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<DATE>2013-03-18</DATE>
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<NAME>Lauren Proux</NAME>
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<STC T="C">R35779</STC>
<BIBNO T="oclc">15560694</BIBNO>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
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<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
<P>A LIGHT FROM CHRIST Leading unto <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> by the <HI>Star</HI> of his Word.</P>
<P>OR, The rich Jewel of Chri&s;tian DIVINITY, Practically explained in the Principles, enlightning the Children of God how to meet Chri&s;t in his Or|dinances, and by &s;trength from Chri&s;t to walk comfortably with Chri&s;t in the whole cour&s;e of their Lives.</P>
<P>Divers chief Controver&s;ies of the times moderated: Many Ca&s;es of Con&s;cience re&s;olved; and in parti|cular, How Men and Women may know whether they have life of grace and be Gods Children or not?</P>
<P>Profitable for Parents to in&s;truct their Families.</P>
<P>By way of Catechi&s;m or Dialogue: not to An&s;wer verbatim, or by wrote (as yong Children) but each one according to his own &s;ence and under|&s;tanding of the QUESTION.</P>
<P>By IMMANUEL BOURN, Of <HI>A&s;hover</HI> in the County of <HI>Derby;</HI> now Preacher of the Go&s;pel to the Congregation in Sepulchres C. L.</P>
<P><HI>London,</HI> Printed for <HI>John Wright,</HI> at the Kings head in the Old-Baily, 1646.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="approbation">
<PB REF="2">
<P><HI>I</HI> Have peru&s;ed this large Catechi&s;m, intituled, <HI>A Light from Chri&s;t, leading unto Chri&s;t,</HI> and finding it to be Orthodox, Pious and Profitable, I allow it to be Printed and Publi&s;hed.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>JOHN DOVVNAME.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE <HI>Lords</HI> and <HI>Commons</HI> A&s;&s;embled in the High and Honorable Court of this ever Memorable PARLIAMENT.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Right Honorable,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_IT is the Ob&s;erva|tion of that Kingly Preacher,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccl. 11.7.</NOTE> Wi&s;e <HI>So|lomon</HI> the Great: <HI>Truly, the Light is &s;weet, and a plea|&s;ant thing it is for the eyes to &s;ee the Sun;</HI> but certainly, much more plea&s;ant and precious is the light of the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, that mo&s;t
<PB REF="3"> glorious Sun of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mal. 4.2. <GAP DESC="foreign"></NOTE> who doth ari&s;e to tho&s;e that fear <HI>Jehovahs</HI> Name, with healing in his wings;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.9. <GAP DESC="foreign">.</NOTE> who was and is that Light, that true Light, that light|neth every man that cometh into the world;<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="foreign"> Light of <GAP DESC="foreign"> <HI>illuxit,</HI> he hath &s;hined forth.</NOTE> that &s;hining forth or enlightning Light, which communicateth true Light to every one who hath been, is, or &s;hall be truly enlightned with the light of Nature, Grace or Glory; for even that natural light of the under&s;tanding, and heavenly wi&s;|dom which our fir&s;t Parents had with the Image of God in Paradi&s;e before their fall;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.27.</NOTE> it was from God the Father of Lights,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iam. 1.17</NOTE> in and by the Eternal Son of God, that increated Light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 10.31. Phil. 2.7</NOTE> co-equal with the Father, and by him, together with the Fa|ther and the ble&s;&s;ed Spirit, was all other light (as all things el&s;e) cre|ated;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.3. Gen. 1.3.</NOTE> for without him was nothing made that was made. Outward
<PB REF="3"> light and inward, they are both from the true Light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 2 3.</NOTE> in whom are hid all the Trea&s;ures of the Wi&s;|dom and knowledge of God; and from that true Light and his ful|ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.16</NOTE> we all receive the light of what&s;oever Grace we have; whe|ther of Gods Free grace and love in Chri&s;t, of the grace of know|ledge, Faith, or of Obedience to God or men, to Princes, Magi|&s;trates or Governours,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 82 6. Ioh. 10.34, 35.</NOTE> who are under God, and as Gods upon Earth, who Rule and govern to Judge Righteous and true Judge|ment for the Lord;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 19.5, 6.</NOTE> which if they do,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 23.4.</NOTE> they &s;hall be as the light of the Morning when the Sun ari&s;eth, as a Morning without Clouds, as the tender gra&s;&s;e &s;pringing out of the Earth by clear &s;hining after Rain: But if they Judge unju&s;tly, as the great God &s;ets them up,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.6, &amp;c. Dan. 4.33, &amp;c. &amp; 5.30,</NOTE> &s;o he pulls them down at his plea&s;ure; wit|ne&s;&s;e the <HI>Babylonian, Per&s;ian, Graecian,</HI>
<PB REF="4"> and other Mighty Emperours, Em|pires, States and Kingdoms of the world.</P>
<P>And, Right Honorable and Chri|&s;tian Senators, as true light, e&s;pe|cially the light of Chri&s;t is excel|lent, &s;weet, plea&s;ant and profitable, directing the mindes of men in the Religious wayes of Truth, and right obedience to the ju&s;t, and lawful commands of all Superiors: So is darkne&s;&s;e and blinde igno|rance, as odious, ba&s;e and hurtful, not only to men in particular, but to Kingdoms and Nations in gene|ral. The Pope and Papacy poli|tickly made Ignorance the Mother of Devotion;<NOTE PLACE="marg">D. Aug. in <HI>P&s;. 33.</HI> Erat in illis reg|num ig|norantiae id e&s;t reg|num Er|roris.</NOTE> but learned <HI>Au|gu&s;tine</HI> calleth it the Mother, not of Devotion, but of Error; and that Kingdom where Ignorance raign|eth the Kingdom of Error, igno|rance blindly leading men to blinde Obedience, many times to the ruine of them&s;elves and others.
<PB REF="4"> The &s;ad evidences of this deplora|ble ignorance I my &s;elf have found in not a few of that Congregation and County, (where above twenty years I lived a Preacher of the Go|&s;pel, a pre&s;&s;er and Practizer of this Duty of Catechizing) and where I met &s;uch ignorance,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 5.1.</NOTE> as is not fit to be named among&s;t Chri&s;tians: One affirming blindely (upon Exami|nation) That none had died for him, nor &s;hould any die for him, he would &s;tand between God and him&s;elf; yet after when I told him that Chri&s;t died for him, he wept for joy. Another, That the Sun &s;hining in the Firmament was the Son of God that died for him. A third averring, There was no hell, and that her &s;oul &s;hould go to Hea|ven like a white Dove (although &s;he did not know the way to Heaven: other hoped to be &s;aved by our <HI>La|dy:</HI> And multitudes ignorant of the knowledge and light of Chri&s;t,
<PB REF="5"> in any competent mea&s;ure to meet Chri&s;t in the Sacrament, or to walk comfortably with Chri&s;t in their lives, or indeed nece&s;&s;ary to &s;alva|tion.</P>
<P>And the woful effects of this blinde Popi&s;h ignorance, I my &s;elf have found by &s;orrowful experi|ence al&s;o; and that almo&s;t in the beginning of our Engli&s;h Trou|bles (this lamentable Civil War) The Kings Maje&s;ty no &s;ooner &s;et up His Royal Standard at <HI>Not|tingham</HI> (within twenty miles of my Habitation) but divers of the&s;e blinde, ignorant, prophane, and Popi&s;hly affected, of the ba&s;er &s;ort (I &s;peak nothing of the Superiours) they prepare for War, make ha&s;te towards the Standard; and pre|&s;ently the ROUND-HEADS (a name they quickly learned) were threatned with Plundring, Fire and Sword; my &s;elf, with divers other well-affected to Religion, the Kings
<PB REF="5"> Maje&s;ty, Parliament and Kingdom, were con&s;trained to flie our hou&s;es, from whence, ever &s;ince, I have lived a bani&s;hed man, the&s;e having not yet been for any &s;pace of time, either &s;afe or comfortable abiding.</P>
<P>And if was not long after that, but by &s;uch like Popi&s;h ignorant Souldiers, and in particular, by a Commander in the Earl of <HI>New-ca&s;tles</HI> Army, a Papi&s;t (&s;ince dead) I was Plundred, not only of my Goods and Study of Books, above twenty years in gathering, and my hou&s;e Barbarou&s;ly torn in pieces &amp; &s;poiled, &s;tanding to this day a &s;pe|ctacle to witne&s;&s;e truth (to the &s;hame of blinde, ignorant, pro|phane, and Popi&s;h malice of Ma|lignant Enemies) I am &s;ure to my lo&s;&s;e of more Hundreds of pounds then for pre&s;ent I am willing to glory in. But which was wor&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 10.34.</NOTE> my Manu&s;cripts, near thirty years Studies and pains night and day,
<PB REF="6"> rent in pieces and taken away, the greate&s;t part then, and the re&s;t af|ter from a Garri&s;on of the Parlia|ment,<NOTE PLACE="marg">W. Man|or.</NOTE> taken by the &s;ame Earl of <HI>Newca&s;tles</HI> Army. And for all my lo&s;&s;es (be&s;ides what will be due to me upon the Publike Faith) I ex|pect no recompence but from the Lord, except it plea&s;e God to &s;etle the Kingdom in Truth and Peace; and to enable Your Honorable Hou&s;es of Parliament, according to Your Religious Declarations, to take notice of my lo&s;&s;es, as of others my Brethren and Compani|ons in the &s;ame Tribulations (Your faithful Friends) and to direct a way of Reparation, as to Your Wi&s;doms and Piety &s;hall &s;eem mo&s;t convenient. That Declara|tion of Both Kingdoms, although I cannot &s;ay it was an encourage|ment unto me, becau&s;e I had lo&s;t all before; yet I may &s;ay it was a a ground of comfort in faith and
<PB REF="6"> hope, that the Lord would work mightily for the&s;e Kingdoms, and &s;o there might be &s;ome expectation of outward good, and Repara|tion again in Gods due time to me or mine. (I mu&s;t beg pardon for this digre&s;&s;ion).</P>
<P>And yet this I cannot but de|clare,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 4.1, 2. Prov. 29.18.</NOTE> That I am a&s;&s;ured this abo|minable, blinde, prophane, &s;uper|&s;titious ignorance (not only in that, but in other parts of the Kingdom) was one principal occa&s;ion of the&s;e and the like &s;ad mi&s;eries, both to me and many Thou&s;ands in the Land;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 16.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> e&s;pecially the Religious part, who have commonly been the objects of the Malice and Ra|pine of the&s;e ignorant, prophane, or Popi&s;h per&s;ons (be&s;ides their oppre&s;&s;ions by other men, not Re|ligiou&s;ly affected).</P>
<P>Now, if Your Honours ask me, What hath been or is the cau&s;e of this ignorance? In all humility
<PB REF="7"> I An&s;wer from my own experi|ence, I am certain a principal cau&s;e was and is want of Catechizing:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20 22.</NOTE> Fir&s;t, by Mini&s;ters in their particu|lar Congregations: And &s;econdly, by Parents and Ma&s;ters in their particular Families,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18, 19.</NOTE> without which I conceive it impo&s;&s;ible to cure this deadly Malady of ba&s;e igno|rance, or ever to have the common &s;ort of people know how to &s;erve or obey either God or man,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 27.11. &amp; 29.11, 12.</NOTE> ac|cording to the light of Chri&s;t, and good Laws E&s;tabli&s;hed in a King|dom: As the <HI>Eunuch</HI> &s;aid unto <HI>Philip,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts. 8.31.</NOTE> <HI>How &s;hall I under&s;tand, ex|cept &s;ome man &s;hall guide me?</HI> So may it be &s;aid of &s;uch kinde of un|catechized people. But is not the fault then in Mini&s;ters? I An&s;wer, a&s;&s;uredly it is in great part,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 10.21. &amp; 5.31. &amp; 6.10. &amp; 29.12. I&s;a. 56.10, &amp;c. Ezek. 34.1, 2, 3, 4.</NOTE> though not altogether. Fir&s;t, in many idle, carele&s;&s;e, uncon&s;cionable, Mini|&s;ters, who have had means &s;uffici|ent to maintain them, and common
<PB REF="7"> knowledge enough to in&s;truct in the Principles of Religion, but wanted Grace to perform their du|ties, and in particular this duty of Catechizing.</P>
<P>Secondly, in too many others,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 23.1, 2. Zac. 11.16, 17.</NOTE> blinde, ignorant Mini&s;ters, who have neither maintenance &s;uffici|ent, nor grace or abilities to per|form their duties ns they ought,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iudg. 17.10. 1 Kin. 12.31.</NOTE> like <HI>Micahs</HI> Levite, or <HI>Jeroboams</HI> Prie&s;ts, of the ba&s;e&s;t of the Peo|ple. And how can it be expected there &s;hould be Preaching and Ca|techizing in a right order, where Mini&s;ters have but twenty Nobles, or Ten pounds a year for their maintenance, and twenty or thirty pounds a very high rate (in e&s;teem of &s;ome men) where &s;ome have been con&s;trained to keep common Ale-hou&s;es to get a livelyhood (as they profe&s;&s;ed in my hearing) and I have &s;een proved upon Oath in the High Commi&s;&s;ion, where not
<PB REF="8"> &s;o long &s;ince that I can forget their kindene&s;&s;e, in three years attend|ance, Commi&s;&s;ions and Hearing, it co&s;t me Three hundred pounds at lea&s;t, of my own pur&s;e, be&s;ides my lo&s;&s;e of my time, and this for my Preaching too often (as they Judged) and keeping Fa&s;ting and Praying too long, &s;pending the mo&s;t of the day, an offence un|&s;ufferable (as &s;ome learned in that Court were plea&s;ed at my &s;entence then publikely to aver) although it was in the Plague time, and when I thought I had both Kingly &amp; Epi&s;|copal Authority &s;ufficient:<NOTE PLACE="marg">From the King, A Pro|cl<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">matio~. And an Order from the Bi&s;hops for the Fa&s;ts.</NOTE> And I am &s;ure I Fa&s;ted and Prayed no o|therwi&s;e then with my Congrega|tion, but as now is the con&s;tant Monethly practi&s;e of this Hono|rable Parliament, and the Religi|ous party in the Kingdom; but all that &s;aved me little in that Court; There was blinde ignorance there, as well as among&s;t tho&s;e poor ig|norant
<PB REF="8"> Mini&s;ters I &s;poke of before; and &s;uch Mini&s;ters Ale-hou&s;e kee|pers, I my &s;elf have known in &s;ome places, where there are great impropriations, appropriated in times of Popery to Deans and Chapters, and lea&s;ed out to &s;uch as receive the profits, but take no care at all for the &s;ouls of the peo|ple (and too many of them yet in the hands of &s;uch who now are or have been open Enemies to the Parliament) &s;o that the people pe|ri&s;h for lack of knowledge;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 4.6.</NOTE> be|cau&s;e for lack of convenient main|tenance they want Mini&s;ters faith|fully to Preach and Catechize, as becometh the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Verily, every one will &s;ay the di&s;ea&s;e is lamentable; But how can this be remedied? fit mainte|nance provided? or faithful Mini|&s;ters procured to Preach and Cate|chize the people in this great King|dom? I An&s;wer as <HI>Bernard</HI> once
<PB REF="9"> did in another matter,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Bern.</HI> in Cant.</NOTE> <HI>Non e&s;t meae humilitatis dictare vobis.</HI> It is not for my humility, Right Honorable, to Dictate any thing nor was I called among&s;t my Reverend Brethren to Advi&s;e) and except the golden Scepter of Grace be held forth un|to me,<NOTE PLACE="marg">E&s;th. 4.11. &amp; 5.2.</NOTE> I may &s;eem to have pre|&s;umed too far already. But &s;ince it hath plea&s;ed the Lord of Ho&s;ts &s;o highly to honour You, Give me leave, I mo&s;t humbly be&s;eech You, as a poor (though a weak and un|worthy) Mini&s;ter of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and as Gods Mini&s;ters have been in Ancient time unto Mighty Prin|ces) in all humility to became a Remembrancer,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 62.6, 7.</NOTE> as I have many times been unto God for You, &s;o now unto You for God.</P>
<P>You well know faithful <HI>Abra|ham,</HI> that great Conquering Prince (over four Kings at once) that Re|ligious Father of his Family,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 14.9, &amp;c.</NOTE> how careful he was to in&s;tru&s;t and Cate|chize
<PB REF="9"> his Hou&s;hold; and the Lord taketh &s;pecial notice of it,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18, &amp;c.</NOTE> and makes him one of his &s;ecret Coun|&s;el. Chri&s;tian Kings, Princes and Magi&s;trates are the Fathers of the Common-wealth; and it is a high honour the Lord exalteth them un|to, to take care the Common-wealth (which is their Family) be Catechized in the knowledge of the Lord, and of his will in Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Kin. 19.8, &amp;c. 2 Chron. 29.11. &amp; 33.29, &amp;c.</NOTE> Yea, &s;omtimes to admoni&s;h and charge the Lords Mini&s;ters to per|form their duties in the work of the Lord, as tho&s;e good Kings <HI>Jeho&s;haphat, Hezekiah,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eu&s;ebius in vita Con&s;tant.</NOTE> and <HI>Jo&s;iah</HI> did in their dayes, <HI>Con&s;tantine</HI> the Great, and other Chri&s;tian Princes in later Ages. Yea,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 49.23.</NOTE> to be as Nur|&s;ing Fathers, and Nur&s;ing Mothers to Chri&s;ts Church.</P>
<P>In the Primitive times the Church was exceeding vigilant for this duty of Catechizing, they had their Catechumens: Noble
<PB REF="10"> <HI>Theophilus</HI> was Catechized in the way of the Lord:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 1.4. <GAP DESC="foreign">.</NOTE> for &s;o the <HI>Greek</HI> importeth, That thou mai&s;t know the truth of tho&s;e things in which thou ha&s;t been Catechized.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 18.25.</NOTE> And <HI>Apollos</HI> was Catechized; and many Catechumens were after in the Church; therefore they had their Catechi&s;ts or Catechizers al&s;o after the Apo&s;tles times,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cyprian, Epi&s;t. <HI>24.</HI> Eu&s;ebius Eccl. hi&s;t. lib. <HI>3</HI> c. <HI>12</HI></NOTE> their <HI>Docto<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> s audientium</HI> (as St. <HI>Cyprian</HI> calls them) Teachers of the Ca|techumens; &s;uch a one was <HI>Pante|nus,</HI> &s;uch was <HI>Origen, Clemens A|lexandrinus,</HI> and others.</P>
<P>And for this end, divers holy and learned men have both in An|cient and Modern times compo&s;ed Catechi&s;ms, as helps and further|ances for this excellent work.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 5.12. &amp; 6.1, 2, 3.</NOTE>The Apo&s;tle to the <HI>Hebrews</HI> &s;ets down a brief Catechi&s;m, contain|ing the fir&s;t Principles of the Ora|cles of God.</P>
<P>Learned <HI>Hierom</HI> tells us there
<PB REF="10"> was a Catechi&s;m written by <HI>Cyril</HI> Bi&s;hop of <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> and another by <HI>John,</HI> Bi&s;hop of the &s;ame place,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Betulaeus, Com. ad Lact. lib. <HI>2.</HI> cap. <HI>11.</HI></NOTE> which <HI>Betulaeus</HI> mentioneth in his Commentaries upon <HI>Lactantius.</HI></P>
<P>I pa&s;&s;e many other in after Ages, our late learned Writers, Mr. <HI>Cal|vin, Mu&s;culus, Peter Martyr, Ur|&s;inus, Bucanus, Beza, Danaeus, Zan|chius, Al&s;tedius,</HI> Mr. <HI>Virel.</HI> Our Eng|li&s;h, Mr. <HI>Nowel,</HI> Mr. <HI>Perkins,</HI> Mr. <HI>Egerton,</HI> Mr. <HI>Dod,</HI> Mr. <HI>Baal,</HI> Mr. <HI>Downame,</HI> Mr. <HI>Allen,</HI> Dr. <HI>Twi&s;&s;e,</HI> Dr. <HI>Majer,</HI> and many other labori|ous workmen in the Lords Vine|yard: What are their &s;ums of Di|vinity but Catechi&s;ms, &s;ome larger &s;ome le&s;&s;e? and all witne&s;&s;e as their de&s;ire, &s;o their approbation of this mo&s;t nece&s;&s;ary work of Cate|chizing.</P>
<P>Now the great benefit that I have found by experience in this way of Catechizing, excellent light &s;omtimes communicated to
<PB REF="11"> poor aged people, as well as Chil|dren. And my experience of the pre&s;ent nece&s;&s;ity of all that true light, which is or may be afforded by any of the Lords Servants, La|bourers in his Vine-yard, the bet|ter to prevent Ignorant and Scan|dalous per&s;ons from approaching the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, and to re|move dark ignorance, and give light to heal the di&s;ea&s;es of poor wandring &s;ouls, hath moved me to ca&s;t my Mite into Chri&s;ts Trea&s;u|ry,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 21.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> and to hold forth in this Cate|chi&s;m following, what Light I have received from Chri&s;t, to lead unto Chri&s;t: on whom, waiting in u&s;e of all good means, a fulne&s;s of light may be communicated in Gods good time to poor hungry &s;ouls, and that to their joy un|&s;peakable and full of glory.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 1.8.</NOTE></P>
<P>I mo&s;t humbly pre&s;ent it to Your Honours, not that I think any thing of mine in it is worthy of
<PB REF="11"> &s;uch an Honour; but what is in it of the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and his Spirit of Truth and Grace, to whom all the Honour belongs: Nor that I am not per&s;waded of Your Honorable and Religious care already, for what is or may be fitting in this kinde: Nor to pre|vent the learned and godly labours of any of my Reverend Brethren, the Religious A&s;&s;embly of Di|vines, who&s;e indefatigable endea|vours I pray God to direct and ble&s;&s;e to his glory and the good of his Church; but to be a light to tho&s;e who &s;tand in pre&s;ent need, and want better directions.</P>
<P>And to conclude,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 2.32. Ioh. 1.9.</NOTE> that the true Light of Chri&s;t may more fully &s;hine forth into darkned &s;ouls, longing after Light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 8.20.</NOTE> and all fal&s;e Lights daily and more duly be di&s;|covered; that the true light Chri&s;t Je&s;us and his commands may be more fully followed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;. 9.6, 7.</NOTE> and all fal&s;e
<PB REF="12"> light of Error or Here&s;ie avoided; that the light of the Sun of Righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e may not only more richly enlighten Your Honours, who are as &s;o many glorious Stars in the fir|mament of the Common-wealth; but may &s;hine gloriou&s;ly in all the dark corners of the Land:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 4.15, 15.</NOTE> that as the glorious God hath &s;o highly Honoured You already to begin and lay the foundation &s;tone in the beautiful building of his Hou&s;e, the ble&s;&s;ed work of Reformation; &s;o he will Honour You further to lay the Top &s;tone thereof;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zac. 4.7.</NOTE> that all the Chri&s;tian Princes and Churches in the world may with rejoycing cry, <HI>Grace, Grace unto it.</HI> And all this by the &s;trength of the great <HI>Jehovah: For nor by might nor by power,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Zac. 4.6.</NOTE> <HI>but by my Spirit &s;aith the Lord of Ho&s;ts.</HI></P>
<P>That Your Excellencies may be enabled in Gods due time to take particular notice of the Thou&s;ands of Churches or Congregations in
<PB REF="12"> the Kingdom, which want not on|ly learned, able, faithful and hono|rable Pa&s;tors and Teachers to Preach and Catechize, and hold forth the light of Chri&s;t unto them; but want honorable and comforta|ble maintenance or encouragement fit for &s;o honorable and great a work of the Lord Chri&s;ts Amba&s;|&s;adors the faithful Mini&s;ters of the mo&s;t high and mighty Prince the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>In a word, that if it be the will of God, our Soveraign Lord &amp; King <HI>Charls</HI> may be truly enlightned by the light of Chri&s;t to &s;ee the fal&s;e light of all evil coun&s;els, either from his own heart, or any others, and may return fully convinced in con&s;cience, and re&s;t fully &s;atisfied by his evident experience of the mighty works of <HI>Jehovah</HI> the great God of Battel, in the mo&s;t faithful Coun&s;els of thi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> High, Honorable, and Highly Honoured Parlia|ment;
<PB REF="13"> that He and His Po&s;terity may love and Honour You and Yours from Generation to Gene|ration, as tho&s;e who have been His be&s;t and mo&s;t faithful Coun&s;ellors; that Gods ble&s;&s;ing may be upon all the three Kingdoms; that Truth &amp; Peace, Unity and Unanimity in the true light of the Lord Je&s;us, with the God of Truth and Peace, of Love, Unity and Unanimity may dwell among&s;t us in Grace, until that great King Chri&s;t &s;hall come in the Clouds of Heaven, and tran|&s;late us all with all his Saints unto Eternity in Glory. All which is and &s;hall be the mo&s;t humble, faith|ful, &s;incere and hearty Prayer of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Your Honours mo&s;t unworthy, mo&s;t humble daily Orator at the Highe&s;t Throne of Grace, <HI>IMMANUEL BOURN.</HI></SIGNED>
<DATELINE><HI>London,</HI> from my Study in <HI>Sepulchres,</HI> <DATE><HI>May</HI> 1. 1646.</DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="13">
<HEAD>To the Right Honorable <HI>Thomas Adams</HI> Lord Mayor. The Right Wor&s;hipful
<LIST>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>Nicholas Rainton</HI> Knight.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>I&s;aac Pennington.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>John Wolla&s;ton</HI> Knight.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Atkin,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>John Cordel,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>Thomas Soam,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>Iohn Gayer,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>Iacob Gerrard</HI> Knights.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Iohn Warner,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Abraham Reynard&s;on,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>George Garret,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM>Sir <HI>George Clark,</HI> Knights.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Iohn Langham.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Andrews,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Iohn Fowke,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Iames Bunce,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>William Gibbe,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Richard Chambers,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Cullum,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Simon Edmons,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Samuel Avery.</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Iohn Bide,</HI></ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>George Witham,</HI> Aldermen.</ITEM>
<ITEM><HI>Thomas Foot,</HI> and <HI>Iohn Ken|drick,</HI> Aldermen and She|riffs of the Honorable City of <HI>London.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST> With the &s;everal Families of and within the &s;aid City, and the Lives of Communication; and e&s;pecially the Beloved Congregation, and particular Families of and within the Pari&s;h of <HI>Sepulchres; a daily increa&s;e of Light from</HI> CHRIST.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Right Honorable and Beloved in the Lord Chri&s;t,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>THe many burning and &s;hining lights my Reverend Brethren, the faithful Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t in this Fa|mous City, mo&s;t graciou&s;ly holding forth the ble&s;&s;ed Light of Chri&s;t in their con&s;tant Preaching the Go&s;pel of your Salvation, <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.13. with their glorious abilities
<PB REF="14"> and readine&s;&s;e to Catechize and in&s;truct both yong and old,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.20.</NOTE> in publike, and from hou&s;e to hou&s;e, known to many of your &s;elves by &s;weet experience, and to my &s;elf by a&s;&s;ured evidence, might well &s;eem to commend my &s;ilence, rather then this &s;eeming pre&s;umption to be a Remem|brancer to you, or a furtherance of the nece&s;&s;ary Duty of Catechizing, to this Illu&s;trious, and (to this day) wonderfully pre&s;erved City. But love and duty on my part, and hope of Chri&s;tian acceptation on yours, emboldens me to declare my de&s;ires and endeavors for a ble&s;&s;ed increa&s;e of the true light of Chri&s;t among&s;t your dwellings, and in your &s;everal Families: Me thinks my heart is indicting of a good matter, and I cannot but &s;peak the things that pertain to <HI>Londons</HI> Peace.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Duo &s;unt Reipubli|cae Chri|&s;tianae firmame~|ta veritas &amp; pax praefat. Synop&s;is purioris Theolog. &amp;c.</NOTE> Truth and Peace are &s;aid to be the &s;tays and pillars of a Chri&s;tian Common-wealth, and &s;o they mu&s;t needs be of a Chri&s;tian City; yea, of the Church of Chri&s;t, the communion of Saints. The Prophet <HI>Zachary</HI> prefers Truth in the fir&s;t place, and makes Peace to follow in order; I may joyn a third, as a concomitant or accompanying Grace, this is Vnity and Vnani|mity, e&s;pecially in the true light of Chri&s;t, all to go hand in hand together; a Brotherly walk|ing in the light of Truth, revealed by Chri&s;t in the &s;acred Scriptures: <HI>Behold how good and joy|ful a thing it is, for Brethren to dwell together in Unity.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Zac. 8.19</NOTE> <HI>Ieru&s;alem is builded as a City that is com|pact,</HI> or at Vnity in it &s;elf: So is <HI>London</HI> this glorious City,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 133.1. &amp; 122.3</NOTE> Honorable and Honoured Chri|&s;tians; and my daily Prayer is and &s;hall be, that as it is in your beautiful Habitations in many parts of it, &s;o it may be united, and con|tinue
<PB REF="14"> to be as one glorious building in your mindes, hearts, wills and affections, and princi|pally in that ble&s;&s;ed light of Truth and true Religion. I would to God there were not too many different lights, glimmering like Glow-worms in dark corners, leading a&s;ide &s;ometimes &s;ome of your deare&s;t Con&s;orts, your beloved Children, Servants and Apprentices into wayes of different, if not contrary walkings from the true light of Chri&s;t, breeding Divi&s;ions even in Families, the mo&s;t Ancient Common wealths: One chief Rea&s;on I am a&s;&s;ured is want of Catechizing in the Principles of Reli|gion, and their duties in particular. To recover &s;ight and prevent the following of by lights in time to come, I am bold to commemorate the excellent practi&s;e of Catechizing, not only in publike Congregations, but in private Fami|lies; and to bring a light from Chri&s;t for this end, hath been my de&s;ire and endeavour in this Iewel of Chri&s;tian Divinity, I commend it to your Lord&s;hip, and to you Honoured Fathers of this precious and populous City, and to you Religious Worthies, Parents and Ma&s;ters of Fam<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">lies, and to you the particular, my beloved the great Congregation of <HI>Sepulchres,</HI> to whom the Lord in his good Providence was plea&s;ed by your free Election to call me, and this two years and upwards to continue me an A&s;&s;i&s;tant Teacher: If it be not &s;o perfect for method or matter as might be expected; be&s;ides that, my intention at fir&s;t was only to give light to a right preparation for the Lords Supper, and not to enlarge my &s;elf &s;o fully in the Principles of Divinity, my con&s;tant Preaching the&s;e two years
<PB REF="15"> &s;ince I began this work, beging for three parts of the year three times a week at lea&s;t, and the re&s;t twice or more, be&s;ides my attendance both on the publike Service, and other &s;pecial occa&s;ions may plead my excu&s;e.</P>
<P>Now that the light of Chri&s;t may by the help of this or my le&s;&s;er Catechi&s;m, or any other Labours of the Lords faithful Servants &s;hine forth more and more gloriou&s;ly in all your &s;ouls and &s;everal Families, that they may be enlightned as &s;o many particular Churches of Saints; that Chri&s;t may walk in the mid&s;t of them, as of the &s;even golden Candle&s;ticks,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.1. Eph. 2.19.</NOTE> that you may be found Citizens with the Saints, and of the hou&s;hold of God; that being truly lightned by the true light of Chri&s;t in the Church Mili|tant, you and yours with the whole I&s;rael of God in all the Families of this City and King|dom, may &s;hine as ble&s;&s;ed lights for ever in the Church Triumphant, is and &s;hall be the daily Prayer of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>The mo&s;t unworthy and humble Servant and Mini&s;ter of the Lord <HI>Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> IMMANUEL BOURN.</SIGNED>
<DATELINE>From <HI>Sepulchres London,</HI> <DATE>May 2. 1646.</DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="15">
<HEAD>To the Right Wor&s;hipful Sir <HI>Edward Worthley</HI> Kt. AND Dame ELIZABETH his Religious Lady. The Right Wor&s;hipful Sir SAMUEL TRYON Baronet, And Dame BRIDGET his Vertuous Lady. The true Light of Chri&s;t here, and true Light with Chri&s;t in Hea|ven for ever.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Right Wor&s;hipful,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_THat Honorable respect I did receive above twen|ty years &s;ince as a Mi|ni&s;ter of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> from your Re|ligious
<PB REF="16"> Mother, the Right Honor|able the late Counte&s;&s;e of <HI>Devon|&s;hire;</HI> and the more ancient re|lation I had unto your now Reli|gious Lady, as living divers years in hou&s;e with her and her former Husband Sir <HI>Samuel Tryon</HI> (my Honoured Patron) with the due respects I owe to Sir <HI>Samuel Tryon</HI> their Son, and his Vertuous Lady; together with kindene&s;&s;e from your &s;elf, may command a publike acknowledge|ment of all your private favours. And &s;ince the Lord hath now en|abled me after two years &s;tudy and labour at times extraordinary, almo&s;t spared from my nece&s;&s;ary &s;leep (ri&s;ing up early and late taking re&s;t) to fini&s;h this <HI>Light
<PB REF="16"> from Chri&s;t,</HI> by way of <HI>Cate|chi&s;m,</HI> which as it concerneth the general, I have Dedicated to tho&s;e Honoured Worthyes in more pub|like places: And do humbly de&s;ire every of you al&s;o to accept of it, as a <HI>Light from Chri&s;t,</HI> a help for you and yours better acquaintance with God in your Families in pri|vate, and your clo&s;ets in &s;ecret, that you and yours may be the better en|abled to meet <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> with comfort in his Ordinances, and to walk joy|fully with <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> in every con|dition in the whole cour&s;e of your lives: And for this end, I com|mend this excellent duty of Cate|chizing in and by your worthy Names, to all the Gentry, with their and all others Families in the King|dom;
<PB REF="17"> particularly in the County of <HI>Northampton,</HI> my Native country,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Now Pa|&s;tor of <HI>Ea&s;t-had|don:</HI></NOTE> where my Reverend Aged Father hath been a Preacher and Catechizer almo&s;t this fifty years, and in the County of <HI>Derby,</HI> and Pari&s;h of <HI>A&s;hover,</HI> where by the free love of my Noble Patron afore|&s;aid, I was placed, and did finde both the want and benefit of Catechizing by good experience; that they and e|very of you, making your Calling and Election &s;ure, you may gain a &s;weet entrance here, and in the end a full po&s;&s;e&s;sion and fruition of that everla&s;ting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour <HI>Je&s;us Chri&s;t:</HI> which to further, is the earne&s;t de|&s;ire and endeavour of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED><HI>Yours ever to &s;erve you in</HI> Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, <HI>IMMANUEL BOURN.</HI></SIGNED>
<DATELINE><DATE>May <HI>2. 1646.</HI></DATE></DATELINE></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<PB REF="17">
<HEAD>TO THE READER.</HEAD>
<ARGUMENT>
<P>A Briefe Table and Catalogue, of the chiefe Que&s;tions, Ca&s;es of Con&s;cience, and Divine Truths handled in this light from Chri&s;t, or Jewell of Chri&s;tian Divinity. With a direction to make u&s;e both of the greater and le&s;&s;er Catechi&s;mes in private Families, or &s;ecret Clo&s;ets or in publike Congre|gations if any plea&s;e to make tryall of them. The&s;e according to the &s;everall Cla&s;&s;es, wherein they are primarily expre&s;&s;ed or where more fully they are explained.</P>
</ARGUMENT>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;&s;is 1.</HEAD>
<P>WHether all be bound in con&s;cience to declare their knowledge and pro|fe&s;se<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 1, 2 2.</NOTE>
<PB REF="18"> their faith in Chri&s;t? when, to whom, and for what end this ought to bee done?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Que&s;t. 2. <HI>page</HI> 3. 4.</NOTE>Whether the u&s;e of Catechizing bee ancient in the Church, with the nece&s;&s;ity and benefit of it, and the lamentable igno|rance in the Kingdom?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 3. <HI>p.</HI> 7 8, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether, all Baptized per&s;ons bee true Chri&s;tians? and to be admitted to the Sa|crament of the Lords Supper?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 4. <HI>p.</HI> 14. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether all who are to be admitted to the preaching of the word, may al&s;o be received to the Sacrament?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 5. <HI>p.</HI> 21. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether in mixt congregations the &s;ins of unworthy Receivers can hinder grace from the worthy? and how &s;uch communion is lawfull, how not?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 6. <HI>p.</HI> 24, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What requi&s;ite graces are in the wed|ding garment to meet Chri&s;t in the Sacra|crament antecedent antepre&s;ent, pre&s;ent act|ing and &s;ub&s;equent graces?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 7. <HI>p.</HI> 27, 28.</NOTE>What kinde of knowledge, faith, Repen|tance and Charity are to be enlivened in preparation?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;&s;is 2.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1 <HI>p.</HI> 27 28, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>WHether a fourefold knowledge of God, <HI>2</HI> of our &s;elves, <HI>3</HI> of Chri&s;t,
<PB REF="18"> <HI>4</HI> of the Sacrament be requi&s;ite in a Recei|ver, what the&s;e are and wherefore nece&s;|&s;ary.</P>
<P>What God is in his nature,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 29, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and in his attributes communicable and incommuni|cable to the creatures?</P>
<P>Whether there be three di&s;tinct per&s;ons of the Divine E&s;&s;ence?<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 3. <HI>p.</HI> 33, 34, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and the properties evidencing the Divinity of the Son of God, of the Spirit as of God the Father and the Son?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;&s;is 3.</HEAD>
<P>WHether there be any &s;uch &s;pirituall E&s;&s;ence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 38, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and this proved by eviden|ces of light from the Booke of nature, and of Scripture of grace, and of glory?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;&s;is 4.</HEAD>
<P>WHether the holy Scriptures be the revealed will and infallible word of God, what is the antiquity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 47, 48, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> nece&s;&s;ity and authority of them?</P>
<P>How to know the right &s;ence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 50, 51, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and un|der&s;tanding of the Scriptures, and whe|ther the authority of Scriptures depend up|on
<PB REF="19"> the Church with the excellent u&s;e of them?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Ca&s;sis 5.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 58 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>WHat are the foure great works of God revealed in Scripture? name|ly his eternall decree his worke of creation, his work of providence here, and worke of glory hereafter?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 62, 63, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether the whole Trinity did create the world and how God made the body and &s;oule of man?</P>
<P>Whether the &s;oules of men or women be immortall with divers arguments to prove the immortality of the &s;oule?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 6.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 70. 71, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHether God governeth the world by his providence, and in particular Angells and men, and of the nature of Angells good and evill and their &s;ervice to the glory of God, and benefit of his Church?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="19">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 7.</HEAD>
<P>VVHether a fourefold knowledge of a man or womans &s;elfe be requi&s;ite,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 76 77, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> what hee or &s;hee was by creation, what by the fall of <HI>Adam,</HI> what in and by Chri&s;t in grace, and what he or &s;he &s;hall be in &s;tate of glory?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 8.</HEAD>
<P>VVHether men or women have free will,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 84, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and what it was in the &s;tate of creation <HI>2</HI> Of nature corrupted after the fall, <HI>3</HI> what it was in the &s;tate of grace and, <HI>4</HI> what it &s;hall be in the &s;tate of glory.</P>
<P>Whether a naturall man or woman can de&s;ire their own &s;alvation, and how far,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 89. 90.</NOTE> and whether they be bound to waite up|on God in the u&s;e of the means for &s;al|vation?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 9.</HEAD>
<P>VVHether the Lord did hold forth the Law or commanding part of Gods word in mount Sinai,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 91, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> as a covenant of workes or to what end? and wherefore Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles doe interpret the
<PB REF="20"> mind of God in the commmanding part of his word, and what is the u&s;e of it in the Church of Chri&s;t in preaching of the Go&s;pell?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 98, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> Qu. 3. <HI>p.</HI> 100 101, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What is the covenant of grace and &s;tate of Gods children under the Go&s;pel?</P>
<P>What &s;hall be the condition and &s;tate of Gods children and of the wicked in death, at the day of judgement, and for every after|wards?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 10.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 105 106, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>WHat is to be knowne of Chri&s;t in re&s;pect of his natures divines and humane, and of his hypo&s;taticall or per&s;on|all union of both natures and the nece&s;&s;ity of his being, both God and man for our &s;alva|tion?</P>
<P>How there is a communication of the Jdioms or Phra&s;es and properties of both natures each to other,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2.114, 115, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> with particular in&s;tan|ces of the &s;ame?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="11" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 11.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 116 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>WHat is the threefold office of Chri&s;t; in particular, of his Prie&s;tly of|fice, and of the two chiefe parts of it, Fir&s;t,
<PB REF="20"> &s;atisfactitn to Gods Ju&s;tices, Secondly inter|ce&s;&s;ion for us.</P>
<P>Whether the whole &s;atisfaction and &s;uf|ferings for our &s;innes was fulfilled by Chri&s;t?<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 118 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and for what end Gods is plea&s;ed to afflict and &s;uffer his children to be afflicted in this life?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="12" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 12.</HEAD>
<P>WHat is the propheticall office of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 12, 122, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> how and when he did and doth exerci&s;e it, and to what end and how by his Go&s;pell-mini&s;trey and &s;pirit he en|courageth and draweth poore &s;inners to come unto him Believe, Repent, and he &s;aved?</P>
<P>What is the kingly office of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 139 130.</NOTE> when and how hee did, and doth manife&s;t his conquering calling power with his &s;peciall calling and ordination of Mini&s;ters for the benefit of his Church?</P>
<P>Whether every man may take upon him the office of Preaching with the manner of callings, nece&s;&s;ity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 3. <HI>p.</HI> 130 131, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and excellency of the Mi|ni&s;teriall office, and the &s;ad mi&s;eries would follow in the Church, if it were aboli&s;h|ed?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="13" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="21">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 13.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 134 135, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHether Chri&s;t hath procured excellent graces and benefits for his Church and children, and what they are in particular, Election, Redemption, Vocation, and the excellent priviledge of Ju&s;tification for comfort of Saints?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="14" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 14.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Que&s;t. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 142. 143, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat is the great ble&s;&s;ing and benefit of adoption, the differ|ence betweene a naturall and an adopted <HI>Sonne</HI> and <HI>Daughter,</HI> and how we may know we are the adopted children of God in Chri&s;t Je&s;us, and heires with Chri&s;t of glory?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 144 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What is the great benefit of the new crea|tion, and how a man or woman may know they are now creatures?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 3 <HI>p,</HI> 146 147, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What is the benefit of the pre&s;ence of Chri&s;ts Spirit, and what other particu|lar graces Chri&s;t communicates to his Church?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 4.149, 150, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What a true Church of Chri&s;t is, who are the members, how manifold it is, what are the markes of it, and whether
<PB REF="21"> there bee &s;o many Independent Churches as there are particular Congregations of Porfe&s;&s;ors in the world?</P>
<P>Whether there may be a &s;eparation from a true Church for &s;ome corruption in Doctrine or manners and how far?<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 5. <HI>p.</HI> 154 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE></P>
<P>Whether the Church of Chri&s;t may erre in Fundamentalls totally and finally,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>P.</HI> 206, 297. Qu. 6. <HI>p.</HI> 157 158, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> with the grounds of pre&s;everance, and whether this doctrine of a&s;&s;urance doth open a way to libertini&s;me?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="15" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;&s;is 15.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat knowledge of the Sacra|ments is nece&s;&s;ary for a comfor|table partaking of the Lords Supper,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 160 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> what kinde of my&s;tery a Sacrament is, How it is a &s;ignifying and &s;ealing action, and the Covenant of Grace, which is &s;ealed?</P>
<P>How many Sacraments there are of Chri&s;ts in&s;titution,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 164, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> what difference between tho&s;e before and &s;ince the comming of Chri&s;t, who may admini&s;ter, and what are the outward and inward matter and forme of the Sacraments in generall, with the union between the &s;igne and the thing &s;ignifyed?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="16" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="22">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 16.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 170 <HI>&amp;c, p.</HI> 290.</NOTE>VVHo are the &s;ubjects, or per&s;ons to be Baptized according to the in&s;ti|tution of Chri&s;t, and whether Infant Children of believing Parents; and what evidence and light from Chri&s;t to prove this again&s;t the adver&s;aries of Poedobap|ti&s;me?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 194 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What meanes to difference the Church from the world without Rebaptization of men and women profe&s;&s;ing their faith, with the profit of Bapti&s;me if Infants in the Church?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="17" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 17.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 210 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is, by whom in&s;tituted, and when, what are the outward things &s;igni|fied and &s;ealed, and what kind of body of Chri&s;t the receiver doth partake of, or hath communion and union with in the Ordi|nance, the naturall, or Sacramentall, or &s;piri|ticall or My&s;ticall Body of Chri&s;t, and how and in what manner each or any of the&s;e is in the Sacrament?</P>
<PB REF="22">
<P>What are the outward and inward form in the Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 217, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and what the Analogy and agreement betweene the &s;ignes and the things &s;ignified, and in particular betweene the Bread and the Body of Chri&s;t?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="18" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 18.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat is the Analogy and &s;imilitude between the Wine in the Sacra|ment, and the bloud of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 221, 222, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and how the things &s;ignified are pre&s;ent with the outward &s;ignes to a faithfull communicant, if neither by trans&s;ub&s;tantiation, as Pa|pi&s;ts, nor by con&s;ub&s;tantiation, as others, whether by a locall pre&s;ence, or Sacramen|tall or &s;pirituall or virtuall, and what every of the&s;e kind of pre&s;ence are and how to he under&s;tood?</P>
<P>What are the ends, why the Lords Sup|per was ordained,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 22<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and the &s;weet union and communion, we have with Chri&s;t and the Saints for our &s;trengthening in th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> &s;acred Ordinance?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="19" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="23">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 19.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 229 230, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat is fit to be knowne concerning the outward circum&s;tances of time, place, and ge&s;tures, in giving or receiving the Sacrament, whether Chri&s;tian churches and particular members may not u&s;e liberty of con&s;cience in the&s;e, particularly in &s;tand|ing, kneeling or &s;itting and upon what grounds?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 23<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVhether it be nece&s;&s;ary that the Mini|&s;ter deliver the Bread and Wine to every communicant in particular, and whether Chri&s;t did &s;o, whether all ought not to en|devour a uniformity with the Directory and practice of that church of which hee or &s;hee is a member, and what hath beene the practice of antiquity in things indifferent as &s;eeking &V;nity and Peace in the Church?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="20" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="23">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 20.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat the grace of Faith is,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 241 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> the &s;everall acceptations of faith in Scripture, what ju&s;tifying faith is, and when a man or woman is rightly di&s;po&s;ed by Chri&s;t and his Spirit to believe and receive Chri&s;t for &s;alvation?</P>
<P>Who is the principall worker of faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2 <HI>p.</HI> 244 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> who the in&s;trumentall, what is the mat|ter and forme of faith, what are the live|ly effects of it, what the ends of it, namely the glory of God and &s;alvaiion of our &s;oules?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="21" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 21.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat the grace of Evangelicall Repentance,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>pag.</HI> 249.</NOTE> and conver&s;ion to God is, with the author or meanes and man|ner of working, the &s;ubject, matter, the whole Man or Women, &s;oule and body. The forme mortification of the old man and vivification of the new, and the end of it the glory of God, the edification of our Neighbour, and a&s;&s;urance of our eternall &s;alvation?</P>
<PB REF="24">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 255 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>What the nece&s;&s;ary grace of Chri&s;tian love and charity is, wherein, and with whom it is to be ex<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rci&s;ed in the Church, namely to every one that is our Neighbour, but e&s;pecially the hou&s;ehold of faith and our fellow Saints in the church of Chri&s;t?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 3. <HI>p.</HI> 258, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>How we may know who are of the hou&s;e|hold of Faith, and rightly admitted to be fellow Saints, or Members of the church, and of the twofold entrance and admi&s;|&s;ion into the Church, the fir&s;t inward and &s;pirituall, the &s;econd outward corporall and vi&s;ible; with the &s;everall degrees of &s;pirituall entrance into church-fellow&s;hip, or chri&s;tianity, not almo&s;t but altogether, And how the church may be &s;ayd to be uni|ver&s;all, nationall, provinciall, or congrega|tionall?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 4. <HI>p.</HI> 264 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>How manifold the outward, corporall, on vi&s;ible entrance and admi&s;&s;ion is into the vi&s;ible church, namely, but one in &s;ub|&s;tance, yet diver&s;ly acted in the church both in men and woemen of ripe yeares, and children before Chri&s;t, and of the Jn|fant <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">dmi&s;&s;ion of children into the Church, and Pro&s;elytes in and after <HI>Abrahams</HI> time.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q 5 <HI>p</HI> 273, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether circumci&s;ion was unto <HI>Abra|ham</HI> a &s;eale of the covenant of workes
<PB REF="24"> or of the covenant of grace, and how that place is to bee under&s;tood,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Galat. 5.</NOTE> hee that is circumci&s;ed is bound to keepe the whole Law?</P>
<P>What was the outward manner of ad|mi&s;&s;ion into the Church &s;ince Chri&s;ts time for men of ripe yeares,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 6. <HI>p.</HI> 278 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and the de&s;cription of a vi&s;ible Church and whether Chri&s;t or his Apo&s;tles did unchurch a church for &s;ome failings, and whether it be lawfull for others to do &s;o?</P>
<P>Whether children of Believers Baptized have an infant member&s;hip in the church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q 7 <HI>p.</HI> 290 <HI>&amp;c p.</HI> 170.</NOTE> and of their more full admi&s;&s;ion and en|tring into covenant, when they come to make profe&s;&s;ion of faith and are admitted to the Lords Supper?</P>
<P>Whether any of our mixt congregations in England, and London in particular,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 8. <HI>p.</HI> 296, 297, <HI>&amp;c. &amp;c,</HI> 154.</NOTE> be true Churches for matter and forme, as the Churches of <HI>Corinth Galatia, Perga|mus</HI> and others in the Primitive times, and whether all Separati&s;ts doe not &s;inne in &s;eparating from us, and unchurching of us contrary to the practice of Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles?</P>
<P>VVhether our Mini&s;ters bee true Mi|ni&s;ters or Antichri&s;tian;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 9. <HI>p.</HI> 315, 316, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and whether their Ordination and calling bee law|full
<PB REF="25"> to particular Congregations?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 10. <HI>p.</HI> 322.323, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>Whether our Churches be rightly con&s;ti|tuted in re&s;pect of a formall union of members, and rightly ordered for di&s;cipline, admi&s;&s;ion unto or &s;u&s;pending from the Lords Supper? and whether &s;ome failings in di&s;cipline can make our Churches to be no true churches of Chri&s;t, but Antichri&s;tian and to be &s;eparated from, and whether our Church reforming be as a hou&s;e pulled down and no church, untill it be builded up againe?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="22" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 22.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1, 332, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>HOw all the&s;e graces of knowledge, Faith, Repentance and Love, are to bee enlivened, and particularly our know|ledge of God with particular helpes and di|rections herein?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="23" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 23.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 341 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>HOw a man or woman may waite on Chri&s;t to enliven this knowledge of them&s;elves of Chri&s;t, and of the Sacraments, and how they may waite on Chri&s;t to enli|ven their Faith, their Repentance, and their
<PB REF="25"> charity that they may come more comfortably to the Lords Table?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="24, 25" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 24, 25.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat are the foure immediate pre|paratory graces to bee quickened,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 357 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and acted before we draw neer to the Sacra|ment, &s;orowfull humblene&s;&s;e, &s;acred hunger, heavenly joyfulne&s;&s;e, and covenant renew|ing?</P>
<P>How men or women may know whether they have life of grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 363 364, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and be Gods children or not, with divers particular examples of the manner of converting of men and women to God, and &s;peciall comforts to doubting Chri&s;tians, with a direction how to live by faith?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="26" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 26.</HEAD>
<P>VVHerefore God &s;uffers doubtings to be in his children,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 385, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> with helps to keepe from di&s;paire, comforts again&s;t decay in grace, and directions to live by faith untill Chri&s;t bring out of darkene&s;&s;e, and bring light of comfort to a poor fearfull &s;oule.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="27, 28" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="26">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 27, 28.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 408 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat are the pre&s;ent acting graces, Sacramentall actions, and operations or exerci&s;es both of bodily and &s;pirituall &s;en&s;es in the time of celebration of the Lords Supper, for refre&s;hing of our &s;oules at the Lords Table?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="29" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 29.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 450 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat graces are to be exerci&s;ed im|ediately after receiving before wee depart, and how wee &s;hould goe home re|joycing and fea&s;t with &s;weete Meditations of Chri&s;t, and the Sacrament, every night when we go to bed, and Morning when we awake, with the rich graces and benefits are &s;ealed and wee may finde in a dayly communion with Chri&s;t in our &s;oules?</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 456, <HI>&amp;c</HI></NOTE>What tho&s;e &s;ub&s;equent graces are to be exerci&s;ed and practized for, or in the ma|nife&s;tating of our thankefulne&s;&s;e in the whole cour&s;e of our lives, particularly the Root Grace of Love, manife&s;ted in our obedience. Fir&s;t, in believing what is to be believed according to the Word of God, and ancient Creeds agreeing to and with the Scriptures?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="30" TYPE="classis">
<PB REF="26">
<HEAD>Cla&s;sis 30.</HEAD>
<P>THe manife&s;tation of our love and our obedience in walking;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 472, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and the Ten Commandements held forth as a light from <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">hri&s;t to leade us unto Chri&s;t, and a directory for our comfortable walking with Chri&s;t in the whole cour&s;e of our lives, in particular the explication of the fir&s;t Commandement.</P>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>The 2 Section of the 30 Cla&s;sis.</HEAD>
<P>VVHat is the &s;econd Commandement with the explication of it,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 493 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and in the u&s;e a light from Chri&s;t How to di&s;co|ver all fal&s;e lights, and fal&s;e wor&s;hips in the world contrary to the light of Chri&s;t, that they may be avoyded, and the true light followed?</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="3" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>The 3 Section of the 30 Cla&s;sis.</HEAD>
<P>WHat the Third Commandement is with the duties required,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 534 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> and &s;inne forbidden, and the u&s;e of it as a light from Chri&s;t to lead unto Chri&s;t, both as a ju&s;ti|fyer
<PB REF="27"> and &s;anctifyer that we may walke comfortably with Chri&s;t in our lives?</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="31" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The 31 Cla&s;sis.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Qu. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 545 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>VVHat the fourth Commandement is with the explication of it, and how it is a light from Chri&s;t to lead us unto Chri&s;t as a ju&s;tifyer and &s;anctifyer, with the benefit and end of the Commandement for the comfort of Chri&s;ts church?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="32" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The 32 Cla&s;sis.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 575</NOTE>VVHat are the Commandements of the &s;econd Table, and in par|ticular the fir&s;t Commandement, with the duties commanded and the &s;innes forbidden, as they concerne &s;uperiours and inferiours in generall, both in re&s;pect of commutative and di&s;tributive ju&s;tice?</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="33" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The 33 Cla&s;sis.</HEAD>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 597. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE>WHat are the particular duties of &s;uperiours and inferiours, accord|ing to their &s;everall Relations;
<PB REF="27"> fir&s;t in the oeconomicall or hou&s;ehold e&s;tate of Husbands and Wives, Parents and chil|dren, Ma&s;ters and &s;ervants, with directi|ons how to get &s;trength to performe them. Secondly, in the &s;tate Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall Mi|ni&s;ters and People,<NOTE PLACE="marg">page <HI>634.</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> and in particular whe|ther Mini&s;ters have any maintenance due to them in the New Te&s;tament by Ordi|nance of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Page <HI>639.</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> or are to live onely of almes and charity of the people? And what the office of Rulers and Elders is in the church.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Page</HI> 632.</NOTE> Thirdly, in the State politicall the duties of Magi&s;trates and people,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Page <HI>654,</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> with light from Chri&s;t to leade to Chri&s;t in the u&s;e and practice of them.</P>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>The 33 Cla&s;&s;is 2 Section.</HEAD>
<P>WHat are the &s;ixt la&s;t Commande|mens in their Order with the &s;inns forbidden and duties commanded,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 1. <HI>p.</HI> 657, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> with light from Chri&s;t to direct the children of God, not to re&s;t in any duties or perform|ances of duties, but on Chri&s;t for ju&s;tifi|cation, and yet to glorifie God in and for, and by every grace given to us in Chri&s;t Je&s;us?</P>
<P>Whether a bare forme or &s;aying of prayer be &s;ufficient,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Q. 2. <HI>p.</HI> 679 <HI>&amp;c.</HI></NOTE> in what manner we ought to
<PB REF="28"> pray and prai<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> God, with directions how to attaine the gift of Prayer <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> helpe of Chri&s;ts Spirit;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Page <HI>681.</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> and an example of a man, who could not Read, yet learned to pray, for the comfort of him&s;elfe and encouragement of others?</P>
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> How may we make u&s;e of this the Catechi&s;mel, or the le&s;&s;er to be&s;t profit of private families or others?</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the Ma&s;ter, or &s;ome one in the Fa|mily may read the Que&s;tion; and then fir&s;t every one in order declare their knowledge, or &s;hew their ignorance and inability to an&s;wer.</P>
<P>Secondly, the Ma&s;ter or any other may Reade the An&s;wer in the Booke, and let every one in order render the An&s;wer again, not <HI>verbatim</HI> word by word, but as hee or &s;hee under&s;tands the Que&s;tion.</P>
<P>Thirdly, let this be practized untill every one is able to give the &s;ence of the An&s;wer, onely upon Reading of the Que&s;tion, without Reading the An&s;wer. The like a Chri&s;ti|an man or woman may do in their clo&s;ets by Reading and Meditation, and que|&s;tioning them&s;elves; And if young Scholars in the &V;niver&s;ities, or el&s;ewhere, make u&s;e of it at times convenient, onely Reading the Que&s;tions and An&s;wers out of
<PB REF="28"> the Engli&s;h into Latine or Greek; I conceive it might be helpefull to receive &s;ome light from Chri&s;t, by which they may &s;ooner be prepared to hold forth the light of Chri&s;t for the good of Chri&s;ts Church; Which for the benefit of the &V;niver&s;ities, Cities, and Kingdomes, is the dayly Prayers of Yours, Theirs, and the Churches Servant in Chri&s;t.</P>
</DIV3>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>IMMANUEL BOURNE.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="colophon">
<P><HI>London,</HI> Printed for <HI>John Wright,</HI> in the Old Bayly at the &s;igne of Kings Head, 1646.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB REF="29">
<PB N="1" REF="29">
<HEAD>A light from Chri&s;t leading unto Chri&s;t by the Star of his word, and to a lively refre&s;hing in and by Chri&s;t at the Lords-Table.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">OR, A Divine Help and Directory for preparation to a &s;weet Communion with Chri&s;t in the more comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper. Divided into thirty three &s;everall Cla&s;&s;es or companies of Que&s;tion, the better to order practi&s;e, and help the memory.</HEAD>
<DIV2 N="1" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The fir&s;t Cla&s;sis or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1"><HI>1 Que&s;tion.</HI></P>
<P><HI>_IS every man and woman (who profe&s;&s;e them&s;elves Chri&s;tians) bound in con&s;cience to make con|fe&s;&s;ion or profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith and Hope in Christ, to whom&s;oever is fit to
<PB N="2" REF="30"> require it in a fit time and place to Gods glory, and the good of Gods Church and Children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;wer.</HI> Yes verely, the holy Spirit of Truth holdeth forth this in the Scripture of Truth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 16.23, 14, 15, 16. Luke 9.25, 26. 1 Pet. 3.14, 15, 16.</NOTE> as a Chri&s;tian duty, not to be a|&s;hamed of Chri&s;ts Word, or afraid of men; but to &s;anctifie the Lord God in our hearts, and to be ready to give an An&s;wer to every man that asketh a Rea|&s;on of the hope that is in us, with meek|ne&s;&s;e and reverence.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>But doth not the holy Apo&s;tle</HI> Paul <HI>require a man to examine him&s;elf, and prove him&s;elf? What then need any man or woman,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28, 29. 2 Cor. 13.5. 1 Pet. 3.14, 15. Gal. 6.4.5. Gal. 2.8. Col. 3.20.22. He. 13.17 1 Tit. 14,26. 1 Tit. 5.17. 2 Tim. 2.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>or childe, give an An&s;wer to the Examination or Que&s;tion of another?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> indeed doth &s;trictly require &s;elf-examination; but neither he nor any other in Scripture doth forbid or gain&s;ay that which the &s;ame Spirit of God in St. <HI>Peter</HI> requireth as a duty; namely, give a rea&s;on of the hope that is in us, e&s;pecially to our Supe|riours in order of nature or office in the Church; as to Parents or ma&s;ters, to Teaching or Ruling Elders, e&s;pecially when it is de&s;ired, di&s;creetly, holily, hum|bly, as in Gods pre&s;ence with meekne&s;&s;e,
<PB N="3" REF="30"> compa&s;&s;ion and love, for Gods glory, our own Edification, and the good of Gods Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Is Catechizing or In&s;truction of the ignorant Children and others of an|cient practice, and approved authority in the Church of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Mo&s;t certainly it is,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18. Mat. 16.16, 17. Heb. 5.12, 13. Heb. 6.1, 2, 3. <HI>Eu&s;ebius</HI> l. 5. c. 9.10. <HI>Hicronim.</HI> in catalo. <HI>Eu&s;ebius</HI> l. 6. c. 56.</NOTE> Faithfull <HI>Abraham</HI> in&s;tructed his Family, Chri&s;t Catechized his Di&s;ciples, the Apo&s;tles gave both milk for Babes, and meat for &s;trong men, laying down the principles of the Doctrine of Chri&s;t, and Catechi&s;me hath &s;till been continued in the Church of Chri&s;t, as Catechi&s;mes and Catechi&s;ts witne&s;&s;e at large, and in particular <HI>Pan|taenus</HI> a Catechi&s;t in the Primitive times &s;ucceeding the Apo&s;tles: After him <HI>Cle|mens Alexandrinus, Origen</HI> and others.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But may not all tho&s;e who call them&s;elves Chri&s;tians, and have been Bap|tized when they were Infants, be admitted to the Sacrament when they come to riper years, although they were never Catechi|zed, or be they never &s;o ignorant? And if &s;o, Then what need Catechi&s;mes, or Cate|chizing, or any Examination, other then wha man can examine him&s;elf?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All are not I&s;rael that are of I&s;|rael,
<PB N="4" REF="31"> nor are all true Chri&s;tians that call them&s;elves Chri&s;tians;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 9.6 Rev. 3.9.</NOTE> as &s;ome &s;aid they were Iews and were not, but were of the Synagogue of Satan: &s;o it is now, there are many Chri&s;tians in name, (or Bap|tized per&s;ons) not only &s;ecret Hypocrites undi&s;cerned, (of whom we cannot judge) but open, carele&s;&s;e, and notoriou&s;ly igno|rant of Chri&s;t and Chri&s;tianity; yea, with|out the knowledge of God or of them|&s;elves, or of Chri&s;t, or of the Sacrament in any competent mea&s;ure, requi&s;ite to enable them to examine them&s;elves (as the Scripture,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28.</NOTE> and the Spirit of Chri&s;t in the Scriptures require) and the&s;e I con|ceive (though &s;ome men account them vi|&s;ible Chri&s;tians) and although neither their lives are &s;o &s;candalous, nor their ig|norance &s;uch, as for which they may be fitly Excommunicated from the preaching of the Go&s;pel, and all communion with the Saints, (they being willing to hear the Word Preached, and not rejecting Chri&s;ts mini&s;ters) yet their very igno|rance is &s;uch, that (in my judgement) they are not fit to be admitted to the Sacra|ment.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Exam|ple.</NOTE>I will give you an Example or two of my own experience: I did know one
<PB N="5" REF="31"> <HI>W.W.</HI> whom I found ignorant of Chri&s;t, (although he was above three&s;core years old) and telling him that the wages of &s;in is death,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 6.23.</NOTE> and that he mu&s;t know &s;ome one that had died for him, or would die for him, to &s;atisfie Gods Ju&s;tice for his &s;ins; or el&s;e being a &s;inner he could not be &s;a|ved. He An&s;wered me, That none had dyed for him, and none &s;hould dye for him, but he would &s;tand between God and him&s;elf: This man verely was unfit, in my minde, to be admitted to the Sacra|ment of the death of Chri&s;t, who did neither know nor believe that Chri&s;t dy|ed for &s;inners,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.25.</NOTE> nor ro&s;e again for their Iu|&s;tification: And when he did pre&s;ume thus ignorant to come to the Lords Table,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. ii, 29, 30.</NOTE> he &s;inned in &s;o doing, and did eat Iudgement to him&s;elf, not di&s;cerning the Lord Body. And yet I conceive he was not &s;o &s;canda|lous in life, or ignorant, as to be Excom|municated from the Preaching of the Go&s;pel. For when after I did &s;hew him his mi&s;ery by &s;in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.16.</NOTE> and the greatne&s;&s;e of Gods love in giving Chri&s;t to dye for poor &s;inners, the tears ran down his cheeks for joy, and he confe&s;&s;ed he ne|ver under&s;tood &s;o much before; And yet he had once a year with his Neighbours
<PB N="6" REF="32"> at Ea&s;ter received the Sacrament for ma|ny years together.</P>
<P><MILESTONE N="2" UNIT="Example"> The like ignorance I found in a man|ner in one <HI>W. D.</HI> an ancient man al&s;o, and one that had thought him&s;elf worldly wi&s;e; I asked him, who died for him (and that in a loving familiar way, as willing to in&s;truct him:) He An&s;wered me, The Son of God dyed for him: I was glad to hear his an&s;wer: but demanding of him again if he did know what this Son of God was that dyed for him, he pointed his hand towards the Sun then &s;hining in the Firmament, (it being about two a clock in the Afternoon) and &s;aid, Look, yonder in the Son of God that dyed for me, (ble&s;&s;ed might he be.) It grieved me then to &s;ee his lamentable ignorance, which by that An&s;wer and further Que|&s;tions I found to be in him. I might give more Examples of the like: And &s;uch I conceive &s;in in coming to the Sacrament, though neither for &s;candall of life, nor for this ignorance, they be judged wor|thy to be Excommunicate from the word Preached.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>Truly I am of your minde for this notorious ignorance, and for all &s;uch us are not able to Examine them&s;elves;
<PB N="7" REF="32"> But what think you of tho&s;e who are other|wi&s;e Scandalous?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are too many Baptized per&s;ons, Baptized in Childhood (now of ripe years, called (by &s;ome) vi&s;ible chri|&s;tians) whom St. <HI>Paul</HI> calls enemies to Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 3.18.19. 1 Cor. 5.9, 10, 12. 2 Ioh. 10.11. 1 Cor. 1.11. 2 Cor. 2.9.10.</NOTE> who are openly and notoriou&s;ly &s;candalous, ignorant, prophane, impeni|tent, and unreformed; with &s;uch as the&s;e are, every true Chri&s;tian ought, as much as is po&s;&s;ible, to avoid all familiarity, or intimate acquaintance (except to convert them) and much more all willing Com|munion with them at the Lords Table: And therefore certainly Catechi&s;mes and Catechizing is very nece&s;&s;ary, that both knowledge and holine&s;&s;e may be held forth, as to the former, &s;o to &s;uch as the&s;e; and examination or tryall be made,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28, 29.</NOTE> both by them&s;elves and others, before they pre&s;ume to come to the Supper of the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Were there any in the Pri|mitive times of the Church, who were con|verted to Chri&s;tianity, that were kept back for a time from the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the Primitive times, &s;ome who were converted extraordinarily upon profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith in Chri&s;t, and
<PB N="8" REF="33"> de&s;ire they were Baptized. Fir&s;t, Thus was the Eunuch,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.37.</NOTE> <HI>Acts</HI> 8. Secondly, Thus was <HI>Cornelius</HI> and his company, (after the holy Gho&s;t had given a publike evi|dence of their conver&s;ion and true Faith in Chri&s;t) admitted to Bapti&s;me.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 10.44, 45. 46, &amp;c. Acts 8.18, 19, 20. 21, &amp;c. 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. 3 Ioh. 9.10. 1 Cor. 5. Phil. 3.17, 18, 19. Heb. 6.4, 4, 6, &amp;c. Heb. 10.24, 25, 26, &amp;c.</NOTE> Third|ly, Some were converted only to an out|ward profe&s;&s;ion of the Faith, among&s;t whom were many hypocrites Baptized at the fir&s;t; and the&s;e it may be were ad|mitted to the Lords Supper untill they were di&s;cerned: But &s;o &s;oon as they were di&s;cerned and known, notice was taken of them, as &s;uch who were fit to be ca&s;t out, and their Communion avoided for their wickedne&s;&s;e and hypocri&s;ie. Thus <HI>Simon Magus, Hymeneus, Alexan|der, Diotrephes, Demas,</HI> and &s;uch like: &s;ome of which fell for a time and were re&s;tored, &s;ome fell to Here&s;ie and Apo|&s;tacy and peri&s;hed in their &s;ins.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>Do you read of any difference of Chri&s;tians made afterwards in the Church, or were all that were converted to an outward profe&s;&s;ion of the Faith ad|mitted the Sacraments promi&s;cuou&s;ly with|out any difference?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly no, They were not ad|mitted to the Sacrament: For in proce&s;&s;e
<PB N="9" REF="33"> of time, when the Church did finde that many joyned them&s;elves to the Chri&s;ti|ans, and made a profe&s;&s;ion of the Faith (as true Believers) which after fell away,<NOTE PLACE="marg">As be|fore noted, 1 Tim. 1.26, 30. 2 Pet. 2.14, 15, 20.</NOTE> &s;ome to Here&s;ies, &s;ome to &s;candalous lives, and &s;ome to Pagani&s;me again: The Saints did not pre&s;ently then upon the fir&s;t &s;eeming conver&s;ion, or profe&s;&s;ion of them&s;elves to believe, admit men or wo|men &s;o much as to Bapti&s;me, much le&s;&s;e to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; but had a time of tryall and preparation for &s;o great a work: Therefore Writers relate there were &s;everall orders of Chri|&s;tians in the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>Which were the&s;e &s;everall Orders of Chri&s;tians in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t &s;ome were only <HI>Catechu|menes,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>I&s;idorus,</HI> Origen. lib. <HI>14.</HI> Catechu|menus di|ctus qui Doctri|nam fidei audit nec dum ta|men Bap|ti&s;mum percepit.</NOTE> hearers and learners of the Do|ctrine of the Go&s;pel by Catechizing as well as Preaching; yea, though they were men of ripe years, untill they were able to make a good profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith, and give evidence of their &s;incere conver&s;ion and re&s;olution, to per&s;evere by Gods Grace unto their lives end.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Have you read of any parti|cular per&s;ons who were &s;uch Catechumens in the Church?</HI></P>
<PB N="10" REF="34">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, &s;uch a Catechumen was <HI>Ambro&s;e,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Sozomen,</HI> Hi&s;tor. Eccle&s;ias, l. 6. c. 24.</NOTE> when he was cho&s;en Bi&s;hop or Over&s;eer of the Church of <HI>Millaine,</HI> the &s;tate of the Church &s;o requiring, by rea|&s;on of Schi&s;mes and Here&s;ies then &s;pring|ing up.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. Hi&s;t. Gent. 4. cap. 10. Cent. 5. cap. 10.</NOTE>Secondly, &s;uch a Catechumen was <HI>Au|gu&s;tine,</HI> after he was converted from a Maniche to be a Chri&s;tian, and did write divers Books before he was Baptized by St. <HI>Ambro&s;e.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Arnobius,</HI> Adver&s;us Gentes, lib. 7.</NOTE>Thirdly, &s;uch a Catechumen was <HI>Ar|nobius,</HI> who when he &s;aw he was deferred Bapti&s;me, becau&s;e the Di&s;ciples feared, lea&s;t being an eloquent man, if he &s;hould revolt to Pagani&s;me, he might prophane|ly abu&s;e that holy Sacrament: Therefore he wrote an excellent Book again&s;t the Gentiles, to evidence the truth of his pro|fe&s;&s;ion, and con&s;tancy in the Faith of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. Again there was a &s;econd Order or Degree of Chri&s;tians, and the&s;e were &s;uch Catechumens or Catechized per&s;ons, who when they were well tryed and proved, or examined and approved.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Socrates,</HI> Eccl. hi&s;t. l. 7. c <HI>17.</HI></NOTE> came to de|&s;ire Bapti&s;me, and were called Competi|tors, or Fellow-Catechumens de&s;iring Bapti&s;me, which when they received,
<PB N="11" REF="34"> they were arrayed in white Robes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">In litur|gi Chri|&s;o&s;tomi.</NOTE> as Hi&s;tory relates.</P>
<P>And neither of the&s;e were yet received to the Lords Supper, untill they were bap|tized, and approved by the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What were the third Order of Chri&s;tians in tho&s;e times?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They were called the Faithfull; and the&s;e were &s;uch Believers, or Belee|ving Chri&s;tians, who after they were baptized,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Socrates,</HI> Eccl. hi&s;t. l. 7. c. 17.</NOTE> &amp; had made profe&s;&s;ion &amp; proof of their faith, were admitted to the Lords Table, and had Communion with their fellow-Saints in that holy Ordinance, and &s;o were all fellow members of the my&s;ticall Body of Chri&s;t. And in the fir&s;t Primitive times of the Apo&s;tles and Church after Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.27. Acts 5.32.</NOTE> the&s;e Believers were together, and were of one heart, and of one &s;oul; a &s;weet example of unity for the Churches of Chri&s;t to the end of the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>Was there not a fourth Order of Chri&s;tians?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, There is mention made of the Penitents, (who were &s;uch believers) as after profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith, and par|taking of the Sacrament, did fall into &s;ome open, notorious, &s;candalous &s;in, and
<PB N="12" REF="35"> were put back into the number and place of the Catechumens,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Hospin. de Templis, <HI>page 88.</HI></NOTE> and kept from the Sacrament, untill upon true &s;ignes of Re|pentance,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>D. Au|gu&s;t.</HI> Hom. 49. de verbis Apo&s;tol. Eph. 6.20.</NOTE> and &s;atisfaction to the Church, they were received again into their for|mer order, and re-admitted unto the Lords Supper; And &s;o it is evident, all were not promi&s;cuou&s;ly &s;uffered to re|ceive the Sacrament, who had been bap|tized, or were formerly received: But they were and might be kept back by the Church, and &s;uch as had right Authority of Government in the Church, yea and be excommunicate upon lawfull and ju&s;t cau&s;e given by notorious and &s;candalous offences,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 5.3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 2.5, 6, 7, 8. <HI>Iu&s;tellus in notis cod. can. Eccl. citat per God|win. de Excom.</HI></NOTE> untill God gave them Repen|tance, and they were re&s;tored again to the communion of Saints; till when, in &s;ome places they might not come into the Church, but &s;tand weeping without, de|&s;iring with tears tho&s;e that entred, to pray for them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>Thus you have &s;hewed the practice of the Church for men of ripe yeers converted to the Faith, and for &s;uch as were Communicants once received: But what &s;ay you of Children of believing Pa|rents, born in the Church, and received by Bapti&s;me as outward vi&s;ible members of
<PB N="13" REF="35"> the Church, had they any &s;uch priviledge, that when they came to years, they might be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, without Catechizing, Examinati|on, and making profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith, and the graces of God in them?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Children of believing Parents have a priviledge to be baptized, as the children of Faithfull <HI>Abraham</HI> had to be circumci|&s;ed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.12. 1 Cor. 7.14.</NOTE> and &s;o to be di&s;tingui&s;hed from Chil|dren of Pagans, &amp; &s;teemed in the judge|ment of charity, as members of the Church, untill by wickednes &amp; &s;candalous lives or &s;ome other wayes, they declared the con|trary: but yet as the children of the faith|full I&s;raelites were by Gods &s;peciall com|mand to be in&s;tructed and Catechized in the knowledge of the Lord,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 6.6, 7, 8, 9. Exod. 12.24, 25, 26, 27. 2 Tim. 1.5. 2 Tim. 3.15.</NOTE> &amp; of his will and works, and in particular of the Sa|crament, and the rea&s;on of it: So without doubt the Children of believing Parents, are to be catechized and in&s;tructed in the knowledge of God, and of them&s;elves, and of Chri&s;t, and of the Sacrament, &amp; be able to make profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith, before they be admitted to the Lords Table.<NOTE PLACE="marg">D. <HI>Pet. Martyr.</HI> locor. com. Cla&s;&s;. 3. c. 8. S. 14.</NOTE> And hence I conceive was that decree and or|der in the Church, that Children of Belie|vers, Baptized in Infancy, when they came
<PB N="14" REF="36"> to years of di&s;cretion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cum tin|cti fue|runt ho|mines in infantia, nec fidei confe&s;&s;io|nem edido|runt, de|cretum e&s;t ut cum veni&s;&s;ent ad matu|riorem a tatem vo|carentur ad Epi&s;|copum &amp; public&egrave; fidem &s;u|am profi|terentur. <HI>Heb. 5.11, &amp;c.</HI></NOTE> &amp; were Catechized and &s;ufficiently in&s;tructed, they &s;hould be called to make profe&s;&s;ion of their faith in publike, and prayers put up unto God, for their per&s;everance in the Faith to the end: This after was called Confirmation, &s;o much abu&s;ed &s;ince by the Romi&s;h Sy|nagogue, and by the Papi&s;ts and Popi&s;h Bi&s;hops: the good u&s;e of which, according to the fir&s;t in&s;titution, as a policy of the Church, might well have been continued, and may be profitable in the Church of Chri&s;t, that men &s;o Baptized in Infancy, might be approved for right knowledge, and holy conver&s;ation, before they be en|tertained at this Fea&s;t of the Lord: And &s;o Catechizing is a nece&s;&s;ary duty in the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But doth not the Sacrament hold forth Chri&s;t crucified to the eyes, as well as Preaching of the Go&s;pel doth to the eares; And may not a man be converted to the faith of Chri&s;t by the Sacrament, as well as by the Word Preached? And if &s;o, Where|fore then may not all ignorant and &s;canda|lous, and impenitent men and women be ad|mitted to the Sacrament, as well as to hear the Go&s;pel Preached?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I will not deny but the Sa|crament
<PB N="15" REF="36"> doth hold forth Chri&s;t crucified to a believing eye, that by the eye of faith can look upon the Body of Chri&s;t broken with torments, and blood of Chri&s;t &s;hed to the death for &s;in, while&s;t the eye of the Body doth behold the Bread broken, and the Wine powred out in this Sacra|ment. And</P>
<P>Secondly, I do acknowledge that the Lord may &amp; can if he plea&s;e convert a wicked, blinde, ignorant, prophane man or woman, by &s;eeing the Bread broken, and the Wine powred out, and e&s;pecially by tho&s;e manife&s;tations of Chri&s;ts Death and Pa&s;sion, and tho&s;e Dehortations and Admonitions of Ignorant and prophane, &s;candalous men and women to with|draw, and not pre&s;ume to come to the Lords Table, untill God give them Re|pentance; And by tho&s;e invitations of believing, humble, hungry, repenting &s;ouls to draw nigh to meet Chri&s;t, and fea&s;t with him at his Table, and this by the power of the Spirit of Chri&s;t, bring|ing all home to the &s;oul. But it is the prea|ching of the Go&s;pel in another manner then at the Sacrament, that is, the common and ordinary way of conver&s;ion, in which men and women ought to wait upon
<PB N="16" REF="37"> Chri&s;t for Repentance and Remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5.31. Rom. 10.14, 15, 16, 17.</NOTE> Faith cometh by hearing, and hear|ing by the Word of God, and this by Preaching, as the Apo&s;tle Saint <HI>Paul</HI> publi&s;heth. Secondly, the Sacrament hath properly another end, namely, as Cir|cumci&s;ion of old was a &s;ign of the Cove|nant between God and <HI>Abraham,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.7, 8, &amp;c. Rom. 4.11.</NOTE> and and a &s;eal and pledge not of a corporall Covenant, but of that Covenant of Grace in Chri&s;t, and of that Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, or of Chri&s;t received by Faith, and which <HI>Abraham</HI> enjoyed by belie|ving, and Saints by our ingrafting into Chri&s;t: And as the Pa&s;&s;eover or Pa&s;chall Lamb, and &s;princkling of the Blood up|on the two &s;ide-po&s;ts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. i2.22.</NOTE> and upon the lin|tell of the door of the hou&s;e was a &s;ign and &s;eal, and pledge to confirm the Faith of I&s;rael: That God would pa&s;&s;e over their hou&s;es when the Angel de&s;troyed the fir&s;t-born of Egypt, and that God would &s;princkle their &s;ouls with the Bloud of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 12.24.</NOTE> that blood of &s;prinkling that &s;peaketh better things then did the bloud of <HI>Abell,</HI> &s;o this Sacrament was properly in&s;tituted to confirme and &s;trengthen the Di&s;ciples Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, &amp;c.</NOTE> and &s;o the faith of all Beleevers, and to &s;eale and
<PB N="17" REF="37"> a&s;&s;ure unto them the Covenant of Grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. ii.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> Chri&s;t and his benefits promi&s;ed. And it was not in&s;itituted for Pagans and Infidels and unbeleevers to convert them, but for Beleevers to confirme them in the faith, as by the In&s;titution of this Sacrament may appeare,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 12.47, 48. Rom. 2.28, 29.</NOTE> and as the Pa&s;&s;eover was not to be eaten of the uncircumci&s;ed, but of the circumci&s;ed, and tho&s;e who were circumci&s;ed in heart, at lea&s;t in outward appearance, as the Apo&s;tle holds forth true Iews, and &s;o true Chri&s;tians now in the Church of Chri&s;t, (at lea&s;t in appear|ance) ought to be admitted to the Sa|crament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>This is an An&s;wer &s;uffici|ent:</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iudges 6.31.</NOTE> <HI>But what further may be &s;aid to &s;uch as plead for</HI> Baal, <HI>and &s;eem to &s;et open a door for all prophane, ignorant, unbelieving, impenitent per&s;ons, to come to this holy Sa|crament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That the Word hath, and may be Preached to all creatures, men and women of all &s;orts, Drunkards,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mar. 16.15. Matth. 9.10, 13. 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. Mat. 10. 14, 15.</NOTE> Adulter|ers, whores, except &s;uch as reject the Go&s;|pell, and maliciou&s;ly per&s;ecute the Mini|&s;ters of Chri&s;t, again&s;t whom they may &s;hake off the du&s;t of their feet. But to admit all &s;orts to the Sacrament, all ig|norant
<PB N="18" REF="38"> and &s;candalous impenitent per|&s;ons,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 13.44, &amp;c. Act. 18.5, 6. Mat. 18.15, 16. Levit. 19.17. 1 Cor. 5.4, 5.</NOTE> this ought not to be &s;uffered: But tho&s;e in Authority in the Church, ought rather to &s;u&s;pend or deliver up &s;uch to Satan, for the de&s;truction of the fle&s;h, that the Spirit may be &s;aved in the day of the Lord Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>It &s;eemeth evident to me then, that every man and woman who may come to the Preaching of the Word, may not come to the Sacrament, if they be either notoriouly ignorant or &s;candalous? and therefore Catechi&s;me is very nece&s;&s;ary.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> You are in the right, for if legall impurity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 12.48. Exek. 44.7, 8.9. Lev. 7.20, 21. &amp; 15. Num. 2.10, 11.</NOTE> yea, but the touching of a dead body made them unclean, and unfit for the Pa&s;&s;eover: Then much more &s;piritu|all uncleanne&s;&s;e and uncircumci&s;ion of the heart and life defileth the &s;oul, and ma|keth unfit for the holy Sacrament.</P>
<P>And if tho&s;e who have only a form of godline&s;&s;e, without the power of Religi|on,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.5.</NOTE> mu&s;t be turned away from, as tho&s;e with whom the Saints (ought as much as is po&s;&s;ible) to have no communion.</P>
<P>Then certainly tho&s;e prophane ones who have not &s;o much as an outward form of Religion, but are notoriou&s;ly ig|norant, and notoriou&s;ly &s;candalous, who
<PB N="19" REF="38"> live Athei&s;tically without God in the world;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.12.</NOTE> they mu&s;t needs be unfit to meet Chri&s;t in this holy Ordinance of the Lords Supper; or for the Saints willing|ly to communicate with at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>But who hath Authority to Excommunicate or &s;u&s;pend the&s;e ignorant and &s;candalous per&s;ons, and to keep them from the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I do not &s;ay that every particular Mini&s;ter,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.17, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 5.3, 4, 5. Act. 14.23. Tit. 1.5. 1 Tim. 1.19, 20.</NOTE> or Member of a congregation hath this power: But the whole congre|gation, or the Presbytery and Elders, or|dained as Rulers in the Church; or at lea&s;t, &s;uch as are lawfully Authori&s;ed from Gods Word, and from the Church of Chri&s;t, to perform this duty.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>But what if the Church, or the Elders of the Church, or any other in Authority,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 15.19.</NOTE> <HI>do not perform their duties in taking order and care (as much as is in their power) that the precious may be wholly &s;eparated from the vile: But that for want of their care and diligence or faithfulne&s;&s;e, &s;uch a man who in the judgement of the Mini&s;ter, or any one or more of the Congre|gation, (&s;o it be not of the greate&s;t part) is ignorant, or &s;candalous, do pre&s;&s;e into the
<PB N="20" REF="39"> Sacrament, though he be admoni&s;hed in pri|vate and publike, to forbear, and not to in|danger his own &s;oul, of becoming guilty of the Body and the blood of Christ?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.27, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>Is the Mini&s;ter or any &s;uch of the Congregation (doing their be&s;t to hinder &s;uch Communi|cating) guilty of &s;uch a mans &s;in, who comes wilfully unprepared, as being ignorant or &s;candalous in their judgments, and without the wedding garment? As for Example,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Example</NOTE> <HI>if a man live in the wil&s;ull breach of a lawfull Covenant,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.28, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>a &s;in (it may be) not na|med or reckoned as &s;candalous by tho&s;e in Authority; and yet a &s;in in the con&s;cience of a mini&s;ter, or a member of the Church, for which a man impenitent for it, &s;hould be &s;u&s;pended the Sacrament: If tho&s;e in Au|thority, or the greater part of the congrega|tion, do neglect their duty, and &s;uffer or ap|prove of this mans unlawfull Communica|ting, is the mini&s;ter or &s;uch a member guil|of this mans &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">As 1 Cor. 5.11, &amp;c. 2 The&s;. 3.6.14. 2 Joh. 9.10. 1 Tim. 1.22.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly if the Mini&s;ter or any &s;uch Member or Members of the congre|gation, do not u&s;e all lawful means to put from them &s;uch a per&s;on, to hinder this &s;infull communicating of &s;uch a &s;canda|lous per&s;on, they cannot but partake of this mans &s;in, and &s;o be found guilty: But
<PB N="21" REF="39"> if they do their be&s;t endeavor in their pla|ces and callings, to hinder &s;uch ignorant or &s;candalous per&s;ons, declaring a ju&s;t di&s;like of &s;uch a mans pre&s;umption, not countenancing, but di&s;allowing and di&s;a|vowing the boldne&s;&s;e of &s;uch a gue&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.10, &amp;. 1 Cor. 11.27, &amp;c. Gen, 4.7. Rev. 2.14, &amp;c.</NOTE> to come without the wedding garmen<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">: I conceive they are not guilty of this mans unworthy receiving, and the &s;in &s;hal lie at their doors who have Au hority and po|wer to prevent, or u&s;e means of prevent|ing this &s;in, and do not.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>Yet before I leave this, I de|mand once again, whether can the company of &s;uch a wicked Communicant, &s;top the flowing &s;treams of Gods grace in Chri&s;t from the Saints in the Sacrament, or keep the life cheri&s;hing vertue of Chri&s;t from them who come rightly prepared? or &s;econd|ly, Whether &s;hould the Saints refu&s;e the Sa|crament, or unchurch them&s;elves, and &s;epa|rate from the Congregation for &s;uch a &s;can|dalous Communicants pre&s;ence, or for &s;uch a failing of the Church or the greater part of the Congregation in &s;uch a particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 8.22 Rev. i8.4 Luk. 22.19.</NOTE> I believe if a Saint di&s;cover the &s;candalous, and do the be&s;t to hinder <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">his &s;in of the unworthy receiver, it canno<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> hinder Chri&s;ts grace from a faithful re|ceiver;
<PB N="22" REF="40"> as <HI>Judas</HI> pre&s;ence did not hinder the Apo&s;tles, nor the ince&s;tuous per&s;on the Saints, while he continued with them; nor are the Saints bound to refu&s;e the Sacra|ment, or unchurch them&s;elves, and &s;epa|rate from that Congregation for this fail|ing of the Church (the&s;e Saints having performed their duties in their &s;everal places as is noted before:) But the&s;e par|ticular members &s;hould rather wait on Chri&s;t in the u&s;e of all lawful and good means, to have this fault of the Church re|formed, &amp; continue their fellow&s;hip with manife&s;tation of their di&s;like in this parti|cular. And this I conceive they may do without &s;in, for the&s;e and the like rea&s;ons.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, when the ince&s;tuous per&s;on was &s;uffered in the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.1, &amp;c. &amp; 1.10.11. &amp; 3.2, 3, 4,</NOTE> tho&s;e Saints (who no doubt were offended) did not pre&s;ently &s;eparate from the Church, but rather informed the Apo&s;tle of that, as of other failings, that there might be a Reformation, rather then a &s;eparation in the Church.</P>
<P>Secondly, the Apo&s;tle doth not write to the <HI>Corinthians</HI> or other Churches,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 16.17, 18 1 Cor. 5.14.</NOTE> to &s;eparate one from another, but to beware of &s;elf-divi&s;ions, and to ca&s;t out from a|mong&s;t them that wicked per&s;on; whom
<PB N="23" REF="40"> after upon his repentance, he ordered to be re&s;tored again.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.6, 7, 8.</NOTE></P>
<P>Thirdly, although the Lord commands his people to &s;eparate and come out from <HI>Babilon,</HI> and from wicked Idolators,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 18.4. 2 Cor. 6.15, &amp;c.</NOTE> and promi&s;eth a ble&s;&s;ing; yet the Lord doth not require Saints to &s;eparate from Saints, or leave a Church for &s;ome particular failings, (and it may be but for a time) a Church of Chri&s;t may remain a Church, though there be found &s;ome failings, wit|ne&s;&s;e the Churches of Chri&s;t in the Pri|mitive times.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.4.14. &amp; 3.2, 3.</NOTE> And if &s;eparation &s;hould be for every failing, there would be no end of &s;eparation among&s;t &s;ome, till no Church could be found, and all mu&s;t be Zion-&s;eekers indeed; which mu&s;t needs be a &s;candall to tho&s;e which are without, and cau&s;e the worthy Name of Chri&s;t to be ill &s;poken of, as our lamentable divi&s;i|ons do at this day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.24. Iam. 2.7. Eph. 4.1, 2.3, 4.</NOTE> to the great grief of Gods people. Saints therefore mu&s;t pray for and &s;eek unity in the Church. But how&s;oever that the Church may fail, &amp; Saints not &s;in in not &s;eparating; Yet it is certain, that ignorant or &s;candalous per&s;ons eat judgement (though not to o|thers, yet) to them&s;elves;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. ii.28, 29.</NOTE> And there|fore Catechizing is nece&s;&s;ary in the Church.</P>
<PB N="24" REF="41">
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What then is required of &s;uch <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">er&s;ons as de&s;ire to meet Chri&s;t, to have <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ommunion with Chri&s;t, and to partake of Chri&s;ts Soul-cheri&s;hing vertue in the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11 28. Exod. 12.47, 48. Num. 9.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To Examine them&s;elves, whe|ther they be rightly prepared; and then to eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>When is a man or woman rightly prepared to meet Chri&s;t in that holy Ordinance?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When he or &s;he is cloathed upon with that wedding garment, without which we cannot be welcome to that Fea&s;t of the Lord:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.12.</NOTE> As in that Fea&s;t, &s;o it is in this Fea&s;t of the Lord Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is that Wedding gar|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, with his merits, righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.16.</NOTE> and living graces, applied, infu&s;ed, or wrought by Chri&s;ts Spirit in our &s;ouls.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>But why mu&s;t we be prepared with &s;uch graces before we come to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 1.6. I&s;. 64.7.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e they are to be actuated, &s;tirred up, quickened, and enlivened, if we will meet Chri&s;t to our comfort. As a
<PB N="25" REF="41"> man mu&s;t examine him&s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 13.5.</NOTE> &s;o here Grace is before hand to be Examined.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>Wherefore do you call Chri&s;t a Garment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 3.27. Rom. 13.14.</NOTE> Becau&s;e as many as have been baptized into Chri&s;t, have and do put on Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>How is Chri&s;t put on? Or when are men and women cloathed upon with the Lord Je&s;us as with a garment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When by the work of Chri&s;ts Spirit upon our &s;ouls, we believe, and &s;ee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 2.37. Acts 16.29, 30. Ioh. 1.11.11, 12. I&s;a. 61.10. Gal. 3.27.</NOTE> and finde, and feel in our con&s;ciences, our &s;in, bondage, and mi&s;ery by &s;in, and our extream need of Chri&s;t; and by the eye and hand of Faith, &s;ee and receive, and re&s;t or Chri&s;t, as our only &s;urety, Sa|viour, and remedy, and &s;o are and may be a&s;&s;ured we are the children of God, and cloathed upon with Chri&s;ts robes of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, as with a garment.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What are the&s;e living Gra|ces which a Christian &s;hould wear, and put on as a garment; and the habits of which are to be examined, &s;tirred up, and enliven|ed, when we thus meet the Lord Je&s;us?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> As <HI>Aarons</HI> holy garments were made up of divers materials and variety of colours, of gold, and blew, and purple
<PB N="26" REF="42"> &s;carlet,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 28.4, 5. P&s;al. 45.13, 14. Ezek. 16.10. &amp;c.</NOTE> and fine linnen, curiou&s;ly imbroy|dered: So this chri&s;tian garment, is in|terwoven with variety of Graces, or gracious di&s;po&s;itions and ornaments of the &s;oul; but chiefly with four &s;orts.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>Which are tho&s;e four &s;orts of Graces, the habits of which mu&s;t he ex|amined, and enlivened, that we may come with comfort to this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Antecedent Primitive foregoing Graces, to be examined, &s;tirred up and enlivened, before we come to this holy Sacrament.</P>
<P>Secondly, Antepre&s;ent, or <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ore im|mediate foregoing Graces, and g<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">acious affections and re&s;olutions in the &s;oul, to be &s;tirred up, exerci&s;ed and enlivened, immediatly before, and when we draw near to the act of receiving.</P>
<P>Thirdly, pre&s;ent acting Graces, and &s;anctified affections, operations and &s;pi|rituall &s;en&s;es of the &s;oul, together with our bodily &s;en&s;es, to be &s;tirred up enli|vened and exerci&s;ed at the Sacrament, and in the act of receiving, as of the Ele|ments of Bread and Wine bodily, &s;o of the body and blood of Chri&s;t inwardly, and &s;piritually in our &s;ouls.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Sub&s;equent living Graces, to
<PB N="27" REF="42"> be examined, and exerci&s;ed after the Sa|crament, for the con&s;tant improvement of Chri&s;ts vertue received in that holy Ordinance, both when we return home, and all the dayes of our lives.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What or how many are tho&s;e habitual Graces to be examined and quickned before we come to this ble&s;&s;ed Sa|crament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are in my minde chiefly the&s;e four:
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. A Divine knowledge.</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. A lively Faith.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. Evangelical repentance.</ITEM>
<ITEM>4. Chri&s;tian charity.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="2" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The &s;econd Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>WHat or how manifold is that Divine knowledge requir<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">d, the habit of which mu&s;t be examined and en|livened before we come to the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A fourfold knowledge; 1. Of God. 2. Of our &s;elves. 3. Of Chri&s;t. 4. Of the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>Why is this Divine know|ledge
<PB N="28" REF="43"> &s;o nece&s;&s;ary?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 11.27, &amp;c. Ho&s;. 4.6. act 17.30 Luk. 10.41, 42. Zeph. 1.6 Heb. 2.3. Iob. 21.14 Prov 1.29, 30.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e ignorant per&s;ons are un|worthy receivers, not able to examine them&s;elves, or di&s;cern the Lords body; e&s;pecially &s;uch as tho&s;e that might learn and be Catechized, and neglect the means of knowledge: or, That are wilfully ignorant, that refu&s;e knowledge and in|&s;truction.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Wherefore is a lively Faith &s;o nece&s;&s;ary?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 11.6 &amp; 4.2.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e without Faith it is im|po&s;&s;ible to plea&s;e God in any duty, or to feed on Chri&s;t and his vertue in the Sa|crament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>For what cau&s;e is Evange|lical Repentance requi&s;ite?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e the pre&s;ence, &s;ervice and &s;acrifice of unregenerate impenitent per|&s;ons are abominable before God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 1.12. 13, &amp;c. Exo. 12.18. Rom. 2.28, 29.</NOTE> and as uncircumci&s;ed of old; &s;o tho&s;e unrege|nerate and impenitent are not fit to come to the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What Rea&s;on can be given why Chri&s;tian love and charity ought to be in &s;uch as come to this Saceament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e where Chri&s;tian love is not in a Communicant, he cometh toge|ther with Saints, not for the better but for
<PB N="29" REF="43"> the wor&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. ii. 17, &amp;c. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Mat. 5.23, 24. Mat. 22.12, 13.</NOTE> forgetting the love of Chri&s;t to poor &s;inners &s;ealed in the Sacrament, w^c^h &s;hould move him to love his brother, to do good to his poor brother, and &s;eek reconciliation if he be offended, without which neither per&s;on nor &s;acrifice is ac|cepted, as coming without the Wedding garment.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What knowledge of God is requi&s;ite, comfortably to meet Christ in this holy Ordinance?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A true knowledge of God, 1. In his excellent nature. 2. In his per&s;ons. 3. In his Word. And 4. in his works; And e&s;pecially in the great work of mans Salvation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is to be known of God concerning his excellent nature?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, what God is in his e&s;&s;ence and Divine being. And &s;econdly, what he is in his e&s;&s;entiall properties, or Divine attributes, declaring his e&s;&s;ence, and in &s;ome mea&s;ure co~municable to his people.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is God in his e&s;&s;ence and Divine being?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Ioh. 4.24. Exo. 3.14 I&s;a. 44.6. I&s;a. 46.9.10, &amp;c. Act. 11.25, 26. Rom. 11.36. Act. 17.28. 1 Cor. 8.5, 6.</NOTE> God is one &s;pirituall &s;elf-living-e&s;&s;ence, having life and being of him&s;elf, from all eternity and giving life and be|ing to all creatures.</P>
<PB N="30" REF="44">
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is God in his e&s;&s;entiall properties,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 6.4. Mar. 12.30. Rom. 11.35. Deut. 33.27, P&s;a. 147.5. Ier. 10.10. Iob 11.7, 8, 9. Ier. 23.23, 24. Iob 22, 3. Gen. 17.1 Rev. 19.6 Exo. 34.5, 6. 1 Tim. 1.17. Mat. 19.17. 1 Tim. 6.16. Mal. 3.6.</NOTE> <HI>or Divine Attributes?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> He is mo&s;t &s;ingle, of him&s;elf, one eternall, infinite, omnipre&s;ent, incompre|hen&s;ible, omnipotent, &s;elf-immortall, mo&s;t wi&s;e God, mo&s;t mercifull, gracious, and mo&s;t holy, ju&s;t, true, perfect, pure, and powerfull; yea, All-&s;ufficient, &s;elf-&s;uf|ficient, and Independent, originally, and unchangeably good and ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How are the properties or Divine Attributes di&s;tingui&s;hed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are di&s;tingui&s;hed into two &s;orts of Attributes:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, &s;uch as are incommunicable to the creature.</P>
<P>Secondly, &s;uch as in &s;ome manner and degree, are communicable and communi|cated to Angels and men.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What are tho&s;e Attributes which are incommunicable?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are divers; but we may chiefly take notice of the&s;e:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The &s;implicity or &s;inglene&s;&s;e of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 3.14 Rom. 11.33, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 8.6.</NOTE> being &s;ingle and a mo&s;t pure e&s;|&s;ence, without all manner of compo&s;ition, mo&s;t abolute of and in him&s;elf for ever: And this no creature is.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<PB N="31" REF="44">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A &s;econd is the infinitene&s;&s;e of God.</P>
<P N="1">1. In re&s;pect of eternity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 33.27. Col. 1.17. Rev. 1.8. 1 Kings 8.27. Ier. 23.23, 24. Iob 11.7, 8, 9. Acts 17.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> he is with|out beginning or end; and &s;o is no crea|ture.</P>
<P N="2">2. In re&s;pect of incomprehen&s;iblenes.</P>
<P N="1">1. No place can contain God; yet he is omnipre&s;ent.</P>
<P N="2">2. No under&s;tanding of any creature can comprehend him; yet he is not far from every one of us: And &s;o is no Creature.</P>
<P N="3">3. In re&s;pect of power, God is omni|potent of him&s;elf, &s;o is no Creature;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 19.6 p&s;a. 135.6.</NOTE> but the Lord hath and can do what&s;oever he will.</P>
<P N="4">4. In re&s;pect of knowledge,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 139.2, 3, &amp;c. Acts 15.18. P&s;a. 147.5. Heb. 4.13 Mal. 3.6. I&s;a. 46.9, 10. 1 Tim. 6.15, 16. Gen. 17. i. Iob 35.6, 7, 8.</NOTE> he is om|ni&s;cient, he knoweth all things; &s;o doth no Creature in the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is a third Attribute?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In a word, the Lord is &s;elf-im|mortall and unchangeable, in and of his own nature: and &s;o is no Creature in the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is a fourth Property incommunicable?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord <HI>Jehovah</HI> is All-&s;uffici|ent, &s;elf-&s;ufficient, ble&s;&s;ed in him&s;elf for ever.</P>
<PB N="32" REF="45">
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What are tho&s;e Attributes of God which are communicable, and in part communicated to Angels and to men; e&s;pecially to his Sons and Daughters in Chri&s;t?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.26 Exod. 34 5, 6, 7. Gen. 2.7. Acts 17.28. Deut. 31.39. 1 Tim. 1.17. 2 Chron. 1.10, &amp;c. Iudg. 16.3. Mat. 5.1, 2, 3, &amp;c,</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Among&s;t other the&s;e: The life, wi&s;dom, &s;trength, will, goodne&s;&s;e, ju|&s;tice, mercy, truth and ble&s;&s;edne&s;&s;e for ever: All the&s;e are ab&s;olutely, fully, and mo&s;t perfectly in God, as of him&s;elf, and communicated to the creature in mea&s;ure for Gods glory, and the good of his children: As wi&s;dom was communicated to <HI>Solomon,</HI> and &s;trength to <HI>Samp&s;on.</HI> So ble&s;&s;edne&s;&s;e, and other Divine Properties to Gods Children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>Are there not &s;ome &s;peciall Properties peculiar to the per&s;ons in this Divine e&s;&s;ence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, It is the &s;peciall Property of God the Father to beget the Son; And the &s;peciall Property of God the Son,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.18 &amp; 3.18. &amp; 15.26. Gal. 4.6.</NOTE> to be begotten of the Father; And the &s;peciall Property of God the holy Gho&s;t, to proceed both from the Father and the Son.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>How many Per&s;ons are there in this Godhead?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Three Per&s;ons, and yet but one
<PB N="33" REF="45"> God, <HI>Gen.</HI> 1.1.26. 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 2.2.3. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 33.6, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 6.3. &amp; 63.9, 10. <HI>Mat.</HI> 3.16.17. <HI>Mat.</HI> 28.19. 1 <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.7. <HI>Rom.</HI> 9.5. <HI>Acts</HI> 5.3, 4. Three one.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>Which is the fir&s;t Per&s;on?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 1. i. Eph. 1.3. I&s;a. 43.10, &amp;c. P&s;al. 2.7.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> God the Father, of him&s;elf from all Eternity, begetting the Son.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>Which is the &s;econd Per&s;on?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> God the Son from all Eternity begotten of the Father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.14. Heb. 1.1, 2, 3. Ioh. 10.28, &amp;c.</NOTE> being the bright|ne&s;&s;e of his glory, the expre&s;&s;e Image of his Per&s;on, and God equall ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>Which is the third Per&s;on?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> God the holy Spirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 5.3. Heb. 9.14 1 Ioh. 5.7.</NOTE> God from all Eternity equall with the Father and the Son, and proceeding from them both.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>Which is the greate&s;t or mo&s;t Ancient of the&s;e three Per&s;ons?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the&s;e three Per&s;ons none is afore or after another;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Ioh. 5.7. Ioh. 1.1.2. Ioh. 10.30.</NOTE> none is greater or le&s;&s;e then another, but all three Per|&s;ons are co-eternall together, and coe|quall: a Trinity in Unity, and Unity in Trinity, to be glorified.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>I conceive the Divinity of God the Father, is evident by the te&s;timo|nies and grounds before mentioned, and will appear by further light al&s;o. But what
<PB N="34" REF="46"> other ground is there to a&s;&s;ure you of the Divinity of the Son of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Be&s;ides the te&s;timonies of Scrip|ture alledged, the Divine Properties at|tributed to the Son of God, do plainly evidence the Divinity of the Son, becau&s;e they are &s;uch as can agree to none but to God him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What are the&s;e Properties thus manife&s;ting the Son to be God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the infinitene&s;&s;e and Eter|nity of his nature,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 1.8.11. Heb. 7.3. Ioh. 8.58 Mat. 22.43, &amp;c. Prov. 8.22. to 30.</NOTE> he being the <HI>Alpha</HI> and the <HI>Omega,</HI> the Beginning and the Ending, the Fir&s;t and the La&s;t: yea, with|out beginning of time, or end of dayes, before <HI>Abraham</HI> and <HI>David,</HI> and all crea|tures what&s;oever; and therefore mu&s;t needs be God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is a &s;econd Property witne&s;&s;ing the Divinity of the Son of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.20. Mat. 18.20. I&s;a. 43.2, 3. Exo. 3.2. Dan. 3.25. Rev. 2.1.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Omnipre&s;ency, or Chri&s;t his be|ing every where pre&s;ent with his Church in generall to the end of the world; And where&s;oever but two or three are ga|thered together his Name, yea, in all times of triall for the good of his Church and Children, Chri&s;t is pre&s;ent, and &s;o he mu&s;t needs be God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What is a third Property?</HI></P>
<PB N="35" REF="46">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;t his Omni&s;ciency,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 2.24, 25. Mark 2.7, 8. Rev. 2.23.</NOTE> or his knowing all things, the di&s;cerning the very thoughts and intentions of the heart, and therefore he mu&s;t needs be God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What is a fourth Property?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;t his Omnipotency and Al|mighty power;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.19, 20, &amp;c. I&s;a. 9.6.</NOTE> he can do what&s;oever he plea&s;eth, what&s;oever the Father doth, the Son doth, and &s;o he mu&s;t nece&s;&s;arily be God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What other evidence is there of the Divinity of Chri&s;t the Son of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The works of the Son of God:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the great work of Creation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.1, 2, 7. Ioh. 1.1. 2. Ioh. 14.11. Col. 1.15, 16, 17.</NOTE> God the Son creating the world, together with the Father and the holy Gho&s;t: That <HI>Elohim,</HI> or tho&s;e &s;trong ones created heaven and earth, and made man.</P>
<P>Secondly, the great work of pre&s;er|vation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 1.2, 3.</NOTE> upholding all things by the word of his Almighty power.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>Have you any more grounds to evidence the Deity of the Son of God,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.14.</NOTE> <HI>who took our nature upon him?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I might give more,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.16. Ioh. 14.1. Lev. 17.5 Acts 7. Mat. 28.21.</NOTE> I will name but one, and this is the Divine wor&s;hip and &s;ervice to be given, and due to the Son of God, as to God the Father, as to believe in him, to pray to him, to be Bap|tized
<PB N="36" REF="47"> in his Name, and to yield obedience unto him,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 2.10 Ioh. 10.30.</NOTE> as to our Lord God and King for ever: And from all the&s;e we may conclude, that the Son of God is God, and one with the Father.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>Certainly the&s;e grounds do make it evident, that the Son of God, who is equall with God, took our nature upon him,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Ioh. 5.20.</NOTE> <HI>to be our Saviour; yea, truly God and eternall l fe; But what profit is the know|ledge of this to a poor &s;oul?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is a comfort and joy un&s;peak|able; yea, Eternall life to know and be|lieve the Son of God to be God as well as man:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 17.3 &amp; 20.28. I&s;a. 63.1, 2. 2 Tim. 4 17, 18.</NOTE> and my Lord and my God able and mighty to &s;ave his Church and chil|dren from all their enemies, and to pre|&s;erve me and them to his everla&s;ting Kingdom.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30, <HI>You have evidenced fully the Deity of the Son of God: Have you any &s;uch like grounds, to evidence the Deity of the third Per&s;on in Trinity, the holy Spirit of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5.3, 4. Gen. 1.1, 2 P&s;a. 139.7, 8, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 2.10.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verely, If we con&s;ider the Name of God a&s;cribed in Scripture to the holy Gho&s;t, that the holy Spirit mo|ved in the great work of Creation, and is every where pre&s;ent, and an All-&s;earch|ing
<PB N="37" REF="47"> and omnipotent &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 33.7</NOTE> who&s;e works are mighty, and in who&s;e Name we are all Baptized,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.19.</NOTE> as well as in the Name of God the Father, and of God the Son: The&s;e and more they may &s;atisfie the be|lieving &s;oul, that the ble&s;&s;ed &s;pirit is God, and God equall with the Father and the Son, to be ble&s;&s;ed and glorified for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>What comfort can this be to the Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 14.16, 17, 18, 26. Iohn 15.26.</NOTE> What greater comfort then that our Teacher, Coun&s;ellor and Comfor|ter is God, able to advi&s;e us in our greate&s;t &s;traits, and to give us con&s;olati|on in &s;adde&s;t times of darkne&s;&s;e, that he is our helper in our prayers; every where pre&s;ent with us, yea, in the Saints,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.11, 16, 20.</NOTE> for their joy, is ready to witne&s;&s;e with our &s;pirits, that we are the Children of this ble&s;&s;ed Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Gho&s;t, ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="3" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="38" REF="48">
<HEAD>The third Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu &s;ay God is a Spirit or Spirituall &s;ub&s;tance: What is a Spirit or Spi|rituall &s;ub&s;tance?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.7 Luk. 24.39, 40. Prov. 20.27. Heb. 12.9. Iob. 11.7, 8, 9.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> A Spirit is an invi&s;ible, living, or mo&s;t pure &s;ub&s;tance, (more pure then the clear light, or mo&s;t pure Air or wind,) with life and motion not to be &s;een or felt with humane &s;en&s;es, as the Air, or wind, or light, or a body with fle&s;h &amp; bones is; yea, a Divine &s;park, candle or lamp, in|telligent, and indued with wonderfull excellencies: But God is the Father of Spirits, who&s;e infinite excellency cannot by &s;earching be found out to perfection.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>Do you believe that there is &s;uch a God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes: For there is no Nation in the world but hath &s;ome way confe&s;&s;ed, that there is a God, though multitudes do not know the true God: And be&s;ides not only Gods word, and works, and &s;pi|rit, but the very con&s;ciences of men will witne&s;&s;e that there is &s;uch a God, <HI>Gen.</HI>
<PB N="39" REF="48"> 31.35. <HI>Jonah</HI> 1.5.6. <HI>Jo&s;h.</HI> 24.15. <HI>Acts</HI> 11.13, 14, &amp;c. 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 11.33. <HI>Acts</HI> 17.23, 24. <HI>Gen.</HI> 1.1, 2. and 14.19, 20. <HI>Jo&s;h.</HI> 1.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. <HI>Joh.</HI> 1.1. <HI>Gen,</HI> 3.10, 11, <HI>Dan,</HI> 5.5, 6. <HI>Acts</HI> 24.25.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>How doth it appear that there are &s;uch e&s;&s;entiall Properties and Divine Attributes in this great God: Or that God is &s;uch a God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By an evident demon&s;tration of all the&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 19.1. Prov. 8.2, 12, 15. Rom. 1.19, 20.</NOTE> held forth unto us in the word and works of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Wherein do the&s;e &s;hine forth in Gods word and works?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 11.7, 8, 9. &amp; 26.6, 7, 8, &amp;c. Gen. 1.31. Rom. 1.19, 20. &amp; 11.33.</NOTE> By the &s;urpa&s;&s;ing excellency of wi&s;dom, beauty, power and infinite per|fection of God, which is to be &s;een in Gods word and works, and fir&s;tly and fountainly in God him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What light is there held forth in the works and word of God, to manife&s;t this truth, that there is a God, and &s;uch a God of &s;uch infinite wi&s;dom, power and per|fections?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is a threefold light: Fir&s;t, Of nature. Secondly, Of Grace. Thirdly, Of glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13.9, 10. 1 Iob. 3.2</NOTE> by which the excellency of this God, is now in part, and &s;hall be more fully manife&s;ted to the children of God in glory.</P>
<PB N="40" REF="49">
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Wherein doth the light of na|ture &s;hine forth, declaring this God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the book of nature, or of the works of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>In what particular doth this light appear?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, in the under&s;anding, by that &s;park or light of rea&s;on, left in the mindes of men and women &s;ince the fall of <HI>Adam,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.18, &amp;c. Acts 17.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> by which from the vi&s;ible things which are and are &s;een, and the natures order and government of them; they may, and have argued and attained to the knowledge of an invi&s;ible God, which mu&s;t of nece&s;&s;ity be the being of beings, the incomprehen&s;ible nature, that gives nature to nature it &s;elf, and is that fir&s;t cau&s;e and ruler of all things; and this light &s;hining &s;o far as to make all men without excu&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>If there be &s;uch a light of rea|&s;on, What was the cau&s;e then that divers naturall Heathen men did deny or doubt, whether there was &s;uch a God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That ignorance and Athei&s;me did not ari&s;e from any principle in pure na|ture, but from nature corrupted, and that Idolatry and blinde &s;uper&s;tition of the Gentiles, who having lo&s;t the know|ledge
<PB N="41" REF="49"> of true God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 44.17, 18. Rom. 2.15. Rom. 1.19, 20. Rom. 1.19, &amp;c. P&s;al. 14. Wi&s;d. 13. &amp; 14. c.</NOTE> wandred in the &s;eeking out and &s;etting up &s;o many fal&s;e Gods, creatures and images, and imagi|nations; &s;o that blinde men &s;eeing the vanity and fal&s;hood of the&s;e, were temp|ted and drawn like the fooli&s;h man, to think in their hearts, and &s;ometimes to &s;ay, there was no God at all.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>How doth this appear further?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e however &s;ome particu|lar men have doubted,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 31.30, 33. Exo. 32.4, 5. Deu. 7.4. 2 Kin. 18.33, &amp;c. Acts 17.23.</NOTE> yet no Nation un|der heaven but have confe&s;&s;ed a God, though they did not lightly know the true God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What other light is there from the book of nature?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The world and creatures them|&s;elves, which could not be from all Eter|nity, but mu&s;t have a beginning;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.10. P&s;. 19.1, 2 &amp; 102.25, 26. pro. 16.4. Acts 17.18. P&s;al. 8.1, 2, &amp;c. Iob 38. &amp; 39. &amp; 40.</NOTE> nor could the creatures make them&s;elves, and be&s;ides nature, order and u&s;e of the crea|tures in heaven and earth, &s;ome without life, as earth and light, and heat and rain, nouri&s;hing gra&s;&s;e and herbs, which have a growing life; and gra&s;&s;e and herbs nouri&s;hing bea&s;ts and cattell, which have a &s;en&s;itive life; and all the&s;e &s;erving men, which have a rea&s;onable life: and whom &s;hould men &s;erve and honour but their
<PB N="42" REF="50"> fir&s;t maker, who is the cau&s;e of all things, and giveth life and being unto all, and who mu&s;t of nece&s;&s;ity be God, and none but God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>But doth not the pre&s;erva|tion of the Creatures, and right ordering of times and &s;ea&s;ons, Summer and Win|ter witne&s;&s;e God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verely: If we con&s;ider, Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 14.17. Deut. 32.39. Ier. 14.22. P&s;a. 14 P. 1, 2, &amp;c. 2 Kin. 5.6.7. Deu. 8.3. Mat. 5.45. &amp; 6.25, &amp;c. &amp; 10.29, &amp;c.</NOTE> the wonderfull pre&s;ervation of the Creatures in their kindes, and the conti|nuance of them in all Ages. Secondly, the variety of herbs and plants by vertue of the earth and rain, and warmth of the Sun, not as of them&s;elves, but from God. Thirdly, the admirable generation, bree|ding and forming of the Bird in the egge of the &s;ilk worm, and Phoenix, and &s;uch like. Fourthly, the variety of the forms of men and bea&s;ts, and the fa&s;hioning of man and all his parts before he is born. Fifthly, the giving of life and quick|ning power of life, which man nor any Creature can give. Sixthly, the forming of the Spirit of man within him.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zach. 12.1.</NOTE> Seventh|ly, the giving vertue to our cloathes to warm us, and our meat which is without life, to nouri&s;h life in us: All this mu&s;t needs hold forth a Divine living, being,
<PB N="43" REF="50"> which mu&s;t needs be God, ordering all by his power and wi&s;e Providence.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What further te&s;timony is there in the Book of Nature, of the Divine being, as of a great, mighty, everliving and powerfull God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Even the con&s;cience of man with|in him, which is an act of the whole &s;oul, reflecting upon it &s;elf.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In the memory as a Regi&s;ter re|cording,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.14, 15.</NOTE> and when God awakens accu|&s;ing or excu&s;ing, and witne&s;&s;ing thoughts, words or actions, good or evil.</P>
<P>Secondly, In the under&s;tandinding,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 42.22.</NOTE> a Iudge giving &s;entence to condemne or to acquit, according to that light, rule or Law with which it is enlightned.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the hearts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 4.13, 14. Mat. 26.75.</NOTE> will and affe|ctions; an Executioner to puni&s;h or re|ward with joy or grief, with boldne&s;&s;e or terror, according to the nature of the fact, or feeling of it.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.15. Gen. 42.21, 22. Iudg. 1.7. Dan. 5.5.6. Ier. 10.4. Act. 24.15. Ge~. 4.14.</NOTE></P>
<P>Fourthly, And all this with trembling in wicked men, and joy in good: As a Coroners inque&s;t or verdict preparing for the Judge of A&s;&s;ize or Se&s;&s;ions; &s;o doth the con&s;cience in reference to &s;ome higher power and divine Iudge, to whom account mu&s;t be given in the end, which
<PB N="44" REF="51"> Iudge mu&s;t needs be God, <HI>Mat.</HI> 27.3, 4, 15. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.7, 8.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>You have given good evi|dence from the light and book of nature: What is there from the light of Grace, and Book of the Scripture, witne&s;&s;ing this Di|vine e&s;&s;ence, and Eternall being of &s;uch a God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are many evidences re|vealed in Scripture of God, and his Di|vine, eternall, infinite wi&s;dom, power and incomprehen&s;ible nature, filling heaven and earth, and in a wonderfull manner creating and governing all things.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the fir&s;t Evidence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> His wonderfull voice from hea|ven, without beholding any &s;imilitude or likene&s;&s;e at all, <HI>Exod.</HI> 19.19. &amp; 20.1, 18, 19. <HI>Heb.</HI> 11.18, 19, <HI>&amp;c, Deut.</HI> 4.12, 15. &amp; 5.22, 23, 24. 1 <HI>King.</HI> 19.8. to 18. <HI>Mat.</HI> 3.17. &amp; 17.5. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.16, 17, 18.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What is the &s;econd evidence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> His wonderfull Promi&s;es and Prophecies made &s;o many hundred years before, and fulfilled in time, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.15. <HI>Gal.</HI> 4.1, 2, 3. <HI>Gen.</HI> 15.13, 14, 15. <HI>Exod.</HI> 12.40, 41. <HI>Ier.</HI> 25.11, 12. <HI>Dan.</HI> 9.1, 2. 2 <HI>Chron.</HI> 36.21, 22, 23. <HI>Ezra</HI> 8.31, 32, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the third Evidence?</HI></P>
<PB N="45" REF="51">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Gods dreadfull judgements upon wicked men for their &s;ins, <HI>Gen.</HI> 6.3. and 7.11, 12, 21. and 11.7, 8. and 19.24, 25. <HI>Dan.</HI> 6.24. <HI>Acts</HI> 12.23.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the fourth Evidence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> His miracles and miraculous de|liverance of his Children in times of dan|ger, <HI>Exod.</HI> 14.21. to 31. <HI>Io&s;h.</HI> 10.12, 13. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 28.1. 2 <HI>King.</HI> 10.11. and 5.14. <HI>Dan.</HI> 3.24. and 6.22, 23. and 4.33, 34, 35, 36. <HI>Matth.</HI> 11.4, 5, 6.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is the fifth Evidence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Gods admirable revealing of &s;e|crets to the convincing even of Pagans them&s;elves who knew not God, <HI>Gen.</HI> 4.8.9, 10. <HI>Io&s;h.</HI> 7.18, 19 &amp;c. 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 23.11, 12. 2 <HI>King.</HI> 6.8, 9, &amp;c. <HI>Dan.</HI> 2.46, 47. <HI>Io&s;h.</HI> 1.48 49. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 14.24, 25. <HI>Heb.</HI> 2.4, 12.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is the &s;ixth Evidence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>A<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;.</HI> The wonderfull conver&s;ion of men and women, to believe and confe&s;&s;e a God, to believe in Chri&s;t, to repent and become new Creatures, for the mani|fe&s;tation of Gods wi&s;dom, power, and un|&s;peakable goodnes to the &s;ons and daugh|ters of men, <HI>Exod.</HI> 18.11. 2 <HI>King.</HI> 5.14. 2 <HI>Chron.</HI> 14.11. &amp; 20.12, 13. Luk. 19.6, &amp;c. <HI>Act.</HI> 2.22. and 9.1, &amp;c. 20, 21. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.11.
