1 - ■t^"-^- .4. 1 •■ ^ - -a * ;5 ■?->$^-*4S^ ■;. '. .♦-^ j?Pf >< ■- X ct :- -■'::^ uv :^. .-j^*^- •^♦i 4 V <] r '0 ^ ^^..-v i^^ i^x^ ^^/^y^- ^ ^^/i yrcoA^Jc^^tJ e^a-y^ CATECHISM Confession of Fait h, APPROVED or AXD AGREED UNTO, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE [^S- ;mVsAs: P A T R I A R^,U.5^,^-P H E T^S- anJsAiP 5 S T L E CHRIST HI M s^a^ F Chief \eahr IN AND AMONG THEM. Which contaiiieth a true and fnithful Account of the Principles and Doc- trines, which are moit furely belie- ved by the Churches of Chriti in Great Britain and Irei.anu, who are reproachfully called by the Name of QUAKER S ; >et are found in the one Faith with tire Primitive Church and Saints, a* is moft clearly demonftratcd by foir, plain Scripture Tellimonies, ^witl:- out Confequcntcs or Commcr- tarics) which are here coUcdcd, and inferted by way or Aniwer t > a few weighty, yet eafy and fair liar Oueftions, fitted as well for t: wilcil and largeft, as for the weak cfl and lowell Capacitici. TO WHICH IS ADDED, An Expostulation with, and Appeal to_, al other Professors. By ROBERT B A R C L A Y. Seurdi the Scriptures, for, yefearch the ScnptHres,) for in them ye thir/k y haveettr^ Life, and they oj^ they zihuh tejiijy (^ nie. Arid )e n.Hl net come ufitu ye might have John V. 39. 4®. PHILADELPHIA: PRiNTCD BY Joseph James, in chesnut-street. M.DCC.LXXXYIII. THE PREFACE TO THE s READER. ri/NCE fir ft that great Apoftacy^ took O Place, in the Hearts and Heads of thofc who began y even in the Apoftles Days, to de- part from the Simplicity and Purity of the Gofpel, as it was then delivered in its pri- mitive Splendor and Integrity y innnffierable have been the manifold inventions and Tra- ditions, the different and various Notions and Opinions, wherewith Man {by giving^ zuciy to the vain and airy Imaginations of his own unftable Mind) hath barthened the Chridian faith : So that indeed, fir ft by add- ing thefe Things, and afterzvards by equal- Img them, if not exalting them above the Truth, that they have at Lift come to be fiibftitnted in the Stead ofit;fothat in Pro- cefs of Time Truth came to be (l?ut out of Doors, and another Thing placed in the Room thereof, having a Shew and Name, but wanting the Siihflance and Thing itfelf. Ne- ver thelefs, it pleafed God to raife up IV :t- nefjes for himf'lf almoft in every Age and Generation^ zwlio, according to the Difcove- w The PPvEFACS. ries they received J bore fome Tefiimony\ lejs or ffiore, again ft the Super fiiticyn and ^fpof- tacy of the Time ; and in afpecial Manner^ though the appearing of that Light 'which fr ft broke forth in Ger3Tany, about or^ hundred and fifty Tears ago, and afterwards reached divers other Nations, the Be aft re- ceived a deadly Wound ; and a very great Number did at one Time prot eft again ft , and refcind from the Church o/'Rome, in divers of their moft grofs a?idfenfual Doclrines and fuperftitious ITr editions: But, alas! it is for Matter of La^yientation, that the Succejfors oftheje Proteflants are eftablifmng and build- ing up in themfelves, that zvhich their Fa- thers zvere pulling down, iyiftead of p'ofe- cuting and going on with fo good and ho- nourable a Worh, which zvilleaftly appear. The Generality of all Proteflants, (tlw' iii many other Tilings miferably rent and float- tered among themfelves) do agree in divid- ing from the Church of Kom^ in thefe tivo Particulars : Fir ft , That every Principle and Do From Urie, the Place of my Being, in my native Country oi Scot/and, the 1 ith of the 6th Montbj C A T E C H 1 S M, c^c. C H A p. I. Of GOD, and the true and laving Knowledge of Him. Qjieft-."- ^Eelng it is a Thing miqucjiionedhy Height Q^^appincfs -conjifteth in coming to Jmoiv and enjoy Eternal Lifcy tvhat is it in the Senfe and jfiidgment of Clirift f A, This is Life eternal, that they might jo>,ni7.3, know thee the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom thou haft fent. Q. How doth God reveal his Knowledge f A, For God, who commanded the Light „ cor.'4. to fhine out of Darknefs, hath fnined in our 6. Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God, in the Face of Jcfu-s Chrift. Q. How many Cods are there f A. One God. Eph. 4. 6. We Know that an Idol is nothing in the World, and that there is none other God g^°^' ^•-' but one. But to us there is but one God. Q. What is Cod, A, God is a Spirit. john. ^ 21' [ - ] Q. Among all the hlelJed, (rlorioiis and divine Excellencies of God, which are afcri^ b^d and given to kirn in the Scriptiirds ; what tsthiit which is- moft needful for 71s to take Notice of, as being the Mefja^e which the Apoftks recorded in fpecial Maimer to de- clare oj him now under the Gofpelf 1 John. 1, ^- This then is the Meifage which M^e have heard of him, and declare unto yoB, That God is Light, and in him is no Darkneis at all . IX ^hat are they that bear Record in Heaven f ^^ Ch^p. 5. V. rT "^* '^^"^'^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^*^^^^ KecHf^in Heaven, the Father, the Wo^A^nd the Holy Ghoft ; and thefe Three are'One. . O. Howxomsth any Man io know God the Father, according to Chrift's fVordsf Luke. 10. A. All Things are delivered to nie of Mat. n 27. py Father ; and no ?vlan knows who the Son Is, bat the Father, and who the Father is„ but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. jo'nn. M- *^^^^^ ^^^^'^ ^^"^^ ^^'^'^^' ^ ^^ "^'^^ y^2.y, the 6. ' Truth and the JLife, no Man cometh unto- the Father but by me. Q; By whom, and after what Manner doth the Son reveal his Knozuledge f Cor 2.9, ■^- ^'^^ ^^ it is written, P_:ye hath not o,ii,i-j. feen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of Man, the Things which God hath prepared for them that love him ; but God hath revealed them unto us by his C 3 ] Spirit : For the Spirit fearchetli all Things, yea, the deep Things of God. For what Man knoweth the I'hings of a Man, fave the Spirit of a Man which is in him r Even fo the Things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God, Now, v/e have received, not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the Things that are freely given us of God. But the Comforter, which is the Holy John Glioft, whom the Father will fend in my '^- ^^^ Name, he ihall teach you all Things, and bring all Things to your Remembrance, ^c. CHAP. II. Of the Rule and Guide of Chrijiians, and of the Scriptures, Quefl . O Eeing it is by the Spirit , that Chrift O reveals the Knowledge of God in Things fpiritual ; is it by Spirit tliat we mnft be led under the Gofpel f A, But ye are not in the Flefh, but in Ro*"- the Spirit, if ib be that the Spirit of God ^' ^' ' '* dwell in you. Now, if any Man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his. For, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. Q. Is it an inward Principle then ^ that is to be iiie Guide and Ride <9/*Chriftians I A, But the x\nointing, which ye have re- » Jo^'"- ceived of him, abideth in you ; and ye need *' ^^' 1 Thef. 4- 9- C 4 ] not that any Man teach you, but as the fame Anointing teacheth you of all Things, and is Truth, and is no Lie ; and even as it hath taught you, ye fliall abide in him. But as touching Brotherly- love, ye need not that I write unto you ; for ye yourfelves are taught of God to love one another. Q. I perceive by this, that it is by an in- ward Anointing and Rule that Chriftians are to be taught : Is this the very Tenor of the new Covenant Difpenfation f Heb. 8. A. