The Christians Alphabet, Part 2 · Section 1 – Section 3
A Of the knowledge of God in Generall.
Q. Rehearse the first Letter of the Christian Alphabet, that is, the Letter A.
A. ACknowledge God as hee hath reuealed himselfe in his written word.Acknowledge God
For no man can bee saued without the knowledge of God: neither can a man know God to saluation, but by the Scriptures.
1That there is a God.Q. How proue you that there is a God to bee acknowledged?
Proued diuers waies.A. That there is a God to bee acknowledged of all, is euident, both by the light of nature, and of grace: as also by the workes of God.
Q. How may it appeare by the light of nature, that there is a God?
1Proued by the light of nature.A. It is manifest by these euidences. 1. Because in the very Heathen there is the worke of the conscience. 2. Because they hauehave, by naturall instinct, an inclination to some kinde of Religion. 3. In that they hauehave the vse of an Oath. 4. In that they make obseruation of GODS vengeance against sinne.
Q. Proue that in the Heathen, there is the worke of the conscience?
A. The Apostle doth affirme so much, 1In the worke of the conscience.Rom. 2.15. That the Gentiles shew the worke of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witnesse, and their thoughts the meane while accusing or excusing one another. This worke of the conscience is a manifest euidence, that there is a God, who is aboue the conscience: according to that in 1 Ioh. 3.20. If our heart condemne vsus, God is greater th…n our heart, and knoweth all things.
Q. Proue that the Heathen hauehave naturall inclination to Religion?
A. It is euident, 2By naturall inclination to Religion.not onelyonly by the word of God, but by experience in the most barbarous Nations, who will rather worship an Idoll, or the Deuill himselfe, or any thing. yea, an vnknown God, then no God at al.
Q. How may that appeare?
Instance thereof.A. It is apparent by that appeale of S Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 12.2. Ye know, saith he, that ye were Gentiles, carried away vntounto these dumbe Idols, euen as ye were led. And by that complaint against Israel, Psal. 106.35 that they were mingled among the heathen, and learned their workes, and serued their Idols: yea they offered their Sonnes and Daughters vntounto Deuils. Thus the men of Lystra, Act. 14.11.13. were ready to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, saying, The Gods are come downe vntounto vsus, in the likenesse of men. And Paul at Athens, Act. 17.13. found an Altar, with this inscription, TO THE VNKNOWNE GOD.
3By the vse of an oath.Q. Proue that the heathen hauehave the vse of an oath?
A. Both experience and Scripture plainely teach it. For instance, we read: that the heathen King, Abimelech, required an oath of Abraham, and performed the like to him, Gen. 21.23. Sweare vntounto me here by God, saith hee, &c. againe, verse 31. Abraham is said to call that place Beersheba, that is, The well of the oath, because there they swore both of them; the like we reade of Abimelech and Isaac, Gen. 26.28. Now this conscience of an oath proueth euidently, that they w…re perswaded of a diuine power, who is the Auenger of all falshood and periury.
Q. Proue that the heathen are obseruant of Gods vengeance against sinne?
A. We may see it in the example of the Philistims, 4By obseruation of Gods vengeance1 Sam 5.7. who being smitten with Emrods, acknowledge…, that the hand of God was sore vponupon them and vponupon D…g…n th…ir God A…i…e, Act. 28.4. when the Barb…rians saw the …iper hang on P…u…s hand, they said among themselues, No doubt, this man is a murtherer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to liue. Thus the very heathen acknowledge … God of vengeance.
2Proued by the light of grace.Q. How proue you by the light of Grace, that there is a God?
A. It is euident in three respects. 1 In regard of the subiect or matter of the Scriptures. 2. In respect of the Maiestie of God shining therein. 3. If we consider the scope and drift of the Scriptures.
1In regard of the matter of the Scriptures.Q. How is it proued by the m…tter of the Scriptures?
A. In that the Scripture, the word of Gods grace doth eueryevery where teach, not onelyonly that God is, but also how wee may know and serue the true God: as S. Paul noteth, Act. 17.23. whom, saith he, 2Of the Maiestie of God shining therein:ye ignorantly worship, him declare I vntounto you.
