Points of Instruction for the Ignorant, Part 1
WHat is true happinesse? To know God, andIoh. 17. 3. Ier. 9. 24. Luk. 15. 17. 1. Chr. 28. 9 Heb. 11. 6 to know my selfe.
Can you knowe God?
Not so plainely andExod. 33. 20 7. Cor. 13. 12 fully here as we shall hereafter, by face; but as he hath reuealed himself vntounto vsus.
How is that?
By his workes without vsus, andRom. 1. 20. & 1. 19. within vsus: and by some description …f his nature, and effects in his word.
How doth the VVord describ… him?Exo. 3. 14. Ioh. 4. 24. Exo. 34. 6 Psal. 90. 2. 1. Tim. 1. 17 Isa. 45. 5. Psal. 103. 8.
Generally thus: I am that I am; And more particularly thus: a Spirit, eueryevery way infinite goodnesse it selfe, Creatour, Prese…er, and Ruler of allPsalm. 33 6. 9 Amos 4. 13 1. Pet. 4. 19 Psal. 99▪ 1, 2, 3 Heb. 1. 3 Act. 17 25, 26 1. Ioh 5. 7 Matth 3. 16, 17 2. Cor. 13 13 things▪ …istinguished into thr…e persons: Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost.
So much for the knowledge of God; what say you of the knowledge of your selfe?
It may bee consi…red before the fall, or since.
What were you by creation in Adam before the Fall?
A reasonable creature, consistingMatth 10. 28 Genesis 1. 27 Colos▪ 3 10 Ephes. 4. 24 of soule and body: made after the Image of God, in knowledge, righteousnesse and true holinesse.
What are you since by Adams fall?
A …nner, and by sinne subiect to alRom. 3. 9 10 Iob. 14 4 Rom. 6 23 & 5. 18, 19 Gal. 3 10 kinde of misery and punishments: as to the death of my body, and the death of my soule, which is endle…e damnation.
VVhat are your sinnes?
A guiltines in Adams … offence:Rom. 5 12. 18. & 7 18 Ieremy 17 9 Gen. 6. 5 Matth. 15. 19. Ron. 7. 5 th…t is, a depriuation of all good thereby, and a dispo…tion of my whole heart to eueryevery thing that is against the Law of God, with innumerable corrupt fruits thereof, i… thought, word, and ….
What doe you consider in man thus fallen?
… reco…ry to saluation, and duty for it.
What say you of his recouery?
It may be considered in the worker thereof, or the meane of … ding it.
What say you of the worker?
The worker or substance of it is1• Iohn … 1, 2 … 1. 14 … 3. 16 Philip. 2. 7, 8 Galat 4. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 21 Iohn 1. 12 Christ Iesus the Sonne of God, who in Mans nature (which hee tooke in the wombe) suffered the death of the cro…e, and … the Law for all that receiue him.
VVhat is the meane whereby Christ is apprehended?
Faith; which is a speciall perswasionGalat. 2. 20 Acts 6. 31 Iohn 1. 12 Luke 2. 29 Ephesians 3. 17 1 Cor. 1. 30 Ioh… 20. …. Tim. 1. 12 of Gods sauour in his Word, wrought in my heart by the h…ly Ghost, whereby I doe truely, and in particular, bele…ue that Christ is made vntounto mee, wisdome, righteousne…e, sant…cation and redemption.
When doth this faith begin to breed and take place in your heart?
When, by Gods grace, I begin to be touched in conscience for …, … hunger and thirst after Christ andPsal. 51. … Isa. 55. 15 Matth. 5. 6 Phil. 3. 7, 8 Mat. 15. 25. 27 Marke 9. 24 his merits, aboue all … in the …, and … all … do begin to beleeue.
By what meanes is this wrought?
It is begunne (…) by theRom. 10. 14. 17 Acts 8. 28. 34. 35. 37. Ioh. 16. 23, 24. Pro. 29. 18. Rom. 4. 11 preaching of the …, and it is confirmed by the same meanes, as also by the reading of the Word, and the reuerent vse of Prayer and … ments.
What is Prayer?
A … God, through Christ,Iohn 16. 23 Iames 1. 6 Philip. 4. 6 with faith, whereby I aske graces wanting, and giuegive thankes for benefits receiued.
What is a Sacrament?
A visible … of the Gospell, fullyRom. 4. 11 Genesis 17. 11 1. Cor. 11. 25 assuring the faithfull of Christ by two … instruments of grace.
Then there be two Sacraments?
Yea.
Which are they?
Baptisme, and the Lords Supper.1. Cor. 10. 1, …. & 12, 13.
What is Baptisme?
A seale of our entrance into theTitus 3. 5 Matth. 28. 19 Ephes. 5. 26 name, that is, Church and … of Christ by … with water.
What do you … therein?
…, … the … thing ….
VVhat is the outward …?
The … of water, or … Ioh. 1. 31. Eph. 5. 26sprinkling, … in … of the Father, …, … Holy ….
VVhat … the … grace, or … thing …?
The …,Heb. 9. 14 1. …. 6 … Acts 2. …. 36. 25 …, … it …, as … … dily ….
Somuch for Baptisme: what is the Lords Supper?
A seale of … & … 1. Cor. 10. 16 & 11. 24. 26 Iohn 8. 55in Christ, signified by bread and wine.
VVhat do you consider therein?
The outward things … and taken, and spirituall graces sealed and applyed.
VVhat are the outward things?
The bread and wine giuen andMatth. 26. 26. 27 taken.
What are the inward graces?
The bo… … of CHRIST Ioh… 6. 50, 51giuen vsus by God, … …th receiued … vsus to …r … of eternall life in Him.
So much for … …couery to saluation, what is his … forit?
True ….Psal. 50. 23 & 116. 12. 13 Rom. 1. 21 Eph. 4. 23, 24 1. Peter 1. 15. 18 Luke 1. 74, 75 Rom. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4 Galath. 1. 6 Luke 1. 6 Acts 24. 16 Titus 2. 11, 12 1 Cor. 7. 17
Wh…rein standeth that?
In new obedience: which is, to carry in my heart … con…ant purpose not to serue … …ny …, and withall, to … in … life to please Go… in all his Co…dements; doing my duty, in … ▪ to God and man.
Ecclesiast. 1…. 13.
Let vsus heare the end of all: Fe…re God and keepe his Command… ments; for, this is the whole dutie of man.