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the Houfe of Ifrael, after thofe Days, faith the Lord ; I will p\it my Laws into their Mind, and write them in their Ver. 11. Hearts: And I will be unto them a God, and they fhall be to me a People. And they fliall not teach every Man his Neighbour, and every Man his Brother, faying, Know the Lord, for all (hall know me, from the leaft to the greatefl. John 6. And they fhall be all taught of God. ^5- Q. Did Chriji then prontife, that the Spirit pould both abide with his Difciples, and be in thein f John 14. j4. And I will pray the Father, and he ^^' ^7. fliall give you another Com-forter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the World cannot receive, becaufe it feeth him not, neither knoweth him ; But ye know him, for he dwells with you, and fliall be in you. i [ 5- 3 Qj For ichat End icerc the Scriptures luritten f A. For whatfoevcr Things were written Rom. aforetime, were written for our Learning, ^^- ^' that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope. O. For zvhat arc they profitable f A, Thou had known the holy Scrip- 2 Tim, 3.- ture.^, which arc able to make thee wife ^•^' ^^'*'* unto Salvation, through Faith which is in Chrifl jefus. All Scripture is given by Infpiration of God, and is profitable for Doclrinc, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inlliruftion-lnRighteourncis, that the Man of God m^'be perfect, throughly furnifiied unto all good Works. O. f'Fherein conjifts the Excellency of the Scriptures f A, Knowing this firft, that no Prophecy 2 Pet. i« of the Scriptures is of any private Inter- pretation. For the Prophecy came not in old Time by the Will of Man, but holy Men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. Q. The Scriptures are then to he regard- ed ^ becaufe they came from the Spirit, and tJ^ey alfo. tejiify, that not they, but the Spi- rit, is to lead into all Truth : In what ref- peCi doth Chrifi command to fear ch them f yL Search the Scriptures, for in them ye John5.3g, think ye have eternal Life, and they are they which tcftifv of me. B 20, 21, [ -5 ] Qj / perceive there tvas a Generation of old, that greatly exalted the Scriptures, and yet %voukl not believe, nor come to be guided by that the Scriptures direded to : Hozv doth Chrift befpeak fiich f john3.45, A. Do not think that I will accufe you •i^' ^"- to the Father ; there is one that accuieth you, even Mojes, in whom ye trufl. For had ye beheved Mofes, ye would have be- lieved me ; for he w^rote of me. But if ye believe not his Writings, how fhall ye be- lieve my Words ? Q. IVhat ought fuch then tobe accoun- ted of J not-withflanding oftheimK^tences of being ruled by tJie Scriptures f^/fp 5 Pec. 3. A, In v/hich are fome Things hard to be *^- underflood, ^vhich they that are unlearned andunftable, wrefl, as they do alio the other Scriptures, unto their ow^n Deftruction. CHAP m. Of Je s u s Christ being manifeft in the Flefh; the Vfe and End of it. (Hiert. 1^7 HAT are the Scriptures ivhich ^ fV. do moft obfervably prophefy of Chrift' s Appearance f A, The' Lord thy God will raife up unto thee a Prophet from the Midft of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me, unto him ye ihail hearken. C 7 ] Therefore the Lord himfelf fhall give ^^^' ?• h» you a Sign : Behold a Virgin fliall conceive and bear a Son, and fhall call his Name Immaiatiel . Q. JVas not Jefiis Chrift in Being he- fore he appeared in the Flejh f zvhat clear Scriptures prove this, again]} fuch as crrO' nioufly afjert the contrary f A', But thou Beth-lehem Ephratah, tho' Mic. 5. 1. thou be little among the Thoulands of Jiidah, yet out of thee fliall he come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Ifrael, whofe Goings forth have been from of old, from everlafhiiWy^ In the Ip^inning v/as the Word, and the John 1. 1, Word was with God, and the V^'^ord was "' ^' God ; the fame was in the Beginning v/ith God : All Things were made by him, and without him was not any Thing made that was made. Jefus faid unto them, Verily, verily, I l""^^ s. fay unto you, before Abraham was, I am. ^ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with John 17, thine own felf, with the Glory which I had ^' with thee before the World was. And to make all Pvlen fee what is the ^p^^- 3- 9' Fellowfliip of the Myftery, v/hicli from the Beginning of the World hath been hid in God, who created all Thing-s by jefas Chrift. ^ -^ J For by him were all Thirgs created that Coi. 1. li::, are in Heaven^ and that are in Earth, vifiblc [ 8 3 and invilible, v/hcthcr they be Thrones, or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers; all Things were created by him, and for him. God hath in thefe laft Days fpokcn mito us by his Son, w^hom he hath appointed Heir of all Things, by whom alfo he made the World. Qj Thefe are very clear, that even the M^orld zvas created' by Chrift : But tvhat Scriptures prove the Divinity of Chrift, againft fuch as falfiy deny the fame f A, And the W^ord was God. Whofe are the Fathers, and of whom, as concerning the Flefli, Chrifl came, who is over ail, God blefled for ever. Amen. ?hi!. 2. 6. Who being in the Form of God, thought it no Robbery to be equal with God. 3 John 5. And w^e know that the Son of God is **• come, and hath given us an Underftanding, that w^e may know him that is true, and v/e are in him that is true, even in his Son Jefus Chrift : This is the true God, and eternal Life. O. What are the glorious Names the Scriptures gives unto Jefus Chrift, the eter- nal Son of God f J&.g. 6. A. And his Name fhall be called, W^on- derful, Counfellor, the Mighty God, the Everlafling Father, the Prince of Peace. Col. i.i> ^iWho is the Image of the invilible God, the FirR-born of every Creature. C 9- 3 Who being the Brightnefs of his Glory, Heb. i. 3^, and the exprefs Image of his Perfon (or more proper according to the Creek, of. his Subjiance,y And he was cloathed with a Vefture dipt Rev. 19, in Blood ; and his Name is called the V^^ord '^' of God. O. y^fter luhat Manner zvas the Birth of Chnji f A. Now the Birth of Jeius Chrift was j^i3t.,_ ,g, on this wife : When as his Mother Mnry was efpoufed to Jofeph (before they came together) (lie was found with Child of the Holy Ghoft. And the Angel faid unto her, Fear not L^i^e 1. Mary, for thou hafl found Favour with 3°; ^V".^^' God. And behold thou fliah conceive in thy Womb, and bring forth a Son, and fhait call his Name Jefus: He iliall be great, and (liall be called the Son of the Highcfl ; and the Lord God (liall give unto him the Throne of his Father David. Then faid Mary MwMo the Angel, How fnall this be, feeing I know not a Man ? And the Angel anfwered and faid unto her, the Holy Ghofl: fliall come upon thee, and the Power of the Higheft fliall overdiadow thee : Therefore alfo that holy Thing, that fliall be born of thee, fliall be called the Son of God. Q. fVas Jefus Chriji, zvho was born of fhe P^irgin Mary, andjiippofed to he the Son of Jofeph, a true and real Man f B 2 [ 10 ] Hcb. 2. ^. Forafmuch as the Children are Par- "^' takers of Flefh and Blood, he alfo himlelf took Part of the fame, that through Death he might deflroy him that had the Power of Death, that is, the Devil. Heb. 2. For verily he took not on him the Nature j6. 