<PB N="46" REF="52"> <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.17, &amp;c. 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 6.9, 10. <HI>Hebrews</HI> 11. the whole Chapter.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What Evidence is there from the light of glory?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 34.29, 30. I&s;a. 6.1, 2, 3, &amp;. 2 Cor. 12.3, 4. 1 Cor. 13.9.10, Iohn. 3.1, 2, 3. 1 The&s;. 4.17.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That beginning and part-light of glory, which God hath cau&s;ed to &s;hine in or upon his Children in this life, and the fulne&s;&s;e of which the Lord a&s;&s;ureth them they &s;hall &s;ee, and injoy in Heaven for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What profit or comfort is this knowledge what God is, and what a one he is to you?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Great cau&s;e of rejoycing, that <HI>Jehovah</HI> this Lord God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 43.1, 2, 3. P&s;a. 52.1, 2, 10. Dan. 3.17, 18, 25. Ioh. 20.28.</NOTE> is my God in Chri&s;t, infinite, able and willing, and wi&s;e, and alwayes pre&s;ent to pre&s;erve, protect, and do me good in this life, and that life to come, even for ever and ever, Amen.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="4" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The fourth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the word of God? Or what ought a Chri&s;tian to know concerning the word and will of God?</HI></P>
<PB N="47" REF="52">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The word of God in the mani|fe&s;tation of Gods will and plea&s;ure 1.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1. &amp; 2. &amp; 3. &amp; 17.2, 7 &amp; 22.16, 17. Exod. 19.20. I&s;a. 8.20. Luke 11.28. Rom. 10.27. Ioh. 5.39 2 Pet. 1.19, &amp;c.</NOTE> Ei|ther immediatly by him&s;elf, as his word of command concerning the Creation of the world in generall, and man in parti|cular, before the fall, and the manife&s;ta|tion of his good plea&s;ure, after the fall, to <HI>Adam, Abraham,</HI> and other Saints and Sons of men: Or mediatly in Scripture by holy men, as they were in&s;pired by the holy Gho&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>Where is this revealed will and word of God written to be found?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the Canonicall Books of the Old and New Te&s;tament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 40.7. Mat. 1.1. Mar. 12.26. Da~. 10.21 Mat. 21.42. Rom. 1.2. Ioh. 5.39</NOTE> commonly cal|led the Bible and Book of God, and the holy Scriptures.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is there to be known in the holy Scriptures, concerning the will and plea&s;ure of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That the holy Scriptures are the mo&s;t perfect rule of Faith and life, above all other writings what&s;oever, and that they hold forth the good will of God by way of Covenant, both in the Covenant of works to our fir&s;t Parents before the fall, and in the Covenant of Gods Free|grace in Chri&s;t &s;ince, to and for the peo|ple of God to the end of the world.
<PB N="48" REF="53"> <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 8.20. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 3.15, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15.3. <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.39. <HI>Gen.</HI> 2.9.16, 17. &amp; 3.15. &amp; 17.7. <HI>Jer.</HI> 31.33, 34. <HI>Matth.</HI> 17.5. <HI>John</HI> 3.16. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.28, 22.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Are the Scriptures the anci|ent and fir&s;t written truths of God to be believed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly they are mo&s;t ancient of all written Divine truths, pre&s;erved wonderfully &s;o many hundred, yea, thou|&s;and years, as witne&s;&s;e them Divine and of mo&s;t Divine Authority indeed.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>By what means may you be a&s;&s;ured that the&s;e Books of the holy Scrip|tures are the infallible truth of the mo&s;t true God; and that holy men writ them, as they were in&s;pired by the holy Gho&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 4.4. &amp; 22.29, 30, &amp;c. Luk. 24.25, &amp;c. Mat 7.12 Ioh 15.35 &amp; 17.17. Act. 2.17. &amp; 17.11. &amp; 24 14.2.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not only by the witne&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t the chief Prophet, and of the Saints and Church of God, and by Promi&s;es and Prophecies fulfilled, by miracles and mar|tyrdoms, whereby the Doctrine hath been confirmed, but by the Divine har|mony, perfection, powerfull efficacy of the Scriptures them&s;elves, and the te&s;ti|mony of Gods Spirit in the &s;ouls of be|lievers.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What nece&s;&s;ity was there of the holy Scriptures and word of God writ|ten?</HI></P>
<PB N="49" REF="53">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord did &s;ee it needfull to have his word written,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 8.20. Rom. 15.4. I&s;a. 59.20, 21. Rom. 1.20, 21. 2 Tim. 3.16.</NOTE> becau&s;e men did not learn by the Book of Nature, and work of Creation and government, to keep God in their mindes, but did run into Errors, and fell to wor&s;hip Crea|tures and fal&s;e Gods, and fal&s;e Religions; Therefore God gave Scriptures as a guide and rule of life and Doctrine to his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But is the Old Te&s;tament needfull for Gods Children in the time of the Go&s;pel?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yea certainly it is of excellent u&s;e; for the Old Te&s;tament holdeth forth Chri&s;t, and directs to Chri&s;t, who is ye&s;terday, and to day, and the &s;ame for ever: And the whole Scripture is to be &s;earched as profitable for Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in&s;truction in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, that the man of God may be perfect, and throughly furni&s;hed to every good work, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.15. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 9.6. and 53.1, 2, 3, <HI>&amp;c. Zach.</HI> 13.1. <HI>Mal.</HI> 4.2. <HI>Heb.</HI> 13.8. <HI>Rev.</HI> 13.8. <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.39. and 8.5, 6. <HI>Rom.</HI> 15.4. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.16, 17. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 119.105. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 8.20. <HI>Rom.</HI> 3.31. <HI>Matth.</HI> 5.17, 18. <HI>Luk.</HI> 10.34. <HI>Heb.</HI> 8.10, 11.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>In what languages were the
<PB N="50" REF="54"> holy Scriptures Originally written? And whether may they be tran&s;lated and read in our Engli&s;h and other tongues under&s;tood of the people?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Nehem. 8.8. 1 Cor. 14.5. &amp; 14.18, 19, 26, 27.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The holy Scriptures of the Old Te&s;tament, were chiefly written in the Hebrew tongue, and the New Te&s;tament in the Greek, (as Originall copies evi|dence:) But they may be truly tran&s;lated and read in other Languages, and inter|preted as the people of &s;everall Nations may under&s;tand them, for the perpetuall edification of the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Are not the Scriptures &s;ub|ject to error?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a 19.7, 8, &amp;c. Prov. 30.5, 6. P&s; 12.6. 2 Pet, 3.15, 16.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> No certainly, the holy Scrip|tures are mo&s;t true, perfect and pure, and free from error, though &s;ome men not rightly under&s;tanding them, have erred to their own de&s;truction.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What rules may be ob&s;erved for right under&s;tanding of the Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers: And fir&s;t, a competent knowledge in the Originall Languages, and in&s;pection into the foun|tains them&s;elves.</P>
<P>Secondly, Prayer for the a&s;&s;i&s;tance of Gods Spirit, and to reveal truth.</P>
<P>Thirdly, A deniall of &s;elf-opinion, and
<PB N="51" REF="54"> Spirituall pride.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is a fourth Rule?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fourthly, a carefull ob&s;ervation of the chief &s;cope of the holy Gho&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.20. Rom. 6.14. Eph. 1.16, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 12.10. Col. 3.6. 1 Cor. 14.31, 32.</NOTE> with the coherence and con&s;equents of the Text, and of proper and figurative &s;pee|ches, comparing of ob&s;cure and plain places together.</P>
<P>Fifthly, a having re&s;pect to the Analo|gy of Faith, and grounds of Divinity drawn out of Scripture.</P>
<P>Sixthly, a humble &s;ubmitting of the private Spirits, to the Spirits of the Pro|phets.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;eventh Rule?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To eye the chief Iudge of con|trover&s;ies, namely, the Spirit of God &s;peaking in the Scriptures, and by con&s;ent of plain places, expounding the harder.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is the principle know|ledge to be learned out of the Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How to attain life Eternall by the true knowledge of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.39 &amp; 17.3. Rom. 15.14.</NOTE> and of Ie|&s;us Chri&s;t whom he hath &s;ent.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the &s;um of the Scrip|tures held forth &s;ince the fall of</HI> Adam, <HI>to this end, that we may be happy for ever?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the Go&s;pel or promi&s;ing part, holding forth Chri&s;t, and Salvation
<PB N="52" REF="55"> in Chri&s;t by Faith.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.15. &amp; 17.1. Exo. 20. Mat. 5. Iam. 7.2.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, The Law or commanding part, manife&s;ting that life and Rule of life in thankfulne&s;&s;e by obedience.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Whence hath the holy Scrip|tures its Authority, to require belief and obedience unto it?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> From God him&s;elf, who did write part of it with his own finger,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 31.18. &amp; 32.16. &amp; 35.1. Deut. 9.10. 2 Pet. 1.20, 21.</NOTE> or by him&s;elf and his own power; and the Prophets, Apo&s;tles, and Pen-men, were the Pen-men of God the holy Gho&s;t, writing the Word of the Lord, and what was directed by his holy Spirit, for Gods glory and the good of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>But doth not the Scriptures Authority depend upon the Authority of the Church; and doth not the Churches Te&s;ti|mony prove the holy Scriptures to be the Word of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly although the Scrip|ture may be believed with &s;ome kinde of Faith to be the Word of God, by the Te|&s;timony of the Church, e&s;pecially by men out of the Church, moved by the Chur|ches te&s;timony to receive the Scripture as Gods Word, (as holy <HI>Augu&s;tine</HI> did:) yet the Authority of the Scriptures de|pends upon God him&s;elf, and the Saints
<PB N="53" REF="55"> are moved to believe it as by the excel|lency of the Scripture it &s;elf; &s;o by the te|&s;timony of the &s;pirit, witne&s;&s;ing unto their con&s;ciences, that it is indeed the very Word of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>How may this be illu&s;tra|ted further to us?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By that Example of the <HI>Samari|tans,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 4.</NOTE> they fir&s;t believed on Chri&s;t for the te&s;timony of the woman, who &s;aid, Chri&s;t had told her all things that ever &s;he did. But when they had heard Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ibid.</NOTE> now &s;ay they to the woman, We do not believe on Chri&s;t for thy &s;aying, for we have heard him our &s;elves, and know in|deed that this is very Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>So likewi&s;e at the fir&s;t <HI>Augu&s;tine</HI> was, and others may be drawn to believe the &s;criptures by the te&s;timony of the Church, but when once the minde is enlightned by the holy Spirit, to &s;ee the Scriptures excellency,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.12.</NOTE> and the power of God in the word, how it is quick and alive, yea, mighty in operation, &s;harper then a two edged &s;word, piercing even to the divi|ding a&s;under of the &s;oul and the &s;pirit, and of the joynts and marrow of us, and is a di&s;cerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and that the Spirit of God
<PB N="54" REF="56"> is in the word,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 3.8.</NOTE> and the Go&s;pel is the Mi|ni&s;tration of the Spirit: Now the &s;oul doth not believe and re&s;t upon the wit|ne&s;&s;e of the Church, for the truth and Au|thority of the Scripture, but by the po|wer of the Spirit of truth it &s;elf: The childe of God &s;eeth and knoweth, that the holy Scriptures are the Scriptures of truth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 16.13.</NOTE> and the very word of God him&s;elf, and &s;o to be believed and obeyed of all that look for Salvation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>But is not the Scriptures ob&s;cure, and difficult to be under&s;tood, and &s;o dangerous to be read, e&s;pecially of igno|rant and weak people?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The holy Scriptures in re&s;pect of that Doctrine, the knowledge of which is ab&s;olutely nece&s;&s;ary to Salvation, is not ob&s;cure, but plain and ea&s;ie, by the a&s;|&s;i&s;tance of the Spirit, for every regene|rate &s;oul to under&s;tand, (the eyes of who&s;e minde is enlightned,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 119.105.</NOTE>) yea, it is a light to our feet, and a lanthern to our pathes, unto which we ought to give heed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.19.</NOTE> as unto a light that &s;hineth in a dark place, untill the day dawn, and the day &s;tar and glory of the Go&s;pel ari&s;e in our hearts. But it is true, it is dark and offen&s;ive to blinde eyes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.18.</NOTE> and to all that
<PB N="55" REF="56"> peri&s;h, as in whom the God of this world hath blinded their mindes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 4.4.</NOTE> l<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t the light of the glory of God &s;hould &s;hine unto them; and it is ob&s;cure and difficult to be under&s;tood in &s;ome parts, (even to Gods Children, though not alwayes:) Fir&s;t, that the Elect people of God might not tru&s;t to their own wi&s;dom, for un|der&s;tanding of the Scripture;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.18, 19.</NOTE> but might be &s;tirred up to pray for the help of the Spirit of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 24.45. Eph. 3.16, &amp;c,</NOTE> and that Chri&s;t might dwell in their hearts by Faith, and open their wills to under&s;tand, that they may be able to comprehend, with all Saints, what is the height, and length, and depth, and to know the love of God, which pa&s;&s;eth knowledge, that they may be fil|led with the fulne&s;&s;e of God. Secondly, That the Saints may be &s;tirred up to dili|gent reading, meditation, and &s;tudy of the Scriptures, that &s;o they may better gain the right under&s;tanding of places difficult and ob&s;cure. Thirdly, That the Saints may &s;ee that &s;ometimes they &s;tand in need of an Interpreter;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 33.23. Acts 8.30, 31.</NOTE> one of a thou|&s;and to under&s;tand the Scriptures: As the Eunuch did &s;tand in need of <HI>Philip;</HI> and therefore might be taught to &s;ee the nece&s;&s;ity and excellency of the &s;peciall
<PB N="56" REF="57"> office of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 4.1, 2. 1 Tim. 5.17.</NOTE> and e&s;teem of them, and honour them, as the Mini|&s;ters of Chri&s;t, unto whom the Lord in a more &s;peciall manner hath given and communicated by his Spirit, the &s;peciall gift of under&s;tanding and Interpreting of the Scriptures,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.28, &amp;c. Mal. 2.7. Nehem. 8.7, 8. 1 Tim. 4.13. 2 Tim. 3.15, 16.</NOTE> and of opening the true &s;en&s;e of the holy Scriptures, to the glory of God, and good of Gods Church; and verely the Scriptures may and ought to be read and &s;earched of all &s;orts, who&s;e hearts God moveth to de&s;ire the know|ledge of Chri&s;t; for it hath been ob&s;er|ved of old, the Scripture is a Sea wherein the Elephant may &s;wim, and the Lamb may go on foot; the greate&s;t Doctors may finde work to under&s;tand, and the poore&s;t Saint may &s;ee and feel, and finde comfort.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What or how manifold is the &s;en&s;e and meaning to be &s;ought out in the holy Scriptures for our in&s;truction?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How&s;oever the Scriptures in ma|ny places may be applied to our u&s;e and in&s;truction, by Typicall, Tropologicall, Figurative, Analogicall, and Parabolicall Interpretations: Yet notwith&s;tanding there is but one immediate, literall, ge|nuine, certain &s;en&s;e of a place of Scripture
<PB N="57" REF="57"> which is the true &s;cope and intent of the holy Gho&s;t in that place; and this is to be &s;ought out with all diligence, as being the Grammaticall, Hi&s;toricall, or po&s;itive meaning of the Spirit of God, to be re&s;ted in as the truth of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>But from whence mu&s;t we &s;eek the true interpretation of the Sorip|ture?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> From the Spirit of Chri&s;t &s;pea|king, not in the brea&s;t of the Pope, fal&s;ly challenging to him&s;elf infallibility of Judgement, and certainty of power to Interpret Scripture: Nor &s;peaking in the brea&s;t of a private man, who can boa&s;t of the Spirit, and of &s;trange Revelations, (&s;ometimes) contrary to the Scriptures. But by the Spirit &s;peaking in the Scrip|tures, out of the Text and Context of Scriptures, out of the Antecedents, and Con&s;equents, and &s;cope of the holy gho&s;t, &s;earching Scriptures, and comparing one place of Scripture with another,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.39.</NOTE> waiting on Chri&s;t in prayer and u&s;e of other means before mentioned, for a right un|der&s;tanding of the &s;en&s;e of the holy Gho&s;t, held forth in the &s;acred Scriptures for our in&s;truction and comfort: for the &s;pirit is not given to guide men contrary,
<PB N="58" REF="58"> but according to the holy Scripture,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 1.8, 9.</NOTE> which are the voyce of the &s;pirit of God for our good. And what&s;oever &s;pirit &s;peaketh contrary to the Scriptures,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 8.20.</NOTE> can|not be the &s;pirit of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What u&s;e then is to be made of the holy Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In all ca&s;es of doubt to &s;earch the Scriptures,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.39. 2 Pet. 1.19, 20.</NOTE> and take heed to the &s;pi|rit &s;peaking in the Scriptures, untill the daylight of truth dawn, and day-&s;tar of truth ari&s;e in our &s;ouls, to &s;ee truth from fal&s;hood and error.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="5" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The fifth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat are the works of God re|vealed in the Scriptures? Or what ought a Chri&s;tian to know out of the holy Scriptures, concerning Gods works, that he may come with more comfort to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chiefly four: 1. Gods Decree. 2. His work of Creation: And 3. His work of Providence here. And 4. His work of glory in the world to come, in
<PB N="59" REF="58"> the Kingdom of God in heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the work of Gods Decree?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is Gods eternall coun&s;ell, and the unchangable act of his mo&s;t holy will; by which as the only wi&s;e, ju&s;t, holy, eter|nall, perfect, powerfull and great God, he hath &s;et down with him&s;elf from all Eternity, to do or &s;uffer to be done, what|&s;oever hath been, is or &s;hall be, with the means and ends of all, namely, his own glory in the manife&s;tation of his Iu&s;tice upon the wicked, and of his mercy and goodne&s;&s;e to his Church and Children, <HI>Job</HI> 38.33 <HI>P&s;.</HI> 33.10, 11. <HI>Prov.</HI> 19.24. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 43.13. and 46.10. and 44.24, 25. <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.11. <HI>Amos</HI> 3.6. <HI>Matth.</HI> 11.25.26, <HI>Prov.</HI> 16.4. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 37.9, 10, 11. and 119.71. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.23. and 2.27, 28.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Wherein doth God manife&s;t this work of his Eternall Decree?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 46.9, 10. Acts 14.16, &amp;c. Rom. 1.20. 1 Tim. 5.21. Eph. 1.3, 4, 5. Rom. 8.19, 30. Jude 4.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By holding forth to us in Scrip|ture, as his coun&s;ell of creating and or|dering all things in generall, &s;o his works or acts of his election and reprobation, both of Angels and Men in particular.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But if there be &s;uch a De|cree of Election and Reprobation; then what good is it for men to &s;trive or wait in
<PB N="60" REF="59"> u&s;e of means, after Faith, holine&s;&s;e, or good works; or to flye from &s;in and wicked|ne&s;&s;e, &s;ince none but the Elect are &s;aved, and the Reprobate damned?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 20.1, 2, &amp;c. 2 Tim. 2.24, &amp;c. 2 The&s;. 2, 10, &amp;c. 2 Tim. 2.9, 10. Col. 1.16, &amp;c. Luk.13.24, &amp;c. Acts 24.14, &amp;c. &amp; 26.17, &amp;c. Rom. 9.22, &amp;c. &amp; 11.28, &amp;c. Iob 11.7, 8, &amp;c. Rev. 15.3, 4, 5, 6.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Great rea&s;on that every one &s;hould wait on Chri&s;t, in the way and means of Salvation; becau&s;e no one can know in this life that he is reprobate, though he be wicked, &s;ince God may give him Faith, and Repentance before he dye: And whom God hath Elected to the end life Eternall, he al&s;o hath E|lected to the means, the way of life Eter|nall, namely, the true knowledge of Chri&s;t, true Faith, Repentance, and ho|line&s;&s;e, Gods Decrees and Acts being al|wayes ju&s;t, although his wayes be &s;ome|times like him&s;elf, un&s;earchable.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is the work of Gods Creation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That glorious act in and by which God made the World and all things therein, Angels and Men, and o|ther Creatures in &s;ix dayes very good, by his wi&s;dom, Almighty power and word for his own glory, <HI>Gen.</HI> 1. and 2. <HI>Exod.</HI> 20.11. and 31, 17. <HI>Heb.</HI> 11.23. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.3, 4, 5. <HI>Gen,</HI> 1.31. <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 7.29. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 8.6. <HI>Jer.</HI> 10.12. <HI>Prov.</HI> 16.4.</P>
<PB N="61" REF="59">
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>By which Per&s;on of the Tri|nity was the World Created?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By the whole Trinity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. i. 12. Ioh. 1.12. 1 Cor. 1.4, 5. Col. 1.13, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>Elohim</HI> tho&s;e three &s;trong ones, he created hea|ven and earth; God the Father in and by God the Son, and God the holy gho&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What were the principall Creatures which God did make in tho&s;e &s;ix dayes?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t Angels: And &s;econdly, Mankinde, then in the loins of our fir&s;t Parents <HI>Adam</HI> and <HI>Eve.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What kinde of Creatures are the Angels?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Angels are Created very good, finite, invi&s;ible, intellectuall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. i.i6. P&s;a 104. Heb. 1.7. P&s;a. 138.1.2, &amp;c. Luk. 20.86. 2 The&s;. 1.7. Luk. 2.13, 24.</NOTE> im|mortall, Spirits, or Spirituall &s;ub&s;tances, without bodies, fle&s;h or bones, quick in motion, ready and able to do the will of God, &s;peedily and powerfully, to Gods glorie and the good of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What kinde of Creature did God make man?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> An admirable Creature, both in re&s;pect of his &s;oul and body.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How was his body made?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> His body was made of the du&s;t of the earth, as a little world,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.2.7. &amp; 3.10. Eccle&s;. 12.7.</NOTE> with won|derfull workman&s;hip in the curious
<PB N="62" REF="60"> frame thereof in all his inward parts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 4.19. P&s;al. 139. Iob 10.9, 10, 11. P&s;al. 8.4, 5, &amp;c.</NOTE> with veins, arteries, &s;inews, ligaments and bones, all admirable for number, na|ture and frame, with glorious outward beauty, comline&s;&s;e, and Maje&s;ty, as Lord over all inferior Creatures, and all as by the finger and power of God him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>How was the &s;oul of man Created?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A living immortall &s;oul or breath of life,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.7. 1 Cor. 15.45. Iob 27.3 &amp; 33.4. I<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">. 139.13, &amp;c. Heb. 12.9 Zach. 12.1</NOTE> was breathed into the created bodies of <HI>Adam</HI> and <HI>Eve,</HI> by God the Father of Spirits, and &s;o man became a rea&s;onable living &s;ub&s;tance at fir&s;t by Creation, and Mankinde hath &s;ince been continued by generation, wonderfully and fearfully made, God forming the ne|ver dying Spirit of man within him.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>But what evidence is there that the &s;oul of man is immortall and dy|eth not with the body, as the &s;pirits or breath of Bruit Bea&s;ts? Have not &s;ome men been of this opinion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is true, that prophane Athei&s;ti|call men, and wanderers from the truth, have been of that minde, as tho&s;e fools of whom we read in the Book of <HI>Wi&s;dom,</HI> who thought the breath in their no&s;trills was a &s;moke,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Wi&s;d. 2.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> and a little &s;park in the mo|ving
<PB N="63" REF="60"> of their hearts, which being extin|gui&s;hed, the body &s;hould turn into a&s;hes, and the Spirit vani&s;h into &s;oft or moi&s;t Air.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Wi&s;d. 5.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE> But one day they &s;hall confe&s;&s;e their folly, and that they have erred from the way of truth. But what&s;oever the A|thei&s;ts or prophane or blinde men of the world think, both Saints and wicked &s;hall one day finde, that the &s;oul dieth not with the body, but liveth for ever in endle&s;&s;e joy or woe. And there are ma|ny Arguments to prove the immortality of our &s;ouls.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is a fir&s;t Rea&s;on or ground to prove the &s;ouls immortality.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly, fir&s;t if we con&s;ider even the naturall Rea&s;ons, found out by na|turall men, and their opinions who knew not the Scriptures, (or the Go&s;pel of Chri&s;t at lea&s;t) yet they evidence the immortality of the &s;oul; the judgement of <HI>Tully</HI> and others, in every thing, &s;aith <HI>Cicero,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Lex na|turae pu|tanda e&s;t</NOTE> the con&s;ent of all Nations is to be accounted the Law of nature; and a con&s;ent among&s;t all good men, ought to be valued as much as a thou&s;and demon|&s;trations;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Vox Dei in natura.</NOTE> for it is the very voyce of God in Nature, (as Learned <HI>Zanchius</HI> &s;peaks:) Now no Nation that have had
<PB N="64" REF="61"> any learning or knowledge, worth the name of knowledge,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cicero, Tu&s;culan, Que&s;t. Quis &s;a|piens &s;inc &s;pe im|mortali talis &s;e of|feret ad mortem, &amp; quid enim im|prudenti|us quam &s;ine ullo <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">remto &s;e &amp; vita &amp; virtu|te proprie privare.</NOTE> but witne&s;&s;e the &s;ouls immortality: Thus <HI>Plato, Cicero, Cato, &V;ticen&s;is, Cae&s;ar,</HI> and many Philo|&s;ophers in their works, and men dying for their Countreys good; yea, among&s;t the heathen Infidels, I have read of tho&s;e co&s;tly Funeralls among&s;t the Idolatrous Pagans in <HI>Meaco</HI> a chief City of <HI>Japon,</HI> in which, among&s;t other ceremonies, they brandi&s;h a flaming Torch over their heads, intimating the &s;ouls immortality, as a flaming &s;park living for ever. And certainly, even the&s;e &s;hall ri&s;e up in Iudgement at the la&s;t day again&s;t tho&s;e who deny the immortality of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>Thus I conceive a good Ar|gument naturall or prophane men, but what is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Even the very nature of the &s;oul it &s;elf may witne&s;&s;e the &s;ouls immortality, in that the nature of the &s;oul is to a&s;pire after, and to de&s;ire immortality, to u&s;e all means to pre&s;erve a name to live for ever after them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 41.4. 2 Sam. 18.18. <HI>Solinus de mira<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ulis <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="6 letters">i.</HI></NOTE> as the builders of <HI>Babell;</HI> and <HI>Ab&s;olon</HI> by his Pillar: and when <HI>Xerxes</HI> had fired the <HI>A&s;ian</HI> Temple, all but <HI>Dia|na's Ero&s;tratus,</HI> &s;et that on fire, and being asked wherefore he did &s;o: he
<PB N="65" REF="61"> An&s;wered, that he might be remembred, and his name be immortall, or to that ef|fect: This may Argue an immortality in the &s;oul, that de&s;ireth and &s;o longeth af|ter immortality.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What is a third Rea&s;on to e|vidence this truth.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly the very Acts of the &s;oul them&s;elves and operations of it, not wax|ing old, as the body doth, which appears in men, (e&s;pecially of temperate life:) Though the body be blinde, the eye of the &s;oul can &s;ee wonderfully;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Hi&s;toria, T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">iparti|ta.</NOTE> we read of blinde men admirable in learning. A youth not twenty years old learned the liberall Arts, well skilled in the Scrip|tures, Dictated &s;everall Books to be written. And if an old man had a yong mans eye, he would &s;ee as perfectly as the be&s;t; we &s;ee men in years who cannot &s;ee a letter in the Book, yet with Specta|cles can read plainly.</P>
<P><HI>I&s;aac</HI> was dimme &s;ighted,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 27.1.27, 28 &amp; 48.14, 15.</NOTE> and <HI>Jacob</HI> was blinde before their deaths; but the ble&s;&s;ing they gave to their Children, did witne&s;&s;e their &s;ouls waxed not blinde with old age. And even this may wit|ne&s;&s;e the immortality of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>Here are &s;ufficient Argu|ments
<PB N="66" REF="62"> of this nature: Now what Evi|dence of the &s;ouls immortality may be drawn from the holy Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Scriptures are full of Evi|dence to manife&s;t this truth: And fir&s;t Divine te&s;timonies; the Preacher tells us, That when the Body dieth and retur|neth to the du&s;t; the &s;oul vani&s;heth not, but returneth to God that gave it.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. 12.7.</NOTE></P>
<P>And Chri&s;t him&s;elf witne&s;&s;eth that the &s;oul cannot be killed by all the Tyrants in the world,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.28. Mark. 8.44.</NOTE> though they kill the body: But God can ca&s;t both body and &s;oul in|to Hell fire, where the worm never dieth, and the fire never goeth out, &amp; &s;o the &s;oul tormented in Hell fire for evermore, mu&s;t needs be immortall and never dye.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>Is there no other Argument in Scripture but bare te&s;timonies?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> If there were no other, the wit|ne&s;&s;e of the holy Spirit of truth is &s;uffici|ent to witne&s;&s;e this truth of the &s;ouls im|mortality; but it is evident by other Ar|guments al&s;o: for the Lord is &s;aid to be the God of <HI>Abraham,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.31, 32, 33.</NOTE> and the God of <HI>I&s;aac,</HI> and the God of <HI>Jacob,</HI> not the God of the dead, but of the living: Now their bo|dies were dead many hundred years be|fore Chri&s;t &s;pake this; therefore it mu&s;t
<PB N="67" REF="62"> needs follow, that the &s;ouls were alive, and &s;o they had not mortall, but never dy|ing and immortall &s;ouls.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>This I conceive is a good Argument; What is a &s;econd that you find in the holy Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The witne&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t concern|ing the penitent Thief upon the Cro&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 23.43.</NOTE> that he &s;hould be with him that day in Paradi&s;e: Now this could not be in re|&s;pect of his body, for neither the body of the penitent, nor the body of Chri&s;t, were that day in Paradi&s;e; for Chri&s;ts body was taken down from the Cro&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 27.60.</NOTE> and laid in a new Sepulchre, and no doubt the body of the penitent al&s;o was buried; And therefore it mu&s;t needs be, that Chri&s;t and the penitent &s;hould be and were in Paradi&s;e in their &s;ouls, after the death of their bodies. And hence it is evident, that the &s;oul is immortall and dieth not with the body, as &s;ome wicked men dream.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>Have you any more Argu|ments in Scripture to prove this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, there might be many more; but I will note but a few, and this you may take for another; Even the practice of Chri&s;t at the time of death, to com|mend
<PB N="68" REF="63"> in &s;ouls into the hands of God his heavenly Father:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 23.46.</NOTE> Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit. And that of ble&s;|&s;ed <HI>Stephen</HI> the holy Martyr of Chri&s;t, commending his &s;oul into the hands of Chri&s;t;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 7.59.</NOTE> Lord Ie&s;us receive my Spirit. The&s;e confirm this truth of the immorta|lity of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is the next Argument which you ob&s;erve in Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That fear, and trembling, and terror of con&s;cience which falleth, and hath fallen upon men for their &s;ins a|gain&s;t God or men; and e&s;pecially the fear of Iudgement to come, as that of <HI>Bel&s;hazzer,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Dan. 5.1.5.</NOTE> when he &s;aw the Hand wri|ting upon the wall, which made his knee<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> to &s;mite one again&s;t another, and the thoughts of his heart to trouble him.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 24.25.</NOTE>And that fear and trembling of <HI>Fe&s;tus,</HI> when he heard <HI>Paul</HI> to rea&s;on of Righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e, Temperance, and Iudgement to come.</P>
<P>The&s;e evidence plainly an immortality of the &s;oul, what&s;oever fooli&s;h vain man can think or imagine to the contrary.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is a la&s;t Rea&s;on you plea&s;e to produce from Scripture, to prove the &s;ouls immortality?</HI></P>
<PB N="69" REF="63">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The longings of the Saints to be di&s;&s;olved and to be with Chri&s;t, as ble&s;|&s;ed <HI>Paul</HI> did:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 1.23.</NOTE> I de&s;ire to be di&s;&s;olved and to be with Chri&s;t, which is far better: This certainly the Apo&s;tle did intend of this being with Chri&s;t in his &s;oul, when his body was dead, and therefore did ve|rily believe, the immortality of the &s;oul, and a hope of happine&s;&s;e when this life is ended;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 14.13. 1 Cor. 15.19.</NOTE> otherwi&s;e Gods people were of all men mo&s;t mi&s;erable, when as the holy Gho&s;t pronounceth them ble&s;&s;ed that die in the Lord; Therefore without doubt our &s;ouls are immortall.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What u&s;e is to be made of all this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To teach all men to prize their immortall &s;ouls above all the world,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 16.26.</NOTE> For what is a man profited if he &s;hall win the whole world, and lo&s;e his own &s;oul? Or what &s;hall a man give in exchange for his &s;oul? And who will not mo&s;t wil|lingly wait upon Chri&s;t in the Go&s;pel, that he may be drawn in to receive Chri&s;t for the Eternall &s;alvation of his &s;oul.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="6" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="70" REF="64">
<HEAD>The &s;ixth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the work of Gods Provi|dence, as of the world in gene|rall, &s;o of Angels and men in particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That excellent government by which God doth wi&s;ely, ju&s;tly, and gra|ciou&s;ly pre&s;erve, rule, and order the world, provides for all, and di&s;po&s;eth of all things therein, even the afflictions of his own people, for his own glory, and the good of his Children, <HI>Gen.</HI> 22.8.13. &amp; 45.5. 1 <HI>King.</HI> 17.1, <HI>&amp;c. Iob</HI> 48.41. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 36.6, 7. <HI>Prov.</HI> 15.3. <HI>Mat.</HI> 10.29, 30, 31. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.10. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.28. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 119.67, 71. <HI>Heb.</HI> 12.6, 7, 8.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the work of Gods Providence concerning Angels; or their &s;ervice in re&s;pect to his Children, or to the wicked?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 104.4. Heb. 1.14. P&s; 34.8. &amp; 91.10, 11. 2 Kings 6.16, 17, &amp; 19.35.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are all mini&s;tring Spirits, &s;ent forth for their &s;akes that are heires of Salvation; yea, for pre&s;ervation of Saints, &amp; de&s;truction of the wicked, both in this life, and at the day of Iudgement, <HI>Luk.</HI> 24.23. <HI>Mat.</HI> 13.41, 42. &amp; 25.30.31.</P>
<PB N="71" REF="64">
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What el&s;e is the office of the Elect Angels?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are glorious attendants on Gods Maje&s;ty in heaven,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Dan. 7.9. Luk. 2.13, 14. Rev. 5.11, 12. P&s;a. 103.20. 2 Pet, 2.11 I&s;a. 6.23.</NOTE> delightfully &s;inging forth his prai&s;es, and readily wai|ting at all times to do his plea&s;ure.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>How long have the Angels been provided to do God &s;ervice? Or when did God make them for his mini&s;tration?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The certain day of their Crea|tion, is not expre&s;&s;ed in the holy Scrip|tures;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.2, 3. Iob 38.4, 5, 6, 7. Mat. 24.30.</NOTE> But it is mo&s;t likely they were Created the fir&s;t day, when the Heavens were made, wherein they dwell, the An|gels being witne&s;&s;es at the Creation of the earth, and rejoycing at the excellency of Gods works at the beginning.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>How many Angels did God make for this &s;ervice in the beginning?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The certain number is not re|vealed in Scriptures;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Dan. 7.10. Mat. 26.53. Heb. 12.22.</NOTE> but it is evidently held forth, that God hath Thou&s;and thou&s;ands of Angels, and Ten thou&s;and times ten thou&s;and, legions and miriades, yea, an innumerable company to attend upon his Maje&s;ty, and do him &s;ervice.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>In what &s;tate and condition did God create the Angels?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They were all very good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.31.</NOTE> perfect
<PB N="72" REF="65"> in holine&s;&s;e and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Lu. 9.26 Iob 1.8. Act. 6.15. 2 Cor. 11.14. Iob 39 7. Heb. 12.9</NOTE> pure and glorious Spirits, Angels of light, after the likene&s;&s;e of God their Father.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>Are the Angels all alike in nature?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In re&s;pect of their nature they are all alike holy Spirits;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mar, 4.11 Iude v. 9. I&s;a. 6.2. Ezek. 10.1, 2. Col. 1.16, &amp;c. Eph. 1.20, &amp;c. Mal. 3.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> but in re&s;pect of their offices, objects, and &s;ervices, a|bout which they are conver&s;ant, they are held forth in Scripture by divers names, titles, and degrees, as Angels, Archan|gels, Seraphins, Cherubims, and the like; but the head of all is Chri&s;t, the Angel of the Covenant.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>How is the Lord Chri&s;t the head of the Angels?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">H<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> 8.12.22, &amp;c. Iohn 1.1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 8.6. Col. 1.16, &amp;c. Eph. 1.20, &amp;c. Phil. 2. 1 Tim. 5.21. Heb. 1.2, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not as a head, as Mediator, of or by Redemption, as he is to men; for the Elect Angels never fell: But as head or &s;upreme by Creation, Con&s;ervation and Confirmation, in that &s;tate of happi|ne&s;&s;e and purity in which they were fir&s;t Created: Chri&s;t the Eternall Son of God upholding all things, and being high|ly ex<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">lted above all things as head of the Church, and of all the Sons of God, An|gels and men.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Have the Angels any care of, or re&s;pect unto men in particular?</HI></P>
<PB N="73" REF="65">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are ready at Gods charge for pre&s;ervation of Saints; they de&s;ire their good, and rejoyce at the conver&s;ion of a &s;inner, and delightfully look into the my&s;tery of mans Redemption, being rea|dy to oppo&s;e the Devils, and all enemies, and to carry the &s;ouls of Saints departing into <HI>Abrahams</HI> bo&s;ome, that Paradi&s;e of heaven, to be with Chri&s;t for ever, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 91.11, 12. <HI>Dan.</HI> 10.13, 21. <HI>Zach.</HI> 1.12, 13. <HI>Joh.</HI> 5.4. <HI>Luke</HI> 15.10. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.10, &amp;c. <HI>Eph.</HI> 3.8, 9, 10. <HI>Zach.</HI> 3.1.2. <HI>Acts</HI> 12.7, 8. <HI>Rev.</HI> 12.7, &amp;c. <HI>Gen.</HI> 32.2. <HI>Mat.</HI> 18.10. <HI>Luke</HI> 26.22. and 23.43.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>Are Angels to be wor&s;hip|ped or prayed unto?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No, by no means;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iudg. 13.16. Zac. 13.7. Rev. 19.20. &amp; 22.1, 9. Heb. 1.4, &amp;c.</NOTE> It is a &s;acri|fice and &s;ervice which belongeth to God him&s;elf, and to that God-man Chri&s;t, the Angel of the Covenant, who is Gods fellow; and this wor&s;hip is an honour which the Angels them&s;elves have refu|&s;ed to accept.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 33.1, 2, 3. Gen. 19.1.20. &amp; 31, 11, &amp;c. &amp; 34.24, &amp;c. 48.15, 16.</NOTE> <HI>But did not the Patriarchs bow and pray to Angels, and</HI> Iacob <HI>in par|ticular,</HI> Gen. 48.16?</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That was the Angel of the Co|venant, the Lord Chri&s;t, the &s;econd Per|&s;on in Trinity, who appeared to <HI>Jacob</HI>
<PB N="74" REF="66"> and other Patriarchs;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 11.18. I&s;a 41.8. Col. 2.18.</NOTE> and &s;o wor&s;hip was and is due to him, but not to any Created Angel what&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What profit is this knowledge of Angels to the Saints and Servants of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 31.2. 2 King. 6.16. &amp; 19.35. Mat. 26.53, 44. P&s;al. 68.17.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Of great profit and comfort that we may know the greatne&s;&s;e of Gods love, and care for his Church; that if all the wicked men and Devils in the world do con&s;pire again&s;t Gods Children; yet be&s;ides Gods own infinite power, God hath created Armies of mighty Angels to pre&s;erve his Saints, and to de&s;troy the wicked at his plea&s;ure.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>You have An&s;wered com|fortably concerning the Elect: Now what is Gods Providence concerning evil Angels, or Devils, and what they are?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 4.17, &amp;c. &amp; 1.9, &amp;c. Iude 6. Gen. 3.1, 2, 3. 1 Chron. 21.1. Zach. 3.1, 2. Mat. 13.28, 29. Eph. 2.12 2 Tim. 2.26. Ioh. 8 44. Ioh. 3.8. 2 Pet. 2.4. Mat. 25.41. Rev. 20.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are tho&s;e Angels or Spi|rits in whom God found folly, who kept not their fir&s;t &s;tate, but left their own ha|bitation, &amp; &s;inned again&s;t God their ma|ker, for which they were ca&s;t out of hea|ven, and of glorious Angels, became ugly Devils, enemies to God and Saints, ty|rants over wicked men, ruling in them as their God, and drawing them to &s;in in this life, for which the Devils are re&s;erved
<PB N="75" REF="66"> in chains of darkne&s;&s;e, and &s;hall be tor|mented with the wicked in Hell fire for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t 14. <HI>What power hath the Devil and his Angels to hurt the Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A limited power and retrained, for the Devils are conquered by Chri&s;t, and can go no further then God gives them leave, for his own glory, and the triall and good of his Saints, <HI>Job</HI> 1.12. and 2.6. <HI>Hebrews</HI> 2.14, 15. <HI>John</HI> 6.11. <HI>Collo&s;&s;.</HI> 2.14, 15.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What benefit can this know|ledge bring to the Church and Children of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Great joy and profit that Chri&s;t our Saviour hath broken the Serpents head, and hath power of Devils,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.15. Rev. 12.10, &amp;c. Mat. 8.28, &amp;c. Luke 11.21, 22.</NOTE> that they cannot hurt &s;o much as a Swine, much le&s;&s;e one of his Children, without leave and licen&s;e from Chri&s;t our Lord and King, who doth and can re&s;train the Devils, and di&s;po&s;&s;e&s;&s;e them at his plea|&s;ure.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What other benefit have we?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To teach Saints to be watchfull and take heed of Satans temptations, to keep clo&s;e to Chri&s;t, who doth and will
<PB N="76" REF="67"> tread down Satan under our feet &s;hortly, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.41. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 5.8, 9. <HI>Gen.</HI> 17.1. <HI>Joh.</HI> 14.20, 21, 22. <HI>Act.</HI> 24.15, 16. <HI>Rom.</HI> 16.20.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="7" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The &s;eventh Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have declared Gods Providence concerning Spirits, Angels and De|vils: Now what &s;hould a faithfull recei|ver known of the creation, and of Gods Provi|dence concerning man, and concerning him|&s;elf in particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A fourfold knowledge is requi|&s;ite to a comfortable meeting of Chri&s;t in the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is this fourfold know|ledge?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, what we were by Creation before <HI>Adams</HI> fall. Secondly, what was our condition in nature corrupted after the fall. Thirdly, what it is in the &s;tate of Grace. And fourthly, what it &s;hall be in the &s;tate of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What was the &s;tate and con|dition of man by Creation?</HI></P>
<PB N="77" REF="67">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> He was created in the Image of God, his &s;oul in &s;ome degrees like God in nature, a Spirituall, invi&s;ible, living &s;ub&s;tance, indued with under&s;tandings, will and memory, and immortality, the whole man ble&s;&s;ed with knowled<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e, righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and true holine&s;&s;e, graced with a communion with God, as their Father, with an outward Maje&s;ty and Dominion over all inferior creatures, without all &s;in and mi&s;ery, having a freedome of will, and a promi&s;e if he would obey, to per|&s;evere in happine&s;&s;e for ever, <HI>Gen.</HI> 26.27. and 2.7. <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 12.7. <HI>Zach.</HI> 12.1. <HI>Luke</HI> 16.22. and 23.43. <HI>Heb.</HI> 12.9. <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 7.29. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 8.3, 4, 5.6. <HI>Eph.</HI> 4.23, 24. <HI>Gen.</HI> 1.28, &amp;c. and 2.18, &amp;c.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What ground of a&s;&s;urance was there that</HI> Adam <HI>might have continu|ed in that happy e&s;tate if he would?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Gods promi&s;e in that Covenant of works made with our fir&s;t Parents be|fore their fall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.26, 27. &amp; 2.16, 17.</NOTE> a&s;&s;uring life upon condi|tion of per&s;evering in obedience; and threatning death if they break the Co|venant, or that command of triall given them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>Should</HI> Adam <HI>have enjoyed heaven for the merit of of his works, if he
<PB N="78" REF="68"> had continued obedient and kept the Cove|nant with God his Maker, or fulfilled the plea&s;ure of Gods will &s;o revealed therein?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.17. 1 Cor. 4.7.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly no: the creature could not merit any thing at the hand of the Creator, having received both his being and well being from God; but he was to live for ever, and receive heaven by vertue of the free Covenant, and Gods free Promi&s;e, as the end and free reward of his obedience and faithfulne&s;&s;e in the Covenant of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What Evidence is there of this truth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Be&s;ides what is rehear&s;ed, this hath been the judgement of holy men in the Church of God, after the opinion of our Rabines of ble&s;&s;ed Memory, &s;aith an Hebrew, If <HI>Adam</HI> had not &s;inned, he had never dyed, but the breath which he was in&s;pired with of the mo&s;t high ble&s;&s;ed God, &s;hould have given life for ever; and the good will of God which he had in his creation, had cleaved unto him con|tinually, and kept him alive for ever|more.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>How was this Covenant held forth to our fir&s;t Parents before their fall?</HI></P>
<PB N="79" REF="68">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By tho&s;e two Sacraments (as &s;ome call them) of the Tree of Life, and of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.9.17. Rom. 2.14.</NOTE> the fir&s;t &s;ignifying and &s;ealing life eternall, if they kept the Covenant: The &s;econd threatning death, and the wofull knowledge of good and evil, if they break that command of triall given, and &s;o wal|ked contrary to the Morall Law, or rule of life written in their hearts, or that ho|ly nature infu&s;ed into them by God in their creation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>Did</HI> Adam <HI>and</HI> Eve <HI>keep that precept of tryall and Law written in their hearts; Or walk according to that holy nature in which thty were Created?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> they did eat of the forbid|den Tree, and obeyed Satans temptations rather then the command of God their Maker.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What was the e&s;tate of Man|kinde, after this fall of our fir&s;t Parents, and their rebellion again&s;t God their Crea|tor?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Man lo&s;t the Image of God, wherein he was made, became a rebell like Satan in word and deed; a &s;lave to the world, the fle&s;h and the Devil: pol|luted with Originall corruption, and
<PB N="80" REF="69"> Actuall tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion, liable to the wrath of God, and all cur&s;es Spirituall and cor|porall, in this life and eternall torments with the Devils in Hell fire for ever, <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 7.29. <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.7. and 6.5. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 53.1, &amp;c. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.26. <HI>Luke</HI> 11.21. <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.36. <HI>Rom.</HI> 2.8, 9, 12, 14. and 7.18, 20. <HI>Gen.</HI> 17, 18, 19. <HI>Act.</HI> 28.27. <HI>Rom.</HI> 1.24, &amp;c. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 9.17. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 30.33. <HI>Mat.</HI> 25, 41.</P>
<P>Que&s;t, 10. <HI>Is every Childe of</HI> Adam <HI>in this wofull e&s;tate by nature?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 3.9, &amp;c. Eph. 2.1.2, 3.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes. There is none righteous, no not one; for all have &s;inned, and are come &s;hort of the glory of God, and were all by nature the children of wrath as well as others.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>But how could the guilt of</HI> Adams <HI>&s;in and puni&s;hment, be ju&s;tly char|ged upon us their Po&s;terity?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.12, &amp;c. &amp; 11.16. So con|trary, Luk. 13.26, 27. Rev. 21.27. Gen. 3.22. &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e <HI>Adam</HI> and <HI>Eve</HI> &s;inned as the common Parents of all Mankinde, all being then in their loynes, as the branches in the &s;tock, the &s;treams in the Fountain, and &s;o the corruption and guilt of &s;ins in them, was ju&s;tly derived and imputed to all Mankinde, and all &s;ubject to be excluded heaven and Gods graci|ous pre&s;ence, as <HI>Adam</HI> and <HI>Eve</HI> were ca&s;t out of Paradi&s;e.</P>
<PB N="81" REF="69">
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Could not our fir&s;t Pa|rents, or Mankinde &s;ince the fall Redeem them&s;elves from this damnable e&s;tate, by being &s;orrowfull, and doing penance for their &s;in, or by gold or &s;ilver, or good works, make God amends again, and &s;o recover their lo&s;t e&s;tate, and get heaven by vertue of the fir&s;t Covenant, Do and live?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 10.23. Ezek. 37.1, &amp;c. Ioh. 11.39. P&s;al. 49.6, &amp;c. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Eph. 2.1. as 1 Tim. 5.6.</NOTE> It was and is altogether impo&s;&s;ible, as much as for the dead bones to rai&s;e them&s;elves to life, or <HI>Lazarus</HI> to get out of his grave by his own &s;trength, after he had been dead four dayes, and &s;tinking in the grave by corruption.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>How can this be, &s;ince the dead bones, and</HI> Lazarus <HI>in the grave had no life at all, but man by his fall is only half dead, as our Saviour &s;eemeth to intimate,</HI> Luke 10.30.</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> If we con&s;ider the life of nature in man that is half dead,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.17 &amp; 3.16, &amp;c. Luk. 15.32. Eph 2.1: 1 Cor. 2.14. Eph. 4.17, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 44. 2 Cor. 3.5</NOTE> as being &s;ince the fall &s;ubject to mortality, &s;orrows, weak|ne&s;&s;e, &s;ickne&s;&s;e, pains, death of body, and outward mi&s;eries, be&s;ides imbecilities of under&s;tanding, will and memory: But if we look to the life of grace, and power to plea&s;e and walk with God, that is wholly dead, and every one totally un|able to recover him&s;elf, or gain happi|ne&s;&s;e
<PB N="82" REF="70"> by that fir&s;t Covenant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 10.31.32.</NOTE> Do and live.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>But did not the under&s;tand|ing, will, con&s;cience, and inferior appetite, remain in man after the fall?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes. The naturall faculty of the <HI>&V;nder&s;tanding</HI> did remain, but darkned: and &s;o of th <HI>Will,</HI> but corrupted: of the <HI>Memory,</HI> but wounded: of the <HI>Con&s;ci|ence,</HI> but defiled: and of inferior <HI>Appe|tite,</HI> but vitiated and deprived of Origi|nall purity, the clear light of the under|&s;tanding, rectitude of the will and con|&s;cience, and conformity of appetite with right rea&s;on, or light of that light which man had by creation being lo&s;t; and &s;o <HI>Man</HI> altogether unable to think or act any thing plea&s;ing to God, while&s;t his guilty per&s;on, like <HI>Cains,</HI> is not accepted; but as <HI>Cains,</HI> &s;o every naturall mans per|&s;on, actions, &s;ervice and &s;acrifice, are abominable before God, <HI>Gen.</HI> 6.5. <HI>Eph.</HI> 4.18, 19. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6.15. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.7. <HI>Deut.</HI> 6.12. <HI>Judg.</HI> 3.7. <HI>Job</HI> 8.13. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 9.17. 1 <HI>Tit.</HI> 1.15. <HI>Col.</HI> 3.5, 6. <HI>Gen.</HI> 4.4, 5. <HI>Prov.</HI> 21.4. and 28.9. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 13, 14.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>But are not unregenerate mens naturall actions, as to eat, drink, plow, perform works of callings, and their well
<PB N="83" REF="70"> meanings, acceptable to God, and helps to get Gods favour again that was lo&s;t by</HI> A|dams <HI>&s;in?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No certainly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 21.4. &amp; 15.8. I&s;a. 66.3. 2 Sam 6.6. Zach. 7.5, 6. Iam. 4.3.</NOTE> for although mens naturall actions are good in them&s;elves, as they are Gods Ordinance in wayes of his Providence and commands, and &s;o to be done, yet as acted by ignorant, unbe|lieving, unregenerate men, they are de|filed, &s;infull and odious, men &s;eeking them&s;elves, not Gods glory; and &s;o their well meaning, plowing and prayer is &s;in.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>Cannot a naturall or civill hone&s;t man, by good u&s;e of his naturall parts, doing no man harm to his knowledge, per|forming works of charity, hearing of Gods &s;ervice, plea&s;e God, prepare him&s;elf for Grace, repent and convert him&s;elf to God, and &s;o walk according to the rule of Gods Law and be &s;aved?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No verily:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 10.14.23. Mat. 10.14, 15. &amp; 11.20, &amp;c. Ier. 31.18, &amp;c.</NOTE> It is not in man to direct his &s;teps, or come unto God, and turn to the Lord from &s;in; and though walking civilly, he may have le&s;&s;e tor|ments in Hell, then &s;ome notorious wic|ked men; yet &s;ince <HI>Adams</HI> fall, the Co|venant of works was not renewed, nor is there any getting that way into the Kingdom of Heaven.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="8" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="84" REF="71">
<HEAD>The eighth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>B&V;t hath not a man or woman free will to repent and convert him&s;elf to God if he plea&s;e, and &s;o to do Gods Commande|ments, and live as</HI> Adam <HI>and</HI> Eve <HI>lived before their fall?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 10.23. Iohn 6.44. Phil. 2.13.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The will of man was and is al|wayes free from violence and con&s;traint &s;ince <HI>Adams</HI> fall, but not from defilement and &s;ervitude, &s;ince <HI>Adam</HI> lo&s;t his purity and freedome, &s;o that the liberty of will differs much from what it was before that tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion, and no naturall man hath free will of him&s;elf to turn to God in Chri&s;t for Salvation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>Wherein doth this difference of freedome in mans will con&s;i&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is a fourfould condition of mans freedome of will, according to his fourfold &s;tate and condition of life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is this fourfold diffe|rence in the freedome of mans will?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, In the &s;tate of innocency before the fall, man had freedom of will both to good and evil, <HI>Gene&s;is</HI> 2.17.
<PB N="85" REF="71"> <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 7.29. <HI>Deut.</HI> 30.19. This was in <HI>Adam</HI> and not in us.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.5. &amp; 8.21.</NOTE> In the &s;tate of corruption after the fall, man hath freedome of will to evil, not good.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In the &s;tate of grace man hath freedome of will from evil,<NOTE PLACE="marg">i Cor. 13.9. Phil. 3.i2, &amp;c.</NOTE> and un|to good, but imperfectly.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the &s;tate of glory, the will of man &s;hall be wholly free from evil, and unto good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13.10, &amp;c. 1 Iohn 3.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> mo&s;t perfectly and ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But hath man lo&s;t his free|dome of will &s;ince</HI> Adams <HI>fall in all &s;orts of actions?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Actions are of &s;everall kindes: Fir&s;t, Naturall, common to men and bruit creatures, as to lye down, to, ri&s;e up,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 17.25, &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;tand, go, eat, drink, &s;leep, hear, &s;ee, ta&s;te, &s;mell or the like; and all the&s;e man hath a naturall freedome of will and minde, to do or not to do, at choyce, only with &s;ubordination to the will, leave permi&s;&s;i|on and power of God, without which we can do nothing.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What are the &s;econd &s;ort of actions?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Humane actions common to all men, regenerate and unregenerate, as to
<PB N="86" REF="72"> &s;peak, to lend an outward ear to what is &s;poken, that he may under&s;tand it, to make u&s;e of naturall rea&s;on and memory, to practi&s;e a manuall Trade, or liberall Art or Science, to perform acts of civill and morall vertues, prudence, ju&s;tice, temperance, and fortitude, to plead at the Bar as a Lawyer, to be a Iudge of differences between man and man, to be a Law-maker, to be a Peace-maker, a Souldier, or any outward Calling: All which an unregerate man may do or act, and have freedome of will to chu&s;e or refu&s;e at plea&s;ure, with Subordination to Gods wi|l and licen&s;e as afore&s;aid, as 2 <HI>Kings</HI> 5.1. yet &s;o but naturall.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What are a third &s;ort of actions?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are mixt actions, partly naturall partly tending to Spirituall ends, and in outward appearance Spirituall actions; as to come to the Church to hear a Sermon,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 6.20.21. 2 Kin. 10.16, 31.</NOTE> to partake of the outward Ordinances, to reach out the hand in Sa|crament to receive the elements of Bread and Wine, to joyn with the lips and mouthes in common and ordinary praiers or prai&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.3, 5.</NOTE> to make a &s;hew of Religion like <HI>Herod,</HI> and have a <HI>John</HI> like zeal of
<PB N="87" REF="72"> Reformation, and he may have a kinde of naturall free will in all the&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.3.</NOTE> and yet be a naturall man or woman, and never en|ter into the Kingdom of heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But is the under&s;tanding, will and judgement, as right now in the&s;e actions by nature, as they were before the fall?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A&s;&s;uredly no: In the&s;e and the like motions and actions,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.7. Thef. 4.17, &amp;c. Mat. 5.20.</NOTE> the under&s;tand|ing &s;ince <HI>Adams</HI> fall, is weak and dark, the judgement &s;ubject to erre and be de|ceived, and the will is weak and wound|ed, weighed by corrupt affections when it meets with temptations, as a bowle is drawn with a byas, or a corrupt Lawyer, Souldier, Committee-man, or any other, in &s;tate of nature is drawn contrary to a good con&s;cience, And the rule of Gods Word.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What are the fourth &s;ort of actions?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are actions Spirituall; and the&s;e are of two kindes: Fir&s;t, Evil and &s;infull actions, tending to death and dam|nation, Secondly, Good and right acti|ons, tending to life and &s;alvation, in and by the merit and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t, apprehended by faith, 1. Evil, as <HI>Adams</HI> actions, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3.6. or as <HI>Cains, Gen.</HI> 4.8.
<PB N="88" REF="73"> <HI>Gal.</HI> 5.19, 20.2. Good actions, as <HI>A|braham, Gen.</HI> 15.6. <HI>Rom.</HI> 4.3. as Iayler, <HI>Acts</HI> 16.30. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the condition and po|wer of mans will in the fir&s;t of the&s;e, &s;in|full thoughts, words or works, tending to death and damnation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Mans will in nature corrupted, is free to evil thought,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.5. &amp; 8.21.</NOTE> words and works; yea, prone and ready to con&s;ent to &s;in, without compul&s;ion, with a kinde of de|light; the will in re&s;pect of defilements, and inticements of corrupt affections, be|ing &s;ervile and running, not con&s;trained, but willing to &s;in.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the condition of mans will by nature in Sprituall good things tending to life and Salvation, as in Divine knowledge, Faith, Repentance, Conver&s;ion to God, and new obedience in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and &s;uch like graces?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the very fir&s;t act of Conver|&s;ion, although the will be free from all violent con&s;traint;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 3.9, &amp;c.</NOTE> yet in Spirituall good things, the will is unable to convert it &s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 2.13.</NOTE> or will a turning of it &s;elf to God, the Free-grace of God in order of nature, goeth before and enlightens the minde, and moveth the will; and yet in the or|der
<PB N="89" REF="73"> of time, the Spirit of Chri&s;t freely moves,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 9.6. Luk. 19.5, &amp;c.</NOTE> and the will of man willingly wills both together, to believe, to repent, to be converted and obey God in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>But is there any principle in man, or mans will, to joyn willingly with the motions of Gods Spirit, in Faith and Conver&s;ion to God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No: The life of Grace and principle of Grace is wholly dead in man by the fall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.1. Phil. 3.13. Col. 2.13.</NOTE> and all is of Gods Free-grace, who works both the will and the deed of his good plea&s;ure, preventing with his Free-grace, both the unwilling that he may will, and the willing that he may not will in vain.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>But cannot a naturall man or woman will or de&s;ire their own Salvation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A naturall man hath not a po|wer and principle in him&s;elf to under|&s;tand,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 2.14. &amp; 1.18. Luke 11.21. Num. 13.10. Acts 8.19.</NOTE> or be &s;en&s;ible of his own mi&s;ery or danger of eternall damnation, and &s;o he cannot de&s;ire eternall &s;alvation, as a free|dome from it; yet as Salvation is held forth in the Go&s;pel as a good thing, &s;o far as he is enlightned by the common grace of the Spirit, he may de&s;ire it as <HI>Baalam</HI> did the death of the righteous, or <HI>Simon Magus</HI> power by laying on hands to
<PB N="90" REF="74"> Communicate the Holy Gho&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>But can they de&s;ire Salva|tion truly in a right way?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 3.5. Mark 16.15, 16. Mat. 16.24. Luke 13.5. Mat. 19.21, 22.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> No: For de&s;ire of Salvation in the way and means of it, the true know|ledge of Chri&s;t, Faith, Repentance, &s;elf-deniall, taking up the Cro&s;&s;e, leaving all for Chri&s;t: Thus a naturall man cannot de&s;ire it, but rather leaves Chri&s;t and Sal|vation, as the yong man did in the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>But if a naturall man by na|turall power, cannot &s;o much as will or de|&s;ire the right way and means of his own Salvation, nor by all he can do, procure life Eternall: To what end then &s;hould a na|turall man go to Church, attend the Prea|ching of the Word, or perform any good du|ty what&s;oever, &s;ince by all he can do he can|not &s;ave him&s;elf?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verily, even a naturall man is bound to wait upon God in Chri&s;t, in all the means of Grace, as far as God giveth him power, as to come to the Church, to attend the work of Chri&s;t by his Spirit, in hearing of the Word Preached, in Catechizing, in Chri&s;tian conference, and &s;uch like outward Or|dinances, <HI>Matthew</HI> 22.1, 2, 3, 4, &amp;c. <HI>Luke</HI> 14.16, &amp;c.</P>
<PB N="91" REF="74">
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>But why &s;hould he doe this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e although a man or wo|man cannot convert them&s;elves to God;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 10.23 Mat. 20.1, &amp;c. Act. 16.4 Iohn 5.2, 3, 4. Rom. 8.15. Mat. 16.17. Gal. 1.16. Acts. 2.37, 38. &amp; 3.18, &amp;c.</NOTE> yet as that multitude of impotent folk, of blinde, halt and withered, came, or were brought to the Pool of <HI>Bethe&s;da,</HI> waiting for the moving of the Water, that they might be healed; &s;o the&s;e may come to the Go&s;pel, and wait till the Spirit of Chri&s;t come and open their hearts, and trouble their con&s;ciences with &s;ight and &s;en&s;e of &s;in and mi&s;ery, reveal Chri&s;t, and give them life, and work grace to believe and be converted, and be &s;aved, and made happy for ever.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="9" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The ninth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YEt once again,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 20.1. to 20. Lev. 18.5. &amp; 2.6. Deut. 28. Ezek. 20.21. I&s;a, 8.20. Luke 10.25, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>if man by naturall &s;trength, or by good works, cannot re|deem him&s;elf, nor gain heaven: To what end then did God hold forth the ten Com|mandements, though not by way of any Co|venant of works, yet as the matter or Ar|ticles of the Law (or fir&s;t Covenant, as
<PB N="92" REF="75"> &s;ome call them) on Mount</HI> Sinai, <HI>and &s;ince that in divers places of the Old and New Te&s;tament, as if it were a repetition of the Covenant of works, with Promi&s;es of life upon obedience, and threatnings of death if the Law be broken?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers An&s;wers may be given to &s;atisfie this doubt: Chiefly the&s;e following may &s;uffice.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, The old carnall I&s;raelites, part of the Po&s;terity of <HI>Abraham</HI> in <HI>Ae|gypt,</HI> as all naturall men, in whom the &s;park of con&s;cience, or light of the Law of nature, accu&s;ing or excu&s;ing is awaken|ed, had is &s;till &s;uch have &s;ome thoughts of &s;aving them&s;elves by the way of the fir&s;t Covenant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.16. Acts. 13.39. Rom, 10.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> or Rule of life to <HI>A|dam</HI> in Paradi&s;e, Do and live; There|fore God repeats the matter of the Law as to &s;hew &s;in, &s;o as a rule of a Chri&s;tians life, not to ju&s;tifie, but to convince them of their error, and &s;hew they could not have life or ju&s;tification by any works of the Law, as &s;uch Phari&s;ees dream.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>But how can this be, &s;ince the Lord declares him&s;elf to be their Lord and God in Chri&s;t, who had brought them by Chri&s;t from the Aegypt of &s;in, as he
<PB N="93" REF="75"> had brought them by</HI> Mo&s;es <HI>out of</HI> Egypts <HI>Bondage?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Though God did this, yet he de|livers the Articles or matter of the Law,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 10.1, &amp;c. &amp; 2.14, 15. Exod. 19.1, to 25. &amp; 20.1, &amp;c. Gal. 3.17, &amp;c.</NOTE> or rule of life written in the heart of <HI>A|dam</HI> in Creation, (and blotted by the fall,) and now written again in the tables of &s;tone, and delivered with Thunders and Lightnings, and terrors, which they were not able to abide: not to hold forth life in that way, or to renew the Cove|nant of works, but that they might &s;ee their own &s;in, weaknes and mi&s;ery, and &s;eek out for a Mediator Chri&s;t to come; as they did for <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> then pre&s;ent, that &s;o the Law or Rule of doing might be their Schoolma&s;ter, revealing &s;in and mi&s;ery, to bring them unto Chri&s;t, and to &s;eek Salvation in the Go&s;pel, the Rule of Faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But how doth it appear that the Lord did declare him&s;elf to them as their God in Chri&s;t: Or in the Wilderne&s;&s;e hold forth Chri&s;t, and the Covenant of grace to his people?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is evident,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 20.1, 2, 3. &amp; 12. Lev. 16.7, &amp;c.</NOTE> as by the Preface of the ten Commandments of the Morall Law, or Rule of manners and obedience, I am the Lord thy God in Chri&s;t: So by
<PB N="94" REF="76"> the Ceremoniall Law clearly, in which by their Sacrifices,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Num. 21.6, &amp;c. Gal. 2.24.</NOTE> and Types, and Fi|gures of the Pa&s;chall Lamb, the &s;cape Goat, the Brazen Serpent, and other my|&s;teries, Chri&s;t was &s;weetly Preached and held forth, as the only Way and means of Salvation: This Ceremoniall Law in this re&s;pect, as well as the Morall Law in ano|ther, noted before, being al&s;o a School-ma&s;ter to bring them to Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>But wherefore doth Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles in the New Te&s;tament, hold forth the Law, or Covenant of works, if there be no Iu&s;tification by the Law, nor Salvation by a mans own works?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Chri&s;t and his Apo|&s;tles do not hold forth the Law,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 14.6.</NOTE> or &s;peak of it to renew the Covenant of works, or &s;et it up as a way of Iu&s;tification and life; for he declares him&s;elf the way, the truth, and the life: But Chri&s;t repeats and expounds the Law for divers other u&s;es.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, To &s;hew what man could not do by the Law, that is, not be Iu&s;tified by it, rather then that he could keep the Law,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 17.7, &amp;c.</NOTE> or gain life and Salvation by his own power, or by any works of the Law.</P>
<PB N="95" REF="76">
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.1, &amp;c. &amp; 5.17, &amp;c.</NOTE> to vindicate the Law from the fal&s;e glo&s;&s;es of the Scribes and Phari&s;ees, who Interpreted the Law ac|cording to the Letter only, and outward acts of obedience, and as if it had been a way of life, Chri&s;t holding forth that &s;trictne&s;&s;e of obedience which man is not able to perform.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is a third?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To &s;hew the inward and perfect obedience which the Law requireth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.17, &amp;c. &amp; 19.16, &amp;c. Gal. 2.17. Iam. 2.8, &amp;c.</NOTE> if a man do bat look upon a woman to lu&s;t af|ter her, he hath committed Adultery with her in his heart; if he be but angry with his Brother unadvi&s;edly, he is a Murder|er; if he break the Law but in one point, he is guilty of all; &s;o no life or Salvation but in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is a fourth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That men being enlightned by the Spirit of Chri&s;t in the Word,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.7 Ioh. 16.7, &amp;c. Rom. 8.15. Acts 2.37. &amp; 16.29, &amp;c.</NOTE> to &s;ee their own weaknes and inability to keep the Law, or be &s;aved by it, they may be convinced of their &s;in and mi&s;ery, finde their bondage, de&s;pair in them&s;elves, as not knowing what to do, and be drawn by the Go&s;pel and &s;ame &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, to come into Chri&s;t, believe and receive
<PB N="96" REF="77"> Chri&s;t and be &s;aved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>But will not the Go&s;pel &s;hew mans mi&s;ery without the Law?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, The Go&s;pel doth &s;hew our mi&s;ery implicitely, by way of inference, as 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.14, 15. But Gods Spirit is plea&s;ed to make u&s;e of both at his plea|&s;ure, and both Law and Go&s;pel may be Preached in the Church in a true and right manner, as <HI>Luke</HI> 10.34. So Law and Go&s;pel, 1 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1.8. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.37, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 13.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But is there no other u&s;e of the Law?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 119.1, &amp;c. Mat. 5.16. I&s;a. 8.20. Iohn 14.21, &amp;c. &amp; 15.12, &amp;c. Phil. 31.27. &amp; 3.17, &amp;c. &amp; 4.8, 2.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, The Law, Commandment, or Iudgement, Statute, Te&s;timony, Pre|cept, Word or way of God, (for it hath all the&s;e names and &s;uch like in Scrip|ture) as it was, &s;o it is, and may be held forth as a rule and way of our life and conver&s;ation, in which through Faith, and the power and vertue of Chri&s;t, and his quickning and &s;anctifying Spirit, the Children of God may, and ought to walk, offering up them&s;elves and all their en|deavors fruitfully; in all good works, as Spirituall Sacrifices of Prai&s;e, acceptable to God in Chri&s;t, as we &s;hall &s;hew fur|ther in the la&s;t part.</P>
<PB N="97" REF="77">
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What profit is it to know &s;o much of mans naturall condition, weak|ne&s;&s;e and mi&s;ery &s;ince</HI> Adams <HI>fall?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That men and women may be throughly convinced of their death in &s;in, and mi&s;ery in a naturall condition,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.1, Acts 28.23, &amp;c. Mat. 16.24. Rom. 1.4, 5. Phil. 3.4, &amp;c.</NOTE> and inability to believe or repent, and be wholly brought to deny them&s;elves, their own wi&s;dom, righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and &s;trength to recover, and &s;o truly and more ear|ne&s;tly &s;eek out to be &s;aved by another, even by Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, and prize Chri&s;t Ie|&s;us, in whom alone there is hope of Sal|vation for poor &s;inners.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But if a man can do nothing of him&s;elf, neither repent, nor believe the Go&s;pel; and that without Faith and Re|pentance, there is no Salvation to any man or woman; then what difference, or what profit is there in the New Covenant, more then in the Old, &s;ince in neither, man hath power of him&s;elf to &s;ave him&s;elf, or make a right u&s;e of tho&s;e means of grace which tend to Salvation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yea,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. 7.29. Gen. 1.27. &amp; 3.3, 4, 5.</NOTE> certainly there is great diffe|rence between the Covenant of works, &amp; the Covenant of grace: for in the fir&s;t Co|venant, although God gave our fir&s;t Pa|rents a holy nature and ability, if they
<PB N="98" REF="78"> would,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 42.6, 7. Acts 5.31. Ier. 31.33. Heb. 8.10. 2 Cor. 3.8.</NOTE> to keep the Covenant and be hap|py: Yet did not God give them a grace and confirmed will, to per&s;evere in that holine&s;&s;e, or be pre&s;erved from falling: But in the Covenant of Grace, the Lord gives Chri&s;t for a Covenant, and in and by Chri&s;t, his Spirit, knowledge, Faith, Repentance, love, a new heart, freedom from dominion and damning power of &s;in, and per&s;everance in grace, and all things that pertain to life and godline&s;&s;e; God writes the Law, not in Tables of &s;tone, as on Mount <HI>Sinai,</HI> but in the heart; and as he requireth Faith, as with an empty hand to receive Chri&s;t, &s;o he giveth Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.3, 4.</NOTE> and works it by his word and Spi|rit, keeping the Saints by his power, through Faith unto Salvation.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.15 &amp; 17.17. I&s;a. 5.3. Gen. 2.17, 18. Ma.. 1.21. Luke 2.10, &amp;c. Ioh. 1.14 1 Ioh. 3.14, &amp;c. Mat. 17.5 1 Tim. 1.1 5.</NOTE>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the Covenant of grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Covenant of grace is that Covenant which God made with our fir&s;t Parents in Paradice after their fall, pro|mi&s;ing Chri&s;t the &s;eed of the woman, to break the Serpents head, and in Chri&s;t, life Eternall freely: This Covenant re|newed to <HI>Abraham,</HI> held forth before Chri&s;t, more darkly, in Types and Fi|gures; but more fully &s;ince Chri&s;t, in
<PB N="99" REF="78"> the glorious and clear Sun-&s;hine of the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>You have explained what man was in the &s;tate of Creation, and how mi&s;erable by nature after the fall: Now what is mans condition by Grace, and in the &s;tate of Grace, when God hath drawn him to come into Chri&s;t, and to &s;eek Chri&s;t alone for Salvation, by vertue of this Co|venant?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Man who could de&s;troy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 13.9.14. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19. 2 Cor. 5.18, 19. Phil. 1.29. Act. 5.31 Rom. 5.1. &amp; 8.30. &amp; 8.17. Gal. 5.4, 5.</NOTE> but not &s;ave him&s;elf, nor be Redeemed by &s;ilver and gold, or by any other creature, is now, according to this Covenant of grace, a Redeemed one by Chri&s;t, reconciled to God in Chri&s;t, called, enabled to believe and Repent, Iu&s;tified, Sanctified, Adop|ted to be a childe of God, and in Chri&s;t an Heir of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>Are all men in this happy con|dition who live under the Go&s;pel, and hear the Preaching of this Covenant of Grace by Gods faithfull Mini&s;ters?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No certainly, not any in the or|dinary way who are of years of di&s;creti|on, but only tho&s;e who fir&s;t, waiting on Chri&s;t in his Ordinances, in &s;ome mea|&s;ure by his Word and Spirit, according to the working of Gods mighty power,
<PB N="100" REF="79"> have their eyes opened.</P>
<P>Secondly, Are made &s;en&s;ible of &s;in, and mi&s;ery by &s;in.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Enabled to deny them&s;elves.</P>
<P>Fourthly, And by faith to apprehend &amp; apply Chri&s;t as their &s;urety and redeemer.</P>
<P>Fifthly, To re&s;t on Chri&s;t alone for Salvation. And</P>
<P>Sixthly, Declare their thankfulne&s;&s;e, by &s;erving God in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and true holine&s;&s;e all the dayes of their lives, 2 <HI>Chron.</HI> 34.19, <HI>&amp;c. I&s;a.</HI> 66.2. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.37, 38. and 16.17, 18. <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.17, <HI>&amp;c. Rom.</HI> 7.23, 24. <HI>Mat.</HI> 16.24. <HI>John</HI> 1.11, 12. <HI>Mat.</HI> 11.28, 29. <HI>Rom.</HI> 12.1, 2. <HI>Luke</HI> 1.73. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>You have held forth and profe&s;&s;ed what you believe concerning the Providence of God in the &s;tate of man by Creation, and his mo&s;t mi&s;erable condition by the fall, and declared in part what Gods Children are in the &s;tate of grace: Now let me hear in brief what you believe con|cerning the Children of God in the &s;tate of glory; And what is Gods works of Provi|dence, and government in the Heavenly Kingdom?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, For the pre&s;ent, Ble&s;&s;ed are the dead that die in the Lord, even &s;o faith the Spirit, they re&s;t from their la|bours,
<PB N="101" REF="79"> their immortall &s;ouls return to God that gave them; and being di&s;&s;ol|ved from their bodies, they are with their th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ir heavenly husband Chri&s;t Ie&s;us in glory, <HI>Revelation</HI> 14.13. <HI>Eccle&s;ia&s;tes</HI> 12.7. <HI>Phil.</HI> 1.21, <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 23.43. <HI>Rev.</HI> 19.6, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, At the day of Iudgement their bodies being rai&s;ed from the dead,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 15.19. &amp;c. Mar. 25.34. Rev. 21.4 Mat. 5.8. 1 Iohn 3.1, 2, 3. &amp; 17.20, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 4 13. to 18. Ioh. 10.27, to 30. Mat. 25.46. Rev. 4.8, &amp;c. &amp; 5.11, &amp;c. &amp; 7.10, &amp;c.</NOTE> their &s;ouls and bodies re-united by the power of Chri&s;t, the &s;entence of ble&s;&s;ed|ne&s;&s;e &s;hall be pronounced to them. And</P>
<P>Thirdly, there &s;hall be no more death, but all tears &s;hall be wiped away from their eyes, God &s;hall be all in all to them.</P>
<P>Fourthly, They &s;hall enjoy the vi&s;ion of God in glory, and by union and com|munion with God in Chri&s;t, remain hap|py with the Lord in that Kingdom of glory in life everla&s;ting, prai&s;ing and glo|rifying of God for ever and ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What &s;hall become of unbe|lievers, impenitent, and wicked men and women, who neglect Chri&s;t and Salvation tendred in the Go&s;pel of grace, and follow the cour&s;e of this world, and their own &s;in|full lu&s;ts, ignorantly or pre&s;umptuou&s;ly to their ends? What is Gods govern|ment concerning them?</HI></P>
<PB N="102" REF="80">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When they die, their &s;ouls de|&s;end pre&s;ently to mi&s;ery, and the bodies &s;hall be rai&s;ed again at the la&s;t day by the power of God, and appear before the Iudgement &s;eat of Chri&s;t, to receive that direfull &s;entence of condemnation, Go ye cur&s;ed, and be excluded Heaven, and ca&s;t into the fire of Hell, to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels in dark|ne&s;&s;e for evermore, <HI>Luke</HI> 16.22, 23. <HI>Heb.</HI> 2.2, 3. <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.18, 19, 30. <HI>John</HI> 4.28, 29. and 12.48. <HI>Acts</HI> 13.46. and 18.5, 6. <HI>Rom.</HI> 2.8, 9, 12. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 6.9. <HI>Gal,</HI> 5.19, <HI>&amp;c. Eph.</HI> 5.24, 36. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.18, 19. <HI>Mat.</HI> 22.12, 13. and 25.41. <HI>Rev.</HI> 21.15.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>But who &s;hall be Judge of believers and unbelievers at that great Day, to &s;eparate the precious from the vile, the Wheat from the Tares, the righteous from the wicked, and to reward every man and woman according to their works?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.12. Mat. 24.30. Iohn 5.22, 23. Act. 10.42. Mat. 25.31, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 1.9, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, who is the only begotten Son of God, who &s;tiled him&s;elfe al&s;o as he is, the Son of Man, to whom God the Father hath committed all Iudgement, and ordained him to be the Iudge of quick and dead: He &s;hall come in glory of his Father with his An|gels, and &s;hall &s;eparate the &s;heep from
<PB N="103" REF="80"> the goats, believers from unbelievers, and pronounce the &s;entence of ble&s;&s;ed|ne&s;&s;e to the one, and of the cur&s;e and damnation to the other, according to their works, and the ju&s;t rule of truth and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>But &s;hall all, both quick and dead, good and bad, be brought before Chri&s;t, to receive their Judgement at that Day?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 4.14, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 15.51, 52</NOTE> none excepted or privi|ledged; but when the Trumpet &s;hall &s;ound, and the voyce of the Archangel &s;hall call, the dead &s;hall ari&s;e incor|ruptible, the living &s;hall be changed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 20.12.</NOTE> and all &s;hall appear before the Lord Chri&s;t to receive their &s;entence according to their works.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>How &s;hall the unbelievers and all wicked impenitent ones, who have been enemies to the Lord Chri&s;t, and to his wi&s;dom, holine&s;&s;e, and government, &s;tand affected at that Day?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They &s;hall tremble with horror,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 24.33. Rev. 1.7. 2 Pet. 3.10. Rev. 3. 12, &amp;c.</NOTE> amazement, and un&s;peakable &s;orrows, when they &s;hall &s;ee the Son of man, the Lord Chri&s;t, come in &s;uch glorious and terrible Maje&s;ty; and though they cry to the Mountains to fall on them, and to
<PB N="104" REF="81"> hide them, yet they &s;hall not e&s;cape the wrath of the then angry Lamb.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>How &s;hall believers and the Saints of the mo&s;t High, be affected at the pre&s;ence of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke. 21.28 Act. 3.19. Mat. 1.21. Rev. 1.5.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> They &s;hall be affected with joy un&s;peakable, at that day of Re&s;urrection, when they &s;hall behold him to be their Iudge, who is their Lord and Saviour, and who hath wa&s;hed them from all their &s;in in his own Blood.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What are or ought to be the affections of Saints towards Chri&s;t coming to Judgement?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.2 Heb. 9.28. 1 The&s;. 1.10.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> They &s;hould rejoyce in hope, and look and wait daily for Chri&s;t, who hath &s;aved us from wrath to come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>Are not Gods Children then in a mo&s;t happy condition above all other in the world, being freely delivered from this damnable e&s;tate of the wicked, and made Heirs of the grace of life Eternall?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verily, the righteous is more excellent then his Neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 12.23. I&s;a. 64.4. i Cor. 2.9.</NOTE> as it is written, for the eye hath not &s;een, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the hearts or men, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him both in grace and glory.</P>
<PB N="105" REF="81">
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>By whom are we thus Re|deemed from &s;in, death, and Eternall dam|nation, and made partakers of life Eter|nall, and to be Citizens in that Kingdom of glory?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Only by Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, the Author and fini&s;her of our Faith, in whom God the Father is well plea&s;ed with us, <HI>Acts</HI> 4.12. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.11, 19. <HI>Heb.</HI> 12. <HI>Matth.</HI> 17.5.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="10" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The tenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have declared the knowledge of God, and of our &s;elves; Now what &s;hould we know concerning Chri&s;t, that we may draw near with comfort to this Sa|crament of the Lords Supper; And know more fully how the Lord doth govern us by Chri&s;t in Grace, till he brings us to glory?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> We ought chiefly to know Chri&s;t:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In his natures,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.2. 1 Cor. 2.2. Phil. 3.7, &amp;c.</NOTE> Divine and Hu|mane.</P>
<P>Secondly, In his Per&s;on and wonder|full union with our natures.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30. Iohn 1.16. 2 Cor. 5.i9, &amp;c.</NOTE>
<PB N="106" REF="82">Thirdly, In his offices,
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. Prie&s;t,</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Prophet,</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. King,</ITEM>
</LIST> exerci&s;ed in Active and Pa&s;&s;ive obedi|ence; and application to both.</P>
<P>Fourthly, In the glorious fruits and benefits, which the Lord Ie&s;us by his ver|tue and power, as Mediator, communi|cates to poor &s;inners for their everla&s;ting Salvation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>How mu&s;t Chri&s;t be known in re&s;pect of his nature?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That he is perfect God, and perfect Man, both of a Divine and Hu|mane nature; that <HI>Immanuel,</HI> God-man, or God with us, in our Humanity; the Son of God, and the Son of Man, mighty to &s;ave, full of grace and truth, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 9.6. <HI>Joh.</HI> 1.14. <HI>Zach.</HI> 13.7. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 7.14. <HI>Joh.</HI> 3.16. <HI>Matth.</HI> 25.31. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 63.1. <HI>Mat.</HI> 1.21. <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.25. <HI>Iohn</HI> 1.16.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>How and when was Chri&s;t our Saviour God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> He was God of God from all e|ternity, not made, but begotten of God the Father before all worlds, and from everla&s;ting, very God of very God, being of one &s;ub&s;tance with the Father, by whom all things were made; the un|changeable
<PB N="107" REF="82"> wi&s;dom, and e&s;&s;entiall Word of God, abiding God for ever, <HI>Joh.</HI> 1.1.14, 11. 1 <HI>Ioh.</HI> 5.20. <HI>Ioh.</HI> 10.30. 1 <HI>Ioh.</HI> 5.7. <HI>Joh.</HI> 1.2, 3. <HI>Col.</HI> 1.15, <HI>&amp;c. Prov.</HI> 8.12, <HI>&amp;c. Tit.</HI> 1.3. <HI>Iude</HI> 23. <HI>Rev.</HI> 19.13. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.16, 17. <HI>Rev.</HI> 1.11. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6.14, 15, 16. <HI>Heb.</HI> 1.8, 9.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>You &s;ay Chri&s;t the Son of God in his Divine nature was God of God: How I pray you do you under&s;tand, that the Son of God was God of God, was it, or is it in re&s;pect of his Divine E&s;&s;ence, or in re&s;pect of his Per&s;on and his filiation or Son&s;hip only?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is a great my&s;tery, as is the my&s;tery of his Incarnation: But I hum|bly conceive and believe, that in re&s;pect of the Per&s;on of the Son, or of his Son|&s;hip, he was God of God the Father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 8.42.</NOTE> and is &s;aid to be God of God, Light of light, very God of very God. But in re|&s;pect of his Divine E&s;&s;ence, he is <HI>Auto-Theos,</HI> God of him&s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 10.30.</NOTE> and by him&s;elf from all Eternity, and one E&s;&s;ence with God the Father, ble&s;&s;ed for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>But how can the Son of God be &s;aid to be begotten of God the Father, &s;ince God the Father is a Spirituall E&s;&s;ence; and can one Spirit be &s;aid to beget another, or how might this be?</HI></P>
<PB N="108" REF="83">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is a great my&s;tery, more fit for Faith to believe, then Rea&s;on to apprehend, nor do I know any &s;imilitude can truly and fully expre&s;&s;e this my&s;tery; but the learned endeavoring to give &s;ome light of it, have held forth the eternall generation of the Son of God, in the&s;e and the like expre&s;&s;ions: Fir&s;t, as the minde of a man when it thinketh of, and under&s;tands it &s;elf, by reflection upon it &s;elf, doth form and beget in it &s;elf, and as it were of it &s;elf, &s;ome Image or like|ne&s;&s;e of it &s;elf, (though not perfect or di|&s;tinctly, of it &s;elf &s;ub&s;i&s;ting:) So God the Father, when as he fully knoweth and beholdeth him&s;elf in his Eternity and infinity. After an unutterable man|ner he did beget in him&s;elf the mo&s;t per|fect Image, and expre&s;&s;e likene&s;&s;e of him|&s;elf, di&s;tinctly &s;ub&s;i&s;ting, and yet wonder|fully co-e&s;&s;entiall with him&s;elf from all e|ternity, and to this effect Chri&s;t is called the brightne&s;&s;e of Gods glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 1.3.</NOTE> and the expre&s;&s;e Image of his per&s;on,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 1.15</NOTE> and of the invi&s;ible God, and the like in holy Scrip|tures. Secondly, As a word is the Image of the minde,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.1, 2.</NOTE> and begotten of the minde, &s;o the e&s;&s;entiall word is the Image of God the Father.</P>
<PB N="109" REF="83">
<P>Thirdly, not far different from this, others expre&s;&s;e it thus, That as a man looking his naturall face in a gla&s;&s;e, doth beget his own image or likene&s;&s;e, which &s;o long as he looketh, continueth as his own expre&s;&s;e image, (though that is not &s;ub&s;i&s;ting by it &s;elf:) So God the Father beholding him&s;elf from all Eternity, in the eternall gla&s;&s;e of his own mo&s;t glo|rious E&s;&s;ence, he did eternally, or from all eternity, beget his own Son, his own expre&s;&s;e image, as noted before: And this Per&s;on of the Son, is a Per&s;on &s;ub|&s;i&s;ting by him&s;elf, and di&s;tingui&s;hed from God the Father, and yet of one E&s;&s;ence with the Father, and the holy Spirit ble&s;|&s;ed for ever. But this great my&s;tery is ra|ther to be admired and glorified, then by weak men to be &s;earched into or com|prehended. And in like manner the pro|ce&s;&s;ion of the holy Gho&s;t, the third Per|&s;on in Trinity, is admirable and unutter|able by the Sons of men.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But if God the Son, this &s;e|cond Per&s;on of the Trinity, who took our nature upon him, was begotten of the Fa|ther: How can he be God from all Eter|nity equall with the Father; was not God the Father before God the Son?</HI></P>
<PB N="110" REF="84">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In this Trinity none is afore or after another, but all three Per&s;ons co-eternall together, and co-equall, as was noted before in the &s;econd Cla&s;&s;is, <HI>Que|&s;tion</HI> the twenty one.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But how may this in any mea|&s;ure be conceived?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is to be believed, though our humane rea&s;on cannot comprehend it, &s;ince the Scriptures hold forth &s;ufficient grounds for it: and certainly &s;imilitudes drawn from the creatures or things be|low, cannot fully expre&s;&s;e it; yet you may conceive &s;ome re&s;emblance of a po&s;|&s;ibility of &s;uch a truth, even from ordina|ry things daily in our &s;ight. As for Ex|ample, when you light a Candle, no &s;oo|ner is the Candle lighted, but at the &s;ame moment of time, there is a glorious Can|dle, there is light, and there is heat or warmth, and none of the&s;e is afore or af|ter another, but all equall in time toge|ther. The like may be ob&s;erved of the Sun in the Firmament, and other things: And &s;o how&s;oever the Father in the pri|ority of order of per&s;ons, may be before the Son; yet in order of time, I believe they are co-eternall and co-equall for ever, and before all time what&s;oever.</P>
<PB N="111" REF="84">
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What benefit or comfort is the knowledge of this to a poor believing &s;oul?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Great joy and cau&s;e of rejoycing, that the Lord Chri&s;t who came down from heaven,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 63.1, 2. Heb. 7.25.</NOTE> was incarnate for us men and for our Salvation; was and is God from all Eternity, equall with the Father, and &s;o mighty to &s;ave all that come to God by him.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>How and when was Chri&s;t our Lord and Saviour man?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Although Chri&s;t was God equall with the Father from all Eternity; yet for our &s;akes he humbled him&s;elf, and took upon him our humane nature, being conceived of the &s;ub&s;tance of the ble&s;&s;ed virgin <HI>Mary,</HI> by the power of the holy Gho&s;t, and born of her in fulne&s;&s;e of time, now about One thou&s;and &s;ix hundred forty five years &s;ince: Thus being that ble&s;&s;ed &s;eed of the woman promi&s;ed, and the Son of Man of a rea&s;onable &s;oul and humane fle&s;h &s;ub&s;i&s;ting, as well as the Son of God, who did break the Serpents head; and being made perfect, he became the Author of Eternall &s;alvation to all that obey him, <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.6, <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 1.31, 32, <HI>&amp;c. Mat.</HI> 1.18. <HI>Luke</HI> 2.1, <HI>&amp;c. Gal.</HI> 4.4, <HI>&amp;c. Gen.</HI> 22.18. and 3.15. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 132.11.
<PB N="112" REF="85"> 2 <HI>Sam.</HI> 23.5. <HI>Acts</HI> 2.30, <HI>&amp;c. Mat.</HI> 26, 38. <HI>Luke</HI> 24.38, <HI>&amp;c. Iohn</HI> 19.34. <HI>Luke</HI> 23.46. <HI>Col.</HI> 2.14, 15. <HI>Heb.</HI> 5.7, 8 9.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>But was not Chri&s;t the Au|thor of Salvation to all that believed in him, and waited for Salvation by him be|fore he was born, as truly as he is now to believers &s;ince his birth, and death, and Re|&s;urrection, and a&s;cen&s;ion to glory,</HI> Luke 2.25, 38.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 8.56. Heb. 13.8. 1 Cor. 10.3, 4. Rev. 13.8.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes certainly, Father <HI>Abraham</HI> rejoyced to &s;ee Chri&s;ts day, and he &s;aw it by Faith, and was glad, and Ie&s;us Chri&s;t was ye&s;terday, and to day, and the &s;ame for ever, in re&s;pect of his vertue and effi|cacy, the Lamb &s;lain from the foundation of the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>Was it nece&s;&s;ary that Chri&s;t our Redeemer &s;hould thus be God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, The Maje&s;ty of God requi|red he &s;hould be God.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 15.15. Mat. 17.5. Acts 20.28. I&s;a 6.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, That in his perfect purity he might draw near to God, and be a fit Mediator for us to his Father.</P>
<P>Secondly, That his merit might be of &s;uch excellent worth, that it might &s;a|tisfie the infinite Iu&s;tice of God, which was then offended, no Creature being &s;o pure and precious as was needfull for it.</P>
<PB N="113" REF="85">
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>Was it nece&s;&s;ary al&s;o that Chri&s;t &s;hould be man?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, Fir&s;t, The Iu&s;tice of God required,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 2.14, &amp;c. Mat. 4.3, &amp;c.</NOTE> that in the &s;ame nature in which man had &s;inned, &s;atisfaction &s;hould be made for &s;in; therefore Chri&s;t took not upon him the nature of Angels, but of man.</P>
<P>Secondly, And our nece&s;&s;ity required, that Chri&s;t being man like us, though without &s;in, he might be touched with a feeling of our infirmities,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.15, 16.</NOTE> and having been tempted him&s;elf, might readily &s;uccour his Children when they are tempted.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>How mu&s;t Chri&s;t be known in re&s;pect of his per&s;on?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That he is God and Man in one Per&s;on,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.14. 1 Cor. 8.4, 5, 6. 1 Tim. 2.5. &amp; 3.16.</NOTE> by a Hypo&s;talicall or Per&s;onall union of his two natures, Divine and Humane: for as the &s;oul and body make but one man, &s;o God and Man make but one Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>In what manner is this uni|on of the Divine and Humane nature, &s;o as there is not two, but one Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not by conver&s;ion of the God|head into fle&s;h,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.14. 1 Tim. 3.16. 1 Ioh. 5.7 Col. 1.26, &amp;c,</NOTE> but by taking of the Man|hood unto God; not that the Divine na|ture which is common to all the three
<PB N="114" REF="86"> Per&s;ons, did take our Humane per&s;on, but the Per&s;on of the Son of God did a&s;&s;ume our humanity, and &s;o God and Man became one Chri&s;t, not by confu&s;ion of &s;ub&s;tance, but by unity of Per&s;on in a great and wonderfull my&s;tery.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Why was it needfull that Chri&s;t &s;hould be</HI> Theanthropos, <HI>God and Man in one Per&s;on?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 5.1. Heb. 12.24. Iob 9.33. Col. 1.20. 2 Cor. 5.19, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> That being both God and Man, he might be a fit Mediator between God and Man, as a dayes-man to lay his hand upon us both, to make up a reconciliation between us, in and by him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What el&s;e followeth this near Per&s;onall union?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Be&s;ides the excellency of the Per&s;on, and Dignity of Chri&s;ts merits, there is a Communication of the <HI>Idiomes</HI> phra&s;es or manner of &s;peaking, &s;o that what is mo&s;t agreeable to the Divine nature, is attributed or &s;poken &s;ometimes of the humane nature; and what is a|greeable to the humane, is a&s;cribed to the Divine, by vertue of this per&s;onall union of both natures in one Per&s;on.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>How prove you this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;. John</HI> 3.13. No man hath a&s;cen|ded up to Heaven, but he that came
<PB N="115" REF="86"> down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven, where being in hea|ven, which was proper at that time to Chri&s;t as God, is a&s;cribed to Chri&s;t the Son of Man.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, <HI>Acts</HI> 20.28. where God is &s;aid to purcha&s;e the Church with his own blood, which blood was a&s;cribed to Chri&s;t-God, not as God, but as the Son of Man: Thus you &s;ee the proper|ties of both natures, are a&s;cribed each to other by this union.</P>
<P>Thirdly, So in the 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.5. there is one God, and one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Chri&s;t Ie&s;us: That office of Mediator&s;hip is a&s;cribed to the Manhood, which is common to both natures, God and Man.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="11" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The eleventh Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have An&s;wered concerning the na|tures and Per&s;on of Chri&s;t: Now what is to be known concerning Chri&s;ts Of|fices, that we may come with more comfort to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<PB N="116" REF="87">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 12.24. 1 Tim. 2.5. P&s;al. 110.1, 2. Deut. 18.18, 19. P&s;al. 2.6. Luk. 1.32, 33. Rev. 19.16.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> That the Lord Chri&s;t is the Me|diator of the new Covenant, the eternall high Prie&s;t, the eternall high Prophet, and the eternall King of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What are the principle parts or acts of Chri&s;ts Prie&s;tly office?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chiefly two: Fir&s;t, as a holy and perfect Mediator, Advocate, and High Prie&s;t of God, not only Originally in his holy nature, and Actually in his life, to keep the whole Law, and fulfill all righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e, but pa&s;&s;ively in his death and pa&s;&s;ion, as our &s;urety, to &s;atisfie the wrath of God, and drink the bitter Cup for our Redemption, <HI>Heb.</HI> 12.24. and 3.1. <HI>Luke</HI> 1.35. 1 <HI>John</HI> 2.1, 2. <HI>Mat.</HI> 5.17. and 3.15. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 53.5, 6. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.21, <HI>&amp;c. Mat.</HI> 26.38, 39. <HI>Col.</HI> 1.23. <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.13. <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.10.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>But how could Chri&s;t dye, and as a &s;urety, and by his death and pa&s;&s;ion make &s;atisfaction to Gods Iu&s;tice for our &s;ins, &s;ince he was God and man in one Per|&s;on, and God cannot dye?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 13.4. &amp; 4.25. Heb. 2, 1, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> As he was Man, he dyed for our &s;ins, and by the power of his Godhead he ro&s;e again for our Ju&s;tification.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But &s;ince Chri&s;ts death and pa&s;&s;ion were temporall only, and but for a &s;hort time; How could that &s;atisfie the Iu|&s;tice
<PB N="117" REF="87"> of God due to our &s;ins, and free us from torments both of &s;oul and body, which &s;hould have been Eternall?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The &s;ufferings of Chri&s;t in his death ahd pa&s;&s;ion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 53.2, &amp;c. &amp; 63.2, 3 Lam. 1.12 Gal. 3.13, 14. 1 Pet. 2.23, 24. Mat. 26.38, 39. &amp; 26.48, 42. &amp; 6.74, 75. &amp; 27.20. &amp;c. Luk. 22.41, &amp;c. &amp; 23.46. Acts 20.28. Mat. 17.5 1 The&s;. 1.10.</NOTE> were not only great and bitter, (none like) as in bearing the heavy burden of our &s;ins, both in his bo|dy and &s;oul, with the angui&s;h of Spirit in &s;en&s;e of the wrath of God, and cur&s;e due to our &s;ins, witne&s;&s;ed in his Agony, his bloody &s;weat, his de&s;ire that bitter Cup might pa&s;&s;e from him, and that dolefull cry of Gods for&s;aking him: But above all, the dignity of his Per&s;on, being God and Man, united by a Per&s;onall union; this made his merit of &s;o unmea&s;urable a vertue, that it was price &s;ufficient to &s;a|tisfie for a world of &s;inners, to plea&s;e God the Father, free them from wrath to come, and procure for them Eternall life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>But is not Chri&s;t then inferi|or to the Father, being thus united to our humane nature, and &s;ubject to &s;uch a pa&s;|&s;ion for us, to be our Mediator?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Though Chri&s;t be Gods fellow, and one with the Father as he is God, the &s;econd Per&s;on in Trinity; yet as Man,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zac. 13.7 Ioh. 10.30</NOTE> and Mediator between God and Men,
<PB N="118" REF="88"> thus humbling him&s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 14.28. Phil. 3.6</NOTE> and &s;uffering for our &s;in, he is inferior to his Father, though he be Mediator as God and Man.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Are Chri&s;ts &s;ufferings &s;o great, and of &s;uch value, that we need not further to &s;atisfie Gods Iu&s;tice for our &s;ins, neither in this life, nor after our death and departure hence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The whole &s;ufferings and &s;ati&s;|faction for our &s;ins, was performed, and endured, and fini&s;hed by Chri&s;t perfectly in his death and pa&s;&s;ion once for all; &s;o that there is no more for Gods Children to &s;uffer, to &s;atisfie the Iu&s;tice of God, ei|ther in this life, or after, God the Father being fully well plea&s;ed in Chri&s;t and his blood, clean&s;ing us from all our &s;ins, <HI>Heb.</HI> 10.7. <HI>&amp;c. Ioh.</HI> 19.28, <HI>&amp;c. Col.</HI> 2.13. <HI>Mat.</HI> 3.7. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.12. 1 <HI>Ioh.</HI> 5.8, 9, 10. and 1.7. <HI>Luke</HI> 16.23. and 23.43. <HI>Rev.</HI> 14.13</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>If Chri&s;t hath &s;atisfied fully, Wherefore then are Gods faithfull &s;ervants &s;ubject to &s;o many &s;ufferings and mi&s;eries both inward and outward in this life,</HI> Acts 14 22. 1 Cor. 15.19. 2 Cor. 6.4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 4.9, &amp;c. 2 Cor. 11.24, &amp;c.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 53.10, 11. Dan. 9.24. Eph. 2.8.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Of all the &s;ufferings of the Saints, not any for &s;atisfaction of Gods Iu&s;tice for &s;in, for that is &s;atisfied fully already
<PB N="119" REF="88"> in Chri&s;t, and God is well plea&s;ed;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 17.5 Heb. 10.4, &amp;c. Tit. 3.5. Rom. 3.24, 25. 1 Pet. 2.24. Rom. 8.18.</NOTE> nor are all the &s;ufferings of this life worthy to be compared with the glory that &s;hall be revealed: But the Lord afflicts and &s;uf|fers his Children to be afflicted for other ends.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>For what ends or cau&s;es doth the Lord afflict, or cau&s;e his Children to be afflicted, or &s;uffer them many times to lo&s;e their e&s;tates and lives, by tyrants and wic|ked per&s;ecutors, as</HI> Rom. 8.35, 36, 37?</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, God doth this &s;ometimes, that his Children may be Martyrs, and witne&s;&s;es to te&s;tifie the truth of God and the Go&s;pel, for the greater condemnation of the wicked, and the glory of the Saints, which God freely giveth them whom he plea&s;eth to honour with the Crown of Martyrdome: Thus <HI>Abel</HI> the fir&s;t Mar|tyr before Chri&s;t, <HI>Gen.</HI> 4.8. Thus <HI>Steven</HI> that great Martyr after Chri&s;t, <HI>Acts</HI> 7.55, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 5.41. and 22.17, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the &s;econd end why God &s;uffers his Chrildren to be oppre&s;&s;ed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sometimes God doth let wicked tyrants and ungodly men go on in op|pre&s;&s;ion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 21.29. Rom. 2.17. Mat. 23.34, &amp;c. Rev. 6.10, &amp;c.</NOTE> for the greater manife&s;tation of his Iu&s;tice, in requiring all the blood of his &s;ervants by &s;ome fearfull Iudgements
<PB N="120" REF="89"> upon &s;uch bloody men and women.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the third end why God afflicts or &s;uffers his Children to be afflicted, &s;ince their &s;ins are &s;atisfied for by Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Micah 6.8, 9, Deut. 1.23. Gen. 35.1, 2, 3. Iudg. 2.21, 22. Iob. 1.42. Gen. 27.24, 28. P&s;al. 119.71. Heb. 12.11. 2 Cor. 15.14.15. Rom. 8.28. &amp; 8.17. 1 Pet. 4.13.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sometimes God doth it to teach his Children to walk more humbly with God, or more carefully and circum&s;pect|ly in his wayes, or to renew our Cove|nant of Reformation, or for exerci&s;e and tryall of Fair and Patience, or other graces, or to fit and prepare them better for other conditions of life for which he intends them; or to make them more &s;en&s;ible of puni&s;hment, which &s;in de&s;er|veth, or which Chri&s;t hath &s;uffered for their &s;ins, that they may prize and love Chri&s;t more; but alwayes afflictions and the&s;e tryalls, are for the good of Gods Children, all being &s;weetned to them, even death it &s;elf, by the death and pa&s;&s;i|on, and merits of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is the fruit or benefit of this knowledge of the &s;ufferings of Chri&s;t and of Gods Children?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 22.42. Phil. 4.12, 13. 1 Pet.2.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">0, 21.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To teach us in all afflictions to learn and labour by &s;trength from Chri&s;t, to &s;ubmit our will to the will of God, patiently to abide Gods plea&s;ure, and to
<PB N="121" REF="89"> wait upon God in all good and lawfull means,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 19.29. Heb, 10.32, &amp;c. Luke 18.6, 7, 8. Rev. 6.9, 10, 11.</NOTE> till the Lord be plea&s;ed to repair the lo&s;&s;es, and avenge the blood of his &s;ervants that is &s;hed upon the face of the earth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is the &s;econd part of Chri&s;ts Prie&s;tly office?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To be for ever at the right hand of God, and as a holy High Prie&s;t and Mediator, to make interce&s;&s;ion for us to his Father, and our Father, and to his God and our God, for the eternall good of his Church, <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.34. <HI>Iohn</HI> 20.17. and 14.13, 14. and 16.23, &amp;c. and 17.9, &amp;c. <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.25, 26, &amp; and 9.24, &amp;c.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="12" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The twelfth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the work or act of Chri&s;ts Propheticall office?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That in which Chri&s;t as the great Prophet, Doctor,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 18.15. Act. 3.22 Mat. 23.8 Heb. 3.1, 2. I&s;a. 61.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> and Apo&s;tle of our Profe&s;&s;ion; he doth reveal God the Father, and his good will unto poor &s;in|ners, whom he hath purcha&s;ed with his own blood, and to in&s;truct them in the
<PB N="122" REF="90"> way of the new Covenant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 11.25, &amp;c. Luke 4.18. Ioh. 1.18. Mat. 13.10, 11. &amp; 28.29, 30. The&s;. 2.13.</NOTE> how to come in to Chri&s;t for Iu&s;tification, and how to walk in and by Chri&s;t in Sanctification unto Eternall happine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>When and how doth the Lord Chri&s;t execute his Propheticall office, or practi&s;e this revealing of his will unto</HI> A|dam <HI>or his Po&s;terity?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No doubt the Lord Chri&s;t as he was fir&s;t God, the &s;econd Per&s;on in &s;a|cred Trinity, did at the fir&s;t, together with God the Father, and God the holy Spirit, reveal to our fir&s;t Parents the Co|venant of grace in Paradi&s;e after the fall. And</P>
<P>Secondly, Chri&s;t the &s;econd Per&s;on did again in his Spirit in <HI>Noah</HI> Preach to the old world before the flood, many of them then in the Pri&s;on of their &s;ins, and many of them now in the Pri&s;on of Hell.</P>
<P>Thirdly, And as by him&s;elf, &s;o by his Spirit enlighten the Patriarchs and Pro|phets after the flood, who writ the holy Scripture by his direction.</P>
<P>Fourthly, And the Apo&s;tles and Evan|geli&s;ts, &s;ince Chri&s;ts A&s;cen&s;ion; But Chri&s;t did immediatly, as God and Man in one Per&s;on, exerci&s;e this his office when he lived upon the earth, before and
<PB N="123" REF="90"> after his Re&s;urrection, <HI>Gen.</HI> 1.27. and 3.9, <HI>&amp;c. John</HI> 1.1. <HI>Prov.</HI> 8.12, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> The works without them&s;elves are common to all the three Per&s;ons, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3.19, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 1.10, <HI>&amp;c. Gen.</HI> 9.8, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 28.12, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 22.15, <HI>&amp;c. Mal.</HI> 3.1. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 105.7, 8, 9, 10. Chri&s;t the Angel of the Cove|nant &s;pake to <HI>Abraham, Jacob,</HI> as <HI>Gen.</HI> 32. 28, <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 11.49. <HI>Mat.</HI> 23.34. <HI>Exod.</HI> 3.2, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.19, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What incouragements doth Chri&s;t hold forth as he is the chief Prophet for poor &s;inners, to come in to him, and be|lieve, and finde Eternall Salvation by his merits?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Chri&s;t giveth divers motives to draw &s;inners to believe and repent, and be &s;aved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 55.1, 2, 3. Rev. 22.17.</NOTE> He invites them graciou&s;ly to come and buy freely the wine and milk of the Go&s;pel, the water of life, Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and grace, without money, or money worth, without any righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e or merits of their own.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mar. 15.15. Mat. 9.13 11 3.</NOTE> He commands the Go&s;pel to be Preached to every creature, to all &s;inners without exception, mani|fe&s;ting
<PB N="124" REF="91"> him&s;elf to be come,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 19.10.</NOTE> Not to call the righteous, but &s;inners to repentance; yea, to &s;eek and to &s;ave that which was lo&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the third Encourage|ment?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 11.28, 29.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, He calleth poor &s;inners, &s;en&s;ible of &s;ins burden, to come unto him, and promi&s;eth to give them re&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is the fourth Motive or Encouragement to come in to Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fourthly, He holdeth forth to us in Scripture, and &s;ince the Apo&s;tles times Examples of great &s;inners converted, and drawn in to Chri&s;t, and made Saints and Heirs of glory, according to Gods coun|&s;ell, by Chri&s;t his Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and merits.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>With what Examples or &s;i|militudes doth Chri&s;t illu&s;trate this truth?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 33.21, &amp;c. Ier. 31.18, 19. Mtt. 10.3. Luk. 19.2, &amp;c. &amp; 15. Acts 9.1, &amp;c. 1 Tim. 1.12, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Of <HI>Mana&s;&s;eh, Ephraim, Mat|thew, Mary Magdalen, Zacheus,</HI> the Pro|digall Son, and <HI>Saul</HI> the per&s;ecutor, af|terwards a glorious Apo&s;tle of Ie&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>But what &s;hall &s;uch poor &s;in|ners do as finde by experience that truth verified, That man by naturall power can neither believe nor repent; How &s;hall the&s;e
<PB N="125" REF="91"> obtain remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, or be Converted to God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The&s;e may yet wait upon Chri&s;t in his Ordinance<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 8.17. &amp; 25.6, 7, 8, 9. &amp; 51.4, 5, 6. Hab. 2.3. Luk. 23.51. Cant. 1.4. Ioh. 5.1, &amp;c. I&s;a. 42.6. Act. 5.31</NOTE> untill he draw them, that they run after him: For God hath given Chri&s;t him&s;elf for a Covenant, and exalted Chri&s;t as a Prince, and a Saviour to give repentance to I&s;rael, and remi&s;|&s;ion of &s;ins: As <HI>Job</HI> in another &s;en&s;e, <HI>Job</HI> 14.14. So wait on Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>But how doth Chri&s;t, this great Prophet of his Church, reveal God the Father, and his good will to poor &s;inners, that they may know God and Chri&s;t, and believe, and be converted, and be &s;aved?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;t in the ordinary way,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 6i.1, 2, 3. Luke. 4.18, &amp;c. Acts 16.14. &amp; 2.36, &amp;c. Rom. 19.6, &amp;c. 2 Cor. 3.8. Ioh. 16.7, &amp;c. &amp; 14.26. Eph. 1.17. &amp;c. He. 8.10. Ioh. 16.7, &amp;c. Rom.3.20. Iohn. 3.18, &amp;c.</NOTE> doth reveal this, outwardly by the Preaching of the Word, and Catechizing, and in+wardly by the Spirit, communicated in the Go&s;pel, teaching and writing the truth of God, according to his Covenant of grace, in the hearts of his children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>In what wanner doth Chri&s;t thus proceed by his Word and Spirit, to re|veal God to man, and man to him&s;elf; and the will of God to men, concerning mans Salvation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord doth this divers wayes in re&s;pect of particular per&s;ons, but com|monly
<PB N="126" REF="92"> by the Spirit of Chri&s;t in the word.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Revealing &s;in, bondage and mi|&s;ery; in &s;in, &s;ometimes by the Law, or commanding part of the Word, or other|wi&s;e at his plea&s;ure; &s;ometimes by the Go&s;pel, and promi&s;ing part.</P>
<P>Secondly, Revealing Chri&s;t and his righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and Free-grace, drawing the poor humbled &s;oul to de&s;ire and long for, and to receive, believe, and gladly re&s;t on him alone for Salvation, <HI>Act.</HI> 2.38, 39. <HI>Iohn</HI> 1.11, 12. <HI>Acts</HI> 16.14, 15. and 16.27, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 4.12. <HI>Heb.</HI> 5.9.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What further doth this great Prophet work in the &s;oul of a believer by his Word and Spirit?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 3.16, &amp;c.</NOTE> He per&s;wades the &s;oul:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, to grow more and more in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Ie&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 9.23, 24. Lu 7.17.5.</NOTE>Secondly, To believe more and more.</P>
<P>Thirdly, To repent and be &s;anctified more and more.</P>
<P>Fourthly, To become a new creature more and more.</P>
<P>Fifthly, To be more and more fruitfull in good works. And</P>
<P>Sixthly, By daily beholding, Fir&s;t, The
<PB N="127" REF="92"> glory of God in the face of Chri&s;t: And &s;econdly, The glory of Chri&s;t in the gla&s;&s;e of the Go&s;pel, to be made more and more partaker of the Divine nature, and changed from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord, <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.9. <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 17.5. <HI>Eph.</HI> 3.14, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 4.7. <HI>&amp;c. Rom.</HI> 12. and 13. <HI>Mat,</HI> 5.16. <HI>Col.</HI> 1.7, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 1.21, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.7, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.17. and 3.17, 18.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>Now you have &s;hewed the Prie&s;tly and Propheticall office of Chri&s;t; What are the acts or work of Chri&s;ts Kingly office?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;t doth not only as a mighty Conquerour, re&s;cue and Redeem his Church and children out of the hands of all their enemies, &s;pirituall or temporall, and call, gather, and unite them to him&s;elf, as his own my&s;ticall body; But as a rich and bountifull Prince, be&s;tow upon them all needfull graces, and protect, pre&s;erve and govern them in this King|dom of grace, untill he bring them &s;afe unto his Kingdom of glory, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 63.2, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 54.5, <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 1.74, 75. <HI>Tit.</HI> 2.13, 14. <HI>Heb.</HI> 2.14, 15. <HI>Mat.</HI> 20.1, 2. and 22.1, <HI>&amp;c. John</HI> 12.20, <HI>&amp;c. Eph.</HI> 3.8. and 4.7, <HI>Mat.</HI> 28.10. <HI>Rev.</HI> 2.1. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4, 16, &amp;c.</P>
<PB N="128" REF="93">
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>When and how did Chri&s;t make evident, that as a mighty Conqueror he had re&s;cued and redeemed his Church out of the hands of their enemies, and by his active and pa&s;&s;ive obedience to his Fa|thers will, &s;atisfied the Ju&s;tice of God, and purcha&s;ed for his Children remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins and life everla&s;ting?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 2.6, &amp;c. Mat. 28.1, &amp;c. Mark 16.9, &amp;c. Luk. 24.32, &amp;c. Ioh. 20.19, &amp;c. Acts 2.23, &amp;c. &amp; 1.9, &amp;c. &amp; 3.19, &amp;c. &amp; 17.31. Luk. 21.27, 28. Mat. 25.34, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> When as a powerfull Prince he did break the bars, and loo&s;ed the cords and pains of death, as being impo&s;&s;ible to be holden of it, and gloriou&s;ly did ri&s;e from the dead: Fir&s;t, appearing to his Di&s;ciples after his Re&s;urruction. And &s;econdly, A&s;cending vi&s;ibly into heaven, Thirdly, &s;itting at the right hand of God his Father. And fourthly, there to re|main till he &s;hall come at the Day of Iudgement in a triumphant manner, for to Iudge both quick and dead, to the e|veala&s;ting confu&s;ion of all his enemies, and the Eternall good of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>When el&s;e did Chri&s;t open|ly make this evident to the world, of his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When by the powerfvll Preach|ing of the Go&s;pel,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 15.15, &amp;c. &amp; 16.25, &amp;c.</NOTE> and work of his Spi|rit, he brought &s;o many Kingdoms and Nations to the obedience of Faith.</P>
<PB N="129" REF="93">
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>When doth the Lord Chri&s;t make this evident inwardly to the &s;oul and con&s;cience of a man or woman?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When by his Word and Spirit he enlightens the eye of Faith, to &s;ee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.19, 20. 2 Tim. 4.7, 8.</NOTE> finde, and a&s;&s;uredly perceive, and enableth the mouth and tongue of Faith to &s;peak, and by a&s;&s;ured evidence of the Spirit, to &s;ay to his or her own Soul, as <HI>Paul</HI> did, <HI>Chri&s;t loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me;</HI> and Chri&s;t hath laid up for me a Crown of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e in heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>How and when doth the Lord Chri&s;t call, gather, and unite his Church or particular members thereof, as one body unto him&s;elf?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When the Lord Chri&s;t by his faithfull Servants,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.19, 20. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. Act. 26.17, 18.</NOTE> as Amba&s;&s;adors for Chri&s;t, rightly called to that great office by the power of his Word and Spirit, draweth them out of the Kingdom of the world, &s;in and Satan, to receive him to be their Lord and only Mediator; yea their Eternall High Prie&s;t, Prophet, and King, for their Eternall &s;alvation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>Are the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t ordained by Chri&s;t, in a &s;peciall calling a|bove others, to be In&s;truments or outward means of converting men and women unto
<PB N="130" REF="94"> Chri&s;t, and to bring them out of the King|dom of darkne&s;&s;e into this Kingdom of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 68.17, &amp;c. Eph. 4.10, &amp;c. Act. 26.18, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 3.5, &amp;c. &amp; 4.15. Gal. 4.19.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, the Lord Chri&s;t a&s;cended up on high, and having led Captivity Captive, he gave gifts unto men, fir&s;t, &s;ome Apo&s;tles, &s;ome Evangeli&s;ts, &s;ome Pa&s;tors and Teachers, for the work of Mini&s;tery, and Gods Mini&s;ters, as out|ward In&s;truments through Chri&s;t in their &s;peciall calling do beget men again through the Go&s;pel, and travel in birth again untill Chri&s;t be formed in them, and that they may be turned from dark|ne&s;&s;e to light, and from the power of Sa|tan unto God, and pre&s;ented with joy to God their Father by Ie&s;us Chri&s;t their Lord, and King of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>May not all Chri&s;tians in generall, undertake this work of this Mi|ni&s;tery to convert Souls, and build them up in the truth of Chri&s;t, as well as tho&s;e who are &s;o specially called of God to it?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly how&s;oever in Primi|tive times,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 8.1, 2, 3, 4. &amp; 8.14. &amp; 11.19. &amp;c. 1 Cor. 12.12, &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;ome Di&s;ciples extraordinari|ly endued with the Holy Gho&s;t, did Preach the Go&s;pel in dayes of per&s;ecu|tion, to Pagans and Infidels that knew not Chri&s;t; and although all Chri&s;tians
<PB N="131" REF="94"> in generall are Members of the &s;ame bo|dy of Chri&s;t, and ought in their places to have a care of the whole body; never|thele&s;&s;e, every Member, is not a head or an eye, or a tongue, or to exerci&s;e the of|fice of them: And how&s;oever all the Members of Chri&s;t as private Chri&s;tians, may communicate their gift of know|ledge one to another,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 10.25.</NOTE> in times and places convenient, not leaving off their atten|dance on Chri&s;t in the publike Ordinan|ces exerci&s;ed by the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t, nor &s;eparating from the publike con|gregations of Saints; yet the great office of the publike Mini&s;tration,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 5.4, 5.</NOTE> belongeth to none but &s;uch as are &s;pecially called and appointed thereunto by their Lord and King Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>How doth Chri&s;t our hea|venly King, call his Servants and Amba&s;|&s;adors to this great work of the Mini&s;tery?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat 28.19, 20. Ioh. 20.20, &amp;c. Acts 16.8, 9, 10. 1 Tim. 1.11, 12. &amp; 3.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> inwardly furni&s;hing them with grace, and experimental knowledge of Chri&s;ts power and grace in their own &s;ouls, that they may reveal Chri&s;t, and the way of life and &s;alvation, in and by Chri&s;t better to others. And &s;econdly, be&s;towing upon them gifts of grace, to enable them for the work of the Mini|&s;tery.
