A. Yes that he will give us all Mercies on Earth conducing to heavenly Felicity Q. 11. What else is implyed in the word Our Father A. Our Redemption and Reconciliation by Christ and to the Regenerate our Regeneration by the Holy Ghost and so our Adoption by all which of Enemies and the Heirs of Hell we are made the Sons of God and Heirs of Heaven It is by Christ and his Spirit that we are the Children of God Q. 12. Why say we Our Father and
THE Catechizing OF FAMILIES A TEACHER OF HOUSHOLDERS HOW To Teach their Housholds Useful also to SCHOOL-MASTERS and Tutors of Youth For those that are past the common small Chatechisms and would grow to a more rooted Faith and to the fuller understanding of all that is commonly needful to a safe holy comfortable and profitable Life Written by RICHARD BAXTER in hope that Family and School-diligence may do much to keep up True Religion LONDON Printed for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel and B. Simmons at the Three Golden Cocks at the West end of St. Pauls 1683. The Reasons and Use of this BOOK MAN is born without Knowledge but not without a Capacity and faculty of Knowing this is his Excellency and Essence Nature Experience and Gods Word tell us the great necessity of Knowledge As the Souls essential form is the virtue of vital Action Understanding and Will conjunct so Holiness is Holy Life Light and Love conjunct The wisest men are the best and the best the wisest but a Counterfeit of Knowledge is the great deceiver of the World Millions take the Knowledge of bare Words with the Gramatical and Logical sence instead of the Knowledge of the things themselves which by these are signified as if the Glass would nourish without the Wine or the Dish without the Meat or the Cloathing or Skin were all the man God and Holiness and Heaven are better known by many serious unlearned Christians that cannot accurately dispute about them than by many Learned men who can excellently speak of that which their Souls are unacquainted with The Hipocrites Religion is but an Art the true Christians is a Habit which is a Divine Nature But yet the Words are signs by which we are helpt to know the things and must diligently be learned to that end and though men cannot reach the Heart God hath appointed Parents and Masters and Teachers to Instruct their Inferiours by words and hath written the Scripture to that use that by them his Spirit may teach or illuminate the Mind and renew the Heart God worketh on man as man and we must know by Signs till we know by intuition It is a thing well known that the Church aboundeth with Catechisms and Systemes of Divinity and doth there yet need more their scope and Substance is the same they differ most 1. In Choice of matter that there be nothing left out that is needful nor needless uncertainties and disputes put in 2. That the Method or Order of them be True agreeable to the matter and Sacred Scripture 3. And that they be not blotted with any drops of disgraceful Errour These are the requisites to desirable Catechisms No doubt but they should be sorted into three degrees suited to the Childhood Youth and maturer Age of Christians I. The Essentials of Christianity are all contained generally in Baptism this must be understood and therefore expounded the Creed Lords Prayer and Decalogue the Summaries of things to to be Beleived Desired in Hope and Practised were from the beginning taken for a good Exposition to those that were to be Baptized These three as Expounding Baptism are themselves a good Catechism the understanding of the Lords Supper being added for Communicants II. But here also Children will be childish and learn the words while they are mindless of the sence therefore an Explication of these in other words hath ever been thought a great part of the work of a Teaching Ministry whence the Ancients have left us their Expositions of the Creed c. But here the difficulty is made insuperable by the Learners indisposition if such a Catechism be short and much put in few words the vulgar cannot understand it if it be long and in many words they cannot learn and remember it III. For Remedy of this a Larger Catechism yet is needful not to be learnt without Book but to be a full Exposition of the Shorter which they learn that they may have recourse to this for a more full and particular understanding of a Shorter whose general words they can remember Accordingly having in my Poor Mans Family Book written two Catechisms of the former rank I here adde the third for those that have learned the two first Far am I from thinking that I have done any one of these to perfection I never yet saw a Catechism without some notable imperfection And no doubt mine are not free from such But while I avoid what