17. of Angeb, but he took on him the Seed of Abraham, Wherefore in all Things it beho- ved him to be made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priefi:, ^c* Heb. 4. For we have not an High Priefi: which '^* cannot be touched with the Feeling of om- Infirmities, but v/as in all Points^mpted as v/e are, yet without Sin. Wm- Kom. 5. And the Gift by Grace, which is by one ^^' Man, Jeius Chrifl, hath abounded unto many. 1 Cor. 15. But now is Chriil: rifen from the Dead, ^°" '^^' and become the firfl Fruits of them that flept. For fince hj Man came Death, by Man came alfo the Refurredion of the Dead. O. After what Manner cloth the Scrip- ture ajjert the Conjunction and Unity of the eternal Son of God, in and zvith the Man Chrijijefusf John 1.14. A. And the Word was made Flefh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the only Begotten of the Father) full of Grace and Truth, John 3. ai. For he v/hom God hath fent , fpeaketh the ' Words of God ; for God givcth not the Spirit by Meailire unto him. [ /2^ wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightened every Man: the Univerfality and Sufficiency of God's Grace, to all the World, made manifeft therein. Queft. TJ/' Herein confifts the Lave of Cod VV Unvards fallen and loft Man f A. For Goda^ lov^d the Worlds that johng.ro Hcb. 2. q. 1. 2 [ =2° ] he gave his only begotten Son, that who- foever believeth in him fhould not perifh, but have everlafting Life. 1 John 4. In this was manifefted the Love of God tovi^ards us, becaufe that God fent his only begotter] Son into the W^orld, that we might live through him. O^. TVhat is intended here by the world f all and every Man^ or only a few f A. But we fee Jefus, who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the Suffer- ing of Death, crow^ned wath Glory and Honour ; that he by the Grace of God fliould taile Death for every Man. John 2. And if any Man fin, we have an Advo- cate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righ- teous, and he is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but alfo for the Sins of the v/hole World. CX Methinks the Apofile John is very plain tJiere , in mentioning the zvhole PForld^ which mi'Ji be not only the Saints, but all others, feeing he diftinguifhedthe f For Id from himfelf and all the Saints to whom he then wrote: fVhat faith Paul elfewhere in this Matter f |^ Col. 27. A, Chrift li^ J^ou, the Hope of Glory, 2^- whom we preach, warning every Man, and teaching every Man in all Wifdom, that we may prefent every Man perfetH: in Chriil Jefus. iTim. 2. I exhort therefore, that firfl of all, Sup- ». 3- 4. 6- plications, Prayers, Intercellions, and giving [ .1 ] of Thanks, be made for all Men : For tlib is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour, who will have all Men to be faved, and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth ; who gave himfelf a Ranfomfor all, to be teftified in due Time. O. fVhat is tJie ^^pofilc PeterV Tejihno- ny in this f A. The Lord is not flack concerning his £ Pci .30' Promife (as Tome Men count Slacknefs) but is long-fujTering to us-ward, not wilhng \\\2X any fliould periih, but that all Ihould come to Repentance. Q^. Are tJiere any more Scripture Pajja- ges that prove this Thing f A. Say unto them, As I live, faith the ^/ek- Lord God, I have no Pleafure in the Death ^'^' ^'' of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live . The Lord is gracious, and full of Com-pr<^im. paflion ; ilow to Anger, and of great Mercy. ^'^^' ' " ^' The Lord is good to all, and his tender Mercies are over all hii"ight be faved. And for this Caufe God fliall fend them flrong Delufions, that they jhail believe a Lie, that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth, but had PJeaiure in Unrighteoufnefs. Q, Seeing it is of a Truths according to the Scripture's Teftijnony ^ that God has purpofed Love and mercy to ail, in the Ap- pearance of his Son Jefus Chrifi ; is the Cof~ pel orgfhd Tidings of this Salvation^ brought nigh unto all, by zvhich they are put into a Capacity of receiving the Grace, and. being faved by it f Col. 1. A' If ye continue in the Faith grounded *^3- and fettled, and be not moved av/ay from the Hope of the Gofpel, which ye have heard, and v/hich v/as preached to every Creature which is under Heaven^ whereof I Paul arn made a Minifler. Q^. IVhat is the Gofpel f Rom 1. ^. I am not afliamed of the Gofpel ; for ^6- it is the power of God unto Salvation, to every one that belie veth. Q^. Is the Gofpel hid f 2. Cor. A' If our Gofpel be hid, it is hid to them 'i- 3: 4- that are lofl, inv/homthe God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which be- lieve not, lefl the Light of the glorious Gofpel of Chrifi who is the Image of God fliould flilne linto them. Q. Is the Light then come into the World f And are not men condemned becauje they love it 729t, and not becaiife it is hid from them f C =5 ] A, And this is the Condemnation, tliatjohn 3, Light is come into the World, and Men^9- love Darknefs rather than Light. p. fVky do they lb f A. Becaufe their"^ Deeds are evil. ^'^^^ ^ Qj Is every Man enliv^htene d by this Light f A, He was not that Light, but was ient john 1. 8. to bear Witnefs of that Light, that was the s- true Light, which eniightenetli every Man that cometh into the World. Q. Doth this Light difcover all Things f A. Ail Things that are reproved are , made manifefl by the Light, for whatfoever il'^' '^^' doth make manifell is Light. O. Do evil Men preach up this Light, or i7iind it f A, Every one that doth Evil, hateth the j„},„ Light, neither cometh to the Light, Icfl his '20. Deeds fhould be reproved. They arc of thofe that rebel againft the job. 24. Light. »3- Q. Do good Men love it and foUoxv it f A, He thtit doeth Truth, cometh to the john 3. Light, that his Deeds may be made manifefl,'^'' that they are wrought in God. CL What Benefit doth redound to juch as love the L'ghty and -waih in it f A. If we vv^alk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowfhip one with7. "*' another, and the Blood of Jefus Chrifl; his Son, cleanfeth us from all Sin. Q^. Doth Ckrift cominand to take Heed to the Light f [ 26 ] John 12. ^ .WTiile yehave the Light, believe in 3^- the Light, that ye may be the Children of the Light f Q. IVere the Apo files commanded to turn People to the Light f Aas 26 Dehvering thee from the People, and 17, 18. from the Gentiles^ unto whom now I fend thee, to open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darknefs unto Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Forgivenefs of Sins, and Inheritance among them which are fancSbified, through Faith that is in me. O. Doth this Light abide ivith every Man all his Life-time^ in order to fave^ or only during the Day of his Vifitation f John 12. A, Yet a little while is the Light with 3^' you ; walk while ye have the Light, left Darknefs come upon you. Hcb. 4, Again, he limiteth a certain Day, faying 7- in David J To-day, after fo long a Time ; as it is faid, To-day if ye wall hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. Q. How can it be proved, that there is a Day J wherein People may know Things con- cerning their Peace ^ which afterwards may he hid from them f Luke 19. A. And when he was come near, he be- 41. 