Q. How may it appeare by the Maiestie of God shining in the Scriptures?
A. In that the holy Scripture, written in so plaine and familiar a stile, yet being read, opened, and applyed is so expresse a Caracter or note of the Diuine Maiesty, that it conuinceth the conscience of the Hearer, in so much, that as it is said, 1 Cor. 14.25. The secrets of his heart are made manifest, and so falling downe on his face, he will worship God, and say plainely, that God is in you indeed.
Q. How is it proued by the scope and drift of the Scriptures?3Of the scope of the Scriptures.
A. In that the Scripture directeth vsus, to this very point, as one of the first principles of Christian Religion; namely, that there is a God, Heb. 11.6. Hee that commeth to God, must beleeue that he is, and that hee is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him.
Q How proue you,3Proued by the workes of God. that there is a God, by his workes?
3Proued by the workes of God.A. It is manifest, by the worke of Creation▪ by the worke of prouidence, by the worke of Gods iudgements, by his workes of wonder; and of his foretelling things to come.
Q. Proue it by the worke of creation?
1Of Creation.A. It is written, Rom. 1.20. The inuisible things of him, that is, his eternall power and Godhead are seene by the c…eation of the world, being considered in his workes, and Psal. 19.1. The heauens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy workes.
Q. Proue it by the worke of prouidence?
2Of Pro…idence.A. It is said, Act. 14.17. that hee l…ft not hi…selfe without witnesse; in that …e did good, and gaue vsus raine from heauen, and fruitfull seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladnesse, and ch…p. 17.27. that euen the very heathen should seeke the Lord, if happily they might f…ele after him, and finde him, though he be not farre from eueryevery one of vsus, for in him wee liue, and moue, and hauehave our being.
Q. Proue it by Gods works of iudgement?
A. The Psalmist expresly teacheth this, 3Of Iudgment.Psal. 9.16. The Lord is knowne by executing iudgement: the wicked is sn…ed in the worke of his owne hand; and Psal. 58.11. Men shall say, ve…il… there is fruit for the righteous: doubtlesse there is a God that iudgeth the earth.
Q Proue it by Gods works of wonder?
A. By this argument the D…ity is inuincibly proued, 4Of wonder.Psal. 86.10. Thou art great, and dost wondrous things thou art God alone, and Ps…l. 72.18. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, which onelyonly doth wondrous things.
Q. Proue it by his foretelling things to come?
5Of foretelling things to come.A. VponUpon this ground, all Idols are proued to be in Gods, Isai. 41.21.23. Stand to your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, &c. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that wee may know that you are Gods: and by the same reason, the Deitie of the true God is confirmed, Isai. 44.6.7. Thus saith the Lord, &c I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God. And who is like m…e, that shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order before me, since I appointed the ancient people? and what is at hand, & what things are to come? let them shew vntounto them.
Q. You hauehave proued that God is, proue now that we ought to acknowledge God?
God ought to be acknowledged.A. It is written, Prou. 3.6. In all thy waies acknowledge him, and hee shall direct thy pathes; and it was Dauids instruction, which he gaue to his Sonne Salomon vponupon his death bed, 1 Chro. 28.9 And thou Salomon my Sonne, know the God of thy father, and serue him with a perfect heart, and with a willing minde: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and vnderstandeth al the imaginations of thoughts: if thou seeke him, hee will be …ound of the…: but if thou forsake him, hee will cast thee off for euer.
Q. Proue that we must acknowledge God, as he hath reuealed himselfe in his written word?
A. It is written, 3As he is reuealed in the word.Deut. 29.29. The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are reuealed, belong vntounto vsus, and to our children for euer, that we may doe all the words of this law; and Rom. 15.4. For whatsoeuer things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience a…d comfort of the Scriptures, might hauehave hope.
Q. Why can no man be saued without the knowledge of God?
4Without knowledg… no saluation.A. Because our saluation consisteth in the knowledge of God, witnesse our Sauiour, Ioh. 17.3. This is life eternall, that they know thee the onelyonly true God, and Iesus Christ whom thou hast s…nt. And the Apostle sheweth, that without this knowledge, there is nothing to be looked for, but certaine damnation; 2 Thes. 1.8. The Lord Iesus, saith he, shall be reuealed from Heauen, with his mightie Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God.