<PB N="132" REF="95"> And thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 2.1, &amp;c. Col. 1.25. &amp;c. Tit. 2.7. 1 Pet. 5.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> Drawing their Spi|rits willingly, to undertake this honora|ble calling, not for by-ends, or ba&s;e re|&s;pects of worldly profit, plea&s;ure, or un|certain honour; but for Gods glory, con|ver&s;ion of &s;ouls, and the good of Gods Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>How el&s;e doth the Lord call them to the office of the Mini&s;tery?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> He calleth them outwardly by a due and right examination of their gra|ces,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 13.1, &amp;c. 1 Tim, 4.12, &amp;c. &amp; 5.21, 22. &amp; 6.11, 12. Tit. 1.4, &amp;c.</NOTE> life, and learning, and Approbation of them by the Church, and &s;uch Elder able &s;ervants of Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, as are ap|pointed to that office of Examination and Approbation by good and lawfull Autho|rity, &s;etting them apart for the Mini&s;tery, according to the rule of Chri&s;t in his Word.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What hurt or danger can follow, if the &s;peciall calling of the Mini|&s;tery were laid a&s;ide, and every Chri&s;tian according to the mea&s;ure of his gifts, did take upon him to Preach the Gospel, and admini&s;ter Sacraments to private meetings of people, and neglect and &s;eparate from the publike Mini&s;tery of &s;uch as are cal|led by Authority as afore&s;aid; though the Go&s;pel be truly Preached, and no dan|ger
<PB N="133" REF="95"> of frequenting the Congregations known and openly appointed for that end?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It will throw down Gods Ordi|nances of the Mini&s;teriall office, &s;o fully confirmed in holy Scripture, and open a door to all Schi&s;mes and Divi&s;ions in the Church; yea, to all Errors and Here&s;ies, and in the end, to Ignorance, Athei&s;me, and all prophanene&s;&s;e, <HI>Exod.</HI> 3.30, 31. <HI>Numb.</HI> 3.10, <HI>&amp;c,</HI> and 4.15.20. and 16.3, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 3.29. 1 <HI>King.</HI> 2.19.16. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 6.6, 7, 8. <HI>Jer.</HI> 1.5. and 3.15. <HI>Ezek.</HI> 1.28. <HI>Gal.</HI> 1.6, 7. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.6, 7, 8. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.1, 2, 3. and 2.10, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Tim,</HI> 1, 18, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> and 6.8, 9, 10, 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 3.5, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 3 <HI>Joh.</HI> 9.10. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.3, 4 and 3.13. <HI>Tit.</HI> 1.11, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.12.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What profit is it to have &s;uch an able and faithfull Mini&s;tery cal|led, fitted and Authorized as afore&s;aid?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 50.4. 2 Tim. 4.1.2, 3, 4. Eph. 3.6, 9, 10. 1 Tim. 1.15. Heb. 12.2. Luke 4.18, 19. Acts 6.10.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly great profit and com|fort to have able and faithfull Mini&s;ters, for the&s;e can and will mini&s;ter a word of comfort in due &s;ea&s;on to poor &s;ouls in di|&s;tre&s;&s;e; the&s;e can and will fir&s;t, Reprove and convince Errors: Secondly, Correct vice by Authority of Gods Word. Third|ly, Rightly exhort to all holine&s;&s;e. And Fourthly, To all patience, long-&s;uffering
<PB N="134" REF="96"> and Doctrine, holding forth Chri&s;t as the Author and fini&s;her of our Faith: 1. To the comfort of poor &s;inners. 2. To the joy of Saints. And 3. To the confu&s;ion of all gain&s;ayers.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="13" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The thirteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have manife&s;ted the knowledge of Chri&s;t in his Natures, Per&s;on, and Of|fices: Now what is to be known concerning tho&s;e graces which God the Father, and the Lord Chri&s;t, with the holy Gho&s;t gives, and which are &s;ealed to the Saints in the holy Sacraments?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When Chri&s;t a&s;cended up on high, and had led Captivity Captive, as he had procured many graces,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.8.16.</NOTE> gifts, and be|nefits; &s;o he gave and communicated them from God the Father to poor &s;inners, and they are &s;ealed to the faithfull in the ble&s;&s;ed Sacraments.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>But what are the&s;e gifts and graces in particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The fir&s;t &s;peciall gift, benefit, or ble&s;&s;ing, is the grace of Election, which
<PB N="135" REF="96"> God hath be&s;towed upon his Church and Children in Chri&s;t; and the a&s;&s;urance whereof is &s;ealed in this Sacrament, as other benefits of Chri&s;t to our &s;ouls.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is the grace of Election?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The grace of Election is that mo&s;t free Act of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.22, 30. Eph. 1.4, 5, 6. 2 The&s;. 2.13.</NOTE> by which he hath cho&s;en &s;ome men and women before the foundation of the world in Chri&s;t to life Eternall, having prede&s;tinated them to the Adoption of Children by Ie&s;us Chri&s;t unto him&s;elf, according to the good plea&s;ure of his will, to the prai&s;e of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made them accepted in the beloved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What &s;hould a Chri&s;tian do concerning his Election?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Labour to make his Election &s;ure for his joy and comfort.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.7, &amp;c. Luke 10.20,</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is the &s;econd ble&s;&s;ing and grace given from God the Father, in and by Chri&s;t for the benefit of his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The un&s;peakable benefit of Re|demption,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.14, &amp;c. Col. 1.12, 13.</NOTE> and Reconciliation to God by Ie&s;us Chri&s;t for the joy of his peo|ple.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is this grace of Re|demption and Reconciliation to God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Redemption is that vindication
<PB N="136" REF="97"> and freeing of men and women by Chri&s;t from the terrible bondage of &s;in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 1.13, 14. Luke 1.74, 75. 2 Cor. 5.19. Col. 1.12, &amp;c, Heb. 9.12 Ioh. 3.16. Mat. 17.5 2 Pet. 1.16, &amp;c.</NOTE> death, the Devil, and hell, and making our peace with God by the payment of a ju&s;t and full price to &s;atisfie Gods Iu&s;tice, not with &s;ilver and gold, but with his precious blood, as of a Lamb immaculate and with|out &s;pot.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is a third ble&s;&s;ing or grace given in Chri&s;t, and procured by Chri&s;t for the good of his Church?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.7, &amp;c. &amp; 3.1, 2, &amp;c. &amp; 4.8, &amp;c. 2 Cor. 3.8. &amp; 4 13. 1 Cor. 3.1, &amp;c. 2 Cor. 6.1, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The rich grace of the Go&s;pel which brings &s;alvation, and the Mini&s;ters of the Go&s;pel, who are Amba&s;&s;adors for Chri&s;t, to be&s;eech men to be reronciled, and In&s;truments of our conver&s;ion and calling into the knowledge of the my&s;te|ry of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is a fourth grace or benefit which the Lord Chri&s;t hath pro|cured and doth communicate to and for the profit and comfort of his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The holy Gho&s;t or ble&s;&s;ed Spirit of truth, proceeding from the Father and the Son,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 3.8. &amp; 4.13. Eph. 1.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">6, &amp;c.</NOTE> and God equall with them both, the Lord and giver of life, and who makes the Go&s;pel and all grace effe|ctuall by Faith, and power of applying Chri&s;t, and all Chri&s;ts benefits and graces
<PB N="137" REF="97"> to the &s;oul of a Childe of God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 16.7, &amp;c. 1 Ioh. 4.13.</NOTE> Second|ly, Who worketh and increa&s;eth graces in the hearts of Gods Children, in the holy and right u&s;e of all Chri&s;ts Ordi|nances, for the joy and comfort of Gods Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t, 9. <HI>What is the fifth ble&s;&s;ing or grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The ine&s;timable grace and ble&s;|&s;ing of effectuall vocation unto God in Chri&s;t, and the &s;ociety of the faithfull.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is this grace and be|nefit of effectuall vocation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The grace of effectuall vocation, is that gracious act, fruit and effect of Gods Free-grace and love in Chri&s;t, ma|nife&s;ted, Fir&s;t, upon us in Election: Se|condly, and towards us in Redemption: Thirdly, to us in giving the Go&s;pel and and Spirit of Chri&s;t, whereby men and women, mo&s;t &s;infull and mi&s;erable by na|ture, are gathered and called by the Mi|ni&s;tery of the Go&s;pel without, and po|wer of the &s;ame Spirit within: Fir&s;t, out of darkne&s;&s;e to light: Secondly, from the power of Satan to God, reconciled in Chri&s;t: Thirdly, from &s;elf-confidence to believe in Chri&s;t: Fourthly, from communion and union with the world,
<PB N="138" REF="98"> the fle&s;h and the Devil, in all &s;in and wic|kedne&s;&s;e, to an union and communion with God in Chri&s;t, in all righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and true holine&s;&s;e, as that true way and path, in, by, and for Chri&s;t, which leads to glory, <HI>Matth.</HI> 11.25, <HI>&amp;c. Joh.</HI> 6.44, 45. <HI>Acts</HI> 13, 47, <HI>&amp;c. Eph.</HI> 4.8, <HI>&amp;c. Acts</HI> 26.17, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.2, <HI>&amp;c. Rom.</HI> 7.1. <HI>Matth.</HI> 10.3. The Publican <HI>Zacheus, Luke</HI> 19.5, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> as <HI>Acts</HI> 9. <HI>Paul</HI> called extraordina|rily: So <HI>Acts</HI> 2.37, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.9, 10. <HI>Tit.</HI> 2.11, 12. <HI>Joh.</HI> 14.6.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is the &s;ixth grace or benefit which Chri&s;t hath procured for us, and we do receive from God our Father, in and through Chri&s;t his only begotten Son our Lord?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 17.3. Eccl. 17.18, 19. Ier. 31.33, 34.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The precious gift and grace of Divine and Heavenly knowledge by the Spirit of Wi&s;dom, to know God the Fa|ther, together with God the Son, and the &s;ame ble&s;&s;ed Spirit, the true God, and the knowledge of Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, whom the Father hath &s;ent into the world for our &s;alvation, and whom to know is life Eternall.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;eventh grace or gift procured by Chri&s;t, and given of God to us in Chri&s;t, by the Spirit in Chri&s;t to our comfort?</HI></P>
<PB N="139" REF="98">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The rich and precious gift and grace of Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 1.29. Ioh. 1. 11, 12. Ioh. 3.16.</NOTE> (of which we &s;hall &s;peak in due place) as a hand to receive and apply Chri&s;t, and in Chri&s;t Iu&s;tification, and life Eternall.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is the eighth ble&s;&s;ing, gift, or grace procured by Chri&s;t, and gi|ven of God the Father, Son, and ble&s;&s;ed Spirit, in Chri&s;t, and for Chri&s;t, to his Church and Children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That ine&s;timable gift and grace of free Iu&s;tification before God for life and Salvation.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.1, 9, 10.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is this gift and grace of Ju&s;tification?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Iu&s;tification is the free gracious act of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 32.1, 2. A &amp; s 13.37. Rom. 3.23, &amp;c. Rev. 2.17. Rom. 6.14. &amp; 8.1, 33, 34. 2 Cor. 5.20, 21.</NOTE> in which for the merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t, apprehended by a true and lively Faith: The Lord doth fir&s;t freely di&s;charge, acquit, for|give, ab&s;olve, and &s;et free a faithfull or believing man or woman, from all the imputation, guilt and puni&s;hment of &s;in; yea, from death and Hell, the &s;econd death, or death Eternall due to &s;in: Se|condly, doth al&s;o repute, account, e&s;teem, and judge, or &s;entence, and &s;o make them righteous, in, and for, and through, not their own, but the merits and righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e
<PB N="140" REF="99"> of Chri&s;t, and &s;o in and for Chri&s;t, gives them the white &s;tone of grace, and adjudgeth them to life Eter|nall.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>You &s;ay Ju&s;tification is the free act of God: How is it free? Or how are we &s;aid to be freely ju&s;tified, when as you al&s;o &s;ay it is for the merits of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Tit. 3.4, 5, 6, 7. Rom. 8.32.</NOTE><HI>An&s;,</HI> We may well be &s;aid to be Iu&s;ti|fied freely by grace:</P>
<P N="1">1. Becau&s;e we pay nothing for it of our own to God him&s;elf.</P>
<P N="2">2. Becau&s;e Chri&s;t by who&s;e merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e we are Iu&s;tified, is Gods free gift.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>How are ye &s;aid to be Ju&s;tified by Christ,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.1.</NOTE> <HI>when the Apo&s;tle &s;aith, We are Ju&s;tified by Faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Faith is the In&s;trument by which we receive and apply Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.17. Rom. 5.9.</NOTE> by who&s;e merits and vertue we are Iu&s;tified. Faith brings nothing of our own, but receives from Chri&s;t; indeed properly and meri|toriou&s;ly: It is Chri&s;t applyed by Faith, in whom God is well plea&s;ed, and for whom we are Iu&s;tified in Gods &s;ight.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>But doth not the Apo&s;tle</HI> Iames <HI>&s;ay, That</HI> Abraham <HI>was ju&s;tified by works? How then are we ju&s;tified by
<PB N="141" REF="99"> Chri&s;t, apprehended by Faith, or how by works, as St.</HI> Iames <HI>&s;peaks?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Apo&s;tle <HI>James</HI> &s;peaks of Iu&s;tification,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iam. 2.20, &amp;c. Rom. 4.1, &amp;c. Rom. 3.27.28.</NOTE> or rather a Declaration of our Iu&s;tification before men; and this is by works: the fruits of a true and live|ly faith, but before God, not by or for any works of ours, but for Chri&s;ts merits applyed by Faith, we are ju&s;tified in the pre&s;ence of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What benefit is there to a true believer in and by this grace of Ju&s;ti|fication before God in Chri&s;t, for being thus made righteous in Gods pre&s;ence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> An excellent change into a new &s;tate and condition:</P>
<P N="1">1. Before a &s;inner &s;ubject to an angry God, <HI>Eph.</HI> 2.3. But now a Saint deliver|ed from wrath to come, 1 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1.10.</P>
<P N="2">2. Before an enemy to God in our carnall mindes, <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.7. But now friends reconciled to God in Chri&s;t, <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.10. 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.10.</P>
<P N="3">3. Before afar off, <HI>Eph.</HI> 2.1, 3. But now brought nigh, <HI>Eph.</HI> 2.13.</P>
<P N="4">4. Before &s;trangers and forraigners; but now fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the hou&s;hold of God, <HI>Eph.</HI> 2.19.</P>
<P N="5">5. In a word, Before neither &s;ons nor
<PB N="142" REF="100"> daughters in grace; But now &s;ons and daughters of God in Chri&s;t, and heirs and fellow-heirs of Chri&s;t in Eternall glory, 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 6.17, 18. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.17.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>This is comfortable know|ledge concerning this ble&s;&s;ing and grace of Iu&s;tification: Now what is a ninth ble&s;|&s;ing or benefit which is procured by Chri&s;t; and be&s;towed upon us from God the Father, in and by the Lord Ie&s;us?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 6.17, 18.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Great ble&s;&s;ings and benefits of Adoption, to be &s;ons and daughters of God in Chri&s;t.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="14" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The fourteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the grace and great ble&s;|&s;ing of Adoption?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Iohn 3.1. Eph. 1.5, 6. Ioh. 1.12. Gal. 4.4, 5.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is the act of Gods Free-grace and love in Chri&s;t, whereby ac|cording as he hath Prede&s;tinated, Re|deemed, Called, and Iu&s;tified: So he doth Adopt, and take tho&s;e who were &s;trangers in unbelief, now brought neer by Faith, and receiving Chri&s;t by Faith, to be &s;ons and daughters of God in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<PB N="143" REF="100">
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What difference is there be|tween a Natural and an Adopted Son or Daughter?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A Natural Son or Daughter, is one who is begotten or born of a Natu|ral Father or Mother;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 21.2</NOTE> as <HI>I&s;aac</HI> was the Natural Son of <HI>Abraham</HI> and <HI>Sarah;</HI> And <HI>Rebekah</HI> the Natural Daughter of <HI>Bethuel</HI> and <HI>Milcah.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> But an Adopted Son or Daughter, is one not Naturally begotten or born, but a &s;tranger by birth Adopted, and taken to be a Son or Daugh|ter;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 2.5, &amp;c.</NOTE> as <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> was the Adopted Son of <HI>Pharaohs</HI> Daughter; And <HI>E&s;ther</HI> the A|dopted Daughter of <HI>Mordecai.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">E&s;th. 2.7. Ho&s;. 2.23</NOTE> So is it between God and us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is a certain property or &s;ure evidence of Adoption?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Spirit of Prayer, whereby the Childe of God is enabled to cry, <HI>Abba Father,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.15, 26, 27</NOTE> and to &s;eek to the Lord up|on all occa&s;ions, as to a Father.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is a chief Prerogative and Priviledge of an Adopted Son and Daughter of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not only this new Name of Son and Daughter of God, and the excellen|cy thereof, which no man knoweth, but he that hath it; but al&s;o the right Title
<PB N="144" REF="101"> and Dignity of an Heir,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.17. Rom. 8.17.</NOTE> yea, a fellow-Heir with Chri&s;t of Eternal glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>How may a man or woman know that he or &s;he is the Son or Daughter of God?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.16. Mat. 5.44, &amp;c. Prov. 4.18. 2 Cor. 3.17, 18. &amp; 6.16, &amp;c. 2 Pet. 14.4.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, by the te&s;timony of the Spirit, witne&s;&s;ing with our Spirits.</P>
<P>Secondly, by our daily growing more and more into the likene&s;&s;e of God our Father, in all holine&s;&s;e and perfection of Divine Nature.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But what is the ninth ble&s;|&s;ing and benefit, procured and commmunicated by Chri&s;t to his Elect and cho&s;en?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ion. 1.11, 12. 2 Cor. 5.7.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The glorious grace of new cre|ation, or new birth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is this new creation or birth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.22, &amp;c. Ioh. 3.3, 5. Col. 3.10 1 Cor. 6.9, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 2.13. &amp; 5.23, Rom. 12.12.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is a Sanctification of, and real communication or change of our Nature, our under&s;tanding, will, memory, and whole man, by the Spirit of Sanctifica|tion, from impurity and &s;in, to the pure Image of God, pre&s;&s;ing more and more to perfection, and to be like God our Father in Chri&s;t; not like or conformed to the world, as the children of this world de&s;ire to be.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What are the two chief acts
<PB N="145" REF="101"> or works wrought in the &s;oul by the Spirit of Chri&s;t in the grace of new creation?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 3.5, &amp;c. Rom. 6.6, &amp;c. &amp; 7.22. &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the <HI>Mortification,</HI> weak|ning and killing, or crucifying of the old man, or Natural corruption, or Law in our members, and rebelling power of &s;in in us, as dregs of the old <HI>Adam</HI> to be purged out.</P>
<P>Secondly, the <HI>Vivification,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 3.10 2 Cor. 4.16. &amp; 5.14, 15. &amp; 3.17, 18. Gal. 2.20</NOTE> or quick|ning and enlivening of the new man, or inward man in our &s;ouls according to the Image of God, and living power of Chri&s;t, now living in us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the chief end of this new creation and holine&s;&s;e thus wrought in us by the holy Gho&s;t?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 61.3. Heb. 12.14. 2 The&s;. 13. Ioh. 17.17, 24.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That we may be trees of righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e, that God may be glorified.</P>
<P N="2">2. That we may &s;ee God and be &s;aved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How may a man or woman know they are new Creatures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, by the help of the Spirit of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. i.17, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, by the light of their own con&s;ciences reflecting upon them&s;elves in &s;elf Examination; &s;o here to finde out,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 9.1.</NOTE></P>
<P N="1">1. What changes is wrought in their hearts, and will and affections;<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 51.9, 10, 11.</NOTE> as <HI>David</HI> prays for.</P>
<P N="2"><PB N="146" REF="102"><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 15.1, 2, 3. Ezek. 36.31. P&s;al. 16.2, 3. P&s;al. 119.97.</NOTE>2. In their lives and conver&s;ations, from &s;in and wickedne&s;&s;e, to Grace and goodne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P N="3">3. What loathing of evil, and loving of God, goodne&s;&s;e, and good people, ac|cording to godline&s;&s;e in their Souls and Spirits.</P>
<P N="1"><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 1.12, &amp;c.</NOTE>1. This change <HI>Paul</HI> found in him|&s;elf.</P>
<P N="2"><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 6.9, &amp;c.</NOTE>2. This he found in his Chri&s;tian <HI>Co|rinthians.</HI></P>
<P N="3">3. And this a man or woman may finde in them&s;elves,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 9.25</NOTE> if a true change or new creation be wrought in them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is the tenth ble&s;&s;ing and benefit procured by Chri&s;t, and given in and by Chri&s;t from God the Father to his Church and Children?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 14.i6, &amp;c. Ezek. 36.27. Zach. 12.10. Rom. 8.9 Gal. 4.5, 6. 1 Cor. 12.3, &amp;c. 1 Ioh. 2.27.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The great and &s;pecial, and daily gift of the ble&s;&s;ed Spirits pre&s;ence, the holy Gho&s;t, God equal with the Father and the Son; not only as a worker of all the&s;e graces in us at fir&s;t (as we noted before) but al&s;o as continually pre&s;ent, a coun&s;ellor and comforter, yea, a perpetual pre&s;erver of his graces in the &s;ouls of Gods children, meeting them in the Word Preached, in the Sacraments, in Prayer, and in all other duties and Or|dinances,
<PB N="147" REF="102"> &s;ecret, private and publike, for their Eternal good in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>How &s;hall a man or woman know he or &s;he hath the Spirit of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> If he or &s;he be led or guided by the Spirit of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.i, 2, 12, 14</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What respect is to be had to the Spirit?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A &s;pecial care is to be taken,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.30. P&s;al. 52.11, 12.</NOTE> that we grieve not the Spirit, by whom we are &s;ealed to the day of Redemption, but to prize his pre&s;ence above all earthly trea|&s;ure.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>Are there any more ble&s;|&s;ings which Chri&s;t hath procured, and God in Chri&s;t giveth to his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, there are multitudes in par|ticular, both for this pre&s;ent life, and the life to come.</P>
<P>I will name but the&s;e that follow:</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 61.10. Rom. 14.17.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the cloathing upon with Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Peace with God, with, and in our own con&s;ciences, and with all good An|gels and men, <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.1. <HI>Phil.</HI> 4.7. <HI>Ho&s;.</HI> 2.18. <HI>Luke</HI> 2.14. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.5, &amp;c. <HI>Heb.</HI> 1.14. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.11, 12. <HI>Rev,</HI> 22.9.</P>
<PB N="148" REF="103">
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the third?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, joy and rejoycing in hope of the glory of God; rejoycing in Chri&s;t with joy un&s;peakable and full of glory.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.2 &amp; 14.17. 1 Pet. 1.8.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is the fourth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 1.3.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fourthly, a lively hope of Hea|ven, which no wicked man can have.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is a fifth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.3 Act. 5.41. Heb. 11.24, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fifthly, a joyful willingne&s;&s;e to &s;uffer for Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is the &s;ixth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.28. P&s;a. 119.71. 1 Pet. 1.6, 7.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sixthly, an ordering of all things what&s;oever, for good of Gods children; yea, a working of all for good, a ble&s;&s;ing un&s;peakable.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is the &s;eventh?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Seventhly, an a&s;&s;urance we are Gods children by the Spirits witne&s;&s;e, and the fruits and graces of Chri&s;t in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What it the eighth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 11.10. Phil 4.11, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Eighthly, a &s;weet re&s;t and con|tentment in Chri&s;t in every &s;tate and condition, both for &s;oul and body, for this life, and the life to come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What is the ninth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ninthly, an enlivening vertue from Chri&s;t to cheri&s;h life and grace in
<PB N="149" REF="103"> the &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 15.15. Phil. 4.12</NOTE> and enable us for every duty and performance, to Gods glory, and good of our &s;elves and others.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is the tenth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Tenthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 4 4. Mat. 17.5 Heb. 11.4. I&s;a. 1.5, 6, 7. 1 Pet. 1.3, &amp;c. Rev. 2.10 2 Tim. 4.8, &amp;c. Mat. 16.16, &amp;c.</NOTE> an acceptation of our per&s;on and all our &s;ervices in this life, and an a&s;&s;urance of the crown of Righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e and glory in heaven, with per|&s;everance in grace, and protection from men and Devils here, and pre&s;ervation to that heavenly Kingdom and Salvation.</P>
<P>The&s;e and many more are the rich ble&s;&s;ings Chri&s;t hath purcha&s;ed, and God the Father given to his Church in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>But what is this Church and people for whom the Lord Chri&s;t hath procured, and to whom he communicates &s;o many excellent benefits, both of grace and glory?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Eph 1.4, 5, 6, 7. Act. 20.28. Mat. 1 21. Rom. 8.29, 30. 1 Pet. 1.4, 5. 2 Tim. 4.7, 8, 18. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 8. Phil 1.23 Rev. 14.13. 1 The&s;. 4.16, 17.</NOTE> The Church of God is that com|pany of people who are Gods cho&s;en ones, whom Chri&s;t hath purcha&s;ed with his own blood, &s;aved from their &s;ins, in time calleth, ju&s;tifieth, &s;anctifieth, and pre&s;erveth here in grace, in a condition Militant; and in the end tran&s;lateth to glory, in and to an e&s;tate Triumphant in the heavens for ever.</P>
<PB N="150" REF="104">
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>Is there a communion of Saints, or of this Church and people of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.12, &amp;c. 1 Ioh. 1.3. Eph, 4.3, &amp;c. Gal. 3.27, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes certainly, true believers are united as one Body in Chri&s;t their Head, and have a &s;weet union and communion with God the Father, and with the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and one with another in Chri&s;t; in all the&s;e rich benefits procu|red by Chri&s;t for their &s;ouls and bodies, and their happine&s;&s;e for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>Who is the Head of the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Chri&s;t him&s;elf, who was exalted up on high,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.20, &amp;c. Phil. 2.9, 10. Eph. 4.15, 16. Mat. 28.18,</NOTE> when he was rai&s;ed from the Dead, by the working of Gods mighty power, and &s;et at Gods right hand, far above all principalities and power, and every name in heaven and earth; and appointed him to be the Head over all things to the Church, all power being given unto Chri&s;t in heaven and in earth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>Is there but one Head of the Church?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.12, 27. 1 The&s;. 2.3, 4,</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly no, as Chri&s;ts Church is one my&s;tical Body; &s;o it hath but one my&s;tical Head, Chri&s;t him&s;elf; to have two Heads a&s;cribed to the Church, were
<PB N="151" REF="104"> to make it a Mon&s;ter: Therefore the Pope, or who&s;oever taketh upon him to be Head of the Church, is not a friend of Chri&s;t but Antichri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 17.14. 1 Cor. 12.27, &amp;c. Eph. 4.12. Heb. 1.1, &amp;c. Eph. 1.22, 23. Heb. 12.22. Re 19.10.</NOTE> <HI>Who are the Members of Chri&s;ts Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All who are truly called and cho|&s;en, and faithful believers, and children of believers Elected in Chri&s;t; yea, the Elect Angels them&s;elves in &s;ome re&s;pect are the Members of this Church of Chri&s;t, he being exalted to be Head both of An|gels and Men.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>How manifold is the Church of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Church of Chri&s;t is one Bo|dy, of which Chri&s;t is the Head;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 3.28. Eph. 4 4. Can 6.8. Ioh. 10.16.</NOTE> one Dove, one Flock, as there is one Shep|heard the Lord Je&s;us. But in divers re|&s;pects it hath divers names a&s;cribed un|to it:</P>
<P N="1">1. It is called Catholike or Univer&s;al,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 3.28. Heb. 12.23. Rev. 2. &amp; 3.</NOTE> as it relates to the children of God in all Ages and places of the world, yea, in heaven as well as in earth.</P>
<P N="2">2. It is called Particular, as it relates to particular Countreys and Congrega|tions believing in Chri&s;t, and profe&s;&s;ing the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P N="3"><PB N="152" REF="105"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 2.41. 2 Tim. 2.19. Eph. 6.11. Mat. 25.34.</NOTE>3. It is called vi&s;ible, as it relates to the open profe&s;&s;ors of the Faith.</P>
<P N="4">4. It is called invi&s;ible, as it re&s;pects the Elect, chiefly known to God him&s;elf.</P>
<P N="5">5. It is called Militan<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">, as it is war|ring on Earth. And,</P>
<P N="6">6. Triumphant, as they are conquer|ours in the Kingdom of Heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>What are the marks of the Church?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.19, 20. Act. 2.42. 1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c. 2 The&s;. 2.13.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the outward marks are two; The pure Preaching of the Word of God, and right Admini&s;tration of the Sacraments.</P>
<P>Secondly, the inward are Faith and holine&s;&s;e, as the way to happine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 32. <HI>How are the keys of Juri&s;|diction or Di&s;cipline to be ordered in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 16.19. Ioh. 20.23. Mat. 18.15, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 5.5. &amp; 16.22. 2 Cor. 2.7, 8</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> According as Chri&s;t hath &s;et down in the Scriptures, to Gods glory and good of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>You have briefly &s;poken of the true Church, and true Members of the Church, Gods Elect, known to God. But doth every vi&s;ible National or particular Congregation of men profe&s;&s;ing them&s;elves to be a Church of Chri&s;t, con&s;i&s;t only of &s;uch true Members, without Hypocrites, or fal&s;e
<PB N="153" REF="105"> Chri&s;tians in name not in truth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly we do not read of any National Church vi&s;ible but had or might &s;eem to have &s;ome Hypocrites in it, &s;ome fal&s;e Brethren, &s;ome who after they were admitted, or taken as Members in the judgement of the Church, proved erro|neous in judgement, and fell to Errors and Here&s;ies, or &s;candalous in life, and fell to prophanene&s;&s;e, until they were di&s;|covered and Excommunicated, or Schi&s;|matically rent them&s;elves from that true Church and Congregation wherein they were, as the Churches of <HI>Corinth,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.12, &amp;c. 1 Ioh. 2.18, 19.</NOTE> of <HI>Galatia, Ephe&s;us, Pergamos,</HI> and other Churches &s;ince the Apo&s;tles times; and Hi&s;tory of Churches witne&s;&s;e at large.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>Are there &s;o many ab&s;olute independent Churches of Chri&s;t, as there are particular Churches or Congregations truly profe&s;&s;ing Chri&s;t, and enjoying the Word and Sacraments in truth throughout the Chri&s;tian World?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Verely the Church of Chri&s;t is but one, as we proved before;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.2, 3, 4. &amp; 4.1 5, 16.</NOTE> and this one Catholique or Univer&s;al Church is depending upon Chri&s;t the Head, who&s;e Body the Church is; and every particu|lar true Church, called Congregational,
<PB N="154" REF="106"> Cla&s;&s;ical, Provincial, or National, or by any other name, is a Member of this Uni|ver&s;al Church, or My&s;tical body of Chri&s;t the Head;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.21, &amp;c.</NOTE> and as no Member of the Body of man or woman, is ab&s;olute and inde|pendent of it&s;elf, but all the Members &s;tand in need one of another, &amp; are to &s;ub|mit one to another, in love and duty, and to be helpful one to another, for the good of the whole Body. So I humbly conceive it is and ought to be with the Churches of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.20. Eph. 5.25, 26, Act. 20.28.</NOTE> who are many Members, yet but one Church, which he hath loved, and given him&s;elf for, and purcha&s;ed with his own blood, and as no Church ought to be tyrannical, or have a tyran|nical power over another; &s;o no particular Member Church, is or ought to be &s;o in|dependent,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.25, &amp;c.</NOTE> but that the Member Church|es &s;hould have the &s;ame care one for another, that there be no Schi&s;me or di|vi&s;ion in the Body or Church of Chri&s;t, as the Apo&s;tle St. <HI>Paul</HI> excellently holds forth unto us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>But may there not be a Separation from a true Church, when cor|ruptions and faults are found in it in Do|ctrine or practi&s;e of life and conver&s;ation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I conceive there is a great
<PB N="155" REF="106"> deal of difference between the Errors or faults of a Church, and of particular Members of a Church, and al&s;o between failings of a Church in &s;ub&s;tantials and fundamentals, which de&s;troy the E&s;&s;ence and being of a Church; and between fail|ings and faults in circum&s;tantials only.</P>
<P>If any Church or company of people &s;hould fall away, the greater part of them in &s;ub&s;tantial truths and fundamen|tal, unto Error and Here&s;ies, which can|not &s;tand with the foundation and being of a Church; then I conceive &s;uch com|pany may be rather &s;aid to have left the true Church, though it be the le&s;&s;er part in number, then the le&s;&s;er part to have left the Church. The greater part,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.1. 1 Tim. 1.19, 20.</NOTE> as the &s;eeming Church of <HI>Rome,</HI> having left their fir&s;t Faith, and the truth of God in tho&s;e Fundamental verities, of Chri&s;t and his Offices and Graces, with|out the holding and believing of which no company of people can be a Church of Chri&s;t. Secondly, If particular Mem|bers, or a Church or company of pro|fe&s;&s;ors fail in &s;ome particulars, not Fun|damentals, but circum&s;tantials only and &s;uch as it may yet be, and is a true Church of Chri&s;t, both in re&s;pect the
<PB N="156" REF="107"> Preaching of the Word, and Admini|&s;tration of the Sacraments. Then I be|lieve there ought not to be pre&s;ently an unchurching or a Separation from this Church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> but rather a labour and indu&s;try for a Reformation &amp; the pre&s;ervation of unity, and avoyding of Schi&s;ms, and Rents and Divi&s;ions in the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>What do you call that com|pany of people which fall away to Error and Here&s;ies, de&s;troying the Foundation, and in that re&s;pect &s;eparate from Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The name of Church cannot be given unto them, but abu&s;ively and improperly only. But the&s;e are a He|retical company rather then Church, leaving the true Church of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Ioh. 2.18, 19.</NOTE> be|cau&s;e they were never truly of the Church, and &s;o departing to their own de&s;truction.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 37. <HI>What do you call tho&s;e who agree in the Fundamentals of Faith with the Orthodox and true Churches of Chri&s;t, yet for &s;ome External Rites or things in|different, or &s;ome particular failings in manners, or different Opinions in Di&s;pen|&s;ation of Ordinances or Di&s;cipline, and the&s;e not Fundamental, unchurch the Or|thodox Reformed Churches of Chri&s;t,
<PB N="157" REF="107"> and Separate them&s;elves, as if it were from Rome or Babylon?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The&s;e are truly called Schi&s;mati|cal congregations, who intentionally without cau&s;e do &s;eparate and unchurch the Churches of Chri&s;t, and making Schi&s;mes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 3.3, &amp; 11.18.</NOTE> &s;o much complained again&s;t by the Apo&s;tle, do divide them&s;elves from the unity of the Churches, condem|ning the true Churches as not Churches of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 38. <HI>But whether is the Church of Chri&s;t &s;ubject to erre in fundamentals finally and totally, or to peri&s;h for ever?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly no,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 16.18. Ioh. 10.27, &amp;c. P&s;a, 125.1, 2.</NOTE> how&s;oever parti|cular Churches have erred in many par|ticulars, yet the univer&s;al Churches of Chri&s;t cannot erre in Fundamentals, nei|ther totally nor finally in any particular nece&s;&s;ary to &s;alvation; nor can the Church of Chri&s;t peri&s;h, it being built upon the Rock Chri&s;t, but &s;hall abide firm for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>Yet tell me I pray you, what firm ground is there that the Church and Children of Chri&s;t &s;hall be inabled to per|&s;evere and continue in grace unto Eternal glory, and not fall from Chri&s;t and grace to perdition?</HI></P>
<PB N="158" REF="108">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 1.4, 14. 2 The&s;. 2.13. Matth. 24.24. 2 Tim. 2.19. Acts 26.17, 18. 2 Tim. 2.9, 10. Rom. 8.28. Rom. 11.29. I&s;a. 42.1. Luk. 17.5. Luke 22.32. Rom. 14.1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 15.10. I&s;a. 53.11. Ier. 23.6. Acts 13.38, 39. Rom. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Rom. 8.1 Col. 1.20</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> We might hold forth unto you many grounds; But you may ob&s;erve the&s;e:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The certainty and infallibility of our Election by God the Father in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, both unto grace and glory.</P>
<P>Secondly, The certainty of our vo|cation or calling from darkne&s;&s;e to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpo&s;e, and grace, which was given us in Chri&s;t before the world was.</P>
<P>Thirdly, The certainty of our Faith being true (though &s;ometimes weak,) yet receiving, relying, and re&s;ting on Gods promi&s;e in Chri&s;t, is &s;ure to hold out; not by our own power, but by the grace of God in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, The certainty of our ju&s;ti|fication in and by Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and merits, by which we are freed from condemnation, and have peace with God in Chri&s;t for ever.</P>
<P>Fifthly, The certainty of our regene|ration and new creation, and glorificati|on begun here, and to be perfected in glory. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.23. 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5.17. and 3.18. <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.30. <HI>Phil.</HI> 1.6.</P>
<PB N="159" REF="108">
<P>Sixthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.7, 8, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 2.9, 10.</NOTE> Our entrance already into the everla&s;ting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Je&s;us Chri&s;t; endeavouring by the grace of God in Chri&s;t, to make our calling and election &s;ure.</P>
<P>Seventhly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5.23, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">4. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. Iohn 10.29, 30. Iude 4.</NOTE> Our a&s;&s;urance of faithful|ne&s;&s;e and mighty power of God to keep his children through faith unto &s;alvati|on, ready to be revealed in the la&s;t times.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 40. <HI>But doth not this Doctrine of A&s;&s;urance, open a way to Libertini&s;m, and &s;o to &s;in.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Certainly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 8.31, 32, 36.</NOTE> the children of God have an excellent liberty, and true freedom, in and by Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="1">1.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.1. Gal. 3.13. 2 Cor. 5.19. Rom. 8.2 Rom. 6.12, &amp;c. Ephe&s;. 2.1, 2, 3. Rom. 14.1, 2, 3, 23. 1 Cor. 14.26, 40. Rom. 6.1, 15.</NOTE> From the condemning or damning power of the Law, &s;in and cur&s;e due to &s;in, having our pardon &s;ealed in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. From the commanding power of &s;in and Satan, unto both which, by nature we were in bondage.</P>
<P N="3">3. From tyranny and rigid impo&s;ition of things indifferent, to binde the con&s;ci|ence where Chri&s;t bindes not. Chri&s;tian charity and order guiding us to our com|fort and the peace of the Church: Yet there is no liberty for a childe of God to commit the lea&s;t &s;in; What, &s;hall we &s;in
<PB N="160" REF="109"> that grace may abound,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 6.11, 12. 2 Pet. 2.19, 20. P&s;al. 19.13.</NOTE> God forbid. How &s;hall we that are dead to &s;in, take any liberty to &s;in (as the wicked do,) but rather pray continually by the power of Chri&s;t to be kept from &s;in.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>What &s;hould the childe of God do, that wants this a&s;&s;urance of per|&s;everance in grace to glory?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 1.16. Gal. 2.20 Ioh. 13.1 2 Cor. 1.20. Iob 44.14. Iohn 17.24.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Waite on God in Chri&s;t in all good means of grace, till the Lord be plea&s;ed to reveal Chri&s;t in you, and his love and a&s;&s;urance of his free-love in Chri&s;t to your &s;oul, knowing that whom Chri&s;t loveth, he loveth to the end. And con&s;ider Gods promi&s;es, and &s;o live by faith in grace, depending upon God, un|til he bring you unto eternal glory.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="15" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The fifteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1. Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have an&s;wered concerning the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of our &s;elves, and the knowledge of Chri&s;t. Now what is fit for a Communicant to know concerning the Sacrament, that he or
<PB N="161" REF="109"> &s;he may come with more comfort and profit to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> There are divers things to be known, concerning the Sacrament, both in general, and particular; and fir&s;t, What a Sacrament is, or what is meant by a Sacrament?</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>I pray you tell me then, what you conceive a Sacrament to be?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Revel. 2.17. Matth. 26.27, 28. Matth. 28.19.</NOTE> A Sacrament is not a bare and naked &s;ub&s;tance &s;ingle, or com|pounded, as Water, Bread, or Wine, or the like; but &s;uch a thing or &s;ub&s;tance in&s;tituted, appointed, and applied to a My&s;tery, to hold forth Chri&s;t, and the My&s;tery of Chri&s;t, and &s;piritual things in a &s;piritual manner to the &s;oul, as Bread and Wine in the Sacraments do hold forth the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t &s;piritually to beleevers.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Is every &s;ecret or hidden My&s;tery in nature a Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> No; Every natural my&s;tery or hidden thing, as the &s;ecrets of nature, the vertues of herbs to heal, of the Load-&s;tone to draw Iron to it, and the like; nor an artificial my&s;tery or &s;ecret of Trades or the like, is not a Sacrament. But a Sacrament is a &s;piritual my&s;tery, a my&s;te|ry
<PB N="162" REF="110"> of godline&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 3.16.</NOTE> as the Apo&s;tle calls the My&s;tery and Hi&s;tory of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Thirdly, But is every &s;piri|tual my&s;tery, or my&s;tery of godline&s;&s;e, a Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 13.11. 1 Tim. 3.9.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> No; every &s;piritual my&s;tery is not a Sacrament: But a &s;piritual my|&s;tery holding forth Chri&s;t, as the My&s;te|ries of Gods Kingdom, or the my&s;teries of Faith, are my&s;teries holding forth Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>Are the&s;e, or every &s;piritual my&s;tery holding forth Chri&s;t, a Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 16.21, 22. Numb. 21.9. Ephe&s;. 5.29, 30, 31, 32.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> No; not properly neither, the&s;e nor divers others of like nature; for the Scape-Goats, and the Bra&s;en-Serpent were My&s;teries holding forth Chri&s;t: And marriage is a great my&s;tery, repre|&s;enting the &s;piritual union between Chri&s;t and his Church; and yet none of the&s;e are properly Sacraments, although they &s;ignifie and reveal excellent truths of Chri&s;t to beleevers.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But if none of the&s;e be pro|perly Sacraments, what then is a Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.7, 8, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> A Sacrament is a &s;acred action, or an outward &s;ymbole, or badge, &s;igni|fying
<PB N="163" REF="110"> and &s;ealing, by way of Pledge, or Bond, or Covenant between two parties, to a&s;&s;ure performance of conditions on both &s;ides.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>Is every &s;ignifying or &s;ealing Action, by way of covenant, a Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> No:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 31.44, 45, 46. 1 Sam. 20.8. 18. &amp;c.</NOTE> For that action of <HI>Jacob</HI> and <HI>Labans</HI> &s;etting up &s;tones as a wit|ne&s;&s;e, was a &s;ignifying, and &s;ealing of peace between them, as was <HI>Jonathans</HI> &s;hooting Arrows according to agree|ment between him and <HI>David,</HI> of <HI>Sauls</HI> intentions, and as divers civil actions of like nature; yet the&s;e are none of tho&s;e Sacraments which Chri&s;t hath left to his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What kinde of &s;ignifying and &s;ealing action then is a Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> A Sacrament is a &s;acred Or|dinance, or Action,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.11, &amp;c. Gen. 21.4. Exod. 12.48. Num. 9.13. Rom. 4.11.</NOTE> acted with a &s;acred minde, or divinely in&s;tituted by a &s;acred per&s;on; in which, by outward vi&s;ible &s;ignes, and &s;eals, and pledges, and in&s;tru|ments, in outward elements, words and actions; the inward invi&s;ible freegraces of God in Chri&s;t, is held forth, &s;ignified, &s;ealed and a&s;&s;ured from God in Chri&s;t, to beleeving &s;ouls, according to the
<PB N="164" REF="111"> Covenant of Grace; and the mutual promi&s;e of love, duty, obedience, faith|fulne&s;&s;e, and thankfulne&s;&s;e of beleevers is entered into, or renewed and &s;ealed to God again, according to the &s;ame Covenant.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What in brief is the &s;ub|&s;tance of this Covenant of Grace, thus &s;ealed in the Sacraments?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 19.4, 5, &amp;c. Iere. 32.37, 38. and 30.21, 22. 2 Cor 6.17, 18.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> We have &s;et forth the Covenant of Grace before; But in brief, the Sa|crament Seals the Promi&s;e of God to take his Church to be his people, his &s;ons, and daughters in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and of the Church, to receive the Lord for their God, and Father in the &s;ame Chri&s;t, and to glorifie him accordingly.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How many &s;uch Sacraments hath Chri&s;t in&s;tituted and ordained, to, and for the benefit of his Church?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 28.19. Gal. 3.27. 1 Cor. 11.26, 27. and 10.16.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Onely two properly, &s;o called, and no more ordinarily.</P>
<P>The fir&s;t, a Sacrament of our initiati|on, enterance, inrolling, con&s;ecrating unto or ingrafting into Chri&s;t and his Church, as vi&s;ible Members thereof, and of the Covenant to that end.</P>
<P>The &s;econd, a Sacrament of confirma|tion and renewing of the &s;ame Covenant
<PB N="165" REF="111"> with God, in, and by Chri&s;t, from God to his people; and from Gods people to God again.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What, was the fir&s;t of the&s;e Sacraments ordained by God in Chri&s;t, for this initiation, enrolement, entrance, and ingrafting into Chri&s;t, for the benefit of Chri&s;ts Church and Children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the Old Te&s;tament, the fir&s;t was the ordinary Sacrament of Circum|ci&s;ion, the Seal of the Covenant of Grace, and of the Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith in Chri&s;t, the Me&s;&s;iah then to come into the world to be born for us.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.11. Gal. 5.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> But in the New Te&s;tament, the Sacrament of Bapti&s;m, in&s;tituted by Chri&s;t in&s;tead of Circumci&s;ion, as a Seal of the Covenant of Grace and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith in Chri&s;t, the Me&s;&s;iah that is come al|ready.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What, was the &s;econd Sacra|ment appointed as a pledge of Chri&s;ts love for comfort of Gods people, as a Seal for confirmation, and continuance of his Cove|nant, and of Gods Grace with his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the Old Te&s;tament the Sacra|ment of the Pa&s;&s;eover, or Pa&s;chall Lamb,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 12.43, &amp;c.</NOTE> hold forth Chri&s;t and his benefits to the
<PB N="166" REF="112"> Saints, waiting for Chri&s;t, the con&s;ola|tion of <HI>I&s;rael,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.26, &amp;c.</NOTE> in his fir&s;t coming. But in the New Te&s;tament, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; that Love-token of Chri&s;t to be celebrated by &s;uch as are rightly prepared, in remembrance of Chri&s;t, who hath perfected the Work of Redemption, to be communicated to all tho&s;e, who by Faith waite for his &s;econd coming at the la&s;t day.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>Are not Sacraments of the Old Te&s;tament, contrary to the Sacraments of the New, and &s;o different, that there may rather be &s;aid to be four Sacraments then onely two?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.11. Col. 2.16, 17. 1 Cor. 10.3, 4. Heb. 13.18. Rev. 13.8. 1 Cor. 10.2, 3, 4.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Sacraments of the Old and New Te&s;tament, they are both Sacra|ments of the Covenant of Grace; not contrary one to another, but agreeing in the matter and &s;ub&s;tance of them; and although they differ in outward &s;ignes, and circum&s;tances, yet the internal Grace held forth &s;igned, and &s;ealed in both, is Chri&s;t and his Benefits, who is ye&s;terday and to day, and the &s;ame for ever; and &s;o, though there were divers figures and types, yet here are not four properly in &s;ub&s;tance, but two Sacra|ments in the Church ordinarily; for the
<PB N="167" REF="112"> Baptizing in the <HI>Red Sea</HI> was extraor|dinary.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>Who hath authority as the spiritual Efficient, and Author to in&s;titute and ordain &s;uch a holy Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> None but God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.10, 11. Exod. 12.1, 29. Matth. 28.19. Mark 14.22, 23.</NOTE> the whole Trini|ty in common, and Chri&s;t, God and man in particular, who is the Angel of the Covenant, and of who&s;e la&s;t Will and Te&s;tament, a Sacrament is a Seal, to, and for the good of the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Who hath authority and power as an instrument to administer &s;uch a Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> None but the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t lawfully,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 28.19, 20. Heb. 5.4. Ephe&s;. 4.7, 8, &amp;c.</NOTE> and rightly called and authori&s;ed thereto by Chri&s;t and his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>what is the external mat|ter, or material cau&s;e, and outward &s;igne in the fir&s;t of the&s;e Sacraments, the Sacra|ment of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The external &s;igne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 3.6. Acts 8.38. Mark 7.4. 1 Cor. 10.4.</NOTE> and &s;eal of Bapti&s;m is the Element of Water, where|with men of ripe yeers, converted to the Faith of Chri&s;t, and children of belee|ving Parents, within the Covenant of Grace have been, are, and may be Bap|tized, or wa&s;hed by diving under dipping
<PB N="168" REF="113"> or &s;prinkling,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 12.24.</NOTE> and wa&s;hing with water, &s;acramentally, and according to the Or|dinance of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the internal ma|terial thing &s;ignified in this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.3, 5. Heb. 12.24. 1 Cor. 12.13. Rom. 6.4, 5, 6. Gal. 3.27. 1 Ioh 1.7 Rev. 1.5. Acts 22.16. 2 Cor. 5.17. Titus 3.5, 6, 7. Matth. 28.19. Acts 14.3, 4, 5.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;t him&s;elf and his &s;pirit, and the vertue of Chri&s;t his blood, the blood of &s;prinkling applyed by the Spirit, wa&s;h|ing, and clear&s;ing us from our &s;ins, make|ing the baptized partakers of the vertue of Chri&s;ts death, and Re&s;urrection; and of the Grace of Regeneration, and new Creation, of union, and engrafting (whom God the Father plea&s;eth) into Chri&s;t, in this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is the outward form of this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The outward form of Bapti&s;m, on Gods part and ours, is the word of Promi&s;e in the in&s;titution of the Sacra|ment, and action, and profe&s;&s;ion of Faith, and manner of baptizing; by dipping or &s;prinkling, or baptizing, in, or into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Gho&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is the inward form of this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> That my&s;tical and &s;acramental
<PB N="169" REF="113"> union that is between the outward &s;ignes of the Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.10. Rom. 2.29. Col. 2.11, 12. Tit. 3 5. Acts 2.38, 39. and 10. 47, 48. and 22.16.</NOTE> and inward Graces of the Covenant &s;et forth, and &s;ealed in the Sacrament, by vertue of which union as the &s;ignes are attributed to the things &s;ignified, and the&s;e agree with the &s;ignes; &s;o the things &s;ignified, and &s;ealed, are really communicated not by vertue of the work done, and to every per&s;on baptized (as the Papi&s;ts dream) but when God &s;eeth good to tho&s;e per&s;ons that are Gods elect children, and have right unto, and rightly partake of this Sacrament, it &s;ealeth their Iu&s;tification, Regeneration, and Salvation in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What kinde of union is this between the outward &s;igne, and the thing &s;ignified in the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not a Corporall, Phy&s;ical, or Local, nor yet an imaginary union onely, but a true and real union; yet &s;o as the inward Grace is not communicated to all, by vertue of the work done, but to Saints in Covenant by vertue of the Co|venant, to whom, and when God plea|&s;eth. <HI>Simon Magus</HI> he wanted,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.13, 20. and 8.36, 39.</NOTE> and the Eunuch enjoyed &s;piritual Grace, and joy in beleeving when he received Bapti&s;m, as the outward &s;igne and &s;eal of
<PB N="170" REF="114"> inward Regeneration of the heart; &s;o that the outward &s;igne and inward grace, are not always united together; but when and to whom God plea&s;e, he giveth grace, and &s;ealeth it to the joy of the &s;oul.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="16" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The &s;ixteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHo are the &s;ubjects or per&s;ons to be made partakers of this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Matt. 28.19, 29. Mark 16.16. Acts 2.38. and 8.38</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> All that are within the Cove|nant of Grace, are fir&s;t men or women of ripe yeers, embracing the Go&s;pel, and converted to beleeve in Chri&s;t, repent of their &s;ins, and be new Creatures, yea, able and willing to make profe&s;&s;ion of the faith, and graces of God in them.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, the cu&s;tome of the Church for many hundred yeers hath practi&s;ed Baptizing of Infants, e&s;pecially of beleevers in the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What grounds or proof of this do you finde, that have, or may be pro|duced from Scripture, that children of be|leevers
<PB N="171" REF="114"> &s;hould be admitted to Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divers Rea&s;ons have been ob|&s;erved by Divines: But fir&s;t this Rule is noted by Divines, That what&s;oever is, or may be found a command, or In&s;titution of Chri&s;t in the Old Te&s;tament, or in the New, either in expre&s;&s;e words and terms, or by good and nece&s;&s;ary con&s;equence, not upon &s;uppo&s;ition onely, but true foundation in the Book of God, either for moral or for po&s;itive Duty. It hath &s;ufficient authority to be commended as a Truth of Chri&s;t, for the benefit of Chri&s;ts Church, and may hold good for &s;ub&s;tance in the New Te&s;tament, as well as in the Old; although in a different manner of di&s;pen&s;ation: And therefore tho&s;e who ca&s;t off a Truth of Chri&s;t plain|ly &s;et forth in the Old Te&s;tament, becau&s;e it is not in &s;o many words, held forth or expre&s;&s;ed in the New, I conceive, do much derogate from Chri&s;t, who was the glorious Prophet of his Church, as truly in the Old Te&s;tament, as in the New. The &s;ame Spirit of Chri&s;t preaching to,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.19, 20.</NOTE> and in the Patriarks, and by the Prophets in the Old Te&s;tament, as in the New; and both <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> the Prophets and Apo|&s;tles being all the Amanuen&s;es and Pen-men
<PB N="172" REF="115"> of the Holy Gho&s;t. The whole Scripture being written by the In&s;pirati|on the Holy Gho&s;t, not by any pri|vate Interpretation; and &s;o the whole Scripture, or any part of it, in the Old Te&s;tament or in the New,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21.</NOTE> either in ex|pre&s;&s;e words, or evident con&s;equence, is a &s;ufficient ground to prove Infants Bap|ti&s;m, or any Truth of God what&s;o|ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Although this be granted, yet vvhat Arguments do you finde dravvn, either from the Old Te&s;tament or the Nevv for Pedobapti&s;m, or the practi&s;e of Infants Bapti&s;m in the Church.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, you may take notice of this which followeth, What&s;oever was a po&s;itive rule and in&s;titution of Chri&s;t to a beleever as a beleever, either concern|ing him&s;elf or his children, as children of a beleever, for a&s;&s;urance of &s;alvation by Faith in Chri&s;t, and inward Circum|ci&s;ion of the heart, according to the Co|venant of Grace in the Old Te&s;tament, which is ho way revoked in the New: That is, &s;till a po&s;itive rule and in&s;titu|tion of Chri&s;t virtually, and in the &s;ub|&s;tance of it, to a beleever as a beleever; and to, or concerning the children of a
<PB N="173" REF="115"> beleever as children of a beleever, and to be continued now in the New Te&s;ta|ment as a duty, by vertue of that In&s;ti|tution of Chri&s;t, as well as in the Old, or before the coming of Chri&s;t in the fle&s;h. But a &s;igne and &s;eal of the righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e of faith, and &s;alvation in Chri&s;t, and of Circumci&s;ion made without hands, or of Spiritual Regeneration of the heart, and life; and a&s;&s;urance of the&s;e was a po&s;itive command and in&s;titution of Chri&s;t to a beleever as a beleever, and to, or concerning the children of a be|leever as children of a beleever, accord|ing to the covenant of Grace in the Old Te&s;tament, and is no way forbidden in the New Te&s;tament; and therefore a &s;igne and &s;eal of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of faith, and of &s;alvation in Chri&s;t, and re|generation, or inward circumci&s;ion of the heart, according to the covenant of Grace, is &s;till a po&s;itive rule and in&s;titu|tion of Chri&s;t vertually in, or for the &s;ub&s;tance of it, to a beleever as to a be|leever, and to, or concerning the chil|dren of a beleever as children of a be|leever, and to be continued now in the New Te&s;tament as a duty, by vertue of that In&s;titution of Chri&s;t, as well as it
<PB N="174" REF="116"> was in the Old, or before the coming of Chri&s;t in the fle&s;h.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Hovv prove you the major, or fir&s;t propo&s;ition?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> For the fir&s;t Propo&s;ition, it may be confirmed from this ground,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Revel. 13.8. Heb. 13.8.</NOTE> That Chri&s;t is the &s;ame Lamb &s;lain from the foundation of the World; and Je&s;us Chri&s;t the &s;ame ye&s;terday, and to day, and for ever.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The &s;ame Saviour and Mediator, High Prie&s;t, Prophet, and King of his Church.</P>
<P>Secondly, The &s;ame Revealer of the Covenant of Grace, as Prophet; and in the &s;ame manner in re&s;pect of the &s;ub|&s;tance of it;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.1, 2, 3, 4.</NOTE> Salvation by Chri&s;t, and &s;ignes and &s;eals of it, as &s;ignifying and &s;ealing the &s;ame inward Graces in the Old Te&s;tament, and in the New, although by different &s;ignes and &s;eals: And there|fore, what was in&s;tituted by Chri&s;t then to a beleever as a beleever, and no way forbidden or revoked in the New Te&s;ta|ment expre&s;ly, nor by good con&s;equence may be continued to beleevers, and chil|dren of beleevers in the New Te&s;tament, as well as in the Old.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>How prove you the minor?</HI></P>
<PB N="175" REF="116">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Again, for the &s;econd, the minor Propo&s;ition or A&s;&s;umption. Fir&s;t, That a &s;igne and &s;eal of the Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, and inward Circumci&s;ion or Re|generation of the heart, was in&s;tituted by Chri&s;t to a beleever as a beleever, and to children of a beleever, as children of a beleever. I conceive, this is evident in that example of beleeving <HI>Abraham.</HI> In the renewing of the Covenant of Grace to beleeving <HI>Abraham,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 19.3, 4, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> Rom. 4.11.</NOTE> and his &s;piritual Seed, and Chri&s;ts appointing of circum|ci&s;ion, not onely to <HI>Abraham</HI> him&s;elf, as a &s;eal of the covenant of Grace and Righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, but to his children at eight dayes old. And a &s;igne and &s;eal was &s;till appointed to beleevers in the New Te&s;tament, though not the &s;ame &s;igne of circumci&s;ion, yet Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>And although Infants,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 28.19, 20. Matth. 26. 1 Cor. 11.26, 27.</NOTE> children of be|leevers, are not named in the In&s;titution in the New Te&s;tament, as they were in the Old to <HI>Abraham;</HI> yet they are not prohibited, and may virtually be included in the general In&s;titution of bapti&s;m, as well as women, not named, are virtually included in the In&s;titution of the Lords Supper: And &s;o children of beleevers nay be baptized now in their infancy, as
<PB N="176" REF="117"> well as children were circumci&s;ed then at eight dayes old, by Chri&s;ts his In&s;ti|tution, and appointment to <HI>Abraham</HI> a beleever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But how doth it appear, that the Lord did renew the Covenant of Grace to</HI> Abraham <HI>a beleever as a beleever, and appointed a circumci&s;ion, a &s;igne and &s;eal of the Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, and inward circumci&s;ion of the heart to</HI> Abraham <HI>as a beleever, and to</HI> Abrahams <HI>children as children of a beleever: Otherwi&s;e, the Argument will not hold that beleevers and their children &s;hould be baptized now, as well as beleevers, and their children were circumci&s;ed then.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> What&s;oever by vertue of Chri&s;ts In&s;titution did agree to, and might be practi&s;ed by all beleevers and profe&s;&s;ors of Religion, and onely to beleevers, and children of beleevers at all time; after that In&s;titution of Chri&s;t in the Old Te|&s;tament, that was appointed by Chri&s;t to a beleever as a beleever, and to the chil|dren of beleevers as children of belee|vers, as being proper to them. But cir|cumci&s;ion, that &s;igne and &s;eal of the righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, and inward circum|ci&s;ion of the heart did agree to, and
<PB N="177" REF="117"> might be practi&s;ed by all beleevers, and profe&s;&s;ors of them&s;elves to be beleevers of the true Religion, and onely beleevers and profe&s;&s;ors of them&s;elves to be|leevers. And all times ordinarily to be|leevers and profe&s;&s;ors of the true Re|ligion, and to their children; and there|fore circumci&s;ion, that &s;igne and &s;eal of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith was in&s;tituted by Chri&s;t to <HI>Abraham</HI> a beleever as a beleever, and to the children of belee|ving <HI>Abraham,</HI> as children of a beleever. And &s;o it may &s;till follow, that a &s;igne and &s;eal of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, though not circumci&s;ion, yet bapti&s;m doth, and may agree to beleevers con|verted, and to children of beleevers, as children of beleevers now, as well as before the coming of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>How is the fir&s;t manife&s;t, or the &s;econd evident it is good.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> For the fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Proprium quod con|venit om|ni &s;oli &amp; &s;emper e|ju&s;dem specici. <HI>Io&s;h. 5.7.</HI></NOTE> the Propo&s;ition that is evident from the right of proper|ty which agreeth to all beleevers, and onely to beleevers, as at all times to be|leevers in the ordinary way, except it be ob&s;tructed by extraordinary cau&s;es, as Circumci&s;ion was in the Wilder|ne&s;&s;e.</P>
<PB N="178" REF="118">
<P>And for the &s;econd, the A&s;&s;umption that will appear, becau&s;e all beleevers or profe&s;&s;ors of the Faith, and true Religion, were, or might be circumci&s;ed if they would, though they were not of <HI>Abra|hams</HI> family:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.12, &amp;c.</NOTE> Here is no prohibition of them, but a command if they were of <HI>Abrahams</HI> family, whether children born in the hou&s;e, or &s;trangers bought with money of any &s;tranger, though not of <HI>Abrahams</HI> Seed; yet he mu&s;t be circum|ci&s;ed if he come into <HI>Abrahams</HI> family, and &s;o become a profe&s;&s;or of the true Re|ligion, and wor&s;hipper of the true God; for which, the Lord did know that <HI>Abra|ham</HI> would in&s;truct his hou&s;hold after him.</P>
<P>All the&s;e mu&s;t be circumci&s;ed as be|leevers or profe&s;&s;ors of beleef in God, and of the true Religion, and hope of et<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rnal life in Chri&s;t the Me&s;&s;iah to come. But unbeleevers, and &s;uch as did not, nor would come in, and be true beleevers in the true God, and profe&s;&s;ors of the Faith in Chri&s;t, the Me&s;&s;iah to come, they had no right to circumci&s;ion, nor to any &s;igne and &s;eal of the covenant of Grace; and therefore the A&s;&s;umption is true, that Chri&s;t did in&s;titute Circumci&s;ion, that
<PB N="179" REF="118"> &s;igne and &s;eal of the covenant to belee|vers as beleevers, and to children of be|leevers as children of beleevers. And &s;o a &s;igne and &s;eal may &s;till continue to be|leevers and their children, as well as be|leevers and their children, as well as be|fore the coming of Chri&s;t, and this not Circumci&s;ion which is aboli&s;hed; and therefore bapti&s;m which &s;ucceeds cir|cumci&s;ion as the Apo&s;tle intimates to us, <HI>Col.</HI> 2.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Co. 2.11, 12, 13.</NOTE> making circumci&s;ion and bapti&s;m all one in the re&s;pect of the inward Grace. Circumci&s;ion made without hands, and burying with Chri&s;t by bap|ti&s;m, both intimating our putting off the Old man in our burying with Chri&s;t, as being made partakers of his death, and ri&s;ing again, in putting on the New man, as partaking of Chri&s;ts Re&s;urrection, both &s;igned land &s;ealed in circumci&s;ion in the Old,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.16.</NOTE> and Bapti&s;m in the New Te&s;ta|ment to beleevers, and the elect children, the &s;eed of <HI>Abraham,</HI> the father of us all.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>But wherefore was not</HI> Mel|chi&s;edech <HI>and</HI> Lot <HI>circumci&s;ed, and</HI> Job <HI>and his friends, and other beleevers, and wor&s;hippers of the true God, out of</HI> Abra+hams <HI>family, if circumci&s;ion was to be|leevers as beleevers?</HI></P>
<PB N="180" REF="119">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, in <HI>Melchi&s;edech, Lot, Iob,</HI> and the re&s;t, we have no certain evidence that they were, or were not circumci&s;ed, nor is it material. For it is certain, nei|ther circumci&s;ion before Chri&s;t, nor bap|ti&s;m &s;ince, or any outward Sacrament, was, or is, or can be rightly &s;aid to be ab|&s;olutely nece&s;&s;ary to Salvation; el&s;e <HI>Noah</HI> and other Patriarks before <HI>Abraham,</HI> might have been circumci&s;ed, or have had &s;ome other &s;igne and &s;eal which we had not: and children dying before the eight day of circumci&s;ion, or before they were baptized, could not be &s;aved, which a Popi&s;h Doctrine well worthy to be exploded out of the Church.</P>
<P>Secondly, it may be an&s;wered, That God did renew the covenant, and in&s;ti|tute circumci&s;ion as a &s;igne and &s;eal of the covenant with <HI>Abraham,</HI> and the Church in his hou&s;e, which was then the Church of God, chiefly vi&s;ible at that time in the world, con&s;i&s;ting of above three hundred &s;ouls,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 14.18.</NOTE> and then &s;et forth by God as a Type of the Church of the faithful in all ages, who were to have the covenant of Grace publi&s;hed, and th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;eals of the covenant communicated to them in the Go&s;pel: And &s;o this Objecti|on
<PB N="181" REF="119"> doth not hinder, but that circumci&s;ion, that &s;igne and &s;eal of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, was in&s;tituted to <HI>Abraham</HI> as a beleever, and to <HI>Abrahams</HI> children and family, as the children and family of a beleever. Men of ripe yeers, profe&s;&s;ors of the true Faith and Religion, and chil|dren as children of beleevers and pro|fe&s;&s;ors: And &s;o the like &s;igne and &s;eal, bapti&s;m may in like manner be continued in the New Te&s;tament, as well as in the Old, for any light that yet appeareth to be held forth from Chri&s;t to the con|trary.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>But is not Infants Bapti&s;m forbidden by Chri&s;t in the New Te&s;tament, either expre&s;ly or by con&s;equence, in that Chri&s;t doth not name children in the in&s;ti|tution of bapti&s;m, as he did in the in&s;tituti|on of circumci&s;ion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Certainly there is no expre&s;&s;e prohibition of Infant bapti&s;m in the New Te&s;tament; yea, the Lord Chri&s;t is &s;o far from forbidding of Infants any Grace and favours they are capable of,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 10.13, 14.</NOTE> that he reproveth his Di&s;ciples for hindering their bringing unto him, though it was not in particular to be baptized, yet to receive a ble&s;&s;ing from Chri&s;t; for which
<PB N="182" REF="120"> cau&s;e, their beleeving parents or friends, did pre&s;ent them unto Chri&s;t, that Chri&s;t might take them in his arms, and put his hands upon them and ble&s;&s;e them (as be|leeving parents, do now pre&s;ent them to Chri&s;t in bapti&s;m.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 10.13.</NOTE>) And Chri&s;t receiveth them, and giveth for a rea&s;on, a high ap|probation of children expre&s;&s;ed in &s;eve|ral Evangeli&s;ts: <HI>Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not; for of &s;uch is the Kingdom of God.</HI> True, not onely of &s;uch who in &s;ome re&s;pects are qualified like children, but of &s;uch per|&s;ons al&s;o, even of little children: And true, both of the Kingdom of Grace and Glory, for all elect children of Jews and Gentiles of all Nations. And if the King|dom of God belong to children, then why not this Seal of the Kingdom Bap|ti&s;m, of which, Infants are capable now, as well children at eight dayes old were capable of circumci&s;ion, before the coming of Chri&s;t? It is evident, there is no expre&s;&s;e prohibition of Infants Bap|ti&s;m, which may hinder their pre&s;enting unto Chri&s;t, to be ble&s;&s;ed in that Ordi|nance.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>But what &s;ay you to the &s;econd? is not Infant Bapti&s;m denyed by
<PB N="183" REF="120"> con&s;equence, in that they are not named in the words of In&s;titution, go, Di&s;ciple all Nations, or make them Di&s;ciple, by Teach|ing and Baptizing them?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The An&s;wer is: Fir&s;t, it is evi|dent that Chri&s;t in that In&s;titution of Bapti&s;m, intends principally men and women of ripe yeers, Jews and Gentiles to be converted to the Faith of Chri&s;t, who were capable of teaching; and fir&s;t to be di&s;cipled by teaching, and then bap|tized as the Pro&s;elytes that came in to <HI>Abrahams</HI> Hou&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18, &amp;c.</NOTE> no doubt were fir&s;t taught before they were circumci&s;ed, and yet their children were circumci&s;ed at eight dayes old, before they were taught or made Di&s;ciples by teaching, of which they were not capable. It is true,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iere. 1.4, 5. Luke 1.13, 14, 15.</NOTE> they might be made Di&s;ciples by Covenant. and inward teaching, and &s;anctification Of the Holy Go&s;pel, as all the &s;piritual Seed were; and &s;o may children now that Chri&s;t holds forth, why not baptized now as well as children were circum|&s;ed then by vertue of Chri&s;ts In&s;titution.</P>
<P>Secondly, There is another an&s;wer, That if a &s;igne and &s;eal of the Righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e of Faith, and Regeneration, or in|ward
<PB N="184" REF="121"> Circumci&s;ion of the heart, be due to Infants of beleevers, and to be com|municated to them as to children of be|leevers, by vertue of Chri&s;ts in&s;titution of a &s;eal to beleeving <HI>Abraham,</HI> and his children, as is before held forth; Then it mu&s;t be either circumci&s;ion, or bapti&s;m, or &s;ome other &s;igne and &s;eal appointed by Chri&s;t for this end; but it cannot be cir|cumci&s;ion, for that is virtually aboli&s;hed by Chri&s;ts in&s;titution of bapti&s;m; nor is there any other &s;igne or &s;eal appointed by Chri&s;t for children of beleevers, Iews or Gentiles; and therefore it mu&s;t needs be bapti&s;m: And &s;o Chri&s;t doth not for|bid, but rather virtually appoint bapti&s;m for Infants in the new, as he did appoint circumci&s;ion for Infants in the Old Te|&s;tament.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.</NOTE> For the not naming, doth not imply a negation? when as they may be included in the in&s;titution in general &s;et|ting up bapti&s;m in&s;tead of circumci&s;ion, as women not named, are not denyed, but included in the in&s;titution of the Lords Supper in the place of the Pa&s;&s;e|over, and may partake of that Ordinance, being rightly prepared, although not named in the in&s;titution.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>You have an&s;wered con|cerning
<PB N="185" REF="121"> the &s;piritual Seed of</HI> Abraham, <HI>the elect children of beleevers, that they may be Di&s;ciples by way of Covenant, and by right of Election; and &s;o may have a right and intere&s;t to Bapti&s;m, the &s;eal of the Covenant, which is not denied by &s;ome chief adver&s;aries of Pedobapti&s;m, (if they could be known to be &s;uch.) But now, what &s;ay you for other children of beleevers, which it may be, are none of Gods elect; nor di|&s;ciples by way of that internal Covenant of Grace; nor inward &s;anctification of the Spirit? What right or title can &s;uch In|fants have to bapti&s;m in infancy, or until they be di&s;cipled by publike Teaching, and Declaration, or profe&s;&s;ion of them&s;elves to be beleevers, and converted to the Faith of Chri&s;t, and &s;uch to be admitted by ver|tue of Chri&s;ts In&s;titution, Go, Di&s;ciple all Nations, and Baptize, as is opened be|fore?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, for all children of be|leeving Parents, though they be none of Gods Elect, yet I conceive they may have as good a priviledge now, and be under outward Admini&s;trations, as <HI>I&s;hmael</HI> and <HI>E&s;au</HI> had, (if the&s;e were not elected) or as any of the beleevers children before Chri&s;t had, not being elected by way of
<PB N="186" REF="122"> priviledge as children of beleevers, to partake of outward Ordinances and pri|viledges as children of the faithful, e|&s;pecially when as it is not known of us who are elected, and who are not. Why may it not be, that <HI>E&s;au</HI> was made par|taker of this outward priviledge, for <HI>Jacob</HI> and <HI>Abrahams</HI> &s;ake? And for the elect childrens &s;ake, all in general, who are children of beleevers in the Church of God, might, and may have this out|ward badge of Chri&s;tianity, as a note of di&s;tinction between children of Iews, Turks, and Pagans, who deny and reject Chri&s;t; and children of &s;uch faithful, who beleeve and embrace Chri&s;t, and the Go&s;pel, in truth, and &s;incerity.</P>
<P>And thus you have one ground of Scripture opened and applyed for Pedo|bapti&s;m, which may evidence, That it is not a meer humane invention, and ab&s;o|lute will-wor&s;hip, as &s;ome have affirmed, whom I dare not for this one opinion again&s;t Infants bapti&s;m, utterly condemn, excommunicate, and ca&s;t out of the Churches of Chri&s;t, as enemies to Chri&s;t and the Go&s;pel; but rather look upon &s;ome of them as weak Brethren, to be drawn in by bands of Love, and cords
<PB N="187" REF="122"> of Amity, by all means &s;eeking to inform them, and reveal that light the Lord hath opened in the Cannonical Books of the Old and New Te&s;tament, praying God, that every Saint may joyn in love and humility, in prayer to God every day more and more, to reveal and &s;ettle Truth in his Churches, that God may be glorified, and truth, and peace e&s;tabli&s;h|ed in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>I am of your minde not to condemn all as utter enemies to Chri&s;t, who are adver&s;aries to childrens bapti&s;m: But yet their Divi&s;ions and Separations they have made in the Church, their unchurch|ing of the Churches of Chri&s;t, their con|tempt of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters for difference of Opinion, in things of le&s;&s;er importance, with divers &s;uch like, cannot be an&s;wered, or ju&s;tified, I think, before God or men, as being contrary to that Chri&s;tian love, and unity required by Chri&s;t, in, and among&s;t all that profe&s;&s;e the Name of the Lord Je&s;us. But tell me I pray you, what other grounds of Scripture have you to prove the lawfulne&s;&s;e of childrens Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers Grounds of Scripture di&s;cu&s;&s;ed, and handled at large by &s;everal learned men. I will onely
<PB N="188" REF="123"> name a few, and leave the more full open|ing of them, to tho&s;e who have under|taken the controver&s;ie in their larger Treati&s;es.</P>
<P>And fir&s;t, That encouragement which the Apo&s;tle giveth to tho&s;e Con|verts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.38, 39.</NOTE> to repent, and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t for remi&s;|&s;ion of &s;ins, becau&s;e the Promi&s;e is to them, and to their children, and not to them onely and their children, but to as many as are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God &s;hould call, that is, to the faith of Chri&s;t, or to be beleevers in Chri&s;t; and why not to their children al&s;o, as being children of beleevers, as well as to the former, whether they were far off of the Iews, or far off of the Gentiles, who &s;hould be, or are &s;ince brought in to beleeve on Chri&s;t? and &s;o their children have an encouragement to be baptized, as well as other. If you ask what the promi&s;e here &s;poken of, was, I cannot &s;ee why it &s;hould not be that pro|mi&s;e made to <HI>Abraham,</HI> and to beleevers in him, as being in &s;ome re&s;pect the Fa|ther of the Faithful. I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed; and then as circumci&s;ion was e&s;pecially the &s;eal of
<PB N="189" REF="123"> that &s;piritual Covenant to <HI>Abraham,</HI> and his &s;piritual Seed, &s;o virtually to belee|vers, and their &s;piritual children, is there a &s;igne and &s;eal belonging: And this is not circumci&s;ion, which is vertually for|bidden in that In&s;titution of Bapti&s;m by Chri&s;t in the Go&s;pel; as Bapti&s;m is,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 28.19, 20.</NOTE> and may be vertually commanded to children of beleevers, though not expre&s;&s;ed by Name in that In&s;titution of Bapti&s;m a|fore&s;aid. In like manner, as women are not expre&s;&s;ed by Name in the In&s;titution of the Lords Supper, and yet are ver|tually by Chri&s;ts Ordinance to be admit|ted, and made partakers of that holy Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But may not there be the &s;ame Arguments for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be given to children of beleevers now, as for the Sacrament of Bapti&s;m, &s;ince the children of the</HI> I&s;raelites <HI>are con|ceived to eat the Pa&s;&s;eover,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 12.</NOTE> <HI>as well as they were circumci&s;ed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I conceive there is not the &s;ame Rea&s;on of Bapti&s;m, and the Lords Supper. For in the Act of Bapti&s;m, both men of ripe yeers, and children, are meer pati|ents, &s;uffering them&s;elves to be baptized, which a childe is capable of, and may
<PB N="190" REF="124"> &s;uffer, as well as a man of ripe yeers. But in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper there is action, not onely of eating and drinking, for that a childe may do. But of eating and drinking in remembrance of Chri&s;t, of &s;hewing the Lords death until he come, of offering up an Eucha|ri&s;tical Sacrifice, of prai&s;e and thanks|giving, for the death and pa&s;&s;ion, and Re&s;urrection, and A&s;&s;ention, of Chri&s;t, and all benefits thereby, and an Act of renewing our Covenant with God in Chri&s;t at the Sacrament, which an Infant cannot do,<NOTE PLACE="marg">N<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="3 letters">. 10.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> as not being of knowledge and under&s;tanding; and &s;o an Infant may not he be capable of the Lords Supper, though he be capable of Bapti&s;m or in|choate admi&s;&s;ion into the Church of Chri&s;t. But this is di&s;cu&s;&s;ed at large by others, therefore I pa&s;&s;e to the next.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is that third ground you finde produced for childrens Bap|ti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That priviledge of the children of beleevers in Chri&s;t, above the children of Turks, Pagans, and Infidels, unto whom, I perceive there are divers privi|ledges and prerogatives may be found in Scriptures; and be&s;ides that, they are in
<PB N="191" REF="124"> the bo&s;ome of the Church, in godly Fa|milies bred up under the means of Grace, partakers of their Parents in&s;truction in the knowledge of Chri&s;t, and in many re&s;pects more happy then the children of Pagans, and Infidels, in regard of outward privileges, even in &s;piritual things. There is as the Apo&s;tle intimates, a &s;pecial kinde of holine&s;&s;e belongeth to them, which pertains not to children of unbeleevers. This &s;eemeth to me held forth by the Apo&s;tle, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 7.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 7.14.</NOTE> The un|beleeving Husband is &s;anctified by the Wife, <HI>i. e.</HI> by, or in the beleeving wi&s;e, and &s;o on the contrary part; for I con|ceive the&s;e are oppo&s;ed one to the other, and the conclu&s;ion, or inference, follow|eth, el&s;e were your children unholy, but no<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> they are holy. And this for what <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> yet finde, may, and mu&s;t be meant of more then Matrimonial holi|ne&s;&s;e; for that may be among&s;t unbelee|vers: And if it &s;hould be no more, the conclu&s;ion would be but this, el&s;e were your children Ba&s;tards, as &s;ome have expounded it. But I do not beleeve, that all the children of unbeleeving per&s;ons in the married e&s;tate, are Ba&s;tards,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.4.</NOTE> &s;ince marriage is honourable among&s;t all, whe|ther
<PB N="192" REF="125"> beleevers or unbeleevers. And al|though neither of the Parents be a be|leever, yet if they be lawfully married, their children are not Ba&s;tards, nor &s;o to be e&s;teemed. And if there be more meant, and to be under&s;tood, then a Ma|trimonial holine&s;&s;e: Then what rea&s;on is there why this holine&s;&s;e &s;hould not be a Covenant holine&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Ben. A|ret. in 1 Cor. 7.</HI> Sumit Argu|mentum natur&acirc; fi|dei melio|ris per&s;o|nae &s;ingu|lis fideli|bus dici|tur. Ero Deus tuus &amp; &s;eminis tui. Ad &s;an|ctificati|onem fili|orum &s;atis e&s;t, &s;i alter parens &s;it fidelis. <HI>1 Cor. 7.14, 15.</HI></NOTE> intitling children of beleevers to covenant priviledges? for in this, I &s;ub&s;cribe to the judgement of <HI>Bendictus Aretius</HI> upon that place, That the Apo&s;tle takes an Argument from the nature of the Faith of the bet|ter party, namely, of the beleever, to prove the &s;anctification of the wor&s;er party, that is, of the unbeleever: And &s;o the priviledge of this holine&s;&s;e of the children, ari&s;eth not from a bare Matri|monial or Conjugal union of the marri|ed parties, but from the excellency and priviledge of Faith; and &s;o of that Co|venant union, and Covenant holine&s;&s;e of the Covenant to beleevers, I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed. And a Covenant priviledge may be to have a &s;igne and &s;eal of the Covenant, belong to the&s;e holy children of beleevers, as the Apo&s;tle calls them. And if &s;o, then why
<PB N="193" REF="125"> not Bapti&s;m, as is held forth in the Rea|&s;on before; and for that i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> is objected by &s;ome, that divers Divines h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ve been of other mindes, and given other In<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">erpre|tations of the place; it is no &s;atisfactory ground again&s;t Poedobapti&s;m to another Chri&s;tian, who cannot underwrite to their opinions.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Is there no more Rea&s;ons given or held forth by Divines for this In|fant Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers Rea&s;ons drawn from other places of Scripture;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 2.11, &amp;c.</NOTE> that <HI>Col.</HI> 2. where the Apo&s;tle makes mention of inward circum&s;ion made without hands, and after of Bapti&s;m, <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s coming in place of circumci&s;ion; for &s;o &s;ome argue from that place, and from other the like Scriptures: But becau&s;e the Controver&s;ie grown to be great in the&s;e pre&s;ent times, many Books written <HI>pro</HI> and <HI>con,</HI> for and again&s;t Infant Bap|ti&s;m; and for that, the opening and hand|ling of this Controver&s;ie at large, is too great for this little Body of Divinity, and beyond my intention in this work. I will leave the deciding of the Que&s;ti|on, to tho&s;e, I hope, holy and learned men, that are engaged in the Contro|ver&s;ie;
<PB N="194" REF="126"> for I dare not but think there may be Saints on both &s;ides, and onely hold forth a few Que&s;tions for clearing of &s;ome objections, (at lea&s;t in part, as I conceive) and de&s;ire that the Lord Chri&s;t will &s;o di&s;cover truth by his light, that what&s;oever hath been practi&s;ed a|mi&s;&s;e may be reformed, and the Church of Chri&s;t be glorious in Truth and Unity.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">&s;t. 16. <HI>Is not Bapti&s;m <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> badge of Chri&s;tianity, and &s;ign to put difference between the Church of Chri&s;t, and the world; and if &s;o, then doth not Baptizing Children, though of Believers, de&s;troy that difference, and confound the World and Church together &s;ometimes receiving them for Saints which are not, and &s;o fru&s;trate one end of Bapti&s;m to different Believers from the world?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is true, outward Bapti&s;m is one outward &s;ign or badge of difference in men and women of riper years, be|tween the world and the Church, and yet all that are baptized in Infancy, or a|mong&s;t men and women of ripe, years; and who have made an outward con|fe&s;&s;ion of Faith and Repentance, and have been baptized after Profe&s;&s;ion. are
<PB N="195" REF="126"> not by their outward Bapti&s;m truly &s;epa|rated from the world, and made Mem|bers of Chri&s;t by vertue of that work done (as Papi&s;ts have taught:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.</NOTE>) For <HI>Si|mon Magus</HI> was outwardly Baptized, and made a profe&s;&s;ion and &s;hew of be|lieving, yet was he in truth &s;till one of the world;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 1.</NOTE> and <HI>Hymeneus</HI> and <HI>Alexan|der</HI> no doubt were outwardly Baptized, and yet they and many others after made &s;hip-wrack of Faith, and were not truly &s;eparated from the world: But there is more required then this.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What then is that which doth thus truly &s;eparate and make this true difference?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is Gods Election, effectual calling, Ju&s;tification, Regeneration, and inward Bapti&s;m, and true ingrafting into Chri&s;t, and to be born of the Spirit, that truly &s;eparates from the world, in re&s;pect of inward &s;eparation: And this Children may have, as <HI>Jeremy, John Bap|ti&s;t</HI> might, and many Children of Be|lievers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 1.15.</NOTE> and &s;uch as died before outward Circumci&s;ion, and all elect children what|&s;oever before the Eight day; and there|fore by right of foederal holine&s;&s;e, may Children of Believers have this privi|ledge
<PB N="196" REF="127"> to be outwardly entred into the Church by an Infant Solemn admi&s;&s;ion, and being Baptized, to be as true out|ward Members of the vi&s;ible Church, and compleat in re&s;pect of truth and per|fection of true vi&s;ible Infant-Member|&s;hip, and &s;o may partake of outward Ad|mini&s;trations according to their capaci|ty (although they be incompleat in re&s;pect of perfection of degrees of vi&s;ibility, and declarative admi&s;&s;ion to the Lords Supper, and other acts of Church-fellow|&s;hip, agreeing to Profe&s;&s;ors of the true Faith of the Go&s;pel, and &s;ubjection there|unto in holine&s;&s;e) as well as <HI>I&s;aac, I&s;hma|el, Iacob</HI> and <HI>E&s;au</HI> when they were Children being Circumci&s;ed: and &s;o Chil|dren now, &s;ince they cannot be di&s;cerned to be otherwi&s;e then Elect of God and of Gods Kingdom (no more then <HI>E&s;au</HI> could till he was di&s;covered) and there|fore children may be accepted as outward true Members, and inward in judgement of charity, and partake of Bapti&s;m; otherwi&s;e, what chief holine&s;&s;e or privi|ledge have they above the Children of Infidels; for to &s;ay they have none, is directly contrary to the Apo&s;tles Do|ctrine, in that 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 7.14, 15, 16. noted already.</P>
<PB N="197" REF="127">
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>But what outward means is there then to &s;eparate and di&s;tingui&s;h the&s;e truly from the world, when the&s;e come to years of di&s;cretion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I have an&s;wered this Que&s;tion in part too already: I now adde, Not to be Baptized again as &s;ome are in the&s;e dayes, as if that had power of it &s;elf to convey an inward Grace, or communi|cate the holy Gho&s;t, or to make and evi|dence them to be true Di&s;ciples, (as &s;ome dream:) For certainly men may be out|wardly Baptized and made out&s;ide Di&s;ci|ples, and have outward common gifts of knowledge, utterance, to profe&s;&s;e the Faith of Chri&s;t, and be Rebaptized, and yet be but Hypocrites and no true Di&s;ciples nor Teachers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.28, 29.</NOTE> as were many in the Primitive times, and too many a|mong&s;t our &s;elves.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What outward means then will &s;uffice Children Baptized when they come to years of di&s;cretion, to evidence them without Rebaptizing, as far as any outward badge can do, to be true Chri&s;tians &s;eparated from the world, and approved of as Members of the Church of Chri&s;t, and of the Congregation of Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> fir&s;t, a profe&s;&s;io~ of total re&s;igning the~|&s;elves
<PB N="198" REF="128"> to Chri&s;t with a right preparation in them&s;elves, with gifts of Grace from Chri&s;t outward and inward, evidencing the truth of their knowledge, Faith, and Regeneration, or new conver&s;ion unto God in Chri&s;t, &s;o far as can be di&s;cerned by the Church in Chri&s;tian charity.</P>
<P>Secondly, a right Examination of them and their knowledge, Faith and other Graces to this end, with admi&s;&s;ion of them by the Church, or Mini&s;ters and Elders of the Church to the Lords Sup|per, after Examination and &s;ufficient proof and approbation afore&s;aid.</P>
<P>Thirdly, their joyning with the Church in that Sacrament of E&s;tabli&s;hment and confirmation of their Faith in Chri&s;t, and communion with the Saints of the mo&s;t high in Profe&s;&s;ion of Faith and holine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Fourthly and la&s;tly, their Religious walking in all holine&s;&s;e and good works, according to their callings manife&s;ting their Chri&s;tian thankfulne&s;&s;e to God for his Free-grace in Chri&s;t, to Gods glory, the good of Gods Church, and joy of their own &s;ouls in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us. The&s;e may &s;uffice to evidence and approve them Chri&s;tians without Rebaptization or &s;eparation of them&s;elves from the
<PB N="199" REF="128"> publike Preaching of the Go&s;pel,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 10.22, &amp;c.</NOTE> and communion of Saints, as the manner of &s;ome is.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What profit or comfort can there come by Baptizing of Infants?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, It may be a comfort to the Parents in this a&s;&s;urance, that their Chil|dren are within the Covenant of Pro|mi&s;e, when as Infidel can have no &s;uch a&s;&s;urance of their Children, that they might prai&s;e God for &s;uch goodnes. And,</P>
<P>Secondly, Great profit to their Chil|dren them&s;elves for their In&s;truction when they come to years of di&s;cretion, what Covenant they are ingaged in by Bapti&s;m to be Gods Children, and have, as Children in Covenant with God in Chri&s;t, right to many Prerogatives which Infidels have not, no nor their Children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What is the end and u&s;e of this Sacrament of Bapti&s;m?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To &s;et forth and &s;eal,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Our ingrafting into Chri&s;t, as <HI>Rom.</HI> 11.17, 18. &amp; 6.4, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, And our union and commu|nion with Chri&s;t and his Church, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 12.12, 13, 27.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Our putting on of Chri&s;t and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e in graces, <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.27.</P>
<PB N="200" REF="129">
<P>Fourthly, To hold forth our inward wa&s;hing in Chri&s;t blood, partaking in the vertue of Chri&s;ts death and Re&s;ur|rection, <HI>Rom.</HI> 6.3, 4, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, Our a&s;&s;urance of Repentance and remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, <HI>Acts</HI> 22.16.</P>
<P>Sixthly, Our Adoption to be Gods children, <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.24. &amp; 4.4, 5.</P>
<P>Seventhly, A&s;&s;urance of Eternal life when this life is ended, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.9. <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.20.29. <HI>Rom.</HI> 4.11.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>But &s;hould not children be Dipped over head and ears, the whole body in the Water, as &s;ome thinks</HI> Iohn <HI>Bapti|zed in</HI> Iordan, <HI>and as Papi&s;ts did u&s;e to Baptize their children.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is not the outward dipping or wa&s;hing that clen&s;eth away &s;in; but the vertue of the blood of Chri&s;t: And we read no ab&s;olute command of Baptizing in a River, or wa&s;hing the whole body in water; nor do we believe the Iaylor and his hou&s;hold (Baptized at midnight) went forth to a River to be dipped all o|ver: It is &s;ufficient to Baptize or wa&s;h part, as Chri&s;t &s;aid to <HI>Peter</HI> in wa&s;hing the Di&s;ciples feet, He that is wa&s;hed needs not have to wa&s;h his feet, but is clean every whit: For if Chri&s;t wa&s;h
<PB N="201" REF="129"> any part of the &s;oul or body with his blood, he wa&s;heth the whole man,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. i.7. Rev. 5.6. Ioh. 13.8, 9, 10. Heb. 12.24.</NOTE> it needs then &s;ave to Baptize or wa&s;h the head or face of a man, woman or childe with water in Bapti&s;m. That may &s;uffice to &s;eal our Spiritual wa&s;hing with the blood of Sprinkling, which &s;peaks better things then did the blood of <HI>Abel.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What &s;ay you of the Popi&s;h cu&s;tom of Dipping the whole body of the childe all over in water three times: Fir&s;t, in the Name of the Father, Secondly, in the Name of the Son, Thirdly, in the Name of the holy Gho&s;t.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is evident to me, that they re&s;ted too much in the work done, and outward action, Chri&s;t giving no com|mand for &s;uch a threefold baptizing of the body; and I conceive the like of bapti&s;m of &s;ome Adver&s;arie to Poedobapti&s;m in a River, (too much magnifying the man|ner of the outward action, of their Bap|tizing of their whole body of their Re|baptized Di&s;ciples:) For which kinde of Baptizing the whole Body, or Bap|tizing in a River,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.19.</NOTE> Chri&s;t gives no word of command that we finde in Scripture in the In&s;titution of Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>You have held forth di|vers
<PB N="202" REF="130"> grounds from the Word of God, to &s;hew the lawfulne&s;&s;e of Baptizing the chil-of Believing Parents: But I de&s;ire the re|&s;olution of another doubt. Do you believe I pray you that there is &s;uch a nece&s;&s;ity of Baptizing children, that if they die with|out Bapti&s;m they are damned, or go to Limbo, as the Papi&s;ts dream, and too many Popi&s;hly affected among&s;t us.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, I believe Bapti&s;m is not a thing indifferent to be u&s;ed or not u&s;ed at plea&s;ure: but it is nece&s;&s;ary to be u&s;ed of Chri&s;tians according to the In|&s;titution of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.20.</NOTE> And if it cannot be obtained by men of ripe years converted, or for children of Believers; yet it is to be &s;ought for and de&s;ired in a right and due manner, with the Word adjoyned unto it, not re&s;ting on Bapti&s;m, but on Chri&s;t for Salvation. And yet I do not believe that outward bapti&s;m makes a Chri&s;tians &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 6.15.</NOTE> or Bapti&s;m to be &s;o ab&s;o|lutly nece&s;&s;ary to Salvation, or the Grace of God in Chri&s;t to be &s;o tied unto the Sa|crament, that tho&s;e who de&s;ire it, and die without it, cannot be &s;aved; or that they go into &s;ome Limbo, and not into Hea|ven, as Papi&s;ts and ignorant people have dreamed: Or that believing Parents
<PB N="203" REF="130"> &s;hould be &s;o troubled for their children dying without Bapti&s;m, as if they were lo&s;t; but rather to live by Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.</NOTE> that as God is their God, &s;o he is the God of their Seed, and can &s;ave them as well without Bapti&s;m as with Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>But what ground have you for this your Faith?</HI></P>
<P>I have ground &s;ufficient out of the Word of God. For fir&s;t, it cannot but be a &s;in again&s;t Chri&s;tian charity, to judge all tho&s;e children of Patriarks, and people of God before the birth of Chri&s;t, who died before the eight day of circumci&s;ion to be damned, or be &s;ent to Limbo for that want of circumci&s;ion, which by the Law of God they might not have until the eight day. Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.12.</NOTE> or to think all tho&s;e who dyed in the wilderne&s;&s;e (in the forty years) uncircumci&s;ed to peri&s;h, when as there was a kinde of nece&s;&s;ity by occa&s;ion of their often removing that they could not have circumci&s;ion until they came to <HI>Canaan.</HI> Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Io&s;h. 5.2, &amp;c.</NOTE> or to think the &s;ame of children of Chri&s;tian Parents, who died before the Fea&s;ts of Pa&s;&s;eover and Penteco&s;t, at which times Bapti&s;m was then u&s;ed in the Church. Fourthly, or to think of the Believing
<PB N="204" REF="131"> Repenting Theef upon the Cro&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.5. &amp; 4. &amp; 7.</NOTE> that he was damned for want of Bapti&s;m. If the&s;e had the Bapti&s;m of the Spirit, the living vertue of that water of life; that was a &s;eal of their entrance into Gods Kingdom, though they wanted the out|ward Bapti&s;m of water.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What conclu&s;ion do you make from all this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Therefore I conclude of the&s;e or &s;uch like children or others, as <HI>Am|bro&s;e</HI> did of <HI>Valentinian</HI> the Emperour, who coming to be Baptized died by the way,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ambro&s;e lib. de vi|ta Valen|tinian.</NOTE> they are Baptized <HI>voto,</HI> though not <HI>facto,</HI> in will and de&s;ire, though not in fact, in re&s;pect of outward Bapti&s;m, yet they may partake of the inward Bap|ti&s;m. And &s;o Chri&s;tian Parents need not to be tormented with grief for want of Bapti&s;m in private, when God is plea&s;ed to deny publike,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 4.</NOTE> but be comforted, and not to &s;orrow as tho&s;e that have no hope, for their children they hope are a&s;leep in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Qu. 28. <HI>I will touch but one Quaere more: Hath not Infant Bapti&s;m been very much abu&s;ed in the Church? And if &s;o, Is it not better to take it away, as the Brazen Ser|pent was, by which means the abu&s;es may
<PB N="205" REF="131"> be &s;ure to be Reformed, which otherwi&s;e can very difficultly be Reformed, many gro&s;&s;e abu&s;es being &s;o rooted in the hearts and mindes of ignorant men, yea, of mul|titudes of men and women in the world?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It cannot be denied but that In|fant Bapti&s;m hath been mo&s;t gro&s;ly a|bu&s;ed by erroneous opinions and practi|&s;es in the Church, yea almo&s;t even from the beginning that we read of it in Ec|cle&s;ia&s;tical Writers, as that it conferred grace, that it was nece&s;&s;ary to Salvation, that without Bapti&s;m Infants were at lea&s;t in danger to peri&s;h, that outward Bapti&s;m did make an Infant a Chri&s;tian &s;oul, and having Bapti&s;m, it was made a member of Chri&s;t and the childe of God, and certainly &s;aved, though the Parents were unbelievers, Pagans or Infidels, or as bad. The&s;e erroneous abu&s;es and di|vers others, not only in Popery and Po|pi&s;h Churches at this day, but even in <HI>England</HI> among&s;t multitudes of &s;uper&s;ti|tious formal and ignorant people, both in the city and countrey, as we may finde by &s;ad experience, witne&s;&s;ed by many Arguments of wilful ignorance, or much weakne&s;&s;e at lea&s;t, and much to be pitied and lamented, and prayers put up to
<PB N="206" REF="132"> God it may be amended.</P>
<P>Be&s;ides the multitude who re&s;t in this outward Ordinance of Bapti&s;m in their Infancy, as <HI>Paul</HI> did before his Conver|&s;on in outward Iewi&s;h priviledges, and in &s;pecial that he was circumci&s;ed the eight day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 3.6, 7, 8.</NOTE> all which he accounted nothing but lo&s;&s;e for Chri&s;t, when God once opened his eyes to &s;ee his folly of tru&s;ting to the&s;e outward priviledges of being circum|ci&s;ed, or partaking of the Pa&s;&s;eover or any thing but to Chri&s;t him&s;elf and his Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e: multitudes now tru&s;ting to this, That they were Baptized, made Chri&s;tian &s;ouls in Infancy, and have been hou&s;holded, and received Sacrament at lea&s;t once a year at <HI>Ea&s;ter,</HI> or it may be every moneth, although they did never make profe&s;&s;ion of Faith, or partake of inward Bapti&s;m, Regeneration, or new Birth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.3, 5.</NOTE> without which a man cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Secondly, although they were never brought to &s;ee their extreme need of Chri&s;t, or carryed out of them&s;elves, and all &s;elf-confidence or tru&s;t to outward Ordinances and com|mon priviledges of Bapti&s;m, the Lords-Supper, form of Godline&s;&s;e, Religious duty, or the like, all which a man or
<PB N="207" REF="132"> woman may partake of,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 13.24.</NOTE> and never have any dram of that true Grace which ac|companieth &s;alvation, or be admitted en|trance into the Kingdom of Glory.</P>
<P>Thus far certainly; and wor&s;e it may be, hath Infant Bapti&s;m been abu&s;ed in the Church. Neverthele&s;&s;e, if Infant Bap|ti&s;m be judged lawful by vertue of that In&s;titution of a &s;eal of the Covenant by Chri&s;t to believing <HI>Abraham,</HI> not of the corporal or c<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rnal part of the Cove|nant, the promi&s;e of the Land of <HI>Canaan</HI> to <HI>Abrahams</HI> Po&s;terity: But al&s;o the &s;piritual part to believing <HI>Abraham</HI> and his children, and to Believers and their children, as children of Believers, as a &s;eal of the Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, or by any other ground or Argument held forth already, or to be held forth by any the Servants of Chri&s;t. Then I conceive the abu&s;e of Bapti&s;m doth not take away the lawful u&s;e.</P>
<P>But if the Apo&s;tle approve circumci|&s;ion of the <HI>Iewi&s;h</HI> children;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 21.21.</NOTE> and <HI>Paul</HI> circumci&s;ed <HI>Timothy,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 16.3.</NOTE> becau&s;e he would not offend the <HI>Iews,</HI> although circumci|&s;ion was to be aboli&s;hed. Ahd if after he had Preached, that if they were cir|cumci&s;ed Chri&s;t profited them nothing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 5.2.</NOTE>
<PB N="208" REF="133"> (as he did to the <HI>Galatians</HI>) yet if a <HI>Iew</HI> &s;hould have been converted to the faith, and the year before his conver&s;ion, had a childe received circumci&s;ion as his pri|viledge, and the next year after his con|ver&s;ion to Chri&s;tianity, have had a childe which might not have been circumci&s;ed, becau&s;e aboli&s;hed, and troubled that his childe might not be Baptized, nor have any outward badge of difference from the childe of an Infidel; becau&s;e, as Adver&s;a|ries to <HI>Poedobapti&s;m</HI> aver, there's no Ordi|nance of Chri&s;t for Infant Bapti&s;m: I conceive Saint <HI>Paul</HI> would have Bapti|zed the <HI>Iews</HI> childe, to take off the of|fence, as well as circumci&s;ed <HI>Timothy</HI> be|fore, &s;ince no direct command of Chri&s;t appears to the contrary. And &s;o, though Infant Bapti&s;m could be proved fit to be left, as circumci&s;ion was aboli&s;hed; yet till men were enlightned, it might be continued as circumci&s;ion; and much more now be practi&s;ed in the Church, &s;ince it cannot be proved to be forbidden or aboli&s;hed. And thus you have the &s;ub|&s;tance for Infant Bapti&s;m moderately.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>Now to conclude, What may all this teach us which you have &s;et forth concerning Childrens or Infants Bap|ti&s;m,
<PB N="209" REF="133"> that (as you have &s;aid even now) although it had been aboli&s;hed as circumci|&s;ion was, which it was not, yet it might be continued untill mens mindes were en|lightned, as circumci&s;ion was continued for a time; and much more now be practi|&s;ed in the Church, &s;ince it cannot be proved to be any where forbidden by Chri&s;t, but rather approved; and &s;ince there are &s;uch different and doubtful opinions of it in &s;uch as profe&s;s to be Saints, how &s;hould Saints behave them&s;elves one to another in the Church of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly this may be a light from Chri&s;t, to lead us unto Chri&s;t, and learn from Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles not to un-Church the Churches of Chri&s;t Reform|ed; and yet reforming for this difference of Poedobapti&s;m and &s;uch like, as &s;ome virulent and unchri&s;tianlike Adver&s;aries to Infant-bapti&s;m have done, and yet en|deavour to do: But to labour for Re|formation, rather then unlawful Schi&s;m and Separation from the Church. Thus &s;hall we declare our &s;elves to be Chri&s;ti|ans indeed, not &s;eeking divi&s;ion, but in a Chri&s;tian Brotherly way endeavouring Union and Unity, and Peace in the Church, each one labouring for a true
<PB N="210" REF="134"> and pure Reformation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13.11,</NOTE> rather then a &s;e|paration one from another, in the pro|fe&s;&s;ion of the Go&s;pel of peace, that peace and the God of peace may dwell among&s;t us.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="17" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The &s;eventeenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VErily I like well of your Chri&s;tian conclu&s;ion for Peace and &V;nity a|mong&s;t Saints, though there be &s;ome diffe|rences in opinion in le&s;&s;er matters, when as we all hold the Head Chri&s;t. And &s;ince you have declared your knowledge and faith concerning the Sacrament of Bapti&s;m: Now what do you know and believe con|cerning the Sacrament of the Lords Sup|per and by whom, and when was that in&s;ti|tuted, and what light is there from Chri&s;t to lead us to Chri&s;t therein?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16. Mat. 26. Mark 14. Luke 22. 1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> This Sacrament of the com|munion of the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t, was in&s;tituted by the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t him&s;elf, in the &s;ame night that he en|dured his bitter Agony, and al&s;o &s;weat drops of blood before he was betrayed
<PB N="211" REF="134"> by <HI>Judas,</HI> and apprehended by the Of|ficers of the High Prie&s;ts and Elders, to be condemned and put to death, that cur&s;ed death of the Cro&s;&s;e which he &s;uf|fered for our Redemption.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the outward vi&s;ible &s;ign, &s;eal, or external material thing of the Lords Supper, or of that Sacrament of the confirmation of our Faith, and re|newing of our Covenant again with God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The external or outward thing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.27. &amp;c. &amp; 14.22, &amp;c. Luke 22.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;ign, &s;eal, badge, or pledge in a Sacra|ment, is that which being &s;anctified, holdeth forth another thing to the in|ward ear, or eye, or hand, or mouth of the &s;oul, which is Faith, then it doth to the outward ear, or eye, or hand, or mouth of the body; and &s;eals and a&s;|&s;ures another thing to the &s;oul, then that which the body partakes of; and in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, this outward &s;ign, &s;eal, pledge and Symbol, is the bread and wine con&s;ecrated or ble&s;&s;ed; and the bread broken and wine powred out; the bread and wine given and received, eaten and drunk of the faithful, together with the whole Sacra|mental action, according to the in&s;titu|tion
<PB N="212" REF="135"> of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is the inwrrd or inter|nal grace and material thing in this Sacra|ment, &s;o &s;ignified, &s;ealed and communi|cated by Chri&s;t to every true and faithful receiver, of the&s;e holy my&s;teries, in this holy Ordinance?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, &amp;t. Iohn 6.55, &amp;c. &amp; 10.15. &amp;c. 1 cor. 10.16. Eph. 5.25, &amp;c. Rom. 4.24, &amp;c. Heb. 9.25, &amp;c. &amp; 10.12, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 1.10. Rom. 6.23.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The inward grace or inward material thing is Chri&s;t him&s;elf, given for his Church with his body and blood &s;piritually received by Faith, and all Chri&s;ts merits, with the graces procured by Chri&s;t in his death, pa&s;&s;ion and Re|&s;urrection, A&s;cention, and all he hath done for our good, both for this and a better life; all which are lively repre|&s;ented, &s;ealed, and communicated to the faithful in their &s;ouls, according to the Covenant of grace held forth, and con|firmed in this communion of the body and blood of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But &s;ince Chri&s;t &s;aith of the bread in the Sacrament, This is my Body; and of the wine, This is my Blood, do not the faithful receive corporally and carnally the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t in this Sa|crament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No verily, the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t cannot be received corporally
<PB N="213" REF="135"> and carnally, with the hand and mouth of our bodies, wrat&s;oever the Capernaites of old, or the Papi&s;ts or any other &s;ince have imagined.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>How then is the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t received in the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To under&s;tand this, we mu&s;t know that a body is divers wayes a&s;cri|bed to Chri&s;t, or Chri&s;t may be &s;aid to have a body in a fourfold re&s;pect, or a fourfold body; and &s;piritually and by faith the children of God do receive and partake of union and communion with Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts body in all the&s;e kindes.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the fir&s;t kinde of bo|dy, and how do the faithful receive and partake of that body of Chri&s;t in this Sa|crament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The fir&s;t was the Natural body of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 1.15. Iohn 1.14. Mat. 27.21, &amp;c. &amp; 25.31.32. &amp; 28.6. Acts 3.20, 21.</NOTE> which was conceived and born of the ble&s;&s;ed Virgin <HI>Mary,</HI> cruci|fied, dead and buried, and ro&s;e again for us and our &s;alvation: and a&s;cended into Heaven, and there is glorified, and &s;its at the right hand of God the Father in power and glory: where he &s;hall remain making interce&s;&s;ion for his Church till
<PB N="214" REF="136"> the day of Iudgement, when he &s;hall come with his glorious Angels in power to judge both the quick and the dead.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But how do we who are the Saints, receive and partake of this Na|tural crucified and glorified body of Chri&s;t.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> We may be &s;aid to receive and partake of this natural body of Chri&s;t really and truly, though not corporally and carnally, by eating or receiving it by the hand or mouth of the body: But,</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 cor. 10.16.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, Spiritually and by Faith, be|lieving on Chri&s;t as our Lord and Savi|our, who gave his Natural body to be crucified, and his Blood to be &s;hed for our &s;ins.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20.</NOTE>Secondly, Applying Chri&s;t and all his merits by Faith to our &s;ouls.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.5, 6.</NOTE>Thirdly, Receiving Chri&s;t to dwell in us, and &s;o having an union and commu|nion with Chri&s;t, as with our Lord and Head, into whom we are ingrafted by Faith.</P>
<P>Fourthly, To partake of Chri&s;t even the Divine Nature, by our union and communion with Chri&s;t which is &s;ealed in the Sacrament, <HI>John</HI> 6.63, &amp; 6.33, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> &amp; 10.18. <HI>Eph.</HI> 1.17, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> &amp; 3.16, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 12.12, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> &amp; 10.16, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.3.</P>
<PB N="215" REF="136">
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the &s;econd kinde of body which is a&s;cribed to Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A Sacramental body, and &s;o the bread and wine in the Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 12.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> are the body of Chri&s;t which doth &s;ignifie, re|pre&s;ent, and &s;eal the vertue of the Natu|ral body and blood of Chri&s;t crucified, not to all, but to all true Believers; and this outward vi&s;ible Sacramental body is received by the bodily outward hands and mouth of all communicants, true Be|lievers and Hypocrites, who come to the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>But is this Sacramental bo|dy the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament, any thing available for their goods, who come unprepared, and receive that and no more?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No certainly, this is not profit|able but hurtful to the &s;ouls,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28, &amp;c. Mat 22.11, &amp;c.</NOTE> becau&s;e they want the <HI>Wedding-Garment,</HI> and eat and drink Iudgement to them&s;elves, not be|ing able to examine them&s;elues, or to di&s;cern rightly, or partake Spiritually of the Natural or Spiritual body of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How can you call a body Spiritual?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Apo&s;tle calls the glorified body of the Saints Spiritual bodyes, be|cau&s;e
<PB N="216" REF="137"> they are endued with Spiritual qualities of glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 15.44. Rom. 6.6 &amp; 7.24. Col. 2.16, 17.</NOTE> mortality, as &s;in and death is compated to a body in re&s;pect of Natural corruption, or &s;inful quali|ties, and mortality, &s;o likewi&s;e the rich graces and &s;piritual benefits of the life of Chri&s;t, communicated and &s;ealed in the Sacrament, may be called a Spiritual body, as a whole body of &s;piritual hea|venly graces be&s;towed upon faithful re|ceivers: thus Chri&s;t and his graces are a body of grace received by the faithful.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What do you call a &s;pritual body of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is the third kinde of body, a vertual or &s;piritual body, comprehend|ing all the power, life, vertue, merits and benefits which do ari&s;e from the pa&s;&s;ion, crucifying of the natural body, &s;hedding of the natural blood of Chri&s;t, with his Re&s;urrection and A&s;cention, for the good and benefit of Gods Church and people, held forth, &s;ealed, and exhibited in the Lords Supper, and received, not by the hand and mouth of the body, but of the &s;oul, and enjoyed only by the faithful communicant, and &s;uch as are rightly prepared for this &s;acred fea&s;t of the Lord, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.3, 4, 16. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.10, 11.
<PB N="217" REF="137"> <HI>Gal.</HI> 2.20. &amp; 3.1. Chri&s;t held forth in the Word and Sacraments, as crucified be|fore our eyes, and Spiritually commu|nicated, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.16.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is the fourth and la&s;t kinde of body attributed to Chri&s;t? and how do the Saints partake of or receive an union or communion with that, or a&s;&s;urance of it in this Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This fourth and la&s;t is the my&s;ti|cal body of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.45. 1 Cor. 12, 13, &amp;c. &amp; 10.16, 17. Eph. 2.16 &amp; 3.4, 5. &amp; 4.12. Col. 3.14, 15. Heb. 12.22, &amp;c. 1 Ioh. 1.3, 7.</NOTE> the Church and peo|ple of God, the Members of that body of which Chri&s;t is the head. And a more full union and communion with which body the Saints do receive and partake of, when in the Sacrament as in a com|munion of Saints, rightly and &s;piritually, not by mouth of the body, but by faith they partake of Chri&s;t, and have this union and communion of Saints &s;ealed and a&s;&s;ured in this Sacrament,</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>You have declared your knowledge concerning the author and mat|ter of this Sacrament: Now what is the form of it?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The form of communicating in this Sacrament, is likewi&s;e twofold, out|ward and inward.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the outward form
<PB N="218" REF="138"> or manner of celebrating or partaking of and in this Sacrament of the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The external or outward form in this Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, 27. 1 Cor. 10.16. &amp; 11.23, &amp;c. I&s;a. 42.3, &amp;c. &amp; 53.10, &amp;c.</NOTE> is fir&s;t, the whole Sa|cramental word of Chri&s;ts In&s;titution, the ble&s;&s;ing or con&s;ecrating of the bread and wine, the command of receiving, eating and drinking of the outward Ele|ments, and e&s;pecially the Promi&s;e and Covenant of Grace; Chri&s;t and all his benefits promi&s;ed, held forth and &s;ealed to the faithful in this Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What it the &s;econd part of the outward form or manner of celebration to be ob&s;erved?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Sacramental actions of breaking bread,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26. Luke 22.</NOTE> powring out of wine, the di&s;tribution of bread and wine, to and for the communicants, and their receiving of of them by the hand, eating of them by the body, as Sacramental, &s;ignifying, &s;eal|ing, exhibiting, communicating, and ap|plying &s;igns and &s;ymbols of all inward grace given to the faithful, and received by them in this Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the inward form of or in this Sacrament of the Lords Sup|per?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The internal or inward form is
<PB N="219" REF="138"> the analogy, union and pre&s;ence, not lo|cal, but vertual, Sacramental and Spiritual of the outward &s;ignes, and the things &s;ignifi'd, the one repre&s;enting and an&s;wer|ing; the other as the face doth an&s;wer a face in a gla&s;&s;e, the outward &s;ignes being exhibited by the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t; and the things &s;ignifieth the light and warmth, and &s;oul-cheri&s;hed vertue and nouri&s;h|ment of the life of grace from Chri&s;t, given and communicated, and applyed by that Sun of righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e Chri&s;t; and Chri&s;t his &s;pirit at the &s;ame time to the faithful in the Sacrament, as the Sun in the firmament doth its vertue of light and warmth to us; or as the outward Ele|ments of bread and wine do their vertue and refre&s;hing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE> to nouri&s;h the life of na|ture in man or woman that receive them in the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What Analogy, proportion, likene&s;&s;e or agreement is there between the &s;ignes and the things &s;ignified? Fir&s;t, be|tween the Bread and the Body of Chri&s;t, to &s;et forth and &s;eal the benefits unto us?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, as the bread corn of wheat is thre&s;hed with a flail, or beaten with a &s;taffe, brui&s;ed, ground in the Mill, and baked in an oven, with fire to make
<PB N="220" REF="139"> bread for our bodyes;<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 28.28. &amp; 53.5, 6 1 Cor. 9.10.</NOTE> &s;o was Chri&s;t thre&s;hed with a flail, and beaten with a &s;taffe, and ground in the Mill, and baked in the fiery oven of his pa&s;&s;ion, and of the wrath of God; that he by his vertue and merits might be heavenly bread for our &s;ouls and bodyes, to nouri&s;h us to life Eternal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is a &s;econd re&s;em|blance?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly, as the bread is com|fortable &s;trength and nouri&s;hment for a hungry body for life of nature:<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 104.15. Ioh. 6.48, &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;o the body of Chri&s;t and vertue of his merits in &s;weet nouri&s;hment for hungry true be|lievers, to nouri&s;h the life of grace in them to life Eternal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is a third agreement or re&s;emblance?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. i0.16.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> As the bread in the Sacrament is made of many corns, and one bread is di&s;tributed to many, and many partake of one bread; &s;o doth it &s;et forth our union and communion with Chri&s;t, and one with another, we that are many are one body in Chri&s;t, and all partake of that one heavenly bread Chri&s;t for our ever|la&s;ting comfort.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="18" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="221" REF="139">
<HEAD>The eighteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat analogy, re&s;emblance, or &s;imilitude and fitne&s;&s;e of agree|ment is there between the wine and the blood of Chri&s;t in the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 49.11. Deut. 32.14. I&s;a. 63.2, &amp;c. Iohn 15.1, 5. Luke 22.42, &amp;c. Mat. 27.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> as the wine is made of the blood of Grapes, pre&s;&s;ed and &s;trained in the winepre&s;&s;e, for the benefit of men and women: &s;o the blood of Chri&s;t; was pre&s;&s;ed out in the winepre&s;&s;e of the wrath of God, which Chri&s;t did endure in his mo&s;t bitter agony and pa&s;&s;ion for our Redemption.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is a &s;econd re&s;emblance and analogy between Wine and the Blood of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> As wine when it is drunken doth <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">rm the &s;tomack,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 104.15. Prov. 3.6. P&s;al. 119.13. Ier. 16.7. Mat. 26.27, &amp;c. Acts 10.28. Col. 1.10. Heb. 12.24. Iohn 1.7. Rev. 1.5, 6. &amp; 5.8, &amp;c.</NOTE> chear up the &s;pirits, and make glad the hearts of men and women in times of &s;orrow, as a cup of con&s;olation of old time; yea, doth quic|ken and &s;trengthen to labour and duty: &s;o likewi&s;e the blood of Chri&s;t received and drunken by faith, doth by Chri&s;ts
<PB N="222" REF="140"> vertue and merits warm the life of grace in the &s;oul, in a&s;&s;uring remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins purcha&s;ed with his blood, cheri&s;h, com|fort and quiet the &s;oul, and make it able and ready to every good work, to the glory of God in Chri&s;t, good of his Church, and joy of our own hearts</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is a third analogy or &s;imulitude between Wine and the Blood of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1. Cor. 10.3. Mat. 26.27. 1 Cor. 12.4. Gal. 3.27, 28. Eph. 4.3, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> As many Grapes pre&s;&s;ed together make but one wine, and all that receive the Sacrament drink of one and the &s;ame blood and juice of the Grape, as of the cup; &s;o all the vertue of the pa&s;&s;ion of Chri&s;t, his active and pa&s;&s;ive obedience to his Fathers will for us, makes one cup of precious blood for the faithful to drink, and all the faithful drink of the &s;ame blood of Chri&s;t, as of one cup of love, to &s;ignifie and &s;eal our union and communion with Chri&s;t, and one with another in love, as all made one in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Now what kinde of union and pre&s;ence is this between the &s;ignes and the things &s;ignified, if it be not a corporal and local union and pre&s;ence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, for the union between
<PB N="223" REF="140"> the &s;ignes and the things &s;ignified, though there he not a corporal or local, or place union, yet it is not an imaginary, but a true Spiritual relation and union, by ver|tue of which, and of the Covenant of Grace in Chri&s;t, the things &s;ignified are really and truly communicated to all them that lawfully and rightly partake of the outward &s;ignes in this Sacrament.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>How is there a pre&s;ence of the thing &s;ignified with the &s;ignes, if there be not a local pre&s;ence, or that the things &s;ignified be not pre&s;ent in place with the out|ward &s;ignes, either by way of</HI> Tran&s;ub|&s;tantiation, <HI>the Bread and Wine turned into the Natural Body of Chri&s;t, as Papi&s;ts; or of</HI> Con&s;ub&s;tantiation, <HI>or of the Natu|ral body in or under Bread and Wine, as &s;ome others have imagined?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is a fourfold manner of pre&s;ence, in and by which one thing may be &s;aid to be pre&s;ent with another, which being rightly ob&s;erved, a man may ea&s;ily &s;ee how Chri&s;t and things &s;ignified are and may be &s;aid to be united and pre&s;ent to the outward &s;ignes in the Sacra|ment, and to Believers that partake of them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the fir&s;t of the&s;e?</HI></P>
<PB N="224" REF="141">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 2.14. Luke 24.38, &amp;c. Mat. 28.6 Acts 3.20, 21. 1 Cor. 8.17. &amp; 12.13, 27.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The fir&s;t a local or place-pre|&s;ence, a bodily pre&s;ence in a place, as a man is pre&s;ent in a hou&s;e, as Chri&s;t was in the Temple, or the Sun in the Firma|ment, or the like; and with this pre&s;ence Chri&s;t may be &s;aid to be pre&s;ent, not bo|dily, but in re&s;pect of his Divine Per&s;on and Spirit, by which he is alwayes pre|&s;ent with his to the end of the world, yet not by the pre&s;ence of his Natural body, either by <HI>Tran&s;ub&s;tantiation,</HI> or turning the bread and wine, by vertue of the Prie&s;ts words of con&s;ecration into the Natural body and blood of Chri&s;t, as the Papi&s;ts; or by <HI>Con&s;ub&s;tantiation,</HI> as if in or under the bread and wine the Natural body and blood of Chri&s;t were contained (as &s;ome <HI>Lutherans</HI> have af|firmed) Chri&s;ts Natural body, though glo|rified, being finite like ours and cannot be in multitudes of places and per&s;ons at the &s;ame moment of time: But indeed is in heaven, and there to continue till the day of Iudgement, yet pre&s;ent by &s;piritu|al union with us, as we are Members of his Body.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is the &s;econd manner in which one thing may be &s;aid to be pre|&s;ent in or with another?</HI></P>
<PB N="225" REF="141">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By a Sacramental, &s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">mbolical,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 13.1 1 Cor. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">0.16.</NOTE> or figurative pre&s;ence; when a thing is repre&s;ented to the minde of a man by &s;ome outward &s;igne; as a thing is repre|&s;ented by a word, or a voyce; or a man to the &s;ight by a Picture: And thus Sa|cramentally Chri&s;ts true natural body and bloud, are pre&s;ent, as repre&s;ented to the eye of the &s;oul, the minde of a belie|ver by the outward &s;igne of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the third manner of pre&s;ence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The third is a &s;piritual pre&s;ence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb 11.i. 1 Cor. 10.3, 4, 5. Ioh. 8.56</NOTE> when we repre&s;ent a &s;piritual thing, not pre&s;ent, as pre&s;ent to and with us, by Faith; as faithful <HI>Abraham</HI> by the eye of Faith did &s;ee Chri&s;t day many hundred yeers before Chri&s;t was born, or as by a pro&s;pective Gla&s;&s;e we do bring the body of the Sun, or Moon, or of a Star far off to be neer, and as it were pre|&s;ent to the eies of our bodies; and thus Chri&s;ts natural Body and Blood, his pa&s;|&s;ion, death, re&s;urrection, a&s;cen&s;ion, and all his benefits, are pre&s;ent to our &s;ouls and bodies by Faith, to our joy and com|fort.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the fourth kinde of
<PB N="226" REF="142"> pre&s;ence in and by which one thing may be &s;aid to be pre&s;ent in or with another?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is a virtual pre&s;ence, when that which is di&s;tant and far off in place,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.20. Mat. 18.20. 1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE> is by the virtue power and efficacie pre|&s;ent to and with us, for our comfort and nouri&s;hment; as the Sun in the firma|ment is far off in place, and yet the ver|tue, the light, and warm'th of the Sun, is pre&s;ent with us here on the earth, to di|rect, revive, quicken, nouri&s;h, and che|ri&s;h the creatures, yea, men and women whom experience teacheth to be refre|&s;hed by it: And thus vertually Chri&s;t is pre&s;ent, yea, his natural Body and Blood, whole Chri&s;t, and his vertue pre|&s;ent for the nouri&s;hment of true belie|vers, and their a&s;&s;urance of eternal &s;alvation by Chri&s;t &s;ealed in this Sa|crament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>You have explained and held forth the Author, Matter, and Form of the Sacrament; now what is your know|ledge concerning the &V;&s;e, Benefit, and End of the Sacrament, to faithful and right Communicants.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Ends, U&s;e, and Benefits of this Sacrament, are divers for the un|&s;peakable benefit of faithful receivers.</P>
<PB N="227" REF="142">
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is a fir&s;t End?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, to &s;eal and confirm the Covenant, and promi&s;e of Gods free Grace in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, 27. 1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> to our &s;ouls with Chri&s;ts vertue and merits; and all the benefits which Chri&s;t hath procured for us, in his Pa&s;&s;ion, Death, Re&s;urrection, A&s;cention, yea, his whole active and pa&s;&s;ive obedi|ence, to his Fathers will, as our Surety, with his whole Humiliation and Glorifi|cation, as mediator between God and us; all &s;ealed in this Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;econd End?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> On our part to renew and &s;eal our mutual Covenant of thankfulne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.1.2. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. P&s;al. 116.12. P&s;al. 119.105.</NOTE> and obedience, to our God and Father again, in and by the vertue and power of Chri&s;t, to be manife&s;ted in our lives, according to that light of his will, revea|led by his Word and Spirit to our &s;ouls, from Chri&s;t our chief Prophet and dire|ctor in the way to happine&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is a third End of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To hold forth Chri&s;t by remem|bring and &s;hewing the Lords death un|til he come; for the &s;trengthening of our Faith, and refre&s;hing of our &s;ouls, in the lively repre&s;entation of Chri&s;ts love to
<PB N="228" REF="143"> us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 15.13. 1 Cor. 11.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> giving his body to be crucified, and his blood to be &s;hed for our &s;ins; evi|dently held forth in the &s;acramental brea|king of the Bread, powring out of the Wine, &s;een by the eye of the body, as the inward graces are by the faithful eye of the &s;oul in every Communicant.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the fourth End and Benefit of this Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is a &s;ealing and confirming:</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 8.9. Eph. 3.8. Ioh. 6.56. 1 Cor. 1.9. Ioh. 17.20. Eph. 3.8, 16, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 6.15. Col. 3.2, 3. 1 Cor. 12.12, 13.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, of our union and communion with God in Chri&s;t, and of our right and title to all the riches and trea&s;ures of Chri&s;ts Kingdom of Grace and glory.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, of our union and com|munion one with another in Chri&s;t, and with the whole Church of God, as fel|low members of the &s;ame my&s;tical body; of which Chri&s;t our Lord and Saviour is the head, for the comfort and benefit of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Are there no other Ends of this Sacrament.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, their are divers other ends and u&s;es: As</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.46, 47.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, the profe&s;&s;ion of our Faith that we are Chri&s;tians, not Iews, Turks, or Infidels.</P>
<P>Secondly, the profe&s;&s;ion of our love,
<PB N="229" REF="143"> unity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.46, 47.</NOTE> and charity one towards and with one another.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.17, 18. Ephe&s; 9.3, 4, 5.</NOTE> the con&s;ervation of our fel|low&s;hip and communion with Saints.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Our &s;trengthening of all graces in us by participation, and medita|tion of Chri&s;t, held forth in this Ordi|nance in all times of temptations, and di|vers other ends and u&s;es, but the former are principle in this Sacrament, <HI>John</HI> 6.32, 33, 34, 35, 50, 51.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="19" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The ninteenth Cla&s;sis, or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have declared your knowledge con|cerning the Author, matter, form, and end of this Sacrament; now what do you know concerning the outward circum&s;tan|ces of partaking of this Sacrament, time, place, and ge&s;tures: What light have you from Chri&s;t for the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I do not finde that the Lord Chri&s;t hath directly, and expre&s;ly com|manded any &s;et time, place or ge&s;ture, when, where, and in what manner of
<PB N="230" REF="144"> ge&s;ture, &s;itting, or kneeling, or &s;tanding, we &s;hould receive the Sacrament: But the Spirit of Chri&s;t in his holy Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul</HI> hath held forth two general Rules:</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 14.40. and 11.34. Col. 2.5. Rom. 14.17, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 10.23. and 14.25. Rom. 14.1, 2, &amp;c. and 15.1, 2.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, That all things &s;hould be done according to decency, and order;</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, That all be done to edification.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>But may not the con&s;ciences of Gods children, be ordered and bound up to particulars in the&s;e things?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I am per&s;waded that no Law, or Rule ought to be made, to binde the tender con&s;cience of any man or woman, where the Lord Chri&s;t, the chief teacher, doth not binde; nor ought any liberty of con&s;cience be given, where the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t giveth no liberty: But all Churches ought to be content, if they cannot agree in circum&s;tance, and cere|mony, yet lovingly to agree in matters of &s;ub&s;tance, which Chri&s;t hath plainly holden forth unto his Church in the holy Scriptures.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>But may not Chri&s;tian li|berty be u&s;ed in the&s;e things, which are onely circum&s;tantial in this Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes: Chri&s;tian liberty may be
<PB N="231" REF="144"> u&s;ed, in the&s;e things,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 14.1, 2, &amp;c. and 15.1, 2, 3. Gal. 6.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> and the &s;tronger ought not to tyrannize over the con&s;ci|ence of the weaker brother or &s;i&s;ter, but to bear one anothers burden, and &s;o ful|fil the Law of Chri&s;t: yea, the &s;tronger brethren, and the Elders of the Church, ought in all love, and tenderne&s;&s;e to en|devour the in&s;truction of the weaker, and to inform the judgement, rather then by force upon the outward man, to com|pel the con&s;cience.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But may not the weak Chri|&s;tians ab&s;olutely, and peremptorily u&s;e what circum&s;tances they plea&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The weak ought in all humility to &s;eek information of judgement, and &s;atisfaction in &s;crupulous, or tender doubtful ca&s;es of con&s;cience; that if it be po&s;&s;ible he or &s;he may conform to the <HI>Directory</HI> of that particular Church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.1, 2, 3. P&s;al. 133.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> of which he or &s;he is a member, or if not, to behave them&s;elves humbly, peaceably, and Chri&s;tian like, rather then to break, or endanger the breaking of the bond of unity, amity, and uniformity in that Church, wherein God in his providence calls them to partake in this holy Ordi|nance.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>Verily, I do de&s;ire to conform
<PB N="232" REF="145"> my &s;elf to the Order and Directory of that Church and Congregation where I live; and</HI> I <HI>long often to meet Chri&s;t in this holy Ordinance: But</HI> I <HI>have &s;ome doubts trou|ble me in the pre&s;ent Directory, for giving and receiving the bread and wine at the Lords Table: And fir&s;t,</HI> I <HI>am not &s;atisfied upon what ground the ge&s;ture of kneeling, &s;o much pre&s;&s;ed formerly (as if it had been a matter of ab&s;olute nece&s;&s;ity) is now changed into a Table ge&s;ture of &s;itting a|bout or at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To &s;atisfie you in this, I de&s;ire you, fir&s;t to con&s;ider, that the ge&s;ture of kneeling at the Sacrament hath no ex|ample, much le&s;&s;e any command, either in Old or New Te&s;tament. Search the Scriptures, and you can finde none, and &s;o no binding nece&s;&s;ity can pre&s;&s;e the continuance of it.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">The real pre&s;ence bodily advanced by Pope <HI>Innocent,</HI> about 1215.</NOTE>Secondly, If you read all the Hi&s;tory of the Church in the Apo&s;tles, or in the primitive times after; where can be found any approbation of kneeling at Sacrament, untill after that gro&s;&s;e idola|trous errour of Tran&s;ub&s;tantiation of the Bread into the carnal body of Chri&s;t, was pre&s;&s;ed by Pope <HI>Nicholas,</HI> and con|firmed in that wicked coun&s;el of <HI>Con|&s;tance,</HI>
<PB N="233" REF="145"> and when as eleva &s;on,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Bowing to Bread aboue 1220 <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s in D re|tal <HI>G eg. lib.</HI> 3.</NOTE> and ado+ration of the Bread, was required by Pope <HI>Honorius</HI> the third, but about four hundred and twenty yeers &s;ince?</P>
<P>Thirdly, con&s;ider that if the Br zen Serpent &s;et up by Gods own appoint|ment, <HI>Num.</HI> 21.9. might be taken away, and broken in peeces, becau&s;e it was abu&s;ed to idolatry (as you may read it was 2 <HI>Kings</HI> 18 4.) much more may the ge&s;ture of kneeling be changed, which hath been and &s;till is, &s;o much abu&s;ed by <MILESTONE N="1"> the Pap<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t in adoration of the Bread in that idolatrous &s;acrifice of the M<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 2.2.23.</NOTE> a will wor&s;hip forbidden in the &s;econd Commandmen<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. And too much e&s;teem|ed <MILESTONE N="2"> by <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">gnorant per&s;ons, who are too too &s;uper&s;titious in this re&s;pect. And al&s;o by <MILESTONE N="3"> &s;ome tender con&s;ciences, who conceive not rightly of the nature of ge&s;tures in this Holy Ordinance, kneeling h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ving been mo&s;t abu&s;ed to adoration, and wil|wor&s;hip.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. I <HI>think indeed &s;ince it hath been, and is &s;o much abu&s;ed to adoration of Bread or Bread wor&s;hip it may be changed, and</HI> I <HI>am convinced it is dangerous, if not &s;inful: But yet me thinks</HI> I <HI>cannot receive the Sacrament &s;itting, with that reve|rence
<PB N="234" REF="146"> and humility, as I &s;hould do kneeling: and therefore &s;ince I conceive,</HI> I <HI>might law|fully receive kneeling (not to adore the Bread) but to declare my reverence to Chri&s;t, and my humility; I had much rather kneel then &s;it.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I will not &s;ay but &s;ome well in|&s;tructed, and rightly informed, and be|leeving Chri&s;tians, might in former times lawfully receive the Sacrament kneeling, the rather when the Directo|ry of the Church was not again&s;t it but for it, as it was in the Church of <HI>England.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, yet notwith&s;tanding I &s;hould de&s;ire you to con&s;ider, that true re|verence and humility doth not con&s;i&s;t in the outward bodily ge&s;ture of kneeling, but in the inward &s;piritual reverence and humility of the heart.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh 4.24 and 5.63</NOTE> A man or woman may kneel at the Sacrament, and yet neither receive with true reverence not humility, as many unprepared, ignorant people, mo&s;t zealous for kneeling have done. God requireth the heart, as <HI>Prov.</HI> 23.26. And a truely humbled contrite &s;pirit God will not de&s;pi&s;e, but dwel with, and Chri&s;t will meet in his Ordi|nance the humble minded &s;oul, <HI>P&s;a.</HI> 51.17.