42. j^^y ^\-^Q City, and wept over it, faying. If thou hadil: known, even thou, at leafl in this thy Day, the Things which belong unto thy Peace 1 Biit now they are hid from thine Eyes* I C 27 ] Qj Is there any Scripture Proof of the Lord's IVillUzgnefs to gather a People zvho zuould not, and therefore were condefuned f A, O Jerufalem, yervfalern I thou that Mat. 23. killefl the Prophets, and iloneft them which £7^^ are lent unto thee : How often would I have 31. gathered thy Children together, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her W ings, and ye would not 1 Then his Lord, after that he had called Mat. 18. him, faid unto him, O thou wicked Servant, 32:33' 34- I forgave thee all that Debt, becaufc thou defiredft me : Shouldefl: not thou alfo have had Compallion on thy fellow Servant, even as I had Pity on thee ? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the Tormen- ters, till he fhould pay all that was due unto him. Then Paul and Barnabas M^xed bold .^ and faid, it was necefTary that the Word 46. of God ihould firfh have been fpoken to you ; but feeing ye put it from you, and judge yourfelves unworthy of everlafling Life, lo we turn to the Gentiles. Becaufe I have called, and ye refufed ; I Prov. 1 have ftretched out my Hand, and no Man *4> 25, 26. regarded ; But ye have fet at naught all my Counfel, and would none of my Reproof ; I alfo will laugh at your Calamity ; I will mox:k when your Fear cometh. And at what Inftant I (liall fpeak con- cerning a Nation, and concerning a King- \ii ^ ' ^' Afts 7.^1. [ 28 ] ' doni, to build and to plant it : If it do Evil in my Sight that it obey not my Voice, then will I repent of the Good wherewith I faid I would benefit them. O. Doth God's Spirit ftrlve tJien for a Seajhn, and afterwards forbear f Gf.>.6.3. ^' And the Lord faid, my Spirit fliall not always ftrive with Man. O. May it then be refifted f A. Ye iliif-necked and uncircumcifed in Heart and Ears, ye do always refifl: the Holy Ghoft ; as your Fathers did, fo do ye. Rom. 1. por the V^^rath of God is revealed from Heaven againfl all Ungodiinefs and Un- righteoufnefs of Men, wlio hold the Truth in Unrighteoufnefs. Q. Hath God manifefted to Man tJiat zvhich may be knoivn of himfelf f Rom. 1. ^^. That v/hich may be known of God, '^" is m.anifeR: in them ; for God hath fi>ewed it unto them. Q^. Is tJien this Light or Seedfoivn in the Heart of evil Men f M;,t. 13. A. And he fpake many Things to them '3' i- 5' in Parables ; Bekold, a Sower went forth to fow, and when he fowed, fome Seeds fell by the Way-fide, &c. Some fell among ilony Places, Sec. And fome fell among '^riiorns. Sec. Q^. Are thefe Places^ ivhere the Seed is faid to have fallen ^ under flood of the Hearts of Menf ' I C 29 ] A. Hear ye therefore the Parable of the Mat. 13. Sower. When any,one heareth the Word '^' '^' of the Kmgdom, and underftandeth it not, then conieth the wicked One, and catcheth away that which was fown in his Heart ; this is lie which received the Seed by tlie Way-fide, ere. O. Is this Seedfmall in its fir ft Appear- ance f A. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to ^r^f- J3' a Grain of Mufhard-feed, which a Man took ^''' ^"* > and fowed in his Field, whicli indeed is the Icafl of all .Seeds. O. ForafmucJi as many tmderfiand not tliis^ under the Notion and AppellatiGuof Light or Seed, it being quite another Dialed than the common ; tho' I muft needs confcfs, it is the very Language of the Scriptures ; Is afliving Manifejiation of the Spirit given unto allt A. The Manifeflation of the Spirit is ^ Cor. 12. given to every Pvlan to profit withal. Q^. Sure J if it he to profit zvith a! , it muft be in order tofave ; for if it were not ufefuly yea, fuffcient tofave, zvhat Profit could, it be off But in regard fomefpeak of a Grace that is common, and of a Grace that isfaving, is there fucJi a Grace common unto all, as brings Salvation f A, The Grace of God, that brings Sal- Tit. 2. iw vation, hath appeared unto all Men. Q^. That zvhich brings Salvation muft needs be ravin^^ ; ivhat dotli that Grace teach us f D I 30 ] . ^ ^/. Teaching us, that denying Ungod- lirTefs, and worldly Lulls, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly and godly, in this pre- lent World. Q. Certainly that -which teacheth both Righteoiffiiefs and Godlinefs muft he fuffici- ent ; for therein conjifieth the zvhole Duty of Man: TVhat faith the Apofik elfewhere of this InJh'uCtorf A, And now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, . which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all thofe that are fandiiied . Q. TVhat is the fVordofCodf A. The Word of God is c[uick and powerful, and fharper than any two-edged Sword, piercing even to the dividing afun- der of Soul and Spirit, and of the Joints and Marrow ; and is a Difcerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart. Nei- ther is there any Creature that is not mani- feil: in his Sight, but all Things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do. O. Ouo-ht -we to take Heed to this Word? A, We have alfo a morefm-e Word of Prophecy, whef eunto ye do well that ye take Heed, as unto a Light that fhineth in a dark Place, until the Day dawn, and the Pay-flar arife in your Hearts. ^. I perceive the Scriptures are very clear, [ 31 ] both concefnmg the Univerfality and Si^ffici-' encyofthis Light, Seed, GraceandfVord of Cod ; but is this fVord nigh or afar off, in- ward or outzvard f A Say not in thine Heart, Who fliall Ron^- '<>• afcend into Heaven \ that is, to bring ' '' Chrift down from above. Or, who fhall defcend into the Deep \ that is, to bring up Clirifh again from the Dead. But what faith it ? The Word is nigh, in thy Mouth and in thy Heart ; that is the Word of Faith which we preach. Q^. That is clear as to the Word ; is there any Scripture fpeaks of the Light's being inward f A, God who commanded the Light to 2 cor «^ fiiine out of Darknefs, hath fhined in our ^'7- Hearts, to give the Light of the Know- ledge of tlie Glory of God in the Face of Jefus Chrifl. But we have this Treafure in earthen VefTe Is, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God,, and not of us. Q. But feeing it isalfo called the Seed of the Kingdo7n, istlie Kingdom of God alfo within f A, The Kingdom of God comes not Luke 17. with Obfcrvation; neither Ihall they lay, *°' '*** Lo here, or lo there; for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. [ 3^ ] CHAP VI. Concerning Faith, Jufiificazion, and IVorks, Oiiefc . 1/17^-^ 'T is Faith f Heb.n.i, f V _A, Faith is Jthe Subftance of Things hoped for, and tlie Evidence of Things not feen. O. Is Faith of abfohite NeceJJityf " A, Without Faith it is impo/Iible to • pleafe him, for he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a Re- warder of them that diHgently feek him^ O. Are we juffified by Faith f Gal. 3. 2^. ^' Wherefore the Law was our School- mafler to bring us unto Chrift, that we might be juflified by Faith. Q. What is the Nature of this Faith that availeth to Juftijication f Ga].5. 6. A. For in Jefus Chrift, neither Circum- cifion availeth any 'T'hing, nor Uncircum-, cifion, but Faith which w^orketh by Love. O. Are Works then necefj'ary to Juftifi- cation, as ivell as Faith f Jo?;f '*"' A, But wilt thou know, O vain Man,- that Faith without Works is dead ? Was not Abraham our Father juflified by Works, when he had offer'd Ifaac his Son upon the Altar ? Seefl thou how Faith wrought with his Works, and by Works was Faith made perfect:? And the Scripture was fulfilled, which faith, ^^r^J?