Q. Why can we not know God vntounto saluation,5No knowledge to saluation without the word. but by the Scriptures?
A. Because, as S. Paul teacheth, 2 Tim. 3.15. The Holy Scriptures are able to make vsus wise vntounto saluation. And Christ hath commanded, Ioh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them yee thinke to hauehave eternall life, and they are they which testifie of mee.
B Of faith in one God.
Q. Rehearse the letter B.
A. BEleeue in one onelyonly God.
For to vsus Christians there is but one God, and they that hauehave many Gods, hauehave no God at all, but the Deuill. And to beleeue that there is one God, but not to beleeue in him, is no better then the faith of Deuils.
There is but one God.Q. Proue that there is but one God?
A. It is written, Duet. 6.4. Heare O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord, and Isai 44.6. Thus saith the Lord, I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.
Q. Proue that to vsus Christians, there is but one God?
To vsus Christians.A. It is written, 1 Cor. 8.4.5.6. Wee know that an Idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one, for though there be that are called Gods, &c. yet to vsus there is but one God, and Eph. 4.5.6. There is one Lord, one faith, one Baptisme, one God and Father of all.
Q▪ Proue that they that hauehave many Gods, hauehave no God at all but the Deuill?
To hauehave many Gods, is to hauehave no God.A. It will manifestly appeare, if we compare two places of Scripture together; the one is, Ephes. 2.12. where the Apostle saith, That being Gentiles or Heathen,Due. 32.17. they were at that time,Ps 106.37.38. without God in the world: the other place is, 1 Cor. 10.20. where he saith, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to Deuils, and not to God.
Q. What is it to beleeue in God?To beleeue in God, what?
A. To beleeue in God is not onelyonly to beleeue that there is a God: or, to beleeue God, It is to trust in God.and to giuegive credit to him, by assenting to his word: but to put our whole trust & confidence in him, as our God & Father.
Q. How may this appeare to be true?
A. It is euident in that we finde this to be the faith of the fathers in the old Testament, Proof that it is to trust in God.Psal. 22.4. Our Fathers trusted in thee; they trusted, and thou diddest deliuer them: and Dauid for his particular saith, Psal. 11.1. In the Lord put I my trust, and Psal. 25.2. O my God, I trust in thee, let mee not be ashamed. And in the new Testament the Apostles taught this faith, 1 Tim. 6.17. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in vncertaine riches, but in the liuing God.
Q Proue that to beleeue one God, but not to beleeue in him, is but the faith of deuils?To beleeue God, but not in God, is the Deuils saith.
A. By this very thing, S. Iames doth conuince the hypocrites and counterfeit Christians, Iam. 2.19. Thou beleeuest, that there is one God, thou doest well: the Deuils also beleeue and tremble.
C Of the Trinitie, or three persons in one God.
Q. Rehearse the Letter C.
A. COnceiue in this one God, three persons, The Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost.
For so it hath pleased God to reueale himselfe from heauen: and in thi… name eueryevery Christian is baptized: and it is the forme of Christian blessing.
Q. Prove that we must conceiue in one God, three persons.
Three persons in one God.A. Wee are so taught, 1 Ioh. 5.7. There are three that beare witnesse in heauen, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.
Q. Proue that God hath so reuealed himselfe from heauen?
So reuealed from heauen.A. The Euangelist noteth so much, Luk. 3.21.22. That Iesus being baptized and praying, the heauen was opened: and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a Doue vponupon him, and a voyce came from heauen, which said, Thou art my beloued Sonne, in thee I am well pleased. Here is the Sonne baptized: the Holy Ghost descending vponupon him: and the father speaking from Heauen.
Q. Proue that in this name eueryevery Christian is baptized?
So are all baptized.A. It is the constant practise of the Church, according to the command of Christ, Matth. 28.19. Goe yee, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of …he Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost.
Q. Proue that this is the forme of Christian blessing?
A. So we reade, So blessed.2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the louelove of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, bee with you all. Amen.