<PB N="235" REF="146"> <HI>I&s;ai.</HI> 57.15, 16, 17, 18. <HI>Matth.</HI> 18.20. and 11.28, 29.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I pray con&s;ider, that a true beleeving man or woman, that comes with the wedding Garment, and when Chri&s;ts invites, &s;its at the Lords Table, may receive, and do's receive the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament both with great humility and reverence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.20.21. Cant. 5.1</NOTE> and the rather when he or &s;he being &s;en&s;ible of his or her own un|worthine&s;&s;e, con&s;iders how kindly the Lord Chri&s;t invites, and bids him or her welcome at his ble&s;&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">d Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But what better ground is there for &s;itting?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Con&s;ider that &s;itting at the Fea&s;t of the Lord, is the mo&s;t proper Table ge&s;ture, and the mo&s;t agreeable in this re&s;pect to the example of Chri&s;t, <HI>Luke</HI> 22.21.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.46, 47. and 20.7, 8. 1 Cor. 10, 16, &amp;c. and 11.20, 21, 22, 23.</NOTE>That the Apo&s;tles and Di&s;ciples or Chri&s;t with the Saints in the Primitive times did receive the Sacra|ment at their Fea&s;ts of Charity in a Table ge&s;ture, as Fea&s;ting with Chri&s;t, as well as one with another. And for the Sacrament it &s;elf, it is called the Lords Table, and a Table ge&s;ture is mo&s;t conve|nient.</P>
<PB N="236" REF="147">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor 14.26. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">0.</NOTE>Thirdly, that this table ge&s;ture (if any edification may be in ge&s;tures) it may hold forth, Fir&s;t, our union and com|munion at this Fea&s;t of Grace:<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16. Luk. 22.30.</NOTE> Secondly, our union and communion with Chr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t at his Table in the Kingdom of Glory: Therefore &s;itting at the Lords Table be|ing allowed and warranted by the ex|ample of Chri&s;t, and of the Apo&s;tles, and Primitive Church, and by the example of other reformed Churches, and agree|able to the Apo&s;tles rules, of order and edification: It mu&s;t needs be both law|ful and comfortable, for one that comes rightly prepared (with Faith, Humility, Reverence, and other nece&s;&s;ary graces rightly enlivened) to receive the holy Sacrament, &s;itting at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>I am in a comfortable man|ner &s;atisfied in the ge&s;ture of &s;itting, yet I have one doubt more: me thinks it was better in the old Directory, when the Mi|ni&s;ter of Chri&s;t did give the Bread and the Wine, to every Communicant, in particu|lar with a particular prayer and applica|tion; as the body of our Lord Je&s;as, that was given for thee,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>and take and eat,</HI> &amp;c. <HI>rather then only to pre&s;ent it in gene|ral to the whole Table by the Mini&s;ter,
<PB N="237" REF="147"> and every one to take and eat of the Bread out of the di&s;h, or cup wherein its broken, and take and drink of the cup from of the Table as it is now u&s;ed.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> For An&s;wer of this doubt: Fir&s;t, con&s;ider that we do not read in the Scripture, that our Saviour Chri&s;t did give the Bread, and that Wine to every one of the Apo&s;tles in particular: Search the Scriptures and where can you finde any &s;uch expre&s;&s;ion in any of the Evan|geli&s;ts or Apo&s;tles cleerly: Read in par|ticular, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.26. he <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ook it and broke it, and gave it to his Di&s;ciples, he doth not &s;ay he gave it to every one in parti|cular, or to <HI>Peter,</HI> or <HI>Iames,</HI> or <HI>Iohn</HI> in particular, but to them in general, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.27. for the cup he gave to them, &s;ay|ing, drink ye all of this; not, take you in particular, or drink you in particular, but take ye all, and drink ye all of it: And read, <HI>Luk.</HI> 22.17. Take this cup and devide it among&s;t your&s;elves which whe|ther we re&s;pect the Pa&s;&s;eover or the Sa|crament; it declareth it as mo&s;t agreeable to Chri&s;ts order to receive the Sacra|ment, as given from the Mini&s;ter to all in general at the Table; as it was given from Chri&s;t to all in general, and not in|to
<PB N="238" REF="148"> every ones hand in particular, as was lately done in the old Directory: Not take thou and eat thou, but take ye and eat ye: and take and drink ye all of this <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.26, 27.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Clemens. Alexand. &s;trom.</HI> 1. Pag. 2. Thus a|bout 220 yeers af|ter Chri&s;t the man|ner was when they had divided the Eu|chari&s;t, every one of the people did take his part.</NOTE>Secondly, again there may be too much &s;uper&s;tition put into this manner of recei|ving in particular from the hand of the the Mini&s;ter; as formerly hath been when the people dur&s;t not touch the Bread with their hands, but the Prie&s;t put it in their mouths, for fear they &s;hould defile the Lords body: And &s;uch Communicants I my &s;elf have met with, who reached out their mouths in&s;tead of their hands, to receive the Bread from me; and &s;o the hand by which the hand of Faith is remembred, was made of no u&s;e in the action, which you will &s;ay ought not to be in this Sacrament: For the hand of Faith receives Chri&s;t the Lord of our &s;ouls, for the &s;piritual refre|&s;hing, as the hand of the body receives the Bread and Wine.</P>
<P>Thirdly, If you rightly ob&s;erve the &s;acramen<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">al action, or act, or mini&s;tra|tion: you &s;h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ll finde and &s;ee the Mini|&s;ter of Chri&s;t, having broken the Bread according to the in&s;titution, command,
<PB N="239" REF="148"> and example of Chri&s;t, to take the Bread in a Silver or other Charger, or Di&s;h in which it is broken, and pre&s;ent and give it to all in general at the Table: with Chri&s;ts invitation take and eat; and &s;o the cup, take and drink ye all of this; which doth imply every particular man or woman at the Table: So our taking the Bread all out of one di&s;h, doth &s;weetly hold forth (reaching out of a living hand of Faith) a Chri&s;tian union and communion in Chri&s;t, as the Apo|&s;tle intimates, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.17. And thus I hope I have &s;atisfied your doubts, &s;o that you may come with comfort to the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>But what if a tender con|&s;cience cannot be &s;atisfied about circum|&s;tances, may not Saints agree to meet Chri&s;t in the Sacrament, and receive the outward Elements in divers ge&s;tures of the body, &s;ome &s;itting, &s;ome &s;tanding, or the like, as well as they agree daily, to hear the Word preached, as they plea&s;e or can be fit|ted, without any &s;uch asking que&s;tion for con&s;cience?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The&s;e Ceremonies I conceive are not worth contending for,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.16.</NOTE> if men cannot agree; or a tender con&s;cience
<PB N="240" REF="149"> not &s;atified; nor ought to be excommu|nicated or delivered over <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">o Satan for the&s;e things; yet it is good (yea, a duty for all) to &s;tudy to be all of one minde, and in one manner to meet Chri&s;t if it were po&s;&s;ible, according to the Directory of that Church wherein they live.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>But have you any antiqui|ty of your opinion herein?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Dan. 7.8. P&s;a. 122.6. Eph. 4.3, 4, 5, 6. <HI>Eu&s;ebius</HI> l. 5. c. 26. <HI>An&s;elm. Epi.</HI> 327. of <HI>Ireneus</HI> to Victor and o|thers.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes; the ancient of dayes, God him&s;elf holdeth forth this in the Scrip|tures, That Gods people &s;hould endeavor unity, and the Saints in former ages have been of the &s;ame judgement, in that con|trover&s;ie between the E<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;tern and We&s;tern Church about the celebration of <HI>Ea&s;ter,</HI> though they differed in opi|nion in circum&s;tance, yet they agreed in &s;ub&s;tance, and received the Sacrament together; and &s;o in the d fferent manner of celebrating the Lords <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">upper, and the like, when the unity of charity was ob|&s;erved in the &s;ub&s;tantial matters of Faith; divers cu&s;tomes in circum&s;tance did not, nor ought to &s;eparare; but Saints ought to unite in love, as the reformed Chur|ches do at this day.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="20" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="241" REF="149">
<HEAD>The twentieth Cla&s;sis, or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have an&s;wered concerning the fir&s;t grace in the Wedding Garment, name|ly, knowledge: fir&s;t, of God: &s;econdly, of our &s;elves: thirdly, of Chri&s;t: and fourth|ly, of the Sacrament: Now what light is there from Chri&s;t to manife&s;t Faith the &s;e|cond grace, to be examined and enlivened before we come to the Lords Table.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To know what Faith is, we mu&s;t under&s;tand that the Word is diver&s;|ly held forth by Chri&s;t in holy Scriptures.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 1.23. Rom. 10.6.8. 1 Tim. 1.16. 1 Tim. 3.9. 1 Tim. 4.1 Iames 2.17, &amp;c.</NOTE> for the Doctrine or Word of Faith, which is preached and believed by the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, Faith is taken for hi&s;torical Faith only, when a&s;&s;ent is given to the truth of the Word without application, or fruit, it is a dead Faith.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Faith is taken for a tempo|rary Faith; which hath not only a&s;&s;ent to the truth of the Go&s;pel; but profe&s;&s;i|on with a kinde of joy and delight for
<PB N="242" REF="150"> a time,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 13.20, 21. Mat. 13.22. Mat. 17.19, 20. 1 Cor. 13.2.</NOTE> till temptation and tribulation cometh becau&s;e of the Word; and then it dieth and withereth.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Faith is taken for the Faith of working miracles, a &s;pecial Faith gi|ven in the Primitive times to the Saints, for confirmation of the truth of the Go&s;|pel.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 3.3 Mat. 13.23.</NOTE>Fifthly, Faith is taken for faithfulne&s;&s;e, truth, and con&s;tancy in word and pro|mi&s;es; as the Faith and promi&s;e of God to his people, and of men to men.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.1 Tit. 1.1 2 Pet. 1.1. Acts 13.48. I&s;ai. 53.1, 2. Phil. 1.29. Rom. 13.6, &amp;c. Rom. 8.1.5.10. 2 Cor 4.13. Mat. 13.11. Ioh. 17.3</NOTE>Sixthly and la&s;tly, Faith is taken for a true, lively, ju&s;tifying faith, the proper and pretious Faith of Gods Elect.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is this pretious ju&s;tify|ing Faith of Gods Elect?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> This Faith is an admirable pe|culiar and &s;pecial Grace, and free gift of God; by which a man or woman rightly prepared by the power of the Word, and Spirit of Chri&s;t,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, doth know, a&s;&s;ent unto and em|brace, and tru&s;t to God in Chri&s;t, in the free promi&s;es of the Go&s;pel or Cove|nant of Grace.</P>
<P>Secondly, know, de&s;ire earne&s;tly, &s;in|gle out and make choyce of Chri&s;t, the rich trea&s;ure and pearl held forth in the
<PB N="243" REF="150"> Go&s;pel, and Go&s;pel promi&s;es, as his onely Surety, Redeemer, Advocate, and Medi|ator between God and him.</P>
<P>Thirdly, lively believe, receive, appre|hend, take and apply Chri&s;t to him&s;elf as his Saviour, and acquie&s;ce or re&s;t on Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts merits and right|eou&s;ne&s;&s;e alone for &s;alvation. <HI>Ioh.</HI> 3.14, &amp;c. <HI>Romans</HI> 1.1, &amp;c. <HI>and.</HI> 4.16. <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.16, &amp;c. <HI>Ioh.</HI> 17.3. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 2.2. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.7, &amp;c. <HI>Heb.</HI> 1.22. <HI>and.</HI> 8.6, &amp;c. <HI>and.</HI> 12.14. <HI>Ioh.</HI> 3.36. <HI>and.</HI> 1.12. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.12. <HI>Mat.</HI> 11.28, 29. <HI>Gal.</HI> 2.20. <HI>and</HI> 3.14. 2 <HI>Chr.</HI> 14.11. 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 1.12. <HI>Rev.</HI> 5.11, 12, 13, 14. <HI>Act.</HI> 4.12. 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 2.13, 14. <HI>Act.</HI> 13.37, 38, 39.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>How or in what &s;ence, do you call this Faith a ju&s;tifying Faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not vertually and meritoriou&s;|ly, of it &s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 1.9, 10. Titus 3.4, &amp;c.</NOTE> as it is a work or act of our under&s;tanding to know; and of our will &s;anctified, to elect, and embrace Chri&s;t; but in&s;trumentally as it doth apprehend and apply Chri&s;t to the &s;oul: It is not the act of our Faith receiving, but the object of our Faith, Chri&s;t and his merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e received which meritoriou&s;ly ju&s;tifieth poor &s;in|ners before God: as not the hand which
<PB N="244" REF="151"> applieth, but the plai&s;ter and vertue of that which cures the wound, to which it is applied.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>When is a man or woman, rightly prepared, or his heart by the po|wer and &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, di&s;po&s;ed to believe; and thus to receive and embrace Chri&s;t, for his &s;alvation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When by the &s;trength and migh|ty power of Chri&s;t and his &s;pirit in the word, a man or woman is in &s;ome mea|&s;ure</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, enlightened with the knowledge of God and Chri&s;t, and him&s;elf by the good plea&s;ure of God, held forth in the Word of God in general, and in the promi&s;es of the Go&s;pel in particular: And</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.15.</NOTE>Secondly, Inabled by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, to know, believe, and feel; and be affected in his heart, and con&s;cience, with his own &s;elf guiltine&s;&s;e of &s;in origi|nal, and actual, and of bondage under &s;in, and mi&s;ery due to &s;in, yea, of his &s;ubjection to the wrath of God, to death and damnation eternal for &s;in.</P>
<P>Thirdly, with the &s;ence of his utter inability to &s;ave him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Fourthly, of his extreme need of
<PB N="245" REF="151"> Chri&s;t in &s;ome &s;ence;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. i.16, &amp;c. Heb. 4.12, 13. 1 The&s;. 1.4, 5, 6. 2 Tim. 3.15, &amp;c. Ier. 31.34 2 Cor. 5.16. P&s;. 57.i.2, 3. Rom. 3.20. and 7.17, Eph. 16.28, &amp;c. Gen. 30. 1 Mar. 5.25, &amp;c. Phi. 1.29. Act. 16.14. and 13.48. 2 Pet. 1.1, 2, 3. Eph. 1.i6 17, &amp;c. Rom. 10.17. Gen. 18.18, 19. Mat. 16.13, &amp;c. Eph. 1.19. 2 Cor. 3.8. and 4.5. Gal. 4.15, 6. and 5.4, 5, 6. Luk. 24.25, &amp;c. Prov. 30.5. I&s;ai. 5.20 Ioh. 5.39 Rom. 15.4. act. 17.11, 12. and 24.14, &amp;c. and 2.19 Eph. 1.13 1 Tim. 1.5, &amp;c. act. 20.24. Rom. 10.10. 2 Tim. 1.12. act. 15.9. Gal. 5.6.</NOTE> as <HI>Rachel</HI> did of children, give me Chri&s;t or el&s;e I die, then is the &s;oul fit and ready to receive Chri&s;t with his precious ju&s;tifying living Faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>Who and what is the princi|pal worker or efficient cau&s;e of our Faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The principal efficient cau&s;e is God him&s;elf the Father, Son, and ble&s;|&s;ed Spirit, or God the Father in the Son by the Spirit; which great God, by his Grace and in his free love, hath elected and doth call his children to Faith and Glory in the Go&s;pel, and worketh Faith in them by the &s;pirit of Faith, and work|ing of his mighty power in the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the in&s;trumental ef|ficient or working cau&s;e of Faith, the means by which or by whom we believe?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is two fold, outward and inward, and the outward is ordinarily the Word of God, in the preaching of the Go&s;pel, and catechizing inwardly the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, called the &s;pirit of Faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is the material cau&s;e, ground, or object of Faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The whole Word of God in general, and the rich promi&s;es of Grace,
<PB N="246" REF="152"> and Covenant of Gods free love or Go&s;|pel of the Grace of God in particular.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the form or nature of this Faith, this precious Faith of Gods Elect?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The form of this Faith,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, is not onely a light of knowledge in the under&s;tanding, and a&s;&s;ent to the truth of the Word of God, as an hi&s;to|rical Faith is,</P>
<P>Secondly, Nor &s;ome temporary joy in the word, as in temporal Faith.</P>
<P>Thirdly, but it is this knowledge and a&s;&s;ent, joyned with a firm confidence and affiancy in the heart, and will to re&s;t on Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;t his merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and to tru&s;t in Chri&s;t alone for &s;alvation: As the vegetative or grow|ing life, and the &s;en&s;itive, or life of &s;ence, is joyned with the rea&s;onable faculty, or rea&s;onable life in the &s;oul in man, which di&s;tingui&s;heth men and women, from all brute creatures; even &s;o is this confi|dence and a&s;&s;ured re&s;t on Chri&s;t in this Faith, joyned with knowledge and a&s;|&s;ent, and &s;weet fruits in Faith, which di&s;tingui&s;heth it from all fal&s;e faith what|&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>But hath this true Faith all|wayes
<PB N="247" REF="152"> joyned with it this confidence and a&s;&s;ured re&s;t on Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This Faith when it is a &s;tronge well grown Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 7.5. Mat. 8.26. and 14.31. I&s;ai. 42.3. P&s;al. 1.6. Heb. 12.2</NOTE> it hath this ble&s;&s;ed confidence and a&s;&s;ured re&s;t on Chri&s;t, though not alwayes free from temptati|ons to doubt: But a weak Faith though it be a true Faith, is often &s;ubject to fears and doubtings; yet &s;o as God in Chri&s;t, inables the &s;oul to &s;tand and ad|here to Chri&s;t, and pre&s;erved from fi|nal de&s;paire in greate&s;t times of tryal, for the comfort of weak Chri&s;tians.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What are the effects and fruits of this true lively Faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The effects of this true lively Faith in a believer, or of Chri&s;t in the &s;oul, Chri&s;t thus truely apprehended, and re&s;ted on by Faith in apprehending of Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, are divers: And,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, ju&s;tification by Chri&s;ts righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e and merits.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.1 act 13.39</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, &s;anctification and purity of heart.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor.1.1, 2, 3.</NOTE></P>
<P>Thirdly, Chri&s;tian liberty from the con|demning and commanding power of &s;in.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.12. Rom. 5.1</NOTE></P>
<P>Fourthly, peace of con&s;cience which pa&s;&s;eth all under&s;tanding.</P>
<PB N="248" REF="153">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.14. Rom. 8.35, 36, 37, 38. Iohn 8. 5, 6. Rom. 5.4.5. and 15.13. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5, 6. 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. Heb. 11.1. 1 Pet. 1.8.</NOTE>Fifthly, Love of Chri&s;t, and a longing de&s;ire to walk in the wayes of Grace, in&s;eparable again&s;t all per&s;ecution.</P>
<P>Sixthly, Joy in the love and &s;ight of Chri&s;t, and in the comfortable a&s;&s;urance of per&s;everance in grace, and lively hope of Heaven.</P>
<P>Seventhly, A kinde of entrance into eternal glory, Faith making that as pre|&s;ent to the eye of our &s;ouls, which is not &s;een or pre&s;ent to the eyes of our bodies, and yet affecting a beleevers heart with joy un&s;peakable, and full of glory.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e&s;t. 11. <HI>What is the end of this true lively, ju&s;tifying, faith, this precious faith of Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The end of this faith, or Chri&s;ts benefits, received, and enjoyed by Faith, is</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s; 1.5, 6, 7. 2 The&s;. 1.10. Eph. 3.16, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 5.23, 24. 1 Pet. 1.9. Rom. 8.30.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, and principally the glory of God in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, the pre&s;ervation comfort|ing, and &s;trengthning of our &s;ouls in the Kingdom of Grace, with our everla&s;ting &s;alvation in the Kingdom of glory for evermore.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="21" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="249" REF="153">
<HEAD>The twenty one Cla&s;sis, or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have made profe&s;&s;ion of your know|ledge concerning the Grace of Faith: Now what is you knowledge concerning the Third Grace, the Grace of Evangelical Repentance, to be examined, renewed and enlivened of every Communicant, men and women, before the approach to the Lords Table? What light have we from Chri&s;t concerning this Grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By what I have learned from Chri&s;t I conceive Evangelical Repent|ance, Renovation, Regeneration, new Creation, and Conver&s;ion unto God; is a Grace of God reconciled to us in Chri&s;t, by which a poor &s;oul enlightned by the Spirits working in or by the Word of God,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, With a true knowledge, &s;ight,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 3.20. and 7.7. Luke 15.17.</NOTE> and &s;ence of &s;in original and actual.</P>
<P>Secondly, Of the mi&s;ery and bondage under &s;in.</P>
<PB N="250" REF="154">
<P>Thirdly, Terrour of the wrath of God due to &s;in.</P>
<P>Fourthly, With tidings of Chri&s;t a Saviour, <HI>Acts</HI> 5.31. Exalted to give Re|pentance and Remi&s;&s;ion of &s;in,</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iere. 31.18. Acts 2.36, 37. Gen. 4.13. 1 Sam. 31.4. 2 Sam. 17.23. Mat. 27.4, 5. Acts 2.37, 38. and 16.28, 29, 30. Iere. 31.19.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, Is troubled, &s;tinged, pricked, and wounded in con&s;cience, &s;orrowful, broken-hearted, and humbled under Gods hand, bemoaning him&s;elf for &s;in, as <HI>Ephraim</HI> of old.</P>
<P>Secondly, Brought to a kinde of de|&s;pair (though not final, or a de&s;pair of Gods mercy in Chri&s;t, as <HI>Cain, Saul, Achitophel,</HI> and <HI>Judas</HI>) yet with a de&s;pair of them&s;elves, or of any power in them|&s;elves, to &s;ave them&s;elves from hell and damnation.</P>
<P>Thirdly, A being affected by the power of Chri&s;t, with recipi&s;cence, or begin|ning to be wi&s;e again, with a &s;hame and confu&s;ion of &s;oul for &s;ins pa&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 14.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE>Fourthly, with a renewing of &s;pirit, and change of minde, and judgement of heart, will, affections, de&s;ires, and whole man, and all by the powerful vertue of Chri&s;t, and the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 36.31.</NOTE>Fifthly, A di&s;like and loathing of &s;in, and former evil cour&s;es, as contrary to
<PB N="251" REF="154"> the nature of God, and new nature of grace in the &s;oul.</P>
<P>Sixthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Acts</HI> 11.18. 2 Cor. 7.10. Rom. 12.2. Ioh. 3.5. 2 Cor. 5.17. P&s;al. 51.14. Luke 22.32. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. Rom. 8.15. P&s;al. 51.1, 2, 3, &amp;c. Luke 22.61, 62. 2 Cor. 7. as 2 Kin. 23.2, 3.</NOTE> It is inabled by Chri&s;t unto an aver&s;ion, and turning from all &s;in, and Satans Kingdom, in thought, word, and deed: and a conver&s;ion unto God, and all goodne&s;&s;e; with a love unto, and a delight in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and true holi|ne&s;&s;e. And this not onely in our fir&s;t conver&s;ion or repentance, as a work of grace begun in us: But all the dayes of our lives, perfecting holine&s;&s;e by the ver|tue of our Saviour, to the glory of God, good of our neighbours, and comfort of our own &s;ouls in Chri&s;t Je&s;us, e&s;pecially in the renewing of our Covenant, when we meet Chri&s;t in the holy Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>You have given a large di|&s;cription of Repentance; to give in the &s;ub|&s;tance of what repentance is in fewer words, as you under&s;tand and conceive of it in your minde.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Repentance is a grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 5.31 Iere. 31.19. 1 Sam. 7.2. Iob 34.32. Ho&s;. 14.8</NOTE> and free gift of God in Chri&s;t, by which a poor &s;inner, upon &s;ight and &s;ence of &s;in, and mi&s;ery, and bondage revealed by the &s;pi|rit, is affected with true &s;orrow and &s;hame for his original, and actual tran&s;|gre&s;&s;ion; and though he de&s;pair in him|&s;elf,
<PB N="252" REF="155"> yet by faith re&s;ting on Gods free love in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zach. 12.10, 11. Prov. 28.13. 2 The&s;. 2.13. Eph. 4.20, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 5.23.</NOTE> is drawn to a hatred of &s;in that crucified Chri&s;t; and is convert|ed by Chri&s;ts vertue from all &s;in to God, for&s;aking of all &s;in daily more and more, and the Image of God daily renewed in him more and more, that he may glorifie God in grace on earth, till Chri&s;t bring him to glory in Heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Who is the author and effici|ent cau&s;e of this Evangelical Repentance, Regeneration, Renovation and Conver&s;i|on, from &s;in to God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.7. and 1.4. 1 The&s;. 5 23. 2 The&s;. 2 13, 14. 2 Cor. 5.10.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The whole Trinity in common, and in &s;pecial the Holy Spirit, that Spirit of &s;anctification &s;ent of God the Father, and the Son, with the Word, into the mindes and hearts of poor &s;inners; to this end, that they may repent, be born again, converted, and changed from glory to glory, by the vertue of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is the internal moving cau&s;e of this Repentance, and Regenerati|on, and Conver&s;ion of poor &s;inners unto God?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 3.4, 5. Iohn 1.12, 13. Ephe&s;. 2.4, 5, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The free-grace, and good will of God in Chri&s;t, giving, and working this grace of his own goodne&s;&s;e in the hearts of his children.</P>
<PB N="253" REF="155">
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is the internal principle, meritorious, vvorking cau&s;e, by vertue vvhereof this change is vvrought in our &s;ouls?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is Chri&s;t him&s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.25, 26, 27. Revel. 1.5, 6.</NOTE> and his merits and blood, by which we are clean&s;ed, &s;anctified, and changed, that we may be pre&s;ented blamele&s;&s;e before God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the in&s;trumental out|vvard cau&s;e of this Repentance, Regenera|tion, and Conver&s;ion, or turning unto God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ordinarily the Word of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 19.18, 20. Acts 2.36, 37, 38, 39. Luke 3.9, 10. Rom. 3.20. Acts 9.1, 2, &amp;c. 1 Pet. 1.23. Acts 16.25, &amp;c.</NOTE> both Law &amp; Go&s;pel, brought home to the &s;oul in the powerful preaching of it, by the work of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, and &s;ometimes extraordinary means, as thunders, light|nings, judgements of God, afflictions, fears, terrors, and &s;uch like, with which God worketh as he plea&s;eth to this end.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is the &s;ubject matter of this Repentance, and nevv birth, and &s;an|ctification, and turning unto God, or that vvhich is thus converted to God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The whole man, all the powers, and faculties of the &s;oul, under&s;tanding, will, memory, affections, con&s;cience, and
<PB N="254" REF="156"> all the parts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5.23, 24, Rom. 6.19, 20, 21. Rom. 12.1, 2. Acts 15.9. 1 Cor. 10.32. and 6.15, &amp;c. Rom. 6.3, 4, &amp;c. Ephe&s;. 2.1, 2, &amp;c. I&s;ai. 1.16, 17, &amp;c. Eph. 4.21, &amp;c. I&s;ai. 5.7. Col. 3.9, 10. Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> and members of the body, eyes, ears, hands, feet, heart, all purified, and &s;anctified to glorifie God by Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the form or manner of this Repentance, Regeneration, and Re|novation, unto nevvne&s;&s;e of life, or vvhere|in doth this form con&s;i&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In the mortification of the old man, and the vivification or quickning of the new man; the old man or old <HI>Adam</HI> being crucified, and the body of &s;in de|&s;troyed, and the new man created, and enlived by Chri&s;t living in the &s;oul: and &s;o, an aver&s;ion from all evil, and a turn|ing or conver&s;ion unto good by the ver|tue of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the end of this grace of Repentance, Renovation, and Conver|&s;ion to God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The cheif end is the glory of God, the edification of our neighbour, and the a&s;&s;urance and enjoynment of our own eternal &s;alvation, 2 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.21. 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1.11, 12. <HI>Matth.</HI> 5.16. <HI>Gal.</HI> 1.22, 23, 24. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 7.8, 9, 10, 11. 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 2.13.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>You have made profe&s;&s;ion of your knowledge, and of the grace of Faith,
<PB N="255" REF="156"> and concerning Evangelical repentance; now what light hath Chri&s;t revealed to you concerning the fourth and la&s;t Grace, we noted in the wedding Garment, to be exami|ned and enlivened, before we come to the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The grace of Chri&s;tian love and charity, is a nece&s;&s;ary Garment to be worn as at all times, &s;o e&s;pecially when we meet Chri&s;t in the Ordinance of the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is this grace or affecti|on of love and charity, as you have lear|ned from Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, in general, love is an affecti|on of the &s;oul, moving in the heart of a man or woman, to embrace &s;ome known good thing.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, with a de&s;ire of union with it.</P>
<P>Secondly, a Sympathy or good will of beneficence, or well doing to it.</P>
<P>Thirdly, an acquie&s;cence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 17. 1 Sam. 18.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> or re&s;t in the fruition or enjoyment of it; as (under God) the chief pre&s;ent joy and &s;atisfying delight of the &s;oul; as the love of <HI>Iona|than</HI> to <HI>David,</HI> of husband and wife, parents and children, or the like.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Ionathan</HI> ob&s;erved <HI>David</HI> and knew him to be a valiant good man.</P>
<PB N="256" REF="157">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 19.4. 1 Sam. 20.4. 2 Sam. 9.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE>Secondly, in his heart de&s;iredd union and was knit to <HI>Davids</HI> heart.</P>
<P>Thirdly, he loved <HI>David</HI> as his own &s;oul, with a love of beneficence, or well doing to <HI>David;</HI> he gives <HI>David</HI> his Robe and Garments, even to his bow and his girdle, and his &s;word, ver. 4.</P>
<P>Fourthly, <HI>Ionathan</HI> loved <HI>David</HI> with a love of acquie&s;cence or re&s;ting in his love.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>You have de&s;cribed what love is in general: But what now is this grace of Chri&s;tian love and charity, to be examined and enlivened, before we come to the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> True Chri&s;tian love and charity, is a grace freely given of God, wrought in the heart and &s;oul of a believing man or woman, by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, by which a man or woman, who is enlight|ned with the true knowledge of God, of him&s;elf, and ol his neighbour, is inabled in true affection of &s;oul, to love with love of union and complacency or well plea|&s;ing, and in action of life to declare his or her love, in beneficency and well do|ing,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, towards God above all, as the chiefe&s;t good, according to his revealed
<PB N="257" REF="157"> will, giving up our &s;elves to God.</P>
<P>Secondly, towards our &s;elves, next under God &s;eeking our own &s;alvation, and good temporal, and eternal.</P>
<P>Thirdly, towards our neighbour in and for God as we love our &s;elves, 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 3.5. <HI>Ioh.</HI> 1.16. <HI>Gal.</HI> 5.12. <HI>Rom.</HI> 5.4, 5, 6. <HI>Deut.</HI> 6.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, <HI>Mat.</HI> 22.37, 39. <HI>Rev.</HI> 4.10, 11. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 10.3. <HI>Eph.</HI> 6. <HI>Luk.</HI> 10.27. <HI>Mat.</HI> 7.12. <HI>P&s;a.</HI> 42.1, 2. <HI>Cant.</HI> 3.4. <HI>Phil.</HI> 2.12. <HI>Cant.</HI> 1.4, 6, 8. 1 <HI>Ioh.</HI> 4.19, 20. <HI>and</HI> 4.7, 12. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 13. <HI>Eph.</HI> 4.15, 16. <HI>Rom.</HI> 12.10, 13, 14, 15, 16.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But what is this love or wherein is this Grace of love to be exerci&s;ed, and who is my neighbour to whom I &s;hould &s;hew this Chri&s;tian love and charity, and vvhat light from Chri&s;t to reveal this, and &s;o lead to Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I &s;hall &s;hew more fully, who is our neighbour, and in what duties, as it concerneth all in general: This love is to be exerci&s;ed, when I come to unfold the ten Commandements in the la&s;t part:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 10.3, 4.</NOTE> But now in brief, every man is my neigh|bour, which the Lord pre&s;ents to me as an object of mercy or love to do good unto;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 6.10.</NOTE> but in &s;pecial and more particular|ly, the hou&s;hold of Faith, and our fellow
<PB N="258" REF="158"> Saints in the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>I remember in the fourteenth Cla&s;&s;is, when you did &s;peak of the Church, although you did de&s;cribe principally the Church of Gods elect; yet you &s;aid the Church is or may be &s;aid to be a vi&s;ible company of men and women, profe&s;&s;ing the Faith of Chri&s;t and obedience there|unto;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 16.26.</NOTE> <HI>and &s;o as there have been, &s;o there may be &s;ome hypocrites in the Church not di&s;cerned: how then &s;hall I know who are the&s;e Saints, upon whom and to or with whom I &s;hould exerci&s;e this Chri&s;tian love and charity?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How&s;oever there are and may be &s;ome hypocrites in the Church; yet who&s;oever is a vi&s;ible Saint, or Saint in profe&s;&s;ion and outward appearance at lea&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 8.</NOTE> called by the word and &s;pirit to the vi&s;ible profe&s;&s;ion of Faith and holi|ne&s;&s;e, and fitly admitted in to the &s;ociety and fellow&s;hip of the Church: This man or woman is to be e&s;teemed of the hou&s;e|hold of Faith, and a fellow Saint to or with whom a child of God ought to ex|erci&s;e and communicate this grace of Chri&s;tian love and charity.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>But what do you mean by right and fit admi&s;&s;ion into the fellow&s;hip
<PB N="259" REF="158"> of the Church and hou&s;hold of God; or how, or when, or by what way and means may a man or woman be admitted and received as a Member of Chri&s;ts-Church, and of the hou&s;hold of God, and fellow&s;hip or communion of Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is a two fold entrance in|to the Church of Chri&s;t, or to be the children of God in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us: the fir&s;t, an inward or &s;piritual: the &s;econd, an outward corporal or vi&s;ible entrance.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What or how manifold is that inward and &s;piritual entrance you &s;peak of?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This inward or &s;piritual entrance, is the work of God making Chri&s;tians,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in election,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.4, 5. Luk. 10.20. 2 Tim. 2.19. Rev. 13.8 Col. 1.20 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. Rom. 1 7. 2 Tim. 1.9, 10. Act. 26.18.</NOTE> writing and enrol|ling the names of all tho&s;e (whom the Lord knoweth to be his) in the Book of life, of the Lamb of Chri&s;t &s;lain from the foundation of the world.</P>
<P>Secondly, making inward Chri&s;tians in redemption by Chri&s;t who hath made our peace by the blood of his Cro&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Thirdly, they are made Chri&s;tians in effectual vocation, when we are called out of the world by the per&s;wa&s;ion of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t in the Word, and drawn unto Chri&s;t by the Father, to be|lieve
<PB N="260" REF="159"> and receive, and re&s;t on Chri&s;t for &s;alvation:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 6.44 2 Cor. 4.13. Gal. 3.16 1 Cor. 6.17. Eph. 2.19</NOTE> and thus as a believer is united inwardly by the &s;pirit, as a member of Chri&s;t unto Chri&s;t the Head of his Church, as one not onely mutually joy|ned in heart and affection unto Chri&s;t: but as one that enrolleth and entreth his name in heart and minde, in the regi|&s;try of Saints, as a &s;ervant of the Lord Chri&s;t, and fellow Souldier and Citi|zen with the Saints, and of the hou&s;e|hold of God.</P>
<P>Fourthly, we are made Chri&s;tians in ju&s;tification,<NOTE PLACE="marg">act. 13.38, 39. Eph. 1.6. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Revel. 2.17. Mat. 17.5.</NOTE> when God doth ju&s;tifie in and by Chri&s;t, when the Lord Chri&s;t doth give us the white &s;tone of ju&s;tifica|tion; and in that doth write our new name of Chri&s;tians, ju&s;tifying a believer before God his Father, and God the Father accepts us for Chri&s;tians in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.12. Ioh. 3.3. Rom 6.4, 5, 6. Gal. 3.27 1 Cor. 12.12, &amp;c.</NOTE>Fifthly, we are not almo&s;t but altoge|ther, made Chri&s;tians in and by inward regeneration and &s;anctification of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, when we are baptized into Chri&s;t, and by one &s;pirit into one body, of which Chri&s;t is the Head, and put on Chri&s;t and are made new crea|tures; and &s;o are entred or admitted in|to
<PB N="261" REF="159"> the Church of Chri&s;t and fellow&s;hip or communion of Saints.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.17.</NOTE></P>
<P>Sixthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.5. Gal. 4.5, 6. Rom. 8.16, 17. Rev. 3.12 Rev. 2.17. G<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">l. 4.4, 5, 6. 1 Ioh. 2.19. Ioh. 10.30, 31. Gen. 17.1, 2. Ier. 1.5. Luk. 1.15 act. 9 6, 15, &amp;c.</NOTE> we are made not almo&s;t but altogether inward Chri&s;tians by adop|tion, when the Lord doth take a man or woman for his &s;on or daughter, yea, makes us heires with and in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, and giveth that new name promi&s;ed in the Scriptures: And all that are thus inwardly and &s;piritually entred and ad|mitted into the Church of Chri&s;t, are Saints indeed and &s;hall remain Saints for ever: The&s;e are truly of the Church, and a man or a woman an elect childe of God may thus inwardly be a Saint, and admitted by Chri&s;t as a member of his Church before they be outwardly ad|mitted, as <HI>Abraham</HI> and others before circumci&s;ion, and many catechumene's or in&s;tructed per&s;ons were in the Primi|tive times truly believers, and conver|ted to Chri&s;t, before they were baptized;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.13. Rom. 8.11.</NOTE> and indeed all the Saints in the world make but one body or Church of Chri&s;t, quickened by Chri&s;ts &s;pirit to life eter|nal.</P>
<P>This godly Mr. <HI>Perkins</HI> excellently &s;ets forth by a &s;imilitude which I &s;hall expre&s;&s;e in this order:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr. <HI>Per|kins</HI> on the creed.</NOTE> Suppo&s;e a man as
<PB N="262" REF="160"> high as heaven, his legs &s;tanding one in <HI>A&s;ia,</HI> the other in <HI>America;</HI> his hands &s;pred out, one over <HI>Europe,</HI> the other over <HI>Africa;</HI> his toes and fingers in <HI>England, France, Germany</HI> and other parts of the world, many hundred miles di&s;tant a&s;under, and all quickened by one and the &s;ame &s;oul: This di&s;tance of place doth not hinder the union of eve|ry part of the body to the head, and of each part to the fellow members, or the truth of any part in particular: There is and may be a &s;weet union and commu|nion of one part with another, though far di&s;tant in places and Countries, King|doms, Cities, and Common wealths, where they live, and a truth of each part, though not all beautiful alike one excelling in graces above another: In the &s;ame manner, the Head of the my&s;ti|cal Body and Church of Chri&s;t, is now in heaven, the Lord Chri&s;t him&s;elf our Lord and Saviour, and &s;ome of his members in heaven with him, and &s;ome in earth: and of the&s;e &s;ome part in <HI>Eng|land,</HI> &s;ome in <HI>Scotland,</HI> &s;ome in <HI>Germa|ny,</HI> &s;ome in divers other Kingdoms, Na|tions, Provinces, Cities, Pari&s;hes, and Congregations of men in &s;everal places
<PB N="263" REF="160"> of the world, many hundred ye thou&s;and miles &s;ome parts di&s;tant from the o|ther; and the &s;pirit of God is as it were the &s;oul of this body, which giveth &s;piri|tual life unto all the members, and all united by this one and the &s;ame &s;pi|rit, by whom we are all baptiz<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">d into one body as we noted before.</P>
<P>And &s;o, fir&s;t, you &s;ee how the Church may be &s;aid to be Catholike or Univer|&s;al, as it comprehendeth all the mem|bers of the body, &s;cattered in divers Countries.</P>
<P>Secondly, how it is and may be cal|led national, as it is a company called of God, to believe, repent, and pro|fe&s;&s;e &s;ubjection to the Faith and Go&s;pel-holine&s;&s;e living, and pre&s;erved in <HI>Eng|land, Scotland,</HI> or other Nations.</P>
<P>Thirdly, how it was or might be cal|led a Church provincial, in the Province or Countrey of <HI>Galatia,</HI> in the Cities of <HI>Ephe&s;us, Corinth, Geneva, London,</HI> or other Cities and Provinces greater or le&s;&s;e what&s;oever.</P>
<P>La&s;tly, how the &s;ame Church of Chri&s;t is and may be called particular, or con|gregational, as it relates to per&s;ons cal|led, profe&s;&s;ing Faith and holine&s;&s;e, ad|mitted
<PB N="264" REF="161"> to Church communion, and uni|ted together in a holy profe&s;&s;ion and participation of Word, Sacraments, and other ordinances of Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, in one parochial or congregational A&s;&s;embly, all as particular true members of the Ca|tholike or Univer&s;al Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What or how manifold is that outward corporal or vi&s;ible entrance into the vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t, and fel|low&s;hip of the Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> As the inward entrance is but one in &s;ub&s;tance,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.5. 2 Tim. 1.9. 1 Cor. 6.11. Ioh. 10.7 Ioh. 14.6.</NOTE> and thus in and by Chri&s;t we are elected and cho&s;en of God the Father, but it is in and by Chri&s;t; and &s;o we are inwardly called and ju&s;tified and &s;anctified, but it is in and by the &s;ame &s;pirit of Chri&s;t: The Lord Chri&s;t is the onely way and door of entrance into the Church Millitant, and Church triumphant; and &s;o like|wi&s;e there is but one outward entrance and admi&s;&s;ion into the Church of Chri&s;t, for the &s;ub&s;tance and principal matter of it, and this was by way of Covenant and &s;eal of the Covenant, as an Ordi|nance of Chri&s;t, although there have been divers manners and wayes in the practi&s;e of the Churches, and among&s;t
<PB N="265" REF="161"> the Saints of the mo&s;t High; yet all I conceive by a charitable and Chri&s;tian con&s;truction may be referred to, and for &s;ub&s;tance ageee with the Ordinance and in&s;titution of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is or was the fir&s;t of the&s;e wayes of admi&s;&s;ion and entrance into the Church or Church-fellow&s;hip and com|munion of Saints before Chri&s;t coming in our humane nature?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To omit former times, and what was the practi&s;e of the Church then, and Gods Ordinance the foot&s;teps thereof not being ea&s;ily to be found, I look up|on that Ordinance and In&s;titution of Chri&s;t with <HI>Abraham;</HI> and the practi&s;e of the Church in <HI>Abrahams</HI> family, and Generation:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.16, 17.</NOTE> <HI>Abraham</HI> being in &s;ome re&s;pect the Father of the Faithful, and the Church in his hou&s;e a Type (if I may &s;o call it) of the Church of Chri&s;t &s;ince the coming of Chri&s;t, and of the hou&s;e|hold of Faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.2, 3, &amp;c. I&s;ai. 56.6, 7. Num. 15. Exo. 12.48. Gen. 17.</NOTE> <HI>What was the In&s;titution of Chri&s;t, and Direction to</HI> Abraham <HI>for ad|mi&s;&s;ion and entrance into the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This Ordinance of Chri&s;t to <HI>Abraham,</HI> was by way of Covenant be|tween God and <HI>Abraham,</HI> and <HI>Abra|hams</HI>
<PB N="266" REF="162"> Seed, the Faithful or beleevers, and compleated by a &s;igne and &s;eal of this Covenant in <HI>Abraham,</HI> and his children, and all that &s;hould come in to be of <HI>Abrahams</HI> family, and &s;o mem|bers of the Church, and to their children at eight dayes old, as to <HI>I&s;aac</HI> and all <HI>Abrahams</HI> po&s;terity. This &s;igne and &s;eal was Circumci&s;ion, as we may reade <HI>Gen.</HI> 17.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>But how&s;oever, there was and might be a Covenant between God and</HI> Abraham; <HI>and &s;o between men of ripe yeers, and the Lord mutually. Yet how could there be a Covenant between God and</HI> Abrahams <HI>young children, or the chil|dren of other beleevers when they were circumci&s;ed, Whereas they were but eight dayes old, and Circumci&s;ion in the ordinary way to be deferred no longer: And how were the&s;e admitted into the Church by Covenant and Circumci&s;ion, the &s;igne and &s;eal of the Covenant of Grace, between God and</HI> Abraham?</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, The Covenant or Promi&s;e on Gods part, or by the Lord, was with <HI>Abraham</HI> him&s;elf, and in and with <HI>Abra|ham,</HI> to and with the children and be|leeving po&s;terity of <HI>Abraham:</HI> And all
<PB N="267" REF="162"> Pro&s;elytes whom the Lord &s;hould con|vert and draw in to beleeve, and to be of <HI>Abrahams</HI> Family, or of the Church by Faith and Profe&s;&s;ion manife&s;ted by &s;ub|mitting unto, and accepting of Circum|ci&s;ion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.</NOTE> that &s;igne and &s;eal of the Cove|nant, appointed by the Lord to <HI>Abraham,</HI> and to and for <HI>Abrahams</HI> po&s;terity, and all &s;uch converted Pro&s;elytes, and their children what&s;oever.</P>
<P>Secondly, As on <HI>Abrahams</HI> part,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 12. Gen. 17. Rom. 4.11.</NOTE> the Covenant was mutually made with God by him&s;elf, in taking the Lord for his God as he had done before by beleeving the Promi&s;e, That in him, that is, in his Seed Chri&s;t, &s;hould all the nations of the Earth, be ble&s;&s;ed, renewed here again, as expre&s;&s;ed more fully in and by accep|tance of, and &s;ubmitting unto circumci|&s;ion the &s;igne and &s;eal of the Covenant of Grace, and of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith in Chri&s;t the Me&s;&s;iah to come: and &s;o by men of ripe years, Pro&s;elytes con|verted to be of <HI>Abrahams</HI> Family, by profe&s;&s;ing them&s;elves covenanters, and to have the Lord for their God, and by accepting of and &s;ubmitting unto circum|ci&s;ion, that &s;igne and &s;eal of the Cove|nant as, <HI>Abraham</HI> did.</P>
<PB N="268" REF="163">
<P>But for children of <HI>Abraham,</HI> and of other Pro&s;elytes, believers who had en|tred Covenant for them&s;elves; <HI>Abra|ham</HI> and &s;uch Parents did in all appea|rance Covenant that they would in&s;truct and teach their children the Covenant of God which the Lord witne&s;&s;eth of <HI>Abraham,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18, 19.</NOTE> that he did know <HI>Abraham</HI> would do according to his duty and Co|venant, that they might fear the Lord, which is certain was no more then what <HI>Abraham</HI> had engaged him&s;elf unto by his Covenant, accepting the Lord for his God, and the God of his &s;eed.</P>
<P>And the Infants them&s;elves did only pa&s;&s;ively enter Covenant (if I may &s;o &s;peak) by receiving circumci&s;ion the &s;igne and &s;eal of the Covenant, which they were actually to enter by &s;olemn profe&s;&s;ion, when they came to be of knowledge and under&s;tanding; as tho&s;e children of the I&s;raelites did, of which we read <HI>Nehemiah</HI> the tenth:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Neh. 10.28, 29.</NOTE> When they were in&s;tructed and catechized in the knowledge of the my&s;tery and Sa|crament of circumci&s;ion, as the I&s;|raelites children were commanded to be in&s;tructed in the my&s;tery or Sacrament of the Pa&s;&s;eover &amp; Law of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 12.26, 27. Deut. 6.6, 7.</NOTE> from ge|neration
<PB N="269" REF="163"> to generation, <HI>Exodus</HI> 12.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>Then it &s;eemeth that cir|cumci&s;ion did not give Infants at eight dayes old a compleat and perfect admi&s;|&s;ion into the Church or a perfection of member&s;hip with vi&s;ible profe&s;&s;ors com|pleat?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I conceive they had a true and compleat Infant admi&s;&s;ion as far as they were capable of, and pa&s;&s;ively re|ceived the &s;igne of circumci&s;ion, as a &s;igne and &s;eal of that Covenant made with <HI>Abraham</HI> their Father, to di&s;tingui&s;h them from the children of all Pagans and Idolaters, &s;uch as were not of the Church, and to intitle them to other rights and priviledges, which they &s;hould be capable of when they came to knowledge and under&s;tanding to pro|fe&s;&s;e, and by profe&s;&s;ion actually to en|ter Covenant them&s;elves.</P>
<P>But they were not fully and compleat|ly taken as &s;uch vi&s;ible members, as might joyn in Covenant and other Ordi|nances, until they were of knowledge and under&s;tanding, as is noted in <HI>Nehe|miah</HI> before.</P>
<P>For I do not conceive it certain that children were admitted to eat the Pa&s;&s;e|over
<PB N="270" REF="164"> until they were of &s;ome under&s;tan|ding, if that be true which is related by the Hebrews, that every one both of men and women was bound to drink that night, four cups of wine without fail, every cup containing a log, as much as an egge and half, and to ble&s;&s;e God at every cup, e&s;pecially at the la&s;t cup, As Ma&s;ter <HI>Ain&s;worth</HI> out of <HI>Maimon</HI> relates, to which the Apo&s;tle alludes in the cup of ble&s;&s;ing; be&s;ides, they were to be of that under&s;tanding to ask their Parents the rea&s;on of that &s;ervice,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 12. 1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE> and to conceive their in&s;truction given them as appeareth from that 12 of <HI>Exod.</HI> noted before: Therefore more then Infant-circumci&s;ion was nece&s;&s;ary to a compleat grown up vi&s;ible member of the Church before Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>You have &s;hewed in part the admi&s;&s;ion of</HI> Abraham, <HI>and men of ripe years of</HI> Abrahams <HI>po&s;terity or children were admitted as members: now in what manner were the Pro&s;elytes admitted when they were received as of the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is recorded in Scripture that one Ordinance was to be for the Con|gregation and for the &s;tranger that &s;o|journed with them; as they were, &s;o were
<PB N="271" REF="164"> the &s;trangers to be before the Lord by an Ordinance for ever.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Num. 15.15.</NOTE></P>
<P>But we read further as it is related out of the Hebrew Doctors, That if an Hebrew receive of the Heathens a &s;er|vant grown in year<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">; and the &s;ervant be not willing to be circumci&s;ed, he dealeth with him a whole twelve moneth; more then that it is not lawful to keep him be|ing uncircumci&s;ed, he mu&s;t &s;ell him again to the Heathens; &s;o that every Heathen might be admitted to the Church and people of God if he would: but if he would be admitted, then he mu&s;t be ad|mitted and enter into Covenant as the Hebrews did, like as the Hebrew Do|ctors &s;ay by three things, did I&s;rael en|ter into Covenant, namely, by circum|ci&s;ion and bapti&s;m, and &s;acrifice: Fir&s;t, circumci&s;ion was in Egypt, as it is writ|ten,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 12.48. 1 Cor. 10.22. Exo. 10.8, 9, 10.</NOTE> no uncircumci&s;ed per&s;on &s;hall eat thereof: Secondly, Bapti&s;m was in the wilderne&s;&s;e before the Law (not only typically in the Red-&s;ea) But at the foot of Mount <HI>Sinai</HI> as it is written, The Lord &s;aid to <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> go unto the people, and &s;anctifie them to day and to morrow, and let them wa&s;h their cloaths and be ready again&s;t the third day; this was their en|tring
<PB N="272" REF="165"> Covenant, as in the 5, 6, 7, 8. ver|&s;es a fore going in that Chapter, is evident: Thirdly, by &s;acrifice, as it is written, he &s;ent young men of the &s;ons of I&s;rael which offered burnt offerings, and this at entring into a confirming of the Covenant: For <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> took the Book of the Covenant and read in the audience of the people,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 24.5, 6, 7, 8.</NOTE> and they &s;aid all that the Lord hath &s;poken, we will do, and be obedient; here was a &s;ub|mi&s;&s;ion to the Covenant, and <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> confirmed it by &s;prinkling the blood on the people, and &s;aid, Behold the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all the&s;e6 words: And &s;o in all ages, when an Ethnick or Heathen was willing to en|ter into the Covenant, and gather him|&s;elf under the wings of the Maje&s;ty of God, and take upon him the yoak of the Law, he mu&s;t be circumci&s;ed and baptized, and bring a &s;acrifice; and if it be a woman, &s;he mu&s;t be baptized, and bring a &s;acrifice; and as the I&s;raelite, &s;o was the admi&s;&s;ion of a &s;tranger al&s;o, by way of Covenant profe&s;&s;ion and &s;eal of Covenant, as is held forth by the&s;e evidences.</P>
<PB N="273" REF="165">
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>There is one que&s;tion more I de&s;ire to be re&s;olved in, before you come to &s;hew the admi&s;&s;ion of converts or chil|dren of belivers in the time of the Go&s;pel; and this is concerning what you &s;aid of cir|cumci&s;ion, that it was to</HI> Abraham <HI>a &s;igne and &s;eal of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith, and of the Covenant of Grace; I have heard &s;ome are of opinion, that circumci&s;ion ap|pointed to</HI> Abraham <HI>was not a &s;eal of Faith and Covenant of Grace, but a &s;eal of the Covenant of works, do and live, and of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of works, by doing and not believing; and that</HI> Abraham <HI>by circum|ci&s;ion was bound to perform perfect obedi|ence to the whole Law, upon pain of eter|nal damnation; and that the Covenant was onely a corporal covenant, and that there was as much difference between circumci|&s;ion and bapti&s;m, as between Mount</HI> Sinai, <HI>which gendreth to bondage,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 4.</NOTE> <HI>and</HI> Ieru&s;alem <HI>which is free, between</HI> Hagar <HI>and</HI> Sara, <HI>which are mo&s;t contrary; and then the manner of admi&s;&s;ion of Saints in the Old Te&s;tament, can have no agreement with this in the New, and &s;o all this is to no pur|po&s;e which is &s;poken?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> For mens opinions no a&s;&s;ertion is therefore true, becau&s;e &s;ome men af|firm
<PB N="274" REF="166"> it, but it mu&s;t have ground in the Word of God.</P>
<P>Now for circumci&s;ion it is evident by the Apo&s;tle, that it is not a &s;eal of the Covenant of works, but of Faith, and the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.11. Rom. 11.6.</NOTE> and there|fore not of works: For Faith and works in re&s;pect of the Coven<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">n<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> and ju&s;tifica|tion of life, are oppo&s;ite and contrary the one to the other, if of works, then not of grace. And Mr. <HI>Ain&s;worth</HI> well ob|&s;erves upon that place, that the word Co|venant is thirteen times named in that Chapter;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.21.</NOTE> and hereby is meant the pro|mi&s;e of Chri&s;t <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">nd &s;alvation in him; and that the promi&s;e was not onely of corpo|ral, but of &s;piritual and heavenly things: As Saint <HI>Luke</HI> te&s;tifieth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 1.72 73, &amp;c.</NOTE> Chapter the fir&s;t. To perform this mercy promi&s;ed to our fore-Fathers, and to remember his ho|ly Covenant the Oath which he &s;wear unto our Father <HI>Abraham,</HI> which was an Oath and Covenant of &s;piritual things, as you may reade at large: And &s;o circumci&s;ion a &s;eal of that Covenant, mu&s;t needs be not a &s;eal of the Covenant of works but of grace: Not of Mount <HI>Sinai</HI> gendring to bondage, but of Mount <HI>Sion</HI> and of <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> which is free, the
<PB N="275" REF="166"> Mother of us all, of all the free born children of faithful <HI>Abraham,</HI> free born not by a natural, but by a &s;piritual new birth;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.12</NOTE> not of the will of the fle&s;h or of man, but of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 5.</NOTE> <HI>But what &s;ay you to that place of the Apo&s;tle, he that is circumci&s;ed is bound to keep the whole Law, doth not this evidence that circumci&s;ion did bind a man to legal obedience, and then how could it be a &s;eal of the Covenant of Grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I An&s;wer the Apo&s;tle in this Chapter, concludeth his di&s;putation con|cerning ju&s;tification by the merit of Chri&s;t, and not by the ob&s;ervation of the works of the Law, or of circumci|&s;ion appointed to <HI>Abraham</HI> before the holding forth of the Law of <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.3, &amp;c.</NOTE> or by any of <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> his Ceremonies: Iu&s;ti|fication before God being onely by Chri&s;t received by Faith, and Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e as he had proved by di|vers Arguments in the former Chapters: For the Iewi&s;h Doctors which came to the <HI>Galathians</HI> had preached a fal&s;e Doctrine,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 15.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE> that except they were cir|cumci&s;ed they could not be &s;aved: As tho&s;e did at <HI>Antioch</HI> again&s;t which the Councel at <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> made a Decree,
<PB N="276" REF="167"> that no &s;uch burden as circumci&s;ion &s;hould be laid upon the Church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts. i5.24, 28.</NOTE> and this Doctrine of ju&s;tification by circum|ci&s;ion, the Apo&s;tle vehemently oppo|&s;eth: Not as if circumci&s;ion indeed had been ordained by <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> or was any Sa|crament or &s;eal of the Covenant of works, or &s;o e&s;teemed by the Apo&s;tle: For it was appointed by God Him&s;elf to <HI>Abraham</HI> a believer in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 8.56 Gal. 3.17</NOTE> four hun|dred yeers before that di&s;pen&s;ation of the Law by <HI>Mo&s;es,</HI> or matter of the Co|venant of works by <HI>Mo&s;es;</HI> and the &s;ame Apo&s;tle him&s;elf had held it forth, not as a &s;eal of the Covenant of works, but of the righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e of Faith in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.11, 12.</NOTE> as is noted before: Therefore the Apo&s;tle doth not &s;peak again&s;t cir|cumci&s;ion, as it was an Ordinance of God to <HI>Abraham</HI> continued until Chri&s;t, or as if it ever was a &s;eal of the Covenant of works; but as it was fal&s;ly abu&s;ed by the fal&s;e glo&s;&s;es of the Phari&s;ees and Iewi&s;h legal Doctors, who came and di&s;turbed the pure Doctrine of the Go&s;|pel among&s;t the believing <HI>Galatians,</HI> con|trary to the Apo&s;tle and Churches De|cree at <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> and truth of Chri&s;t taught the <HI>Galathians</HI> by the Apo&s;tle
<PB N="277" REF="167"> Saint <HI>Paul</HI> him&s;elf; for otherwi&s;e he &s;peaketh of Circumci&s;ion as indifferent in the times of the Churches re&s;pect to the Jews, whom they de&s;ired to convert, as he made it evident in his own circum|ci&s;ing of <HI>Timothy,</HI> which he would not have done, if Circumci&s;ion had been a Seal of the Covenant of Works,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>B. Arce. in Gal. 5.</HI> Ob&s;erva. de circum|ci&s;ione hic agi re|&s;pectu a|bu&s;us quem in ducebant fal&s;i Do|ctores. Alibi Circum|ci&s;ionem tulit ut rem medi|am in <HI>Timo|theo,</HI> ali|bi ut fi|gillum ju&s;titiae commend|avit in <HI>Abraha|mo,</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE> or &s;ub|jected <HI>Timothy</HI> to perform the whole Law, or could have cau&s;ed that <HI>Timothy</HI> &s;hould have received no profit by Chri&s;t, as here he &s;peaketh of Circumci&s;ion to the <HI>Galathians,</HI> when the fal&s;e Doctors taught Ju&s;tification by Circumci&s;ion, which Errour the Apo&s;tle here &s;o &s;trong|ly contradicts, as mo&s;t contrary to Chri&s;t, and the Doctrine of Faith in Je&s;us. And to this effect, both ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Luther, Benedictus, Aretius,</HI> and others, expound that place: And &s;o it is a mo&s;t clear truth, that Circumci&s;ion was never a Seal to <HI>Abraham,</HI> or to any other of the Covenant of Works, of onely of tem|poral Benefits, or that there is any &s;uch difference between Circumci&s;ion and Bapti&s;m, as between <HI>Hagar</HI> and <HI>Sarah,</HI> or between Mount <HI>Sina</HI> in <HI>Arabia,</HI> gen|dering to bondage, and Mount <HI>Sion</HI> or <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> between Law and Go&s;pel, as
<PB N="278" REF="168"> &s;ome Antipoedobapti&s;ts have affirmed: And therefore it is not unprofitable to hold forth the manner of entrance into the Church, declared and appointed by God to <HI>Abraham,</HI> for his po&s;terity, for Pro&s;elytes converted, and the Church untill Chri&s;t, as is noted before.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>You have &s;atisfied me in this trouble now. I pray you what was, or is, the manner of outward admi&s;&s;ion into the Church, &s;ince Chri&s;t in the time of the Gospel?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> For outward admi&s;&s;ion into the vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t, &s;ince Chri&s;ts A&s;cention: This was and is by way of Covenant al&s;o, though in a different manner of di&s;pen&s;ation, as it re&s;pects di|vers per&s;ons, and times of admi&s;&s;ion, or at lea&s;t of approbations of per&s;ons admi&s;|&s;ion, as vi&s;ible compleat members of the Church, and fellow&s;hip of the Saints, fit to partake and communicate in al Ordi|nances and Acts of fellow&s;hip, e&s;peci|ally in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. And this in &s;everal ages and practi&s;es of the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What was the fir&s;t way or practice of the Church in the new Te&s;ta|ment, according to the Ordinance of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<PB N="279" REF="168">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Inwardly men of ripe yeers, Jews or Gentiles converted, or profe&s;&s;ing them&s;elves to be converted by the preaching of the Go&s;pel, to beleeve in Chri&s;t, were admitted as members of the Church, and into or for this admi&s;&s;i|on there was.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, As there was or &s;hould have been a beleeving or faith in Chri&s;t, true and &s;incere, or at lea&s;t temporary; in which the &s;oul did clo&s;e or &s;eem to clo&s;e with Chri&s;t, and Covenant and agree to receive Chri&s;t for a Saviour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act 8.13 and 8 37 P&s;a. 27.8</NOTE> according to the promi&s;e and tender of the Go&s;pel. And this was a kinde of union, agree|ment, and &s;ecret covenanting with Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="1">1. The Lord Chri&s;t &s;peaking inward|ly to the &s;oul in kindne&s;&s;e; O poor &s;oul, wilt thou &s;eek my face, and have me for thy Lord, and Husband, and Saviour: Behold, I have loved thee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> and given my &s;elf for thee.</P>
<P N="2">2. The &s;oul an&s;wering again, as by con&s;ent and agreement; Lord,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 15.</NOTE> I know thou ha&s;te loved me to come into the World to &s;ave &s;inners, of which, I am cheif. Behold, thy face will I &s;eek, and I Will have; yea, I do receive, and take
<PB N="280" REF="169"> thee for my Lord, and my Husband, and my onely Saviour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;ea 2.14, 19.</NOTE> upon whom alone I re&s;t for &s;alvation, and life eternal here, I &s;ay, is a kinde of &s;ecret covenanting, and a preparation for admi&s;&s;ion, as I noted before in part, in the internal en|trance before &s;pecified.</P>
<P>Secondly, Outwardly there was, fir&s;t an inchoation or degree of entrance and admi&s;&s;ion into Church fellow&s;hip, by de|&s;iring of Bapti&s;m, the Seal of the Cove|nant with Chri&s;t, and the Members of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.16.</NOTE> the head of his Church, as the Eunuch did de&s;ire to be baptized.</P>
<P>Secondly, There was an open profe&s;&s;i|on of this Faith, and internal Covenant, and union with Chri&s;t the Head of his Church by beleeving; and &s;o inwardly, or by that inward bond of the &s;pirit and &s;aith with all Chri&s;ts members, and an open Declaration, and holding forth of this Faith of Chri&s;t, and beleef of it, be|fore the Church; or tho&s;e who had au|thority from Chri&s;t to admit, and receive into Church fellow&s;hip, as vi&s;ible mem|ber&s;hip in the Church.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.37.</NOTE> This <HI>Philip</HI> re|quireth of the Eunuch when he demand|ed or de&s;ired Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Here is water, &s;aith the Eunuch,
<PB N="281" REF="169"> what letteth but that I may be baptized?</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Philip</HI> An&s;wereth, if thou believe&s;t with all thy heart, thou may&s;t.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the Eunuch replieth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 8.16, 17.</NOTE> I be|lieve that Ie&s;us Chri&s;t is the Son of God; I believe that Ie&s;us Chri&s;t of whom I have read in the 53 of <HI>I&s;aiah,</HI> and whom then <HI>Philip</HI> had preached unto him, and namely, Chri&s;t the Saviour.</P>
<P>Here was two things, fir&s;t, a holding forth of the truth of the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Secondly, of his belief and a&s;&s;ent thereunto, and &s;o a receiving of Chri&s;t and a hearty-covenant with Chri&s;t, which moved him to de&s;ire Bapti&s;m, as the &s;eal and Sacrament of the Covenant, and of admi&s;&s;ion into the Church, and of Communion with the Saints.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In this profe&s;&s;ion of Faith and declaration of a willingne&s;&s;e to and de&s;ire of Bapti&s;m, the &s;igne and &s;eal of the Co|venant of Grace in Chri&s;t (as circum|ci&s;ion was before) is implied a Declara|tion, that we have and do actually Co|venant with Chri&s;t: And (as it was fore|told by the Prophet <HI>Zachary</HI>) as the Lord &s;ayes ye are my people;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zac. 13.9</NOTE> &s;o Gods people al&s;o &s;ay the Lord is our God.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Chri&s;t &s;aith to the &s;oul thou art my &s;pou&s;e,</P>
<PB N="282" REF="170">
<P>Secondly, and the &s;oul &s;aith to Chri&s;t thou art my Lord my loving Husband: And &s;o though not in &s;o many words outwardly, yet in &s;ub&s;tance in this be|lief in the heart, and profe&s;&s;ion or con|fe&s;&s;ion of Faith with the mouth and wil|lingne&s;&s;e to be baptized, is an entrance by way of Covenant or witne&s;&s;ing, that the party de&s;iring Bapti&s;m hath entred Cove|nant with God in Chri&s;t, which he now de&s;ired to be &s;ealed, and his admi&s;&s;ion to be compleated in Bapti&s;m. 4ly. A Cove|nant is entred and &s;ealed in Bapti&s;m with the Head Chri&s;t and all the members of his my&s;tical Body, the party thus confe&s;|&s;ing and profe&s;&s;ing Faith and Covenant; when the Church or per&s;ons authorized by it that did finde that according to Chri&s;ts in&s;titution,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 10.47.</NOTE> he or &s;he had jus <HI>ad|rem</HI> a right unto Church-fellow&s;hip and to Bapti&s;m, the &s;eal of admi&s;&s;ion, yea, a kinde of inward right in the Communi|on, and &s;piritual member&s;hip of Saints in Chri&s;t the Head (as far as in judgement of charity they could di&s;cern) thus admit|ted by Chri&s;t, this profe&s;&s;or of the Faith I &s;ay was baptized, and &s;o outwardly compleated, and entertained as a Church member; not only to the Sacrament of
<PB N="283" REF="170"> the Lords Supper and breaking of bread,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 2.46.</NOTE> but al&s;o to all other Acts of Church fel|low&s;hip which agree to a member by the Ordinance of Chri&s;ts &s;ealing in Bapti&s;m both his Covenant with God in Chri&s;t, and with all the members of Chri&s;ts my|&s;tical Body: And thus you &s;ee how men of ripe years converted from Iudai&s;m, or Pagani&s;m to the Faith and holine&s;&s;e of the Go&s;pel, had their outward admi&s;|&s;ion into the Church and Communion of the Saints with Chri&s;t their Head, and one with another: And &s;o far you may be|hold the Scripture way of admi&s;&s;ion into, or making up the Body or Church of Chri&s;t: Thus there were dayly added to the Church &s;uch as &s;hould be &s;aved,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 2.47. 1 Cor. 12.27. Eph. 1.22, 23.</NOTE> men and women converts and profe&s;&s;ors being made vi&s;ible members of the Church: And all particular members making up one Body of which Chri&s;t is the Head; and &s;o Saints to and with whom we mu&s;t exerci&s;e our Chri&s;tian love and charity.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>How then may a vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t be de&s;cribed by this that you have held forth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I conceive a true vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t to be a company or<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 8.17 18, &amp;c.</NOTE>
<PB N="284" REF="171"> &s;ociety of profe&s;&s;ours of the true Faith of Chri&s;t and holine&s;&s;e of the Go&s;pel,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">.13.</NOTE> and of their belief, obedience, and &s;ub|jection thereunto united and joyned by Covenant, and Covenant union unto one with Chri&s;t their Head, and in Chri&s;t and with another, both &s;ealed in the Sa|crament of Bapti&s;m rightly admitted and compleated according to the Scrip|tures, by and in which they are admit|ted, and received and approved as vi|&s;ible members of the Church and Body of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>I like of this de&s;cription if you make the matter of a vi&s;ible Church to be vi&s;ible Saints as you &s;eem to inti|mate.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.7</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The matter of a vi&s;ible Church certainly ought to be vi&s;ible Saints, if you mean Saints by profe&s;&s;ion of true Faith and true holine&s;&s;e; and &s;uch as de&s;ire and endeavour to walk not after the fle&s;h,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.1, 2.</NOTE> but after the &s;pirit, &s;o as the Church can di&s;cern.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>But what if any admitted prove offen&s;ive?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> If any declare them&s;elves other|wi&s;e in their walkings or common cour&s;e of life after their admi&s;&s;ion, the Church
<PB N="285" REF="171"> and tho&s;e in authority by Chri&s;t, may, and ought to ca&s;t them out upon due proofs, and convictions in a due and right exerci&s;e of the Keys and power of Chri&s;t, though not for every failing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 18.17. 1 Cor. 5.</NOTE> and not before other means u&s;ed, according to the cu&s;tome and practi&s;e of the Churches of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>But if this Di&s;cipline be wanting?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> For want of this, although the Lord Chri&s;t hath not u&s;ed in any Scrip|ture example to un-Church a Church for any per&s;onal corruption of particular members, or for the Churches neglect in this particular;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Revel. 2.10, 11, &amp;c.</NOTE> yet Chri&s;t hath re|proved the particular Churches for this fault, and that &s;harpely, as the Scripture holdeth forth evidently unto us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>But if Chri&s;t do not un-Church for this fault, nor for per&s;onal cor|ruptions of particular members; then what &s;ay you of tho&s;e particular per&s;ons, men or women, who will, and do, not onely Separate from, but un-Church tho&s;e Churches and Congregations, where they cannot deny but the Gospel hath been comfortably preached, and Sacraments admini&s;tred; &s;o as they have been convert|ed,
<PB N="286" REF="172"> conceived in the Womb, born again, and received,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 66.</NOTE> <HI>&s;uck from the Bre&s;ts of con&s;olation, for nouri&s;hment of the life of Grace in them;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Matth. 18.20.</NOTE> <HI>in which Churches they have often met Chri&s;t in his Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments, in prayers and prai&s;es, to their comfort. And yet now for particular failings (it may be for want of full power in the Congregation, to exerci&s;e Reformation as they de&s;ire) do brand the Churches and Congregations of Chri&s;t, with the name of Antichri&s;ts Synagogues, and the faithful, painful Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t, Baals Prie&s;ts, Lims of Antichri&s;t, no true, but fal&s;e and counterfeit Churches; and not Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t indeed (as they judge) but of Antichri&s;t him&s;elf?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truely, how&s;oever &s;ome weak Chri&s;tians may be &s;educed by deceivers, and led into this errour; yet it appears divers of the&s;e &s;pirits have either none or but little of Chri&s;t, or true Chri&s;tiani|ty in them; for a man to call his mother whore, it would be very uncivil and un|chri&s;tian; although &s;he be &s;ick and weak, and faln into divers noy&s;ome di&s;ea&s;es, it is his duty rather to &s;eek, fir&s;t to God, and &s;econdly, to the Phy&s;itians, and u&s;e
<PB N="287" REF="172"> all good means for the recovery of her health, not &s;eparate from, and leave her to death, and de&s;olation without re|&s;pect.</P>
<P><HI>Simile.</HI> Is it a Chri&s;tian cour&s;e, when two or three are &s;ick or faln lame in a Family, to for&s;ake the hou&s;e without taking care, or affording help and a&s;&s;i&s;t|ance for recovery of a brother, &s;i&s;ter, or fellow &s;ervants: How will the father or ma&s;ter of the family take this; certain|ly, if a murderer mu&s;t be de&s;troyed when the great King Chri&s;t &s;hall come to judgement; The&s;e that kill in not en|deavouring to &s;ave life, &s;hall not e&s;cape unpuni&s;hed, except in time God open their eyes, and in and by Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5.32.</NOTE> give them repentance; let &s;uch then repent, and return, and a&s;&s;i&s;t in Reformation, not go on in Separation from the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>But what if men be for|bidden by Law, and men of power to u&s;e tho&s;e means, which might by Gods ble&s;&s;ing reform &s;uch corrupted per&s;ons, or heal &s;uch &s;ick Congregations?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How&s;oever any new cour&s;e of Di&s;cipline, or that great cen&s;ure of ex|communication may be forbidden by &s;ome acts, except they be repelled; and
<PB N="288" REF="173"> &s;o in &s;ome cour&s;e directed by authority of Parliament, yet no Law forbids bro|therly and neighbourly Exhortations, Admonitions, Reprehen&s;ions, Coun&s;els, In&s;tructions out of Gods Word, Pray|ers, and Supplications, and &s;uch like; and all the&s;e &s;hould be u&s;ed for Refor|mation, and not fall to a ra&s;h and offen|&s;ive Separation to grieve the &s;ouls of weak Brethren, and harden wicked men, which it may be by good means, and Gods ble&s;&s;ing might be reformed and reclaimed, as I have &s;hewed in former Cla&s;&s;es of this Diologue. But God giveth us good hope of authority, &s;uffi|cient in a Chri&s;tian humble way, to re|form our Congregations, and if &s;ome blemi&s;hes be not reformed, yet a Church may be a true Church, if it hold forth the &s;ub&s;tantial, and nece&s;&s;ary truth of the Go&s;pel, and profe&s;&s;ed &s;ubjection there|unto, though many failings and corrup|tions be botn in particular members, and the Church in general;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 5. Gal. 1. Revel. 2. Revel. 3.</NOTE> witne&s;&s;e the Churches of <HI>Corinth,</HI> of <HI>Galatia, Ephe|&s;us, Pergamos, Sardis,</HI> and <HI>Philadelphia,</HI> and many other ancient and modern Churches of Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, and yet e|&s;teemed true Churches, as the Church
<PB N="289" REF="173"> of <HI>England, Scotland, France, Bohemia, Belgia, Geneva;</HI> the Churches of <HI>Hol|land,</HI> yea, the Churches of <HI>London,</HI> and our particular Congregations, though they be too full of corruptions, may, and ought to be e&s;teemed true Churches, at lea&s;t where true Saints are joyned toge|ther in the enjoyment of Ordinances, although in mixed Congregations.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>You have given me good &s;atisfaction thus far, what is a true vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t, or the matter of a Church, and who are vi&s;ible Members, and of the hou&s;hold of faith, to and with whom we may exerci&s;e our Chri&s;tian love and charity. But how can Infant-children of beleevers baptized in their infancy, which can neither profe&s;&s;e the Faith of Chri&s;t, or their Faith in Chri&s;t, nor &s;hew any &s;ubjection to the Go&s;p<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">l, agree to your de&s;cription of a vi&s;ible Church, or how and when and in what manner can the&s;e be accounted Members of the vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is the next manner of ad|mi&s;&s;ion to Church-member&s;hip to be held forth unto you, to &s;hew who are Saints, and of the hou&s;hold of Faith; and who is our neighbour, and fellow
<PB N="290" REF="174"> Saint, to and with whom I ought to ex|erci&s;e this Chri&s;tian love and charity, even children according to their capacity as well as men of riper yeers.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>But how or in what manner have children of beleevers been admitted, and e&s;teemed or reputed members of the vi&s;ible Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How the children of faithful <HI>Abraham,</HI> and profe&s;&s;ors of Faith, were admitted in the Old Te&s;tament.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, in infancy to the Sacrament of Circumci&s;ion, and after to the Sacrament of the Pa&s;&s;eover,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 12.</NOTE> e&s;pecially when they were come to yeers of di&s;cretion &s;o far as to be able to enquire of their parents the rea&s;on of that &s;ervice.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Neh. 10.</NOTE> And &s;o to covenant &s;olemnly with God when they were of knowledge, and under|&s;tanding. I have &s;hewed before.</P>
<P>Now for children of beleevers in the New Te&s;tament; there are two things to be con&s;idered.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, their admi&s;&s;ion unto Bapti&s;m, as the children of <HI>Abraham</HI> in the Old Te&s;tament were to Circumci&s;ion in in|fancy, and &s;o they were u&s;ed to be ad|mitted to a true Infant-member&s;hip of and in the Church, and were and are to
<PB N="291" REF="174"> be reputed as true vi&s;ible Infant-mem|bers of, and in the Church of Chri&s;t, and vi&s;ible Infant-&s;aints in judgement of cha|rity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 10.</NOTE> and &s;uch as of which is the King|dom of God, as our Saviour &s;peaks. And this is a true and compleat admi&s;&s;i|on, in re&s;pect of truth to outward mem|ber&s;hip; though I cannot call it a com|pleat and perfect member&s;hip in re&s;pect of perfect vi&s;ibility, and declarative &s;ub|jection to the faith and profe&s;&s;ion of the Go&s;pel, which they are to declare them|&s;elves when they come to yeers of di&s;|cretion, as before in part I ob&s;erved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>What rea&s;on is for this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The cau&s;e of tho&s;e four particulars in Bapti&s;m, we declared in the example of the Eunuchs baptizing.</P>
<P N="1">1. A de&s;ire of Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P N="2">2. A profe&s;&s;ion of Faith in Chri&s;t, and &s;ubjection unto it.</P>
<P N="3">3. An intimation of Covenant, and an embracing of Chri&s;t, and Faith, and Co|venant union with Chri&s;t the head of his Church, and in him with members of his my&s;tical body.</P>
<P N="4">4. And la&s;t of all, the receiving of the &s;eal as a patient, and &s;o &s;ealing promi&s;e of performance of Covenant with Chri&s;t,
<PB N="292" REF="175"> and his Church accordingly. Of the&s;e I &s;ay,</P>
<P N="1">1. The fir&s;t is not acted by the childe, for that cannot de&s;ire Bapti&s;m:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 10.</NOTE> But it is acted by the parents who do pre&s;ent the childe, as tho&s;e in the Go&s;pel, and dedi|cate, and con&s;ecrate it to God in Chri&s;t, and in the behalf of the childe (accord|ing to Gods Covenant with the faithful, and their &s;eed) de&s;ire Bapti&s;m for it: That in and by Bapti&s;m, it may be admit|ted to outward vi&s;ible Infant-member|&s;hip in the Church.</P>
<P N="2"><NOTE PLACE="marg">See the Ancient Forms of Bapti&s;m in the Church of Chri&s;t Reform|ed, &amp;c.</NOTE>2. Again, for the &s;econd profe&s;&s;ion of the Faith; that neither is nor can be done by the Infant, when it u&s;ually bap|t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">z<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">d at a week old or thereabouts, or it may be &s;ooner. That profe&s;&s;ion of Faith therefore hath u&s;ually been made by the parents, at lea&s;t in a declaration of their a&s;&s;ent and con&s;ent to the Arti|cles of the Faith of Chri&s;t, and cheif &s;um of the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Thirdly, for the intimation of a Cove|nant and Covenant-union with Chri&s;t and his Church in the profe&s;&s;ion of the Go&s;pel, this the child in infancy cannot perform nor promi&s;e: Therefore it hath been the Churches practi&s;e, that the
<PB N="293" REF="175"> Parents (who&s;e duty properly it is) or the pro-parents have according to their duty, promi&s;ed and engaged them&s;elves to do their be&s;t endeavour by the power of Chri&s;t,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, To Catechize and in&s;truct their children in the knowledge of God and Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, as he is held forth in the Word of God our Saviour, and to in|&s;truct them in that promi&s;e they did make (when they did pre&s;ent them to be baptized) to bring them up in the knowledge, Faith, and profe&s;&s;ion of the Go&s;pel, according to the power and means God in his good providence &s;hould afford them.</P>
<P>Secondly, to inform them how they have likewi&s;e promi&s;ed to do their be&s;t endeavour to in&s;truct them in their duty (when that they come to years and have gain'd knowledge and Faith, by Gods Grace in the Go&s;pel) to make profe&s;&s;ion of that Faith, and declare their &s;ubjection in their own per&s;ons unto the Go&s;|pel of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Thirdly, and to renew the Covenant of which pa&s;&s;ively they received the &s;eal when they were baptized in infancy, and to declare their renewing of that
<PB N="294" REF="176"> Covenant with God in Chri&s;t, when up|on approbation of the Church and Mini|&s;ters, and Elders of the Church, or tho&s;e in Authority from Chri&s;t, they were ad|mitted to the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Fourthly and la&s;tly, to in&s;truct them that they were baptized and engaged in Bapti&s;m, to this end among&s;t others in this or the like manner to enjoy a more full Communion in and with the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>And thus I have endeavoured to &s;et forth the manner and nature of Infants outward entrance and &s;olemn admi&s;&s;ion with the Church by Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Secondly, there is another thing to be con&s;idered in and concerning the children of believers, when they are come to years of under&s;tanding and knowledge; and that God hath given them Faith and holine&s;&s;e in &s;ome mea|&s;ure, and ability to profe&s;&s;e their Faith, and to declare their de&s;ire of holine&s;&s;e and willingne&s;&s;e to manife&s;t their pro|fe&s;&s;ed &s;ubjection to the Go&s;pel in Faith, and obedience: This is their perfor|mance of this duty, by means whereof they are admitted by the Church in ge|neral, or tho&s;e who have Authority
<PB N="295" REF="176"> from Chri&s;t unto a full Church communi|on in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and other acts of Church-fellow&s;hip, ac|cording unto the rule and direction of Chri&s;t, held forth in the Go&s;pel: And thus I conceive they are formally com|pleat members, as in re&s;pect of truth, of member&s;hip-infant, in their infant Bap|ti&s;m, &s;o in re&s;pect of vi&s;ibility and ripe years member&s;hip in the Lords Supper, and thus they all are vi&s;ible members and matter of the Church of Chri&s;t, and have a true formal admi&s;&s;ion into the Church without any other &s;pecial Co|venant among&s;t Chri&s;tians as nece&s;&s;arily and ab&s;olutely nece&s;&s;ary to the formal con&s;titution of a vi&s;ible Church, and without any rebaptization or renouncing of their former Bapti&s;m, as &s;ome have and do pretend. And thus I have &s;hew|ed you who are our neighbours, and what is the Church of Chri&s;t vi&s;ible and the Communion of Saints to and with whom we ought to exerci&s;e our Chri&s;ti|an love and charity: And &s;o the true matter of a Church or material cau&s;e both in re&s;pect of infants and men of ripe years.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>But &s;ir there are divers
<PB N="296" REF="177"> Separati&s;ts among&s;t us, who are &s;educing people dayly from our Church, and affirm our Churches have neither matter nor form of a Church, or at lea&s;t are &s;o cor|rupt in both, that our congregation are no Churches of Chri&s;t; but Babylon and members of Antichri&s;t and &s;o to be depar|ted from:</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 41.</NOTE> <HI>They do indeed abu&s;e that place of Scripture, and fal&s;ly apply that to us which belongs to</HI> Rome.</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> But I have given an An&s;wer to this Objection before in part: Yet to clere the point more fully in brief: Fir&s;t, for the matter of the Church they can|not deny, but we have in our Church and Congregations vi&s;ible Saints true matter of a Church and members of Chri&s;t, yea, &s;ome as great Saints as mo&s;t we know or reade of in the Chri&s;tian world: This I my &s;elf have known in &s;ome Country Parochial Congregations by experience, and this I do know in &s;ome great City Congregations; although there be too many hypocrites, too ma|ny formali&s;ts, and too many prophane People mixed, and not yet purged out from our Congregation, nor ca&s;t out as they ought to have been: And I &s;ay further, if for the&s;e failings and corrup|tions
<PB N="297" REF="177"> in a Church, They will as they would un-church our Churches, they may and do by the &s;ame Argument un|church the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI> and o|thers which Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles approve and acknowledge true Chur|ches of God in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us: If for this cau&s;e of different matter of or in our Churches, or becau&s;e we have mix|ed Congregations, and not con&s;i&s;ting of all vi&s;ible Saints, but &s;ome erroneous in judgement, and &s;ome erring in life and conver&s;ation; their Argument I conceive mu&s;t be to this or the like effect, as full again&s;t the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI> as our great mixed Congregations. No vi&s;ible Church which is a mingled Congregati|on con&s;i&s;ting of &s;ome vi&s;ible Saints and &s;ome vi&s;ible prophane people in life, and erroneous in judgement, ignorant and &s;candalous, and not ca&s;t out, but &s;uf|fered in the Church, is a true vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t and to be communi|cated with: But the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> was &s;uch a Church (as well as our mix|ed Congregations, as may ea&s;ily be pro|ved) And therefore the Church of <HI>Co|rinth</HI> was no true vi&s;ible Church of Chri&s;t, and to have beep &s;eparated from
<PB N="298" REF="178"> as from <HI>Babylon.</HI> And this I hope they dare not but confe&s;&s;e is a mo&s;t fal&s;e and &s;candalous conclu&s;ion; and &s;o their Ar|gument fal&s;e again&s;t our Churches, and their opinion, a fal&s;e opinion that our mixed Congregations are no true Chur|ches of Chri&s;t, or to be &s;eparated from as from <HI>Babylon</HI> it &s;elf. The force and fal&s;hood of their minor propo&s;ition, will appear as it relates to our Congregations if we compare the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> and our great mixed Congregations to|gether; we &s;hall finde the Church of <HI>Co|rinth</HI> and other Churches as corrupt and mixt as ours, and yet not un-churched by Chri&s;t or the Apo&s;tles. You may ob|&s;erve the&s;e particulars.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.10, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 3.3, 4.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there were contentions, Schi&s;ms and Divi&s;ions: For which the Apo&s;tle reproveth them and tells them they were carnal, and carried them&s;elves not Chri&s;tian like; and yet he did not un-church them for all this.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 5.1, 2, 13.</NOTE>Secondly, in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> were prophane per&s;ons, the ince&s;tuous per&s;on and &s;uch as with whom they &s;hould not eat in their civil &s;ocieties, as profe&s;&s;ing them&s;elves Brethren; for &s;uch
<PB N="299" REF="178"> are intimated and warning given of them, and &s;uch as &s;hould have been ca&s;t out of the Church, and excommunicated or &s;u&s;pended from the Sacrament at lea&s;t and were not; and yet the Apo&s;tle doth not un-church them for all this, but admoni&s;h to put from them wicked per|&s;ons.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 6. 1, 2, 8</NOTE> in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there was quarrelling and going to Law one with another, and that before un|believers, yea, Brother with Brother, yea, doing wrong and defrauding one another; and yet the Apo&s;tle doth not un-church them, nor exhort to a &s;epara|tion for all this.</P>
<P>Fourthly, in the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 8.1, 2, 10.</NOTE> there were &s;ome puffed up with know|ledge, but had little charity; they offen|ded their weak Brethen by eating meat in the Idols Temple, and yet no un-churching for all this.</P>
<P>Fifthly, in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there were &s;uch as did grudge at the mainte|nance of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 9. 1, 2, 34.</NOTE> as if Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters had not power to eat and to drink, and to receive, and require maintenance for their labour in preach|ing the Go&s;pel (as &s;ome among&s;t us have
<PB N="300" REF="179"> not been a&s;hamed to affirm) For which the Apo&s;tle reproveth them, and proveth by &s;everal Arguments,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 9.13, 14.</NOTE> the equity, ju&s;tice, and duty of Mini&s;ters maintenance, as being an Ordinance of Chri&s;t; that tho&s;e who preach the Go&s;pel &s;hould live of the Go&s;pel, of duty, not of meer alms at plea&s;ure, or not at plea&s;ure as &s;om<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> think: And yet the Apo&s;tle doth not unchurch them for all this, or exhort, or teach a &s;eparation by all this.</P>
<P>Sixthly, in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there were Idolaters tho&s;e who did go to partake of the Lords Table, and the Table of Devils, and provoked God to jealou&s;ie,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10 14, &amp;c.</NOTE> as the Apo&s;tle intimates, and yet he doth not un-church them for all this.</P>
<P>Seventhly, In the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there were &s;uch as came to the Sacrament and Church-Communion, not for the bet|ter,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.</NOTE> but for the wor&s;e: There were di|vi&s;ions among&s;t them; they neglected the poor; one was hungry, another drunken, for &s;o the <HI>Greek</HI> &s;ignifieth, <GAP DESC="foreign">, one is hungry, another is drunken: The <HI>Greek</HI> word <GAP DESC="foreign">, <HI>Ebrius e&s;t,</HI> he is drunken, is taken for drunkenne&s;&s;e in divers other places
<PB N="301" REF="179"> of Scripture. Thus, <HI>Acts</HI> 2. For the&s;e are not drunken as ye &s;uppo&s;e. The &s;ame <HI>Greek</HI> word is u&s;ed in the Plural Num|ber, <GAP DESC="foreign"> are drunken, or, they are not drunken, as ye &s;uppo&s;e: it implieth a di&s;temper by wine or &s;trong drink, which the Apo&s;tle did affirm, the Church was not at that time, to whom God gave the gift of Tongues, in &s;uch an excellent manner by the power of the holy Gho&s;t. The &s;ame word is u&s;ed in 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 6. Nei|ther Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drun|kards &s;hall inherit the Kingdom of God: not drunkards; the <HI>Greek</HI> word is <GAP DESC="foreign">, <HI>Ebrio&s;i,</HI> drunken men, di&s;tempered with drink: I might name other places: The&s;e are enough to &s;hew the condition of the <HI>Corinthians,</HI> &s;ome of them hun|gry, others drunken, that is, di&s;tem|pered with drink. It is not enough to &s;ay they were merry and cheerful with drink; for it is evident they were &s;o far di&s;tem|pered or drunken, that the Apo&s;tle re|proveth them for it as a &s;in; &s;ome are hungry, &s;ome are drunken: and yet he doth not un-Church them, nor move them to Separation for all this.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>But do you approve of drunkenne&s;&s;e or the&s;e &s;inful corruptions in a Church?</HI></P>
<PB N="302" REF="180">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> God forbid: nay, we reprove them as Saint <HI>Paul</HI> did, and declare they ought to be informed again&s;t to the Church and Elders of the Church; and if after Admonition and warning given they do not repent, they are to be Ex|communicated, to be excluded the Sa|crament, and ca&s;t out of the Church: But if there be failing in this and the like, as <HI>Corinth</HI> did in not ca&s;ting out the In|ce&s;tuous per&s;on for a time; yet the A|po&s;tle doth not un-Church them for all this, or pre&s;&s;e a Separation from Saints, or from the Church, though failing in this particular.</P>
<P>Eighthly, They came to the Sacra|ment without due Examination of them|&s;elves;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 28, &amp;c.</NOTE> they were guilty of the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t by unworthy re|ceiving: They did eat and drink judge|ment to them&s;elves, not di&s;cerning the Lords Body: they were both ignorant and &s;candalous, and God did puni&s;h them, &s;ome with &s;ickne&s;&s;es, &s;ome with death: This the Apo&s;tle tells them of, and reproveth them, and exhorts to ex|amine and judge them&s;elves: But yet he doth not un-Church them for all this, or give any way to Separation from Church.</P>
<PB N="303" REF="180">
<P>Ninthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor, 11.12, &amp;c.</NOTE> They had in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> fal&s;e Teachers, fal&s;e Apo&s;tles, de|ceitful workers, transforming them&s;elves into the Apo&s;tles of Chri&s;t, as Satan changeth him&s;elf into an Angel of light, who&s;e Mini&s;ters the&s;e &s;afe Apo&s;tles were, labouring by fair &s;hew to &s;educe the peo|ple of God in <HI>Corinth:</HI> and yet the A|po&s;tle doth not un-Church <HI>Corinth,</HI> nor pre&s;&s;e or give way to a Separation for all this.</P>
<P>Tenthly and la&s;tly, In the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> there were &s;uch as &s;aid there is no re&s;urrection from the dead: A notori|ous Athei&s;tical Doctrine,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor.15.12, &amp;c.</NOTE> overthrowing the very foundation of Religion; For as the Apo&s;tle argueth, If there be no Re&s;urrection, then Chri&s;t is not ri&s;en, then our Preaching is vain, and our faith is in vain, and we are yet in our &s;ins: But Chri&s;t is ri&s;en, and there is certain|ly a Re&s;urrection from the dead, as the Apo&s;tle proveth at large in that Chapter: Certainly, too many in the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> were &s;educed to that opinion, and denied this truth of the Re&s;urrecti|on from the dead: And yet the Apo&s;tle doth not un-Church them for all this, nor give any way to a Separation from that Church.</P>
<PB N="304" REF="181">
<P>Qe&s;t. 37. <HI>And what the rea&s;on of this, may &s;ome one demand?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There might be many rea&s;ons given; but this one among&s;t the re&s;t: Becau&s;e, although there were many cor|ruptions in that Church, both in life and Doctrine, yet the Word and Sacrament were continued, the prophane wicked men and Hypocrites, though they were in the Church, and taken as members, until they were di&s;covered and tryed, and proved, and ca&s;t out; yet they were not true members of the Church, nor true members of Chri&s;t, nor any true members of the Congregation, but in &s;hew and outward appearance; They were among&s;t the Saints, but they were not of the Saints, as <HI>John</HI> &s;peaks, They were and are (indeed) of the world: they went out from us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Ioh. 2.18, 19.</NOTE> but they were not of us; but they went out from us, that it might be known they were not all of us; they were with and in the Church, and yet they were not truly of the Church; And how&s;oever this corruption was, yet the Church did &s;till remain a true Church, and had many true Saints in <HI>Co|rinth,</HI> although it had rotten and cor|rupt members, which by right cour&s;e
<PB N="305" REF="181"> and execution of Di&s;cipline, &s;hould have have been ca&s;t out the Church. And thus for the Saints &s;ake, though the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> had fal&s;e member, and corrupt members, and many Errors, both in life and Doctrine; yet the Apo|&s;tle doth not un-Church the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI> or give way to a Schi&s;m or Se|paration for all this.</P>
<P>As a tree is a true tree although it have &s;ome rotten Branches:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Simile.</NOTE> Or as a &s;ick or wounded man is a true man, although he be &s;ick or wounded: So a Church of Chri&s;t may be a true Church, although it be &s;ick and weak, and wounded and full of imperfections, both in matter and form as the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> and other Churches of Chri&s;t have been, and yet e&s;teemed by Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles to be true Churches of Chri&s;t, as the Scri|pture hold forth evidently unto us.</P>
<P>Now compare the Church of <HI>England</HI> or the Churches of Chri&s;t in <HI>England</HI> collectively, though they be mixed Con|gregations; yea divers of our Congre|gations in <HI>London,</HI> and in the countrey, where faithful and painful Mini&s;ters have been Preaching, Baptizing, Catechizing, calling to profe&s;&s;ion of Faith and holi|ne&s;&s;e,
<PB N="306" REF="182"> and approbation before the Ad|mi&s;&s;ion to the Lords Supper, where there hath been and is a communion of Saints (as I know there hath been in di|vers places and mixed Congregations) compare, I &s;ay, the&s;e with the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI> and by the &s;ame Argument that the&s;e Seducers may or can Separate or un-Church our Churches, by the &s;ame the Saints or &s;ome of the Saints in <HI>Co|rinth</HI> might have &s;eparated from their fellow Saints and Church of <HI>Corinth;</HI> which yet would have been a &s;in in them, as it is a &s;in in the&s;e who &s;eparate and labour to &s;educe and draw others a|mong&s;t us to &s;eparate from their fellow-Saints, and to un-Church or make rents and Schi&s;ms, and divi&s;ions in our Church, which is a grievous &s;in again&s;t the Lord Chri&s;t, the Lord and Head of his Body the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 38. <HI>But &s;ome will object, It may be that there is not the &s;ame condition of our Church of</HI> London, <HI>or any great mixt Congregation among&s;t us in respect of the matter as there was of</HI> Corinth. <HI>For in</HI> Corinth <HI>it is mo&s;t like that the greater part of the Church were Saints indeed, or vi&s;ible Saints in outward ap|pearance
<PB N="307" REF="182"> at lea&s;t. But in our mixt Con|gregations, commonly the greate&s;t part vi|&s;ible ignorant, prophane, or &s;candalous per|&s;ons, or but civilly hone&s;t, and formal pro|fe&s;&s;ors at be&s;t; and &s;o are not to be com|pared to the Church of</HI> Corinth, <HI>no not &s;o much as for the matter of our Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Certainly men ought to be very careful, as not to un-Church a Church; &s;o not to un-Chri&s;tian a Pro|fe&s;&s;or for &s;ome failings in knowledge or practice.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13. 1 Pet. 4.8.</NOTE> Charity covers many failings, and as the Apo&s;tle &s;peaks.</P>
<P>Secondly, <HI>Corinth</HI> was a great city wd Church, and yet con&s;ider the divi|&s;ions and other faults, it is not certain which was the greater part, the inno|cent or the faulty. But how&s;oever, grant that the Church were &s;o decayed, that that the greater part had onely a name to live, and indeed were dead,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 3, 1, 2.</NOTE> as is &s;poken of the Angel or Church of <HI>Sardis:</HI> Or that the greater part of the Church were grown Luke-warm,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 3.15, 16.</NOTE> and &s;uch as Chri&s;t threatens to &s;pew out of his mouth, as the Church or Angel of <HI>Lao|dicea:</HI> yet it may be a true Church of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> for all this.</P>
<P>A Bu&s;hel of good Wheat in a Barn
<PB N="308" REF="183"> among&s;t three or four or more Bu&s;hels of chaff, is yet a true Bu&s;hel of Wheat, though it be mixed with much more chaff then Wheat. Or, an Army of men, although con&s;i&s;ting of more &s;ick and wounded Souldiers and Officers then whole, is yet a true Army though weak. And &s;o is a company of Profe&s;&s;ors of the Go&s;pel of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> enjoying a communion in Ordinances, holding the truth of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and profe&s;&s;ing &s;ubjection there|unto: Yet a true Church, when the greater part be the wor&s;e, yea, both ig|norant and &s;candalous; but yet a &s;ick Church, and &s;tands in need of the Re|formation. And thus is the Church of <HI>England,</HI> and our great mixt Congrega|tions, true Churches for matter of a Church of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> as the Church of <HI>Co|rinth</HI> was, and not to be &s;eparated from or un-Churched for the&s;e coruuptions, as <HI>Corinth</HI> was not, what&s;oever any &s;e|ducers in this re&s;pect oppo&s;e to the con|trary.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>But how&s;oever this may prove our Churches as true as</HI> Corinth <HI>was for matter; yet the Adver&s;aries of our Church deny our Churches to be true Churches in Form: And how will you
<PB N="309" REF="183"> An&s;wer this Objection?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I An&s;wer, the Form of a Church doth con&s;i&s;t in union: This union is two fold, fir&s;t, internal with Chri&s;t our Head,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 1.22, 23. 1 Cor. 12.13. Eph. 4.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> by the &s;pirit and Faith: The &s;econd, is external of members one with another.</P>
<P>Now to under&s;tand this better, and to declare that our Churches are true vi&s;ible Churches of Chri&s;t, in re&s;pect of outward Form. Con&s;ider,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the outward Form or union, in re&s;pect of admi&s;&s;ion into a Church mem|ber&s;hip</P>
<P>Secondly, the outward Form of Ordi|nation of Mini&s;ters, and appointment of them, for a Church and union with them.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the outward Form in po&s;&s;e&s;|&s;ion, and profe&s;&s;ion of union with them in outward ordinances: As,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in the Word or Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Secondly, in prayers.</P>
<P>Thirdly, in the Sacraments.</P>
<P>Fourthly, ob&s;erve the outward Form of union, in government and execution of Di&s;cipline in the Church.</P>
<P>I will not &s;tand to handle the&s;e at large, but touch them in brief.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, for outward Form of union in
<PB N="310" REF="184"> re&s;pect of admi&s;&s;ion into a Church, we have &s;hewed how men of ripe years, Iews or Pagans, converted to the Faith, were admitted, fir&s;t, after they had heard the Go&s;pel and believed; either with a fal&s;e Faith as <HI>Simon Magus,</HI> or with a true Faith as the Eunuch; they did de|&s;ire a union and admi&s;&s;ion into the Church by Bapti&s;m.</P>
<P>Secondly, did make profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith.</P>
<P>Thirdly, did intimate in this de&s;ire of Bapti&s;m and profe&s;&s;ion of Faith, their receiving of Chri&s;t to be their Lord and Saviour, and their Covenanting with the Lord to be his people: And,</P>
<P>Fourthly, their &s;ealing all this in re|ceiving Bapti&s;m; the &s;igne and &s;eal of this Covenant between God and them, and &s;o were formally admitted into the Church, and brought into a Church uni|on and fellow&s;hip with the Saints: And this our Adver&s;aries confe&s;&s;e was a true form of admi&s;&s;ion into the Church at fir&s;t conver&s;ion: And this I &s;ay was right, for Iews and Pagans born out of the Church converted to the Faith of Chri&s;t; but it doth not follow, that becau&s;e it was the ordinary way for them: There|fore
<PB N="311" REF="184"> the &s;ame order and form in every circum&s;tance, mu&s;t be for tho&s;e who are born in the Church: for children of be|lievers have a priviledge (as the children of believing <HI>Abraham</HI> had, and as we have proved already) above all the children of Pagans and Infidels out of the Church what&s;oever.</P>
<P>And yet the &s;ub&s;tance of this Form of admi&s;&s;ion, is and hath been ob&s;erved in the Churches of Chri&s;t; and &s;o we may Ju&s;tifie of our particular mixed Con|gregations (as they are called) that they are true Churches of Chri&s;t, in re&s;pect of outward admi&s;&s;ion into the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 40. <HI>But how do you make this to appear?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, children of believing Pa|rents, have according to their priviledge due to them, an infant admi&s;&s;ion into the Church in Bapti&s;m; in which where|as they them&s;elves cannot pre&s;ent them|&s;elves and de&s;ire Bapti&s;m, that &s;eal of the Covenant (as circumci&s;ion was of old) I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.38, 39,</NOTE> The Parents do pre&s;ent their children and de&s;ire Bapti&s;m for them, as a Cove|nant priviledge belonging to children of believers.</P>
<PB N="312" REF="185">
<P>Secondly, becau&s;e the children can|not profe&s;&s;e their Faith: The Parents do profe&s;&s;e or declare their a&s;&s;ent and con&s;ent to the Faith of Chri&s;t, and truth of the Go&s;pel.</P>
<P>Thirdly, becau&s;e the children cannot intimate their Covenant with Chri&s;t: therefore their Parents do Covenant and promi&s;e to do their endeavour, not on|ly to catechize their children, and bring them up in the knowledge of Chri&s;t: but to do their endeavour, that the childe when he or &s;he &s;hall be of years, and that God hath given knowledge and Faith, &s;hall make a &s;olemn profe&s;&s;ion of the Faith of the Go&s;pel, and of their Graces and Faith in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, the Parents promi&s;e that they will do their endeavour, that the childe when called of God, and enabled with knowledge and Faith, &s;hall not onely profe&s;&s;e Faith and Covenant, but de&s;ire to renew and &s;olemnly to enter Covenant with the Lord, and to &s;eal it in the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, after examination, profe&s;&s;ion, and approbation of the Church: and thus the children of believers have a true infant admi&s;&s;ion, and form of admi&s;&s;i|on
<PB N="313" REF="185"> into the Church, and are true infant members of the vi&s;ible Church, &s;o far as infant-member&s;hip is or can be to them now, as it was to <HI>I&s;aac</HI> at eight dayes old, and to all children of belie|ving <HI>Abraham</HI> before the coming of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>But this is but an infant-member&s;hip, which though true, yet it doth not An&s;wer that admi&s;&s;ion of men of ripe years in the Primitive Times?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I An&s;wer again, that when the&s;e children of believers baptized in in|fancy, are come to years of di&s;cretion; and God hath given them knowledge and Faith in Chri&s;t, and they have made profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith and Graces of God in them, and de&s;ire to enter Co|venant &s;olemnly with the Lord, and to &s;eal it in the Sacrament of the Lords Sup|per; and upon examination, and appro|bation of the Church, are formally ad|mitted by the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t and the Church and officers thereof: there are &s;uch per&s;ons made compleat vi&s;ible members called to be of Saints, and to the fellow&s;hip of the Saints in the Church of Chri&s;t: And of this per&s;on or per&s;ons &s;o admitted, I affirm that they
<PB N="314" REF="186"> have a true Form of admi&s;&s;ion into the Church; and if their Faith and prfe&s;|&s;ion of Faith be true and &s;incere, they are as true members of the Church of Chri&s;t, as the Eunuch was; and if their Faith and profe&s;&s;ion of Faith be but fal&s;e and counterfet, as <HI>Simon Magus</HI> his was, and too many have been in our Churches; yet a Church made up of &s;uch members, is as true a Church vi&s;ible for our form of admi&s;&s;ion, as any we reade of, was &s;ince the Apo&s;tles times. Let any man declare if he can, when and where a Church was con&s;tituted of &s;uch as were born in the Church in a better form, for the fir&s;t &s;ix hundred years af|ter Chri&s;t:<NOTE PLACE="marg">None to be admit|ted to the Sacrame~t before ca|techized and ap|proved. See the Rubrick before &amp; at Sacra|ment in the old Book of Commo~-Prayer.</NOTE> And therefore I conclude, that however many corruptions and fai|lings have been in particular Congre|gations in the practical part of this ad|mi&s;&s;ion; yet the Lawes of our Church did require both catechizing and profe&s;|&s;ion of Faith, and approbation, and allow|ance after examination before admi&s;&s;ion to compleat vi&s;ible ripe year member&s;hip, and admi&s;&s;ion to the Sacrament to renew covenant as afore&s;aid; And thus our Chur|ches are true in form, in re&s;pect of out|ward formal admi&s;&s;ion into the Church &s;ub&s;tantially true, which is &s;ufficient.</P>
<PB N="315" REF="186">
<P>Que&s;t. 42. <HI>This I think may &s;atisfie for the form of admi&s;&s;ion into a Church fellow&s;hip: When a man or woman born in the Church,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr. <HI>Cal|vin Iu|&s;titions,</HI> l. 4. c. 19.8.4. <HI>Ierome Contra. Lucifer.</HI> I would it were re&s;tored to its pure u&s;e.</NOTE> <HI>a childe of a believing Pa|rent baptized in infancy, is thus admitted when he or &s;he cometh to years, not by Po|pi&s;h confirmation worthily aboli&s;hed, but by this ancient order of &s;olemn profe&s;&s;ion of Faith in Chri&s;t, and holine&s;&s;e and approba|tion of the Church, which learned Mar|tyr &s;peaks of noted before: And reverend Mr.</HI> Calvin <HI>commends, as mo&s;t worthy to be re&s;tored in the Church to its pure u&s;e: But our Adver&s;aries deny our Mini&s;ters Ordination, and affirm the form of their Ordination and admi&s;&s;ion, or call to be Mini&s;ters to be Antichri&s;tian, and there|fore our Churches to be no true Churches of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I An&s;wer, that it is the opinion of the&s;e Adver&s;aries, that there is no need of Ordination of a Mini&s;ter, onely for a particular Congregation to chu&s;e one of their fellow Brethren to be their Mini&s;ter, or to have an approba|tion of a company of profe&s;&s;ours to be their Mini&s;ter, there needs no more, and then the Ordination of our Mini|&s;ters, as in the opinion of &s;eparati&s;ts it
<PB N="316" REF="187"> doth not further, &s;o it is certain it cannot hinder a man from being a Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t, if at any time he be called and approved of a Church, and who&s;oever he be who renounceth his calling to the Mini&s;ter, becau&s;e he was ordained by a Bi&s;hop and a company of preaching Presbyters: I think in this as in other things, he is too &s;uper&s;titious and Popi&s;h|ly affected, to an outward form of ad|mi&s;&s;ion, and worthy to be cen&s;ured of the Church for &s;uch an errour; in which he condemns valiant <HI>Martin Luther,</HI> ju|dicious Ma&s;ter <HI>Calvin,</HI> worthy <HI>Latimer, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper,</HI> tho&s;e glori|ous Mini&s;ters and Martyrs of Chri&s;t; as if they were not true Mini&s;ters of the Go&s;|pel, becau&s;e ordained by a Bi&s;hop and a company of Presbyters according to the ancient practi&s;e of the Church.</P>
<P>Secondly, I &s;ay the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t have had a twofold vocation or calling to that office.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.18, 18. and 13.1, 2, 3. 1 T t &amp; .4.14.</NOTE></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, extraordinary by Chri&s;t Him|&s;elf, as the Apo&s;tle and Saint <HI>Paul</HI> had. And,</P>
<P>Secondly, more ordinarily by the A|po&s;tles and Elders of the Church, and by the laying on of the hands of the
<PB N="317" REF="187"> Presbytery as the Scripture held forth unto us; as <HI>Paul</HI> left <HI>Titus,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Tit. 1.3, 4. Act. 20.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> Bi&s;hop <HI>Ti|tus,</HI> or over&s;eer <HI>Titus,</HI> as Saint <HI>Paul</HI> cal|leth the Bi&s;hops or Elders of <HI>Ephe&s;us,</HI> far different from our late Bi&s;hops or over&s;eers in many re&s;pects, &amp; the manner commonly by laying on of hands of Pres|byters, and a Bi&s;hop or over&s;eer, not as a Bi&s;hop of later &s;tamp; but as a Pres|byter and over&s;eer of old, have Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t been ordained, and after ordi|nation &s;ent and received of particular Churches: And how&s;oever &s;ome cor|ruptions have crept into the manner of Ordination; and although &s;ome ordai|ned Presbyters have turned Popes and Popi&s;h Bi&s;hops, and &s;ome Popi&s;h Bi|&s;hops, with a company of Presbyters, have examined, approved, and ordained Mini&s;ters, and given outward Ordina|tion and Authority to preach the Go&s;pel; yet this cannot nullifie the call of a Mi|ni&s;ter of Chri&s;t, if he be called and gifted inwardly and inabled by Chri&s;ts &s;pirit with gifts fit for the mini&s;terial office, as all the outward calling and approba|tion by a particular Congregation, ma|keth not an illiterate cobler or other me|chanick to be a true Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t
<PB N="318" REF="188"> when Chri&s;t hath not furni&s;hed him with gifts and graces fit for &s;o high and ho|nourable a calling.</P>
<P>Thirdly, We who are Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t receive not our calling from <HI>Anti|chri&s;t,</HI> but from <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and our Ordina|tion for &s;ub&s;tance is truly Chri&s;tian, not Antichri&s;tian: How&s;oever, &s;ome Anti|chri&s;tianly affected might &s;ometimes have had a hand in Ordination; the Go&s;|pel of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> hath been conveyed to Re|formed Churches, yea, to &s;eparate con|gregations them&s;elves, to &s;uch as &s;eparate them&s;elves from <HI>Babylon</HI> (it may be by the hands and means of Romi&s;h <HI>Baby|lon</HI>) God hath made the &s;ervants of Antichri&s;t to be his &s;ervants in this, that they have been porters and carriers, to bring the holy Scriptures unto the Re|formed Churches by the hands of glo|rious Reformers in the Churches of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and yet the Scriptures are the true Word of God, and the true Go&s;pel of <HI>Je&s;us Chri&s;t</HI> for all this. And &s;o are our Mini&s;ters true Mini&s;ters of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> though their outward Ordination had been car|ried through the polluted hands of &s;ome Antichri&s;tianly affected Bi&s;hops and Presbyters, who did &s;it in place as
<PB N="319" REF="188"> Scribes and Phari&s;ees did &s;it in <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> chair. But we &s;ay further,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 23.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> as God did extraordinarily call, and gifted the Apo|&s;tles and Mini&s;ters in the Primitive times, and they ordained others in the Church, who&s;e Mini&s;tery the Lord did ble&s;&s;e for the propagation of the Go&s;pel. So did the Lord wonderfully &s;tir up, and in an extraordinary manner call <HI>Luther, Calvin,</HI> and others in the Reformed Churches: And &s;o Reverend Bi&s;hop <HI>Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer,</HI> and other god|ly Martyrs, Bi&s;hops and Mini&s;ters of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> by who&s;e hand their &s;ucce&s;&s;ors the faithful Mini&s;ters in the Churches of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> in <HI>England</HI> received their out|ward ordination; but their inward from <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> him&s;elf and his &s;pirit, by who&s;e grace the Lord hath made our Mini&s;tery glorious in the conver&s;ion of many thou|&s;and &s;ouls to God, and building up of as glorious Saints as any ever was in the Chri&s;tian world, &s;ince the Primitive times; yea, even the Separati&s;ts them|&s;elves,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 4 15.</NOTE> who now deny us to be the true Mini&s;ters of <HI>Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> mu&s;t needs confe&s;&s;e that we have been their &s;piritu|al Fathers in <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and have begotten them again to God through the Go&s;pel;
<PB N="320" REF="189"> yea,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 4.19.</NOTE> we as tender Mothers have travel|led in birth again in our painful Mini|&s;tery, until <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> hath been formed in them all, though now in a mo&s;t ingrate|ful manner they di&s;honour their parents, and &s;in again&s;t <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> the Lord of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 43. <HI>This I &s;uppo&s;e is &s;ufficient to &s;atisfie any humbled &s;oul, not filled too much with pride, &s;elf-conceit, and the &s;pi|rit of divi&s;ion and &s;eparation, as too many are in the&s;e dayes: But yet &s;ome object, That how&s;oever Mini&s;ters outward ap|probation and ordination may be pa&s;&s;ed over, and they be lawful Mini&s;ters; yet what lawful call have they to particular Congregations and places?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, Patrons of Churches and congregations were and have been honoured and tru&s;ted with the nomina|tion and pre&s;entation of Mini&s;ters to particular, Churches; but &s;o as none ought to have been put upon any congre|gation, but &s;uch as ought to have been well approved of by the Bi&s;hop (who had a tru&s;t repo&s;ed in him al&s;o) for &s;uf|ficiency and ability for the work of the Mini&s;tery, and for holine&s;&s;e of life and and conver&s;ation, which when and
<PB N="321" REF="189"> where the tru&s;t was rightly performed, and the Mini&s;ters have been faithful la|bourers in the Lords harve&s;t; and after admi&s;&s;ion approved of by the faithful and godly party in a Parochial Congre|gation; certainly, there was a call &s;uf|ficient, and a &s;ufficient union and form of union between Pa&s;tor and people, to make up in this re&s;pect a true Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, How&s;oever this tru&s;t both in Patrons and Bi&s;hops, hath been mo&s;t gro&s;ly abu&s;ed by corrupt Simoniacal Pa|trons, mo&s;t uncon&s;cionably &s;eeking to thru&s;t wicked Mini&s;ters they cared not whom upon the people, and carele&s;&s;e Bi&s;hops neglecting that tru&s;t repo&s;ed in them; yet the failings herein was not enough to un-church a Church, where yet the Go&s;pel hath been preached, and Sacraments admini&s;tred for &s;ub&s;tance ac|cording to the in&s;titution of Chri&s;t, though here as in <HI>Corinth, Galatia,</HI> and <HI>Jeru&s;alem,</HI> many faults might be found to &s;tand in need of Reformation.</P>
<P>And how&s;oever no face of a Church might for a time appear,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kin. i9.14. Ier. 3.15.</NOTE> as in <HI>Jeru&s;alem</HI> for a time: yet God in many places have given Pa&s;tors after his own heart, to feed
<PB N="322" REF="190"> his people with knowledge and under|&s;tanding; and where the Candle&s;tick hath been removed for a time, or at lea&s;t a Candle &s;hut up as in a dark lanthorn: God at prayers of his people, hath re|moved a carele&s;&s;e &s;hepherd, and in his due time re&s;tored comfort in a faithful Mini&s;ter to his people; and &s;o &s;till con|tinued and pre&s;erved the Churches of Chri&s;t among&s;t us, yea, both for matter and form &s;ufficient to con&s;titute a Church, how&s;oever, there hath been &s;ome failings in both.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 44. <HI>You have in &s;ome mea&s;ure cleared this Objection: Yet how are our Churches rightly con&s;tituted in re&s;pect of a formal union of members, one with ano|ther?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I conceive there is a twofold union:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, a civil union, as in divi&s;ion of Kingdoms, Provinces, Cities, or Pari|&s;hes: And as God hath in this provi|dence, united men in habitation and cour&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 17.26.</NOTE> and means of livelyhood, God having determined the times before ap|pointed, and the bounds of their habi|tation: and in this civil co-habitation there is a union, and this civil union in
<PB N="323" REF="190"> a Kingdom, City, or Pari&s;h, or the like, doth not un-church a people for this re|&s;pect: for then certainly all the Chur|ches of Chri&s;t in <HI>Corinth, Galatia, Ephe|&s;us, Pergamos, Smyrna,</HI> and others, as well as in <HI>England, London,</HI> or a Parochi|al Congregation, mu&s;t have been un-churched then, which, what is more ab|&s;urd to imagine.</P>
<P>Secondly, there is a religious and more &s;piritual formal union, when a company of men and women profe&s;&s;ing the Faith of Chri&s;t held forth in the Go&s;pel and &s;ubjection thereunto, in righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and true holine&s;&s;e, and united in a Pa|rochial Church or congregational mee|ting place, to partake of the holy Ordi|nance of the Word, Prayer, and Sacra|ments, and other acts of Chri&s;tian com|munion and Church fellow&s;hip. This is a true form of a Church among&s;t us though not without &s;ome failings, yet &s;o as we have and do remain true Chur|ches of Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, and &s;uch as ought not to be un-churched by &s;chi&s;m and &s;epara|tion.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 45. <HI>But how will this appear in particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I An&s;wer fir&s;t, for the preaching
<PB N="324" REF="191"> of the Go&s;pel and our union, in that we have had and do enioy a mo&s;t comfor|table union and meeting of Chri&s;t, and one with another; even our Adver&s;aries being judges, they them&s;elves have found the &s;weetne&s;&s;e of Chri&s;t, in the preaching of the Go&s;pel in our mixed Congregations by Gods faithful Mini|&s;ters: And although &s;ome Mini&s;ters there preach otherwi&s;e, as in <HI>Galatia</HI> they do, yet not un-church a Church for all this.</P>
<P>Secondly, for prayer, how&s;oever, &s;et forms have been by &s;ome in Authority &s;o much pre&s;&s;ed, yet if we look to the ancient form, pre&s;cribed in the dayes of King <HI>Edward</HI> the &s;ixt of happy memory; That was but a kinde of directory, as was evident in the Rubrick, and directions at the end of that Book, that liberty gi|ven to u&s;e or not u&s;e in divers re&s;pects, as that in prayer, a man might knock his bre&s;t, or not knock it, he might kneel or not kneel; in ordinance he might cro&s;&s;e, or not cro&s;&s;e, and divers other of like nature: yea, I conceive the late Book of Common-prayer, how&s;oever pre&s;&s;ed by &s;ome, yet was but a kinde of directorie, as in divers particulars is evi|dent
<PB N="325" REF="191"> in direction for vi&s;itation of &s;ick, thanksgiving for womens deliverance from danger of childebirth, left to di&s;|cretion of a Mini&s;ter, and though pre&s;&s;ed by other; yet not un-church a Church for all this.</P>
<P>Thirdly, for the Sacrament and admi|ni&s;tration of them, tho&s;e that object, that Chri&s;t did ble&s;&s;e, fir&s;t, the Bread, and af|ter di&s;tribution of the Bread, or parta|king of that, did then ble&s;&s;e the Cup, that we ble&s;&s;e them both together: This is but a circum&s;tance of time, and if un|church a Church for this then, why not for changing the time of receiving from after &s;upper, to the morning, or at fea&s;ts of charity or the like: The&s;e are weak objections to unchurch a Church, or to &s;eparate from a true Church for any &s;uch differences.</P>
<P>I may &s;ay the like, to that of the cut|ting of the bread, although the bread be cut and fitted for preparation; yet we con&s;tantly break the Bread in our admi|ni&s;tration of the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, as tho&s;e who joyn in communion with us know well.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 45. <HI>But they object, we admit ignorant and &s;candalous per&s;ons, many
<PB N="326" REF="192"> times to the Sacrament, which &s;hould be ca&s;t out of the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I An&s;wer, as Saint <HI>Paul</HI> did or|dain concerning the ince&s;tuous per&s;on, all &s;uch as are ignorant, and to be ca&s;t out of the Church, when once they are di&s;covered and proved to be &s;o, not upon bare &s;urmi&s;es onely; and this is that which alwayes ought to have been done by the Di&s;cipline of the Church of <HI>Eng|land,</HI> reade the old Rubrick in that Di|rectory or Book of Common prayer, be|fore and at the Sacrament, confirmed in the dayes of <HI>Edward</HI> the &s;ixt; and you may finde, fir&s;t, that none ignorant ought to be admitted to the Sacrament, they mu&s;t, fir&s;t, be catechized and approved, before they be received to partake of that holy Ordinance: and &s;econdly, none &s;candalous ought to be received, yea, if there have been or be but a controver|&s;ie between two parties, any malice or hatred, the Mini&s;ter ought, fir&s;t, to ex|amine the parties, and to per&s;wade to charity, and admit the penitent, and reject the uncharitable; and how&s;oever, this duty may have been neglected, yet this failing is not a &s;ufficient ground to un-church a Church, or to &s;eparate from
<PB N="327" REF="192"> a Congregation pre&s;ently for all this: el&s;e might the Church of <HI>Corinth,</HI> and other Churches of Chri&s;t have been un|churched as we noted before.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 46. <HI>But what power of Di&s;cipline hath there been in particular Congrega|tions in the Church of</HI> England, <HI>that there might have been a power of Reformation in the&s;e things.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, Certainly there was a great power in the Mini&s;ters of par|ticular Congregations, e&s;pecially joyn|ing with the Church-Officers, who were &s;worn to a&s;&s;i&s;t in Execution of Di&s;cipline; and further, although there was a power taken to the Bi&s;hops in the great matter of Excommunication and &s;uch like cen&s;ures; yet not the Bi&s;hop nor any under him, had any lawful power to Excommunicate any, inflict any cen&s;ure until they were fir&s;t pre&s;ented by the Mi|ni&s;ter or Church-officers of the particular Congregation: Nor was any man taken notice of as Excommunicate or &s;u&s;pend|ed from the Sacrament, until the Sen|tence was Declared in the particular Congregation; and thus, There was a power of Di&s;cipline in particular Con|gregations, although it was many times
<PB N="328" REF="193"> ob&s;tructed, and not put in due Execution as it ought to have been; yet for all this it had &s;ufficient to declare and point out a form of a Church, and to con&s;ti|tute and continue a true Church for all this.</P>
<P>Look to the Church of <HI>Corinth</HI> noted before: Look to the Church of <HI>Perga|mos,</HI> where Di&s;cipline was ob&s;tructed, the Church and Church-Officers &s;uffered tho&s;e who taught the Doctrine of <HI>Ba|laam,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.14, 15.</NOTE> and the Doctrine of the <HI>Nico|laitans,</HI> which Chri&s;t hated, and yet a true Church for all this, though corrupt and un&s;ound in this re&s;pect. Look to the Church of <HI>Thyatira,</HI> Chri&s;t complained again&s;t them, that Di&s;cipline was not exerci&s;ed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.20</NOTE> they &s;uffered the woman <HI>Je|zabel;</HI> yet Chri&s;t doth not un-church them, nor direct any &s;eparation from them for all this: And &s;o our Churches are true Churches both for matter and form, and not to be un-churched, or any &s;eparation; but a Reformation to be &s;ought for, and true unity in the Churches of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 47. <HI>Yet once again; How&s;o|ever formerly there hath been a matter and form of a Church; yet now the out|ward