I see amiss in others I hope God will illuminate some to do yet beter and to avoid what is amiss in mine The degree which yet pretendeth to greater accurateness in Method I have given in a Latine Methodus Theologiae The Uses for which I have written this are these I. For Masters of Families who should endeavour to raise their Children and Servants to a good degree of Knowledge I have divided it into short Chapters that on the Lords dayes or at nights when they have leisure the Master may read to them one Chapter at a time that is the Exposition of one Article of the Creed one Petition of the Lords Prayer and one Commandement Expounded II. For School-masters to cause their riper rank of Scholars to learn I am past doubt that it is a heinous Crime in the School-masters of England that they devote but one hour or two in a week to the learning of the Catechism while all the rest of the week is devoted to the learning of Lilly Ovid Virgil Horace Cicero Livy Terence and such like besides the loss and sinful omission it seduceth Youth to think that common Knowledge which is only Subsidiary and Ornamental is more excellent or necessary than to know God Christ the Gospel Duty and Salvation besides which all Knowledge further than it helpeth or serveth this is but fooling and doting and as dangerous diversion and perversion of the mind as grosser sensual delights He is not worthy the name of a Christian School-master who maketh it not his chief work to teach his Scholars the Knowledge of Christ and Life Everlasting III. But if they goe from the Countrey Schools before they are capable of the Larger Catechisms as to their great loss most make too much hast away why may not their next Tutors make it their chief work to train up their Pupils as the Disciples of Iesus and yet not neglect either Aristotle or any natural light To our present Universities I am not so vain as to offer such Instructions though to some small part of them I directed my Methodus Theologiae I learnt not of them and I presume not to make my self their Teacher Their late GUIDES their WORLDLY-INTEREST and their GENIUS have made my Writings odious to many even that which they like they will not read But I have oft with Lamentation wondered why Godly Ministers do no more of the work now appropriated to Universities for their own Sons Those men whose Church zeal would
by the laying on of the Apostles Hands the Holy Ghost was given And this not only to the sincere Christians but to some unsound Ones that sell away All that did Miracles in Christ's Name were not saved 4. Yea those that accused Christ as casting out Devils by Devils might have seen their own Children cast them out Matt. 12. And those that were seduced and quarrelled with the Apostles could not deny but they themselves had received the Spirit by their Preaching Paul appealeth to themselves when the Galatians were perverted Gal. 3. 1 2 3. O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose Eyes Iesus Christ hath been evidently set forth Crucified among you This only would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the Flesh He that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh Miracles among you doth he it by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith If these Galatians had not the Spirit and such as work't Miracles among them would not this Argument have turned to Paul's reproach rather than to their Conviction Even Simon Magus was so convinced by the Spirit falling on the Samaritans that he was Baptized and would have bought the Power of giving the Holy Ghost with Money Act. 8. Their Sense convinced them And they that had the Spirit themselves must needs be sure of it Q. 22. Now tell me how We may be certain that all this History is true and that these things are not misreported by the Scripture A. I will speak first of the Gospel as such and then of the Book I. You must first know that the Gospel in the strict â—eâ—ce is the History and Doctrine of Christ necessary to be believed to our Salvation which is summarily contained in the Baptismal Covenant For men were Christians when they were Baptized and they were not adult Christians till they believed the Gospel 2. You must know that this Gospel was long preached and believed before it was written St. Matthew began and wrote eight years after Christs Resurrection and the Revelation of St. Iohn was written about ninety four years after Christs Birth Luke's Gospel about fifty and Marks about fifty nine and St. Iohns about Ninety nine from the Birth of Christ. 