^/^ believed God, and it C 33 ] was imputed to him for Rightcoulhcfs ; He was called the Friend of God. Ye fee then how that by Works a man is jultified, and not by Faith only. O. If then both be equally required in Jitjiification, ivhat are thefe IVorks zvhich the Apojile excludes fo much: A. By the Deeds of the Law, there ihall ^''"'-^ * no Fie (li be juftified in his Sight. O. But tho' zve be not juftified Iry the Deeds of the LatVy is not this to exclude Boajiing, that the Grace of God may be exalted f A. For by Grace are ye faved, through ^P^- 2. 8j Faith, and that not of yourfelvas, it is the ^' ^°' Gift of God ; not of Works, lefl any Man Ihould boaft, for we are his Workmanfhip, created in Chrifl Jefus unto good V^^orks. Q. Are even the fVorks -mJiich are per- formed by Grace excluded f Are ice never J aid to be faved or juftified by thein^ A. Not by Works of Righteoufners Tit. 3, ^, which we hav€ done, but according to his ^' '" Mercy he faved us,, by the Wafliing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft, which he flied on us abundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Saviour ; that be- ing juftified by his- Grace, we fhould be made Heirs, according to tlie Hope of eter- nal Life. Qj I perceive then, that to be jujiifiedby Grace y is to be juftified or faved by Regene- ration^ -which cannot exclude the IVorhs D 2 C 34 ] zoronght by Grace and by the Spirit ; hozu doth the Apojile add in the next FerJ'e, for the mai72taining this againft thofe that cavil about the Law f A, T'his is a faithful Saying, and thefe Things I will that thou affirm conftantly, That they which have believed in God, might be careful to maintain good Works : Thefe Things are good and profitable unto Men. But avoid foolilli Queftions, and Genealogies, and Contentions, and Strivdngs about the Law, for they are unprofitable and vain» , CX Doth the Apo/ileV?i\i\, that isfo much againfl Jiiftification by the Works of the Lazu , fpeak anywhere elfe of being jufiified by the Spirit f A. But ye are wafned, but ye are fan£ti- fed, but ye are jufdfied in the Name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God. O. But fine e the Law gives not Power nor Ability to obey, andfo falls port of Jufti- ft cation, is there no Pozver under the Gofpel, by zvhich the Right eoufnefs of the Law comes to be fulfilled inzvardly f A. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the Flefli, God fending his own Son in the Likenefs of fm- | ful Flefh, and for Sin condemned Sin in the FleHi : That the Righteoufnefs of the Law might be fulfdled in us, v/ho walk not after the Flefh, but after the Spirit. C 35 3 O. Seeing then there is Poiver in the Spirit, is not Works thro' it, a Condition upon ivhich Life is propojed under the new Covenant f A. For if ye live after the Plefh, ye (hall Rom. 8.13, die; but if ye through the Spirit, do mor- tify the Deeds of the Body, ye fliall live. O. Do not the Apoftles then frequently propofe life to People, upon Comlition of Re- pentance and other Works f A. Repent ye therefore, and be convert- Aas3. 19. ed, that your Sins may be blotted out. And if Children, then Heirs; Heirs of Rom. 8.17. God, and joint Heirs with Chrift ; if To be that we iuffer with him, tliat we alio may be glorified together. It is a faithful Saying ; For if v/e be dead 2 Tim. with him, we fliall alfo live with him ; If'' v/e fuffer, we fhall alfo reign with him. If ii Man therefore purge himfelf from thefe, lie Hiall be a VefTel unto Honour, fan^iiified and meet for the Mafler^s U^c, and prepared unto every good Work. Remember therefore from whence thou Rcv art fallen, and repent, and do the firft Works, or elfe I will come unto thee quick- ly and remove thy Candleftick out of his Place, except thou repent. Q^. It appears clearly by thefe Pa(]ages^ that the Apoftle excludes only our Righte- Qufn?fs, which he elfezvhere explaijis, as be- ing the RightcDufnejs of the Lazv, from be- ing necefjary to Juftijicatlon, O-nd notfuch 2. 12. tt C 36 3 IVorks as the Lazu of the Spirit of Life leads to J and are notfo much ours as Chrijt in us ; are not fuch good Works rewarded, tho^ they re quire no abfohite Alerit, as being the Fruits of free Grace ; yet doth not God judge accord- 7?2g to them J and may they not be f aid to have a Reward f Ezek. 18. /^. But if a Man be juft, and do that 5' 6, 7, 8, ^y]-, j^^j-^ J5 lawful and rio-ht, and hath not eaten upon the Mountains, neither hath lift up his Eyes to the Idols of the Houfe of //rrT£'/, neither hath defiled his Neighbour's Wife, neither hath come near to a menllru^ ous Woman; and hath not opprefTed any, but hath reftored to the Debtor his Pledge, hath fpoiled none by Violence, hath given his Bread to the Hungry, and hath covered the Naked with a Garment : He that hath not given forth upon Ufury, neither hath taken any Increafe ; that hath withdrawn his Hand from Iniquity, hath executed true Judgment between Man and Man^ hath walked in my Statutes, and hath kept my Judgments, to deal truly ; he is jufl:^ he fhallfurely live, faith the Lord God. Mat.16.27. For the Son of Man fhall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels, and then he (hall reward every Man according to his Works. Afts ic. Then P^^^T opened his Mouth andfaid, Si> 3i- Of a Truth I perceive that God is noRef- peeler of Perfons ; But in every Nation, C 37 ] he that feareth him, and worketh Rightc- oufnefs, is accepted with him. The righteous Judgment of God; who Pom. 2. 5/ will render to every Man according to his ^' '' *^' Deeds : to them, who by patient Continu- ance in Well-doing, feek for Glory and Honour, and Immortality ; eternal Life : But Glory, Honour and Peace to every Man that worketh Good, to the Jevj firfl, and a Ifo to the Gentile* For we mufl all appear before the Judg- 2 Cor. 5. ment Seat of Chrifl, that every one may re- '^• ceive the Things done in his Body, accord- ing to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Which is a manifeft Token of the right- 2 Th=fr. m eous Judgment of God, that ye may be '^* counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye alfo fuffer. But v/hofo looketh into the perfedl Law James \4 of Liberty, and continueth therein, he be- '^^' ing not a forgetful Hearer, but a Doer of the Work, this man fhall be blelTed in his Deed. Caft not away therefore your Confidence, Heb. 10. which hath great Recompence of Reward. 