<PB N="329" REF="193"> form is gone, and the Church like an old hou&s;e, pull'd down to be new builded; and where and what form of a Church have we now, until Di&s;cipline and a Go|vernment be &s;etled in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, Our Church is now in a hopeful way of Reformation (ble&s;|&s;ed be God) but yet it is not like a hou&s;e wholly pull'd down to be new builded; there are onely &s;ome few rooms pull'd down, where the Officers for execution of Di&s;cipline lodged, and &s;ome &s;uch par|ticulars: But the main hou&s;e &s;tands &s;till, the preaching of the Go&s;pel as glorious as ever, the Word, and Prayer, and the Sacraments, and admi&s;&s;ion and growth of grace in the Churches of Chri&s;t, yea, even in our mixed Congregations, and &s;o &s;till true Churches, for matter and form, and vi&s;ible Saints to be found, to and with whom we may exerci&s;e this grace of chri&s;tian love and charity.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 48. <HI>This is enough, I conceive, to &s;hew our lawful member&s;hip in and of the Church of Chri&s;t; and to evidence our Church a true Church, in re&s;pect of ad|mi&s;&s;ion into the fellow&s;hip of the Saints, and communion of the faithful, both for matter and form: But now wherein &s;hould
<PB N="330" REF="194"> a childe of God declare and &s;hew forth his Chri&s;tian love and charity to &s;uch vi&s;ible Saints and members of Chri&s;ts Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In all lawful chri&s;tian union and communion one with another in actions of piety and charity, according to the rules of the Go&s;pel, edifying one ano|ther in the knowledge of Chri&s;t, re|ceiving the weak brethren in all wi&s;|dom, humility and love, to build them up in the nece&s;&s;ary truth of the Go&s;pel, and that in all godly prudence, to win them to a more high prizing of Chri&s;t and all the wayes of Grace and godli|ne&s;&s;e: but not receiving weak brethren or &s;i&s;ters to doubtful Di&s;putations,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 14.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;o much as in things indifferent, and &s;o not in matters of higher nature, they being not able to judge of the force of Argu|ments in di&s;pute,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 1.4.6.</NOTE> and vain jangling (too common in the world) and &s;o may be drawn to Errors, have their con&s;ciences remain le&s;&s;e &s;atisfied in the truth:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2. &amp; 5.</NOTE> but to exerci&s;e all love towards them, e&s;peci|ally Mini&s;ters to the flock, &s;atisfying tender con&s;ciences out of Gods Word, and one chri&s;tian communicating to ano|ther in outward things, e&s;pecially to the poor in the Churches of Chri&s;t; not
<PB N="331" REF="194"> that there is &s;uch a community of goods,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.</NOTE> and of all things, as the wicked <HI>Nico|laitans</HI> did,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.</NOTE> and &s;ome of later times do imagine, by wrong interpreting Scri|pture; but that in chri&s;tian charity the richer chri&s;tians &s;hould be careful to re|lieve the nece&s;&s;ities of their poor Bre|thren, and do good to them, e&s;pecially as being of the hou&s;hold of Faith.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 6.10.</NOTE></P>
<P>And this is enough to manife&s;t the truth of members of particular Congre|gations that were baptized in Infancy, and Catechized, and profe&s;&s;ing Faith, holine&s;&s;e, and renewing Covenant with God in Chri&s;t, before their partaking of the Lords Supper, as according to the true ancient order of the Church they have been in many Congregations Parochial in <HI>England,</HI> where faithful Mini&s;ters have been; and not onely in this re&s;pect, but in re&s;pect of our Mini|&s;ters, Word and Sacraments, and effects of grace wrought in the hearts of Gods children, evidence our Churches true Churches, what&s;oever violent &s;educing Separati&s;ts whi&s;per to their deceived Di&s;ciples to the contrary.</P>
<P>Thus you may &s;ee a communion of Saints in <HI>England,</HI> to whom, and with
<PB N="332" REF="195"> whom we may exerci&s;e our chri&s;tian love and charity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 15.19.</NOTE> which every day will &s;hine more gloriou&s;ly, as Reformation &s;eparates the precious from the vile more fully; which we hope and pray for daily.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="22" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The two and twentieth Cla&s;sis, or com+pany of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have in &s;ome good mea&s;ure de|clared the&s;e four Graces in the Wed|ding garment, Divine knowledge, lively Faith, Evangelical Repentance, and Chri&s;tian love and charity: Now is there no more required but the habits of the&s;e Graces to fit us for the comfortable partaking of the Lords Supper, and to fit us in our walking with Chri&s;t in the whole cour&s;e of our lives? What light is there for Chri&s;tians for direction herein?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, we ought to wait on Chri&s;t in all good means, that the&s;e graces may be enlivened, actuated, awakened, as a man from &s;leep, yea, &s;trengthned and
<PB N="333" REF="195"> lively,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim i.6. Rev. 3.2.</NOTE> &s;tirred up and quickned by the quickning vertue and power of Chri&s;t, that we may more &s;weetly meet Chri&s;t, and gain &s;oul-cheri&s;hing vertue from Chri&s;t in that holy ordinance, and walk with Chri&s;t to eternal glory. As man may have an habit of &s;ight, yet except awakened he cannot &s;ee;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.14.</NOTE> &s;o we in ha|bits of Grace mu&s;t be awakened and quickned by Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What helps or meant are there to be u&s;ed, in which we &s;hould wait on Chri&s;t for the quickning of the&s;e Graces, and our further preparation for the Lords Table, and walking with Chri&s;t in our lives? And what light have you from Chri&s;t, to direct in this particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The&s;e helps are chiefly of three &s;orts, revealed by Chri&s;t unto us:<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 30.3, &amp;c. Lev. 23.27, &amp;c 1 Cor. 11.17, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Publike preparation in the Mi|ni&s;tery of the Word, Prayer, Catechi|zing, confe&s;&s;ion or profe&s;&s;ion of the&s;e graces of Knowledge, Faith, Repen|tance, and love, e&s;pecially in a day &s;et apart for preparation, for the meeting of Chri&s;t in this Ordinance, that a man or woman may be approved of by the Mi|ni&s;ters and Elders of the Church, as being not onely in &s;ome competent mea|&s;ure
<PB N="334" REF="196"> freed from ignorance, and without &s;candal, but al&s;o endued with truth of grace, as far as may be di&s;cerned in judg|ment of charity, and &s;o &s;uch as are to be admitted to joyn in communion with the Saints, and partake with comfort in this this holy communion, at the Table of the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t 3. <HI>But is it fit that men or wo|men &s;hould willingly make profe&s;&s;ion of their graces, and approve them&s;elves to the Church, as well as examine them&s;elves in &s;ecret, before they pre&s;ume to come to the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> How&s;oever, it is not nece&s;&s;ary that every one &s;hould make this pro|fe&s;&s;ion every time he or &s;he comes to the Sacrament; yet it is certain, that every one ought to make this profe&s;&s;ion, or be known to be &s;uch a one, until he or &s;he be approved of by the Church, as fit members to be admitted; as children baptized, when they come to age of di|&s;cretion ought to profe&s;&s;e the Faith in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2"><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 2.5, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 5.3, &amp;c.</NOTE>2. And if any fall into open &s;in, after profe&s;&s;ion and admi&s;&s;ion, it is fit they &s;hould declare their Repentance before they pre&s;ume to come, or be re-admitted
<PB N="335" REF="196"> to this fea&s;t of the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What ground have you for this in holy Scriptures, or what light from Chri&s;t to di&s;cover this Truth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e if we mu&s;t be alwayes ready to give an An&s;wer to every one that asketh you a rea&s;on of the hope that is in us, with meekne&s;&s;e and fear,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.15. and 5.1. &amp;c. Iud. 20.21, &amp;c.</NOTE> as is noted in the fir&s;t Cla&s;&s;is, much more to the Church, or to the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t, or Elders &s;et over the Congregation; de|&s;iring (not as Lord to tyrannize over our con&s;ciences) or to &s;hame us for our weakne&s;&s;e in knowledge, Faith, and other Grace: But as Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t, Fathers, or Brethren, in all love, humility, and tenderne&s;&s;e of compa&s;&s;ion, to help and further our preparation, to meet Chri&s;t with comfort in this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is a &s;econd help for the quickning of the&s;e graces to the glory of God in our lives, and &s;pecially be|fore we draw near to the Lords Table, and what light from Chri&s;t for this to your &s;oul?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There may be a private lawful day, or time of preparation in our Fami|lies, or with &s;ome Chri&s;tian friends,
<PB N="336" REF="197"> joyning in conference and prayer, and reading of the Scriptures (&s;o there be no neglect of publike places, and times of wor&s;hip, nor di&s;quiet of the &s;tate, nor contempt of the lawful and good or|ders of the Church) the better to fit us to meet Chri&s;t, not re&s;ting on the thing done, or the duty performed, but wai|ting in the&s;e or the like duties until Chri&s;t be plea&s;ed to reveal Him&s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zach. 12.10, &amp;c. Luk. 15.5, 6, 9. Act. 12.5.12. 1 Pet. 3.7 Ier. 10.15</NOTE> and communicate his vertue to our &s;ouls, for our more comfortable enjoying of Chri&s;t in his holy Ordinance. As we may call in neighbours to rejoyce and prai&s;e God with us: So to pray with us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is the third help or means in which we &s;hould wait on Chri&s;t, for his quickening vertue, to honour God in his Ordinances, and in our whole life what light from Chri&s;t for this end?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is a waiting on Chri&s;t in &s;e|cret duties, between God and our own &s;ouls: And for this I conceive I may wait on Chri&s;t in &s;ix &s;everall helps.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What are the&s;e &s;everal helps in particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I may &s;et &s;ome time a part from all other imployments, onely to at|tend Chri&s;t in &s;ecret, for the obtaining
<PB N="337" REF="197"> of this grace, as <HI>I&s;aac</HI> did, <HI>Gen.</HI> 24.28.</P>
<P N="2">2. As day a of Atonement of old.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Lev. 23.27, 28.</NOTE></P>
<P N="3">3. Or as Chri&s;t him&s;elf, and <HI>Peter,</HI> and other Saints,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 14.23. Acts 10.9.</NOTE> have &s;et times apart for &s;ecret communion with God in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us: And &s;o I may wait on Chri&s;t in a time convenient for this work.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is a &s;econd help?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To chu&s;e a convenient place where I may be quiet in the &s;weet and &s;ecret &s;oliloquies,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 6.6. &amp; 14.23. Acts 10.9.</NOTE> or &s;oul-conferences with God and my own heart and con&s;ci|ence.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9 <HI>What is a third?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Examination of my &s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. ii.28. 2 Cor. 13.5.</NOTE> and of the Graces before mentioned, Know|ledge, Faith, Repentance and Love.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is a fourth help to this enlivening of Graces, and preparation for the Sacrament, by the vertue of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Meditation both of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 2.19. P&s;al. 4.4.</NOTE> and my &s;elf, and of Chri&s;t, and the Sacra|ment, and all the&s;e graces, that they may be quickned to my own &s;oul by the mighty power of Je&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is a fifth help in Chri&s;t for this renewing of grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Application of all rightly to
<PB N="338" REF="198"> my &s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 20.28. Iob. 10.25, 26. Gal. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">2.20. P&s;al. 110.1.</NOTE> by vertue of the life of Chri&s;t in my &s;oul, that all graces may be more enlivened in me, and I may meet Chri&s;t with more cheerfulne&s;&s;e, and be enliven|ed by him, for my more profitable en|joyment of Chri&s;t in the Ordinances.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;ixth help or means? And what light further from Chri&s;t, to &s;trengthen and direct our &s;ouls in this particular?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 32.10, &amp;c. Ezek. 46.37. Luke 17.5. Rom. 8.26, 27. Mark 9.24. Eph. 3.16, &amp;c. Acts 4.31.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Prayer to God in the name of Chri&s;t, in which I may wait on God in Chri&s;t, for the enlivening of the graces of God in me, and right preparation to meet Chri&s;t in this Sacrament, till God give a return of my prayer, to my great joy in Chri&s;t Je&s;us, as <HI>Jacob,</HI> till an an|&s;wer be given to my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is the fir&s;t of the&s;e graces, by the&s;e or the like helps to be enli|vened by Chri&s;t and our &s;pirit to our &s;ouls?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divine knowledge of God, and of our &s;elves, and of Chri&s;t, and of the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>In what manner &s;hould we wait on Chri&s;t, to enliven in us our know|ledge of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Having &s;et a fit time a|part. And,</P>
<PB N="339" REF="198">
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.63. Gen. 32.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">, &amp;c. Dan 6.10. Mat. 14.23. Acts 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.9. 2 Cor. 13.5. Mat. 13.51. &amp; 16.13.15. Acts 8.30. 1 Pet. 3.15.</NOTE> Made choice of a fit place to be &s;eparated from all worldly thoughts, and to be devoted wholly to this work by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, that my &s;oul may be in love with God.</P>
<P>Thirdly, To Catechize and examine, and que&s;tion my &s;elf, concerning my knowledge of God, according as he is held forth unto me in this Catechi&s;m be|fore, or as far as I am enlightned with the knowledge of God, what God is in him&s;elf, in his excellent Nature, Divine being, and E&s;&s;ential properties, perfecti|ons, word and works, e&s;pecially the great work of mans &s;alvation; and I may examine my knowledge, and &s;ee how able I am in Gods pre&s;ence, or be|fore the Saints (if need were) to make a &s;olemn profe&s;&s;ion of this my knowledge, to the comfort of my &s;elf, and edification of others.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>How el&s;e &s;hould a Chri&s;ti|an, or you in particular, wait on Chri&s;t, to enliven this knowledge, or have it en|livened by Chri&s;ts &s;pirit in his or her &s;oul; or in &s;oul be fit to meet Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fourthly, As a Chri&s;tian man or woman, &s;o I may meditate, think, rumi|nate, and ponder of my knowledge of
<PB N="340" REF="199"> God in my heart,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.63. P&s;al. 104.33, 34. Luke 2.19. P&s;al. 42.1, 2, 3, 4.</NOTE> and endeavour to fix the eye of faith in my &s;oul upon God in all the&s;e re&s;pects, by the power of Chri&s;t, until my &s;oul be ravi&s;hed with a glorious delight in God, in his excellen|cy, fulne&s;&s;e, and all-&s;ufficiency, until that my &s;oul and &s;pirits by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, be drawn up into a holy and admirable union and communion of life, with this ble&s;&s;ed God, now at one with me in Ie|&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What or how thirdly may this be done?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 64.7. 2 Tim. 1.6, 7. 2 Pet. 1.13</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, I may labour by the power of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, to improve my intere&s;t in this great and good God, by &s;tirring up, and exerci&s;ing the grace of Faith in the &s;pecial application of God and his goodne&s;&s;e (as my God in Chri&s;t) with joy and gladne&s;&s;e to my own &s;oul in particular. So it is meet we &s;tir up our &s;elves and Graces in us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What or in what manner la&s;tly, may you enliven this knowledge of God in your &s;oul?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In powring out of my &s;oul by the &s;trength of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit unto God, in prayer, to ble&s;&s;e this my &s;eeking out
<PB N="341" REF="199"> of union and communion with God in Knowledge,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Sam. 1.15 Rom. 8.26, 27. Phi. 30.8, 9. Exo. 34.29, 30. 2 Cor. 4.6, 7. 1 Pet. 1.7, 8.</NOTE> waiting on Chri&s;t till I finde the enlivening vertue of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, quickening and making alive my know|ledge, and till the face of my &s;oul &s;hine and be glorified with tho&s;e glorious ap|prehen&s;ions of God, in the face of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, which are accompanied with joy un&s;peakable and full of glory.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="23" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The three and twentieth Cla&s;sis, or com|pany of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>HOw may a Chri&s;tian man or woman enliven the knowledge of him&s;elf, that he or &s;he may come fitly to the holy Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Having in the &s;ame manner, fir&s;t, made choice of fit time: And &s;e|condly, place, or at the &s;ame time and place: Thirdly, he or &s;he may by the power of Chri&s;t, examine his know|ledge of him&s;elf, and mankinde.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.27 and 1.31 and 28. Eccl. 7.29.</NOTE></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in re&s;pect of his e&s;tate by crea|tion, righteous, and good.</P>
<P>Secondly, of his &s;tate of corruption,
<PB N="342" REF="200"> &s;in and death by <HI>Adams</HI> fall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.5. Eccl. 7.29. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Col. 1.12, 13, 14. and 2.6, 7. Mat. 5.8. and 19.29 Luk. 22.9, 22.30. Rev. 7.14, &amp;.</NOTE> and his or her mi&s;ery and bondage under it, a woful e&s;tate.</P>
<P>Thirdly, of his &s;tate of Grace, and bringing &s;ome to God in Chri&s;t, in his effectual vocation or calling, from the thraldom of &s;in and death, by the Go&s;|pel and &s;pirit of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, of &s;tate of glory, looked for in Heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the fourth means, or how in the next place, is this knowledge of a mans &s;elf to be quickened?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By meditation and thinking of this fourfold e&s;tate, Fir&s;t, of Creation, Se|condly, of the Fall: Thirdly, of Grace: And fourthly, of glory, until my heart be truly and rightly affected with the con|&s;ideration of it, by the power of Chri&s;t and his &s;pirit.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, till I can lament my fall and lo&s;&s;e of Gods Image in my &s;oul.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 51.1, &amp;c. Rom. 10.7, 8. Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Mat. 5, 2 8 6 5 2,</NOTE>Secondly, till I can &s;ee and feel in my heart, my natural corruption and bon|dage under &s;in and Satan, yea, my &s;ub|jection by &s;in, to the wrath of God, and damnation for &s;in, and my extreme need of Chri&s;t, both for my redemption and repair of the Image of God in my &s;oul</P>
<PB N="343" REF="200">
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.12. Phil. 4.11, &amp;c. Eph. 5. i, 2. 1 Cor. 2.9. 2 The&s;. 2.13. 2 Cor. 5.1, &amp;c. Phil.1.20, &amp;c. 2 Pet. 1.10, 11. Gen 1.27, 31. Eccl. 7.29. Eph. 2.3. Mark 9.44.</NOTE> till I be affected with the &s;tate of Grace, as a happy condition, being freed from the condemning and com|manding power of &s;in and death, and en|joying a lively power from Chri&s;t, to walk thankfully in grace and holine&s;&s;e, towards glory.</P>
<P>Fourthly, till my heart be affected and ravi&s;hed with thoughts of Heaven, long|ing and labouring for the a&s;&s;urance of that mo&s;t glorious and ble&s;&s;ed &s;tate of glory, and all this not by any &s;trength of my own, but by the vertue and power of Chri&s;t in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is the fifth means of en|livening this knowledge in your own &s;oul in &s;pecial for your joyful meeting Chri&s;t in this Ordinance?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Application of my knowledge of every &s;tate and condition, to my own &s;oul in particular.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, that I was made holy, and hap|py in Gods own Image, very good.</P>
<P>Secondly, that I lo&s;t that happy e&s;tate and became mo&s;t mi&s;erable under the bondage of &s;in and Satan, and &s;ubject to the wrath of God and Hell fire for ever.</P>
<P>Thirdly, that I redeemed from this
<PB N="344" REF="201"> mi&s;erable bondage under &s;in and death by my Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Gal. 2.20. 1 Pet. 1.3, &amp;c. Eph. 1.10, &amp;c. Phil. 1.20. &amp;c. Tim. 4.7, 8. Mat. 25.34.</NOTE> who loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Fourthly, that I am per&s;waded there is a glorious inheritance in Heaven, which God hath prepared, and Chri&s;t hath pur|cha&s;ed for me; and that when I have fought my fight and fini&s;hed my cour&s;e, the Lord &s;hall then give it me in my &s;oul, when I &s;hall be di&s;&s;olved and be with Chri&s;t, which is far better; and at the re|&s;urrection of the ju&s;t and unju&s;t, I &s;hall a ri&s;e, and in &s;oul and body po&s;&s;e&s;&s;e that Kingdom of Glory for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>How or by what means may your knowledge of Chri&s;t be enlivened?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, in a time fitly cho&s;en. And &s;econdly, a place for this work. Thirdly, examine and catechize my &s;oul, in the knowledge of Chri&s;t, as he is &s;et forth unto me in this or the like cate|chi&s;m, or as the Lord hath revealed this knowledge of Chri&s;t unto me.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in his natures Divine, and hu|mane.</P>
<P>Secondly, In this per&s;onal union of both natures in one per&s;on.</P>
<P>Thirdly, In his offices of mediator|&s;hip, Prie&s;t Prophet, and King of his Church.</P>
<PB N="345" REF="201">
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.14 I&s;a. 9.6. P&s;a. 110.1 I&s;a. 61.1, 2, 3. Rom. 8.29, 30. Luke 1.31. Gal. 4.2, 3, 4.</NOTE> in his benefits and graces communicated, as of Election, Redemp|tion, Calling, Ju&s;tification, Sanctificati|on, and Adoption to glory, and the like. All proved and noted before.</P>
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> 5. <HI>What is a fourth help in which you may wait on Chri&s;t for your enlivening your divine knowledge of the Lord Ie&s;us, and what light from Chri&s;t for this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;wer.</HI> Meditation of Chri&s;t accor|ding to my knowledge in all the&s;e untill I &s;ee Chri&s;ts glory, and rejoyce in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 104 33, 34. Ioh. 8.56 I&s;a. 61.10 Can. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 5.8, 9, 10. Iohn 20.27, 28, 29. Rom. 8.9 Rom. 9.38, 39. Galat. 2.20.</NOTE> and fall in love, and be ravi&s;hed with di|vine longing after a more full union and enjoyment of Chri&s;t and his rich graces and benefits in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Fifthly, in application of Chri&s;t, and his vertue and efficacy of his grace in his whole office of mediator&s;hip, as high Prie&s;t, Prophet, and King, untill I &s;ee I live and feel the life-blood of grace and vertue from Chri&s;t, in a&s;&s;urance of Chri&s;ts love &s;pringing in my &s;oul, as I &s;ometimes feel my life-blood &s;pringing in my body.</P>
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> 6. <HI>What is a &s;ixt and la&s;t help of enlivening the knowledge of Chri&s;t in you?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;wer.</HI> Waiting upon God in faith|full and fervent prayers to God in the name of Chri&s;t; untill I gain an an&s;wer of
<PB N="346" REF="202"> grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 85.8, 9. Gen. 41.16. P&s;al. 42.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> and finde and feel life from Chri&s;t to quicken graces in me, that I may come with more longing to meet Chri&s;t in the Sacrament &amp; walk with Chri&s;t in my life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>How or by what means may you enliven your knowledge of the Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;wer.</HI> By the &s;ame meanes I may wait upon Chri&s;t as before.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, choo&s;e a fit time.</P>
<P>Secondly, a fit place.</P>
<P>Thirdly, examine my knowledge of the Sacraments, e&s;pecially of the Lords Supper in the &s;everall particulars as is ex|pre&s;&s;ed in the Catechi&s;me before, or in the Scripture of truth of author, matter, form, and end, and the like.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the fourth help?</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, to meditate of the Sacrament and Chri&s;t communicating him&s;elfe to prepared &s;ouls, untill my heart be filled with &s;pirituall hunger, and longing to meet Chri&s;t in that holy ordinance, as <HI>David</HI> to come into Gods pre&s;ence. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 63.1, 2, 3, 4. 5. or as I&s;rael longed after the Lord, 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 7.1, 2.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the fifth help?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Application of the Sacrament to my &s;elf as a &s;eal of the covenant of
<PB N="347" REF="202"> grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10 16, 17. Rom. 4.11. Gal. 2.20. Rom. 9.23, 24.</NOTE> and of my confirmation in the faith and love of God to me as my God and Father reconciled to me in Chri&s;t, untill I prize it as a rich trea&s;ure and part of the riches of Chri&s;ts kingdome of grace, for my preparing to glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the &s;ixth and la&s;t help?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Prayer to God with faith in the name of Chri&s;t, zeal and con&s;tancy, and humble waiting, untill I can under|&s;tand by the help of Chri&s;ts Spirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Io&s;. 16.23. Iam. 1.6. Iam. 5.16 1 Cor. 10 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Cor. 10 16 Cant. 5.8 G<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">n. 30.1 E&s;ther 5.13. Luke 22.20. 1 Cor. 11 25.</NOTE> the excellency of this ordinance, and that glorious union and communion which a prepared, humble, faithfull &s;oul enjoyes with Chri&s;t; feeding on Chri&s;t &s;pi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">itual|ly, and fea&s;ting with him at the Lords Table: and untill my &s;oul be &s;o far &s;ick of love for Chri&s;t, that I can truly &s;ay as <HI>Rachel</HI> did of children, O my God, give me the holy Sacrament, and to fea&s;t with Chri&s;t in it, or el&s;e I dye. Or as <HI>Haman</HI> did of all his riches and honours, and of <HI>He&s;ters</HI> banquet in another kinde: what is all this, &s;o long as I enjoy not Chri&s;t, and banquet not with Chri&s;t at the Sup|per of my Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>You have declared how you conceive the grace of knowledge, both of
<PB N="348" REF="203"> God and of our &s;elves, and of Chri&s;t, and of the Sacrament may be enlivened, wait|ing on Chri&s;t in the&s;e or the like helps: now how do you conceive the grace of faith may be enlivened by the power of Chri&s;t, &s;o as you may come with greater comfort to the Lords Table. What light from Chri&s;t to enlighten in this work of grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t time, and &s;econdly place being ob&s;erved, as before. Thirdly I conceive I may wait on Chri&s;t in a &s;eri|ous examination of my faith, as it is held forth before in this catechi&s;me. Fir&s;t, di|&s;tingui&s;hing this lively faith from all o|ther kindes. Secondly, examining and trying my faith:
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. In the nature of it, an entertaining, receiving, applying faith.</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. In the means di&s;po&s;ing my heart to believe.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. In the heavenly author or efficient and in&s;trumentall cau&s;es of faith, the word of promi&s;e and &s;pirit of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 4.13.</NOTE></ITEM>
<ITEM>4. In the matter and object of faith.</ITEM>
<ITEM>5. In the form and life of faith.</ITEM>
<ITEM>6. In the effects and fruits of faith, all proved and &s;et forth already.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Fourthly, I may enliven my faith, by waiting upon Chri&s;t in &s;elf-application of
<PB N="349" REF="203"> all tho&s;e rules of tryall to my own heart, to &s;ee how the truth of this grace is in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Fifthly, I may wait on Chri&s;t in a &s;o|lid and devout meditation of the grace of &s;aith in my heart of the promi&s;es of Free-grace in Chri&s;t, and e&s;pecially the &s;acra|mentall promi&s;es now to be looked upon in the Sacrament: <HI>This is my body,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, 27.</NOTE> <HI>this is my blood,</HI> which is given, which is &s;hed for you, untill my &s;oul findes and feeleth that it believes more firmely, receiveth and re&s;ts on Chri&s;t for &s;alvation more fully.</P>
<P>Sixthly, wait on Chri&s;t in prayer to God the Father in the name of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 11.10 I&s;a. 66.11 1 Cor. 10 21.</NOTE> That I may &s;uck and be &s;atisfied with the brea&s;ts of con&s;olation and feed with joy at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>How or in what manner may you wait on Chri&s;t, to quicken and re|new your Evangelical Repentance, or daily turning more and more from &s;in to God, in minde, will, affection, and conver&s;ation, that you may with more comfort come to the Lords Supper? What light is there from Chri&s;t to lead you to Chri&s;t in this grace and duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Time.</P>
<PB N="350" REF="204">
<P>Secondly, Place, ob&s;erved as before.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I am to &s;et my &s;elf as in Gods pre&s;ence; and examine,</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 31.18 19.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, My fir&s;t conver&s;ion to God, to finde evidence of the truth of that, by con&s;idering,
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. The meritorious cau&s;e Chri&s;t:</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. The Nature.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. Author. And,</ITEM>
<ITEM>4. Means of working this grace in my &s;oul, as far as I can di&s;cern.</ITEM>
<ITEM>5. The matter of it; the whole man &s;oul and body.</ITEM>
<ITEM>6. The manner. And,</ITEM>
<ITEM>7. The end and effects of this con|ver&s;ion and repentance, as in this Cate|chi&s;m is held forth; or a I finde in other Catethi&s;ms or word from Chri&s;t.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 36.31. P&s;al. 51.10. Mat. 26.57.</NOTE>Secondly, To examine the progre&s;&s;e and growth of it daily in my &s;oule; not only loathing, but turning from &s;inne to God, and lamenting my f<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ling with &s;or|row, if I have fallen as <HI>David, Peter</HI> or other Saints of God, and ungratefully forgotten the love of my Saviou<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</P>
<P>Fourthly, meditating of my &s;innes and vile ingratitude, again&s;t &s;o good a God, to me in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fifthly, a right application all to
<PB N="351" REF="204"> my own &s;oul in particular.<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 51.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 I&s;a. 2.1, 2, 3. P&s;al. 122 1, 2, 3, 4. Cant. 1.7, 8.</NOTE></P>
<P>And la&s;tly, prayer to God, in the name of Chri&s;t, untill I finde an increa&s;e of power over my &s;infull corruptions and a more ful a&s;&s;urance of my pardon, &amp; new heart and &s;pirit-re&s;tored joy; which that it may better be communicated from Chri&s;t to my &s;oule, I long to meet Chri&s;t in his ordinances.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>But what help and light from Chri&s;t have you to finde out not only your originall &s;in and &s;infull nature in generall before your repentance and conver&s;ion to God; but you daily actuall &s;als an A fail|ings by which you do di&s;honour God, grieve the Spirit of Chri&s;t, and wound your own con&s;cience, and make your &s;elf more unfit to come to the holy Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I conceive I may wait on Chri&s;t and his Spirit looking for light from Chri&s;t into a threefold gla&s;&s;e or book which reveils &s;ins to my &s;oul by the power and light of Chri&s;ts Spirit.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The fir&s;t is the book of the law or commanding part of Gods will or Word, revealed by Chri&s;t, &amp; held forth in the ten Commandements in particu|lar,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 8.21.</NOTE> and in the whole Scriptures of God in generall.</P>
<PB N="352" REF="205">
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> 15. <HI>What is the &s;econd gla&s;&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 3.17&punc; 18, 19, 20. Ioh. 16, 8, 9. Hebr. 2.2, 3. Mat. 22.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. &amp; 9, 10, 11, 12. Mat. 25.19, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Secondly, the book ot the Go|&s;pel or gracious promi&s;ing part of Gods Word, again&s;t which I have &s;inned by unbelief &amp; too little regard of the tender of grace to improve my talent of faith, &amp; other graces communicated to Saints, and to my &s;oul in and by Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the third gla&s;&s;e or light from Chri&s;t to &s;ee this truth?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The book of my own con&s;ci|ence enlightned, which as &amp; Regi&s;ter re|cordeth my &s;ins, and will upon &s;earch by the help of Chri&s;ts Spirit and light from Chri&s;t, &s;et my &s;ins before my face, with the circum&s;tances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.14, 15. Rom. 9.1, 2. Gen. 42.21. Iohn 3.16 Iohn 15.5. Rom. 8.37. Colo&s;. 1.10. Rev. 1.4, 5.</NOTE> order, and &s;eve|rall aggravations of them, by which I may more &s;ee my own vilene&s;&s;e, and ad|mire Gods goodne&s;&s;e in giving Chri&s;t whom I &s;tand daily in need of: not only for more a&s;&s;urance of pardon, but for in|crea&s;e of power, to overcome temptati|ons, and walk more thankfully to God, who hath &s;o freely loved me in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t. For if naturall con&s;cience do this, much more con&s;cience enlightned by the Spirit of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>How can you finde all your &s;ins and failings by the gla&s;&s;e of the law or ten Commandements?</HI></P>
<PB N="353" REF="205">
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, reading and ob&s;erving the Commandements as they are recor|ded in the 20 Chapter of <HI>Exodus,</HI> with the expo&s;ition and explication of them by the Prophets in the Old Te&s;tament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.6, &amp;c.</NOTE> and by Chri&s;t him&s;elf <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> the fifth, &s;ixth &amp; &s;eventh Chapters of the Go&s;pel according to <HI>S. Matthew,</HI> and by the Apo&s;tles in the New Te&s;tament.</P>
<P>Secondly, by que&s;tioning my con&s;ci|ence upon intergatories drawn both from the affirmative and negative part of eve|ry Commandement, as I hope I &s;hall be able to declare more fully in the next part of this Catechi&s;me;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 10 25, &amp;c.</NOTE> as Chri&s;t did Cate|chize the Phari&s;ee.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>But is repentance of every &s;in, originall and actuall, required in that man or woman who will come with com|fort to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Certainly that &s;oul that lives &s;en&s;ele&s;ly and &s;ecurely, either in the &s;tate of nature unregenerate, or in any known actuall &s;in, as Athei&s;m, wilfull affected ig|norance, or unbelief and prophanene&s;&s;e again&s;t the fir&s;t Commandement. Or &s;u|per&s;titious will-wor&s;hip or neglect of love again&s;t the &s;econd Commandement. Or bla&s;phemy, cur&s;ing, &s;wearing, again&s;t
<PB N="354" REF="206"> the third Commandement. Or irreligi|ous prophanene&s;&s;e of the Lords day, and neglect of Gods Ordinances again&s;t the fourth. Or in wilfull, carele&s;&s;e, omi&s;&s;ion of duty, or commi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins again&s;t &s;u|periours, as Parents, Magi&s;trates, Mini|&s;ters, again&s;t inferiours or equals, as chil|dren, &s;ervants, brethren or neighbours, again&s;t the fifth Commandement.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 4.5 1 Cor. 10 1, 2, &amp;c. Tit. 1.15 16. Ier. 7.8, 9, &amp;c. Ier. 1, 10, &amp;c. Ezek. 14.1, 2, &amp;c. I&s;a. 1.12, &amp;c. Matth. 5.20, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 11 17.20. Mat. 22.11, &amp;c. I&s;a. 66.2, &amp;c.</NOTE> Or in malice, envie, murther, whoredom, theft, oppre&s;&s;ion, cozening, &s;acriledge, drun|kenne&s;&s;e, lying, &s;landering, or in any o|ther grievous crime: yea, or in wicked de&s;ires and unlawfull covetings again&s;t the ten or any other commands, &s;uch can|not finde comfort in coming to the Lords Table, except the Lord fir&s;t give them repenting hearts for their &s;ins; faithfull and longing hearts after Chri&s;t, for a&s;&s;u|rance of pardon, and for power to repent more and more, with a re&s;olution by the grace of God in Chri&s;t to walk in new|ne&s;&s;e of life; becau&s;e without this repen|tance, faith, and other needfull graces, they come not for the better, but for the wor&s;e, and eat judgement to them&s;elves, and their &s;ervice is abominable.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>How can you finde out your &s;ins again&s;t the Go&s;pell?</HI></P>
<PB N="355" REF="206">
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> E&s;pecially by getting a Cata|logue of the promi&s;es, and finding out the unbelief of my own heart, and great in|gratitude to doubt of Gods love,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 7.1. Heb. 3.12 Heb. 11.6. 2 Pet. 1, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 1.20. 2 Tim. 1 12.</NOTE> or not to confide in God through Chri&s;t, and walk thankfully towards thee, the Lord having given &s;o many rich and precious promi&s;es, which are all yea and Amen in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>By what helps may you wait on Chri&s;t for the quickning and enlivening of the grace of Chri&s;tian love and charity? What light from Chri&s;t for exerci&s;e and quickning of this grace of love?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Time and place being kept as before.</P>
<P>I may wait on Chri&s;t with examinati|on of my love.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, to God in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, to my &s;elf.</P>
<P>Thirdly to my neighbour.</P>
<P N="1">1. How I love God in his holy nature, per&s;on, properties, word, and works.</P>
<P N="2">2. How I love Chri&s;t in his per&s;on, Name, in his Ordinances, Church, and Children.</P>
<P N="3">3. How I love my &s;elf, not with a &s;elf-love, but as in and for God, and Gods glory in Chri&s;t, as well as my own good
<PB N="356" REF="207"> in an inferiour re&s;pect.</P>
<P N="4">4. How I love my neighbour, yea my very enemy to doe him good, for Gods glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 8.1, &amp;c. Mat. 22.37, &amp;c. Iohn 14.21. Iohn 15.9, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 16 22. Mat 16.24. Tit. 1.7. 1 Cor. 11.28. 2 Tim 3, &amp;c. Eph. 5.28, 29. Pro. 19.8 Rom. 13 8, &amp;c. Pro. 25.21. Rom. 12 20. Rom. 12.13. 1 Cor. 4.4. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15.</NOTE> that I may appear to be one of the children of my heavenly Father.</P>
<P N="5">5. How I pitty poor Saints, to relieve them for Chri&s;ts &s;ake.</P>
<P N="6">6. How I do, and de&s;ire, and endea|vour to doe all this, not to be ju&s;tified thereby before God, or to &s;atisfie for my &s;ins, or to procure my peace, all which is done by Chri&s;t; but to witne&s;&s;e my thank|fulne&s;&s;e to God in Chri&s;t, for his free love to me, and the great invaluable gift of his Sonne Chri&s;t, who loved me and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What further meant is there to quicken this love?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fourthly, by the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit to meditate and think of all this love, with the author and worker of it in my &s;oul, the &s;ame holy &s;pirit, by whom it is &s;pread abroad in my heart, and the object of this love, my God reconciled to me in and by Chri&s;t, and Gods word and people.</P>
<P>And fifthly, to wait on Chri&s;t in a &s;pe|ciall application of this to my own &s;oul.</P>
<P>And &s;ixthly, to wait in earne&s;t prayer,
<PB N="357" REF="207"> by the help of the &s;pirit of prayer (who proceeds from the father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 4.16, &amp;c. Iohn 16.23. 1 Iohn 5.13, &amp;c. Rom. 8.35, &amp;c. Luke 10.27. Cant. 5.5, &amp;c.</NOTE> and the Son) untill my heart be in&s;eparably enflamed with all this true love of God, my neigh|bour, and my &s;elf, and my &s;oul filled with un&s;atisfied longing, to meet Chri&s;t, and &s;ee his glorious face in his Ordinances, that I may tell him I am &s;ick of love to enjoy him more fully, and his &s;oul-&s;ati&s;|fying refre&s;hments in his gracious vertue, and pre&s;ence in my &s;oule.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="25" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The twenty fifth Cla&s;sis or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have made profe&s;&s;ion of your knowledge, faith, repentance and love, and your experience how to enliven and &s;trengthen the habits of tho&s;e antecedent graces, divine knowledge, lively faith, Evangelicall repentance, and chri&s;tian love and charity. Now what are tho&s;e more im|mediate, pre&s;ent, nece&s;&s;ary graces, or gra|tious affections, re&s;olutions, and actions in the &s;oul, in which you may wait on Chri&s;t as in more immediate preparatives to be
<PB N="358" REF="208"> examined, enlivened, re&s;olved upon; acted and exerci&s;ed immediately before, or at that time, when you draw near to partake of the Lords Supper.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> There are and may be diver&s;e, but chiefly the&s;e that follow.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What is the fir&s;t of the&s;e to be quickned in you? What light from Chri&s;t for the&s;e have you &s;een?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chro. 32, &amp;c. I&s;a. 57.15. I&s;a. 66.2. Mic. 6.8. Ephe&s;. 4.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">0.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t by the power of Chri&s;t dwelling in my &s;oul, I may endeavour to &s;tir up and be affected with a holy reve|rence, godly &s;orrow, and humblene&s;&s;e of &s;pirit in my heart, quickned in or by a &s;e|rious meditation or thinking,</P>
<P N="1">1. Of my great unthankfulne&s;&s;e to God my Father in Chri&s;t for his Free grace and love to my &s;oul in the Lord Ie|&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 3.1, &amp;c. Heb. 5.12</NOTE> who loved me and gave him&s;elfe for me, that I have grieved his Spirit by whom I am &s;eal'd to the day of redemptio~.</P>
<P N="2">2. By meditation, or thinking of my great unprofitablene&s;&s;e in my former par|taking of Chri&s;t in this and other &s;acred ordinances, what &s;mall growth in know|ledge, faith, love, power over &s;in, fruit|fulne&s;&s;e in good works and other graces.</P>
<P N="3">3. In meditating and thinking of my own weakne&s;&s;e unworthine&s;s, and
<PB N="359" REF="208"> unfitne&s;&s;e now to meet Chri&s;t;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28. 26, 17. I&s;a. 6.5, 6, 7. 1 Cor. 11 28, 29. Gal. 3.1. Luk. 2.19 He&s;t. 5.2 Mark. 5.27, &amp;c.</NOTE> my inabi|lity to examine my &s;elfe or di&s;cerne the Lords body; or by the eye of faith to &s;ee Chri&s;t crucified for me, and meditate un|till I be truly affected with a holy reve|rence and childe-like fear of offending my God, in not comming rightly fitted for the Lords pre&s;ence in this &s;acred Or|dinance, &s;o that I dur&s;t not approach if I did not hope that in Chri&s;t the golden Scepter of grace &s;hall be holden forth un|to me for my comfort, &amp; therefore pre&s;&s;e to come to Chri&s;t for vertue from Chri&s;t to &s;trengthen grace in my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="4">4. In meditating and thinking of my former breach of covenant with my God and Father, which I have renued time af|ter time in this &s;acred Ordinance, and too often broken againe, for all which I &s;hould endeavour by the power of Chri&s;t and his Spirit to wait on Chri&s;t in medita|tion, and prayer, untill I finde my &s;elfe affected with a holy godly &s;orrow and humblene&s;&s;e of &s;pirit, for that I have in the lea&s;t mea&s;ure offended my God, and loving Father in Je&s;us Chri&s;t; &s;o that as I may, &s;o I can confe&s;&s;e truly with the Centurion, Lord I am not worthy thou &s;houlde&s;t come under the roofe of the
<PB N="360" REF="209"> hou&s;e of my heart,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 32.24, &amp;c. Ho&s;. 12.4 Rom. 8.26, 27. Iudg. 10.15, 16. Mat. 15.27, 28.</NOTE> &s;peak but the word and thy &s;ervant &s;hall be healed, <HI>Matth.</HI> 8.8. Or with the poor Publican, &s;tand a far off as &s;carce daring to look up to hea|ven, had I not Chri&s;t my Mediator, and &s;miting my brea&s;t, &s;ay as the repenting Publican, <HI>God be mercifull to me a &s;inner, Luke</HI> 18.13. Lord once again &s;eal the a&s;|&s;urance of my pardon in and by Chri&s;t to my own &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is a &s;econd immediate preparatory grace, or gracious affection or &s;anctified act, or motion of the &s;oul as a pre|parative, for the quickning of which, you &s;hould wait on Chri&s;t immediately before you draw near to the Lords Table.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I may and ought to wait on Chri&s;t, and look up to Chri&s;t untill I finde by the power of Chri&s;ts Spirit in my &s;oul, in &s;en&s;e and feeling of my great need of Chri&s;t: A holy hunger, and &s;pirituall thir&s;t-de&s;iring-de&s;ire, and earne&s;t long|ing after Chri&s;t, and his &s;oul-cheri&s;bing vertue, and &s;pirituall nouri&s;hment which my &s;oul wants.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, to &s;eal my a&s;&s;urance of Chri&s;ts unchangeable love to me.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, to &s;trengthen and nou|ri&s;h in me, my life of grace, and my love
<PB N="361" REF="209"> and obedience to my God and my Father in the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 63.1, &amp;c. P&s;. 107.9. Ier. 44.3. Ier. 31.3 Mal. 3.6. Iohn 13.1. Phil. 4.13. Rom. 16.26. Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> my Lord and my Redeemer, who loved me, and gave him&s;elf for mee, and will enliven me ac|cording to the rich promi&s;es of Chri&s;t in the Go&s;pel; as <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 42.1, 2, <HI>&amp;c. Luk.</HI> 22.15. as Chri&s;t, &s;o a Chri&s;tian to meet Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is a third immediate preparatory grace, or gracious affection of the &s;oule, for the quickning of which you mu&s;t and ought to look up unto, and wait on Chri&s;t, and endeavour to enliven and exerci&s;e immediately before you draw near to the Lords table, are invited by Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters, to partake of that bread, and drink that Cap in the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper? what light from Chri&s;t to reveal him unto you?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I may and ought by &s;trength from Chri&s;t to meditate of Chri&s;ts graci|ous invitation of me.</P>
<P N="1">1. As a poor humbled &s;inner to come in to him, and finde re&s;t and refre&s;hing to my &s;oul, as <HI>Mat.</HI> 11.22.</P>
<P N="2">2. Inviting me as one of his believing &s;ons or daughters, to come to his fea&s;t, and to partake of his Supper, as <HI>Cantic.</HI> 5.1.</P>
<P N="3"><PB N="362" REF="210"><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 55.1, 2, &amp;c. Luke 14.17.24. Rev. 19 9 Mat. 22.1, &amp;c. 2 Chro. 30.18, &amp;c.</NOTE>3. To meditate of this invitation, un|till by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t my heart be af|fected with joyfulne&s;&s;e, that I may come and have liberty to come with joy and rejoycing to the Lords Table, as to a mo&s;t free and rich mariage fea&s;t in which I hope to have a &s;weet union and com|munion with Chri&s;t my Lord, the hea|venly husband of my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is the fourth prepara|tory grace or gracious affection, re&s;olution, or act of the &s;oul, to be renewed, quickned, and enlivened, immediately before you are coming to the Lords Table.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> As the Lord is plea&s;ed in this holy Sacrament to &s;eal and confirme his Covenant of free grace in Chri&s;t, and of the communion and union of Chri&s;t with me and my &s;oul; &s;o fir&s;t by the power from Chri&s;t, when I draw near to this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, I do not only re&s;olve by the grace of God to renew, out actu|ally by his grace I do renew my Cove|nant, vows, &amp; prote&s;tations to &amp; with the Lord my God. 2. And as the Lord doth take, avouch, and acknowledge me to be one of his people in Chri&s;t; &s;o I doe a|vouch, witne&s;&s;e, and vow, that the Lord is and &s;hall be my God and Father in
<PB N="363" REF="210"> Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, by the &s;ame power and grace of Chri&s;t. 3. And that I do and will renounce all my former &s;ins, and failings, and all &s;infull union and communion with tho&s;e &s;pirituall enemies,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 26.27.</NOTE> the World, the Fle&s;h, and the Devill. 4. And freely and fully offer up and render my &s;elf whole|man, &s;oul, and body, to do and &s;uffer the will of God, in every condition and &s;tate of life, untill I be di&s;&s;olved and be with Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 50.4, &amp;c.</NOTE> to live with him in glory and to do the will of God for ever. Gather my Saints to me who have renewed a covenant with me as in the Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Is there nothing further ne|ce&s;&s;ary, that a poor &s;oul may be a&s;&s;ured, he or &s;he may with comfort meet Chri&s;t and fea&s;t with him at his Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Yes, the re&s;olution of a great que&s;tion by the light and &s;trength of Chri&s;ts Spirit, to look into the gla&s;&s;e of Gods Word, and of my own heart and &s;oul comparing them together, to &s;ee and examine, and know. 1. What life of grace witn joy and hope in believing: and 2. what quickning vertue of Chri&s;t held forth in the Word of life there is in my &s;oule. 3. What &s;trengthning with might in inner man, what abilities of &s;pi|rituall
<PB N="364" REF="211"> &s;en&s;es, &s;eeing, hearing, ta&s;ting, with eyes, and ears, and mouth of faith, to di&s;cerne the Lords body and blood from the outward element of bread and wine, and to partake of Chri&s;t in the act of receiving, that &s;o I may feed on Chri&s;t with joy &amp; rejoycing at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But what light have you from Chri&s;t to know whether you have life of grace and &s;pirituall &s;en&s;es in your &s;oule nor not; without which it is impo&s;&s;ible to di&s;cerne the Lords body, or to receive or &s;eed on Chri&s;t, or draw near with any com|fort to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w</HI> This is a great que&s;tion, and of|ten hath filled my &s;oule with fears and doubting, but by the grace of God in Chri&s;t, I &s;hall render a rea&s;on of the hope that is in me, and &s;hew you what grounds I have to believe and hope that I have found life of grace in me, and &s;o &s;pirituall &s;en&s;es <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">o di&s;cern the Lords body, &s;o that I may come with comfort to the Lords Supper.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>What are your grounds of your life of grace, given in you in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I prai&s;e God I was born of re|ligious parents, my Father like faithfull <HI>Abraham,</HI> carefull to pray with, and to
<PB N="365" REF="211"> in&s;truct his family,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18, 19. Io&s;h. 24.15. 1 Sam. 1.15. 1 Pet. 3.7.</NOTE> and catechize them in the fir&s;t principles of the Oracles of God, and as <HI>Jo&s;hua,</HI> who re&s;olved him&s;elf and his hou&s;e to &s;erve the Lord. And my Mother like <HI>Hanna,</HI> a woman pouring out of her &s;oul to God in &s;ecret prayer for me: or as <HI>Monica</HI> did for her &s;onne <HI>Augu&s;tine;</HI> and both my parents living together as heirs of the grace of life; &s;o that their prayers might not be hindred, and with endeavouring to bring up their children in the knowledge of Chri&s;t and fear of God; and &s;o I conceive it is more difficult to declare the fir&s;t quickning or birth of the life, of grace my &s;oul; but yet I beleeve I have felt and found di|vers evidences of this life in me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>You an&s;wer right, its diffi|cult in &s;uch to manife&s;t the beginnings of grace in the heart, but what was a fir&s;t e|vidence of life of grace in you, that you can di&s;cerne or remember.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Truly in my childehood I was taught, and had &s;ome knowledge of the Scripture, and of my e&s;tate both by crea|tion and the fall of <HI>Adam,</HI> and of the way of &s;alvation in Chri&s;t the &s;econd <HI>A|dam,</HI> and I had an outward form at lea&s;t of Religion, and I was carefull to &s;an|ctifie
<PB N="366" REF="212"> the Lords day and to &s;pend it in ho|ly duties,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 22.6. 2 Tim. 3.15. Gen. 24.63. Rev. 1.10 P&s;al. 119.136. Rom. 9.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> both publick &amp; private (though with many failings. And I remember on a Lords day after Supper I went into a Garden (as <HI>I&s;aac</HI> into the field) to me|ditate of what I had heard Preached) and I hearing a great noi&s;e of children and youths playing in the &s;treets, and &s;o prophaning the Lords day, I was &s;o grieved, that I &s;hed tears for them, as <HI>David</HI> for his enemies, conceiving their e&s;tate was fearful, being &s;en&s;le&s;&s;e of their own mi&s;ery, and adding &s;in to &s;in; and this I thought might be &s;ome work of Gods Spirit, and &s;ign of true grace then beginning in my &s;oul, when I was about ten or twelve years of age.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>I do conceive there might be much wrought in you by the power of education, moving you to di&s;like that open prophanation of the Lords day, of Pa|rents &s;uffering their Children to play in the &s;treets, when they &s;hould rather be cate|chizing them in their families (as it is a common fault &s;till) yet there is good hope that affection and grief for &s;in was a work wrought in you by the Spirit of Chri&s;t, and &s;o a an evidence of true grace in your &s;oul: But what further evidence have you found?</HI></P>
<PB N="367" REF="212">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> After I was grown to riper years,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 42.16. Rom. 2.14, 15. 2 Cor. 12, 7, &amp;c. Rom. 7.22, &amp;c.</NOTE> in my youthful time when I left my Parents, I was too &s;ubject to conform to that company and family with whom I lived, where was an outward common form of Religion, and &s;aying of &s;ome prayers &s;ometimes; but I &s;aw no power of Religion, no con&s;cience of ordinary &s;wearing, e&s;pecially le&s;&s;er Oathes (as common blinde people call them) as by their Faith and Troth, and by our La|dy, &amp;c. no con&s;cience of immoderate abu&s;e of the creatures, eating and drink|ing to ryot, no care of any &s;trict ob&s;er|vation of the Lords day, but a di&s;like of too much preci&s;ene&s;&s;e, as they called it, and inveighing again&s;t Puritans, as they called them sn tho&s;e dayes (as &s;ome &s;uch do again&s;t Roundheads in the&s;e times) of which &s;o called, I did know &s;ome to be religious and good people; and &s;ome|times would defend and &s;peak for them, whether out of a principle of graca from Chri&s;t, or by the power of my edu|cation, I have &s;ince called in que&s;tion: but this I am &s;ure, that among&s;t this for|mal or civil, yea, &s;ometimes uncivil com|pany, I had many buffetings of Satans me&s;&s;engers, &s;ometimes as a captive pri|&s;oner
<PB N="368" REF="213"> I had many falls into &s;in, and fail|in my walking to the great trouble of my con&s;cience, enlightned, whether by the light of nature, accu&s;ing or excu&s;ing (as the Apo&s;tle &s;peaks) or whether by the common light of the &s;pirit in my edu|cation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.15.</NOTE> and word Preached, or thirdly, whether by the light of grace and &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, I conceived a great que&s;tion, and was often filled with fears and ter|rors in my &s;oul, that though I &s;eemed a Saint in compari&s;on of divers open pro|phane per&s;ons about me, yet having &s;uch falls and corruptions, I was either &s;till unregenerate, or a formal hypocri<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e at be&s;t (as Mr. <HI>Bolton</HI> upon the fir&s;t P&s;alm the beginning de&s;cribes him) and &s;o could &s;eldom gain or keep any quiet in my con&s;cience or true peace (as I was per|&s;waded in my &s;oul, onely &s;ome comforts I had hope of in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>Truly your &s;tate I believe might well be que&s;tionable, especially if you were drawn away with the error of the wicked,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 2.5.</NOTE> <HI>to approve of their wayes, or to di&s;like &s;trictne&s;&s;e in Religion, and preci&s;e walking with God; at the be&s;t, it is cer|tain, that if truth of grace was ever in you (yet) you had lo&s;t your fir&s;t love; and
<PB N="369" REF="213"> though formerly you might have had a name to live,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 3.17. Rev. 2.4. &amp; 3.1, 2.</NOTE> <HI>yet in this condition you were either dead or taken captive indeed, or gra|ces ready to dye in you, your works and walking being found &s;o imperfect before God: But tell me I pray you, how or by what means did you get any peace or quiet in your con&s;cience in tho&s;e times?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I do not remember that I did approve of the evil wayes of that com|pany with whom I lived,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.14. &amp;c. P&s;al. 66.18, 19. 2 Cor. 7.5. Gen. 25.22.</NOTE> or of any &s;ail|ings in my &s;elf, either in judgement or affection, but was rather &s;orry for &s;in in others, though by occa&s;ion and tempta|tion I have faln; but in tho&s;e things which the world, and &s;ome of my ac|quaintance counted but peccadilloes, lit|tle &s;ins, yet I could not re&s;t until for the quieting of my con&s;cience I went into a &s;ecret place and confe&s;&s;ed my &s;ins to God; yea, &s;ometimes with many tears and begging pardon and power over them; but &s;till my life was without com|fort, I &s;inned, and prayed, and &s;eemed to repent, and confe&s;&s;ing my &s;ins, and &s;inned again, and thought by my repen|tance I pacified Gods wrath, or might plea&s;e him by amendment; yet I got not power over my &s;ins, and the corruptions
<PB N="370" REF="214"> of my nature, nor any true peace, or a&s;|&s;urance that I was Gods childe, and therefore lived in fear of Hell, and &s;en&s;e of bondage,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom 7.14, 15. Gen. 25 22.</NOTE> and fear &s;ometimes that I had neither true faith nor repentance in me, or did know either Chri&s;t or the Go&s;pel of grace as I &s;hould, if I had any life of grace in me; and &s;o it was as if I had twins in my &s;oul as <HI>Rebecca</HI> had.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>Its a good &s;ign you had truth of grace, in that you were not drawn to al|low of &s;in in your &s;elf or others, and that indeed there were twins in your &s;oul, Fle&s;h and Spirit; but your cour&s;e in &s;eeking to pacifie your con&s;cience,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 25.23. Gal. 5.17</NOTE> <HI>in &s;ome humiliation and confe&s;&s;ions, and &s;orrow for your &s;ins, with re&s;olution of amendment, if they did ari&s;e from any legal fears or accu&s;ations of natural con&s;cience, and not from Chri&s;ts Spirit; or if you re&s;ted in the&s;e or any acts or works of your own, or in any religious duty, or performances of duty of piety or mercy, as many do, although your con&s;ci|ence might be quieted for the pre&s;ent (as a Papi&s;ts con&s;cience by his Confe&s;&s;ion to a Prie&s;t, or performance of Penances enjoyn|ed) yet this way was not the way to get any true or &s;ound peace to your &s;oul, or to get any true power over your &s;ins or &s;inful
<PB N="371" REF="214"> corruptions in you; but to look to Chri&s;t,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5.3</NOTE> <HI>whom God hath exalted as a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to I&s;rael, and remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, and to wait on Chri&s;t in the Go&s;pel, till you by the Spirit of Chri&s;t be made &s;o &s;en&s;ible of &s;in and mi&s;ery, that you &s;ee your extreme need of Chri&s;t, and be drawn by the &s;ame Spirit to receive and re&s;t on Chri&s;t as a &s;ufficient Saviour, and one in whom God the Father is well plea|&s;ed: This is the way to true peace in your &s;oul,</HI> Mat. 17 5. <HI>as the trea&s;ure of Chri&s;ts Kingdom &s;et up in your heart,</HI> Rom. 14.17. Ioh. 1.12. Mat. 11.28, &amp;c.</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I do acknowledge you &s;ay well,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 6.37, 44. I&s;a. 11.10. &amp; 26.3, 4 Mat. 16.24. Phil. 3.6, &amp;c. Rom. 15.13. &amp; 8.16.</NOTE> though I might have &s;ome weak faith in Chri&s;t, and &s;ome beginning of grace in my &s;oul, yet the way I went was not a right way, as now (I believe) to gain true peace, becau&s;e I did not begin my peace, and a&s;&s;urance of peace from Chri&s;t, and Gods Free-grace, and love in Chri&s;t, and faith in him; but from my endeavour of repentance, and acts of amendment (both which I finde im|perfect to this day) and &s;o can have no perfect and full peace that way; but now I prai&s;e God &s;ince it plea&s;ed God of his goodne&s;&s;e to let me &s;ee a more clear light
<PB N="372" REF="215"> of the Go&s;pel, and to reveal his Son in me (as Saint <HI>Paul</HI> &s;peaks, <HI>Gal.</HI> 1.16.) I have found and felt that there is a glo|rious re&s;t and peace in Chri&s;t for poor &s;inners,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 11.10. Ioh. 6.44 Ioh. 6.37</NOTE> whom God the Father giveth and draweth into Chri&s;t, and whom Chri&s;t will in no wi&s;e ca&s;t out from him; and now the Lord hath enabled me to deny my &s;elf-righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and all &s;elf-confidence, and by faith in Chri&s;t held forth in the promi&s;e of the Go&s;pel, to ad|here to Chri&s;t, to re&s;t on Chri&s;t, and tru&s;t to his merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e for my Ju&s;tification before God, and my eternal &s;alvation in heaven, and thus I have joy and peace in believing, and am a&s;&s;ured by the &s;pirit of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.16. Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> witne&s;&s;ing with my &s;pirit, that I am the childe of God, and have life of grace in me, that Chri&s;t liveth in me, and &s;o I may come with comfort to meet Chri&s;t for nouri&s;hment of this life of grace at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>But have you now other &s;igns or &s;ymptomes of the life of grace in you, &s;ave your faith and re&s;ting on Chri&s;t for &s;alvation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly, by that light I have from Chri&s;t, I mu&s;t acknowledge Chri&s;t re&s;t|ed truly on by faith, and that a&s;&s;urance
<PB N="373" REF="215"> ari&s;ing from the truth of the promi&s;es of God in the Go&s;pel, in general and &s;pecial,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20. 2 Cor. 1.20. &amp; 5.19, 20 2 Tim. 1.12. Eph. 3.16, &amp;c. Iohn 6.5, 6. Rom. 6.11.</NOTE> and the per&s;wa&s;ion of Gods &s;pirit in my &s;oul in particular, that Chri&s;t loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me, and &s;o that God is my God, reconciled in Chri&s;t to me; and the eye of the &s;oul, by a reflect act of faith, &s;eeing that I do belive, and by a living hand of faith, lay hold and re&s;t on Chri&s;t for &s;alvation; this lively faith (I &s;ay) is a prime evidence that Chri&s;t is mine, and that Chri&s;t dwelleth in me, and that I am his, and that he hath truly communicated the life of grace to my &s;oul; but be&s;ides this, I finde other &s;igns of the &s;pirit of life in me, evi|dencing, I hope, the life of grace in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>I do confe&s;&s;e a true lively faith is and may be a principal evidence of the life of grace in the heart: Now what other evidence have you?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, by light from Chri&s;t I have found, that this a&s;&s;urance by faith in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom 5.4, 5.</NOTE> and Chri&s;ts &s;pirit of Chri&s;ts love to me, and the &s;hedding abroad of this love of God in my &s;oul, hath affect|ed my heart,</P>
<P N="1">1. With love to Chri&s;t again; yea,
<PB N="374" REF="216"> &s;uch a love as draweth me after Chri&s;t more and more,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom 5.4, 5. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Cant. 1.2, 3, 4. 2 Cor. 5.17. 2 Pet. 1.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">, 4. 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. 1 Cor. 11.16. Iohn 6.33, &amp;c. Iob 22.21. Gen. 24.63. I&s;a. 66.11. &amp; 12.3. 1 Cor. 16.22. 1 Ioh. 3.14 Ioh. 20.27.</NOTE> and after a more full union and communion with Chri&s;t. And,</P>
<P N="2">2. Con&s;trains me with a holy, &s;piritu|al, loving affection, to live henceforth, not to my &s;elf, but to him who lived, and died for me, and ro&s;e again: So that now,</P>
<P N="3">3. I am made partaker of a new crea|tion, and of the Divine nature.</P>
<P N="4">4. I hunger more vehemently after the word of grace (as having ta&s;ted that the Lord is gracious. I long to meet with Chri&s;t here to receive &s;piritual nouri&s;hment from Chri&s;t, to nouri&s;h this life of grace in my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="5">5. I long more then ever to meet with Chri&s;t in the Sacrament, to feed &s;piritually on Chri&s;t, there to &s;trength|en the life of grace in me.</P>
<P N="6">6. I long more and more to keep a &s;ecret acquaintance with God in &s;ecret meditation and prayer, that I may &s;uck the brea&s;ts of the promi&s;es, and draw water of life out of the wells of &s;alva|tion, and &s;o &s;trengthen the life of grace in my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="7">7. In brief, I now love Chri&s;t more and more in him&s;elf, and prize Chri&s;ts
<PB N="375" REF="216"> righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and his pre&s;ence with me, and in me above all the world, as <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.7, 8.</P>
<P N="8">8. I love Chri&s;t more and more in his Word, in all &s;weet and &s;acred truths, more and more revealed to my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="9">9. I love Chri&s;t in all his Saints,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Ioh. 3.14.</NOTE> Chri&s;ts brethren and mine.</P>
<P N="10">10. And daily I wait on Chri&s;t, to grow in grace, in faith, in holine&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 3.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &amp; 1.8, 9.</NOTE> in every good work of grace, adding to faith vertue, and &s;o grace to grace, that I may more and more be a&s;&s;ured of Gods love to me: And,</P>
<P N="1">1. Have my calling and Election be made more &s;ure to my &s;oul. And,<NOTE PLACE="marg">&amp; 20 10.</NOTE></P>
<P N="2">2. That I may &s;ubmit to my Fathers will with content,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 22.41, 42.</NOTE> till he bring me to glory; and all this not by any &s;trength or power of my own, but by the &s;trength and living vertue of Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts &s;pirit dwelling in me; and this a&s;&s;ureth me that I have from Chri&s;t the life of grace in my &s;oul, and may &s;afely come with comfort to meet Chri&s;t at the Lords Table, who loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>The&s;e and &s;uch like are comfor|table evidence of the life of grace: But
<PB N="376" REF="217"> tell me, do you not &s;till finde corruptions in you, and fears, and cares, and &s;orrows for &s;ins, as you felt before.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I do acknowledge, that I finde</P>
<P N="1">1. Failings in my be&s;t performances, but pre&s;&s;e forwards towards perfection.</P>
<P N="2">2. I &s;ometimes meet with a me&s;&s;enger of Satan &s;ent to buffet me. And,</P>
<P N="3"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 3.13, 14. 2 Cor. 12.7. Rom. 7.23, 24.</NOTE>3. I finde a law in my members &s;ome|times rebelling again&s;t the law of my minde, and &s;eeeking at lea&s;t to take me captive to the Law of &s;in: But yet with a great deal of difference, from what was before, I came to &s;ee Chri&s;t more clearly:</P>
<P>For fir&s;t, Though Satans me&s;&s;engers be &s;ent to buffet me, yet I know the grace of God in Chri&s;t is &s;ufficient for me, and his &s;trength &s;hall be made manife&s;t in my weakne&s;&s;e.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 12.9, 10.</NOTE> And although rebels with|in me ri&s;e up again&s;t me, and again&s;t the l<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">fe of grace in my &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.23, 24.</NOTE> yet I thank God through Je&s;us Chri&s;t my Lord.</P>
<P>Secondly, And for my fears and cares, and &s;orrow for &s;in; now I fear not Hell and Damnation as before I did fear, be|cau&s;e I know there is no condemnation to me that am in Chri&s;t Je&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.1, 2.</NOTE> endeavour|ing by the &s;trength of Chri&s;t, to walk,
<PB N="377" REF="217"> not after the fle&s;h but after the &s;pirit, as <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.1. And the law and power of the &s;pirit of life which is in Chri&s;t, hath in comfortable manner made me free from the law and power of &s;in and death, as <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.1, 2. So that as <HI>Rom.</HI> 7.12, 14, 22. it is not I, but &s;in that dwelleth in me.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I do indeed feel the lea&s;t &s;in, as a mote in my eye, very trouble&s;ome, and I finde my heart &s;mitten within me for it; yet I fear &s;in, and fear to offend my God by &s;in, not with a &s;ervile &s;lavi&s;h &s;in as before, but with a &s;on like fear of offending &s;o good a God, and my &s;o gracious a Father in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, as <HI>Da|vid,</HI> 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 24.5. <HI>Romans</HI> 8.15. and 6.1.</P>
<P>Fourthly, I do grieve and &s;orrow for my &s;ins and failings, but yet as with a childe-like &s;orrow that I have any way, or at any time grieved the &s;pirit of my Father, who hath &s;ealed me to the day of Redemption in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t my Sa|viour, <HI>Eph.</HI> 4.30.</P>
<P>Fifthly, But &s;till with this confidence, that he which hath begun a good work in me, will perfect it to the day of Chri&s;t, <HI>Phil.</HI> 1.6.</P>
<PB N="378" REF="218">
<P>Sixthly, So that although my enemies Spiritual or Temporal, be never &s;o many, and the Tribulations never &s;o great, yet they cannot &s;eparate me from the love of Chri&s;t; but when I have fini&s;hed my cour&s;e, and kept the &s;aith, he will give to me the crown of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and pre&s;erve me a&s;&s;uredly to his heavenly Kingdom, <HI>Romans</HI> 8.35, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Timothy</HI> 4.8, 18.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>You have witne&s;&s;ed a good confe&s;&s;ion, and given comfortable evidence of the life of grace in your &s;oul; and I believe the Lord Chri&s;t will bid you wel|com to his Table: But do you believe that the Lord doth work in the &s;ame manner with every Chri&s;tian that is and may be admitted to this fea&s;t of the Lord? What light hath Chri&s;t revealed to you in this particular.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> No verily, I do not believe that the Lord is plea&s;ed to work in all alike, I have heard a good woman &s;ay, That &s;he was born of Parents very ignorant, who had little &s;hew of Religion in them, nor did they bring her up in a Religious way, living then in a place of much ignorance and prophanene&s;&s;e, having no prayer in Family, nor repeating of Sermons, not
<PB N="379" REF="218"> &s;o much as an out-form of Religion, and the fir&s;t time that ever &s;he began to con|&s;ider her wayes, and the mi&s;ery of her natural condition;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 9<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> 16, &amp;c. P&s;a. 29 8 Acts 24.25. Eph. 5.14.</NOTE> it plea&s;ed God to &s;trike her with fear and terror of the &s;haking voyce of Thunder, which made her tremble, and being awakened, to think of a God, and to joyn her &s;elf to a few who went out to hear Gods word, by which means &s;he became a wonder to prophane people; but in the end, was converted, and found Chri&s;t to be the comfort of her &s;oul, and many fears and cares was &s;he pre&s;&s;ed with in the travel of the new birth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 4.19.</NOTE> before Chri&s;t was for|med in her, and &s;he found Chri&s;t and his &s;weetne&s;&s;e of peace to her comfort; yea, &s;ince that, though the Lord hath &s;everal wayes tryed her faith and patience, by conver&s;ion and affliction, to teach her to &s;ee the emptine&s;&s;e of the creature, and the fulne&s;&s;e of God reconciled to her in Chri&s;t; yet &s;he liveth by faith in God, who hath promi&s;ed never to fail her,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.5.</NOTE> nor for&s;ake his &s;ons and daughters in Chri&s;t, who depend upon him in the Lord Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>Have you known any other drawn by &s;uch like means to &s;eek out after God in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<PB N="380" REF="219">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 33.12, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> 1. Some have been drawn by outward lo&s;&s;es and mi&s;eries, as <HI>Mana&s;&s;es</HI> was, by great affliction to con&s;ider of their wayes, and repent of their &s;ins, &s;o that he might &s;ay as one did, I had pe|ri&s;hed, unle&s;&s;e I had peri&s;hed; if I had not lo&s;t my e&s;tate in all outward appear|ance, I had lo&s;t my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="2">2. I have have heard one acknow|ledge, That the Lord did &s;trike him with a terrible &s;ickne&s;&s;e and fear of death and hell for his &s;ins, which terrified him; and when he did recover, God did draw him to attend more diligently to the Preaching of the Word, by which he became &s;o convinced of his former evil life, and of the damnable danger of his former wicked companions, and of the vanity of this pre&s;ent evil world.</P>
<P N="1">1. Chri&s;ts &s;pirit by the law or com|manding part of the Word, revealing even the vain thoughts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier, 4.14. Rom. 7.</NOTE> and &s;peculative &s;inful imaginations, odious to God, yea, the lu&s;ts of the heart to be damnable, and as Chri&s;t interprets the Law, He that is angry with his Brother ra&s;hly, or calls his Brother <HI>Raca,</HI> or gives him evil names, &s;hall be in danger of Iudgement: and he that &s;aith, thou fool, &s;hall be in
<PB N="381" REF="219"> danger of hell fire: or he that but looks upon a woman, to lu&s;t after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.28. Gal. 3.24.</NOTE> that Law was his School-ma|&s;ter to bring him unto Chri&s;t: and the Law &s;o expounded by Chri&s;t convincing his con&s;cience, and &s;o accu&s;ing him of &s;in, that he could finde no re&s;t or peace in his &s;oul.</P>
<P N="2">2. The &s;pirit of Chri&s;t by the promi|&s;ing part of the Word, the Go&s;pel of grace drawing him unto Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 13.48. Mat. 11.28, 29.</NOTE> wrought faith in his &s;oul, enabled him to believe and imbrace Chri&s;t, to receive and re&s;t on Chri&s;t, as he is All-&s;ufficient, and a|lone Redeemer; and then he found re&s;t in the arms of his Saviour, and did know that Chri&s;t had communicated life of grace to his &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>Sir, have you known none in a different manner converted unto Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes truly, to an&s;wer your rela|tion, I remember one acquainted me with the manner of his life, and told me of his conver&s;ation: I was &s;aith he,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mr. <HI>M.</HI> of <HI>London.</HI></NOTE> fir&s;t a Souldier beyond Sea, and got money and outward riches, but I had gotten no life of grace in my &s;oul. Then I came
<PB N="382" REF="220"> into <HI>England,</HI> and was a Courtier, and encrea&s;ed my riches, but I gained no grace at Court, nor life of grace to my &s;oul. Then I turned Merchant in the city, and gained a place in cu&s;tome for a great Merchandize and increa&s;ed my gold and &s;ilver by trading, but I gained no life of grace for my &s;oul, till in the time of the great Plague, I fled the city for fear of infection, and in the country, though I took great &s;tore of gold and &s;ilver with me, yet I was in danger to peri&s;h for want of provi&s;ion, no one would come near me for fear of the Plague, nor &s;uffer me to &s;tir out of doors; &s;o that in a &s;traight I began to think there was a great God who could &s;tarve me in the mid&s;t of gold,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 42.16. Iam. 4.16 2 King. 7.19, 20. Acts 16.29. &amp; 5.42. Phil. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">3.7, &amp;c.</NOTE> of heaps or bags, or take my life in a night, and what was my gold and &s;ilver to me, and I went back to <HI>London</HI> like the affrighted Iaylor, not knowing what to do, and I heard a Mi|ni&s;ter of the Go&s;pel Preach Chri&s;t, and the Doctrine of Gods Free-grace in Chri&s;t &s;o &s;weetly, that the &s;pirit of God wrought faith in my &s;oul, drew me in to imbrace Chri&s;t, to count all but dung for Chri&s;t; and &s;o I gained the life of grace, more of value then all the gold and &s;ilver
<PB N="383" REF="220"> in the world. And thus you may &s;ee how God is plea&s;ed to work divers wayes in the conver&s;ion of &s;inners,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.36, &amp;c. &amp; 9.4, 5. &amp; 16.14, Ioh. 3.1.</NOTE> and communi|cating the life of grace to their &s;ouls, as we finde evidence in the Scriptures in <HI>Peters</HI> tears, the Eunuch, <HI>Paul, Lydia,</HI> and the Iaylor, and others, &s;ome wrought upon by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t in one way, &s;ome in another; but which way &s;oever it plea&s;eth God to give grace, that &s;oul that findes and feels this life of grace to be nouri&s;hed, may a&s;&s;uredly approach with boldne&s;&s;e and comfort to the Table of the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>But Sir,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al, 116.11. I&s;a. 50.10. P&s;al. 51.8, &amp;c. I&s;a. 63.17. P&s;al. 77.7, &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>I have heard a friend of mine complain, that although in time pa&s;t &s;he thought &s;he had the life of grace in her &s;oul, and &s;he found divers evi|dences of her conver&s;ion, felt joy and com|fort in Chri&s;t, with hungring de&s;ire, and rejoycing to meet Chri&s;t in his Word, Sa|crament, and other Ordinances: and al|though &s;he felt &s;weet refre&s;hment from Chri&s;t in them, yet now &s;he walks in dark|ne&s;&s;e, and &s;eeth no light, &s;he findes hardne&s;&s;e of heart, and deadne&s;&s;e of spirit to prayer, or any &s;piritual duty; &s;he is forgetful of good, cannot remember Gods Word, full of fears and doubtings that &s;he is none of Gods
<PB N="384" REF="221"> Elect; &s;he is &s;ubject to fearful temptations again&s;t God, and Chri&s;t, and the Gospel, and Mini&s;ters, as if fal&s;e Preachers, yea, to &s;peak again&s;t Gods Government, or think &s;trange thoughts of God, and that God hath hardned her heart, and his mercy is gone from her for ever: And becau&s;e &s;he &s;eeth &s;o many divi&s;ions, even among&s;t tho&s;e whom &s;he hath e&s;teemed to be Saints, &s;he is ready to ca&s;t off all, and to think it is in vain for her to meet Chri&s;t in the Word, or in the Sacraments, judging her ca&s;e de&s;perate, and in a &s;ad condition; &s;he findes &s;uch de|cay of grace in her &s;oul: What coun&s;el I pray you is to be given to her? Or what comfort or means of comfort in Chri&s;t, that &s;he may be revived, and the life of grace revived in her, and &s;he filled again with longings after Chri&s;t, that &s;o &s;he may meet Chri&s;t again with comfort at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I have &s;atisfied this doubt, and an&s;wered the&s;e ca&s;es of con&s;cience at large out of Gods Word in a Sermon which I Preached at <HI>Pauls</HI> Cro&s;&s;e <HI>Lon|don,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Printed by <HI>G. Fayrbead.</HI></NOTE> 1617. called, <HI>The true way of a Chri&s;tian to the new Jeru&s;alem;</HI> but I believe it is difficult to be gotten in print, therefore I will acquaint you with the
<PB N="385" REF="221"> brief re&s;olutions of the&s;e and &s;uch like ca&s;es of con&s;cience, by which &s;ome chri|&s;tians in the like temptations have found comfort, and it may be with Gods ble&s;|&s;ing they may be profitable for your friend.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="26" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The twenty &s;ixth Cla&s;sis or Company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P>I <HI>Shall be right glad to hear of any com|fort for my friends: Now what I pray you are the cau&s;es wherefore the Lord &s;om|times &s;uffers the&s;e doubtings, and the&s;e temptations to di&s;quiet his children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers occa&s;ions why the Lord withdraweth the beams of his graces from his own people, and leaveth them as it, were to them&s;elves for a time; of many, take a few which follow.</P>
<P N="1">1.<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 57.16, &amp;c. P&s;al. 31.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> It may be for &s;ome &s;in for which the &s;oul is not humbled, &s;o God doth it for humiliation, that the &s;oul may &s;ee more need of Chri&s;t, both for Iu&s;tifica|tion and Sanctification.</P>
<P N="2"><PB N="386" REF="222"><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 77.2, &amp;c. 1 Pet. 5.8, 9. P&s;a. 119.17, 75.</NOTE>2. It may be it is to keep a childe of God from &s;ecurity, to awaken us, and help us to walk more watchfully with God, as <HI>David</HI> was troubled for very faithfulne&s;&s;e for good.</P>
<P N="3"><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 1.7, &amp;c. &amp; 12, 7, &amp;c.</NOTE>3. To prevent &s;piritual pride, and &s;elf-confidence, that our whole depen|dency may be on Gods Free-grace, which is &s;ufficient for us.</P>
<P N="4"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. &amp; 5.5, &amp;c.</NOTE>4. Or becau&s;e he would try our faith or wi&s;dom, or patience, or obedience, con&s;tancy, or &s;uch other graces.</P>
<P N="5">5. To cau&s;e his &s;ons or daughters to e&s;teem better of the &s;en&s;e of Gods love,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iob 1, 2, 3, 4, c.</NOTE> or Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence in time to come.</P>
<P N="6"><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 51.7, &amp;c. Luke 22.32. 2 Cor. 1.3, &amp;c, Eph, 4.30.</NOTE>6. Becau&s;e we &s;hould be watchful not to grieve Gods &s;pirit by our failings, or any way di&s;honour God, but at return of &s;pirit, be &s;tabli&s;hed to walk con&s;tantly with God in Chri&s;t for ever.</P>
<P N="7">7. Or that in greate&s;t darkne&s;&s;e we may wait upon the Lord till he cau&s;e his Sun to &s;hine, and his beams of love to appear again to the &s;oul.<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 50, 10.</NOTE></P>
<P>For the&s;e and &s;uch like ends God &s;uf|fers doubtings, therefore your friend ought not to di&s;pair, becau&s;e &s;he is trou|bled with fears and doubtings.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>But can &s;uch temptations
<PB N="387" REF="222"> and weakne&s;&s;es befull Gods children?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 73.12, &amp;c, Ier. 20.2 Rom.7.22, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Your friend mu&s;t know that the&s;e temptations and corruptions, or weakne&s;&s;es may &s;ometime be found in the be&s;t of Gods Saints, who are very dear and precious jewels in the eyes of Chri&s;t, bought with the price of his own mo&s;t precious blood, and upon whom he hath be&s;towed an excellent mea&s;ure of grace, as <HI>David, Jeremiah, Paul,</HI> and others: the&s;e weakne&s;&s;es ari&s;ing either from the fir&s;t corruptions of nature, not yet fully purged, in which are the &s;eeds of all &s;in, Athei&s;m, Infidelity, or the like:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6 5. Rom. 7.18. &amp; 8.7. 2 Cor. 17.7. Mat. 26.74. Gen. 9.21, &amp;c. &amp; 20.2. P&s;al. 51. Luke 22.31.</NOTE> Second|ly, or el&s;e from Satans temptations, from which we cannot expect to be wholly free in this life; for <HI>Paul</HI> was often buf|fetted with the&s;e temptations; <HI>Peter</HI> was tempted, and fell fearfully; <HI>Noah, Lot, Abraham,</HI> had their Re&s;urrections from &s;in: and <HI>David</HI> was con&s;trained to pray, <HI>Create in me a clean heart, O God;</HI> and therefore none of Gods Saints in this life mu&s;t think to be free from a&s;&s;aults of &s;pi|ritual Enemies, and winowings le&s;&s;e or more.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What more is to be con&s;i|dered?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, to &s;atisfie further, let
<PB N="388" REF="223"> her con&s;ider &s;he is yet a member of the Church Militant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.1, &amp;c. Eph. 6.10, &amp;c.</NOTE> and mu&s;t expect as a Souldier of Chri&s;t, many skirmi&s;hes be|fore &s;he pa&s;&s;eth the wilderne&s;&s;e of this world, to the Canaan of Heaven; temp|tation is one &s;ign of the life of grace, which the Devil cannot abide in any &s;oul, therefore &s;eeks by temptations to de&s;troy it, and the Saints which enjoy it, as he &s;ought to de&s;troy Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 4.3, &amp;c.</NOTE>Fourthly, You know Satan tempted the Son of God to grievous &s;ins, to Ido|latry; to di&s;tru&s;t of Gods Providence, to doubt whether he were the Son of God or not, (as your friend doth whe|ther &s;he be Gods childe) yea, to pride, to vainglory, nay, which is more, to lay violent hands upon him&s;elf, and de&s;troy his own life, by ca&s;ting him&s;elf down headlong from a Pinacle of the Temple, and when the Devil left him it was but for a &s;ea&s;on.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 4.13.</NOTE> And if Chri&s;t was tempted &s;he mu&s;t not de&s;pair in temptation, be|cau&s;e &s;he is tempted, but re&s;i&s;t Satan by the word as Chri&s;t did,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.8, 9. Rom. 8.35, &amp;c.</NOTE> and &s;o in time &s;he &s;hall be more then a conquerour through Chri&s;t that hath loved her.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But what if my friend fear &s;he &s;hall one day fall by the hand of Satan,
<PB N="389" REF="223"> as</HI> David <HI>once feared he &s;hould fall by the hand of</HI> Saul, 1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 27.1?</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fifthly, In time of temptation, put her in minde that God hath the De|vil in chains, and can bridle him as he doth the roaring waves of the Sea at his plea&s;ure, <HI>Iob</HI> 38.8. And if at any time &s;he be ready to &s;ink by the waves of temptation, as <HI>Peter</HI> in the waves of the Sea, then let her pray to Chri&s;t for &s;trength, to imitate <HI>Peter,</HI> to call out to Chri&s;t for his right hand of power to pre&s;erve her &s;oul, as <HI>Peter</HI> was &s;aved, and he is ready, and will be ready, ac|cording to his promi&s;e, to &s;ave her from drowning, according to that gracious promi&s;e made to his Church when thou art in the water, I will be with thee, it &s;hall not drown thee, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 43.2. (as he &s;aved <HI>Peter, Mat.</HI> 14.30, 31.) &s;o will he &s;ave his &s;ervants that put their tru&s;t in him, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 18.27. &amp; 34.6.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>You have given a good di|rection how to &s;eek to Chri&s;t in times of temptations: But what &s;hall &s;he do in her doubtings, concerning her Election, that &s;he may be &s;ure that &s;he is one of Gods E|lect and cho&s;en ones, and hath life of grace in her &s;oul, as called of God in Chri&s;t to glory?</HI></P>
<PB N="390" REF="224">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer, as &s;he that would finde the Sea mu&s;t take the River by the hand and follow that, &s;o &s;he that would finde out Election, mu&s;t get the golden chain of Prede&s;tination, and lay hold on tho&s;e links fir&s;t which are neare&s;t unto her, &s;he mu&s;t by the power and direction of Chri&s;t in his Word, and by his Spirit, fir&s;t finde our the effects and fruits of Electi|on, before &s;he can finde Election it &s;elf: fir&s;t finde out the con&s;equents of Ele|ction, before &s;he can finde out the ante|cedents, and know Gods Free-love the cau&s;e of all.</P>
<P>As the Sun ri&s;ing is known by the light approaching, the fire by the heat, and the tree by the fruits; &s;o Election that prime grace, by the effects or &s;ub&s;e|quent graces that follow, the Apo&s;tle holds this forth, <HI>Rom.</HI> 8.29, 30. whom God did foreknow with the knowledge of approbation, them he did Prede&s;tinate, whom he did Prede&s;tinate, them he cal|leth, whom he calleth, them he ju&s;tifieth, whom he ju&s;tifieth, them he glorifieth. Now begin at <HI>Calling,</HI> the fir&s;t link we can take hold on, and if &s;he be inabled by the power Chri&s;t, to &s;ee her effe|ctual calling from darkne&s;&s;e to light, and
<PB N="391" REF="224"> from the power of Satan unto Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 3.6, &amp;c. Acts 26.18, 19.</NOTE> and from &s;in and her &s;elf-righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, unto his perfect righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and merits, which was the end why the Lord &s;ent <HI>Paul</HI> to Preach the Go&s;pel. Then &s;he may be a&s;&s;ured of her Election: And therefore let her examine her calling,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.10, &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P N="1">1. Whether the Lord hath drawn her &s;oul into Chri&s;t, to receive Chri&s;t as her Eternal High-Prie&s;t, Prophet and King a before.</P>
<P N="2">2.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. Ho&s;. 2.12, 20.</NOTE> Whether he hath affected her heart with a longing de&s;ire to be married to Chri&s;t, to have union and communion with Chri&s;t as her Lord and Saviour, and to love Chri&s;t with her &s;oul.</P>
<P N="3">3.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 36.3. Ho&s;. 14.8.</NOTE> And whether he hath made her willing and de&s;irous to loath and di&s;like &s;in, and to for&s;ake her natural and &s;inful communion with &s;in, the world, the fle&s;h and the Devil.</P>
<P N="4">4. Whether &s;he be willing to take the Lord Chri&s;t for her Lord and Father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 6.17, 18.</NOTE> and Heavenly husband, and then no doubt &s;he is one of the Elect of God; the Lord is her Father, and &s;he is his daughter, who is the Lord Almighty.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But what if &s;he doubt &s;till?</HI></P>
<PB N="392" REF="225">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Give her this one rule, that &s;he &s;eek with an impartial eye,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, as not to flatter her &s;elf that &s;he hath grace when &s;he hath none. So,</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 13.5. 1 Cor. 10.11, &amp;c. 2 Tim. 1.12. &amp; 4.7, 8.</NOTE>Secondly, on the other &s;ide, not to deny that grace, which the Lord of his Free-grace and love in Chri&s;t hath be|&s;towed upon her &s;oul, as any mea&s;ure or true knowledge of true faith, of true repentance, of true love, of true hunger after the Word, de&s;ire of a&s;&s;urance of the like graces: Thus may &s;he in Gods due time, finde her &s;elf a dear Elect daughter in Chri&s;t, and &s;o in Chri&s;t an heir and fellow-heir of Eternall glory, and in the end a&s;&s;urance may come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>This may be a means by the power of Chri&s;t to &s;tay her &s;oul from despair in that temptation: But what do you &s;ay to her decay in grace? What light have you from Chri&s;t to reveal any com|fort to her &s;oul in this re&s;pect?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I &s;ay the Apo&s;tle gives a caveat to his Chri&s;tian <HI>The&s;&s;alonians,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5.19.</NOTE> to take heed of quenching the &s;pirit; and yet no doubt they had the &s;pirit of grace in them, but they mu&s;t be careful not to quench the &s;pirit; Gods dear children may be in danger to quench the &s;pirit
<PB N="393" REF="225"> for a time, and may lo&s;e the acts and vi|gor of grace for a time, as <HI>Peter</HI> did when he denied Chri&s;t, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26. (though not finally and totally) therefore if your friend finde &s;ome decay of grace in her &s;oul, or want of holine&s;&s;e, &s;he ought not to conclude pre&s;ently &s;he is none of Gods childe, or exclude the fa|vour of God in Chri&s;t from her. For,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, as there is no wheat but there is &s;ome chaff groweth with it; &s;o the be&s;t of Gods children have &s;ome imperfe|ctions, <HI>Phil.</HI> 3.12, 13.</P>
<P>Secondly, In this life we are not like the Sun, perfect in brightne&s;&s;e and light, but like the Moon, receiving our light of grace from Chri&s;t, as the Moon doth her light from the Sun, and like the Moon,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Iohn 1.8.</NOTE> we are &s;ubject to have &s;ome changes, &s;ome decrea&s;e as well as increa&s;e, &s;ome &s;pots of darkne&s;&s;e in the center of our hearts. And,</P>
<P>Thirdly, take this for a certain rule, as &s;ight and &s;en&s;e of weakne&s;&s;e of body is a &s;ign of bodily life (for a dead man feels nothing) &s;o a &s;ight and &s;en&s;e of &s;pi|ritual weakne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 14.15, &amp;c.</NOTE> is an evident argument of &s;piritual life of grace in her &s;oul, as it was in ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Paul.</HI></P>
<PB N="394" REF="226">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.1. 1 Tim. 5.9. Rev. 3.2, 3. I&s;a. 40.30, 31.</NOTE>Fourthly, A dead man cannot &s;ee nor feel his own weakne&s;&s;e at all; a dead man complains not of &s;ickne&s;&s;e, and therefore your friend ought not to de|&s;pair becau&s;e of &s;ight and &s;ence of fail|ings, which is an evidence of the life of grace, but wait on Chri&s;t for more light and life, till the &s;oul recover &s;trength, and what is ready to dye be quickned, and &s;he finde peace in the end.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>But I have heard my friend complain, that &s;ometimes &s;he neither feels any &s;ignes of life of grace; nor doth &s;he feel any want of life of grace, &s;he is dead <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">nd &s;en&s;le&s;&s;e, no hunger after the Word or Sacraments, or Prayer, or to meet Chri&s;t in any good duty, &s;he is &s;ometimes &s;o far from re&s;ting in a duty, or &s;etting it up in &s;tead of Chri&s;t, that &s;he is care|le&s;&s;e of any duty at all, as if all were in vain, as to her, her faith is dead, and without life, her &s;oul and life is dead in re&s;pect of grace, or any &s;en&s;e of want of grace in her &s;oul, like tho&s;e</HI> I&s;aiah 64.6, 7. <HI>no &s;tirring of life in her: And what comfort can be given to one in &s;uch a con|dition?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Your friend hath no cau&s;e to
<PB N="395" REF="226"> de&s;pair, but to live by faith. For,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, did &s;he ever finde or feel any &s;ignes or &s;en&s;e of life of grace in her &s;oul, any &s;ight and &s;en&s;e of her &s;in and mi&s;ery by natural corruption? any &s;weetne&s;&s;e or delight in meeting Chri&s;t in the Word, or Sacraments, or Prayer? any combating or &s;tirring in her &s;oul be|tween the fle&s;h and the &s;pirit? Then, although now &s;he be as dead to all the&s;e, let her know that the &s;tate of the childe of God in this life, and the life of grace, may be &s;ometimes,</P>
<P N="1">1. Like a childe in the Mothers <MILESTONE N="1" UNIT="Simile."> womb, alive, though not felt to &s;tir, or to have any motions of life at all.</P>
<P N="2">2. Or like a man in a trance, wherein <MILESTONE N="2" UNIT="Simile."> his own &s;en&s;e, (being as it were without &s;ence or under&s;tanding) yea, and in the judgement of others, may &s;eem to be dead, and yet after revive and come to him&s;elf again&punc; and &s;o may a dear childe of God in re&s;pect of the life of grace.</P>
<P>A&s;&s;uredly <HI>David,</HI> after his fall, until <MILESTONE N="1" UNIT="Example."> <HI>Nathan</HI> came to him, he had little &s;en&s;e of life of grace, little remor&s;e for his &s;in, e&s;pecially while after his &s;in of Adul|tery with <HI>Bath&s;heba,</HI> he went on to plot and procure the making of <HI>&V;riah</HI> drunk,
<PB N="396" REF="227"> and after to take away his life, &s;o addes &s;in to &s;in.</P>
<P><MILESTONE N="2" UNIT="Exam|ple"> The like may be &s;aid of <HI>Peter,</HI> be|tween his fir&s;t and third time of denying Chri&s;t, until the Cock did crow, and Chri&s;t ca&s;t a look of mercy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 11, 12, c. Mat. 26.69, 75. P&s;al. 51.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> and pity, and love upon his poor &s;oul, then indeed he went out and wept bitterly; as <HI>David</HI> repented and bewayled his folly and &s;in|ful fall in the end, and prayed earne&s;tly to the Lord, to re&s;tore unto him the joy of his &s;alvation, and to &s;tabli&s;h him with his free &s;pirit.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What other around of com|fort?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Let her con&s;ider, that Gods childe doth not &s;in as the wicked do, with full heart, con&s;ent and freedom (be|cau&s;e his &s;eed of grace remaineth in him) 1 <HI>Iohn</HI> 3.8, 9. but like a, man in a crowd or throng, &s;ometimes carried forwards, and &s;ometimes backward:</P>
<P N="1">1. Carried forwards in grace wil|lingly, the will regenerate and &s;anctified, &s;triving together with one con&s;ent, with the grace given, and good motions of Gods &s;pirit a&s;&s;i&s;ting as in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us to pre&s;&s;e on to perfection. And,</P>
<P N="2">2. Sometimes carried backward by
<PB N="397" REF="227"> corruptions, and the violence of Satans temptations, as it were again&s;t our will,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Simile.</NOTE> to an ebbing in grace, as in the Tide the water runneth back, as the Moon de|crea&s;ing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> as <HI>Peter</HI> &s;inking in the water of pre&s;umption, &s;en&s;le&s;ne&s;&s;e, or de&s;pair, as <HI>Paul</HI> de&s;pairing.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the third com|fort?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, that though the faith of Gods childe be a&s;leep for a time, like Chri&s;t in the &s;hip, and the life of grace be covered as fire in the Embers, not to be &s;een, though like a tree in winter, the faithful &s;oul &s;eem dead or (as a &s;ick man) doth lo&s;e his ta&s;te of &s;oul-refre&s;hing-meat for a time, or a childe of God like the Moon be Ecclip&s;ed, and all darkne&s;&s;e who can &s;ee no light, ready to complain with the P&s;almi&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 50. lo Rom. 70.22, 13. Mat. 8.24. P&s;al. 77.7, 8, 9.</NOTE> <HI>Is his mercy clean gone for ever, and will he be no more entreated? hath God forgotten to be gracious, and hath he &s;hut up his loving kindne&s;&s;e in displea&s;ure.</HI> Yet when Chri&s;t is plea&s;ed to ca&s;t a good look of grace upon their &s;ouls, then life, grace, and &s;en&s;e of &s;in, and &s;orrow for unthankfulne&s;&s;e, and for lo&s;&s;e of fir&s;t love, will return, as ni <HI>Peter</HI> noted before, and as Chri&s;t looks for, <HI>Rev.</HI> 2.4, 5.</P>
<PB N="398" REF="228">
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is a fourth con&s;ola|tion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That when the Lord Chri&s;t is plea&s;ed to draw near with his bright beams of light and love,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mal. 4.2.</NOTE> then the &s;oul will be enlightned, and be enlivened with longings after Chri&s;t, and a re-union with him in love, and renewed acquain|tance as in times pa&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a fifth con&s;olation for &s;uch a poor Saint?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That when the &s;pring time of grace returns, and &s;howers of Divine love, and dews of &s;piritual refre&s;hments from Chri&s;t fall upon the &s;oul, then will childe, and declare he hath loved her freely, that he will be as the dew to his daughter,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 14.4, &amp;c. I&s;a. 61.3.</NOTE> and that &s;he &s;hall grow in grace as the Lilly, and the root of grace &s;hall be fa&s;tned as the Trees of <HI>Lebanon,</HI> and their beauty &s;hall be as the Olive tree, and &s;he &s;hall bring forth fruits as a tree of righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e that the Lord hath planted, that God may be glori|fied. Yea, &s;he &s;hall greatly rejoyce in the Lord, and be joyful in her God; &s;he &s;hall finde that he hath clothed her with the garments of &s;alvation, and covers her
<PB N="399" REF="228"> with the robes of his righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 61.10 P&s;al. 45.13, 14.</NOTE> as a Bridegroom decketh him&s;elf with his Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her &s;elf with her Jewels.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>The&s;e are comfortable and good encouragements, if it plea&s;e the Lord by the power of his &s;pirit to apply and give &s;trength to apply them to her &s;oul: But what if &s;till &s;he finde her faith weak, and her holine&s;&s;e &s;o feeble that &s;he yet is doubt|ful and fearful to meet Chri&s;t in his Ordi|nances, or to come at the invitation to fea&s;t with him at his Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Let her know that its not her act of believing, or &s;trength of holine&s;&s;e, doth ju&s;tifie before God, or maketh her acceptable in his &s;ight; but it is the ob|ject of her faith, Chri&s;t Je&s;us and his righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and merits, for which God is well-plea&s;ed with her, <HI>Mat.</HI> 17.5.</P>
<P>As it is not the hand that receiveth the Plai&s;ter, and apply eth it to the &s;ore;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Simile.</NOTE> but the Plai&s;ter it &s;elf, and the vertue of that, with Gods ble&s;&s;ing, that healeth the wound.</P>
<P>So though faith be an in&s;trument or hand to receive Chri&s;t, and &s;o an in&s;tru|mental cau&s;e of Ju&s;tification; yet it is Chri&s;t and his merits and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e
<PB N="400" REF="229"> that is the meritorious cau&s;e, and that which giveth true and full peace to the &s;oul.</P>
<P>And this re&s;t on Chri&s;t will prove a glorious re&s;t in the end, <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 11.10.</P>
<P>And therefore if your friend do but &s;ee the day light or renewing and re|quickning grace begin to dawn in the &s;oul, if but a wi&s;hing for the day (as <HI>Pauls</HI> company in that long and &s;ad night on the Sea of danger, <HI>Acts</HI> 27.29.) let her wait on Chri&s;t in his Ordinances, and take her to the &s;ure word of Gods gracious promi&s;es, until the day light of grace dawn, and the day &s;tar of joy ap|pear in her heart, 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.19.</P>
<P>If &s;he finde any hunger, though but a weak &s;tomack, like a man or woman new recovered, or recovering from &s;ome long and tedious &s;ickne&s;&s;e; yet let her weak &s;oul, almo&s;t fainting for lack of Chri&s;t, as &s;orrowful for her former failings, yet hungring after Chri&s;t, and rejoycing at Chri&s;ts invitation, draw near to Chri&s;ts Ordinances, the Word Preached, and Sacraments admini&s;tred, waiting to &s;ee the face of her beloved the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 5.8</NOTE> that &s;he may tell him &s;he is &s;ick of love, and be revived with the light of
<PB N="401" REF="229"> his countenaunce, that &s;he may &s;it down under his &s;hadow with great delight, and his fruit may be &s;weet to her ta&s;te.</P>
<P><HI>Conclu&s;.</HI> And thus I have endeavored to &s;atisfie your doubts to heal and help a tender con&s;cience, or comfort a droop|ing &s;oul in time of a &s;piritual de&s;ertion, that &s;uch a &s;oul may not Excommunicate her &s;elf from Chri&s;ts Ordinance, but ra|ther come and finde &s;oul-refre&s;hings of unutterable value,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 1.1.2. 1 Pet. 1.8</NOTE> and believing on Chri&s;t, and tru&s;ting Chri&s;t with her &s;oul, &s;he may rejoyce with joy un&s;peakable and full of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>I will propound but one doubt more: What &s;hall a poor &s;oul do, if in u&s;e of all the&s;e helps for comfort, he or &s;he &s;till walk in darkne&s;&s;e, and can &s;ee no light of comfort or peace to their &s;ouls? What light from Chri&s;t to &s;uch a poor di&s;con&s;o-&s;pirit late?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Although the childe of God walk in darkne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 50.10 Hab. 2.3, 4. Heb. 10.35, 36. I&s;a. 40.29, &amp;c.</NOTE> and can &s;ee no light of comfort, no light of &s;en&s;e of the fa|vour of God in the &s;oul, yet the poor weak &s;oul mu&s;t not de&s;pair, but labour by the power of Chri&s;t to live by faith, and dependent upon God in Chri&s;t, until the
<PB N="402" REF="230"> Lord Chri&s;t Ie&s;us that Sun of righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e ari&s;e with healing in his wings,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20. Mal. 5.4. 1 Pet. 1.9</NOTE> and peace and joy be communicated through believing unto the &s;oul to life and &s;alvation the end of faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>But how or by what means may a poor weak &s;oul gain &s;trength from Chri&s;t, to live this life of faith when it walketh in darkne&s;&s;e? Is there any light from Chri&s;t for this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By waiting upon Chri&s;t in the means of faith, and endeavouring by &s;trength from Chri&s;t to make u&s;e of tho&s;e helps and furtherances which are held forth in Scripture,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 4.13. 2 Cor. 5.7.</NOTE> to &s;tregthen the foul, and enable it to live this life of faith, when evident &s;ight and &s;en&s;e is ab|&s;ent.</P>
<P>Qued. 16. <HI>What are the&s;e helps?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers, but you may ob&s;erve the&s;e that follow:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, to con&s;ider the nature of this life of faith:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, as a life of excellency, by which the creature is enabled to glorifie the Creator, as <HI>Abraham</HI> being &s;trong in faith gave glory to God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 4.20.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, as a life of &s;uavity, delight|ful and plea&s;ant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 6.25, &amp;c,</NOTE> to live by dependence
<PB N="403" REF="230"> upon God in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.7. Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> in the u&s;e of the means, without carking care for this life, or di&s;mal de&s;pair for the life to come.</P>
<P>Thirdly, as a life of certainly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 2.19. 2 Cor. 1.10. Rom. 4.21 1 The&s;. 5.23, 2</NOTE> as de|pending, not upon our own changeable &s;trength, but upon the foundations of the &s;ure decree, promi&s;es, power, faith|fulne&s;&s;e, and Oath of an unchangeable God.</P>
<P>Fourthly, as a life of nece&s;&s;ity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 20.12. Gen. 42.2, 3, 4. Col. 3.3, 4. 2 Cor. 3.4, 5. Gal. 9.5. 2 Tim 2.7, 8.</NOTE> a poor &s;oul not having life or power of life in and of it &s;elf, and therefore mu&s;t needs go out of it &s;elf by faith, to &s;erch life and &s;trength from God in Chri&s;t, and &s;o of nece&s;&s;ity mu&s;t live the life of faith, both for grace and glory, and a&s;&s;urace of both.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What other helps are there?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ob&s;erve &s;econdly, thy pre&s;ent condition, e&s;tate, danger or temptation, whereby thou art troubled for the Church of God in general, and for thy &s;elf,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet 1.12.</NOTE> or any other in particular, for the want of a&s;&s;urance of Iu&s;tification or Sanctifica|tion, or for want of particular graces, or &s;trength, and growth of grace, of know|ledge, of faith or repentance, of confi|dence
<PB N="404" REF="231"> on God in time of pro&s;perity, and not on uncertain riches, or friends, or husband, wife, children, parents, or any creature-comfort what&s;oever, or for want or lo&s;&s;e of any of the&s;e, or of their help and comfort in time of adver&s;ity, or for want of a&s;&s;urance of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is a third help?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 43.2, 3, 4. Heb. 13.5.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, &s;earch the Scriptures, and look out &s;ome promi&s;e, general or particular, for comfort of thy &s;oul, to depend upon God, even as a ground of thy confidence, to live by faith, and that God will not fail thee.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is a fourth help?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To wait on Chri&s;t in the u&s;e of all good means,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.19.</NOTE> and &s;o live by faith, ta|king heed to the &s;ure word of promi&s;e, until the day dawn, and the day &s;tar Chri&s;t ari&s;e in thy &s;oul. And thus the life of faith upholds a poor &s;oul in greate&s;t doubts and fears what&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>Now let me ask you one Que&s;tion before I conclude this part of Ca|techi&s;m: What is a &s;ixth immediate pre|paratory grace, or gracious act of the &s;oul, to be enlivened, or acted and exerci&s;ed immediatly before you draw near to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<PB N="405" REF="231">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To attend the invitation of Chri&s;t by his Mini&s;ters, and to draw near, and come to the Lords Table, as with all humility and reverence &s;o as becomes my pre&s;ence at &s;o great an Ordinance, to meet my Lord and Saviour, &s;o with joy|ful confidence, holy hunger and faith, yea, with &s;piritual cars and eyes, and mouth of faith, to hear, and &s;ee, and re|ceive, and feed on Chri&s;t in my &s;oul, as well as with ears, and eyes, and hands, and mouth of body:</P>
<P N="1">1. To hear and &s;ee the Bread and Wine ble&s;&s;ed, con&s;ecrated and &s;et apart to this holy Sacramental u&s;e, <HI>Matthew</HI> 26.26, 27.</P>
<P N="2">2. To &s;ee the Bread broken, and the Wine powred out.</P>
<P N="3">3. To hear the Sacramental welcom, Take ye, and eat ye, and Take ye, and drink ye, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.27.</P>
<P N="4">4. And all this with a thankful re|membrance of Chri&s;ts death and pa&s;&s;ion, who loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me, <HI>Luke</HI> 22.19. 1 <HI>Corinthians</HI> 11.24, 25. <HI>Gal.</HI> 2.20.</P>
<P><HI>Conclu&s;.</HI> Thus, Sir, I have made my profe&s;&s;ion of what I have learned, con|cerning a right preparative, the wedding
<PB N="406" REF="232"> garment to meet Chri&s;t at the Lords Ta|ble, that I may walk more comfortably with Chri&s;t all the dayes of my life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>But do you think it is ne|ce&s;&s;ary that every one be thus prepared with Knowledge, Faith, Repentance and Love, and the habits of graces, &s;o examined, enlivened and quickned, before he or &s;he come to the Lords Table? What light hath Chri&s;t left for re&s;olution of this doubt?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is certain, a competent mea|&s;ure of true knowledge, true faith, true repentance, and true love, is of nece&s;&s;ity required; and how&s;oever it may be the good Lord God may be gracious to any of his children who&s;e hearts are up right towards God, and who have life of grace in them, and hunger after Chri&s;t, though he or &s;he be not &s;o fully prepared, ac|cording to the preparation of the Sanc|tuary, as 2 <HI>Chron.</HI> 30.18, 19, 20. yet a&s;&s;uredly that &s;oul that cometh le&s;&s;e pre|pared, and the life of grace, and living graces le&s;&s;e enlivened in the &s;oul, doth ordinarily receive le&s;&s;e comfort at the Lords Table, when as that &s;oul that is more carful to wait upon Chri&s;t in all good wayes and means of prepara|tion,
<PB N="407" REF="232"> not re&s;ting upon performances, or preparation, but with a &s;elf-denying and humble heart and &s;oul of faith, waiting on Gods goodne&s;&s;e in Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and merits, may with a much more glorious a&s;&s;urance of comfort, hear that gracious voyce of Chri&s;t &s;peak|ing to his or her &s;oul, as to his welbe|loved Spou&s;e in the <HI>Canticles,</HI> I am come into my Garden, my Si&s;ter, my Spou&s;e, I have gathered my mirrhe, with my &s;pice, I have eaten my hoay-comb, with my hony, I have drunk my wine, with my milk; eat O friend, drink ye abun|dantly, O Beloved; not drink abundant|ly of the outward Bread or Wine, but feed on Chri&s;t by faith abundantly for thy &s;piritual refre&s;hing to the eternal joy and rejoycing of thy &s;oul, yea, a joy un|&s;peakable and full of glory, as <HI>Cant.</HI> 5.1. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1.8.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="27" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="408" REF="233">
<HEAD>The twenty &s;eventh Cla&s;sis or compa|ny of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have made profe&s;&s;ion of your pre|paration and enjoyment of the wedding garment, in re&s;pect of the Antecedent gra|ces, and immediate enlivening of the pre|parative graces, and gracious actions and quickning of them: Now what are the third &s;ort, the pre&s;ent concomitant or ac|companying graces, and gracious affections, and &s;piritual &s;en&s;es, actions and operations of the &s;oul and body, which do accompany, and are to be exerci&s;ed and quickned in the&s;e Sacramental acts or actions of re|ceiving, as of the Elements outwardly, &s;o of Chri&s;t and his quickning and &s;oul-re|fre&s;hing vertue inwardly, for the &s;piritual &s;trengthning of your &s;oul, and life of grace to life of glory?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is a twofold nouri&s;hment which we receive and feed on in the Sa|crament at the Lords Table:</P>
<PB N="409" REF="233">
<P>The fir&s;t, outward and corporal, the Elements of Bread and Wine, which nouri&s;h and refre&s;h the body.</P>
<P>The &s;econd, inward and &s;piritual, Chri&s;t him&s;elf and his Body and Blood, or the living vertue and merits of Chri&s;t, his Life, and Death, and Pa&s;&s;ion, and Re|&s;urrection, and A&s;cention, and Inter|ce&s;&s;ion, which feeds, &s;trenghneth and nouri&s;heth our &s;ouls, and the life of grace in our &s;ouls, to life Eternal.</P>
<P>And &s;o there are two &s;orts of &s;ences, (as I may &s;o call them) to be exer|ci&s;ed,
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. Of the body:</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Of the &s;oul, or inward man; and two &s;orts of actions to be acted in this Sa|crament.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What are the&s;e two &s;orts of actions in the Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the actions of the body and organical parts, or by the in&s;truments of the body.</P>
<P>The bodily eyes mu&s;t &s;ee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 14.22, 23.</NOTE> the bodily ears mu&s;t hear, the bodily hand mu&s;t re|ceive, and the bodily mouth mu&s;t eat and feed on the outward Elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, the acts or operations
<PB N="410" REF="234"> of the &s;oul, or of the inward man.</P>
<P>The &s;piritual eye of the &s;oul mu&s;t &s;ee, the ear of faith mu&s;t hear, the hand of faith mu&s;t receive, and apply Chri&s;t, the mouth of faith mu&s;t feed on Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>So you &s;ee there are two &s;orts of eyes; the eys of the body, &amp; the eys of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>And two &s;orts of ears, the ears of the body, and the ears of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>And two &s;orts of hands, the hands of the body, and the hands of the &s;oul.</P>
<P>And two &s;orts of mouthes, the mouth of the body, and the mouth of the &s;oul.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 10.6, &amp;c. Iohn 6.54, &amp;c.</NOTE>And &s;o all the objects and Sacramen|tal acts or actions at the Lords Table: So by faith we &s;piritually feed on Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Are there not two &s;orts of objects, about which the&s;e bodily and &s;pi|ritual &s;en&s;es are to be exerci&s;ed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, there are fir&s;t outward vi|&s;ible objects of Bread and Wine, with all the audible and vi&s;ible acts and opera|tions of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.26, &amp;c.</NOTE> and Chri&s;ts people, in the &s;everal Sacramental actions and branches of the Lords Supper.</P>
<P>Secondly, Inward, invi&s;ible and hea|venly acts of Chri&s;t, and graces from Chri&s;t, in the in&s;titution of this Sacra|ment,
<PB N="411" REF="234"> and participation thereof pre&s;ent|ed, and communicated to faithful recei|vers at the Lords Table; and each of the&s;e, corporal and &s;piritual, an&s;wering one another in every particular object, branch, or Sacramental action in this &s;a|cred Ordinance, in and about which the acts and operations of the &s;oul and bo|dy, and inward man, are to be chiefly exerci&s;ed in time of this &s;olemn fea&s;t with the Lord Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What are the&s;e acts and operations of the &s;oul and body thus to be exerci&s;ed at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are chiefly the&s;e three,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, diligent <HI>Ob&s;ervation</HI> of every Sacramental action and object of the &s;oul or body.</P>
<P>The &s;econd, Divine <HI>Meditation</HI> of e|very of them.</P>
<P>Thirdly, &s;piritual and faithful <HI>Ap|plication</HI> of all to my own &s;oul for my joy and comfort in this holy Or|dinance.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What or how many are the Sacramental actions or objects of &s;en&s;es corporal or spiritual, in which the&s;e &s;en&s;es and operations of the &s;oul and body, are to be exerci&s;ed, and the&s;e acts of the &s;oul
<PB N="412" REF="235"> to be bu&s;ied at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers, but chiefly the&s;e ten which follow:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, a Sacramental preparation of Bread and Wine on the Lords Ta|ble.</P>
<P>Secondly, a Sacramental invitation to draw near to the Lords Table, with eyes of body or &s;oul, when we are come rightly prepared.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Sacramental <HI>Con&s;ecration,</HI> fir&s;t, of the Bread to be received, and after of the Wine to be drunk at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Sacramental <HI>Repre&s;entation</HI> of Chri&s;ts Death and Pa&s;&s;ion, by break|ing of the Bread, and powring out of the Wine upon the Lords Table, to &s;hew the Lords death till he come.</P>
<P>Fifthly, Sacramental <HI>Commemoration,</HI> and doing this in memory of Chri&s;t with a thankful remembrance of Chri&s;ts Death for my &s;ins, and for my &s;alva|tion.</P>
<P>Sixthly, Sacramental <HI>Congratulations,</HI> or Chri&s;ts welcom to his gue&s;ts at his Ta|ble, Take, eat, Take, drink.</P>
<P>Seventhly, Sacramental <HI>Foederation,</HI> or Covenant-promi&s;es held forth by Chri&s;t
<PB N="413" REF="235"> when he took the Bread and &s;aid, <HI>This is my Body,</HI> and took the Cup and &s;aid, <HI>This Cup is the New Te&s;tament in my Blood, &s;hed for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins.</HI></P>
<P>Eigthly, Sacramental <HI>Participation</HI> by the mouth of the body of the outward Elements, and by the mouth of faith feeding on Chri&s;t him&s;elf, and his bene|fits to my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Ninthly, Sacramental <HI>&V;nion</HI> and <HI>Com|munion</HI> with Chri&s;t, and all his merits and benefits; with my head, and with the Saints as my fellow-members of the &s;ame my&s;tical body of Chri&s;t, with whom I do partake, and have communion at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Tenthly, Sacramental <HI>Ob&s;ignation,</HI> or &s;ealing and communication of this &s;pi|ritual union and communion with Chri&s;t, and of all graces from Chri&s;t to my be|lieving-Covenanting-&s;oul, renewing my general and particular Vows and Prote|&s;tations to God in Chri&s;t, as Chri&s;t re|neweth, and re-confirms his Covenant of grace and love to my &s;oul, in this Sa|crament at the Lords Table, <HI>Matthew</HI> 22.1, 2, 3, 4. and 26.26, &amp;c. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 11.25, 26. and 10.16, 17.</P>
<PB N="414" REF="236">
<P>Que&s;t. 6 <HI>What is the fir&s;t Sacramen|tal action, word or object of your bodily or &s;piritual &s;ences, about which the acts and operations of the &s;oul or body are to be exerci&s;ed when you are to draw near to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sacramental invitation, when the voyce of the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t ha|ving expre&s;&s;ed,</P>
<P N="1">1. The ine&s;timable benefits commu|nicated to the Saints in this Sacra|ment.</P>
<P N="2">2. The Author.</P>
<P N="3">3. The In&s;titution.</P>
<P N="4">4. The ends.</P>
<P N="5">5. The u&s;e of it to Believers.</P>
<P N="6">6. The profit of it.</P>
<P N="7">7. The great preparation requi|red. And,</P>
<P N="8">8. The danger of coming unprepa|red.</P>
<P N="9">9. The &s;olemn Admonition and De|hortation to all ignorant, &s;candalous and prophane per&s;ons, that they &s;tand back and pre&s;ume not to approach the Lords Table, lea&s;t they eat judgement to them|&s;elves, and drink their own damnation, as 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 11.19. And,</P>
<P N="10">10. Invitation calling and embracing,
<PB N="415" REF="236"> and emboldening me with all Saints tru|ly prepared to draw neer and partake of that ble&s;&s;ed fea&s;t, which according to the in&s;titution, example and command of Chri&s;t is there prepared for me and them at the Lords Table, as <HI>Matthew</HI> 22.4.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What mu&s;t you do when you hear this voyce of the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t &s;ounding to the ears of your body, and inviting you to draw near to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I &s;hould be careful by the power of Chri&s;t, to wait on Chri&s;t in the&s;e three acts noted before.</P>
<P N="1">1. Rightly to ob&s;erve and con&s;ider what is &s;poken by the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t in this invitation.</P>
<P N="2">2. To meditate and think by the po|wer of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, what this invita|tion is, and what a joyful thing it is to be invited to the Table of the Lord Je&s;u.</P>
<P N="3">3. To labour by the &s;ame power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 104.34.</NOTE> to apply this invitation to my own &s;oul, as to one believing and longing for refre&s;hing from Chri&s;t, to the joy and comfort of my &s;oul, and the reviving of my &s;pirit in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<PB N="416" REF="237">
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>How mu&s;t you exerci&s;e the ear of your faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In attention, as if I heard the voyce of Chri&s;t from heaven,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 5.1.</NOTE> calling me &s;piritually to fea&s;t with him at his Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the &s;econd object, or Sacramental action or object which an|&s;wereth your corporal &s;ence of Seeing in the Celebration of this holy Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Sacramental preparation of the outward Elements of Bread and Wine, which I &s;ee &s;et upon the Table, or made ready to be con&s;ecrated,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 14.22, 23.</NOTE> and &s;et apart for that holy Ordnance, when I am come to the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is that &s;piritual &s;en&s;e and &s;piritual object, which an&s;wereth the &s;piritual &s;en&s;e of &s;eeing to be exerci&s;ed in this holy Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The &s;piritual &s;en&s;e which an|&s;wereth bodily &s;ight, is a &s;piritual &s;ight and eye of the &s;oul, or rather eye of faith; and the &s;piritual object of the eye of faith, is the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t, or whole Chri&s;t my Saviour, pre&s;ented to the eye of my &s;oul, as preprared from all Eternity, by God the Father, as a per|fect
<PB N="417" REF="237"> Saviour and a full banquet,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 6.27, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 10.16, 17.</NOTE> by his vertue and merits to nouri&s;h and enliven my &s;oul and body to life eternal, and the life of grace in me, to the life of glory, for which him&s;elf exhorts me to labour, and wait for him in this Sacrament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is to be acted or done by you when you thus &s;ee the Bread and Wine prepared for you on the Lords Ta|ble?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I ought by the power of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="1">1. To ob&s;erve diligently the Sacra|mental Elements of Bread and Wine, fir&s;t, what they are.</P>
<P N="2">2. To meditate and &s;ee how fitly they repre&s;ent the Body and Blood of Chri&s;t. And,</P>
<P N="3">3. By the eye and hand of faith to apply all to my own &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 10.5, 6, 7. Ioh. 6.27.</NOTE> that as I &s;ee the Bread and Wine is prepared by the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t, and Gods goedne&s;&s;e, for my bodily nouri&s;hment, &s;o to &s;ee how the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t is prepared from all Eternity for nouri&s;hment of my &s;oul to life everla&s;ting.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is the third Sacra|mental object of &s;en&s;es corporal and &s;piritu|al, to be exerci&s;ed in this fea&s;t of the Lord?</HI></P>
<PB N="418" REF="238">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.6, 27. 1 Tim. 4.4, 5. Luke 22.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.26, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The action of ble&s;&s;ing Elements in which both the &s;ences of &s;eeing and hearing bodily are to be exerci&s;ed, when the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t by &s;olemn prayer doth Ble&s;&s;e, Con&s;ecrate, and Sanctifie,</P>
<P N="1">1. The Bread to be the Sacramental Body of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. The Wine to be his Sacramental Blood according to the Lords In&s;titution &s;eeing and hearing of them both &s;ancti|fied, and &s;eparated from common Bread and Wine to this holy u&s;e and end, by prayer, thank&s;giving and ble&s;&s;ing, accor|ding to the command, example, and in&s;ti|tution of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is the object of your spiritual &s;ences of &s;eeing and hearing in this action repre&s;ented by con&s;ecration of Sacramentdl Bread?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 6.27</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> By the ear and eye of faith I am to hear and &s;ee God the Father, &s;ealing and con&s;ecrating Chri&s;t the Lord, for the everla&s;ting nouri&s;hment of my &s;oul and body &s;pirirually to life eternal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is to be acted and done when you thus hear and &s;ee the Bread and Wine ble&s;&s;ed and con&s;ecrated by the Mini|&s;ter of Chri&s;t, with the ears and eyes of your body, and hear and &s;ee the Lord
<PB N="419" REF="238"> Chri&s;t &s;o repre&s;ented, con&s;ecrated, and &s;eal|ed by God the Father with the ears and eyes of faith, the spiritual &s;en&s;es of the life of grace in your &s;oul,</HI> 1 Cor. 10.18. Rom. 10.7, &amp;c.</P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.9. 1 Pet. 1.11. Iohn 16.26. I&s;a. 63.4, &amp;c. Heb. 10.14.</NOTE> ob&s;ervation by the power and a&s;&s;i&s;tance of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, and his quickning power in my &s;oul.</P>
<P>Secondly, to ob&s;erve diligently by the power of God, this ble&s;&s;ing, con&s;ecra|ting, and &s;anctifying of the outward Ele|ments of Bread and Wine by Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ter, and by the ear and eye of the &s;oul, this con&s;ecrating and &s;ealing of Chri&s;t by the holy ble&s;&s;ed God, as my full, perfect and &s;ufficient Saviour.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What is the &s;econd medi|tation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly, by the power of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 1.26. P&s;al. 42.1, 2.</NOTE> by Divine meditation of this un&s;peakable love of God, con&s;ecra|ting his onely begotten Son from all E|ternity, to be my Redeemer and All-&s;uf|ficient Saviour, &s;o to be affected, as to admire this wonderful free love of God in giving his Son, and having my &s;oul fil|led with &s;piritual longings, to enjoy and partake of &s;o rich a gift of grace held forth to my &s;oul in this Sacrament, above
<PB N="420" REF="239"> that wonderful love of <HI>Jonathan</HI> to <HI>Da|vid,</HI> pa&s;&s;ing love of women.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is a third particular act to be done?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, Application by the power of the &s;ame &s;pirit, through the grace of faith, &s;o to apply Chri&s;t thus con&s;ecrated of God the Father to be my Saviour, as the Bread and Wine by the Mini&s;ter to repre&s;ent this &s;acramen|tally to my &s;oul, that I may finde I am united by faith, and the &s;ame &s;pirit of Chri&s;t unto God the Father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 20.17.</NOTE> as to my mo&s;t tender Father in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the fourth Sacra|mental action or object in the celebration of this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, about which your corprral and &s;piritual &s;ences &s;hould be exerci&s;ed?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 22.19, 20. Mat. 26.26, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 11.24, &amp;c. I&s;a, 53.4, &amp;c. Luk. 24.15, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The &s;acramental repre&s;entation, or the breaking of Chri&s;ts body with torments, and the &s;hedding of his blood for my &s;ins, as Chri&s;t our Lords intimates in his in&s;titution of this holy &s;acrament, and as foretold before by Prophets.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What bodily or &s;piritual &s;ences, or organs and in&s;truments of body and &s;oul are to be exerci&s;ed by you in this