3. You must know that all the foresaid Miracles were wrought to confirm this Gospel preached before it was written 4. And that while the Apostles lived their Preaching had as much Authority as their Writing But they being to die were moved by the Spirit to write that they had preached that it might be certainly without Change delivered to Posterity to the end of the World For had it been left only to the Memory of man it would soon have been variously reported and corrupted 5. And you must know that this Scripture is so far from being insufficient as to the Matter of our Faith as that it containeth not only the Essentials but the Integrals and useful Accidents of the Gospel as a compleat Body hath every part and the very Ornament of Hair and Colour So that a man may be a Christian that knoweth not many hundred words in the Scripture but not unless he know and believe the Essentials of the Gospel 6. And you must note therefore that the foresaid Miracles were wrought primarily to confirm the Gospel and that they do confirm all the Accidental passages in the Bible but by Consequence because the same Persons by the same Spirit wrote them Q. 23. Proceed now to shew me the Proof which you promised A. 1. That there have been from that time Christians in the World is past all doubt acknowledged by the History of their Enemies that persecuâ—ed them And all these Christians were Baptized for Baptism was their solemn Christening And every one that was Baptized at age did openly profess to receive this same Gospel even to Believe in God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost renouncing the Devil the Lusts of the Flesh and the Vanities of the World 2. Yea all that were Baptized were before taught this Gospel by Teachers or Catechizers who had all but one Gospel one Faith and Baptism 3. And they were all tryed how they understood the foresaid General words and therefore they were opened in more words which we call the CREED which in Substance and Sence was still the â—ame though two or three words be added since the first forming of it So that every Christian being instructed by the Gospel and professing the Essence of it in the Creed and Baptism we have as many Witnesses that this Gospel was then delivered as there have been Christians 4. And no man doubteth but there have been Ministers as long And what was a Minister but a Preacher of this same Gospel and a Baptizer and Guide of them that Believe it 5. And none can doubt but there have been Christian Assâ—mblies from that time And what were those Assemblies but for the preaching professing and practising this Gospel 6. And none doubteth but they celebrated the Lords Supper in those Assemblies And the Celebration of that Sacrament containeth practically the profession of all the Gospel of Christ. 7. And none can doubt but that the Lords day hath ever since been constantly kept by Christians in commemoration of Christs Resurrection and in the performance of the foresaid Exercises And therefore the very use of that day assureth us that the Gospel hath been certainly delivered us 8. And all grant that these Churches had still the use of Discipline which was the censuring of such as corrupted this Sacred Doctrine by Heresie or sinned against it by wicked Lives And this could not have been if the Gospel had not been then received by them 9. Yea the Numbers and Opinions of Hereticks then are left on Record And they tell us what the Gospel then was by telling us wherein they departed from it 10. Yea the History of the Persecutors and Enemies tell us that this Gospel was then extant which they persecuted 11. The Old Testament was long before in the common possess on and use of the Iews They read it every Sabbath day And in that we see Christ foretold and abundance of Prophecies which in him are since fulfilled 12. Lastly the Sacred Scriptures which contain all that God thought needfull to be transmitted to Posterity for History and Doctrine have been most certainly kept and delivered to us so sure and full is our Tradition Q. 24. That Christianity hath been propagated none can doubt But how are we sure that those Christians of the first age did indeed see or believe that they saw and heard those Miracles A. 1. To be a Christian was to be one that believed them It was half their belief in Christ and in the Holy Ghost and so the very Essence of Christianity to believe that