33' And if ye call on the Father, who without ^ Pct. i. Refpei^l of Perfons, judgeth according to *7- every Man's Work : pafs the Time of your fojourning here in Fear. And behold I come quickly, and my rcv. 22. Reward is with me, to give every Man ac- ^2, h- cordino- as his Work fliall be. BlefTed are C 38 ] they that do his Commandments, that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in thro' the Gates into the City. Qj It jhouldfeeinthat tlv! Purpofe of God, in fending his Son the Lord J ejus Chrift, was not /imply tofaire Man by an imputative Right eoiifnefs altogthei' tvithout them; hut alfo by the fVaflmig of Regeneration y or an imoard Right eoiifnefs ; tuhat faith the Scrips ture further of this f Mat. 1. ai . ^. And thou flialt call his Name J e s u s , for he jfhall fave his People from their Sins. Tit. a. 13, Looking for that blefled Hope, and the *^* glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus Chrift, who gave himfelf for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himfelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. Sx^^-O- C H A P. VIL Concerning Perfection, or Freedom from SIN. Qiiefl. jr Perceive then hy all thefe Scrip- Ji tures a.fore-rrientionedythatChrijtj as well as he hath pur chafed Par don for our SinSy hath alfo obtained Power by which we may even here be cleanfed front the Filth of them: May we expeCi then in this Life to be freed from the Dominion of Sin f Rom.6,J4. -^^ For Sin fhall not have Dominion over you* Rom. 8. t 39 ] -Q. For what Reafonf A, For ye are not under the Law, but Rom- under Grace. *** Q^. Hoiv Cometh the Apoflle then to cry out and complain of Sin, faying y Who fliall de- liver me from the Body of this Death ? Doth he f peak that as a Condition always perma- nent to him and other Saijits, or only that ivhich he hadpaffed through f PFhatJaith he afterzvards f A. There is therefore now no Condem- nation to them which are in Chriftjefus^who », 2.35 10 walk not after the Fledi but after the Spi- 2^' rit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrifl Jefus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death- Who (hall feparate us from the Love of Chrift ? Shall Tribula- tion, or Diflrefs, or Perfecution, or Fa- mine, or Nakednefs, or Peril, or Sword \ (As it is w^ritten. For thy Sake we are killed all the Day long : we are counted as Sheep for the Slaughter.) Nay in all thefe Things we are more than Conquerers through him that loved us. For I am perfuaded that neither Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things pre- fent nor Things to come, nor Height, nor Depth, nor any other Creature, fhallbe able to feparate us from the Love of God, which is in Chrifl: Jefus our Lord. Q. IVhat faith that Apofile thenimtofuch^ who taking Occafionfro77i his IVords, fwuld pleadfor Continuance in Sin for Term of Life, C 40 ] and tJilnk to be faved by the imputative RigJi- teoiifnefs of Ckrifty as being imdcr Grace f Rom- 6, ^* ^^l^-^t ^^^^^ ^^ ^^y ^1^^^ ^ Shall we a, 2. continue in Sin, that Grace may abound ? God forbid. Rom. 6. What then ? fhall we fni, becaufe we ^^' are not under tlie Law, but under Grace ? God forbid. (X Is 7iot the Apoftle then Jo far from fup- pojing that Condition, ofbei72g always under Sin, to be his ozvn conftant Condition or that of all the Saints, that he evenfappofes many of the then Church of i\o^[aQ, to whom he wrote to be free of it f Hozu bcfpeaketh he them, as in Relation to this Matter f Rom 5 2, ^' How Ihall we that are dead to Sin, 3. 4/5' 6, live any longer therein ? Know ye not, that ■' ^^6,^ti ^o rnany of us as were baptized into Jefas Clirifi, were baptized into his Death? Therefore we are buried with him by Bap- tifm into Death ; that like as Chrifi: was raifed up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in Newnefs of Life. For If we have been planted together in the Likenefs of his Death, we fliall be alfo in the Likenefs of his Refurredion ; Knowing this, that our old Man is crucified with him, that the Body of Sin might be deflroyed, that hence- forth we (liould not ferve Sin. For he that is dead, is freed from Sin. Likewife reckon ye alfo yourfelves to be dead indeed unto ^3' 1 [ 41 ] Sin ; but alive unto God, through Jefus Chrifl our Lord. Let not Sin therefore reign in your mortal Body, that ye fliould obey it in the Lufls thereof. Neither yield ye your Members as Inftruments of Unrigh- teoufnefs unto Sin ; but yield yourfelves unto God, as thofe that are alive from the Dead ; and your Members as Liftruments of Righteoufnefs unto God. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourfelves Servants to obey, his Servants ye are to whom yc obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of Obedience unto Righteoufnefs ? But God be thanked, that ye were the Servants of Sin, but ye have obeyed from the Heart, that Form of Doctrine which was delivered unto jrou ; being then made free from Sin, ye be- came the Servants of Righteoufnefs. I fpeak after the Manner of Men, becaufe of the In- firmity of your Flefh ; for as ye have yield- ed your Members Servants to Uncleannefs, and to Iniquity, unto Iniquity ; even fo now yield your Members Servants to Righteouf^ nefs, unto Holinefs. For when ye were the Servants of Sin, ye were free from Righ- teoufnefs. What Fruit had ye then in thofe Things whereof ye are now afhamed ? For the End of thofe Things is Death. But now, being made free from Sin, and be- come Servants to God, ye have your Fruit unto Holinefs, and the End everlaftiagLife. For the Wages of Sin is Death, bnt the E -'■' '^ '- I 42 ] Gift of God is eternal Life, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Qj It ivould apjyear then, that God re- quires of us to be perfedf Mat. 5. 48. ^/. Be ye therefore perfe^l, evenasyour Father which is in Heaven is perfect. Q. Is it tiienpojfihle to keep the command- nienU f ^^^i. II. ^^ ^/^y Yoke is eafy and my Burthen is ? John 5. hght. For this is the Love of God, that 3* M^e keep his Commandments, and his Com- mandments are not gi'ievous. O. Is it necejjary then for Salvation^ to keep the Commandineitts f '^ V i**. ^ ^' BlefTed are they that do his Command- i- ments, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City. O. Do you under ft ayid by this Perfection, that any harue kept the Coinmand^nents , as never toMave finned f * John I. A, It we fay that we have not fmned, we **"' make him a Liar, and his Word is not in us. Q. Do you under ftand, that thofe zuho are perfed may fay, they have no Sin, or only that having finned, and fo having Sin, in ref- ped they once fijtned, as the Apoftle in the Pafjage cited mentions ; may they notwith- fianding thereof come to knotv Forgivenefs for the Guilt, but alfo Cleanfing from the Filth f 3 John 1.8, ^^ j^ ^y.^ £'^y ^g "\x2CiQ \\o Sin, w^c dcceivc [ 43 ] ourfelves, and the Truth is not in us ; If we confefs our Sin, he is faithful and jufl to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrighteoufnefs. O. That Scripture fec77is to he very plain, beifig compared with the other brfore menti- oned: But hecaifjh fame are apt to miftake and wreji the IVords of the Apoftle, ivhat faith lie elfeivhere f Did he judge any could ^knotv God, or be true Chriliians, if ho kept not the Co77i7nandments f A, yiy little Children, thefe Things J ^ J°\"^ ;; write I unto you, that ye fin not; and if 6. any Man fm, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jcfas Chrifh the Righteous : And hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not his C'ommandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him. Butwhofo keepeth his Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfetSted : Hereby know we that we are in him. He that faith he abideth in him, ought him.felf alfo to walk even as he walked. Beloved, nov/ ai-e we the Sons of God, o^ to"icl and it doth not yet appear what we fliall be, but we know, that v»"hen he fhall appear, we fhall be like him, for we fhall fee him as he is : And every Man that hath this Hope in him, puriiieth himfelf, even as he is pure. W^iiofoever committeth Sin, tranfgrefTetli alfo the Law, for Sin is the Tranfgreflioa, Mit. r, C 44 ] of the Law. And ye know that he was manifefled to take away our Sins ; and in him is no Sin. Whofoever abideth in him fmneth not. Whofoever finneth, hath not feen him, neither known him. Little Chil- dren, let no man deceive you : He that doeth Pughteoufnefs is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil ; for .the Devil fmneth from the Beginning. For this Purpofe the Son of God was manifefled, that he might de- llroy the Works of the Devil. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin ; for his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot fm, becaufe he is born of God. In this the Children of God are manifeft, and the Children of the Devil. Whofoever doth not Ptighteoufnefs, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother. Qj It is very plain by thefe PaJfao;es, that the Apo files vj ere far of another ivfind, than thofe that plead for Sin during Term of Life, and much againft the Deceit of thofe ivho %uill ejieem thernflvcs good Chriftians while thev live in their Sins. A. Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, £h all enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the Will of my Fatiier which is in Heaven. Therefore, whofoever heareth thefe Sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wife Man, which built his Houfe upon a Rock. [ 45 ] if yc know thele Things, happy are ye John 15, if yc do them. ''' O. fVhat faith the .-Jjxjjlle V?.vl\ further concerning the Needfuhiefs ofthas Thing f A. Circumcifion is nothing, and Uncir- 1 Cor. 7i cumcifion is nothing ; but the keeping of ^9- the Commandments of God. O. iVas not this according to the ApoJUe PaulV Judgment ^ the very Intention of Chriftj to have his Church and Children to be pure and without Spot f A. According as he lias chofcn us in him ^p'^- ^' <* before the Foundation of the World, that we fliould be holy, and without Blame be- fore him in Love. Even as Chrift alfo loved the Church, ^p"'-^''' and gave himlelf for it, tliat he might fanc- tify and cleanfe it, that he might prefent it to himfelf a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing, but that it fiiould be holy, and without Blemifli. Q. Doth not Paul prefs the fame Thing further, befides the other Pajjages above mentioned f A. Having therefore thefe Promifes, 2 cor. /, dearly Beloved, let us cleanfe ourfelves '' from all Filthincfs of the Flefh and Spirit, perfevThing Hohnefs in the Fear of God. Finally, Brethren, farewel ; be perfevSt. 2 Ccr. ,,-># Chrift in you the Hope of Glory, whom we V'-, ^^^ preach, warning every Man, and teaching every Man in all Wifdom, tliat we may E 2 Col 12. I 4^ J prtTent every Man perfeft in Chrift Jefus. Labouring fervently for you in Prayers, that vc may fland perfeA and complete in eflablifli your Hearts unblameable in Holi- rhap. .. j^^Pg before God. And the very God of Peace ianclify you wholly ; and I pray God, your whole Spirit and Soul, and Body, be prefented blame lefs unto the Coming of our Lord Jefus Chrifl. Qj /s 72 jt this then the very End for which God appointed Teachers in his Church f £ph 4. 11. -^. And he gave fome Apoflles, and -' '3- fome Prophets, and fome Evange lifts, and fome Pallors and Teachers, for the perfevit- ing of the Saints, for the Work of the Mini- flry, for the edifying of theBody of Chriil: ;• till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Kowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfed: Man, unto the Meafure of the Stature of the Fulnefs of Chrifl. ^. Seeing this is jo much jn'ejjed by the holy Men, doth not the Scripture, zuhich eannot lie, give none of the Saints this Tejii- rnojiy, as being free from Sinatfo7ne Times, and fo not ahvays and daily Jinning, as is fuppofed f Gen. 6. 9. ^^ NoaJi was a jufb Man, and perfe(fl in his Generations ; and Noah walked with Job 1. 8. God. And the Lord faid unto Satan, haft thou confidered my Servant Job, that there is none like him in the Earth, a perfe^i: and an upright Man, one that feareth God, and C 47 3 Luke 1. 6. efchcweth Evil. There was in the Da}'S of Herod, King o^Judea, 3. certain Prieft, named Zacliarias, of the Courfe of ^bia-y and his Wife was of the Daughters of y^aroii and her Name was Elizabeth ; and they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamelefs. Qj That p\'oves fiifjiciently as to pai't'icii- hir Perfons ; but what doth the Scripture in- timate of this, even of conjiderable N umbers f A, But God, who is rich in Mercy, for zph. 2. , his great Love wherewitli he hath loved us, ^' ^* even when we were dead in Sin, liath quick- ned us together with Chrift, and hath raifed us up togetlier, and made us fit together in heavenly Places in Chrift Jefus. But ye "f^- ^^ are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the ^^' ^^' C^ityof the living God, the heavenly 'Jeru- jalem, and to an innumerable Company of Angels, to the general Allembly and Church of the Firft-born, which are written in Hea- ven, to God the Judge pf all, and to the Spirits of juft Men made perfeft. And I Rev. \i. looked, and lo, a Lamb flood on Mount *• 4- Sion^ and with him an Hundred forty and four Thoufand, having his Father's Name written in their Foreheads. Thefe are they which are not defiled with Women ; fhxr they are Virgins : Thefe are they which follow the Lamb wherefoever he goeth : Thefe were redeemed from among Men, C 48 ] being the FirH-fruits unto God, and to the Rev. 14. r. Lamb. And in then- Mouth was found no Guile, for they are without fault before the Throne of God. CHAP. VIII. Concerning Perfeverance^ and Falling from GRACE. OiieH:. T 5 it enough for a Believer^ to he X. fare that he hath once received true Gracef Or is there any further Certainty requifite f A. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and EletSlion fure ; for if ye do thefe Things ye fhall never fall. Q^. May one that hath received true Grace, have Ground to fear ; or fuppofehe can fall f A. But I keep under my Body, and bring it into Subjed:ion, left that by any Means,, when I have preached to others, I myfelf Ihould become a Caftaway. ^. That greatly contradideth the DoCirine offuch as fay, Once in Grace ever in Grace. But dot J I the Apoftle Paul exprefs this only out of an humble Efieemofhimfelff Or doth hd judge or fuppofe the like of other faints f A, Take heed, Brethren, left there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God, But exhort [ 49 ] one another daily, while it is called To-day ; left any of you be hardened thro' the Deceit- fulnefs of Sin. Let us labour therefore to Heb.i, n enter into that Reli, lefl any Man fall after the fame Example of Unbelief. For it -is Chap. 6. impoifible for thofe who were once enlight- ^' ^' ^' ned, and have tailed of the heavenly Gift, and were made Partakers of the Holy Gholt, and have tailed the .good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come j if they Ihall fall away, to renew them again unto Repentance : feeing they crucify to themfelves the Son of God afrelh, and put him to an open fliame. Looking diligently, ^I'^p- ^" led any Man fail of the Grace of God, lefl '''* any P^oot of Bitternefs fpringing up, trouble yon, and thereby many be defiled. Qj Doth Jiejptak this only by Stippojition^ or doth he affirJ it notpnly poj/ibis, but cer- tain f ' , '^ A. For the time will come, when they 2 Thr. 4 will not endure found Doftrine ; but after 3' '^• their own L Lilts fhall they heap to themfelves Teachers, having itching Ears. And they fhall turn away their Ears from the Truth, and fnall be turned unt^o Fables. Q. Doth the Apojile even judge it necefja- ry to guard fuch an one, as his bt^loved Son Timothy, agaiaft this Hazard f A. This Charge I commit unto thee, Son .^ Timothy, accordingto the Prophecies which 18. 