<PB N="421" REF="239"> Sacramental action of breaking Bread, and powring out of the Wine in the Sacra|ments by the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the &s;ence of bodily &s;eeing, when by the eyes of the body I behold the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t, breaking the Bread the &s;acramental body, and powr|ing out of the Wine the &s;acramental blood of Chri&s;t, prepared and ble&s;&s;ed, con&s;ecrated, &s;anctified by the Word and prayer for this holy u&s;e, and powred forth for my refre&s;hing, as 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4 4, 5. common bread and drink; &s;o much more this by Chri&s;ts in&s;titution and ordi|nance, <HI>Mark</HI> 14.22, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What &s;piritual &s;ences are to be exerci&s;ed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I ought to exerci&s;e the &s;ences of &s;piritual &s;ight,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 53. Zach 12.11. &amp; 13.6, 7. Mat. 26.31, ult. &amp; 27. c. Luk. 22.23.</NOTE> and by faith the &s;piritual eye of the &s;oul, to behold and &s;ee the natural body of Chri&s;t crucified, and broken with torments for my &s;ins (though a bone of him was not broken) but his &s;oul broken with grief and &s;orrow in &s;en&s;e of the wrath of God, and his body with &s;en&s;e of pains, buffetings with fi&s;ts, whippings with &s;courges, crowned with thorns, crucifying with tormenting nails, mixing of Gall and Vinegar to drink;
<PB N="422" REF="240"> and above all, his Agony in the Garden, &s;weating drops of blood, and not onely denying, for&s;aking and betraying, but &s;en&s;e of his Fathers wrath and for&s;aking, at lea&s;t in &s;en&s;e to him for a time; I &s;ay the eye of my faith is to &s;ee all this,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 27.46.</NOTE> and what more the &s;cripture revealeth in the bitter pa&s;&s;ion of Chri&s;t, held forth to my &s;oul in the breaking of the bread, and powring out of the wine for me to par|take of at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is to be acted or done by you upon the beholding of this Sacra|mental action of breaking Bread, and powring out of the Wine, with the eyes and &s;ence of &s;eeing both bodily by eyes of your body, and &s;piritually by eyes of faith?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I mu&s;t &s;till by the power of Chri&s;t exerci&s;e the&s;e three &s;piritual acts or actions of my &s;oul to be exerci&s;ed in every particular &s;acramental action:
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. Diligent ob&s;ervation.</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Divine meditation.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. Faithful application and appropria|tion of all to my own &s;oul.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>How mu&s;t ob&s;ervation be exerci&s;ed by you? What light &s;hineth from Chri&s;t for your direction?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I ought diligently by the &s;pirit
<PB N="423" REF="240"> of Chri&s;t to ob&s;erve the &s;acramental action of breaking bread,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 22.17, &amp;c.</NOTE> or powring out or giving of the wine, according to the in&s;titution of Chri&s;t, as it is a &s;acra|ment<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">l act<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">on for the end for which Chri&s;t appointed it.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;t. 22. <HI>How ought you to exerci&s;e medi ation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By help of Chri&s;t I ought &s;o to meditate and think of the breaking bread, and powring out of the wine, as to meditate of Chri&s;t crucified, his bo|dy broken with torments (as before noted) and his blood &s;hed for my &s;ins, <HI>Gal.</HI> 3.1.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e&s;t. 23. <HI>How ought you to exerci&s;e &s;piritual and faithful Application and appropriation of all to your &s;elf?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By the &s;trength of Chri&s;t and Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, &s;trengthning and commu|nicating &s;trength of life from Chri&s;t to my &s;oul, I ought to apply by faith, and appropriate all this that Chri&s;t hath done or &s;uffered, as done and &s;uffered by Chri&s;t for me and my Redemption, and as loving me, and giving him&s;elf for me, his &s;oul to be made an offering for my &s;in, his body to be broken with torments, and his blood to be &s;hed to the death
<PB N="424" REF="241"> for my eternal Redemption and &s;alva|tion, <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> 53.10. <HI>Galathians</HI> 2.20. <HI>Heb.</HI> 9.12.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="28" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The twenty eighth Cla&s;sis or compa|ny of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the fifth Sacramental action or obj<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ct of your &s;ences corporal or &s;piritual? Or upon which your &s;ences or acts of life in your &s;oul and body are to be exerci&s;ed when you are at this holy Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sacramental commemoration of the death and pa&s;&s;&s;ion of the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 22.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> and of his In&s;titucion of this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament the &s;ame night in wh<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ch he was betrayed, his pa&s;&s;ion, cru|cifying and death, &s;o lively &s;et before my eyes in the celebration of this Sacra|ment, and by Chri&s;ts command to be commemorated and remembred, as it is &s;hewed forth until he come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What are you to do in
<PB N="425" REF="241"> this act of commemoration?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To exerci&s;e tho&s;e three acts be|fore &s;pecified;</P>
<P N="1">1. Diligently to ob&s;erve how this Sa|crament doth remember me of that &s;a|crifice of the death of Chri&s;t, of his ine&s;timable love in dying for me, and of the mo&s;t glorious benefits that I am made partaker of in a right meeting of Chri&s;t at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Quest. 3. <HI>What is the &s;econd?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Ioan 4.</NOTE></P>
<P>Divine meditation, I ought by the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">19. Ioh. 17.20, 21.</NOTE> to think of this memorial of Chri&s;ts Death, Pa&s;&s;ion and Re&s;urrection, and benefits, till I be &s;o af|fected with it, as to rejoyce with it, and never to forget this love of Chri&s;t, but to be delighted with his love, as to love Chri&s;t again until I come to glory with Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is the third?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By the power of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, and by faith to apply the memo|rial of this action and pa&s;&s;ion of Chri&s;t unto my &s;oul, that it may be engraven upon my heart, to be recorded and &s;et before my eyes for ever, that evening and morning and mid-day I may remem|ber what Chri&s;t hath done for my &s;oul,
<PB N="426" REF="242"> and Chri&s;ts love may for ever be in my heart, and I may &s;ay as the Apo&s;tle, <HI>Gal.</HI> 2.20. Chri&s;t loved me and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e&s;t. 5. <HI>What is a &s;ixth Sacramental action, object or act on Chri&s;ts part, or on yours, which is the object of your &s;en&s;es corporal or spiritual, or in which the&s;e &s;en|&s;es, operations or actions of the &s;oul and body are to be exerci&s;ed in this holy Ordi|nance of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Chri&s;ts congratulation or Sacra|mental welcom he gives to his faithful prepared gue&s;ts, Take, eat, Take drink, yea, all of this, and thus bidding them welcom:</P>
<P N="1">1. As in the In&s;titution of Chri&s;t is evidently &s;et forth unto us, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.26, 27, 28. <HI>Luke</HI> 22.19, 20.</P>
<P N="2">2. As Chri&s;t invited his Spou&s;e, his Church and children, <HI>Canticles</HI> 5.1. Eat friends, and drink abundantly, O beloved, that is, eat abundantly, not of the out|ward bread, and drink abundantly, not of the outward Wine, but eat &s;piritually of the body of Chri&s;t by faith, and the merits of Chri&s;t crucified for me, and drink abundantly of the vertue of Chri&s;ts blood which was &s;hed for me: For
<PB N="427" REF="242"> Chri&s;ts fle&s;h is meat indeed, and Chri&s;ts blood is drink indeed:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 6.51, &amp;c.</NOTE> If I thus eat of Chri&s;ts fle&s;h, and drink of Chri&s;ts blood, I &s;hall live for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is to be acted by you? And how are your corporal and &s;piritual &s;ences to be exerci&s;ed in this congratula|tion or heavenly welcom which Chri&s;t gives your &s;oul at this Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, a diligent ob&s;ervation of this welcom when I hear it with the ears of my body, from the voyce of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ter &s;peaking comfortably &amp; cheer|fully to me from Chri&s;t, as to a prepared, believing, penitent, humble, hungry communicant, Take and eat, Take and drink, in the Name of Chri&s;t bidding me welcom to Chri&s;ts Table, as <HI>Mat.</HI> 26. <HI>Luke</HI> 22.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is a &s;econd thing to be acted?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> A Divine meditation, as if by the ears of my &s;oul I did at the &s;ame time hear the voyce of Chri&s;t, as once he &s;pake to his Di&s;ciples at his la&s;t Supper; &s;o now &s;peaking to my &s;oul from heaven, and bidding me welcom, <HI>Eat my friend,</HI> and <HI>drink my beloved,</HI> I have loved thee, I have given my &s;elf for thee, I have
<PB N="428" REF="243"> given thee my body crucified, my blood+&s;hed for thee, and for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, fea&s;t and refre&s;h thy &s;oul with abundance of a&s;&s;urance of my love to thee at my Table; O poor believing, hungry, and humble &s;oul, thou art wel|com here, in and among&s;t my congrega|tion of Saints at my Table of grace, and thou &s;halt one day be welcom, and eat and drink heavenly and gloriou&s;ly with me at my Table of glory in the Kingdom of heaven for ever, <HI>Matthew</HI> 22. <HI>Luke</HI> 22.19.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is the third?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 4.14, 15. &amp; 6.33, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> A &s;weet and &s;hort ejaculation or ejaculatory and darting prayer, to this or this like in effect: Even &s;o Lord Ie&s;us I ble&s;&s;e thy name for this &s;weet a&s;&s;urance of being welcom to thy Table, &s;trengthen my faith, enliven mine eyes, and hand, and mouth of faith, that I may &s;ee and di&s;cern thy body and thy blood, I may &s;o receive and feed on thy body and blood, that I may finde and feel, and en|joy &s;uch an everla&s;ting vertue, and &s;ap and juyce of life from thee my Saviour, which may enliven and &s;trengthen thy life of grace in me here in this life, to life everla&s;ting in the world to come.</P>
<PB N="429" REF="243">
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What it the &s;eventh Sacra|mental act or object held forth as from Chri&s;t by his Mini&s;ters, on which your cor|poral and &s;piritual &s;ences, acts and opera|tions of &s;oul and body are to be exerci&s;ed by the power of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sacramental <HI>Foederation,</HI> or Co|venant-promi&s;es held forth by Chri&s;t to his Di&s;ciples the night before his Pa&s;&s;ion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.23, &amp;c.</NOTE> when he did In&s;titute this Sacrament, and held forth now to my &s;oul in this Sa|crament of the Lords Supper.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>Wherein doth this Sa|cramental Foederation or Covenant con|&s;i&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In tho&s;e promi&s;ing words of Chri&s;t to his Di&s;ciples, the &s;ame night he was betrayed:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, when he took bread and brake it, and &s;aid, <HI>This is my Body which is given for you,</HI> as is recorded <HI>Luke</HI> 22.22. or, which is broken for you, as ble&s;|&s;ed <HI>Paul</HI> expre&s;&s;ed, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 11.24. that is, this Bread which I thus take in my hand and give to you, is my Sacramental body, by which another thing is meant: for this Bread thus broken and given, &s;ignifieth, and &s;ealeth, and communi|cateth to you, and a&s;&s;ureth you of this
<PB N="430" REF="244"> my natural body, which is now with you, which you now &s;ee with your bodily eyes, as well as you do this Bread which I break and give unto you, <HI>Matthew</HI> 26.26, 27.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>Wherein further doth this promi&s;e appear?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> And &s;econdly, in that it is as much as if the Lord had &s;aid further, as verily as I do now give you this Bread broken as my Sacramental Body; &s;o ve|rily I do now promi&s;e to give you this my natural body to be crucified and broken with torments for you, and for many, and this my promi&s;e and Covenant I do &s;eal to you, in giving you this Sacramental body of mine, this Bread &s;o ble&s;&s;ed and broken; yea, behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Ta|ble; this night will <HI>Judas</HI> betray me with a ki&s;&s;e; and the &s;ervants of the High-Prie&s;t &s;hall take me, and &s;hall lead me to be accu&s;ed, and condemned, and cruci|fied, not for any &s;ins of my own, but for your &s;ins,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 10.15.</NOTE> I &s;ay; and not for yours only, but for all my &s;heep, for whom I do wil|lingly lay down my life; and do by this Sacramental Covenant and Promi&s;es, engage my &s;elf to lay down my life for
<PB N="431" REF="244"> yours and their &s;alvation; and I do ap|point this Sacrament, that you may never forget my love, thus witne&s;&s;ed by my death, and thus held forth and &s;ealed to you. And this is my promi&s;e which you &s;hall &s;ee performed after few dayes, read <HI>Matthew</HI> 26, and 27, Chapters, and <HI>Luke</HI> 22, and 23, Chapters, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 11.23, 24.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>But doth not the words of Chri&s;t in ble&s;&s;ing and giving of the Wine hold forth the &s;ame Sacramental pro|mi&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verily, for at the &s;ame time he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave to them, &s;aying, <HI>Drink ye all of this;</HI> and then he giveth them the &s;ame pro|mi&s;es, as a rea&s;on why they &s;hould drink of that cup; for &s;aith he, <HI>This is my blood of the New Te&s;tament, which is &s;ealed for you and for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins,</HI> as Mat. 26.27, 21. and in <HI>Luke</HI> 22.22. compared may appear; this is my blood of the New Te&s;tament, or, of the New Covenant, the Covenant of Grace to your &s;ouls, not that the Bread broken is my natural body which &s;hall be crucified for you, or that the Wine in the cup which I now give unto you, is my natural
<PB N="432" REF="245"> blood which &s;hall be &s;hed for you; But the&s;e are my Sacramental body &amp; blood; &s;ignifying and &s;ealing this promi&s;e; for as verily as I do now give you this cup, this Wine to drink, which I call my blood of the New Covenant, becau&s;e it is a &s;eal and pledge, and earne&s;t of my blood, which I do now this night promi&s;e &s;hall be &s;hed for you within few dayes; and as &s;ure as I now give you my Di&s;ci|ples this Wine to drink; &s;o verily do I now give you my blood to be &s;hed for you,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.27, 28.</NOTE> and for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins; and this my promi&s;e &s;hall be &s;peedily verified and fulfilled. For that (as if Chri&s;t had &s;aid) this night, when as anon we &s;hall go out to the Mount of Olives, according to our tru&s;t.</P>
<P N="1">1. Some of you &s;hall &s;ee that my A|gony and bitter Pa&s;&s;ion will begin,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.19.</NOTE> when in &s;en&s;e of the heavy burden of &s;ins which the Lord my Father hath laid up|on me, and which as a Lamb of God I take away even the &s;ins of the world, and which I have mo&s;t willingly under|taken to bear for you and for all my peo|ple whom I will &s;ave from all their &s;ins, <HI>Mat.</HI> 1.21. the burden of which are &s;o great, that I &s;hall de&s;ire, if it were my
<PB N="433" REF="245"> Fathers will this cup of wrath, &s;o bitter, might pa&s;&s;e from me.</P>
<P N="2">2. You &s;hall &s;ee my Agony will be &s;o vehement and grievous, that I &s;hall &s;weat even great drops of blood.</P>
<P N="3">3. And you &s;hall &s;ee it more, when being crowned with thorns, and cruci|fied with Nails in my hands and feet, and my &s;ide pierced with a &s;pear, my blood, my hearts blood &s;hall flow in abundance for your &s;akes.</P>
<P>This I promi&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 53. Mat. 26.27. Luk. 22.23. Mat. 1.21. 1 Cor. 11.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> and this you &s;hall &s;ee performed, even with your own eyes, and that within three dayes; this I con|ceive humbly to hold forth plainly the Sacramental promi&s;es of Chri&s;t in this Sacrament, as by comparing the Pro|phets and Evangeli&s;ts, and the Apo&s;tle <HI>Paul,</HI> you may finde evident.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>This indeed may hold forth that promi&s;e that Chri&s;t made at his la&s;t Supper, and the in&s;titution of this Sacra|ment before his Pa&s;&s;ion, and which he did promi&s;e and fulfil when he died for us: But how can the &s;ame words be a Sacra|mental pnomi&s;e to you who de&s;ire to come to the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yea verily, the &s;ame promi&s;e of Chri&s;t continueth in force, in re&s;pect of
<PB N="434" REF="246"> the vertue, truth, power, and efficacy of it to my believing &s;oul, and to all Belie|vers to the end of the world.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>How can this appear, and upon what grounds?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.8.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Chri&s;t Je&s;us is the &s;ame ye&s;terday for the benefit of his Church, ye&s;terday, and to day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.2, 3.</NOTE> and for ever. And as the Patriarks before Chri&s;t did all eat of the &s;ame &s;piritual meat &amp; drink the &s;ame &s;piritual drink, and drunk of the &s;piritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Chri&s;t, believing the promi&s;es they fed on Chri&s;t the <HI>Me&s;&s;iah</HI> then to come by vertue of the promi&s;e.</P>
<P>Secondly, As the Apo&s;tles in the fir&s;t In&s;titution and participation of the Sa|crament did by faith feed on Chri&s;ts bo|dy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.24, &amp;c.</NOTE> which was then promi&s;ed to be given to be crucified for them, and drink of his blood which was then promi&s;ed to be &s;hed for them, and of which they were a&s;&s;ured by that word of Chri&s;ts promi&s;e; even &s;o likewi&s;e I now being a believing, humbled, hungry &s;oul, do now by vertue of the &s;ame promi&s;e of Chri&s;t, who hath performed and &s;ealed, now in the Sacra|ment, what he promi&s;ed, Receive a&s;&s;u|rance that Chri&s;t hath given his body to
<PB N="435" REF="246"> be crucified, and given his blood to be &s;hed for my &s;ins.</P>
<P>And thirdly, by the &s;ame Sacramental promi&s;e I am now a&s;&s;ured that I &s;hall re|ceive all the vertue, merits and efficacy of the body and blood of Chri&s;t, nece&s;|&s;ary for a&s;&s;urance of my Ju&s;tification, &s;anctification and &s;alvation, as a&s;&s;uredly as if I had been pre&s;ent when Chri&s;t &s;pake tho&s;e words, or made that promi&s;e to his Di&s;ciples; or that I did now hear the bodily voyce of Chri&s;t now &s;peaking unto me from heaven by the ear of my body, as he &s;peaks to the ear of my body by his Mini&s;ter, and now &s;peaks to the ears of my believing &s;oul by the voyce of his &s;pirit, per&s;wading and enabling me to believe the truth of the&s;e Sacra|mental promi&s;es.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Therefore I conclude, that I may eat and drink at this Table to my joy and comfort; Now I may be a&s;&s;ured that Chri&s;t gave his body to be crucified, and his blood to be &s;hed for my &s;ins, or that he loved me and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What now is to be acted by you when you hear and &s;ee the Sacramental promi&s;es held forth unto you?</HI></P>
<PB N="436" REF="247">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I may follow the former Dire|ctory in a threefold re&s;pect.</P>
<P N="1">1. Diligent ob&s;ervation of the pro|mi&s;ory words, <HI>This is my body</HI> given for you, broken for you, <HI>This is my blood</HI> &s;hed for you, and for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, Take and eat, Take and drink.</P>
<P N="2">2. A divine meditation of this pro|mi&s;e, the &s;ame or like effect as before is declared in the Paraphra&s;e of it, in an|&s;wer of the former Que&s;tion.</P>
<P N="3">3. A &s;weet and rejoycing Application by faith of this promi&s;e to my own &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 14.22, 23.</NOTE> for my comfortable emboldning and en|couragement, to take and eat, take and drink, and feed on Chri&s;t to my &s;ouls cheri&s;hing comfort, and the refre&s;hing of life of grace in my heart.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the eighth Sacra|mental action, object, or &s;ubject in this Or|dinance of Chri&s;t, in and about which your &s;en&s;es, acts or actions, corporal or spiritual, may be exerci&s;ed when you are at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sacramental participation,</P>
<P N="1">1. In taking and eating of that Bread the Sacramental body of Chri&s;t, and taking and drinking that Wine the Sa|cramental blood of Chri&s;t with the hand
<PB N="437" REF="247"> and mouth of the body, Matthew 26.26, 27.</P>
<P N="2">2. In taking and feeding on Chri&s;ts body crucified,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE> and taking and drinking of Chri&s;ts blood &s;hed for me, and of the vertue, power and merits of Chri&s;t, and all the benefits of Chri&s;ts Pa&s;&s;ion, Death and Re&s;urrection, not corporally or car|nally, with hand or mouth of my body, but &s;piritually, by a true and lively feel|ing, apprehending and applying faith, which is the hand and mouth of my &s;oul, to &s;trengthen and nouri&s;h my &s;oul and body, my life of grace in me to life E|ternal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What may be done for bet|ter quickning your &s;oul in this participation of Chri&s;t, and this ble&s;&s;ed fea&s;t at Chri&s;ts Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> 1. I may and ought to ob&s;erve diligently this rich fea&s;t upon which I feed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 25.6.</NOTE> as a fea&s;t of fat things which the Lord promi&s;ed his people a fea&s;t of fat things, full of marrow, a fea&s;t of wines on the lees well refined.</P>
<P>Yea, not onely Bread and Wine for my body, but Chri&s;t him&s;elf and all his rich benefits to feed my &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.27, &amp;c.</NOTE> to &s;trength|en my life of faith, by the living vertue
<PB N="438" REF="248"> of Chri&s;t ingrace, till I get po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What is the &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A divine meditation of Chri&s;t as of the Tree of Life in the mid&s;t of the Paradi&s;e of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen 2.9 &amp; 3.22. Re. 22.2. &amp; 22.17. Ioh. 4.14. Phil. 4.11, &amp;c.</NOTE> of which who&s;oever eateth, &s;hall live for ever (as a Tree of Life) yea, a Tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits, and yield fruit every moneth, and oftner if I meet Chri&s;t oftner in his Ordinances; yea, living fruit which hath a living vertue to revive and quicken a dying fainting &s;oul, to &s;trengthen a weak and almo&s;t decay|ing grace, as of Knowledge, Faith, Re|pentance, Love, Joy, Peace, contentment in my heart, yea, the very leaves of this Tree Chri&s;t, are good to heal all di&s;ea&s;es and infirmities in a &s;oul, every ta&s;te of Chri&s;t in this fea&s;t is re&s;taurative, filling my dead heart with cheerful and &s;oul-rejoycing &s;pirits of life, vital &s;pirits in|deed, as from Chri&s;t him&s;elf, that ever|living fountain of water of life, &s;pringing up in me to life eternal, &s;o that I may and can do all things, and glorifie God with &s;weet contentment, and rejoycing de|light in every condition, through Chri&s;t that &s;trengthneth me.</P>
<PB N="439" REF="248">
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is the thing, in exer|ci&s;e whereof your &s;oul may be more fully revived and &s;trengthned in the participa|tion of Chri&s;t at the Lords Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> 3. A lively faithful application,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 27.8 Cant. 5.1 P&s;al. 19.10. Iohn 6.57, 58.</NOTE> in feeding by faith upon Chri&s;t, and the a&s;&s;urance of Chri&s;ts love unto me, a &s;weet &s;piritual eccho an&s;wering of Chri&s;ts welcom, as if thou &s;hould&s;t &s;ay, Lord thou bid&s;t me eat, and drink, and wel|com, yea, eat thy fle&s;h, and drink thy blood, in and by believing that thou ga|ve&s;t thy body to be crucified, and thy blood to be &s;hed for my &s;ins: Now by faith I do eat, by faith I do drink, I do feed on thee, I do rejoyce in thee, I finde &s;weetne&s;s in thee above all the &s;weetne&s;s in the world, &s;weeter then the hony and the hony-comb; &s;till feed thou my &s;oul, and &s;hew me thy gracious and thy glo|rious refre&s;hings more and more, until I come to fea&s;t with thee in glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is the ninth Sacra|mental object, act, action, fruit or benefit in this fea&s;t of the Lord, in and about which you &s;hould exerci&s;e your &s;en&s;es, acts and operations of body or &s;oul, in or at this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That Sacramental union or com|munion
<PB N="440" REF="249"> with <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and the Saints of God, fellow-members of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and tho&s;e mo&s;t refre&s;hings from <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> in the enjoyment of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and his &s;piritual and mo&s;t joyful pre&s;ence to my &s;oul, held forth in the&s;e Sacramental promi&s;es which <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> the God-man hath &s;poken in his holine&s;&s;e, and which makes my &s;oul rejoyce within me, and having the pre|&s;ent po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> in feeding on <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> &s;piritually, eating his fle&s;h, and drinking his blood, and &s;o having an ad|mirable union &amp; communion with <HI>Chri&s;ts,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.56. P&s;al. 16.12.</NOTE> in enjoyment of all his benefits; <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> now dwelling in me, and I in him, as one day I &s;hall in his pre&s;ence have fulne&s;&s;e of joy, and plea&s;ures for ever more.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What may you now do by vertue of Chri&s;t? Or What acts of your &s;oul may you exerci&s;e? Or in what may you wait on Chri&s;t for your greater profit and comfort in this mo&s;t gracious union and communion with Chri&s;t and the Saints,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.17.</NOTE> <HI>the heirs and fellow-heirs with you and with Chri&s;t of Eternal glory?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I may follow the former dire|ction, and wait on <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in ob&s;ervation of this union and communion that is between <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and
<PB N="441" REF="249"> my &s;oul in this Sacrament, as in part is &s;et forth before this <HI>Catechi&s;m,</HI> and &s;o ob&s;erve and con&s;ider what an union there is between the ouward &s;igns of Bread and Wine, and the inward thing &s;igni|fied and &s;ealed, the body and blood of Chri&s;t, namely, a mutual union and re|lation, and this according to the nature of the &s;igns and the thing &s;ignified, is &s;pi|ritual and invi&s;ible; now it cannot be &s;een with bodily eyes, and &s;o there is a &s;piritual and &s;ecret union, and yet a &s;pee|dy pre&s;ent union; and as there is a &s;e|cret &s;piritual union and relation between the bread and wine, and the body and blood of Chri&s;t, repre&s;ented to my &s;oul to the eye of faith in me, and conveyed to the hand and mouth of faith in me: So there is a &s;piritual and &s;peedy pre&s;ent union between the body and the blood of Chri&s;t, and my believing &s;oul, and a &s;peedy and pre&s;ent communion and uni|on of vertue and &s;piritual refre&s;hment unto my &s;oul, partaking by faith of this refre&s;hing; for as the word is no &s;ooner &s;poken, and is united to the outward ear, but the thing &s;ignified thereby is pre&s;ent, and united to the under&s;tanding and ear of my minde; &s;o it is here, and
<PB N="442" REF="250"> &s;o I do ob&s;erve a divine and &s;piritual uni|on and communion betwixt Chri&s;t and my &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.20. Rev. 2.1.17.</NOTE> for my more full refre&s;hing at this &s;weet &s;piritual and reviving banquet, hidden Manna of grace in this holy Or|dinance.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What is a &s;econd act or operation of your &s;oul, to be exerci&s;ed for your more full comfort in this &s;weet and &s;piritual union and communion with Chri&s;t at the Lords Supper?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divine meditation, when I think and &s;eriou&s;ly ruminate and meditate again and again; How I do exerci&s;e two kinde of eyes, and two kinde of hands, and two kinde of mouthes in this Sacra|ment, and how and in what manner Chri&s;t is pre&s;ent, as with the &s;igns by relation and repre&s;entation, &s;o with me by pre&s;ent enjoyment; how as &s;oon as by the eye of my body I behold the con&s;e|crated Elements of bread and wine, and the&s;e are pre&s;ent to the eye of my body, &s;o &s;peedily do I &s;ee the body of Chri&s;t crucified, and the blood of Chri&s;t &s;hed for my &s;ins with the eyes of faith, and they are pre&s;ent to the eyes of my &s;oul, and &s;o I have a union and communion with them immediatly.</P>
<PB N="443" REF="250">
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16.</NOTE> &s;o &s;peedily as I do with the hands of my body take the bread and the wine prepared, and pre&s;ented upon the Table for me to take, but pre&s;ently with faith the hand of my &s;oul, I do ap|prehend and take the body and blood of Chri&s;t pre&s;ented to be taken and recei|ved &s;piritually and by faith at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I may meditate, That &s;o &s;pee|dily as with the mouth of my body I do eat and feed on the bread,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kin. 19.7, 8. P&s;al. 63.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> and drink the wine in the Sacrament, at the &s;ame in|&s;tant, with the mouth of faith, or my be|lieving &s;oul, I do feed on Chri&s;ts body and blood, and the vertue and merits of Chri&s;t are pre&s;ent with me, and I have a &s;weet communion with them, and in the&s;e or like meditations my &s;oul is fatted with heavenly Manna, as with marrow and fatne&s;&s;e, nouri&s;hing me in the wil|derne&s;&s;e of this world to the <HI>Canaan</HI> of heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What is the third principal thing to be exerci&s;ed concerning this union and communion with Chri&s;t, and his &s;oul-reviving comforts and benefits in this Sa|crament? Wherein hath light of Chri&s;t appeared unto you for duty in this?</HI></P>
<PB N="444" REF="251">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.56. Gal. 2.20.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Spiritual and faithful applica|tion of Chri&s;t and his benefits to my &s;oul, that now as verily as the bread and wine which I have eaten and drunken in this fea&s;t are mine, and the vertue of them is united to me, and I to it; &s;o verily the body and blood of Chri&s;t is mine, and the vertue and benefits of Chri&s;ts body and blood is become mine, and I am uni|ted to Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;t to me, to my joy everla&s;ting, &s;o that I may &s;ay with con|fidence and rejoycing, Chri&s;t loved me and gave him&s;elf for me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is the tenth principal Sacramental act or action which is or may be the object of your corporal or &s;piritual &s;en&s;es or operations of &s;oul or hody in the right ob&s;ervation, meditation and applica|tion of which, you may wait on Chri&s;t the Lord, Prince, with more full rejoycing in or after your meeting of Chri&s;t at the Table of the Lord?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Sacramental ob&s;ignation or &s;eal|ing in communication of this &s;piritual union and communion with Chri&s;t, and enjoyment of Chri&s;t, and all the benefits of his Death, Pa&s;&s;ion, Re&s;urrection, A&s;|cention and Interce&s;&s;ion, yea, of his Prie&s;tly, Prophetical, and Kingly Office,
<PB N="445" REF="251"> and of the a&s;&s;urance of all the&s;e benefits of Election, Redemption, Vocation, Ju|&s;tification, Sanctification, Freedom from the condemning and commanding power of &s;in from Death and Hell, with all gra|ces needful in this life and immortal glo|ry, when this Mortal life is ended; all which are &s;ealed and grounds of a&s;&s;u|rance, of all communicated to Saints in this &s;eal and Sacrament of the Cove|nant of grace the Lords Supper, as <HI>Rom.</HI> 4.1.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>In what acts or operations of your &s;oul may you wait on Chri&s;t for improvement of this Sacramental ob&s;igna|tion and &s;ealing of this union and commu|nion with Chri&s;t, and the Saints of God, and the a&s;&s;urance of all graces and benefits of Chri&s;t to his Church and children in this holy Ordinance?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In tho&s;e three before men|tioned:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, In a &s;erious con&s;ideration of this &s;ealing by the word of promi&s;e, and work of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit and Sacrament, or this &s;eal of confirmation of my faith, and of all Gods promi&s;es of this &s;ealing Or|dinance, the Sacrament of this body and blood of Chri&s;t, and of Chri&s;ts Death,
<PB N="446" REF="252"> held forth unto me in the Lords Supper, that as verily as I do partake of the out|ward Elements of bread and wine; &s;o verily the Lord Chri&s;t hath and doth communicate unto me the vertue and merits of his body and blood, and all the benefits he hath procured to and for the benefits of his Church and children, and for my &s;oul in particular,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20.</NOTE> for I know he loved me and give him&s;elf for me, as he did for ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Paul.</HI></P>
<P>Qu<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t. 26. <HI>What is a &s;econd opera|tion or act of the &s;oul, enlightned and &s;an|ctified by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, in and by which you may wait on Chri&s;t for improve|ment of this ob&s;ignation, or &s;ealing of the Covenant of Grace, and all tho&s;e fruits and benefits Chri&s;t doth a&s;&s;ure his Church and his Children in his Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divine meditation, by the help and power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, to think, me|ditate and ruminate, or as it were chew the cud again and again in meditation of this great and ine&s;timable love of God in Chri&s;t, and mo&s;t free love of Chri&s;t to my &s;oul, God the Father not onely loving me to give Chri&s;t his Son for me, and the Lord Chri&s;t &s;o loving me, as to
<PB N="447" REF="252"> give him&s;elf for me, and to give the Go|&s;pel of grace to manife&s;t this his invalua|ble love, but al&s;o to give the Sacraments, and this Sacrament of the Lords Supper in particular, to &s;eal this wonderful &s;ur|pa&s;&s;ing love of God in Chri&s;t to my &s;oul, manife&s;ted in his death and pa&s;&s;ion for me, and God the holy Gho&s;t to witne&s;&s;e this to me; and in this meditation to be per&s;waded and a&s;&s;ured by the &s;trength of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, that I have a mo&s;t &s;ure right title and intere&s;t to Chri&s;t, to his Death, Pa&s;&s;ion, Re&s;urrection and A&s;cen|tion, and Interce&s;&s;ion, and to all the fruits and benefits of all the&s;e to my &s;oul, and that all the&s;e are mo&s;t &s;urely and firmly &s;ealed and confirmed to me in this Sacrament, to the glorious &s;trengthning of my faith, and rejoycing of my &s;oul in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, having loved me and given him&s;elf for me, <HI>Gal.</HI> 2.20.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What is the third act orr operation of the &s;oul, in which by the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, you may improve this Sa+cramental ob&s;ignation to your &s;elf, to your joy and comfort?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A &s;piritual and faithful applica|tion,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, of this ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, as ap|pointed
<PB N="448" REF="253"> and in&s;tituted by Chri&s;t as a &s;eal to confirm my faith, and an application of Chri&s;t and his glorious benefits &s;ealed and a&s;&s;ured to my &s;oul, and &s;ealed to all Saints who have a holy union and com|munion with me in this Sacrament, and a communion in and with Chri&s;t, held forth and communicated in this Ordi|nance.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rea&s;on.</NOTE>For the bread broken is the commu|nion of the body of Chri&s;t, and the cup which is ble&s;&s;ed is the communion of the blood of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.16, 17.</NOTE> and we that are many are one bread and one body, for we are all partaker of that one bread, and &s;o I have both union and communion with Chri&s;t, and with the Saints, both &s;ealed to me in this Sacrament.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Simile.</NOTE>For as a Princes Broad or common|&s;eal annexed to an Evidence, confirmeth or &s;ealeth up to the party to whom the Deed or Evidence is made; the truth of all tho&s;e Promi&s;es and Covenants which are contained in that Deed, or Evidence, or Letters, or Patents: So this Sacra|ment of the body and blood of Chri&s;t, being as it were great Broad Seal of the Prince of Heaven and Earth Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, it &s;ealeth to my &s;oul all the pro|mi&s;es
<PB N="449" REF="253"> and covenants in that great Char|ter the Covenant of Grace, for my con|firmation and e&s;tabli&s;hment in Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e received by faith.</P>
<P>As circumci&s;ion of old,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Simile.</NOTE> and Bapti&s;m in the time &s;ince Chri&s;ts A&s;cention, &s;eals my entrance into Chri&s;t, and clothing upon with Chri&s;t and his righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and ingrafting into Chri&s;t for nouri&s;h|ing vertue to life eternal. So that I may &s;till conclude with the Apo&s;tle, certainly Chri&s;t loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me, <HI>Romans</HI> 4.11. <HI>I&s;aiah</HI> 61.10. <HI>Galathians</HI> 3.27. 1 <HI>Peter.</HI> 1.4, 5. <HI>Galathians</HI> 2.20.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="29" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="450" REF="254">
<HEAD>The twenty ninth Cla&s;sis or compa|ny of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have made profe&s;&s;ion of your faith, and knowledge of all tho&s;e pre&s;ent acting, concomitant graces, and gracious acts and operations of your &s;oul which are to be exerci&s;ed at the Lords Table in every Sacramental act and object of your &s;en&s;es, corporal and spiritual to your refre&s;hing and &s;trengthning in the Lord Je&s;us, by ver|tue from Chri&s;t the heavenly husband of your &s;oul: Now what light from Chri&s;t have you for tho&s;e &s;ub&s;equent graces or gracious following acts or operations of &s;oul or body in the inner man, which are to be exerci&s;ed and acted by you after the par|taking of Chri&s;t in this holy Ordinance, that a Chri&s;tian may walk comfortably with Chri&s;t in the whole cour&s;e of his or her life? And what light have you re|ceived from Chri&s;t to lead you to Chri&s;t in this respect?</HI></P>
<PB N="451" REF="254">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are two kindes of graces or gracious acts, &s;ome to be put in practi&s;e pre&s;ently and immediatly before we de|part from the Ordinance, and &s;ome after in the whole cour&s;e of our lives and cal|lings general and &s;pecial.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What are tho&s;e to be acted and put in execution, in and upon the act of receiving before you depart from this holy Sacrament, in which you may wait on Chri&s;t for a &s;weet and full a&s;&s;urance of Chri&s;ts love unto you, and of all tho&s;e rich and invaluable benefits, which the Lord Chri&s;t doth communicate and &s;eal to your &s;oul at the Lords Ta|ble?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The fir&s;t is a &s;piritual, repletion, Sacramental &s;atisfaction, glorious re&s;t, and full contentment in this rich Ban|quet at the Lords Table, not in the action alone, as re&s;ting in the thing done, but having now fully fed on Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 63.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> and being &s;atisfed with Chri&s;ts &s;weetne&s;&s;e as with marrow and fatne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>How are your affections now bent towards Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I de&s;ire now heavenly dainties, and re&s;olve by the power of Chri&s;t to feed no more at the Table of Devils, upon
<PB N="452" REF="255"> the prodigals husks of &s;inful profits and plea&s;ures,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 14.8. Luke 15.16, &amp; 221 30. 1 Cor, 10. Ier. 50.4, 5. P&s;a. 65.4.</NOTE> but to keep my Covenant with my God in Chri&s;t for ever, and to meet Chri&s;t upon all opportunities in his Or|dinances, that I may feed on Chri&s;t often at his Table of grace, till I come to fea&s;t with him at his Table of glo|ry.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>In what manner, or how may you wait on Chri&s;t in tho&s;e three acts of your &s;oul and inward man;</HI> viz. 1. <HI>Seri|ous ob&s;ervation.</HI> 2. <HI>Divine meditation. And</HI> 3. <HI>Faithful application for improve|ment of this re&s;t, &s;atisfaction and spiritual content in this heavenly refre&s;hing by Chri&s;t at the Lords Table? What light from Chri&s;t for this duty?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 2.3</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, for ob&s;ervation I may mark diligently divers particulars, Fir&s;t, what refre&s;hings I finde in the ordinance.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 13.</NOTE>Secondly, what &s;ign of Chri&s;t and his love to my &s;oul in dying for my &s;ins.</P>
<P>Thirdly, how my affections are wrought upon with grief and godly &s;or|row in my &s;oul.</P>
<P N="1">1. That my &s;ins have crucified Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. That I have been &s;o unthankful and &s;o often forgetful of this ine&s;timable love to me.</P>
<PB N="453" REF="255">
<P>Fourthly, how I am cheered up with a joyful a&s;&s;urance that yet God accepteth me in Chri&s;t, and that the pardon of my &s;ins is now &s;ealed to my &s;oul in this Sa|crament.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What a&s;&s;urance is gained from the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That Chri&s;t will make me &s;trong in time to come,</P>
<P N="1">1. To re&s;i&s;t all &s;in in thought, word nnd deed. And,</P>
<P N="2">2. More able to honour God in all e&s;tates and conditions.</P>
<P N="3">3. And more enlivened to delight in Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence of grace then ever before.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 5.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What further grace way be ob&s;erved?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That in Chri&s;t I am more hun|gry after the Word of God.</P>
<P N="4">4. More longing to fea&s;t wit Chri&s;t in this Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 14.22. Luk. 22.30.</NOTE> and more inabled to powre out my &s;oul in prayer, more a&s;&s;u|red, that although I may pa&s;&s;e through many aafflictions, yet I &s;hall one day fea&s;t with Chri&s;t in the Kingdom of glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What further may you &s;tir up in your &s;oul?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To ob&s;erve how I am delighted
<PB N="454" REF="256"> and fully &s;atisfied with this heavenly and joyful fea&s;t; yea, that I am &s;o &s;atisfied, as never any more to fea&s;t at Satans Ta|ble, or to have the lea&s;t communion with the Devil, the World, or the Fle&s;h, or any &s;inful fea&s;t of &s;inful profits or plea|&s;ures what&s;oever,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 55.3. Iohn 6.34, 35.</NOTE> as being now fully con|tented with Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence in this life, and with a&s;&s;urance of Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence in that life eternal which is to come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>How may you wait on Chri&s;t in the &s;econd of the&s;e Divine me|ditations?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gant<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> 2.3, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> In fixing the eye of my &s;oul &s;o fully upon Chri&s;t in this fea&s;t, I may meditate, by the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit, &s;o exactly upon every particular dainty which my &s;oul meeteth with at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What el&s;e mayyou meditate upon?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Upon tho&s;e glorious refre&s;hings and &s;trengthnings of my &s;oul in grace (by the lively holding forth of Chri&s;t) and my &s;o near union and communion with Chri&s;t, and with all the Saints, until my &s;oul &s;ay,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Cant. 2.1, &amp;c.</NOTE> It is enough, Lord, I de&s;ire no more, but &s;till to enjoy thee the de|light of my &s;oul, and mo&s;t thankfully
<PB N="455" REF="256"> to remember thy love above all the delights and loves of the world for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>How may you wait on Chri&s;t in the third and la&s;t, faithful appli|cation of all to your own &s;oul in particu|lar?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> By the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit and faith, I now by &s;ecret medication in faith; may and do apply Chri&s;t, and the love of Chri&s;t in all this rich fea&s;t to my own &s;oul.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What benefits do you enjoy by this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, now by the eye of faith I &s;ee evidently, that God my Father &s;o loved me, that he gave his Son for me, that I now believing, &s;hall not peri&s;h,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.16.</NOTE> but have everla&s;ting life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly, I now &s;ee by the eye of faith, that my Lord Chri&s;t loved me, and gave him&s;elf for me, thar he is now become the Author and fini&s;her of my faith; yea,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2.20. Heb. 12.2.</NOTE> the Author of eternal life to and for me, to whom he hath given power to obey him, in and by belie|ving.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is a third?</HI></P>
<PB N="456" REF="257">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, I now &s;ee by the eye of faith, that all this great fea&s;t was pre|pared for me, and lor my refre&s;hing, and &s;ouls contentment, and is a &s;ure and in|fallible &s;ign,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.1, &amp;c. Iob 19.25, 26.</NOTE> and &s;eal, and pledge of God my Fathers love to me in the Lord Chri&s;t, who is my &s;trength and my Re|deemer.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is a fourth?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 3.20, 21. P&s;a 24.7 Can. 5, 1. Luk. 22.23, &amp;c,</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fourthly, I now &s;ee, that al|though my Lord and Saviour, my great King of glory (who hath entred into the everla&s;ting door of my &s;oul) keep his re&s;idence in his mo&s;t glorious Court of heaven; yet he hath been pre&s;ent with my &s;oul in this rich fea&s;t of grace, he hath fed me with his delicates, he hath cheer|ed up my &s;pirits with his wines of joyes; O the &s;weet meats of comforts that have made my &s;oul fat this day, I am filled with the loves of my Lord, my heavenly husband, who hath married me to him|&s;elf for ever, and made me &s;it with him at his Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What may I con&s;ider fur|ther?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fifthly, How great was my un|worthine&s;&s;e, and how invaluable was his love and Free|grace to my &s;oul, when he
<PB N="457" REF="257"> &s;aw me in my blood, and &s;aid live; yea, when I was in my blood, dead in my &s;in|ful blood, he gave me life; when I was an Infant new born,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exek. 16.3, 4.</NOTE> ca&s;t out to the loath|ing my per&s;on; when my Father an <HI>Amorice,</HI> and my Mother was an <HI>Hittite</HI> could not relieve me, then my Chri&s;t, my Lord did graciou&s;ly &s;uccour me, he che|ri&s;hed me, he bred me up while I was grown in grace, he ca&s;t his skirt of love over me, and I became his, and he made me glorious in grace through the comeli|ne&s;&s;e that he hath put upon me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>what is the &s;ixth grace or benefit?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Surely, as I may, &s;o I will greatly rejoyce in my Lord, and my &s;oul &s;hall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of &s;alvation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 61.10.</NOTE> and he hath covered me with the robes of righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, as a Bridegroom decketh him&s;elf with Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her &s;elf with Jewels.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the &s;eventh be|nefit?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Seventhly, when I was in dan|ger of my life through the plots and con|&s;piracies of bloody enemies, the World, the Fle&s;h and the Devil, I drew near
<PB N="458" REF="258"> into the pre&s;ence of my Lord with a true heart in full a&s;&s;urance of faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">E&s;t. 5.2. Heb. 10.22. Can. 4.6.</NOTE> having my heart &s;prinkled from an evil con&s;cience, and my body wa&s;hed with pure water, my Lord held forth his golden Scepter of grace, and revived my &s;pirits which formerly hid been fainting for want of his gracious pre&s;ence.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What may you conclade from the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Now I may truly and a&s;&s;uredly conclude, I am my Beloveds, and my Be|loved is mine, I will hold fa&s;t the profe&s;&s;i|on of my faith without wavering,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Can. 6.4. Heb. 10.23, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 4.16, &amp;c. Luk. 22.36. Ioh. 17.24.</NOTE> for he is faithful that promi&s;ed, I will con&s;i|der my brethren and &s;i&s;ters in Chri&s;t, to provoke unto love and to good works, and I will not for&s;ake the a&s;&s;embling of our &s;elves together to meet our Lord at his Table, as the manner of &s;ome is, but exhort one another while it is called to day, becau&s;e the day approacheth when our Lord and King Je&s;us will call us all by his la&s;t Trumpet, to fea&s;t at his Table in heaven, where we &s;hall be with him, and &s;ee his glory for ever and ever, <HI>Amen.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What is a &s;econd grace or gracious action to be put in pre&s;ent exe|cution
<PB N="459" REF="258"> before your departure from the con|gregation and communion of Saints in this &s;acred fea&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A pre&s;ent manife&s;tation of my thankfulne&s;&s;e and love to Chri&s;t my Lord and Saviour again in the work of charity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Neh. 8.8, &amp;. Acts 20.7. &amp; 2.46. 1 Cor. 16.1, 2, 3. 2. Tim. 1.16. 3. Ioh. 5, 6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 9.4, &amp;c. Ioh. 2.34, &amp;c.</NOTE> according to my ability, to the poor Saints my fellow-members of the &s;ame body of which Chri&s;t my Lord is the Head, that I may refre&s;h their hungry bodies as the Lord Chri&s;t hath refre&s;hed my hungry &s;oul with plentiful refre&s;hings at his Table.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is the third grace or gracious action to be acted and exerci&s;ed by the power of Chri&s;t, to Gods glory and your own comfort, before the Congregation be di&s;mi&s;&s;ed after partaking this Sacra|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I am to joyn with the Mi|ni&s;ter of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 2.14. Col. 1.12, 13.</NOTE> and the congregation of Saints, in &s;olemn thank&s;giving unto God the Father, the Son and the Holy Gho&s;t, for the ine&s;timable gift of the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, for his taking our hu|mane Nature upon him, that he might be a fit Mediator betwixt God and my &s;oul, to reconcile me to God for his Pa&s;&s;ion, Death, Re&s;urrection, A&s;cention, and In|terce&s;&s;ion,
<PB N="460" REF="259"> and all his rich merits and be|nefits of my Redemption, Vocation, Iu|&s;tification, Sanctification, and Glorifica|tion, &s;o gloriou&s;ly &s;et forth and &s;ealed, and &s;o graciou&s;ly communicated in this Sacrament to my &s;oul, and to all Saints with me at the Lords Table.</P>
<P>Secondly, Humbly and faithfully to joyn in Petition for a&s;&s;urance, that all failings and infirmities in my performan|ces are pardoned in Chri&s;t, my pardon &s;ealed, my per&s;on &amp; whole &s;ervice accept|ed with the &s;weet merits, and incen&s;e of <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> righteou&s;ne&s;s upon the golden Al|tar, with a continual influence of power and vertue from Chri&s;t, that all the con|gregation of Saints may keep covenant with the Lord, and declare our thankful|ne&s;&s;e by our fruitfulne&s;&s;e in all good works, as becometh the people of God, who have received &s;o great ahd a&s;&s;uring plesges of the love of God to us in Chri&s;t, and of our eternal &s;alvation in and by the Lord Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is the fourth and la&s;t thing to be acted or joyned in with the Congregation?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divers particulars:</P>
<P N="1">1. After the example of Chri&s;t, to
<PB N="461" REF="259"> glorifie God in a holy Hymn or P&s;alm (if it be thought fit) prai&s;ing the Lord for his goodne&s;&s;e to his Church in <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> Ie&s;us, and to his congregation pre&s;ent in his Ordinance.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, waiting for the ble&s;|&s;ing, giving in and with which the congregation is di&s;mi&s;&s;ed, according to the practi&s;e of Chri&s;t, the Apo&s;tles and Churches of Chri&s;t, as of old, to leave the people of God with a ble&s;&s;ing, as <HI>Numb.</HI> 6.22, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Sam.</HI> 6.17,18. 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 8.55. <HI>&amp;c. Luke</HI> 22.50, 51. And the ble&s;&s;ing which the Apo&s;tle gave when they took leave of the Church in &s;everal Epi&s;tles, as <HI>Rom,</HI> 16.24, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> 2 <HI>Corinthi|ans</HI> 3.15.</P>
<P>And thirdly, I &s;hould return home with rejoycing, as the Eunuch did after he was baptized, or the two Di&s;ciples who met with Chri&s;t as they went to <HI>Emmaus,</HI> and take notice my &s;elf, and tell others how my heart burned within me, and how my &s;ouls was affected.</P>
<P N="1">1. With grief for my &s;ins. And,</P>
<P N="2">2. With joy in my Saviour, while I heard Chri&s;t talking with me;</P>
<P N="1">1. Outwardly, by the voyce of his Mini&s;ter:</P>
<PB N="462" REF="260">
<P>2. Inwardly, by the voyce of his &s;pi|rit at his Table, and how it was declared out of the Scriptures, that Chri&s;t ought to &s;uffer that his mo&s;t bitter Pa&s;&s;ion, and cur&s;ed Death for my &s;ins, and to ri&s;e a|gain for my Iu&s;tification, and &s;o to enter into his glory. And,</P>
<P N="3">3. How Chri&s;t was known to me in the <HI>breaking of the Bread,</HI> in the <HI>powring out of the Wine,</HI> and in Chri&s;ts giving, and my receiving of tho&s;e &s;oul-reviving and &s;oul-cheri&s;hing refre&s;hing; which I enjoyed at his Table. And,</P>
<P N="4">4. And la&s;tly, by the &s;trength of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and this refre&s;hing from <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> I am re|&s;olved, with the a&s;&s;i&s;tance of the &s;pirit of God the Father, and God the Son, and of God the holy Gho&s;t, daily to keep in memory that fea&s;t of the Lord, with that &s;weet welcom I had at the Lords Table, and in this or the like manner to be&s;peak my &s;oul every morning. O my &s;oul, thou ha&s;t this night received a &s;weet refre&s;h|ing from the Lord for thy body (prai&s;ed be the Name of thy God and Father in Chri&s;t) who is the keeper of I&s;rael, who never &s;lumbreth not &s;leepeth, who hath kept thee from the dangers of this night pa&s;t, and brought thee to the light of this
<PB N="463" REF="260"> day, who hath awakened thee out of &s;leep, and given thee a kinde of Re&s;ur|rection from the dead.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>How may I &s;tir my &s;oul to this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In this or the like manner: Now, O my &s;oul, be thou awakened, and break thy fa&s;t with <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and call to minde the &s;weet refre&s;hing the Lord did give thee the la&s;t Sacrament at his Table, and in what thou did&s;t &s;ee and hear.</P>
<P N="1">1. His invitation to draw near and partake of the fea&s;t that he hath pre|pared.</P>
<P N="2">2. Did&s;t thou not &s;ee Bread and Wine &s;et upon the Table, and with the eye of faith did&s;t thou not behold <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> him|&s;elf prepared for thy &s;piritual refre&s;h|ing.</P>
<P N="3">3. Did&s;t thou not hear the Mini&s;ter of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> con&s;ecrate tho&s;e Elements to that holy u&s;e; and with the ear of faith hear how God the Father had con&s;ecra|ted and &s;ealed his beloved Son Ie&s;us for thy Redemption.</P>
<P N="4">4. Did&s;t thou not &s;ee the Bread bro|ken and Wine powred out, and by the eye of faith &s;ee <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> body broken with torments, and his blood &s;hed to the death
<PB N="464" REF="261"> for thy &s;ins to Redeem thee from Hell and death eternal.</P>
<P N="5">5. Did&s;t thou not hear <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> bidding thee welcom, Take, eat, this is my body, Drink, this is my blood which is &s;hed for thee, and for many for remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins, <HI>Mat.</HI> 26.26, 27, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P N="6">6. Did&s;t thou not ob&s;erve and believe tho&s;e Sacramental promi&s;es, a&s;&s;uring that <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> loved thee, and gave him&s;elf for thee; and as verily as <HI>Chri&s;ts</HI> Mini&s;ter having ble&s;&s;ed and broken the Sacramen|tal Bread, and ble&s;&s;ed and powred out the Sacramental Wine, did pre&s;ent and give them unto thee to eat and to drink; &s;o verily hath <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> given, and did <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> pre&s;ent and give and reach out him&s;elf for a &s;piritual and heavenly re|fre&s;hing to thee, to nouri&s;h thee to life eternal, according the the Govenant of Grace.</P>
<P N="7">7. O my &s;oul, did&s;t thou not take and eat the Bread, and take and drink the Wine, and &s;o &s;piritually feed on the body and blood of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> that in &s;trenght thereof thou mighte&s;t walk thy great journey of this life, not as <HI>Elijah,</HI> fourty dayes and fourty nights to <HI>Horeb</HI> the Mount of God, but to Heaven Gods King|dom of glory.</P>
<P N="8"><PB N="465" REF="261">8. O my &s;oul, did&s;t thou not actually renew thy <HI>Covenant</HI> with the Lord as God, in gi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ing, and thou in actual re|ceiving and partaking of the&s;e &s;eals and pledges of his love; con&s;ider thy &s;elf, what ha&s;t thou now to do any more with &s;in and Satan, with the World, the Fle&s;h or the Devil, with any &s;in of omi&s;&s;ion or commi&s;&s;ion, that may grieve the &s;pirit of life? Remember thy Covenant, thy Pro|mi&s;es, thy Vow, thy Prote&s;tations to thy God; and be con&s;cientious, by the power of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> to keep them all the dayes of thy life.</P>
<P N="9">9. O my &s;oul, was there not a &s;oul-&s;atisfying fea&s;t &s;et before thee at that time, never to let thee to return to the fea&s;t of &s;in again.</P>
<P N="10">10. And was it not the command of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> to celebrate that Sacrament in re|membrance of him,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.39. Luk. 14.13, &amp;. Phil. 4.11, &amp;c. 2 Tim. 4.7,8.</NOTE> and what he hath done for thee? O then remember that holy fea&s;t every morning when thou a|wake&s;t, every evening when thou goe&s;t to bed: Thus thou mai&s;t feed daily on Chri&s;t by faith, O my &s;oul, and rightly endeavour to declare thy thankfulnes to God in Chri&s;t again, and &s;hew forth my thankfulness to my Lord Je&s;us, in
<PB N="466" REF="262"> daily remembring of him until he tran|&s;late thee to eternal glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What are the &s;ub&s;equent graces to be acted, and duties to be exer|ci&s;ed and practi&s;ed in manife&s;tation of your thankfulne&s;&s;e to your God in Chri&s;t all the dayes of your life? And what light from Chri&s;t have you received for direction herein?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 2. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 14, &amp;.. Mat. 22.37, &amp;.. Gal. 5. 13, 14. Eph. 4.1, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> There is one root-grace flowing into my &s;oul from Chri&s;t, and Chri&s;ts wonderful love to me, Chri&s;t loving me and giving him&s;elf for me: And this is the grace of love; that love of Chri&s;t with a holy gracious power (as a precious Load&s;tone) doth draw my &s;oul to my God in Chri&s;t, and &s;weetly con&s;train me to love Chri&s;t again, who loved me fir&s;t, moving me powerfully to live hence|forth, not to my &s;elf, but to him that dyed for me, and role again; and the fruits of this love are to be made evident by the power of Chri&s;t dwelling in me,</P>
<P N="1">1. Towards God the Father in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. Towards my &s;elf in true cha|rity.</P>
<P N="3">3. Towards my Neighbour in love and unity all the dayes of my life, all
<PB N="467" REF="262"> comprehended in one, Grace Love And all this as fulfilling the Law of Chri&s;t, <HI>Gal.</HI> 6.1, 2. <HI>Iohn</HI> 13.34, 25. and 15. 12, &amp;c. and becau&s;e I finde God hath loved me fir&s;t in the Lord Ie&s;us, <HI>John</HI> 4.19.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is the fruit that spring from this root Grace, of your Chri&s;tian Walking, the free love of God to you in Chri&s;t, a&s;&s;ured by the &s;pirit and faith, and the reflex of that love, as the eccho of love in your &s;ouls an&s;wering love again?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The manife&s;tation of my thank|fulne&s;&s;e, or thankful remembrance of Chri&s;t, of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 4.9. &amp;c.</NOTE> love held forth to me in this Sacrament by a conltant and con|tinued acting and exerciting of that grace of love wrought in me by the power of Chri&s;ts &s;pirit in my &s;oul:</P>
<P N="1">1. Towards God my Father, <HI>Iohn</HI> 20.17.</P>
<P N="2">2. Towards my &s;elf as to a childe of God in Chri&s;t, <HI>Luke</HI> 10.17.</P>
<P N="3">3. Towards my Neighbour, and e&s;pe|cially towards the Hou&s;hold of &s;aith, the Church and Saints of the mo&s;t High God, and my fellow-members in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, <HI>Gal.</HI> 6.10.</P>
<PB N="468" REF="263">
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>Wherein ought you to de|clare your thankfulne&s;&s;e, and exerci&s;e your love towards God and your Neighbour in Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In yielding obedience to the will of God as my Father in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 5.39. &amp; 6.68.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, in believing what&s;oever truth the Lord my God holdeth forth to be be|lieved in the Scriptures.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 14.21.</NOTE> in doing or &s;uffering what|&s;oever is by the will and plea&s;ure of God my Father to be done or &s;uffered by me according to his will.</P>
<P>Thirdly, in praying to or prai&s;ing God all the dayes of my life.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What light from Chri&s;t, or what directory or rule is there of your faith, or of tbo&s;e truths in which you are to declare in thankfulne&s;&s;e your love and duty to God your Father by belie|ving?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The holy Scripture or whole Word of God recorded in Gods Book,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 5.32 2 Pet. 1.19, 20. Gen. 3.15. &amp; 22. I&s;a. 53. Ioh. 3.16.</NOTE> the holy Bible, is my light, but that which is e&s;pecially for my comfort, is the pro|mi&s;es of the Go&s;pel or Covenant of grace held forth unto me in the Old and New Te&s;tament by the Lord him&s;elf, or by men of God, as they were in&s;pired by the holy Gho&s;t.</P>
<PB N="469" REF="263">
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What brief or &s;um is there to be believed of that which is taught at large, as the Doctrine of faith in the holy Scriptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Tho&s;e twelve Articles in that &s;ymbole of faith, or brief &s;um commonly called the Apo&s;tles Creed, explained further in tho&s;e other ancient Creeds re|ceived in the Church of Chri&s;t, and known by the Names of <HI>Nicene Creed,</HI> and <HI>Athana&s;ius Creed.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>Which call you the Apo&s;tles Creed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That which begins thus:</P>
<P><HI>I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth; And in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t his onely Son our Lord &amp;c.</HI> as is expre&s;&s;ed at large in my le&s;&s;er Cate|chi&s;m.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>Which call you the Nicene Creed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That <HI>Creed</HI> which beginneth as followeth:</P>
<P><HI>I believe in one God the Father Al|mighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all shings vi&s;ible and invi&s;ible: and in one Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t, the onely begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all Worlds, God of God, Light of Light,
<PB N="470" REF="264"> very God of very God, begotten, not made,</HI> &amp;c.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>Which call you Athana|&s;ius Creed?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That <HI>Creed</HI> which begins and follows thus:</P>
<P><HI>Who&s;oever will be &s;aved, before all things it is nece&s;&s;ary that he hold the Ca|tholike Faith. Which Faith, except every one do keep whole and und<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">filed, without doubt he &s;hall peri&s;h everla&s;tingly. And the Catholike Faith is this: That we wor|&s;hip one God in Trinity, and Trinity in &V;nity. Neither confounding the Per|&s;ons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Per&s;on of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Gho&s;t. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Gho&s;t is one: The glory equal, the Maje&s;ty co-eternal, &amp;c.</HI> as is al&s;o Printed at large in my le&s;&s;er <HI>Cate|chi&s;m.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>But are the&s;e Creeds the ground or rule of Faith?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.19, &amp; 2. Iohn 5.39.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The holy Scripture is the mo&s;t proper ground of Faith, and mo&s;t per|fect rule for judging all Controver&s;ies: But the&s;e <HI>Creeds,</HI> as they are grounded on the Scriptures and holy Wod of God,
<PB N="471" REF="264"> are and may be an obj<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ct and directory of our faith; and &s;o they have been and are yet received in the Church of Chri&s;t, and are very profitable for our help and furtherance in the know|ledge and remembrance of the Doctrine of Faith, <HI>Iohn</HI> 5.39. <HI>Romans</HI> 15.4. 2 <HI>Timothy</HI> 3.15, 16, 17. 2 <HI>Peter</HI> 2.19, 20.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="30" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="472" REF="265">
<HEAD>The thirtieth Cla&s;sis or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat directory or rule is there of your thankfulne&s;&s;e and declara|tion thereof, in doing or &s;uffering the will of God, as your God and loving Father in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t? What light from Chri&s;t for in&s;truction in our Chri&s;tian walking with God all our life long?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 4.1, &amp;c, &amp; 6.1, &amp;c. P&s;a. 119.105. I&s;a. 8.20. Matthew 5, 6, 7, c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;,</HI> The will and command of God my God and Father, held forth to his Church and to me in the Decalogue or ten Commandments, and the Explication and meaning of them by <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> and the Prophets in the Old Te&s;tament, and by Chri&s;t and his Apo&s;tles in the New Te|&s;tament, as is evident by many places of Scripture in the Book of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What light is there from Chri&s;t? Or what is that directory or rule of the Decalogue or ten Commandments
<PB N="473" REF="265"> held forth as a light to older our obedience and thankfulne&s;&s;e is unto God, as to our Fa|ther, who hath brought us out of the Ae|gyptian Bondage of Sin and Satan, and from the power of Death and Hell?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The &s;ame which God &s;pake in the Twentieth Chapter of <HI>Exodus:</HI> &s;aying,</P>
<P><HI>I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, and out of the hou&s;e of Bondage:</HI></P>
<P N="1">1. <HI>Thou &s;halt have no other Gods but me.</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. <HI>Thou &s;halt not make to thy &s;elf any graven Image, nor the likene&s;&s;e of any thing that is in Heaven above, nor in the Earth beneath, nor in the Water under the Earth: Thou &s;halt not bow down to them, nor wor&s;hip them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and vi&s;it the &s;ins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me, and &s;hew mercy unto thou&s;ands of them that love me and keep my Com|mandments,</HI> &amp;c.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>The&s;e Commandments or ten Words, fir&s;t, are or may be the heads of direction for a Chri&s;tians life, who is reconciled to God in Chri&s;t, and at peace
<PB N="474" REF="266"> with the Law of God in and by Chri&s;t, the condemning power of the Law being taken away,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.1, 2.</NOTE> <HI>in re&s;pect of that man or woman who hath his or her pardon &s;ealed in Chri&s;t. And &s;econdly, it may be as a light to them who are in Chri&s;t, and have the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t to a&s;&s;i&s;t and direct to a right under|&s;tanding of this will of God the Father in Chri&s;t? But what are the particular branches of duty and obedience to God our Father, according to which a Chri&s;tian ought to declare his or her thankfulne&s;&s;e and love to the Lord, the holy ble&s;&s;ed God, reconciled to you in Je&s;us Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Chri&s;t hath given a more &s;hort di&s;tribution of the&s;e ten Commandments, dividing them into two principal Tables or Branches:
<LIST>
<ITEM><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.35.</NOTE>1. Of the love of God:</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Of the love of our Neighbour.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>But are there not in both the&s;e Tables many particular &s;ins for|bidden as evidences of ingratitude, and contrary to the holy will and nature of our God, and many particular duties required, and directories of our &s;pecial duties held forth as rules of our thankfulne&s;&s;e, not onely in the&s;e two Tables of the Law in general, but in every Commandment in particular?</HI></P>
<PB N="475" REF="266">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes verily, there is not a Com|mandment, either Affirmative requiring a duty, or Negative forbidding a &s;in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 1.20.</NOTE> but it infolds &s;everal particulars el&s;where ex|pre&s;&s;ed in the Word of God, and nece&s;|&s;arily implyed in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 10.25, &amp;c. P&s;a. 119.125. Gen. 5.24. &amp; 6.8, 9. Luk. 1.6.</NOTE> and to be referred un|to the particular Commandments of the fir&s;t and &s;econd Table, as lights of truth from the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, for our more comfortable chri&s;tian walking with God by the &s;trength of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> that great Prince and Law-giver of his Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t.. 5. <HI>I conceive there are many &s;ins forbidden, and many duties command|ed: But what rules may be ob&s;erved for finding out particular &s;ins forbidden, and duties commanded in every precept of the fir&s;t or &s;econd Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, ob&s;erve that in the fir&s;t Table are four <HI>Commandments.</HI></P>
<P N="1">1. <HI>Rule.</HI> The three fir&s;t of which are Negative precepts, forbidding &s;in ex|pre&s;ly:</P>
<P N="1">1. Again&s;t God.</P>
<P N="2">2. Again&s;t his Wor&s;hip.</P>
<P N="3">3. And thirdly, again&s;t Gods name.</P>
<P N="4">4. And the fourth which concerneth Gods Sabbath, is partly Affirmative, part|ly Negative: This you may finde if you
<PB N="476" REF="267"> con&s;ider the four fir&s;t <HI>Commandments.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, again, the like you may ob|&s;erve in the &s;econd Table.</P>
<P N="5">5. The fifth <HI>Commandment,</HI> which is the fir&s;t of the &s;econd Table, is Affirma|tive, holding forth the duties of children to Parents, and &s;o of inferiours to &s;upe|riours.</P>
<P>The five la&s;t are all &s;et down Negative|ly forbidding &s;ins.</P>
<P N="6">6. Fir&s;t, again&s;t the life of our Neigh|bour in the &s;ixth <HI>Command.</HI></P>
<P N="7">7. Secondly, again&s;t the charity of our Neighbour in the &s;eventh.</P>
<P N="8">8. Thirdly, again&s;t our Neighbour in his goods in the eigth.</P>
<P N="9">9. Fourthly, again&s;t the good name of our Neighbour in the ninth.</P>
<P N="10">10. La&s;tly, again&s;t the coveting or de|&s;ire of doing our Neighbour wrong in any of the&s;e, even in our hearts, in the tenth and la&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>This is the fir&s;t rule: What is a &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly, con&s;ider that in every Negative precept, what&s;oever &s;in is for|bidden, the contrary duty is commanded: As in that of <HI>P&s;alm</HI> 34.14. <HI>E&s;chew evil, and do good,</HI> both the Negative and Affir|mative
<PB N="477" REF="267"> are expre&s;&s;ed:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t Negative, Thou &s;halt do no evil: And,</P>
<P>Secondly, Affirmatively, Thou &s;halt do good: So in every <HI>Commandment</HI> Negative, though the contrary good is not expre&s;&s;ed, yet it is implyed, and ex|pre&s;&s;ed in other places of Scripture, and &s;o to be referred to the&s;e <HI>Command|ments.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is a third Rule?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, con&s;ider that in every Affirmative precept commanding a duty to God, or to our Neighbour, the contra|ry &s;in is forbidden: As for example, if God command that I &s;hould love my Neighbour as my &s;elf, there he doth by that forbid all hatred of my Neighbour, for love and hatred as light and dark|ne&s;&s;e cannot agree together:<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 6.14.</NOTE> This is a third Rule.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What is a fourth Rule?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Every <HI>Commandment</HI> forbidding any &s;in mediatly or immediatly, again&s;t God or our Neighbour, forbids all means, occa&s;ions, kindes and degrees of that &s;in, inward or outward, in thought, word or deed, intention or motion to &s;in,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 34 20.</NOTE> &s;o perfect is the law of God in every particular of
<PB N="478" REF="268"> the&s;e ten Words, or ten <HI>Command|ments.</HI></P>
<P>For Example, in that &s;ixth <HI>Command|ment, Thou &s;halt do no murther,</HI> or, <HI>Thou &s;halt not kill</HI> thy Neighbour; In this is forbidden all kinde of murther, all ra&s;h anger,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.21, &amp;c.</NOTE> all evil provoking words or deeds, all murthering thoughts, all malice or ha|tred in the very hearts, and &s;o all occa&s;i|ons of murther, as our Saviour him&s;elf interprets the Law to his Di&s;ciples, <HI>Mat|thew</HI> 5. and &s;o in other commands, as forbidding Adultery, or the like.</P>
<P N="2">2. Again, every Commandment requi|ring the performance of any duty to God, or to our Neighbour, it requireth that we &s;hould by the power of Chri&s;t wait upon God in the u&s;e of all good means and occa&s;ions, to perform that du|ty with every kinde and degree of that duty,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.44, &amp;c.</NOTE> inward and outward, even to per|fection of &s;incerity, and &s;incere endea|vour at lea&s;t to Gods glory, and the good of our &s;elves and others. As when the Lord requireth, in the fourth Command|ment,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 58.13.</NOTE> That we &s;hould remember the Sab|bath day, to keep it holy, he commands we &s;hould &s;anctifie it, in making it our delight, not doing our plea&s;ure on Gods
<PB N="479" REF="268"> holy day, or &s;peaking our own words,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph 4.29.</NOTE> but &s;ucn as may be for Gods glory and edification of our &s;elves and others, glo|rifying God, and waiting on God for power in Chri&s;t, in hearing of the Word Preached, Prayer, Sacraments, catechi|&s;ing, conference, meditation, and the like acts of piety, charity or nece&s;&s;ity.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Is there any other rules to be ob&s;erved?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There might be divers; but I will name but one more:</P>
<P>Every <HI>Commandment</HI> Affirmative or Negative, is &s;piritual: A command of God bindes not onely the tongue and the hand, or our works and actions, which humane Laws take notice of;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 24.14, 15, 16.</NOTE> but it bindes our very &s;ouls and con&s;ciences, thoughts, intentions and motions of the heart to do good, and not to think or act evil: for God is a &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 4.24. Ier. 17.10.</NOTE> and they that Wor&s;hip him mu&s;t Wor&s;hip him in &s;pirit and in truth, and he is a &s;earcher of the heart, and a tryer of the reins.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>I am glad to hear your knowledge of the&s;e Rules in general: Now I pray you what order or method &s;hould or may I u&s;e to know and finde out the parti|cular or &s;pecial &s;ins forbidden, and duties
<PB N="480" REF="269"> required in every Commandment? And fir&s;t, in the fir&s;t Commandment, I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the hou&s;e of Bon|dage, thou &s;halt have no other Gods but me.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All this is not the fir&s;t <HI>Command|ment;</HI> for properly the fir&s;t words, <HI>I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Aegypt, out of the hou&s;e of Bondage,</HI> are rather a Preface or entrance into the <HI>Commandment,</HI> then a command it &s;elf.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>But wherefore doth God &s;et a Preface, or Portal, or Entrance be|fore his ten Commandments?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To gard them from contempt, and to &s;trike men with an awful reve|rence of God the Law-giver, when they begin to hear,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo, 19.</NOTE> or hear, or think of Gods <HI>Commandments,</HI> as the people were at Mount <HI>Sinai.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What doth the Lord hold forth by way of Preface to work this con|&s;ideration in the hearts of his people?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Three things e&s;pecially:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, &s;etting forth Maje&s;ty by his great Name <HI>Iehovah</HI> challenging to him|&s;elf Lord&s;hip and Dominio<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> over all,
<PB N="481" REF="269"> whereby he may compel, and hath ju&s;t right to require and command obedi|ence: <HI>I am the Lord.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 19.56. Deut. 10.14, &amp;e. 2 Cor. 5.19.</NOTE> he puts them in minde of his being in Covenant with them, by a Covenant of Grace and &s;pecial favour, as his cho&s;en people in Chri&s;t: <HI>I am the Lord thy God,</HI> which mu&s;t needs be in Chri&s;t, in whom God had reconciled them to him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Thirdly, he puts them in minde of the great benefit he had be&s;towed upon them, The benefit of Redemption from Aegyptian Bondage, by which they might minde their Redemption promi&s;ed in Chri&s;t, and in both be &s;tirred up to be &s;en&s;ible of Chri&s;t, and declare their thankfulne&s;&s;e by willing and &s;incere obe|dience to God Law.</P>
<P>Q<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">e&s;t. 13. <HI>You have given good rea&s;on of the Preface: Now what is the fir&s;t Commandment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It followeth in the next words, <HI>Thou &s;halt have no other Gods but me?</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>How then may you finde out your particular &s;ins or duties?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Although this is a Negative pre|cept, and therefore I might</P>
<P N="1">1. Con&s;ider the general &s;in forbid|den. And,</P>
<P N="2"><PB N="482" REF="270">2. The general duty required in this Commandment, as contrary to the &s;in forbidden. And,</P>
<P N="3">3. Ob&s;erve the particular duty re|quired, and the particular &s;ins forbidden in this fir&s;t Commandment: and might ob&s;erve the like method in the re&s;t.</P>
<P>Yet I &s;hall fir&s;t hold forth the general duty required.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What is the general Duty required in this fir&s;t Commandment?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 43.3, Exo 20.23. Deut. 26.17. Ge~. 17.1. P&s;a. 16.8 Act. 2.25</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I am commanded to have <HI>Jeho|vah</HI> the Lord for my God, and for my God alone, to chu&s;e and &s;et the Lord alwayes before me as my God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What is the general &s;in for|bidden in this prohibition?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 4.34. Exo. 34.14. I&s;a. 44.8. 1 Cor. 8.4, 5. Phil. 3.10</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To make to our &s;elves, &s;et up, or have any other God or Gods, or any creature, thing, or likene&s;&s;e of thing to be God, or in &s;tead of God unto us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What are the particular duties reqoired, and &s;ins forbidden in this fir&s;t Commandment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are many particular duties required, and &s;ins forbidden in other places of Scripture expre&s;ly, and here required or forbidden in the general: I will name but the&s;e few, the re&s;t you
<PB N="483" REF="270"> may ob&s;erve as you read the holy Scri|ptures, and refer them to this <HI>Command|ment.</HI></P>
<P>As I have &s;poken fir&s;t of the general duty required, and after of the &s;in for|bidden: So I conceive in the particulars, it is be&s;t to begin fir&s;t with the duties re|quired, and &s;o with the Affirmative part, that we may fir&s;t &s;ee that holy Nature and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e we had by creation, and lo&s;t by the fall. And,</P>
<P>Secondly, the &s;in forbidden, that we may &s;ee the &s;infulne&s;&s;e of our Nature and mi&s;erable condition &s;ince the fall.</P>
<P>And thirdly, I &s;hall oppo&s;e particular &s;ins again&s;t particular duties, as light is oppo&s;ite to darkne&s;&s;e. And,</P>
<P>Fourthly, &s;et down in brief the ble&s;|&s;ing promi&s;ed to the obedient, and cur&s;e threatned to the rebellious, that we may more clearly &s;ee our extreme need of Chri&s;t, both as a Ju&s;tifier and Sanctifier without whom there is no &s;alvation, and who is made of God unto his people wi&s;dom, righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30. Mat. 1.21</NOTE> &s;anctification and Redemption.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>Tell me then, what is the fir&s;t particular duty you conceive fit to be ob&s;erved in this fir&s;t of Gods Command|ments?</HI></P>
<PB N="484" REF="271">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 7.9.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> That as it is a duty to have the Lord the true God for my God, &s;o it is my duty,</P>
<P N="1"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 10.13, 14. Acts 17.23, 2 Kings 26.27.</NOTE>1. To know this God that is my God, that I may know how to do him accept|able &s;ervice in Je&s;us Chri&s;t: for how can I wor&s;hip rightly an unknown God.</P>
<P N="2">2. To acknowledge this God to be my God, and to be honoured of me and all men what&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>I conceive you an&s;wer right, that knowledge of God is a particular duty required in the general duty of having the Lord our God: But is there any places of Scripture of which the Lord doth expre&s;ly command to know him what he is, or what a one he is, or hath declared him&s;elf to be?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 4.39. &amp; 7.9 Ier. 24.7. Ho&s;. 6.6. 2 Chron. 28.9. P&s;. 9.10. Col. 1.10.</NOTE>Ar.f. There are divers places of Scri|pture which hold forth this duty; you may &s;earch and con&s;ult with the&s;e noted in the Margin, and refer them and the like places to this duty, as Explications of this Commandment.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is the &s;in forbidden, contrary to this duty of knowing God?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ho&s;. 4.1.6. Ier. 9, 6.24. &amp; <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.25.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ignorance of God, or not knowing God; this is a &s;in contrary to the duty of knowledge, and contrary to
<PB N="485" REF="271"> this Commandment, as is evident in di|vers Scriptures wherein God di&s;alloweth of ignorance as a &s;in.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What &s;econd &s;in is forbid|den?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Athei&s;m to live without God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 2.12</NOTE> or to deny him in our hearts, words or acti|ons, as in Athei&s;m.</P>
<P>Que&s;t, 22. <HI>What is the ble&s;&s;ing of tho&s;e who know God aright?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is life eternal with which tho&s;e are ble&s;&s;ed who know God to be the onely true God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 17.3.</NOTE> and whom he hath &s;ent, Ie&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What is the cur&s;e or mi&s;ery threatned to tho&s;e who are ignorant and know not God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Ie&s;us &s;hall come from heaven in flaming fire,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 1.7, 1.</NOTE> and render ven|geance to them that know not God, and obey not the Go&s;pel of our Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is the condition of ig|norant men then, whether &s;imple ignorant, or carele&s;ly ignorant, or wilfully ignorant of God? And what coun&s;el is to be given to the&s;e ignorant and &s;inful &s;ouls?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Their condition is mi&s;erable and damnable; therefore they &s;hould
<PB N="486" REF="272"> wait on Chri&s;t in his Ordinances for Power to lament their ignorance,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 5.31. 1 Cor. 4. P&s;. 9.10. Iohn 3.16.</NOTE> and not re&s;t until Chri&s;t give them re|mi&s;&s;ion of their &s;in, that in the end they may know God in Chri&s;t, and tru&s;t on him and be &s;aved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t, 25. <HI>You have &s;atisfied me in the fir&s;t particular duty and &s;in forbidden: Now what is a &s;econd duty required?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> As it is my duty to know God, &s;o it is my duty to believe,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 15.6. 2 Chron. 20.20. P&s;. 9.10. Ioh. 14.1. Heb. 11.6 Pro. 3.5.</NOTE> and repo&s;e my tru&s;t and confidence in God my God, in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t as my God in Chri&s;t; that &s;o I may rightly glorifie God in every con|dition, by believing and depending upon God in all e&s;tates, for things corporal, &s;piritual and eternal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What are the contrary &s;ins to this faith, tru&s;t and confidence in God.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 78.21, 22. Num. 20 12 1 Sam. 27.1.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, unbelief and di&s;tru&s;t of God, or his goodne&s;&s;e manife&s;ted in Gods Word and faithful promi&s;es for the good of his Church and children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What is a &s;econd &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut 1.29, &amp;c. Ier. 49.16. P&s;al 118.8, 9.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Pre&s;umption again&s;t Gods threatnings and carnal confide~ce in mens riches, and honours, or any thing, but on the Lord and his goodne&s;&s;e and truth in his promi&s;es.</P>
<PB N="487" REF="272">
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>What is the puni&s;hment and mi&s;ery of unbelievers and &s;uch pre&s;umptu|ous per&s;ons?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are cur&s;ed in this life,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 17.5 Rev. 21.8 Mar. 16.16. Acts 5.31.</NOTE> and to be &s;eparated from God, and cur&s;ed and tormented for ever hereafter, except God in time give faith and repentance in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>What is a third particular duty required in this fir&s;t Command?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Hope,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 5.1, &amp;c. P&s;. 5.6, 7 &amp; 33.22. Tit. 1.2. 1 Pet. 1.3.</NOTE> by which we expect and wait for tho&s;e ble&s;&s;ings &s;piritual, tempo|ral or eternal, which God hath promi&s;ed in Chri&s;t, and which we believe God will in his due time give according to his promi&s;e,</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What is the contrary &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> De&s;pair,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Kings 6.33. Mat. 27.4, 5. Heb. 10.38, 39.</NOTE> and impatiently ca&s;ting off hope, and refu&s;ing to wait upon God any longer, ca&s;ting away confidence in God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>What is fourth particu|lar duty required in this fir&s;t Com|mand?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> If we mu&s;t have the Lord <HI>Ieho|vah</HI> for our God (as God commands) then as I mu&s;t know and acknowledge the Lord to be my God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 6.5.</NOTE> and believe in
<PB N="488" REF="273"> him, and tru&s;t in him, and hope and de|pend upon him;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.27. &amp; 19. 17. Iam. 1.17 1 Ioh. 1.14.</NOTE> &s;o it is my duty to love him with all my heart and &s;oul above all, and for him&s;elf as the chiefe&s;t good, and the Author and Fountain of good unto all, and to love Gods Word and chil|dren for God, with all the Ordinances and means of grace.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 32. <HI>What is the contrary &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.37. Ioh. 12.43. 1 tim. 3.2 Ro. 1.30.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Love of any thing above God, and hatred of God, his Word, Ordi|nances and children, or any thing that is near and dear to the great God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33, <HI>What is a fifth particular duty commanded?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 31.42. De. 6.13. &amp; 13.12 Mat. 10.28. 1 Pet. 1.16 17. Gen. 28.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> An holy childe-like fear of &s;in|ning again&s;t &s;o great and good a God, with a holy reverence of his Maje&s;ty at all times, and in all places what&s;o|ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>What are the contrary par|ticular &s;ins forbidden in this Command|ment?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s; 30.1, 2 Ro. 3, 18. Luk. 23.30. Eccl. 8.12, 13. Rom. 2.5</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, carnal &s;ecurity, or want of the fear of God, or of offending God, pre&s;umption to &s;in in Gods pre|&s;ence, without reverence of Gods Ma|je&s;ty, and a hardne&s;&s;e of heart, or &s;eared
<PB N="489" REF="273"> con&s;cience without fear of God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 4.2.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, &s;ervile &s;lavi&s;h fear of Gods judgements.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Dan. 5.6. Acts 24.25.</NOTE></P>
<P>Thirdly, ba&s;e fear of the creature, without con&s;ideration of Gods greatne&s;&s;e and goodne&s;&s;e over all.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 15.24. Mat. 10.28.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>What is a &s;ixth particular duty in this fir&s;t Commandment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Inward, &s;piritual,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 13.4 I&s;a. 1.29.</NOTE> and &s;on-like obedience in a gratitude or thankful ac|knowledgement of Gods free gifts of grace upon us, far above our de&s;ervings,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 32.10. 1 Cor. 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.31. Num. 14.14.</NOTE> that in all we may &s;eek to glorifie this great and good God, not with outward onely, but with &s;incere and hearty obed|ence, as our God and heavenly Father in Ie&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>What are the contrary &s;ins forbidden?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Di&s;obedience, rebellion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 15 22, 23. I&s;a. 1.2. Ier. 44.17. Hab. 1.16</NOTE> ingra|titude, &s;acrificing to our own nets, or to any creature in our hearts, and not to God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What other particular duties are required, or &s;ins forbidden in this fir&s;t Commandment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers other, concern|ing our inward obedience, which may be found in &s;everal places of Scripture,
<PB N="490" REF="274"> and to be referred hither: I will touch but one more.</P>
<P>Quek. 38. <HI>What is that duty re|quired?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 4.4. Ge~. 17.1. Neh. 8.10. Hab. 3.17, 18. Ioh. 16.21, 22.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is joy, delight and content in God, as the chiefe&s;t good, in which the heart of a childe of God can de|light in, or re&s;t contented or &s;atisfied in, either in this world or the world to come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>What are the &s;ins con|trary to this joy in the Lord?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 30.1, 2. 1 Kings 21.4, 5. P&s;al. 42.5.11.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, &s;inful &s;adne&s;&s;e and di&s;con|tented heavine&s;&s;e, when men are &s;o &s;or|rowful for want of the creature, com|forts, or &s;atisfaction of their delight in the creature, or their own wills, that they forget that all-&s;ufficient fulne&s;&s;e of joy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 3.18, 19.</NOTE> or cau&s;e of rejoycing is in God the Lord and Saviour of his Church and people.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.1, 2, 3. 1 Kin. 11.1, 2, 3. Eccl. 2.8, &amp;c. Ionah 4.6, 7.</NOTE>Que&s;t. 40. <HI>What is a &s;econd &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To joy and delight in any crea|ture, or creature delight, in husband, Wife, children, friends, or what&s;oever earthly thing above God, or to draw our hearts from God. This is a &s;in, and &s;ometimes God &s;eeth it be&s;t to take the&s;e temporal joyes from his children, or turns
<PB N="491" REF="274"> them to &s;orrows,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 16.21, 22.</NOTE> that we may &s;eek to and re&s;t in him for joy eternal, which none can take from us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>What u&s;e</HI> I <HI>pray you can you make of this knowledge of the&s;e many duties required, and &s;ins forbidden in this Commandment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I may &s;ee in this light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 2.10. Who is &s;ufficient for the&s;e things. 2 Cor. 3.5. Gal 2.16 Iam. 2.10 Gal. 3.24.</NOTE> by the &s;trength of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, my own in&s;ufficiency and inability to keep Gods Commandments, or ever to be ju|&s;tified by the works of the Law, as being never able to perform perfectly that in|ward &s;piritual obedience which the Lord requires in his Law; but to &s;eek my ju&s;ti|fication by Chri&s;t; and in this re&s;pect, this Law may be &s;aid to be a School-ma|&s;ter to bring us unto Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Secondly, I may &s;ee my weakne&s;&s;e to walk in this rule of holine&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 3.20. &amp; 7.7. Acts 4.12. 1 Cor. 1.30, 31. Eph. 3.16, &amp;c. 1 The&s;. 5.23, 24. Phil. 4.13.</NOTE> which is &s;o &s;piritually perfect, and learn again my extreme need of Chri&s;t, as a &s;anctifier, as well as a ju&s;tifier; and therefore to &s;eek daily to God in <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> for holine&s;&s;e in Chri&s;t, and the holy &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, that &s;o I may be &s;trengthned by Chri&s;t to walk in this path of holine&s;&s;e for Gods glory and my comfort, becau&s;e I may be able to do all things through Chri&s;t that
<PB N="492" REF="275"> &s;trengthens me, and without Chri&s;t I can do nothing.</P>
<P>Thirdly, in my daily prayers to my good God and Father in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 6.6. Luk. 10.26. Rom. 2.14, 15.</NOTE> from the general and particular duties required, and &s;in forbidden in this and other Com|mandments (comparing this gla&s;&s;e of the Law with the gla&s;&s;e and book of my own con&s;cience) by the a&s;&s;i&s;tance of the &s;pirit and power of Chri&s;t, I may</P>
<P N="1"><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 34.19, 20, 21. Dan. 9.3, 4, 5.</NOTE>1. See my &s;ins Original, Actual, and of omi&s;&s;ion and commi&s;&s;ion again&s;t every Commandment, and I be more able to con|fe&s;&s;e them to my heavenly Father, and beg the &s;eal of my Pardon in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P N="2">2. I may beg more &s;trength from God in Chri&s;t, to glorifie God in the &s;piritual and holy practi&s;e of every duty both towards God and towards my Neighbour.</P>
<P>La&s;tly, I may learn what graces and &s;piritual abilities I have received to walk with God by faith in Chri&s;t, and to perform every particular duty according to my Covenant renewed in the Sacra|ment,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 26.17, &amp;c.</NOTE> and give God the glory in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us, re&s;ting upon his promi&s;e of ble&s;|&s;ing. And thus we have &s;o far explained the fir&s;t Commandment.</P>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="section">
<PB N="493" REF="275">
<HEAD>The &s;econd <HI>SECTION</HI> of the thir|tieth Cla&s;&s;is, or the &s;econd <HI>COMMANDMENT.</HI></HEAD>
<P N="1">1 Que&s;tion.</P>
<P><HI>VVHat is the &s;econd Command|ment which is next to be con&s;i|dered? And what are the parts of it?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There ate two parts of it:</P>
<P N="1">1. The Command it &s;elf;</P>
<P><HI>Thou &s;halt not make to thy &s;elf any graven Image, nor the likene&s;&s;e of any thing that is in Heaven above, nor in the Earth beneath, nor in the Water under the Earth: Thou &s;halt not bow down to them, nor wor&s;hip them:</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. The Rea&s;on in the words that fol|low;</P>
<P><HI>For</HI> I <HI>the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and vi&s;it the &s;ins of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and &s;hew
<PB N="494" REF="276"> mercy unto thou&s;ands of them that love me and keep my Commandments.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is the general &s;in forbidden?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 29.13, 14.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> As in the fir&s;t Commandment the Lord did forbid all fal&s;e or feigned Gods; &s;o in this the Lord forbids all fal&s;e or feigned wor&s;hip and &s;ervice, of what kinde &s;oever:</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Latreia. Deubeia.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, whether it be the Lord the true God by any Image or invention of man.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 4.15, ctc.</NOTE>Secondly, or whether it be to any fal&s;e or imaginary God, to bow down or wor&s;hip that.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Numb. 33.52. Acts 17.29. I&s;a. 40.18. Ier. 7.14. Rom. 1.21, &amp;c. Reu. 22.8, 9.</NOTE>Thirdly, or to the likene&s;&s;e or &s;imili|tude of any, either of Chri&s;t, or of Saints, or Angels, or Sun, or Moon, or Stars, Birds, Bea&s;ts, or any other thing made by God, or devi&s;ed by man, to be our God, or for our God, or the likene&s;&s;e of any of them, to make the invi&s;ible God vi&s;ible to the outward bodily eyes, or to wor&s;hip, or &s;erve God in them or by them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is the duty required, or the Affirmative part of this &s;econd Com|mandment, implied in this Command|ment?</HI></P>
<PB N="495" REF="276">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord commandeth all to wor&s;hip and to &s;erve him who is the true God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu 6, 13 &amp; 10.20. Mat. 4.10 1 Sa~. 7.3. Heb. 1.5. I&s;a. 8.20. Ioh. 4.24</NOTE> and to wor&s;hip and &s;erve him onely in a true and right manner, even in &s;pirit and truth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is a fir&s;t particular duty required in the general prohibi|tion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To have an eye unto,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 4.2. Exo. 25.40. I&s;a. 8.19, 20. 1 Cor. 11.23. 2 Tim. 3.25, &amp;e.</NOTE> and to con|&s;ult with the &s;pirit of God in the holy Scriptures, both for the matter and man|ner of our wor&s;hip and &s;ervice of the Lord according to his will, and this in outward, as well as in ward &s;er|vices.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What &s;in is contrary unto this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To follow the devices and in|ventions of men in Gods wor&s;hip,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 12.30, &amp;c. Mat. 14.8, 9. Io&s;h. 9.14. Ier. 32.34, 35.</NOTE> with|out any ground from Gods word, or &s;earch to know the minde of God in his &s;ervice.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What are the particular &s;er|vices or parts of Gods wor&s;hip, in which we ought to wor&s;hip and &s;erve the Lord in publike or private, according unto his Word, or will revealed in his holy Scri|ptures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There in divers publike acts,
<PB N="496" REF="277"> and divers private acts or parts of Gods &s;olemn wor&s;hip and &s;ervice, but we may ob&s;erve the&s;e four that follow:
<LIST>
<ITEM>1. Preaching and revealing of Gods Word and will to the children of men.</ITEM>
<ITEM>2. Admini&s;tration of the Sacrament.</ITEM>
<ITEM>3. Spiritual &s;acrifices of prai&s;es and prayer.</ITEM>
<ITEM>4. Covenants, and renewing of our Vows and Covenants with the Lord our God in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</ITEM>
</LIST></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>How is God to be &s;erved in re&s;pect of the Preaching and Revelation of the word and will of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.24</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> In &s;pirit and truth, or with &s;pi|ritual wor&s;hip; and that in a fourfold re&s;pect.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo, 3.5, &amp; 19.10, 11. Eccl.. 1. Acts 10.24, 25.</NOTE> A holy and &s;piritual preparation of my heart and minde, by examination, meditation, prayer before I come to meet Chri&s;t, that I may hear the voyce of Chri&s;t more comfortably when I wait upon him in this Ordinance.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 33.34. Luk. 10.39. Acts 16.14. &amp; 22.3.</NOTE><HI>What is the &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A humble and diligent atten|tion, as at the feet of Chri&s;t, to hear Gods Word, and be in&s;tructed by him from the mouth of Gods Mini&s;ter.</P>
<PB N="497" REF="277">
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the third?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 20.20. Heb. 4.2. Ro~. 10.4. 1 The&s;. 2.13.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A faithful acceptation or recei|ving of Gods Word with belief, as the certain truth of the holy ble&s;&s;ed God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What it the fourth respect in which the Lord is to be &s;erved &s;piritual|y in hearing of his Word?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.20. Ro~. 6.17. Ex. 19.5. &amp; 23.21 Heb. 5.4.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In diligent ob&s;ervation and obe|dience to that which the Lord holds forth to be believed or done to Gods glory, and our own good or the good of others.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What &s;ins are contrary to the&s;e duties concerning hearing or believing and obeying Gods word?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To come to Gods hou&s;e with|out a due preparation of the heart and minde and memory before we come:</P>
<P N="1">1. By examination of our knowledge or want of knowledge, or by meditation of Chri&s;t and his Prophetical Office, to teach us that we may learn of Chri&s;t, or prayer for Gods Mini&s;ters, or for our &s;elves, for our profiting in the Ordi|nance.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mic. 7.16 Mat. 13.15. 2 Tim 1.4.3.</NOTE></P>
<P N="2">2. To be pre&s;ent without &s;erious at|tentions, with gazing eyes, deaf, dull, itching, prejudicate ears, or wandring hearts.</P>
<P N="3"><PB N="498" REF="278"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 6.10.</NOTE>3. To hear with hypocritical, pro|phane, or uncircumci&s;ed hearts o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> ears, without love towards Gods Word.</P>
<P N="4">4. To hear with wilful, hard, impe|nitent hearts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 28.27, 28. &amp; 17.11.</NOTE> or di&s;obedient forgetful mindes, without care to remember or confer of Gods Word after, or prayer to God for a ble&s;&s;ing upon it to our &s;elves, or tho&s;e who have heard it.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What danger or judgement are &s;uch evil hearers &s;ubject unto? Or how doth doth God puni&s;h &s;uch wicked and carele&s;&s;e hearers of his word?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 28.9. Mat. 13.14, 15. 2 The&s;. 2.10, &amp;c. 1 Cor. 1.18, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> He that turneth away his ear from hearing of Gods Word, his prayer is abominable, and God many times gives them up to blindene&s;&s;e of minde, and hardne&s;&s;e of heart, to &s;trong delu&s;ions, to believe lyes, and peri&s;h for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What may the&s;e &s;ins and dangers teach &s;uch wicked men?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To come in betimes to wait on Chri&s;t for hearing ears,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Pro. 20.12. Mat. 13.16.</NOTE> and &s;eeing eyes, that they may hear and believe on, and receive Chri&s;t, and be ju&s;tified and &s;aved.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What way this teach Gods Children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To wait daily on Chri&s;t for more
<PB N="499" REF="278"> &s;trength,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 15.5</NOTE> to prepare more con&s;cionably to hearken more attentively, to believe and follow Chri&s;t more fully until they come to glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>You have an&s;wered con|cerning the fir&s;t part of Gods wor&s;hip, the Prceaching of the word: Now what is required in this command, concerning Gods Mini&s;ters, and their duty in this &s;olemn wor&s;hip?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 4.12, 3 4. Deu. 33.9. 2 Cor. 5.20. 1 Cor. 5.20. &amp; 2 5, 6.</NOTE> The Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t rightly called to this great Mini&s;terial Office, they are to Preach the Word of God in &s;ea&s;on and out of &s;ea&s;on, with all faith|fulne&s;&s;e, long-&s;uffering and patience, as for God, and in Chri&s;ts &s;tead, in godly &s;incerity, boldne&s;&s;e and z<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">al, for Gods glory, and the &s;alvation of &s;ouls; And this with Divine authority, and holy wi&s;dom, and in demon&s;tration of the &s;pirit, and of power.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What are the &s;ins of Mi|ni&s;ters contrary to this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To Preach Lyes in Hypocri&s;ie,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 4.1, 2. Gal. 1.8, 9. 1 Tim. 1.3, 4. &amp; 6.3, &amp;c.</NOTE> or any Doctrine contrary to the word of God or Go&s;pel of Chri&s;t, or unprofit|able for the people to whom they Preach.</P>
<P>Secondly, to Preach the word of God
<PB N="500" REF="279"> corruptly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 2.17. Ier. 23.28. 1 Pet. 5. 1, &amp;c.</NOTE> or not of a ready minde, but for filthy Lucre &s;ake, or with Lording over Gods heritage.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to Preach the Word flat|teringly to plea&s;e men, &s;owing pillows under mens Elbows,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 23.18 Ezek. 22.28.</NOTE> or not as the Ser|vant of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, not to Preach, or to be neg|ligent Mini&s;ters in their Mini&s;terial Of|fice.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 34.2, 3.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What it the penalty of &s;uch Mini&s;ters who Preach, or people Who hear the word of God in &s;uch a &s;inful man|ner?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 7.21, &amp;c. Luk. 13.24, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord Chri&s;t will not know or own them to be any of his at the day of Judgement, but &s;hut them out of hea|ven.</P>
<P>Quest, 19. <HI>What &s;hould he the con&s;i|deration of this work in the&s;e mens mindes?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">as Ioh. 5.1, &amp;c. to want ordinan|ces. Acts 8.21, &amp;c. 2 Tim. 2, 25, 26. 1 The&s;. 1.10.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> It &s;hould teach them in time to wait on Chri&s;t in his Ordinances, to &s;ee if God will give them true faith in Chri&s;t, and true Repentance, and for|givene&s;&s;e of their &s;inful &s;peaking or hear|ing of Gods Word, that they may be de|livered from wrath to come.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>You have an&s;wered con|cerning
<PB N="501" REF="279"> the fir&s;t outward part of Gods wor&s;hip, the Preaching and hearing of Gods word: Now what are the duties com|manded or the &s;ins forbidden, in relation to the &s;econd part of Gods outward wor&s;hip, the ble&s;&s;ed Sacraments?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are already declared in the former part of this Catechi&s;m, in the 26, 27, 28, Cla&s;&s;is, where you may finde divers directions of duties to be practi&s;ed for right preparation and par|ticipation for the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament: And divers &s;ins are or may be ob&s;erved contrary to tho&s;e duties, with the dan|ger of unworthy receiving,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.27.</NOTE> both inti|mated by the Apo&s;tle, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments are opened at large in the Cla&s;&s;es afore&s;aid.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What are the duties com|manded and &s;ins forbidden in the third publike Ordinance or part of Gods wor|&s;hip, offering up the &s;piritual &s;acrifices of prayer and prai&s;es unto God? And fir&s;t for prayer;</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is a general duty for all to pray to God in the Name of Chri&s;t for all things lawful and nece&s;&s;ary for them|&s;elves or others,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 16.23. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2.</NOTE> for Gods glory and good of Chri&s;ts Church.</P>
<PB N="502" REF="280">
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What is the general &s;in contrary unto this duty of prayer unto God in the Name of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 46.6, 7. &amp; 57.8.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, to put up our prayers to any other god, then to the true God, or to any other as to God, or to any Idol, Image or &s;imilitude of the true, or any fal&s;e God, or to any Mediator as Medi|ator, either Angels or Saints departed, or the Image of any of them.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 22.23. Iob. 15.4</NOTE>Secondly, to neglect prayer for our &s;elves, or not to pray for another, and for the Churches of Chri&s;t Militant upon Earth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What are the particular duties required in Prayer?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are many particular duties; you may ob&s;erve the&s;e in brief.</P>
<P N="1"><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 14.15.</NOTE>1. We mu&s;t pray with knowledge and under&s;tanding, both to whom, in who&s;e Name, and for what we pray.</P>
<P N="2"><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iam. 1.5.</NOTE>2. We mu&s;t pray with Faith, and in Chri&s;ts Name, having an eye to Gods promi&s;es of tho&s;e things for which we pray.</P>
<P N="3">3. We mu&s;t pray with repentance, that our &s;ins &s;eparate betwixt God and us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 16.23.</NOTE> to keep good things from us.</P>
<P N="4">4. We mu&s;t pray with reverend De|votion,
<PB N="503" REF="280"> having our hearts and mindes firmly fixed on God to whom we pray.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 10.1, 2.</NOTE></P>
<P N="5">5. In &s;incerity powring out our hearts unto God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 1.13, 15.</NOTE></P>
<P N="6">6. With humility or humblene&s;&s;e of &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 57.15 P&s;. 51.17. Luk. 22.41, 42.</NOTE> &s;ubmitting our wills to the will of God.</P>
<P N="7">7. With fortitude, even wre&s;tling by faith with our God in prayer until we conquer.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 32.24, &amp;c. Ho&s;. 12.</NOTE></P>
<P N="8">8. With fervency and zeal of &s;pirit for the grace we do pray for even with tears, &s;ighs and groans of the &s;pirit unto God, at lea&s;t in our de&s;ires.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iam. 5.10. Rom. 8.26, 27.</NOTE></P>
<P N="9">9. By way of Covenant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 50.4, 5.</NOTE> or renewing of our Covenant, and performing our Vows to the Lord.</P>
<P N="10">10. With per&s;everance, giving the Lord no re&s;t, until according to his pro|mi&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5.17. Gen. 32.10, 11. I&s;a. 62.6, 7.</NOTE> he grant the lawful de&s;ires of our &s;ouls, &s;o far as they may be for Gods glo|ry, and the good of his Church, or that he make <HI>Ieru&s;alem</HI> a prai&s;e in the earth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What are the particular &s;ins contrary to the&s;e particular duties in Prayer?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> There are divers particular &s;ins oppo&s;ite to the&s;e duties relating to the
<PB N="504" REF="281"> manner of prayer, and e&s;pecially the&s;e that follow:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, it is a &s;in to pray ignorantly, not under&s;tanding to whom,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mar. 10.35, &amp;c.</NOTE> in who&s;e Name, or for what we pray.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 11.6 Iam. 1.6, 7.</NOTE>Secondly, to pray without faith, or any eye to a promi&s;e, that we may have ground to hope for obtaining of that we de&s;ire.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 4.5. I&s;a. 1.15. Pro. 28.9 Iudg. 10.10, &amp;c.</NOTE>Thirdly, to pray without repentance, &s;o as God will not accept our per&s;ons or prayers, but both are abominable in his &s;ight.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 14.10, &amp;c. &amp; 4.14. Mat. 15.9</NOTE>Fourthly, to pray without reverence and devotion, with wandring imagina|tions, or vain di&s;tractions in this holy &s;ervice.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 15.1, &amp;c.</NOTE>Fifthly, to pray formally, without &s;in|cerity.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 18.11, 12. Iam. 4.6.</NOTE>Sixthly, to pray without humility ot &s;en&s;e of our own unworthine&s;&s;e, or &s;ub|mi&s;&s;ion to the holy will of the mo&s;t ble&s;|&s;ed God.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Augu&s;t. Confe&s;. lib.</HI> O Lord, give me cha&s;tity, but do not give it yet.</NOTE>Seventhly, to pray without &s;piritual fortitude, or any wre&s;tling with God, or to pray faintly, as <HI>Augu&s;tine</HI> before his conver&s;ion, for cha&s;tity, as de&s;iring, and not caring whether his petition was granted or not.</P>
<PB N="505" REF="281">
<P>Eighthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 77.1, 2.</NOTE> to pray without zeal or fervency, without &s;ight or &s;en&s;e of the want or what we pray for,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark. 2.19, 29.</NOTE> or of the mi|&s;ery under which we lie, without &s;orrow of affliction of &s;pirits for the ab&s;ence of Chri&s;t, in re&s;pect of that pre&s;ent di&s;tre&s;&s;e in which we are.</P>
<P>Ninthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 35.1.</NOTE> to pray without renewing our Covenant, or paying our Vows unto our God.</P>
<P>Tenthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 15.4. 1 Sam. 12.23.</NOTE> to pray without per&s;eve|rance to &s;urcea&s;e or leave off prayer to this great God for our felves, or for the Church and people God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What &s;hould the meditation of the&s;e &s;ins, evein in our prayers, work upon the &s;ouls of men?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, to the wicked men out of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Pro. 28.9. &amp; 21.4.</NOTE> it may be a Schoolma&s;ter to ead them to Chri&s;t, teaching them that even their prayers, and much more, their plowing is &s;in, and therefore they &s;hould not eat nor &s;leep in quiet until they come into Chri&s;t, and finde par|don.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>But what may it teach Gods Children?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, to &s;ee that when we have done all thtt we can, we are unprofitable
<PB N="506" REF="282"> &s;ervants, we can do no duty &s;o well as we &s;hould; and therefore &s;tand in need of Chri&s;t, and Ju&s;tification by Chri&s;t, without whom there is no &s;alvation.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 4.12.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, to call to minde that our Sanctification is imperfect; and there|fore we had need of Chri&s;ts vertue dai|ly to nouri&s;h the life of grace in our &s;ouls, that we may be more able to call upon God and do him &s;ervice,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.26, 27.</NOTE> wich joy and comfort in and by Chri&s;ts &s;pirit.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>You have opened the duties commanded, and particular &s;ins forbidden, as they relate to Prayer ordinary: Now what are the duties commanded and for|bidden in re&s;pect of Prayer and fa&s;ting extraordinary, practi&s;ed by the Church of God?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Lev. 23.17, &amp;c. Io&s;h. 7.7, &amp;c. Iudg. 10.28. 1 Sa~. 7.6. Acts 14.23. Ionah 3.6.7. Mal. 2.2. Neh. 1.4. &amp;c.</NOTE> <HI>An&s;.</HI> Prayer extraordinary and fa&s;t|ing, u&s;ed by the Church as an outward help and furtherance to fit for Prayer, is Prayer joyned with fa&s;ting or ab&s;tinence from ordinary labours, and corporal re|fre&s;hments, &s;o far as &s;trength and fitne&s;&s;e will &s;uffer, in &s;en&s;e of our unworthine&s;&s;e Ot any creature-comforts, and of our worthine&s;&s;e, that all temporal ble&s;&s;ings &s;hould be cur&s;ed unto us for our &s;ins; that being truly humbled with &s;igh, and
<PB N="507" REF="282"> &s;en&s;e of our &s;ins,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 2.20. P&s;. 85.8. Rev. 8. 4, 5, 6.</NOTE> and &s;ubjection to mi|&s;cry by Chri&s;ts ab&s;ence, or &s;eeming ab|&s;ence from our &s;elves or any other Saint in particular, or from the Church of God in general, either in re&s;pect of &s;piritual graces, or want of the manife&s;tation of Chri&s;ts power and pre&s;ence to help in any di&s;tre&s;&s;e, we may &s;eek the face of God in Chri&s;t with greater earne&s;tne&s;&s;e, and finde a return of our Prayers with more joy in the Lord, who is the hearer of Prayer in and through the mediation and merit of Je&s;us Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>What are the &s;ins contrary to this duty of extraordinary Fa&s;ting and Prayer?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To refu&s;e or neglect Humilia|tion with Fa&s;ting and Prayer,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 22.12, &amp;c. &amp; 58. 3, &amp;c.</NOTE> when the Lord calls for it, or to perform the duty formally, or by halfs, not fully as the Lord requireth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>You have declared the du|ties required, and &s;ins contrary in Prayer: Now what are the duties commanded, and &s;ins forbidden in re&s;pect of prai&s;es and thanksgiving unto the Lord, and fir&s;t in general?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 50.15, 23. &amp; 103.2, 3.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is the duty of every childe of God in Chri&s;t, to glorifie God in all
<PB N="508" REF="283"> thankfulne&s;&s;e for all deliverances from danger,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.1.</NOTE> or any other mercies received, either &s;piritual or temporal.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What ia the contrary &s;in forbidden?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deu. 32. 5, 6, 7. Luk. 27.17. Hab. 1.16 I&s;a. 42.8. P&s;. 110.12.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To be ingrateful by &s;inning a|gain&s;t God, or to neglect to glorifie God for his favours be&s;towed, or to &s;a|crifice to our own nets, or give the prai&s;e to any other which is due to God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>What are the particular duties required in Thanksgiving?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers; you may ob|&s;erve the&s;e four:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, An acknowledgement of the ble&s;&s;ings and graces which the Lord hath given us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen, 32.10. Neh. 9.5</NOTE> to be far above all that we can do, and above and beyond all thank&s;|giuing and prai&s;e that can come from us.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28.20, 21. P&s;al. 16.5. 6, 7.</NOTE>Secondly, A contentment in the lot and condition the Lord is plea&s;ed to order for us in his good Providence.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 17.26. P&s;. 66.4.</NOTE>Thirdly, A Declaration of Gods mer|cies be&s;towed upon us to others to Gods glory.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;. 118.5. &amp; 95.1, 2 &amp; 107. 8, &amp;c.</NOTE> Fourthly, An Exhortation and &s;tirring up of others to glorifie God with us for the Lords mercies.</P>
<PB N="509" REF="283">
<P>Que&s;t. 32. <HI>What are the contraries of the&s;e duties?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are all &s;ins: As,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 35.25. Ion. 4.8, 9.</NOTE></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, not to acknowledge Gods mer|cies, and give the Lord thanks for them.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Kin. 6.33.</NOTE> to be di&s;contented at the Lords di&s;po&s;ing of us, either in pro&s;perity or adver&s;ity.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to conceal the Lords favour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Kings 7, 9.</NOTE> and not to tell others what the Lord hath done for our &s;ouls, that we may prai&s;e the Lord together.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 64.7. not like the wo|man, Lu. 15.9.</NOTE> not to &s;tir up others to to prai&s;e the Lord for his goodne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>The&s;e are the duties re|quired, and &s;ins forbidden for private or ordinary prai&s;es: But what is the duty of extraordinary prai&s;ing God with fea&s;ting and joyfulne&s;&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Extraordinary prai&s;e is when the Church of God for &s;ome great and ex|traordinary mercy received,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Chron. 16.8, &amp;c. 2 Chron. 20.26, 27 Neh. 8.9, 10.</NOTE> doth cele|brate a day of prai&s;e, &s;olemnly glori|fying of the Lord, and rejoycing in God in the comfortable &s;ober u&s;e of the crea|tures, remembring our friends, and e&s;pe|cially giving gifts to the poor, that they may rejoyce with us, and prai&s;e the Lord.</P>
<PB N="510" REF="284">
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>You have an&s;wered con|cerning the three fir&s;t parts of Gods &s;olemn wor&s;hip: Now What I pray yon are the duties required in the fourth and la&s;t you named, to wit, Covenants, and renewing of our Vows and Covenants before the Lord?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> To under&s;tand this, we mu&s;t di|&s;tingui&s;h of Covenants, Vows and Pro|mi&s;es they are of two &s;orts:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, that general Covenant, and Pro|mi&s;e or Vow, which Gods people make with God in Chri&s;t in Bapti&s;m, and re|new again and again in tha Lords Sup|per.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.7, 8, 2.</NOTE>This is an ab&s;olute duty and part of Gods wor&s;hip required in this Com|mand.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 19.4, &amp;c. &amp; 20.1, &amp;c. Deut. 5.23, &amp;c. &amp; 26.17, Io&s;h. 24.19, &amp;c. Gen. 28.20, &amp;c.</NOTE>That at the Lord doth give him&s;elf to be our God and Chri&s;t, as a reconciled God and Father, and take his Church and children to be his people.</P>
<P>So Gods people are bound, and it is tneir duty again not onely to take the Lord for their God; but to Covenant, Vow and Promi&s;e, and binde them&s;elves mutually by Vow and Covenant to be Gods people, and to give up them&s;elves wholly to be the Lords &s;ervants; and by
<PB N="511" REF="284"> all wayes and means to glorifie God and keep his Commandments.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>But is this renewing of this Covenant, Vow, and general Promi&s;e, and binding of our &s;elves to God by Vow and Covenant, a duty when the Lord calls for it, by an extraordinary occa&s;ion, either of his tryals of us, by dangers and adver&s;ity, or by mercies in deliverances from dan|gers, and Enemies in time of danger?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes certainly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 35.1. 1. Sam. 7, 2, &amp;c. 2 Chron. 15.10, &amp;c. Ier. 50.4, 5.</NOTE> it is no more but a duty for a man or woman in particular, or a Church ard Nation in general, upon extraordinaty occa&s;ions of Gods provi|dence in adver&s;ity or pro&s;perity, to &s;eek the Lord by way of Covenant, and re|newing of our Vows and Covenants with our God in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>You have an&s;wered con|cerning the general Covenant, Vow and Promi&s;e in Bapti&s;m, and the renewing of that Promi&s;e, Vow or Prote&s;tation of a Childe of God in particular, or the Church and people of God in general, as upon &s;peci|al occa&s;ions: What are &s;pecial Vows?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Special Vows and Prote&s;tations,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28.21, 22. P&s;al. 66.14, &amp;c. &amp; 76.42.</NOTE> or Promi&s;es to God for &s;ome &s;pecial cau|&s;es, are to be made by fit per&s;ons, of things lawful, and in our own power in a
<PB N="512" REF="285"> right manner,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Num. 30.1, &amp;c. P&s;a 116.12, 13. Ier. 35.6, 7, 8. Deut. 7.2, &amp;c. Num. 16.3, 33. 1 Sam. 6.19, 20. &amp; 6.7. Eph. 5.15 Ier. 51.45. Rev. 18. Iob. 22.21. 1 Cor. 9.27. P&s;a. 132.1, 2, 3. 1 Cor. 9.11. &amp; 16.1, 3. Rom. 14.23. Iohn 4.24. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20.</NOTE> and to a right end&punc; to glo|rifie God, and as furtherance for avoid|ing of &s;in, or occa&s;ion of &s;in, or of per|formance of &s;ome duty, or of declara|tion of our thankfulne&s;&s;e for &s;ome &s;pecial mercy received. As,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, not to drink wine or &s;trong drink, to avoid drunken company, and all occa&s;ion of familiarity of &s;uch as may entice to any &s;in; as not to have fami|liarity with Athei&s;ts or Papi&s;ts, or any who may draw us to prophanene&s;&s;e, or from our preci&s;e and &s;trict walking with the preci&s;e God of Heaven and Earth, or bring us in danger of Gods judgements by their company; or to &s;pend &s;ome time daily in &s;ecret acquaintance with God.</P>
<P>And &s;econdly, to do &s;ome &s;pecial good, as to give &s;ome part of our e&s;tate for maintenance of the Preaching of the Go&s;pel where it is wanting, or &s;o much yearly out of our encrea&s;e, and gain to the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t, or to the poor of Chri&s;t, in thankfulne&s;&s;e to God for his mercies in deliverance from &s;pecial dan|gers, or communicating to us &s;ome &s;pe|cial favours, and all this in faith, &s;pirit, and in truth, as unto God our God,