Christ wrought his Miracles and rose again and that the Apostles by the Holy Spirit did work theirs and that Believers received the Spirit by their Ministry 2. They had not been made Christians but by these Miracles They all professed that it was the Gifts of the Spirit that Convinced and Converted them 3. All the forementioned Professions of their Christianity contained a Profession that they believed these Miracles As the use of the Lords day Baptism the Eucharist shewed their Belief of Christs Life Death and Resurrection 4. They suffered Persecution and Martyrdom in the Profession of that Belief 5. They pleaded these Miracles in all their Defences against their Adversaries 6. The Writings of their Adversaries commonly acknowledge this Plea yea and deny not the most of the Miracles themselves 7. But most fully their receiving the Sacred Scriptures as the Word of God as indited by the Holy Ghost in the Apostles sheweth that they believed the Miracles recorded in that Book Q. 25. You are come up to the last part of the Doubt in the History How are we sure that these Christians then commonly believed the Book as now we have it and that it is the very same A. We have for this full infallible historical Proof premising that some parcels of the Book the Revelations the Epistle of Iude the Second of Peter the Epistle to the Hebrews and that of Iames were longer unknown to some particular Churches than the rest 1. The constancy of Christian Assemblies and publick Worship is a full proof seeing that the Reading Expounding and applying of these Books was a great part of their publick work as all History of Friends and Enemies agree 2. The very Office of the Ministry is full proof which lay most in reading expounding and applying these same Books And therefore they were as much by Office concerned to keep them as Judges and Lawyers are to keep the Statute-book 3. These Ministers and Churches which so used this Book were dispersed over a great part of the World If therefore they had changed it by adding or diminishing they must have done it by Confederacy or by single mens errour or abuse It was impossible that all Countreys should agree in such a Confederacy but the meeting motives and treaties would have been known But no History of Friend or Foe hath any such thing but the clean contrary And that it should be done by all single Persons in the Christian World agreeing by chance in the same Changes is a mâ—d supposition 4. And it is the belief of all Christians that it â—s a damnable Sin to add or alter in this Book And the Book it self so concludeth Therefore if â—ome had agreed so to do the rest would have detected and decryed it 5. They took this Book â—o be the Charter for their Salvation And therefore would never agree to alter it when Men keep the Deeds Evidences Leases and Charters of their Estates and Worldly Priviledges unaltered 6. When a few Hereticks rose up that forged some new Books as Apostolical and rejected some that were such indeed the Christian Churches condemned and rejected them and appealed to the Churches that had received the Apostles own Epistles and kept them 7. The many Heresies that rose up did so divide Men and set them in cross Interests and Jealousies against each other that it was impossible for any one Sect to have altered the Scripture but the rest would have fallen upon them with the loudest Accusations But all sorts of Adversaries are agreed that these are the same Books And though the weakness and negligence of Scribes have made many little Words uncertain for God promised not infallibility to every Scribe or Printer yet these are not such as alter any Article of Faith or Practice but shew that no Corruption hath been designedly made but that the Book is the same For instance Let it be questioned Whether our Statute-Book contained really the same Statutes that are there pretended And you will see that the Historical certainty amounteth even to a natural certainty the contrary being a meer impossibility For 1. They are the Kings Laws and the King would not bear a fraudulent alteration 2. Parliaments would not bear it 3. Judges that successively judge by these Laws would soon discover it 4. So would all Justices and Magistrates 5. Mens Lives and Estates are held by them and therefore Multitudes would decry the Fraud 6. Enemies have daily Suits which are tryed by these Laws and each Party pleads them for himself and their Advocates and Lawyers plead them against each other and would soon detect the Forgery So that to suppose such a Change is 1. To suppose an Effect that hath no Cause in Nature 2. And that is against a stream of Causes Moral and Natural and so impossible And to â—eign such forgeries in the Book that all Christians have taken for Gods Laws is just such another Case and somewhat beyond it That is but Moral Evidence which dependeth only on Mens Honesty or any free unnecessary acts of Mans will But Mans will hath also of Natural Necessity such as the Love of our selves and our felicity c. And it is a Natural Impossibility that all Men or many should agree in a Lie which is against these Acts of Natural necessity But so they must do if all Men of cross Interests Principles and Dispositions should knowingly agree c. g. That all our Statutes are counterseit that there is no