19! went before on thee, tlaat thou by them mightefl: war a good Warfare, holding [ 5-0 ] Faith in a good Confcierice ; which fomc hav ing put away, concerningFaith have made 1 Tim. Shipwreck. For the Love of Money is the "' ^°' Root of all Evil ; which while fome coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themfeives through with many Sor- ; Tim. rows . And their Word will eal as doth a jS. " C2.nker -, of whom is Hy772e7ieus2.nd Phi letus\ who concerning theTruth have erred, faying^ that the Refurre^Siion is paft akeady ; and overthrov/ the Faith of fome. O. Doth the Apojile any ivhere expt'efs his Fears of this, as a Thing that may hap- pen to any Number of People, ivho once tru- ly received the Faith of Clu'ift f Rom. A. Well ; becaufe of Unbelief they were ''' ''°* broken off, and thou ftandefl by Faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. Nov/ the Spirit 1 Tim. fpeaketh exprefslyjtiiat in the latter Times fome ihali depart from the Faith, C^r. For this Caufe, when I could no longer forbear,. I fent to knov/ your Faith, left by fome Means the Tempter have tempted you, and eur Labour be in vain. O^. IVhat is the Apoftle PeterV Mind ; does he judge, that fuch as have knoivn the right PFay, may forfake itf .Pet. yj. Ciirfed Children, wliich have forfaken ;/"^' '° the right Way, aji d are gone aftray, fol- lov/ingthe Way of Balaamlho. Son of Befor, who loved the "^Vages of Unrighteoufnefs ;, but v/as rebuked for his Iniquity ; the dumb 1 Thef. 3- 5. C 5-1 ] Afs rpeaking with Man's Voice, forbad the Madxiefs of the Prophet. Thefe are Wells without Water. Clouds that are carried with a Temped, to w*hom tlie Mifl of Darknefs is relei-ved for ever. For when they fpeak great fwelling Words of Vanity, they allure tlu'ough the Luft of the Flefh, through much Wantonnefs, thoic that were clean efcaped from them who live in Error. For if after they have efcaped the Pollutions of the World, through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, they arc again entangled therein, and overcome ; the latter End is worfe with them than the Beginning : For it had been better for them, not to have known the Way of Righteoufnefs, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them, according to the true Proverb, The Dog is turned to his Vomit again, and the Sow that was wafhed, to her wallowing in the Mire . O. Gives he any Cautions to them that fland, as juppojing they tmiy alfo fall f A, Ye therefore, Beloved, feeing ye 2. Pct know thefe Things before, beware, left yea. 17. alfo being led away with the Error of the Wicked, fall from your own Stedfaflnefs. O. May a Man he truly a Branch in Chrifi, or a real Member of Ids Body^ and afterwards be cut offf- [ ^2 ] , ^. If any Man abide not in me, he is ,5. 6. caft forth as a Branch, and is withered. Q^. May a righteous Man then depart from his Righteoufnefs f A. But when the righteous Man turneth 18.26. away from his Righteoufnefs, and commit- and 33. x.Q,\h. Iniquity, and dieth in them ; for his Iniquity that he hath done, he fhall die. O. May a Believer come tofuch a Condition in this Life ^ from which he caitnotfall azvay f Rfv. 3- ^. Him that overcometh, will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he fliall go no more out ; and I will write' upon him the Name of my God, and the'^ Name of the City of my God, which is^ New Jerufalem^ which cometh down out of' Heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new Name. - >. Q. May fuch an oiw come to be affured' that he is in this Condition f - ; Horn 8. A. For I am perfuaded, that neither 3^' 39- Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principa- lities, nor Powers, nor Things prefent, nor Things to come : Nor Height, nor Depth, nt)r any other Creature, fliall be able to . leparate us from the Love of God, which is ill Cb rift Jefus our Lord. I [ 53 J CHAP. IX. Concerning the Church and Mini/hy. pueO:. JirHat is the Church f yy A, But if I tariy K^ng, that ^ ^ thou mayefl: know how thou oughteft to 15- behave thy felt in the Houfc of God, which is the Church of the Uving God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth. Q. JVho is the Head of the Church f A, Who hath delivered us from the ^oi Power of Darknefs, and hath tranflatcd us ^^ into tlie Kingdom of his dear Son: x\nd he is the Head of the Body, the Church, from which all the Body by Joints and Bands, having Nouriflmient miniflered and knit to- gether, increafeth with the Increafe of God. Q^. IVhat Kind ofPcrfons make the Churchf A, Them that are fandlified in Chrifl: Jef us. And the Lord added to the Church daily fuch as fliould be faved. O. Hath not Chriji appointed Officer's in the Church for the tVorkofthe Miniftry f A. Wherefore he faith, When he afcend- ed up on high, he led Captivity captive, and gave Gifts unto Men. And he gave fome Apoftles, and fome Prophets, and fome Evan ge lifts, and fome Paftors and Teachers ; for the perfccHiing of the Saints, for the Work of the Miniftry, for the Edi- fication of the Eo.dy of Chrifl. F im. iCor. 1.2. Aas2. 47, Eph. 1 1, 1 '!it. C 54 3 O. IVhat Kind of Men fiotildfnch as are Teachers and Overfeers of the CJiiirch be f „. 3. A, K Bifliop then miift be blamelefs, the 7- Hulband of one Wife, vigilant, fober, of a good Behaviour, given to Hoipitality, apt to teach ; not given to Wine, no Striker, not greedy of fikhy Lucre \ but patient, not a Brawler, not covetous ; one that ruleth well his own Houfe, liaving his Children in Subjetlion with all Gravity ; for if a Man know not hov/ to rule his own Houfe, how fliall he take care of the Church of God ? Not a Novice, left being lifted up witli Pride, he fall into the Con- demnation of the Devil. Moreover he mull have a good Report of them which are without; left he fall into Reproach, and the Snare of the Devil. '. 7, For a Biiliop muft be blamckfs, as the Steward of God : Not felf-wllled, not foon angry, r^ot given, to Wine, no Striker, not given to fikhy Lucre ; but a Lover of Hofpitality, a Lover of good Men ^ fober, iuii, holy,* temperate ; liokling faft tlie faith- ful Woixl, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found Do6lrine, both to exhort and to convince tiie Gainfayers. <). IVhat is incumbefit uponfuch to do f ,0.2?. y^' Take heed therefore to yourfelves, and to all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made you Overfeers, to feed the Church of God. C 55 ] The Elders which are among you I ex- i Pet. 5. hort, who am alfo an Elder, and a Witneis ''■ ^' ^' of the Sufferings of Chrift, and alfo a Par- taker of the Glory that fliall be revealed: Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the Overiight thereof, not by Con- ftraint, but willingly ; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready Mind ; neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being En- famples to the Flock. O. ThoiigJi they be not to lord over the Flock, yet is there 7iot a Refped due to them in their Place f .A. Let the Elders tliat rule well, be , xim. r. counted worthy of double Honoar, cfpe- ^^* cially they who labour in the Word and Dodtrine. (^y. Albeit then, among true Chriflians, every one that helleveth, is to have the TVit- nefs in hlmfelj\ being perfitaded in Imnftlfby ilie Spirit ; yet is there not alfo a realJitbjeCi- ion to be to one another in the Lordt" A. The Spirits of tlie Propliets are Tub- » Cor. 14. je