<PB N="513" REF="285"> reconciled unto us in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 37. <HI>What are the &s;ins contrary to the duty of Vows, and Covenants, and Prote&s;tations, thus made or renewed in a right manner unto God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, all ra&s;h, incon&s;iderate, un|lawful Vows.</P>
<P>Secondly, all breaking of our Vows,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ecc. 5.2. &amp; 5.4. Deut. 23.21. Prov. 20.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> Promi&s;es or Prote&s;tations lawful, made to God in a true manner, and to a right end.</P>
<P>Thirdly, all Vows, Promi&s;es of Cove|nants made with the Devil,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Lev. 20.27. Deu. 18.10&punc; &amp;c.</NOTE> or &s;ervice done unto the Devil immediatly, as Wit|ches, Wi&s;ards, Conjurers, or &s;uch like u&s;e to do.</P>
<P>Or &s;ervice done to the Devil mediatly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 28.7, &amp;c. Acts 16.19. Ezek. 21.21, 22. I&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. 1.19.</NOTE> by feeking unto, con&s;ulting with Witches, Wi&s;ards, Conjurers, Fortune-tellerss, or any of the Devil children of that na|ture, for help in di&s;tre&s;&s;e, or attaining what&s;oever we de&s;ire.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 38. <HI>Are there any other &s;ins forbidden in this &s;econd Command|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I will not &s;tand to &s;et down every particular &s;in; nor is it ea&s;ie:<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="foreign"> Col. 2.20, &amp;c.</NOTE> But be&s;ides all fal&s;e wor&s;hip, and <HI>Ethelo|threskeia</HI> or Will-Wor&s;hip, framed in
<PB N="514" REF="286"> mans brain,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exo. 4, 5. &amp; 12.3.6 &amp; 19.10. 2 Kin. 21.3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 10.17. &amp;c. 2 Chron. 19.1, 2, 3 Deu. 13.6, &amp;c. &amp; 7.2, 3. Eph. 5.11</NOTE> and all neglect of Gods true Wor&s;hip, and of any preparation, means, help or furtherance thereunto, all re&s;t or confidence in Wor&s;hip, or in any duty, and not on Chri&s;t in duty; all help or approbation of Idolatrous fal&s;e Wor&s;hip, or Will Wor&s;hip, or inward familiarity with Idolaters, favouring or &s;paring of any &s;uch as the Word of God holdeth forth to be &s;hunned or puni&s;hed, is a &s;in, and contrary to the &s;econd Commandment, and &s;o to be avoid|ed.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 14.26. &amp; 11.13. &amp; 14.40.</NOTE>La&s;tly, all failing in circum&s;tances, when what is done is contrary to edifi|cation, to decency, or to order.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>You have thus manife&s;ted the duties required, and the &s;ins forbidden in the &s;econd Commandment: Now what may be further learned from hence?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 119.12, 13. Acts 4.12.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> That the &s;ins and failings in out holy &s;ervices, are or may be exceeding many in the manner, as well as in the matter of our Wor&s;hip; And there|fore.</P>
<P N="1">1. Men may &s;ee their extreme need of Chri&s;t for &s;alvation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 5.40 Mat. 17.5</NOTE> and come in to Chri&s;t for Iu&s;tification and life eternal, and to re&s;t, not upon our be&s;t &s;ervices or per|formances
<PB N="515" REF="286"> of holy duties,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 8.4. Mat. 17.5</NOTE> or any our graces; but upon Chri&s;t for our accept|ance with the Lord.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 15.5. Phil. 4.13.</NOTE></P>
<P N="2">2. Even Saints them&s;elves may learn to wait daily on Chri&s;t in his Ordinances for true light, &s;trength and v<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rtue from Chri&s;t, wi&s;ely, faithfully, &s;piritually and truly to perform our holy &s;ervices in pub|like and private,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 5.30.</NOTE> to Gods glory and our own comfort in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>And to direct and help you further for a more comfortable walking with God in Chri&s;t, by true light from Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 5.24.</NOTE> in your duties general (as a Chri&s;tian) and particular in your calling, and &s;o all Chri&s;tians in theirs, not onely as they re&s;pect this &s;econd, but all other Com|mandments of the fir&s;t or &s;econd Table; yea, and as they relate to what is to be received by Faith, and believed in the Go&s;pel, take the&s;e meditations and di|rections following:</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, con&s;ider that the Lord Ie&s;us Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.9.</NOTE> he is that true Light that light|neth every man that cometh into the world, <GAP DESC="foreign">, that Light that true, that is, that true Light, with an Empha&s;is, that &s;urpa&s;&s;ing excellent Light, that increated Light, that E&s;&s;ential Light,
<PB N="516" REF="287"> all one with the Fathers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 10.30. 1 Ioh. 1.5. Heb. 1.2, 3. Iam. 1.17. I&s;a. 45.7.</NOTE> and &s;o that Light in whom there is no darkne&s;&s;e at all, who is the brightne&s;&s;e of his Fathers glory, and the expre&s;&s;e Image of his per&s;on; That Original Light, as God the Father is the Father of Light, with whom is no Variablene&s;&s;e, nor &s;hadow of turning; &s;o is God the Son, the Father and Crea|tor of Light; for all things were made by him,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.3.</NOTE> and without him was made no|thing that was made; and &s;o he created the light al&s;o, not as he was God and man, but as he was the eternal and onely begotten Son of God.</P>
<P>As <HI>Jehovah</HI> is a Name attributed to God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 17.28.</NOTE> becau&s;e he hath his being of him&s;elf, and giveth being to all Creatures; &s;o light is attributed to Chri&s;t, becau&s;e he is light in him&s;elf, and giveth light unto all: He enlightneth every man or wo|man tht cometh into, and is enlightned in the world; all that receive any true light of nature, grace or glory, they re|ceive it in or by the Eternal Son of God.</P>
<P>That external created light made in the beginning, when God &s;aid, <HI>Let there be light,</HI> he was one per&s;on of that <HI>Elo|him,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Gen. 1.13</HI> Elohim Barah, &amp;c.</NOTE> the &s;trong Ones, Father, Son and
<PB N="517" REF="287"> holy Gho&s;t, of whom <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> &s;aith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.1. 2 Cor. 4.6. Ioh. 1.2.</NOTE> <HI>He Created Heaven and Earth;</HI> and who commanded that light to &s;hine out of darkne&s;&s;e, and that as he was with God, <GAP DESC="foreign"> in the beginning, and was God with the Father.</P>
<P>And that internal light of natural rea&s;on and under&s;tanding, created with <HI>Adams</HI> &s;oul, and communicated to the under&s;tanding of our fir&s;t Parents before their fall, that was created and commu|nicated by this Son of God, together with the Father and the ble&s;&s;ed &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.26. Luk. 10.30. Eph. 4.18. &amp; 5.8.</NOTE> he was one of that Coun&s;el who made man in the Image of God, and give that light of rea&s;on unto man, which was &s;o wounded, and the purity and rectitude lo&s;t by the fall, our under&s;tanding being darkned, and we being by nature dark|ne&s;&s;e, not light.</P>
<P>And for the light of grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 9.5.</NOTE> who&s;oever receiveth that light, they received it from Chri&s;t this eternal Son of God, not only as he is God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 7.14.</NOTE> but as he is <HI>Imma|nuel,</HI> God-Man, <HI>Theanthropos,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.14,</NOTE> God and Man, the Word made fle&s;h, in whom dwells the fulne&s;&s;e, of the God-head bo|dily, yea, all fulne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 1, 19. &amp; 2.9. &amp; 2.3.</NOTE> in whom are hid all the trea&s;ures of the wi&s;dom and
<PB N="518" REF="288"> knowledge of God, he being not only the co-e&s;&s;ential wi&s;dom of the Father,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 8.1, 22, &amp;c. Heb. 12.24. Acts 20.28. 2 Tim. 1.10. 1 Cor. 1.30.</NOTE> but the Mediator of the New Te&s;tament, the eternal High-Prie&s;t, Prophet and King of his Church, who hath purcha|&s;ed us, and light of grace and true hea|venly wi&s;dom for us, and brought life and immortality to light through the Go&s;pel: yea, is made unto us of God, wi&s;dom and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, &s;anctification and Redemption, communicating light unto us.</P>
<P>As the Moon receiveth her light from the Sun, &s;o the Church of Chri&s;t and e|very true Chri&s;tian &s;oul, receiveth the light of grace from Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 1.16.</NOTE>As of Chri&s;ts fulne&s;&s;e of grace, we receive grace for grace, &s;o of Chri&s;ts ful|ne&s;&s;e of light, we receive light of grace to prepare us for light of glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 4.6.</NOTE> light to &s;ee the glory of a reconciled God in the face of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ioh. 17.1, 2, 24.</NOTE>And who&s;oever have or &s;hall receive the light of glory and life eternal, they have, and do, and &s;hall receive and enjoy that light of glory, and life in and by Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Col. 1.12.</NOTE>God the Father maketh us meet to be made partakers of that inheritance with
<PB N="519" REF="288"> the Saints in light;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.19.</NOTE> but is in and by his Son Chri&s;t, in whom God was recon|ciling the World unto him&s;elf.</P>
<P>Chri&s;t is the true light, the fountain,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 22.16. Luke 1.78, 79.</NOTE> the well-&s;pring, the day-&s;tar of light, who hath vi&s;ited us, <HI>To give light to them that &s;it in darkne&s;&s;e and &s;hadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.</HI></P>
<P>Now, if you meditate and con&s;ider rightly and truly how Chri&s;t is thus the true Light, and communicates true light of grace to &s;inners, and to Saints, and that all that are enlightned, have, and do, and mu&s;t receive their light of grace from Chri&s;t, and every encrea&s;e of the light of grace in the &s;oul is from Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Then you may &s;ee a ground, where|fore I call this Catechi&s;m, <HI>A light from Chri&s;t, leading unto Chri&s;t;</HI> becau&s;e, what&s;oever light is in it of God or grace, it is from Chri&s;t; And what&s;oever light a poor &s;oul &s;tands in need of, it is in, and by, and from God in Chri&s;t to be re|ceived.</P>
<P>And all light, new or old, which is contrary to the light ot Chri&s;t, it is but a a fal&s;e light, leading out of the true way
<PB N="520" REF="289"> of life and light, toward darkne&s;&s;e; yea, it is but error, ignorance and darkne&s;&s;e it &s;elf, and &s;o not to be followed; but by the light of Chri&s;t to be di&s;covered and avoided; yea, and the publi&s;hers of &s;uch fal&s;e lights to be rejected, not enter|tained: <HI>If there come any unto you, and bring not this true Doctrine,</HI> and light from Chri&s;t (&s;aith Saint <HI>John) receive him not into your hou&s;e, neither bid him God &s;peed.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Iohn 10, 11.</NOTE> <HI>For he that biddeth him, God &s;peed, is partaker of his evil deeds.</HI></P>
<P>By this true light of Chri&s;t, you may di&s;cover and learn to flye from all that fal&s;e Antichri&s;tian light of &s;uper&s;titious Will-Wor&s;hip of God by mens inven|tions, contrary to the light of Chri&s;t in the light of his Word, aqd this Law or commanding part of his will and word in particular.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 15.9.</NOTE></P>
<P>By this true light of Chri&s;t you may finde out the fal&s;hood of tho&s;e blinding lights, who &s;et up the fal&s;e light of natural rea&s;on corrupted &s;ince <HI>Adams</HI> fall without the enlightning of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rationis lumen quo Deus ns donavit o&s;tendit non debere nec po&s;&s;o paenam corporalem quam unus debea, ab alio per&s;olvi, Sociuus Tract. de Salvatore.</NOTE> a|bove the light of Chri&s;t in the &s;cripture, as if it were no further to be believed then
<PB N="521" REF="289"> the &s;en&s;e can agree with the right rea&s;on (as they call) it of their darkned under|&s;tanding by which as the wicked <HI>Ar|rians,</HI> they que&s;tion the Divinity of the Son of God, and the All-&s;ufficient &s;a|tisfaction of Chri&s;t for poor &s;inners,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;a. 53.5, 6. Ioh. 1.12. 1 Cor. 2.14.</NOTE> a mo&s;t abominable error, odious to every true Chri&s;tian what&s;oever, and mo&s;t contrary to the light of Chri&s;t revealed in Scripture, which is &s;ometimes above not contrary to right Rea&s;on, enlightned by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>By this light of Chri&s;t you may &s;ee evidently that odious, hateful, fal&s;e light of the <HI>Mahometan Alcaron,</HI> upheld by <HI>Turki&s;h</HI> Tyranny, to the mi&s;erable &s;la|very and de&s;truction of many thou|&s;ands.</P>
<P>I may &s;ay the &s;ame of tho&s;e fal&s;e lights of the Councel of <HI>Trent,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Conc. Tri|dent. De|cret. <HI>1.</HI> Se&s;&s;.<HI>4.</HI> de Tradit. Conc. Trid. de Interpret. Script. Decret. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. Se&s;&s;. <HI>4.</HI></NOTE> making un|written Traditions of equal Authority with the written Word of God; and the Church of <HI>Rome</HI> the Judge of all Interpretations of Scripture, as Cardi|nal <HI>Bellarmine</HI> maketh the Pope chief Iudge, as being the Church vertual, and having infallibility of &s;pirit, as he vainly pretends, when as in truth his light is darkne&s;&s;e, a blinde leader of the blinde
<PB N="522" REF="290"> to error and de&s;truction.</P>
<P>I might name the Arminian fal&s;e light, that gilded Popery, the Antinomian fal&s;e light; I mean not &s;uch Orthodox men who Preach Chri&s;t clearly a ju&s;tifier and &s;anctifier, and love the Law of God, the commanding part of the will and word of God, as Chri&s;t by his light holdeth it forth in Scripture: But Antinomian enemies to the Law of God; indeed, their light is a fal&s;e light, ea&s;ily di&s;covered by the true light of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Others there are not worth the na|ming, who go about like <HI>Guido Fauks</HI> with the dark Lanthern of Errors,<NOTE PLACE="marg">A <HI>Me|mento</HI> of Nov. 5. 1605.</NOTE> to blow up the Parliament hou&s;e of the true light of Chri&s;t from the Saints, if the Lord did not hold forth the light of Chri&s;t in grace, to quicken them by his Spirit of truth unto glory.</P>
<P>I &s;ay no more of any the&s;e fal&s;e lights, but de&s;ire the true light Chri&s;t (if it be his ble&s;&s;ed will) may bring them from darkne&s;&s;e to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 26.18.</NOTE> reconciled in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Again, if Chri&s;t be &s;uch a light, the true light, Then how &s;hould every Chri&s;tian &s;oul highly prize this true
<PB N="523" REF="290"> light, Chri&s;t above all fal&s;e wandring un|certain dangerous light wha<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;oever new or old, for this light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Lux vera, et &s;incara nil, ficti habeus.</NOTE> Chri&s;t and his light is true light, without any counterfeit at all, and who will not pri&s;e truth above fallehoodjts not a true precious Diamond far more valued then a counterfeite: Is not pure Gold far more excellent then guilded Lead, or Copper; what woman will not pri&s;e a rich chaine of precious Pearle, above any counterfeit Beads, or Gla&s;&s;e, or the like: what hungry man will value a painted banquet above a &s;olid fea&s;t? was not the Land of <HI>Go&s;hen,</HI> where was light, far more &s;weet and comfortable then <HI>Egypt,</HI> where was darkne&s;&s;e that might be felt?<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 10.23.</NOTE> even &s;o is Chr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;t and his light, excelling the dark|ne&s;&s;e of all fal&s;e lights in the world; look upon the light of Chri&s;t, it is pure, cleare, and Genuine, as it hath not fal&s;ehood, &s;o it hath no ob&s;curity in it, It is Chri&s;ts owne proper light, as the light of the Sun; not borrowed as the light of the Moone, if it &s;eem dark to men at any time, it is becau&s;e &s;ome Cloud, or mi&s;t, of ignorance or unbeliefe cometh between a &s;oule and Chri&s;t. Yea Chri&s;t is a full and perfect light, the light of Chri&s;t it
<PB N="524" REF="291"> &s;elf admitteth no le&s;&s;ening, no decrea&s;e, the Moon, the more it draweth from the Sun, the more her light decrea&s;eth; But Chri&s;ts light doth not dimini&s;h at all, if any darkne&s;&s;e &s;eem to be, it is the weak|ne&s;&s;e of our eyes, not able to behold the glorious light of Chri&s;t, as &s;ick eyes can|not look upon the Sun in his glory. If <HI>Iohn</HI> Bapti&s;t was a burning,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 5.35. Iohn. 1.8.</NOTE> and a &s;hining light, who was not that true light, how much more Chri&s;t, who is the true light it &s;elf, by who&s;e brightne&s;&s;e we may &s;ee the glory of a reconciled God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 4.6.</NOTE> as in the Face of Chri&s;t: The light of Chri&s;t is full of vertue to drive away all darkne&s;&s;e from a &s;oule. The Land that &s;ate in dark|ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 4.13, &amp;c.</NOTE> and in the &s;h<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ddow of death, unto them hath the light &s;hined, and then darkne&s;&s;e flieth away; Chri&s;t &s;hineth in the midle of darkne&s;&s;e: He is truly a light to lighten the hearts, and the glory or Gods people <HI>I&s;rael.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 2.31, 32.</NOTE> He driveth away the darkne&s;&s;e of ignorance out of the minde and under&s;tanding, and cau&s;eth light of Divine and heavenly knowledge to &s;hine into the Soule; as it is with the light of a candle brought into a dark Dungeon, it expelleth darkne&s;&s;e, and light &s;hineth in the place.</P>
<PB N="525" REF="291">
<P>So it is with the light of Chri&s;t, when he cometh into a darkned &s;oul, he dri|veth out the darkne&s;&s;e of error, and light of truth &s;hineth in the place there|of: He driveth out the darkne&s;&s;e of un|belief, when a &s;oul walketh in darkne&s;&s;e and &s;eeth no light; yet when the light of Chri&s;t cometh &s;hining into a &s;oul, and revealing the light of Divine truth inclo&s;ed in the promi&s;es, the &s;parks of faith which were as it were raked up in the Embers, they are kindled, and the flame of faith &s;hineth as a light, with joy and peace in believing; yea, Chri&s;t brings the light of joy to a troubled con|&s;cience,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 4.7.</NOTE> and peace of God which pa&s;&s;eth all under&s;tanding.</P>
<P>And how then is the light of Chri&s;t precious: How is it to be re&s;ted in as &s;atisfactory above all other lights what|&s;oever? And how &s;hould every &s;oul that liveth and walketh in darkne&s;&s;e, draw nigh to Chri&s;t for light, for he lightneth every man that cometh into the world; all that receive light, they do and mu&s;t receive it in and through Chri&s;t, whether light of Ju&s;tification, or light of Sanctification, or light of glo|ry.</P>
<PB N="526" REF="292">
<P>O then my &s;oul, come into Chri&s;t for increa&s;e of light; come near to Chri&s;t and meet him often in his Ordinances, that thou may&s;t be more and more en|lightned by Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence, power and grace.</P>
<P>And &s;hall not a poor &s;oul fall in love with this true light of the Lord Ie&s;us. O be it far from thee my &s;oul to hate this light,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.19, 20.</NOTE> as tho&s;e who love it not, becau&s;e their deeds are evil. Light is comfort|able to &s;inners, and &s;o is Chri&s;t to a live pure-&s;eeing &s;oul, who by a lively faith can look on Chri&s;t, though the eye of Faith be never &s;o weak &s;ighted, Chri&s;ts light is a healing light, which fills the &s;oul wich life, in the end, en|abling a poor Saint to follow this light of grace, until it brings the &s;oul to life ana light eternal.</P>
<P>And thus by light from Chri&s;t, we may &s;ee the u&s;e of the &s;econd Command|ment, and the many errors of wandring fal&s;e light, leading to fal&s;e wor&s;hip, and the true light of Chri&s;t direcing to &s;erve God in &s;pirit and in truth. O my &s;oul, let this lighc of Chri&s;t be a light to thy feet,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;a. 119.105.</NOTE> and lanthern to thy paths, in all Or|dinances of Word, Sacraments, Prayer, and life to life everla&s;ting.</P>
<PB N="527" REF="292">
<P>And, my &s;oul,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Chri&s;t ac Scriptu|rarum lucifuga.</NOTE> lament tho&s;e Chri&s;t and Scripture-light-flyers, who cannot away with the light of Chri&s;t and of the Scriptures, but love darkne&s;&s;e rather then lights becau&s;e their deeds are evil.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 3.19, 20.</NOTE> The light of Chri&s;t in this or other Com|mandments, might teach them how to finde not their many &s;ins again&s;t God, again&s;t his true &s;piritual wor&s;hip, again&s;t the honour of his Name, his Sabbath, his Sacrament, the &s;eals of the Covenant of Grace, which &s;o many multitudes in the world do prophane by coming blind|ly unto them, never examining whether they have any light or authority from Chri&s;t to come to that &s;acred Banquet; or whether they be drawn by the light of cu&s;tom or formality only,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.5.</NOTE> to do as their Neighbours do, and their fore-fa|thers have done; never con&s;idering whe|ther their de&s;ire after the Sacrament be a holy hunger after Chri&s;t &s;piritually,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.56, 57.</NOTE> to eat the fle&s;h of Chri&s;t, and drink his blood, that Chri&s;t may dwell in them, and they in Chri&s;t, that they may live by Chri&s;t the life of grace here, and glory hereafter. They never look to this light of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28, 29.</NOTE> whether they have light of knowledge, and be able to examine them|&s;elves;
<PB N="528" REF="293"> or whether they walk in dark|ne&s;&s;e, and are ignorant and blinde, not able to di&s;cern the Lords body, and &s;o eat and drink unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of Chri&s;t, and eat and drink their own Judgement or Damna|tion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.28, &amp;c.</NOTE> if the Lord deal in judgement with them. They never examine by any true and impartial light from Chri&s;t, whether they be prophane and &s;candalous in their lives, common &s;wearers, &amp;c. To conclude, they never que&s;tion their own &s;ouls, whe|ther they have found by any light from Chri&s;t that they have the life of grace, &s;pi|ritual eyes to &s;ee, and hands to receive, and mouth to feed on Chri&s;t, that they may finde refre&s;hing indeed at the Lords Table, and &s;piritual feet, and affecti|ons of their &s;ouls to walk with Chri&s;t in their lives. But, O my &s;oul, do thou with the Saints of God mo&s;t high, daily look after this true light of Chri&s;t, that thou lo&s;e not Chri&s;ts pre&s;ence, but tra|vel with Chri&s;t, and in his light held forth in this Commandment, and all other commanding parts of Gods word by faith, in all the promi&s;es of Grace through the wilderne&s;&s;e of this word, to the <HI>Canaan</HI> of Heaven.</P>
<PB N="529" REF="293">
<P>Que&s;t. 40. <HI>You have given the u&s;e of the Commandement in generally but now what doe you conceive of the Rea&s;on of the Com|mandement which followeth in particular in the next words?</HI></P>
<P><HI>For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God vi&s;iting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth Gene|ration of them that hate we, and &s;hewing mercy unto thou&s;ands of them that love me, and keep my Commandements.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I conceive the Lord holdeth forth in this Rea&s;on principally two things.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 34.6, 7 Deut. 6.13, 14, 15, Deut. 7.4 Deut. 29.19, 20, 21 Ezekel 18 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Canticles 8.6.</NOTE> a threatening of &s;evere puni&s;h|ment to wicked Idolaters (and all others who corrupt the &s;ervice of God) to them and to their po&s;terity, if they go on to hate the Lord and continue in their Fa|thers &s;ins; and to terrifie men the more from this &s;inne, The Lord declares him|&s;elfe to be a jealous God and one that will not hold the wicked innocent.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>What is the &s;econd that the Lord holds forth to per&s;wade to obedience, and what light from Chri&s;t herein?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccl. 8.13 I&s;aias 3.11 Jer. 32.18</NOTE> A gratious promi&s;e of his owne free mercy and goodne&s;&s;e, though man can merit nothing, but when hee hath
<PB N="530" REF="294"> done be can, he may and mu&s;t &s;ay he is an unprofitable &s;ervant;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 17.10.</NOTE> yet the Lord of his own free love wil manife&s;t his good|ne&s;&s;e to them that low him, and keepe his Commandements,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 17.7. Prov. 20.7. P&s;al. 112.1, 2.</NOTE> and to their Po|&s;terity to thou&s;ands of Generations: &s;o abundant is the Lord in his good|ne&s;&s;e to his children in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 42. <HI>What &s;hould the meditation of this threatning and promi&s;e by Chri&s;t &s;pirit worke in the hearts of men, what light from Chri&s;t to direct in this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, &s;inners &s;hould take no|tice of their mi&s;ery,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 18.21, 22, 23.</NOTE> and as they tender their owne happine&s;&s;e, or the happine&s;&s;e of their poore children, waite in the meanes of Grace on Chri&s;t till Chri&s;t convert them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim 2.25, 26. Ezek. 18.14. Num. 16.31, 32. Gen. 9.25.</NOTE> and direct them to repen|tance, that they and their children af|ter them repenting may enjoy &s;weet free|dome from Gods Terrible Vi&s;itation, which is &s;ure to fall upon the wicked and impenitent and their children.</P>
<P>Secondly for Saints to in&s;truct them, to waite on Chri&s;t for power to glo|rifie God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.19 Jo&s;hua 24.11.</NOTE> and to teach their children, al&s;o to &s;erve him in a right manner in Spirit and Truth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 3.29</NOTE> knowing this that in and for Chri&s;t it &s;hall goe well with
<PB N="531" REF="294"> them, and with their children for ever.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 N="3" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>The third Section of the thirteth Cla&s;&s;is, The third Commandment.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;t. 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have now unfolded the &s;econd Com|mandement; J pray you which is the third?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thou &s;halt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine; for the Lord will not hold him guiltle&s;&s;e that taketh his name in vaine.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What is con&s;iderable in this command?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Theve are two things con&s;iderable.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the prohibition, Thou &s;halt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine.</P>
<P>Secondly the rea&s;on, For the Lord wil not hold him guiltle&s;&s;e that taketh his name in vaine.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What do you under&s;tand is meant by the Name of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> What&s;oever the Lord hath ma|nife&s;ted him&s;elf to be known by,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 12.5</NOTE> as men are known by names,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 9.15.</NOTE> whether it be by
<PB N="532" REF="295"> his proper Names or Titles:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 3.15 Exodus 6.3</NOTE> As <HI>Jehovah, Jah,</HI> Lord, God.</P>
<P N="2">2. Or his Attributes, Eternall, Invi&s;ible, Omnipre&s;ent, All-&s;ufficient, Immortall, Unchangeable, or the like, and for the Ju&s;tice, Mercy, Goodne&s;&s;e, Truth, or any Attribute of that nature.</P>
<P N="3">3. Or his word, The Scriptures of Truth and Gods Will and Ordinances revealed there; Sacraments, Prayer, &amp;c.</P>
<P N="4">4. Or whether it be Gods Worke of Decree, Creation or Providence, Judg|ment, Mercy, or the Glory or Honour of God in the&s;e, or any way what&s;o|ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What is meant by taking of Gods Name, or taking it up as the Hebrew is rendred?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thou &s;halt not take, or take up or touch the holy Name of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 16.4 P&s;al. 50.16</NOTE> either in thoughts of thy heart, or in the words of thy mouth, or in thy workes of life and conver&s;ation. Thou &s;halt not make any u&s;e of the Name of God in any re&s;pect, or of Religion or any part or Gods wor&s;hip in vaine.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What is meant by taking or touching this Sacred Name of God in vaine?</HI></P>
<PB N="533" REF="295">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.34, 35, 36, 37 Levit. 19.12 P&s;alme 111 9.</NOTE> To take or touch Gods Name in any re&s;pect unnece&s;&s;arily without weighty rea&s;ons, when it may be to God honour, or to my own or my neigh|bours good.</P>
<P>Secondly, irreverently, without feare of di&s;honouring the holy Name of the holy ble&s;&s;ed God.</P>
<P>Thirdly, fal&s;ely, in &s;peaking or &s;wear|ing fal&s;ely, or abu&s;ing the Name of God erroneou&s;ly, hypocritically or di&s;hono|rably in any manner what&s;oever, in word, life or profe&s;&s;ion.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Now having thus explained the precept, tell mee what is the generall &s;in for|bidden in this generall prohibition?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That we &s;hould not di&s;honour God in taking up in our mouthes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 28 58. Exo. 3.13, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 11.17, 18. P&s;al. 50.26 Rom. 2.24 Mat. 12.31</NOTE> u|&s;ing or abu&s;ing this holy Name vainly, or any his Titles, and Attributes, Words, Ordinances or Workes, or what&s;oever the Lord is known by as men are known by their names, either in our Hearts, Words, Lives, Profe&s;&s;ion or any man|ner of way, or by any meanes what&s;o|ever, knowing we mu&s;t an&s;wer for every idle word at the day of Judgement.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>What is the generall duty re|quired and implied in this Commandement,
<PB N="534" REF="296"> or the affirmative part contrary or oppo&s;ed to this negative?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That wee &s;hould honour and glorify Gods Name,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 6.9. 1 Cor. 6.20. Mat. 5.16. I&s;aia. 26.9, 10. P&s;al. 14.1 Job. 1.5. P&s;alme 50.23.</NOTE> and &s;eeke his glory in a holy u&s;e of his Name, Attributes, Word, Wor&s;hip, Ordinances and Works of Judgement, or Mercy, or what&s;oever the Lord is plea&s;ed to manife&s;t him&s;elfe in or by for his own glory, or the good of his Church and children, and this in all our Thoughts, Words and Conver|&s;ation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>You have declared the Generall &s;inne forbidden, and the generall duty re|quired; Now what J pay you are the parti|cular duties commanded, and &s;innes con|trary to the&s;e forbidden in this Commande|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are many but I will ob&s;erve the&s;e few.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.14, 15. 2 Pet. 2.8 Ex. 32.19. Num. 25.9 P&s;al. 69.9 1 Kings 19 10. John 2.14, 15, 16, 17. Revel. 3.19.</NOTE></P>
<P>And the fir&s;t is a holy and reverent and &s;incere and right ordered zeale of the glory of God, in our hearts and lives; This zeale of Gods glory is a duty required in this third Commande|ment; and with this holy zeale have the Saints glorified this holy and dread|full Name the Lord our God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What are the contrary &s;innes to
<PB N="535" REF="296"> this true of the honour and glory of God and his Name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;</HI> Fir&s;t, a lukewarmene&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Kings 18.22. Revel. 3.15 Acts 18.17 1 Sam. 229 1 Sam. 3.13 1 Cor. 5:2</NOTE> and ba&s;e nutrality in the cau&s;e of God and Re|ligion, a halting betweene two opinions without any care or zeale of God or his Truth, or of his Honour and Glory.</P>
<P>Secondly, an ignorant &s;uper&s;titi|ous, hypocriticall, or praepo&s;terous zeale of Evill, or of Good in a fal&s;e manner.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is a &s;econd particular duty required to &s;et forth the glory of God, and honour his &s;acred Name, and what light from Chri&s;t for this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To glorifie God in his glorious Workes of Creation and Providence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 19.1, 2</NOTE> ob&s;erving and &s;peaking of Gods Wi&s;|dome Power, Goodne&s;&s;e, Ju&s;tice and Mercy, or any other his Attributes, gi|ving God the glory of all both in con|&s;ideration of his Creation and Govern|ment of the World,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Romans 33.34.</NOTE> and his workes of Ju&s;tice or Mercy to the wicked, or to his own children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What is the contrary &s;inne to this honouring of Gods Name in re&s;pect of his works?</HI></P>
<PB N="536" REF="297">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">&s;al. 104 I&s;aiah 26.9, 10. P&s;al. 147.1, 2. &amp; 26, &amp;c.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To neglect the glory of God, or to di&s;honour his Name in the ob&s;ervation, or di&s;regard of Gods Wi&s;dome, Power, Ju&s;tice or Mercy held forth in his great Worke of Creation or Providence, Judgements or Mercies, Ordinary or extraordinary, ungodly men or to the Saints of the mo&s;t high, not learning Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e or di&s;honouring Gods Name in any of the&s;e.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is a third particular duty required for the honouring of Gods Name, and what light from Chri&s;t for di|rection in this particular?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To glorifie Gods name in the &s;acred u&s;e of Gods Word,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10 31.</NOTE> Sacraments, Prayer or any of his Ordinances, and in our Profe&s;&s;ion of the faith and &s;ervice of God in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, in the Go&s;pell of grace &s;erving the Lord in &s;pirit and truth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam 2.30</NOTE> and exalting the glory of Gods Name in every particular, profiting and growing in grace in the u&s;e of them by the power of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is the contrary &s;inne to this particular dutie?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> To di&s;honour Gods Name in the prophane and &s;infull manner of hear|ing Gods Word,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 44.32.33.</NOTE> partaking of his Sa|craments,
<PB N="537" REF="297"> Prayer or any other of Gods Ordinances, wor&s;hip or &s;ervice,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.17.29, 30. Nehe. 9.5 Act<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> 9.15 Numbers 6.24, 15. Heb. 13.26.21.</NOTE> publike or private, or our formall profe&s;&s;ion or u&s;e of them without any preparation for to meete Chri&s;t in the &s;pirituall partici|pation of them, or heavenly profit by them to Gods glory and good of our &s;elves and others, or for our own by ends, not Gods glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is a fourth particular duty required for the honouring of Gods holy Name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To Ble&s;&s;e and magnifie the mo&s;t holy Name of God upon all &s;peciall oc|ca&s;ions in him&s;elf, his Names, attributes, Word, Ordinances or Workes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezra. 3.11.</NOTE> when|&s;oever we are called to defend and beare the Name of God and his Truth, Power and Glory before all the World, and to ble&s;&s;e in his Name upon what cau&s;e &s;o ever the Lord mindeth us to that duty.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What &s;innes are contrary to this duty of glorifying the holy Name of the holy ble&s;&s;ed God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, to neglect the honouring of Gods Name,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Nehemias 9.5.</NOTE> or not giving the prai&s;es due to his Name which is far above, and beyond all thanksgiving and prai&s;e, or neglect to ble&s;&s;e his Name when God requires.</P>
<PB N="538" REF="298">
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Leviticus 24.15. Job. 2.9. Mark. 5.24</NOTE>Secondly, to cur&s;e or Bla&s;pheame the &s;acred Name of God or of Chri&s;t our Lord, in him&s;elfe, Word, Ordinances or Works.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to abu&s;e the fearefull Name of God to conjuration, charmes, exorci&s;|mes or the like wicked abomination.</P>
<P>Fourthly, to di&s;honour his Name, Title,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exodus 21.17. Mat. 5.44. James 3.9, 10.</NOTE> Word, or Workes of Judgement, or mercy, in u&s;ing and abu&s;ing it in cur|&s;ing Father or Mother, or others by any wicked imprecation as a plague of God and Pockes on you, or the like mo&s;t odious and prophane termes wicked men practi&s;e again&s;t them&s;elves or o|thers, as God damme me or them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What other &s;inne is there con|trary to this duty of glorifying Gods Name, in ble&s;&s;ing in and by Gods Name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To ble&s;&s;e or cur&s;e any in the Name of the Devill, whether it be by wicked devili&s;h imprecations upon a mans &s;elfe as tho&s;e cur&s;ed wi&s;hes and devili&s;h prayers of Athe&s;ticall pro|phane men in the&s;e dayes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 2.9, 10</NOTE> The Devill take me, the Devill confound me body and &s;oule, and the like damnable wick|edne&s;&s;e or the like, wor&s;e then Paga|ni&s;h imprecation upon any others, all
<PB N="539" REF="298"> being high provocations of the mo&s;t mighty God who is able to ca&s;t both body and &s;oule into Hell fire in a mo|ment,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 20.28</NOTE> as he made the earth to open her mouth and to &s;wallow up <HI>Dathan</HI> and to cover the congregation of <HI>Abiram;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Numbers 16.32, 33. 1 Sam. 28.7. 2 Kings 1.1.</NOTE> or to ble&s;&s;e in the devils name or by the devil, as tho&s;e whom ignorant people u&s;e to cal good Witches, abominable to God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the fir&s;t particular duty required in this third Commandement, for honoring of Gods Name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 6.13</NOTE> To glorifie God in calling him to witne&s;&s;e, and judge of the Truth of our words and actions,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 4.2. Jer. 12.16 Heb. 6.16</NOTE> when&s;oever we are called to &s;weare in his Name in Truth, Judgement and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, and to te&s;tifie the Truth lawfully con|cerning our &s;elves or others upon Oath, or when&s;oever wee bind our &s;elves by Oath, Promi&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cron. 11.12, 13.14 P&s;alme 15.4.</NOTE> Covenant or Prote&s;ta|tion in Gods Name for the perform|ance of any thing lawfull, po&s;&s;ible, ac|knowledging the Lord to be the Reven|ger of all fal&s;e Oathes, or fal&s;ification of Oathes and Promi&s;es, and &s;ubjecting our &s;elves to his judgement if we &s;wear fal&s;e|ly, or performe not our ju&s;t and lawfull Oathes and Prote&s;tations, &amp; &s;o prophan
<PB N="540" REF="299"> and take the name of our God in vain.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What are the particular &s;innes contrary to this duty of honouring God, in &s;wearing the Lord liveth, in Truth, Iudgemmt, and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Not to &s;weare and wit|ne&s;&s;e the Truth, in judgement and righ|teou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ierem. 4.2.</NOTE> in the name of God, when we are called lawfully and rightly to &s;weare to Gods glory, and the good of Gods Church. As tho&s;e who affirme all &s;wearing unlawfull, and utterly re|fu&s;e to take any Oath before a lawfull Magi&s;trate, upon mi&s;under&s;tanding of tho&s;e places of Scripture which &s;eeme to forbid &s;wearing at all,<NOTE PLACE="marg">M<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">t. 5.14. Iames. 4.12.</NOTE> when as indeed they only forbid all unlawful &s;wearing, and all &s;wearing in our ordinary com|munication, by which the name of God is taken in vaine.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>WVhat is a &s;econd &s;inne con|trary to this duty?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aiah. 48.1. Levit. 19.12.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All perjury or fal&s;e &s;wearing when men &s;weare by the name of the Lord, but not in truth nor righteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e, and &s;o take the name of the Lord God in vaine,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 3.11 Zach. 5.23 4.</NOTE> contrary to Gods &s;trict commandement.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>What is a third &s;inne, for|bidden
<PB N="541" REF="299"> contrary to the duty of glorifying Gods name: what light from Chri&s;t in this du|ty for our direction?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ier. 5.7.</NOTE> All &s;wearing by the creatures and that which is not God, calling that to witne&s;&s;e truth which cannot &s;earch the heart, nor try the reines, nor know whether the Oath be true or fal&s;e. As when men &s;weare by Heavens,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.34, 35, 36, 37.</NOTE> or by the Earth, or by our Lady, or by the Ma&s;&s;e, or by them&s;elves or any thing in them, or of mans devi&s;ing, &s;etting them up for the tryers of Truth in &s;tead of God, whe|ther they be Saints or Angels, or any creature what&s;oever, or any thing but God him&s;elfe.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What is a fourth &s;inne?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 14.24, 40, 45. 1 Sam. 25.22.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The performing of any unlaw|full ra&s;h oathes vowes or promi&s;es, which are &s;infull and a di&s;honour to the holy name of God, and to the hurt of the &s;oules or bodies of our &s;elves or o|thers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts. 23.12.</NOTE> and contrary to the true honour of God or love of our neighbour.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 16.33. Prov. 18.18 Numb. 26.25 Io&s;hu. 14.2</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What is a &s;ixt duty in par|ticular, for the honouring of Gods name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The lawfull and right u&s;e of a lot, for dividing of lands or goods when nece&s;&s;ity requireth, and God calleth for
<PB N="542" REF="300"> it, to end &s;ome &s;uch controver&s;ie which otherwi&s;e cannot be decided,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts. 1.24. P&s;al. 16.6.</NOTE> and this with prayer to God to direct the lot, and re&s;ting &s;atisfied with the lot, when God hath ordered it.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this duty of &s;eeking the honour of Gods name in a lot?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All unlawfull common and or|dinary abu&s;e of lots in games, or other|wi&s;e in a wrong manner or to a wrong end,<NOTE PLACE="marg">He&s;ter. 3.7</NOTE> to the prophanation of Gods name, and di&s;honour of the Go&s;pell of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is a &s;eventh particu|lar duty, what light from Chri&s;t herein?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.32 Rom. 10.10. Mat. 5.16. Phil. 1.27 Rom. 1.16 Iude. 4.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> The confe&s;&s;ion and glorifying of Gods name in our lives and conver|&s;ations, to Gods honour, the good ex|ample of others, and comfort of our owne &s;oules in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this confe&s;&s;ion and profe&s;&s;ion to the glorify|ing of Gods name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To deny or be a&s;hamed of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 26.74 Iohn. 12.42, 43, Rom. 2.24</NOTE> or the Go&s;pel, or to di&s;honour God in our lives, or cau&s;e the Go&s;pel of Chri&s;t and name of God to be Bla&s;phe|med.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>You have given me good
<PB N="543" REF="300"> &s;atisfaction concerning the command it &s;elfe; now what doe you believe concerning the rea|&s;on annexed in the words following, For the Lord will not hold him guiltle&s;&s;e that taketh his name in vaine?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I under&s;tand in this command as in the former, there is expre&s;&s;ed a ter|rible threatning again&s;t all &s;uch as pro|phane Gods name,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2. Chron. 36.13</NOTE> either by prophane &s;wearing or for&s;wearing, or by abu&s;e of Ordinances or any other way, that God will not hold them guiltle&s;&s;e but guilty,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 27.26</NOTE> and &s;o &s;ubject to Gods cur&s;e and eternall condemnation for this &s;inne.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What is further implyed in this threatning, that God will not hold &s;uch guiltle&s;&s;e who prophane his name?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A gracious promi&s;e of ble&s;&s;ing to &s;uch as by the power of Chri&s;t care|fully endeavour by all good meanes to glorifie the &s;acred name of the great God; That the Lord will ble&s;&s;e and ho|nour them that honour him,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.30.</NOTE> and extoll them who &s;eeke in Chri&s;t to give God the prai&s;es due unto his name.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>What may the diligent ob|&s;ervation of all the&s;e duties commanded, and &s;innes forbidden, with the threatning and promi&s;es annexed, hold forth unto the &s;onnes
<PB N="544" REF="301"> of men, or what may this in&s;truct?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t to wicked and prophane men this holds forth, and may teach them to take notice of their mi&s;erable condition, living in a continuall pro|phanation of Gods name, either in his Titles, Word, Ordinance, or workes of Mercy, or Judgement, and &s;o of a con|tinuall &s;ubjection to the cur&s;e of God, &s;pirituall and temporall here, and to an everla&s;ting cur&s;e hereafter.</P>
<P>Que&s;t 29. <HI>What further may &s;uch wic|ked men who are out of Chri&s;t, learne from hence?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not to give &s;leepe to their eyes with quiet, nor take delight in any creature-comfort, but waite on Chri&s;t in all the meanes of Grace, untill Chri&s;t make them by his Spirit &s;en&s;ible of their &s;inne and mi&s;ery, and give them faith and repentance, that clo&s;ing with Chri&s;t they may be freed from the guilt and puni&s;hment of their &s;innes.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What may the Saints of God learn from hence, by light from Chri&s;t for in&s;truction?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13.9 Phil. 3.12 13</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To &s;ee the perfection of this holy Law of God, and their owne im|perfection, and &s;eeke daily to Chri&s;t as
<PB N="545" REF="301"> for a&s;&s;urance of Ju&s;tification and Par|don of &s;in, &s;o for a&s;&s;ured power of San|ctification and increa&s;e of &s;trength from Chri&s;t, that they may be inabled more and more to honour and glorifie the mo&s;t holy Name of their mo&s;t ble&s;&s;ed Lord God and tender Father in Chri&s;t Je&s;us; and that one day they &s;hal glorifie this &s;acred Name in Heaven with Saints and Angels for evermore.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="31" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The thirty one Cla&s;&s;is, or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have an&s;wered concerning the Third, now what is the fourth Com|mandement?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy. Six dayes &s;halt thou la|bour and do all thy work: But the Se|venth day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou &s;halt not doe any worke, Thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy Man-Servant, nor thy Maide-&s;ervant, nor thy Cattell, nor thy Stranger that is within thy gates:
<PB N="546" REF="302"> For in &s;ix dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea and all that in them is, and re&s;ted the Seventh day, where|fore the Lord ble&s;&s;ed the Seventh day and hallowed it.</P>
<P>Que&s;t 2. <HI>What doe you principally ob|&s;erve and con&s;ider in this Fourth Comman|dement?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I ob&s;erved the &s;ub&s;tance o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;um of the Commandement &s;et down in the fir&s;t words, <HI>Remember the Sabbath day to Sanctifie it, or to keep it holy.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, the explication or further Declaration of Gods will and plea&s;ure, in the next words that follow; Six dayes &s;halt thou labour and do all that thou ha&s;t to doe, or all thy worke; but the Seventh day is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God, in it thou &s;halt not do any worke; thou nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, thy Man-&s;ervant nor thy Maid-&s;ervant, nor thy Cattell nor thy Stranger that is within thy gates.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I ob&s;erve the grand or chiefe rea&s;on, and ground of this Com|mandement in the la&s;t words; For in Six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the Sea and all that in them is, and ne&s;ted the Seventh day, wherefore
<PB N="547" REF="302"> the Lord ble&s;&s;ed the Seventh day and hallowed it.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What doe you con&s;ider in the fir&s;t of the&s;e, the &s;ub&s;tance or &s;um of the Com|mandement in the fir&s;t words?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I con&s;ider three things.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the <HI>memento,</HI> Remember; as holding forth a duty of Minding,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 5.15 Gene&s;. 2.1, 2, 3. <GAP DESC="foreign"> Shabath re&s;t.</NOTE> Re|membring and Ob&s;erving the Sabbath day before it come for preparation, as a day holy to the Lord by his appoint|ment of old even in Paradi&s;e before the Fall, and as too much forgotten and neglected, and therefore he requireth his peple to remember the day with grea|ter ob&s;ervation.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.10</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, I con&s;ider the day, the Sabbath day or day of Re&s;t, the Re&s;t-day, a day of cea&s;ing from our owne works as God did from his.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I con&s;ider another duty, namely the end to remember the &s;anctifi|cation of this Re&s;t day, or &s;eparating and &s;etting it apart from common and ordinary workes, which con|cerne this pre&s;ent naturall life, and a Con&s;ecrating of it unto God and to holy &s;pirituall workes, &s;uch as concerne our &s;pirituall life; and the&s;e things
<PB N="548" REF="303"> among&s;t other I ob&s;erve con&s;iderable in the fir&s;t expre&s;&s;ion of the Lord in this Commandement, Remember the Sab|bath day <HI>to keep it holy.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>What do you con&s;ider in the &s;econd part?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, a permi&s;&s;ion; and in this the equity of this Commandement, as a &s;trong rea&s;on or motive to obedience; &s;ix dayes &s;halt thou labour and do all thy worke.</P>
<P>Secondly, a Commi&s;&s;ion or Com|mandement to worke; for &s;ince God made all the &s;even dayes, as he did all the Trees of the Garden,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.16, 17.</NOTE> and as hee might have forbid our fir&s;t Parents halfe the Trees, or all but on e if he had plea|&s;ed, and that without any wrong to them, yet did forbid them but one Tree of the Garden; So the Lord might have forbidden us to worke in three or foure of the dayes or more, yea in all but one day. And therefore &s;ince hee re&s;erveth but one whole day of Seven for his &s;olemne wor&s;hip; Great cau&s;e we &s;hould yeild mo&s;t willing obedience to this Commandement, and be carefull to keepe this in a holy re&s;t to the Lord. and yet not mi&s;pend the &s;ix dayes but
<PB N="549" REF="303"> worke in our lawfull callings.</P>
<P>Secondly, I con&s;ider a declaration of of the Lords right in this as being the Lords own &s;eparated day in a &s;peciall manner, and therefore a &s;trong rea&s;on that man &s;hould not prophane this day but keepe it holy. This in the next words, But the Seventh day is the Sab|bath of the Lord thy God.</P>
<P>Thirdly, I con&s;ider a more generall and full prohibition of all manner of work; In it thou &s;halt do no manner of worke, that is, of thy own workes for which I have allowed thee &s;ix dayes to labour in.</P>
<P>Fourthly, I con&s;ider the per&s;ons who are prohibited from working in parti|cular, held forth in the&s;e &s;even expre&s;&s;ions. Fir&s;t Thou, Secondly nor thy Son, Thirdly nor thy Daughter, Fourthly nor thy Man-&s;ervant, Fifthly nor thy Made &s;ervant, Sixtly nor thy Cattell, Seventhly nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates, or that is within or under thy power, juri&s;diction, pro|tection or command what&s;oever; Thou &s;halt not prophane the Sabbath thy &s;elf, nor &s;uffer any other in thy power to &s;in in this re&s;pect.</P>
<PB N="550" REF="304">
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What do you con&s;ider in the third and la&s;t part you ob&s;orved, the prin|cipall rea&s;on of the Commandement?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fr&s;t, the Lords owne example in the great work of Creation held forth for our imitation. For in &s;ix dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth, The Sea and all that in them is, and &s;o the Lord appointed us to labour &s;ix dayes.</P>
<P>Secondly, the Lords own example in Re&s;ting al&s;o from worke the &s;eventh day, and Re&s;ted the &s;eventh day.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the Lords in&s;titution and appointment of the &s;eventh day to be a holy Re&s;t for his &s;ervice, wherefore the Lord ble&s;&s;ed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>But is there no worke to be done upon the Sabbath day nor by any manner of per&s;ons?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I an&s;wer yes, fir&s;t workes of piety may be done by all in their &s;eve|rall places, and in particular by the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t as of old time the Prie&s;ts did performe their workes upon the Sabbath day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 12.5</NOTE> and were blamele&s;&s;e and as men went a Sabbath dayes jorney to the Prophets,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 1.12 2 Kings 4 22, 23.</NOTE> and places appointed for Gods publike wor&s;hip.</P>
<PB N="551" REF="304">
<P>Secondly, workes of Mercy and Cha|rity may be done upon the Sabbath day without blame, as being acceptable to God at all times in Chri&s;t Je&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.9 1 Cor. 16.2. Luke 14.5.</NOTE> and not condemned on that day, but ap|pointed.</P>
<P>Thirdly, workes of nece&s;&s;ity which require pre&s;ent helpe, and could not have been done the day before, nor &s;tay untill the day following;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 2.23 24, 25, 26, 27. Mat. 12.11, 12. Luke 13.15, 15, 16.</NOTE> the&s;e workes may al&s;o bee done upon the Sabbath day as nece&s;&s;ary provi&s;ion of meate for man or bea&s;t, the nece&s;&s;ary worke of the Phi&s;itian or others for a &s;ick or di&s;|&s;ea&s;ed per&s;on, or of a Chyrurgeon for the wounded, or a Midwife or others for Women in travell; all &s;uch workes of nece&s;&s;ity in truth and without hy|pocri&s;ie may be done upon the Sabbath day.</P>
<P>But other Workes which are nei|ther workes of piety, of Charity, nor of true nece&s;&s;ity, I believe ought not to be done upon that day.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>But is not the Sabbath day cere|moniall, and &s;o to be aboli&s;hed,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;. 2.16, 17.</NOTE> <HI>or at lea&s;t to be left at liberty now in the time of the Go&s;|pell, &s;ince the Apo&s;tle &s;eemeth to hold forth a Sabbath as a ceremony in that Epi&s;tle to
<PB N="552" REF="305"> the Collo&s;&s;ians, and before to the Galatians, he blameth them for ob&s;erving dayes and moneths and yeares;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gala. 4.10</NOTE> <HI>Is not the Sabbath day then aboli&s;hed by the Comming of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, I an&s;wer it is certaine there were diver&s;e Sabbaths which the <HI>Jewes</HI> were required to &s;anctifie,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 23.38, 39, &amp;c. Ezek. 20.21.</NOTE> and not to prophane or pollute, as is evident by that of the Prophet <HI>Ezekiel,</HI> they polluted my Sabbaths, then I &s;aid I will poure out my fury upon them. Thus in this &s;ence the name Sabbath was applied to all tho&s;e Ceremoniall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 23.26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32.</NOTE> Fea&s;tivalls, yea, and daies of Fa&s;tings which were to be kept without doing any worke on tho&s;e dayes as a Sabbath or Re&s;t of the Lord.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 23.15, 16. Levit. 25.2, 3. L<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">vit. 25.8, 9.</NOTE>Againe there was a Sabbath of Sab|baths, and a Sabbath of yeares when was the yeare of <HI>Jubile,</HI> and the&s;e were Ce|remoniall, Types indeed and Shadowes with the Sacrifices and &s;ervices here|in; And of the&s;e I conceive the Apo&s;tle &s;peakes as aboli&s;hed, and in which the children of God in the Go&s;pell are not to be condemned,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;. 2.17</NOTE> becau&s;e Chri&s;t who is the body figured by all the&s;e is come. But he doth not &s;peake of this Sabbath
<PB N="553" REF="305"> which the Lord commanded to be &s;an|ctified in the Decalogue or Ten Com|mandements, at lea&s;t in no wi&s;e of the &s;ub&s;tance of the Commandement, that a Seventh day is to be &s;anctified as holy to the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>But wherefore then is not the Seventh day from the Creation kept as a Sabbath day, or by what authority is this Seventh day now &s;anctified and kept as a Sabbath called in Scripture the Lords Day?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 56.2, 3, 4, 5.</NOTE> the keeping of a &s;eventh day for a Sabbath is ab&s;olutely mo|rall and perpetuall, in&s;tituted in Para|di&s;e before the fall, and in the Decalogue or Ten Commandements given on Mount <HI>Sinai,</HI> and that Commandement bindes to a &s;eventh day for ever.</P>
<P>Secondly, although there be not an ab&s;olute command in the New Te&s;ta|ment to change the day, evidently held forth unto us, yet there is Divine Au|thority &s;ufficient in the con&s;tant practize of the Apo&s;tles and Saints to meete on this &s;eventh day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2.46 Acts 20.7, 8, &amp;c, 1 Cor. 16.1, 2.</NOTE> being then called the fir&s;t day of the weeke, to performe the duties of the Sabbath on this day in Preaching and Hearing of the word, and
<PB N="554" REF="306"> receiving of the Sacrament called breaking of bread, and in Prayer and giving Almes and the like, as being the Lords owne day, as the day of the Lords Re&s;urrection, and to be &s;anctified as the Lords day to meet Chri&s;t in all his Or|dinances of the Sabbath,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Revel. 1.10.</NOTE> as <HI>John</HI> the <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 word"> Divine was ravi&s;hed in the &s;pirit, and met Chri&s;t on that day for the great comfort of him&s;elfe and the Churches of Chri&s;t; that day then called and e&s;teemed and reckoned to be the Lords own day, and &s;o to be kept as the Lords day by the Churches of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>What is the generall duty re|quired in this fourth Commandement, and what light from Chri&s;t for this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To be mindefull of and remem|ber the Sabbath,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 58.13 Heb. 4.9.10. Mark. 1.35 39.</NOTE> or Lords day to keep it as a day of Re&s;t from our own works and bodily labour, and as a &s;pirituall re&s;t from the &s;infull workes of our &s;oules and bodies, and to &s;anctifie it as a holy Re&s;t in the performance of the Lords Workes of holine&s;&s;e and his holy &s;ervice, to glorifie the Lord of Sab|bath in a &s;peciall manner on that Day.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>What is the generall &s;inne
<PB N="555" REF="306"> forbidden in this Commandement?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All prophanation of the Sab|bath or Lords day,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aia. 58.13</NOTE> by ommi&s;&s;ion of Gods workes or performing of our owne workes, or worldly bu&s;ine&s;&s;e of this life outward in our bodies (except in ca&s;e of true extraordinary nece&s;&s;ity or performing of any our owne workes of &s;inne in bodies or &s;oules (as all other dayes) &s;o e&s;pecially on<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> the Lords day or the day of Gods Re&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.9.10.</NOTE> and Sabbath Day.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What are the particular du|ties required for the &s;anctification of the Chri&s;tian Sabbath or Lords day, what light from Chri&s;t for the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are diver&s;e wee may re|member the&s;e e&s;peciall, Fir&s;t, a pre|paration for the right &s;anctificati|on of this day by minding of it before it come, that we may be more fit to &s;erve the Lord in it when it is come, and by ri&s;ing early in the morning (as bo|dily health will &s;uffer) that wee may have time to exerci&s;e preparative duties before wee come to the publike Ordi|nances.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary unto this?</HI></P>
<PB N="556" REF="307">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To forget the Lords Day, or be &s;o unmindfull of it as either in our own per&s;ons or by compelling or &s;uffering our children or &s;ervants &s;o long to la|bour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 12.3.6 Exo. 3.5. Ex. 19.10.15. Deut. 33.3 Mat 27.62 As Amos 4.12. &s;o here.</NOTE> and over-wearie our bodies or &s;pirits on the evening, before, as to make our &s;elves or any other under our charge unfit for the Lords &s;ervice on the Lords Sabbath day when it comes; the Lord requiring preparation for, as well as performance of a duty.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What are the particular du|ties of preparation in the morning before the publike Ordinances?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark, 16.1 Ephe&s;. 5.16</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> To ri&s;e early and improve as much time as can po&s;&s;ibly be &s;pared (from workes of nece&s;&s;ity) in private Reading, Catechizing, and Prayer in our Familes, and in &s;ecret meditation and Prayer in our clo&s;ets for Gods ble&s;|&s;ing upon the publike Ordinances, both inabling the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;ts for their duties, and the people of God, and our &s;elves in the Ordinances to meete Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 10.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> and receive refre&s;hing from Chri&s;t to our comfort, and to Gods glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is the particular &s;inne contrary to this particular duties.</HI></P>
<PB N="557" REF="307">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To mi&s;pend the morning of the Sabbath or Lords day by over&s;leeping our &s;elves, or otherwi&s;e neglecting read|ing, Meditation, Catechizing, or Prayer for Gods Mini&s;ters, the Congregations, or our &s;elves, or any &s;pirituall duty which wee have time to performe in pri|vate or &s;ecret, and neglect to the disfur|therance of our &s;pirituall refre&s;hing in Gods holy Ordinances.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>What rea&s;on can you give that all this is required for preparation to meet Chri&s;t in the Ordinances.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Becau&s;e in every duty all meanes and helpes to the performance of that duty are likewi&s;e required to be made u&s;e of;<NOTE PLACE="marg">As Ex. 36.37. So 1 Sam. 12.29. 1 John 3.23. Rom. 10.17.</NOTE> and &s;o the neglect of any one help or meanes of performance, and Chri&s;ts power to performe it, mu&s;t needs be a &s;inne.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>But how may this appeare that when a Duty is required, the u&s;e of meanes to performe the duty it required?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> We may illu&s;trate this by an ex|ample or two.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, to believe on Je&s;us Chri&s;t, is a duty being the command of God; and hearing of Gods Word which is a meanes of faith is commanded likewi&s;e as
<PB N="558" REF="308"> well as to believe; Therefore the meanes faith is commanded al&s;o as a duty,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 13.9 Ex. 19.10, 11.28. 1 Cor. 11.28. Eze. 36.37 1 Sam. 6.3.6, 7. 1 Cron. 15 13.</NOTE> and &s;o helpes to duty as well as duties them&s;elves; the like I might &s;ay here of preparation to the Sacra|ment; and &s;o the neglect of any helpe or meanes to further the perform|ance of a duty, is &s;inne, as to neglect prayers or helpes made, and &s;o in par|ticular the neglect of right preparation for Ordinance on the Lords Day; for God will be &s;ought and &s;erved in a right order.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>You have &s;hewed the duty of preparation for the Sabbath both before it come, and in the morning for better &s;ancti|fication of the day; now what is or are the particular duties which re&s;pect the Re&s;t of the Lords day, and what light from Chri&s;t for direction in the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> To re&s;t from all our owne workes of worldly profit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 23.3 Nehe. 13.25, 16. Jer. 17.22 Ex. 16.29, 30. Ex. 34.21.</NOTE> or plea&s;ure, as from buying, and &s;elling, carrying of burdens, and journeis not of ab&s;olute nece&s;&s;ity, or any other of the like kind of labours, though in earing time or harve&s;t, except &s;uch as are noted before to be workes of mercy, and in ca&s;e of nece&s;&s;ity afore&s;aid.</P>
<PB N="559" REF="308">
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>What are the particular &s;ins contrary to this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A phari&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">icall over&s;trict Jewi&s;h &s;uper&s;tition in the bare outward Re&s;t refu&s;ing workes of mercy or nece&s;&s;ity on the Sabbath day, &s;o much as to kindle a fire in a cold &s;ea&s;on for needfull refre&s;hing, or to prepare warme meate nece&s;&s;ary the better to inable even the weake for Gods &s;ervice,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Macah. 2.37.38. Ex. 35.3. Mark. 34 Mat. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"></NOTE> nece&s;&s;ary de|fence from the enemy &s;eeking to de&s;troy, or any of the like nature, Chri&s;t having ea&s;ed us of this &s;trictne&s;&s;e, declaring the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; for mans good not hurt, and re&s;pecting mercy above &s;acrifice.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>What other particular &s;innes are there contrary to the re&s;t of the Sabbath or Lords day?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To prophane this day by bodily unnece&s;&s;ary labours;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 15.32.35. Nehe. 13. Jerem. 17.</NOTE> or workes which might have beene done the day before or may be deferred untill the day fol|lowing, or by buying or &s;elling, bearing of burdens, any the workes of mens ordinary worldly calling for worldly profits,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 58.13</NOTE> or by words of conference a|bout &s;uch worldly things for our profit or the like.</P>
<PB N="560" REF="309">
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>It is evident this labour for profit is prohibited; what thinke you of car|nall plea&s;ures and pa&s;times, upon the Sab|bath or Lords daye in gaming, &s;porting, to &s;it gazing at their dores, or otherwi&s;e mi&s;pending of pretious time on the Lord<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> day?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are unlawfull al&s;o as be|ing the &s;infull practize of Idolaters in their Fea&s;ts and holy dayes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 32.5, 6</NOTE> or the pra|ctice of prophane irreligious people, hindering the improvement of that &s;pi|rituall refre&s;hment the &s;oule hath or &s;hould receive in the Ordinance,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 51.13 Colo&s;. 3.16 1 Cor. 10.31.</NOTE> and unbefiting Chri&s;tians, who&s;e delights &s;hould be &s;pirituall and heavenly in a &s;weet Communion with God in Chri&s;t, and one with another in &s;piritull gra|ces and exerci&s;e of them; But in the&s;e carnall delights men rather di&s;honour then honour God as becommeth Chri|&s;tians.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>You have declared the duties commanded and &s;innes forbidden concerning the re&s;t of the Sabbath; is there no more re|quired?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gene&s;. 2.3 Exod. 20.8</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, there is a &s;anctification of this re&s;t al&s;o commanded in all de|ligent practize, performance of and
<PB N="561" REF="309"> attendance on Chri&s;t in all the Ordi|nances of Chri&s;t both private before we come to the Congregation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 23.3 Ezek. 20.12.</NOTE> and pub|like when wee are pre&s;ent in the Con|gregation, and private and &s;ecret du|ty when we returne home to our hou&s;es and Families.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>You have already &s;hewed the duties of preparation in private before wee come to the publike; now what are the pub|like duties in which the people of God ought to &s;anctifie this re&s;t, and glorifie God in this his day, and what light from Chri&s;t to enable for the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are diver&s;e, but you may ob&s;erve the&s;e that follow and fir&s;t a time|ly pre&s;ence in the hou&s;e of God to be ready as one man to joyne with the Mi|ni&s;ter of Chri&s;t in publike Prayer to God for a ble&s;&s;ing upon the worke of the day and his owne ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28.16, 17. Nehem. 8.1.23.</NOTE> and the pious endevours both of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters and people, every one being ready with the Congregation to heare what Gods Mini&s;ters &s;hall &s;peake unto them from God.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 10.33</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What is the particular &s;inne contrary unto this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A negligent late comming to
<PB N="562" REF="310"> the hou&s;e of God, not being ready to joyne with the Congregation in the beginning,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccles. 5.1 1 Cor. 14.40.</NOTE> and &s;o are more ready to offer fooli&s;h Sacrifices then to heare and joyne with the Congregation, as good order in the Church of God re|quires.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What is a &s;econd duty in publike?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To joyne devoutly and under|&s;tandingly with the Mini&s;ter and Con|gregation in Prayer; not onely attend|ing with the eare to every confe&s;&s;ion of &s;inne, petition for grace and all the powrings out of the Mini&s;ters &s;oule in Prayer; but with thy minde and heart to goe along with the Mini&s;ter of Chri&s;t, and to pour out thy &s;oule with him and all the re&s;t of the Con|gregation in every confe&s;&s;ion, reque&s;t, or giving of thankes to God, &s;aying Amen in thy &s;oule,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 85.8 Phil. 4.13 Rom. 8.26, 27.</NOTE> and in faith ex|pecting a gratious returne of your pray|ers in Gods due time; and this not in thy owne &s;trength but by the a&s;&s;i&s;tance and &s;trength of Chri&s;t, and the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t helping our infirmities and inabling the &s;oule to wra&s;tle with God in prayer.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 32.</NOTE></P>
<PB N="563" REF="310">
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this duty declared?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not to attend diligently with our eares or to wander and be di&s;tract|ed in our mindes and hearts in time of Prayer, or not to goe along with the Mini&s;ter of God and heartily joyne with him in Prayer according to the Word of God and rule of Chri&s;t, or to do this in a dead manner without any affection or life in Prayer, or not to pray in faith, and in faith expect an an&s;wer and gracious returne of our petitions put up rightly in matter and manner in the name of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 19.23</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What is a third duty in pub|like for &s;anctification of this ble&s;&s;ed Sab|bath and re&s;t day of the Lord?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This concerneth both the Mi|ni&s;ters and People of God;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezra. 7.10 Nehe. 8.8 Ezek. 3.17 Acts 20.20 21.</NOTE> And fir&s;t the Mini&s;ters duty is to Reade, Ex|pound, Catechize, and Preach the Word of God, without re&s;pect of per&s;ons, in faithfulne&s;&s;e, &s;incerity and godly wi&s;e|dome, not with inti&s;ing words of mans wi&s;dome, but in evidence of the &s;pirit and of power and as becomes the Mini|&s;ters of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What is the Mini&s;ters &s;in con|trary to this duty?</HI></P>
<PB N="564" REF="311">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To neglect Expounding and Preaching of the Word or Catechizing, or to doe it unfaithfully with enti|&s;ing words of mans wi&s;dome, and otherwi&s;e then becommeth the Go&s;pell of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>What is the peoples duty in this particular, and what light from Chri&s;t for this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To attend diligently in the hear|ing of the Word or Catechizing to the voyce of Gods Mini&s;ters,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 15.14, 15.</NOTE> or to the Word of God, as it is indeed the Word of God and not of man, and that with|out wandring or &s;leeping, with hunger after the mind of Chri&s;t in the Word and with faith and obedience as be|commeth the children of God to the wil of their Heavenly Father.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.2.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>What is the &s;in contrary to this duty of the people?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To neglect hearing of Gods Word or Catechizing, or to heare it carele&s;&s;ely without devotion, Faith, Love or Obedience, unprofitably, either in re&s;pect of Gods glory or our owne &s;al|vation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What is a fourth particular duty in which this re&s;t-day or Lords day is to be &s;anctified?</HI></P>
<PB N="565" REF="311">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In a right communicating and partaking of the ble&s;&s;ed Sacrament, ac|cording to Chri&s;ts in&s;titution, Gods people being clothed upon with the wedding Garment, as is declared at large in the former part of the Cate|chi&s;me.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>What is the contrary &s;inne to this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To neglect the Sacrament,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 30. As 1 Chron. 15.13. 1 Cor. 11.28, 29, 30.</NOTE> or not to receive it in a due and as right order to Gods glory and our own refre&s;hing in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 32. <HI>What are the duties to be performed in private in our Familes af|ter the publike Ordinances are ended?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Repetition and conference one with another of what we have heard, Parents taking account of their chil|dren and Ma&s;ters of their &s;ervants what they have remembred, &s;earching the Scriptures, and examing by the Word what hath been delivered by the Mini|&s;ter of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 17.11 12.</NOTE> in Catechizing tho&s;e un|der our charge, meditation and earne&s;t Prayer unto God for a ble&s;&s;ing upon the Word and Sacraments received, and &s;trength from Chri&s;t to bring forth fruits as Trees of righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aia. 61.3</NOTE> the
<PB N="566" REF="312"> planting of the Lord that hee may be glorified.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A meer re&s;ting in the outward hearing of the Word or partaking of the Sacrament, and publike ordinance, without any care of profiting our &s;elves or Families by Repetition, Confer|ence, &s;earching the Scripture, Catechi|zing, or Prayer in our Family o<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> clo|&s;ets for a ble&s;&s;ing, endeavouring by the power of Chri&s;t to practice in our lives what we have heard, and learned as the truth is in Je&s;us; the neglect of any of which is &s;in.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>This is a &s;trict re&s;t indeed and a &s;trict &s;anctification of this re&s;t is there any more required?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, a giving of Almes and per|forming workes of charity and Mercy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 16 2. Nehe. 8.12</NOTE> and that freely and liberally according to our ability, and as the nece&s;&s;ities of the Saints require.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>What is the &s;in contrary unto this duty of Charity?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To give no Almes, and neglect workes of charity and mercy, though God hath given us ability to helpe
<PB N="567" REF="312"> the afflicted brethren in their time of neede.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>Here are many outward acts of duty to bee performed; are there no<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> &s;ome inward and &s;pirituall required al&s;o?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, it is required that the child+dren of God &s;hould make the Sabbath his delight, and keepe a &s;pirituall re&s;t from &s;inne of omi&s;&s;ion or commi&s;&s;ion, and &s;o keepe a &s;pirituall and holy re&s;tj indeed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 4.9.10, 11, &amp;c. I&s;ai. 58.13.14.</NOTE> as all the dayes of our lives from &s;inne, &s;o e&s;pecially on the Lords day a preperation to that eternall Sabbath and re&s;t from all &s;inne and mi&s;ery which we &s;hall enjoy for ever in the Kingdome of Heaven.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 37 <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this duty of delight in the Sabbath and &s;piri|tuall re&s;t from &s;in?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To be weary of the Sabbath or Lords Day, to &s;ay or thinke as tho&s;e in <HI>Amos,</HI> when will the Sabbath be gone?<NOTE PLACE="marg">Amos 8.5 I&s;aia. 1.12, 13, 14.</NOTE> when will the Sabbath be gone? And not to re&s;t from &s;in but to doe the Devills worke on Gods Day; to &s;wear to drinke tipling and di&s;tempering them&s;elves, to Whore,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Amos 5.21</NOTE> or keepe com|pany with Harlots,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 5.7.</NOTE> or abu&s;e Gods Day in any wickedne&s;&s;e what&s;oever, and
<PB N="568" REF="313"> &s;o to make even our outward perform|ances odious to God and to all good men;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 13.25 26.</NOTE> endangerin<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> the &s;oule and body to a re&s;tle&s;&s;e condition in Hell fire for ever.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke. 16.24</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 38. <HI>This is a mo&s;t perfect Law indeed that requireth all this in one of the Ten Commandements but J pray you who is bound to performe this duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The Commandement it &s;elfe holdeth forth this in the next words. Thou, thy Sonne, thy Daughter, thy Man-&s;ervant, thy Maide-&s;ervant; nor thy Ox, nor thy A&s;&s;e, nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates. That is thou and all that are in thy power without exception.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>But wherefore doth the Lord give this &s;peciall command and direction to his people not onely for them&s;elves, but for all under their command.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That Gods children being care|full and dutifull them&s;elves, and dili|gently performing their duties to all that are under their charge, they might not be partakers of other Mens &s;ins.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 40. <HI>But how may one man be guil|ty of another mans &s;inne, what light have you from Chri&s;t to reveile this?</HI></P>
<PB N="569" REF="313">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> One may be guilty of another mans &s;in divers wayes;</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, when a &s;uperior commands an inferior to commit a &s;inne, and the &s;inne be committed, of this the &s;uperi|or is guilty, as <HI>Saul</HI> was of killing the Lords Prie&s;ts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 22.18. 2 Sam. 11.15.</NOTE> when hee commanded <HI>Doeg</HI> to do it and wicked <HI>Doeg</HI> did it ac|cordingly <HI>David</HI> kild <HI>&V;rias</HI> by <HI>Joab</HI> and the &s;word of the children of <HI>Ammo~.</HI> And &s;o <HI>Iezabell</HI> was guilty of that &s;in of the &s;ons of <HI>Belial,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 21 10.</NOTE> who did beare fal&s;e witns again&s;t <HI>Naboth</HI> for his Vineyard, and thus Magi&s;trates, or ma&s;ters or parents are guilty when they command their &s;ubjects or children or &s;ervants to prophane the Lords Sabbath.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>What is a &s;econd way of being guilty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> When &s;uperiors have power, and doe not hinder, but &s;uffer inferi|ors to commit &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 3.13</NOTE> as old <HI>Eli</HI> &s;uf|fered his &s;onnes and did not puni&s;h them, nor re&s;traine them as hee ought; and &s;o when Parents &s;uffer their chil|dren, or Ma&s;ters their &s;ervants to pro|phane the Lords Day, They are guilty of their childrens &s;inne and &s;ervants &s;inne.</P>
<PB N="570" REF="314">
<P>Que&s;t. 42. <HI>What is a third manner how one man may be guilty of another mans &s;innes; have you any light from Chri&s;t for this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Wen one man giveth another wicked councell to commit &s;inne; as when <HI>Ahitophet</HI> coun&s;elled <HI>Ab&s;olom</HI> to commit wickedne&s;&s;e with his Fathers concubines,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 16 21.</NOTE> or <HI>Herodias</HI> coun&s;elled her Daughter to aske the head of <HI>John Bapti&s;ts,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark. 6.24</NOTE> or when a Ma&s;ter or Father advi&s;eth or coun&s;elleth his &s;onne or &s;ervants, or any under his charge to pro|phane the Sabbath.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 43. <HI>What is a fourth manner?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When Mini&s;ter or people, man or woman doth con&s;ent to &s;inne in o|thers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 8.1. Eze. 3.18</NOTE> or not reprove &s;in; as <HI>Saul</HI> before his conver&s;ion con&s;ented to the death of ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Stephen</HI> the Martyr of Chri&s;t; and for Prophets not to warn the wicked;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 19.17.</NOTE> &s;o when Parents or Ma&s;ters con&s;ent to their childrens and &s;ervants prophanation of the Lords Day, when as they &s;hould not &s;uffer &s;in to lie upon them, but re|prove them rather. So when unwor|thy Receivers are &s;uffered without any admonition or reproofe.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 44. <HI>What is a fift manner of being guilty?</HI></P>
<PB N="571" REF="314">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When one Man or Woman pro|vokes and &s;tirreth up another to &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 21 25.</NOTE> as <HI>Jezabell</HI> provoked <HI>Ahab</HI> to commit wickedne&s;&s;e, and <HI>Jobs</HI> Wife her Hus|band to cur&s;e God and die.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job 2.9.</NOTE> And &s;o when Parents or Ma&s;ters provoke and &s;tirre up their children or &s;ervants by Labour or Pa&s;times to prophane the Sabbath.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 45. <HI>What is a &s;ixt manner of becomming guilty of other mens &s;ins?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> When men grow to &s;uch a height of impudency as to defend other mens &s;innes. Who call good evill, and evill good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 5.20. 1 Kings 22 6.11.24. 1 Sam. 15.22.</NOTE> as wicked <HI>Zedechiah</HI> defended wick|ed <HI>Ahab</HI> in his &s;infull cour&s;e, and <HI>Saul</HI> de|fended the peoples &s;in, as Lawers plead in unju&s;t cau&s;es, or when Parents or Ma&s;ters or any other will plead for <HI>Baal,</HI> and defend the &s;innes of their children or &s;ervants or Neighbours when they prophane the Lords Day; all the&s;e ways at lea&s;t may men be guilty of other mens &s;ins.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 46. <HI>Mo&s;t certaine the Lord is a mo&s;t holy God, and is Law a mo&s;t holy Law and perfect rule of holine&s;&s;e which holdeth forth to us &s;o many duties, and &s;o many &s;innes in one Commandement of the
<PB N="572" REF="315"> Sabbath day and &s;anctification of the re&s;t; what u&s;e therefore my the knowledged of this truth be of unto the &s;ons of men?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, concerning wicked men out of Chri&s;t, the many duties com|manded,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 17.27 G<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">lat. 3.24 Acts 8.21, 22.</NOTE> and &s;inns forbidden may cau&s;e them to tremble for feare of the cur&s;e and wrath of God due to them for their prophanation of the Lords day, and &s;o be a Schoolema&s;ter to bring them to Chri&s;t, to &s;ee if they may finde, pardon and e&s;cape the cur&s;e and damna|tion.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 13.38 39 1 The&s;&s; 10</NOTE>Secondly, concerning &s;aints in Chri&s;t, the Meditation of the&s;e things may like|wi&s;e minde them of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Chri&s;t as a ju&s;tifyer without who&s;e Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and Merits they could not be &s;aved,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30</NOTE> and in whom &s;al|vation is their portion.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.17</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, Chri&s;t as a &s;anctifyer in whom there is holine&s;&s;e and power to &s;anctifie this holy re&s;t, this ble&s;&s;ed Sab|bath as the Lords day, in all holine&s;&s;e and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e to Gods glory and good of our own &s;oules.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 47. <HI>What benefit is this to the Church that the Lord hath ordained,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 28.6 9.17, 18.</NOTE> <HI>and by his Re&s;urrection and appearing to his
<PB N="573" REF="315"> Di&s;ciples &s;o often one that day con&s;ecrated this holy Sabbath,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark. 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.12. Luk. 24.13</NOTE> <HI>as a day to, and for him&s;elfe and for his &s;peciall &s;ervice and ordinances wherein he now appeareth to his Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> A &s;peciall cau&s;e of joy that the Saints may once a weeke be as it were in Heaven with Chri&s;t meeting Chri&s;t in his glorious Ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 24.33, 34.36. 1 Cor. 16.1.2. Mat. 18.20 Ex. 25.21, 22. I&s;ai. 66.11 John 15.4, 5, 6. Heb. 4.9. Revel. 14.13.</NOTE> and &s;uck|ing the bre&s;ts of con&s;olation in all his gracious promi&s;es &s;o receiving the &s;weet juyce and &s;appe of the life of grace to nouri&s;h us in this time of trouble to that Kingdom of glory, that eternall Sabbath of re&s;t and peace for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 48. <HI>What is the principall motive or moving cau&s;e to &s;tir up and draw the heart of a child of God and your &s;oule in particular, to de&s;ire and labour in all &s;in|cerity and faithfullne&s;&s;e to glorifie God in a full obedience to every duty commanded, and in a full avoyding of every &s;inne for|bidden in the&s;e foure Commandemmts, or fir&s;t Table of the Law of God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The free love of God in Chri&s;t to my &s;oule,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 3.16</NOTE> in the free gift of his onely begotten Sonne, and the free love of God the Sonne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 10.15.</NOTE> the Lord Chri&s;t him|&s;elfe in giving him&s;elf, and laying down
<PB N="574" REF="316"> his Life for mee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 5.14, 15.</NOTE> to reconcile mee to God and to procure for mee grace and glory; this doth con&s;traine mee with a kind of holy and &s;weet violence or rather powerfull attractive or load|&s;tone of love to love my God againe, and to declare my love in a loving,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 16.9. P&s;al. 119.6</NOTE> ready willing, faithfull and cheerfull obe|dience, yea &s;incere de&s;ire and endevour to fullfill every one of the Commande|ments of my Heavenly Father; and &s;o, the&s;e foure fir&s;t Commandements or fir&s;t Table of the Law of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 119.101.128.</NOTE> and to refrain from every &s;inwhat&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 49. <HI>What is the finall cau&s;e or chiefe ends at which your &s;oule doth or ought to aime at in this your obedience?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The prime and chiefe end is the glorifying of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 6.20 1 Cor. 10.31. 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 John 5.10, 11, 12.</NOTE> my God and Fa|ther in Chri&s;t; And the next the Decla|ration of my love and thankfulne&s;&s;e to the Lord my God, and to &s;hew forth his prai&s;es, who called me out of darkne&s;&s;e to light, and hath freely given me life e|ternall and everla&s;ting &s;alvation in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="32" TYPE="classis">
<PB N="575" REF="316">
<HEAD>The Thirty two Cla&s;&s;is, or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have profitably and plainely ende|voured to declare the duties comma|ded, and the &s;innes forbidden in the fir&s;t Table of the Law of God, and held them forth as a light to the feete of Gods Saints by the helpe of the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t; And in the performance of our Duties and Decla|ration of our more immediate love unto our God in Chri&s;t; Now what I pray you do you call the &s;econd Table of the Law of God, and what are the Commandemtnts com|prehended in this &s;econd Table, what light from Chri&s;t to teach this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This &s;econd Table is that which holdeth forth rules for the manife&s;ta|tion of our love to our Neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">2.38, 39, 40.</NOTE> in and for God as our &s;elves; and the&s;e Rules are comprehended in the &s;ix la&s;t Commandements of the Decalogue or ten words of Gods Minde to his people.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 34.28.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>What then you doe conceive to
<PB N="576" REF="317"> be the generall duties of this &s;econd Taeble of the Law?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That which the Lord Chri&s;t and the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t in the Prophets,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 22.39 Levit. 19.18. Rom. 13.8, 9.</NOTE> and Apo&s;tles holdeth forth unto us, name|ly to love our Neighbour as our &s;elves.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>What is the &s;inne contrary to this duty of loving our Neighbour as our &s;elves?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Not to do as we would be done be done by;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 7.12 Levit. 19.17, 18. I&s;ai. 58.7</NOTE> or in&s;tead of love to hate our Neighbour and to hide our &s;elves from our own fle&s;h.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>You &s;ay the Lord requireth that we &s;hould love our Neighbours as our &s;elves: Therefore it &s;eemeth to mee that the Lord requireth his child to love him&s;elfe; Now what is this love of a mans &s;elfe accord|ing to which hee ought to love his Neigh|hour?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly the Lord doth require that a man &s;hould in a right manner love him&s;elfe,<NOTE PLACE="marg">M<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">t. 22 37, 38, 39. Ph<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">l. 2.12 Eph. 5.29</NOTE> and this love of a man towards him&s;elfe is that love wherewith a Believer &s;hould in and for, and after God love his owne &s;oule and body in &s;eeking the temporall and eternall good of both, for Gods glory and his owne eternall happine&s;&s;e and &s;alvation.</P>
<PB N="577" REF="317">
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What are &s;innes contrary to this true and right ordered love of a Man or Womans &s;elfe?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are diver&s;e &s;ins contrary to a right and true love of a mans &s;elf; fir&s;t a perver&s;e and wicked hatred of Mans &s;elfe,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 18.6</NOTE> either of a Mans &s;oule and body by an ob&s;tinate rejecting of grace and meanes of grace, or willfull Rebel|lion again&s;t God, or hatred of his body and life by a Mans de&s;perate rejecting and refu&s;ing the meanes of pre&s;erving the body and health and life of it, or by a de&s;parate de&s;troying of the body and life by any meanes what&s;oever.</P>
<P>An example of this I have &s;een in divers who in &s;trength and violence of Satans temptations, or a kinde of fren&s;ie and braine di&s;temper have utterly rejected meanes of comfort, &s;ome for the &s;oule, &s;ome for the body, &s;ome for both, as <HI>Francis Spira</HI> did in Germany after his fall from the Go&s;pell,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Hi&s;tory of <HI>Francis Spirra.</HI></NOTE> to &s;ub&s;cribe to Popery, continuing in that &s;ad condi|tion to the day of his death. I &s;ay no|thing of <HI>Ahitophel</HI> and <HI>Iudas,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 17.23. Mat. 27.5</NOTE> who wickedly de&s;troyed them&s;elves contrary to the &s;ixt Commandement, of which I &s;hall &s;peak in its place.</P>
<PB N="578" REF="318">
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>What is a &s;econd &s;inne contrary to the true love of a mans &s;elfe?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Philauty or corrupt and inordi|nate love of a mans &s;elfe,<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="foreign">.</NOTE> either above God, which is a wicked Idolatrous love making an Idoll of a mans &s;elfe and &s;et|ting up an Idoll in his heart, and prefer|ring that above God;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.2</NOTE> Or to be &s;o ine|briated and drunk with &s;elfe love, as to admire onely him&s;elfe; and turne his affections of love wholy into him&s;elfe, as that <HI>Mi&s;anthrop<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">s,</HI> who hated every man but him&s;elfe.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> Cor. 4.14</NOTE>Thirdly, to love a mans &s;elfe from and for him&s;elfe, not from and for God in Chri&s;t, or from Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>But may there not be a good and holy hatred of a mans &s;elfe?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> We mu&s;t di&s;tingui&s;h of a mans &s;elfe, there is a threeford &s;elfe.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, a mans &s;oule and body or per&s;on, con&s;i&s;ting of both con&s;idered in them|&s;elves as Gods creatures.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;&s;. 5.23.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, the old <HI>Adam</HI> in a mans &s;elfe, or the corruption of &s;oule and body by &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 6.6</NOTE> either originall or actuall, that Law or power of corruption in our members rebelling again&s;t the Law of our minds; or</P>
<PB N="579" REF="318">
<P>Thirdly, a mans &s;pirituall &s;elfe or the new <HI>Adam</HI> and image of Chri&s;t in the &s;oule, the regenerate part,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Galat. 5.14</NOTE> the &s;pirit that fighteth again&s;t the fle&s;h.</P>
<P>Now to hate the fir&s;t of the&s;e &s;elfe, our &s;oule or body, or per&s;on, is again&s;t nature;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 5.29</NOTE> no man ought to hate him&s;elfe though he may loo&s;e him&s;elfe for Chri&s;t; which is love, and no hatred. And to hate the third the &s;elfe of grace or grace of Chri&s;t in a mans &s;elfe, The life of grace in us, this is again&s;t grace; this &s;elf mu&s;t be loved and cheri&s;hed by all means in and through Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>But for the &s;econd &s;elfe &s;poken of, namely our corrupt old <HI>Adam</HI> in us our body of &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.5</NOTE> This ought to be hated as the enemy of the well being both of &s;oule and bodie for ever,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 42.6</NOTE> as <HI>Iob</HI> abhor|red him&s;elf, and <HI>Paul</HI> cha&s;ti&s;ed his body, and the converted People of God loathed them&s;elves as they were loath|&s;ome to God in their &s;innefull corrup|tion.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 36.31</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>You have &s;atisfied mee in this que&s;tion, how a man ought to love, and not to love him&s;elfe; now what &s;ay you in gene|rall of the love of our Neighbour, before we come to the Commandements in particular?</HI></P>
<PB N="580" REF="319">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I have de&s;cribed that in generall before, That we mu&s;t love our neighbour in God and for God as our &s;elves.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Who is our Neighbour towards whom we ought to exerci&s;e our Chri&s;tian love and Charity?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All that &s;tand in neede of our helpe or love, whether they be our own kindred or &s;trangers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 10.36, 37. 1 Tim. 5.8. Mat. 5.48. Prov. 25.21. Galat. 6.10</NOTE> yea, our very ene|mies, and e&s;pecially the hou&s;ehold of faith, but all in the Lord for Gods glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. <HI>What is the &s;in contrary unto this love?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, not to love our Neighbour, or not to declare our love unto our Neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 13.1. James 2.15, 16. 1 John 3.3</NOTE> when he needs, and we may do it.</P>
<P>Secondly, to hate our Neighbour, much more to hate our Friends, Bre|thren, Si&s;ters, Husband, Wife, Chil|dren, Parents, and e&s;pecially and that be Gods children or of the hou&s;ehold of Faith.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to love Husband, Wife, Pa|rents, Children, Friends or any creature above God and Je&s;us Chri&s;t whom he he hath &s;ent, or again&s;t God or Gods glory and revealed wil, e&s;pecially to love them that hate Lord.</P>
<PB N="581" REF="319">
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.30 2 Chron. 19.2.</NOTE> any inordinate or hypocri|ticall love, love in &s;hew and not indeed, di&s;embling love; all this is &s;inne. E&s;pe|cially to love them that hate the Lord,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 20.9.10.</NOTE> or any inordinate or hypocriticall love, love in &s;hew, not in deede, di&s;&s;embling love.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>May a child of God hate any man?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> As he may hate him&s;elfe that is his own Corrupt &s;infull conditions a|gain&s;t or contrary to Gods holy nature and at emnity with God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 139.20, 21, 22.</NOTE> &s;o he may hate them that hate God as they are enemies to God and haters of God and his Saints and &s;ervants; But yet with humility, love and piety, de&s;iring and endeavouring their conver&s;ion if it be Gods will, and &s;o to love them and &s;eeke their good.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>What are the &s;peciall graces in which this Chri&s;tan love and charity, is to bee exerci&s;ed towards our Neigh|bour?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers; you may ob&s;erve the&s;e.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Chri&s;tian Humanity by which in Offices of civility, ho&s;pita|lity, peaceablene&s;&s;e and good Neigh|bourhood,
<PB N="582" REF="320"> doing as wee would be done by,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aia. 16.3, 4. Rom. 12.15, 16, 17 18. Rom. 16.2. 2 Cor. 5.14 15.</NOTE> in coun&s;ells, comfort, vi&s;iting in affliction or any other manner of a&s;&s;i&s;t|ance, we helpe and &s;o declare our love to our Neighbour, and win our Neigh|bours love and re&s;pect againe unto us, and all this as in and from that kinde re&s;pect of God to us in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>What is a &s;inne contrary unto this?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 25.14, 25. Mat. 7, 8, Z<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ch. 1.14, 15. Amos 1.9 Mat. 7.12.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Inhumanity, incivility, churli&s;h unquietne&s;&s;e, or any kind of ill Neigh|bourhood, neglecting or refu&s;ing to vi&s;it in affliction, or to a&s;&s;i&s;t with coun&s;ell, or comfort; much more they &s;inne who do any way rejoyce in mi&s;ery of Neigh|bours, or helpe forward their afflictions, doing ill offices again&s;t Charity, Reli|gion and the rules of good Neighbour|hood held forth in holy Scriptures, when men do not as they would be done by.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What is a &s;econd grace in Chri&s;tian friend&s;hip?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Benevolence or good will, in which in God and for God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aia. 66.10 Luk. 15.10</NOTE> wee de&s;ire and endeavour the good of our Neigh|bour When occa&s;ion is offered, and congratulate our Neighbours pro&s;pe|rity
<PB N="583" REF="320"> from our very hearts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.15. John. 3.2.3</NOTE> as Chri|&s;tians rejoycing in the good one of another.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15 <HI>What is the &s;in centrary unto this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Wicked envy at the pro&s;perity of our Neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 26.14 Mat. 20.11 Acts 13.45 James 3.14, 15, 16.</NOTE> or malevolent ill will or unfriendline&s;&s;e towards our Neghbour any manner of way again&s;t the Word of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>What other Graces are there in which our love may be declared to our Neighbour?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are diver&s;e other in par|ticular which I refer to a Chri&s;tians &s;earch in the Scripture, and &s;hall handle many in the particular Commandements of this &s;econd Table onely; one I note this is true Chri&s;tian Ju&s;tice or righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e to be exerci&s;ed towards our Neighbour.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is this Chri&s;tian Ju&s;tice and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e required in this &s;econd Table?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ju&s;tice is a vertue by which a man doth give to every man his right; and Chri&s;tian Ju&s;tice is a gratious vertue or a grace by which a believing man or woman by vertue and grace of Chri&s;t
<PB N="584" REF="321"> doth in a right manner according to Gods Word from a right Principle Gods love in Chri&s;t to the Chri&s;tians, and to a right end Gods glory, give right and due to every one.</P>
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> 18. <HI>How manifold is this Chri|&s;tian Ju&s;tice, or righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e to be practized of Saints?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;</HI> Divines divide it into two parts, fir&s;t, di&s;tributive righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e which is exerci&s;ed in di&s;tribution of good things, and of rewards and puni&s;hments in a due proportion and order, accord|ing to the condition, merit and worth, or de&s;ert of every per&s;on, as will appeare further in the unfoulding of the parti|cular Commandements.</P>
<P><HI>Que&s;t.</HI> 19. <HI>What is the &s;econd?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Commutative Ju&s;tice or Righte|ou&s;ne&s;&s;e is that which is to be commu|nicated to every one according to the equality or inequality of things or mat|ters concerned, or according to right and Ju&s;tice to be communicated, as will al&s;o appeare further with the &s;innes contrary to Ju&s;tice in the duties com|manded, and &s;inne forbidden in the particular commands of the &s;econd Table.</P>
<PB N="585" REF="321">
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>Which is the fir&s;t Command of the &s;econd Table.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The fir&s;t Commandement in Order of the Decalogue, namely, as it is expre&s;&s;ed in the twentieth Chapter of <HI>Exodus</HI> ver&s;e 12. Honour thy Father, and thy Mother, that thy dayes may belong in the Land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>What may be ob&s;erved, for the unfoulding of this fifth Commandement?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Three things e&s;pecially. Fir&s;t, the Duty required, Honour.</P>
<P>Secondly, the Per&s;ons to be honoured; all Superiours, &s;et down here under the names of Father and Mother.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the rea&s;on or Motive to draw to a willing obedience, the ble&s;&s;ing of long life; that thy Dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>What is meant, or to be under|&s;tood by Honour?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, an inward reverent re&s;pect, and Honourable e&s;teem of a Superiour in Age, Birth, Place,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 13 7.</NOTE> or Worth, according as is due to &s;uch a Superiour.</P>
<P>Secondly, an outward manife&s;tation
<PB N="586" REF="322"> of this R<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">verence and Honourable re&s;pect in words, actions and fitting behaviour upon all occa&s;ions, as be|cometh inferiours toward their Superi|ours in Birth, Age, Place, or Worth, both in a Civill and Chri<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tian relation, and in particular expre&s;&s;ions and ex|amples will be further manife&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>What Per&s;ons are under&s;tood by Father and Mother, as &s;uperiours unto whom honour mu&s;t be given as a duty?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> All Parents, and tho&s;e that are in place of Parents, in Naturall, Civill or Spirituall Relation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24 <HI>What are tho&s;e Parents and Per|&s;ons in particular States and Conditions to be honoured as &s;uperiours? and what are the particular inferiours, who relatively are bound in duty to give honour unto the&s;e as to their &s;uperiours, and what light from Chri&s;t revealing the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, in the Oeconomicall or Hou&s;hold E&s;tate,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Hus|bands.</NOTE> the Per&s;ons are, Fir&s;t, hu&s;bands wives &amp;c. &s;econdly, naturall pa|rents, Father and Mother; the&s;e are the &s;uperiours to be honoured; and the in|feriours are their Children, Sonnes and Daughters by Nature, Adoption, or Tuition, as are Committed to them as
<PB N="587" REF="322"> to Parents or Guardians to take care of them as of Children; as Tutors and Pupills, Ma&s;ters and Schollers, and &s;uch like.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Husbands, as the head of the wife and &s;uperiour, and the wife as in|feriour in re&s;pect of Gods Ordinance.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.16.</NOTE> although in &s;ome re&s;pect &s;he be her Husbands equall,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.7.</NOTE> as being a fellow Heire of the Grace of life in Chri&s;t Ie&s;us.</P>
<P>Secondly, in the Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall or Church E&s;tate, Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.28. Acts 20.28.</NOTE> Pa&s;tors and Preachers of the Go&s;pell, who have the over-&s;ight and rule of the flock, they are &s;uperiours; and the flock and people committed unto their Charge to teach, rule, and direct according to Gods word, they are the inferiours, as Chil|dren to their &s;pirituall Fathers. Se|condly, the ruling Elders who are fellow helpers to a&s;&s;i&s;t the Pa&s;tors and Teachers in Government,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.17.</NOTE> and over-&s;ight of the Flock, they are &s;uperiours though Bre|thren in Chri&s;t;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.17</NOTE> and the Members of the Church in particular they are in|feriours in order all though Brethren in Chri&s;t; and duties to be performed both of &s;uperiours, and inferiours each
<PB N="588" REF="323"> to other, and among&s;t them&s;elves re|&s;pectively according to the word of God.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Ma&s;ters as &s;uperiours; Ap|prentices and Servants as inferiours, to honour and obey their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es according to the Commande|ment of the Lord in the Politicall or Common wealth e&s;tate; the Civill Ma|gi&s;trate, King, or Governours are &s;upe|riours, and Subjects are inferiours; and duties are to be performed reciprocally each to other, according to their Rela|tions, and the word of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>You have &s;hewed who are &s;upe|riours and inferiours in order according to Gods Ordinance both in the Oeconomicall, Politicall, and Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall E&s;tate, now what I Pray you are Generall Duties both of &s;uperiours towards inferiours, and of inferiours towards &s;uperiours? for you &s;aid before, that there are duties of &s;uperiours as well as inferiours required in this Comman|dement; and fir&s;t, what are the Generall Duties of &s;uperiours re&s;pectively towards their inferiours?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> It is true, when the Lord re|quireth Inferiours to Honour their Su|periours, he doth likewi&s;e require Su|periours
<PB N="589" REF="323"> to carry them&s;elves honoura|bly and as becometh Parents and Superiours to the Children and infe|riours, as is evident in divers places of Scripture, in which the holy Gho&s;t doth further interpret and explaine this Commandement; and to An&s;wer your pre&s;ent que&s;tion, there are divers duties which Superiours in Generall, are to perform towards their inferiours.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What an the&s;e duties, I de&s;ire you to expre&s;&s;e them; and what light Chri&s;t hath revealed in the word, concerning the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t Superiours, Parents, and others ought to behave them&s;elves towards their inferiours, as con&s;idering that they them&s;elves are inferiours to the Lord, they are but under God;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 13.4.</NOTE> and he that is higher then the highe&s;t of them, con&s;iders the matter,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. 5.8.</NOTE> and there be higher then they; therefore they ought to carry them&s;elves as &s;uch as over their inferiours only in the Lord, as Parents,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5 12. 1 Tim. 5.17.</NOTE> or Elders that Rule well, and &s;o worthy of Honour indeed.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Leviticus. 25.43. Deut. 17, 18, 19, 20.</NOTE> Superiours ought not to Rule with Rigour, or to Tyrannize over their inferiours, but to behave
<PB N="590" REF="324"> them&s;elves Sincerely,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 78.70.72. 1 Tim. 5.1.2. &amp;c. Eccle&s;. 33.31. 2 Chron. 19.7.</NOTE> Mode&s;tly, and Prudently withdue re&s;pect, as Fathers and Brethren; not as Enemies, or Ty|rants over inferiours; not according to their own wills, but according to the will and word of God.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Superiours ought to behave them&s;elves Gravely as becometh Fa|thers Antients,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus. 2.1, 2, 3. Job. 2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. 7, 8, 9, 10.</NOTE> or Elders in the Church of Chri&s;t, that inferiours may be moved to Reverence them for their Gravity, and Honourable Behaviour.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 12.14. 2 Chron. 19.6, 7. Philip. 1.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">7.</NOTE>Fourthly, Superiours they ought as Parents, to take care for their inferi|ours as for Children, and to Walke in the feare of God, to be of blamele&s;&s;e life and conver&s;ation, giving good ex|amples to their inferiours, walking be|fore them, and with them, as men of knowledge,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 1.6. 1 Pet 3.7. 1 Sam. 2.30.</NOTE> yea, as lights in all Godli|ne&s;&s;e and hone&s;ty, that God may have honour, and their inferiours comfort by their Rule over them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>You have &s;hewed the duty of Superiours towards inferiours; now what art the &s;innes contrary to the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Superiours &s;inne, fir&s;t, when they take more upon them then is due unto them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zephan. 3.3.</NOTE> as Lions in the way, not
<PB N="591" REF="324"> con&s;idering that although they be Gods,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 82.6.</NOTE> yet they &s;hall dye like men. Secondly, when they take le&s;&s;e upon them then they ought,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.29. Nehem. 13.17.29.</NOTE> as <HI>Eli</HI> praying his Sonnes when he &s;hould have commanded and compelled to a reformation.</P>
<P>Thirdly when they carry them&s;elves lghtly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zephan. 3.4.</NOTE> as the wicked prophets of <HI>I&s;rael</HI> did, defiling their places of &s;uperiority, as <HI>Elies</HI> Sons, or any other wayes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.22.</NOTE> doing Violence to the Law, that gives them Power in their places, either the Law of God or men.</P>
<P>Fourthly, Superiours may &s;inne not providently taking care for inferi|ours good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.8.</NOTE> according to their relations and places, walking Ignorantly or Scandalou&s;ly, to the di&s;honour of God, and evill example of &s;uch as are inferi|our unto them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.24</NOTE> to cau&s;e the name of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">James 2.7.</NOTE> and their Honourable Places to be evill-&s;poken off in the world, to the griefe and offence of the Saints of the mo&s;t High.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>You have declared the Du|ties of Superiours towards inferiours, and their &s;innes in failing; now what are the Duties of Inferiours in Generall, towards their Superiours, and what light from
<PB N="592" REF="325"> Chri&s;t is there in the Scriptures to hold forth this unto us?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> There are divers particular Duties due from Inferiours towards all Superiours in Generall; and fir&s;t in|wardly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 19.3.</NOTE> all inferiours ought to have a reverent e&s;timation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 13.7. Ephe&s;. 5.33</NOTE> and honourable re&s;pect of all Superiours, and obedience, according to their place and dignity, in re&s;pect of Birth, Age, and Worthy|ne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 6.1</NOTE> and e&s;pecially of the Grace, and Image of Chri&s;t &s;hining in them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;. 5.13. Heb. 13.17.</NOTE> e&s;teeming them very highly for their dignity, and work &s;ake, and obeying them in the Lord. Secondly, outwardly, all inferiours ought to declare, and ma|nife&s;t their reverent re&s;pect, and honou|rable e&s;teem of their Superiours in all words, and acts of Reverence and Ho|nour, according to place, time and manner of the Countrey, where they live not contrary but agreeble to the word of God, and this in divers parti|culars.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>What are the&s;e particular expre&s;&s;ions of Re&s;pect and Honour, towards Superiours, and what light from Chri&s;t for the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I An&s;wer, Fir&s;t at the entrance
<PB N="593" REF="325"> or appearance and pre&s;ence of Parents and &s;uperiours to ri&s;e or &s;tand up in a re|verent re&s;pect of them, as the aged, and much more the younger did when Re|ligious father <HI>Job</HI> pa&s;&s;ed by in the &s;treet,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 29.7, 8</NOTE> or came to take his place in their pre|&s;ence, or as men of right civill much more of Religious breeding u&s;e to do when the Judges or Ju&s;tices of a&s;&s;ize come to the Bench, or &s;eate of judge|ment, or the Lord Major or Governour of a City to his place.</P>
<P>Secondly, when a &s;uperiour com|meth towards an inferiour, then in an honorable re&s;pect to goe to meete them and give them that honour that is due to them, and becommeth their place and dignity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.1, 2, &amp;c.</NOTE> uncovering the head and bending the knee or bowing downe a mans &s;elfe towards the ground in civill reverence of them, as Religious <HI>Abraham</HI> did when three men came towards him, which proved Angels and one of them the Lord Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malachy 3.1. Gen. 23.7.12.</NOTE> the Angell of the cove|nant, as the Prophet <HI>Malachy</HI> calleth the Lord Je&s;us, or as <HI>Abraham</HI> did to the children of <HI>Heth.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, the duty of the inferiour in re&s;pect to the &s;uperiour, as of children
<PB N="594" REF="326"> to Parents, &s;ervants to Ma&s;ters or the like, is to &s;tand up before them, and waite upon them as place and dignity, and occa&s;ion require,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 29.8 Gen. 18.8</NOTE> as tho&s;e did in <HI>Iobs</HI> pre&s;ence, or as <HI>Abraham</HI> waited on his honorable gue&s;ts giving all civill re&s;|pects due to each per&s;on according to place and calling.</P>
<P>Fourthly, the inferiour as children to parents, or any other in like relati|on, ought to declare their re&s;pects in giving precedency in place giving the right hand and any the like honour as King <HI>Solomon</HI> did to his Mother, he ro&s;e up to meet her,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 19 2.</NOTE> he bowed him&s;elfe to her, he cau&s;ed a &s;eate to be &s;et for her, and preferred her to &s;it on his right hand; an excellent example for all chil|dren to honour and re&s;pect their Mo|thers as well as Fathers, and &s;o &s;ervants and all others in their &s;everall Rela|tions.</P>
<P>Fifthly, the younger and inferiours are to declare their re&s;pect to &s;uperiours in a wi&s;e &s;ilence holding their peace, and to refrain from talking whiles their ancients are in &s;peaking,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 29.9, 10.</NOTE> or in place, as the Princes did before <HI>Iob;</HI> except as <HI>Syracides</HI> in his excellent Ethicks giveth
<PB N="595" REF="326"> leave and wi&s;ely directs young men how to behave them&s;elves.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccl. 32.7, 8</NOTE> Speake young man if there be need of thee: and yet &s;carce when thou art twi&s;e asked: Let thy &s;peech be &s;hort, comprehending much in few words; be as one one that know|eth and yet holdeth his tongue.</P>
<P>Sixthly, inferiours ought to keepe them&s;elves in a right di&s;tance from &s;u|periours, not making them&s;elves equall to tho&s;e that are above them in age place or dignity;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccl. 32.9 Rom. 12 16.</NOTE> It is the &s;um of <HI>Syrahs</HI> morall coun&s;ell, and well compre|hended under this command of the mo|rall Law, or Law of good manners becomming a Chri&s;tian; If thou be among&s;t great men, make not thy &s;elfe equall with them, and when ancient men are in place, u&s;e not many words;<NOTE PLACE="marg">colo&s;&s;. 4.6</NOTE> and as Apo&s;tle &s;aith, let your &s;peech be alwayes With grace &s;ea&s;oned with &s;alt that you may know how to an&s;wer every man.</P>
<P>Seventhly, inferiours ought to give words of reverence and re&s;pect to &s;u|periours, children to parents,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.6</NOTE> <NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 31.35</NOTE> &s;ervants to Ma&s;ters, and &s;o others in their re&s;pective relations,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 42.10</NOTE> as <HI>Sarah</HI> obeyed her husband <HI>Abraham</HI> calliag him Lord, and as <HI>Rachel</HI> &s;pake honorably to her Father,
<PB N="596" REF="327"> let it not di&s;plea&s;e my Lord; and <HI>Io&s;ephs</HI> brethren to him as to a Rule, calling him Lord; and &s;o a reverent regard is to be had of &s;uperiours even in our words,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 1.15</NOTE> as <HI>Hanna</HI> to <HI>Samuel</HI> the Prophet &s;hee called him Lord, giving Gods Mini&s;ter the honour of his place.</P>
<P>La&s;tly, I will name no more here. In|feriours ought to be ready to &s;erve th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ir &s;uperiours in love and duty,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 8.9. Colo&s;&s;. 3.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">2.</NOTE> according to their &s;everall relations and re&s;pects with readine&s;&s;e &amp; &s;inglene&s;&s;e of heart as unto Chri&s;t; As the Centurians &s;ervants I &s;ay to this man go and he goeth, and to another man come and he commeth. Saith he; not as tho&s;e two &s;onnes the one &s;aid to his Father, when he &s;ent him into his Vineyard, I go Sir, but he went not; The other &s;ayd I will not go, yet went and in this did the will of his father that hee did go, but yet &s;inned in his behaviour, &s;aying he would not goe; the children and &s;ervants and in|feriours ought to honour and &s;erve their Parents,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.10.</NOTE> and Ma&s;ters and Superiours both in word and deede, in giving honour to go one before another; And thus you have the generall duty of Infe|riours towards their &s;uperiours.</P>
<PB N="597" REF="327">
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What now are the &s;ins contra|ry to the&s;e or any of the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I need not expre&s;&s;e them in par|ticular; each one, who maketh con&s;ci|ence to find out and performe his or her duty, may con&s;ider whether his car|riage be an&s;werable to the&s;e directions, or in an unmannerly way contrary to them, manife&s;ting any di&s;re&s;pect or di&s;obedience which is a &s;in.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 N="33" TYPE="classis">
<HEAD>The Thirty three Cla&s;&s;is, or company of Que&s;tions.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have declared &s;ufficiently the gene|rall duties both of &s;uperiours towards inferiours, and of inferiours towards &s;u|periours in generall; Now I pray you what are the particular duties of each to other according to their particular e&s;tates, Rela|tions and Callings? And fir&s;t in the Oeco|nomicall or hou&s;ehold e&s;tate, what are the duties of the Husband towards his Wife, and of the Wife towards her husband? Fir&s;t the common duties of Husbands towards his Wife?</HI></P>
<PB N="598" REF="328">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> But fir&s;t of the common duties of the Husband towards the Wife, and of the Wife towards the Hushand; and of the&s;e I note the&s;e.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, Love a Roote uniting grace; their &s;oules and hearts and affections, mu&s;t be married together as well as their bodies;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.24</NOTE> <NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe. 5.25</NOTE> the Husband mu&s;t love his wife, and the Wife ought to love her Hus|band above all others in the world.</P>
<P>Secondly, mutuall good will, or conjugall benevolence to be communi|cated each to other as the Scripture holdeth forth unto us.<NOTE PLACE="marg">i Cor. 7.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Prov. 5.18, 19. Prov. 2.16, 17, 18. Malac. 2 15 Jer. 23.24</NOTE></P>
<P>Thirdly, conjugall fidelity not com|municating their bodies to any other as the &s;trange woman. But pre&s;erving each others cha&s;tity according to the mariage covenant in thought, word, and deed, as being alwayes in Gods pre|&s;ence.</P>
<P>Fourthly, in the mutuall communi|cation of their goods, and all ende|vours for the due mutuall good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.33</NOTE> com|fort and benefit one of another both for &s;oules and body,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.18 1 Pet. 3.7</NOTE> and good name and fame, as becommeth the Go&s;pell of Chri&s;t, and tho&s;e that are fellow helpers one of another and fellow heires of the grace of life.</P>
<PB N="599" REF="328">
<P>La&s;tly, mutuall cohabitation, dwel|ling one with another that they may be more conveniently helpefull each to other upon all occa&s;ions with mutuall love and re&s;pect to each other,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.7 1 Cor. 7.10 Ex. 18.7, 8 Ruth 1.16</NOTE> Parents and kindred.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>You have declared the common and mutuall duties of Husband to Wife, and of Wife to Husband now what are the &s;innes contrary to the&s;e duties,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">John 16.8</NOTE> <HI>what light from Chri&s;t to reveile the&s;e to convince of the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are divers &s;innes contrary to the&s;e, I will note but the&s;e fix.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.2</NOTE> a corrupt &s;elfe-love of them|&s;elves; and not one of another.</P>
<P>Secondly, a want or ab&s;ence of love, when Mariage is for by ends not joyned with true love one of anothers per&s;on, but rather of e&s;tate or outward world|ly Profits or plea&s;ure, without true love.</P>
<P>Thirdly, hatred,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.29</NOTE> di&s;agreement and di&s;&s;ention, and unquiet quarrelling, &s;uch as becommeth not Man and Wife.</P>
<P>Fourthly, denyall of mutuall bene|volence for&s;aking the mariage bed, and &s;o giving way to the devill to tempt to wor&s;er wickdne&s;&s;e.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 7.4</NOTE></P>
<PB N="600" REF="329">
<P>Fifthly, neglecting communication of goods and other mutuall helps and comforts in a fit manner.</P>
<P>La&s;tly &s;eparation one from another except nece&s;&s;ity of calling,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 7.5</NOTE> require, or with con&s;ent for a time according to the Scriptures.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Now you have declared the common mutuall duties betweene Husbands and Wife; what are the particular duties fir&s;t of the Husband towards his Wife, what light from Chri&s;t to &s;ee the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Husband is the head of the Wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.23</NOTE> and love is an ingredient in every duty.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, the Husband is to manife&s;t his love to his Wife in dwelling with his Wife as a man of knowledge,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.67</NOTE> as a loving husband in a loving manner endeavour|ing to in&s;truct his Wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 14.35.</NOTE> yea, governe his Wife in love, to direct, guide, coun|&s;ell, and advi&s;e her in all things nece&s;|&s;ary to be knowne both for this life and that which is come, and all in love.</P>
<P>Secondly, to cheri&s;h and give his Wife honour and re&s;pect as the weaker ve&s;&s;ell,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.29</NOTE> and as one who hath given her &s;elfe to him as her Husband under God; among&s;t other for this end.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.7</NOTE></P>
<PB N="601" REF="329">
<P>Thirdly, to pre&s;erve, protect,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 16.8 Ruth. 3.9.</NOTE> and defend her in all lawfull and convenient cau&s;es, according to his ability, e&s;pe|cially in the maintaining of her true cha|&s;tity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 16.5, 6.</NOTE> and honour, by all lawfull and good meanes; and more e&s;pecially in the hou&s;e among&s;t her &s;ervants, as <HI>Abraham</HI> did <HI>Sarahs</HI> honour and authority over her &s;ervant <HI>Hagar.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">m. 5.8 Ruth. 3.1</NOTE> providing her things ne|ce&s;&s;ary, according to his ability, that &s;hee may finde re&s;t in the hou&s;e of her Husband, to Gods glory, and the mutuall joy and comfort one of another.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>I doe now &s;ee the &s;peciall duties of the Husband towards his Wife; what are the &s;innes of the husband contrary to the&s;e duties, what light from Chri&s;t to know the&s;e &s;ins?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, not behaving him&s;elfe as a loving head to his Wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 3.16 1 Cor. 11 3. 1 Tim. 2.11, 12. 1 Kings 11 4.</NOTE> but to be as an inferiour contrary to the order of nature and Gods Ordinance.</P>
<P>Secondly, to be overmuch uxorious, fooli&s;hly drawne away by his Wife or Ruled by her to do that which is either unlawfull or inconvenient, di&s;honorable to God or to him&s;elf, or hurtfull to any what&s;oever, as <HI>Solomon</HI> doted in his old age.</P>
<PB N="602" REF="330">
<P>Thirdly, to be too bitter and do|minering and tyrnanicall over his Wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.</NOTE> Ruling her not in love as a companion, but commanding her as a tyrant doth his &s;lave, or compelling her to that which is unlawfull or uncomely in the &s;ight of God or man;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2, 18 1 The&s;&s;. 5.12.</NOTE> God having created her as a helpe meate for him, not as a &s;lave under him, and him over her; but yet in the Lord as in other ordinan|ces of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fourthly, the Husband &s;innes in not providing for, protecting and pre&s;er|ving his Wifes life, cha&s;tity and hon|our, by all lawfull and good meanes, according to his power in a convenient and fit manner; much more he &s;ins in pro&s;tituting or betraying his Wives life, cha&s;tity or honour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.8 Levit. 19.29.</NOTE> which for a Hus|band to doe to his Wife, is as ba&s;e as again&s;t his owne child, and both abo|minable, and contrary to the holy Law and word of God.</P>