such place as Rome Paris or other such lâ—â—s And so the Gospel History hath such Testimony of necessary Truth Q. 26. You have made the Case plainer to me than I thought it had been But you yet seem to intimate that some Words yea some Books of Scripture have not the same Evidence aâ— the rest can a man be saved that Believeth not all the Scripture A. All Truth is equally True and so is all Gods Word But all is not equally Evident He that taketh any Word to be Gods Word and yet to be false believeth nothing as Gods Word For he hath not the â—ormal essentiating Act and Object of Faith If God could lie we had no certainty of Faith But he that erroneously thinketh that this or that word yea Epistle or Text or Book in the Bible is not Gods but came in by mistake may be saved if he believe that which containeth the Essentials of Christianity A lame Faith may be a saving Faith And he may see how Miracles sealed the Gospel that cannot see how they sealed every Book Text or Word in the Bible Q. 27. Though we have been long on this it is of so great importance to us living or dying to be sure of the Foundations of our Faith that I will yet ask you Have you any more Proof A. I have told you of four Proofs already I. The Antecedent Testimony of the Spirit in the Old Testament II. The Inherent Constitutive Testimony in Christ and the Gospel III. The concomitant Testimony
the Soul continue not the next at the Resurrection would be another Soul and a new created one and not the same And then the Body would not be the same Souls Body nor the Man the same Man but another Who was ever so unwise to think that God had so much more Care of the Body than of the Soul as that he would let the Soul perish and raise the Body from the dust alone aâ—d join it with another Soul 4. Very Learned and wise Expositors think that the Greek word Anastasis used for Resurrection indeed signifieth the whole Life after this both of Soul first and Body also after oft in the New Testament It is a Living again or after this Life called A standing up again And there is great probability of of it in Christs Argument with the Sadduces and some passages of Pauls 1 Cor. 15. Q. 2. What Texts of Scripture do fully prove that the Soul liveth when it is separated from the Body A. Very many 1. God breathing into Man the breath of Life and making him a living Soul is said thereby to make him in the Image of God who is the Living God And so the Soul is essentially Life 2. God's calling himself the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob is by Christ Expounded as proving that he is the God of Living Abraham 3. None ever dreamt that Henoch and Elias had no company of humane Souls in Heaven For Mat. 17. Moses also appeared with them on the Mount and shewed that his Soul did live 4. When Saul himself would have Samuel raised to speak with him it plainly implieth that it was then the common belief of the Iews that separated Souls survive 5. When 1 King 17. 22. Elias raised the dead Child of the Widow of Sarepta and 2 King 4. Elisha raised the Shunamites Child and 2 King 13. 21. â— dead Man was raised all these proved that the Soâ—â— was the same that came again Else the Persons had not been the same 6. When Christ raised Lazarus and Iairus Daughter Mar. 5. 41. 42. Luke 8. 55. and another Luke 7. 12 14 15. The same Souls came into them 7. Many of the Dead rose and appeared at Christs Death And Peter raised one from Death which was by a reunion of the same living Soul to the same Body 8. Christ tells us Luke 12. 4. that Men cannot kill the Soul 9. He tells us Luke 16. 9. that as the wise Steward when he was put out was received by the Persons whom he had Obliged so if we make us Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness when these things fail us which is at Death we shall be received into the Everlasting Habitations 10. The Parable of the sensual Rich Man and Lazarus one going presently to Hell and the other to the Bosom of Abraham in Paradise fully prove that Christ would have this believed and would have all Men warned accordingly to prepare and that Moses and the Prophets were so sufficient for such notice as that one from the Dead would have been less credible herein Though it be a Parable it is an instructing and not a deceiving Parable and very plain in this particular The Name of Abraham's Bosom was according to the Common sence of the Iews who so called that State of the blessed not doubting but that Abraham was then in Happiness and the blessed with him 11. Herod's thought that Iohn had been risen from the Dead and the Iews conceit that Christ had been one of the Old Prophets risen and the Pharisees approbation of Christ's argument with the Sadduces do put it past doubt that it was then taken for certain Truth that the Souls of the Faithful do survive by all except such as the Heretical Sadduces 12. Christ saith Ioh. 17. 3. This is Life Eternal to know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent How is it Eternal if it have as long an interruption as from Death till the Day of Judgment 13. It is the Summ of God's Gospel that whosoever believeth in Christ shall not perish but have Everlasting Life Joh. 3. 16. Therefore they perish not till the day of Judgment 14. Christ hath promised that whoever drinketh of the Water which he will give him the Spirit it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up to Everlasting Life Ioh. 4. 14. But if the Soul perish that Water perisheth to that Soul 15. To be born again of the Spirit fitteth a man to enter into the Kingdom of God But if the Soul perish all that New Birth is lost to that Soul and profiteth the Dust only 16. Joh. 3. 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life Joh. 5. 24. He is passed from death to life Ioh. 6. 27. He giveth meat which endureth to everlasting life V. 35. He shall never hunger or thirst that is be empty that cometh to Christ V. 39. Of all that cometh to him he will lose nothing Therefore will not lose all their Souls V. 40 47. They have everlasting life 54 56. He dweleth in Christ and Christ in him and therefore is not extinct 58. Ioh. 8. 51. Verily verily I say unto you If a man keep my sayings he shall never see death Joh. 10. 28. I give unto them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand 17. Joh. 11. 26. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die 18. Joh. 14. 16. The Comforter shall abide with you for ever V. 17. For he dwelleth with you and shall be in you 19. Joh. 17. 24. I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory If the Soul perish it is not they that shall be with him but others 20. Luk. 23. 43. To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise 21. Luk. 23. 46. Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit 22. Joh. 12. 26. Where I am there shall my Servant be But Christ is not perished 23. Act. 7. 59. Stephen called on God saying Lord Iesus receive my Spirit Therefore it perished not 24. Rom. 8. 17. If children then heirs V. 23. We groan waiting for the Adoption V. 30. Whom he â—ustified them he glorified In short All the whole Gospel that promiseth Life to the Sanctified doth prove the Immortality of the Soul For if the Soul perish no man that lived on Earth is saved For if â—he Soul be not the Man it is most certainly the prime essential part of the man The dust of the Carkass is not the Man And if another Soul and not the same come into it it will be another man and so all the Promises fail 25. So all the Texts that speak of Resurrection â—udgment that we shall all be judged according to our Works and what we did in the body If it be â—nother Soul that must be judged which never was â—n that body before nor ever did any thing in that body how shall it
Atheists Sadducees or Infidels after And these are worse than common Infidels that never were baptized The Church is no Church if it be common to these 6. Some that continue a Nominal Christianity openly hate and persecute the Practice of it and live in common Adultery Perjury Murder And the Church is Holy and a peculiar People a holy Nation a royal Priesthood And Repentance and Obedience are necessary to the Church as well as Faith If therefore these notorious flagitious impenitent persons must be Members in Communion with the Church it will be a Swine-sty and not a Church a Shame to Christ and not an Honour If his Church be but like the rest of the World Christ will not be honoured as the Saviour of it nor the Spirit as its Sanctifier It is the Unity of the Spirit that all Christians must keep in the bond of Peace But these have none of his Spirit and therefore are none of Christs The Sacraments are Symbols of the Church as differenced from the World and Christ will have them be a visibly distinct Society 7. Communicants come to receive the greatest gift in the world Pardon Justification Adoption right to Heaven The Gospel giveth these to none but Penitent Believers To say that Christ giveth them to flagitious impenitent Rebels whose Lives say We will not have him reign over us is to make a new Gospel contrary to Christs Gospel which Paul curseth were it done by an Angel Gal. 1. 7 8. They are not yet capable of these precious gifts 8. The Objectors take no notice of 1 Cor. 5. 2 Thess. 3. Rom. 16. 16 17. Tit. 3. 10. Rev. 2. 3. where the Churches are reproved for suffering Defilers nor Heb. 13. 7. 17. 24. Luk. 12. 42. 42. 1 Thess. 5. 12 13. which describe the Office of Church-guides nor 1 Tim. 3. 