<P>Fifthly, to hate, &s;trike, or abu&s;e his own fle&s;h (which his wife now is by the Ordinance of God) 'tis again&s;t the Law of God and Nature it &s;elf.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.25.30.</NOTE></P>
<P>Sixthly, and La&s;tly, the Husband &s;ins if he neglect as the Prophet and Prie&s;t in
<PB N="603" REF="330"> his hou&s;e to Pray for and with his wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet 3.7. Job. 15.4. 1 Sam. 12.23. Phil. 4.13.</NOTE> or re&s;traine, prayer before God, that by &s;trength from Chri&s;t both Husband and Wife may better perform their duties in Gods &s;ight and enjoy Gods ble&s;&s;ing up|on their daily endeavours.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>The Husband may hence receive a light from Chri&s;t, to know his duty to his wife; now what light from Chri&s;t is there &s;hining forth in holy Scripture to &s;hew forth the duties of the wife towards her Huband.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, the wives duty is to love,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 5.23 33.</NOTE> e&s;teem, acknowledge and honour her Husbahd as her Head, and Lord whom God hath placed over her,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.6.</NOTE> and &s;he hath cho&s;en as her Lord, far her Good.</P>
<P>Secondly the duty of the wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.18. 1 Pet. 3.1. 2, &amp;c.</NOTE> is to be &s;ubject and obedient to her Husband in all things lawfull are expedient in the Lord.</P>
<P>Thirdly the wife ought to be loving and amiable,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus. 2.4, 5.</NOTE> and delightfull to her Husband, &s;eeking to win his love and affections more and more to her in the Lord, cheri&s;hing him in &s;ickne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 5.19. Gen. 2.18.</NOTE> and in health, as becometh a &s;weet helper to him, according to Gods Ordinance.</P>
<P>Fourthly, the wives duty is to be
<PB N="604" REF="331"> helpfull as a Coadjutrix to her Husband in Government of the Family,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.14. Prov. 31.10, 11, 12, &amp;c.</NOTE> not one|ly as a good wife, for the e&s;tate, credit, and well-being of her Husband, and Hou&s;hold, for their Bodies, Dyet, and Cloathing;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet 3.7.</NOTE> but to be a Good Home|keeper, for Communication of &s;piritu|all good,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 31.27, 28, 29, 30, 31. T<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tus 2.4, 5.</NOTE> as well as corporall, to pray with, and joyn in Prayer with her Hu&s;|band and Family; to the joy of her Husband and Hou&s;hold; whom &s;he helpeth to Governe in the fear of God, and that with wi&s;edom and under&s;tand|ing; many daughters do excellently, but &s;uch a one &s;urmounteth them all.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>We conceive the wives duty to her Husband; now what are the &s;innes contrary to this; and what light from Chri&s;t in Scripture to reveale the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t it is a &s;inne in the wife, not to acknowledge her Husband for her head, and not to honour and reve|rence her Husband as her head,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 6.16.20, &amp;c.</NOTE> who is over her in the Lord, and by the Lords Ordinance; but to de&s;pi&s;e and di&s;ho|nour her Husband as <HI>Michal</HI> did <HI>David.</HI> Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 2.12.</NOTE> It is a &s;inne in the wife to domineer and u&s;urp authority over her
<PB N="605" REF="331"> Husband, and directly contrary to the Apo&s;tles Rule.</P>
<P>Thirdly, it is a &s;in in a wife, to be of a contentious brawling &s;pirit,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 21.9.19.</NOTE> &amp; unquiet provoking di&s;po&s;ition in the hou&s;e of her Husband, or toward her Husband; where&s;oever a contentious woman is, there is like a continuall droping,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 27.15.</NOTE> which rotteth and con&s;umeth a hou&s;e to de&s;tru|ction.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 2.18.23. Eccle&s;. 25. Prov. 31.12.</NOTE> the wife &s;innes that is not a helper, and cheri&s;her of her Husband in &s;ickne&s;&s;e and in health; doing him good and not evill all the dayes of his life.</P>
<P>Fifthly, a wife &s;inneth in helping, provoking,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings, 21 25.</NOTE> and furthering of her Hu&s;|band to Commit or Act wickedne&s;&s;e, as <HI>Jezabell</HI> did <HI>Ahab,</HI> he &s;old him&s;elfe to work wickedne&s;&s;e in the &s;ight of the Lord, whom <HI>Iezabell</HI> his wife &s;tirred up.</P>
<P>Sixthly, It is a &s;inne of the wife to be an unprofitable hou&s;e-wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 31.27</NOTE> either care|le&s;&s;e or negligent at home, of her Hu&s;|bands E&s;tate,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 7.11.12. Prov. 12.4.</NOTE> not looking to the wayes of her Hou&s;hold, or in often &amp; frequent gadding from home, upon idle and unnece&s;&s;ary occa&s;ions, to the &s;hame of her Husband, and neglect of her duty of Coadjutrix, or fellow-helper-&s;hip in
<PB N="606" REF="332"> Government of the Family, to Gods Glory, and their mutuall good.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>The Commom and particular duties of Husbands towards their wives, and of wives towards their Husband<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> you have revealed by light from Chri&s;t; now what are the duties of Parents, or Fa|thers and Mothers of Families, towards their Hou&s;hold and Families?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> They are to Rule their own Hou&s;es well,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 3.4 P&s;al. 101.1, 2, 3. &amp;c Rom. 16.5.</NOTE> and to Govern them Re|ligiou&s;ly, according to the word of God; that their Hou&s;e may be as one of the Churches of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>In what particulars are they thus to rule and Govern their Families?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Chiefly in tho&s;e four particu|lars, viz. In&s;truction, Correction, Pro|vi&s;ion and Example.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>How and wherein ought Pa|rents, and Ma&s;ters of Families, to Rule, and Order their Hou&s;holds by In&s;truction?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Not only by Commanding and taking Care, that their Hou&s;hold and Family do Sanctifie,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 20.10 Deut. 6.6, 7.</NOTE> and keep holy the Lords day, in frequenting the Pub|like Ordinances, but al&s;o Catechizing them imprivate,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.15.</NOTE> and in&s;tructing them in the fir&s;t principles of the Oracles of God.</P>
<PB N="607" REF="332">
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>In what Correction are they to exerci&s;e this Hou&s;hold Government, what light from Chri&s;t herein?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> In exerci&s;ing of di&s;cipline towards their Children and Servants; Fir&s;t, in words,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.22.</NOTE> wi&s;e Admonitions and holy Reproofes; not with reviling Termes, Cur&s;ing or Banning, as too ma|ny, but convincing rea&s;ons out of Gods word. Secondly, with Moderate and Di&s;creet Correction,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 13.24. Jerem. 30.11. Prov. 22.15. Prov. 10.13.</NOTE> not in mercile&s;&s;e rigour, and madd frenzie: But in mea|&s;ure, as God doth his Children, and in pitty and compa&s;&s;ion, as &s;orry for &s;uch an affliction, that they have &s;uch Chil|dren, or Servants &s;ent of God; who &s;tand in need of the Rod mo&s;t fit for the A&s;&s;es back.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>With what provi&s;ion ought they to provide for, and order their Families with?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> That which is convenient and nece&s;&s;ary for them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.8</NOTE> Food and Rayment and comfortable re&s;t in due time.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 31.15 &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>How ought Parents and Governours of Families, men or women to be examples to their Hou&s;holds, Children or Servants?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> I An&s;wer, they are to be lea|ders
<PB N="608" REF="333"> and patternes to their Hou&s;hold Children and Servants, in their words and actions; e&s;pecially, in all the Practice of Chri&s;tian Duties, as be|cometh Saints of the Hou&s;hold of Faith.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>You have held forth the duties of Parents, of Families by a light from Chri&s;t; now what are the &s;innes which are contrary unto tho&s;e duties, and &s;o a Breach of this fir&s;t Commandement Honour thy Father and thy Mother; what light from the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t to know the &s;aid &s;innes?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, Parents and Governours of Families do &s;inne in not Command|ing and cau&s;ing Children and Servants to waite upon Chri&s;t in the publike Ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.19 Jo&s;hua. 24.25.</NOTE> in not &s;eeing them not one|ly to come to the Congregation, but to abide there, not as &s;ome who bring their Parents, or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es to Church, and then &s;lip out again, and go to what they ought not. Be&s;ides this Parents and Governours of Families &s;inne in not calling them to account, what they have learned and how they have profited, and what they have brought away of the Sermon.</P>
<PB N="609" REF="333">
<P>Secondly, Parents of Families &s;inne in not Catechizing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18, 19.</NOTE> and In&s;tructing their Children and Servants, in the Grounds and Principles of Religion, that they may be able to make a &s;olemn profe&s;&s;ion of their Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 3.17</NOTE> when they are called to declare their knowledge, and to be approved for their admittance to the Lords Supper,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 3.17 18.</NOTE> and to increa&s;e know|ledge daily in their &s;oules.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.13.14.</NOTE> Governours of Families &s;inne in not giving moderate and fit correction to Children and Servants, when need requireth it; when words and admonition will not prevaile,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 10.1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> Prov. 29.15.</NOTE> then the Rod is Gods Ordinance, &s;o it be or|dered in a right manner; not to &s;pare when nece&s;&s;ity requireth.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;. 3.21.</NOTE> it is a &s;inne to provoke Children or Servants with reviling &s;peeches,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 6.4.9.</NOTE> or to correct immea&s;urably without mercy, or without mingling, convincing rea&s;ons (if they be able) that correction is ju&s;t and to be &s;ub|mitted unto as Gods Ordinance, for the better In&s;truction of Children and Ser|vants in their duties.</P>
<P>Fifthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.8</NOTE> Ma&s;ters and Governours of Families &s;in in not providing, for
<PB N="610" REF="334"> their Families, Children and Servants what is convenient according to their abilities.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">As Phillip 3.17. &s;o &amp;c. As Gods Mini&s;ters, &s;pirituall Parents, &s;o all others Examples. 1 Pet, 5.3.</NOTE>Sixtly, Parents and Ma&s;ters of Fa|milies &s;inne in giving any evill exam|ples to their Children or Servants either in their words or actions; either by &s;innes of Omi&s;&s;ion or Commi&s;&s;ion, by which their Children and Servants may be encouraged to any evill, or hindred, or di&s;heartned in what is good and well plea&s;ing to God in Chri&s;t; as &s;pirituall, &s;o corporall Parents &s;hould be examples.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>What are the generall &s;ins of Children, Servants, or any inferiours in a Family contrary to the&s;e duties, or to Supe|riours in this re&s;pect?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> To di&s;obey the lawfull Com|mands,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 6.1.5.</NOTE> of their Superiours, and e&s;peci|ally of Parents and Ma&s;ters of Families in any of the&s;e particulars.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>The Common duties of Parents, and Governours of Families are this held forth unto us; what now are the particular duties of naturall Parents towards their Children, and what light from Chri&s;t to learn the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Divers duties of naturall Pa|rents
<PB N="611" REF="334"> to Children are already expre&s;&s;ed;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 4.3.4 P&s;al. 103.13, I&s;aiah 49.15. Gen. 25.28 Prov: 19.18 Prov. 13.24. 2 Sam, 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.33. Job. 1.4.5. Prov. 20.6.</NOTE> we may now &s;ay, Fir&s;t, naturall Parents duty is to love their Children, with a na|turall &amp; parentall love, affectionatly ready to do them good upon all occa&s;ions, and being grieved when they do evill, as an affliction of God upon them&s;elves, cor|recting them in time, and e&s;pecially taking care to prevent &s;in in them, and Gods Judgement for &s;in upon them.</P>
<P>Secondly, to declare their love to their Children in nouri&s;hing them and bringing them up with fit education,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 4.3.4.5.</NOTE> ac|cording to their calling.</P>
<P>Thirdly, in taking care to place them in &s;ome hone&s;t calling for which they are fit by naturall inclination and gifts, or with which their minde upon true information is affected, as conve|nient, and hopefully profitable for &s;oules and bodies,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 49.8, 9, 10. &amp;c.</NOTE> and a comfortable lively-hood, when they come to mens e&s;tate; as <HI>Iacob</HI> gave his Sonnes callings in his ble&s;&s;ing and care for them.</P>
<P>Fourthly, in taking care for them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28. Gen. 24.1, 2, 3, 4, &amp;c 1 Cor. 7.36.</NOTE> if God give ability and fitne&s;&s;e; to direct them in matters of moment, for their comfortable life, e&s;pecially in the Mar|ried e&s;tate, providing for them, as <HI>Abra|ham</HI>
<PB N="612" REF="335"> for his Son,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. 7.25. Gen. 14.57 58.</NOTE> and the wi&s;e man for his daughter, not without her liking and con&s;ent.</P>
<P>Fifthly, laying up and providing comfortably for their children,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 12.14. Deut. 21.17. Gen. 49.3.4. 1 Chron. 5, 1.2. Gen. 17.23 Exod. 4.25 26. Mark 10.13.14. Luke 1.59.60. Ephe&s;. 6.4.</NOTE> as God giveth ability unto them in e&s;tate; re&s;pecting the Elde&s;t, according to the right of the fir&s;t born, if there be no ju&s;t cau&s;e held forth in Scripture to the contrary.</P>
<P>Sixthly, as to procure for them (as children of beleevers born in the Church) the Sacrament of Bapti&s;me that &s;eale of the Covenant as their pri|viledge (if God afford it, in a right man|ner) &s;o to bring them up in the know|ledge of Chri&s;t, that they may walke ac|cording to the Covenant.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 49.15.16. Heb. 13.20.21. <HI>Monica</HI> prayes for her Sonne <HI>Augu&s;tine,</HI> &amp;c.</NOTE>Seventhly, to pray to the Lord for his ble&s;&s;ing upon them, as the Patriarks, and Saints did of old; and the Chil|dren of God, of later Times in the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>You have held forth the particular duties of Parents to their Chil|dren; now, what are the particular &s;innes contrary unto the&s;e duties?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> What&s;oever is contrary to the duties before mentioned; as in briefe.</P>
<PB N="613" REF="335">
<P>Fir&s;t, not to love their Children,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 7.9.</NOTE> and take care to provide for them.</P>
<P>Secondly, to hate them.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 5.29. Eccle&s;. 16.1.2 3.</NOTE></P>
<P>Thirdly, to love their bodies, or to take care for their outward temporall E&s;tates; and not to take care for their &s;oules, and Eternall E&s;tate.</P>
<P>Fourthly to neglect Catechizing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 11.19.</NOTE> or In&s;tructing of them.</P>
<P>Fifthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 1.6. Prov. 10.1 Prov. 29.15.17.</NOTE> to be too Indulgent towards them; Cockering of them, which often proves the undoing of Children, and griefe of Parents; the Child left to him|&s;elfe, bringeth his Mother to &s;hame.</P>
<P>Sixthly, to be too cruell,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 6.4.</NOTE> and bitter in correction, or otherwi&s;e towards their Children,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.21.</NOTE> provoking them to take tho&s;e evill cour&s;es; which a wi&s;e and right Fatherly carriage towards them might have prevented; which is contra|ry to that Rule: Fathers, provoke not your Children, le&s;t they be di&s;couraged.</P>
<P>Seventhly, in cur&s;ing,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.14.</NOTE> or not praying, for their children, and not de&s;iring Gods ble&s;&s;ing upon them; for if the Ma|gi&s;trate or prophet of God; the Civill and &s;pirituall Father may &s;inne in not praying for their civill and &s;pirituall<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 12.23.</NOTE>
<PB N="614" REF="336"> children, then it mu&s;t needs be a &s;inne, al&s;o in naturall Parents.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 9.25.</NOTE>For how&s;oever <HI>Noah</HI> prophetically cur&s;ed <HI>Canaan,</HI> yea, &s;ome others have in a propheticall manner, pronounced cur&s;es to come upon the wicked; yet to cur&s;es, as commonly wicked Parents and others too often u&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Matt. 5.44.45.</NOTE> is a grievous &s;inne; and God many times brings the Parents cur&s;es upon their Children.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>You have manife&s;ted the duties of Parents towards their Children; now what light have you from Chri&s;t to hold forth in Scripture, the duty of Children towards their Parents?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The&s;e duties of children, may be branched forth into divers particu|lars.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Ruth. 4.15. John 14.31. Gen. 31.35. Gen. 46.29 Gen. 47.7. Malach 1.6. Gen. 45.8.9. Gen. 45.23. Gen. 44.30, 31.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, the childrens duty is to love, honour, and highly e&s;teem of, and re|verence their naturall Parents; although they them&s;elves be highly exalted, and their Parents be but of mean E&s;tate; and to declare their honourable e&s;teeme of their Parents in all Words and Acti|ons of reverence and re&s;pect, both in their pre&s;ence and ab&s;ence.</P>
<P>Secondly, childrens duty is to fear of|fending of their Parents, or grieving
<PB N="615" REF="336"> them by word or deed, in their pre&s;ence, or by any Actions,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Leviticus 19.3.</NOTE> or behaviour in their ab&s;ence; thou &s;hall feare thy Mother, and thy Father; I am the Lord; the Mo|ther is named before the Father, becau&s;e children are mo&s;t apt to di&s;re&s;pect their Mother; therefore the wi&s;e man he ex|pre&s;&s;eth both together;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.</NOTE> hearken to thy Father that begat thee, and de&s;pi&s;e not thy Mother, when &s;he is old, Let chil|dren not forget their duty herein.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 6.1.2, 2. Colo&s;&s;. 3.20. Prov. 1.8.</NOTE> children are not onely to love and honour, and feare offending, but al&s;o to obey their Parents in the Lord; the Apo&s;tle pre&s;&s;eth this duty with the motive of a promi&s;ed ble&s;&s;ing, which is the fir&s;t Commandement with promi&s;e (&s;aith he) that it may goe well with thee, and thou maye&s;t live long on the earth;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> 11</NOTE> and Chri&s;t him&s;elfe giveth an Example, when he was &s;ubject unto his Parents.</P>
<P>Fourthly, the duty of children,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 1.8.</NOTE> is to ac|cept off, and &s;ubject unto the in&s;tructi|on, and correction of Parents;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 12.7.9.</NOTE> as that which is mo&s;t profitable for their good; being di&s;creetly and in right manner performed.</P>
<P>Fifthly, the duty of children, is to be
<PB N="616" REF="337"> directed,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 28.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">.2. Gen. 28.6.7.</NOTE> and advi&s;ed by their Parents; with much re&s;pect, for undertaking Matters, of great concernment; e&s;peci|ally for their undertaking of marriage; good children will not be ra&s;h in this without con&s;ent of Parents, e&s;pecially religious Parents, who take care both of their &s;oules and bodies; and the like re&s;pect ought Fo&s;ter children to have of their Guardians,<NOTE PLACE="marg">He&s;ter, 2.7.20.</NOTE> and Fo&s;ter Parents, who religiou&s;ly and carefully take care for their good.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 4.1.3. &amp;c. Matt, 15.4.5, 6. 1 Tim. 5.4 Gen. 47.12. John 19.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">, 27. Gen. 27.34. Gen 48.12, 13. Gen. 14.12, 13, 14.15. &amp;c. Prov. 31.28. Prov. 17.17. Rom. 12.10,</NOTE>Sixthly, childrens duty is to follow Parents good Example, and to declare them&s;elves thankfull to their Parents; &s;eeking their good, and taking care for them, if at any time they &s;tand in need of cheri&s;hing or provi&s;ion, for their com|fortable lively-hood, in this life, e&s;peci|ally for the good of their &s;oules. Chri&s;t tooke care for his Mother, even at his death.</P>
<P>Seventhly, children are to de&s;ire, and e&s;teeme the Prayers and ble&s;&s;ing of their Parents, to love Parents, Friends; and e&s;pecially naturall Brethren and Si&s;ters, as mo&s;t neer ein relation.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>You have held forth the dut<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">es, now what are the &s;innes of Children,
<PB N="617" REF="337"> contrary to the&s;e duties of children to their Parents.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.37.</NOTE> for children to love their Parents above Chri&s;t, is a &s;inne again&s;t Chri&s;t, and no true love to their Parents.</P>
<P>Secondly, not to love, or to hate,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 20.9 Prov. 20.20 Deut. 27.16. Prov. 15.20. Prov. 23.22. Gen. 9.22.24, &amp;c. Prov. 30.17.</NOTE> cur&s;e, revile, or di&s;honour, de&s;pi&s;e, di&s;|grace, or be a&s;hamed of his Parents, is a &s;inne, a fearfull &s;inne; cur&s;ed is he that &s;eteth light by his Father, or his Mo|ther, and let all the people &s;ay, Amen.</P>
<P>Thirdly, To mock, &s;corn or deride Parents, is a fearefull &s;inne; yea, not to cover, but to &s;corn, or deride, or de&s;pi&s;e them in their infirmities, this is &s;inne.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 21.18, 19, 20. &amp;c. Rom. 1.30. 2 Tim. 3.2. Prov. 30.17 1 Sam. 2.25.</NOTE> for children to be rebelli|ous and to di&s;obey and &s;light the law|full and good Commandements and di|rections of Parents is as &s;inne, yea to de&s;pi&s;e to obey their Mother is a fear|full &s;inne, and hath a terrible cur&s;e foretold to fall upon &s;uch children; The eye that mocketh his Father, and de&s;pi&s;eth to obey his Mother, the Ravens of the Valley &s;hall pick it out, and the young Eagles &s;hall eate it.</P>
<P>Fifthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 5.1.</NOTE> children &s;inne in not &s;ub|jecting
<PB N="618" REF="338"> them&s;elves to the good in&s;tructi|ons and good correcting of their parents,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 5.11, 12, 13. Levit. 9.3 Prov. 31.1 2, 3, 4. Deut. 21 20. Prov. 28.24. Gen. 26.34 35. Gen&s;. 54.50, 51. Numb. 39.3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 7.35, 38.</NOTE> yea of Mother and Father.</P>
<P>Sixthly, children &s;inne in Robbing of their Parents in dimini&s;hig any of their Parents goods in Drunkenne&s;&s;e, Gaming or any other way what&s;oever, who &s;o Robbeth his Father or his Mo|ther, and &s;aith it is no tran&s;gre&s;&s;ion, the &s;ame is the companion of a de&s;troyer; it is a &s;in.</P>
<P>Seventhly, it is a &s;inne to vow and promi&s;e or to &s;ettle mariage affections, or for children to marry contrary to their Parents good advi&s;e and again&s;t their good will and approbation, e&s;pe|cially being under their government; it was the practi&s;e of prophane <HI>E&s;au</HI> him&s;elfe to his Parents; for the Father hath the right to give his daughter in mariage.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 74.12 John 19.27</NOTE>Eightly, children &s;inne in being un|thankfull and unkind to their Parents, not taking care for them as <HI>Io&s;eph</HI> for old <HI>Jacob,</HI> and Chri&s;t for his Mother; but neglecting Parents contrary to the order both of nature and grace.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 15.5, 6.</NOTE></P>
<P>Ninthly, to be without naturall af|fection to Parents,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.31</NOTE> or to di&s;re&s;pect their
<PB N="619" REF="338"> prayer and ble&s;&s;ing, is a &s;in;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 27.34 He&s;t. 2.7 20.</NOTE> and they wor&s;e then <HI>E&s;au.</HI></P>
<P>Tenthly, for children not to obey as <HI>He&s;ter</HI> did <HI>Mordecia,</HI> but to di&s;re&s;|pect, or de&s;pi&s;e, or di&s;obey their Tutors or Governours, or Parents for their wi&s;e, ju&s;t and whole&s;ome commands,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 24.2.17 22. Gen. 12.5 Gen. 13.8 Prov. 18.19 P&s;al. 33., 1, 2, 3. Gen. 27.41</NOTE> coun&s;ells and admonitions, or to be unkinde or unthankfull to any of them, or theirs for their care over them, or to be without love to Brethren or Si&s;ter, much more to be unkinde, unquiet, or contentious, to quarrell, or as <HI>E&s;au</HI> to malice or hate one another, all this is &s;inne and &s;ubjects to the cur&s;e of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>Now have received from Chri&s;t the great Prophet out of the holy Scripture of truth, what is the duties of Parents to children and of children to their Parents, declare I pray you by light from Chri&s;t; what is the meanes to inable chil|dren to practize the&s;e duties to Gods glory and their Parents comfort, and comfort of their own &s;oules?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is not in man to direct his &s;teps,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jer. 10.23</NOTE> neither can Parents or children performe their duties by &s;trength of their owne; therefore both Parents and children mu&s;t waite on Chri&s;t in his
<PB N="620" REF="339"> Ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.12 Iohn 1.16 Iohn 15.5 Phil. 4.13 Malac. 4.2</NOTE> and receive dayly &s;trength of grace from Chri&s;t to walke com|fortably with Chri&s;t in their duties; for without Chri&s;t wee can doe no|thing; but in and by Chri&s;t wee may doe all things as the Apo&s;tles witne&s;&s;eth of him&s;elfe. Chri&s;t is the Sunne of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, who commeth with healing in his Wings, not onely to heale our natures, but to enlighten, and warme and quicken the &s;oules of his children in the performance of every duty. Grace in children is the be&s;t riches, the be&s;t portion; the &s;ame in Pa|rents.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>The mutuall dutiet of Parents to children, and of children to Parents being thus held forth; declare I pray you the duties of ma&s;ters and mi&s;tre&s;&s;es to their &s;er|vants, and apprenti&s;es?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.19. 2 Kings 5 23. Colo&s;&s;. 3.22.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Ma&s;ters and Fathers of Families are in the nature and place of Parents to their &s;ervants, while&s;t they are under their charge, and ought to be carefull of their &s;ervants and apprenti&s;es, to Ca|techize, and in&s;truct them in the know|ledge of God, of Chri&s;t, and of them|&s;elves and their duties out of Gods Word that they may doe them &s;ervice
<PB N="621" REF="339"> in the feare of God, not with eye &s;ervice,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.1 &amp; 56.</NOTE> but in &s;inglene&s;&s;e of heart as unto Chri&s;t. For how &s;hould Ma&s;ters or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es expect faithfull &s;ervice from their &s;ervants and apprenti&s;es, when they never take care to teach them what their duty is out of Gods Word.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job 13, 31 Colo&s;&s;. 4.1</NOTE> Ma&s;ters ought to rule their &s;ervants with Ju&s;tice and equity, accor|ding to the Apo&s;tles direction, Ma&s;ters give unto your &s;ervants that which is ju&s;t and equall, knowing that yee al&s;o have a Ma&s;ter in Heaven.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the commandes of Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es to their &s;ervants, and ap|prenti&s;es mu&s;t be hone&s;t and lawfull a|greeable not contrary to the Word of God; el&s;e they are not to be obeyed;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 11 14, 15.</NOTE> <HI>David</HI> &s;inned in commanding <HI>Ioab</HI> to to &s;et <HI>&V;riah</HI> in the hotte&s;t of the Battell that he might be &s;mitten and die;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 22 17.</NOTE> and <HI>Ioab</HI> &s;inned in obeying <HI>David;</HI> and <HI>Saul,</HI> &s;inned in commanding his footmen to to kill the Lords Prie&s;ts; and <HI>Saules</HI> foot-men did not &s;inne in di&s;obeying the unlawfull commands of the King their Ma&s;ter.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.5 8.</NOTE> Ma&s;ters ought to command their Servants and Apprenti&s;es things
<PB N="622" REF="340"> po&s;&s;ible for them to do, proportiona|ble to their abilities, &amp; actings of their be&s;t endevours, not beyond them; faith|full <HI>Abraham</HI> a good Ma&s;ter, required no more of his &s;ervant.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.17. 1 Tim. 5.8</NOTE>Fifthly, the Ma&s;ters duty, is to pro|vide for his Servants, and Apprentices, convenient food and rayment; and to Grant them nece&s;&s;ary re&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 King. 5.13.</NOTE> and refre&s;h|ing, that they may be able to doe their Ma&s;ters Service with cheerefulne&s;&s;e, as unto living Parents.</P>
<P>Sixthly, the duty of Ma&s;ters towards their Servants,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 6.9.</NOTE> is to correct them, when nece&s;&s;ity requireth, with wi&s;edom and moderation; and to forbear cruell threatnings, knowing that they have a Ma&s;ter in heaven: neither is their re|&s;pect of per&s;ons with him.</P>
<P>Seventhly, the Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es duty,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 29.15.21. Gen. 30.28. Exod. 2 9. Prov. 22.6 Deut. 15.12, 13, 14.</NOTE> towards their Servants and Ap|prentices, is to perform their covenants towards them, without fraud or delay, and to take care, they may learn their Trade and calling, that they may live comfortably not only with them, but but when according to their Covenants they have done their Service, and are departed from them;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 30.27.28.</NOTE> e&s;teeming tho&s;e
<PB N="623" REF="340"> who have been their faithfull &s;ervants, as their friends; though in e&s;tate they be poor, and inferiour unto them, as Chri&s;t e&s;teemed of his Di&s;ciples who &s;erved him in truth and &s;incerity.<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 14, 15.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>The&s;e are good directions from Chri&s;t of the duties of Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es, towards their Servants &amp; Ap|prentices; now what are the &s;ins contrary unto the&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The &s;ins contrary are divers, I will note them in briefe.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jerem. 10.25. Prov. 31.26, 27. Ephe&s;s. 2.12.</NOTE> it is a &s;inne in Ma&s;ters and Mi|&s;tre&s;&s;es to neglect Prayer, and Cate|chizing their Families; and not to teach and in&s;truct their hou&s;holds in the way of God; when men or women, or their hou&s;hold live as without God in the world; and their Families are uncate|chized in their duties to God or to them;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.19</NOTE> for what God commends in <HI>Abra|ham,</HI> the contrary he di&s;liketh in tho&s;e who neglect the duty, and merit cur&s;e.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jerm. 9.25.</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut.24.14.</NOTE> not to governe the hou&s;hold, and &s;ervants with Ju&s;tice, and equity; but with unquietne&s;&s;e, Tyran|ny, and oppre&s;&s;ion, is a &s;inne;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 11.29.</NOTE> &s;uch a one is a troubler of his own hou&s;e.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 4.1.</NOTE> to command the Servant
<PB N="624" REF="341"> that which is unlawfull and again&s;t the Law of God, is a &s;inne; if a Ma&s;ter, and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e command a Servant to &s;teale, it is &s;inne to command,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 20.15. Eph. 4.28</NOTE> and &s;inne to obey; as contrary to the command of God, thou &s;halt not &s;teale.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 4.1</NOTE>Fourthly, to command Servants, or Apprentices to doe that which is im|po&s;&s;ible, and above &s;trength, and ability, in re&s;pect of time or power, is a &s;inne, and oppre&s;&s;ion like <HI>Pharaos;</HI> and tho&s;e wicked Task-ma&s;ters of the Egyptians over the Children of I&s;rael,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 5.7.10.11.</NOTE> who re|quired the whole Tale of Brick, and gave no Straw, for which and other &s;innes, God plagued them in the end.</P>
<P>Fifthly, the Ma&s;ter &s;inneth in not providing for his Servants and Appren|tices that which is comfortable,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 51.8.</NOTE> fitting, and convenient, for Cloathing, Meat, Drink, Re&s;t, and the like nece&s;&s;aries.</P>
<P>Sixthly, the Ma&s;ter and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;e &s;in in correcting their Servants,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Exod. 21.20.</NOTE> and Ap|prentices immoderately, indi&s;creetly, with violence, pa&s;&s;ion, cruelty forget|ting the rule of Chri&s;tian moderation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 6.9 Prov 9.21:</NOTE> with threatnings wor&s;e then pre&s;ent moderate correction, and Cockering a Servant is a &s;inne; as dangerous &s;et on the other hand.</P>
<PB N="625" REF="341">
<P>Seventhly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 24.14, 15.</NOTE> the Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es &s;inne in not performing Covenants with their &s;ervants, in not teaching them their Trades truly without fraud (which is part of their wages or re|compence for Money received) in not re|warding them according to Covenant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Leviticus 19.13. Malac. 3.5. Gen. 31.7.</NOTE> and making them free-men, that they may live comfortably with them, &amp; &s;o from them, when Service is ended, and when they are freemen to be e&s;teemed as friends upon their good carriage, and faithfull Service,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Philemon, 16.</NOTE> e&s;pecially if there be the Grace of God in them communi|cated in Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>You have &s;et forth divers duties to be performed, and divers &s;innes forbidden. But how &s;hall Ma&s;ters and Mi|&s;tre&s;&s;es get ability to perform the&s;e duties, and to avoid the &s;innes, to Gods Glory, and good of them&s;elves, and their Servants?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Only by vertue and power from Chri&s;t; for Chri&s;t is the Vine,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 15.3, 4, 5, 6.</NOTE> and we are the Branches; if we have any ability to bring forth fruit, and to perform our duties it mu&s;t be with &s;appe and juice of life received from Chri&s;t; Therefore Ma&s;ters &amp; Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 22.21.</NOTE> mu&s;t endeavour to keep a daily acquaintance with Chri&s;t,
<PB N="926" REF="342"> &s;o &s;hall they be better inabled to per|form their duties to Gods glory,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts. 4.13.</NOTE> and the comfort of them&s;elves, and their Ser|vants.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>The duty of Ma&s;ters, and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es towards their Servants and Ap|prentices being this declared; what are the duties of Servants and Apprentices, towards their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t the duty of Servants and Apprentices, is to love, honour, and reverence their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malac. 1.6. 1 Tim. 6.1. 2 Kings 15 13.</NOTE> and to receive In&s;truction from them, out of Gods word; to be Catechized by them, as children by their Parents.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 6.5, 6, 7.</NOTE>Secondly, the duty of &s;ervants and Apprentices is to be obedient to their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es; in lawfull commands,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.22. Titus 2.9.</NOTE> and directions, willingly; with fear, and trembling, not an&s;wer|ing again; but without contradiction to &s;erve them:<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet 2.23.</NOTE> not with eye &s;ervice as men-plea&s;ers; but in &s;inglene&s;&s;e of heart, as unto Chri&s;t.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 31.40. Colo&s;&s; 3.23.24. Prov. 10.4.</NOTE>Thirdly, Servants and Apprentices are to &s;erve their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es with diligence, to be thrifty, making u&s;e of all opportunities to doe their Ma&s;ters good &s;ervice, for his profit, and credit;
<PB N="627" REF="342"> with all &s;inglene&s;&s;e of heart as unto God;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 12.24 Prov. <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">2.29. Ephe&s;. 6.8.</NOTE> knowing in this they &s;erve the Lord Chri&s;t, and &s;hall receive their re|ward from God, although their Ma&s;ters &s;hould proue ungratefull.</P>
<P>Fourthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 101.6.7.</NOTE> the duty of the &s;ervants and Apprentices, is to &s;erve their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es, with all wi&s;edome, faith|fullne&s;&s;e, and truth, both in word,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 17.2. Titus 2.10 Ephe. 4.25</NOTE> and deed; without all lying, or fal&s;hood what&s;oever, as being alwayes in Gods pre&s;ence, who knoweth whether they &s;peake truly, or do truly and faithful|ly their &s;ervice or not.</P>
<P>Fifthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 2.18, 19.</NOTE> the &s;ervants and Apprentices duty, is to &s;ubmit to their Ma&s;ters <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">u&s;t Admonitions, Reproofs, and Correcti|ons; yea,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 16.6.7.</NOTE> although their Ma<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ers or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es, faile in the manner of their carriage towards them; yet they are not to runne away, or in pride to oppo&s;e; but to carry them&s;elves in all humility towards their Ma<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ers and Mi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">re&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 16.8.9.</NOTE> &s;ubmitting them&s;elves unto them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eccle&s;. 5.8</NOTE> as is convenient in the Lord: leaving their cau&s;e to God, (who is higher then the highe&s;t) &amp; to a lawfull cour&s;e of Ju&s;tice; not taking the Law into their own hands, or being their own Judges. For
<PB N="628" REF="343"> the Magi&s;trate beareth not the &s;word in vaine;<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">om. 13 <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">, 2, 3, 4.7</NOTE> he is the Mini&s;ter of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him, that doth evill, &s;ervant or Ma&s;ter.</P>
<P>Sixthly, the Servants and Apprentices duty is to keep all their Ma&s;ters Secrets,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.11. Prov. 20.19</NOTE> which ought to be kept, and concealed, not revealing them to di&s;credit, or the di|&s;honour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 25.9.</NOTE> or di&s;profit of their Ma&s;ters or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.2.3, &amp;c.</NOTE> the Ma&s;ter repo&s;eth a tru&s;t in his &s;ervant, whom he taketh into his hou&s;e, to be carefull both of his profit and honour; and to doe him faithfull &s;ervice.</P>
<P>Seventhly, the duty of the &s;ervants and apprentices,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 2.9.</NOTE> is to be well plea&s;ing, &amp; to &s;eek to plea&s;e their Ma&s;ters, and Mi|&s;tre&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 13.8.</NOTE> and fellow &s;ervants (in all law|full and good things) as Brethren and Si&s;ters;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.33 34, 35. Gen. 24.37 41.</NOTE> and keep quietne&s;&s;e in the Fami|ly; and to performe their Covenants to and with their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;|&s;s;es, when they are with them, and to Re&s;pect them as their Fathers, and late Antient a Ma&s;ters, when they are free|men, and departed from them; yet then to have an honourable re&s;pect of them, as is comely in the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;tion 24. <HI>You have manife&s;ted
<PB N="629" REF="343"> the duties of Servants, and Ap|prentices towards their Ma&s;ters, and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es; now declare I pray you, what light the Lord Chri&s;t hath held forth in Scripture, to di&s;cover the &s;innes of &s;ervants and Apprentices contrary to the&s;e duties.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The Scripture and Chri&s;t in the Scripture, revealeth divers &s;ins of &s;ervants and Apprentices; as</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, the Servants and Apprentices doe &s;inne in not loving and honour|ing their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 6.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Rom. 13.7</NOTE> or in any way hating of them, de&s;pi&s;ing, di|&s;honouring, or di&s;crediting of them; e&s;pecially, refu&s;ing or not receiving In|&s;truction,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Pro. 13.18 P&s;al. 50.17.</NOTE> but hating it from Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es; or in not &s;ubmitting to be Catechized by them, in the truth of Chri&s;t, and their duties,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 15.32.</NOTE> according to the word of God, and that light their Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es have received from Chri&s;t Je&s;us. If <HI>Abrahams</HI> duty be to Catechize his Family, and command them to know the Lord and his will;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 18.18 19. Matt. 8.8, 9. Job. 19.16. M<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tt. 24.48 49.50, &amp;c. Ephe&s;. 6. With good w<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ll doe &s;ervice as to the Lord not men. 1 Cor. 15.33. Judg. 5 9 Titus 2 9. 2 Cor. 9 7. Matt. 25.26. Rom. 11.12. Prov. 10.4. Prov. 12.24. Prov. 18 9, Prov. 6.6. Prov. 10.26. Jerem. 23.24. Titus 2.10 Luke 16.1.2 8. Zac<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ar. 5.4 Ephe&s;. 4.28 Ephe&s;. 6.5.6. John 8.44. P&s;al. 101.7. Levit. 19.11. Colo&s;&s;. 3.9 2 Sam. 16.3. 2 Sam. 19 27. Jere. 17.9 Revel. 2.23. Revel. 21.8 Revel. 22.15. Acts 5.31</NOTE> then the &s;ervants and apprentices duty is to learn and &s;ubmit to be Catechized, and In&s;tructed by them; and the contra|ry is &s;inne, in any who&s;oever.</P>
<P>Secondly, it is a &s;inne in &s;ervants and
<PB N="630" REF="344"> apprentices, to be rebellious, or di&s;obe|dient to the ju&s;t commands, of their Ma&s;ters or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es; or to do their commands, and directions unwillingly, and grudgingly, or with murmurings and repining, with denyings, or evill words which c<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">rrupt good manners, and manife<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> their di&s;obedience; which is &s;inne, as contrary to the Rule of Chri&s;t, by the Apo&s;tle; God cannot abide unwilling, or grudging &s;ervice.</P>
<P>Thirdly, &s;ervants and apprentices &s;inne in being idle, carele&s;&s;e, &s;luggards, negligent or &s;loathfull to do &s;ervice or to performe the will, direction, and law<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ull orders of their Ma&s;ters and Mi|&s;tre&s;&s;es without diligence, and faithfull endevotr in ab&s;ence as well as pre&s;ence of Superiors.</P>
<P>Fourthly, &s;ervants and apprentices &s;inne in doing their &s;ervice unfaithfully, and un<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">u&s;tly, when they purloine, rob and &s;teale from their Ma&s;ters, or Mi|&s;tre&s;&s;es; when they wa&s;te, or mi&s;pend their Ma&s;ters goods, or embezell them any manner of way.</P>
<P>Fifthly, the &s;ervants and apprentices &s;inne in not &s;erving their Ma&s;ters in &s;incerity and truth in word or deed, but
<PB N="631" REF="344"> with lying fraud, and deceit; a &s;ervant mu&s;t not tell his Ma&s;ter an untruth, he mu&s;t not lie for or again&s;t his Ma&s;ters profit; but &s;peake truth as knowing that the Lord knoweth the heart, lea&s;t with lying <HI>Gehezi</HI> hee get the cur&s;e of a Lepro&s;ie to his &s;hame, and hell for his portion except God give graces of faith and Repentance in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Sixthly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malac. 1.6</NOTE> the &s;ervants &s;inne in not keeping all their Ma&s;ters coun&s;ells, and &s;ecrets which ought not to be revealed, or in di&s;honouring or &s;eeking the di&s;|credit of their Ma&s;ters or Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 2.18, 19.</NOTE> or their di&s;profit contrary to the true and lawfull tru&s;t repo&s;ed in them, and not &s;ubjecting to fit correction if they faile in duty.</P>
<P>Seventhly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 2.9 Ch i&s;tian example. Rom. 15.1, 2, 3. Rom. 1.30, 31. He&s;ter. 2.7.20. He&s;ter. 8.1</NOTE> the &s;ervants and appren|tices &s;inne in not endevouring to plea&s;e, but wilfully or carele&s;&s;ely di&s;plea&s;ing them, nor performing their covenants with their Ma&s;ters, while they are with them not honouring them when they are departed from them as good &s;er|vants ought to honour tho&s;e who have nouri&s;hed, taught and re&s;pected them, as good and wi&s;e Ma&s;ters ought to re&s;pect
<PB N="632" REF="345"> &s;ervants and apprentices; and as children their fo&s;ter Parents, to honour them when they are from them, as Queene <HI>He&s;ter</HI> did to <HI>Mordecai.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>You have given a light for &s;ervants and apprentices to &s;ee their duties and their &s;innes and failings; now what light have you from Chri&s;t to reveale how &s;ervants and apprentices may get not onely a&s;&s;urance of pardon for their &s;innes, but wi&s;dome and power to performe the&s;e duties, and avoid the&s;e &s;innes and failings that &s;o they may walke comfortably with Chri&s;t in their callings and cour&s;e of their lives.</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Onely in and by Chri&s;t who is made unto us of God Wi&s;edome,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30</NOTE> and Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e and &s;anctification, and Redemption. Therefore Servants and apprentices mu&s;t &s;eeke unto, and waite upon Chri&s;t in the Go&s;pell, as to the fountaine opened to the hou&s;e of <HI>David</HI> for &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Z<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ch. 13.1 1 Iohn 1.7</NOTE> and for uncleanne&s;&s;e that by his Bloud they may be clean&s;ed from all &s;inne.</P>
<P>Secondly, they mu&s;t &s;eeke to Chri&s;t as to the Tree of life in the midde&s;t of the Paradi&s;e of God that beareth fruit every month,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Revel. 2.22</NOTE> and the leaves are good to heal the nations with. Seek to Chri&s;t for
<PB N="633" REF="345"> health of &s;oule and life, power to &s;trengthen and quicken them with wi&s;|dome, and &s;trength of grace to performe their duties.</P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 24.12 &amp; 26.27.</NOTE> &s;ervants and apprentices they mu&s;t imitate that Religious pra|ctize of <HI>Abrahams</HI> faithfull &s;ervant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 16.23.</NOTE> pray to God to ble&s;&s;e their endeavours as he did. (O Lord God of my Ma&s;ter <HI>Abra|ham,</HI> I pray thee &s;end me good &s;peed this day) thus &s;eeking in the name of Chri&s;t, they &s;hall finde a ble&s;&s;ing to their comfort.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>But what if in all the&s;e meanes and performances of duties on each part, Husbands cannot find good Wives, nor Wives finde good Husbands, Parents not finde good children, or children good Parents, Ma&s;ters not finde good &s;er|vants, nor &s;ervants although they performe their duties, cannot find good ma&s;ters, what is the duty of each one in &s;uch condi|tion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Husband is to pray for his Wife, and the Wife for her Husband; the Parents are to &s;eeke the Lord for their children, and the children for their Parents; the Ma&s;ters for their &s;ervants
<PB N="634" REF="346"> and the &s;ervants for their Ma&s;ters, and to u&s;e all good meanes that in and by Chri&s;t their hearts may be changed, their corruptions mortified,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 9.23</NOTE> and their infirmities healed, and to beare their cro&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 12.2</NOTE> and endure the affliction with pa|tience, looking unto Je&s;us the Author and fini&s;her of our faith, who for the joy that was &s;et before him edured the Cro&s;&s;e, de&s;pi<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ng the &s;hame, and is &s;et downe at the right hand of the Throne of God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>You have explained and held forth the duties of Superiors and Juferiors in the oeconomicall or hou&s;ehould e&s;tate; now what are the duties in the Eccle&s;ia&s;ti|call Church or &s;tate,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 4.15.</NOTE> <HI>and Spiritnall Pa|rents or &s;uperiours in the Church, as Pa&s;tors and Treachers or Mini&s;ters to the people of God committed to their charge,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.28</NOTE> <HI>und over whom the Holy Gho&s;t hath made them over|&s;eers?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 2.25 1 P<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">r. 5.4 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. 2 Tim. 3.15.</NOTE><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, the holy Scripture holdeth forth the Lord Chri&s;t him&s;elfe, to be the chiefe Shepheard and over&s;eer, and as he is the great Pa&s;tor to teach, &s;o he hath appointed Pa&s;tors and Teach|ers in his Church; And as the Lord Chri&s;t is faithfull not as a &s;ervant, but
<PB N="635" REF="346"> as a &s;on over his owne hou&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 3.5, 6 1 <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">or. 4.1, 2. 1 Tim. 2.15.</NOTE> &s;o it is the duty of the Mini<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ers and &s;ervants of Chri&s;t to be faithfull, as &s;tewards in the hou&s;e of Chri&s;t the Church of the living God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>Wherein is this faithfulne&s;se to be manife&s;ted by Mini&s;ters in the perform|ance of their duties, and what light from Chri&s;t to m<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ke this evident?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Act. 20.28 2 Cor. 5.19, 20.</NOTE> in taking heede to them|&s;elves (as Amba&s;&s;adors &s;ent of Chri&s;t) and to all the flock, over which the ho|ly Gho<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters"> hath made them over&s;eers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 4.2.</NOTE> to feede the Church of God which he hath purchaz<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">d with his owne bloud. To Preach the Word of God, and be in&s;tant in &s;ea&s;on and out of &s;ea&s;on; to Re|proove, Rebuke, Exhort with all long &s;uffering and Doctrine.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.8 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. 2 Cor. 4.5</NOTE> to feede the flock of God taking the Rule and over&s;ight of them with diligence, not by con&s;traint but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready minde, neither as Lords over Gods heritage, but as &s;ervants to the Church for Je&s;us &s;ake.</P>
<P>Thirdly, the Over&s;eers, Elders,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 5.1. 1 Tim. 3.2 3, 4.</NOTE> or Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t they are Pa&s;tors and Teachers, and Rulers, they ought to be
<PB N="636" REF="347"> of unblameable life and conver&s;ation,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.3</NOTE> examples to the flock, husband of one wife vigilant,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 4.6 &amp;c.</NOTE> &s;ober, apt to teach, not given to Wine, no &s;triker, not given to filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 6.11, 12.</NOTE> one that ruleth his own hou&s;e well having his childen in &s;ub|jection with all gravity, no novice, lea&s;t hee be lifted up with pride.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 2.24.</NOTE> Here are foureteene properties in one place, the Epi&s;tles of ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Paul</HI> to <HI>Timothy,</HI> and to <HI>Titus</HI> hold forth diver&s;e more.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 1.6, 7, 8, 9. Titue 2.7</NOTE> Thus the &s;ervant of Chri&s;t ought not to &s;trive; but in meekne&s;&s;e to in&s;truct and be a patterne of good work.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>What are the &s;innes of Mi|ni&s;ters contrary to the&s;e duties?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, unfaithfullne&s;&s;e, running before they be &s;ent,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 56. to 11.</NOTE> and not feeding the flock of God where they come, not Preaching, Catechizing, admini&s;tring of the Sacraments,<NOTE PLACE="marg">J<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">. 23.1, 2</NOTE> and Prayers and other Mini&s;teriall acts for good of the Church;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezek. 34.1, 2, 3.</NOTE> being ignorant idoll Shep|heards, or idle and negligent Sheep|heards, Not regarding that great charge and honorable office they have taken upon them, not performing that tru&s;t committed unto them, and of which
<PB N="637" REF="347"> they mu&s;t give an account to the chiefe Sheepheard Chri&s;t Je&s;us.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.4</NOTE></P>
<P>Secondly, unfaithfulne&s;&s;e in not ru|ling as Elders and not Governing the Church of God with watchfulne&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eze. 34.4, 5 1 Pet. 5.3, 4. 3 Iohn 9. I&s;ai. 56.11, 12.</NOTE> wi&s;edome and humility, according to the Rule of Chri&s;t; but in pride or ty|ranny, as lording it over Gods her|itage, loving the preheminence con|trary to the direction of the Spirit of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Thirdly, Mini&s;ters &s;inne in unfaith|fulne&s;&s;e in not feeding them by good example of life and conver&s;ation, being as <HI>Iohn</HI> the Bapti&s;t burning and &s;hining lights:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 5.35</NOTE> But walking di&s;orderly as <HI>Eli's</HI> &s;ons to the di&s;honour of their callings, and evill example of others, any manner of way unbe&s;eeming the Mini&s;ters and &s;ervants of Chri&s;t Je&s;us.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.17 22.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>You have declared the duties of tho&s;e who are Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.1. 1 Cor. 4.15.</NOTE> <HI>&s;piri|tuall Fathers, Elders, Over&s;eers, Pa&s;tors and Teachers in the Church, and their &s;ins and failings; Now what are the duties of &s;pirituall children of the Congregation, and people, to their Pa&s;tors and Teach|ers?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The duty of people and con|gregations<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;&s;. 5.17.</NOTE>
<PB N="638" REF="348"> to their faithfull Pa&s;tors and Teachers, as</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 11.40 1 The&s;&s;. 5.12.1. Gal. 4.14 1 Cor. 4.1 1 The&s;&s;. 5.13. 1 Tim. 5.17.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, to receive and acknowledge them as &s;ent of Chri&s;t, and over them in the Lord, as the Apo&s;tles expre&s;&s;ion is.</P>
<P>Secondly, to Love, Reverence, and e&s;teeme tho&s;e Mini&s;ters and Elders e&s;pe|cially that labour in the word, and very highly in love for their worke &s;ake and with double honour as is fit for Mini|&s;ters and officers of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to obey them in the Lord, as tho&s;e that have the Rule and over-&s;ight of them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.17 Heb. 13.24</NOTE> and watch for their &s;oules and mu&s;t give an account, that they may doe it with joy and not with greif; for that will not profit for tho&s;e that di&s;obey Gods Mini&s;ters and Elders over them in the Lord.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;&s;. 5.22.</NOTE></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gal. 4.15. 1 Tim. 5.17, 18. Luke 10.5 6, 7. Galat. 6.6, 7. 1 Co<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. 9.13, 14.</NOTE>Fourthly, readily and cheerefully to communicate give or pay unto them that honorable maintenance which is due unto th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">m for their labour in the worke of the Mini<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">try, according to the word of God and ordinance of Je&s;us Chri<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>But is there any payment of maintenance due now to Gods Mini&s;ters as Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t in the new Te&s;ta|ment
<PB N="639" REF="348"> by any Divine-right, the neglect or keeping back of which is a &s;inne: becau&s;e I have heard &s;ome affirme that how&s;oever in the old Te&s;tamenet, the Lord had the re&s;erved portion of his owne inheritance the Tenth which he gave to his Mini&s;ters for their labour, and for the honorable and comfor|table maintenance of them and theirs, (be|&s;ides their Cities and their Suburbs for their cattell,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Numb. 18.20, 21, 30.31. Levit. 27.30, 31, 32.1, 2.3, 4, &amp;c. Numb. 35.</NOTE> <HI>and for their goods and for all their bea&s;ts, and <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ther helpes more; yet in the new Te&s;tament &s;ince Chri&s;t a&s;cended into Heaven, the Lord hath nothing pecu|liar to him&s;elfe, and Chri&s;t Mini&s;tres have nothing due to them for their labour, and maintenance by any Divine Right;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 5.20</NOTE> <HI>But they mu&s;t live of Almes, and accept of there reward for their labour and maintenance at the plea&s;ure of the people?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truely I &s;hould have wondred that any one who had profe&s;&s;ed the lea&s;t mea&s;ure of love to Chri&s;t, &s;hould dare to manife&s;t &s;o little love and re&s;pect to the Mini&s;ters, and Amba&s;&s;adors of Chri&s;t as to harbour in their brea&s;ts, much le&s;&s;e to publi&s;h with their mouths &s;uch a prophane and irreligious an o|pinion (but that a brother may erre) and I have heard men of the &s;ame opinion
<PB N="640" REF="349"> my &s;elfe, and once had a paper in writ|ing delivered unto mee before divers witne&s;&s;es declaring the very &s;ame opi|nion in &s;ub&s;tance (the writing I have yet in my Study to &s;hew) but this little volum is now growne &s;o big,<NOTE PLACE="marg">In S. P. L. or meeting place.</NOTE> that I cannot &s;tand to prove the Divine right of Mini&s;ters maintenance &s;o fully as it may be proved by infailible grounds of holy Scriptures, and in particular from tho&s;e places noted before.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 32. <HI>But how&s;oever &s;ome Separati&s;ts have erred &s;o far as to deny any Divine Right of Mini&s;ters maintenance;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Cor. 9.15.</NOTE> <HI>yet others more moderate acknowledge an Ordinance of Chri&s;t for it; although they deny Tithes to be payd by Divine Right in the Go&s;pell; declare I pray you in briefe what you conceive may bee &s;aid for &s;atisfaction herein?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, for Divine right of Tithes, as of old to be paid now in kinde of every increa&s;e by Divine right,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 19.30, 31, 32.</NOTE> I refer the Reader to tho&s;e Bookes of learned men, who have writ of this &s;ubject at large; In particular to Doctor <HI>Willets Synop&s;is Papi&s;mi, Carleton</HI> to Sir <HI>Iames Temple,</HI> M. <HI>Slater</HI> and divers other which doe out of Scripture and learned Au|thors
<PB N="641" REF="349"> doe confirme the Divine right further then I could yet ever &s;ee any appearance of &s;atisfaction in an&s;wer to the con&s;cience of true Chri&s;tians.<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 14.15 Gen. 28.22</NOTE> But in briefe for the Lords inheritance of Tithes or of a part of increa&s;e re&s;er|ved to him&s;elfe, and manife&s;ted in Scripture long before <HI>Levi</HI> was borne; how&s;oever Leviticall Tithes which were a Leviticall and ceremoniall Ordinance, may &s;eeme to be aboli&s;hed by that place of this Apo&s;tle <HI>Eph.</HI> 2.15 Chri&s;t having aboli&s;hed the Law of Commandements contained in Ordinances, compared with that <HI>Deut.</HI> 12.5.6. and <HI>Deut.</HI> 14.22.23. Where the Lord ordaineth that they &s;hould pay Tithe of all their in|crea&s;e yeare by yeare, and bring it up to the place which the Lord &s;hould choo&s;e, and eate it there before the Lord; which Tithe was Leviticall and &s;o aboli&s;hed and not needfull now.</P>
<P>Secondly, if any man will con&s;ider that there was not onely that Tithe, but a &s;econd Tithe to be tithed every third yeare for the poore as you may reade, <HI>Deut.</HI> 26.12. called in this re&s;pect the yeare of tything to be eaten at home within their gates, for widowes and
<PB N="642" REF="350"> Fatherle&s;&s;e and the re&s;t, and this tenth though not required now as then, yet the poore is not to be forgotten for ever.</P>
<P>Thirdly, if you con&s;ider that be&s;ides the&s;e Leviticall tithes there was a third kinde of tith which was fir&s;t in com|mand,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jo&s;ephus li. Antiquit. <HI>4.</HI> cap. <HI>8.</HI></NOTE> and which the Lord challengeth a &s;peciall right in as a re&s;erved part for his &s;ervice to be di&s;po&s;ed of at his plea|&s;ure, and which hee gave to his Mini|&s;ters for an inheritance, as for their &s;ervice for them and their hou&s;ehoulds to eate as a reward for their &s;ervice, as you may reade <HI>Numb.</HI> 18.20.21.31. And of this third tithes as reward for Mi|ni&s;<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ers labour, I finde no colour nor ground of aboli&s;hment in the new Te|&s;tament; But rather a confirmation by Chri&s;t that they ought to be paid, or that which is an&s;werable to them for the maintenance of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters; for although <HI>Aaron</HI> be dead, yet <HI>Mel|chi&s;edeck</HI> in his Antitype Chri&s;t, or Chri&s;t in his Mini&s;ters is &s;till alive to receive the Lords portion to the end of the World, as St. <HI>Paul</HI> declares, <HI>Heb.</HI> 7.8. And as that learned Knight Sir <HI>James Semple</HI> proves evidently; a Book I ne|ver
<PB N="643" REF="350"> yet &s;aw an&s;wered by any man. But to evidence this in a few words, con|&s;ider, Fir&s;t, that what rea&s;on the Lord giveth for the be&s;towing of this &s;peciall tenth upon <HI>Levi,</HI> his Mini&s;ters who ex|pounded the Word of God and gave the &s;ence of it to teach Gods people,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Nehe. 8.8.</NOTE> namely for a wages and reward for their labour and &s;ervice, as is evident in <HI>Numbers</HI> 18.21. and in other places; the very &s;ame rea&s;on Our Saviour Chri&s;t giveth wherefore his Apo&s;tles and Mini&s;ters &s;hould bee maintained, and have a comfortable livelyhood for their labour in Preaching of the Go&s;pell, as a reward for their labour by Chri&s;ts appointment; for the labourer is worthy of his reward, &s;aith Chri&s;t: and &s;o the Greeke word &s;ignifieth <HI>Luke</HI> 10.7.<NOTE PLACE="marg"><GAP DESC="foreign">.</NOTE> and the Apo&s;tle St. <HI>Paul</HI> giveth the &s;ame rea&s;on and ground for the honorable maintenance of the Mini&s;ters of Chri&s;t in that 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 5.17.18. and concludes the point that Mini&s;ters maintenance is an ordinance of Chri&s;t, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 9.14. And ther|fore certainly &s;eeing the Lord Chri&s;t gi|veth the &s;ame ground for his Mini&s;ters maintenance in the new Te&s;tament, as he did for this &s;peciall fir&s;t tithe for his
<PB N="644" REF="351"> Mini&s;ters maintenance, in the old Te&s;ta|ment; The payment of this &s;peciall tithe being commanded in the old Te&s;tament, and nowhere forbidden in the new Te&s;tament, the payment of this tithe for maintenance of Chri&s;t Mini&s;ters can never be proved to be unlawfull, and therefore may lawfully be paid as a re|ward of Mini&s;ters labour, or a due, an&s;werable in con&s;ideration thereof, for Mini&s;ters maintenance without any &s;cruple of con&s;cience:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malac. 3.8, 9.</NOTE> and much more when it is confirmed by the Chri&s;tian Magi&s;trate; Thus have I endeavored in briefe to &s;atisfie your de&s;ire, and herein to hold forth the duty of people to their Pa&s;tors and Teachers in the Churches of Chri&s;t to pay that hono|rable maintenance due by Chri&s;ts Ordi|nance unto them.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>Now you have declared their duties; I pray you what are the &s;innes of people and congregations contrary to the&s;e duties?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The &s;ins of the people are divers, I will name them in brief.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, for a peple or congregation not to embrace a Mini&s;ter &s;ent of Chri&s;t rightly called,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.14, 15.</NOTE> and approved by them|&s;elves
<PB N="645" REF="351"> and others in authority by Chri&s;t in his Church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;&s;. 5.12.</NOTE> and inabled by Chri&s;t and his &s;pirit with gifts fit for the Mi|ni&s;teriall office, and not to acknow|ledge him as <HI>over them in the Lord,</HI> is &s;inne.</P>
<P>Secondly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Kings 22 8. Luk. 10.16 Gala. 4.16 John 15.18, 19. 1 Cor. 16.22.</NOTE> for any to hate the Mini|&s;ters of Chri&s;t, or any of them for their worke &s;ake e&s;pecially, or to di&s;teeme or di&s;honour them or be enemies, is a greiv|ous &s;in and an evidence, &s;uch a man or woman loveth not the Lord Je&s;us, is &s;ubject to be cur&s;ed with the great cur&s;e, <HI>Anathema Maranatha.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 36.16, 17. 2 Kings 2.23, 24. 1 Kings 13 P&s;al. 105.</NOTE> for any man woman or child to make &s;corne, taunt, or any other wayes to abu&s;e the faithfull Mini&s;ters of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, is a fearfull &s;inne, which brings Gods judgements upon &s;uch men weomen or children.</P>
<P>Fourthly, for any to di&s;obey,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 17.12. Ho&s;ea. 4.4, &amp; Acts 5.39. Acts 7.51 Prov. 20.25. Malac. 3.8, 9.</NOTE> or re&s;i&s;t, or revile, or di&s;content the Mi|ni&s;ters of Je&s;us Chr&s;t, in or about their Mini&s;teriall office, or any other unlawful wayes, is a &s;in.</P>
<P>Fifthly, to take away or keepe back from them any part of that honorable maintenance, or countenance which is due unto them by the Ordinance of
<PB N="646" REF="352"> the Lord Je&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 The&s;&s;. 5.17. Galat. 6.6, 7.</NOTE> is &s;acriledge, a robbing and mocking of God, and an odious &s;inne; and more particularly, what is approved of by the lawfull Magi|&s;trate.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn. 15.20, 21. Iohn 16.1, 2, 3. Acts 9.25. 2 Cor. 11.32.33. Luke 11.49, 50. Acts. 8.2, 3 Acts 9.4, 5 Luk. 19.27 2 Sam 6.7.</NOTE>Sixthly, to per&s;ecute, betray or not to defend and pre&s;erve the Mini&s;ters of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, by all lawfull and good meanes, in their lives, goods, good names, and e&s;pecially in and for the execution of their Mini&s;teriall office, is a &s;inne, and the property and marke of wicked men whom Chri&s;t will one day take for his enemies, who refu&s;e to have him to rule over them.</P>
<P>Seventhly, for any to intrude them|&s;elves into the office of Chri&s;ts Mini|&s;ters,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 26.19, 20.</NOTE> or to u&s;urpe a Mini&s;teriall office in the Church of Chri&s;t, for which he hath no call from Chri&s;t, nor ground or title from the Word of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 5.4.</NOTE> is cer|tainly a &s;in, an odious &s;in again&s;t Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>You have revealed by Scrip|ture, and light from Chri&s;t in the Scripture, what are the duties required, and the &s;inne<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> forbidden both of Chri&s;ts Mini&s;ters, an<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> of the people over whom the holy Gho&s;t hat<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> made them over&s;eers, and in particula<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">
<PB N="647" REF="352"> how the people ought to receive, reverence, and countenance their Mini&s;ters, Pa&s;tors, and Teachers, and give them that honorable maintenance which is due to Gods Mini|&s;ters by Divine right, and according to the Ordinances of the Lord Chri&s;t. But is there any promi&s;e of ble&s;&s;ing or any &s;uch encourage|ment to tho&s;e who do thus receive, honour, and pay freely that honorable Maintenance that is due to God for his &s;ervice, and to Gods Mini&s;ters for their labour and &s;ervice according to the O<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">dinance of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yea verily, the Scripture hold|eth forth diver&s;e promi&s;es to this effect;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 3.9.10.</NOTE> as that in the Proverbs; Honour the Lord with thy &s;ub&s;tance and with the fir&s;t fruits of all thy increa&s;e, &s;o &s;hall thy Barnes be filled with plenty, and thy Pre&s;&s;es &s;hall bur&s;t out with new Wine; thou &s;halt be &s;ure if thou honour God in his &s;ervice, or faithfull &s;ervants,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 2.30</NOTE> God, will honour thee; yea the Lord biddeth his people to trie and prove him if they would bring in the mainte|nance of his Mini&s;tery and &s;ervice as they ought,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malac. 3.10 11.</NOTE> if he would not open the Windowes of Heaven, and powre a ble&s;&s;ing upon them, and he would ble&s;&s;e and not cur&s;e their increa&s;e; and Chri&s;t,
<PB N="648" REF="353"> &s;aith hee,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 10.40, 41.</NOTE> that receiveth his Di&s;ciples and Mini&s;ters, receiveth him; and they that receive a Prophet in the Name of a Prophet, &s;hall receive a Prophets re|ward: &s;o that there is great encourage|ment for Saints and all Gods people, to perform their duties herein.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 35. <HI>Is there any thinke you that love the Lord Ie&s;us that will not love, and honour his faithfull Mini&s;ters and willing|ly give them all re&s;pect due to them by the Ordinance of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly all men have not faith, and &s;ome are unrea&s;onable and wicked men,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 The&s;&s;. 3.2.</NOTE> who love not Chri&s;t nor his Mini&s;ters. I have heard divers Mini&s;ters complaine,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen&s;. 47.22.26. 2 Chron. 36.16, 17.</NOTE> that in &s;ome parts they have beene u&s;ed far wor&s;e then the <HI>Egyptians</HI> u&s;ed their Prie&s;ts, they finde no favour, but have been &s;ubject to divers abu&s;es, which was a fearfull &s;inne that once brought a forraigne enemy upon Gods owne people; But now we hope better things, that as the Lord hath honour|ed tho&s;e who are in high places, &s;o he will honour them with one grace more, to take care that there may be faithfull and honorable Mini&s;ters placed in every congregation in the Kingdome,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.71</NOTE> and
<PB N="649" REF="353"> that they may have an honorable main|tenance duly payd them according to the Ordinance of Chri&s;t.<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 9.14.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 36. <HI>I have received good &s;atis|faction for the duties of Mini&s;ters, Pa&s;tors and Teachers in the church of Chri&s;t, and the peoples duties unto them, both in re&s;pect of reverence, and maintenance; But what is your judgement I pray you, hath Chri&s;t, appointed no government in his Church? and &s;o no governours who as Fathers are to be honoured, and who are to be as Rulers in the Church for right ord<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="2 letters">ing of Chri&s;ts di&s;cipline, for Gods glory, and the good of his Church; what light from Chri&s;t to direct in this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, certainly as the Scripture holdeth forth the Lord Chri&s;t him&s;elfe to be the chiefe Lord and Governour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;aia. 2.6, 7 Mich. 5.2 Mat. 2.6.</NOTE> yea, the King of his Church, and the Governement to be upon his &s;houlder; &s;o when the Lord Chri&s;t a&s;cended up into Heaven, and led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, as hee gave &s;ome to be Apo&s;tles and &s;ome Prophets, &s;ome Pa&s;tors, and Teachers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4:11, 12. &amp;c. 1 Tim. 5.17. Rom. 12.8.</NOTE> for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Mini&s;tery for the edifying of the body of Chri&s;t, &s;o hee hath given
<PB N="650" REF="354"> Elders,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 12.28. Acts 6.1, 2 3. Rom. 12.7</NOTE> Rulers, and Governments, or helpes in Government, as Over&s;eers, Deacons, Mini&s;ters and Officers for the good of the Church of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 37. <HI>But who are the&s;e Elders and Officers that are to have government in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, it is evident in Scripture that the &s;ame men, who are called in Scripture Presbyters,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 20.17, 28.</NOTE> or Elders, and Rulers, they are called Over&s;eers or Bi&s;hops and Pa&s;tors,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 5.17.</NOTE> &s;uch as mu&s;t labour in the word and Doctrine, and not only take heede to all the flocke, over which the holy Gho&s;t hath made them over|&s;eers,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus. 1.5, 6, 7, 8, 9.</NOTE> But feede the Church of God which hee hath purcha&s;ed with his own blood;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 29.28</NOTE> So that it is evident that the &s;ame men who are Pa&s;tors and Teachers, have authority from Chri&s;t to be El|ders,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.2, 3, 4.</NOTE> and Rulers in the Church, al|though they are not to lord it over Gods heritage, but to be en&s;amples to the flock, as St. <HI>Seter</HI> holdeth forth the light of Chri&s;t unto the Church.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 38. <HI>Are there no other Elders or Ruling Officers in the Church, but Pa&s;tors and Teachers and &s;uch as labour publikely in Preaching, and &s;o in the word and doctrin?</HI></P>
<PB N="651" REF="354">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Divers learned men do affirme from that place of the Apo&s;tle to <HI>Timo|thy,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Aretius, Pi&s;c<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">tor Beza</HI> in 1 Tim. 5.17. <GAP DESC="foreign">. 1 Cor. 12.28. Heb. 13.17 24. The Church of G<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">neva. The Chu ch of Scotland, And Hol|land, Fr<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">nce, N<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">w Eng|land, and n<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">w Eng|land.</NOTE> the Elders that Rule well are wor|thy of double honour, e&s;pecially tho&s;e that labour in Word and Doctrine, and principally from the Word <HI>e&s;pe|cially</HI> implying a difference, and di|&s;tinction of Elders, as is it a note of di&s;tinction in other places of Scripture; as you may reade, <HI>Gal.</HI> 6.10. doe good to all, e&s;pecially to the hou&s;ehold of faith, And 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.10. who is the Saviouiour of all, e&s;pecially of them that believe, (as al&s;o from other places of Scripture) that be&s;ides Pa&s;tors and Preachers, There are other Elders, A&s;&s;i&s;tants to the Mi|ni&s;ters of Chri&s;t and helpes in govern|ment as divers Reformed Churches have u&s;ed, and yet have in their practize of Di&s;cipline.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 39. <HI>What kinde of graces or qua|lifications ought Elders, Rulers, Dea|cons, or Church officers bee endowed with that they may bee fit to governe in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Verily, Elders, and Deacons and Mini&s;ters or any Rulers in the Church, according to the Scriptures, they ought to be &s;pirituall, Heavenly-minded men,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 6.1, 2.3.</NOTE>
<PB N="652" REF="355"> endued with the Holy Gho&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">James 3.17</NOTE> men of wi&s;dome and knowledge in Religion endued with wi&s;dome,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 3.9.</NOTE> that is from above,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 2.1, 2.</NOTE> pure, peaceable, gentle full of mercy and good fruits without parti|ality or hypocri&s;y, &s;ound and &s;incere in the Faith,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 5.14</NOTE> Prudent, Holding the my|&s;tery of faith in a pure con&s;cience, grave, &s;ober,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Titus 1.9.13, 14.</NOTE> not given to drinke, patient, able in meekne&s;&s;e to in&s;truct tho&s;e who oppo&s;e them&s;elves,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Tim. 3.8 2 Tim. 2.23, 24, &amp;c. Titus 1.5, 6, 7.</NOTE> not proud as Lords of Gods inheritage, but of blam|le&s;&s;e life and conver&s;ation, humble minded, that they may &s;hew them&s;elves good examples to the Flock; and when the chiefe Sheapheard &s;hall appeare,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3, 4.</NOTE> receive a never fading Crowne of Glory.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 49. <HI>What is the Office of &s;uch El|ders, Rulers, or Governours in the Church?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Being rightly cho&s;en by the Church,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 6.3. Acts 15.22 23. 1 Cor. 12.28. Acts 9.26, 27. Acts 10.45 47.</NOTE> they are to be helpers, and a&s;|&s;i&s;tant in the Government of Chri&s;ts Church, to take care with the Chuch, to further the right admi&s;&s;ion, and uniting of Members do the Communi|on of Saints, and e&s;pecially to Churh fellow&s;hip in the holy communion and Supper of the Lord for better not
<PB N="653" REF="355"> for wor&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 11.17, &amp;c. Exo. 12.48. Ezek. 44.7, 8, 9. Jer. 15.19. Mat. 18.15, 16. 1 The&s;&s;. 5.12, 13. 2 The&s;&s;. 3.14, 15.</NOTE> that all ignorant unbelie|ving, prophane, Scandalous, impenitent per&s;ons be kept away, to &s;eparate the pretious from the vile; They are to a&s;&s;i&s;t in Chri&s;tian exhortations, in godly and brotherly admonitions, re|prehen&s;ions, coun&s;ells, comforts, yea to a&s;&s;i&s;t not onely in &s;u&s;pen&s;ions from the Sacrament, that le&s;&s;er, but in that great cen&s;ure of Excommunication, if ne|ce&s;&s;ity require; they are to a&s;&s;i&s;t in over&s;eeing or watching over the flock according to their place and power,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.17 18, 19, 20. 1 Cor. 5.3. 4, 5, &amp;c. Iames 5.15 16. Acts 6.1, 2, 3. Zach. 14.5.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">1. Revel. 21.3</NOTE> in vi&s;iting of the &s;icke, and having eyes with the Deacons, (who&s;e office is to take care for the poore Saints and goods of the Church) to the glory of God and benefit of Saints in faith and holine&s;&s;e, that the Lord may be found to dwell in the Tabernacle of his Saints with delight. Thus the duty of &s;pirituall Fathers.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 41. <HI>Now what are duties comman|ded and &s;ins forbidden of civill Parents and children, in the civill politicall or Common wealth, E&s;tate, in the relations between Ma|gi&s;trates, Kings, Princes, Governours and people or &s;ubjects?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I &s;hall touch the&s;e, but very
<PB N="654" REF="356"> briefly for pre&s;ent and what follow|eth al&s;o in the other Commandements; But fir&s;t for duties of &s;uperiors. The duty of all Magi&s;trates,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 17.18 19, 20. Deut. 18.2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. 2 Sam. 13.3, 4. Prov. 29.4 2 Cron. 28.9. 2 Sam. 8.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">5 2 Cor. 19.5, 6. Daniel. 4.34, 37 Deut. 16.18, 19, 20. 2 Chron. 15.10. Prov. 28.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">1. <HI>Magna Charta.</HI></NOTE> Kings, Prin|ces, Governous or any in higher or lower places, is, to know the Law of God, and in the feare of God, in Ju&s;tice and equity to governe the Common Wealth and people over whom the Lord placeth them to rule, according to the Word of God, and the good Lawes of the &s;ame Nation or Kingdome over which they are, con|&s;idering that they are under God, and governe for God as vice-Gerents under the great Kings of Kings, and Lord and King of Heaven and Earth.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 42. <HI>What is the &s;inne of Magi|&s;trates and Governours, contrary to this duty, whether they bee in higher or lower places?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To Rule or Governe without the knowledg or feare of God, un<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">u&s;tly tyrannically, or in any corrupt and &s;infull way, contrary to the Word of God, and good Lawes of the Land, to &s;ell, or defer, or deny Ju&s;tice and right to any man.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 43. <HI>You have held forth the duty
<PB N="655" REF="356"> of Magi&s;trates and Fathers of the com|mon wealth; now what if the duty of &s;ub|jects and people to Kings, Princes Magi|&s;trates and Governours in higher or lower places?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The dutie of &s;ubjects and people to their Soveraigne Princes, Kings, Magi&s;trates or any under God in high or lower places, is, as to know and ac|knowledge them as their &s;uperiors and bee &s;ubject to them in their re&s;pective places, to love, honour, pre&s;erve,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 18 3. Rom. 13.1 2 Pet. 1.17 1 Pet. 2.13 14. 1 Tim. 2.1 2, 3. Mat. 22.21</NOTE> and obey them in their ju&s;t and lawfull com|mands, to be &s;erviceable unto them in and for that which is good, and to pray for them that they may &s;o governe that we may leade a quiet and peace|able life in all godline&s;&s;e and hone&s;ty; being carefull to render to <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> the things that are <HI>Cae&s;ars,</HI> and to God the things that are Gods.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 44. <HI>What are the &s;innes of the people and inferiors again&s;t their &s;upe|riors?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Chron. 36.13. 1 Sam. 24.6 1 Sam. 26.9. 2 Sam. 1.14, 15. Ex 22.28.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To Rebell again&s;t, di&s;honour, or di&s;obey the lawfull and ju&s;t com|mands of &s;uperiors in higher or lower places, Kings, Princes or Magi&s;trates; to con&s;pire Trea&s;on again&s;t them, to
<PB N="656" REF="357"> cur&s;e them or neglect to pray for them according to the Scriptures is a fearfull &s;in.<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Sam. 16.7 Eccl. 10.20 1 Sam. 12.23.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 45. <HI>Sir, yoU have manife&s;ted the duties and &s;innes both of &s;uperiours, and inferiours declared in Scriptures, and to he referred unto this fifth <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">ommandement, as required by the Lord in this Rule of life, and comfortable walking with God in Chri&s;t in our &s;everall callings and rela|tion; now what u&s;e may a Chri&s;tian make of the knowledge of &s;o many duties requred, and &s;innes forbidden in this fifth Commandement, and what light from Chri&s;t to leade us unto Chri&s;t for our comfort and direction herein?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly by light from Chri&s;t, we may here learne to &s;ee as in a gla&s;&s;e our owne inability to keepe the Law of God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 3.5</NOTE> and &s;o con&s;ider our extreame neede of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, as a ju&s;tifyer; that we may &s;eeke our re&s;t not in our &s;elves, or any of our owne performances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30 Eph. 2.14. I&s;ai. 11.10.</NOTE> but in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, who is our peace-maker and who&s;e re&s;t is glorious.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 1.30</NOTE>Secondly, as a &s;anctifyer and nouri&s;h|er in grace by his &s;pirit of faith, and pre&s;erver to glory, that receiving day|ly
<PB N="657" REF="357"> refre&s;hing nouri&s;hment from Chri&s;t by meeting Chri&s;t in his Ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.20 John. 15.5. 2 Pet. 3.18 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5.</NOTE> wee may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and by his power be kept through Faith un|to &s;alvation.</P>
<DIV3 N="2" TYPE="section">
<HEAD>The Thirty three Cla&s;&s;is, or company of Que&s;tions; The &s;econd Section.</HEAD>
<P>Que&s;tion 1.</P>
<P><HI>YOu have opened the fift Commande|ment at large both in the duties com|manded, and the &s;innes forbidden, with the u&s;e and application as by a light from Chri&s;t to leade us unto Chri&s;t, both as a ju&s;tifyer, and a &s;anctifyer, to enable us to walke comfortably with Chri&s;t in the cour&s;e of our lives; Now I pray you tell mee in briefe what are the duties commanded, and the &s;innes forbidden in the &s;ixt com|mandement, Thou &s;halt not kill?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This Commandement is nega|tive as are the re&s;t that follow,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 9.6.</NOTE> and this &s;ixt Commandement God gave for pre&s;ervation of the life of man as be|ing Gods owne Image, as hee did the
<PB N="658" REF="358"> &s;eventh commandement for pre&s;ervation of a holy &s;eed;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Malac. 2.15.</NOTE> The eight co~mandement for pre&s;ervation of mens e&s;tated, and that propriety which God hath given to men in their owne children or any thing el&s;e as goods;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 22.1, 2, 3. P&s;al. 15.3.</NOTE> and the ninth Com|mandement was given for pre&s;ervation of a man or womans good name; and the Tenth to keepe the very heart and de&s;ires of the &s;oule in a right order to the glory of God and the good of our Neighbour.</P>
<P>But in every one of the&s;e negative commandements, the affirmative du|ties are required, and a walking accord|ing to that rule of righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e which God planted at fir&s;t in man and wo|man, when hee created them in his owne Image. I will therefore fir&s;t hold forth the duty, and then the &s;innes for|bidden and &s;ome u&s;e of them. In this &s;ixt Commandement, <HI>Thou &s;halt not kill,</HI> or <HI>Th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">u &s;halt doe no murther.</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 4.23.</NOTE> In the affimaitive part the Lord requireth of every man woman or child to be care|full to pre&s;erve his or her owne life of &s;oule and body,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 1.27.</NOTE> <NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 4.6 7 Prov. 24.11. Job. 29.12</NOTE> and the life of his or her Father, Mother, Husband, Wife, Brother, Si&s;ter, Neighbour or of any
<PB N="659" REF="358"> Man, Woman,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Job. 29.13 Acts 19.30, 31. Deut. 20.19, 20. 2 Pet. 1.7 1 Sam. 15.2, 3. 1 Pet. 3.8, 9. Colo&s;&s;. 3.3. 1 John 3.15. Eph. 4.27. Deur. 30.35. Mat. 10.28 Rom. 3.15 16, 17.</NOTE> or Child in the world by all lawfull and good meanes, in heart word and deed, in love, meekene&s;&s;e, long-&s;uffering, and to avoide all occa|&s;ion of murder, lying in waite to de&s;troy, or the unlawfull de&s;troying the life of any of what&s;oever degree or condition they or any of them may be; all malice, hatred, envy, ra&s;h anger, di&s;daine, evill words or actions, e&s;pe|cially old grudges and drunkenne&s;&s;e, all occa&s;ion of murders, and forgteful|ne&s;&s;e of Gods pre&s;ence, or want of feare of offending the great God, and &s;inning again&s;t Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 2. <HI>You hav<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter"> held forth the du|ties in generall with divers particular meanes to pre&s;erve life, and occa&s;ions of taking life away to be avoyded; Now what are the contrary &s;innes to bee avoided in generall or particular, as briefe as you can?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All &s;elfe-murder of &s;oule,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen&s;. 4.6, 7, &amp;c.</NOTE> or body, or any unlawfull killing of any of mankind, much more of Husband,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 18.19.</NOTE> Wife, Father, Mother, Brother, Si&s;ter, Neighbour or any other, and all means and occa&s;ion of &s;oule killing or un|lawfull taking away the life of any,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 19.17.</NOTE> is
<PB N="660" REF="359"> a &s;inne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.22 Prov. 17.19. James 1.20 Mat. 5.21. &amp;c. Acts 5.31.</NOTE> as all hatred, malice ra&s;h anger, envie, contempt, emulation, &s;trife, contentions, and heartri&s;ings, &amp; wrath, e&s;pecially among&s;t brethren want of brotherly love, or uncharitablene&s;&s;e in any re&s;pect, in thought, word or deed, e&s;pecially evill reviling words, giving the lie, or any other provocations of quarrells, all unlawfull duells or other occa&s;ions what&s;oever, all being a degree of murder. Therefore is nece&s;&s;ity to &s;eek to Chri&s;t for Repentance and Remi&s;&s;ion of &s;ins.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 3. <HI>Now wee have heard the duties of the &s;ixt; what are the duties of the &s;eventh Commandement, Thou &s;halt not commit Adultery?</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 2.22. Heb. 13.4. Mat. 5.28. Job. 31.1. 1 The&s;&s;. 4.2, 3, 4. Ephe&s;. 5.3, 4. 5. Eph. 5.25. to 33.</NOTE><HI>An&s;w.</HI> The Lord requireth all true cha&s;tity both in the married and &s;ingle e&s;tate, both in minde and in body, both inward, holine&s;&s;e and cha&s;tity of the heart and affections, and outward ho|line&s;&s;e and cha&s;tity, of the Eyes, Eares, Tongue, and whole man, every one walking as Chri&s;tians, and as know|ing how to po&s;&s;e&s;&s;e his ve&s;&s;ell in ho|line&s;&s;e and honour; And waiting on Chri&s;t in u&s;e of all good meanes to prevent &s;inne in this as in other tempta|tions,
<PB N="661" REF="359"> the husband re&s;ting &s;atisfyed with the love of his own Wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 5.18.19.</NOTE> and the Wife of her own Husband, delighting in each others love con&s;tantly in the Lord.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 4. <HI>Now you have &s;hewed the duty, declare what are the &s;innes contrary to this duly, both in the &s;ingle and in the Married e&s;tate, and fir&s;t in the &s;ingle e&s;tate?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All uncha&s;te corrupt lu&s;ts of the heart,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.2. 1 John 2.16. 1 Pet. 2.11 Jam. 1.14.15. Gen&s;. 38.18. Gen. 39.9. 2 Sam. 11.2, 3, 4. Jer. 5.7. Prov. 7.22 &amp;c. I&s;ai. 5.11, 12. 1 Cor. 7.9 Levit. 20.<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">0. Malac. 2.14 15, 16.</NOTE> or lu&s;t of the eyes and all &s;elfe pollution by &s;peculative wan|tonne&s;&s;e, or wicked imaginations, defiling the &s;oule, and all fornication or adultery in act, or any meanes or occa&s;ions thereunto in heart, word, or deeds, active or pa&s;&s;ive provoking God to anger, and all keeping company with <HI>Harlots,</HI> or mi&s;pending time in idlene&s;&s;e, drunkenne&s;&s;e or any manner of &s;in what&s;oever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 5. <HI>What are the &s;ins in the maried e&s;tate?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Be&s;ides that all tho&s;e &s;innes noted in the &s;ingle e&s;tate are &s;innes like|wi&s;e in the married, all breach of wedlock or conjugall fidelity and pro|mi&s;e made betweene man and wife,
<PB N="662" REF="360"> either in thought,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Lev. 18.18 Mat. 19.9. Heb. 13.4 1 Cor 5.1 Mark 6.17 18. 1 Cor. 7.2, 3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Levit. 18.19, 20. Levit. 20.18. Ezek. 18.6 Ezek. 16.49. Rom. 13.13, 14. Eph. 5.5, 6. Levit. 19.29. Deut. 23.17, 18. Gen&s;. 34.25.31. Heb. 13.4. Reve. 21.8</NOTE> word or deede, and all <HI>Polygamy,</HI> and al&s;o all unlawfull divorce or &s;eparation, all whore|dome, adultery, ince&s;t or any &s;uch wickedne&s;&s;e what&s;oever; all denyall of due benevolence which may occa&s;ion breach or decay of love or &s;inne other|wi&s;e; all effeminatene&s;&s;e; and immode&s;t immoderate or un&s;ea&s;onable u&s;e of the marriage-bed in times prohibited by the Law of nature, of God, or of lawfull con&s;ent betweene them&s;elves; all pam|pering of the fle&s;h or &s;urfeting and drunkenne&s;&s;e, to nouri&s;h unlawful lu&s;ts; and all force and ra&s;hnes, all impudent behaviour or pro&s;titution of them|&s;elves or others Wives or Daughters unto filthine&s;&s;e, all wicked whore|dome, and all Baudes or keepers of bro|therly hou&s;es for meeting, ba&s;e whores, abhorminable and odious to God and good men, occa&s;ions of theft, murther, and Gods judgement, cur&s;e and hell in the end.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 6. <HI>Since there are &s;o many duties required in Husbands, Wives and others, concerning cha&s;tity in the married and &s;ingle e&s;tate, and &s;o many &s;innes forbid|den de&s;erving Gods wrath and cur&s;e tempo|rall
<PB N="663" REF="360"> &s;pirituall and eternall; what u&s;e &s;hould all make of this holy Law of God, and what light from Chri&s;t to lead us unto Chri&s;t, for profit hereby?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Truly, this light from Chri&s;t and his &s;pirit &s;hould leade unto Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.4.</NOTE> to &s;ee the &s;infulne&s;&s;e of all impurity and uncleanne&s;&s;e, both in the married and &s;ingle e&s;tate; and to &s;ee and be &s;en&s;ible of the wrath of God due to this &s;inne and every branch of it:<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor. 30:</NOTE> &s;o to finde and and feele an extreame need of Chir&s;t both as a ju&s;tifyer and as a &s;an|ctifyer;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.10 11.</NOTE> And to fly dayly to Chri&s;t, as for a more full a&s;&s;urance of pardon, and peace:<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 5.1, 2</NOTE> &s;o for power to walke in all cha&s;tity and holy purity of &s;oule and body before God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 12.1 2.</NOTE> offering up our &s;elves, our &s;oules and bodies, a living &s;acrifice acceptable to God in Je&s;us Chri&s;t, walking holily before God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">John 15.5 Phil. 4.13</NOTE> not like the World, but like Saints. And this not by our own vertue and &s;trength, but by the vertue of Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 7. <HI>Now you have declared duties commanded, and the &s;innes forbidden in the &s;eventh Commandement, and &s;o far how to walke comfortably with Chri&s;t by the power of Chri&s;t according to the Rule
<PB N="664" REF="361"> and light of Chri&s;t and his &s;pirit in the light of this Law or commanding part of Gods word;</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 119.105.</NOTE> <HI>which I pray you are the Du|ties commanded and the &s;innes forbidden in the eight Commandement which is the next in order, Thou &s;halt not &s;teale?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord requireth that every man woman and child (according to capacity of in&s;truction) now and ever &s;hall &s;tudy and endevour by all lawfull and good meanes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.43, 44, 45, &amp;c. Acts 7.60 Ex. 23.4, 5</NOTE> ju&s;tly and with e|quity and right to pre&s;erve his owne,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Galat. 6.10</NOTE> and his Neighbours (yea his enemies) goods,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ex. 23.6, 7.</NOTE> children, &s;ervants or e&s;tate from all wrong, and all inju&s;tice what&s;oever; their owne alwayes, and their Neigh|bours when God puts it into the power of their hands to do it,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luk. 10.33 34, 35, &amp;c.</NOTE> by word or by deede to manife&s;t we love our Neigh|bour as our &s;elves.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 8. <HI>What are the &s;innes contrary to this duty required in the &s;ixt Cmmande|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To do unju&s;tly any manner of way to the wrong of him&s;lfe or his neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 20.25. Malac. 3.8 9.</NOTE> to commit &s;acriledge, or rob God in robbing or &s;tealing of that which is religiou&s;ly and rightly appoin|ted by God or given to Gods wor&s;hip
<PB N="665" REF="361"> or the maintenance of Gods Mini&s;ters or any that pertaine to his &s;anctuary;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 19.14. Prov. 22.28. Ex. 21.16. 1 Tim. 1.10. Eph. 4.6. 7. The&s;&s;. 4.2.8.1. Ezek. 22.13. Prov. 19.26. Prov. 28.24. Exod. 22. Levit. 19.13. 2 The&s;&s;. 3.6.10, 11, &amp;c. John. 6.12</NOTE> to remove the ancient land markes, or to &s;teale either per&s;ons children or &s;er|vants, ot any goods or chatells or the like, either by fraud, and cozenage or by force, either &s;ecretly or openly, under pretence of Law or unlawfully, or other wayes, either from &s;tranges or from Pa|rents, or Ma&s;ters and Mi&s;tre&s;&s;es; is &s;in all di&s;hone&s;t gain and all unrighteou&s;|ne&s;&s;e in contracts, bargaines, buying, &s;elling; in any manner of Covenant what&s;oever, all oppre&s;&s;ion, extortion, detaining of goods lent or lo&s;t, is &s;in|full theft; and all wicked walking di&s;orderly and mi&s;pending or wa&s;ting of a mans owne e&s;tate or others, e&s;pe|cially Parents or Ma&s;ters, in drunken|ne&s;&s;e, idlene&s;&s;e,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.21.</NOTE> whoring or the like wickedne&s;&s;e, yea, by ra&s;h and de&s;perate entring into &s;ureti&s;hip to the undoing of him&s;elfe, wife,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.29. Deut. 15.7 8, to. 16.</NOTE> children or any o|ther, is &s;in: and not to do our &s;elves, or to others for the good of our own e&s;tate, or theirs, poor brother or &s;ervant, as wee would they &s;hould in ju&s;tice, mercy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 7.12.</NOTE> and equity according to Gods word, doe unto us, is a &s;in, and a breach of this
<PB N="666" REF="362"> eight Commandement of <HI>Jehova</HI> our God.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 9. <HI>Certainly here are many duties required, and many &s;innes forbidden in a few words in this Commandement; wherein doth the light of grace from Chri&s;t direct us to make a right u&s;e of this light and rule of life in this Commande|ment?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This may &s;till preach unto a poore &s;oule an extreme neede of Chri&s;t both as a ju&s;tifyer and a &s;anctifyer,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Cor: 1.30.</NOTE> and teach iis to waite dayly on Chri&s;t in his ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 1.9 Iohn 12.5 Iohn 15.5</NOTE> and &s;eeke dayly to Chri&s;t for light and direction, and for vertue and power from Chri&s;t to glo|rifie God, in walking ju&s;tly and righte|ou&s;ly in our callings and cariages to God and men,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zach. 5.3, 4.</NOTE> lea&s;t we &s;in again&s;t God, and procure a cur&s;e upon our labours in&s;tead of a ble&s;&s;ing.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 10. <HI>Now you have thus briefly givtn a light from Chri&s;t for direction, and helpe if the eight Commandement; what I pray you are the duties commanded, and the &s;innes forbidden in the ninth Comman|dement, Thou &s;halt not be are fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e again&s;t thy Neighbour?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The Lord requireth and com|mandeth
<PB N="667" REF="362"> faithfull Te&s;timony,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 14.5 25. P&s;al. 15.2. Prov. 12.19. Epla. 4.15.</NOTE> when men are called to witne&s;&s;e truth, and upon all occa&s;ions to &s;peake the truth as it is in the heart, that the heart and tongue &s;hould agree to declare the truth when it is to Gods glory and good of our neighbour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 1.16 17. Exod. 23.2.6.</NOTE> when rightly and lawfully wee are called to it; for Judges and Magi&s;trates to give righte|ous judgement, Mini&s;ters to Preach truth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 9.11 Zach. 8.16 17.</NOTE> for Lawyers to &s;peake truth in pleading the cau&s;es of poore or rich, not to hinder but to further ju&s;tice and equity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 22.1 Mat. 10.16 1 Cor. 10.31. Prov. 23.</NOTE> to pre&s;erve the good name of a mans &s;elfe or neighbour in truth and righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, with the right ordering of our tongues in wi&s;dome and truth upon all occa&s;ions, to Gods glory and good of our &s;elves and o|thers, &s;uperiors or inferiors, or equalls,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 119.128.</NOTE> with love of truth, and hate of falshood and deceit.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 11. <HI>What are the &s;innes forhidden in this Commandement?</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Deut. 5.20 Mat. 19.18. Mat. 26.5. P&s;al. 52.3, 4, 5. P&s;al. 5.3. 1 Sam. 22.9, 10.</NOTE></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> All fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e bearing upon Oath, or otherwi&s;e all procuring of fal&s;e witne&s;&s;es, and all vaine lying or uncharitable &s;peaking to the diffama|tion or hurt of our owne good name,
<PB N="668" REF="363"> or the good of any other,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 5.1, 2. 2 Sam. 10.1, 2. Mat. 7.1, 2. Ezek. 22.28. John 7.24.51. Ex. 23.2. Deut. 16.18, 19. Prov. 17.23. Ex. 22.21. Ezek. 22.6, 7. Ezra. 4.19. Dan. 6.7, 8 I&s;ai. 10.1, 2 Luke 18.2, 3, 4, 5.</NOTE> &s;uperior, inferior, or equalls or their e&s;tates in|ward or outward, all concealing of truth; not witne&s;&s;ing all wre&s;ting or depraving of actions or words contrary to the minde of the &s;peaker or doer, all fal&s;e teaching and lying, all unju&s;t judgement without due tryall and exa|mination to finde out truth, and all erring in judgement contrary to truth; all pleading of Lawyers again&s;t truth, and all wre&s;ting of judgement for bribes or by-re&s;pects, or hindering the right execution of judgement by unju&s;t writs of error contrary to right and truth, to oppre&s;&s;e a poore man and his ju&s;t cau&s;e in law, or con&s;cience; all unju&s;t Records, or concealling truth; all De|crees, Orders and Ordinances con|trary to the right rule of truth or equity; all fal&s;e delayes or pretences to delay petitioners for Ju&s;tice and right, like as the unju&s;t Judge did the poor wi|dow;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 1.31 P&s;al. 15.3. Exo. 23.1.</NOTE> All the&s;e are both theft and fal&s;e witnes bearing &s;ins again&s;t the eight &amp; ninth Commandement; All Covenant breaking, all credulous receiving of fal&s;e rumors and reports, and nouri&s;h|ing them by ra&s;h believeing of them,
<PB N="669" REF="363"> or relating them to others;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Nehe. 6.6, 7. Ezek. 22.9</NOTE> all carring tales, lying and &s;peaking untruth to deceive in je&s;t or earne&s;t, all officious or pernirious lies in trading, buying,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Levit. 19.16.</NOTE> &s;elling, or otherwi&s;e, all not ruling the tongue, and all other wayes and meanes of hurting with the tongue by any idle unprofitable or &s;infull words what&s;oever.<NOTE PLACE="marg">James 3.2, 3. &amp;c.</NOTE></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 12. <HI>Certainly Chri&s;t in this gla&s;&s;e of the Law giveth a light to finde out many &s;ins and failing, even in the be&s;t; much more the abominations of wicked men,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.5.</NOTE> <HI>who are &s;encele&s;&s;e of the villanies of their owne evill hearts; what benefit may we reape by this?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 12.36</NOTE> to teach wicked men to tremble, the &s;innes of who&s;e words are &s;ufficient to damm them for ever in hell fire.</P>
<P>Secondly, to teach them to prize the Go&s;pell which brings them news of a Saviour,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.26.</NOTE> and to waite on the meanes of grace if at any time Chri&s;t will give them Repentance and faith in Chri&s;t Je&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.5. Phil. 3.11, 12, 13.</NOTE> that they may be delivered out of the &s;nare of the devill, who are taken captive by him at his will.</P>
<P>Thirdly, to teach Gods children
<PB N="670" REF="364"> to fly dayly to Chri&s;t and meet Chri&s;t in his Ordinances,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Pet. 1.9, 10, 11.</NOTE> as to gaine more a&s;&s;urance of pardon even of their &s;inne|full words, &s;o for power to &s;et a watch before their mouthes,<NOTE PLACE="marg">P&s;al. 39.1, 2.</NOTE> and to keepe the dors of their lips that they &s;inne not in their words,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Eph. 4.29, &amp;c.</NOTE> but that no corrupt communication come out of their mouthes, but that which is good, to the u&s;e of edifying that it may mini&s;ter grace to the hearers as becomes tho&s;e who have received true light from Chri&s;t.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 13. <HI>You are now come by Gods goodne&s;&s;e and light from Chri&s;t to the tenth and la&s;t Commandement of the De|calogue; tell I pray you what are the du|ties commanded, and the &s;innes forbidden in this Commandement, Thou &s;halt not covet thy neighbours hou&s;e, thou &s;halt not covet thy Neighbours wife, nor his man-&s;ervant, nor his maid-&s;ervant, nor his Oxe nor his A&s;&s;e, nor any thing that is thy Neighbours?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To open the Commandement a little, and then to give you the du|ties.</P>
<P>Note fir&s;t, that whereas <HI>Mo&s;es</HI> here u&s;eth the Hebrew word <HI>Tatehmod</HI> covet, in
<PB N="671" REF="364"> <HI>Deut.</HI> 5.21. he u&s;eth the word <HI>Tithavveh</HI> de&s;ire, which the Hebrewes make le&s;&s;e then to covet, implying a prohibition of the lea&s;t de&s;ire or thought to com|mit &s;inne in wronging our Neighbour, &s;o much as in our hearts or de&s;ires; and in <HI>Deuterinomy</HI> the wife is named before the hou&s;e; and the field is added, which is not named here.</P>
<P>Secondly, you may ob&s;erve the ob|ject of this coveting or de&s;ire prohi|bited; Thou &s;halt not covet.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, in particular, not thy Neigh|bours hou&s;e.</P>
<P>Secondly, not his wife.</P>
<P>Thirdly, not his man-&s;ervant.</P>
<P>Fourthly, not his maide-&s;ervant.</P>
<P>Fifthly, not his Oxe.</P>
<P>Sixthly, not his A&s;&s;e.</P>
<P>Seventhly, in the generall. Nor any thing that is thy Neighbours. Now the duty the Lord requireth, is,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 23.26.</NOTE> wee &s;hould give God our hearts, and every man and woman &s;hould be content in their minds,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. 13.5.</NOTE> hearts and affections with that outward e&s;tate and condition in which it hath plea&s;ed God to place them,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 4.11, 12, 13.</NOTE> to behave them&s;elves well to|wards their Neighbours not onely in
<PB N="672" REF="365"> outward actions, but inwardly in af|fections and to declare their love out of a pure heart u&s;ing all meanes to cheri&s;h and keepe good thoughts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke. 10.27. Galat. 5.17 Phil. 4.8. 1 The&s;&s;. 5.23. Prov. 4.23</NOTE> de&s;ires and affections in their hearts and to bani&s;h or keepe evill lu&s;ts, and de&s;ires out, that by the &s;trength of Chri&s;t they may bee carefull not to &s;inne, &s;o much as in a lu&s;t or de&s;ire or thought again&s;t God or their Neighbour.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 14. <HI>Now you have held forth the duty required in the affirmative part of this Commandement; what I pray you are the &s;innes prohibited, and what light from Chri&s;t the great Prophet of his Church to reveale the&s;e in the &s;acred Scrip|tures?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, in generall the Lord pro|hibits all &s;infull or evill concupi&s;cence,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.7.</NOTE> and lu&s;ts or de&s;ires of the heart, even before con&s;ent of will,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Colo&s;&s;. 3.5</NOTE> originall cor|ruption and pollution of heart,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 8.21. Mat. 15.19</NOTE> the root of evill lu&s;ts and de&s;ires; All actuall particular unlawfull pa&s;&s;ions, lu&s;ts and de&s;ires of the &s;oule,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.22.38. 1 John 2.</NOTE> yea the very lu&s;ts of the eyes as our Saviour &s;peaketh, hee that looketh upon a Woman to lu&s;t after her,<NOTE PLACE="marg">15, 16. Jo 1.31.1.</NOTE> hath committed adultery with her in his heart, and hee that is
<PB N="673" REF="365"> but angry with his brother unadvi&s;ed|ly is in danger of judgement;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 5.22. Jo&s;hua 7.21. P&s;al. 19.7. Heb. 4, 12.13. I&s;ai. 55.7.</NOTE> So that in this the perfection, preci&s;ene&s;&s;e, and exact &s;trictne&s;&s;e of the Law of God, appeareth above all humane Lawes what&s;oever; becau&s;e they onely take hold of men &s;inning in words or actions,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Prov. 24.9. Jere. 17.9, 10. Gene&s;. 6.5 James 2.10, 11. Deut. 27.26.</NOTE> not of evill thoughts except they bee made manife&s;t; But the Lord &s;earcheth the very heart; and &s;innefull lu&s;ts, de&s;ires, imaginations and thoughts of the heart, make them guilty be|fore God, and &s;ubject men to the cur&s;e as breakers of Gods mo&s;t holy Law.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 15. <HI>Ble&s;sed bee God that you have received this light from Chri&s;t, to declare the minde of God in the&s;e Ten Com|mandements, both concerning duties com|manded, and &s;innes forbidden; yea, even to the very thoughts, lu&s;ts and de&s;ires of our &s;oules good or evill; Now what profit or benefit may the knowledge of this bring to a Chri&s;tian &s;oule, and what light from Chri&s;t to make a right u&s;e of this, that God hath revealed by Chri&s;t and his Spirit in the explication of the&s;e directi|ons for a comfortable walking with God in Chri&s;t, in the whole cour&s;e of our
<PB N="674" REF="366"> lives, or for terrour of wicked and ungodly men?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Fir&s;t, for wicked and ungod|ly men out of Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Tim. 3.5 Mat. 5.20. Phil. 3.5, 6, 7.</NOTE> this declares their damnable condition, be they never &s;o civilly righteous, or formally, and outwardly: becau&s;e the very &s;innefull thoughts and lu&s;ts and imaginations of their hearts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 6.5, 6 Gen, 7.</NOTE> are enough to drowne them in the bottomle&s;&s;e Sea of Gods wrath for ever, as the wicked of the old World were drowned in the floud of waters;<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mark 9.44</NOTE> yea to drowne them in a Sea of fire in hell, where the Worme never dieth and the fire never goeth out,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Iohn 6.44 45.</NOTE> except God in time open their eyes to &s;ee their mi&s;ery, and not onely reveale but draw them to Chri&s;t, that they may believe and repent and bee &s;aved.</P>
<P>Secondly, for Gods children, who are Chri&s;t's and in Chri&s;t,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 7.7. Rom. 7.23 24, 25.</NOTE> this by light from Chri&s;t may bee a gla&s;&s;e to &s;ee their many failings, even in their thoughts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Phil. 3.7, 8, 9, 10.</NOTE> and teach them fir&s;t to love and prize Chri&s;t more, who hath freed them from condemnation and cur&s;e of this Law, Chri&s;t him&s;elfe being made a cur&s;e for them that they might be
<PB N="675" REF="366"> ble&s;&s;ed; &s;econdly to pre&s;&s;e dayly to meet Chri&s;t in his ordinances publike,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Mat. 18.20</NOTE> and &s;e|cret; and that by his &s;trength their hearts may be more and more purified in be|lieving,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 15.5</NOTE> and that by Chri&s;ts vertue this Law may be written in their hearts,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 61.3.</NOTE> that they bring forth and abound in all fruits of Righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, that God may be glorified by their walking, as a people in covenant with God in Chri&s;t Je&s;us.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 16. <HI>You have declared what a Chri&s;tian &s;hould doe, and what u&s;e to make of this Rule of a Chri&s;tian life, in re&s;pect of his failings, and inability to keept this Law; But what if the child of God finde him&s;elfe inabled by Chri&s;t evangelically to walke after the comman|dements, &s;o as hee believes as his per&s;on,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Gen. 4.1, 2, 3, 4. Heb. 11.4.</NOTE> <HI>&s;o his actions and &s;ervices and perform|ances are accepted with God in Chri&s;t how now ought a Chri&s;tian to behave him|&s;elfe?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> To rejoyce in all thankfulne&s;&s;e in Chri&s;t Je&s;us,<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 2.12. Phil. 4.4.13. 1 Tim. 1.12, 13, 14.</NOTE> that hee is enabled by Chri&s;t in any mea&s;ure to obey his Fathers will, and to walke in tho&s;e &s;teps of holine&s;&s;e wherin Chri&s;t walked, in any the lea&s;t degree in &s;incerity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ai. 26.8.9</NOTE>
<PB N="676" REF="367"> and endevour though not in perfecti|on;<NOTE PLACE="marg">2 Cor. 12.9. 1 Cor. 4.4 Luke 17.9 1<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="KEYERS" EXTENT="1 letter">. Titus 3.5, 6.7. 1 Cor. 1.30. I&s;ai. 11.10. Colo&s;&s;. 1.2. 2 Pet. 3.18 19.</NOTE> But yet not to re&s;t on our &s;elves, or in any or all his duties, &s;ervices, or performances for ju&s;tification before God, or peace of con&s;cience, but to eye Chri&s;t in all as a ju&s;tifyer and a &s;anctifyer, and to re&s;t in Chri&s;t as his peacemaker, who&s;e re&s;t is a glorious re&s;t, dayly waiting on and &s;eeking unto Chri&s;t for vertue, and power to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Je&s;us Chri&s;t, in faith and holine&s;&s;e, prai&s;ing God in all good workes of piety and charity,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Galat. 6.16.</NOTE> and by dayly light from Chri&s;t walking com|fortably with Chri&s;t and all the Saints in grace, according to Chri&s;ts Rule, untill hee or &s;hee &s;hall be tran&s;lated to enjoy that full Communion with all the Saints; yea, with God the Father, Sonne and ble&s;&s;ed Spirt in Glory for ever.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>Is there any further directory or light Chri&s;t, for the attaining of power from Chri&s;t for this end, both in my generall calling as a chri&s;tian, and in my &s;peciall calling and particular rela|tion, wherein it hath plea&s;ed God to place mee?</HI></P>
<PB N="677" REF="367">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainly, the be&s;t directory is to waite upon the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, (who is both the way, the truth and the life) both for direction and power, and this dayly, as in private Reading, Meditation, Prayer, and Chri&s;tian con|ference, and Chatechi&s;eing, or build|ing up one another in our mo&s;t holy faith, improving our Chri&s;tian Com|munion and &s;ociety to this end for Gods glory and good edification one of another, &s;o in the publike ordinance of Chri&s;t as oft as may bee in the Preaching of the Word, the admini&s;tra|tion of the Sacraments, godly di&s;cipline and Prayer, that all meanes may bee effectuall in and by Chri&s;ts vertue to our &s;oules for Gods glory and the good of Gods Church and children, <HI>Iohn</HI> 14.6. <HI>Iohn</HI> 5.39. <HI>Colo&s;&s;.</HI> 3.16. as 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 4.31. <HI>Iude.</HI> 2.15.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 17. <HI>What is the chiefe end of all?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> In all the&s;e the glory of God, and Kingdome of the Lord Je&s;us is to be &s;et up, both in our hearts, and lives, untill wee come to Chri&s;ts Kingdome of glory in the Heavens for ever; And in the&s;e there are al&s;o many
<PB N="678" REF="368"> doubts, que&s;tions and ca&s;es of con|&s;cience to bee re&s;olved, which may bee re&s;olved in time if the Lord permit, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 16.7.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 18. <HI>I &s;hall de&s;ire the re&s;olution but of a very few que&s;tions more, and &s;tudy to declare my thankefullne&s;&s;e to God and you for what J am in&s;tructed in already; What I pray you is the be&s;t directory for Prayer and Thanksgiving to God, that J may receive all graces needfull from God in Chri&s;t, and abilities to glorifie my God in every &s;tate and condition of life into which it &s;hall plea&s;e the Lord to call mee, what light from Chri&s;t for this grace?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, for the matter of Prayer in generall the Directory is that briefe forme which our Saviour him&s;elfe taught his Di&s;ciples, as it is recorded by the ble&s;&s;ed Evangeli&s;t, <HI>Mat.</HI> 6. and the 9.10, 11, 12, 13. ver&s;es, and in the&s;e words according to our Engli&s;h tran|&s;lation, After this manner pray yee. <HI>Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed by thy Name, thy Kingdome come, thy will bee done in Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our dayly Bread, and forgive us our debts as wee forgive our debtors, and leade us not into temptation,
<PB N="679" REF="368"> but deliver us from evill, for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory for ever, Amen.</HI></P>
<P>Que&s;t. 19. <HI>Js this &s;ufficient direction for matter of Prayer?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, certainly if the &s;everall pe|titions in the Lords Prayer be rightly under&s;tood, here is an excellent di|rection for a Chri&s;tian to ground</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, his confe&s;&s;ion of &s;inne to God.</P>
<P>Secondly, his petition for graces wanting.</P>
<P>And thirdly, thanksgiving for grace received; and to make his reque&s;ts knowne to God, upon all occa&s;ions both for attaining of good, and avoyd|ing of evill according to the Apo&s;tles direction, <HI>Phil.</HI> 4.6, 7.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 20. <HI>But doe you thinke that the repeating or &s;aying of this or other Prayers. as commonly people have u&s;ed to doe, to bee a &s;ufficient manner of Prayer unto God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Certainely Prayer is not only a &s;peaking of words with the mouth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Sam. 1.15.</NOTE> but a powering out of the heart and &s;oule to God,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Zach. 12.10</NOTE> and that by the &s;trength &amp; a&s;&s;i&s;tance of the &s;pirit of Prayer, and
<PB N="680" REF="369"> this rightly,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 8.26</NOTE> in a right manner, in the name of Chri&s;t, and to a right end; otherwi&s;e our Prayers are not right, nor acceptable before God, nor can we expect to be heard at Gods hand when we call upon him in Prayer.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 21. <HI>J &s;ee then that a bare forme of Prayer is not &s;ufficient to re&s;t in, but I mu&s;t have the &s;pirit of God inabling of mee to pray with the &s;pirit or inner man, as well as with the mouth; and my &s;oule mu&s;t bee di&s;po&s;ed in a right manner in Prayer, and enabled by the Spirit of Chri&s;t; but what graces are requi&s;ite in this dutie?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Faith, Repentance, Humility, Devotion,<NOTE PLACE="marg">See Cla&s;&s;is 30. 2 Sect. in 2 Com|mande|ment, pag. 502. 503, 504.</NOTE> Zeale, Fervency, Per&s;eve|rance, and &s;uch like Graces, and all in the name of Chri&s;t; el&s;e all is nothing; And therefore hee or &s;hee prayeth be&s;t who hath the &s;pirit of Prayer, and can powre out his or her heart and &s;oule to God in Prayer, as <HI>Jacob</HI> and <HI>Hannab,</HI> and other Saints of God have done and have beene heard in their Prayers, with a gratious re|turne, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 14.15. <HI>Iames</HI> 1.6. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 1.15, 16. <HI>Acts.</HI> 10.2. <HI>Ho&s;ea.</HI> 12.4. <HI>James</HI> 5.16. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 51.17. <HI>Iere.</HI> 50.4, 5. 1 <HI>The&s;s.</HI> 5.17. <HI>John</HI> 16.23.</P>
<PB N="681" REF="369">
<P>Que&s;t. 22. <HI>But how &s;hall a man get the &s;pirit of Prayer and ability to powre out his &s;oule to God?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> I an&s;wer you mu&s;t not re&s;t in your Prayers, nor in any duty you per|forme to God, as if that did &s;atisfie the Lord for your &s;ins, or meritoriou&s;ly pro|cured your peace with God, but you mu&s;t re&s;t on Chri&s;t, both for your acceptation of your &s;elfe and your prayers upon the Golden Altar, with the incen&s;e of Chri&s;ts merits, <HI>Revel.</HI> 8.3.4.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 23. <HI>In what el&s;e mu&s;t J wait for the &s;pirit?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Secondly, you mu&s;t waite upon God in Chri&s;t in all the meanes of grace, till hee powre out the &s;pirit of Prayer into your heart and &s;oule, that you may cry Abba Father and be heard as a child of God in Chri&s;t, <HI>Gal.</HI> 4.6.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 24. <HI>What further direction can you give?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, and la&s;tly for your bet|ter enablement to expre&s;&s;e the de&s;ires and groans of your &s;oule to the Lord, aske your &s;oule but the&s;e or the like foure que&s;tions to this or the like effect, as &s;peaking to your &s;elfe.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 25. <HI>What is the fir&s;t?</HI></P>
<PB N="682" REF="370">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Fir&s;t, Oh my &s;oule to whom or to what glorious Maje&s;ty oughte&s;t thou to direct thy Prayers, at Morning or Evening or Noone day, or when|&s;oever, in publike or private, or &s;ecret thou de&s;ire&s;t to gaine a ble&s;&s;ing from the highe&s;t Heavens, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 55.17.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 26. <HI>What &s;hall I an&s;wer to this demand?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Let thy &s;oule an&s;wer, and it will tell thee it is to the mo&s;t high God the Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;or of Heaven and Earth, the &s;earcher of all hearts, and the hear|er of Prayer pre&s;ented to him in the name, and by the mediation of the Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t, <HI>P&s;.</HI> 38.13. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 65.2. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 77.1. <HI>Iohn</HI> 16.23.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 27. <HI>What directions?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Endeavour in all fear and hu|mility to begin thy Prayer with the be&s;t expre&s;&s;ions of the mo&s;t glorious Name, Nature, Per&s;ons, Properties of this great and glorious Lord God, with the acknowledgement of his Truth, Power and Maje&s;ty, in his Words and Workes, held forth in Scripture, and of thy unworthine&s;&s;e which may affect thy heart by the helpe of Chri&s;ts Spirit, with a right temper to powre out thy
<PB N="683" REF="370"> &s;oule to God in Prayer,<NOTE PLACE="marg">1 Chron. 29.11. 2 Chron. 30.18.19. Ezra. 9.6. Nehe. 9.32.</NOTE> and this in the be&s;t words thou can&s;t; but chiefly have regard to thy heart, which the Lord hath a &s;peciall eye unto; And &s;o begin thy Prayer as <HI>Exod.</HI> 15.11, 12.13. <HI>Exodus</HI> 34.6, 7. 1 <HI>Kings</HI> 8.23.27. or in the like manner.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 28. <HI>What is &s;econd que&s;tion?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;w.</HI> Secondly, aske thy &s;oule a &s;econd que&s;tion to this or the like ef|fect, Oh! my &s;oule,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ezra. 9.5, 6, 7. Prov. 28.13. Dan. 9.4.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.</NOTE> wherein ha&s;t thou offended this great God, to whom thou de&s;ire&s;t to lift up thy &s;elfe in Pray|er, that thou may&s;t acknowledge thine offences, and &s;eeke for further a&s;&s;u|rance of pardon, before thou beg any other favour at the Lords hand, as 2 <HI>Chron.</HI> 6.36.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 29. <HI>What direction here?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Let thy &s;oule fir&s;t looke into the gla&s;&s;e of thy owne con&s;cience,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rom. 2.14, 15. Acts 24.16. Rom. 3.20 Iohn 3.19, 20.36. 1 Iohn 3.23. Rom. 7.18 19, 20.</NOTE> and &s;econdly into the gla&s;&s;e of the Word of God, both the commanding and pro|mi&s;ing part; both Law and Go&s;pell, and finde out thy &s;innes, and accu&s;e and condemne thy &s;elfe for thy ingrati|tude for &s;o many former mercies, yea, confe&s;&s;e and labour to be humble for thy fall in <HI>Adam,</HI> for thy originall and
<PB N="684" REF="371"> actuall tran&s;gre&s;&s;ions in &s;tate of nature, but e&s;pecially thy unthankefulne&s;&s;e in dayes of grace,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Ephe&s;. 4.30.</NOTE> either in thought, word or deede, wereby thou ha&s;t grieved the &s;pirit of God, by whom thou art &s;ealed to the day of Redemption, and this in as good words as God makes thee able,<NOTE PLACE="marg">As <HI>Hannah</HI> 1 Sam. 1.17.</NOTE> and with the exerci&s;e of all tho&s;e graces the Lord hath given thee; to this end thou ha&s;t here a large field to <HI>powre</HI> out <HI>thy</HI> &s;oule to God in, if thou can&s;t finde out thy manifold &s;innes again&s;t God, or the &s;innes of others which thou de&s;ire&s;t to confe&s;&s;e, and bewaile before God thy Lord, as <HI>Daniel</HI> and other Saints have done, <HI>Daniel</HI> 9.7, 8, 9, 10 11.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 30. <HI>What is the third que&s;ti|on?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thirdly, aske thy &s;oule a third que&s;tion, to this or the like effect, Oh my &s;oule what do&s;t thou want, or what is thy reque&s;t, and the de&s;ire of thy heart to obtaine at the hands of thy God and loving Father in Chri&s;t?</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 31. <HI>And what wants may I ex|pre&s;&s;e?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Thy &s;oule will tell thee thou wante&s;t in the fir&s;t place the a&s;&s;urance, or
<PB N="685" REF="371"> more full a&s;&s;urance of the forgivene&s;&s;e of all thy &s;innes, and of Gods free grace and love unto thee in the Lord Je&s;us; thou wante&s;t many favours from God for thy body, for thy &s;oule, for this, for a better life, for thy wife, thy husband, for Parents, children, &s;ervants, kindred, accquaintance, thy Neighbours, thy friends, thy enemies; for the Kings Ma|je&s;ty, for the Parliament, the Kingdom, the City and Country, for Peace and Truth, and a happy union and com|munion one with another, and with the whole Church of Chri&s;t; and here expre&s;&s;e thy minde as well as thou can&s;t by the power of Chri&s;t; the Lord ca|reth not &s;o much for fine words as for an hone&s;t &s;incere contrite heart, &s;ancti|fyed by the &s;pirit of Chri&s;t, <HI>I&s;ai.</HI> 66.2.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 32 <HI>What is the fourth que&s;ti|on?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> La&s;tly, aske thy &s;oule a fourth que&s;tion to this or the like effect; Oh my &s;oule, what ha&s;t thou received from this great and good God, for which thou art bond to render him thankes, and prai&s;e in the Name of the Lord Je&s;us?</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 33. <HI>What rule is there to finde this out?</HI></P>
<PB N="686" REF="372">
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Let thy &s;oule call to minde all or as many as thou can&s;t of tho&s;e un&s;peak|able favours the Lord hath be&s;towed upon thee; reckon them up imparticu|lar out of the catalogue of Gods mer|cies both upon thy owne &s;oule in par|ticular, and the Church in generall, to thy &s;elfe, to thine, to the people of God; and what a &s;ea of mercy may&s;t thou &s;wim in, and enlarge thy thank|fulne&s;&s;e above all for Gods free love in the Lord Je&s;us? as <HI>P&s;alme</HI> 116.12, 13.</P>
<P>Que&s;t. 34. <HI>But did you ever know any man thus learne to pray?</HI></P>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Yes, did I know a Chri&s;tian who could reade never a word upon the Booke, and yet after hee had received the&s;e directions puting them carefully and con&s;tantly in practi&s;e, in a &s;ecret place before God, the onely &s;earcher of hearts and the Teacher of the igno|rant, hee did in a &s;hort time attaine an excellent habit in Prayer; and was in|abled to pray dayly in his Family, in a &s;weet comfortable manner; and a&s;&s;uredly the Lord is the &s;ame God &s;till to all his children in Chri&s;t, and will be &s;o to all, who diligently waite on
<PB N="687" REF="372"> him in the u&s;e of the meanes; I conclude with the Apo&s;tle, now to him that is able to keepe you from falling, and to pre&s;ent you blamele&s;&s;e before the pre|&s;ence of his glory with exceeding joy,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Jude 24.25.</NOTE> to the onely wi&s;e God our Saviour, be Glory and Maje&s;ty, Dominion, and Power, now and ever, <HI>Amen,</HI></P>
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<P>COurteous Reader, there are &s;ome few <HI>Errata</HI> which the ingenuous may ea&s;ily find, and amend with their Pen.</P>
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