4 c. where the governing of the Church and avoiding Communion of the Impenitent are described 9. In a word Christs Office Works and Law the Nature of the Church and Sacrament the Office of the Ministry the frequent Precepts of the Apostles and the constant practice of the Church in its greatest Purity down from the Apostles dayes do all speak so plainly for keeping and casting out Infidels and impenitent wicked men and for keeping the Church as a Society of visible Saints separated from the World that I can take him for no better than a Swine or an Infidel who would have the Church-Keyes cast away and the Church turned common to Swine and Infidels Q. 24. But it will make Ministers Lords and Tyrants to have such power A. 1. Some body must be trusted with the Power if the work must be done The Church must be differenced from the World Therefore some must trye and judge who are fit to be baptized and to have its Communion And who is fitter than those whom Christ by Office hath thereto appointed Would you have Magistrates or the People do it Then they must be prepared for it by long study and skill and wholly attend it For it will take up all their time Q. 25. Must Ministers examine People before they communicate A. They must Catechize and Examine the Adult before they baptize them and consequently those who were baptized in Infancy before they number them with adult Communicants or else Atheists and Infidels will make up much of the Church who will come in for worldly Interest This Examination should go before Confirmation or the publick owning of their Baptism But there is no Necessity of any more Examination before every Sacrament except in case of Scandal or when persons need and crave such help Q. 26. Who be they that must be Excommunicated or refused A. Those who are proved to be Impenitent in gross scandalous sins after sufficient admonition and patience And to reject such is so far from Tyranny that it is necessary Church-Justice without which a Pastor is but a Slave or Executioner of the sinfull will of others Like a Tutor Philosopher or Schoolmaster who is not the Master of his own School but must leave it common to all that will come in though they scorn him and refuse his conduct But no man must play the Pastor over other mens Flocks nor take the Guidance of a greater Flock than he can know and manage Much less be the only Key-bearer over many Score or Hundred Churches And least of all take upon him to Govern and judge of Kings and Kingdoms and all the World as the Roman deceiving Tyrant doth CHAP. XLVII Of Preparation for Death and Iudgment Qu. 1. HOw must we prepare for a safe and coâ—fortable Death A. I have said so much of this in my Family Book that to avoid Repetition I must refer you thiâ—her only in brief I. Preparation for Death is the whole work of Life for which many hundred years are not too long if God should so long spare and trie us And all that I have hitherto said to you for Faith Love and Obedience upon the Creed Lords Prayer and Commandements is to teach you how to prepare for Death And though â—ound Conversion at last may tend to Pardon and Salvation to them that have lived a careless wicked Life Yet the best the surest the Wisest Preparation is that which is made by the whole course of a holy obedient heavenly Life Q. 2. What Life is it that is the best Preparation A. 1. When we have so well considered of the certain Vanity of this World and all its pleasures and of the truth of Gods Promises of the Heavenly Glory as that by Faith we have there placed our chiefest Hopes and there expect our chief Felicity and make it our chief business in this world to seek it preferring no worldly thing before it but resolved for the hopes of it to forsake them all when God requireth it This is the first part of our preparation for Death II. When we believe that this mercy is given by Christ the Mediator between God and Man and trust in his Merits and Intercession with the Father and take him for our Teacher also and our Ruler resolving to obey his Word and Spirit This is the second part of our preparation for Death III. When the Holy Spirit hath shed abroad Gods Love upon our hearts and turned their nature into a habit of Love to God and Holiness and given us a Victory over that Love of the World and fleshly Prosperity and Pleasure which ruleth in the hearts of Carnal men though yet our Love shew it self but in such Mortification and endeavour and grief for what we want we are prepared for a safe Death But if the foretasts of Heavenly Glory and sense of the Love of God do make our thoughts of Heaven sweeter to us than our thoughts of our Earthly hopes and cause us out of Love to God and our glorified Redeemer and his Church and out of love to a Life of perfect Knowledge Love and